google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Monday October 13, 2008 Stanley B. Whitten

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Oct 13, 2008

Monday October 13, 2008 Stanley B. Whitten

Theme: Breakfast Sandwich

17A: "Apollo 13" co-star: KEVIN BACON

56A: Decorative molding: EGG-AND-DART

11D: Horse of the year, 1938: SEABISCUIT

27D: Tough luck: HARD CHEESE

So heavy, a glass of fresh orange juice and a lightly toasted English muffin is more healthy.

I have never heard of EGG-AND-DART before. I don't think I like "EGG" being placed in front of the phrase. It's inconsistent with the other three theme entries. I wonder why the constructor did not consider CODDLED EGG or POACHED EGG, which has the same number of letters.

I don't mind seeing O'HARE (26D: Midwest airport) and O'HARA (31D: Scarlett's last name) in the same puzzle. But I really can't stand having SEEKS (62A: Goes after) and SEEK (49D: Endeavor to obtain) in one grid. Very lazy construction/editing.

I wish WAR (24D: Word with cry or chest) were clued as WAR Admiral (1937 Triple Crown winner) to pair up with SEABISCUIT. They raced together several times, didn't they? I cannot remember the movie too clearly.

Across:

5A: Malcolm __ Warner: JAMAL. He was in "The Cosby Show". Unknown to me. Wikipedia said he was named after Malcolm X and Jazz pianist Ahmad JAMAL.

14A: Mine entrance: ADIT. Here is a picture.

15A: Shaped like Humpty Dumpty: OVATE. I thought of OVOID first.

24A: Japanese horseradish: WASABI. Do you like WASABI peas?

25A: Minerals scale: MOHS. Mineral hardness is measured by MOHS scale. I did not know this. Wikipedia says the hardness of TALC (19A: Soft mineral) is 1, Diamond is 10. Interesting, on the MOHS scale, a fingernail has a hardness of 2.5. I wonder what are the numbers for frozen bananas and hard-boiled eggs.

35A: Like bags under eyes: POUCHY. Only know pouch.

36A: Sail support: YARDARM. No idea. What is it?

38A: Kind of reality?: VIRTUAL

40A: Artist Holbein: HANS. This is his famous portrait of Catherine Howard, "the rose without a thorn".

42A: Right-hand page: RECTO. Verso is left-hand page (even-numbered page).

55A: Zeno of __: ELEA. The other Zeno, Zeno of Citium, the Stoic, was born Cyprus.

59A: Cake cut: PIECE. Ha, this was not a PIECE of cake for me. Mine was slice.

61A: Tot seat: KNEE. Joint for jerks? Yes!

Down:

1D: Capital of Azerbaijan: BAKU. Garry Kasparov was born in BAKU. He showed guts running for Russian presidency last year. He is very articulate and idealistic in a certain way.

2D: March's middle: IDES. Or the middle of May, July and October, and the 13th of other months.

3D: Seedy bar: DIVE. I just learned this word a few days ago.

4D: Steps over fences: STILES

5D: Grass beads: JOB'S TEARS. I've never liked JOB'S TEAR soup, which is very popular in Asia. It's supposed to soften your facial skin.

18D: Beatty of "Deliverance": NED. Remember this dueling banjos scene?

22D: Small drums: TABORS. Is 10" the average diameter of those TABOR drums?

25D: Urban honcho: MAYOR

32D: Strong polyester film: MYLAR. I strung the answer together from across clues. What a strange name!

35D: Evergreen droppings: PINE CONES. "Droppings" conjures up a very unpleasant image to me.

43D: Thick-heeled shoe: WEDGIE

44D: Smear or blur: SMUDGE

50D: Highlands group: CLAN. It's rooted Scottish Gaelic "clann", meaning family.

C.C.

50 comments:

Dennis said...

Good morning, c.c. and fellow DFs, DFettes - pretty smooth sailing this morning, but there were a few I'd never heard of. Job's Tears, for example, and Egg and Dart. Also, c.c., you're right, it's inexcusable to have 'seek' and 'seeks' in the same puzzle. And have we had enough of 'stiles' yet? All in all, not a great puzzle.

Today is supposed to be International Skeptics Day, but I kinda doubt it.

Have a great Monday.

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

Dennis,
You can find JOB'S TEARS at Asian market, though I doubt you will ever try. It's prized both as food and herbal medicine in China.

