11.18.12 — Profiles of the Future — the Acrostic


 
Sunday, November 18, 2012
 
ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon
Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s thoughtful acrostic draws a quotation from Arthur C. Clarke’s Profiles of the Future: An Inquiry into the Limits of the Possible.
 
In this book Arthur C. Clarke considers the future development of human technology, focusing on the ultimate limits of what is possible rather than on what the near future is likely to bring. Originally published in 1962, Clarke has added comments where developments have substantially modified his earlier views. He addresses a wide range of questions: transport, colonising space, novel sources of energy, artificial intelligence, a universal machine that can produce any specified artefact, as well as more fanciful possibilities such as time-travel, teleportation, and invisibility. He suggests we should be slow to pronounce anything "impossible" as the technology of the future may be as hard for us to imagine as ours would have been for people of earlier ages. ~ Julian Day, amazon.com
 
The quotation: THE MOST CONVINCING ARGUMENT AGAINST TIME TRAVEL IS THE REMARKABLE SCARCITY OF TIME TRAVELERS. HOWEVER UNPLEASANT OUR AGE MAY APPEAR TO THE FUTURE, SURELY ONE WOULD EXPECT SCHOLARS AND STUDENTS TO VISIT [US] IF … POSSIBLE
 
The author’s name and the title of the work: CLARKE, PROFILES OF THE FUTURE

The defined words:


B. Stuff of intolerance, for some, LACTOSE
C. Go downhill, but not precipitously, ATROPHY
D. What forklift drivers may operate in, REVERSE
G. Snag in many a logic problem, PARADOX
H. Get a fresh start, metaphorically, REWIND
I. Robin Hood, per the Sheriff of Nottingham, OUTLAW
J. Chip off a block, e.g., FRAGMENT
K. Freedom from punishment, IMPUNITY
L. Lottery winners option (2 wds.), LUMP SUM
N. Straight sides of a racecourse, STRETCHES
P. High-pressure and high-risk lifestyle (2 wds.), FAST LANE
Q. Turner Prize awarder for art, TATE
R. Brand name on a Ding Dongs box, HOSTESS
S. Bill Clinton, for Nixon, or George W. Bush, for Reagan, EULOGIST
U. One of two on a Monopoly board, UTILITY
V. Lose control of an umiak, e.g. (2 wds.), TIP OVER
X. Pertaining to frogs, RANINE
Y. Race invented by H. G. Wells, ELOI 

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Click on image to enlarge.
 


“Though they might try to disguise themselves, accidents would be bound to happen — just as they would if we went back to imperial Rome with cameras and tape recorders concealed under our nylon togas. Time traveling could never be kept secret for very long.”
 
Puzzle available on the internet at

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