google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Monday, September 7, 2009 Teri Smalley

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Sep 7, 2009

Monday, September 7, 2009 Teri Smalley

Theme: NFL Kickoff (61D: Org. where you can see the first words of 20-, 38- and 55-Across)

20A: Give one's verdict: PASS JUDGMENT

38A: Create a distraction: RUN INTERFERENCE

55A: Get rid of by promoting, as an employee: KICK UPSTAIRS

Argyle here. This puzzle gave me all sorts of trouble. No, not the puzzle itself but trying to get it here to the corner.

As of yet, Cruciverb didn't have the puzzle available, which meant, I couldn't do it with Across Lite. I had to wait for LAT version to come out.

I use a character recognition program to change my print out into a Word document so I can cut and paste. Well, the Java print out didn't work so well until I literally did some cut and pasting. Ok, it was cut and taping, but it got done and here I am. On to the puzzle.

KICK UPSTAIRS Unfortunately, this happens all to often, especially in government. People will mess up but it is easier to promote them than it is to fire them!

There were several sports references but, correct me if I'm wrong, none about football except, indirectly, the UCLA Bruins.

Baseball: 11D: Hodges who managed the Miracle Mets: GIL. And 29D: Polo Grounds slugger Mel: OTT. Golf: 30D: Hole in one: ACE. Tennis: 31D: Tennis great Evert: CHRIS (Golfer "The Shark" Greg Norman's wife). NASCAR: 36D: Racecar's stopping place: PIT.

Across:

1A: Small cluster, as of threads: TUFT.

5A: Garbage barge: SCOW.

9A: Rifle with tiny shot: BB GUN.

14A: Ready and willing partner: ABLE. Ready, ABLE and Willing.

15A: Home of the NCAA's Bruins: UCLA.

16A: Bangor's state: MAINE. This ought to make our fellow solver Mainiac happy. Stephen King has a huge Victorian style mansion in Bangor.

17A: Othello, for one: MOOR. A Moor is a Muslim of the mixed Berber and Arab people inhabiting NW Africa. This group that invaded Spain in the 8th century a.d. and occupied it until 1492. And 59D: Spanish hero El __: CID. Spanish soldier: hero of the wars against the Moors. Is there an echo inhere?

18A: Ogler's look: LEER.

19A: Relative via marriage: IN-LAW.

23A: On the Atlantic, say: AT SEA.

24A: Pant leg: TROUSER.

28A: Game-hunting trespasser: POACHER.

32A: Lumberjack's tool: AXE.

33A: Li'l Abner's home: DOGPATCH.

37A: Two-part: DUAL.

42A: Coup d'__: ETAT.

43A: Supply water to artificially, as farmland: IRRIGATE.

44A: Singer Garfunkel: ART. What's your favorite Simon & Garfunkel song?

45A: Degrading: ABASING.

48A: Military utensils set: MESS KIT.

50A: Teamsters leader who disappeared in 1975: HOFFA. His son James HOFFA is the current Teamsters president.

59A: "__ be?": "is that possible?": CAN IT. Yes!

62A: Lang. of Rome: ITAL.

63A: Disorderly type: SLOB.

64A: Prefix with structure: INFRA. Infrastructure.

65A: California wine valley: NAPA.

66A: Chichen __: Mayan ruins: ITZA. Chichen Itza was a major city for the Mayan people beginning in about 600 AD. Tourists still flock to the site to climb the temple steps.

67A: Idiots: DOLTS.

68A: Counterfeit: SHAM.

69A: Backyard storage facility: SHED.

Down:

1D: Florida city on the Gulf Coast: TAMPA.

2D: WWII German sub: U-BOAT.

3D: Dental thread: FLOSS.

4D: To the point: TERSE.

5D: "Star Trek" crewman: SULU. The "Star War" character is Han SOLO.

6D: Sent a duplicate letter to, briefly: CC'ED.

7D: Cassini of fashion: OLEG. Cassini was married to actress Gene Tierney. (1941) He was noted for being chosen by Jacqueline Kennedy to design her state wardrobe in the 1960s.

8D: Fireside feeling: WARMTH.

9D: Key related to D major: B MINOR.

10D: Language group that includes Swahili: BANTU. Zulu belongs to BANTU also.