Dr. Dad,
What prompted you to comment on SABOT yesterday?

Argyle,
You might have missed two down clues on "cry". Any puzzle should have at least 3 theme answers.

Dick said...

Good morning Cc, DFs and DFettes...no too bad today with some struggling in the SW corner. I did try to put tenor for 22a which made for some interesting words for the crosses. I had never heard of egg and dart but I guess it is OK.

I think we had MOHS a few days ago but I don't remember for sure.

I haven't done the Sunday puzzle yet as we went to the mountains this week end it was so nice we stayed till dark. The day was absolutely clear, 78 degrees and the fall foliage was beautiful in NW PA. Probably won't be many more days to travel with the top down so we took advantage of it.

Everyone have a great day.

Dick said...

Make that tenor for 22d not across.

Dr. Dad said...

Good morning, C.C. and DF's.

Well, this was only a "fair" puzzle, certainly not "far out." Did not like how egg came first and biscuit, bacon, and cheese came last. A bit out of sync on that answer. Plus, "Humpty Dumpty" and "egg" in the same puzzle. Then there was both "seek" and "seeks" as answers (not to mention the perilously close spelling of "seeps"). Finally, "O'Hare" and "O'Hara." I thought they were all pretty "useless" and there were no "bonuses" to be had from these answers. The creator and/or editor should be hung from the "yardarm" encased in a "piece" of "mylar." Maybe give them a "wedgie" before hanging them. I am also getting tired of seeing the steps over the fence ("stiles"). It's been clued too many times in the past several days.

I am not having a great Monday. Most people have Columbus Day off (or I think they do) but not me.

Today is also Indigenous People's Day, Navy Day, and Thanksgiving Day in Canada.

C.C. - one of the clues yesterday was shoe form = last. You had linked a wooden shoe. That brought to mind the wooden shoe known as a sabot.

Also, a yard is the spar attached to the mast from which the sails are set. The outermost tips are called yardarms.

Have a great Monday.

Dick said...

Cc just as an aside from yesterdays cw and comments. My great great grandfather on my mother's side was the owner of Sutters mill. Unfortunately he died broke and in debt.

Barry G. said...

Morning, all!

Yeah, I just knew that C. C. would have something to say about SEEK and SEEKS being in the same puzzle... ^_^

I was able to get through this one fairly quickly and without assistance, but it did have it's share of HUH? moments. I did not know BAKU or JOBS TEARS at all. I think I've heard of EGG AND DART before, but the memory was extremely vague and I needed most of the perps. HARD CHEESE simply isn't an expression I've ever used or heard before. And I seriously doubt that POUCHY is even a real word. And if it is a real word, well, it shouldn't be one.

Oh -- and I don't have Columbus Day off, either. :(

Martin said...

Only five comments? I guess I'm still early then.

I had to go downtown today so I bought the paper and did the puzzle on the bus this morning. When I got to my destination, I borrowed somebody's computer and googled for MOHS and RECTO. I also googled BAKU and YARD ARM because I didn't know if those were right or not. I didn't google JOB'S TEARS 1) because I was sure of the perps and 2) I didn't know it was two words so googling wouldn't have helped.

I'm so pleased that C.C. got the theme! (I don't mean to be sarcastic: I know C.C. usually gets the theme.) I was thinking "McMuffin ingredients" but C.C. simply avoided the product placement and went for the generic term. Young people in Taiwan eat sandwiches for breakfast because they are so convenient when they are on their way to class: they're really surprised when I tell them that my wife cooks breakfast for me in the morning: nobody seems to have time to cook their own breakfast anymore!

I wanted TORSO for BOSOM, SMELLED for SCENTED, SLICE for PIECE, ECRU for GRAY and NYLON for MYLAR but I eventually figured it all out: I had BOSON for a while and knew that wasn't right because then the clue would have been "Higgs particle?" or "Fermion alternative". I also misread "grass beads" as "glass beads" and was trying to think of a kind of marble that was eight letters!

C.C., MYLAR is well known to comic book and magazine collectors: regular plastic bags are considered too acidic for high end collectors so they put their collectables in MYLAR bags and then lock them away in a room with low humidity. It's good to know that in the event of nuclear war that you might be able to find a mint copy of Action Comics #1 in the rubble of somebody's home. :)

Martin

Martin said...

