google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Saturday December 27, 2008 Tom Pruce

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Dec 27, 2008

Saturday December 27, 2008 Tom Pruce

Theme: None

Total blocks: 27

Total words: 70

This grid looks unbelievably open and balanced. I wonder if it's because of the 27 neatly placed 7-letter words. And it only has six 3-letter words, probably the least I've seen in a TMS puzzle.

I did not like seeing ICE BOAT (3D: Winter craft), ICE AGE (62A: Glacial periods) and AGER (56D: Last of a teen?) in one puzzle. It does not look elegant to me.

I wish ECON (22A: M. Friedman's field) were clued as "Paul Krugman's field (abbr.)". He won Nobel prize in Economics this year and he certainly deserves a place in our puzzle.

I really like topical clues, you know, "I can see Russia from my house!" comic clue for TINA FEY amuses me. And I think "Obama's daughter" is a perfectly fine clue for "SASHA" yesterday.

Across:

8A: Skunk: POLECAT. I wonder what's the origin of "panda". We just call it "bear cat" in China.

15A: Play place: REC ROOM. I was thinking of the theater play.

16A: Prayers: ORISONS. Dictionary says that ORISON is a "doublet of oration" etymologically. What is a doublet?

18A: Organic compound: PENTANE. New word to me.

19A: Nightclubs: CABARETS

21A: Spiny-finned fish: MULLET. I only knew the awful hairstyle MULLET. See this picture. But aren't all the fish "Spiny-finned"?

25A: Clan sub-divisions: SEPTS. New word to me. Only knew SEPT as seven in French.

26A: Flat fish: SKATE. Came across this fish clue a few weeks ago. So ugly.

32A: Deprives of vigor: EMASCULATES. I thought of emaciates, but it's one letter short.

43A: Group of whales: POD. Last time when PODS was clued as "Movable classrooms", I thought it referred to "School of whales".

46A: 112 letters: CXII

47A: Jack-in-the-pulpit: ARUM. How can I remember this word? A RUM?

48A: End of land or sea?: SCAPE

55A: Loss of muscular coordination: ATAXIA. The prefix A means "not", and TAXI is a Greek suffix meaning "order". New word to me.

57A: Sweetbread: PANCREAS. Omigod, really?

59A: News: TIDINGS

61A: Author of "Gigi": COLETTE. Ha, gimme for me. COLETTE once said: "I love my past. I love my present. I'm not ashamed of what I've had, and I'm not sad because I have it no longer".

64A: Square dance leaders: CALLERS. New definition of CALLERS to me.

Down:

7D: "The Bartered Bride" composer: SMETANA. Would not have got his name without the crossing fills. I wonder what SMELTANA mean in his native language.

9D: City near Provo: OREM

10D: Chemist Pauling: LINUS. Holy moly, he is a two-time Nobel prize winner. But the only LINUS I knew is him.

11D: Crime novelist Loren D. __: ESTLEMAN. I googled this novelist. Feels like a consonant is missing from his name. Why not PESTLEMAN or NESTLEMAN?

12D: Colliery: COAL PIT. I did not know the meaning of "Colliery".

13D: Bening of "What Planet Are Your From": ANNETTE. Know Bening, who once claimed that the Columbia "Torch Lady" was modeled after her. Have never seen "What Planet Are Your From".

14D: Dreaded African flies: TSETSES

35D: Type of electrical cable: TRIAXIAL. I guessed. How is it related to cable coaxial?

37D: Of the ischium: SCIATIC. Hip related. Foreign to me. I did not what "ischium" is.

38D: Unusual stuff: EXOTICA. So close EROTICA in spelling.

39D: Fortress: CITADEL

40D: Altar constellation: ARA. Have not seen "Coach Parseghian" clue for a long time.

44D: Sleep inducers: OPIATES

58D: Last book of "The Alexandria Quartet": CLEA. No idea. Ink mentioned "The Alexandria Quartet" last time when we had LIVIA (clued as "Durrell novel") in John Underwood's "America's Major Wars" puzzle. CLEA is the name of a bi-sexual painter.

C.C.

53 comments:

  1. DEMOCRAT IN A RED STATE said...

    18:34 today Pause for station identification from Nelligan Sports this is the University of Louisville basketball network................

