Theme: MATCH (39A: Word before ends of 20A, 28A, 48A and 58A)
20A: Movie theater appliance: POPCORN MAKER
28A: Parcel, possibly: CARDBOARD BOX
48A: Cocktail implement: SWIZZLE STICK
58A: Sycophant's reward: BROWNIE POINT
BROWNIE POINT is a new phrase to me. It takes "BROWNIE, you're doing a heck of a job" to a whole new dimension then.
I really like the clues for ARSON (2D: Illegal firing?) and LOO (49D: Elton's john). Very clever. I would prefer "Since Jan. 1" over "Since 1/1" for YTD. I also dislike the clue for SEL (24A: SSS word). Abbreviated answer should always be avoided when other choice exists. Besides, why not play with George Sand's name and clue SEL as "Sand's salt". Alliterative and misguiding.
I hope you enjoyed this pangram from Barry. It's been exactly a month since we last solved his puzzle.
Across:
1A: Delhi garb: SARI. And RANI (71A: Indian royalty). Perfect symmetry.
9A: Flashy: JAZZY. The style of Barry's puzzle as well. Four Z's today.
16A: "The Waste Land" poet: ELIOT. Boston accent?
23A: Surround with an aura: ENHALO. Was unaware of the verb form.
37A: Seed covering: ARIL. I forgot the difference between ARIL and TESTA again.
45A: Greek war god: ARES. He is also Aphrodite's lover, so are Adonis and Hermes and a bunch of other guys. Hugo once said "A woman with three lovers is a woman." I've yet to become a woman then.
61A: Leon Uris novel: QB VII. No idea. This is the book cover. What does QB stand for?
65A: Actor Franco: NERO. Unknown to me. I am used to the "Fictional Wolfe" clue. Hmm, his book looks interesting.
68A: Hydroxyl compound: ENOL. Often clued as "Organic compound".
Down:
3D: Writer Ellison: RALPH. New writer to me. Wikipedia says he is best known for novel "Invisible Man", which won the National Book Award in 1953.
4D: Emetic medication: IPECAC. My brain keeps burping this word.
5D: "Air Music" composer: NED ROREM. Have never heard of this composer before. He looks quite handsome.
8D: Half of UTEP: EL PASO. Another "My Pet Goat" moment for me. I just can't remember what UTEP stands for (University of Texas, EL PASO).
9D: Worn ornaments: JEWELRY. Does anyone collect Taxco sterling silver JEWLERY? Here is a vintage Los Castillo signed sterling silver owl pin. The seller is asking $475 for his item.
10D: Banned spray: ALAR. When was it banned?
11D: Quick turn: ZIG
12D: Tony winner Caldwell: ZOE. Here is a clip of Caldwell and Sean Connery in "MacBeth". I simply forgot her name. Googled her before. She has won four Tony Awards.
21D: "The Good Earth" wife: O-LAN. "The Good Earth" is the best book about China. No other author has ever captured the authentic Chinese spirit better than Pearl Buck did.
22D: Cyclades island: KEA. I would not have got it without the across fills. Can never remember this damned island. Isn't it strange that KEA is the only feminine sounding island while others all have *S ending masculine names?
27D: Neural transmitters: AXONS. They transmit impulses.
29D: Kind of fingerprint: DNA. I've always associated DNA with blood or hair, but never with fingerprint.
30D: Test versions: BETAS. Computer term I presume?
31D: River regulator: DAM. I was thinking there might be a federal agency that regulate those rivers.
32D: Fabricated: FALSE. LIED does not fit.
41D: Dutch brew: HEINEKEN. They have very formidable market share in Asia Pacific.
44D: Of Russian monarchy: CZARIST
46D: Porgy: SCUP. Holy cow. So this is what a S CUP looks like. Unknown to me. Where did I get the idea that "Porgy" is a pig name?
50D: One of the Blues Brothers: ELWOOD. Another new name to me.
51D: Scandinavian coins: KRONER. Strange plural form.
55D: City in Tuscany: SIENA
56D: Bankrupt giant: ENRON. We bought a pack of ENRON logo golf balls on Ebay after the ENRON collapse. My sister-in-law has this strange conspiracy theory that Ken Lay is not really dead.
57D: Popular vodka, familiarly: STOLI
60D: Andes autocrat: INCA. Again, why "autocrat"?
61D: NFL passers: QBS. And TDS. That's all I know about football.
62D: Emeril's exclamation: BAM. "Aw, yeah, babe", "feel the love", Emeril also likes to say "Kick it up a notch".
C.C.
20A: Movie theater appliance: POPCORN MAKER
28A: Parcel, possibly: CARDBOARD BOX
48A: Cocktail implement: SWIZZLE STICK
58A: Sycophant's reward: BROWNIE POINT
BROWNIE POINT is a new phrase to me. It takes "BROWNIE, you're doing a heck of a job" to a whole new dimension then.
I really like the clues for ARSON (2D: Illegal firing?) and LOO (49D: Elton's john). Very clever. I would prefer "Since Jan. 1" over "Since 1/1" for YTD. I also dislike the clue for SEL (24A: SSS word). Abbreviated answer should always be avoided when other choice exists. Besides, why not play with George Sand's name and clue SEL as "Sand's salt". Alliterative and misguiding.