I forgot which picture I was using! How appropriate! (See 61a: "Tot seat" = KNEE)

Oh, by the way, C.C., "Endeavor to obtain" = SEEK is 49d, not 9d. I guess you didn't hit your 4 hard enough. :)

Martin

Anonymous said...

drdad, do you know this little song:" On m'ont appelle vilaine avec mes sabots dondaine oh oh oh avec mes sabots
Je ne suis pas la vilaine avec mes sabots dondaine, oh oh oh avec mes sabots." ?

Sandra

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

Martin,
How come you know so much about Ishtar and the "The Courtship of Inanana and Dumuzi"? What's your major in college?

J.D,
The same question applies to you.

Ken,
Did you write the "Flying feet/Fussy gulls flapping/Dog laughing" yourself?

Mark,
"Do men wash their partner´s bras in cold water to enhance the "peanut" effect?". What is "peanut effect"?

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

Melissa,
I don't think I fully understand the "Inside Out Cat" song. It's not about cat, is it? Who is Rick Fisk?

"Inside Out Cat"
(Why not "Inside Outside Cat"?)

inside, outside,
you go where you please.
i give you love,
you just give me fleas.

(Any DF meaning on "fleas"?)

once not long ago,
you were the only one.
now there's others,
and you don't come around.

(Who are "others"?)

she's got diamonds,
on her neck,
makin' me a
perfect wreck.
(What does "diamonds" refer to here? Drugs? Why does it "makin' me a perfect wreck?)

inside out cat,
you're so fine.
wish you were a
friend of mine.
you're so distant,
and so cold.
purr for me,
before you go.

scratch me ...

(Again, any DF meaning with this "scratch me"?

KittyB said...

Good morning, C.C. and all.

The guys have pretty much covered it today: SEEK/SEEKS O'HARA/O'HARE, STILE. I've heard of JOB'S TEARS but couldn't remember in what connection, and I have never heard of EGG AND DART molding.

I wanted 'torso' for BOSOM, 'slice' for PIECE, 'ecru' for GRAY and 'nylon' for MYLAR, but all were corrected through the fills. I see that dr.dad explained about the yardarm.

C.C., I surfed a bit on 'tabor' to try to answer your question about the diameter of the drums, and found that there is an amazing variety of drums called tabors. Some have just the top covered, some cover both ends, some have snares added to change the sound, and some have devices allowing you to tune the head of the drum. Tabors have been with us across time and across the globe. I found information on drums in the Middle East, drums from the Renaissance, and early American drums. My guess is that a tabor may be one of the first music instruments developed in a culture. I found drums that were anywhere from six to fifteen or so inches, so I suppose 10" would be the average.

Like many of you, I'll be working today. I hope you all have a good day!

Dr. Dad said...

Sandra (anon at 7:14) - no, I am not familiar with the song. My French is poor also so all I get out of it is something unpleasant about shoes.

Martin and Kittyb are thinking alike this morning as they wanted some of the same answers for certain clues.

C.C. - the "peanut effect" is erect nipples (caused by cold water, cold air, etc.).

Boomer said...

I got about two thirds of this one. I like good old Stanley, but my mind doesn't work well on Monday morning; or any other morning for that matter. So the pen wandered to the Isaac Asimov quiz about Turkey. Question 6 - "Where do wild turkeys normally spend the night?" The correct answer was "In trees". My answer was "In the dark". I'll stick to Sudoko. Time to go bowling, don'tcha know. Y'all have a fine day!

dugglesmack said...

I had issues with most of the same problems that other solvers had with this puzzle, but I'm surprised nobody has commented on 10d Begin:"set about" - I wanted it to be "set afoot" but 24a:"wasabi" wouldn't allow it. I even considered 35a: "poochy" instead of "pouchy" to make it "set a boot" (like a computer startup). All of the possible answers seemed like quite a stretch to me!
All in all... not a very satisfying puzzle!

Bill said...

CC, Did you listen to all of the youtube link you posted? (Dueling Banjos). It really wasn't.
Not going to say much about this xword except that I DETONATED miserably! Could NOT put SEEK at 49d because I already used SEEKS and knew it just wasn't possible. WRONG!! EGG, DART molding? OK, if you say so! POUCHY? I wanted PACKED. And some others that I really did not know.
Maybe my brain is observing the holiday!!!
CY'all later!

Martin said...