    Jeannie,
    Vicks is great on your chest it keeps my nose open at night. A friend is a coroner and he puts a dab under each nostril to mask smells sometimes. Glad to hear you are on the mend. I'm getting there the mucinex is starting to break it loose. Mid week I should be back to 100%.

    December 27, 2008 5:01 AM

    ReplyDelete
  2. Chris,
    Re: Zwieback/Zweiback. Thanks for bringing it up yesterday. Did you know the difference before?

    Kazie,
    I am very grateful for the language lessons you've offered to me so far.

    Clear Ayes,
    I really liked the "tangled, very tangled" "ball of wool" poem yesterday.

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  3. Seattle John,
    Thanks for the OAST cones information. I was wondering why most are white-colored.

    Dennis,
    What's the fun about Lake TITICACA? I received a very neat Obama Inauguration pin for Christmas. It's a good match for my Omaba rookie baseball card. What's the special gift you've got?

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  4. 16 minutes 25 seconds. I'm actually proud of myself because there were so many unknowns: SMETANA, OREM, ESTEMAN, COAL PIT, ORISONS, PENTANE, MULLET, SEPTS, ARUM, ATAXIA and COLETTE. I wanted MATH for ECON because I didn't know who M. Friedman was: in fact, even if I had known who M. Friedman was I still would have wanted MATH for ECON because the clue wasn't specifically asking for an abreviation. (Giving an initial instead of a first name isn't enough of a hint to me.)

    Martin

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  5. Good Morning, One and all,

    C.C., all you have to do is mention Lake Titicaca to a bunch of young boys and you will hear all sorts of giggles and snickers. Girls are unaffected by the name.

    I couldn't find an answer on why oast cowls are white, so I have emailed an expert on repairs and replacement of cowls(in England) and hopefully, he will have an answer.

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  6. Martin,
    Re: ECON. I simply hated the M. abbreviation for Milton Freemon. I think a full name with an "abbr." is much better. How about Ben Bernanke & Eliot Janeway? Are you familiar with them?

    Argyle,
    Is it because of TIT in TITICACA? But what's so special about CACA?

    Kazie,
    Can you tell me the differences among "a déjà vu moment", "a jamais-vu moment" and "a presque vu moment"? It would be great if you could provide me with examples also. Thanks.

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  7. Good morning CC etal,

    This one was a little more difficult than the usual Saturday "long-word" puzzle (for me, anyway). Needed to google SMETANA & ESTLEMAN. Didn't like ans. for "winter craft" - have never heard of an ICEBOAT, or ans. for "colliery" - definitions I could find seemed to mostly refer to under-ground mines and/or the infrastructure (buildings, etc.) surrounding them rather than an open-pit mining operation. But enough grumbling.

    CC: in answer to your question, no, I was unaware there was a spelling difference - I've always spelled it "zwEI", but a quick search for either variation (ei or ie) produces basically the same result. It would appear either are acceptable.

    Happy Saturday to all!

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  8. Meaning of doublet from wikipedia-"In etymology, two or more words in the same language are called doublets or etymological twins (or possibly triplets, etc.) when they have the same etymological root but have entered the language through different routes. Because the relationship between words that have the same root and the same meaning is fairly obvious, the term is mostly used to characterize pairs of words that have diverged in meaning, at times making their shared root a point of irony. For example English pyre and fire are doublets."

    Didn't get the PANCREAS/sweetbread connection until I came here-yuk! I also had to google ESTLEMAN. Forgot OREM and didn't know SEPT either.

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  9. caca - little boy slang for excrement.
    Interesting translation: Portuguese (Brazil): titica

    And you don't need to drop the last "i", they say "titty" (snicker)

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  10. Ha! LINUS Pauling was a gimme for me! It was said that Linus Pauling never had acold in his life because he would take regular injections of vitamin C. He did, however, end up needing more vitamin C than the average person and would start shaking if he went too long before he got his injection. True story if my inorganic chemistry professor was to be believed.

    Martin

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  11. Good morning, c.c. and gang - well, this would've been close to five minutes had it not been for the NE corner. Came to a dead stop. Once I got a couple perps, I remembered 'collier' as a coal pit from previous crosswords, but not a clue on 'pentane' or the infamous Loren D. Estleman.

    Also, isn't 'secretary' a dated term now? I think they're called 'Administrative Assistants' today. And they're so much more than assistants. When I was in the corporate world, my secretary had every bit as much to do with the success of my division as I did. Most underrated profession there is, in my eyes.

