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:
www.mgwcc.com
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:
Where in the world was last week’s meta-country? Look to the Merl Reagle-style puns for the answer:
17-A [Hoops team named for this country’s currency?] = THE INDIANA PESOS. That narrows it down to eight.
24-A [A bite to eat while reading this country’s literary hero in a cafe?] = BORGES AND FRIES. Borges’ surname is usually pronounced “boar-hess” by English speakers, but the pun works better if you use the Spanish pronunciation (where the ‘g’ is a fricative, similar to ‘ch’ in German).
40-A [Tarantino movie about this country’s national dance?] = TANGO UNCHAINED.
53-A [So excited about this country’s soccer king entering the stadium?] = BEGGING FOR MESSI. Here’s the most recent example of his goal-scoring cleverness, using his signature fake-everyone-out-then-dink-it-over-the-goalie move:
PESO, BORGES, TANGO, and MESSI all add up to meta answer ARGENTINA, found by 483 solvers.
We’ll skip the Argentina puns and move right to the controversy: a bevy of solvers took issue with my clue for POUTINES at 35-D, which was [Canadian light meals]. Par exemple:
mrbreen:
Had me some foie gras poutine last night. Certainly not light, but oh so delicious.
bananarchy:
POUTINES are certainly not light meals. At least if done right.
thepiranha:
Calling poutine a light meal is like calling Babe Ruth a singles hitter
Meg:
I would hardly call poutine a light meal! Fries, gravy and cheese curds. Those wacky Canadians!
cor:
A better clue for 35 down might have been “heavy Quebec meal”. Did you ever taste it? My treat to you, the next time you are in Montreal – let me know.
Well hey, at least I got an invite out of it! I have in fact eaten poutine in Quebec twice, in Quebec City and in Mont-Laurier. But never in Montreal; hopefully soon, on cor’s dime.
I was going for “light” in the sense of — oh, forget it. Poutine’s not a light anything. But it is very good.
Let’s erase the gravy-covered memory of PoutineGate by indeed printing the three worst Argentina puns from the week:
canyouneilthelovetonight suggests:
What about a nice game of MUSICAL CHES or a fairly good poker hand, PERON NINES.
FearlessKim:
Clue: pretentious equine from this country? Answer: PAMPAS ASS
Redhead64:
What did someone who couldn’t solve this first-week puzzle say? ARG.!
And finally: when solver Joshua Kosman submitted the correct answer at 12:03, I had to know how he did it — especially since the puzzle didn’t go out until 12:01. Here’s all he needed to get the meta:
Now that’s living on the edge!
This week’s winner, whose name was chosen randomly from the 483 correct entries received, is Jude Liszkiewicz of Dagsboro, Del. In addition to a MGWCC pen, pencil and notepad set, Jude will also receive a signed copy of my book Pocket Posh Easy Crosswords.
LAST WEEK’S WINNER:
I ran monthly winners for April last week but neglected to select the weekly winner for #360. He is Dave Hanson of Mounds View, Minn., and will receive both a MGWCC stationery set as well as a subscription to Peter Gordon’s Fireball Newsflash Crosswords.
THE INDIE 500:
Just a few more weeks to register for the Indie 500. I’ll be there, and perhaps you will be as well.
THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS:
This week’s contest answer is a famous musical duo.
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:
www.mgwcc.com
Solve well, and be not led astray by words intended to deceive.