Theme: STOUT (64A: Heavy brew, and a clue to this puzzle's theme) - ST OUT (ST is cut out from the theme phrases)
17A: Ennis and Jack in "Brokeback Mountain"?: (ST)RANGE BEDFELLOWS
25A: Etchings?: (ST)ART FROM SCRATCH
42A: Gerontologists?: (ST)AGE TECHNICIANS
56A: Tried to get into Guinness by gobbling hot dogs?: (ST)ATE FOR THE RECORD
This puzzle is very similar in concept to Gareth Bain's NIXON puzzle, where ON is nixed in each theme entry.
I liked ART FROM SCRACH the most, very evocative. Watching the 4th of July hotdog gobbling contest made me sick. Horrifying scene. I always associate TECHNICIANS with mechanical stuff, so AGE TECHNICIANS for "Gerontologists?" came as a surprise to me. My husband does not allow me to netflix "The Brokeback Mountain".
Nice puzzle. Very creative tie-in STOUT. I actually got STOUT earlier on, unfortunately I could not parse it correctly. So it did not really help my solving at all.
Across:
1A: Helps a certain hacker, say: ABETS. North Korea just hacked into many US government websites.
6A: Map showing easements: PLAT. Easement is "A right, such as a right of way, afforded a person to make limited use of another's real property." Unfamiliar definition to me.
10A: "__ Baby": "Hair" song: ABIE. No idea. ABIE is often clued as "Irish Rose's lover".
14A: Raven's sound: CROAK. Ha ha, I thought only frogs CROAK.
15A: Doth own: HATH. Does own = HAS.
16A: Item in a belt: TOOL. I was picturing a buckle. OK, hopefully you can find AWLS (25D: Punching gadgets) in a TOOL belt.
20A: Inning trio?: ENS. Three N's in innings.
21A: Magic prop? WAND. Glinda the Good Witch of the North has one.
22A: Sheepish response?: BAA BAA. Cute clue.
23A: Plane starter?: AERO. Aeroplane. I did not know British call airplane aeroplane.
24A: "Sometimes __ a pleasure": Byron: SIN'S. Have never heard this line. Makes sense though.
31A: Baba __: Gilda Radner persona: WAWA. A spoof of Barbara Walters.
32A: NE New Jersey city: LODI. See this map. I only knew the LODI in California.
33A: Big ref.: OED (Oxford English Dictionary)
35A: Prevaricator: LIAR
36A: Puts away: STOWS. And SALT (49D: Store (away)). Is it correct to put two brackets at the right end?
38A: Magazine content: AMMO
40A: "Let it be": STET. To an editor.
41A: Pirate of fiction: SMEE. "Peter Pan".
47A: Landscaping shrubs: YEWS. Why are they used as shrubs when they are poisonous?
48A: Minnesota's St. __ College: OLAF. Marvelous. All Minnesota clues make me happy.
49A: Sister of Venus: SERENA. She just won Wimbledon.
52A: "The Witches of Eastwick" actress: CHER. Easy guess. Have never heard of the movie. Looks scary.
53A: Musician's degree: MFA
59A: Outdoor feast: LUAU. Literally "young taro tops", which were served at outdoor feasts. Taro cakes are very tasty.
60A: Old timepiece: DIAL
61A: Peninsula bordering Israel: SINAI. Belongs to Egypt.
62A: Ones place: TILL
63A: Short cut: SNIP. I sprinkle freshly snipped chives in everything I cook now. My green beans look very weak this year. Might have bought the wrong kind of seeds.
Down:
1D: Lot, sometimes: ACRE. I was not thinking of farmland "lot".
3D: Big times: EONS. Wrote down ERAS. To me, EONS are long long times.
4D: Phone __: TAG
5D: Barbecuing aid: SKEWER. Shrimps + pineapple + green onion. Delicious.
6D: Prodigy: PHENOM
7D: Fawcett's "Charlie's Angels" successor: LADD (Cheryl). No idea. She looks pretty.
8D: DOJ bureau: ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms). ATF belonged to Treasury Department before 2003.
9D: 1963 thriller set in Bodega Bay: THE BIRDS. I only saw the end of this movie. Terrifying.
10D: Words after a holdup: AT LAST. Struggled with the answer.
11D: Knucklehead: BOOB. I wonder if BOOBS has ever been directly clued as breasts in any major puzzle before.
12D: Major caucus site: IOWA. Ah, Tim Pawlenty 2012.
13D: Lanchester of "Bride of Frankenstein": ELSA. First encounter with this actress.
18D: Prefix with meter: BARO. Barometer.
19D: It's part of Maui county: LANAI. Dan Naddor just clued it as "Island where Bill and Melinda Gates were wed" 2 weeks ago.
23D: Yonder: AFAR. Could not jam in THERE.
24D: Tub: SCOW. Did not know the "old, slow, clumsy vessel" meaning of tub.
26D: Mrs. Gorbachev: RAISA. My goodness. I did not know RAISA is dead. Obama just met with Gorbachev a few days ago.
27D: Country sound: TWANG. D'oh, country music.
28D: Animal that sleeps upside down: SLOTH. No idea. I only knew BATS sleep upside down.
29D: One might appear many times in a long list: COMMA. I love Mickey Mantle, Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Kirby Puckett, Johan Santana and Justin Morneau. OK, that's plenty of commas.
30D: Studs: HE-MEN
34D: Stag mates: DOES
36D: Wine openers: STEWARDS. My favorite clue.
37D: Private eyes: TECS. Detectives. Like the Pinkerton guys.
38D: "That's not happening!": AS IF
40D: Pool worker: STENO. I was imagining a swimming pool.
43D: As much as one cares to see: EYEFUL. I just can't believe how lucky these girls are. Look at their waists. So tiny.
44D: Of little use: NO HELP
45D: Robert of "The Soprano": ILER. Gimme. Learned this name from Dennis's mistake. He tried to re-clue ILLER as ILER last time.
