Dear Editor,

I’ve been a long-time reader and I was very disappointed with your recent crossword puzzle, especially after seeing the purported solution. First of all, I question the wisdom of having a puzzle where you’re told to remove one letter from each word before entering it in the grid. What’s the point of that? And also I’m a stickler for crossword conventions, so I can’t let it pass unmentioned that the central square in your 9x9 grid has no down clue passing through it. The choice to have a few black squares in the first line preceding square 1 is also questionable.

But my biggest complaint is with the clues themselves. I could go through every single one and explain why the capitalized answer in your solution lists is completely nonsensical, or perhaps only corresponds to a portion of the clue. In fact, maybe I’ll just do that.

1A So…the clue here is ‘Acquire a near miss.’ But I don’t see how you can get the answer of EARN out of having someone “acquire” a narrowly avoided collision.

So…the clue here is ‘Acquire a near miss.’ But I don’t see how you can get the answer of EARN out of having someone “acquire” a narrowly avoided collision. 4A Sure, a YAP is a particular type of “bark”, to quote a portion of your clue, but is it really one that’s done in revenge?

Sure, a YAP is a particular type of “bark”, to quote a portion of your clue, but is it really one that’s done in revenge? 6A What is even going on here? Someone sermonizes but isn’t entitled to have “fruit”? I guess PEACHES is that fruit but I’m lost with why.

What is even going on here? Someone sermonizes but isn’t entitled to have “fruit”? I guess PEACHES is that fruit but I’m lost with why. 10A Oh man, I love PHIL, or “singer Collins” as you call him! How could anyone ever get tired of his music being played?

Oh man, I love PHIL, or “singer Collins” as you call him! How could anyone ever get tired of his music being played? 12A No clue why this one is DEARTH, but this is reminding me of my “insufficiency” at fixing my jammed sewing machine. Grr...

No clue why this one is DEARTH, but this is reminding me of my “insufficiency” at fixing my jammed sewing machine. Grr... 13A I admit I’m not familiar with Middle Eastern cellular companies but is this one’s “nemesis” really named ENEMY? That can’t be good for business.

I admit I’m not familiar with Middle Eastern cellular companies but is this one’s “nemesis” really named ENEMY? That can’t be good for business. 15A So... I’m supposed to “glance” at the cartoon skunk? I’d rather PEEP at that cat he chases.

So... I’m supposed to “glance” at the cartoon skunk? I’d rather PEEP at that cat he chases. 16A Sure, a “nettender” will encourage their team, but I don’t think every GOALIE plays college soccer for the Flames in Tennessee.

Sure, a “nettender” will encourage their team, but I don’t think every GOALIE plays college soccer for the Flames in Tennessee. 18A A specific “song”? I don’t have many albums from animated features, but it seems there would be more than one TUNE on them.

A specific “song”? I don’t have many albums from animated features, but it seems there would be more than one TUNE on them. 20A I can understand any Boston fan who “hollers” or YELLS at their all-star outfielder who was signed away to the Yankees.

I can understand any Boston fan who “hollers” or YELLS at their all-star outfielder who was signed away to the Yankees. 23A So someone’s continuing to “supply” their side even when they’ve capitulated? It’s hard to RENDER a verdict on how I feel about this one.

So someone’s continuing to “supply” their side even when they’ve capitulated? It’s hard to RENDER a verdict on how I feel about this one. 26A I’m in the market for a new pair of SKIS, but if acquiring some “alpine downhill footwear” means I have to get my soul sucked out in Azkaban, no thanks.

I’m in the market for a new pair of SKIS, but if acquiring some “alpine downhill footwear” means I have to get my soul sucked out in Azkaban, no thanks. 27A Reading this about this “religious devotee” doing his job while drinking beer makes being an APOSTLE sound fun. A lot more than trying this crossword was.

Reading this about this “religious devotee” doing his job while drinking beer makes being an APOSTLE sound fun. A lot more than trying this crossword was. 29A Huh? The “fellows” of quantities like 5, 37, 167, and 691 are... all MEN? Is math the popular thing among guys these days?

