google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Tuesday August 5, 2008 Verna Suit

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Aug 5, 2008

Tuesday August 5, 2008 Verna Suit

Theme: That Is (i.e) Extra

17A: Part-time girlfriend?: SEMI SWEETIE

27A: ID a gastronome?: FINGER FOODIE

44A: Assault tour crew member?: HIT THE ROADIE

60A: Early bird warm-up wear?: ROBIN HOODIE

I've never heard of ROADIE. I like the other 3, esp FINGER FOODIE, deliciously clued.

This is a very creative theme idea. I wonder what other similar words this constructor pondered while creating her grid. If she is a real gastronomist, COOKIE & BEANIE might be in her thinking process.

Or if she is into sports, she could be be musing on ROOKIE, BOOKIE, GOALIE and BIRDIE. I also thought of COOLIE, SORTIE, STOOLIE and WEENIE (?). OKIE might not be OK.

And of course the sweet words like CUTIE, DEARIE & CHERIE.

What else can you think of?

I struggled with puzzle. Got mired in the N crossing beween ANETO and ANEMO and could not get the letter R between NORNS and SIDRA. And encountered pockets of problems here and there.

Across:

1A: "Politically incorrect" host: MAHER (Bill). A stupid "not cowardly"mistake. He is funny though.

2A: Envelop closer: CLASP. I don't like the repetition of "CL" both in the clue and in the answer.

14A: Wind: pref.: ANEMO. As in "Anemometer". ANEMO came from Greek "anemos", meaning wind. Too obscure to me.

15A: Errs on esses: LISPS

21A: Line from Mork: NANU NANU. Often see NANU clued as "Half of Mork's sign-off".

33A: Kind of metabolism: BASAL

36A: Steffi of tennis: GRAF. Amazing career wins, they are perfect together.

37A: Kid's punishment: NO TV

38A: Dilly: LULU. Here is LULU's "To SIR (49A: Galahad's title) With Love". I liked the movie.

41A: Fusses: ADOS. OK, let's talk about Shakespear's "Much ADO about Nothing" today. Is "Nothing" really "Nothing"?

42A: Riga resident: LETT

43A: Collar inserts: STAYS. What is exactly a STAY?

47A: Labor grp.: UAW (United Automobile Workers)

48A: Touch of frost: NIP. I like this clue.

52A: Relies on: TRUSTS IN

63A:Beethoven dedicatee: ELISE. "Für ELISE".

64A: Norse goddesses: NORNS. Goddesses of Fate: Here is a painting of the famous 3 NORNS: Urðr (Past Fate), Verdandi (Present Fate) & Skuld (Future Fate). I know none of them. I am not familiar with Norse mythology, or any mythology.

66A: "101 Dalmatians" author: DODIE (Smith). I got her name from the down fills. I did not know her. I like her bangs. Is the haircut suitable to her oblong face shape, Katherine?

Down:

1D: Billiard stroke: MASSE. I like "The Hustler", don't you?

2D: Pico de __ (Pyreness peak): ANETO. Really tough crossing beween ANETO & ANEEMO. Why is the guy on the left wearing shorts? It feels cold.

3D: Macho types: HE-MEN. Oh, I see, maybe this is the reason why: He wants to be a "HE-MAN". Then catches a cold/bug on the way back home and sleeps for days.

5D: Perfume ingredient: ROSE OIL

6D: French key: CLE. Or CLEF (nf). The calculator key is TOUCHE. She is wearing the "CLE de Peau" enhancer.

8D: Tec's terrier: ASTA. "The Thin Man" dog. I don't like the clue. Isn't "Tec" a shortened form of "Detective"? Or is it a widely accepted word just like "info"?

9D: Son-of sit-comes: SPIN-OFFS. I dislike this clue. It does not sound cute to me at all.

10D: Phony: PSEUDO

22D: Newborn: NEONATE. And 61D: Born in Bordeaux: NEE.

27D: Marlowe's Doctor: FAUSTUS. "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus". I've never heard of this novel or Christopher Marlowe. I only knew FAUST and the "Faustian bargain".

30D: Lady of Lisbon: DONA

35D: Assigned time: SLOT

28D: Thalia's sister: ERATO. Muse of love poetry. Thalia is the muse of "comedy and idyllic poetry". Several words have ERATO hidden in them: accelerator, generator, adulterator, exaggerators, etc. Someone ought to make a rebus puzzle out these words and credit me as his MUSE.

