From this week's "Talk to The Times" web Q&A with crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz:It's true that the word URINE has never appeared in a New York Times crossword — or any other crossword I'm aware of. Margaret Farrar, The Times's first crossword editor (1942-69), followed the philosophy of "good news only," not allowing unpleasant and impolite language, and this rule still holds today. As Merl Reagle, crossword constructor extraordinaire, explained in "Wordplay": "They're sitting there relaxing ... and here comes RECTAL? I don't think so."
6 comments:
Fine with me.
There's enough bad news in the rest of the paper to make up for any shortfall in the crossword puzzle.
No way you guys ever worked at the Times. You're too funny.
Today's puzzle includes VISCERA, clued as [Innards,] which may not be as crass, but still isn't something you want to find on your table at breakfast.
Sunday's LA Times puzzle based a theme entry on the term DESCENDING COLON.
In the July 5 Sunday Times Magazine puzzle, the clue for 77 Down was POOP. To my disappointment, the answer turned out to be INFO.
I honestly find it stunning that people this uptight and out of touch are still alive, let alone bringing me so much joy.
And yet today he lets in 24A: "You might grind it out" {BUTT}.
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