I said

I wanted TORSO for BOSOM, SMELLED for SCENTED, SLICE for PIECE, ECRU for GRAY and NYLON for MYLAR

Kittyb said

I wanted 'torso' for BOSOM, 'slice' for PIECE, 'ecru' for GRAY and 'nylon' for MYLAR

Okay, that was just eerie.

C.C., I went to Ottawa University and my major was physics and my minor was mathematics with a bit of chemistry. My electives were psychology and Chinese. Then I went to McGill University and studied physics but my electives were Chinese, Japanese, French and Course Design. I've always been interested in ancient civilizations though, mainly because our history classes started with Greece which is relatively modern: it seems silly talking about "ancient" Greece when the history of Iraq and China goes back a few thousand more years!

Martin

Clear Ayes said...

Good Morning All, As has happened so often in the past, Kittb has
covered what I was thinking. "SEEK/SEEKS O'HARA/O'HARE, STILE. I've heard of JOB'S TEARS but couldn't remember in what connection, and I have never heard of EGG AND DART molding."

"'torso' for BOSOM, 'slice' for PIECE, 'ecru' for GRAY and 'nylon' for MYLAR, but all were corrected through the fills."

Martin, I see you and Kittyb are also on the same wave length. BTW, that's another lovely photo of your son.

The only problem with being retired is that everyday is a holiday. I forgot that today was Columbus Day. Yes...I know, you are all moaning at my tough life :o)

Kazie, how about a translation of Sandra's "Sabot" song?

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to all our Canadian friends. I have to say a special "Have a wonderful day",to my old high school friends in London, Ontario.

Here's a little poem about how fleeting "thanks" can be.

Temporary Well Being

The pond is plenteous
The land is lush,
And having turned off the news
I am for the moment mellow.

With my book in one hand
And my drink in the other
What more could I want

But fame,
Better health,
And ten million dollars?

- Kenneth Burke

carol said...

Good Monday morning C.C.and all, this was sort of difficult in spots because of words/phrases like: Egg and dart, Hard cheese (a meaning for tough luck?!-Not to me)and Job tears. I agree that using "seek" and "seeks" in the same puzzle was lazy. And enough with the "stiles" already!

Clear ayes, we did not get wet on our bike ride after all, the shower had passed by the time we were ready to go. I ride 10 miles, and Joe goes on for another 3. It certainly is more fun when it's dry out, but living where we do - this time of year until next summer can be wet and usually is!
(Portland still gets LESS rain than Seattle)
Glad your wine tasting went well...we have some great wine country close to us and there are many places to taste and buy but you are correct, one of the best places to purchase good wine is at Costco IF you know what you are doing!
Drdad, cute 1st paragraph at 6:27 :)

I agree with Barry on "pouchy", I'll have to look it up, it seems wrong. Saying someone has "pouches" under their eyes sounds odd too. Is a pouch larger than a bag? How about "sac"?
Guess it depends on how tired or hung-over one is.

JIMBO said...

Hi Y'all,

Had same trouble as most of you. Job's tears, Hardcheese, Egg and
dart amd Mylar. Also thought the letter "S" was somewhat overworked.

Ides
Stiles
Job's tears
Avas
Lenos
His
Bonuses
Seeks
Mohs
Orders
Hans
Houses
Tabors
Pine cones
Eras

Or am I Too "Far out"?

Clear Ayes said...

I immediately thought of Dick when I saw so many show business answers in the top of the puzzle, JAMAL, KEVIN BACON, LENOS, AVAS, NED. I liked it, but I bet he was a little disgruntled. After that section, the show biz folks disappeared.

Jimbo, You're right, too many "S" endings, just to make it fill properly. Don't forget SSTS, BIDS and SEEPS.

Oops, I should simply have said, "Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian friends." The extra "Canadian" was redundant.

WASABI peas are delicious. Like so many spicy snacks, once you start it is difficult to stop. (Am I venturing into DF territory here?)

Recently, Costco had WASABI peanuts (roasted peanuts covered in a green crunchy wasabi flavored coating) for sale. The bad thing about Costco is that they change their stock so easily to make room for new items. The yummy wasabi peanuts were only available for a couple of months.

Ken said...

Good morning, C.C. et al. Well, I managed to figure everything out this morning, but needed the perps badly. I wanted Torso for 30A, but soon found it didn't work. I couldn't believe seek and seeks were in the same puzzle, so floundered about in the SW corner for a while. Other than that, it all worked itself out.

