google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Tuesday July 21, 2009 Bruce Venzke

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Jul 21, 2009

Tuesday July 21, 2009 Bruce Venzke

Theme: Water Transportation Vehicles

17A: Salem trials crime: WITCHCRAFT

57A: Press suppression: CENSORSHIP

11D: Aorta, for one: BLOOD VESSEL

25D: Shake things up: ROCK THE BOAT

What are the exact differences among CRAFT, VESSEL and SHIP? I only know BOAT is a small SHIP.

Also, why "Clumsy vessels" for ARKS (36A)? Why "Clumsy"? I don't like the clue anyway, as VESSEL is part of the theme answer for 11D.

I pwned this puzzle. Felt good.

Across:

1A: Hippie adornments: BEADS. Easy guess. I don't really know what kind of stuff those Hippies wore in the 60's.

6A: Weaponless self-defense: JUDO. Literally, "gentle way". DO is the same as Chinese TAO (way).

10A: Semi driver, at times: CB'ER

14A: Ancient people of south-central Mexico: OLMEC. Are they part of AZTEC?

15A: François's "with": AVEC. Opposite SANS.

16A: Neutrogena rival: OLAY. I love the smell of OLAY cream (the original). Been using it since my college days.

19A: All in a huff: SORE

21A: Convertibles, slangily: RAGTOPS

26A: Worked in a soup kitchen: LADLED

28A: "Our Gang" dog: PETEY. "Pete, the Dog With the Ring Around His Eye". Unknown to me.

30A: North Pole crew: ELVES

38A: Jeweler's glass: LOUPE. Some of the marked Taxco Mexico sterling pieces can fetch thousands of dollars on Ebay.

40A: Dept. of Labor agency: OSHA

41A: Pity-evoking quality: PATHOS. Sitting atop ETHIC (46A: Moral principle).

45A: Met, as a poker hand: SAW. I forgot. We had SEE and RAISE discussions before.

48A: Doe in "Bambi": ENA. Bambi's aunt.

49A: Surround, as with a circle of light: ENHALO. Did not know ENHALO is a word.

51A: "Believe It or Not" guy: RIPLEY. "Believe It or Not", I learned this name from our great farmer/philosopher Windhover.

53A: 1996 loser to Bill Clinton: BOB DOLE. "Easy, boy."

55A: "M*A*S*H" Emmy winner for acting, writing and directing: ALDA

56A: Childlike race in "The Time Machine": ELOI. Two races in "The Time Machine": The ELOI and the Morlocks, the latter eat the former. Yum!

62A: Smelter's waste: SLAG

63A: Dian Fossey subjects: APES

65A: Makes doilies: TATS. Oh, reminds me of that long word antimacassar.

65A: Da's opposite: NYET. Russian for no. Ja & NIEN in German.

67A: Bit of casino action: WAGER

Down:

4D: Fake drake, e.g.: DECOY. Good rhyme.

5D: Hauls with effort: SCHLEPS. Awesome word. Only one vowel.

7D: Charlottesville inst.: UVA (University of Virginia). Founded by Thomas Jefferson.

8D: Offset, as expenses: DEFRAY

9D: Square dance group: OCTAD. Octet too.

10D: Rocker Elvis: COSTELLO. No idea. His name came from Elvis Presley.

12D: 1870s Dodge City VIP: EARP (Wyatt). The O.K. Corral guy. Funny to call him VIP, a word that did not appear until 1940's.

18D: Trix and Kix: CEREALS. Another rhyming clue.

23D: Predicament: SCRAPE. New definition of SCRAPE to me.

26D: Set the stage for: LED UP TO

29D: Pedro's uncle: TIO. Pedro's "uncle" could be NO MAS too.

31D: Natural gas component: ETHANE

32D: Shipping route: SEAWAY. Nice entry, considering the theme today.

35D: "The Munsters" actress Yvonne: DE CARLO. Lily Munster.

37D: Galas: SHINDIGS

42D: Cinco y tres: OCHO. Spanish for eight. OTTO in Italian.

44D: Vagrants' hangout: SKID ROW

50D: Highway through the Yukon: ALCAN. AL(aska)-CA(nadian) Highway. Built during WWII.

52D: Old Turkish VIP: PASHA. The other Turkish VIP's are AGA and BEY. "Russian villa" is DASHA.

55D: Type of coach: Abbr. ASST

59D: Crone: HAG. Lois confused crone with crony last time.

61D: Word before se: PER. Hard to come up with a clever clue for PER.

Answer grid.

C.C.

96 comments:

Dennis said...

Good morning, C.C. and gang - today's puzzle fell into place faster than yesterday's, for me anyway. The only pauses, 'ena' and 'olmec', fell quickly with the perps. Saw the theme once I had 'craft' and 'vessel'.

I always liked Petey, back in the Our Gang films, and always wanted a dog like him, but my parents were in love with beagles. Jeweler's loupe was a gimme, as I use one frequently to grade sports cards. Fun puzzle.

Today is National Junk Food Day. I will honor it.

Today's Words of Wisdom: "It may be necessary temporarily to accept a lesser evil, but one must never label a necessary evil as good." -- Anthropologist Margaret Mead

Couple more Fun Facts:

- A German supermarket chain has introduced a new way of allowing customers to pay using just their fingerprints.

- The earliest known image of a fishing reel is from Chinese records circa AD 1195.

Dick said...

Good morning C.C. and all,..I managed to nail this one and got all the fills without help. I had a slight stumble in the west center, but as soon as I saw scrape the rest fell into place.

Not much to complain about today except 49A enhalo seemed weak to me and is not a word I would use. However, it is a legitimate word even though it shows up red in my spell check. This rant is the only complain I have today.

Hoppe you all have a great Tuesday. I am going to try to get 18 holes in between rain shower today.

Hahtoolah said...

A pretty easy puzzle for a Tuesday. I almost immediately recognized the theme. I agree that Clumsy Vessel was a bit of a cheat, since Vessel was one of our theme responses. There are numerous other ways to describe ARK.

Schlep is a Yiddish word that means to drag or haul something or to make a tedious journey, especially when the trip is a chore. For example: I have to schlep to the grocery store again because I forgot to get milk.

Today is Janet Reno's 71st birthday. She became the first woman Attorney General when Clinton appointed her in 1993.

KittyB said...

Good morning, all.

I must have been channeling Mr. Venzke, because this puzzle "sailed" together. My last word to complete was SHINDIG. Oddly, to get OHARE, I needed a little perp help. I was thinking along the lines of EL...or nicknames for the elevated line in the Loop.

