google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Tuesday July 28, 2009 Scott Atkinson

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Jul 28, 2009

Tuesday July 28, 2009 Scott Atkinson

Theme: WAIT (49D: Bide one's time, and a word that may precede the answers to starred clues)

17A: *"We aren't finished here": IT ISN'T OVER

53A: *"Give me another sec": I'M NOT READY

11D: *"It's on the tip of my tongue": DON'T TELL ME

28D: *"I haven't told you everything yet": THERE'S MORE

All of the theme answers contain 10 letters. I wonder if the puzzle is inspired by NPR's "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!".

Americans are rather impatient. We want things HERE and NOW. I suppose impatience can be a virtue. It drives and speeds up innovation/progress at various fields. Had we waited and waited for the perfect moment, I doubt men would have landed on the moon.

It felt like I was climbing up the stairs in the middle. The grid just looked pretty to me. I also like how IDLE (50D: Just sitting around) parallels WAIT. Nice to see BUSY (24A: In use, as a phone line) in the puzzle too. Just WAIT!

Across:

1A: Potato holders: SACKS. Potatoes are nightshade veggies, so are tomatoes, eggplants and bell peppers.

10A: Kids' party occasion, briefly: B'DAY

14A: Andean beast: LLAMA. Alpaca & LLAMA are both domesticated guanacos.

15A: Actress Gershon: GINA. Does GINA Gershon strike you as sexy? I've only seen her in "Showgirls".

19A: Tolstoy's Karenina: ANNA. Impossible love story often ends tragically.

22A: Encourage: FOSTER

25A: Cinco de Mayo celebrations: FIESTAS

26A: Acela Express operator: AMTRAK. Acela is pronounced ah-CEL-la. Wikipedia says Acela is meant to be evocative of acceleration and excellence.

29A: Mottled T-shirt: TIE-DYE. Such a bright burst of colors.

30A: Broadway's George M.: COHAN. I always want to spell his name as COHEN.

32A: Wall St. takeover: LBO (Leveraged Buyout).

35A: __ & Chandon champagne: MOET. Part of Louis Vuitton.

40A: Bugs' pursuer: ELMER. ELMER Fudd.

41A: Noble's home: ESTATE. Misread the clue as "Nobel's home". That would be SWEDEN.

44A: Deteriorate, slangily: GO SOUTH

46A: Chopped liver spread: PATE. PATE de foie gras, yum!

47A: Group together: LUMP IN

48A: Dover fish dish: SOLE. I love walleye.

49A: The LPGA's Michelle: WIE. Michelle WIE likes wearing dangling earrings.

56A: Filly's father: SIRE

57A: Menthol cigarette: KOOL. Lots of interesting cigarette ads in those old Life magazines.

58A: Author Zola: EMILE. The French plantation owner in "South Pacific" is also called EMILE.

Down:

1D: __ to none: poor odds: SLIM. Like my chance of finishing a LAT Friday/Saturday/Sunday puzzle without cheating.

3D: Eve's oldest: CAIN. Then Abel, then Seth.

4D: Canada hwy. distances: KMS

5D: Puerto Rico's capital: SAN JUAN. I just realized that SAN JUAN is "Saint John (the Baptist)" in English.

8D: Washington's bill: ONE. Nice president clue to pair up with GARFIELD (9D: President after Hayes).

10D: Sounding like marching bands: BRASSY. I suppose Jazzbumpa's trombone sounds BRASSY too.

12D: Nighttime breathing disorder: APNEA

23D: Multivolume Brit. references: OEDS (Oxford English Dictionaries).

25D: "The X-__: FILES.

26D: Very top: ACME. And ATOP (52A: At the apex of).

27D: Drop anchor: MOOR

29D: Silky-voiced Mel: TORME. Nicknamed "The Velvet Fog".

33D: Woodstock singer Joan: BAEZ. There might not be iPod today had Joan BAEZ actually married Steve Jobs.

36D Bongo-playing '50s-'60s sterotypes: BEATNIKS

37D: Get out of Dodge: FLEE. "Get out of Dodge" is a new slang to me. I've vaguely heard of Dodge City.

39D: Spitter's sound: PTUI. Whoa, no more PTUI, otherwise, Elissa might just give up LAT.

42D: __up (absorbed, as gravy): SOPPED. SOP also means "bribe".

44D: Cinderella's slipper material: GLASS

45D: Protruding navel: OUTIE. Opposite INNIE.

46D: They often have deep ends: POOLS


54D: Bovine bellow: MOO. Alliteration.