I hope you enjoyed this pangram from Barry. It's been exactly a month since we last solved his puzzle.
Across:
1A: Delhi garb: SARI. And RANI (71A: Indian royalty). Perfect symmetry.
9A: Flashy: JAZZY. The style of Barry's puzzle as well. Four Z's today.
16A: "The Waste Land" poet: ELIOT. Boston accent?
23A: Surround with an aura: ENHALO. Was unaware of the verb form.
37A: Seed covering: ARIL. I forgot the difference between ARIL and TESTA again.
45A: Greek war god: ARES. He is also Aphrodite's lover, so are Adonis and Hermes and a bunch of other guys. Hugo once said "A woman with three lovers is a woman." I've yet to become a woman then.
61A: Leon Uris novel: QB VII. No idea. This is the book cover. What does QB stand for?
65A: Actor Franco: NERO. Unknown to me. I am used to the "Fictional Wolfe" clue. Hmm, his book looks interesting.
68A: Hydroxyl compound: ENOL. Often clued as "Organic compound".
Down:
3D: Writer Ellison: RALPH. New writer to me. Wikipedia says he is best known for novel "Invisible Man", which won the National Book Award in 1953.
4D: Emetic medication: IPECAC. My brain keeps burping this word.
5D: "Air Music" composer: NED ROREM. Have never heard of this composer before. He looks quite handsome.
8D: Half of UTEP: EL PASO. Another "My Pet Goat" moment for me. I just can't remember what UTEP stands for (University of Texas, EL PASO).
9D: Worn ornaments: JEWELRY. Does anyone collect Taxco sterling silver JEWLERY? Here is a vintage Los Castillo signed sterling silver owl pin. The seller is asking $475 for his item.
10D: Banned spray: ALAR. When was it banned?
11D: Quick turn: ZIG
12D: Tony winner Caldwell: ZOE. Here is a clip of Caldwell and Sean Connery in "MacBeth". I simply forgot her name. Googled her before. She has won four Tony Awards.
21D: "The Good Earth" wife: O-LAN. "The Good Earth" is the best book about China. No other author has ever captured the authentic Chinese spirit better than Pearl Buck did.
22D: Cyclades island: KEA. I would not have got it without the across fills. Can never remember this damned island. Isn't it strange that KEA is the only feminine sounding island while others all have *S ending masculine names?
27D: Neural transmitters: AXONS. They transmit impulses.
29D: Kind of fingerprint: DNA. I've always associated DNA with blood or hair, but never with fingerprint.
30D: Test versions: BETAS. Computer term I presume?
31D: River regulator: DAM. I was thinking there might be a federal agency that regulate those rivers.
32D: Fabricated: FALSE. LIED does not fit.
41D: Dutch brew: HEINEKEN. They have very formidable market share in Asia Pacific.
44D: Of Russian monarchy: CZARIST
46D: Porgy: SCUP. Holy cow. So this is what a S CUP looks like. Unknown to me. Where did I get the idea that "Porgy" is a pig name?
50D: One of the Blues Brothers: ELWOOD. Another new name to me.
51D: Scandinavian coins: KRONER. Strange plural form.
55D: City in Tuscany: SIENA
56D: Bankrupt giant: ENRON. We bought a pack of ENRON logo golf balls on Ebay after the ENRON collapse. My sister-in-law has this strange conspiracy theory that Ken Lay is not really dead.
57D: Popular vodka, familiarly: STOLI
60D: Andes autocrat: INCA. Again, why "autocrat"?
61D: NFL passers: QBS. And TDS. That's all I know about football.
62D: Emeril's exclamation: BAM. "Aw, yeah, babe", "feel the love", Emeril also likes to say "Kick it up a notch".
C.C.
32 minutes 4s: a complete hammer for me, made worse because my mouse kept double clicking which made it hard to switch between across and down fills. I wanted CFCs for ALAR, ESS for ZIG, YOUTH for YAHOO, SENSE for LOGIC and REV for END. Oh and notice that WRAP was just below SARI. Now I have this image in my head of RANI WRAPped in a SARI. Rani was a girl in my geography class back in grade 9. Obviously I'm picturing her all grown up now.
ReplyDeleteMartin
Good Morning, CC and all others who flock to your site.
ReplyDelete61A: Leon Uris novel: QB VII. No idea. What does QB stand for?
Leon Marcus Uris (1924 - 2003) was an American novelist, known for his historical fiction and the deep research that went into his novels. His two bestselling books were Exodus, published in 1958, and Trinity, in 1976.
QB VII / This four-part novel highlights the events leading to a life-shattering libel trial in the United Kingdom in one of Her Majesty's courtrooms (Queen's Bench, Courtroom Seven[VII])
Martin,
ReplyDeleteVery interesting RANI WRAPped in a SARI comment. How about cluing SARI as "14A for 71A"? Too much?
Argyle,
Thanks for the information on QB. Weird to see QB VII intersects with QBS though. Why "Autocrat" for INCA?
Linda,
I don't know what I am allergic too. But I am gluten sensitive. Is Anonymous @ 1:28pm correct about LL always pronounced as y sound? How come LLAMA is not?