12D: A, in Abruzzi: UNA. Alliteration again. Italian for "a", Spanish for "a" too. Abruzzi is a region of central Italy bordering on the Adriatic Sea.

13D: "__ and improved!": ad claim: NEW.

21D: Iwo Jima's country: JAPAN. And AKITAS (45D: Dogs from 21-Down). Looks worried.

22D: Before, in verse: ERE.

25D: Sweat spot: SAUNA.

26D: Precise: EXACT.

27D: Surrenderer to U.S. Grant: R.E.LEE.

33D: Reason for talking in one's sleep: DREAM.

34D: Freakish: OUTRE.

35D: Tiny flying biters: GNATS.

37D: Temperature meas.: DEG (Degree)

39D: Part of TGIF: Abbr.: FRI.

40D: Sea eagle: ERN. TERN is seabird too. Here is an ERN.

41D: Correct: RIGHT.

46D: Ballpoint brand: BIC.

47D: Low-carb diet maven: ATKINS. Dr. Robert Atkins died in 2003 when he slipped on the ice while walking to work, hitting his head and causing bleeding around his brain. He died to weeks later. He was 72.

49D: Dress bottom: SKIRT.

51D: Kalahari refuge: OASIS. Kalahari Desert is largely in Botswana. Plural of OASIS is OASES.

52D: Serious grime: FILTH.

53D: Didn't move a muscle: FROZE.

54D: Equally poor: AS BAD.

56D: Four Corners state: UTAH.

57D: Mama's mate: PAPA.

58D: Close angrily: SLAM.

60D: 365 dias: ANO. The lowercase case is año. Whole different meaning with ano.

Answer grid.

Picture of the Day: Here is sweet photo of our fellow LAT solver J.D and her family celebrating her grandson Truman's 2-year-old birthday on Saturday August 29, 2009. On couch: Joe (JD's Welsh son-in-law) and Shelby (on floor, JD's daughter), Truman, Derek (JD's Wyoming son-in-law) and Corie (JD's daughter) holding Grady (Truman's little brother), Judy and Bob (JD's husband). This stairs photo looks adorable too. From bottom to top: Truman with Daddy Derek, Grady with mommy Corie, Joe and Shelby, Judy and Bob. And Shelby's wedding picture, taken April 2008. Beautiful. From left to right: JD, Bob, Shelby and Joe, Corie, Derek and Truman.

Argyle

PS: Teri Smalley is another alias name of Rich Norris. Anagrams to "It's really me". Thanks, Jerome.

49 comments:

Martin said...

I was held back a bit because I had SHITZU for AKITAS. The two words have two letters in common.

Martin

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

Martin,
Shih Tzu is often clued as partials. I am sure Dennis will comment on AKITAS. WANNA BET?

Argyle,
I did not even pay attention to those sports entries you highlighted. I liked the GIL clue, the 1969 Miracle Mets. Nice EL CID & MOOR echo observation. KICK UPSTAIRS is new to me. Both Sallie and Clear Ayes visited Chichen Itza I think.

Al,
I am not sure how "Prince of Tears" will be received. I just hope it will spur more discussions of "White Terror". Fascinating topic.

Hahtoolah said...

Morning, All I thought this puzzle was more difficult that the usual Monday puzzles. I completed it, but it was more of a challenge for a Monday. Maybe I had to labor more because today is Labor Day!

I love seeing Maine clues (16D)! Stephen King is a fellow University of Maine alum, albeit he graduated several years before I attended. He has a very unique house in Bangor ~ a very unique, spidery wrought iron fence surrounding his place.

I've been the Chichen Itza (66A), as well as several other sites of the Mayan ruins, many times. The beauty of the places never cease to amaze me.

September 7 Birthdays:

1909 ~ Elia Kazan, the theme of yesterday’s puzzle.

1936 ~ Buddy Holly (d. 1959), subject of Don McLean’s song “American Pie”

1930 ~ Theodore “Sonny” Rollins, American jazz saxophonist.

1908 ~ Michael DeBakey (d. 2008), Louisiana-born cardiac surgeon, whom some of you knew quite well. Just 2 months before he died, he received the Congressional Gold Metal. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

1860 ~ Grandma Moses (d. 1961), American painter who began her painting career in her 70s.

