Theme: ICed - IC is inserted into familiar phrases.
18A: Break from soldiers' training?: BASIC RELIEF
24A: Clown settlement?: ANTIC COLONY
38A: International affair?: TOPIC OF THE WORLD
49A: O. Henry stories?: IRONIC WORKS
60A: Copperfield's limo?: MAGIC WHEELS
Hmmm, IC, maybe I SEE (12D: Now that makes sense) is a better theme title.
I did not know there is a special term for those chrome wheels. Mag wheels are so named because "the aluminum is mixed up with a bit of magnesium to form a stronger alloy", according to one article.
Another hard puzzle for me. Lots of misdirections. I just don't think I am capable of solving late week puzzles. My "Yes, I can" hope has faded into "Probably not", just like some of Obama's ambitious plans.
O'NEAL (64A: Center of Cleveland?) clue is tricky. I actually knew Shaq was traded to Cleveland Cavaliers last month. I remember his "Win for Ring for the King" (LeBron James) quote in the newspaper. But I did not make the connection. Thought it's just another wordplay on the very center of word Cleveland.
Across:
1A: Devious, in a way: COY. Plunked in SLY immediately.
4A: Bad states: SNITS. My husband is easily peeved.
9A: You often see a lap in one: CHAIR. Ha ha, I was picturing someone's lap, but I could not see a CHAIR.
14A: Bullet in a deck: ACE
15A: Strange: OUTRE. Tried EERIE first.
16A: Kind of trader: HORSE. Could only think of FUR.
17A: Royal sleep disturbance, in a tale: PEA. Hans Christian Andersen's "The Princess and the PEA".
20A: Ill-advised: RASH. Is "Ill-advised" the same as "Ill-considered"?
22A: Flames' org.: NHL. Our NHL team is Minnesota Wild.
23A: Gives the slip: EVADES. "Give the slip" is a new phrase to me.
27A: Old waste allowance: TRET. After the deduction for TARE (the weight of a vehicle).
28A: Resemble strongly: PASS FOR
33A: ID necessity, often: PHOTO. The clue is asking for an abbreviated answer, isn't it?
36A: Plow into: RAM. Dictionary explains "Plow into" as "to strike with force". New to me.
37A: Like Chinese dishes, frequently: TO GO. My instinctive reaction is FATTY.
42A: It may be gross in med. sch.: ANAT
43A: OPEC member: UAE. The world's tallest building (Dubai Tower,2,684 feet) is in UAE.
44A: Development units: HOMES. And ACRES (65A: Some plots). I thought of the fictional plots.
45A: Picks: SELECTS
47A: Monopoly cards: DEED
54A: Pizza chain: SBARRO. No idea. Not a fan of pizza or Italian food. The logo looks like SHARRO.
58A: Like Bizet's only symphony: IN C. I had IN? sitting there forever.
59A: Night light: NEON. Nice rhyme. I was in the moonlight direction.
63A: Short sentence about a long term: I DO. Tricky clue. I thought of prison term/sentence.
66A: "I reckon not": NAW. Hillbilly slang I suppose.
67A: Noodleheads: GEESE
68A: "Siddhartha" author: HESSE. Has anyone read this book? Hermann HESSE also wrote "Steppenwolf". He won Nobel Literature in 1946.
69A: It's up to you: SKY. Of course! But I was too stupid to know.
Down:
1D: "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" director: CAPRA. I watched "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" simply because of Chris Matthews. It's one of his favorite movies.
2D: Shore thing: OCEAN. Sure.
4D: __ story: SOB
5D: Fine point: NUANCE
6D: August comment: IT'S HOT. And WHEW (41D: See 6-D). I don't understand the rationale for the WHEW clue.
7D: Warbling sound: TRILL
8D: IPO overseer: SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission)
9D: Malibu and Tahoe: CHEVYS. Oh, cars.
10D: Guadalajara greeting: HOLA. What do you normally say when you pick up the phone? Chinese say "Wei", same pronunciation as Michelle Wei's surname.
11D: Ideal for Joshua trees: ARID. Joshua trees grow in desert.
13D: Trio in an NBA game: REFS. Wow, I did not know this. Not interested in basketball.
19D: Entitle, as an altered file: RENAME
21D: Ancient Indo-European: HITTITE. No idea. It's "a member of an ancient people who established a powerful empire in Asia Minor and Syria, dominant from about 1900 to 1200 BC".
25D: Swift reptile: CROC. Did not know CROC is a reptile member.
26D: Vividly colored fish: OPAH. Or TETRA, another colorful fish.
29D: Used as an elevator: STOOD ON
30D: Blob's lack: FORM
31D: Rubberneck: OGLE. The answer is always GAWK.
32D: Eye cells: RODS. I forgot this "Eye cell" meaning of ROD.
33D: NEA supporters: PTAS
34D: Fine-tune: HONE
35D: Fall birthstone: OPAL. Birthstone for October.
36D: Itinerary abbr.: RTE
39D: Have a better crew than: OUTROW. Wrote down OUTMAN.
40D: Burkina __: FASO. I've never heard of this landlocked nation. It's in West Africa.
46D: Group with common interest: CIRCLE. "Charmed CIRCLE, Gertrude Stein and Company" is a very interesting read.
47D: Some booth occupants: DINERS
48D: Proverbs follower: Abbr.: ECCLES. Bible book. Stumped again.
50D: Heiress, perhaps: NIECE
51D: Equestrian tools: REINS
52D: Maker of Advantix cameras: KODAK. Not familiar with Advantix. AIG replaced KODAK as a DOW component several years ago. Now Kraft Foods has replaced AIG.
53D: Blizzardlike: SNOWY
54D: Urban hazard: SMOG
55D: Proverbial thorn: BANE
56D: "A Death in the Family" novelist: AGEE. James AGEE also co-wrote the script for "The African Queen".
57D: England's Portsmouth Harbour and and others: RIAS. I don't know Portsmouth Harbour is a RIA, which is often just clued as "Narrow inlet".
61D: "As if!": HAH
62D: Mariner's hdg.: SSE. Oh well, it can be any direction.
Answer grid.
C.C.
18A: Break from soldiers' training?: BASIC RELIEF
24A: Clown settlement?: ANTIC COLONY
38A: International affair?: TOPIC OF THE WORLD
49A: O. Henry stories?: IRONIC WORKS
60A: Copperfield's limo?: MAGIC WHEELS
Hmmm, IC, maybe I SEE (12D: Now that makes sense) is a better theme title.
I did not know there is a special term for those chrome wheels. Mag wheels are so named because "the aluminum is mixed up with a bit of magnesium to form a stronger alloy", according to one article.
Another hard puzzle for me. Lots of misdirections. I just don't think I am capable of solving late week puzzles. My "Yes, I can" hope has faded into "Probably not", just like some of Obama's ambitious plans.
O'NEAL (64A: Center of Cleveland?) clue is tricky. I actually knew Shaq was traded to Cleveland Cavaliers last month. I remember his "Win for Ring for the King" (LeBron James) quote in the newspaper. But I did not make the connection. Thought it's just another wordplay on the very center of word Cleveland.
Across:
1A: Devious, in a way: COY. Plunked in SLY immediately.
4A: Bad states: SNITS. My husband is easily peeved.
9A: You often see a lap in one: CHAIR. Ha ha, I was picturing someone's lap, but I could not see a CHAIR.
14A: Bullet in a deck: ACE
15A: Strange: OUTRE. Tried EERIE first.
16A: Kind of trader: HORSE. Could only think of FUR.
