02.08.15 — Touching a Nerve — the Acrostic

Sunday, February 8, 2015

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s bland acrostic draws a quotation from “Touching a Nerve: The Self as Brain” by Patricia S. Churchland. 

What happens when we accept that everything we feel and think stems not from an immaterial spirit but from electrical and chemical activity in our brains? In this thought-provoking narrative—drawn from professional expertise as well as personal life experiences—trailblazing neurophilosopher Patricia S. Churchland grounds the philosophy of mind in the essential ingredients of biology. She reflects with humor on how she came to harmonize science and philosophy, the mind and the brain, abstract ideals and daily life. ~ amazon.com 

The quotation:  I FIND JOY IN COMMONPLACE MENTAL EVENTS, SUCH AS A MANY-FACTORED DECISION THAT I HAVE MULLED OVER FOR DAYS COMING TO CONSCIOUSNESS ONE MORNING AS I STAND IN A HOT SHOWER.  MY BRAIN HAS SETTLED INTO A CHOICE… .  YAY BRAIN!

The author’s name and the title of the work:  CHURCHLAND, “TOUCHING A NERVE”

The defined words:

A. With winds rotating around a center of low pressure, CYCLONIC
B. Game with a home base, HOPSCOTCH
C. Offense, UMBRAGE
D. Just as soon, instead, RATHER
E. What reaps, threshes and winnows, COMBINE
F. Lacking manual dexterity (hyph.), HAM-FISTED
G. From one of the Golden Triangle lands, LAOTIAN
H. Feature of a big belt, ASTEROID
L. Number named by chemist Alfred Einhorn, NOVOCAINE
J. Pistol, live wire, fireball, go-getter, DYNAMO
K. What draft horses may work in, TANDEM
L. Apt to make a soccer ref raise a flag, OFFSIDE
M. Far from dexterous, all thumbs, UNHANDY
N. Where readers may turn for laughs, COMICS
O. Brand associated with CupCakes and Ding Dongs, HOSTESS
P. “In individuals, INSANITY is rare, but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule”: Nietzsche
Q. Section of a rocket or guided missile (2 wds.), NOSE CONE
R. One who may work on a lifeless horse, GYMNAST
S. Deviation from the norm, oddity, ANOMALY
T. Eponym of the N.H.L. trophy for best defenseman NORRIS
U. Green, according to idiom, ENVIOUS
V. Old TV theme song with the lyric “Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’”, “RAWHIDE”
W. Whom the police inspector Javert pursues, VALJEAN
X. Social snob, ELITIST

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THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.