55D: Comedian Philips: EMO. Interesting, baby name origin says EMO is German for "serious", I always thought EMO is just short for emotional.

Answer grid.

C.C.

60 comments:

  1. Good morning, C.C. and gang: this one actually fell faster than yesterday's; just under 4 minutes without a single pause or 'huh?'. Got a sense of the theme as I was progressing, but didn't put it together until the end with 'wait'.

    90% of the time, Mel Torme is clued as 'the velvet fog'. Joan Baez and 'beatniks' fit well in the same puzzle. And 'ptui' is clearly becoming the new 'peri'; seems to be a weekly occurrence now. And yes, C.C., I've always found Gina Gershon to be extremely sexy as opposed to beautiful.

    Today is National Milk Chocolate Day. Go for it.

    Today's Words of Wisdom: "Success is simply a matter of luck. Ask any failure." -- Earl Wilson

    Tuesday's Fun Facts:

    - Manager Brian Epstein made the Beatles cut their hair short after he signed them in 1962.

    - Almost 30,000 tourists visited Antarctica in 2005, and that number is expected to increase to 80,000 by 2010. Antarctica has only one ATM.

    Here's the Toasted Marshmallow Milk Shake recipe:

    nonstick cooking spray
    9 large marshmallows
    1/4 cup milk
    11 oz vanilla ice cream

    toasted marshmallows, for garnish

    Preheat broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper (I used foil) and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange the marshmallows flat on the baking sheet and place under the broiler until the tops are a deep golden brown, about 40 seconds. Remove from the oven, carefully turn the marshmallows over, and broil until they are golden brown on the other side. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Combine the marshmallows and milk in a blender and blend for 5 seconds. Add the ice cream and blend until smooth, about 10 seconds. Serve immediately.

    Makes 1-16 oz milkshake OR 2-8 oz milkshakes

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good morning C.C. and all. It was another nice walk in the park this morning. I was able to make all of the fills without stopping. There is not much to comment about on today’s puzzle. I am now looking forward to the whammy that is sure to come soon.

    Dennis I will try your marshmallow shake later today as it sounds so good.

    Hope you all have a great Tuesday.

    ReplyDelete
  3. good morning c.c. and all,

    simple and fun puzzle today, made quick work of it. c.c. i thought the same thing about 'wait, wait don't tell me,' i never miss that show.

    crazy busy with work, covering for another therapist who was injured and can't work. feast or famine.

    congratulations to JD and lois, a speedy recovery to jeannie, luck to moon, and welcome to all the newbies.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good morning, All. I though today's puzzle was easier than yesterday. I just flew through it, but I loved it. Some of the clues, however, date me ... I knew Mel TORME, and ELMER Fudd.

    My favorite clue was (46D): They often have deep ends: POOLS.

    In the original Brothers Grimm Cinderella story, her slipper was not GLASS (44D). In the contraband version of the story we had a children, the slipper was made of another material. The ugly stepsisters tried to convince the prince that they were the ones who had lost the tiny shoe. Because their feet were too big, they had to cut off their toes or heels to fit into the shoe. Here's a similar version to the Cinderella story we loved as kids. Gory Cinderella.

    Good Karma/Bad Karma: An elderly man in Germany called the police to complain that one of his neighbors was playing the same song over and over again all day and night long. When the officers came to investigate, the discovered that the man had a musical greeting card on his windowsill. Occasional breezes opened the card just enough to trigger the tune. True story.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hey All, Definitely a fun and quick puzzle. I had printed out two copies - one for my wife, but got sucked into doing it online. She hates that I always complete them myself as opposed to doing them together, but I just cannot help myself. I flew through this one, and am anticipating much harder puzzles as the week continues. Hoping the day is good to everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  6. COHAN and MOET were unknowns today. I originally had APEX for ACME (and NAKED for BARED) so I was stumped by the far left.

    Gina Gershon sexy? Yes and no. She is sexy but not so much in the picture you showed.

    It's funny that there are a lot of good female golfers from Korea (although Micheele Wie was actually born in Hawaii to Korean parents) because when I was in Korea I don't recall there actually being any public golf courses: a lot of people practice playing golf indoors either by putting into a cup or driving into a net.

    Martin

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hahtool's Cinderella link might give me nightmares tonight. He's a
    Cinderella link
    that C.C. might apprecriate.

    Martin

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good Morning Everybody!