C.C., still enjoying all the wonderful links. Amazing discussions lately. Very educational. So many bright and funny people visit your site. Please keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to all.
Kit
Doreen,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the additional information on French word capitalization.
Carol,
Thanks. Now the snow is gone, are you able to walk every day?
JD,
Looks like the nomination process is done. Maybe next year?
Kit,
As always, great to hear from you. Happy New Year!
Inca: from Sp. (1526), from Quechea, lit. "lord, king." Technically, only of the high Inca, but it was used widely for "man of royal blood." - Online Etymology Dictionary
ReplyDeleteSo Andes autocrat would refer to the ruling Inca who had absolute control(autocrat) but I think it is just another case of constructors "borrowing" from each other.
Good Morning, and a Happy New Year to you all!
ReplyDeleteI love Barry Silk's puzzles. I'm a bit out of practice, but this was lots of fun.
I've never heard of NED ROREM, and needed the fills to get KEA, AXONS and SIENA, words that I've seen, but not committed to memory.
How elegant that SARI and RANI start and end the crossword! C.C., I might not have noticed that on my own. Perhaps "Porgy" is close enough to "Porky" that it made you think of a pig, or maybe OINK two lines above had you thinking about them.
Have a great Friday, all!
CC I agree... this is a nice puzzle. Nice to have a Barry Silk puzzle too. I did not get 35A Nene other than that I got it though it was slow for me.
ReplyDeleteCC.... I found the questions you gave and answers from Barry Silk interesting.... nice job !!!
ReplyDeleteMorning, all!
ReplyDeleteThis'll be short, since I've got to head out. Nice puzzle today! Very scrabbly, loved the pangram, and no intersecting obscurities. Didn't know QBVII (although I think I've seen it in puzzles before) or SCUP.
The only problems I had were in the NE and SE corners. The NE was tough only because it took me forever to see the obvious JEWELRY. The SE was tough because I initially put in KRONAS instead of KRONER and, as a result, had ANOL instead of ENOL. I then wanted to put SUNI instead of RANI, but that gave me an Italian city named SIENU and I knew that couldn't be right...
Have a great one!
Argyle,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the autocrat information.
KittyB,
You are right. I confused Porgy with Porky.
Superfrey,
I am glad you liked the interview. Where have you been?
I liked the interview too.
ReplyDeleteThe puzzle was just the right degree of a challenge. I don't know what SEL is. I should have bookmarked the SSS listings we got a few weeks ago. And are porgy and scup two words for that fish? I got that from fills, but have never heard of either.
I don't believe enhalo is a real word, but I guessed it. Once again, nice to get it out without "g".
c.c.,
I think the accent for that T.S.Eliot poem sounds like some sort of British, maybe Welsh?
If you haven't seen the Blues Brothers, they're hilarious, and the music's not too bad either.
It stands for Queens Bench 7
ReplyDeleteDEMOCRAT IN A RED STATE said...
ReplyDelete24:06 for me today 02 Jan 2009
I have some gripes but I will hold my tongue until after CC does the puzzle........................
January 2, 2009 3:47 AM
YAHOO clue should have been email provider.
RE: 61A. Leon Uris Novel, the answer to which is "QBVII". QB stands for Queen's Bench and the 7 (VII) is courtroom number 7. In his novel "EXODUS" (ca. 1958) Uris made some references to some doctor not a fictional character. The guy sued Uris for libel in Britain. I read both books... I've read all Uris' books, and don't recalll the outcome of QBVII.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Cc et al, Loved the interview w/Mr. Silk. Good job and very interesting.
ReplyDeleteAs for the puzzle? One word..'dam'!
Seems that Mr. Silk was recapping my week as 'stoli' 'swizzle stick', 'Heineken','swipe' & 'jewelry' (drinking & shopping)were major activities. When the 'bill' comes in I'm sure I'll be wondering about my 'logic' & how in tact are my 'axons'.
'Bam'! I'm not 'sari' though. It's all good.
Where the hell is Dennis?
'Carpe Diem'.
CC...Llama is not an Hispanic word... and, yes, "ll"is pronounced "yuh' in Spanish.
ReplyDeleteBTW:most every English word which begins with a "q" has a "u" after the "q" except the man-made fabric "qiana"... which is also a fabricated word...(how "puny" is that!)
Have myriad "ditties" to remember pronunciations and the "rule" is that there are ALWAYS exceptions!English isn`t called "the vegetable soup of Languages" for nothing! Witness "bough, cough, through" etc.
I think the other reason for cluing Inca as "autocrat" is that the word applies to the leader as well as the empire, so at some point a crossword decided to make it a bit tougher a clue. Apparently it was an empire ruled by an iron fist, so autocrat fits pretty well.
ReplyDeleteI also was told "llama" is originally a Quechua word pronounced "jhama" and in some regions Spanish speakers use the "jh" sound instead of "y" for ll, so it makes sense (Quechua is one of the native languages in the Andes). Some extra trivia for the day!
I really enjoyed the Barry Silk interview.
I'm also wondering how "sel" is an SSS word. SELective service?? That doesn't make it a word though, does it?
