Ryan and Brian Do Crosswords

Long time readers will know a continuing theme on our site is that Brian and I have no idea how to work this blog.  In an effort to breathe new life into that storyline we have completely screwed up our commenting system.  In order to fix that we had to reinstate the Intense Debate commenting system.  We know people have had trouble with Intense Debate (which is why we deactivated it some months ago) but we’re giving it another go.  If you have any problems at all (such as, your comments aren’t showing up) please email us at rbxblog [at] gmail [dot] com and we’ll try our darnedest to figure out how to fix it.

Today’s puzzle by Richard Silvestri features an extremely clever theme.

36A. What this puzzle’s four missing clues spell, in order (PUBLIC EDUCATION).  I figured out the answers through crosses but I was still stumped as to what it might mean.  I got it into my brain that somehow the answers spelled out public education which made no sense to me.  Finally, it clicked and fell into place.  The four clues are PUB, LICE, DUCAT and ION.

BRITISH ALE HOUSE

COOTIES

OLD COIN

CHARGED PARTICLE

Very cool.  I enjoyed the twist of figuring out the clues from the entries.

Other highlights:

9A. Perle who inspired “Call Me Madam” (MESTA).  I only know this from crosswords and, even so, I needed a bunch of crossings before I remembered the correct name.  MESTA doesn’t sound like a real name to me.  It reminds me of Mulva from Seinfeld.

15A. Stand buy (ADE).  Clever clue but does anybody really call it ADE?  You don’t go up to a stand and ask what kind of ades they have, do you?

26D. Piece of music (OPUS).  Speaking of Opus, did you see they released the Bloom County Complete Library Volume 1?  That’s going on my wish list.  My three favorite comic strips are: Bloom County, Calvin and Hobbes and The Far Side.  I think Berkeley Breathed, Bill Watterson and Gary Larson get together for tea and laugh about the dreck that remains in the comics page.  Just look at this.  Here’s a sample of a crappy comic strip called Daddy’s Home:

Ok, I’ll wait…no, I know you’re all in hysterics now from this incredibly funny comic strip so I’ll give you some time to collect yourself…ok, all good?  You see, this child with the raised arms can’t believe his parents won’t let him go.  Go where, you may ask.  Authors Tony Rubino and Gary Markstein (yes, it took two people to write this comic) don’t like to get caught up in details that may add depth to their story.  It’s up to the reader provide these details and judging from the wide-eyed panic on the child’s face and the drops of sweat shooting off the top of his hair I’m going to guess his parents are refusing to let him go to the local brothel.  The parents then exchange a few panels worth of witty banter with the father coming to the conclusion that by the time their son understands the reasoning behind their refusal it will already be too late.  The mother then expresses her dismay that her husband, whom she thought she know, doesn’t recognize the point at which his banter crosses the line into hurtful jabs at her poor parenting.  You can also tell by the proximity of each parent to the other that any passion that once existed has long since evaporated from their loveless marriage.

Not exactly the type of material conducive for an early morning chuckle, is it?  In contrast, here’s a Calvin and Hobbes:

[sigh]  The comics page sucks now.

55D. Sondheim’s “___ the Woods” (INTO).  I never pass up an opportunity to mention that this is just about my favorite musical of all time.  It also contains my favorite lyrics:

Only three more tries and we’ll have our prize.
When the end’s in sight,
You’ll realize:
If the end is right,
It justifies
The beans!

Really clever puzzle today.

Next stop, Thursday.