Theme: Types of Lumber
17A: Legitimate: ABOVEBOARD
65A: Package delivery service: PARCEL POST
10D: Gymnastics apparatus: BALANCE BEAM
25D: Taper holder: CANDLE STICK
I am not sure I got the theme right.
Lately I've been obsessed with the consistency of theme entries. Strictly speaking, 17A does not really fit into the other 2-word pattern. But I cannot think of 2-word *BOARD with 10 letters, can you?
Interesting to see ST. PETER (48A: Heavenly gatekeeper), SATAN (26A: Head of Hades) and EVIL (31D: Devil's doings) in one grid. I would prefer cluing EVIL as "Axis of ___" , as I am averse to having duplicated letters in both the clue and the answer. I always thought the "Head of Hades" is Hades himself. Hard for me to associate SATAN with Greek Hades.
The clue for CHARM (1D: Bracelet bangle) is incorrect. "Bracelet dangler" yes.
Across:
1A: Dollar, slangily: CLAM. Dennis said last time that CLAMS is always used in plural form when it refers to money slangily.
14A: Sword handle: HILT. Sometimes it's haft. I don't know what's the difference between the two.
19A: Yearn (for): LONG. I thought of PINE first.
24A: Team animal: MASCOT. This is our Goldy Gopher.
28A: Pronto!: ASAP. And STAT (45D: Immediately, in the O. R.). STAT is from Latin "statim". Unknown to me. I am more used to the baseball "ERA or RBI" clue.
30A: Way down: DESCENT. I have problem understanding the structure of "Way down". Is "down" an adjective here?
34A: TV journalist Paula: ZAHN. Not any more. She left CNN last year.
37A: Bandleader Puente: TITO. Here is Carlos Santana's "Oye Como Va", composed by TITO, so rhythmical. I like Santana's "Smooth" a lot: "... Give me your heart, make it real, or else forget about it...".
44A: Rings out: PEALS. Why "out"? "Rings" is enough.
58A: Small cave: GROTTO. This Blue GROTTO looks magical.
64A: Son of Leah and Jacob: LEVI. Or LEVI Strauss of jeans. A bit of religious undertone in today's puzzle. See also IDOL (6D: Religious statue).
69A: Inventor Howe: ELIAS. I had no idea that he invented the sewing machine. Always thought it's Singer.
71A: Student grind: WONK. Fascinating word origin.
Down:
2D: Qaddafi's land: LIBYA. It belongs to OPEC (68A: Oil cartel).
3D: Medicinal lilies: ALOES. I did not know that ALOE is of lily family. (Note: The clue is "Medicinal plants" in syndication papers).
4D: Cable channel choice: MTV
9D: Unruffled: SEDATE. Always thought SEDATE is a verb. I wanted SERENE.
18D: Personalities: EGOS. Really? They are not the same to me.
59D: "__ Man", Harry Dean Stanton film: REPO. I've never seen this movie.
62D: Winner's mantra: I CAN. Yes, I CAN. "I am just hot, I am totally ready to lead..."
C.C.
17A: Legitimate: ABOVEBOARD
65A: Package delivery service: PARCEL POST
10D: Gymnastics apparatus: BALANCE BEAM
25D: Taper holder: CANDLE STICK
I am not sure I got the theme right.
Lately I've been obsessed with the consistency of theme entries. Strictly speaking, 17A does not really fit into the other 2-word pattern. But I cannot think of 2-word *BOARD with 10 letters, can you?
Interesting to see ST. PETER (48A: Heavenly gatekeeper), SATAN (26A: Head of Hades) and EVIL (31D: Devil's doings) in one grid. I would prefer cluing EVIL as "Axis of ___" , as I am averse to having duplicated letters in both the clue and the answer. I always thought the "Head of Hades" is Hades himself. Hard for me to associate SATAN with Greek Hades.
The clue for CHARM (1D: Bracelet bangle) is incorrect. "Bracelet dangler" yes.
Across:
1A: Dollar, slangily: CLAM. Dennis said last time that CLAMS is always used in plural form when it refers to money slangily.
14A: Sword handle: HILT. Sometimes it's haft. I don't know what's the difference between the two.
19A: Yearn (for): LONG. I thought of PINE first.
24A: Team animal: MASCOT. This is our Goldy Gopher.
28A: Pronto!: ASAP. And STAT (45D: Immediately, in the O. R.). STAT is from Latin "statim". Unknown to me. I am more used to the baseball "ERA or RBI" clue.
30A: Way down: DESCENT. I have problem understanding the structure of "Way down". Is "down" an adjective here?
34A: TV journalist Paula: ZAHN. Not any more. She left CNN last year.
37A: Bandleader Puente: TITO. Here is Carlos Santana's "Oye Como Va", composed by TITO, so rhythmical. I like Santana's "Smooth" a lot: "... Give me your heart, make it real, or else forget about it...".