Hatool, my mother, in her extensive reading, learned the word SCHLEP and inserted it into the family's vocabulary. Any time I have to move a large number of bags or boxes, it makes its appearance.

Dennis, I plan to celebrate Junk Food Day later this morning, but first, I have an early morning dental appointment (Yuck!)

I hope you all have a great Tuesday.

NYTAnonimo said...

Had OLTEC instead of OLMEC-Oh Well!

@ Dennis-One of our local supermarkets, DLM (Dorothy Lane Market) had Pay by Touch several years ago. When I asked why they discontinued it they said the company went bankrupt.

Jeanne said...

Morning all,
Very doable puzzle this a.m. Didn’t know olmec or loupe, but got them from the perps. I have lots of ties with UVA as my nephew is a graduate, my niece is a nurse in the surgical ICU, and family friend is a resident in anesthesiology. Enhalo is least favorite answer and schleps is my favorite. Schleps just sounds like what it means.

@JD, congrats on new grandchild-let us know if it is a boy or girl. Grandchildren are the greatest blessings. How did you remember that my grandson is 9 months old? That’s amazing. @Moon, my husband and I have both suffered job losses and it certainly is difficult. Take the time to grieve because it is a loss. You received lots of good advice yesterday and know that all of us are sending you positive thoughts. @Tarrajo, wait until he goes off to college. I remember sitting in the clean, empty bedrooms and wishing for the mess to return. Keep up the good work and enjoy your free time.

Quick question, what security program does everyone use? I have Norton for 60 days and don’t know if I want to keep it since I had problems with it before. Any ideas? Have a great day all-looks like some rain on the way here.

Mainiac said...

Good Morning All,

Worked through this one quickly in pencil until I forgot the theme and wrote Rock and Roll instead of Rock the Boat. That made Enhalo a tough one. Erased that hole section, started over and got it.
Monday and Tuesday this week were a notch higher in difficulty to me. Nice puzzles.

ClearAyes, I liked yesterdays poem so much that I printed it out and put it on my cork board. In serving the general public I find myself nearly biting my tongue completely off. This will give me additional strength to continue. The older I get the harder it is. What I'd really like to do is set up a time and place in a parking lot, but our friend more than likely wouldn't show. My first and last on this one. Staying the course.

Elvis Costello is a great rocker. Here is one to Pump you up!, and another that I've always just liked.

Judo is the sport form of Ju-jitsu and Karate, which makes perfect sense being called gentle way. No hitting, striking or kicking allowed. Very effective take down techniques. Lots of fun.

Have a Great Day!

danabw said...

I really enjoyed the puzzle today! Started off slow and then moved quickly along. Loved seeing the word schlep.

Jeanne, I use AVG free for virus protection and once a week I run Spybot and Malwarebytes. (Also free programs)

I learned something yesterday, so I thought I would share. When I click on a link within the blog and then go back to the blog, I have to start over at the beginning of the comments. Not a big deal, I just hate the scrolling. If you right click on the link and choose 'Open in new window' you can view the link and not lose your place.

Off to buy doughnuts for Junk Food Day. Thanks Dennis!

Elissa said...

I enjoyed today's puzzle, but had to fix a number of things when I switched between A's to D's. Had 'loope' for LOUPE and 'Aztec' for OLMEC. Had 'octal' for OCTAD which made LADLED a bit harder to get - silly me.

WoW: The problem with temporarily accepting lesser evil is that it can so easily become permanent. I can't believe that the Obama administration is considering continuing indefinite detainment of 'enemy combatants' without trial. That is just not what our constitution allows. If we abandon our ETHICs, our core principles, then we have truly lost, and that I find more dangerous than anything.

kazie said...

Hi everyone!
Dennis,
Which supermarket chain is that? Surprising, since using plastic is pretty unusual in German supermarkets, maybe they simply jumped a step in the progression from real money.

I also thought of the EL in Chicago, but got O'Hare fast with perps. Didn't know OLMEC, PETEY or ENA, and wanted OCTET for OCTAD at first, but no other real problems. Except that I couldn't see the theme until I came here. I looked at just across answers and thought there wasn't any.

Jeanne,
I have Spyware Doctor. It costs just under $40 a year, but you can set it to run regular scans of varying intensity (intelli-scan, custom or Full scan) as often as you want. I've had it for two years, and never had a problem. Checking your status is just a click on the taskbar logo to open it.

JD,
Congrats on the new grandbaby! May all go well.

Tarrajo,
Think of it as a trial run for empty nesting! Each of my sons spent a semester in Germany in their junior year at high school--that was my practice! At least you know he's in good hands.

WM said...

Very early morning(for me)...Have to run to a Dr. Appt with husband. Not entirely awake, which is ok since I breezed through the puzzle last night.

Started with BEADS and pretty much didn't stop. Thought this was easier than Monday's. I actually knew OLMEC, probably from a long ago trip or something on PBS, always forget ENA as I could never get past the death of Bambi's mother...that's Disney for you, lots of animal abuse, even in their cartoons. Actually remember ELOI...seem to have trouble with that and ENTS...just don't want to stick in my brain. Love Yiddish words, so evocative. Even went directly with OHARE...Pretty straightforward cluing, but then again, it is Tuesday.

Argyle...forget to mention what a great job you did yesterday, was fun reading the blog.

I have to agree with Elissa, along with the fact that we now have to trust the Taliban to follow Geneva Convention rules that we as a country helped set up, then ignored, as they parade that young soldier in the media...worrying. Hope he is soon found.

Will be gone for awhile, then have our lovely granddaughter for about 3 hours today.

The fog is finally seriously here(cooler weather for you CA)and I hate to waste it by not painting...but other responsibilities call.

Anonymous said...

This puzzle came together for me faster and easier than yesterday’s. Perhaps that is because I caught onto the theme right away. But hey…where’s my trusty canoe? Only snafu was I put in octet for octad. I did get some perp help with olmec, avec, ena, eloi, and nyet. My favorite clue today was “fake drake” – decoy.
When I think of a gala I think of a hoity toity party. When I think of a shindig I think of a barn dance.

Dennis, I believe that our Cub Foods or is it Coburns has pay by touch option. I don’t like the idea of that. I don’t even use a check card but continue to write my trusty check.

My favorite junk food is nachos with guacamole or chocolate chip cookies, or ice cream sundaes. Guess I know what I’m having for lunch!

moon said...