17A: Royal sleep disturbance, in a tale: PEA. Hans Christian Andersen's "The Princess and the PEA".
20A: Ill-advised: RASH. Is "Ill-advised" the same as "Ill-considered"?
22A: Flames' org.: NHL. Our NHL team is Minnesota Wild.
23A: Gives the slip: EVADES. "Give the slip" is a new phrase to me.
27A: Old waste allowance: TRET. After the deduction for TARE (the weight of a vehicle).
28A: Resemble strongly: PASS FOR
33A: ID necessity, often: PHOTO. The clue is asking for an abbreviated answer, isn't it?
36A: Plow into: RAM. Dictionary explains "Plow into" as "to strike with force". New to me.
37A: Like Chinese dishes, frequently: TO GO. My instinctive reaction is FATTY.
42A: It may be gross in med. sch.: ANAT
43A: OPEC member: UAE. The world's tallest building (Dubai Tower,2,684 feet) is in UAE.
44A: Development units: HOMES. And ACRES (65A: Some plots). I thought of the fictional plots.
45A: Picks: SELECTS
47A: Monopoly cards: DEED
54A: Pizza chain: SBARRO. No idea. Not a fan of pizza or Italian food. The logo looks like SHARRO.
58A: Like Bizet's only symphony: IN C. I had IN? sitting there forever.
59A: Night light: NEON. Nice rhyme. I was in the moonlight direction.
63A: Short sentence about a long term: I DO. Tricky clue. I thought of prison term/sentence.
66A: "I reckon not": NAW. Hillbilly slang I suppose.
67A: Noodleheads: GEESE
68A: "Siddhartha" author: HESSE. Has anyone read this book? Hermann HESSE also wrote "Steppenwolf". He won Nobel Literature in 1946.
69A: It's up to you: SKY. Of course! But I was too stupid to know.
Down:
1D: "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" director: CAPRA. I watched "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" simply because of Chris Matthews. It's one of his favorite movies.
2D: Shore thing: OCEAN. Sure.
4D: __ story: SOB
5D: Fine point: NUANCE
6D: August comment: IT'S HOT. And WHEW (41D: See 6-D). I don't understand the rationale for the WHEW clue.
7D: Warbling sound: TRILL
8D: IPO overseer: SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission)
9D: Malibu and Tahoe: CHEVYS. Oh, cars.
10D: Guadalajara greeting: HOLA. What do you normally say when you pick up the phone? Chinese say "Wei", same pronunciation as Michelle Wei's surname.
11D: Ideal for Joshua trees: ARID. Joshua trees grow in desert.
13D: Trio in an NBA game: REFS. Wow, I did not know this. Not interested in basketball.
19D: Entitle, as an altered file: RENAME
21D: Ancient Indo-European: HITTITE. No idea. It's "a member of an ancient people who established a powerful empire in Asia Minor and Syria, dominant from about 1900 to 1200 BC".
25D: Swift reptile: CROC. Did not know CROC is a reptile member.
26D: Vividly colored fish: OPAH. Or TETRA, another colorful fish.
29D: Used as an elevator: STOOD ON
30D: Blob's lack: FORM
31D: Rubberneck: OGLE. The answer is always GAWK.
32D: Eye cells: RODS. I forgot this "Eye cell" meaning of ROD.
33D: NEA supporters: PTAS
34D: Fine-tune: HONE
35D: Fall birthstone: OPAL. Birthstone for October.
36D: Itinerary abbr.: RTE
39D: Have a better crew than: OUTROW. Wrote down OUTMAN.
40D: Burkina __: FASO. I've never heard of this landlocked nation. It's in West Africa.
46D: Group with common interest: CIRCLE. "Charmed CIRCLE, Gertrude Stein and Company" is a very interesting read.
47D: Some booth occupants: DINERS
48D: Proverbs follower: Abbr.: ECCLES. Bible book. Stumped again.
50D: Heiress, perhaps: NIECE
51D: Equestrian tools: REINS
52D: Maker of Advantix cameras: KODAK. Not familiar with Advantix. AIG replaced KODAK as a DOW component several years ago. Now Kraft Foods has replaced AIG.
53D: Blizzardlike: SNOWY
54D: Urban hazard: SMOG
55D: Proverbial thorn: BANE
56D: "A Death in the Family" novelist: AGEE. James AGEE also co-wrote the script for "The African Queen".
57D: England's Portsmouth Harbour and and others: RIAS. I don't know Portsmouth Harbour is a RIA, which is often just clued as "Narrow inlet".
61D: "As if!": HAH
62D: Mariner's hdg.: SSE. Oh well, it can be any direction.
Answer grid.
C.C.
91 comments:
Good morning, C.C. and gang - a GREAT puzzle today -- all kinds of clever clues and an excellent theme.
I had minor struggles all over the place, especially when I doggedly stuck to 'outman' for 'have a better crew than'. 'Crew' should've tipped me off. I didn't know 'Burkina Faso', and didn't know Hesse wrote 'Siddhartha'. I thought 'I do' for 'Short sentence about a long term' was just outstanding, as was 'Center of Cleveland', Shaq 'Oneal'. 'Shore thing'/'ocean' was also very good. All in all, just a really fun puzzle.
Today is Cousins Day and Amelia Earhart Day.
Today's Words of Wisdom: "However toplofty and idealistic a man may be, he can always rationalize his right to earn money." -- Writer Raymond Chandler
Mr. Fun Facts is AWOL.
Going up to my buddy's mountain lake house for a few days of boating, fishing, jet-skiing and swimming. Assuming everything's still connected, I'll check in occasionally.
I also had SLY for COY and EERIE for OUTRE but I managed to correct my errors with a minimal amount of googling. I almost finished the whole puzzle but I had ONE CC (One Cleveland Center, the fifth tallest building in Cleveland) instead of ONEAL and GEEKS instead of GEESE. (I've never heard the term "noodlehead" before.) The other part I couldn't finish was DINERS: I had started with VOTERS and couldn't get back on track.
Just as I did yesterday, I managed to work my way up the puzzle: my first theme fill was MAGIC WHEELS and then TOPIC OF THE WORLD at which point I stopped and stared at the filles until I realized that they were MAG WHEELS and TOP OF THE WORLD with IC. (I think the clue for 12 down should have included "and a hint to this puzzle's theme".) Once I understood the theme I was able to (almost) finish with a minimum of googling, like I said earlier.
That being said, I was going back and forth between SELECTS and CHOOSES and even considered DECIDES. OGLE cold have been GAWK but it could also have been VIEW and LOOK. RIAS could have been PIER or DOCK and RTE could have been ETA, DEP or ARR. Finally, a Blob has no FORM because it has no BONE.
Martin
I forgot! I thought "a better crew" could refer to a type of haircut so I had OUT DOS for a while.
Martin
Everything fell into place in about 1/2 hour with the exception of the 3 middle letters in 64A and 67A. Googled for 56D:AGEE, and left with only 4 blanks. I know nothing about sports, but figured Cleveland might have a BB team with a center, quickly leading to 64A:ONEAL (panicked momentarily when "Zydrunas Ilgauskas" showed up as the first center in the roster). Then 67A:GEESE, of course, but God knows why GEESE are "Noodleheads". I was looking for fans of a sports team, like cheeseheads. Ah well, a good warmup for tomorrow.
Good morning, all.
I slogged away at this puzzle, and finally finished it in 33 minutes. I was determined to finish it, but it wasn't fun.
C.C., I had just about the same responses you had. I tried 'one' for 'Bullet in a deck' rather than ACE, the obvious choice. For 'Trader' I kept trying to think of something having to do with bonds or stocks. TRET is an unknown, and I can never remember RIA.