44A: Rings out: PEALS. Why "out"? "Rings" is enough.
58A: Small cave: GROTTO. This Blue GROTTO looks magical.
64A: Son of Leah and Jacob: LEVI. Or LEVI Strauss of jeans. A bit of religious undertone in today's puzzle. See also IDOL (6D: Religious statue).
69A: Inventor Howe: ELIAS. I had no idea that he invented the sewing machine. Always thought it's Singer.
71A: Student grind: WONK. Fascinating word origin.
Down:
2D: Qaddafi's land: LIBYA. It belongs to OPEC (68A: Oil cartel).
3D: Medicinal lilies: ALOES. I did not know that ALOE is of lily family. (Note: The clue is "Medicinal plants" in syndication papers).
4D: Cable channel choice: MTV
9D: Unruffled: SEDATE. Always thought SEDATE is a verb. I wanted SERENE.
18D: Personalities: EGOS. Really? They are not the same to me.
59D: "__ Man", Harry Dean Stanton film: REPO. I've never seen this movie.
62D: Winner's mantra: I CAN. Yes, I CAN. "I am just hot, I am totally ready to lead..."
C.C.
Wow! This was a lot different than yesterday. Almost TOO easy! Only one word I didn’t know. Filled it in, then looked it up and it was right. I had never heard WONK before; but then, I was never much of a student!!
ReplyDeleteCC, Quite a surprise when the Dueling Banjos clip got to about 55 seconds? I was pretty sure you hadn’t heard it all ‘cause I know you wouldn’t have put it up!
CY’all later. Gotta get ready to travel tomorrow.
How about "Wood I?"?
Good morning Cc,DFs and DFettes...not much of a challenge today, the fills were made as fast as I could write. I guess this made up for my fiasco yesterday.
ReplyDeleteNot much that I can say about this cw as it was pretty boring overall.
It looks like another day of clear skies and near 80 degrees so it is off to the links. Hope you all have a great day.
Bill,
ReplyDeleteI don't understand your "Wood I" comment.
Dick,
So you've got some SUTTER in your blood?
Dennis,
I hope you won't disappoint me with "Today is the day..."
Good morning CC etal:
ReplyDeleteAs for others, everything fell easily today - no need for outside influences.
CC: Interesting information on "wonk", thanks. My paper clues 3D as "medicinal plant".
Hope all have a great day!
As in, "Would I?"
ReplyDeleteI know, kinda lame, huh? I'm not nearly in your league at creating themes!!!
Good morning, c.c. and gang - as Bill & Dick said, pretty straightforward today, not much to comment on. The only word I got from the perps was 'wonk' - hadn't heard that word used in that context before.
ReplyDeletec.c., Goldy Gopher looks suspiciously beaver-like.
Today is National Dessert Day, and coincidently, it's "Be Bald & Free" Day. Enough to make a mouth water...
Hope it's an outstanding day for everyone -- pushing 80 and sunny here today. Any day with the top down is a great day. Right, DFettes?
Bill,
ReplyDeleteVery clever "Wood I"!!
Dennis,
How can we have "Be Bald and Free" twice this month"?
Melissa,
Thank you for the "Inside Out Cat". What's your interpretation of "Year of the Cat"? Is it about physical love?
Clear Ayes & Bill & Argyle,
I'd like to know your view too. Why did the girl tell the guy that "She came in the Year of the Cat"?
c.c., beats me, but no complaints.
ReplyDeleteDennis,
ReplyDeleteRemember this puzzle? You said last time that CLAMS should always be in plural form.
Argyle,
Delicious earrings, thank you! "Forever Autumn" link is awesome too!
c.c., yes, and I still think so. I've never heard anyone call one dollar a 'clam'....it's always used in the plural.
ReplyDeleteWow, guys, the only word you didn't know was WONK? How about SPRIG? I did see the movie REPO Man so I didn't mind LEVI being clued as a Biblical reference: I got it from the perps.
ReplyDeleteIt seems everybody named Eli gets a mention in crosswords: Eli Wallach, Elie Wiesel, the prophet Eliah, Elijah Wood and now ELIAS Howe. Or is it just my imagination?
C.C., I think your theme is essentially correct. Bill's suggestion that BOARD, BEAM, POST and STICK are all made of wood sounds plausible though. Let's see, if you're building a barn then you'd start with four posts, nail on some wood boards for the walls, have some beams running across the ceiling to support the roof and then you'd finish things off with a picket fence which is essentially a fence made of sticks. If you're building a skyscrapper, on the other hand, then the floorBOARDs would be made of wood but the BEAMs are made of iron and the POSTs are made of concrete and then the odd word out is STICK because the idea of a skyscrapper being made of sticks just makes me nervous.
Martin
Good Morning, C.C. and all.
ReplyDeleteI hate to complain, but I'd like a bit more of a challenge. This puzzle seemed just too easy.