Struggle for a Tuesday...got the theme very early on with 'Rock the Boat' and 'Censorship' but still couldnt think of Witch Craft for some time. The middle was again a gaping hole..dont know cereals as I'm a PBJ SW breakfast person.
Couldnt figure out in which state Charlottesville is. Finally done in 23 mins :(
For me, Junk food is a Carl's Jr Santa Fe Chicken Burger :)
On the work front, I have 2 meetings today; one with a recruiter and one with a manager (who might have a job in August/Sep). Wish me luck.
Thank you all for your encouragement, support, prayers and wishes

Jazzbumpa said...

Hi, Gang -

Despite having breakfasted on a mixture of CEREALS, I'm not feeling SPRYER today. At the risk of evoking PATHOS, I had to SCHLEP through this easy puzzle.

Should I have an ELOI for lunch? NYET!

Wanted LOOP for Chicago hub, but had already misspelled LOUPE as LOOPE, and it's not even the right number of letters.

Ah, well. Off to do yard work AVEC the LW.

Cheers!

eddyB said...

Good morning group, Sorry for the big gap. I don't know what I did but think the enter key got stuck.
I use it to double space.

JD, I don't need the symbols for the blog. I have seen them being used and was curious about how to generate them.

Windhover, Sorry. If I do it again keep scrolling.

Dennis, I am still looking for the trash can. Does no can mean that I can not delete my comments? Not that I would anyway. One can not pick up all of the feathers.

Thanks Argyle & others for your suggestions. I'll try them all.

eddyB.

IRISH JIM said...

Good morning CC and all.

Pretty nice puzzle today. I too love the Schlep word. Especially when you hear someone from Brooklyn using it.
Did not like Enhalo. Raise your hand if you ever heard anybody use it in conversation.

DanaBw. Thanks for the hint. Makes it a whole lot easier.

Moon
The best of luck today. You sound much better and more positive already. Knock Em dead.

Kazie,
Thanks for the info on Spy Doctor.

Jimmy, S. Carolina

Warren said...

Hi C.C. & gang, the only clue left open when my wife left for work was 15A: we had A_EC missing the V. I figured it was AVEC and UVA after a few seconds of Google help.

For C.C.: This is the best definition I could find for you...

"Ships can usually be distinguished from boats based on size and the ship's ability to operate independently for extended periods.[2] A commonly used rule of thumb is that if one vessel can carry another, the larger of the two is a ship.[3] As dinghies are common on sailing yachts as small as 35 feet (11 m), this rule of thumb is not foolproof. In a more technical and now rare sense, the term ship refers to a sailing ship with at least 3 square-rigged masts and a full bowsprit.

A number of large vessels are traditionally referred to as boats. Submarines are a prime example.[4] Other types of large vessels which are traditionally called boats are the Great Lakes freighter, the riverboat, and the ferryboat.[citation needed] Though large enough to carry their own boats and heavy cargoes, these vessels are designed for operation on inland or protected coastal waters.

Barb B said...

Same as last week, Tuesday was easier than Monday for me. Very little trouble.

I liked OLAY and OLES, and SHINDIG was fun. I haven’t heard SKID ROW used in a while.

Jeanne, Love the avatar. Can’t help you with security; Never needed it with a Mac.

Elissa, Total agreement here about ethics. I find it harder and harder to get my bearings these days, politically speaking.

KittyB, that is one gorgeous quilt.

EddyB – PIMF – Preview is my friend. ☺

melissa bee said...

good morning c.c. and all,

brain not fully engaged i guess, had a few fits and starts with this one. looking back over it, there wasn't really anything that difficult .. just wasn't coming easily for some reason. ENHALO? worked for the endings of ETHANE and OCTAD. didn't know ALCAN. liked SCHLEP and DECOY.

loved seeing COSTELLO instead of the other elvis for a change. mainiac, nice links.

also wondered about CLUMSY being attributed to ark.

jeanne, i use trend micro - have used a few others and don't really have a preference. if i had it to do over again i would go with mac and avoid the whole mess.

moon, luck!

Clear Ayes said...

Good Morning All, I couldn't play my "Straight Through" game today. I had to go with perps almost immediately for C-BER. Everything fell into place fairly easily. I hate to admit that I forgot who Clinton ran against in '96. Poor BOB DOLE is just a foggy mental footnote for me. I entered OLTEC for 14A to begin with, so AMT was the last fill for me.

Mainiac, Double thanks, one for Alison, my favorite Elvis Costello song and a second one for your compliments on yesterday's poem. All of us would be better off if we would remember "A word is but a breath of passing air." So easy to say (more words), but it can be so difficult to remember in the heat of the moment.

eddyB, your trashcan icon should be under the date and time of your post. I do agree with BarbB, I always Preview before I Publish. I use spellcheck too, but that only works if it isn't a real word. If I type "do" and really mean "don't", only the Preview function will let me re-read before I Publish. Of course, even then I often see what I want to see and typos and grammar errors get through anyway.

Anonymous said...

Good morning!
I just found this page Saturday when I was having trouble with the newspaper edition of the puzzle. I am not the anon who has written unkind things. The reason I am anonymous at this point is because I am rather technologically challenged. When the page asks me to choose an identity, I'm offered four choices: Google Account, Open ID, Name/URL, or Anonymous. What should I do to become a "blue name"? Also, what are perps in crossword lingo? The only definition I know of the word "perp" is slang for perpetrator, or one who commits a crime or other evil deed. Any enlightenment on how best to sign on, or on perps would be greatly appreciated.
MJ in SoCal

eddyB said...

Hello again,

danabw, thanks for the right click info. I hate scrolling through 88 comments.

Jeanne, I use micro trend and cyber defender.

BarbB, okay, what does PIMF mean?

Clear Ayes, Thanks. I'll look for it there.

I'm still buying "Windows Vista for Dummies" tomorrow.

Now, it is off to the store to buy another Germ. Choc. Cake.

eddyB.

Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...

MJ in SoCal,
Read "Notes to Crossword Solvers" on the front page, there is a line on perps. You will also find a link titled "How to Post a Comment" under Olios section. It details the steps to be blue. Welcome to our DF (dysfunctional) corner.

carol said...

Hi all, not too much to comment on regarding the puzzle.

CA: I had 3D (AMT) as my last fill too. I did not know 14A (OLMEC) but 3D just ruined me. I stared at it for a lot of minutes before the light went on. I have a faulty switch this morning - lol. Good thing I keep my V-8 can close by.

I agree ENHALO is really poor! Not too thrilled with SPRYER or OCTAD either. (The spell check underlined each of these as I typed them here) :)

Moon, all the best on your interview(s) today. Something will turn up, just stay positive.

Tarrajo, good for you! Try not to hurt the inside of your mouth though :)
I don't know where I got the idea that you were going to re-paint LGJ's room, from what you said, you'd be in the dog house for sure.

