So how do today's puzzle composers assure us that we aren't just solving a recycled crossword from one of those past decades?  They include words or names which could only have come to our attention in the past few years or so.  It's interesting to note that some of these more "current" words and names are already attaining the "frequently used in many crosswords" label.  Plus which we can probably make predictions about others which will be added to that "often-used in crosswords" list.  See if you don't agree about some of the following examples.

Computers and the internet seem to be giving crossword puzzles the most action in the "what's new and popular" field.

GATES...What better place to start than with "Computer Bill" or "Microsoft's Bill" or any number of other clues which help define this industry maven.  Considering continuing litigation regarding Microsoft along with resultant news coverage, he will probably remain a favorite of the cluemeisters.You can find all of the "official" information at the "official" Microsoft site by clicking on his photo above.  There is also the "unofficial" Bill Gates site which contains a multitude of links to information (both pro and con) about the man which can be reached by clicking on the high-lighted words at the beginning of this sentence.

NERD...A slang term which has quickly found its way into the mainstream of our English language vocabulary and which has also quickly found its way into the vocabulary of puzzle designers.  Whether it is clued as "computer nut" or the more formal "computer aficionado", nerd is the word of choice.  We could also include here another picture of Bill Gates, a self-proclaimed "computer nerd", but the picture here seems more appropriate somehow.  It indicates that the NERD is now the subject of a daily comic strip, and you can see examples by clicking on the picture.

HACKER...Usually referred to as "on-line menace" or something similar in crosswords, the popularity of the term has been perpetuated by a series of movies on the subject..."War Games", "The Net" and "Hackers" to name a few.

NET...Clues such as "aerialist's insurance" have now given way to "the inter-_ _ _"  and "world wide web" as an indication of changing times.

PCS...Personal computers (PCs) often show up in crosswords now, usually as "mac rivals" or "desk-top computers".

SPAM...This famous "meal in a can" has also been popular with clue writers and puzzle composers almost from its origin in the 1930s, but recently it has been commandeered as a slang expression designating "unwanted e-mail" or "junk e-mail".   As the electronic world continues to expand around us, I suspect that we will see more of the latter clues than the earlier.

Over the years crossword solvers have become well acquainted with coins such as the peso, the sou, the dime and the rial.  A new monetary item has now entered the field.

EURO... We've already been introduced to clues such as "prefix with dollar or trash" and "rival to the Yankee dollar" and with its introduction as the standard monetary currency throughout Europe, we can logically expect to see many a clever clue for it in upcoming puzzles.  You can learn all about these brand new banknotes and coins as well as which European countries have become participants in this new monetary system by clicking HERE or on the high-lighted EURO above.
 

Politics seldom play much of a role with the cluemeisters, but "4-term president" FDR, and "FDR's successor" HST continue to get their share of the action. We might still see RENO clued as  the "first woman U.S. Attorney General", but "Nevada city" is once again the front runner clue for the word.  As for GORE or ALGORE, we no longer have "Clinton's veep" to kick around in puzzles any more, and just as NEWT has gone back to being a "small salamander" rather than the "_ _ _ _  Gingrich" of past years, ALGORE is probably also on his way to crossword oblivion.
 

In the field of Sports "hurler Hershiser" will continue to be OREL and "former tennis great Arthur" ASHE will also find his place in puzzles.  Coming on strong, although still no match for JAI ALAI, is a "racing sled" and "1964 Olympics addition", the LUGE.Click on the luge picture for its history.

Although LONI Anderson and TERI Garr still have their clue writer fans, two recent additions, "Actress Thurman"...UMA and "a Baldwin"...ALEC seem to be at the forefront for crossword acting honors.  As for movie titles, there have been no releases in the past several years that are likely to unseat the current favorites "Norma RAE", "GIGI" and "LILI".

Finally we have the category of toy fads.  It's hard to remember a year since the HULAHOOP or the introduction of Barbie's boyfriend KEN that there has been any concentrated interest from the cluemeisters.  We may now may have a contender, however.  It's the only real competition to the teddy bear to ever come along.  I'm referring to FURBY, a runaway Christmas toy favorite.  I'll leave it to clever clue composers to come up with an appropriate clue.  Click on Furby's picture for information on same.
 

CROSSWORD LINKS

If you are into online crosswords, and have a Java-powered browser, you might like to try Timothy Parker's Universal Crossword.  Just click on the logo below.

Copyright 1999 C. Schnebel, Revised 2002
All rights reserved

Return to Starview Home Page

FastCounter by bCentral