    Glad to see the Titicaca, Brest, and bra clasp discussion for a change; a nice diversion from the etymological/mathmatical discourses. But it's all good.

    By the way, I asked my wife if she knew what "ataxia" was - she said, "sure, that's what you ride around New York City in". Gotta love it.

    Off to play; hope it's an outstanding day for everyone.

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  12. Morning, folks!

    Another less than stellar performance from me today, I'm afraid. I'm still going to blame it on my cold, although I don't know how much longer that excuse will work....

    Most of the puzzle was doable, and I was especially proud of myself for managing to remember both ARA and ARUM, without which the lower central section of the puzzle would have been a lost cause.

    My first real problem came at the crossing of COLETTE and CLEA. CLEA was a complete unknown. I had no idea who wrote "Gigi", but at least I was able to guess COLETTE (although, now that I think about it, I suppose it could have easily been CORETTE as well).

    My eventual undoing came in the NE quadrant. I had SECTS instead of SEPTS (never EVER heard of SEPTS) and MOTE instead of MITE. Since I wasn't sure what a Colliery was (I vaguely remembered it had something to do with mining), I was content to leave the resulting COALCOT as it was. In retrospect, COAL PIT makes a lot more sense, and I should have realized that MITE would work just as well as MOTE, but SEPTS? SEPTS???

    *sigh*

    Other unknowns for me today were ESTLEMAN and PENTANE (both in the NE quadrant, mind you, which made that area even more thorny) as well as SCIATIC (I actually know SCIATIC, but the clue "Of the ischium" meant nothing to me) and TRIAXIAL (coaxial, sure. But TRIAXIAL?)

    On the bright side, I knew both ORISONS and ATAXIA...

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  13. Errrr.. Did I break the blog again?

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  14. Good morning C.C. and all,

    I flew thru the top half of the puzzle today, although I did have to look up the meaning of colliery, and change sects to septs, but when I hit emasculates, I really slowed down. There were too many unknowns for me.Had coast for scape, and didn't recall arum, although I now know it is also called an Indian Turnip and it is toxic.Never heard of ischium, so your diagram was beneficial.
    For 63A I have treater and for 65A I have stalest. Those can't be right!

    There seems to be nothing fun in this c/w to research.Have a great Sat. We are putting up crown molding in our family rm today. I'm glad we have leftovers for dinner.

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  15. Good Morning All, I thought when I got through the northeast with ORISONS, PENTANE and ESTLEMAN, I would be over the worst of it. Then I came to the southwest corner and ran up against SCIATIC and ATAXIA. I knew the word SCIATIC, but I didn't connect it to the clue "Of the ischium". I hated to do it, but I had to resort to Google for a couple of the answers.

    It seemed like a lot of answers with repeat letters. Across were MULLET, NEER, SST, CXII, COLETTE and CALLERS. Down were PROCESS, ERRANT, ANNETTE, SEES, LASS, PALETTE, DESSERT and SSS. Is that a lot, C.C., or is my cold medication steering my tangled brain off course?

    I have eaten thymus gland sweetbread, but not pancreas. It was quite tasty. I wouldn't try to make it myself, as I understand there is some pre-soaking involved. Hey, Xchefwalt, are you out there? Have you prepared sweetbreads?

    I know tripe isn't a sweetbread, but it is an organ meat. Has anyone here tried menudo? It is a nice spicy soup, but it's another recipe I wouldn't try myself. It is a popular (supposed) hangover cure here is California. New Year's Eve is coming up, so maybe a few possible cures would be appreciated.

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  16. @ Cleareyes,

    Has nothing to do with "specialty" (organ) meats, but the best cure I know for a hangover is ice cream - chocolate is best, but any flavor will do. I know it sounds silly (& maybe a little gross, given the circumstance), but I swear it works! Hey, I live in Louisiana and we know from these things!

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  17. Oh my, its going to be one of "THOSE" days!!! Titicaca, brest, bra clasps, and now Clear Ayes & Chris in LA are talking organ meat...snicker, hehe, go DFs go!