C.C. I did know the hardness scale from 1 to 10. It is usually part of a first week geology course.

Word of the Day: Koine koy NAY. 1. The Greek language as spoken in Greece and the Eastern Med. today.
2. A dielect of a region that has become part of the language of a larger area.

Ex: Koines developed in colonies where different dialects converged.

We went to a baroque concert Saturday evening. Other than total enjoyment, I also learned two words that might show up in a x-word.
Violoncello is the formal name for the cello we see in every orchestra. (no misspelling)
A Theorbo is a 16-stringed guitar-like instument. It has 8 bass strings which are perhaps 5 feet long and stretch out to their own set of tuning pegs. The other tuning pegs are within the normal reach of the player's hands. Very lute-like in shape

A great day to all, mine is pretty full.

g8rmomx2 said...

Hi c.c. and all,

Ditto on most other comments. I knew c.c. would hate seek and seeks, I did too! Never heard of Job's Tears or Egg and Dart. And, Got a whiff of? scented?? I had smelled at first and don't agree with scented at all. I also had slice instead of piece at first.
Basically, I did not care for this puzzle at all! Hope tomorrow is a better one.

Have a great day all! I'm off to the gym for another grueling workout!

Ken said...

C.C. Yes, the poem "Flying feet/Fussy gulls flapping/dog laughing" is mine. I hope you enjoyed it.

I saw a couple of requests for how I ended up naked in a basement.(I believe it was Kazie and Barb)

I was about 12, playing hockey on a slough of the Mississippi. It was perhaps 20 yards across but perhaps 1/2 mile long. (We spent a lot of time chasing pucks.) As one got away, I went after it; it was lodged against a rough wood bridge/dock that lay awash most of the year but was frozen into the ice. The water must have eddied around the bridge because the ice was thinner and broke under my weight. It wasn't deep, but I was soaked to my waist. One of the boys, Dave Kelsey, said that no one was home at his house which was right by where we were skatting. I trudged up, went down to the basement and stripped. I was nearly hugging the furnace when I heard a car pulling in. Everything was still wet and some how I couldn't find my bvds! Down the steps came his mother to tend to laundry she wanted to hang.
Many of you will remember the days of hanging clothes in the basement to dry.
She spotted me and instantly knew what I had done. I am crouched against the wall trying to ..ahem...be semi-decent. (Heck, she had six sons!) Up the stairs she went to call my mom. When I got home, I pleaded not to tell Dad and I thought I had her on my side.
Never, never do I remember the topic of the river coming up at Sunday afternoon dinner, but, you guessed it, the very next Sunday. As I sat in mute terror, my brother said words to the effect of "doesn't your Scout troop camp on that island across the slough??" That was all my mother(too danged honest if you ask me) told the story. Well, the rest is in the poem below.

Hot Bottom Blues

Can’t go skatin’ Momma
Can’t go skatin’ Papa
Can’t go skatin’ Momma
Lord, Lord I got those Hot Bottom Blues

The tales of cold that ne’er grow old still last the long years gone.
They weave a spell that’s fun to tell when snow lies on the lawn.
We hear of cars lost near some bars beneath the towered snows
But here a tale that made me wail beneath a parent’s blows.

There’s lake and pond where boys are found to chase a flying puck.
They skate the fray throughout the day, rejoicing in their luck.
There is no joy like being a boy when no chores need be done,
And slam and crash with others brash beneath a winter sun.

I chased that disk, no thought of risk, right down a frozen river.
The puck I whacked and then it cracked, the ice that gave me shiver.
As down I sank in frigid dank, my fears came in a shock.
I thrashed about and gave a shout, then grabbed a piece of dock.

I shook with cold; not feeling bold as pals came skating near.
They laughed a bit, I said “Oh spit! What if my Mom should hear?
My basement’s there, said one friend fair, my parents are away.
The path I took to find a nook where I could warmly stay.

The furnace roared, my clothes I stored upon the heated vent.
I mostly cried while sick inside, I really was quite spent.
While naked I did peer and spy to find a hidden haven
But then I heard not sound of bird, but voice of mother maven!

No time to bide! No place to hide as down the stairs she came.
I hereby share she was right there. Of course she knew my name.
Her laundry line was strung up fine; she pinned her sheets up tight
I looked about. I had no doubt she’d see me in the light.

