David's Harp: Cross words

One across is a five-letter word “what people are wanting,” ending in “y.” Hmm. Well that could be money or happy. Let’s see, three down is seven letters, “the purpose of our existence.” Hmm. Has to be either “eat food” or “educate.” I’ll figure that out as soon as I get seven across. “Gross food for children,” starting with a “t.” That’s easy either “tongue” or “tofu.” They both don’t fit. So let’s try 15 down: “Lady blank.” Could be “Di” or “Gaga.” Oh no, I need 11 letters. Hmm. “And the Tramp,” that’s 11, but it doesn’t work. Oh, of course, “Byrd Johnson.” Got it.

18 Across, “Yankee stadium sights” and it should end in “s” since it’s plural. That’s simple… “baseballs.” No. “Pitchers,” no. “Coaches,” doesn’t fit. “Players,” no, not enough letters. “Millionaires,” that’s funny, but still not enough letters. Oh, “multi-millionaires,” fits perfectly. Okay, now we’re getting somewhere. 11 down: “Prefix for bias.” Oh boy, there are so many choices: “Non, anti, sexual, racial, gender, age, ethnic, mainstream, liberal and media.” I can’t fill that one in yet.

22 across will help. “A leader who is respected by Muslim extremists.” A sheik could be the answer or perhaps Imam. Ayatollah is a high-ranking cleric title. Then there’s Mufti, Mullah, Caliph, Sahib and Mujtahid. None of them fit. What’s left? Let me read the clue again: “A leader who is respected by Muslim extremists.” Hmm. Oh, of course, Jimmy Carter. That leads me to 14 down, the opposite of “right?” Liberal, socialist, anarchist, communist, pacifist, democrat, leftist… I’m not sure but it seems like the opposite of right is wrong. 37 down: Birthplace of the president ending in a vowel? Hawaii, Kenya or Malaysia. I’ll have to get back to that one. Here’s an easy one, 42 across: Actress who said, “The homeland was originally Palestinians’ and it’s now occupied by Israel.” That’s Rosie O’Donnell, and it fits exactly.

50 down is going to be more difficult. A country that doesn’t like Israel and it has an “i” in its name. Here we go: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Saudi, Argentina, Emirates, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Libya, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, Pakistan, Brazil, Bolivia, Algeria, Tunisia and Bahrain. I guess if any Palestinian leader would have followed any of the dozens of peace plans, mandates, agreements, accords, negotiations, handshakes, summits or treaties in the last six decades, Palestine might have been part of that list.

62 across: Can senselessly destroy the world in a short period of time with the letters b, o, m. Nuclear bomb, Atom bomb, A-bomb… Obama.