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Let's get Fred Piscop a job! The "nation's newspaper" should have a quality crossword editor, and I think Fred is a good, logical choice for that position. Here's a comparison of themes/theme entries from the last four Parker-edited USAT puzzles with four that Fred did the editing (in a kind of a rush situation, I might add).
The quality difference seems quite clear to me. Join me in urging that Fred Piscop's temporary status as USAT crossword editor be made permanent.
USA TODAY 4/30 Fishy Personalities by Fred Piscop
Fishy “Star Wars” hero? FLUKE SKYWALKER
Fishy actress in “The Aviator”? SKATE BECKINSALE
Fishy U.S. president? PIKE EISENHOWER
USA TODAY 4/29 Free Throes by Fred Piscop
Maps of Arctic ice movement? FLOE CHARTS
Establishment of blackthorn farms? SLOE STARTS
Places to get caviar? ROE HOUSES
Mobile podiatry offices? TOE TRUCKS
USA TODAY 4/28 Beneficial Elements by Frank Longo
Element used by a Trojan War hero? ACHILLES HELIUM
Element used by a highway patrol cop? SMOKEY BARIUM
Element used by a sore loser? BITTER ERBIUM
Element used by a Green Beret? COMMANDO RADIUM
USA TODAY 4/27 MV Tease by Elizabeth C. Gorski
Tarzan’s standard pick-up line? YOUR PLACE OR VINE
Sally’s wicked habit? FIELD VICE
Utterly boring egoists? VAIN DRAGS
Angelic woman of letters? VANNA FROM HEAVEN
USA TODAY 4/26 Talking About You by Victor Fleming
Health and happiness WELL BEING
Tend to LOOK AFTER
Invitation recipient’s query WHO’S GOING
Feline caller’s words HERE KITTY
Greeting clued by the first parts of … SPEAK OF THE DEVIL
USA TODAY 4/25 King Movies by Fred Piscop
1958 Elvis movie KING CREOLE
1961 Elvis movie BLUE HAWAII
1962 Elvis movie KID GALAHAD
1964 Elvis movie ROUSTABOUT
USA TODAY 4/24 Presidential Firsts by Fred Piscop
President of the U.S. (1929-33) was his first elected office HERBERT HOOVER
President of the U.S. (1849-50) was his first elected office ZACHARY TAYLOR
President of the U.S. (1969-77) was his first elected office ULYSSES S. GRANT
Here are the last four "Timothy Parker-edited" puzzles prior to his "step-back":
USA TODAY 3/2 Smile for the Camera by Lucia Cole
House surrounder in the American dream PICKET FENCE
Visually attractive PICTURESQUE
Lace edging PICOT
Cowboy’s vehicle PICKUP TRUCK
Parts of state parks PICNIC AREAS
USA TODAY 3/3 A Better Puzzle by Mary Jersey
Heart rate reduced BETA BLOCKER
Currently unemployed BETWEEN JOBS
“Friday the 13th” actress BETSEY PALMER
Barney’s wife BETTY RUBBLE
USA TODAY 3/4 Be First by Bill Bobb
The Masters posting LEADER BOARD
Comparatively weighty HEAVY AS LEAD
Get a dance started TAKE THE LEAD
What a starlet wants to be LEADING LADY
USA TODAY 3/5 In Other Words by Norman Wizer
Burned-out post office? CASE OF BLACKMAIL
Chitterlings chef? MAN WITH GUTS
Remains of a no-good pharaoh? CRUMMY MUMMY
Squirrel’s nest? NUTCRACKER SUITE
Bruce