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  18. Good morning C.C.and all,
    So many unknowns! I struggled through the NE corner but finally gave up. I have hears of SECTS but not SECTS, did not know ORISONS, PENTANE or MULLET.
    I was grossed out by 57A! What some people will eat! (I think snails are still the worst thing I can think of but this is a close 2nd)

    We are slowly thawing out here, and should be back to normal by Monday. All the main highways and freeways are completely clear, it is just getting to them that is still tricky. Radio announcement a few minutes ago said most of the grocery stores are short on bread, milk and eggs, but the trucks are now starting to come in. I would not go near a store today :)..there are people out there that have not been out of their homes in over a week, and this being a Sat. can you imagine the lines? Good thing we have plenty of booze!;)

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  19. Good morning, everyone!

    ESTLEMAN had to be Googled, and I had to change SECTS to SEPTS and look up the meaning of Colliery, but it all fell into place. Also had to Google ANNETTE.

    @JD Yes, those are the correct answers for 63A and 65A.

    I learned that secretaries and custodians were the heart of any school that I was in. They are the people who keep a finger on the pulse of the building. The principal is too busy with budgets and administrative duties to really know what's going on.

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  20. Razzberry, Geez, I really do have a fuzzy brain! It serves me right for talking about "organ meat" without thinking about the DF meaning.

    Here's a poem that reminded me of how words can have two meanings.

    Wet

    Aromas of citrus, colognes and faintly, the sea
    drift and swirl around them.
    Skin drenched, rivulets of salty sweat stream between them.
    Sauna heat builds as temperatures rise.
    flesh moves with synchronized, frantic fluidity.
    A torrential river violently rushes into a cascading waterfall.
    Drowning in a frenzied whirlpool, gasping for air, silent screams.
    Then the peace of a tranquil, crystal clear lake prevails
    and the relaxation of a hot spraying shower returns,
    as she lovingly shampoos his hair.

    -Kate J.

    Maybe she really is just shampooing his hair....or maybe not....

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  21. There were a couple of errors in the answers to this puzzle. they were 46 across and 48 across. Had me going there for a few minutes. I am still puzzled as to why ALL the answers are not given.

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  22. A serious note on L. Titicaca, it's a really interesting place if you're ever in S. America. It's absurdly high (over 10,000 feet if I remember right, the area is called the "altiplano" and the Andes go up from there) and there's a group of natives who live on floating islands made of reeds which are fascinating to visit. It's like walking on a waterbed. They also make canoe-like boats out of reeds bound together. The reeds slowly get waterlogged so the must be continuously replenished. A hard life but quite fascinating.

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  23. Anon@12:31, It was just a typo. C.C. mistyped "46A: End of land or sea?: SCAPE". It should have been 48A: End of land or sea?: SCAPE". No biggie, we've all made typing mistakes.

    I think your question about why all the answers aren't given was answered yesterday (maybe it was the day before). If you want all the answers, go to Daily Crossword. Click on "Regular Skill Level" and under the "Solve" heading, click on "Solve Puzzle". It will give you all the answers.

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  24. Good morning everyone. As always, the same corner was the biggest issue, I couldn't figure out what a COALCIT was...wanted to put SLEIGHS for 3D, but the "craft" didn't fit. Finally straightened myself out and eventually finished.
    Actually knew ARUM, SMETANA(The Moldau...)and several of the other strange words.
    One more comment on unusual foods. Snails are really yummy in France if you have them with lots of butter and garlic...without, not so good, very chewy. I really don't like specialty meats at all but was given the opportunity to taste very well prepared sweetbreads in a French restaurant and to my great surprise, they were excellent. My mom always used to say " If you don't try it, how will you know if you like it?"
    One more question, and sorry to be so dense but what is DF? Anyone? Thanks.
    C.C. Your Obama inauguration pin is awesome...a keeper.

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  25. Barry,
    Your comment @ 10:13am "Errrr.. Did I break the blog again?" I don't understand it.

    Clear Ayes,
    I think your tangled brain is untangling nicely. I did not even notice the double-letter words.

    Anonymous @ 12:31pm,
    Your questions have been repeatedly answered (Chris in LA, Crockett1947 & Clear Ayes today), yet you repeatedly asked again and again.

    Wolfmom,
    DF stands for dysfunctional. To people like Dennis, BREST is BREAST.

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  26. Barry,
    Your comment @ 10:13am "Errrr.. Did I break the blog again?" I don't understand it.


    follow the time line. Barry posted at 8:40 and then nobody else did until J.D. at 11 o'clock.

    You know, Barry, I've had that feeling, too.