1533 ~ Queen Elizabeth I (d. 1603)

QOD: You can fool some of the people some of the time ~ and that’s enough to make a decent living. ~ W.C. Fields.

Dennis said...

Good morning, Argyle, C.C. and gang - a typical Monday puzzle, no muss, no fuss. I liked seeing the tribute to our ringleader with 6D. Thanks for the picture of the Akita, my favorite dog. Unlike the one pictured, ours had a perpetual grin, like she knew something we didn't. (C.C., you know me too well.)

Am I the only one that didn't know a single 'trouser' was one pant leg? I know we always say 'a pair of trousers', but we also say 'I'm gonna try on a pair of pants'.

Argyle, good job as always; sorry you had so much trouble. Get any sleep?

JD, wonderful picture of you and your crew; looks like an extremely happy family. How'd the little guy on the left get away with not wearing a party hat?

Today is, of course, Labor Day, but also Neither Rain nor Snow Day, which is a wonderful thing.

Today's Words of Wisdom: "The human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers." -- Cliff Claven, Cheers

Couple great Seinfeld quotes:

- (On remote controls) Men aren't interested in what's on. They're interested in what else is on.

- The idea behind the tuxedo is the woman's point of view that men are all the same, so we might as well dress them that way. That's why a wedding is like the joining together of a beautiful, glowing bride, and some guy.

PJB-Chicago said...

Argyle: despite technical glitches, you delivered the goods! Nicely done. I was secretly hoping C. C. would have slept late today or maybe even be tooling around a golf course by now, but I was wrong!
For a Monday, this was sturdy, fun and spot on. Just five or six months ago, I would have been hiiting up Google for a couple answers, but thanks to "C.C."ing clues over the last few months (plus "Argyling", too, lately),, I managed the whole grid without secondary resources. Big progress for this solver....[Congrats. Each of you is now officially a verb.!]

Good theme: we hve "pass, run' kick" today. A first for me. Maybe someday we may find a "go postal" on a puzzle with the old warning on mail: Do not fold, spindle, or mutilate". Constructors: pay heed! Lol.
Favorite Simon & Garfunkel (sp?) song, by far = "Bridge over Troubled Water." Easily in the top ten of songs in my lifetime, IMHO. Opening chords alone are kind of bone shattering. Never actually understood a big chunk of the lyric, but that seems now, years later, beside the point. Lesson is: "Friends count. " Pure gold, as advice.
Later.
pjb

Jazzbumpa said...

Hi Gang -

Puzzle was stil not available at Cruciverb when I got there at about 9:15 EST. Hmmmmm . . .

Great theme for our family fantasy football draft day. Great job Argyl, even with the roadblocks.

Recombine 20A and 38A and you can get PASS INTERFERENCE. RUN JUDGMENT might refer to a photo-finish at a foot race.

I also noticed 6D, but our C.C. is a noun, not a verb.

Finally did get to Fred's very enjoyable puzzle last night. Nice!

Gotta run - house will be full of excitable kids and screaming adults in about 2 more hours.

Cheers!
JzB the sports-fan trombonist

Argyle said...

I was looking at today's grid and noticed it sorta looks like a football field: goal posts at each end, the two teams lined up on either side of the neutral zone.

JD said...

Good morning Argyle, CC and all,

Another good write up, Argyle, for another fun puzzle.I cringe when I see those 15 space openings, so I did the downs 1st and it worked for me.Argyle, thanks for the "a ha" on R.E. Lee. It was my last fill and I couldn't read it.Hmmm, maybe I should have a beer in the am instead of a latte.Love Cliff's reasoning, Dennis.

Favorite Garfunkel songs would be Sounds of Silence and Bridge over Troubled Waters-both beautiful.

We've also been to Chichen Itza which I proudly climbed in the 100+ degree heat, but I've heard that people are no longer allowed on it.

outre?

Dennis, Truman has never liked hats.We never sit all together for a picture and wearing the hats made everybody feel silly, but I wanted you all to "meet" my family even though we look goofy.

Bill G. said...

I too didn't know trouser was one pant leg but in general had a fairly easy time today.

I enjoyed the photos JD.

A horse walks into a bar. The bartender asks, "Say, why the long face?"

kazie said...

Nice Monday puzzle. A few I needed perp help for, but smooth running generally and no real hang-ups, despite the sports clues--all were familiar.