C.C., I don't have a problem with 'Bracelet bangle' for CHARM. At Dictionary.com, the second definition for 'bangle' from the American Heritage Dictionary is "An ornament that hangs from a bracelet or necklace."
We'll have to find an armorer to tell us the difference between HAFT and HILT. The dictionary seems to use them synonymously.
I was having an "early morning-not enough tea" moment while doing the puzzle. I knew that Paula's name ended in AHN, but couldn't remember the first letter. I had to wait for the fills to have my light bulb moment.
Thanks for the link on WONK.
I hope you all have a good day.
Ken,
ReplyDeleteAs I told Martin last time, I dislike long posts. They give me headache. I suggest you start your own blog if you want others to read your poems.
Kittyb,
Thanks for BANGLE. I did not know that.
Martin,
What's your take on "Year of the Cat"?
Morning, all!
ReplyDeleteWell, if Saturday's puzzle was a hammer, I guess that would make today's puzzle, what? A pillow? A marshmallow? A fluffy cushion?
Whatever you want to call it, it was easy. I knew WONK from the expression "policy wonk", but had never heard it used to refer to students before.
And I don't have any problem with CLAM in the singular. After all, if something costs one dollar, it costs one CLAM, one buck, one simolean, one greenback, one smacker, etc.
I, too, was a bit unsure as to what, exactly, the theme was. I was thinking along the same lines as Bill that it was all wood related and not necessarily building materials. Maybe "Woodn't You Know It?" as a theme?
CC, As I've said before, I'm not much for poetry, but since this actually a musical peice I'll venture a guess.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this a surreal setting and the girl in question is actually the idea of a collapsing Saigon. She takes the man (the populace) by surprise, and has her way with him. By the time she's ready to depart the fall of Saigon is complete and the man (again, the populace) decides that life here might not be so bad after all and stays to experience what ever comes next.
Since there is no Chinese "Year Of The Cat" this term was probably used to indicate a time in history that may never be duplicated.
All I know is all I know; and it's not much!
Good morning fellow DF's.
ReplyDeleteThis was an easy one. The only one I hadn't heard of was "wonk" and I was a student for a very long time.
C.C. - I hope I never disappoint you with my "Today is -."
Mythologically speaking, Satan is not the head of Hades. In Greek mythology the god Hades is the head of the underworld/Hades. Romans have Pluto as the head of Hades. Satan is the ruler of Hell. I have never heard of him ruling Hades (at least in the Biblical sense). Thus, I did not like that clue/answer.
Josef Broz, aka Tito, former leader of Yugoslavia.
Repo Man also starred Emilio Estevez.
C.C. - thanks for the link "I am hot---." My day is now off to a lousy start - I can't stand Paris!!! Yuck!!! LOL.
I have heard of one dollar referred to as a clam.
Dennis is always beating me to the punch these days but I don't mind. Between the two of us we will keep you abreast of what today is:
Grover's Birthday (Sesame Street).
Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier (Mach 1.0) in 1947.
Winnie the Pooh was published in 1926. This is one of my favorite songs about Pooh because it reminds one of youthful and carefree days long gone and the fun we had growing up.
Today starts the celebration of Sukkot. The festival of Sukkot, also known as Chag’ha Succot, the “Feast of Booths” (or Tabernacles), is named for the huts (sukkah) that Moses and the Israelites lived in as they wandered the desert for 40 years before they reached the Promised Land.
Have a great Tuesday.
Bill,
ReplyDeleteVery interesting view. Had the cat not napped, she might have been given a year cycle in Chinese calendar.
Barry,
"Woodn't You Know it?" sounds nice. Now, tell me your take on "Year of the Cat".
Dr. Dad,
Great to know your view on SATAN/Hades. Sorry to spoil your day with Paris Hilton. And the Cat?
Xchefwalt,
You'd better tell me why you linked "Year of the Cat" and what it means, otherwise, enjoy your time in your lovely chateau bow wow!
Notes on yesterday's comments...
ReplyDeleteDoesitinink, thanks for the color information at Utica. I was afraid with rain today and tomorrow that we might have missed our chance for a beautiful ride. It sounds as though you and your daughter had a great day. What happened to the okra?? Thanks for the link to the egg and dart molding. Beautiful, isn't it?
Carl, I cry for all my lost pets when I read the Rainbow Bridge. My cat, Edward Scissorhands, will be joining Cissy and Laurel soon.
jd, thanks for the heads-up on the Paddington at Google. I wondered why he was there.
Melissa bee, nice go at explaining "Inside Out Cat!"
Lois....I'll share a secret with you. You want to get to know musicians who play trombone, baritone or tuba. Some music requires brass players to "triple tongue." I bet THAT term has sent you off in a tizzy! *G* If we find out that xchefwalt played trombone, we'll have confirmed that he's the perfect man....a triple-tonguing ear muffin lover who COOKS!
