Saturday, January 22, 2022

Today’s Saturday Stumper

Today’s Newsday  Saturday Stumper is by Stella Zawistowksi, whose last Stumper appeared in December 2020. I’m happy to see her back. The name of her crosswords-and-trivia website explains why: Tough As Nails. This puzzle was challenging (but doable) and filled with reasons for delight.

Some of them:

2-D, ten letters, “Highly selective.” PERSNICK — no, won’t fit.

16-A, ten letters, “Question at a Q&A.” Heh.

20-A, five letters, “L.A. museum benefactor.” Whatever one might think of the benefactor, it’s a great museum.

21-A, five letters, “Protection from winding.” I first thought of my horribly coiled headphone cord.

36-A, fifteen letters, “Still very much with us.” Just a fun phrase.

43-D, six letters, “Puts together, as pattern pieces.” I have to look into this word, which has an unusual array of meanings.

48-D, five letters, “What many gloves are made of.” The first letter might lead you in the wrong direction.

58-D, three letters, “Only 50-state TV network.” Really? Huh.

61-A, ten letters, “Refuses to stand for it.” Literalizing.

My favorite clues in this puzzle:

23-D, five letters, “Ignore a Simpsons suggestion.” D’oh!

58-A, four letters, “Designations requiring defenses.” I thought “Football positions?”

No spoilers; the answers are in the comments.

comments: 5

Michael Leddy said...

PARTICULAR. (I remember the Pall Mall slogan, “Wherever Particular People Congregate.”)

ANYONEELSE. GETTY. SCARF. ALIVEANDKICKING. BASTES. LISLE. (Not LATEX.)

PBS. TAKESAKNEE. CALVE. (“Don’t have a cow, man.”) PHDS.

shallnot said...

Just before reading this post I was going to read a PhD in Musicology dissertation. I was, that is, until I read the first line of the Abstract: This dissertation is the first in-depth exploration of the connections between the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge (“King’s”) and the early music revival since the mid-twentieth century.

If I was on the defence committee my first (and possibly only) question would be: how many dissertations explored the connections between the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge (“King’s”) and the early music revival before the mid-twentieth century?

Shame on you all: thesis writer, thesis advisor, proofreaders, thesis committee, and McGill University. We might just as well have vending machines dispensing graduate degrees.

Hmmm... I must be feeling extra grumpy this chilly morning.

Michael Leddy said...

Yes, a dissertation is sometimes a matter of going through the motions. I’ve been amazed to see what people in some disciplines will sign off on. (Off on?)

Joe DiBiase said...

"off on" is so much better than, "I've been amazed to see on what people in some disciplines will sign off."

Michael Leddy said...

Oh, yes. I just couldn’t resist calling attention to it.