比尔克林顿为《纽约时报》设计填字游戏

Bill Clinton pens NY Times' crossword puzzle 比尔克林顿为《纽约时报》设计填字游戏
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has a new pastime(1) far from fund raising for worthy causes -- designing a crossword puzzle for The New York Times. Clinton wrote the clues for an online crossword puzzle published this weekend by the Times, filled with puns(2), pop culture references and plays on words(3).
 

The theme of the puzzle is "Twistin' the Oldies," with clues seeking updated versions for baby boomers(4) of musical hits by artists such as Neil Sedaka and Carly Simon.
In an editor's note, Times' puzzle editor Will Shortz wrote: "The clues in this puzzle are a little more playful and involve more wordplay(5) than in a typical crossword. You have been warned."
Shortz told Reuters the Times gave Clinton the puzzle grid(6) and the theme, and the former president provided the clues. Shortz said he did very little editing.
"I wanted it to be Clinton's voice, not my voice," Shortz said. "I touched up(7) a few things here and there, but basically what President Clinton wrote for the clues is what appears in the puzzle.
"His clues make you laugh out loud," he added. "He's got a flair(8) for this."
Answers will be posted the weekend of May 11, the Times said.
A known crossword buff(9), Clinton appeared in the 2006 movie "Wordplay" about devotees and an annual puzzle convention.
Since leaving office in 2001, Clinton has worked as an advocate(10) for international relief efforts; launched the William J. Clinton Foundation which, among other efforts; is trying to make HIV and AIDS drugs more affordable; served as a spokesman in such health efforts as fighting childhood obesity, and organized the Clinton Global Initiative to help fight poverty, disease and climate change.
Most recently, he has been campaigning on behalf of his wife, U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic Party's presidential nomination(11) in the 2008 race for the White House.
1. pastime：消遣、娱乐
2. pun：双关语
3. plays on words：俏皮话
4. baby boom：婴儿潮，出生率突然、大幅度的增长，尤指从1947年到1961年二次世界大战后美国的出生率
5. wordplay：巧妙的语言，应答
6. grid：格子，这里指字谜的格子
7. touch up：润色
8. flair：天赋、本领
9. buff：狂热爱好者
10. advocate：提倡者
11. nomination：任命
除募集基金以外，美国前总统比尔?克林顿找到了另外一项有意义的消遣方式—为《纽约时报》设计填字游戏。
克林顿注提示的填字游戏中充满双关语、文化知识和俏皮话，将于本周末刊登在时报在线版。
本期填字游戏的主题为“怀旧金曲”，读者可依靠提示找出婴儿潮时代经典歌曲的升级版，例如Neil Sedaka和Carly Simon等艺术家的作品。
时报编辑Will Shortz写道：“游戏提示十分有意思，比一般的填字游戏拥有更多俏皮话。我可警告你了。”
Shortz对路透说时报将游戏方格和主题交给克林顿，其他全由这位前总统搞定。Shortz说他仅仅做了一点改动。
Shortz说：“我希望读者看到克林顿的话，而不是我的。我在某些地方稍作润色，但基本上还是克林顿的话。”
他补充说：“他的提示能让人捧腹大笑，对此他很有天分。”
时报称游戏答案将于周末5月11日公布。
克林顿是出名的填字游戏迷，曾出现在2006电影《填字游戏》中。此电影讲述文字游戏的狂热爱好者和一个年度字谜盛会。
2001年卸任后，克林顿为国际慈善事业做了很多努力：他成立William J. Clinton基金会，致力于降低艾滋病药片价格；担任健康发言人，呼吁解决儿童肥胖问题；组织克林顿全球倡议帮助改善贫穷、疾病和天气变化。
最近，他加入妻子Hillary Rodham Clinton的竞选宣传活动。Hillary作为美国议员，正在争取成为2008白宫美国民主党总统候选人。