And with that....I'd better be on my way.
C. C.,
ReplyDeleteWith regard to "Year of the Cat," I'm not really good at figuring out deep hidden meanings to songs. It looks like a simple love song to me.
I think the "Year of the Cat" has to do with love and a woman who is as mysterious as a cat.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning C.C. et al;
ReplyDeleteI haven't had much time to get on here lately, you know - work, work work seems like all I get to do any more. Can't wait for 3:00 P.M. (EST) when I get out of work today as Bill and I will be on vacation!!! Martinsville, Here we come.
Today's puzzle relatively easy...I forgot TV Journalist Paula I too knew the last 3 letters were AHN but I thought it was KAHN but when I got to 34D gets with a ray gun, I knew it had to be ZAPS.
Also never heard of WONK other than Willie Wonka and the Chocolate factory, thought it was just a made up name!!!
I'll tell you, my hubby never stops amazing me. I know he is very intelliegent but WOW his deep interpretation of The Year of the Cat. He never does that stuff when I ask him. It is always keep it simple. I know, he doesn't want me to know that he is a romantic!!! hehehe...
Well I have to get back to work. Have a Great day.
Nancy
Good morning c.c., DF’s and all! This was easy for me, so it must be brutally simple for most of you. I just got a little stuck in the SW corner (never heard of WONK), but that’s about it.
ReplyDeleteOn “Year of the Cat”- I am a big Al Stewart fan, so I hope I do this justice. The title comes from Vietnamese astrology (it runs in conjunction with the Chinese ‘rabbit’)- so very astute, Bill to see that. I don’t think it has to so with the fall of Saigon, though. The song is based on the movie “Casablanca” and tells the story of unrequited, hopeless and dangerous love. The man in the song knows that the relationship is doomed from the start, but the woman’s surrealistic beauty stuns his common sense. It’s as if he is in love with a ghost (see Richard Adams “The Girl in the Swing” and Peter Straub “Shadowland” and “If you could see me Now”). The strength of the song comes from Stewart’s use of language to paint the visual (running like a watercolor in the rain). If one studies his songs, he often uses time, history and metaphors to describe lost and hopeless love.
Nancy,
ReplyDeleteBill never ceases to amaze me too. He is good man, hard to find, and vice-versa, as Lois would say.
Xchefwalt,
So it's about pure physical love, isn't it? There is no romance involved. She just comes out of nowhere. Why does she come "in incense and patchouli"? How can you tell it's unrequited love? From which line?
Today’s was a too easy puzzle with no challenge whatsoever. I worked it all at stoplights by the time I got to work. As with others, the only word with which I was unfamiliar was WONK.
ReplyDeletekazie: The link discussing the meaning of WONK that cc provided mentioned “gussie” and “spurge” as Aussie slang terms for a homosexual. Are these common? I am only familiar with “poofter”.
kittyb: Google changes their logo to reflect special events or celebrations. If you are unsure of what it represents, just rest your cursor over the logo, and a popup text will appear that explains it.
As for the okra…someone explained that they change the mix of foods in the burgoo every year, and this year they decided to leave out the okra. A shame as I LOVE okra!
clear ayes: I don’t remember is you have seen the Coen brother’s new film Burn After Reading?
c.c., I agree about bangle--to me bangle and bracelet are the same thing. Dangle would be better.
ReplyDeleteI took way to be a noun and down an adverb.
My paper had medicinal plants for 3d too.
Wonk was the only real mystery for me today.
clear ayes, I posted the "sabot" song last night with a link and the translation of the whole thing, but at the risk of making too long a post I won't repost it today unless asked to so so. Let me know if you can't find it.
Being a STEINBERG, I would like to learn more about Norma...I always seem to do her puzzles better than others..
ReplyDeleteWho knows Norma??
Good morning Cc and all. Just a short comment on the use of STAT in the hospital OR. As a longtime employee of a rather large hospital(I was a chemist in the laboratory) I'm afraid the use of STAT has spread to anything anywhere that has to be done at once or the perception thereof. It's lost it's original urgency. Too bad.
ReplyDeleteThe way I read it, the rat pushed the cat into the water and the cat couldn't swim so not only did the cat not make the cut but that's why cats hate rats.
ReplyDeleteC.C., I was once told that there was an old Chinese story about one of the early Chinese emperors having an audience with Turkish traders who him about Western customs, things such as the four seasons of the year (and perhaps about the twelve hours in a day and about Western astrology). The point of the story was, given that Chinese people followed a lunar calendar and not a solar calendar, that farmers faced the disadvantage of not being able to tell from their calendar when it got warm and when it got cold and being able to figure this out by dividing a year up into four seasons helped a lot. Given that there are, so I've read, about 80 000 Turkish speaking people in China to this day the story sounds plausible. Have you heard this story or did somebody make it up?
Martin
Good morning, C.C et al. Every thing flowed for me too. Must be in the water.
