04.12.09 -- Lullaby -- the Acrostic

Illustration from the film 1984
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Sunday, April 12, 2009
ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz
This Sunday’s acrostic brings us yet another quotation of one author commenting upon another. In this case, it is
Chuck Palahniuk in his novel Lullaby observing the activities of Big Brother from George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eight-Four. The quote is fairly complete as below, with the words in italics being omitted.
"Old GEORGE ORWELL GOT IT BACKWARD.
"BIG BROTHER ISN’T WATCHING. HE’S SINGING AND DANCING. HE’S PULLING RABBITS OUT OF A HAT. BIG BROTHER’S BUSY HOLDING YOUR ATTENTION EVERY MOMENT YOU’RE AWAKE. HE’S MAKING SURE YOU’RE always distracted. He’s making sure you’re FULLY ABSORBED."
The author’s name and the title of the work: CHUCK PALAHNIUK LULLABY
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The defined words: A. Cow or pony well past its prime, CROWBAIT; B. Crime committed by the eponymous Vidkun Quisling (2 wds.), HIGH TREASON; C. Like a house of cards, UNSTABLE; D. 1930s Savoy Ballroom bandleader (2 wds.), CHICK WEBB; E. Indian lager named for a bird, KINGFISHER; F. One and only, without equal, PEERLESS; G. Novel by Anne Brontë (2 wds.), AGNES GREY; H. Medical procedure whose pioneer won a 1949 Nobel Prize, LOBOTOMY; I. Chance to be heard, AUDITION; J. Way to ride a skeleton sled, HEADFIRST; K. Player flanked by defensive tackles (2 wds.), NOSE GUARD; I. “Avarice, the spur of INDUSTRY” (David Hume); M. Best-selling military memoirist (3 wds.), U S GRANT; N. Sir Walter Scott novel that includes Elizabeth I as a character, KENILWORTH; O. Vessel used by Viking explorers, LONGBOAT; P. Overly thin, UNDERWEIGHT; Q. Swarming pest familiar to southern drivers, LOVEBUG; R. Bone-to-bone band, LIGAMENT; S. Science connected with crop productions, AGRONOMY; T. Popular candy bar since 1923 (2 wds.), BABY RUTH; U. Toon with a sidekick named Boo Boo (2 wds.), YOGI BEAR.
So, is Big Brother peddling computers?
Seriously!
Click on image to enlarge.
Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games
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1 comment:

Leon said...

Thanks for the write-up and the Apple commercial.

Kenilworth made me think of Glengarry Glen Ross.

ROMA: You're a client. I just sold you five waterfront Glengarry Farms. I rub my head, throw me the cue "Kenilworth."