29D: Cane palm: RATTAN

39D: Emulated Lindbergh: FLEW SOLO

43D: Drinking straws: SIPHONS. Ha, I even had difficulty obtaining this word, mainly due to STAY & NORNS.

49D: Libyan gulf: SIDRA. This is a map for Gulf of SIDRA. Unknown to me also.

50D: One way to do crossword: IN INK. I cannot do mine without "Wite-Out".

55D: Footnote carrier: IBID

56D: Unless, in law: NISI. Add an E, we've got a word for Japanese American NISEI.

C.C.

97 comments:

  1. Good morning, C.C. and gang - I really liked this puzzle - was challenging, but possible to complete without Mr. G. Some clever clues, ie 'Tec's terrier', and a unusual theme.
    C.C., thanks for the 'enhancer' picture - nice way to start the day.
    Hope it's a great day for everyone - beautiful here in the NE.

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  2. Dennis,
    Did you get the R at the intersection of SIDRA & NORNS? What exactly is a Collar STAY?

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  3. c.c., yes, I knew the Gulf of Sidra from previous references to the area.
    Collar stays are little plastic inserts that slide into dress collars to keep them from curling up at the ends.

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  4. Good morning gang....
    I didn't do so good on this one today.
    CC, the website would not open for 66A, so I could not see Dodi's bangs.
    I liked the Hustler too. Maybe I should watch it again after all these years.
    Maybe the guys with the shorts on just wants to be tough guy????
    I'll keep trying to open that page with the picture of Dodi....
    Have a good day.......

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  5. oops, another typo, meant to say "maybe the GUY..."

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  6. Good morning c.c., good morning, DF's.

    I did not do well this morning; too many crossings of unknowns to me. 2D and 14A, 56D and 66A, 49D and 64A, also didn't know 5D (but loved the picture, c.c.) and 30D.

    Oh well, a learning experience.

    (an aside to Katherine, the pic wouldn't open for me at first but I hit refresh and it did. I have know idea why that works but it does sometimes.

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  7. 6D Oh, "cle de peau" enhancer is make up! I thought maybe she was enhancing somethings else.

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  8. C.C., fun puzzle thou took me some time to figure out where I was going next. But got it! Very nice and clever theme.

    Good job, Ms. Suit!!!

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  9. Morning, folks!

    I loved the theme of this puzzle, but wasn't overly fond with some of the fill. Words I had never heard of include:

    ANETO
    CLE
    DODIE
    SIDRA

    Fortunately, I did know some of the other obscure words, such as NORNS, NISI, IBID, ANEMO and BASAL, as was therefore able to get through the puzzle unassisted. Well, sort of. It wasn't until I came here that I realized I had misspelled MAHER as MAHAR (AMIR and EMIR are interchangeable, and I picked the wrong spelling). I think I got the TV host confused with the famous Olympic skier.

    With regard to CLE, I'm not up on my French, but I thought I knew the French word for "key" from the phrase roman à clef (literally, "novel with a key"). So, as far as I knew, the French word for key (the "real lock key" was "clef". A quick check of Wikipedia, however, reveals that the phrase can be either roman à clé or roman à clef. Learn something new every day, I guess.

    Anybody else bothered with SIPHONS clued as "drinking straws"? I had SIPPERS at first because I've never heard of drinking straws referred to as siphons before. I guess they serve the same function, but I've only heard siphons used in the context of a long flexible hose used to remove liquid from a container (such as a car's gas tank) and not as something you might use for drinking.

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  10. Good morning!
    The three Norns are the spinners of fate/destiny who do so at the roots of Yggdrasil, the tree of life. Mimer the giant has a well at one of those roots and Odin, in his quest for the experience of life, gave up an eye to drink from it. More stuff from Edith Hamilton's "Mythology."
    Did not like foodie in 27A. Doesn't sound right to me.
    Roadies are the crew who set up the stage, etc., for bands. Jackson Brown, in his song "Stay" refers to them with the verses "and the Roadies don't mind" and "let the Roadies take the stage." People stay, just a little bit longer.
    Collar stays are strips of plastic or metal inserted into shirt collars to keep them nice and straight and the ends pointed. They are a pain in the a$$.
    The Hustler was great. The follow up, "The Color of Money" was terrible.
    He Man and the Masters of the Universe. I liked Skeletor. The movie with Dolph Lundgren and Frank Langella really stunk.
    By The Power of Grayskull!!!
    I liked the movie "To Sir With Love." Starred Sidney Poitier, Lulu, and Judy Geeson.