    A different kind of Cinderella, classic big-hair band.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good morning CC et al., A fun puzzle. What I didn't know the perps took care of in short order. It was 'kool' seeing Baez,beatniks and tiedye here. Those were great 'years', except for the
    'sobs' pushin' drugs- and sadly
    'it isn't over' yet. We've been having champagne like crazy but not 'moet' & chandon'. But 'wait'. 'There's more'. We had Dom Perignon and although smooth, it isn't worth the expense IMHO...probably just me. "I'm not ready" are words I will never hear coming from Baby Girl's mouth. She is so excited about getting married. She will then 'go south'and live in AZ. 'One' more place to visit for us and we'll just introduce our type of 'fiestas' down there. Wonder if 'amtrak' goes that way, but 'don't tell me'. Planning the trip is part of the fun. 'Busy' day w/'fiestas' every night. Party on!

    JD: beautiful picture and baby.

    KQ, thoughts are w/your husband today and TH

    Jeannie: hope you're feeling great today. How'd the swirlies work for you? Let's try Dennis's marshmellow shake.

    Carol: LMAO...I did find my pants in the pile...took 'em for a walk yesterday and lost 'em again. Walked 'em right off.

    Windhover: I'm comin' for you, baby.

    Buckeye: I'm all about THAT state of mind. Always glad to see you.

    Dennis: hope all your muscle groups are calmer today. Thanks for the shake. It's going to add a new dimension to my 'shake, rattle and roll' kind of night.

    Enjoy your day.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hey, gang -

    Pleasant puzzle today. Not a brilliant theme, but clever, good enough, and fun. About right for a Tuesday.

    Seems like we get PTUI about every other day. Have all the constructors been reading Great Expectorations?

    I'm surprised, sometimes to see fills I didn't realize were there, as with WIE today. I work a puzzle in a somewhat random fashion, cherry-picking easy answers, then going back for the more difficult ones. Moving around this way (or WIE) if I get a fill just from the perps, I'll miss reading the clue, entirely. OK, I'm odd.

    I. too, want to spell COHAN as COHEN, so I had to change 24D to character portrayed by James , the LW's favorite actor.

    I was disappointed not to find an outie picture. So, here, until something better comes along. I have no idea who Heidi Newfeld is.

    Speaking of pictures, here is a brassy, gray-haired old man, caught in flagrante delicto.

    THERE'S no MORE.

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Good morning, all.

    Dennis, thanks for the recipe. Sounds yummy! 4 minutes? Wow, I can't even read that fast! But yes, it did flow right along.

    Here's another salute to Cinderella. Since I haven't yet figured out how to imbed a link, had to copy and paste. This is close to a version I learned many years ago.

    PRINDERELLA AND THE CINCE:

    T'once upon a wine, there was a gitty little pearl named Prinderella. She lived in a big house with her two sisty uglers and her micked webstother. All day long, poor Prinderella had to wean the clindows and flub the scroors and pine the shots and shams.

    One day the Ping issued a kroclamation that all gelligable goung yirls were to attend the drancy fess ball. Poor Prinderella couldn't attend the drancy fess ball, for all she had was a rirty drag. So she cat down and scried!

    All of a sudden her Merry Fodgother appeared and said, "Prinderella, why are you crying?" Prinderella replied, "Oh, Merry Fodgother, I can't go to the drancy fess ball, for all I have is a rirty drag." "Oh, you shall go," said the Merry Fodgother, and in an eyeling of a twink, she changed the cumpkin into a parriage and the rirty drag into a drancy fess. "Oh, thank you, Merry Fodgother," Prinderella replied. "Now I shall attend the drancy fess ball." "Under one condition," warned the Merry Fodgother." You must be home by the moke of stridnight!"

    So, all night long, Prinderella danced with the Cince, but at the moke of stridnight, she raced down the stralace peps and on the strottom pep, she slopped her dripper!

    The next day, the Ping issued another kroclamation that all gelligable goung yirls were to sly on the tripper. The two sisty uglers and the micked webstother slied on the tripper, but it fidn't dit. However, when Prinderella slied on the tripper, it fid dit!

    So Prinderella and the Cince lived afterly ever happiworth, but the two sisty uglers and the micked webstother were left all alone in the big house. Now wasn't that a shirty dame?

    Have a great day, folks. I'm off to drink some chocolate milk.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Easy, breezy puzzle today with no g-spotting in sight. Didn’t agree with kid’s party occasion…B’day. Why not adults too? Took at wild guess with llama as the Andean beast. Plenty of perp help today with Gina, Amtrak, LBO, Emile and Oeds. Jazzbumpa, I work the puzzle similar to your style and some of the perps fill themselves in without me even reading the clues. Favorite clues today were Bug’s pursuer – Elmer and they often have deep ends – pools.

    Lois, I take it the wedding is this weekend? What is your dress like? Three days and a wakeup for you and for me.