I had nothing down for SBARRO until I finally entered SMOG. and the rest of the puzzle went the same way. I tried the downs first, with less luck than usual, and finally resorted to working a patch here and there.
I realized IC was going to be in the theme words, but not all of them made sense to me. I've heard the term 'mag wheels' but didn't know what it meant.
I think I'll get my day going. I have family coming in today, for a short visit. Happy Friday!
It took me some time to complete (and I needed a tad of help), but I thought this was a great puzzle for a Friday ~ I could actually fill in more blanks than usual for the 5th day of the week!
I, too, immediately thought SLY for 1A, and was almost patting myself on the back when YEAST was 3D. I knew CAPRA was the director, so then figured out that COY is also devious, in a way.
My favorite clue was 42A ~ it may be gross in med school: ANAT.
Yes, CC. People do (have to) read Siddhartha. It was mandatory reading in my High School English class. (German literature in English.)
I figured that MING wasn't correct for what Chinese dishes, but it was the first thing that popped into my head.
Today is the anniversary of Amelia Earhart. Were she still alive, she would be 112.
"I always turn to the sports pages first, to read of man's triumphs, before turning to the front page to read of man's failures." ~ Earl Warren.
I personally turn to the crossword puzzle first, then if I have time before going to work, I go to the front page.
Good morning C. C. and all. Today’s puzzle was a walk in the park until I hit the lower half and in particular the SW corner. When I got to the SW corner it was slog time and I really struggled.
There were many unknowns for me today. 1D Capra, 40D Faso, 68A Hesse and 58A IN C
were all killers for me. I really liked 69A clue/answer (SKY). A few other points, 39D I had outman, as did C. C., and I kept reading the 11D clue as idea and not ideal, DUH.
And, finally I had 43A as UAR United Arab Republic in lieu of UAE.
Oh, and I found the clue/answer for 64A (ONEAL)really great and to me misleading, but great.
Ii did like the puzzle even though I found it difficult.
Hope you all have a great Friday.
"I always turn to the sports pages first, to read of man's triumphs, before turning to the front page to read of man's failures." ~ Earl Warren.
I guess then he would have got 64A: Center of Cleveland? O'Neal
Good Morning CC and All,
Another rainy day and another sloppy run through the puzzle. Similar struggles as what already has been posted. I gave myself an "atta boy" for getting Oneal. One of the few on this one. Very, very Coy cluing IMHO.
I'm looking forward to hearing our kids perform tonight. They've been attending Summer Festival Of the Arts which does theater, music, videos etc. Tonight is rock band night and they were a bit wound up last night about the show. My youngest was practicing his drums until nine. Oh, my head! Should be fun.
Have a great day!
Oh for Chinese dishes my first thought was sweet and SOUR. I also thought of TOFU but I dismissed that becuase I figured I was looking for an adjective.
Heh. "Like Chinese dishes, frequently", in retrospect, refers to food in Chinese restaurants, hence TO GO. I've heard it said that people in Taiwan, believe it or not, eat out more often than Americans because Chinese food is so cheap (over here: it's sobering to think that you're not only paying over $20 for rice, noodles, pork and chicken but you could buy the same food in the same quantity for about $6 or less in countries where it's the staple). And, yes, most food in restaurants in Taiwan is served TO GO: that's the Japanese influence. I don't know about mainland China though.
Martin
@eddyB, Harold Betters is a Pittsburgh musician and played nightly at a bar in Shady Side (a section of Pittsburgh). He was extremely popular in the 50's and 60's and I spent many evenings sitting in the bar listening to him.
At the same time there was another local musician named Walt Harper and occasionally Walt and Harold would team up for some great jazz.
You might say 69A: It's up to you: SKY is like the roof; It's over your head.
SW corner was tough. I had MAGIC and CIRCLE and worked off of them. 67A coudn't end in 'S' so that sent me looking in other directions. After filling in SMOG, I got GOOSE. Whew! (or whee!)
I’m with you C.C., I am beginning to wonder if I will ever be able to finish a Friday puzzle without cheating, and cheat I did on this one! I had to hit the g-spot for Capra, Hittite, Faso, and Agee. Lots of red letter cheating as well…okay an outright “solve the word” cheat for eccles. Perp help today were tret, arid, refs, opah, and rods. I also had a problem with basic relief. What is bas relief? My favorite clue was “short sentence about a long term” – I do. I hope to say that one day :) I have never heard of geese being referred to as noodleheads. We have a lot of geese here in Minnesota.
Dennis, enjoy your lake retreat. Tashajo is coming down for the weekend. I am thinking VAbeach isn’t the only town that might be shook up this weekend! Look out Minneapolis, as you are in for “double trouble!”
Struggle... lots of red letter help required but thankfully no google.
Could some one please explain how the answer is ECCLES for 48D Proverbs follower: Abbr.
Clues that I loved:
64A: Center of Cleveland? (Flew to Miami to watch a Shaq game in 2006)
63A: Short sentence about a long term. I thought of prison sentence too but then I DO fell into place.
Is marriage a long sentence?
On the job hunt front, yesterday was a good day. Instead of one, I had two interviews. Also got some responses from others.. hoping that things will work out soon.
Have a great Friday!
This was a REALLY tough puzzle. The first time through I only got three Across clues right. Halfway through the Downs things started falling into place. Once I figured out the theme I really started making headway. I made the same initial mistakes already mentioned by everyone, so I won't repeat them. I finished the puzzle without having to Google, but I did a lot of pure guessing. My favorite clue was "Malibu and Tahoe". That kept me going in the wrong direction for the longest. Good puzzle.
Proverbs refers to the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament. ECCLES is the abreviation for the book that follows it.
Martin
@Tarrajo. Bas relief is a French term from the Italian "basso relievo." It is sculptured artwork in which the design is either raised or dunked lower than the overall flat background. Bas relief is made by carving away from a smooth surface like wood or stone. If I were more computer literate, I would make a link here so you could see some.
That's a challenge to some of our other friends to create the link.
I DO is a long sentence???? Isn't that a rather cynical view of marriage?
Really enjoy your comments on tough
clues.
Morning all-
Typical Friday puzzle, enjoyable but needed lots of help. I'm ok with not finishing on my own as I have become comfortable with my mediocre xword skills. :)
Favorite clues were 'Short sentence' and 'It's up to you'.
Took the day off yesterday to travel to Atlanta for a day game vs the Giants. Great seats behind the dugout. Too bad the Braves lost. Almost August, so 'Whew! It's hot' was muttered frequently.
CC: I typically answer the phone 'Hello'. My roommate answers it 'Hola? No habla ingles!' when it's a tele-marketer. They never call back.
Tarrajo: I'll be checking the front page for MN news this weekend.
Moon: Great news!
Thank you Martin.
Was so fixated with proverbs as 'saying' that I completely forgot about the Book of Proverbs in the Bible.
I read this blog everyday and finally am going to make a comment. In the early 1900s geese were force fed homemade noodles to fatten their livers which were then sold for much more money than just a goose could bring. It was known as "noodling the geese." It was outlawed as "cruel" in the 1930s - at least here in WI.
Oddly enough, I was able to do today's puzzle much quicker than the last 2 days. And with no look-ups or mistakes (but a lot of help from the cross fills). That doesn't mean I understood all the answers, just that I got lucky, I guess. Like, what's TRET all about? Or GEESE = noodleheads? Oops, Kathy just posted with that explanation (thanks!) Had to read Hesse in high school but it made such an impression I can't even remember the title.