    Today is (GET READY!!!):

    INTERNATIONAL BEER DAY!!!! HOORAY!!! There might be more but with beer, nothing else matters.

    Have a great day but don't get too tipsy!!

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  11. Well, today my time might have been better spent celebrating "International Beer Day" because this grid is a total loser to me.
    There were more (to me) obscure fills than I have seen. I guess I should have gotten an education instead of running all over the country in a truck. Maybe some of these wouldn't be so mind boggling.
    "Hit the roadie"?? Pretty weak, I think!
    OK, enough crabbing!
    See Ya'

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  12. Lois (and others): My blog today focuses on your request for something on Lawton, Oklahoma. There is something in there about Geronimo at Fort Sill as well.

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  13. All the comments on golf brought this to mind. Don't know if people will remember this but here is The Invention of Golf.

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  14. Too bad we couldn't do Champagne Day, and Chocolate Chip Day over again. Beer does nothing for me.

    I struggled, in all the same spots as the rest of you, and needed help to finish.

    We have another day of possible storms following a night of severe thunderstorms. The weathermen are offering the upper 70s for this weekend. I HOPE!

    Have a good day, all!

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  15. Just read that today is "Work Like a Dog Day". Sirens, any suggestions?

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  16. Ahhhhhhhh....it worked!

    For inquiring minds....the picture I've posted is of a quilted wallhanging I made last year. It's roughly twin bed sized, and the pattern is called "Birds in the Air."

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  17. Dennis - that Work Like a Dog Day follows C.C.'s comment in the main part of the site regarding "Weenie." If the siren sisters don't jump on that remark I will be surprised. ROFLMAO

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  18. Good morning CC & DF's: No time for the puzzle. It's flying day. This OKIE is going to make like a BIRDIE and 'head' back to VA.

    Work like a dog day? Fine by me. I'll gnaw on a bone. Any volunteers?

    Thanks drdad. Great Lawton piece (so I've been told).

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  19. Not too hard, not too easy. Didn't get the 14A/2D crossing nor the 49D/64A.

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  20. 44A: Assault tour crew member?: HIT THE ROADIE

    Roadie is someone who unloads & sets up the equipment from the semi @ a concert. A roadie also is a gopher meaning that they get anything the talent requires.

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  21. AH HA! Assault (the) tour crew member. Now it makes sense.
    I looked for a group or band named ASSAULT.
    How oblique!!!

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  22. Good day, C.C. et al. This was a stinker for me. However, my head is thoroughly scratched.
    Barry, I opted for "sippers" also, but then found the Norse god of fate, (one of three) Skuld, which really threw me a curve.

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  23. 43A: Collar inserts: STAYS. What is exactly a STAY?

    A stay is a piece metal used to keep a mans dress shirt collar from rolling up. They aren't used much any more since the shirt companies added buttons to keep the collars flat and straight.

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  24. This has to be one of the eggiest puzzles I've seen. I'm still waiting for a constructor to challenge me with a puzzle using all English words that aren't made up. With no proper names, names of cities in Iceland, or ports in Asia. Wellll -- Els, Ott, and Orr are okay I guess. Have a good week, I'm going bowling. Season starts for real on August 23.

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  25. Good morning c.c., DF’s and all!

    I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who had trouble with this puzzle. I especially disliked 43d and agree with drdad that a SIPHON was more a tube used in the ‘70’s to empty gas tanks. 44a came easy because of past experience both as one and in charge of some (although it was more like hit ON the roadie! Do today’s bands still have groupies? God bless those girls!)

    I LOVED the Robin Williams clip (thanks drdad). Also, thanks for a day worth celebrating, I will certainly be tonight!

    It’s a sauna here in SW Florida (due to yesterdays rains), I hope everyone else has a “cool” day!

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  26. Good morning everyone!

    C.C., thank you for the information on what happens with links from yesterday.

    This one was a struggle and confusing. Had problems with ANEMO/ANETO, SIDRA/NORNS, ITTY/ANTE (originally had ITSY/ANSE), got DODIE from perps, but used Mr. G to get everything before coming here.

    So is the young lady enhancing her decolletage? Nope, argyle set me straight.

    Drdad, I've never seen Robin Williams so crass. Funny, yes, but too much f@$# for me.

    Boomer, good to see you back. What, no golf today?

    Cheers!

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  27. Good morning All, - Thanks Drdad for the Robin Williams clip, so funny. I am in internet heaven now that I am up to speed; dial-up is ancient history.

    I'd never heard of ANEMO or ANETO and finally came here to get the definitive answer.

