07.04.07
July 4, 2007
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Puzzle by Patrick Blindauer, edited by Will Shortz
HAPPYBIRTHDAY (35A July 4th message to America)!
A MAGICAL (25D Enchanting) crossword puzzle full of fireworks, a little riot of eclecticism -- guaranteed to displease those who pigeon-hole puzzles by days of the week and genre.
Yes! all of that and a surprise ending! Like words and letters instead of fire and gunpowder, a gimmick provides holiday fun; however, it's only after it's been solved. At that point, one is to follow the directions in a note attached which reads: "When this puzzle has been completed, shade in the letters of 35-Across everywhere they appear in the grid, revealing three letters and three lines." -- spelling out "USA".
I was reminded of coloring books from my childhood. Yes, you're correct -- I actually did it with crayons! So after you've done your part of the puzzle (the solution), hand it over to the kids and let them have at it! Incidentally, one would almost think the original intent was to have circles around the letters instead of coloring in the squares -- that way DIRTYHARRY with his RATATATTAT could spell out HAPPYBIRTHDAY USA in bulletholes! I'm sure the kids can manage that -- with or without a hole-punch!
Due to foregoing, the entries are a slave to the gimmick and this puzzle follows no rules, becoming an explosion of illogical, juxtaposed and alliterative sparklers and possessing a healthy DOSAGE (45D Medicinal amount) with RATATATTAT (18A Knocking sound), ROTO (64A ____-Rooter), ERRATA (47D Mistakes) and RATS (37D “Phooey!“); SMOKE (24A Fire sign?) and KOOLS (50A Mentholated cigarettes); LINA (13A Wertmuller who directed “Seven Beauties”) and LENA (26D Horne who sang “Stormy Weather”); UNO (28D 3 - 2, en espanol) and ONEUP (21D Early Ping-Pong score); OOZY (27D Like mud) and OKEY (43D ____-dokey); ULEES (14A “_____Gold”) and UFOS (16A Sky lights?); DIRTYHARRY (55A Memorable title film role of 1971) and EVEL (61A Risk-taking Knievel); CASES (41A Buys for brew lovers) and CLOSES (1D Shutters); STOKE (15D Tend the hearth) and STARE (51A Gawk [at]); OLA and OLE; LOA and LOU; SST and SLS; SEMS and REMS; ESOS and ENZO: FEW and FURL; ESTATES ONDATES; SECS and EONS, DEAN and DEN; EATIN and EGGON; with FONZ and a TBIRD.
HELL (35D), it’s CUTE (9D Adorable), what’s not to LOVE (22A All you need, in a Beatles song) -- bring on the BBQ and the TNT!
Have a great Fourth of July!
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For today's cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
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