37A) seed covering
ReplyDeleteThe outer shell is the testa(hard), the inner covering(red) is the aril or arillus, a softer cover of the seed, and the seed itself. The seed, in this case, is the spice, nutmeg (which I enjoy on my eggnog) and the aril is the spice, mace.
Nutmeg and mace have similar taste qualities, nutmeg having a slightly sweeter and mace a more delicate flavour. Mace is often preferred in light-coloured dishes for the bright orange, saffron-like colour it imparts.
I work the crossword every morning with my husband and we usually use this board for answers we don't know. I still do not understand SSS with answer SEL, Help. Thanks, I enjoy everyones comments.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteI have used the "ough" example many times when students complained about French pronunciation difficulties. English is the only language I know to have so many pronunciation anomalies. I mean, how can that same spelling have at least SIX different sounds? I'll add though, tough and thought to your list.
Original Post: CC said...I also dislike the clue for SEL (24A: SSS word). Abbreviated answer should always be avoided when other choice exists. Besides, why not play with George Sand's name and clue SEL as "Sand's salt". Alliterative and misguiding.
ReplyDeleteI give up. What is the connection?
I enjoyed the interview with Barry Silk. Good puzzle today. I liked the use of all the Zs. Didn't realize it was a pangram as well. Never heard of SCUP - I thought Porgy was the character from Porgy & Bess. Also didn't know OLAN. I got these both from the perps.
ReplyDeletemark - Buenos Aires
ReplyDeleteAll getable for me except Ned Rorem - an enjoyable puzzle with relatively few proper nouns.
LL is pronounced "sh" here, as opposed to "Y" in Spain. Pollo "Chicken" is "posho" here and "poyo" in Spain. But there are LL words pronounced "L" which tend to be from another language eg Italian or native Indian.
Cryptic clue:
"Pagan first words of prayer bishop left out" (7 letters)
Think of the first two words common in prayers and take our the "b" (bishop left out), and your answer should refer to a "pagan"
Good Morning All, It's always fun to review a puzzle to see if "pangramism" (is that even a word?) has been achieved. Barry Silk is a master at it. I was pleased to see in your interview that he always aspires making his puzzles pangrammatic.
ReplyDeleteLike others, I didn't know SCUP. The only relationship I could think of was George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. SCUP finally came with the perps.
I usually get stuck on UTEP too. It sounds like it should be an ancient Egyptian god.
There weren't any other words that I hadn't heard before....OK...ENHALO was kind of odd and SEL could have had a better clue. But, by following Barry Silk's advice, which is my usual puzzle solving process anyway, I managed to finish up without errors, and with a nice sigh of satisfaction at the end.
Hi C.C. and all, great but tough (for me) this morning. I had the same troubles as Barry G with KRONER (I put Kronas), did not know PORGY (thought it was something to do with Porgy and Bess), and SCUP was new to me. Who'da thunk it was a fat fish!
ReplyDeleteOthers: ENHALO (?), ELPASO, AXONS (mine don't do too well anymore), KEA and YDT (clever clue :))
C.C. To answer your question about my walking now that the snow is gone, yes I can but overnight we had about 2 more inches of the stuff!!! Hopefully it will all melt off soon as it is not that cold out. It was a huge surprise, as the forecast was for rain!
Also, I agree with you on Pearl Buck capturing the Chinese "soul" in her books. I know that when I first read "The Good Earth" many, many years ago, I was absolutely fascinated by China in that era..still am. I have all her books and have read them many times, getting something from them even now.
To echo Lois: Where the hell is Dennis?
Good morning, everyone.
ReplyDeleteNot much to add to the general puzzle comments. Anonymous @9:54. The SSS in the clue indicates an abbreviation. SSS is Selective Service System, and SEL is an abbreviation of Selective. I don't much care for the clue/answer combination, but there it is.
@carol At least we don't have the landslides and flooding that other area around have. I hope embien isn't snowed in again. He was so looking forward to that steak dinner last night.
Dennis is in FL with his top down enjoying the lovely weather. Remember that he put the car and the family on the train and headed south? The more burning question is: Where is Buckeye?
Have a great Friday!
You are much too critical. I'd like to see one puzzle that you don't have any negative criticism.
ReplyDeleteIt was pleasant to see T.S. ELIOT in today's puzzle. This particular poem is perfect for a wintery evening, even though we don't have "cab-horses" anymore. There are even a couple of phrases that were included in A. Lloyd (English double LL pronounced Loyd :o)) Webber's musical Cats
ReplyDeletePreludes - I
The winter's evening settles down
With smells of steaks in passageways.
Six o'clock.
The burnt-out ends of smoky days.
And now a gusty shower wraps
The grimy scraps
Of withered leaves across your feet
And newpapers from vacant lots;
The showers beat
On empty blinds and chimney-pots,
And at the corner of the street
A lonely cab-horse steams and stamps.
And then the lighting of the lamps.
- T. S. Eliot
I was glad to see Martin return. We are still missing Doesitinink and Ken. I think Buckeye just loves to keep us in suspense...come back or we may start to worry about you again!