Kitty B, I echo the thoughts on your quilt! Just beautiful!

My girlfriend was raised in NJ/NY and used schlep a lot when I helped her with several moves...it is an East Coast word, or at least I have never heard it used out here in the 'wild west'.

Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...

NYTanonimo & Chris in LA,
Great to see you two again.

Moon,
I don't pray. But I wish you all the luck.

Warren,
Thanks. Have not seen you for a few days. Vacation?

pilote said...

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Please excuse this intrusion to your day. I have read this blog for the past 9 months, and find it instructional, interesting, and entertaining.

The reason for this message is to obtain permission to contribute, and ask questions (hoping of course you receive this message.

Thank you.

Pilote.

Barb B said...

EddyB –
P review
I s
M y
F riend

MJ welcome. Looking forward to seeing you in blue.

Pilote, come on in, the water’s fine.

WM said...

Carol...I grew up in Palo Alto(SF Bay Area0 and there is a sizable Jewish community and a large number of my high school friend we Jewish...many of the parents were originally from the New York area, so we heard a lot of Yiddish words, like Schlep and Schmear and Schmuck, putz...etc, so alot of those words are just part of my vocabulary, even though I probably don't know the exact meanings.

MJ and Pilote...I second the welcome...the more the merrier.

Tarrajo...I wouldn't consider Chips and guacamole junk food, especially home made...that's pretty healthy(lots pof Omega 3 in avocado)! But, I live in Calif...so its pretty much a staple along with fresh salsa and pico de gallo...all good fresh veggies(and avocado and citrus) with crispy tortillas. Darn, now I'm hungry.

Chickie said...

Hello All--A rather easy puzzle again. But for me French words are usually lookups and Avec was no exception, especially since I didn't know the University answer either.

Enhalo sent me to the dictionary again this morning. I had it down correctly, but it didn't seem like a real word to me. It is!


My son-in-law and daughter were on a trip to Germany with my husband and I. We went to do a LOT of genealogy on one particular family name. After about the second week he came up with the phrase, "Schlepping for Schlotfeldts". I'm not sure if that was because he was tired of Schlepping though cemetaries or not, but this is one of our favorite family inside jokes.

Just tried to publish under my Google account and it wouldn't let me. Kept getting funny words to copy and my user name and password were rejected numerous times. What is happening? Any suggestions?

MJ said...

Well, I was able to create a Google account, and in using the preview function for this post, I see I turned blue in the process! :)
Thanks for the help to get set up, CC, and for the encouragement of other posters. The next challenge will be to create a profile!

melissa bee said...

@jd: thanks for the wild things, never knew of it either.

@mj & pilote: welcome.

Clear Ayes said...

MJ, Nice work with establishing your blue heading. Next will be an avatar of your own and a discussion of "perp"endicular clues and fills. Welcome.

Pilote, What a polite inquiry you posted. Happily, no invitation to post is required. All that is needed is an interest in crossword puzzles and a friendly attitude. Obviously, you have both of these attributes, so I am sure C.C. and all the bloggers will welcome you and your contributions. Please read C.C.'s suggestions in her post of 11:30AM. It may help to answer many of your questions. If you have other questions, please ask and I'm sure you will answered by many helpful bloggers.

Chickie, The ways of Google are sometimes mysterious. Try getting off Google and then try logging in again. I've have the same experience as you had today. It always seems to correct itself eventually....at least so far.

WM said...

Jeanne...just my 2 cents on the security. The last Norton program we installed blocked all kinds of things and so our Programmer S-I-L installed a free program that they use on the uber-secure computers at work called Avast!Antivirus. It runs all the time and continuously updates itself and will run area-specific checks so you don't have to go through every program for virus checks. He also installed Malwarebytes because I had a faux virus thing that was a bugger to uninstall...Everything that Norton blocked seems back to normal, although the Internet8 seems to have messed up an Activex control and will only allow me to attach files, not photos, which takes up a lot more space. It has to be reset, but just haven't gotten around to it...thank goodness we have nearby tech-guy because I haven't a clue to what is going on! :o)

Sorry for the tyoos in the previous post, I hit publish instead of edit...:oP

JD said...

Good morning CC and all,

Welcome MJ & Pilote! We'd love to hear your thoughts

an enjoyable puzzle! I liked clumbsy vessels for arks. Fav. clue was North Pole crew. Had trouble with finding the right verb for soup kitchen.My last and hardest fill was 26D- set the stage for.. didn't know loupe, and had no idea what to end enhal with, so, of course, I guessed .

Seeing Petey brought back good memories. I can even hear the theme music in my head.When I lived in So. CA, my neigbor's son had been one of the minoe characters on the show. Forgot his name, but he was killed in the war.

A year ago when I started doing these puzzles, I had trouble with ole and eloi.No worms today ;)

Guess Starbucks knew it was junkfood day. They were giving away free pastries with each drink this am.

danabw, a BIG thanks for rt. click!!

eddyB, I vodka the idea that you want to know how to do those thingies. I still need help to change my avatar.BTW, Cosentinos has a good GC cake. Is your "Ponderosa" close to Good Sam?

Jeanne, I remember your grandson's arr. because I was so happy for you;Truman was almost a year by then. Grandparenting is such a joy.
"I wuv you Dwa-maw" sends me to the moon.

Norton Int. Sec. 2009 has made many improvements and we like it.

Chickie, it did that to me last week too, but just once.

PJB-Chicago said...

"Guten tag," puzzle-buddies, old & new—just checking in—OLMEC bit me right in the seat of my puzzle pants, ELOI got me behind the knees, & ENHALO almost knocked me over, so I'm nursing a SORE ego!

MJ & Pilote, welcome!; turning "blue" is a good thing here, but if you turn blue in the real world, call a doctor!

In Chicago we do hear "schlep" often, "kvetch" (complain) from time to time,& "schmutz" (dirt,dust,&c) rarely—lots of colorful Yiddish words here in "the Second City" along w/ vibrant Jewish communities that evolved
over many years— My Irish-Catholic grandma,a New York gal,grew up in a half Irish, half Eastern European Jewish 'hood & knew lots of Yiddish (including some spicey words)
"Gal" is an un-PC word, so I repent if I offended anyone [cue:"sound-of-feathers-billowing"]

It's always nice to hear everyone else's stories; I hope mine don't cause anyone to nod off! [cue: zzz].

Time allowing,i'll visit later.

JD said...

Reliving History-

1873- On this day Jesse James pulled off his 1st train robbery.

1898- Spain ceded Guam to the U.S.

