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New York Times, Tuesday, August 9, 2005

Author:
Victor Fleming
Editor:
Will Shortz
Word that can precede the start of 17- or 54-Across or 11- or 27-Down
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
473/29/200512/29/202125
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
75107666
CircleScrabDebutFresh
21.5522358%
Victor Fleming

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 76, Blocks: 34 Missing: none – this is a pangram. This is puzzle # 3 for Mr. Fleming. Tuesday freshness: 96%
Victor Fleming notes:

From old correspondence files, I see that I submitted this crossword under letter of Nov. 2, 2004, captioned "Corny Stuff." In my letter, I did not reflect on how the puzzle came to be. From old research folders, I see a document titled "Sweet Corn." The first half is devoted to ILSAs (in-the-language stand-alones) starting with CORN: CORN BEEF, CORN BELT, CORNBREAD, CORN CHIP, etc.; 17 in all. The second half is devoted to SWEET—SWEET DREAMS, SWEETHEART, etc.; 15 in all.

For most of the ILSAs in each batch, I listed words that could follow the second word. Under CORNBREAD, e.g., I had DOUGH, LINE, BASKET, etc. Under SWEET TOOTH, I had BRUSH, DECAY, FAIRY, etc. I think I had in mind a grand theme that would somehow unite SWEET and CORN in the same puzzle. For whatever reason, I decided to use only half the research and do one puzzle. I don't recall if I ever did a puzzle from the rest of the material.

1
J
2
I
3
V
4
E
5
S
6
P
7
L
8
I
9
C
10
E
11
B
12
I
13
C
14
I
N
I
T
15
A
L
A
N
O
N
16
E
S
O
17
B
R
E
A
18
D
B
A
S
K
E
T
19
L
T
R
20
S
E
S
S
I
O
N
S
21
R
E
22
T
T
O
N
23
M
T
S
24
S
C
R
U
B
25
S
26
U
27
D
28
S
E
S
29
Q
U
I
E
T
U
30
D
31
E
32
C
L
O
T
S
33
R
A
Z
O
R
34
C
A
L
35
A
N
G
E
36
F
I
T
I
N
37
S
K
I
M
38
L
A
B
39
S
E
T
A
E
40
B
A
L
S
A
41
P
R
I
42
S
O
N
E
R
43
B
O
L
E
Y
N
44
S
L
U
G
S
45
S
A
X
46
R
47
E
C
A
P
S
48
T
A
K
E
49
C
50
A
51
R
52
E
53
E
A
U
54
C
H
55
O
W
D
E
R
H
E
A
D
56
M
R
I
57
A
U
P
A
I
R
58
U
R
G
E
59
O
P
T
60
N
I
P
S
E
Y
61
M
O
E
N
© 2005, The New York Times8/9/5 ( No. 20,363 )
Across
1
Nonsensical talk : JIVE
5
Film repair : SPLICE
11
Lighter brand : BIC
14
Quick approval: Abbr. : INIT
15
Family support group : ALANON
16
"___ Beso" (Paul Anka hit) : ESO
17
Place for rolls : BREADBASKET
19
U.S.P.S. delivery : LTR
20
Congressional periods : SESSIONS
21
Mary Lou of gymnastics : RETTON
23
Range units: Abbr. : MTS
24
Do a pre-op chore : SCRUB
25
Washes with detergent : SUDSES
29
Tranquil state : QUIETUDE
32
Artery problems : CLOTS
33
Stubble remover : RAZOR
34
"Silent" prez : CAL
35
Haloed one, in France : ANGE
36
Naturally belong : FITIN
37
Kind of milk : SKIM
38
Family dog, for short : LAB
39
Stiff hairs : SETAE
40
Model wood : BALSA
41
Ward denizen : PRISONER
43
Anne who married Henry VIII : BOLEYN
44
Socks : SLUGS
45
Part of a jazz combo : SAX
46
Summarizes : RECAPS
48
"Watch out now" : TAKECARE
53
___ de toilette : EAU
54
Numbskull : CHOWDERHEAD
56
Hosp. picture : MRI
57
Household helper : AUPAIR
58
Impulse : URGE
59
Choose, with "to" : OPT
60
Comedian Russell : NIPSEY
61
Faucet brand : MOEN
Down
1
Sails on sloops : JIBS
2
Memo starter : INRE
3
Goes (for) : VIES
4
H H H, to Greeks : ETAS
5
Wooden shoes : SABOTS
6
Floor sketches : PLANS
7
Girl : LASS
8
Octopus's defense : INK
9
Force : COERCION
10
One matriculating : ENTERER
11
A cowboy might have a big one : BELTBUCKLE
12
Middle of a ratio : ISTO
13
Word that can precede the start of 17- or 54-Across or 11- or 27-Down : CORN
18
March of ___ : DIMES
22
When repeated, a reproach : TUT
24
"The World of ___ Wong" (1960 movie) : SUZIE
25
Resell illegally : SCALP
26
Of an arm bone : ULNAR
27
Treat for a trick : DOGBISCUIT
28
___ Jeanne d'Arc : STE
29
Persian Gulf state : QATAR
30
Part of a simple bouquet : DAISY
31
Violinist Mischa : ELMAN
33
Marriage and others : RITES
36
Literally, "wind and water" : FENGSHUI
37
Mule of song : SAL
39
Noted Warhol subject : SOUPCAN
40
Pug, e.g. : BOXER
42
Hearst kidnap grp. : SLA
43
Business that makes a lot of dough : BAKERY
45
___ Hawkins Day : SADIE
46
San ___, Italy : REMO
47
O.K. Corral lawman : EARP
48
"Jabberwocky" start : TWAS
49
Buddy : CHUM
50
Prefix with nautical : AERO
51
Craze : RAGE
52
Genesis home : EDEN
55
Facing: Abbr. : OPP

Answer summary:
1 unique to this puzzle, 2 debuted here and reused later, 2 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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