Crockett, I like to be in Florida with my top down, but I'd get arrested! Yes, I do remember that Dennis went, but he usually checks in even from 'far away'.
ReplyDeleteI too hope Embien got his steak and wine, maybe he was able to do that before the snow started. It was fine here at 11:00 last night and at 4:00am everything was white! It is melting quickly though.
Buckeye, hope you check in soon, as we are all beginning to worry about you.
clear ayes,
ReplyDeleteYou meant Mark, didn't you? I was wondering about him too. He should get on the map as well.
I think I was my own worst enemy today. Had TZARIST and realized the T didn't work. PORGY was BESS for me...obviously not. Actually got the theme, so I must be getting better. Once I corrected the mistakes, it went quicker. Tough puzzle, but enjoyable and really made me think. SOme of the answers were only completed because of crosses.
ReplyDeleteEveryone pretty much answered all the questions, so no additional input.
Dreary and rainy and cold here today.
Kazie, Yup...senior moment. I did mean Mark. Sorry about that, Mark. Welcome back. (although it is always nice to "see" Martin too.)
ReplyDeleteHi C.C. and all,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interview, C.C. I wonder which commercial software Barry meant.
The puzzle took me 19:48 seconds today. I was able to finish by myself. However, I got one wrong letter. I could not figure out SSS and, despite having been to the Cyclades, I chose KIA instead of KEA. Consequently, I would up with SIL.
ARYLLE:
"Original Post: CC said...I also dislike the clue for SEL (24A: SSS word). Abbreviated answer should always be avoided when other choice exists. Besides, why not play with George Sand's name and clue SEL as "Sand's salt". Alliterative and misguiding.
I give up. What is the connection?"
George Sands was a very controversial person. She was a member of French high society who chose to flaunt all conventions ... including wearing men's clothing in public. A major no-no back then. She was also Chopin's lover.
Also, thank you for the information about nutmeg and mace. I did not know that.
I suppose getting KEA wrong was only fair since Siena was a gimme having been there, as well. It is a pleasant little town that is noted for it's unique piazza, the Piazza del Campo. It is considered one of the most beautiful public spaces in Europe.
I had no idea who NED ROREM was and if I don't research it, I will likely not know it next time. Luckily, I got it from the fills.
It's been too long since I read 'The Good Earth'. So, I could not recall OLAN's name.
I have beta tested a few computer games. So BETA came without much trouble.
Like pretty much everyone, I could only associate PORGY with Gershwin's character. I had never heard the term SCUP. At least, I don't think so.
I originally wanted to put in KRONERS. When I saw that it was too many letters I went for KRONES. I eventually realized that KRONER must be plural similar to DEER.
Clear Eyes:
"But, by following Barry Silk's advice, which is my usual puzzle solving process anyway, I managed to finish up without errors, and with a nice sigh of satisfaction at the end."
Barry's advice happens to be my process, as well.
Take care all. I hope you have a nice weekend.
Alas poor Yorick - There is the rub! (Sorry William)
ReplyDeleteAnon@ 12:36 p. m. - Please don't look at notes and suggestions just pure criticism. Instead look as a learning experience, an exchange of ideas, a way to make our cross wording more enjoyable. I know that some constructors regularly visit C. C.’s little blog (which isn’t so little anymore) and take away information about our likes and dislikes. We have many different cultures contributing to the site and we all bring various thoughts and ideas to the table. We enjoy new visitors and greet them warmly when they join in on the exchange.
Find yourself a good pseudonym and continue to give your own critiques as you did today. We enjoy being able to use something other than anonymous for our contributors.
C.C. – sorry if I’m overstepping my bounds.
Razzberry,
ReplyDeleteI ditto your comment!
PromiseMe this,
The singular of Kroner is Krone--the "r" is a plural ending in Danish.
Also, I'll add to your note on George Sand, that since she lived chiefly in France, her "salt" would have been "sel", the French word for salt.
Wasn't one reason she wrote under a man's name because she was more accepted as a writer that way?
Hi Everyone,
ReplyDeleteEnhalo..oh my.
Have a great day,
Geri
I go to have "any change in a wart or a mole" checked Tuesday. Probably nothing but would appreciate your prayers.
ReplyDeleteKazie, thanks for the George Sands "salt"/"sel" explanation, until then, I was totally lost as to what was said in reference to the "connection".
ReplyDeleteRazz, I agree with your comment to anon (12:36).Anon sounds like the "pot calling the kettle black".
Anonymous @ 12:36pm,
ReplyDeleteRE: "Negative criticism": Which one is unreasonable?
Lois,
Nice to see you back. Hope you had a great time in OK. How is your mom?
Argyle,
RE: "Sand's salt" for SEL. Ha, I got you today!
Geri,
Please do drop a few lines every time you visit. I like reading your comments. You are such a warm, caring person.
MH,
ReplyDeleteYou can't believe how relieved I am to see you again. I thought somehow I angered you and you just decided to go away completely.
Mark in Buenos Aires,
Hope you had a wonderful holiday with your loved ones.
Carol,
Have you read Pearl Buck's "The Kennedy Women"? It's the worst JFK related book I've ever read.