    I had SIPPERS at first too, so I thought SIPHONS was a clever twist. It made us think along a different line.

    An ex-brother-in-law was a ROADIE for a well-known rock n' roll headliner. 25 years ago we got in backstage to a couple of concerts. Most of what they said about the excesses is true.

    If the thought of Shakespeare scares you away, "Much Ado About Nothing" is a good place to start. This is a play that is right up the Sirens alley (so to speak). Double entendres abound and the war between the sexes is ablaze. If you are still wary, rent the Kenneth Branagh movie with Denzel Washington and Emma Thompson. The language is still Shakespearean, but is not difficult to understand. The cast and the scenery are gorgeous.

    Kittb: What a beautiful quilt. How long did it take you to make it? Do you belong to a quilting group?

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  28. Here is one of my favorite beer commercials:

    Red Stripe Beer

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  29. Let me try it this way:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2S_UOHlueY

    Damn- that didn't work either (the blue didn't transfer on my other post). Back to the drawing board...

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  30. Morning all, I had a heck of a time today. Couple of ones I did like, errs on esses: lisps. Brings to mind Cindy Brady on the Brady Bunch. Was that for real or was it acting?

    Caught on Riga resident: Lett. Where is Riga?

    Basal metabolism? Is this good or bad metabolism?

    Unless in law? Nisi never heard of it.

    Back after four days of sailing and sunning, brain isn't quite functioning right yet, not to mention 178 e-mails to get through.

    Any He-men out there that want to work like a dog and celebrate International Beer day with me?

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  31. cokato - This He-Man gets done working like a dog at 4:00. I can then celebrate beer day with you.

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  32. Ouch! This was a tough one, had to Google lots and even that was only so much help - e.g., what can you put into the search line to end up with BASAL metabolism??? I made it eventually, with a couple of aha moments and just plain doggedness. I thought the theme was adorable, really cute. Nice break from obscure quotes.

    I agree with the previous complaints, but I did like SIPHON - immediately made me think of this marvelous scene from the movie, There Will Be Blood, where the Daniel Day Lewis character explains how he got all the oil: "I drink your milkshake."

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  33. good morning c.c. and all,

    a challenge today, nice. liked the theme. aneto/anemo was a stumper. subtle auto sub-theme: audi, fiats, siphons, hittheROADie, robinHOODie.

    c.c. thanks for that aneto link. i hope the reason he's wearing shorts is because he doesn't own any pants.

    international beer day .. fantastic. i've been saving the last of two batches of home brew for just such an occasion.

    @xchefwalt: what should i pair with maple buckwheat ale, and black pepper porter?

    @kittyb: that quilt is gorgeous!

    @clear ayes: i adore kenneth branagh. his hamlet is my favorite version, brilliant. coincidentally, it was shot at the same location (and just after) the film version of 101 dalmations. robin williams played osric.

    @dennis: perhaps howling at the moon is in order.

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  34. drdad, it's a date. By the way what is "basal" metabolism?

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  35. 41A: Fusses: ADOS. OK, let's talk about Shakespeare's "Much ADO about Nothing" today. Is "Nothing" really "Nothing"?

    c.c. and anybody else who is interested: Shakespeare's plays are usually described as either Tragedy or Comedy. In tragedies, characters die because of some fatal inner flaw, or because of some horrible misunderstanding. In comedies, characters don't die, in spite of inner flaws or horrible misunderstandings. A "deus ex machina" (an unlikely device resolving the difficulties of a plot) is often introduced to clear up the loose ends and everybody goes to big party or a wedding. Anything to do with sex was high hilarity and the raunchier, the better. The plot of "Much Ado About Nothing",in a modern setting could be taken seriously, but it is very Shakespearean. So a lot of word play, sexual innuendo, and double entendres, plus the fact that nobody dies, make it a comedy.

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  36. Basal metabolism is the minimum amount of energy required to maintain vital functions in an organism at complete rest. It cannot be measured in someone who is working like a dog celebrating beer day (they are certainly not at rest).

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  37. Katherine,
    RE: 3D. Maybe Dennis knows the reason behind that guy's shorts bravado.

    Argyle,
    RE: CLE de Peau Enhancer: Ha ha, you were trapped. Mission accomplished for me!

    Dr.Dad,
    I've never heard Robin Williams utter so many F??? words in such a short period of time and with such an intensity. I did love the line "Be quiet, I'd like to hear the grass grow".

    KittyB,
    Beautiful pattern! It does not look crazy to me, how come you won at the Convention?