1899- Hemmingway was born- for whom the bells tolled

*1969- Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon

1972- In NY, 57 murders occured in 24 hrs. How scary that must have been!!

1980- Jean-Claude Droyer climbed the Eiffel Tower in 2 hrs. 18 min. HOW SILLY!!! I took the elevator!

1984- 1st case documented in the U.S where a robot killed a human.

Thought for the day :
" Character is what you know you are, Not what others think you are. "

embien said...

6:23 today. Theme was pretty much "meh" for me, especially after yesterday's Apollo 11 stuff, which was sparkling. I did enjoy some of the fill, though.

Growing up in Oregon, it was always SKID ROAD and never SKID ROW (it was a corduroy road that was used to "skid" logs down to the water, where they could be easily transported to the sawmill). These "skid roads" were often in the less attractive parts of town and that's probably how the term morphed to SKID ROW.

Another aspect of growing up in small-town Oregon was the extreme dearth of all things Jewish (and hence Yiddish) in my background. I doubt I ever heard the term SCHLEP until I was in college (if then). There is a synagogue in Portland, but I'm not sure if there is another in the state. I think there are more Buddhist temples around than synagogues (or mosques, for that matter).

ARKS are generally considered very clumsy because their size and shape are the exact opposite of what you'd want to be maneuverable in the water. Not many arks around anymore, but barges are equally clumsy.

IRISH JIM said...

JD Re fun facts..57 murders in 24 hrs

I moved from Boston to Nyc in 1972 and do not remember that.

Jimmy the ripper.

Kelev said...

I can assure you, Embien, that there are synagogues in Oregon of varying denominations ranging from strict Orthodoxy to liberal congregations. There are a number of Sephardic synagogues in Oregon, which could explain why you don't hear much Yiddish. The Sephardic Jews are of Spanish origin. Yiddish is derived from German and was spoken by Eastern European (Ashkenazic) Jews.

Jeannie said...

My chuckle for the day...we are near the end of a "game piece" promotion for BK and since the top prize was $1,000,000 we had to follow strict handling procedures. We had an extremely damaged case that we couldn's ship out. I had to call the BK incident hotline and answer all kinds of questions including my bra size. They in turn called a "handling" agency and I just heard back on how to proceed. They are overnighting a new carton and sending an agent in tomorrow afternoon to repack it. We are not allowed to repack it ourselves and have to keep the case under lock and key. Hey, I don't make this stuff up.

carol said...

PJB - I LOVE the 'Un-PC' words...we should get back to using them. They are not all hurtful and if someone is that thin skinned, they better toughen up. I fear for our young people sometimes. They are going to hear a lot of 'words' in the real world and had better be able to take it.

Embien - there are at least 13 synagogues in the greater Portland area. I am sure there are many in each city.

MJ and Pilote, welcome..please stay with us and give us your thoughts on our puzzles and general commentary.

Crockett1947 said...

Good morning, everyone (just barely here on the left coast)!

Nice puzzle. I got the theme after solving, so it was of no help for me. C.C., I would imagine that others have covered ARKS and LOUPE, but if not, I'll chime in later.

@danabw I click on the daily heading (brown, orange, I don't really know what color it is) and then the comments are all laid out below the write-up. Clicking on links and returning leaves you at the same spot as well. The only down-side is that the avatars are not visible, so I have to check out the new and pretty ones using a different method. Refreshing throughout the day also brings you to the last post that was on the screen before the re-fresh.

@eddyb The trash can appears AFTER your comment is posted. You may need to refresh your screen to see it.

@clearayes Isn't it funny that we can proofread like mad and still have errors in what we publish? The brain is a funny organ.

@pilote No need to ask permission. Jump right in, the water's fine! I see barbb issued the same invitation, LOL!

@jd Yep, we walked down to Starbucks and got our free pastries.

@embien There are about a half dozen synagogues in the Greater Portland area, and there are congregations in Medford, Ashland, Eugene. The internet tells me there are nineteen shuls in the state. I see that Kelev chimed in on this as well. I see you took care of the ARKS explanation.

C.C., I think you misunderstood the clue for jewelers' glass. From your write up it sounds like you think this is a type of glass. A LOUPE is a magnifier that is used for very close work under strong light to get the small details. Dennis uses one to help him grade baseball cards. I believe they are traditionally one lens, but I also think that double loupes are available. Quite an interesting article over at Wiki.

Have a fantastic Tuesday, all!

lois said...

Good afternoon CC et al., Fun puzzle - no 'schlep'ing today. Loved seeing UVA, Katie Curic's alma mater among others. EAPoe's room is preserved there. We're VaTech supporters tho' but still love UVA, which may be considered a venial sin - or mortal to some. Started getting excited when I saw Ragtops come thru & thinking of going topless...leaving in a few mins actually & of course topless. Loved how 'rock the boat' and 'censorship' are in the same puzzle. That's one way of playing tits for 'tats' (whoever tats is). Speaking of which, ladies, have you had a mammogram lately? I did yesterday and the dang tech must've been practicing
'witchcraft' in her off hours. Practically had to 'scrape' my hoobie off the plate. Almost burst a 'blood vessel' trying not to scream...'saw' my 'ethic's going right out the door when she 'said' "Now don't move"... I left there 'sore' but totally
'enhalo'ed b/c my internal filter 'deleted' every bad word in my mouth that would've made someone on 'skid row' cringe - self 'censorship' at its 'best'. You would've been proud of me. I didn't want to just 'rock the boat' I wanted to 'o-lay' her flat out! It took 'al-da' self control I could muster not to. The good news is, that it's digital now and the pain that 'led up to' the the 'pathos' was short-lived. So, please have yours done.

Enjoy this gorgeous day.

windhover said...

Jeannie:
your bra size? Last guy that asked that question on here got whacked (but not bushwhacked).
I hope you lied. ;-)

Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...

Crockett,
Yeah, I know Dennis' LOUPE. He probably grades his cards all 9's (NM/MT), being such a positive MOREL guy. I used to be very into those vintage Taxco sterling, so I used mine mainly to identify the markers.

Jeanne said...

Just had a chance to catch up on the posts and really appreciate the input for security programs. Thanks, danabw, kazie, Melissa bee, eddy, wm, and jd. Will definitely have to try some of the suggestions. But now I have another question. I realize Macs have a different operating system than Windows pc’s; but wonder why Macs don’t have security issues. Or if they do, just not as many. Don’t you need security programs on Macs? Always been a pc user and probably always will be since my son works for Hewlett Packard and I can get computers on the cheap. Welcome to mj and pilote; the group is very enjoyable, diverse and extremely talented (excluding myself). @Jeannie, It is $1,000,000 but certainly a pain for you.