Wonderful family pix, JD!

I too was unaware of the singular meaning of trouser. My first guess about this was that it relates to the French for hole: trou. Looking it up, I found that trousse is a bundle, trousseau is a bunch, or outfit (hence our pre-wedding usage: a bunch of outfits?), trouée is an opening or gap. (Now I'm getting somewhere). So if trouée is an opening, a garment with two openings would be plural. When I was a kid, my dad always wore TROUSERS, never PANTS, so I assume it's a more British word. And if the early usage of pants was more American, maybe they just followed the plural concept from the original "trousers" being plural without thinking about it.

I like all S & G songs. the only one I wince over a little is Cecilia--remembering that hotel room in Ansterdam with the loud juke box on the other side of the wall--a story I've told here before.

Hahtoolah said...

We took my parents to Chichen Itza in 2004 for their 50th anniversary. Both parents climbed the pyramid. You're right, JD, since January 2006, however, no one is allowed to climb it. Too many tourists were causing too much damage to the structure. Here's another dramatic view of the pyramid.

I thought "trouser" was a bit odd, but thought of it straight away. It always seemed a bit strange that one has a "pair" of pants, when it is actually only one item of clothing.

Moon said...

Good Morning!
Loved the NFL theme. I'm a big Indianapolis Colts fan.
Got PASS JUDGMENT and I thought it was something on spellings as I always spell it as JUDGEMENT.
Ofcourse with RUN and KICK, it was easy. FROZE took the longest time for me as I didnt know Chicken ITZA.
Thought of CC for 6D.
Like Dennis, I too didnt know trouser as pant leg. But when I saw T, TROUSER was the first thing that popped in my head.

Dennis,
Loved your WOW and quotes.

Argyle,
Sorry to hear about the problems you faced. As usual, marvellous job.

JD,
Beautiful pics..such a beautiful family.

My fav Simon and garfunkel song: Sound of Silence

Didnt get time to do either puzzles yesterday :( Will have to make time today.
Loved the flying on Saturday. I was expecting the worst but this was so smooth. Bumped my head on the wing while climbing down.
There were 3 of us: my friend who's learning, gorgeous instructor Kelly and me. For some 30 mins, I was in the pilot seat. I'm too short to see in front and to reach the brakes. Kelly allowed me to control the plane while taxing to show me how the feet are used. It was hard as I could barely reach with my toetips.
Then she took off and gave me control in the air: I turned left, right, did some 360 deg turns...it was FUN.

Have a great Labor day, everyone

Anonymous said...

Good afternoon, everyone.

JD, nice family photos. You look good.

And I agree with your semi-comment about outré. I think that it's a French word should somehow be indicated.

C.C., Yes, I've been to Chichen Itza, but have not mentioned it here. I think you're referring to my original posted picture of me at
Machu Picchu. Both were astonishing and wonderful to climb around.

Cheers

Barb B said...

Maybe Rich Norris has decided to get back to normal. This was more like the difficulty level I expect on Monday. Still relatively easy, but not exactly a walk in the park.

Argyle, job under pressure, well done. Thank you for your persistence.

JD, wonderful pictures. What a lovely family you have.

Hahtool, that’s a stunning picture of Chicken Itza. Do you have a particular interest in Mayan culture?

Favorite S & G -- The Boxer

philope said...

Easy Monday puzzle. Wayne Robert Williams is now on his own and the St Pete Times carried his puzzle for the first time today

Philope

WM said...

Quick hi as we have to leave in a bit to go to the airport. Terrifically fun weekend and the new husband has been thoroughly initiated into the family...food fun, most excellent wines...some 1993 Silver Oaks among the choices. Promises to return and some golfing with the brothers and some joint cooking next time around(he is a former chef and actually met Julia and Paul Child). Very tired, but as always, worth it.

Great puzzle for a Monday and I had to end up at the LAT website to print it out last night. Agyle you are a trouper on this and another great job as always.

Finished it up fairly quickly with no real hangups and the TROUSER thing wasn't an issue but I, like Moon, wanted an E in JUDGMENT and like JD, didn't immediately read the RELEE correctly...D'oh! Actually picked up the theme but didn't connect the dots on the sports references.