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  38. Drdad, it certainly if ever can be measured by me then. What is the story behing your picture? Is that your inner He-man?

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  39. Crockett1947,
    That's a very pensive picture. Boomer has an early tee time tomorrow morning. He told me he needs more bowling practices for the upcoming tournament.

    Xchefwalt,
    Red Stripe Beer.

    Clear Ayes,
    Doesn't look like anyone is interested in "Nothing". Odd!

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  40. anti-war democrat - a correction for you: Collar stays are predominately plastic, and are still in wide-spread use, as less than 50% of dress shirts are button-down.

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  41. cokato - are you going to the Corn Carnival next Monday, August 11th? I hear there is a corn on the cob eating contest. Does anybody up there eat corn the long way?

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  42. @ drdad- thank you, sir! As you can see, success! I never would have figured that on my own. (Also to c.c.) I thought that was a normal amount of F-bombs for Robin Williams- if you look at his older stand-up, it’s laced with them through and through.

    @melissa bee- venison with the ale, ostrich or emu with the porter.

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  43. Being that I am originally from Nebraska, the picture is of the Cornhuskers' mascot, Herbie Husker.

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  44. melissa bee, I'd suggest beef. With anything.

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  45. Barry,
    Have you ever solved a puzzle within 3 minutes? If so, you've won la CLE/CLEF de mon cœur.

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  46. I LIKED ERRS ON ESSES. DID NOT LIKE TECS TERRIER, UGH. ASSAULT TOUR CREW MEMBER KEPT ME BUSY.
    LOOKING FORWARD TO TOMORROW, CAN A QUIP BE IN MY FUTURE?

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  47. RE: Robin Williams on "Golf". G.A.H. (I'm tired of having to write Golf Addicted Husband) has a Scottish golfing buddy and, although it may be overused for effect, I don't think Williams abundance of "F@&*" is too far out of line. I know when G.A.H. is out there "with the boys" (as he is today), any passersby better be ready to hear some creative cursing.

    c.c.: As far as Shakespeare goes, we know, it is "different strokes for different folks". I just referred to an article about "Much Ado About Nothing" and found out "O-thing" was an Elizabethan euphemism for a female body part, so "No-thing" would be a lack thereof. My, my, that Shakespeare was a naughty boy!

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  48. Goodmorning CC adn DF's

    Just when I think i am getting the hang of doing the crosswords along comes Verna Suit. Man did I bomb on this one. surprisingly one I did get was siphons. I remember spending summers with my cousens and uncles on their west Texas farms. They used large curved pipes (straws) to transfer water from one ditch to another during irrigation time like a siphon.

    CC thanks for to sir with Love song. Sidney Poitier was ahead of his time on this movie

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  49. Drdad, yes indeed I will be going to the corn festival next week. I do not however compete in the corn eating contest. If you mean do I eat my corn the "long way" do you mean row by row like the way a typewriter used to move?

    Dennis, I prefer a good beef weiner.

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  50. Jojo,
    Good to finally see you! Please don't write your comment all in capital letters again. I can't stand it.

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  51. No cokato, that's not what I meant. Coming from NE, I am kidded about the three ways to eat corn. Two of the attack the ear from the side and involve either the typewriter method or the spin the cob method and eat "round and round." The last way is the "long way."

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  52. Drdad, you must enlighten me...give a clue. I am always up to trying something different.

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  53. Opps! Sorry about the caps. Never again. Its a bad habbit. Ummm, bad habbit sounds like a great clue, but for what? Sorry sisters dress?

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  54. Drdad, "Deep Throat" an ear of corn? Yipes!

    C.C., I've got a better picture and was looking for it last night, and thought I had saved some that were cropped to better show my face, but I screwed up somehow. Will try again today!

    Jojo, we're probably due for a quip on Thursday, not tomorrow.

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  55. cokato-insert the ear end on (like a popsicle). any other description is getting risque.

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  56. cokato-crockett1947 @ 1:02's comment. I can't say it any better than that.

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  57. Drdad, I am assuming there is a lot of butter involved.

    xchefwalt, do you know the technique he is referring to?

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  58. Hello c.c and dfs. Verna Suit's puzzles always take me forever to figure out. Had trouble w/ Aneto/Anemo, Nisi/Dodie, Cre, and Trustin. Had to force myself to add the ...in. Siphon? Surely not as a drinking straw, but I'm glad some of you liked it.

    cc, Did you get yesterday's backspin tip?

    kittyb, great quilt. You must have the patience of Job.

    clear ayes, I loved your Shakespeare description and it was "right arm". (Or is it right on?)