    Jeannie, hope you are on the road to recovery.

    Dennis, that shake sounds very tasty indeed. I am not sure I could finish a 16oz one though.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Good Morning All, A very nice Tuesday puzzle. I filled in the Downs first and only had a few gaps where I had to go back to the perps. I messed up and had APEX for 26D for a while, but that was quickly corrected. If I had been solving the Acrosses first I would have seen 52A's clue and wouldn't have made the 26D mistake.

    We've had enough of PTUI for a while. I do like omomatopoetic fills though. We also had MOO today.

    Have we seen GARFIELD as a fill before? The 20th President, he was shot in July, 1881 and died two months later, only serving 199 days. The modern consensus of opinion is that he might very well have survived his wound, if his doctors had practiced better sanitary procedures. He died of a heart attack after suffering from blood poisoning and pneumonia.

    I loved toasted marshmallows when I was a kid...and I still do. I'm going to try the shake. My only question is, how do you keep yourself from eating those toasty gooey treats right out of the oven? I guess I'll just have to make extras.

    MJ, Cute version of Cinderella. My sisters and I have teasingly used the term, "sistie ugler" before, so maybe I had heard your version somewhere.

    Jazzbumpa, Thanks for the photo. I had to laugh because the musicians directly in front and behind you didn't seem to be very impressed. I'm sure that was their loss and your solo was terrific.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Easy puzzle.. As Lois said, what ever I didnt know, the perps took care of it.
    I dont think I aced the interview yesterday..got grilled for 3.5 hours straight...will hear back in 2 weeks as they complete all the other interviews.
    I've another 2 hour today..lets hope it goes better.
    Dennis, I loved your words of wisdom.
    Lois, Have fun at the wedding. I love weddings but I hated my own.. too tiring.
    This is from my sis' wedding in Feb:
    Wedding!

    ReplyDelete
  15. C.C.: When I saw spitting sound clue I thought ARRGGGHHHH, but after muttering to myself I entered PTUI. That was my longest pause in doing this puzzle - and that was a fit of peak rather than a lack of answer. Don't worry, I don't give up that easily.

    Jazz: I do the puzzle the same way - bouncing between the As and Ds. So of course I don't think you are odd. But you are a musician (my husband also plays the trombone - so I know), which means the bar is pretty low.

    In Peru we learned llamas have long necks and short hair and alpacas have short necks and long hair.

    As discussed before, I favor dark chocolate - but in a pinch milk chocolate will do.

    I love "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" and I'll even stay awake until midnight on Saturday night if I have to catch it on the replay, which is at 11PM on our local radio station.

    Moon: I would think if they spent 3.5 hours with you, they must have some interest. If not, I wouldn't want to work there - too much of a time sync.

    Well, I'm off to the gym.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Elissa -

    (my husband also plays the trombone - so I know), which means the bar is pretty low.

    Of course the bars are low. We read bass clef!

    As for the other musicians -- I'd say my playing is tolerated.

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Good morning CC and all.

    CC, I can add Wed/Thu to slim and none chances if recent form holds true.

    A young female golfer asked me once "why do boys spit". I said probably because they see on TV. I can now add because they see it every 2nd day in crossword puzzles.

    Moon, that was a beautiful wedding picture. Much better than recent U Tube dancing down the aisle clip.

    Those Michelle Wie earrings would seem to me to be a distraction.

    I think the theme was a product of late night infomercials. "But wait theres more, order now" Blah Blah Blah.

    Jimmy S.Carolina

    ReplyDelete
  18. Moon, What wonderful photos. Your sister is a beautiful bride and your brother-in-law is very handsome. Are you the lovely lady in the lavender sari? Was it a Hindu ceremony and how long did the ceremony and general festivities last? I was curious because you said it had been so tiring for you. I have to admit total ignorance, but I am very interested.

    BTW, we are rooting for you and your search for a new job!

    Speaking of interesting, how about that single ATM in Antarctica? I'm guessing that there aren't a lot of places to spend cash. Since Google doesn't list any available hotels, or motels for snowmobiles, I suppose most tourists don't actually stay on land (or glacier) while they are visiting, but make trips from Chile on cruise ships.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Good morning everyone. Nice puzzle that I could finish today. Whee!

    Comments from late last night (I read the late entries about 11:30 PM):
    Jeannie: Glad your "procedure" went well and that you're one of the lucky ones.

    Jazzbumpa: Don't forget the celery in a Bloody Mary. Celery surely is a vegetable. And as to "Great Expectorations"...groan. But your picture is great. Thanks for sending it.