Heading up to Clear Ayes' country to get some heat and some lake dipping.
Again I was compelled to go to Regular mode after a very slow start. I saw the "IC" element of the theme, but can't say it helped much. The end of the week is just too disheartening to be fun. I keep doing it in hopes of improving, but my hopes are fading. On the other hand, early week successes help. It reminds me of a t-shirt I once saw, which read:
I HATE GOLF
I HATE GOLF
I HATE GOLF
NICE SHOT
I LOVE GOLF
Tarrajo: Have you tried cooking the squash blossoms to use up the output of those zucchini plants? Here are five.
JimmyB: Hey, just noticed we're neighbors. Have a nice trip this weekend. It is supposed to be in the 80's here, so you are sure to get heat there. WHEW!
Hey Gang -
What a brilliant puzzle. Wound up working in an unusual pattern from NE to SW. At one point had it half filled with almost nothing below a line trough 1A and 63A.
First theme answer was BASIC RELIEF. That was a head scratcher. Then ANTIC COLONY fell. That was really helpful in getting the others.
Hate G-spotting, but had to for FASO, AGEE, KODAK and CAPRA, which got a smack to the forehead.
The only sense I can make of 55D was the thorn was the BANE of the one with the mane. Is that it?
Some outstanding clues, as has been mentioned.
My daughter mentioned last night she's connected with my sister's daughter (in Cleveland) on Facebook. So appropriate for my NIECE on cousin's day.
Really don't care for GEESE or NAW. Other than that, a near-perfect puzzle.
I could only find a couple of Youtube entries for Harold Betters. Home movie quality, but you get a sense of what he's like.
Here is a link to an interview with him. Seems like a really great guy. Eddy, I envy you for having him as a friend.
Cheers!
Hi C.C. and gang, another really hard one for Friday. I resorted to the online version in red and even then had to use Google to find the east coast Sbarro pizza chain and others like Hesse.
"Sbarro was founded by Gennaro and Carmela Sbarro. The couple and their three sons, Mario, Joseph and Anthony, immigrated to America from Naples, Italy in 1956. In 1956, the Sbarro family opened their first Salumeria (an Italian grocery store) in Brooklyn, which became popular for its fresh food and genuine Italian fare. Their Sbarro Italian Delicatessen in Brooklyn, N.Y. was well received by the local community and was the first of a successful chain.[3]"
For @Kelev & @Tarrajo
bas relief
"A relief is a sculptured artwork where a modelled form is raised, or in sunken-relief lowered, from a plane from which the main elements of the composition project (or sink). Reliefs are common throughout the world, for example on the walls of monumental buildings. The frieze in the classical Corinthian order is often enriched with bas-relief (low relief). Alto-relievo (high-relief) may be seen in the pediments of classical temples, e.g., the Parthenon. Several panels or sections of relief together may represent a sequence of scenes"
This was one of the few puzzles lately that the theme actually helped. Without it, I don't think I could have gotten enough traction to get anywhere (without resorting to G or Red, anyway).
I got geese because a goose is what a silly person used to be called when I was young. Mr. Noodle was a silly person that used to interact with Elmo from Sesame Street.
Siddhartha was required reading for me in high school, too. A story about a lifelong search for self-enlightenment. Kind of ironic to try to teach someone self-anything, sort of defeats the purpose. At the time, I remember being bored senseless trying to get through it, let alone writing a report on it.
C.C. "Whew" is onomatopoeia for the whistling sound people make when they experience something stressing. Picture wiping the back of your hand across your forehead, and saying, Whew, it's hot, or Whew, that's a lot of work.
Like others, I didn't know quite a few words, but managed with perps instead of G. I still hit it afterwards though, to get the explanation for those.
If I do answer the phone (I screen, like others with caller id), and I know the person can take a joke, I'll turn it around on them, and say "is Fred there?" as though I initiated the call instead of them. Confuses the heck out of whoever it is. I like the "HOLA/no habla englais" response idea for unknown but local number calls that I still think I need to pick up. I'll have to start using that.
Got TRET because of a former parts dept. job that included damage inspection of shipped sheet metal body parts, and I had to fill out the claims. (Hated it)
Along with Kazie's peeve on apostrophes, two usages that irk me are "very unique", and "what are the alternatives to that". Unique is an absolute. There is only one. It should not have a qualifier attached. Alternative is a duality. This or that, no other choices or options (the correct word to use instead of alternatives).
Sorry, I missed a few days while on vacation, and just had to get that out.
Good Morning All, I caught the IC theme pretty early, but still had problems filling in the answers. Perps were in play for more fills than not.
At least CAPRA, OCEAN and YEAST came easily and were a good start.
I had --ANCE for "Fine point", so A LANCE was my logical conclusion....Oops, that took a while to correct.
Where Burkina FASO came from, I have no idea, but it filled in like I knew what I was doing.
We don't have SBARRO Pizza around here so I was really stuck in the SW, particularly after I fill SLUM for 54D and I thought there was a location name for the "Center of Cleveland".
Poor Al, reading HESSE's Siddhartha is not for a high school junior. I guess because your teacher knew it was short, he/she thought the kids could manage it. I read it much later and thought it was an interesting account of Prince Siddhartha's journeys on his way to enlightenment as the Buddha. It is an easy read, less than a couple hundred pages. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in religious philosophy....or anyone who has a few hours to kill. It is available for free at Project Gutenberg.
JimmyB, If you're heading to Bass Lake or one of the "higher up the hill" destinations, it might be a little cooler, but Lake Don Pedro and Lake McClure are pretty sure to sizzle. Have fun!
My take on noodleheads and GEESE is that they're both synonyms for some kind of fool. Then, A=B, and B=C, so A=C.
I'm not a religious person, but I SEE a lot of wisdom in the Bible. ECCLES 3, 1-11 is a favorite section.
There is a time for yard work.
Cheers!
Good morning, everyone.
C.C., looks like we were on the same wavelength today. I did the same thought process with Cleveland and of course wanted SLY for COY. Isn't PHOTO a shortening of PHOTOGRAPH, thus OK for 33A? On my home phone, I answer with my name. Don't do the "Hello" because that can start up some automated messages. I think 25D should indicate a shortened name -- CROC is a short form of CROCODILE.
@martin OUTDOS is great!
@moon Good news on the job front!
@kelev OK, let's try this for an example of bas relief.
@al Hope you feel better now.
Have a great Friday!!
Good morning CC, et al., Dick, I'm so impressed that this was a walk in the park for you and Dennis with your 'minor struggles'. This was so hard for me. CC, your comments were like reading my own thoughts and problems, and I didn't get the theme until coming here. Maybe doing it online at 4 AM had something to do with it, I don't know. I love all the misdirected cluing but only afterwards. I want to take a hammer and beat the crap out of the thing while doing it.
Kathy, thank you for the noodlehead/geese explanation. I had no idea. Have never had a goose ...to eat anyway. Do enjoy being goosed though.
Enjoyed seeing 'rods' again. Retinal rods are for night time vision. Other rods are for night time playing..in my world anyway.
Tarrajo: 'double trouble' squared is more like it for you. Northern lights will have some competition now and probably pale in comparison. Loved your VaBeach ref. LOL
Dennis: sounds like a ton of fun for you. I lost 1" in height this year apparently. I swear it was from boating that one wkend going 60.2 mph across wakes, getting airborn and smacking back down again and again. That was soooo much fun and there's nothing wrong w/being 5'6 1/2" now. Hope you are careful and have a blast.
