Sunday, September 14, 2008
YEAR-ROUND, Puzzle by Jeremy Newton, edited by Will Shortz
O.K., let’s get this over with quick. Twelve squares contain three letters each indicating the twelve months of the year, arranged on the diagram (grid) as a circle -- thus the puzzle’s title, “YEAR-ROUND”, e.g., JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC.
However difficult uncovering that gimmick may be, the remainder of the puzzle, including both entries and clues, is unfriendly and, in many cases, downright hostile. This is not your father’s Sunday morning Times puzzle, this one is dredged up from the bottom of the etymological swamp of crosswords, an unpleasant burnt-toast experience akin to curdling cream in your coffee with an embryo in your too-gooey egg!
For the complete post, go HERE.
None of which answers that age-old question, “which came first….”
------------------
For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
