google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Tuesday, October 8, 2013 Clive Probert

Advertisements

Oct 8, 2013

Tuesday, October 8, 2013 Clive Probert

Theme: First, a bit of information - and I'm not trying to steal your identity.

17A. Shows off one's connections : NAME DROPS

21A. Top of the charts : NUMBER ONE

32A. Modernized pre-1949 auto : STREET ROD

45A. Metropolitan distance unit : CITY BLOCK

58A. Aptly named Nevada border community known for its casinos : STATELINE

64A. Lunchbox sandwich protector : ZIPLOC BAG

Argyle here. Clive is working up to do a Monday's; he's done the other weekdays. I'm sure he can do it but may have to cut the number of theme entries.

Across:

1. Big bird of myth : ROC. Big bird of crosswords, too.

4. Spiny desert plants : CACTI

9. Bathysphere's domain : OCEAN. Reminds me of a song by America.

14. Thurman of "Batman & Robin" : UMA

15. Underway : AFOOT

16. Like one in the sulks : POUTY

19. What the truth sometimes does : HURTS

20. When repeated, soothing words : THERE, THERE.

23. Tanning site : SALON

24. Strips off : PEELS

25. "Buzz off!" : "SCAT!"

28. Next-generation relatives : NIECES

37. Hold dear : ADORE

38. Stat for Mariano Rivera : ERA

39. No-no : TABOO

41. Tell a whopper : LIE

42. Mag with relationship quizzes : COSMO

48. Way up or down : STAIRS

50. Do in, as a dragon : SLAY

51. Wild Australian dog : DINGO


54. Pub order : DRAFT

62. Powerful explosive, familiarly : NITRO

63. Three-time Tony winner Uta : HAGEN. WIKI

66. Eyeball-bending pictures : OP ART

67. Somewhat wet : MOIST

68. Physician's org. : AMA

69. Wavy dos : PERMS

70. At exactly the right time : ON CUE

71. Agreeable response : YES

Down:

1. Litters' littlest : RUNTS

2. Nebraska city on the Missouri : OMAHA


3. Caravan beast : CAMEL

4. Rhythmic flow : CADENCE

5. Congo's cont. : AFR. (Africa)

6. Ring-tailed critter, to Crockett : COON. Also, a cap to Dan'l.

7. Refill to the brim : TOP UP

8. "Who's there?" response : "IT'S ME"

9. Hamlet's love : OPHELIA. She died, just like all the rest.

10. Flowed swiftly : COURSED. Death coursed through the last act of "Hamlet".

11. Cyprus currency : EURO

12. "To whom it actually does concern" letters : ATTN. If anyone still writes letters.

13. Wall St. institution : NYSE. New York Stock Exchange

18. Uneven, as a leaf's edge : EROSE

22. "Big" London attraction : BEN. The bell.

26. ABA dues payer : ATT. (attorney)

27. Gillette's __ II razor : TRAC

29. Wyo. neighbor : COLO.

30. Idle of Monty Python : ERIC

31. Hide's partner : SEEK

32. "In a few __" : SECS

33. Equine gait : TROT

34. Tabula __: blank slate : RASA

35. Japanese sash : OBI

36. Two lowercase letters have them : DOTS. (i, j)

40. Olive __ : OYL. Popeye's 'goyl'.

43. Heavily weighted exam : MIDTERM

44. Points in the right direction : ORIENTS

46. It's unpleasant when things end on one : BAD NOTE

47. Like some poetry : LYRIC

49. NBC show that launched many comics' careers : SNL

52. Doodad : GIZMO

53. French __ soup : ONION. Maybe for lunch today.

55. Held in check : AT BAY

56. Picture holder : FRAME

57. Frat party wear : TOGAs

58. Look for bargains : SHOP

59. Weak-ankle support : TAPE

60. Ice cream thickener : AGAR

61. Spectacular : EPIC

65. Baton Rouge sch. : LSU. (Louisiana State University)


Argyle

Note from C.C.:

Man oh man! Today is the birthday of the nice guy who always says "Best wishes to you all" every time he posts. Happy Birthday, dear Jayce! I've met quite a few Americans who speak fluent Chinese, but not many read and understand written Chinese. Jayce does, and he understands my every whimsy thought.


Jayce and his lovely wife on their wedding day

Click here to see two more pictures of Jayce.