46D: Gentle touch: CARESS
50D: Sewing case: ETUI
51D: Unlike a figment: REAL
52D: Trendy tea: CHAI. Why "Trendy"? CHAI is rooted in "Cha", Chinese for tea.
53D: Like 45s: MONO. Monophonic?
54D: Lady of the Haus: FRAU. Haus is German for "house".
55D: Ore seeker's entrance: ADIT. This has become a gimme.
58D: Loc. __: CIT. The other footnote is IBID.
Answer grid.
C.C.
17A: Ennis and Jack in "Brokeback Mountain"?: (ST)RANGE BEDFELLOWS
25A: Etchings?: (ST)ART FROM SCRATCH
42A: Gerontologists?: (ST)AGE TECHNICIANS
56A: Tried to get into Guinness by gobbling hot dogs?: (ST)ATE FOR THE RECORD
This puzzle is very similar in concept to Gareth Bain's NIXON puzzle, where ON is nixed in each theme entry.
I liked ART FROM SCRACH the most, very evocative. Watching the 4th of July hotdog gobbling contest made me sick. Horrifying scene. I always associate TECHNICIANS with mechanical stuff, so AGE TECHNICIANS for "Gerontologists?" came as a surprise to me. My husband does not allow me to netflix "The Brokeback Mountain".
Nice puzzle. Very creative tie-in STOUT. I actually got STOUT earlier on, unfortunately I could not parse it correctly. So it did not really help my solving at all.
Across:
1A: Helps a certain hacker, say: ABETS. North Korea just hacked into many US government websites.
6A: Map showing easements: PLAT. Easement is "A right, such as a right of way, afforded a person to make limited use of another's real property." Unfamiliar definition to me.
10A: "__ Baby": "Hair" song: ABIE. No idea. ABIE is often clued as "Irish Rose's lover".
14A: Raven's sound: CROAK. Ha ha, I thought only frogs CROAK.
15A: Doth own: HATH. Does own = HAS.
16A: Item in a belt: TOOL. I was picturing a buckle. OK, hopefully you can find AWLS (25D: Punching gadgets) in a TOOL belt.
20A: Inning trio?: ENS. Three N's in innings.
21A: Magic prop? WAND. Glinda the Good Witch of the North has one.
22A: Sheepish response?: BAA BAA. Cute clue.
23A: Plane starter?: AERO. Aeroplane. I did not know British call airplane aeroplane.
24A: "Sometimes __ a pleasure": Byron: SIN'S. Have never heard this line. Makes sense though.
31A: Baba __: Gilda Radner persona: WAWA. A spoof of Barbara Walters.
32A: NE New Jersey city: LODI. See this map. I only knew the LODI in California.
33A: Big ref.: OED (Oxford English Dictionary)
35A: Prevaricator: LIAR
36A: Puts away: STOWS. And SALT (49D: Store (away)). Is it correct to put two brackets at the right end?
38A: Magazine content: AMMO
40A: "Let it be": STET. To an editor.
41A: Pirate of fiction: SMEE. "Peter Pan".
47A: Landscaping shrubs: YEWS. Why are they used as shrubs when they are poisonous?
48A: Minnesota's St. __ College: OLAF. Marvelous. All Minnesota clues make me happy.
49A: Sister of Venus: SERENA. She just won Wimbledon.
52A: "The Witches of Eastwick" actress: CHER. Easy guess. Have never heard of the movie. Looks scary.
53A: Musician's degree: MFA
59A: Outdoor feast: LUAU. Literally "young taro tops", which were served at outdoor feasts. Taro cakes are very tasty.
60A: Old timepiece: DIAL
61A: Peninsula bordering Israel: SINAI. Belongs to Egypt.
62A: Ones place: TILL
63A: Short cut: SNIP. I sprinkle freshly snipped chives in everything I cook now. My green beans look very weak this year. Might have bought the wrong kind of seeds.
Down:
1D: Lot, sometimes: ACRE. I was not thinking of farmland "lot".
3D: Big times: EONS. Wrote down ERAS. To me, EONS are long long times.
4D: Phone __: TAG
5D: Barbecuing aid: SKEWER. Shrimps + pineapple + green onion. Delicious.
6D: Prodigy: PHENOM
7D: Fawcett's "Charlie's Angels" successor: LADD (Cheryl). No idea. She looks pretty.
8D: DOJ bureau: ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms). ATF belonged to Treasury Department before 2003.
9D: 1963 thriller set in Bodega Bay: THE BIRDS. I only saw the end of this movie. Terrifying.
10D: Words after a holdup: AT LAST. Struggled with the answer.
11D: Knucklehead: BOOB. I wonder if BOOBS has ever been directly clued as breasts in any major puzzle before.
12D: Major caucus site: IOWA. Ah, Tim Pawlenty 2012.
13D: Lanchester of "Bride of Frankenstein": ELSA. First encounter with this actress.
18D: Prefix with meter: BARO. Barometer.
19D: It's part of Maui county: LANAI. Dan Naddor just clued it as "Island where Bill and Melinda Gates were wed" 2 weeks ago.
23D: Yonder: AFAR. Could not jam in THERE.
24D: Tub: SCOW. Did not know the "old, slow, clumsy vessel" meaning of tub.
26D: Mrs. Gorbachev: RAISA. My goodness. I did not know RAISA is dead. Obama just met with Gorbachev a few days ago.
27D: Country sound: TWANG. D'oh, country music.
28D: Animal that sleeps upside down: SLOTH. No idea. I only knew BATS sleep upside down.
29D: One might appear many times in a long list: COMMA. I love Mickey Mantle, Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Kirby Puckett, Johan Santana and Justin Morneau. OK, that's plenty of commas.
30D: Studs: HE-MEN
34D: Stag mates: DOES
36D: Wine openers: STEWARDS. My favorite clue.
37D: Private eyes: TECS. Detectives. Like the Pinkerton guys.
