There was a crossword like this one in the NYT on November 17, where there were two word phrases that crossed in the centers of both words. Actually, the two word phrases in that puzzle were made up of one word (such as “Duran Duran” and “Bling Bling”), and this puzzle wasn’t like that. But the structure of word crosses was similar. Got that?

Here are my alternate clues:

26 Across – With 4-Down, a time-tested, guaranteed recipe for misery and poverty
29 Across – With 16-Down, something Billy Pilgrim found in a dead man’s coat in Slaughterhouse-Five
55 Across – With 45-Down, the time between two identical syzygies
67 Across – With 47-Down, where Canada’s cultured elites don’t live?
83 Across – With 70-Down, the character Tom Logan, played by Robert Redford
110 Across – With 91-Down, a soft gray alkaline earth metal football player?
114 Across – With 95-Down, what some people watch when there’s nothing good on TV?

I’m amused that Elantra and Elektra were part of the fill.

Yes, I bit on Harry instead of Peron for the 1946 President. They didn’t say which country. Actually, Harry Truman became President of the United States in April of 1945, so Harry was just plain wrong as an answer.

I have a beautiful dream to compose a crossword puzzle with as many three letter words as possible beginning and ending in the letter o. I’m saving Otoes for just such an occasion.

A nice anagram for Mel Rosen is “Solemner.” Should the n be pronounced in that word?

Technorati: Mel Rosen, NYT Crossword