    Since they had "Hoodies'" they should have made room for "Homies" as in "Home boy." I uses a var. on Homies when I talk about my buddies. They're my "Homelies."

    drdad, I, too, eat corn on the cob lengthwise. Those who choose a circular pattern are weird.

    Somebody help me out with the "Tec's Terrier" clue. Wasn't Asta Nick and Nora Charles' dog in "The Thin Man" movies?

    anti war democrat's comment about "Stays" being metal is true. I have some from years ago.
    Also, shirt manufacturers are sewing stays into collars on non-button-down shirts. (Not all of them-especially if they're French Cuffed.)

    Golf early tomorrow, so I may or may not get a chance to post. I'll look in on you knuckleheads for my daily dose of yucks.

    In the days of yore, when they asked George Washington for his I.D., did he turn profile and hold up a quarter? Maybe he faced them and held up a one dollar bill. Quien sabe.

    I must be off.

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  59. buckeye-C.C.'s comment on the main page is correct. Nick Charles was a detective in The Thin Man and, though I don't like the clue either, Tec is short for detective.

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  60. drdad, I don't know how I missed c.c.'s entry. ADDS at its best, I guess.

    IMBO

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  61. buckeye, I hate to disagree, but I've worn dress shirts for over 30 years, and 95% of them came with plastic stays, whether they were $30 or $100. Most dress shirts have removable stays, as the plastic tends to curl when heated during dry cleaning.
    Amen on the weirdos who eat corn in a circular pattern.

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  62. dennis, O.K. Now that I'm retired, I consider a dress shirt anything that doesn't have a golf course logo on the left breast pocket.

    IMBO

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  63. Good morning/afternoon all,
    Waited too long to comment yesterday.C.C.- loved both links about puzzeling, esp. John Stewarts comments.He's one of my favorite comedians, as we've lost most of my favs from the past.
    Eire is on all of my old Irish postage stamps.Loved all info on "Erin"
    The word tude is used frequently among teens/preteens, as they don't think they've got it, but everyone else does!
    Drdad-Sorry to hear about your faulty engine, but I'm sure those fold down seats more than made up for your problem.Loved today's link to golf. I'm about to go out and hit a few myself today.
    Buckeye- your latest song title had me in stitches!
    C.C.-Guess that mt. climber thinks he's hot!
    How is 5D a gimme when there are 3000 ingredients!? Latin "per fumum" means through the smoke. French adopted it, parfum, to describe sweet smell of incense.And, incense goes wayyy back to the great woman Egyptian pharaoh Hatshepsut who used it for buriels and rites. King Tut's tomb had 3000 jars of incense buried with him because it was thought to be valuable in the Afterlife.
    Whew..enough written.

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  64. @dennis: perfect. you supply the turf, i'll supply the surf.

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  65. Collar Stays are available in plastic, brass or stainless in a variety of sizes. Measure the size you are using to get the right size for your shirts. Essential for a neat appearance, collar stays are a basic necessity.

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  66. Good morning(just barely)C.C. and all: I liked the theme today,cute.
    re 1D, I'll take Paul Newman, thanks.
    I thought the clue for 8D was too oblique but that is probably because I just didn't get it. :)
    Several unknowns today, sending me to the c/w dictionary: cle, anemo,norns,Dodie,sidra,nisi.

    Barry, I put sippers in for 43D too..siphons does not pop into my mind when thinking of straws.

    Drdad, thanks much for the clip of Robin Williams! He is my favorite comedian!!

    Dennis, give me enough cold beer, and I'll "walk the dog".

    Speaking of beer, I have a great clip to share with all of you but have to wait for hubby to get home to show me how to transfer it from my e-mail to here. It's entitled "Beer Warning" so if some of you have seen it/have it, maybe you could post it. If we are still under 100 comments by the time I can do it, I will, otherwise I'll wait until tomorrow.

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  67. @cokato 1:13- no, but I’d LOVE to watch!

    As I’m periodontaly challenged (the sad result of my face coming in contact with a hockey puck), the “typewriter” position is all I can handle.

