Okay but which one? There obviously was another step. People at ENRON? Maybe? Who are some names? Kenneth Lay, Jeffrey Skilling, Andrew Fastow…hmmm. I did a bit of research after realizing I must have missed a step. And you’re gobsmacked and you’re wondering. I’ve had students before – and this happens to me – that pick C with such sterling confidence to realize the answer is B. So when I saw that I didn’t make it, I was surprised, for sure. It probably should’ve crossed my mind that ENRON was not a person in the literal sense, but I like some metas that make you reinterpret the prompt, though there aren’t too many. Perhaps it was a stretch, but I will be perfectly honest: Not for one millisecond did I think there was another step. I could say the same about the Statue of Liberty (“the answer to the meta is a well-known American”). So we’re using personification here: ENRON is an American. So as soon as ENRON came up, I – maybe in my weird punny mindset – reinterpreted the prompt. I was actually a bit curious as to how an infamous American was going to come up in the puzzle, especially if it was a name that maybe was polarizing or off-putting. I saw the director, quickly researched ELY was on “Love Boat” (seemed about right!), and then we were off.Īnd then ENRON, and I thought that was hilarious, and this was the switch in my mind. “Goodness, I see MEL OTT all the time.” Oh, wait a minute. I remembered some rather longer clues I think the one about the sports name in crosswords came up. I wonder if there are some others.” MEL OTT came next, and I believe I was off and running.Īnd, of course, you try the typical, “Do these names spell out anything? Any clues?” It’d be pretty wild if Matt found these pairs of three-letter names and got them to spell something out! Nothing immediately. I sort of saw RON ELY maybe? And I was like, “There’s a classic crossword name. I would eat a MORAY OMELET! I’m not sure what went off first. I see the grid – love those silly themers. So, inside my mind, which is mostly just cats, crosswords, coffee, calculus, and Cubbies. although i think the MEL thing was coincidence, since GERI was not otherwise used in the theme-none of the other first names (AMY, ANG, RON, or MAN) were double-clued in the fill.īut hey, i got there, and it was ultimately very satisfying. in particular, the fact that MEL and OTT were both staring me in the face should have had me thinking harder. but i feel i was slow to grasp the key features of the puzzle, and maybe it was more obvious to look for both halves of the relevant names. i wouldn’t have thought of him because it’s often (usually?) kenneth, but he definitely fits the prompt, and he did live into the 21st century. ohhhh, okay, it’s disgraced enron executive KEN LAY. The first letters of those other clues spell out ENRON. all right, what are the theme answers? there are five long answers in the grid, each of which is a made-up two-word phrase: for this week 3 puzzle, matt challenges us to find an infamous American of the 20th and 21st centuries. Hello and welcome to episode #742 of matt gaffney’s weekly crossword contest, “Chain Gang”.
0 kommentar(er)