Mainiac said...

Having completed the Sewer budget I giving myself a break and checking in. Very interesting reads all the way through.

Lois, Only you can get a laugh out of such a painful procedure, obviously not that I would know but the Wife's descriptions are more than enough. With the importance of such a procedure, you'd think they would come up with something less painful.

Jeannie, that is one of the strangest stories. Why the bra size? Is that how BK id's people?

How about a little more Elvis.

Have a great evening. Some day I will have internet access at home!!! (Yeah, right......)

Clear Ayes said...

Jeannie, :o) It almost sounds like you are handling presidential election night results. On the other hand a million bucks IS a lot of money. Whoever gets it (I hope it is a youngish family who can use the money well) wouldn't want to have any questions raised about whether or not the results were come by fairly.

Phew, Kelev and others, that's a relief! Thanks for the information. I would hate to think that Judaism is less well represented in Oregon that Wicca, or the Crones Counsel. My BFF lives in Oregon and keeps me posted on some of the more unusual belief systems that have found homes in our northern neighbor.

Irish Jim, LOL at Jimmy the ripper.

PJB, Your stories are great. Don't stop.

Lois, sorry you had to get "pancaked", but you're right, at least digital mammograms are quicker than the old fashioned kind.

Jeannie said...

Hey all, I was kidding about asking the bra size, but they did ask a lot of questions that I felt had nothing to do with the issue. I still can't believe they are flying someone in from Miami to pack just the one case. But who knows...maybe the $1,000,000 is in that case.

Everyone heed Lois' advice and get your annual mammogram. I had one a few weeks ago and something suspect was found. Luckily it was just a fiberous cyst. The biopsy was not fun though.

kazie said...

I'm adding my welcome to MJ and Pilote.

In our town of roughly 5,000 souls we have about 20 churches (go figure!) but nary a synogogue. Probably because most Jewish people seem to have citified occupations. There are a few in town, but I don't know if they worship anywhere.

Where I grew up in Bondi, however, there were many Jewish people, and especially in the neighboring suburb of Dover Heights, where I taught before leaving for the USA. Many of my friends in primary (elementary) school moved there during that stage of my education. My mother said that many of their parents had bought up blocks of land (lots) during the war, when everyone else thought the Japanese were going to bomb the coast, and the businesslike Jews were the only ones smart enough to see what the future might hold. Now it's some of the most exclusive real estate in Sydney.

But I digress. I simply wanted to say that I also became familiar with the Yiddish usages already mentioned then.

When I finish reading the posts each time I check in, I leave the page set at the bottom. When I come back I note the time of the last post, refresh, and simply have to return to that time to start reading further. I used to count the extras up from the bottom, but when there are a lot, this new way is faster.

windhover said...

Maniac:
no home Internet? I have three words for you:

iPhone , $&@", #*+}€¥

the second two words are unprintable here, but you will learn them soon after getting an iPhone. I love mine, though (it's the classic love/hate relationship).
Sort of like tequila; I like it, it doesn't like me, except Cabo

Jazzbumpa said...

Lois -
You are amazing. Coincidentally, the LW made her annual appt. this afternoon. I think she would rather go to the dentist, or weed the garden - or maybe both together.

Jeanne -
I'm guessing Macs aren't targeted as much since they're only about 10% of the market, and vandals like to do as much damage as possible, so they go for the 90%. Does that sound right?

Bill said...

Not much to say that hasn't been covered. Good clues and SOME not so good answers but I'll take it and move on.
Not my forte,. but as to Lois' suggestion............GET IT DONE ladies. (as often as is suggested)
If not for that particular discomfort Nancy D. might not be a 6 year survivor.
And the other annual test, GET IT DONE also. Yep, you guessed it, Nancy D. again. It was only a cystic growth but the Doc said it was about 3 1/2 to 4" in diameter and weighed about 1 1/2 pounds.
OK, I'm done now.
No, I'm not!!! GET THEM DONE. The lives you save might be yours and someone really close to you!!
CY'all Later

Anonymous said...

Jeannie, I had never given a thought about the security hoops you would have to jump through to distribute your goods to Burger King. LGJ loved this last promotion as he is a transformer nut. Had to laugh at them asking your bra size. Also good to hear that your scare wasn’t as scary as it could have been. I personally haven’t had the pleasure of that procedure yet. But as Bill put it I am diligent about “the other” one.

Chickie said...

Thank you CA and JD. I'll see what happens over the next couple of days. If nothing else works, I'll have to change my password. That seems to be the problem, though I can log on to my profile with that password!

KittyB said...

danabw, your tip on opening links with a right click is one of the best gifts I've ever received! Thanks so much for the tip.

BarbB and Carol, the quilt avatar is an electronic mock-up of a Lonestar quilt I'd like to make. It used to be the backdrop for my blog. I'm glad you like it.

Moon, I hope all went well with your interviews.

MJ, creating your profile is the easiest part. Welcome to the group.

Chickie, I've been having some difficulty logging into Blogger. I got a screen telling me that I needed to create a Google account, and I had to change my password to be able to get back into Blogger. Has Google bought out Blogger?

PJB, I love "kvetch" and "oy vey." Actually, I enjoyed Barry's "meh" too.

Yes, ma'am, Lois! I had mine earlier this year. Our provider has shifted to the digital readouts, too. I'll be glad when MRIs are cheap and available, and we can all stop being smashed. Nancy D. is the best example we have of WHY we need to do these tests.

Bill, I want to add one more unpleasant test to the growing lists of medical tests, and that's the dreaded colonoscopy. It's a simple test. You won't remember a thing.....DO IT....for your loved ones, if not for yourself.


Bill, It was great to see you post.

Hahtoolah said...

I love reading all your comments!

Irish Jim aka Jimmy the Ripper@2:13. I had to laugh when you said that you hadn't noticed the huge bump in murders in NYC the summer you moved there, then I read your "new" name!

Yiddish term: Alter kocker = crotchety, fussy old man, and "old fart." Sometimes abbreviated as "A.K." Two Alter Kockers were sitting in silence on their favorite park bench for hours. Finally, one gave a long, languid, "Oy!" The other replied, "If you're going to talk politics, I'm leaving!"

"Oy" is not so much a word as it is an entire vocabulary. "Oy vey!" literally means "Oh, pain!", but is used to convey Surprise / Fear / Contentment / Joy / Relief / Uncertainty / Shock / Outrage / Horror / and the list goes on. It's all in the tone of voice.

Oh, and Dennis, I'm not spineless, but I am proud.