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  68. Police are warning all men who frequent clubs, parties & local pubs to be alert and stay cautious when offered a drink from any woman. Many females use a date rape drug on the market called 'Beer.' The drug is found in liquid form and is available anywhere. It comes in bottles, cans, or from taps and in large 'kegs'. Beer is used by female sexual predators at parties and bars to persuade their male victims to go home and sleep with them. A woman needs only to get a guy to consume a few units of Beer and then simply ask him home for no strings attached sex. Men are rendered helpless against this approach. After several beers, men will often succumb to the desires to sleep with horrific looking women to whom they would normally not be attracted. After drinking beer, men often awaken with only hazy memories of exactly what happened to them the night before, often with just a vague feeling that 'something bad' occurred. At other times these unfortunate men are swindled out of their life's savings, in a familiar scam known as 'a relationship.' In extreme cases, the female may even be shrewd enough to entrap the unsuspecting male into a longer term form of servitude and punishment referred to as 'marriage.' Men are much more susceptible to this scam after beer is administered and sex is offered by the predatory females. If you fall victim to this 'Beer' scam and the women administering it, there are male support groups where you can discuss the details of your shocking encounter with similarly victimized men. For the support group nearest you, just look up 'Golf Courses' in the phone book. For a video to see how beer works click here: http://www.brackenspub.com/beer.swf> Please! Forward this warning to every male you know.

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  69. Here's a link to a warning. Might be the one Carol is talking about.
    Beer

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  70. Hi c.c.

    I use an eraser mate pen.
    It sure came in handy to-day.
    Read you every day.
    Great blog!
    Geri

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  71. Drdad, hooray for you!!! That is the Beer Warning I was referring to! It works for women too! (sometimes).

    Kitty b, beautiful quilt..I admire you! I wouldn't have the patience to do any sewing.

    Crockett, Nice picture and info!

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  72. drdad, I now have inspiration for my new c/w song. "I Ain't Never Gone To Bed With a Ugly Woman, But I Sure Woke Up With A Few." And, yes, beer WAS involved.

    IMBO

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  73. Argyle, I'm glad to see that collar STAYS are still with us. I thought they had gone the way of ladies "hankies".

    I'm a row-by-row corn eater, but G.A.H. is a random gnawer. Anything psychological to this? Nope? OK, corn-on-the-cob for dinner along with BBQ pork sandwiches, coleslaw and some Sam Adams. Gotta celebrate the day!

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  74. Geri,
    You de-lurked! Welcome!

    Buckeye,
    Yes, I did get your tip. Thank you. What I really want to have is a ball that's super long (tee shot), super straight (fairway), super flexible (behind the trees), super firm (out of bunkers) & super soft when landing on the green, and with automatic backspin built in. Where can I find this ball?

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  75. Yum. Clearayes can I come to your house for dinner? Or at least the Sam Adams? Oh wait, I have a date with Drdad. Drdad got it on ice yet?

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  76. Melissa, I agree, meat goes very well with beer! The more beer, the better the meat; then there is dancing to the beat-well you get the idea.

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  77. 12:15 today. I had to guess at the crossing "R" of NORNS and SIDRA (neither previously known to me). I didn't know the mountain ANETO, but got it from the crosses (I did know ANEMO--as in ANEMOMETER). Everything else was pretty straightforward, if sometimes somewhat obscure.

    I did love the theme, though, and since I am a foodie, especially enjoyed the FINGER FOOD (IE) answer.

    @cokaju: Lett is a term often applied to what normal people call "Latvians". I think it's now often seen as archaic, but you find it frequently in xwords. Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia.

    In my own confused mind, I'm always getting Riga, (the city,) mixed up with Vega, (the star in constellation Lyra.) One of my many shortcomings.

    And I'm with @boomer in wishing for a puzzle that wasn't so full of obscurities, but that's probably never going to happen with Wayne Robert Williams as the editor. If you want fair puzzles, you'll have to go to the NYT. We just live with what we get in our local papers.

    In truth, it's only a severe problem when two obscurities cross each other (as in NORNS/SIDRA in today's puzzle). If one of the words is "fair" you can solve the puzzle without a lot of pure guessing.

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  78. OH GOD! Drdad that was the funniest thing I've seen in ages. I've taken the liberty of sending it out as a warning to others!

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  79. c.c., The ball you described can be found, often, at the end of Tiger Woods' shot. Golf, as with many other things can be summed up with two epistles. 1. The most important 6" in golf lies between your ears. 2. It isn't the size or contour of the wand that matters, but rather the magic of the conductor.

    IMBO

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  80. Carol, what was I thinking??? Drdad, in case you were confused I meant the beer!!

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  81. Ah Buckeye, you are a real "gent".
    Across the blog we can hear lingerie sliding to the floor.