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  27. I wiped out in the northeast corner. Never heard the words ORISONS and PENTANE didn’t know ESTLEMAN, SEPT, or what a colliery is.

    There were several words I only got from the crosses. I knew Annette Benning, but not the movie What Planet are You From, so the clue was useless to me.

    Have only known sweetbreads as organ meat from a much more southerly part of the steer, also known as Rocky Mountain Oysters.

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  28. C.C. Thank you...DF works for me, that's how my brain feels some days when I start a puzzle.

    Barb, Sweetbreads are definitely not Rocky Mountain Oysters. Have never heard the terms used interchangeably(???)

    Clear Ayes, Have never tried Menudo, although my son-in-law did, He said it wasn't bad, but it didn't quite agree with him. Maybe its an aquired taste. Living in the South Bay Area, it is really easy to find this time of the year. Even grocery stores that don't usually carry tripe have it at the end of the year for about a week...

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  29. Hi, all!

    I went to read yesterday's comments before I posted here, thinking that today might have been the hammer. It seems that yesterday may have been even worse. I could tell from the comments that I would have missed a lot of the same words.

    As I type a horrible rain storm has unleashed itself upon us. My sister and niece are out shopping for a swim suit for my niece, and they may need it at this rate. Our area has flash flood warnings for today as the rain comes through and melts the snow cover.

    Last night we traveled into Chicago to see "Wicked," and discovered the tickets were for tonight. :-( For the very first time in my life, I bought tickets from a scalper. Great seats for less than a third of the cost. Last night's performance was great. Dear Husband is going to use the tickets tonight, and take our niece for a second time, weather permitting.

    I thought the puzzle today was really tough, especially the SW corner. ATAXIA and CXII slowed me down. I had to run through the across and down many times, adding a letter here and there until it came together.

    For those of you with colds, try "AIRBORNE." It's meant to be used at the onset of symptoms, but it can be used to lessen the severity and duration of a cold as well. My youngest sis, who teaches, put me on to it, and I think it makes a difference. I have that nasty dry little cough that sneaks up on you.

    C.C., Christmas was quiet, but very nice. My siblings and I are at the point where we need to create new traditions as our children are leaving the nest (or have). I hope that you had a lovely day.

    For those of you with colds, I hope you feel better soon. Good night, to you all.

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  30. Hi C.C. and all,

    Had some of the same problems as Barry G. Had coalcot. Seen iceboat before. Did not know Septs had sects. Oh well just another day for a couple of corrections after coming here.

    Wouldn't it have been funny if the guy holding the mullet was sporting a mullet. Well I'm off to the Carbaret now. Will be back late this evening after bowling.

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  31. Just wanted to share a really entertaining blogspot with everyone. http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com When Professional Cakes go horribly and hilariously wrong. A great way to start the day!

    Clear Ayes: Where do find all these terrific poems? They are always enjoyable to read.

    KittyB: Is that photo of a quit you made?

    Kathleen

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  32. Wolfmon
    ………..Barb, Sweetbreads are definitely not Rocky Mountain Oysters. Have never heard the terms used interchangeably(???)


    Yes, I have. While it may be technically incorrect NOW, it was the common definition in my younger days, and sweetbread is still used to refer to testicles in some places, including Australia and England. Possibly the confusion is because testicles are sometimes called sweet meats.

    Wikipedia is nice, but I have written an entry myself, along with other classmates as a project, so I know it isn't 'the last word' on any subject.

    Same with Urban Dictionary, which defines sweetbreads as testicles.

    Another website I found that linked sweatbreads with testicles was Simply Explained --

    http://www.simplyexplained.com/question_answers.asp?id=8208&p=450

    ……………….. Oh, the sweetbreads, I remember them well. As yummy as can be and some people are willing to do anything to get a bit. Apparently, anything. It is a shame that animals don't have more than two testicles. The man who invented antelope gizzards may be able to help with that. As you know pancreas is in limited supply at the grocers so we have had to make do with other glands. The testicles have for many years been a sweetbread in the southern U.S. They are almost always from the stearing process.

