NASA image of the Arctic Ocean
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Friday, April 11, 2008
Puzzle by Manny Nosowsky, edited by Will Shortz
One thing for sure about this Friday’s crossword puzzle and that is it has a lot of blank spaces to fill with letters that turn into words or phrases, or whatever. Now, does that excite you?! Get help! I have an excuse in that I am compelled to write this thing I’ve started writing on a daily and religious basis -- but let me tell you, if it weren’t for that fact, I’d have tossed this one aside and got on with what must be something better to do!
Six 15-letter across entries are the mainstay of this lifeless crossword -- HASALOTGOINGFOR (1. Is blessed with many assets, before “him” or “her”); IMPROVEONNATURE (16. Have cosmetic surgery, for example); PORKBARRELBILLS (17. Sources of government waste); NATIONALECONOMY (52. Gross domestic product producer); TRADITIONALIRAS (55. Some bank offerings); and ALLALONGTHELINE (56. At every point).
Going down are two 8-letter entries, TERRIFIC (7. Tops) and MOVEMENT (33. Progress in negotiations); followed by sixteen 7-letter entries: HIPBONE (1. Connector in a song); AMOEBAS (2. Studies under a microscope); SPRYEST (3. Most agile); GORILLA (8. Thug); FULFILL (13. Carry out); ORLANDO (14. “As You Like It” romantic); RESTSON (15. Leans against); SAHARAS (22. Vast arid wastes); GARDENA (24. California city with a horticultural name); POLENTA (34. Alternative to pasta); UNSNARL (35. Straighten out); RETOTAL (36. Double-check, as figures); CATALOG (37. Put in a bibliography, e.g.); SIGNORI (38. Titles for Italian 31-Down); SOHUMAN (39. Words before “a Brain” and “an Animal” in book titles); and ANALYSE (40. Examine, in Exeter).
In the days before computer-aided crossword construction, one might admire such shenanigans, but as it becomes more and more evident of the over-use of computers, many crossword puzzles have less and less to do with logical communication and a whole lot to do with specialization for a few mavens while turning a façade of Arctic hubris to the everyday solver…
I really must get a life!
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For today’s cartoon, consult Linda at Crossword…Madness and Otherwise.