ReplyDeleteC.C. No problem on long posts; I'll avoid them. I'm missed your comment to Martin. I do have a blog which I don't use, and could have put the poem there. I didn't think of it, but will in the future. Thanks again.
Opps, I forgot word-of-the-day: Facetious (fuh SEE shuss}.
ReplyDeleteJoking or jesting, often inappropriately.
"Your facetious remarks about women cost you a promotion to her department."
CC - I have seen both Chalk & White as a two word board entry. There is a Smart Board (interactive white board)also.
ReplyDeleteWhile we are on the subject... I was very "bored" with this c/w. Really hohum today.
Ken - Yeah, sure like any of us could use any of our comments in that fashion! You know all of our comments are to be taken very seriously...hehe
ReplyDeleteHi Y'all,
ReplyDeleteLike most of you, I did not know "Wonk"; But the rest came easy, even for me. Therefore I liked this puzzle. No need to Google.
I think the theme is just referring to different types of lumber and I use "Clam" in the singular when speaking of one dollar.
Two inches of rain here yesterday. Sure helps get the lawn in shape.
Vaya con Dios
This puzzle was too easy, even for me. I am not very good, but this was like filling out a questionnaire. I have been trying to post a link, unsuccessfully. So you have to do it the hard way.
ReplyDeletetinyurl.com/5zyjg3
Tony
@c.c.- I never said that there was no romance- it’s all one sided, though. Coming in “incense and patchouli” only re-enforces the almost mystical quality that she possesses.
ReplyDelete“You know sometime you’re bound to leave her/ but for now you’re gonna stay…” ; he knows that it is pointless- she is just there, and will still be, weather he’s there or not.
drdad
ReplyDeleteYou are correct when you say "Mythologically speaking" Satan is not the head of Hades. However, speakers of English have been confusing Hell and Hades for quite a long time, as testified to in several documents on the WEB.
Calef
Good morning C.C.and everyone:
ReplyDeleteAlmost too easy this morning,like the rest of you, I did not get "wonk". The only other blank was 37A "Tito". Guess we'll be hammered soon, after this one.
C.C. thanks for the link to "wonk", quite a history!
Kittyb at 7:01 am, re Lois - LOL
Good one!!
Speaking of "clams" and all the other names for the dollar (and any other money), I never use any of those terms. I have never heard any of my female friends use them either. I am beginning to think it's only males that use them. Any thoughts out there?
Did the constructor ERR in not using an abbreviation in the clue for Saint (St.) Peter?
ReplyDeleteHi c.c. and all,
ReplyDeleteEasy puzzle as others have pointed out. I also never heard of the word "wonk" and actually thought it was supposed to be work and that it was a mistake. However, I did leave it as wonk because 60D could only be oven. Thanks c.c. for the origin of that word, very interesting!
Have a great Tuesday everyone!
Good Morning All, There was nothing in today's puzzle that was difficult or couldn't be solved with the help of perps (the oft mentioned WONK).
ReplyDelete"Bangle" reminded me of the MGM musical "Kismet". This is Peggy Lee's version of Baubles Bangles and Beads.
Kazie, Thanks you. I did see your translation from last night. Some things just don't translate well, do they? LOL
Doesitinink, Yes, I did see "Burn After Reading", violent, but funny. I loved Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand's characters. The plot was screwy and probably truer that we can know.
I'm feeling somewhat DFette this morning, so I'll say what others probably thought about today's theme words and delicately haven't mentioned yet. "Wood" is a euphemism for a "Morel" guy. What a minute here. I'm using a euphemism for a euphemism. That could get confusing. OK, "Wood" is a euphemism for an erection. You know you thought of it, Carol, Dennis, Xchef, et al. Don't try to pretend you didn't. Lois hasn't checked in yet, but we know she will have something to say.
Mark - Buenos Aires
ReplyDeleteI had the same missing letter as others. W*NK, obviously a vowel missing, but which? Was the setter having a chuckle with other meanings of student grind?
Wife looking in the mirror - "I look so fat and ugly, say something nice to me"
Husband - "Your eyesights still pretty good dear"
Cryptic clue
"Lab´s capable, perhaps, of making sporty headgear"
Clue : "perhaps" indicates its an anagram
I hope all of you are happy and healthy
mark - Buenos Aires
ReplyDeleteA grey moment on a Monday - I forgot to put the number of letters
(8 and 3)
Mark--BASEBALL CAP!
ReplyDeleteI just have to share this, though it's a bit political. I'm catching up on yesterday's paper, and there's a column by Leonard Pitts. He's talking about Sarah Palin and comparing her with her antecedents, and he says they "were smart, wonkish people pretending to be one of us. She IS one of us."
ReplyDeleteAppropriate use of wonkish for today!