Huh? The “fellows” of quantities like 5, 37, 167, and 691 are... all MEN? Is math the popular thing among guys these days? 30A The value of a bond held until the call date doesn’t seem to have a lot to do with a SEED. The author of these is definitely a “nut, for one”.

The value of a bond held until the call date doesn’t seem to have a lot to do with a SEED. The author of these is definitely a “nut, for one”. 1D Hey! I get that “once around the track” is a LAP, but don’t tell me to go clockwise, buddy!

Hey! I get that “once around the track” is a LAP, but don’t tell me to go clockwise, buddy! 2D I guess a buck or doe might eat a “bog stick”, but it’s a bit silly to think they’d point the roots of a REED towards the sky.

I guess a buck or doe might eat a “bog stick”, but it’s a bit silly to think they’d point the roots of a REED towards the sky. 3D Who is this NATE guy and am I to believe he’s accusing the first woman in space of sneaking “silver” onboard her flight?

Who is this NATE guy and am I to believe he’s accusing the first woman in space of sneaking “silver” onboard her flight? 4D She’s not my TYPE, but I appreciate the “style” of that 2017 album Witness.

She’s not my TYPE, but I appreciate the “style” of that 2017 album Witness. 5D So a PINE “tree” is not even a vertebrate creature, obviously it doesn’t have scoliosis.

So a PINE “tree” is not even a vertebrate creature, obviously it doesn’t have scoliosis. 7D I feel bad for these HARPIES or “bird women”, their markers are going to dry out if they lose the caps.

I feel bad for these HARPIES or “bird women”, their markers are going to dry out if they lose the caps. 8D I’ve never been to a “lake” in Cleveland or Buffalo, so I can’t relate to the author who says he was in ERIE once in the past.

I’ve never been to a “lake” in Cleveland or Buffalo, so I can’t relate to the author who says he was in ERIE once in the past. 9D No, Dorothy’s metal friend from Oz is not a “League of Legends Character”, and he wasn’t named SHEN.

No, Dorothy’s metal friend from Oz is not a “League of Legends Character”, and he wasn’t named SHEN. 11D You want offers of some exemplars of “stories” of LEGENDS, huh? Try how legendarily bad this clue is!

You want offers of some exemplars of “stories” of LEGENDS, huh? Try how legendarily bad this clue is! 14D EMO is not my favorite “rock style”, but I bet this cocktail from The Simpsons would make it more palatable (and probably make these clues easier to read, too!)

EMO is not my favorite “rock style”, but I bet this cocktail from The Simpsons would make it more palatable (and probably make these clues easier to read, too!) 17D I’ll agree that the lead singer of Electric Light Orchestra is pretty FLY, but does he really “glide”?

I’ll agree that the lead singer of Electric Light Orchestra is pretty FLY, but does he really “glide”? 18D A “journey” without pants is a rubbish idea for a TRIP, I agree. But this still isn’t a good clue.

A “journey” without pants is a rubbish idea for a TRIP, I agree. But this still isn’t a good clue. 19D Okay, you can make all of the proclamations you want, but I won’t believe that NEON nor any other “noble gas” would be able to support a leg joint atop it.

Okay, you can make all of the proclamations you want, but I won’t believe that NEON nor any other “noble gas” would be able to support a leg joint atop it. 21D LIKE Malcolm X after his Hajj? I’m not sure I know of anyone “similar”.

LIKE Malcolm X after his Hajj? I’m not sure I know of anyone “similar”. 22D Ugh, I hate LINT, and I never want to get “clothing fluff” anywhere near my digestive tract.

Ugh, I hate LINT, and I never want to get “clothing fluff” anywhere near my digestive tract. 24D Is this saying DITS and “Dashes’ partner”, whoever they are, can fix the light body damage on my car?

Is this saying DITS and “Dashes’ partner”, whoever they are, can fix the light body damage on my car? 25D I once had the ROLE where I had to take a record of attendance - I had to “position” myself to the front of the class.

I once had the ROLE where I had to take a record of attendance - I had to “position” myself to the front of the class. 28D Whew, we’re finally at the END of our list! Which apparently has something to do with the “terminus” of some boulders at Gettysburg.

And finally, what am I supposed to do with these blanks?