CC: Thank you for asking. Other than going blind from macular degeneration, Mom's doing well, still sharp as a tack at 91. OK is still standing...some cowboys aren't...but the state is still strong and beautiful. The only state those cowboys are in is the state of confusion. They'll be fine by next week, but the sheep might be a little nervous.
ReplyDeleteRazz: excellent comment to anon.
Dick: LOVE that new picture, there hot guy. What a handsome man!
PromiseMe,
ReplyDeleteI am not sure, but Barry Silk could be using Crossword Compiler.
Razzberry,
Ah. How do I vodka thee? Let me count the ways: great links, wonderful sense of humor, provocative DF ideas... What a MOREL guy you are! Dennis who?
Clear Ayes,
I hope your poem brings Buckeyes out of the lurking bush today.
Kazie,
ReplyDeleteBesides the reason you stated, George Sand also enjoyed dressing like a man and acting like a man. She was unbelievably aggressive in pursuing Chopin. She also loved cigars.
Lois,
Remember Katherine? She just got married to her drummer boyfriend. See, true love exists.
Jimbo,
Not even a "Happy New Year"? I miss hearing from you.
C.C. Loved the "SAND'S SALT...although I know it would hang me up...perhaps G. SAND'S SALT...or Fleur de...
ReplyDeleteThere is a really terrific British movie from 1991 called "Impromtu" with Judy Davis as George Sand and Hugh Grant as Chopin.
Razzberry: Well said to Anon. I never think of C.C.'s comments as negative, just informative, interesting, intriguing and always thought provoking. She throuws it out there and we all jump in. That's what makes this so much fun.
Clear Ayes...as always, thanks for the poem, they are always most appropos. My initial guess was Eliot, but I was thinking he had 2 "L"s in his name, so googled it...the only other poet I could think of with a poem title like that was Carl Sandburg and that definitely was incorrect.
One quick note to C.C. on yesterday's skin cream discussion. Keeping yourself well hydrated(about 2 litres of water/day) goes a long way to helping the wrinkle thing. Part of it is inherited and some of it has to do with your external environment...pollutants, etc. French women always look so terrific, but I think it has a lot to do with their diet and they walk a lot. Just my 2 cents.
What is 24 across SEL. Never heard of that. why don't you give ALL the answers??????
ReplyDeleteHi C.C. RE 12 D, Zoe Caldwell is a wonderful actress but I wonder if you might also remember the 'original' Zoe from these parts - Zoe Ann Olsen, the great Olympic springboard diver of yesteryear. She was hot in her day.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the negative comments someone was grousing about - your negative comments are well directed, fair and informative. Please don't change a thing you are doing. You are a wonderful communicator.
Bedeviler
12:50 today. What a joy of a Barry Silk puzzle! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteFor those of you who may be new to this blog, take note of the symmetry of the four theme answers (POPCORN MAKER, CARBOARD BOX, SWIZZLE STICK and BROWNIE POINT). They all have 12 letters and they are arranged symmetrically (vertical and horizontal) in the grid. This to me makes a satisfying puzzling experience (along with the theme, of course). I have to confess I hardly ever notice when a puzzle is a pangram, but it's obviously a positive attribute.
For those who enjoy reading about these kinds of details, I can highly recommend the book Grid Lock (Crossword Puzzles and the Mad Geniuses Who Create Them) by constructor Matt Gaffney. Simply the best book about crossword puzzling that I've read.
Mind you, I did have some unknowns. I knew what a porgy (the fish) was, but had never heard of SCUP (46d:). I puzzled over 60d: Andes autocrat (INCA) for a good little while, but after reading the discussion here I'm OK with that definition.
And thanks to those of you who were concerned about my steak dinner Jan 1. I was able to get out of my driveway just fine--the snow is now down to less than one foot depth. The steak was pretty good but my favorite restaurants were closed due to the holiday, so we'll see where I end up tonight.
I was snowbound from December 17 until January 1! (My wife still hasn't ventured out.) This is Oregon--we only get snow here about once every three years or so.
@anon @3:26,
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you read all the discussion before complaining? We settled that point at 1:59 and 12:26, not to mention c.c. did have it in her original post near the top.
In addition to the wrinkle discussion, I have to put in a word for the French creams too. We used to take students through the Fragonard perfume museum in Paris when I took groups there. I got hooked on their face cream with royal jelly in it. I don't know why it was so good, but it was very soothing and I felt "younger" looking when I used it every night. I can't find any creams I can afford here with royal jelly, so use other European ones I get at a fraction of their original cost at Marshall's and TJ Maxx stores.
I think European women take better care of themselves in general, in addition to their healthier lifestyle.
Re: Anon@3:26
ReplyDeleteI think you have been informed before about the answers. You can go online and complete the puzzle or there are several links that C.C. has supplied, listed on the right of the first page. ONE-ACROSS is a good source if you don't want to Google and are only missing a few letters. Please pay attention so that everyone doesn't have to keep answering the same questions. Move on.
Sorry C.C. This was getting ridiculous. Crockett, Argyl, kazie, etc keep giving ANON@3:26 the same answers to the same questions, day after day. ARGH!
CC: For whom did you root in the World Series? Being from that area, you KNOW I rooted for the "Rays!"
