dannmann's NYT crossword puzzle ramblings

thursday, october 25, 2007
susan harrington smith / will shortz
















difficulty factor: not too bad for a thursday; it sure has it moments, however!


theme: a VERY cynical 18A ITALIAN 55A PROVERB: 23A "TO TRUST IS GOOD. 36A NOT TO 44A TRUST IS BETTER."

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the intensely private, and therefore, mysterious greta garbo (born greta lovisa gustafsson) was a swedish-born actress during the 1920s and 1930s. except during the first years of her career, she completely avoided publicity of any kind. she claimed that the famous line attributed to her: "i [Vant] to be alone," was never spoken by her; she insisted she said, "'i want to be let alone.' there is all the difference." according to ms. garbo, she was reclusive in part because she was "self-obsessed, depressive, and ashamed of her latrine-cleaner father." there are also those who maintain that her sexuality in conflict with religious mores of the time is major grounds for her shunning the limelight. her biographer barry paris stated that she was "technically bisexual, predominantly lesbian, and increasingly asexual as the years went by."

the massive news, sports, and entertainment complex known as 19A CNN center is located at 1 cnn center, marietta street, atlanta, georgia, usa.

"the 27A GILBERTS" (gilbert islands) were a hotbed of world war II activity during 1943-44.


election to membership into phi beta kappa society honors the quality and breadth of a collegiate student's undergraduate academic achievement, and will typically be conferred upon fewer than ten percent of each graduating class. a student who exhibit at least a 3.75 grade point average in liberal arts classes, as well as other specific and non-specific criteria is eligible for selection by other members who review student records each spring to identify candidates. each honoree traditionally receives a KEY...

a 37D DUET is a musical composition for two performers. somehow, sonny and cher managed to perform as a pop/rock duo throughout the 1960s and 1970s. (somebody must've dug those two crazy kids cuz they sold over eighty million records in that period!) they were one of the first of the somewhat likeable "hippie" acts to hit mainstream television with their own show "the sonny and cher comedy hour" on the ultra conservative cbs network.

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in the "your mileage may vary" category:
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best clue of the day: 48A "fighters for jeff davis"... it works for me!

best answer of the day: 41A RATIONAL... i have an appretiation for things that are logical, rational and provable.

worst clue of the day: 33A "kind of cup"... oh, forget it

worst answer of the day: 32D PRATTLE ON... i just lile the expression...


keep on keepin' on...

dann
all elements of the puzzle (grid layout, clues, and answers), NYT, NY Times, and The New York Times logo are ©2007 The New York Times