Am off to get a mani/pedi in preparation for the wkend party. I'm just glad I have one daughter connected to law & the PD, one daughter who is connected to the papers, and I'm going to be w/the daughter who is on the medical end of things. I think I've got my bases covered to keep me and my name out of serious trouble. Plan to fly like the 'stealth'..fast and under the radar. Been practicing for a long time on those techniques.
Enjoy this gorgeous day.
Hi all,
I had a fairly easy time with the top half of this, but the bottom was a killer.
I agree with C.C. on the SBarro logo. I have looked at so many 'new' logo's lately and they all try to be so clever with the shape of the letters and the vivid colors, no one can read what the hell they say! Are there no more proof readers or quality control people out there anymore? The producers/artists of these goofy things should stand back (way back) and try reading them. Or try it from a car as you pass the billboard. Ok, minor rant is done now. :)
I thought 63A 'I Do'and 69A 'Sky' were so clever.
I had never heard of 40D 'Burkina'.
You know my feelings on 'play-on-word' answers but I actually DID get 'Basic relief' and 'Antic colony'.
Dennis, don't ruin anything vital in your wild weekend.
Girding up our loins around here, preparing for the heat to reach us on Sunday,forecast says 100/102 Monday...first though, I have to figure out just how to gird up ones loins. :) I'll bet Lois knows!
Kathy - welcome, please make more comments, that piece of information on the geese was really interesting!
Tarrajo, have a blast with your sister. We'll all be tuned to the news.
Jerome,
Yes. I know albatross. The European Tour analysts tend to call double eagle such. Remember the 2002 International? Steve Lowery holed out for an eagle on one hole, then made a double eagle on the next. The best tournament I've ever seen.
Crockett,
Absolutely! Believe it or not (Hi, Windhover), I sometimes wear a bib when I eat cherries or mango.
WM,
Pressure produces diamond. You are a precious diamond. I'd probably burned out long time ago if I were you.
When I first saw today's puzzle, I thought YIKES! But I stuck with it, kept reminding myself that it's Friday, so clues were likely to be obscure and/or misleading, and was able to finish without google, an extremely rare feat on a Friday. BUT, had to google afterward to find out why the answers were correct! Never heard of Sbarro pizza, the word tret, or geese being called noodleheads. (Like others, geeks had been my first guess.)The g-search for "noodleheads" led to links to a band in the U.K., a site for pasta lovers, a line of children's toys, a Curling Creme to control frizz, etc., but, alas, no geese. Thanks, Kathy, for the input!
The only clue I'm still not sure of is 25D. Not sure if it's a reference to the fact that crocs can swim swiftly, or if it's a reference to Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels." It's been far too many a blue moon since I read Swift's tales to remember if they told of crocs.
Moon--Thanks for sharing the good news. I'm impressed by your perseverence!
Been lurking for awhile. I have been planning my youngest's wedding which comes up on the 8th. Just do the puzzles(to keep my sanity) check in here and then run. I struggled through this one,but got the theme and that helped. I admit I use the "red letters". I think of them as a "learning tool". OK "Not!" I even had to solve 3 letters but I got through the puzzle. I didn't print it out so I can't refer to exact clues but I really get frustrated at the cluing in late week. Many times it is beyond clever to just way out there.
I am off to Michael's craft to finish up decorations. This is the easy part...the hard part is living up to everyone's dreams of his/her wedding. I try to say nice things while the little man in my head wants to say "Deal with it". Can't have a puddled bride!!
Toby
JoJo,
FYI, I publish the blog every morning around 5:30am.
Tobylee,
Great to see you back in action.
Clear Ayes,
I've meant to say this for a long time: every one of your posts shows style and grace.
Hahtool et al,
Thanks for the answers and comments.
Kathy,
Great to hear from you. Hope you stay with us.
Barb B,
Sorry for the late reply. I just caught up with the Comments of past several days. I totally understand your feelings on "The Crying Game". I have never seen a movie with such shocking ending. Maybe you should try Brad Pitt's "The Devil's Own". It's another great IRA themed movie.
Luxor,
Damn it. Define "dictatorial" for me.
Hi all...WHEW! This was an interesting puzzle and like C.C. and others I started with SLY and then nothing else fit in that corner except YEAST...knew CAPRA and wanted OCEAN so took care of that corner. Most of the same issues as others. Did read Siddhartha and then went on to read all of Hesse's books.
Really liked ANTIC COLONY and then I got the theme. SBARRO? I think it is difficult to use locale-specific businesses unless they have broader visibility...although I do appreciate some of the western locale clues... but they are seldom a business name. Never heard of FASO and I think there was an odd mix of abbr...Chevy is pretty accepted, but, like CROC, an abbr none the less.
Kathy, thank you on the noodleheads...now that makes sense. Did you know that ducks and geese will over eat before they migrate? They live off the fat in the liver. If a goose or duck is forcefed and then the feeding stops, the liver will return to normal size...age old practice and there are kind ways for it to be done as opposed to factory force feeding(Eastern Europe mass produces foie)...people will always want Foie Gras and if we eliminate the places that hand feed and actually care for the animals, then the factories and true cruelty win out...there are always two sides to everything...my rant for today. And trust me, I am totally against any cruelty to animals.
SEC was easy and did you know that Joseph P. Kennedy, who was thought to have contributed to the Crash of '29, was on the original SEC when it was formed back then? Like hiring hackers to show how to build better security programs. A terrific book The Sins of the Fathers by Ronald Kessler details his life...what an awful man!
Tobylee...good to see you back. I was lucky with both daughters on the wedding thing...the oldest planned and carried out everything. I only had to go dress shopping(we bought her beautiful dress) and I took a week off work and cooked that whole week...then two of my chef friends helped finish things up and handle the presentation at the reception...they were amazing! The second ran off to Vegas and got married in a "church" by an albino woman "pastor" wearing a red robe with an Elvis impersonator at her side...swear its the truth, but it was so them...had a reception a week later for family and friends.
C.C. those were the kindest and most profound words anyone has ever said to me...and I will remember them when things seem overwhelming...:o)
Lots to do today, but at least I get to stay home!
Hello All-Well Friday didn't disappoint! It was way too hard for me to finish without a lot of red letter help. I did get the IC ending for the theme answers, but didn't really understand the entire theme until I read C.C.'s account. A real head slapper for me.
I tried and tried to find a reptile with only 4 letters that could run fast. Croc didn't even enter my mind as it is an abbreviation and the clue didn't indicate that. So went the rest of the puzzle. I did finally finish it and felt good that I had, but felt like I had been through a wringer in the end.
I had the same thought processes as everyone else. I'm glad to find that "great minds run in the same direction".
When we have clues about businesses or places mostly known to only one region of the country, I am stumped totally. Sbarra being one for today.
@Kathy: Thanks for the explanation on noodleheads. I had never heard that before, although I was aware that in France, they nail the goose's feet to a board so the poor birds can move, when then fatten them up for foie gras.
I don't think Sbarro is a big chain around the country. I first saw a Sbarro when I was out of the country, although there is now one at the mall near my house.
Here are some bas relief tiles: tiles
C.C. Windhover has admonished both WM and me to accept compliments gracefully, so thank you very much.
Here's a poem by an amazing Indian poet. She was very active in Gandhi's independence movement. For those of you who saw the movie Gandhi, or have read a biography, you will remember the Salt March to Dandi. Mrs. Naidu was one of the people who accompanied him. She was the first woman to become President of the Indian National Congress party and became the first woman governor of Uttar Pradesh province. Quite the talent to also be able to create this charming ode to feminine beauty.
