Crossword Nation : 2018-10-09 : Week 384 : GETTING IN TOUCH WITH ONE'S MASCULINE SIDE

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Time 8:17

Liz Gorski's introductory email to today's crossword gave some backstory on her search for a female crossword editor back in 2011 and the realization that there weren't anyway. As she puts it, "Sometimes you have to become the person you are looking for" and the crossword world is much improved by her pioneering of Crossword Nation. I continue to be amazed, if not shocked, at the lack of representation in positions of power, even in the offbeat world of crossword editorship. That said, I've been inspired, having only recently joined the crossword community, by the proactive approach the community has taken with recent initiatives like Women of Letters and Queer Qrosswords, which I encourage everyone to support, whether or not you think you'll get to the crosswords (which are great, by the way).

Today's crossword in anagram-themed with famous women clued as anagrams of their own names with a traditionally male first name:

  • "SAL CALAMARI" becomes MARIA CALLAS
  • "GARETH MACRO" becomes MARGARET CHO
  • "HANS LOOPIER" becomes SOPHIA LOREN
  • "CONRAD MAIZE" becomes CAMERON DIAZ
Today I learned that Jonas SALK discovered the first polio vaccine in 1955 and that Roberto DURAN is a four-weight boxing world champion from Panama.

Time to return to my SCOTCH in this hotel in Dhaka before returning to the MESS that is my suitcase (and my inbox, ugh). 

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