08.13.10 — All That's Left

Creation of Man, Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo —

The right hand of God nearly touching the left hand of Adam.

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International Left Handers Day,

Puzzle by Fred Piscop, edited by Will Shortz

If you subscribe to The New York Times on-line Premium Crosswords, you are probably familiar with the monthly bonus puzzle. For the month of August, the title of this dedicated crossword is “International Left Handers Day” featuring three dozen clues with the word “left“.

August 13th is designated International Lefthanders Day by Lefthanders International. It was first observed 13 August 1976. As its name suggests, it is meant to promote awareness of the inconveniences facing left-handers in a predominantly right-handed world. It celebrates their uniqueness and difference, who are from seven to ten percent of the world's population.

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Across — 1. Sport you can’t play left-handed, POLO; 12. To the left, at sea, APORT; 14. “CAFÉ on the Left Bank” (Wings tune); 20. Left-leaning, politically, LIBERAL; 25. Left with nothing to do, IDLE; 27. Audio setup with left and right channels, STEREO; 30. Left-hand page, VERSO; 34. To the left or right of the goalposts, WIDE; 39. Edgar who painted “Seated Woman, Wiping Her Left Side”, DEGAS; 44. “Concerto for the Left Hand” composer Maurice RAVEL; 48. Leftists, REDS; 52. Personality test image that might exhibit left/right symmetry, INK BLOT; 56. Sharp left from Ali, e.g., JAB; 61. Cubs left-fielder Moises who was involved in the Bartman incident, ALOU; 62. To the left or right, ASIDE; 64. Two left FEET (klutz’s attribute); 65. Walking BASS (left-hand part for a jazz pianist); 66. Left-handed tennis great Rod LAVER; 69. Left, on a map, WEST.

Down — 1. McCartney, the left-handed Beatle, PAUL; 3. Be left behind in a race, LOSE; 5. Left shoe, to the right, MATE; 9. Two-time N.L. batting champ Lefty O’DOUL; 10. Left Bank river, SEINE; 11. Eldest HAND (player to the left of the dealer); 24. Left-BRAINED (analytical); 26. Figure to the left of a decimal point, often, DOLLARS; 37. Like left-hand page numbers, EVEN; 48. “Walk Away RENEE”(1966 Left Banke hit); 49. “The Left Bank” playwright Rice, ELMER.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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