She must have glanced or looked askance at shadows on the wall.
For then I saw her gaping maw “You’ve had yourself a fall”
I tried to say or maybe pray “you gonna tell my Mom?”
She paid no heed; my soggy deed would surely be a bomb.

Mom could be stern, my ears would burn and then she’d be quite sad.
”Well, play you’ll not, you little snot. No, I might not tell your dad.”
In trembling fright I held her tight and thanked my lucky star.
I’d fallen in, but ‘midst the din, my name she would not mar.
But Sunday next came the hex that plagued me in those years
I’d come to rue some stunt I’d do and then would come the fears.
I don’t recall a talk at all that e’er discussed the river
But there it was, Mom gave a pause and I was all a quiver.

She said the call had told it all, of me in all my glory.
I don’t regret my being wet for now I have this story
You guessed it, friend, it was my end to feel again his ire
He wasn’t wild, but spanked this child ‘til bottom felt like fire.

Can’t go skatin’ Momma
Can’t go skatin’ Papa
Can’t go skatin’ Momma
Lord, Lord I got those Hot Bottom Blues

Golf Gal said...

Hello, I'm earlier today as I'm usually working the puzzle much later. I did well, for a change, until the southwest side. I put Mastarm for yardarm (knew it didn't sound right), and it took awhile to correct my error. I needed the "d" for detonate, and "get a whiff of" for scented just didn't send the right message.
The Egg and Dart was easy because I recalled the beautiful moulding in the former David Whitney home in Detroit which is now a restaurant. Thank you all for the information you share from your experiences and your geographical location.
Golf Gal

Barb B said...

No real problems today, although some answers had to come with the fills. Many of the same objections that others have posted. O’hare and Ohara, seek and seeks, and all the esses. Pouchy was familiar to me. I've heard it used for eyes and for pregnant tummies.

Ken, thanks for sharing that story. It was hilarious, and the poem tells it very well.

C.C. does Jobs tear soup taste like grass? It looks delicious.

DoesItinInk said...

This was a very easy, if boring puzzle. I had only a few unknowns, all of which I could get from the crossing words, and NO red squares! AVA(S) Gardner played in a number of memorable films. The first film I ever saw her in when I was 8 was The Barefoot Contessa.

Here is an example of EGG AND DART molding.

cc: I knew you would find SEEK and SEEKS in the same puzzle to be objectionable. I have not had WABASI peas but would probably like them. I love anything that is hot…very hot! And the hotter the better!

Kittyb: Did you make it to Utica this weekend? My daughter and I went on Sunday. The weather was perfect, sunny and warm, though I think the colors will be better in another week or two. Our fall has been too warm yet for the brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. Sara and I spent over five hours walking, eating and doing some shopping! The burgoo was very good, though I missed having okra in it this year.

Clear Ayes: Yes, I think perhaps our movie tastes are quite similar. I do not like a lot of comedy, finding most of it to be too silly or anger-based, especially American humor. My favorite comedy films in addition to A Fish Called Wanda are Harold and Maude and the new film In Bruges.

embien said...

11:10 today. EGG AND DART? HARD CHEESE? JOBS TEARS? ELEA? All unknown to me. JOBS TEARS seemed to be long enough to be a theme entry...but it wasn't. I have nothing to add to the points others have already made.

doesitinink: Thanks for the link to the EGG AND DART molding. It's actually quite pretty.

Bill said...

Ken - That was funny!! Tell me, did you do that again real soon??
Doesit - I guess I've seen a lot of EGG and DART, just never knew what it was called!
ClearAyes - I echo Kenneth Burkes' sentiments!!!

Jeanne said...

Afternoon all,

I'm really late today because my laptop lost the internet connection. Finally got it to work again and amazed how many times in one day I wanted to look up something on the computer. Didn't think I was that dependent.

C.C. I love Wasabi peas and get them at our local farmer's market. Love hot stuff!! I grew up in an Italian household and frying peppers were part of the normal day. In fact, I spent some time on Sunday frying hot peppers and will freeze them. Tastes really good on a turkey sandwich come November.

Mr. Ed said...

G'day C.C. & all

@C.C. Oops! I mistakenly posted this at the end of Saturday's comments so I'm reposting it here where it belongs.

I had to come back to civilization yet once again for repairs. Found a flaw in the last fix. Drats!!!

Anyway, I was reading the Saturday comments(thanks dennis) & wanted to offer this to anyone who has lost a pet.