Anonymous said...

Leave it to Jeannie to start the breast talk. It's so nice when you don't post.

Jeannie said...

Anon, bite me. I'm not as timid as Tarrajo. Or better yet let's send Maniac to meet you in the parking lot.

Dennis said...

jeannie, tarrajo's not being timid - she's doing what we've asked everyone to do; not respond to our friend.

Dennis said...

Welcome to the new faces today - this is a great place to share your triumphs/frustrations with the LAT crossword. Or just about anything else.

"Jimmy the Ripper" -- great one.

I was gonna use one of my typically crass lines about being qualified (complete w/certificate) to conduct mammograms and that 'other' test, but it's far too important an issue to kid about. I hope all of you of the fairer sex will be diligent about them. Same with the colonoscopies - I cannot stand being in hospitals, no matter what the reason, and I found the procedure to be about as simple and quick as an invasive procedure could be. Great peace of mind once it's done.

Hahtool, lol, I got it; great new avatar.

carol said...

Ah, the colonoscopy (why is this word underlined in red as if I spelled it wrong?)...anyway, my Joe is scheduled for one Aug 12. We read all the material so we now know what to do 'THE DAY BEFORE' lol. I had a few questions as the liquid to be consumed said carbonated beverages you could see through were ok. Joe wondered why beer was not on the list and asked if he could include that in the liquids required. Alas, they said no. He is still pouting.

Bill, long time - no posts, it's good to 'hear' from you again. You are right, get the scans, check-ups, tests anything you can to prevent a huge problem is all to the good. The mammograms are not as bad as they used to be...visualize: as you are lying prone on the tarmac, a vehicle slowly crosses over your boob..then (yeah) it repeats the pattern. How fun is that???
Well, it beats chemo and breast removal!

Luxor said...

all i have to say to c. c. and anyone else re anonymous is 'every fox smells it's own hole'

Dennis said...

well, there ya have it: C.C. is anon. Glad we've put that to rest.

Anonymous said...

Late to post today. On the road so much I went through 3 cd's of a book on tape. Bummer. And it was my annual gyn exam today. Definitely as bad as the mammogram - worse for me anyway. I still have to do the colonoscopy this year too. Don't mind the test but hate the prep. But it does beat radiation, surgery and chemo.

Hi to all the newbies and welcome.

Jazzbumpa, I believe that you are correct with the mac answer. They don't write the viruses and spyware as much for their operating system as there are less of them out there to do damage on.

We are counting down to next week when my hubby takes the California Bar exam. He has been studying pretty much 24/7 for about 2 months, most of it at home so the tension continues to get higher as he is more tired and stressed. We will be glad to have that done.

Moon, good job on getting out to two places already. That is the way to jump right back in there. Hope it all goes well.

Anonymous said...

Forgot, Tarrajo, Cub did do the fingerprint thing. I don't know if they still do. I would guess that it is really quite secure. So I guess Germany has nothing on Minnesota.

Hahtoolah said...

Mammograms, prostate exams, and colonoscopies ~ we don't like to have them, but they are important. A little uncomfort is a small price to pay. I may eat only junk food, but I do get my mammogram yearly and I have a colonoscopy scheduled for next month.

Crockett1947 said...

My, everyone is surely coming clean today!

@dennis AHA! Just as I suspected. Add a little spice to the mix to get everyone riled! Good marketing!



























@C.C. Tongue placed very firmly in cheek!!

Barb B said...

Concerning Mac's and Viruses, I found this on a website --

1. Newer Macintosh operating systems, such as the Mac OS X, is built on the Unix kernel, which is one of the oldest and most secure operating systems available.

2. Microsoft Windows is used by a lot more users. Because more users use Microsoft Windows, it is a lot better of a target than Apple Macintosh computers.

3. Most of the virus writers are familiar with the IBM platform and Microsoft Windows, and therefore are only going to be able to create a virus for that platform.

4. Many of the tools and scripts used to help users create viruses or other malware are designed for Microsoft Windows.

Another thing about a Mac is that it automatically defrags itself, so you don't have to worry about your computer choking up when the disk begins to get full.

Dennis said...

I'm often told to go defrag myself...

melissa bee said...

it sounds like an urban legend, and probably is .. when i bought my last computer at best buy i was told that mac was the government platform, thus ultra tight security, thus no viruses.

on the subject of preventative health maintenance tests .. i've become one of the countless americans without health care. if you're lucky enough to have it, by all means, get the tests. i would if i could.

Bill said...

Dennis, were you listening closely??? It might have been sumpin else...... Or not........
CYA

Bill said...

MB
DFAS, (Defense Finance and Accounting Service), a worldwide government accounting arm uses strictly Microsoft O/S's and Office programs. So, if MAC is the platform somebody missed the boat.
There is a large arm here and my neighbor is the network tech that sets up all the machines.

melissa bee said...

bill: i thought as much .. it made a good story. great way to sell macs.

Anonymous said...

Ah, what does one do with oneself when she has too much time and zucchini on hand? Well you come up with an epiphany. Maybe not to you all but for me. I cut it on a bias, soaked it in egg and rolled it in some seasoned Italian bread crumbs and freshly grated parmesan cheese and julienned basil. Fried it in a little canola oil. Dipped it in fresh made marinara from the other night, and viola!! I think I might even be able to pawn this one off on LGJ!!

Dennis, sure glad that the fox sniffing his own hole turned out to be C.C. I can rest at night now. Jeannie...shame on you...you know the rules, even though "bite me" and the tribute to mainiac made me smile.

eddyB said...

#3 and I'm going to shut up for a while. (Hey, I hear those cheers and thank Gods.) I have probably annoyed a lot of you kind people with my obsession of finding the missing trash can.

I'm not even going to mention the missing avatars.

BarbB, thanks for PIMF.

Jazzbumpa, you are right about the 10%. Mac users are not safe without some protection though. My wife has a Mac and laughs every time I have a problem.

JD, I think the closest Cosintino's is down in Willow Glenn. I live in the East foothills near Alum Rock Park.

Please tell me which parking lot. I want to see this

eddyB

windhover said...

Jeannie, re: "Bite Me".
You are my blog hero of the day. Very quick and clinical. Thanks.
Dennis:
she may have misspoken on the timidity, but you havebto admit it was spot on.
Evil Anon:
thanks for the fun. You have now reached the status of being ridiculed. Got that? We're over it. No one is even taking offense now. We're just laughing at you. If you were a politician Leno and Letterman would be doing a Top Ten list on you.
Hope you enjoy your miserable anonymity. Got a mirror? Look into it and know that you are an object of ridicule. Give us your best shots, it's all good now. Hope you don't go away, we all need a good laugh every day. Bring if, honey.

windhover said...