38D: "That's not happening!": AS IF
40D: Pool worker: STENO. I was imagining a swimming pool.
43D: As much as one cares to see: EYEFUL. I just can't believe how lucky these girls are. Look at their waists. So tiny.
44D: Of little use: NO HELP
45D: Robert of "The Soprano": ILER. Gimme. Learned this name from Dennis's mistake. He tried to re-clue ILLER as ILER last time.
46D: Gentle touch: CARESS
50D: Sewing case: ETUI
51D: Unlike a figment: REAL
52D: Trendy tea: CHAI. Why "Trendy"? CHAI is rooted in "Cha", Chinese for tea.
53D: Like 45s: MONO. Monophonic?
54D: Lady of the Haus: FRAU. Haus is German for "house".
55D: Ore seeker's entrance: ADIT. This has become a gimme.
58D: Loc. __: CIT. The other footnote is IBID.
Answer grid.
C.C.
Good morning, C.C. and gang - I really enjoyed the puzzle today; thought it had a ton of fresh cluing, and a clever theme.
ReplyDeleteOnce I got the first theme answer, the next two came pretty easily; still had to work for the last one. My one true unknown was 'Abie Baby' -- never saw Hair. Lots of clever clues, including 'magazine contents', 'ones place', and 'words after a holdup'. 'Tec' should be a gimme now that we just had a discussion about it. (Wine) 'stewards' threw me initially, as I was looking for any of the various tools used to open a bottle. Was everyone's first thought 'jar' for 'cookie container'? Mine sure was.
C.C., thank you for the GREAT 'eyeful' picture - great way to get the blood flowing this morning.
Today is Teddy Bear Picnic Day.
Today's Words of Wisdom: "As an old man, looking back on one's life, it's one of the things that strikes you most forcibly -- that the only thing that's taught one anything is suffering. Not success, not happiness, not anything like that. The only thing that teaches one what life's really about -- the joy of understanding, the joy of coming in contact with what life really signifies -- is suffering, affliction." -- Journalist Malcolm Muggeridge
Fun Facts for Friday:
- There are more stars than all the grains of salt on Earth.
- The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.
Good morning all- I enjoyed this morning's puzzle.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe I know this author-but he makes one think-and that's what it's all about.
Have a grand day.
Dennis,
ReplyDeleteI've learned to jump into the lower right corner for Friday puzzles. There seems to be always a tie-in answer hidden there. Too bad, I can't parse ST OUT.
Scooter,
Yeah, a thinker puzzle. Ken Bessette had co-authored a LAT puzzle with Nancy Salomon before.
Anonymous,
You've gone beyond the lowest level of Lee Atwater and Karl Rove on your disturbing attacks on Tarrajo.
I had trouble with today's theme. Couldn't get the Stout.
ReplyDeleteThe Witches of Eastwick is not a scary movie. It is actually rather funny. Jack Nicholson, Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon.
I. too, though of cookie Jar instead of cookie Tin, I knew it had to be wrong, as I couldn't think of any words with the letters J and T together, nor could I think of any words ending in J.
I don't do the weekend puzzles, so have a good weekend, everyone, and I'll see you on Monday.
Did anyone figure out how to access your site using a blackberry storm? I still can't see the answers.
ReplyDeleteCK
Dennis:
ReplyDeleteMuggeridge sounds like the prototypical Brit masochist.
Suffering survived is still suffering. The only thing I've ever learned from it is I don't want to do it again, if avoidable. I've learned more from good experiences.
CK (anon):
I visit and interact with this site exclusively on an Iphone. I don't own a computer. Can't say about Blackberry. Someone will, though.
Hi, all, read Dan Naddor's Interview on C.C.'s front page. He said he had over 50 puzzles waiting in Rich Norris's queue.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning, youse guys,
ReplyDeleteI just listen to 10A, ABIE Baby, but I not linking it due to some of the language but it is about Abe Lincoln and emancipation.
53D 45's: MONO Before Stereophonic, there was Monaural (shortened to mono).
I admit I did have to google today (Lanai) but when I first saw the puzzle, I thought I was going to have to google all over the place but it all (almost) came together.
Think I'll link The Teddy Bears Picnic. It always makes me smile.
Good morning, C.C. and all.
ReplyDeleteI finished this morning's puzzle in under 20 minutes without Googling, but I doubt I would have finished it at all without some red letter assistance.
C.C., my husband prefers not to rent 'Brokeback Mountain,' and having seen 'The Witches of Eastwick,' I doubt I'd bother to watch it again. Sorry, hatoola, I'm generally not a Jack Nicholson fan, although I really liked 'Bucket List,' which we just saw recently.
I didn't get the theme until I visited the blog, despite getting the answers to the clues. I kept wondering what STOUT had to do with them, given that there was nothing alcoholic to be seen.
I still have difficulties with the 'Inning trio' type of clue. LODI came from the perps, and so did OED (again!)
St. Olaf had (and I hope they still do) a choir that sang without vibrato, with incredible attention to pitch. It's not to everyone's taste, but it's awesome to contemplate the effort that goes into making such beautiful music.
ELSA Lanchester was also in 'Bell, Book and Candle,' with a young Jack Lemon and Kim Novak.
Dennis, there must have been a LOT of flooding following the winter of 1932!
Argyle, I'll have to surf, because I don't remember 'Abie Baby' at all.
From last night:
Buckeye, you are a font of information! Argyle, thanks for the link to the kings.
Melissa bee, you are an amazing woman! I'm very impressed with your tracking talents, and a bit envious of the serenity you must experience.
WM, the breadth of your talent is also amazing. Our stereotypical concept of an artist doesn't usually include the ability to break down a side of beef!
kazie, the house where my husband was raised didn't have running water, so he was quite familiar with a 'dunnie.' When he was in his thirties, he plumbed it for his father. I'm sure that's why we have an excess of anything that uses running water in this house, and why DH so enjoys a master bedroom with an attached bathroom.
btw....thanks for the grilled zucchini recipe. How long do you grill them?