Storyboard as used in advertising
ReplyDeleteagencies.
good morning c.c. and all,
ReplyDeletenot much to add about the puzzle except it was interesting to see the lofty words, all on the left side, above board, st. peter, gild, hilt, charm, glow, heap, pile, and peals, juxtaposed against satan, evil, descent, bite, sedate, sever, err, and sink, all on the right. then sara and alaska again .. also on the right. hm. i wonder if norma steinberg leans a little left?
@buckeye: it was barb b who said a library patron dubbed her 'beebop.'
@kittyb: thank you.
@c.c., for some reason i never paid much attention to al stewart, i defer to xchefwalt. 'course now i can't get that song out of my head ...
@clear ayes: yeah i thought it. in fact, i thought the theme should be 'wood shed.'
MelissaBee
ReplyDeleteI was waiting for your explanation of Inside Out Cat. I simply didn’t grok it. It was an eye opener, to say the least. I think I may be hopeless when it comes to hidden meanings and double entendres. I’m better at being the straight (wo)man. ☺
……@buckeye: it was barb b who said a library patron dubbed her 'beebop.'
Which says more about the patron than it says about me. She obviously doesn’t know me.
I think it’s a cute name, and it fits Kittyb much more than me, so I hereby award it to her with my blessing.
I am pretty SEDATE by nature, like a turtle, which is my totem.
All reasons I like this blog; so interesting, so educational.
This puzzle was just too easy. I wasn't hung up on anything today. I didn't know wonk but filled it in with the crosses.
ReplyDeleteWhat's in the air today? We've got Dennis mentioning again it is bald and be free day, we've got mention of long, wood, and hilt.
Now kittyb has traveled way over to the other side of dfetteness with her trombone references.
Even clearayes is feeling somewhat dfette today.
It's also national dessert day so I think I will have some strawberry shortcake.
Let's not forget naughty Dennis' reference to beaver too.
ReplyDeleteMelissa bee, How could I have forgotten to mention you and Cokato too? Sorry about that! "Wood Shed"...very good theme. LOL
ReplyDeleteKazie, You and Doesitinink are very good at Mark's anagrams. I always have problems with them.
C.C. Xchef is definitely the Al Steward expert here. He provided a very good explanation of "Year of the Cat".
All the "wood" talk reminded me of this poem. It may be Robert Frost's most famous, and deservedly so. Short and simple, the imagery is something everyone can relate to.
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost
G'day C.C. & all
ReplyDeleteWell, repairs are made but I'm waiting until morning to depart once again. So, I had to check in once again. I still don't have xwords but that'll have to come later.
I thought I would throw out an opinion about Year of the Cat. The Vietnamese Year of the Cat(Rabbit, Hare) was 1975, one year prior to when the song was done by Stewart. That symbol is linked to a peaceful and stress free year.
I always thought it was about post war Vietnam. A vet returns to revisit his past and stumbles into drugs and prostitution. Perhaps he meets a girl in Saigon who opens the mystical door for him? “By the blue tiled walls near the market stalls there's a hidden door she leads you to. These days, she says, I feel my life just like a river running through The year of the Cat.” I've always believed Casablanca and Peter Lorre were only musical comparisons. The opening wording suggests that with "in a country where you turn back time, you go strolling through the crowd LIKE Peter Lorre contemplating a crime" (as in looking for drugs). The phrasing about “incense and patchouli” could relate to heroin and the prostitute as a powerful seductress luring him in yet he's powerless to resist. He awakes the next morning and "the bus is gone" but by then he doesn't really care. He likes the peaceful feeling and he's going to stay awhile.
With all that, I'm off... so to speak!
Martin,
ReplyDeleteNo, I've never heard of that story.
Mike,
Norma Steinberg is a very prolific puzzle maker. She has created lots of puzzles for Newsday.
Ken,
I always like your comments and poems. But yesterday's is way too long.
Kazie,
Regarding the sabots song, the king gave "me" a new pair of sabots to plant the marjoram, not to wear, right?
Anonymous @ 10:42am,
ReplyDeleteYou have a valid point there!
Anonymous @ 11:57am
Storyboard is also a one-word word, isn't it?
Razzberry,
I thought of chalkboard, scoreboard and skateboard this morning, but found out that they are not two-word words. Your smart board is great.
@all
ReplyDeletePerhaps a rethink of my previous???
After I published the prior, it dawned on me that it's entirely possible that the timeframe was the Fall Of Saigon which occurred in April, 1975. Perhaps the lines "the bus and the tourists are gone. And you've thrown away the choice and lost your ticket so you have to stay on" actually refers to the departure of the U.S. from Saigon, thus stranding this man with the choices he had made for this girl??? I think 1978's Time Passages was referring back to this same theme, and girl.