73 comments:

OwenKL said...

To address this theme you are asked.
To begin, you must know first and last.
The one is a given,
The other you've striven
To live up to, or erase from your past.

Next you must locate a house;
A domicile (shared with a spouse?).
To nine-one-one explain
That the numerals are plain,
Else firemen the wrong house might douse!

Penultimate steps, I say bluntly,
Relate to your place in the country.
The hamlet or town
Where you're settling down
And its provenance, be it red, blue, or sundry.

That brings you to one final node:
The five or the nine digit code.
Though it may seem mysterious
The postmen, imperious,
Say, "use it, or we'll make you a toad!"

NAME, NUMBER/STREET, CITY/STATE, ZIP. A simple puzzle for Tuesday, but it wasn't until after I was finished that I identified the theme.

desper-otto said...

This was another speed run. Argyle, thanks for 'splainin' the theme. I looked at those answers and didn't see anything in common.

Happy Birthday, Jayce! You still don't want to retire?

Barry G. said...

Morning, all!

Blew through this one with only a little hesitation at TOP UP (again) and ITS ME (wanted IT IS I). Totally didn't even notice the theme until I was finished, but appreciated it once I saw it.

Nice poem, Owen!

[oundthey]

fermatprime said...

Greetings!

Couldn't post yesterday, but really enjoyed the puzzle, Gail and Bruce. Thanks also for the thorough write-up, Argyle. Great detail!

Thanks for today's offering, Clive, and expo, Argyle!

Both were speed runs. Nothing to talk about today. No write-overs or unknowns.

Cheers!

fermatprime said...

Happy birthday, Jayce! Cool pictures!

Hahtoolah said...

Good Morning, Argyle and friends. Interesting theme. Like Owen, I didn't see the theme until after I finished the puzzle in its entirety.

Sometimes the answer is IT IS I and other times the answer is IT'S ME!

A DINGO really did eat her baby.

CAMEL must be the word of the week.

My favorite clue was a Way Up or Down = STAIRS.

The bell called Big BEN is housed in the Elizabeth Tower.

It's always fun to see LSU. Geaux, Tigers!

Happy Birthday, Jayce! Hope you have a wonderful and restful Birthday.

QOD: It’s rare when you have everything going perfectly all at the same time. ~ Sigourney Weaver (Oct. 8, 1949)

[myknothe]

thehondohurricane said...

Good morning everyone,

Got through todays offering without much trouble. A couple of errors that were quickly corrected. 26D Aty/ATT & 23A Sauna/SALON.

Didn't care for 47D Like some poetry/LYRIC. Lyrical seems more appropriate to me. I'm sure one or more of our resident lyricists will educate me.

29d Wyo neighbor/COLO reminded me of a 10 day stretch I spent on a working ranch in Wyoming. A "vacation" never to be forgotten.

Happy birthday Jayce. Enjoy the day.






Spitzboov said...

Good morning everyone. Thanks, Argyle for explaining the theme. I was thinking of the DINGO clip before coming here.

Happy Birthday Jayce. Hope you celebrate it well.

Smooth solve today; no lookups, no white-outs. Slight pause in the SW with OP ART, but the crosses mutually supported well.

Have a great day.

CanadianEh! said...

Got it done in record time today and with no helps. Maybe I should be getting up early every day! Didn't actually see the theme until I came here. Thanks Argyle.
We don't have ZIP in Canada but use Postal Code.
Love your poem OwenKL!!

Lemonade714 said...

Clive welcome back, amazing themeage for Tuesday. Argyle, thanks for the directions and Jayce happy birthday and many more. Lovely pics

Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...

Charles,
I spammed you earlier, but Argyle think I should let you post.

Please explain why you stole Hahtoola's 6:09am line. otherwise, I'll spam you in the future.

TTP said...

Good morning all.

Fast solve, but not record speed. Misread 46D and entered BAD news instead of NOTE. Quick fix.

Thanks Argyle !

Happy Birthday Jayce !

CED (from last night), sorry my post made you find an error in your solve.

See all y'all later n'at.



Abejo said...

Good morning, folks. Thank you, Clive Probert, for an excellent puzzle. Thank you, Argyle, for the fine review.

This puzzle really clicked for me. Enjoyed the entire thing. Theme was excellent. Noticed it after I finished. Really liked the cluing, as well.