JD, my oldest sister is 70, and she provides day care for two of her grandchildren, who are 5 years, and 16 months, respectively. I have a lot of empathy for your situation! *G* I'm sure that Truman is the light of your life, and is making sure that you sleep well at night!
I had several of the same reactions as c.c. today, had to g'spot several and finally got there without coming here to cheat on the themes like yesterday, only I didn't grok the missing ST part and wondered what they had to do with STOUT. I guess I'm always too anxious to get here to stop and think about it too long after the grid is full.
ReplyDeleteI checked my tape of HAIR to get ABIE. We have a LODI near here also, so guessed that easily. I had AMEN for STET at first, and wanted JAR for TIN too. AERO was gimme, having grown up on British English. I think AMMO was my favorite today, maybe because I got it right away.
The Witches of Eastwick is actually funny, not scary at all. It's about sisters who are witches and one who wishes she wasn't. Nicholson plays one of those characters you love to hate, which he does so well.
KittyB,
I grill the slices just until they are moist, a little bit browned and begin to feel soft, but not slushy. We cut them a bit over half an inch thick.
Started the puzzle last night. Just something to do for a few minutes before bed. Surprised how quickly it went together this morning.
ReplyDeleteOk-am I the only one who thought phone sex?? I thought Dennis would come up with that.
I saw Bride of Frankenstein on TV when I was about 8.
Started to watch Brokeback Mountain once. Lasted about 20 minutes.
DOH-sister of Venus.
Didn't pick up on the theme at all.
Years ago I planted a garden. How did I know you don't plant the whole package of zucchini seeds?
I used the plants as a temporary ground cover behind the pond area once. On Halloween I actually carved faces in the zucchini.
Carol and all-my idea of camping is a 5 star hotel.
Thanks for the great stories Jimbo.
Oh yeah, I need to find some music. You guys and your damn songs!!!
Good Morning All, Monitor working..yes, ISP working..yes, cruciverb.com..yes. Hurray, the puzzle is done and I really loved it all. I even got the "ST" OUT theme before I filled in 64A.
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those who enjoys showbiz clues, so this one was fun for me.
I loved the stage musical Hair, but didn't much care for the movie. ABIE Baby is a satiric "birthday" song for Abraham Lincoln. Reflecting the context of the time, it begins with a group of young black men, who question the honor of being "free" to go to Vietnam and possibly die. Abe joins in for his two cents worth too. Argyle is correct. There is a lot of very direct language in the lyrics. That being said, here's a link to a live production.
Brokeback Mountain was based on a short story by Annie Proulx. She wrote The Shipping News and Postcards, among other books and is one of my favorite authors. Personally, I thought Brokeback Mountain was a touching, restrained, and beautifully photographed movie that was robbed of an Academy Award (Crash won) that year. It is interesting that it is usually men who are most uncomfortable with the theme of the movie.
I agree with Hahtool and Kazie. I thought "Witches" is a funny, just a little spooky, movie AND the devil definitely gets his due: Ladies-3, Old Scratch-0.
I didn't have any idea that LODI was a town in NJ. That was a tricky clue to sidetrack us Californians.
I tried to fit in DECORKS or DECANTS into 36D, but finally had to wait for the perps for STEWARDS, which was very clever.
I agree with C.C. about food eating contests. They are just gross. I won't watch Carl's Jr. commercials that show people cramming huge bites of drippy hamburgers into their overstuffed mouths. YUCK! Come to think of it, we usually stick to cable channels like Nat Geo and HIST anyway. Maybe those commercials are a good reason....oh yeah, crummy shows too.
I got that the theme answers were missing the ST right away but it was NO HELP with solving a lot of this puzzle. Liked the theme answers except for AGE TECHNICIAN which I thought was a bit of a stretch. I has ISNT for ASIF, DOLT for BOOB, BLEETS for BAABAA and THAR for AFAR. As for SLOTH (which I didn't know slept upside down) I thought of BATS (too short) and POSSUM (too long). But my duh! moment was TOOL - I was also thinking of belt parts.
ReplyDeleteDennis - was it the tiny waists on those young ladies that got your blood flowing???
Have a great weekend.
Treefrog, you were not the only one who thought of phone sex. That was my first thought, too!
ReplyDeleteWitches of Eastwick is one of those movies we watch over and over (but haven't in a while, actually) and still laugh at the same places. I heard or read someplace recently that it was going to be a TV series called "Eastwick" this fall. I see James Spader in the role of Jack Nicholson. As far as I know, he's still looking for work after Boston Legal went kaput.
ReplyDeleteI never seem to get those themes that leave out letters. Although I find them clever, apparently my mind doesn't run that way.
Also went for "jar" first, but got "tin". Went aha when I got "steward".
All in all, a clever piece of work.
Waists?
ReplyDeleteNo Offence CC, but your husband sounds like a real phobed out closet case. You're missing out on a very beautiful touching motion picture.
ReplyDeleteHey CC and all ya`ll:
ReplyDeleteUsed to listen to "Let`s Pretend on Sat...they always played Teddy Bear`s PicNic." "Hi! That`s my dog Tige. He lives in a shoe. I`m Buster Brown...look for me in there, too!"
CC: Sic `em! (on annono-nauseating!)
KittyB; St. Olaf will always be Rose Nyland`s home to me...
Am packing...("heat" and clothes!)
Hi C.C. & gang, We got the 'stout' answer too before my wife left for work but I didn't grok it until I came here.
ReplyDeleteI found this for your question about `Trendy'
single-serve package gives chai tea sales a boost.
10:32, "No offense"? Really? Very offensive and crude. Noticed the British/Canadian spelling.
ReplyDeleteAnybody's waist would look small when topped by those wonders of modern medical science.