    Yet another possibility is suggested by the Dictionary Of Early English"

    http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofearl027848mbp/dictionaryofearl027848mbp_djvu.txt

    Doucet. A sweet thing; applied to vari- ous fruits (apple, grape) , then to dishes.
    Also dowcet, dulcet. A 15th century recipe called for pork, honey, pepper, and flowr,
    baked "in a cofyn." In the plural, a special delicacy, the testicles of a deer; Sir Walter
    Scott in WOODSTOCK (1826) speaks of broiling the . . . dowsets of the deer upon the glowing embers with their own royal hands.. There was also a sweet-sounding
    sort of flute (as in Chaucer's THE HOUS OF FAME, 1384) called the doucet. From French doucet, diminutive of douce, Latin dulcis, sweet In a poem of 1640
    we read: Heer's dousets and flapp jacks, and I ken not what.

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  33. BarbB...that is seriously interesting info...pardon my error.I didn't think the terms were interchangeable. Appreciate your research as I would rather have the information than not.
    Thanks

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  34. wolfmom

    That's what I love about this blog. We keep each other on our toes, and have fun at the same time. I actually never heard of sweetmeats being pancreas/thymus until today. Shows my provincial upbringing.

    Never heard of tacos or avocadoes til I was twelve, and moved to Calif.

    What is the picture by your name - is it a sample of your art? It's beautiful.

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  35. Kitty b, I know you meant well in telling people to try Airboune, but speaking as someone who has a doctor in the family, I can say that stuff has no bearing on a cold. It is all anecdotal hype. I wish I had thought up such a clever advertising gimmick! Does anyone seriously believe that some school teacher found the cure for the common cold by mixing up some vitamins and herbs!!?? If that were even remotely true it would be front page news across the world.
    Some of the ingredients in these 'remedies' can even be harmful to certain people that that prescription meds. Ask your own doctors.

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  36. BarbB: Yes, its one of my paintings, part of a new series I am working on. Should also have a newer, updated version of my website by the end of January...we are hoping to add in a blogspot. My current website is: www.kawolf.com. None of these paintings are currently there.

    I love food facts, so thank you again for the enlightenment. I really like the way people jump in with all this great information.

    KittyB...Sorry, I meant QUILT, trying to type too fast, as usual.

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  37. Sorry to be so late, but just back from our post-Christmas shopping day in the Capital. The drive in this morning was horrific with thick fog--couldn't see 30 feet ahead in spots, but coming back was better--just rain. Both preferable to slush and snow on the roads IMHO.

    c.c.,
    I enjoy explaining things about languages because it keeps me on my toes in retirement. All but the first of these following things are a bit of a stretch, because I've really only heard of the first expression, but I hope the examples will do the explaining. Really though, I'm at a bit of a loss on this!

    example 1:
    I had a déjà vu moment today when I felt I was doing something that I'd done before, but really I could never have done this before.

    Ex. 2:
    It was a jamais vu moment when I saw snow for the first time, since I'd never seen it before. (jamais = never/not ever)

    Ex. 3:
    I had a presque vu moment when I had the sense that I might have seen this before, but probably hadn't. (presque means almost)
    After struggling with these, I googled presque vu and found this. It's an extract from Joseph Heller's "Catch 22", and I think he probably made up the extra two expressions. Start from the bottom paragraph on p. 194.

    chris,
    I looked it up in my German Dictionary and only found the ZWIEBACK spelling. So I'm wondering if the other spelling is due to some linguistic pedants like myself who want to see it spelled in English like ZWEI?

    As for the puzzle, I had problems with ESTLEMAN, ORISONS, PENTANE, ARUM, and ATAXIA. I guessed TREATER, and looked up some others, but I did know what a colliery was. Is it perhaps more a British terminology?

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  38. c.c.,
    On re-reading the Heller extract, I guess my takes on "jamais and presque vu" were quite wrong. I still think he could have made them up.

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  39. c.c., your quote by Colette was a good one, but my favorite by her is, "What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I realized it sooner".

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  40. This polecat wishes all of you good tidings and thanks for all your well wishes. After some different opiates that made me soar (in my dreams anyway); my errant health has quite improved. I might even be up for some sweetbreads and dessert. Or are sweetbreads (at least in BarbB's eyes) dessert?

    Clearayes, a very DF poem...

    Carol, thank God you've got enough booze.

    Dennis, hope you had fun playing today in the sunshine.

    My best hangover cure...It's called a nice greasy double cheeseburger from Burger King (did you think I would choose a different fast food joint?) with a small chocolate shake to chase it down with. Try it sometime, you'll be good as new!