    C.C.: what a site you have created. Now yet another constructor is talking to us. Thank you Mr. Donaldson.

    Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  20. @Lois: I love the way you incorporate the responses/answers into you messages. I wish I were so witty.

    @Jazzbumpa: I think the constructors already have a copy of that new novel, "Great Exporations." They seem to be working like the Dickens to include spitting sounds in every puzzle.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi c.c. and all:

    Easy puzzle, as fast as I could write, but didn't time it.

    Moon: Great pic of the wedding, thanks for sending. Good luck on your second interview.

    JoJo: Read your comments from last night. My daughter lives right across from the Saw Grass Mills, so pretty close to you I'm guessing. Both of my girls went to Coral Springs HS and then both went to UF in Gainesville.

    Jeannie: I hope you are back in the swing of things soon.

    Dennis: Thanks for the recipe. My daughter loves milk shakes so I will try it when she comes to visit next time.

    Hahtool: Wow, that is gory!

    Jazzbumps: Great pic, thanks for sharing.

    MJ: Fun too read!

    Mr. Donaldson: Thanks for joining the blog yesterday and for sharing your thoughts!

    Lois: I hope the wedding for "baby girl" is wonderful. Sure sounds like the bachelorette party was a smash!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Speaking of weddings, now this is the way to start a wedding.

    Windhover, I can answer your question based on gut feel. YES. Emphatically YES.

    To those of you trying the milkshake, be prepared. They're orgasmically good, and extremely filling.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi C.C. and all -
    We're havin' a 'Heat Wave'...if I could link old Martha, I would. Chicago, I would like to send you this weather, I hear you are having the coldest summer in a long time.

    Easy puzzle today, like others, I think it was easier for me than Monday.

    Dennis, I gained 5# reading that recipe. I would add milk chocolate to it in honor of today.

    Lois, can't walk my pants today either, going to be 105!!!!! Think I'll just take the darn things off. Out of respect for everybody's gag reflex, I will stay indoors!

    Moon, thanks for sharing those lovely pictures. Everything is so colorful. How long is the ceremony? I think I read somewhere that it is more than 1 day.

    CA - My sister and I have used the term 'sisty ugler' for many, many years..guess that story has been around a long time.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Good morning c.c. and all, good puzzle, one objection .
    Do we need to know how a spitter sounds ?

    I don't think sooo !

    Jazz & Irish, I also cringe every time i see spitting in the puzzle, it's so disgusting !

    They must be reading Great Expectorations - yukh & sequel.

    Thoroughly disgusted,
    Maria

    ReplyDelete
  25. JazzB, Sallie, et al:
    I wasn't arguing that there are no drinks with vegetables in them. I was trying to convince Tarrajo, who is still young and impressionable (and kinda cute) that it was just inherently wrong. But I think I was too late. I drank a beer in a Mexican place the other night and it came with an orange slice on the rim. That's just wrong, and should be stopped. I'm thinking of forming a non-profit, so I can start a campaign. I need a catchy name so I can get stupid people to send me money. Any ideas?

    Dennis:
    I guess I'll need to "gird my loins", to use a Biblical phrase. I'm thinking blue.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Morning everyone...Great Tuesday puzzle except for the aforementioned PTUI...I think it is time for a new word...I know these puzzles are lined up for publication so how come so many have that word? Oh, right, Great Expectorations! Jazz...LMAO! and Kelev...Dickens...good to start the day off with a laugh :o)

    Easy, fun, quick. Wasn't a single hang-up today, and liked the 60'-70's sub theme. Joan Baez was a graduate of Palo Alto High School here in the Bay Area, and my father, a music teacher at the other high school at the time, heard her practising for a talent show at the school. I remember him coming home all excited about this girl's beautiful voice...and he wasn't even a fan of Folk songs! Her sister is Mimi Farina(I didn't look that up, so I think the spelling is correct). She never quite achieved the fame of her sister.

    Have to take the kitties in for their 4 mo check-up...then a lovely cooler day to paint.

    Moon, what an absolutely joyous photo...so beautiful.

    Jeannie, hope the day finds you feeling much better.

    WH...hope your ego is recovering.

    Dennis...those Shakes sound downright sinful...but I'm with CA...I would probably eat the marshmallows before they made into the shake...and I think I may have some graham crackers and chocolate bars on hand...Hmmmm? ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Joining the fray rather late today, I have to agree about the expectorating repetition. Ugh!

    I whizzed through this except for having SOAKED for SOPPED at first, but corrected it quickly.