STATELINE was easy. I worked there a couple times, way back when. Continental Telephone Co.

When I pack sandwiches I use wax paper and not ZIPLOC BAGs. Personal preference. Drives my wife nuts.

Yes, CAMEL, again. Very useful beast for desert travel.

I also wanted IT IS I. I believe that is proper.

Liked COURSED for 10D. Great word.

About the only thing I like about French is their ONION soup. One of my favorites!

Happy birthday, Jayce. Many happy returns. Nice photos.

Great poem, OwenKL.

Off to my day. Helping my wife's cousin with her basement problem. A drain is leaking.

47 degrees in Johnsonburg. Chicken wings tonight at the Elks.

See you tomorrow.

Abejo

(vastepo)

Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...

OK, I spammed the guy. He posted this earlier:

"Happy Birthday, Jayce! Hope you have a wonderful and restful Birthday."

He stole every word from Hahtoola.

kazie said...

Happy Birthday, Jayce! ...and many more!

This puzz was a nice start to my Tuesday, but I had a few pauses in the NE because I had to wait for perps to fill the forgotten OPHELIA.

Hahtoola,
Yes they more recently found remains of the baby's clothing in the desert.

We call ZIP POSTCODE in Oz.

Southern Belle said...

Mornin' to all,

Not bragging; but this seemed more like a Monday puzzle. Fun though, to be able to whiz through on a Tuesday.

Couldn't open the Mensa site today. Also, couldn't understand the directions on how to go about opening the site.

And, yes, I'm a little old lady especially when it comes to computers!

Happy Birthday, Jayce! Glad to see another Libra in our crowd.

Hahtoolah said...

Thank, C.C.

Montana said...

Good morning, everybody,

Nice Tuesday puzzle that I did last night except for the crossing of PO_TY and CO_RSED. This morning I entered the U and got the ta-da. Neither word entered my brain last night.
Thanks, Argyle, for the theme. I completely forgot to look for one. I've only learned puzzles have themes since joining the blog this year. On occasion, the theme helps one solve a puzzle.

Happy Birthday, Jayce!

I have had beautiful weather since I returned to Montana so have been winterizing my yard. The trip to New England was incredible, but it is always nice to be home. I am glad I traveled to New England when I did--had to go far north to see the autumn colors, but if I were there this past week, all the national parks and monuments would be shuttered. I traveled alone, although on a tour bus, so I ended up with very few pictures. I was the Gramma in charge of a 2-year old at baptism for new baby brother, so I didn't get pictures there either.

Have a great day,

Montana

Tinbeni said...

Argyle, thanks for explaining, I knew THERE was a theme in THERE somewhere.

Jayce, Happy Birthday. Tonight you get the 'first toast' ...

Faves today were the TOP-UP DRAFT.

Hmmm, 'Elimination Games' the Rays are NOW 4 for 4 in the last 8 days.
Go Rays !!!

(They get all my "Cheers" tonight).

HeartRx said...

Good morning Argyle, C.C. et al.

And the very best of Happy Birthdays, Jayce!
¸¸¸.•*¨*♫♥♫¸¸¸.•*¨*♫♥♫¸¸¸.•*¨*♫♥♫¸¸¸.•*¨*♫♥♫

Argyle, thanks for linking HURT. What a voice on her! Not too much else to say that hasn't already been noted about this puzzle. I did notice the theme as I was solving, so I solved even faster than a typical Tuesday.

The only thing that made me pause over the keyboard was the last theme entry. I immediately started writing ZIP LOC....and almost hit the "K" key before I realized that BAG was three letters, and there were only three squares left. Really astute of me, don't you think? (^0^)

We're going to see "Gravity" today in I-Max 3D. I hope it is as good as the reviews have been.

Have a great day, everyone!

luxor said...

I see nothing's changed since I was last here a couple of years ago. C.C.'s still protecting her favorites (and how can someone as vacuous as Hahtoolah be a favorite??), but spamming someone for typing the same birthday greeting? That should be patently absurd to all of you.

Martin said...

I wanted NAME NAMES for NAME DROPS and DRINK for DRAFT but I still finished it.

Jazzbumpa said...

Hi gang -

Straightforward puzzle - though I missed the theme.

No nits, but not a lot of sparkle, either.

First rule of the musician's code - always end on a GOOD NOTE.