Palanquin Bearers
Lightly, O lightly we bear her along,
She sways like a flower in the wind of our song;
She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream,
She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream.
Gaily, O gaily we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
Softly, O softly we bear her along,
She hangs like a star in the dew of our song;
She springs like a beam on the brow of the tide,
She falls like a tear from the eyes of a bride.
Lightly, O lightly we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
- Sarojini Naidu
This has nothing to do with today's puzzle or posts, but is just a tribute to all the lovely women we see here.
Sorry guys, I'll get a poem for you very soon.
Good afternoon, everyone. I am in awe of all of you who finished this. I had only a few correct answers, and stumbled on the ones already mentioned.
I too think that "I do" as a short sentence for a long term is somewhat disrespectful of marriage.
And I agree that croc is an abbreviation.
I most whole-heartedly disapprove of "outre" being passed off as something other than a French word. Kazie, what is your take on this?
Had a nice lunch with my DH, who is now out grocery shopping. I am for a nap. Does retirement get any better than this?
Hope that all of you with family and own illnesses do well, and that Moon's job search does well.
Well, the eagle finally landed two days late for "Project repack" and found his way to the incinerator. I thought it might taste like chicken when in reality it tasted more like cardboard.
Good morning all,
Haven't looked at c/w today or blog. New grandson, Grady James, arrived at 7:30 this morning! He's very handsome, and I will be taking pictures after Truman's nap/lunch.I have a few extra dogs to walk also. The puzzle can wait.
Kelev and all, thanks for the explanation of bas relief; but really, how was I supposed to know that??
Elissa, thank you for the squash blossom recipes. I will be trying out the squash blossom frittata on Tashjo Sunday morning. She likes being my guinea pig as she really doesn’t like to cook at all. Secretly I think she comes to visit just to eat my cooking!
KittyB, did you get your shipment yet? You can run but you can’t hide!
Lois, have a fantastic time this weekend with your posse. It sounds like you have all your bases covered!
JD, congratulations on the birth of your new grandson Grady James. The name Grady has a nice ring to it :)
Jeannie, your comment about the eagle finally arriving had me LMAO. I thought eagles were protected species. Interesting that they taste like cardboard!
JD: Mazel tov. Grady: Welcome to the world.
Hey All, Thank you for all the welcomes I received yesterday. Really enjoy this site and will be checking in daily. This puzzle was quite hard! I managed to get almost half of it on my copy that I printed, but had to break down and finish it on the computer for a little "red letter help". Did not like croc answer either, as it semms abreviations are always indicated in the clues, or so I thought. Not sure what bas relief means. I did not get Sbarro until I had solved surrounding clues. I have only seen Sbarros in food courts of malls. I am not sure if they are even still around, not fond of malls. Wasn't ria in yesterday's puzzle, or the day before? Means a river's inlet I believe. Anyway, hope everyone is having a good day.
All right, so how am I to know Shaq is from Cleveland, or for that matter which spelling of O'Neal is his, or that Cleveland has a team of any sort???
I made all the mistakes you have all described and then some. My guesses were all wrong, googling got boring after about six of them, so I gave up entirely. One clue I liked was for CHAIR, maybe because it was one of the very few that I got easily. I've never heard of TRET, SBARRO or Burkina FASO, and hadn't a clue about the theme. I had MOON for NEON, SLY for COY, EAT for RAM, well, you get the idea--I had NO idea!
Maybe some of this was because I had to clean house for company coming this weekend, and couldn't spend time on it. But mainly I just hated this puzzle.
The French also do a lot of goose fattening for foie gras, or used to.
I've eaten goose for Christmas, both in France in 1970, and in 2007 in Chemnitz. It's delicious. This last time with my d-i-l's family, they asked ahead of time if we would like to try having a whole goose roasted, or just the legs. I wasn't sure why they were asking, but then it was explained that if we chose to have legs, it meant the best part would be what everyone could get then, since we all would eat a leg or two, rather than having to share the rest, which apparently they don't like as well. So we had legs. Yummy!
Sallie,
Une outre in French is a leather bottle.
en outre = besides, moreover
outré = excessive, furious
None of these are words I'd even use in French. I've only met it in XWs here, so I'd have to agree with you.
JD,
Congrats! Sounds like lots of fun times coming up for you!
CONGRATULATIONS JD on your new grandson, Grady James! He will have a wonderful big brother in Truman. Thanks for keeping us all posted on the newest arrival.
With so many geese as "residents" on the golf course where my MIL lived, the golfers could call them Noodleheads, but I think that much stronger words were used when they couldn't walk without stepping on or "in" goose.
I appreciated the explanation of Noodling, Kathy. Animal rights groups are trying to outlaw the force feeding of geese, as it still goes on.
JD...Big Congrats and hugs on your new Grandbaby...two boys...thanks, but I was very glad for two girls. You and the parents will soon have your hands full! LOL. Boys seem to think up the oddest things to do. Not that our girls didn't get into creative mischief...can't wait to see photos and with Truman and extra dog(s?) sleep may be thing of the past for a few weeks...please check in even if you can't do the puzzle.
Big cheers! :o)
#2
Hi everybody,
Just putting in my two cents--did not like today’ puzzle, ugh. It was taking too long this a.m., decided to put it down and get on with my life--came back to it this p.m. (don’t have much of a life) and still didn’t like it. I think I’ll just skip tomorrow’s puzzle and go right to Sunday’s puzzle. I’m feeling the same frustration as others with the puzzles later in the week. Just not feeling it.
@cc, I’m a news junkie and watch all three cable news station to get a rounded view of the hot topics. I have watched Chris Matthews and wonder why he fascinates you so much. You have mentioned him several times in the blog and seem to be a fan. I can only take him in small doses because of his interrupting style and rapid fire style of questioning. However, he can create some interesting moments because of that style.
@JD, congrats on that new grandson. I am so happy for you and hope you get to hold him shortly. What an amazing experience and once again, love just grows.
JD, So Truman is a big brother now. I bet he is really proud! Many congratulations to you and your family.
Kazie, I cooked a goose for Christmas about 30 years ago. I thought the breast meat was very tasty, as well as the thigh and leg. I was recently back from my first trip to England and I was enthralled with everything British. We also had roasted brussels sprouts, roasted potatoes and Yorkshire pudding. I even tried my hand at a Christmas pudding. That was the only part of the dinner that was less than successful. I had made it about a month before, but it even with the brandy sauce it was a distasteful mess. The family quickly voted for a nice piece of pecan pie that I had ready, just in case.
Jo-Jo, glad to see you back.
Jeannie, I really do believe that "you aren't making this up", but it sure is amazing what real life can come up with!
My dearest C.C.,
You previously blogged me twice before as a result of something I said on the blog. You told me to " stop it immediately".
The 'stop it' part was ok but the 'immediately' changed your request to an 'order'.
I let it pass the 1st time but when it occurred again, I formed my opinion that you tend to be dictatorial. Don't be upset, I was just telling you how i perceive you to be.
Lux
29:07 today. A good, solid workout and a wonderful puzzle once I stumbled on the theme. TOPIC OF THE WORLD was my first theme entry completed. Then, all the others were gimmes except the O. Henry one (I've never read any O. Henry).
Lots of missteps, SLY for COY (confirmed by the crossing YEAST), FASA instead of FASO (I never can remember the name of that little country), TARE instead of TRET (I only have a vague notion of the meanings of those two related words). Then, once I got OUTROW (had OUTOAR initially), I filled in DOMINO for the pizza chain off the final "O". I suppose it's really DOMINO'S, and I doubt there is a SBARRO store within 1000 miles of here--at least I've never seen one in the western US.