    I'm not familiar with EMO in German, but it could be an abbreviation of something to do with emotion. They like to shorten words to something ending in a vowel, like Ami for American, or Kuli for Kugelschreiber (ballpoint pen).

    I read the old Cinderella story, and was interested to see they actually credited the lady who was the original source that the Brothers Grimm got it from. I've been to their museum in Kassel, northern Hesse, and there are original prints of the first editions of their collections. They got the stories by traveling around the area and talking to folks living along the way. Until then, stories were handed down in oral tradition but never written until they published them. Many of the originals were much more gory than the watered down versions we got in translation. They were meant to scare children into behaving, "or else"!

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  28. Windhover.

    Have had lemon peel in beer never orange. YUK.

    How about F.I.B.E.A.
    Fruit in beer eradication assocation.

    Jimmy S. Carolina

    ReplyDelete
  29. Windhover, I beg to differ. How about celery, pickles or asparagus spears in Bloody Mary's or pearl onions or olives in Martinis? I think you need to broaden your horizons.

    Here's a little advice re: Lois' visit. Bring the Irish.

    Thanks for the well wishes all. Back in the buyers seat albeit a little sore...

    ReplyDelete
  30. Another cool heatwave number:

    Tropical Heatwave

    It is by Ethel Waters with the Benny Goodman Orchestra. Unfortunately, it is only about half length, but what a voice.

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  31. Argyle, thanks for the 'heat' links!

    Dennis, I saw that wedding video link a few days ago, boy what a hoot!! Now they all are 'media start'...go figure. Are the shows that hard up for material?
    It was funny yes, but to put them on Good Morning America or one of those shows? Oh well, that is why I don't watch.

    Windhover, if you gird your loins to tightly, other things will be blue!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Pardon my grammar slips (too tightly)
    also it was supposed to be 'media stars'). Sigh.

    No matter, our internet service goes out each day when the temps reach 95 or so, and that is not far off. They say it is a bad 'something, something' connection on the feeder line to the houses on our side of the street. This has been going on a lot though, even when temps were normal.

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  33. While biking to the gym, it occurred to me that "fit of peak" in my earlier post should have been "fit of pique". Geez, it sure is tough to do xwords when you mix up homonyms and can't spell.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Great Expectorations was one of a series of famous 19th century Flemish novels, along with Pickbeak Papers, David Hockerfield, Tale of Two Hankies, Mystery of Edwin Drool, Beak Hose, Nicholas Mucusby, and Master Humphry's Clog.

    Some people consider these to be great literature, but IMHO, they're the workings of a hack.

    Cheers!

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  35. Jeannie,

    Thanks for the invite on Windhover's behalf but I must respectfully decline.

    On a serious note glad you are feeling better..


    Jimmy S. Carolina

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  36. IrishJim...I really like F.I.B.E.A! Sounds so serious...I am sure people would send WH money with that! Plus its a great cause.

    Elissa...LOL...I always think it so funny the way our brains work...you can be off doing something entirely unrelated and will get a flash on something else!

    Jeannie...so glad to hear you are feeling better, but take care and don't rush it.

    Jazz...Great photo, BTW, and I think I read Master Humphry's Clog...it is the story about the plumber that goes on to fame in the Republican Party after working for a guy with 7 or 8 homes????


    CA...did you find the puzzle last night...hmmmm?

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  37. Hello All-I have the same comments as everyone else on the ease in finishing the puzzle without any help. For me that is rare.

    Jassbumpa, I always do the puzzle the same way as you do, otherwise I wouldn't be able to do it.

    I read recently that they are concerned about the envioronment in Antartica, as so many ships, garbage and people are causing a problem. The area there is actually clogged in the Antartic summer and they are thinking of restricting the number of ships per year.

    As for "cheating" on the puzzle, C.C. when I first came to this site I used that term in finishing my CWs. Several of our Blogger family said it was not "cheating" but learning when you use a dictionary, Google, or ask another person for an answer. So you are never a "cheater" but a "learner".

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  38. I can assure you that after Scott entered his theme phrases in the grid he did not say to himself "Okay, now that that's done I'm going to find a spot for ptui." Usually a constructor writes in the longer fill words and then weaves in the shorter words around them. You can see in this grid that ptui is surrounded by a lot of longer words. At some point ptui became a fill word because it happen to fit nice and easily and all snuggled up sweet and cozy with the words around it.

    I like the word ptui. It's goofy looking, sounds odd and is actually a lot rarer in puzzles than we think. Besides, I enjoy how it relates to writing this post... I PUT IT UP.

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  39. 6:13 today. No time to read the blog or do a proper post myself. Supposed to get to 106 degrees today and I have a ton of stuff to get to.