Speaking of BAD NOTES, I see Luxor is still Luxor. If you can't say something something gratuitously snide, don't say anything at all. Why don't you crawl back under your rock? You have not been missed.

Tigers have lost any semblance of an offense, averaging exactly 2 runs per game over their last ten games. Scoring at that rate, they couldn't even beat the hapless 100 loss Marlins.

Either they find their bats tonight, or winter starts early.

Cool regards!
JzB

Irish Miss said...

Good Morning:

I enjoyed this easy, but oh so clever, Tuesday offering. Caught the theme early so breezed right through.

Nice job, Mr. Probert, and great write-up, Argyle.

It's very calm and sunny after yesterday's storms. Lovely week ahead with temps in the 60's, blue skies, and lots of sunshine. Fall at its finest!

Happy Birthday, Jayce, I hope it's a fun day. Great pictures!

Have a terrific Tuesday.

Avg Joe said...

Happy birthday Jayce, and many many more.

Enjoyable romp of a puzzle today. I could not spot the theme while working it, and kept looking around the bottom for a reveal clue, but finally figured it out after all was filled. Kinda cute.

BTW, I talked to Windhover late yesterday. He's fine and had no damage from flooding. But he also said I should report that he's still "mean". :-)

Montana said...

Ave Joe,
During my trip through New England, I walked into this scene and immediately thought of you. I haven't learned to link a photo yet, so made this pic my avatar for a day.
I was somewhere in VT or NH that day.

Montana

What an appropriate Captcha (endview)

Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...

Luxor,
You annoying idiot. I'm so angry to see you back.

Every blog owner knows that copying part of a previous poster's line is a signature of a spammer.

Be grateful I read each post carefully and I intuitively recognize a spammer when he/she appears. I send them to spam filter so they won't bother this blog or other blogs again.

Vidwan827 said...

Thank you Clive Probert for a nice and easy puzzle. Really, really enjoyed it.

Thank you Argyle, my fellow folllically challenged friend. Very nice blog. Really enjoyed it.

Happy birthday to Jayce, and many, many more. Hope your earthquake prediction algorithm becomes very fruitful or rather prescient.

OwenKL, you are exquisite .... You should be poet laureate of the internet. Wonderful limericks and rhymes.

Dingo carried off baby, 32 years ago? Yesterday, my wife commented, during her post-dinner, dish washing ritual, ..... of a 2 year old mauled, on the face, to an inch of her life, by a Shar pei - Chow mix..... The kid had to go through 2 other outlying hospitals before the her final operations, at our local major trauma center. Her odyssey, with a 1 hour drive, and including 2 life flights, between hospitals, meant over 6 hours of suffering..... In accordance with HPPA rules, I won't tell you my city, state or zip code. But, such things happen every day, in this our most advanced country in the world.

Tomorrow, a pet ocelot nibbles on a ......

despite all this, have hope, and have a nice day, you all.

Lucina said...

Good day, all! Very nice expo, Argyle. Thank you!

Happy, happy birthday, Jayce! And many more. I love seeing the progressions in your photos. You both have aged well.

And thank you, to Clive Roberts for this quick sashay. It was a one pass finish. Learning moment: Cyprus uses EUROs. Didn't know that.

I remember driving through STATE LINE many, many years ago on the way to Reno.

As for NIECES, I have ten in the first generation (and 11 nephews) and numerous in the third and fourth.

OwenKL:
Wonderful stanzas!

You all have a stupendous Tuesday!

Misty said...

Loved this puzzle, Clive--easy but lots of fun. But couldn't figure out the theme to save my soul. I kept looking through all your clues wondering if I'd missed the reveal. Then thought it might have to do with some weird variant of LOC which appeared twice, in CITY BLOCK and ZIPLOC BAG. Then wondered about ROs as in DROPS, NITRO, STREETROD, ETC. Nothing worked. Thank goodness for Argyle's expo, or I'd still be scratching my head, wondering.

Owen, your poems are just getting better and better.

We have a city-planned power outage between 9:30 and 3:30 today with no computer, TV, etc. So have decided (gulp) to see "Gravity" after all, since my husband is really keen to see it. Wish we didn't have to see the 3D version (much scarier than the regular one, I gather) but the only one available during the day is the 3D. I'm taking ear plugs and planning to keep my eyes closed if it gets just too scary for me.

Have a great Tuesday, everybody.