ReplyDeleteWolfmom...calm down....LOL. Yes, it can be aggravating to see the same question asked time after time, but we all know it will probably happen again....and again.
ReplyDeleteTo Anon@3:26, If you are having a problem understanding the multiple times your "why don't you give ALL the answers??????" question has been answered, perhaps crossword puzzles just aren't your cup of tea. How about Sudoku or Jumbles?
Linda, Good luck with your test next week. You'll be in our thoughts. Let us know what happens.
C.C. Was it Katherine in SF who got married, or another Katherine from an earlier time? Congratulations to her in any case.
Clear Eyes: Just disbelief. Loved your answer. Although...I do the Jumble first to wake up my brain. My husband is the Suduko guy...my brain just doesn't do numbers logic well.
ReplyDeleteLinda: Best of luck...I will think lots of positive thoughts.
C.C. I have been in the shadows.... always doing the puzzle but not on-line.... got my computer working so I should be here on a more regular basis.
ReplyDeleteSuperfrey,
ReplyDeleteGreat! Don't leave us again.
Wolfmom,
I guess I might have inherited the wrinkles from my mom.
Bedeviler,
Yes, I did think of ZOE Ann Olsen this morning. Santa sent me an autographed Zoe photo for Christmas.
Kazie,
ReplyDeleteBurt's Bees eye cream has royal jelly in it.
Linda,
I rooted for the Phillies.
Clear Ayes,
Katherine is one of the earlier posters here on my blog, together with MH, Mkat, Crockett & Dennis. You confused her with Kathleen (Wolfmom) from SF.
Embien,
ReplyDeleteIndeed, "Gridlock" is a good read.
Argyle et al,
Some of Barry's original clues:
SEL: "Pomme frites condiment"
LOGIC: "Means to solving a Sudoku puzzle"
END: "Butt"
RANI: "Royal 1-Across wearer"
KEA: "Mauna__
ACUP (46D): "Bra Size"
(His original intersecting fill for 46A is AREA)
Clear Eyes > I do the Jumble first. Also like SodUko, but do those in the evening if watching television. It's either SodUko or knit another afghan, so I alternate. Two of my daughters got me puzzle books for Christmas. One is a daily calendar of Frame Games. Today's puzzle is
ReplyDeleteXQQ
MON
FRANCAIS
Argyle > I use mace in my spicy, candied pecans I make every Christmas. Made twenty pounds this year and gave away my last three bags this morning where I get my nails done. The live she is good.
Doreen
Correction. "The liFe, she is good." New Rule: Proofread.
ReplyDeleteDoreen
C.C,
ReplyDeleteI really like his original clues better...much more clever.
Sorry about the wrinkle thing...at my age I worry less about wrinkles and more about gravity.
C.C.
ReplyDeleteForgive me!!!! I've been concentrating too much on reading the comments instead of writing. I DO wish you and everyone a very happy and prosperous new year.
To Linda: I am praying for you and exhort you to keep a positive attitude. You know how effective prayer can be and I applaud your knowledge of the Bible. You're awsome.
VAYA CON DIOS
Happy New Year!!!
ReplyDeleteReally enjoy your crossword solving skills in lieu of the fact that English is not your native tongue. Have a friend who's native language is French and he too has a great command of the English language.
Where do you find the time to do this daily?
FYI..QB...From the British Court System.."Queens Bench" Part of the Superior Court division that hears civil and criminal cases.
Keep up the great work!
Andy
I've tried Sudoku and I can't seem to get beyond the most simple ones. Mathematics was never my strong suit.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was a super Jumble solver. She was also an excellent Scrabble player. I think the two go hand in hand. My Jumble and Scrabble abilities are just average, although I do enjoy both.
Doreen, Great motto!
I've never tried Frame Games, but it looks like "Excuse mon francaise" or in English, "Excuse my French". I'll have to give them a try.
C.C. "Katherine is one of the earlier posters here on my blog". It looks like I am having a "super" senior moment day. It must be 5PM cocktail time somewhere...maybe that will help. It is time to find out!
See you all tomorrow.
We can't have a Barry Silk puzzle without some rock-n-roll.
ReplyDeleteMatchbox by Carl Perkins.
Good afternoon C.C. and all,
ReplyDeleteFun puzzle, but it still takes a lot of work for me to finish.My last fill was the TC in match, as I couldn't complete betas or crt. I got nine and inca with perps and enjoyed the info on Incas and the reasoning for sel being an SSS word. Hadn't heard of kea, scup, or enol, and had zip for zig for a bit.
Kazie, Clear ayes and wolfmom, you go girls! Don't any of the nameless anons READ????
This puzzle made me think about going back and reading some of the great classics like The Good Earth and Exodus.
CC, great questions on the interview.Is Katherine from Michigan with 3 grandchildren?? I'm so happy for her!!
Great picture Dick!
Another super poem Clear ayes!
Thought for the day:
An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.
Ben Franklin
Oh people! Such gooooood comments after I left around noon.(PST)
ReplyDeleteC.C.(2:26) I answered you in an e-mail
C.C. (5:12) A cup (46D) - Wow, what a pair of hooters! LOL
Lois (2:32) LMAO! See why we missed you so much.