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  82. Embien,
    Do you know that letter E is the most often used letter in crossword? So, when I doubt, I normally fill in a letter E. And SIDEA and NOENS sounded perfectly fine to me this morning. I was shocked that it turned out to be N.

    Clear Ayes,
    Some information for you.

    Buckeye,
    6"? Interesting. I've never had problem handling that. I sink that kind of putt all the time. I've never yipped. FYI, I just measured the distance between my left ear and my right ear, it's almost 13".

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  83. c.c. Wow! I read an excerpt. Interesting that a Shakespeare scholar would write a whole book devoted to "Filthy Shakespeare". I think the book would get a lot of people more enthusiastic about reading "Bawdy Bill".

    I liked your last comment to Buckeye. I can't always tell when you are being serious, coy, or a little crafty. It makes reading your comments very interesting.

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  84. clear ayes, I vote crafty. She's a smart cookie.

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  85. Cursing golfers. Several years ago my favorite Air Force Chaplain at Keesler AFB, Mississippi was telling of his golfing outing on a course in New Orleans. One of the duffers in the foursome ahead of them kept using such foul language that my friend felt obliged to say something to him. He approached Mr. Foulmouth at the next tee. After explaining how offended his group was by the man’s cursing, the Chaplain added, “by the way, I’m a Catholic Priest.” As he completed his swing, the offending golfer retorted, “well, Father, so the F**K am I.”

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  86. c.c, I think you meant "R" not "N". SidRa and noRns. I'm glad you don't yip (or choke on) the 6 inchers. That would be very unfortunate. The measurement (6") is the diameter of the head thru the brain pan. Not the circumference. If your head was i3" in diameter, I would look like a watermelon.
    (We're closing in on 100)
    IMBO

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  87. Please change my sentence to "If your head WERE 13"...." The subjunctive, you know.

    IMBO

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  88. Drdad, pop...sssss here's a cold one for you. Hope you don't have too many, wouldn't want you to find yourself in an unwanted situation in the morning!

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  89. The important thing about having a good ballpark style hot dog is not only the meat that goes into it. You must have a very fresh bun that has been properly prepared -- gently heating seems to work wonders. You don't want the bum to get so hot that it overheats and scorches, though.

    Have a great National Beer Day evening!

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  90. I checked before I started typing, and we are at 97...

    Thank you, Clear Ayes, Melissa bee, C.C., Buckeye and Carol for your kind comments about the quilt picture I've posted.

    I saw this quilt on the cover of a quilt magazine in May, 2007, and realized that I had all the fabric in my stash to make it. My fabric wall is roughly 12 feet long and at least 7 feet high. (What can I say, I'm addicted!)

    The quilt is a "scrap" quilt, in that I used lots of red, tan and green fabrics rather than one of each color. I combined fabrics from a trip to Alaska and some of my Christmas stash. Because of the number of fabrics involved, the cutting took almost as long as the piecing, but the top was completed by mid summer, a year ago. I sent it to friends to be machine quilted, and put the quilt on the wall in time for Christmas.

    Usually I don't time how long it takes, because a lot of my quilts evolve as I go along, and the process makes each quilt unique.

    Buckeye, and Carol, to me, quilting doesn't take any more patience than today's crossword puzzle did!

    C.C. I think you are referring to a comment I made about a crazy quilt I won that was shown at the Museum of the American Quilter's Society. That's a different quilt, and because so much of it is black, it won't show up in a picture this tiny. The red, tan and green quilt that is pictured is one that I made last summer.

    Thanks, again for the kind comments and interest. Now....go celebrate National BEER Day!

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  91. crockett, I just saw your comment at 4:44 on Monday. Thanks! The crazy quilt is quite amazing. Each block was made by one of the premier crazy quilters at the end of the 20th century. There are 20 blocks in all. The quilt came with a book telling about the quilters and showing pictures of the block they created, a pedigree of sorts.

    The crazy quilt hangs in my home on a wall my visitors pass to enter my living room. Inevitably people will be gathered around the quilt "reading" the blocks. One of the most frequent activities is the hunt for all the spiders and webs incorporated into the blocks.

    I'll figure out how to photograph it, and post a picture one day.

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  92. Perhaps the shorts-wearing dude is wearing shorts for the same reason I wear shorts when running even in chilly weather: don't want to overheat my leg muscles.
    cc & xchefwalt: Flogging Molly is headlining the Irish Fair of Minnesota this weekend in St. Paul. Can't wait! CC, are you going?

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  93. Bea,
    No, I've got other plans for the weekend.

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