Thinking of sin and pleasure, today's Lord Byron quote reminded me of this poem. According to Wikipedia "It evocatively describes the fatigue of age conquering the restlessness of youth. Byron wrote the poem at the age of twenty-nine." Considering the fact that he was only 36 years old when he died, he may very well have been feeling a little fatigued at twenty-nine.
We'll Go No More A-roving
So, we'll go no more a-roving
So late into the night,
Though the heart be still as loving,
And the moon be still as bright.
For the sword outwears its sheath,
And the soul wears out the breast,
And the heart must pause to breathe,
And love itself have rest.
Though the night was made for loving,
And the day returns too soon,
Yet we'll go no more a-roving
By the light of the moon.
Hello folks, It seems that I do owe Warren an apology.
ReplyDeleteWarren: I'm sorry. It was my computer AND a MS Office Outlook problem.It seems that my Vista machine will not accept or allow me to send e-mail with the gmail account.
Another problem is that there is another eddyB out there in the ether region. He may or may not be
be getting my e-mail. He does receive e-mail in German.
So , I am logging out untill I can resolve the problem. I may be contacted at erbohn@sbcglobal.net.
Just don't use gmail.
I'll still look forward to reading the blog every day.
Hi, gang -
ReplyDeleteOK, I'll admit my mind works in mysterious ways. But - what kind of a thought process leads to today's theme? Just imagine all the grunt work of finding phrases of just the right length that still mean something intelligible after being ST OUTed!
Wow!
OTOH:
1A ABETS troubles me. Why a certain hacker? Either this is a very poor clue, or I'm missing something. Help?!?
20A ENS - spelling out a letter name always strikes me as being lame.
50D ETUI - haven't we seen that last of thee?
C.C.
Re: 36A, your bracketing is perfect.
Re: 43D, I would call those hourglass figures. I wonder if they have been technically augmented.
KQ, maniac, CA, JD, and Crocket -
thanks for the kind words and encouragement.
Dennis -
Ben Franklin said, "Experience keeps a dear school but fools will learn in no other." I conclude that Muggeridge was not only a curmudgeon, but a fool to boot.
My most meaningful learning experiences have always involved human interactions. Sure, some of them were painful and unpleasant. But many were delightful. What 6+ decades has taught me is that life is about love, and people are way more important than things.
Woke up with a headache today, so probably will not indulge in either a STOUT or a martini. Humbug!
And, of course,
Cheers!
Buckeye: Thanks for the info on the cards. If we are your minions, that makes you a prince (according to wiki Minion is a term for favorites or protégés, especially those of a monarch or prince at a royal court). You truly are.
ReplyDeleteChickie: I'll task my husband with taking pictures of the booth at the show.
CA, Jazzbumpa: Over the years I have had to remind my husband about the law of physics as they apply to mammaries, which often help to distinguish the real from the augmented.
Good Afternoon All,
ReplyDeleteI had trouble all over the place and didn't finish without seeing red. Pretty similar probs that already have been discussed, but I had all of them. I never got the theme until I got here. Pretty typical Friday for me.
Just got back from my bike ride. We actually have sunshine today. CC, the EYEFUL gave me a heart attack!! Thank you very much.
I'm leaving early to head to camp. The pups and me then the rest of the family will follow tonight. We have to come out for #2's baseball game tomorrow but then where heading right back in. Weather's going to be good, finally.
Have a great weekend!
@Clear Ayes: How is that crude...just stating the facts...your comment comes across as racist, too. Some might want to look in the mirror there before throwing your garbage around.
ReplyDeleteA really hard puzzle for me today. I just couldn’t get on the same wavelength as Ken Bessette. Still enjoyed the challenge, though
ReplyDeleteWindhover, very well said. Jazzbumpa, you too.
What I learned from suffering was that the world is not always a safe place to be. My biggest and best life lesson was love. Where love is, suffering can be redeemed.
It’s kinda like the unsigned anon posts. They are almost always cruel, and all I learn from them is that someone doesn’t know anything at all about love. Pitiful.
Melissa-sweet-honey-bee, have a fabulous week-end.
@BarbVB....pot kettle black.
ReplyDeleteIt’s kinda like the signed posts. They are almost always judgmental, and paint with a broad brush and all I learn from them is that someone doesn’t know anything at all about tolerance. Pitiful.
Touche. Of course, you have overstated your case. The majority of signed posts discuss the puzzle and current events; most often addressing several subjects.
ReplyDeleteUnsigned anons have one short paragraph on one subject. Very personal criticism.
You can’t seriously expect a positive response. Oh, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUNHCING ME!! YOU’RE SO WONDERFULLY WISE.
Not.
@Barb B
ReplyDeletePlease keep denying your bigotry and holier than thou attitude...I see I touched a nerve. Thanks, very entertaining.
End of conversation as this has taken over the forum and is irrelevant. Sorry. But I had to respond to certain posters' nasty intolerance.
Hi C.C. and everyone...
ReplyDeleteDifficult for me again today, but being Friday, I expected it. The 'play on words' type of puzzles annoy me to pieces and I rarely get them.
Would one of you be kind enough to explain 10D? Why would someone say 'at last' after being held up? What am I missing?
CA (both comments) you're on a roll girl! Great insight. I wonder what is so upsetting about 'Brokeback Mountain'?
Zazz...I hope you were kidding about the augmentation...it is so obvious!
CC - is there any way you can delete these cruel anon posts that attack blog members and create some of the 'back and forth' we've had the past few days? I'm pretty tired of lurkers that clearly read the blog continually but are just plain mean and want to be 'fed'?
ReplyDeleteEnjoyable puzzle but really had to think - completely missed the theme. Even with CC's explanation it still was a toughie. The puzzles with this type of word play just don't resonate with me. Sigh.
Liked 'magazine contents' the best - took a long time to think in that direction.
CC - pushing the envelope today, huh? Boob(s) and then the picture with the waist comment; could tell what all the guys were thinking on that one. I'm sure you made their Friday!
