CROSSWORD #240

ACROSS LITE PUZZLE: [ THEMELESS MONDAY] 
PROGRAM: [Across Lite]

PROGRAM: [Java]

PRINTOUT PUZZLE: [ THEMELESS MONDAY]
PROGRAM: [Adobe Acrobat]

Puzzle genius Merl Reagle threw out this gem of a riddle that kind of needs to be shared. Only problem, it involves a key answer in today's puzzle. So, if you're so inclined to see it, just highlight the following text:

Wimbledon record-breakers ISNER & MAHUT can be rearranged to form what two synonyms?

Pretty brilliant, no?

I am pretty much in awe of anybody who can anagram words like that. And Merl's got the kind of brain that can do this on command. You'd think that since playing with words is part of my job description, I'd be a monster at scrambling words. Not really. I mean, when I have to anagram words (like say that blue moon day I'm solving a cryptic) I write the letters out in a circle and hope I see the new pattern. Plug ugly and certainly a rank-amateur move.

Now, we know my non-skills at Scrabble have become a recurring meme on this site. And certainly the ugly fact I cannot place the tiles in a circle means I cannot anagram and therefore eliminates any possibility of bingoing. So, the moral is, if you really want me to play that dumb board game with you, we have to forgo the racks and allow some 3-D tile juggling.

Having said all that, it bears repeating that Nancy Salomon discovered BRENDAN E. QUIGLEY anagrams into DRAG QUEEN BY-LINE. Do with that information/discovery what you will.

A small reminder, I have some small costs to keep this site running smoothly, and if you found this month's puzzles enjoyable, a small tip of $5, $10, or $20 would make all the difference in the world. One randomly selected donor who gives this week will receive their choice of anything they care for from the ole' BEQ gift shoppe. Thanks again for the support.

Share the puzzle. New one on Thursday.

UPDATE: The Visual Thesaurus contest puzzle went live on Friday. Do it here.