"Self Portrait as Dali," Weegee, c. 1978
Wednesday, June 6, 2007 Puzzle by Richard Silvestri, edited by Will Shortz SLIVERS (38A Narrow pieces) sits smack-dab in the middle of this pleasant puzzle bringing to mind it's author Richard Silvestri, a by-line that is always pleasant to see any day of the week. This Wednesday special features four substitutions of the letter "Y" for what is usually the letter "I", or if one wants to return to original phrase or word, an "I" for a "Y": TAKINGABYTE (20A Stealing some computer memory?) TURNSTYLES (11D Ways to make lefts and rights?) PACKOFLYES (29D Assorted hydroxites?) NEVERSAYDYE (54A Always use the term "coloring agent"?)
DIME (34D Makeshift screwdriver) also brings to mind silver as it crosses the anagram of silvers just left of center, RIVER (30D Don or Lena) rhymes with sliver, and DIME and DIVE (34A Jackknife, for one) all collide in the center with EVEN (31D Square) an AMEN (44A Word of agreement) for punctuation.
Upper left, LAME (14 Formal fabric) usually gold or silver abuts upon DELIVER (4D Come through) repeating the "liver" of SLIVERS in center. TORO (15A Corrida creature) upstage center does a deed in upper right with GORED (19A Like unfortunate bullfighters), that of course with a TAPER (22D Get to the point?) to bring an ALAS (25A "Too bad!") neatly returning the solver to center.
The lower half of the puzzle starts off with a blast with SOUSA (40D "El Capitan" composer) marching to lower right for a session of PRAYING (46D Saying grace), where the maze ends with the bottom center entry EXIT (56D Take off). Left over to be foil is the center-to-lower left of the puzzle with decoys for the lost, including RAYED (60A Sent out beams) not "shone", and an obscurely clued SANDAL (48D Huarache) in an otherwise calm corner adorned by the beautiful LARA (53D 1965 Julie Christie role) but falling flat with NASAL (67A Twangy).
Odd little moments include cluing for LIMA (65A Bean town?), COASTER (Beermat, e.g.), WIPERS (27A Squeegee's kin) somehow causing a remembrance of Ouija and Weegee. Or Weegee and Ouija!
That's all folks!
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For today's cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
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2 comments:
Hi Donald,
I've known Rex for about 17 years. Before he was "King of Crossword," he was merely "Emperor of San Fu"...or maybe just "Magistrate of General Tso's Chicken."
No, I don't do crosswords. I am too busy coordinating the movements of the celestial spheres.
Ta ta!
An I for a Y -- most clever, Donald : )
Long day. Just finished puzzling and blogging...off to bed.
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