Chickie - from last nite; apricots are my favorite fruit (raspberries a close second) so I'm still salivating your pie!!
Dennis - squeeze out of town this weekend so no weiner activity. Will catch up next week so don't feel too sorry; it's all good.
@Carol, if you got stuck in traffic, when it finally started to move you might say "at last" (in and among all the other words you might say at that time). The sense of not being able to get to where you are going, not the sense of being robbed.
ReplyDeleteMorning all...Last night when I started this puzzle I was all ready ready to come and complain...couldn't get hardly anything. It turned out I was fighting myself and over thinking it...once I gave in a put in things like YEWS and SMEE(wanted HOOK)and got the U in LUAU, things oddly started to fill in...agree with most of the comments, couldn't come up with anything after phone, but did get ST OUT and then the aha moment. A very clever puzzle and it has been long enough that I have to eat worms on ETUI...BLEH! :o(
ReplyDeleteKittyB...I didn't actually cut the sides of beef up myself. My husband's father used to raise cattle in southern OR, called us one year and said to buy a big freezer and then come up to visit. He had a custom place come out and slaughter several beeves...That year I had no clue about what came from where and ended up with a lot of weird stuff I didn't know how to cook...so I studied a butchering book for a year and was able to verbally break down the sides the next year and many years after...wonderful grass and hay fed beef...it was hard to go back to grocery store meat when he sold off the cows. It was a great learning experience and I also learned about lamb and pork...comes in helpful once in a while.
Sorry guys - I just saw the earlier anon posts. You know, in some ways it's good to leave them up, 'cause it makes you realize what a small, meaningless existence some people have.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if I'm online when I see them, I'll delete them in the future. He/she'll have to get off some other way...
I am going to try the linking thing again for the article...unfortunately no photos in the online version, but it is very well writtten and actually makes me sound interesting...and I am really quite ordinary. LOL
ReplyDeletearticle
Hope this works...
Wolf's style "gives people a different way of looking at things in a way they normally wouldn't see them."
ReplyDeleteThat's just like solving the LAT Crosswords...
Thanks Al-I didn't get the at last clue either.
ReplyDeleteHmm, Carol and I are channeling each other again!!
Off to the library, store, etc.
Everyone relax:
ReplyDeleteIt seems "anonymous" is delighting,
In getting his jollies from inciting,
Perhaps we'd be better,
To simply forget her (or him),
And stick to items enlightening.
Hooray for me! I finished my first Friday puzzle without hitting the g-spot! It was a most enjoyable puzzle with very clever cluing. I did have to get some perp help with abie, Sinai, ATF, and Raisa. My favorite clues today were “sheepish response” – baa baa and “ones place” – till. I wanted something to do with a robbery for the clue “words after a hold up.”
ReplyDeleteC.C. thanks for coming to my defense, you are sweet. I am with you on the hotdog eating contest. GROSS. I guess Joey Chestnut broke his old record of 66 with devouring 68 hot dogs. I didn’t see it this year but have in the past.
JD, thanks for the meatloaf tip. LGJ loves meatloaf. I am not kidding all when I say I have A LOT of zucchini and it just keeps coming. Any freezing tips?
Dennis, didn’t you notice their pretty eyes?
Dennis - THANKS!! Mucho appreciation.
ReplyDeleteFun puzzle and I got way more than I thought I would today. I never did get the theme though. The Nixon puzzle a few weeks ago I caught on to right away, but not this one. Great job CC.
ReplyDeleteI was sure ATE FOR THE RECORD was going to have wiener in it, and we would all be humming again today.
I think Brokeback Mountain was one of those movies either you love or don't. I was not terribly enamored with it. I couldn't figure out what all the hoopla was about.
AT LAST answer is something you would say if you were held up waiting for something for a long time, as in traffic. Not the robbery hold up.
St. Olaf has a marvelous music program. A friend used to be the Associate Choir Director, he is now director at Luther College, another great music school as well as my husbands alma mater. So nice to watch their programs on PBS at Christmas time.
Gilda Radner was a peach wasn't she. She died much too young. Such a loss. She wasn't nearly as edgy as some of the new SNL players.
The Witches of Eastwick is a fun movie. I still remember the scene though where the neighbor starts spewing out cherry pits. I don't know why that sticks in my head.
Congrats on the nice article WM. You have much to be proud of.
@wm Very nice article. I hope you have a large turn out at the artist's reception tonight. Enjoy yourself.
ReplyDeleteTarrajo: You have been so courageous in discussing your life. Just remember that the ONE Who counts loves you with a never-ending Love.
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon C.C. and all. I too missed the ST OUT clue. Many other misses, including ammo, which I think is clever. I still don't get TIN for a cookie container. But JAR surely didn't fit. And I agree that age technicians is a poor choice for Gerontologists.
ReplyDeleteHey guys, I thought we agreed that the best way to deal with trolls is to ignore them. That's obviously what this one wouldn't have liked.
I hope you all have a great weekend. I know I shall. My eldest son and DH are cooking up something, even tho the former is in Manhattan and we're in Naples.
At the bottom of the article is link to WM's home page and paintings.
ReplyDeleteWM - love the art work. You really do have a different way of looking at the world. You can say you're ordinary, but we know better.
Vern -
Well done.
Sallie -
Christmas cookies, and those fattening little fancy round buttery ones from Denmark (or is it Sweden) come in tin boxes sometimes.
Cheers!
OK, now I'm a little confused. With so many towns called LODI out there, which one was Creedence Clearwater Revival stuck in?
ReplyDeleteJazzbumpa- Often themes don't require a lot of "grunt work". Maybe today's author, Ken, was reading a book and the sentence "Start from scratch" appeared. For some reason it dawns on him that if you take away the ST you would have the whacky phrase ART FROM SCRATCH. Voila, the start of a theme. All he has to do now is open his dictionary to words starting with ST, omit the ST and see what word is left. After a short search he discovers these 3 additional words- Strange, State, and Stage... common words that would be easy to begin a well known phrase with. He also finds the word Stout, which turns out to be the perfect 'hint' for the theme. All in all, a very clever idea that led to some fun and entertaining theme answers. I'm going to bet that this fine puzzle fell together pretty quickly.
