36A STELLA (Stanley's love in "A Streetcar Named Desire")
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Puzzle by C. W. Stewart, edited by Will Shortz
NINCOMPOOP (18A Doofus); BIRDBRAIN (27A Doofus); DINGALING (48A Doofus); NOODLEHEAD (55A Doofus); NUMSKULL (4D Doofus); and DUMBBELL (39D Doofus) are the inter-related entries with their repetitive Shortzesque clues, an impressive six, in this idiot’s delight of a crossword puzzle. I am sure the thesaurusification could go on and on, but pity the poor doofus!
To ensure the solver doesn't take this name-calling personally, the puzzle finishes with (61D A person who is not a doofus) -- YOU! While I appreciated the sentiment, it was a little late -- what's next? Idiot? Putz? Jerk? Simpleton? Fool? Hopefully NOONE (50D Nary a soul) mistakes IGOON (49D Shall I GO ON?" [Want me to continue?]) for GOON -- clued as "awkward, grotesque, stupid, etc." by a closet-full of pedagogical academicians! Of course, we also have PANSIES (7D Pretty violets) and TENDERS (43D Chicken TENDERS); JUDAS (34D Traitor) and PAROLEE (32D Many an ex-con) -- and then there is EPITHET (42A Nickname) -- which Webster's more accurately defines as an adjective, noun, or phrase used to characterize some person or thing, often spec. a disparaging one (Ex.: "egghead" for an intellectual) -- perhaps we'll get (A person who is not an intellectual) -- YOU!
Oh, it goes on -- SOU (59D Pittance); NEED (65A Crave); LEDOUT (38A Shown the door); OMITS (25D Cuts out); LAPSE (24D Expire); ORDEALS (19D Difficult experiences); LOCKE (24A English philosopher who wrote "Wherever Law ends, Tyranny begins"); EMMA (23A Novel on which "Clueless" is based); ELOPER (46A Runaway bride or groom); SMEAR (47A Eyeliner problem); and LALA land (37D) -- what a mess of negativity!In the event you're OBESE (51A Overweight plus), a friendly reminder is here; then there's PILL (31 Tablet) and AMA (Doc's org.); this puzzle is filled with the INS and outs (1D) of going POSTAL (32A Part of U.S.P.S.) -- oh forget it, IGOON, I REPEAT (30 Parrot) myself -- NANU (13A When doubled, an old sitcom goodbye) -- BAM (9D "Pow!")!
I'm outta here!
For a proper rant, read Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle!...
…or check out KISS’ “gothic doofus” Gene Simmons' Hair On Fire -- HERE!
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle solution above is by the author of this blog and does not guarantee accuracy. If you find errors or omissions, you are more than welcome to make note of same in the Comments section of this post -- any corrections found necessary will be executed promptly upon verification.
Puzzle available on the internet at
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