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  40. WM,
    Oh, if Joe is the plumber, then I think I've read "Master Humphry's Clog" too. Yep, got your petit point the other day. Many xie xie!

    Chickie,
    OK, I am a good learner then. I am afraid I am good forgetter too. I do seem to remember well the stuff I should not have been taught here on the blog. You know, those MOREL values.

    EddyB,
    Give me an example of how life imitates art.

    Lois et al,
    Thanks for the fun posts.

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  41. Jazzbumpa, LOL at your titles of 19th century novels. Believe it or not there is actually a bestselling version of Jane Austin's famous novel, called Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. My youngest sistie ugler gave it to me for my birthday and I laughed non-stop for several reading days. I haven't read the latest version of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters yet, but it is on my reading list.

    WM, Maybe I slapped myself on the forehead too hard. I still couldn't get Across-Lite LAT at Cruciverb.com for today's puzzle, last night. When I checked the archives as you suggested, I had to register and then log in to check anything. So I just waited until this morning and used the regular LA Times puzzle link. That's OK, I kind of like the red letter help when I need it later in the week.

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  42. Good afternoon CC and all,

    Like all of you, this was easier than yesterday. It may have been record time for me, although I never time myself.My last fill was the foster/ brassy fill.Had to fiddle with acme to get the m in moet.Not a champagne fan.

    Loved glass slipper, although in most versions the shoe is made out of something else. Korean= straw sandal; sometimes it's a glove.The 1st written Cinderella was the Chinese version,Yeh-Shen,850 AD, 1000 yrs. earlier than the earliest known European versions.The Greco-Egyptian versions could be even older.Perrault's is probably the most popular (1697)and where Disney got his ideas.I love that gory Grimm version; most of his retelling of fairytales were morbid.Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes of those fairy tales comes close.

    MJ, I loved that version. Will make a copy. I have about 75 different versions, even a few in Japanese and Vietnamese.

    Dennis, that shake sounds sooo good.Maybe I'll wait for dark chocolate day.

    Jeannie, hope all your ouchies are healing and you are taking it easy..mmmmm, I'm sure you are.

    Lois, you must be sooo excited. Amazing how you can concentrate long enough to write that good stuff for us all to enjoy!I'd be thinking of 1000 other things.Like WAIT, I'm not ready!!But not you, you already have your 1st fiesta planned. You go girl!

    Moon,WOWSER! Stunning pictures, and a beautiful couple! And where might you be?

    Do we really know that Cain was Eve's oldest????

    Jerome, I agree, but I think Rich Norris must like that word too. I hope he takes his hat off in restaurants.

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  43. C.C. -
    Life imitates art: My photo, vis-a-vis my avatar.

    Rehearsal tonight for the last park concert of the year. (snif)
    Seven weeks went by very quickly.

    Jerome -
    PTUI might be uncommon, but it's popped up three or four times in LAT puzzles, just in the last week. That gets our attention. Maybe not as much as ATIT, (what would?) but still, it gets stale fast. I recognize that PTUI is not likely to be a constructor's dream fill. I will submit, though, that it is a non-word, and a puzzle without it is in small small way superior to one with it.

    #4. I'd better shut up.

    Cheers!

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  44. CA... Maybe Crockett or Embien or Argyle has a suggestion. That is very puzzling??? Those books sound hysterical...may have to check that out.

    C.C. I think you remember a lot...you haven't yet joined the CRS club...and like we always told our daughters...knowledge is also important in how to find the information you need. Glad you like the petit point image...how do you say you're welcome in Chinese?

    JD...Once I actually read the original Grimm versions, I thought his(their?) name(s) very appropriate...I seem to remember in the Frog Prince that it actually ends with the Princess having a royal snit and smashing the frog against the wall!

    #3

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  45. C.C. I know of a couple that were in a play together. He played a part that was a roommate to this gals boyfriend, and ended up having an affair with his roommates girlfriend. The ironic part is the wife of the now couple was truly boyfriends with the actor that played the roommate. They have been married some 20+ years. Now that is life imitating art at its finest.

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  46. According to Genesis 4:1, Eve gave birth to Cain. In verse 2 of Chapter, the Hebrew indicates that she then gave birth to a second son. A third son was born much, much later. Cain's name means "gotten" as in Eve has gotten a son. Abel's name means "breath" or "vapor", which appropriate since he is the first person to die. His name represents the transitory nature of life.