ReplyDeleteOf course this is all conjecture. I'd love to hear from Ken. Unless, of course, I'm 100% wrong. :)
14:48 today. I never understood the ST OUT theme until I came here. It took even longer for me to get the "Ones place" (TILL). A real head slapping moment when I finally thought of the cash register till. D'oh.
ReplyDeleteI loved the BAA BAA and Baba (WAWA) being in the same puzzle. Now we need Bah! Bah! (redundant scorn or some such clue).
And, oh yeah, those girls did have pretty eyes and tiny waists. It just took a while for my attention to wander to those areas. A long while, actually.
Let me go back and look again (just to be sure).
@carol (from yesterday): My favorite story of the heat from canning was about 20 years ago when we first moved into this house.
ReplyDeleteMy wife had picked peaches, and spent the afternoon canning. The stove was covered with pots of boiling water, canners, etc. and it was probably 100 degrees and steamy in the kitchen. She had stripped down to panties and a t-shirt by the time I came home from work and was drenched in sweat.
Wife: "I'm dying from the heat, I'm not going to finish canning all these peaches."
Me: "Why don't you turn on the air conditioning?"
Wife: "Air conditioning? What air conditioning?"
Me: "We have a heat pump." (She knew that, but didn't know it could cool as well as heat.)
I'm lucky I survived that episode. Needless to say, I took her out to dinner.
Sorry gang, can't be called a racist and let it go, or at least, I don't want to. Oh well, it is all fun and games and can't be taken seriously. After all, if you are going to play with the big kids... I know the little guy/girl left and said he wouldn't be back, but I thought some of you might enjoy this. I know WH will give me an "atta girl".
ReplyDelete11:13 - Sorry to disappoint, but noticing spelling differences is not racist. Look up the definition. I was just giving the benefit of the doubt to country of origin, rather than poor spelling. Calling someone a "phobed out closet case", ie. a "homophobic closet homosexual", isn't what I would call "stating the facts". People have been accused of a hate crime for saying less. For all you know, the person just doesn't like Jake Gyllenhaal movies. Prejudging someone about whom you know absolutely nothing is intolerant, offensive and crude. BTW, some of my best friends and relatives are, oh never mind, either you get it, or you don't. AND I really liked Brokeback Mountain.
Elissa, LOL, I was amazed that Jazzbumpa asked whether or not the ladies had been aided and ABETTED. ABET #2 definition from Merriam Webster is "to assist or support in the achievement of a purpose". The ladies have achieved their purpose and are definitely supported.
JimmyB, definitely LODI, California. I've been there and you can get stuck.
Jazzbumpa, the cookies in the tins, although tasty, are just pale imitations of the real Scandinavian Denmark, Sweden and Norway) versions.
WM, Way to go! What a generous and complimentary article, and you linked it perfectly.
Al, thanks so much for the explanation of 10D...I felt sort of stupid after I understood the meaning...I could only think of robbery.
ReplyDeleteKQ, thank you too :)
Vern, (1:06)very cute (and appropriate) limerick.
WM, what a very nice article - you do sound like you 'live' your beautiful paintings. I know your reception will be great!
Embien, what a funny (not to your wife) story! I sure know how she felt.
I didn't strip that far down, but close! I had the ceiling fan going plus a floor fan going and I was still suffering. I'm glad you survived and took her out to dinner!
Hi JimmyB,
ReplyDeleteCCR Lodi
says
"This song is about Lodi California which is about an hour from where I live been there many times..."
Hello All--Thanks to C.C. I finally understood the theme, but not before putting in Stage bedfellows for "Brokeback Mountain" clue. I thought I was soooo clever! Ha! That fouled up the whole NW corner which I had almost completed, but then thought was all wrong! Par for Friday for me.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy the puzzle as a whole. After I had all the other three theme answers the rest of it came together nicely after using Google for Lanai, Iler (Should know it by now), and St. Olaf.
Wine openers,=stewards, Ones place=till (I wanted a math term),and pool worker were my favorites today.
WM: What a great interview! Thanks for the link. Your art is as unique, as you are.
Has anyone noticed the Goggle logo today about Nikola Tesla?
ReplyDeleteit's the anniversary of his birthday today. Tesla is also the name of an electric car:Tesla Motors
Sandbridge Karen: The pie WAS good. My husband is diabetic, so I made it with Splenda. It was still good.
ReplyDeleteOur tastes run the same. Raspberries are also one of our favorites. We have a whole side fence planted with raspberries. They are about finished now, but I got between a pint and a quart every other day for weeks. We'll have another small crop come Sept. into Oct. We eat them about as fast as I can pick them.
Embien-loved your heat pump story. Will tell it to my hubby tonight. He's been in all aspects of the business. Currently in the wholesale end.
ReplyDeleteWhen I grew up in Sacramento in the-never mind-Lodi was a wide spot in the road. Only part I ever saw was the bowling alley. I went with Dad to many tournaments.
Wolfmom,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading that article, I believe we are in the company of "Royalty" and I feel very honored to be on the same "Blog" with you. And I mean that sincerely.
God Bless
Quick stop in to thank everyone...you guys are terrific!
ReplyDeleteCA...with you, and WH would be proud. Classy, as always.
Embien...really funny story! The out to dinner was fast thinking on your part.
We used to joke about driving an hour to Lodi and you still weren't anywhere(kind of like Modesto), but now it produces some really nice Zins...
Blenheim apricots are the very best out here...we used to have a tree and there were orchards of them all over San Jose, sadly, most are gone now. I used to earn money in elementary school cutting apricots in half for the 4' x 8' drying trays in the orchard behind my grandparents house...it can't have been much, but a fortune to me at the time.