"Rainbow Bridge"

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. The bright eyes are intent; the eager body quivers. Suddenly, he begins to break away from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then, you cross Rainbow Bridge together………

Anonymous

And, with that.... Sissy waiting at Rainbow Bridge exactly four months today.

lois said...

Good afternoon Cc & DF's: easy puzzle b/c of all the perps, but didn't know the same as most of you.

Laughed when the term Tabor came up. Dated a guy by that name (and he was a drummer too, honestly...great at rhythm!) and then to have kittyb define the particulars of the drum head as being 6-15" with an avg of 10"... well, Holy Hot Wick! What a morel guy! You won't believe what his first name was....yep, you got it. Rhymes w/Wick. He was predestined to be great based on his name alone. Had to let him go though. His taste in chicken alone was enough to turn me off. He preferred drumsticks to breasts, and that just wouldn't do. I told him to scram and he beat it. So, no more drummers for me. Now, I prefer saxophone players....long winded guys. Yeah, you got it.

Have a good night.

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

Ken,
Please, no more comment like 12:07pm. I don't like long post.

Bill,
What music is it then?

Barb B,
Without added sugar and honeyed dates, JOB'S TEARS soup tastes like boiled short-grained brown rice gruel, very bland.

Anonymous said...

Not my cup of tea. WAY too obscure for my taste and (low) experience level.

Bill said...

CC, 52 seconds into the Dueling Banjos clip it goes off on a severe, distorted rock and roll riff. Not part of any Dueling Banjos I've ever heard. Try this one
From the movie

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

Bill,
Ha ha. Now I understand why you asked me if I listened to all of the link. No, I did not. I probably only listened to the first 40 seconds. Sorry about that.

carol said...

Doesitinink, Thanks for the example of Egg & Dart molding, I think it's beautiful!

Carl, Sissy is gorgeous! The Rainbow Bridge brought my tears back but it was good to read. Thank you.

Dick said...

@Jeanne would you share your recipe for hot peppers. My neighbor just brought me a bag full of hot peppers and I do not know what to do with them. Help!!!

Dick said...

Carl, your Sissie must be the sister of my cat Patches as they look exactly the same.

kazie said...

clear ayes, I'll be back later with the sabot song translation, but right now I have to go watch Bill Maher. I've been gone all day. A bientôt!

Argyle said...

C. C. said @ 5:53 AM "Argyle,
You might have missed two down clues on "cry". Any puzzle should have at least 3 theme answers."


Maybe. There were two answers and they were split into two, also.
5D) Part of WWII song, with 101 Down - Wing and
101D) See 5 Down - a Prayer

15D) A Bond film, with 90 Down - To Russia
90D)See 15 Down - With Love

Well, what say you? (The movie was From Russia With Love.)

JD said...

Good evening C.C.and all,

I was not excited about this puzzle today.

Martin said:
I wanted TORSO for BOSOM, SMELLED for SCENTED, SLICE for PIECE, ECRU for GRAY and NYLON for MYLAR

Kittyb said

I wanted 'torso' for BOSOM, 'slice' for PIECE, 'ecru' for GRAY and 'nylon' for MYLAR

me too... add to that: I had bongos for tabors, goal for seek, never heard of Job's Tears, egg and dart, yardarm, mohs or the expression "hard cheese". So, alas, it was not my best effort.

Ken, I admire your gift for writing poetry, and the story it told.I don't know what that rhythmn pattern you used, but I enjoyed it!

Clear ayes, didn't the Barefoot Contessa have a beautiful theme song?

If anyone has a Trader Joe's near by, they sell wasabi peas.

C.C.-Elem. Ed. and Spec. Ed. were my majors;art and English were my minors.I have been teaching ancient history to 6th graders forever, and one of the units of study is Mesopotamia.Since I also taught English, I familiarized them with myths, legends, the epic of Gilgamesh ( not the adult version) and their cuneiform.

Argyle said...

Oh, you must see this

"These little rice crackers and wasabi peas are for your ears. They hang from silver-plated ear hooks and chain. Delicious!"

JD said...

Did anyone notice that Google had Paddington the bear hanging on their logo today? I guess this day was his coming out party way back in 1958.

Oh, I get it. You are all early risers.

Argyle... those were silly!LOL

Clear Ayes said...

Doesitinkink, "Harold & Maude" is also a favorite movie. Ruth Gordon was such a charming lady, it was easy to imagine a young man falling in love with her.