CC :
I try to resist, but sadly I'm just as vain as every other farmer/philosopher on the planet (it's a very large group, actually); I fairly melt when you mention me in your puzzle comments. My farmer ball cap hat is fitting a little tighter today. Thanks, dear.
PS: I don't pray either, but I try to send out some good vibes when someone needs it. I do believe everything is connected, although I have no idea how.
#4

jojo said...

This puzzle was fairly easy, except did not know 56A eloi or
54D olla had to lokk up olla in the dictionary. I had o-la.

Jeannie said...

Windhover, you "sow" good seeds where ever you go. You also "weed" out the bad ones. I hope you get to "reap" once in awhile. If you are ever in need of the crane just let me know. I know it's been wet there in KY. I think I have all the gears, and knobs figured out.

Unfortunate way for me to make your blog day, but hey, couldn't help myself.

Anonymous said...

51A Windhover.

kazie said...

The last two colonoscopies I've had was with the alternate prep. It's a chemical you mix to drink with much less liquid, and it tastes citrussy, not as much like piss as the regular one. Much less unpleasant. Anyway, if you do have to get the golitely, as soon as everything comes through clear, it's usually enough, without drinking the whole thing. I've never had a problem either way, except they comment on how long my colon is. That must be why I can't get rid of my stomach--it's filled up with my extra long colon. lol.

windhover said...

Anonymous,
got it. That's what I was referring to. But thanks. You must not be the BEA. And now I am 5 and out. Good night, left coasters, especially those in
the Promised Land.

Katy said...

New to blog and loving it. Could be bringing in new posters after sharing you with my book club tonite...

Two clues totally unknown: OLMEC and NYET (still not understanding that one).

I make a mean guacomole and I agree, WM, not junk food at all. Love the Costello links, Mainiac. Second one new to me -- Allison? -- will look for it on iTunes. I have a Mac and no prob with security issues. PC at work though so keeps my brain on its toes -- reckon that's a good thing.

Curious how one sets up a link?

Lastly thanks for warm welcome. Four weeks left at summer pace...

Clear Ayes said...

Hi Katy, We Californians are still awake and here to welcome you. Check C.C.'s front page on the right hand side and you'll see instructions for "How to Create Comment links". Nobody minds if you post a practice link, so don't be embarrassed to try. Share what you are reading with your club. We have some avid readers here too.

WH, LOL, Although I'm definitely not a prayer either, here's an "Amen" from the left coast Promised Land.

Just finished up the Across Lite for tomorrow. It's a good one. Night All!

Elissa said...

KQ: Good luck to your husband (and you) on the CA bar. I took it in 1993, when I had been out of law school for 16 years (I was admitted in PA when I graduated from law school in 1977). When I got back to work the week after the exam the CFO asked me how I thought it went. I said, "I'm never doing that again." He said, "So you're sure you passed." I said, "Irrelevant. I'm never doing that again." The two months I spent studying and working was really miserable. My darling husband was wonderful through the whole ordeal. He did all the cooking and learned a couple of dozen new recipes for chicken. In the middle of the second day of the three day test, after the first half of the multi-state portion I called my husband at work and just cried for 20 minutes because I was so freaked out. Fortunately, I passed - - because I wasn't doing that again!

Anonymous said...

I forgot to welcome all our new posters...MJ, pilote, and now Katy. I am somewhat new to this blog and you will find this group to be fun. You will find some very diverse and intellectual people here. It seems they all rally around you when you need some uplifting too.

Can't sleep...the house is too quiet. Can't hear the little man snore coming from the next room. I miss him.

Katy said...

OK, figured out how to add a photo (avatar?) so I'm right pleased with myself and loving this image, newly happened upon: Arcimboldo is well known for several famous images of a man's face created out of plants and vegetables. This is a slightly different effort - a librarian created out of anthropomorphic pile of books.

Now to figure out links. How do I get to CC's front page, Clear Ayes? (Just finished Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett -- an epic read but so-so in my book).

Good nite from a right coaster - I'm up way past my bedtime but enjoying listening to some badly needed rain...

Anonymous said...

minnesota, land of sleepless women.

Crockett1947 said...

@katy If you're on the page that has the "Leave your comment" screen, click on the blue "L.A. Times Crossword Corner and you will be on the front page. Scroll down through the ads, "About Me," "Contact Me," "Interviews," "Notes," and select the third link under "Olios."

Thomas said...

Sorry Dennis, and all. But at Anon @12:04, you can eat sh*t and puke, so you can taste it twice. Your invectiveness is not appreciated, and Minnesota women are some of the finest in the nation. I know I've taken my loon and gone home, but while lurking, I just couldn't stand such bullsh*t about my blog "friends", whether I've talked to them or not. That cannot fly with me, and I hope it cannot fly by any other of this blogger community. Tarrajo, Jeannie, YOU ROCK, girls! And I'm proud that you are Minnesota women.

Anon, go away! And cuddle up to your porn mags, you worthless piece of scum. That's the only way you'll see women as fine as the one's in Minnesota!

TJ in Osseo

Thomas said...

C.C., please don't take affront by my omission of you as a Minnesota woman, because, you are too! And as the host of this blog, I appreciate all that you do.
BTW, an ark is an extremely large vessel with a large beam, (meaning wide), and very hard to steer. Thus, ungainly craft.

TJ in Osseo

Argyle said...

Dear Anon, You are like our pols in DC; the more they protest some action, the more they are doing it themselves.

Thomas said...

Argyle, HEAR, HEAR!! Nicely put!

TJ

Thomas said...

The main reason I've posted again, is that my 83 year old Father is in the hospital, tonight. I cannot sleep, what with the angst of not knowing what will happen tomorrow, and I am reaching out to all of you, regardless of your feelings towards me, but to ask you to send your well wishes his way, whatever your faith.

Hahtoolah said...

Wow, there are a lot of night owls here. I go to sleep for a few hours and then find oodles of late night conversations. I have just the opposite problem ~ I awaken way too early.

Katy, Nyet is the opposite of Da, which are both Russian words for No and Yes, respectively.

Elissa, I had a similar bar exam experience in that I had huge support from my husband during the months of study before taking the exam. I had switched careers, so was somewhat older when I entered law school. The bar in my state was three days of essay exams. When it was over, I told my husband we couldn't move to another state because I wasn't going through that lovely experience again! Maybe after I retire, we'll think about moving but that is still a few years away.

Thomas, I am wishing both you and your father well.