Of course, I could be all wet and maybe Stewart was just exercising poetic and artistic license??? I don't believe he has ever explained.
ttfn
doesitinink, No I'm not familiar with either expression. I've heard pansy used, and shim (combination of she and him)
ReplyDeletec.c., I took the "avec mes sabots" part to just be a repeated refrain without any additional meaning other than that all these things happened to her while she was with/wearing them. I think the king's son only gave her the marjoram. I'm wondering if the death of the marjoram would mean a release for her, not having to be between her rightful station and that of a peasant queen if he married her. I can't explain the loss of pain otherwise, but maybe I'm reading too much into it--as I said, it's a pretty senseless song.
Re: 30A: Way down: DESCENT. I have problem understanding the structure of "Way down". Is "down" an adjective here?
ReplyDelete"Way down" is a noun, as in: "Can you find your way down?" Similarly, DESCENT is a noun.
Hugh,
ReplyDeleteSo "down" is served as an adjective, isn't it?
Kazie,
Thanks.
Lois,
What do LATIGO straps mean to you? How are they different from billet straps?
@carl- very interesting take on the song; I don’t believe you’re correct, but very well thought out and stated. I disagree with you because Stewart runs the same themes through his songs, and as far as I know has never discussed Vietnam, drugs or prostitution. I think that the “stress free” year of the cat does play into it, but he is constantly using time, historical or abstract visions to describe his lost loves.
ReplyDeleteBut you are right about ‘Time Passages’. He actually dislikes the song, as he spit it out for the record company looking for a song like ‘Year of the Cat’.
c.c., I still think "way" is a noun, and "down" is an adverb, saying "where to" (Adverbs tell when, where, why). If "down" were an adjective, it should come before "way".
ReplyDeleteHmm. Way down. Way up. Way over. Way in. Way through. They're all nouns followed by prepositions, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteMartin
Dennis, how is the little boner doing? It's been about a week now. Is it coming back to life? Did my blown kiss do any help?
ReplyDeleteI was at an (of all things sex enhancement) party last night. I know a Monday, but it was also a bachelorette party for a couple that were fleeing to Vegas tomorrow and had a wonderful hor de' ouvre (sp)I have to share:
One package of jumbo biscuits
2 tblspn olive oil
1 tspn of Italian seasoning (if you are mixing your own dried herbs, it would include rosemary, thyme, and oregano)
One can of small quartered artichoke hearts drained.
Crumbled asiago cheese
Grape tomatoes halved
Flatten out the biscuits and spread on the olive oil and the Italian seasoning,
top with artichoke hearts, and grape tomatoes-about three halved fit on each one. Top with asiago cheese and bake following the instructions on the biscuit tube. I suppose you could make your own biscuit dough. I think you baked them at 375 degrees F for about 17 minutes. Simply fabulous.
Very interesting new "toys" out there for the exploring type.
Good evening CC & DF's: Super easy puzzle, like everyone else, but Wonk? as a 'hard' worker? I can grok that in every section of the puzzle! Holy Hot Wick! 'Signs' everywhere with practically a 'seamless' transition from one to the other. "I can" hardly stay aboveboard...so, I won't. I'll 'sink'into 'abed',and
ReplyDelete'charm' the 'levi's off 'Pierre'. It may not be St.Peter who will 'glow' tonight. I'm sure that 'member' is no 'sprig'! If Andy doesn't sing an 'aria' tonight, I'll just 'retry' and 'retry'. My 'descent' is absolute. To 'err' is human, but oh, so divine!
Melissa: loved your take on the puzzle. Very funny!
CC: the difference in straps is maybe where you live...billet straps connect to the girth on an English saddle in my experience.
Have a good night.
Martin, yes, they could be prepositions. You're an English teacher, I guess you'd know. But then with no following object, wouldn't that make them "dangling prepositions"?
ReplyDeleteCokato, The spelling is hors d'oeuvre: hors de (d' before a vowel) = outside of, and oeuvre is a work of art, which of course is how the French think of a main meal. Thus hors d'oeuvre is something extra, served before or separately.
I think it helps for the spelling if we understand how the words go together.
My mother always called them horses' douvers, which I think may be a hint as to whence my DF leanings.
Dear all, "Eazzy-Peazzy" today.
ReplyDeleteMelissa bee and barb b, thanks for clearing up "Bee Bop". I knew someone had previously mentioned it, but with my ensuing dementia I couldn't remember if it were real or fantasy. You can tell by the silly grin on my face (see picture at right) I'm not the "sharpest tool in the shed". (OOPS! Here we go with the wood shed, again.
Melissa bee; even tho the puzzle was easy, your recognition of good on the left and evil on the right was very astute. I need to examine these things more closely. That made Steinberg's puzzle much more interesting.
Two pumpkins in an oven, baking.
"Man, it's hot in here!" said one.
"Eek!" said the other. "A talking pumpkin!"
I must be off!
BTW. The song "Trumpeter's Holiday" is LOADED with triple tonguing. Those of us who have mastered it have found it to be a "godsend" for our ladies.
