This web browser is not supported. Use Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox for best results.

New York Times, Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Author:
Jeff Chen
Editor:
Will Shortz
55-Down : BBC sci-fi show
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
1527/5/20104/14/2024105
SunMonTueWedThuFriSatAcr
411015253711121
RebusCircleScrabblePGramFresh
10401.62356%
Jeff Chen

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 78, Blocks: 39 Missing: {FKQZ} This is puzzle # 14 for Mr. Chen. Tuesday freshness: 63%
Jeff Chen notes:

My favorite subject in high school was chemistry. It's an unusual person who gets goose bumps reading about s and p orbitals, but as my wife knows oh too well, I'm an unusual fellow.

The idea for this one popped into my head during a long run where my mp3 player had run out of batteries and I was desperately casting about for something to occupy my brain. I loved the idea of having slightly tilted lines in the puzzle to represent the 104.5 degree bonding angle within the H-O-H molecule. The lines ended up straight for what I assume is layout purposes, but that's okay. In my head they're slightly bent. =]

Easier said than done, however. My first attempt I ended up using top-down symmetry. Will said he liked the concept but rightfully said the layout looked strange. So I redid the puzzle using regular symmetry and am much happier with this version. I wasn't sure if it was going to be possible given the fact that I really wanted at least nine instances of the H-O-H molecule (to reflect the EVERYWHERE statement) but as with most things, if you work long enough at it, you often break through the finish tape.

A final point of interest is the inclusion of TYCHO BRAHE. To me, he's such a fascinating man (he lost the tip of his nose in a duel and wore a metal prosthetic) that I wanted to include him when I realized he could fit at 29-down. I had a few other options, but nothing else came close in terms of personal interest. It forced some less than stellar fill in the SW region, but in the end, I felt SO I, SCH, and AMAH were reasonable prices to pay. Every constructor has his/her set of internal values and criteria, so I'm sure some would say they'd prefer a cleaner, less snazzy section. But this very variety is one of the best aspects of crosswords!

Jim Horne notes:

The print version of this puzzle has lines (representing chemical bonds) connecting the H-O-H squares instead of circles. See the PDF.

1
H
2
A
3
R
4
P
5
Y
6
T
7
H
8
U
9
S
10
T
11
H
12
E
13
M
14
O
H
A
R
A
15
H
O
S
T
16
H
O
B
O
17
W
A
T
E
R
18
W
A
T
E
R
19
E
M
A
J
20
S
A
Y
N
O
21
B
R
A
22
Y
O
Y
O
23
S
O
24
S
A
25
P
26
E
R
P
27
A
28
R
29
T
30
S
31
L
I
T
32
H
33
N
E
H
34
R
35
U
36
M
A
Y
O
37
E
X
H
O
38
R
T
39
O
H
S
40
A
N
C
I
41
E
N
T
42
M
A
R
43
I
N
E
R
44
S
C
H
45
A
S
H
46
C
A
N
47
R
E
T
D
48
S
H
O
49
P
S
50
S
A
G
A
51
E
S
T
A
52
B
A
T
53
S
54
L
E
W
55
D
56
P
57
E
R
T
58
E
59
A
T
60
A
R
61
U
62
B
63
A
64
A
M
A
H
65
E
V
E
66
R
Y
W
H
E
R
67
E
68
I
M
H
O
69
M
E
C
H
70
H
U
R
O
N
71
D
Y
E
S
72
E
C
H
O
73
O
H
G
O
D
© 2013, The New York Times5/7/13 ( No. 23,191 )
Across
1
Scolding, nagging sort : HARPY
6
Hence : THUS
10
The opposition : THEM
14
John who wrote "Appointment in Samarra" : OHARA
15
Invitation sender : HOST
16
Vagrant : HOBO
17
See 40-/42-Across : WATERWATER
19
Key of Haydn's Symphony No. 12 or 29 : EMAJ
20
Refuse : SAYNO
21
Word after sports or training : BRA
22
Dummy : YOYO
23
Seven-time All-Star Sammy : SOSA
25
Cop's target : PERP
27
The "A" of B.A. : ARTS
31
Latvia neighbor: Abbr. : LITH
33
Contemporary of Gandhi : NEHRU
36
Hellmann's product, informally : MAYO
37
Urge strongly : EXHORT
39
Quaker cereal brand : OHS
40
With 42-Across, subject of the poem that contains the line 17-/65-Across : ANCIENT
42
See 40-Across : MARINER
44
N.E.A. concern : SCH
45
Depth charge, in slang : ASHCAN
47
Collecting a pension: Abbr. : RETD
48
Bakery and pharmacy : SHOPS
50
Story that goes on and on : SAGA
51
It is, in Ibiza : ESTA
52
Flutters, as eyelashes : BATS
54
Indecent : LEWD
56
Smart-mouthed : PERT
58
Down a sub, e.g. : EAT
60
One of the ABC islands : ARUBA
64
Eastern nurse : AMAH
65
See 40-/42-Across : EVERYWHERE
68
Texter's disclaimer : IMHO
69
Branch of engineering: Abbr. : MECH
70
Tribe with a lake named after it : HURON
71
Colors : DYES
72
Long hallway effect : ECHO
73
"This looks bad!" : OHGOD
Down
1
First word of "Blowin' in the Wind" : HOW
2
Cries of discovery : AHAS
3
Pro ___ : RATA
4
Mice, to cats : PREY
5
Elaborate stories : YARNS
6
"___ Crossroads" (1996 Grammy-winning rap song) : THA
7
Relaxing conclusion to a long, hard day : HOTBATH
8
Manipulator : USER
9
Rein, e.g. : STRAP
10
"And ___ off!" : THEYRE
11
Read and blew, for red and blue : HOMOPHONES
12
Fortune 500 company founded in 1995 : EBAY
13
Austin Powers's power : MOJO
18
Some winter garments : WOOLENS
24
Trivial Pursuit wedges, e.g. : SIXTHS
26
___'acte : ENTR
27
Gather over time : AMASS
28
Dressing choice : RANCH
29
Astronomer who coined the word "nova" : TYCHOBRAHE
30
"___ hear" : SOI
32
Show of respect : HOMAGE
34
Butler of "Gone With the Wind" : RHETT
35
Nutritional fig. : USRDA
38
Fled : RANAWAY
41
Bridge position : EAST
43
Tick off : IRE
46
West Coast engineering institution, informally : CALTECH
49
Pity : PATHOS
53
Note accompanying an F, maybe : SEEME
55
BBC sci-fi show : DRWHO
56
Invoice stamp : PAID
57
Cousin of a Golden Globe : EMMY
59
With: Fr. : AVEC
61
"Ain't gonna happen!" : UHUH
62
Arctic Ocean sighting : BERG
63
Suffix with buck : AROO
66
Sigma preceder : RHO
67
Conclusion : END

Answer summary:
2 unique to this puzzle.

Found bugs or have suggestions? Please let us know.

Like this puzzle? Please share this page on social media to help spread the word about XWord Info. Thanks!

XWord Info Home
XWord Info © 2007-2024, Jim Horne
80 ms