Long story short, a very satisfying puzzle, once solved (I'm not sure I can say I enjoyed it all the way through, as I found it very tough).
Hi C.C.; I was interested in Jerome's comment about Albatross being 3 under par? BTW, we saw an actual live Albatross bird on our visit to Monterey last week. One was a wing damaged bird on show at the aquarium and we saw some live flying birds on our whale watch boat trip. It turns out that the Albatross has such a wide wing span that it doesn't normally fly much when the winds are calm, too tiring for it to stay in the air for long. But these birds regularly fly non stop between Hawaii and California.
From the above link:
"Albatross
Three-under-par (-3); often called a double eagle. Extremely rare, and occur most commonly on par-fives with a strong drive and a holed approach shot. Holes-in-one on par-four holes (generally short ones) are also albatrosses. The most famous albatross was made by Gene Sarazen in 1935, which propelled him into a tie for first at The Masters Tournament. He won the playoff the next day. The sportswriters of the day termed it "the shot heard 'round the world." Between 1970 and 2003, 84 such shots (an average of fewer than three per year) were recorded on the PGA Tour.[4] Paul Lawrie achieved an albatross in the final round of the 2009 Open Championship [5]
[edit] Condor
Four-under par (-4). This is the lowest possible score on most golf courses, (par 6s do exist,[6] but are exceptionally rare). This would be a hole-in-one on a par 5. It has only been recorded 4 times in history, only once on a straight drive (for a record 517 yards) and never during a professional tournament.[7]"
I try to do the hard one every day but I had a real problem with this one. I admit I had to cheat a bit & look at the answers here. Once I got the basic theme & was okay.
It's always nice to start the day with a guffaw and ANTIC COLONY for "Clown settlement?" can certainly cause one.
2 down- OCEAN transforms into OCEAN CANOE.
65 across- ACRES= SCARE, CARES, ACERS, RACES, SERAC... or so says CESAR Romero.
Dictionary editors need to lighten up and have a few beers. HORSE, as defined by Merriam-Webster's Eleventh Edition- "A large solid-hoofed herbivorous ungulate..."
Kelev- I DO was not defined as "long sentence". It was defined as "Short sentence about a long term" Where's the cynicism?
Jeanne,
Yep, Chris Matthews is not everyone's cup of tea. Sometimes he can be very annoying.
JD,
Congratulations! I wonder if Truman will be feeling jealous.
Luxor,
I told you to stop "immediately" because some of your accusative posts were just plain wrong. Offer me more pleasant Bazooka bubble gum nostalgia or pedantic orlon/nylon/rayon headache.
JD - Many Congrats on Grady! How wonderful--2 little boys! They will have such fun together and cause such headaches for you - LOL! Seriously, I think it is great!! Love the name they chose.
Jeannie, keep us posted on 'Project Repack', what a hoot. I can just see the 'agent man' skulking around the package.
Did you manage to shake him up any?
Carol, today's arrival and destruction of the eagle was the end of "Project Repack". The white horse took the culprit away in an armored truck yesterday afternoon. And no, Clearayes, you can't make this stuff up. The funniest part was when I posted that I had to contact Quantico, and when the white horse showed up yesterday he actually flashed FBI credentials. It was all I could do not to burst out laughing.
Well, I was wrong about SBARRO Pizza. Turns out they are everywhere, but it looks like in Oregon they are only in malls and such, which is why I've never seen one (I don't go to malls much, and never to the "food" courts. Why they call them "Food Courts" when there's no real food in them is beyond me.) Sbarro locations
When I read the clue for "Clown Settlement", my thinking was some sort of legal settlement, as in settling a lawsuit. Even after I filled in "colony", it took me a moment to "get" the response.
@JD: Congratulations on the new grandbaby! You are so lucky.
Jeanne and c.c.,
I like Chris Matthews only in small doses too, and it's his habit of interrrupting the guests that turns me off. I get impatient when they have a panel on any show and they try to outshout each other. Then you can't hear what any of them has to say. My favorites on MSNBC are Keith Olberman and Rachel Maddow--he's funny and she does a pretty good job of hitting the high points. I can't stand Lou Dobbs because he seems so fond of himself and his "cute" toothy grin.
I'm finally getting outta here. Won't here from me for a week as I'm headin upta camp. Dad's there waiting to do some "lumberjacking" and it looks like the weather is going to be warm so plenty of water sports.
Didn't get all of my work done so I am taking the laptop and will hit a WIFI diner to e-mail stuff home. I'll check in and see how everyone's doing.
YeeeeeHaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATS JD!!!!
Jeannie, thanks for the info on the final episode. At least it threw something different into a few days!
Embien, I am in agreement on 'food' courts! Great place to get sick. Seriously! We took our grandkids to the Lloyd Center cinema (located on the same level in the mall as 'said' court. Along with all the 'food' booths, they have a restaurant (yes, where you actually sit at a table or in a booth) and it was designed in a 1950's drive-in decor. I ordered the hamburger and everyone else had something different...no one had the same meal. It wasn't 1/2 hour later than I was in the restroom with to put it politely; 'the hamburger quick-step'. I know it was something that they put in the ground beef to either tenderize it or to preserve it because I have had that same reaction years ago at a favorite steak house, and more recently at an Arby's when I ordered the french dip. Another lesson learned for me! Careful out there. Has this 'problem' happened to anyone else?
Kazie, I am with you on the 'shouting match' formats - both on TV and radio. It completely turns me off and I TURN THEM OFF. Happily, this is why remotes have 'off' buttons :). I also love watching Rachel Maddow and Keith O.
I saw this Down The Aisle on GM America this morning. It has nothing to do with crosswords, except maybe I DO. It was the idea of a St. Paul MN bride who recently got married. So much fun. (Tobylee, you might suggest this to your daughter...definitely a wedding to remember.)
Those Minnesota women really know how to have a good time!!
Hi C.C,
Smile for the day, your comment to Luxor.
JD,
Congratulations, Have 10 of them, one is a great-grand son and have a great granddaughter due in Oct. I see them all the time, still babysit now and again.
They are so much fun!
Enjoy!
Kazi,
I so agree with you about Lou Dobbs, have been disappointed with Larry King of late, he is starting to sound like a rag mag host.
Haven't posted for a while, concerned about the fires up here. Hot and dry.
Good luck Moon!
Best to all,
Geri
Good evening everyone. I hope many of you word buffs read this, because I think it's most interesting. It's from SPELL (Society for the Preservation of English Language and Literature). "The British government proclaims:Forget about 'i before e xcept after c.' It's a spelling mantra that generations of schoolchildren have learned....But new British government guidelines tell teachers not to disseminate the rule to students because there are too many exceptions." ....Associated Press
then SPELL adds,"gosh, we hardly know how to recieve this news...."
Sallie: most interesting. That rule i before e except after c has held me in good stead all these years. Whatever the many exceptions to that rule are, they're not so much in my vocabulary. Wow. What do you think of it?
I just got back from the garden and OMG..I just picked 12 stinking zucchini. I check those damn plants every day. Oh and Elissa, I picked a bunch of blossoms. Enough is enough.
Clearayes that looked like it was a fun wedding to attend. You are right, us Minnesota girls know how to have fun.
Tashajo isn't coming now until tomorrow morning. But hey, SHE'S COMING! I can't wait.
JD--Congrats on the new grandson! Little ones are such a joy. So far, we've had to enjoy them through our friends' progeny.
Elissa--Your scarves and totes are beautiful! I'd love to see them in person someday.
