ACROSS LITE PUZZLE: [ ME AND MY SHADOW]
PROGRAM: [Across Lite]
PROGRAM: [Java]
PRINTOUT PUZZLE: [ ME AND MY SHADOW]
PROGRAM: [Adobe Acrobat]
I had a friend who, after a couple two-three adult beverages, used to go on and on about the so-called shadow governments that were slowly taking over the planet. He’d go on about how they were watching our every move, making our food unfit to eat, etc. He’d say that once the transition of power is complete, masonic symbols would be everywhere. That sort of thing. Almost always, the rest of us who were listening to him ramble would punctuate his spiel by taking out our wallets and examining our dollar bills saying, “yup, the eye is most definitely getting closer to the pyramid.”
Anyway, this past Christmas, my brother-in-law’s family gave me a book by Jon Ronson called “Them.” It was humorously-detailed gonzo journalism about of the lives of paranoid extremists. The people who were onto the Secret Rulers of the World. You know, the ones who’ve dedicated their lives to pointing out that alien lizards control the world banks. Those sorts of fruitcakes.
It was an entertaining book, but I wonder what the hell Geof was thinking when he bought it? Did he and his wife wander around Powell’s and go: “this book has Brendan’s name written all over it?” They did such a fantastic job with everybody else, completely nailing everyone’s likes … did they really think I was into the shadow governments? Do I really come across that paranoid? I asked myself: “did I look to see if the eye was closing in on the pyramid on the back of the dollar at their wedding last June?” Maybe I really am that paranoid?
Anyway, for Presidents Day, I decided we should probably acknowledge the rest of those who are in charge. So, whoever you are, this puzzle’s for you.
(Anyone who might be interested in another one of my puzzles along this same line, I offer you this classic from The Onion back on 12/6/06.)
Editor’s Note: I reposted the updated puzzle roughly 9:00 p.m. Monday 2/16/09. The offending entry is gone now, lawsuit dropped, wolves kept at bay, etc. The moral, as always, don’t fuck around with those in power. Oh, and, if you ever need a good attorney, I can’t recommend my lawyer Don Bixtler enough. The guy is legend.
Wow, they shut it down that fast?? They must be loyal fans!!
Is it me, or did you cheat on 43a? Even if you did, 18a makes up for it.
I’ve heard of 43a (allowing for the slight contraction), 50a, and 55a, but 18a and 28a sent me to Wikipedia for (ahem) illumination.
Jimmy D and Ephraim, shhhh! Or they will come for you, too.
Boo! To the “powers that be”. Luckily I completed the puzzle at work this morning. Fantastic puzzling again as far as I am concerned. Hope to see it back up for the rest of the group to enjoy.
The original puzzle is still up, I see, there just isn’t any link to it.
Worth the wait. My “is it a typo” of the day: I tend to think of BEELINE as a noun and “Straightaway” as an adjective– if there’s overlap between the two, I don’t know it. Special points for the BILDERBERG GROUP, which I was sure was a typo, but no, it’s a real thing!
And of course, you’ve beaten everyone to the punch with OCTOMOM.
So now 20a has the right number of W’s in it, complementing last Friday’s Wacky Weekend Warrior puzzle. But 59a has antlers, not horns. A horn is a permanent growth, while antlers are deciduous. 59a is definitely in the latter camp.
I think “Straightaway” is fine — the uncurved portion of a racetrack is, like BEELINE, unquestionably a noun.
Wow. You made a whole new grid. Ironically I did the original puzzle and am still not totally sure what was so ‘offending.’
I guess I am just missing someone’s brand equity that they feel the need to protect.
cool, double double-u’s…but i miss the numbers!
I don’t get people who don’t get “shadow governments.”
For example: The Bilderberg Group meets every year, and includes top people in government, business, finances, and media from all over the world. Their meetings are held in secrecy and they don’t report to anyone, despite many of the participants holding high-ranking positions in government. For example, new Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner attended last year’s event in Turkey.
People who are drawn to power tend to be the ones least trustworthy with it — that’s why we have a Constitution, to limit the power of those who hold it.
Citizenship is not a spectator sport, but if you can’t summon the skepticism to wonder what they’re talking about behind closed doors, at least be kind enough not to mock those who can.