05.06.07 -- Is "Is" "Is"?

President William Jefferson Clinton

Sunday, May 6, 2007

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TWISTIN' THE OLDIES

Puzzle constructed by Cathy Milhauser / Clues by President Bill Clinton / Edited by Will Shortz

It would be interesting to know several things about this puzzle. Is this an original construction (grid) by Cathy Millhauser, or is it one that had previously been clued?

If it is or is not an original, how much input came from President Clinton -- there are the long answers, which would seem to be difficult to clue in a manner different from what the puzzle title “Twistin’ The Oldies” indicates. How else would one clue 31A WAKINGUPISHARDTODO (“Waking Up Is Hard To Do” vs. “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”) other than the presented clue “Boomer’s update of a 1968 Otis Redding song?”

The fact that all of the “theme” clues contain the word “Boomer” and the difficulty of a entirely new clue would indicate that it is the word “Boomer” that is new, rather than the whole clue -- what the original clue’s key word could have been would be guessing. I’ve never seen the original (if this presentation is not an original), so perhaps "Boomer" substitutes for “Retiree‘s”, “Senior’s”, “Senior Citizen’s”, “AARP Member’s”, etc. Thus, the original clue for these “theme” answers could possibly have been “Senior Citizen’s update of a 1968 Otis Redding song?”

If it is an original, were the “theme” answers a collaboration? -- they are too explicit to be clued in a different manner other than described above. The answers almost dictate a particular description in cluing.

If it is not an original, then the “clues” to the “theme” answers are probably mere window dressing with the word “Boomer” inserted in place of some word or words in the original clues.

Without knowledge of any of the above -- and I’m sure more than three people have that information, then comment upon the cluing for the “theme” entries and their clues would be similar to any attempt to unravel a collaboration. Plus, there is another twist -- the puzzle editor, Will Shortz.. The credits for the puzzle read “constructed by”, “clues by” and with a broad note “Editor’s Note: The clues in this puzzle are a little more playful and involve more wordplay than in a typical crossword. You have been warned. WILL SHORTZ”. How much editing did Mr. Shortz do?

What is one to make of all this? Perhaps a quote from President Clinton will suffice:

"It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is. If the—if he—if 'is' means is and never has been, that is not—that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement".

There are, whether this is an original or a recycle, many questions. 87A VEL (How Kissinger would say he feels?) -- if it is a recycle, then was the original clue one to do with an abbreviation for “Velocity”? If so, that particular clue is perhaps this puzzle’s clue-- a clear indication that President Clinton was most likely handed a completed grid (whether new or old) and told, “break a leg”!

Of interest, the following clues:

1A Religious post -- POPE, if not a “staff” or a “location” what else could it be?

9A They’re almost a food group on Wall St. -- ARBS, took some stretching.

13A Air or fish again -- RECAST, good clue.

20A It’s just short of a clue -- ACLU, cute, but no set-off for “a clue”, I guess that’s fair.

21A Long “Gone” estate - TARA, cute clue.

22A City-state - SPARTA, could have given a little bit more of a clue here.

27A Modernize - REMODEL, subjective -- could be retro.

35A “…trespasses____forgive…” - ASWE, this is what is.

42A Southern girl’s middle name - MAE, subjective.

66A Hardly professional -- NONPAID, neither President Clinton or I were paid here.

78A Carp at -- CHIDE, heard “Carp” used frequently during a particular Presidency.

79A Turned up - ONEND, nice turn.

80A Coming up - ARISING, good contrast with adjacent 79A

87A How Kissinger would say he feels? -- VEL, discussed above.

91A Something to be in before you’re out -- UTERO, nice twist.

96A "___take arms against…” -- ORTO, couldn’t be anything else.

107A It never closes -- LLBEAN, far-fetched clue, but nice tie with 108A.

108A It never stops -- RATRACE, never heard of the Pied Piper?

118A A strange canal? -- ERIE, well, o.k.

2D Luck and Irish go-between -- OTHE, thought it was “o’th’”.

7D TV ET -- ALF, short, clear, concise clue.

10D Bony parts of a circle? - RADII, iffy.

15D They sound tasty, but you can’t eat them -- CARATS, corny.

17D Onetime transit mode -- STEED, well, it’s a stretch.

42D He was no slouch in his crouch -- MUSIAL, catchy clue.

48D Social events for flirts -- TEAS, I’m not going to touch this one!

52D It’ll soon be a Boomer’s pen pal -- SSA, the only non-theme “Boomer” clue.

53D He made his own law -- OHM, like so many uh, do.

61D Katrina’s not its favorite girl -- BILOXI, ah! current events!

69D Plot for one in pain? - ACRE, more corn.

70D Ageless diva -- CHER, is this a compliment or….

86D It sounds like a fight but isn’t -- DUAL, do-able.

99D An old saw that doesn’t cut -- ADAGE, depends, some sages cut deep.

101D They like trucks -- CBERS, not all Cbers drive trucks.

111D Guitarist on the rim? -- EDGE, I totally don’t get this clue.

116D A party I don’t attend -- GOP.

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The "TWISTIN' THE OLDIES" "theme" clues and entries:

23A Boomer’s update of a 1968 Otis Redding song? THEDOCOFTHEDAY (Dock, Bay)

31A Boomer’s update of a 1962 Neil Sedaka hit? WAKINGUPISHARDTODO (Breaking)

50A Boomer’s update of a 1972 Carly Simon song? YOURESOVEINY (Vain)

62A Boomer’s update of a 1972 Judy Collins song? AMAZING GRAYS (Grace)

69A Boomer’s update of a 1965 song by the Guess Who? ACHINALLOVER (Shakin’)

83A Boomer’s update of a 1959 hit by the Crests? SIXTY CANDLES (Sixteen)

97A Boomer’s update of a 1972 Johnny Nash hit? ICANTSEECLEARLYNOW (Can)

114A Boomer’s update of a 1966 Ray Charles song? LETSGOGETTONED (Stoned)

37D Boomer’s update of a 1969 Crosby, Stills & Nash song? WOODENHIPS (Ships)

46D Boomer’s update of a song from 1951’s “Showboat” OLMANLIVER (River)

All said and done, this Sunday crossword puzzle does exactly what the best of puzzles do, stretch the old imagination with every tactile stroke on the paper with one's pen in grasp! It is Sunday's extra puzzle, so I repeat -- "Amen! Amen!" -- that's it; for any other words, check your thesaurus under "brilliant"!

For the free puzzle, go HERE.