Ennui, Walter Sickert, c1913 Tate Gallery, London
Sunday, October 4, 2009
INITIAL OFFERINGS, Puzzle by Todd McClary, edited by Will Shortz
What makes a solver like or dislike a crossword? I know I’m hardly fond of this Sunday fabrication. Is it the likeness it shares with last Sunday’s dreary concoction, or more so that it is a lifeless, slavish and convoluted exercise upon particular letters of the alphabet?
SA produces SAMUEL ADAMS ESSAY with a trumped up clue of Article written by an early American patriot? -- DK, DON KING DECAY (39A. Dental problem for a boxing promoter?), NV, NIA VARDALOS ENVY (47A. Desire to be more like an actress of Greek descent?), QT, QUENTIN TARANTINO CUTIE (66A. Adorable child of an edgy filmaker?), TP, TITO PUENTE TEPEE (88A. Tent used by a Latin musician?), ME, MAX ERNST EMMY (94A. Television award given to a Surrealist?) and KV, KURT VONNEGUT CAVY (115A. Roden named for a 20th-century novelist?).
The remainder of the puzzle features an overdose of evasiveness and obscurity in equal amounts -- I kick myself for wasting my time on it…
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.
