The New York Times Crossword in Gothic: 01.11.15 — We Learn Nothing

Sunday, January 11, 2015

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emil Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s fine acrostics draws a humorous quotation from “We Learn Nothing” by Tim Kreider.

In We Learn Nothing, satirical cartoonist Tim Kreider turns his funny, brutally honest eye to the dark truths of the human condition, asking big questions about human-sized problems: What if you survive a brush with death and it doesn’t change you? Why do we fall in love with people we don’t even like? What do you do when a friend becomes obsessed with a political movement and won’t let you ignore it? How do you react when someone you’ve known for years unexpectedly changes genders? Irreverent yet earnest, he shares deeply personal experiences and readily confesses his vices— betraying his addiction to lovesickness, for example, and the gray area that he sees between the bold romantic gesture and the illegal act of stalking. ~ goodreads

The quotation: I HAVE NEVER EVEN IDLY THOUGHT FOR A SINGLE PASSING SECOND THAT IT MIGHT MAKE MY LIFE NICER TO HAVE A SMALL RUDE INCONTINENT PERSON FOLLOW ME AROUND SCREAMING AND MAKING ME BUY THEM STUFF FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

The author’s name and title of the work: TIM KREIDER, WE LEARN NOTHING

The defined words:

A. At a full gallop, as an English fox hunt, TANTIVY
B. “Was feeling” tense, IMPERFECT
C. Material wealth, riches, MAMMON
D. Affinity; family tie, KINSHIP
E. Strong liking; adder of zest, RELISH
F. Guillaume : William :: ETIENNE : Stephen
G. Bold; showing too much skin, IMMODEST
H. Stepped-all-over type, DOORMAT
J. Stat category for an N.F.L. player, RUSHING
K. Thriftless, pound-foolish, WASTEFUL
L. County within a county, ENCLAVE
M. Glowing with a soft radiance, LAMBENT
N. How a mob may move (2 wds.), EN MASSE
O. In the wrong (2 wds.), AT FAULT
P. Invalidate, cancel, annul, REVOKE
Q. Swell, bang-up, awesome, fab, NIFTY
R. Without the bells and whistles (hyph.), NO FRILLS
S. Like many people after Thanksgiving dinner, OVERFED
T. Leaving no stone unturned, THOROUGH
U. What Merriam-Webster calls a “cosmopolitan dipteran”, HOUSEFLY
V. Finger, IDENTIFY
W. Vexed with repeated questions, NAGGED
X. Material often checked, GINGHAM

————————