    Everyone wish me well on the Vikings turnout tomorrow. Go Vikes, lose you Bears!

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  41. Jeannie,
    dessert, appetizer, main course; it's all good, isn't it?

    I always keep Airborne on hand, and use it a lot in the winter and spring time.

    Maybe it isn't a cure for the common cold, (is there one?) but I believe it boosts my immune system,so I get fewer colds.

    I agree with Carol that it's wise to check the ingredients of anything you take. I've experienced ill effects from prescribed medication and from herbs both. Herbalist, second grade teachers, doctors - they're all just people doing their best to help. But I may have a sensitivity to something that couldn't be forseen. Why blame the doctor? In the end, I am the one responsible for my health.

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  42. BarbB, I second you on which course those sweetbreads can go. I guess it all depends on one's mood and palette. (Just a crossword funny so no correction of spelling needed).

    I also second you on which meds to take. Believe it or not, being in the sun alot at the beginning of sailing season, and being a pasty white gal, I tend to burn quickly. I usually just burn once mind you, but I grew an aloe plant for medicinal purposes and it DOES NOT agree with my skin. I got such a reaction from it you wouldn't believe. Aloe from what I have ever read is supposed to be a good, soothing plant. Not so in my case.

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  43. c.c. @ 1:08- You go girl!
    How exciting to get an Obama inauguration pin! I have an Obama and Michelle picture on my frig. The kids joke about it, like they are part of our family.

    Crockett- Thanks, I think 65A is a lame clue or a lame answer, only because I do not understand it. I agree with you about secretaries and custodians. They make sure the schools run smoothly. They also know what is happening in every classroom.Most principals are clueless.Hope I haven't offended anyone or your relatives.

    Clear ayes, "Wet" was a very sexy poem.

    Wolfmom are you the LG balloon on the map?Your art is gorgeous! Is that right off of 280?

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  44. I take back what I said about interesting research. Enlightening info on sweetbreads, ladies. My roommate in college cooked them once; they were delicious. Then she told us that we were eating testicles!

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  45. JD...I should be the purple balloon around the San Jose/680 area. Apparently there are several of us so I opted out of the nifty icons as there were already some in the area.
    Will let everyone know when the new website is up. Will try to get the blogspot going also, that way I can keep things up to date. I am, in that typically shallow artistic way, very appreciative of positive comments,they keep me motivated, so thank you very much.
    Isn't it fun to share info with so many very smart and clever people? This is always so much fun! You are all very cool people!
    Take care, KW

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  46. Coaxial cable is your basic cable tv wire, which has a copper wire with shielding around it. The center wire carries the signal, and the shielding is grounded.

    Triaxial cable likely has three conductors, the shielding is the ground, and the other two conductors probably provide bi-directional signals.

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  47. Wolfmom, yes, that is a quilt I made. It was featured on the cover of one of the quilting magazines two years ago, and I knew that I had all the material to make it in my stash wall. I spent a pleasant month or so cutting and sewing fabric, and then sent it off to be quilted by a long-arm quilter. I've been setting my nickles and dimes aside to buy one of those machines one day. When I've finished the binding on my husband's quilt, I'll have a new picture to post.

    I'm eager to see your blog site. I'd like to see more of your work.

    Carol, I didn't say that "Airborne" would cure a cold. My sister and I find that if we use it at the onset of a cold, our colds are shorter in duration and severity. I realize that it won't work for everyone, and I agree with you and Barb B that it's wise to ask your doctor about over the counter remedies, or even home-grown herbal remedies.

    Barb B, ORISONS and PENTANE ESTLEMAN, & SEPT all bugged me, too. I've never heard of the first three.

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  48. don't get 33D "first name in spydom" answer mata?

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  49. Crockett, I am glad to see your hot picture in the hat posted again.

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  50. anonymous@10:58: mata, yes .. as in mata hari.

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  51. KittyB...That is a beautiful quilt. I have a good friend who lives in AZ and is an incredible quilter also, so I understand having a "stash". Your sense of color and pattern is lovely. Looking forward to seeing your new quilt.
    My son-in-law who does my website became a new dad back in Feb 08 and so nothing much has been done on the site for awhile. He is promising to have something up soon and he told me that the new template has the blog available, so we will see how soon we can get this going. Now that I have found all of you, it would be fun to have comments and valuable criticism. It just makes me work harder. So...hopefully, soon.

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