Jimbo...that is very nice...but my talent does not exceed your wonderful ability to bring your past to life for us...keep on writing. :o)
Got to start getting ready for tonight...and again, thanks so much to you all.
Jerome -
ReplyDeletei guess I had this Edison quote in the back of my mind "Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration." Perhaps I got the partition of labor wrong. But anyway, I'm impressed.
Elissa and C.A. -
I guess deep in my heart I'm just a simple small town boy, with my tongue tucked high in my cheek.
Cheers!
@Jerome:
ReplyDeleteWow, if your experience has been in constructing puzzles to come up with three or four answers out of the dictionary and turn them into themes in quick order then more power to you.
If I was doing the ST OUT puzzle (or any other theme) I would come up with 20 or 30 answers then whittle them down to the best 3 or 4. I then try to develop the most "sparkly" answers.This usually takes a fair amount of time.
When I first began doing puzzles I would come up with 3 or 4 answers then run with them but they often were not the best I could've come up with. Many of the experienced constructors recommend the long list approach in order to develop better quality puzzle themes.
What approach works best for you Jerome? I realize there are different strokes for different folks.
Chickie - I'm so envious - you've got both of my favs. Neither will grow well here. Did you take a regular recipe and use splenda instead of sugar or was it a special recipe? How does one substitute? I'm not diabetic but would prefer the sweet without the calories so any baking tips you can share will be much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I can't bring myself to delete the above post - it's all this person has, unfortunately. I actually feel bad for him now.
ReplyDeleteWM,
ReplyDeleteI join the others--a very complimentary article. You must feel good about it indeed.
Embien,
Your peach canning story reminds me of mine. In 1979 while VERY pregnant with our second son, I had a similar canning day in the heat--he was born mid August. I wasn't quite stripped down, funnily enough, considering we lived out in the country and no one would have seen me, but it was similarly hot, we had no AC, and I was trying to peel the peaches sitting and leaning over a bucket to avoid standing too long. Needless to say, seeing/reaching what I was doing over said son in utero was difficult and frustrating. I swore I'd never can peaches again, and I never have!
Fred- In general you're right. Being an experienced constructor yourself you know that themed puzzles can take an immense amount of time. And they usually do. I can easily spend, at times, a total of 25 hours on a simple, early week puzzle from start to finish and many of those hours are tweaking the theme ideas. There must be a time or two, however, when one of your puzzles came together rather quickly. It seemed to me, in response to Jazzbumpa, that today's puzzle, as well as many puzzles, might have developed fairly fast. And I could be dead wrong. My point concerning this puzzle was meant in no way to diminish its wonderfulness. I completely understand the mental exertion it takes to make any puzzle and I appreciate Ken's talent and hope to solve many of his puzzles in the future.
ReplyDeleteHi CC and all,
ReplyDeleteCC, I am continually amazed at your expertise, and all the time you spend adding extra tid bits for us.Thanks! Loved the G. Radner spoof. Oh, and I also loved Witches of Eastwick , a very funny film.
Filled in more today than yesterday. I did not understand croak as being a raven's call. Even Truman knows it's "caw caw".
I was not familiar with that def. of salt. Sloth? had no idea. I had Hook instead of Smee. And I loved ammo.
Chai is the "now" drink, making it very trendy. Both my girls order a non fat chai whenever we go to Starbucks. I like the toffee nut latte- 4.5 WW points!!
Al, I also needed that explanation- thanks!
Argyle, I loved the "Teddy Bears' Picnic." I had no idea that it has been around since the 1890's!
Dennis, FF's always a treat. I have a hard time comprehending that there are more stars than grains of salt.Oh, I loved your reply to the very troubled anon.It is an angry one,isn't it!
Did not remember "Abie Baby" from Hair even though we listened to that album over and over to my FIL's horror.He had trouble warming up to the vocabulary. LOL!Does anyone recall the line, "M--- can be fun.."?
New word today from internet was "sturm und drang". Bob said it describes our home this week. Ha! Ha! It means turmoil or upheaval.
In Harry Potter they used the word as a spoonerism, naming a school Durmstrang Institute.
country sound
ReplyDeletetwang?
probably too late, but congratulations WM, you mkae us all proud....
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody else remember, "Twang your magic twanger, Froggy?"
ReplyDeleteTough but fun puzzle; tougher still is seeing people here--folks I have come to enjoy,respect & admire--be subjected to unfounded,nasty attacks. Unlike last night,I won't quote Yoko Ono, but I will say that anyone who comes here to participate can't help but appreciate the intelligence, grace, humor & stories of the regular contributors, our magnanimous
ReplyDeletehost CC & her trusty sidekicks, and the "visiting"puzzle constructors who share our love for puzzles. Anyone who comes to just sneer, sling barbs, and troll will miss out on what we have here--because there's no room for nastiness here!
@lemonade Wasn't it "Pluck your magic twanger, Froggy!?"
ReplyDelete@pjb Amen.
Hi all, just a quick check in after dinner with friends.
ReplyDeleteLemonade, Argyle, yes, it was, "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy". I remember the weird Andy's Gang show, with Andy Devine and Froggy, the Gremlin.
JD. We have a CD of the Hair soundtrack too. I still listen to it and sing along (when I'm all alone) to THAT song, as well as all the others.
PJB, excellent observation
Sleep well, everyone.
Lemonade, sadly that was before my time.
ReplyDeleteAnon...here's one for you...Dennis has probably encountered and accomplished more shit in his life than you have or ever will.
Here's one more thought for all you ANON'S.. have the balls to sign your name.
I have no testies so to speak but I have the guts to call you ANONS out. This is getting old.
Sorry C.C. and Dennis. Couldn't help myself.
Anonymous @4:04am,
ReplyDeleteDon't think I can figure out who you are by your style of writing? The burst, the time... Sad, just very sad.