IMPORTANT NOTE: As of January 2015 MGWCC is a subscribers-only crossword. The cost is $26 per year, and you can subscribe (or get a free trial month first) here:
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:
Title: “Tongue-Tied”
Instructions: This week’s contest answer is a language.
Answer: DUTCH
We had a Week 1 for Week 2, like having breakfast for dinner. Or something like that…anyway, our five theme entries were:
17-A [Author of the bestselling memoirs “Hourglass” and “Slow Motion”] = DANI SHAPIRO
26-A [November Frankenfood] = TURDUCKEN
40-A [Egyptian Mau and Japanese Bobtail, for two] = SHORTHAIRED CATS. I’m realizing only now that I should’ve included a Siamese in the clue. Will change if this one makes it into the next book.
50-A [Skeezed out feeling] = THE CREEPS
63-A [Calling the shots] = BEHIND IT ALL
Each of those conceals a language: Danish, Urdu, Thai, Cree, and Hindi. The first letters of those spell out contest answer DUTCH.
Math Teacher Dave says:
Dank je!
RPardoe says:
My mother’s tongue…
cisalope writes:
Fun puzzle! And I’ve read those Shapiro books!
Ed says “hold my beer”:
I went to high school and college with Dani Shapiro!
And finally, marpocky writes:
I have a Dutch surname and the first time I went to the Netherlands, the immigration agent saw my name in my US passport and asked me if I spoke Dutch. When I said no, he asked me “why not?” and I couldn’t think of a good answer.
How about, “OK, I’ll learn — What’s Dutch for ‘Can it and stamp my passport, chump!’?”
This week’s winner, whose name was chosen at random from the 526 correct entries received, is M.M.. In addition to a MGWCC pen, pencil, and notepad set, M.M. will also receive a 1-year subscription to Matt Gaffney’s Daily Crossword.
USERNAMES NOW REQUIRED ON LEADERBOARD:
MGWCC Webmaster Dave Sullivan and I have changed the Username policy here: starting this week (actually it started last week…), solvers MUST submit BOTH a unique nickname and an e-mail address for all submissions. Dave and I spend a fair amount of time each week correcting entries of solvers who omit a nickname by mistake, so we’d like to eliminate that. Thanks!
THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS:
This week’s contest answer is a two-word phrase.
Solve well, and be not led astray by words intended to deceive.