P.S. My blue account has disappeared from my site, somehow. Sigh. Don't know how I'll get it back up again.

Avg Joe said...

Montana at 10:07,

Hah! It's like I'm looking in a mirror and seeing double!

(I guess that's my 15 minutes of fame) (-:

Bill G. said...

Hey Clive. I enjoyed your puzzle. Thanks for the great writeup Argyle.

Jayce, I hope you have a super birthday. I liked seeing your photos.

D-O, you made me rediscover how to Forward Delete on my Mac. (fn-delete). I like it!

AnonT, you lucky, lucky guy!

The Dodgers looked pretty good in their first playoff series. I sure hope they can keep it up.

CrossEyedDave said...

HBD Jayce!

Thought for today:

"There is an abiding beauty which may be appreciated by those who will see things as they are and will ask for no reward except to see." - Vera Brittain, British Author (1893-1970).

A very enjoyable puzzle (for me) today because after all the across I only had a few answers, & with the help of a few more downs, was able to patch it all together, although it took a bit of work. My favorite kind of puzzle!

We all have two addresses memorized, Right Kazie!

TTP@7:51 Never be sorry for alerting me to my ignorance! Thank you!

Anywho,,, much to post unrelated to the puzzle, (I guess I should go to a 2nd post so you can ignore it in it's entirety...

Hahtoolah said...

Vacuous Hahtoolah here. I saw Gravity over the weekend. Not much of a story line, but the special effects are interesting. I can't say that it was worth the hype, though.

PK said...

Hi Y'all! Another speed run but I didn't figure out the theme because the puzzle disappeared right after "Tada" when I was wanting to peruse it. So I really needed Argyle today. Thanks! Great one, Clive.

Happy birthday, Jayce! I always enjoy your comments.

Roofers woke me at dawn working on a house two doors away. They seem to be silent now. I may try to catch the rest of my ZZZ's. I leaped up and dressed when the hammering started because I thought my yard man was back to finish tacking up my eaves covers which are sagging. He didn't bring nails the other day and I had only a few.

Looking for nails, we unpacked boxes marked "fasteners" which had been sealed for the move ten years ago. I found several things I had looked for but couldn't find. I had a big wooden box with assorted nails when I was packing, but they are still "disappeared". I'm betting my son took them home thinking I'd never use them.

PK said...

CED, is the cake for Jayce's birthday supposed to represent the fault lines in earth for his earthquake studies?

PK said...

Hahtoolah, I most certainly do not consider you to be vacuous. Luxor is obviously a most unhappy, misguided spirit.

CrossEyedDave said...

How to get women to excercise.

Beware pranks with Halloween coming up!

I am afraid this may be my penultimate post... I could not figure this out & asked my daughter for help before I asked for help on the Blog!

& Finally (hopefully) I found that my Horoscope today was very helpful. You see my car dashboard check engine light came on late last night combined with the "D" (as in Drive) blinking, which indicates a transmission problem. Now my car was recalled to update the transmission software programming, & then later the above idiot light came on & I was told they had to update it again, & now 3 months later, the idiot light is on again. (not just check engine, the Goddamn "D" blinks incessantly.) So, before driving to Honda, I read my horoscope, which said:

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct23). When it's time to call on a stranger for help, for instance a repair-person or other proffessional, you may encounter a certain amount of reluctance in yourself. Today this is an instinct to heed, not a fear to overcome.

So I cut out the Horoscope, & I taped it over the check engine light on my dashboard so I could not see it.

I found it very helpful...

Mr. Creosote said...

Hey CED!

What 7 letter word, in your previous post, that starts with "G" and ends with "n" is VERY offensive to many here on the blog?

Is there any cat left at that end of the table? ok, would you please pass me some?

JD said...

Good morning Argyle, C.C., and all

and a very happy birthday, Jayce!

Lots of fun zipping thru a Tuesday. Had one write over: current to coursed, and perped Hagen,Eric, and Rasa. Wagged street.No clue.

Thanks for the theme and write up. Did try to grok the theme, mid way thru, but it didn't click.

Hahtoolah, vacuous?? Ha! Ha! SO not true. Really a reach!

Toes still taped together, but walking seems to have impeded recovery.Could be worse things.

Owen, so much fun reading your limericks!

Anonymous said...

CED you have my gratitude for giving such practical tips on the blog. Who would have thought this blog could be a substitute for Practical Mechanics ?