ReplyDeleteIMBO
Kazie, I was sure my spelling was incorrect, hence the (sp) by the word. I guess I just should have said appetizer. Either way, I suggest you try the recipe. However, I do appreciate the French lesson having never taken any lessons and never being over the big pond to visit France. My mother used to call them "horses ovaries" hence, my Dfetteness started at a very young age.
ReplyDeleteLois, you crack me up. I have coaxed a few levis off a few in my time. Did you ever get my e-mail? I have resent it a couple of times.
csw in ky
ReplyDeleteThe only two-word "board" for 17A that I could think of is
CLOCK BOARD
@walt
ReplyDeleteI agree with you to some extent on TYOTC. But, I do not believe TYOTC is autobiographical… or related to any actual lost love in his life. I believe it is only a remake of history… ie the end of the Vietnam War. Al Stewart is known for such historical rewrites with heavy emphasis on such themes through the '60s and early '70s. He has a long list of songs that deal with history, wars, dictators, and etc. None of those songs were very successful. I think TYOTK was an extension of his historical theme set to a folk genre documenting real events to produce contemporary songs. The lost love whimsy was included to make the music work commercially. I think he didn’t directly reference Vietnam because in 1976, the world was tired of that entire scene. But, we can only speculate since we didn't write the music.
And, with that, I really am outta here!!
cokato, I knew you knew it was wrong--that's why I was hleping--can't help teaching, I guess. Sounds like your mother was on the same track as mine!
ReplyDeletekittyb: Hilarious! You have set me free! I'll be winkin' at all the brass players just in case they're versatile. Don't want to ever overlook any triple tonguing ear pullin' muffin nibbler. Or underestimate any musician who plays tunes blowing and mouthing an instrument. Dated a violin player once. He just fiddled around. Ewwww!
ReplyDeleteCokato: I've never received an email from you. And I check the spam before I empty that folder too. I'll check it out and get back to you. Thanks for letting me know.
I've come at "Year of the Cat" from a different direction. From Egypt, in fact. Looking at the album cover put me in mind the Egyptian cat goddess, Bast. She was said to be the daughter of Ra, and was originally a sun goddess. Bast was a wild goddess. To those who were in her favor, she gave great blessings, but her wrath was legendary. A cult was formed to honor her and a temple was erected. The town became Bubastis. It was for centuries the centre of the largest annual orgy of all of the eastern Mediterranean, perhaps the entire world. The symbols of the Bubastis are cats, crescent moons, music, dance, and baskets.
ReplyDeleteIt still is a tourist site and canals from the near-by Nile run through it.
Another interesting Al Stewart song, Mr. Lear has this line, "In Egypt, the first day of spring
You're painting a watercolor,hoping the light will bring
Guided by pens and inks, the pyramids and palms and sphinx".
Maybe I'm on to something.
Good evening C.C. and all,
ReplyDeletenoun, adjective, adverb???? It depends on the meaning of way down. Do you mean THE way down? If so, way is a noun, and down is an adverb.The other meaning would make it an adj/adv
Melissa b- Did you notice that bite and member are also on the right side?
Even I thought this was an easy one today, I liked being able to fill everything in. My last fill-in was the c in parcelpost, which gave me the winner's mantra, "I CAN!!!!" :-) I had no clue what wonk was, but I knew oven was correct.It sounds like a goose with a cold.
C.C.,your link led me to look up wonk in my Dictionary of American Slang.In the 1990's college students used it to mean an intellectual,such as "I had a real wonk of a roommate. He drove me nuts..." another example from National Lampoon:"Along come these wonks with slide rules sewn into their sports jackets". The origin is unknown, but possibly from British wanker,"masturbator"; in Brit.sailor slang, "wonk" meant midshipman"; the term became suddenly common in the phrase policy wonk during the 1st yr. of the Clinton administration,1993.
ReplyDelete@jd: i did not notice that .. it does sound dangerous.
ReplyDelete@buckeye: most welcome .. i only remembered the beebop thing because i know barb b. yes i found the left/right = good/evil very interesting. i only wish there were some way of confirming my suspicions. it could be just that there's something wrong with me.
ReplyDelete@argyle: i loved the bast information, beautiful. you're on to something alright.
@cokato: i'm logging that recipe.
I liked brown crossing parcel post(brown=UPS=United Parcel Service).
ReplyDeleteOh, hi, Melissa Bee, didn't see you there.
Yes, it's amazing where some lines lead you.
Mr. Lear was the man who penned The Owl and the Pussycat
I
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!'
II
Pussy said to the Owl, 'You elegant fowl!
How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! too long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?'
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose,
His nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.
III
'Dear pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?' Said the Piggy, 'I will.'
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.
All forgot the BLACK BOARD you'll saw in school!!!
ReplyDeleteHmm, I vaguely remember someone mentioned BLACK BOARD on the comments. I could be wrong. It's been a long time.
ReplyDelete