Lois and Sallie--On the "i after e" rule. It seems the rule is meant to apply when the ie/ei are in the same syllable. So the rule wouldn't apply to a word such as deify. There are also many words of German derivation, such as Geiger counter to which the rule doesn't apply. One everyday word that breaks the rule that I can think of is height, and another is simply weird!
ClearAyes--Thanks for forwarding the wedding video. How much fun!
Kelev: A short sentence about a long term. If you take the words sentence and term in the conotation of a prison setting, then it would be VERY cynical. However, I've been married for 55 years and the short sentence of
"I do" has turned into a very lovely long "time", but NEVER a long term.
Just another of Friday's misleading clues to throw everyone off the track.
Oops! Meant "i before e."
I forgot to say anything about the park concert last night. After a day of very changeable weather: heavy rain, light rain, sun, overcast, etc., it was fine when we got to the park. Soon, though, dark clouds loomed to the west, We started about 15 minutes early, in hopes of getting in a full program before bad things happen. By the time we got to the storm motif in the William Tell Overture*, I was warily eyeing the sky, (about 2:15 to 3:30 in the link captures the ominous mood quite nicely) between the chromatic trombone romps(3:35 to 4:10.) But - except for a few sprinkles and one nasty gust of wind, we got through it unscathed.
An experience outside player always fasten his music. I had mine securely fastened to the folder with cloths pins. Then, in the middle of A MAN AMONG MEN, a very nice march by Henry Fillmore, a gust dumped my whole folder on the stage. All my carefully ordered music scattered at my feet. By the time I gathered it all up - now in a random heap, the march was over. I was a bit flustered, but settled down, and the rest of the evening was quite pleasant. In honor of yesterday's memorials, we capped the evening with ice cream cones. It would have been wrong not to.
Hey, wasn't it just yesterday that we had DELTA as a fill? And, all those steroid-popping muscle-bound women! Well, a DELTA is a triangle. So in honor of the geometry, and as an antidote to the 'roid disenhancements, I offer this.
Cheers!
_________________________
* rescored for concert band - no chello.
I just saw CA's wedding video featured on the National News. I enjoyed it on the link from CA and also in a larger version on the news. So much fun. The newscaster thought that it was wonderful.
Good evening CC and all.
This was a CROC for me. Like Lois said wanted to take a hammer and beat it up. As CC and others have said very frustrating. Did not get the theme until I came here. Top half went ok but bottom SW stumped me altogether.
Have never tried to figure themes so have really got to give it a shot.
Loved O Neal and I do clues. Malibu and Tahoe had me in a geographical direction.
Did not like Rias for harbors or Hah for 61D.
Good luck with job hunt Moon.
Jimmy S.Carolina.
@Chickie: Congratulations on your long marriage. I hope I can be so lucky. Next month marks 23 for me, and it has been a wonderful 23 years. I don't think of it as a "term", though.
#4
From Merriam Webster online:
long–term
Pronunciation: \ˈlȯÅ‹-ˈtÉ™rm\
Function: adjective
Date: 1904
1: occurring over or involving a relatively long period of time (seeking long–term solutions)
Nothing cynical expressed or implied in this definition. I am quite delighted with my long-term I DO, and hope it gets much longer-term!
Cheers!
Evening folks,
I was up late last night staring at the completed grid and trying to make sense of some of the answeres I wrote down.
Then I badly over slept this morning and had to rush to get to the pinochle game on time.
For Dick and Jazzbumpa and everyone who wants to hear some great music: visit www.haroldbetters.com
Dick, if you hung out at the Encore as much I did, we probably
saw each other there. If he is on stage when I walk in, he starts playing For Your Love. He was playing that for my wife to be and my first dance together.
Looks like the Cambridge incident is not going to go away. Now the MA police unions want an apology, the second officer has backed the first and the President has invited both to the White House for a beer.
Am I cynical after eight years of George and Dick? Ya betcha.
eddyB.
Good day all, or night as it may be here already. Just a busy one, so didn't get to spend as much time doing the puzzle as I would have liked. I think I could have gotten more answers without red letter help had I had more time.
Lots of interesting clues. I though ECCLES was unfair as they didn't indicate an abbreviation. I recognized right away that it was the book after Proverbs, but didn't have any idea how it would be abbreviated if that was the answer. Caught on to the theme right off though, and that certainly helped.
ClearAyes, thanks for the nice poem. The boys don't need one for them. They get CC's eye candy on a frequent basis, which I would guess they would much prefer. That bride was on our local news last night. Thanks for posting the video, as I wanted to look it up and had forgotten.
Congrats to JD on the new grandchild. Now you get to witness all the sibling rivalry all over again. My boys frequently remind me it is "normal".
Had no idea geese were referred to as noodleheads. I hope I remember that. We had one hit our garage and die right in front of the garage door. They are large, and I couldn't drive into the garage because of it. Had quite the argument with the city as they wouldn't come pick it up as it was on private property. They wanted me to just put it in my garbage. My family teases me often as I told them I would kick it out into the street so they would come and get it.
KQ- The LAT newspaper has ECCLES clearly clued as "Proverbs follower:Abbr."
Lois: I am a very bad speller, after having taught for 35 years. I'd like to blame it on all the bad spelling I have had to correct all those years, but I honestly think that age is making me worse.
I have taught Spanish speakers to improve their English – as a volunteer, not professionally. And English is a very difficult language because there are so many variations in not only spelling but prounuciation.
@Terrajo, you also should let a few of those green invaders get really huge and seedy, not to use but to use up the plant energy. A plant will try its darndest to produce seeds to propagate itself. If you keep picking the blossoms and small ones before they develop their seeds, you will just keep on getting more of them...
To add to what Kazie said, "outre'" as an adjective appears more often in American crosswords than in actual French; when I've heard it or seen it, it's along the lines of "over the top." pjb-chgo
"The older I get, the less I believe my own excuses."
Sbarro tends to be a chain that appears in malls, but they have joined with Arby's and you will frequently see them together with Arby chains.
MJ: Where are you in SoCal. I have family in Orange County?
Checking in very late. As to Minnesota girls knowing how to have fun, that is the absolute truth. I have spent almost 18 years with my wonderful wife from St Paul, go Gophers! She knows so many games, and rhymes, and the like, I think it might have to do with all the time spent snowed in.
I got to see Minn. back in '99, just loved it, and have contemplated moving there many times. My better half won't have any of it though, she escaped the cold weather some time ago, and prefers the warm weather here in sunny South Fl. She is cold all the time. It is probably too late for this to be read, but I thought I'd try anyway.
Nope JoJo... for us left coasters it is only 10 pm or so...still early and a Friday to boot.
Hi. PJB...Why you no blue?
Finished getting all the paintings ready now I have to figure out prices...I just hate that part.
Al...thanks on that zuccini info...we have cut it down to two plants these days with one specialty one, like the little round French ones...learned our lesson long ago...;o)
Had the same problems as others on the bottom, esp. the SW side. Didn't know the reference to geese as noodleheads and never heard of Burkina Faso. Tret is a word I learned from doing puzzles, like adit. Not words used often in conversation but they show up often in puzzles. Did get to use "adit" at a silver mine in Colorado--the few people on the tour who knew the word were puzzle-people.
Hahtool--Thanks for the link for "tiles" in bas relief They are great.
Anyone with extra zucchini should check out local food banks; Philabundance solicits fresh food donations in my Phila. suburb community garden. They even come to the garden on Saturday mornings to pick up produce. I've read that food banks all over the country are overwhelmed by the demand for their services esp. in the summer when canned goods donations drop off.
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