Argyle - you are a man after my own heart, I loved Carl Perkins out of all the Sun Record "early boys": Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison.
Linda,
ReplyDeleteI wish you well next week. I've actually had several spots removed over the years, and so far nothing has been a major concern. I hope your experience is as good.
c.c.,
Thanks for Burt's Bees eye cream. I'll definitely look for it!
Argyle, do you remember 2 other Sun Recording artists that did not get the "Play" accorded the "top 5 guys"? They were a bit bitter about it too (and still are): Billy Lee Riley (and his Little Green Men) and Sonny Burgess (who is now playing in Las Vegas).
ReplyDeleteArgyle: Great music and style... love it, love it, love it. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteClear eyes:
ReplyDelete"I've tried Sudoku and I can't seem to get beyond the most simple ones. Mathematics was never my strong suit."
After having done Sudoku for some time, I can confidently say that it has nothing to do with math. It is a logic puzzle. Unless one is so math challenged that one cannot count to nine, lacking an aptitude for math should be no obstacle. You should give it another shot. Solving it can be very gratifying, just like the crossword :)
Ciao
If I may digress ...
Yesterday's puzzle had an obscure (to me, at least) reference to Ned Rorem. I was just listening to a classical station on Sirius and found myself wondering if some constructor might make use of this answer for the composer of 'Angel of Light':
"Einojuhani Rautavaara".
How's that for a name? We are all familiar with those Slavic names that have a ridiculously high number of consonants, but have you ever seen a name with so many vowels?
Ciao
No, Carol, I haven't heard of Billy Lee Riley and Sonny Burgess but I will look them up at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSolving a sudoku has very little to do with mathematics: you could replace 1...9 with A...I and the method of solving is the same. (No addition is involved.) A good sudoku has a unique solution but some of the ones labelled "tough" end up with multiple possible solutions because the number of numbers you start with is so few.
ReplyDeleteMartin
Promiseme,
ReplyDelete"Einojuhani Rautavaara" is 20 letters so it would either have to appear on a Sunday puzzle or be split in two. Alternatively, the clue could be "Angel of Light composer Einojuhani" or vice versa.
Martin
How nice to see a Barry Silk pangram again. I love all those scrabbley letters. Four z’s, no less. And fun theme words too. I got stuck with ENHALO and NED ROREM. Should have known ENHALO since we’ve had it before, gut just couldn’t remember.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interview, to both CC and Barry; it was a treat.
I ‘m late today, and don’t have anything to add to the conversations; just wanted to acknowledge my appreciation of Barry Silk. He’s the best!
After CC, of course.
the same boring people have taken over your blog. I don't think most people give a rat's ass if they understand Latin, German, or French. What ever happened to the good ol' proper English we all learned and were proud of. I think way back when, when the number of posts were regulated to 100 and then the number of posts by a single person was regulated at three. I guess for certain people that isn't the case. Yep, I used to be a regular and am very dissapointed that some people can run amok through your blog and others were chased away. Me included.
ReplyDeleteI've decided that ANON@10:00pm is just pushing buttons. Waste of time to respond as it will just continue. The one sour note in the symphony.
ReplyDeletefunny how you would respond wolfmom as you have burned your posts(by my count anyway)and are one of the offenders of the blog rule. get off your high horse. you weren't around in the good ole' days.
ReplyDelete@anonymous@10:00 and 11:50
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I think it is sad to see someone post hiding behind the "anonymous" sign-on. If you have a reasoned and well thought out complaint, suggestion or comment, I think that a person should have the common courtesy to put a name with the comment.
That said, I think we need to remember that this blog is about the Tribune Media Daily Crossword that appears in many newspapers all over the world. As such, C.C. has attracted a varied and intelligent group of dedicated crossword solvers and bloggers. I much prefer the discussions that have been on the blog in the recent past as opposed to the "Dysfunctional" banter that occurred during this past summer.
When I returned from an extended vacation in late October, the tone of the blog had changed back to discussion stimulated by the crossword of the day. I was pleased to see that.
Anonymous says that s/he misses the good ole days. Well, I've been on this blog since early on, first lurking and then posting, and I personally think the group is more centered on the crossword now than at most any other period of it's existence.
Remember, you come here because you choose to do so. If you don't like what you find, then you don't have to stay. If you have some constructive comments or criticisms, I think you should feel free to post them and open a dialogue, but not hidden behind the cloak of "anonymous." If you decide that you want to hide in the bushes and take cheap shots, I hope C.C. will use her ownership prerogatives and delete your posts until you realize that your anonymous comments are neither wanted or appreciated by the readers of this blog.
Sorry for the long post, but I felt I needed to respond.
I've been lurking here for a while, though I think I've maybe left a few comments at one point or another. I generally only do the crosswords when there's an old paper laying around at work, which is more often than not, and I'm amazed to find myself becoming less reliant on your blog =) Apparently I'm getting smarter.
ReplyDeleteI learned of aril's when I was making pomegranate juice, as aril's are where the fruit is.
I had a really hard time with 19A as I had ZIP instead of ZIG and google showed me that WAPED is an actual word. Weird.