I have a Toyota, not a Honda, and I have been driving around with the "check engine light"- on, for the last 2 years. In fact I think of it as my friendly car computer emoticon, and we even have long conversations, and it laughs at ALL my jokes, and I have never been bothered by it.

But I live in state where cars have to be checked for their E-Check status, and I'm afraid this yellow engine light will automatically fail the E check test. I've spent over a thousand dollars and the light still insists on showing its figure.so my options are:-

1. Put some indelible paint dot on the dashboard and cover the errant light.

Go to E-Check testing agency .... And hope the technician is a LIBRA. ..

Do you do E check tests ??

2. Smash the dashboard and the light and plead insanity.

thehondohurricane said...

MR Creosote,

Who made you the moralist for other blog members?

If I went through what CED went through with Honda, I'd be pissed off too.

Why don't you go jerk someone else's chain and let us members of CC's corner resolve any complaints with each other among ourselves.



Anonymous said...

19 across.. "A remarks generally hurts in proportion to its truth"
Will Rodgers

Troll no.3 said...

Goddamn Hondo, take some happy pills, would ya!

Steve said...

Happy Birthday Jayce!

@Hahtoolah - I always thought Big Ben was in St. Stephen's Tower - thanks for the learning moment that it was renamed in 2012. I think it's odd to rename something for the Queen - she's got plenty of stuff with her name on it already!

Nice puzzle, I thought the theme was cool. Thanks for the expo, Argyle.

This season marked the end of the Mariano Rivera ERA (or RivERA)

A propos of the Yankees, Owen's "firemen" line reminds me of a Yogi Berra tale - an outhouse of his caught fire and he called the firehouse. The dispatcher, not knowing his address asked "How do we get there, Mr Berra?" There was a short pause and Yogi replied "Don't you still have those big red trucks?"

desper-otto said...

RE Automotive idiot lights. On a Honda the service-required light will come on whenever one of those magic mileage events occurs. The dealer is supposed to reset it when he performs the service. The owner manual tells you how to turn it off. (I just went into the garage to check the owner manual for our Honda, and the car was gone! D'Oh! Forgot that DW is out of town.) I've also been told by a dealer that a faulty gas cap (or one that hasn't been closed to at least click-click-click-click) can cause the engine light to come on.

OwenKL said...

Hand up for IT IS I, ZIPLOCK.

thehondohurricane: Lyric poetry looks fine to me. Poetry should be lyrical, IMHO, but LYRIC poetry labels the style of some poems.

Tinbeni: re TOP-UP DRAFT, I've noticed that even though unrelated to any theme, most puzzles have a few paired entries. CADENCE should never harbor a BAD NOTE, a MIDTERM is a feature of most COURSEs.

CrossEyedDave: good thing 42 Wallaby Way wasn't in a puzzle, I had to google it to find Finding Nemo. I've never gotten around to watching that movie.

CED: Liked your horo story! On a previous vehicle (don't recall which), the check engine light came on shortly after I'd had it looked over. The mechanic told me the prior fix-it guy had forgotten to reset it. It didn't really indicate anything wrong, was just designed to come on every umpty miles to ensure regular maintenance.

HeartRx & Irish Miss: you do realize you're the only folks on this blog who saw the theme before finishing? You are very perspicacious people!

Anonymous said...

I've been told that certain Japanese model cars have the engine light come 'on', if the owner is releasing certain malodorous gases in the car. It is supposed to be a warning - for others.

Ol' Man Keith said...

Nice puzzle, with a good Tuesday "feel" to it.

Didn't get the theme until signing on here. Didn't know there even was a theme, so that was OK.

Yes, indeed, a happy b'day to Jayce!

Book report: Am enjoying Elizabeth Gilbert's THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS. I didn't read her earlier EAT PRAY LOVE because of reports, but I'm glad I have picked this up. So far it has drawn me into botany, of all things, through historical fiction of a 19th century female scientist. I'll keep you posted.

Husker Gary said...

