06.08.08 -- The Darwin Awards -- the Acrostic

Sunday, June 8, 2008

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ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz

The author of today’s quotation is Wendy Northcutt from The Darwin Awards. A Darwin Award is a tongue-in-cheek honor named after evolutionary theorist Charles Darwin. Awards have been given for people who "do a service to Humanity by removing themselves from the Gene pool", i.e., lose the ability to reproduce either by death or sterilization in a stupid fashion. As described in the Darwin Award books: The Awards honor people who ensure the long-term survival of the human race by removing themselves from the gene pool in a sublimely idiotic fashion. See http://www.darwinawards.com/

The Quotation: TRUE DARWIN AWARD CANDIDATES IMAGINE THAT THEY LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE TIGERS DON’T BITE SHARKS ARE AS CUDDLY AS STUFFED ANIMALS AND PEOPLE CAN FLY IN THEIR MINDS STEERING A MOTORCYCLE WITH THEIR FEET JUST MAKES SENSE

The author’s name and the title of the work: WENDYNORTHCUTTDARWINAWARDS

The defined words: WHITNEY (A. Highest mount in the continental U.S.); EDIFICE (B. Large, imposing structure); NESSIE (C. Nickname for a fabled monster); DAWDLE (D. Practice work avoidance); YESMAN (E. Smithers on “The Simpsons,” e.g. [2 wds.]); NEBRASKA (F. State-named Springsteen album); ORDEAL (G. Crossing a bridge, to a gephyrophobe); RASPUTIN (H. Faith-healer title role for Alan Rickman); TASSEL (I. Pollen-bearing part of a cornstalk); HORNET (J. N.B.A. player in the Big Easy); CONDOR (K. Four-under-par hole in golf); UNREADY (L. Epithet for King Ethelred); TWOTIMING (M. Duplicitous in love [hyph.]); THICKSET (N. Stocky, stout, compact); DANIEL (O. Old Testament interpreter of writing on a wall); AGHAST (P. Shocked and appalled); REJECTED (Q. Like “Lolita” or “The Good Earth,” by Alfred Knopf; WISTFUL (R. Dreamily melancholy); IDEALISM (S. Noble-minded motivation); NIFTY (T. Swell, keen, smart); AFTERSHAVE (U. Chrome, Allure or Hai Karate, e.g.); WITHER (V. Be cut down to size, as by a glare); ANGST (W. Generalized dread); RUMPLED (X. Suffering from iron deficiency?); DRACHMA (Y. Six obols, in ancient times); SATIRE (Z. Many a Jonathan Swift work)

Previously unfamiliar with The Darwin Awards, I now think I know a few candidates!

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