"In Bruges" is the next movie on our Netflix list.

I don't mind some violence in movies, but I definitely prefer quirky "little" movies.

I have loved all the Coen brothers movies, even though some of them are quite violent. In spite of that, they can be very funny.

JD, Trader Joe's is the best. There is one in Modesto and I stop there every time we are in town.

Ava Gardner was gorgeous in "The Barefoot Contessa". The only movie star who was more beautiful IMO was Rita Hayworth. She was spectacular in every movie she was in.
I'm not much of an early riser. It's 7:30 California time for me. Some days I get out of bed earlier, but not too often.

Anonymous said...

Greetings C.C. etal -

C.C.
In my newspaper today Allan E. Parrish was listed as the constructor? I guess someone erred, huh?

Basically I didn't particularly like this puzzle. I had the same thoughts as others: seek/seeks, did not like scented for "Got a whiff of," did not know Egg and Dart, enough of stiles for a while and I like a "piece of pie" and a "slice of cake." I think other commenters have covered the rest of clues and answers that make me wince.

Thanks C.C. for everything you do to keep this site fun and interesting. Hopefully soon, I will have something better than dial up which I am using now, so slooooow.

Have a great day and keep on puzzling!

Night Owl

melissa bee said...

@c.c.:

Melissa,
I don't think I fully understand the "Inside Out Cat" song. It's not about cat, is it?


well, yes and no. he's making a parallel between cats and women ... finicky and aloof. he sings of those who always want on the OTHER side of the door.

Who is Rick Fisk?

a very talented musican/singer/songwriter in austin, texas. guitar genius.

"Inside Out Cat"
(Why not "Inside Outside Cat"?)


lyrical license. the phrasing fits with the song rhythm.

i give you love,
you just give me fleas.


(Any DF meaning on "fleas"?)

i suspect he's referring to other critters that also cause itching. either that or he's just itching to see her again.

once not long ago,
you were the only one.
now there's others,
and you don't come around.


(Who are "others"?)

other pussy cats. other women.

she's got diamonds,
on her neck,
makin' me a
perfect wreck.


(What does "diamonds" refer to here? Drugs? Why does it "makin' me a perfect wreck?

like a jeweled collar, or necklace. he likes how it looks .. it makes him nuts.

scratch me ...

(Again, any DF meaning with this "scratch me"?

yes.

kazie said...

First a couple of comments on the puzzle, which I had a bit of trouble with, but not too much:

Barry, we used to say "stiff cheddar" in the sense of hard cheese here, so maybe it's British?

Ken, violon is French for violin--hence the spelling of violoncello.

Clear ayes, Here’s a clip of the whole song : En Passant par la Lorraine

I have always found this old folk song to be rather silly. There’s a lot of repetition I’m omitting, but here are the main story lines of it:

En passant par la Lorraine avec mes sabots (2)
--Passing through the Lorraine district with my clogs
J’ai rencontré dans la plaine avec mes sabots dondaines
--I met in the plain with my clumsy clogs
Oh,oh, oh! Avec mes sabots.
--Oh, oh, oh! With my clogs.

Trois fort jolis capitaines avec mes sabots dondaines
--Three really cute captains with my clumsy clogs
Ils m’ont appelée vilaine avec mes sabots
--They said I was ugly in my clogs
Je ne suis pas vilaine avec mes sabots dondaines
--I’m not ugly in my clumsy clogs
Puisque le fils du roi m’aime avec mes sabots dondaines
--Since the king’s son loves me in my clumsy clogs
Il m’a donné pour Étrenne avec mes sabots
--He gave me for New Year’s with my clogs
Un bouquet de marjolaine avec mes sabots dondaines
--A bunch of marjoram with my clumsy clogs
Je l’ai planté dans la plaine
--I planted it in the plain
S’il fleurit je serai reine avec mes sabots
--If it blooms, I’ll be queen in my clogs
S’il y meurt je perds ma peine avec mes sabots dondaines
--If it dies there, I’ll lose my pain with my clumsy clogs.

Not sure how to interpret the last line, but that's what it says. Sorry to have taken so long getting to this, but it turned into a pretty good comedy evening on TV, so I didn't return as soon as hoped.

Ken said...

C.C. Thanks for the comment on no long posts. Would it have been ok in multiple posts? I'm not very sure of what you do behind the scenes to make our posts permanents. Again, thanks for your comment.