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  47. Hi all,
    For CC and others: The same tragic accident that happened to Felipe Massa (F1 driver for Ferrari ) over the weekend was portrayed in a movie forty years ago called Gran Prix with James Garner.
    Felipe was hit in the head by a piece of metal that came off the car in front of him.
    Prayers have been answered and he is now out of the induced medical comma and off the respirator. He has a massive skull fracture and may lose his left eye.

    Disagreed with 27D as a mooring buoy is already anchored to the the sea bed. The last thing you want to happen is your anchor chain fouling the buoy anchor chain. However, I wrote MOOR and moved on with the grid.

    Have a very nice day. We are going back to the 70s soon.
    eddyB.

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  48. psst, irish jim, 'the irish' is how windhover refers to his wife.

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  49. Clear Ayes @9:38 I am reading "The Great Influenza" by John Barry. It is about the flu epidemic of 1918, but it begins with a brief history / state-of-the-field of medicine at the turn of the century. It's amazing. Medical schools were not regarded in high esteem. Doctors who did went to these schools often never even saw a patient until AFTER he graduated! A standard treatment even up to 1900 was bleeding! So it's no wonder that Garfield didn't survive his wound.

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  50. Hathool, "The Great Influenza" sounds like a book I'd like to read. I have a personal interest in the subject because my paternal grandmother died in the epidemic in 1919. My father, the youngest of five children was only 3 1/2 years old at the time. His father, who could not manage the care of the three youngest children, placed them in a Chicago orphanage, where my father lived for 14 years.

    Melissa bee, I think Irish Jim was joking.

    Jeannie, You sound like you are recuperating nicely from your procedure. Glad it wasn't anything more serious.

    JD, It's interesting that you collect Cinderella stories. I remember as a child I had a book that had the more gruesome versions of Grimm's fairy tales in it. There was a lot of blood and killing in it, as I recall.

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  51. Hi again, still have computer connectivity! :)

    The comments about Grimm's Fairy Tales got me thinking...(oh dear). Anyway it is a wonder those of us that are of a 'certain age' are not institutionalized!
    To you younger people, imagine in your childhood hearing a BEDTIME story about a witch that lives in a woods that lures children into here cottage and then pushes them into an oven. Or a wolf that tosses a grandma out of her bed, jumps in and terrorizes a little girl. And last but not least, a bedtime prayer that ends "and if I die before I wake"... Yikes, how in hell did we not scream all night!!???

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  52. @ Carol. How about that terror-inducing lullaby "Rock a bye baby" in which the bough breaks, and down goes baby "cradle and all"? No wonder so many kids have nightmares!

    More later, I'm on the train.....

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  53. Ca.
    You are correct. Did know that Windhover refers to his spouse as 'the Irish'. Very interesting family history.

    MelissaBee no harm no foul.

    Jimmy S. Carolina

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  54. Clear Ayes, Yes I'm the lady in lavender. That's not a sari though.
    A sari is one long piece, wrapped around. I'm from the state of Assam and am wearing something unique to the state:
    Mekhela Chador made of special silk called Pat, a type of
    Assam silk

    My sister's wedding was a Hindu one but even in Hindu ceremonies, there are a lot of variations depending on the state. The groom is from the state of West Bengal and the wedding rituals were as per his state, 'Bengali' style.
    The actual wedding ceremony took some 3 - 4 hours. The groom's granddad who presided over the ceremony wanted a longer one with a lot more rituals. Thankfully his daughters (the groom's aunts) had better sense and made him cut it short.
    My own wedding was a Hindu one too but 'Konkani' style as my husband is a Konkani

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  55. I did the puzzle so long ago (at least a few hours ago) I have already forgotten it. I do remember liking it though.

    Dennis, here is a new quote of the day for you:

    The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents, and the second half by our children.
    - Clarence Darrow

    You clearly were smart enough to avoid the second half of your life being ruined!

    Have a great evening. Day one down for my hubby. His take was they picked the wrong questions, some of his weakest areas were covered. Happy to have one day over though. Thanks for everyone's well wishes.

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  56. Moon, Thank you so much for the information. I had no idea of the difference between the mekhela chador and a sari. I told you I was very ignorant.

    I read the Wikipedia article about the Konkanis with interest.

    I now understand what you meant when you said your wedding was too tiring to be enjoyable. Your sister's wedding ceremony may have taken several hours to complete, but the photos were fascinating and a real learning experience. Thank you again.

    #5 and out for the evening.

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  57. @irish jim: in that case ... lol!

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  58. KQ, Thanks for the correction, my wife had caught the mistake much later on also. I had also made some grammatical errors inthat post, was attempting to type faster than my abilities allow. Cragun's, thats it had a blast. Good night to all.

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