Musings
-ZIPLOC BAGS beat our waxed paper but can’t do this!
-Played golf today with a guy who is “chirpy” when he’s doing well and POUTY when he isn’t
-Do you always say the truth when it might HURT?
-When I see STAIRS, I think of those frantic people trying to use them on 9/11/01
-Some doctor friends of mine despise where their AMA dues go just like many teachers ain’t happy where the NEA spends our money
-A COON skin cap was the height of fashion in my ute
-That muddy Mo water COURSED all through the riverfront in OAMHA two years ago
-BTW, the Council Bluffs, IA casinos attract mostly OMAHA gamblers across the STATE LINE (Muddy Mo)
-Those SNL comics’ launched careers were mostly male
-What’s the use of this GIZMO?
-HBD Jayce!

desper-otto said...

Keith, Elizabeth Gilbert is the guest interviewee (10 questions) in the Oct 14 issue of Time. The magazine arrived last Friday, but I just got around to reading it this morning. She has an interesting take on things.

desper-otto said...

Husker, you aren't counting Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Janeane Garofalo, Amy Poehler or Tina Fey?

CrossEyedDave said...

Mr. Creosote@ 12:58

I'm sure your name is very witty, but I really am getting a bit confused in these later years. Can you pls explain it for me?

I went looking for your 7 letter word that begins with G & ends in N that offends people, but could only think of "groin." (hm, only 5 letters?) it wasn't until I reread yr post (several times) that I realized what you were referring to.

To be honest, when I proofread the post, I changed the small g (god) to a capital G (God) so as not to offend anyone.

Maybe I wouldn't be so pissed off if I hadn't just spent a fortune on the car that included them turning off the idiot light (TPMS) that was only there to tell me that the other idiot light (low tire) wasn't working.

Now they want $120.00 just to turn off the light temporarily that told me that my transmission is a lemon. I don't need a (non-denonimational) damn idiot light to tell me that!

What happened to the good old days when you drove a car until the driveshaft fell out! (by the way, that actually happened to me once...)

Pass the cat pls...

P.S. I would not have mentioned it, but that was my actual Horoscope today.

Husker Gary said...

Hi Otto! Of course I thought of those women who did have some success that paled in comparison to Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Will Ferrell, Dennis Miller, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, Chris Rock, Martin Short, Adam Sandler, David Spade, et al. Such are the vagaries of show biz!

thehondohurricane said...

Steve,

Nice Yogism! Never heard it before, but will not soon forget it. LMAO.

If you got more, keep 'em coming.


creature said...



Thanks Clive for a rather enjoyable puzzle this am. I took a quick scan when I finished it and saw the theme immediately. Loved that.
Argyle thanks for your superb expo.

Happy Birthday, Jayce. The photos are fun. Great couple and still good looking.

OwenKL, Yes , you are getting better and better. You



are quite good as it is, and really fun to read. How can you do that daily? so early in the morning and after you've solved the puzzle?

Southern Belle, I couldn't open the mensa site either. Nor could I understand the directions. I am definitely challenged by this sort of thing. It was good to know that someone else had trouble with mensa site. Misery loves company,eh?

Someone is coming in my driveway. I'll get back later, if necessary.

Have a nice day, everyone. Sorry so late.

Mr. Creosote said...

Oh master of google images...er...I mean CED, just google me and you'll see. My post wasn't to admonish you as much as it was to tweak the overly sensitive ones here on the blog.

My moniker is also a reference to offensive images that may enjoy having the cat passed to them.

I'm sure Splynter loves him some Mr. Creosote. "But sir, it is a wafer thin mint..."

Now, where is my bucket?

Manac said...

Another quickey today.
Got the theme mid way but had to go into the kitchen to check the spelling of Ziploc. Dammit! the Wife buys generic brands.

CED!! Pocket Scanner
at any auto parts store will cost around $60. Probably $80 with NJ Taxes ;~)
It will read the codes and allow you to reset the computer. Most parts stores will let you use one for free. The codes can be looked up on line easily enough to see whats going on.

LaLaLinda said...

Happy Birthday, Jayce ~ hope you've had a wonderful day!

Lucina said...

Gravity is an excellent film! It's amazing with only two actors.

Lucina said...

Oops. Hahtoolah:
I just read your review of Gravity and noticed we had different takes on it. What I liked about it was the intensity, the mirage of Matt (Clooney), and her renewed passion to survive after that.

Jayce said...

Hello everybody. Spent most of the morning at the dentist. Got the puzzle, which was fun, done before going, and was able to read the blog on my iPhone while sitting in the waiting room. I could only see what looked like a blank space in Argyle's writeup between 19 and 20A, and between 51 and 54A. Apparently this is the same as what you iPad users see, as well, i.e. no videos. Tried to post too, but I had to log into my Google account to do so and I didn't remember my password. No matter, since the hygienist called me in at that time anyway. The good news is my teeth are all bright 'n' shiny (*gleam*) and all else is healthy too (*twinkle*).

Thanks ever so much to all of you for your birthday wishes. Much appreciated.

Hahtoolah, I discern nary a whit of vacuousness (vacuisity? vacuity?) in you at all.

Best wishes to all you smart and interesting people.

Misty said...

Happy Birthday, Jayce!

We loved "Gravity"! Sandra Bullock was pretty amazing, I thought--playing a character with so many changes and subtleties to her personality. And her whole body is in motion so much of the time that she has to act not just with voice and face but with every part of her. I'd be surprised if she wasn't nominated for an Academy Award for this. Also, surprise, surprise! I ended up actually liking the 3 D special effects! Maybe a little of her courage rubbed off in me in the course of the film.

Bill G. said...

Hey Owen, I got the theme about halfway through although I didn't think to mention it. It didn't seem that obscure to me.

HeartRx said...

So, Misty, how did you like “Gravity”?? I thoroughly enjoyed it, and thought Sandra Bullock should get an Oscar for the emotion she portrayed by just using her voice…Lucina, I totally agree with your take on it, especially the renewed vigor after her “hallucination” of Matt.

OwenKL @ 3:09, well, I am a constructor (Marti – you may recognize some of my bylines in the LAT.) So “seeing” the theme is pretty ingrained in me. But I think Irish Miss is just plain smart: she regularly kicks my butt in Words With Friends… Oh, and you can count Creature, Manac and Bill G. among those brilliant ones who “got” it! But thank you, I’d rather be labeled “perspicacious” than “vacuous”…which, BTW, Hahtoolah definitely is NOT!

River Doc said...

Happy Tuesday everybody!

Just a WALK in the park, or down Broadway, today! ZIP write-overs (although I admit to thinking about inking BARES instead of PEELS….)

Big fan of the ZIPLOC sandwich bag – even found them over in Doha!

I’ll be driving through STATE LINE on the way back to Vegas this weekend. There’s an EXCELLENT roller coaster at Buffalo Bills called The Desperado (Desper-Otto?) – it’s height really stands out in the middle of the desert. Here’s a link to a POV from the front seat of the coaster

Good news on the home front – I have an offer on the house after only 2 days on the market! Gotta love those flippers…!

Finally, HBD to Jayce!

Misty said...

Marti, I must have posted my "Gravity" review at the same time you wrote yours--and it looks as though you and Lucina and I all agree. Notice that I too mentioned Sandra Bullock as a definite Oscar contender! Yes, it was a terrific movie.

HeartRx said...

Not to mention, Hahtoolah, Abejo, Avg Joe, Steve, who "got it." I'm sure there were others I missed, who did not mention it in their posts, but this is a pretty savvy group here!!

Uranus erupts said...

misty, Marti, Lucina, you're absolutely right about Gravity. It's an extremely well done, Oscar-worthy movie & performance by Ms. Bullock.

There will always be those pretentious people who think they elevate themselves by speaking ill of a popular movie/book/song, etc. as 'not worthy'. I ignore them, expecially the ones here.

Blue Iris said...

Happy Birthday, Jayce! Very nice pictures of you and your lovely bride. The years have been good to a very distinguished looking couple.

I like the name OPHELIA. There is a little quirky antique shop, in Georgetown, COLO., called OPHELIA's. All the outside yard art is painted purple. ( Hmmm...might be a good name for a cat?)

Today in history calendar said, "1871: Great Chicago Fire begins"...Destroyed 17,450 buildings.
Reminded me of Far side cows mentioned in past week's puzzle-Two cows watching over a fence as Chicago goes into flames. One cow says," It seems that agent 6373 has accomplished her mission.

Manac said...

Agent 6373

For Blue Iris.

Irish Miss said...

OwenKL @ 3:09 - Thank you for your kind words. But I've also had my share of not seeing a theme when it was as plain as the nose on my face.

Despite what Miss Marti claims, I think we are pretty evenly-matched in Words With Friends. Win some, lose some.

Bill G. said...

I see where a school in New York has banned all balls on the playground at recess because of the possibility of injuries. I'm at a loss... Ball ban