Printed out Fred's puzzle and having fun with that. Caught the theme and I'm about halfway finished. Terrific fun and some interesting clues and fills. So far a well designed puzzle, kudos Fred! :o)

JD...great photos and one of these days we will get Lucy and Truman together for a play day.

Am hoping for cooler weather and some free time to get back to painting. With all that's been going on I have had little time of late.

A great rest of the weekend to you all.

WM said...

Ooops...Argyle(sorry about that and I even proofread!) :oP

Jerome said...

Sometimes Rich Norris hires me (when he accepts a puzzle). Sometimes I'm fired (when he doesn't accept a puzzle). So what should I say about a puzzle he submits for my solving pleasure? Oh, before I go any further. Today's author is Rich Norris. Teri Smalley anagrams to "It's really me".

OK, I did like the puzzle. Timely theme and lots of good fill. Actually, some really good fill. One vowel words like WARMTH, BB GUN, RIGHT, FLOSS, SKIRT, and FILTH. Also enjoyed DOGPATCH, MESS KIT, HOFFA, and FROZE. Hey, I had a good time and that's all that counts.

Jimmy Hoffa. Loved the guy. Me and about three million other teamsters. We had great contracts, wages and bennies. We all did great for working class schmos. And so did the companies we worked for. Rest in peace, Jimmy.

Annette said...

Thanks Argyle for going through all the extra effort for us!

I didn't "see" R.E. Lee either, and tried to put an 'e' in JUDGMENT too.

I've always liked S&G too, and love the songs already mentioned. But my favorite is "59th Street Bridge" (aka "Feeling Groovy"). Whenever I feel myself getting anxious about something, the words 'slow down, you're goin too fast, got to make the mornin last. Kickin down the cobblestones...' always helps calm me down.

Dennis said today is also "Neither Rain nor Snow Day" - that explains why the sun is finally shining today! We were rainy or overcast all weekend.

JD said...

Reliving history;

1822- Brazil declared independence from Portugal

1936- Boulder Dam, now called Hoover Dam, began operation.Did anyone see "Fools Rush in" with Salma Hayak, a very Hollywood ending on top of the dam.

1963- 1st U.S. TV appearance of the Beatles, and...
American Bandstand moved to CA, airing once a wk. on Saturdays

1998- Google founded by 2 Stanford students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin

Hahtoolah said...

JD: According to the Google Corporate Information site and the California Secretary of State's information, Google was actually incorporated on September 4, 1998.

Chickie said...

Hello Alll--I enjoyed this puzzle with the sports theme and other sports names. I managed to complete the puzzle without any outside help--I like Mondays!

I too, wanted an e in Judgment. When adding a suffix without a vowel, I've been taught that you retain the last vowel and add the suffix, e.g. judgement. When adding a suffix starting with a vowel, you drop the final vowel of the word and add the suffix, e.g. judged or judging. I had to look up judgment because I just knew it was incorrect. However, the dictionary gives both versions as correct for judgment/judgement. Oh well, that's English for you.

Argyle, thank you for persevering on getting the CW posted today. It must have been frustrating.

JD, I loved your family pictures. Everyone looks like they are having a wonderful time. The wedding picture was taken in a beautiful place. Where was that?

Moon, your flying "lesson" sounded like fun.

I, also, have been to Chichen Itza. I climbed to the top, but coming down was another story. It is so steep it took me forever to take all those steps without feeling that I was going to just tip over and tumble down.

Bill G. said...

Judgement vs. judgment. I've always liked the first spelling better but my vote doesn't count. Judgement is the preferred British and Canadian spelling and judgment is considered to be the correct spelling in the US. (I wonder why?) Even the spell-checker where I'm typing right this second has judgement underlined in red three times.

kazie said...

I've always assumed the judgment spelling was American and judgement was English. But I just checked my Concise OED, and it gives both with no qualifications or leaning one way or the other, except that the -e- spelling is listed first. Webster's does the same except the -e- spelling is the second one.

Hahtool,
I just noticed your new avatar photo. Looks ver otherworldly with all that mist. Where was it taken?

embien said...

6:45 today. cruciverb.com seems to be taking the day off so I had to use the unbearably grotesque LA Times Java applet. Ughhh. In fact, double ugh.

I had no problems with the puzzle, only with navigating in the applet.

JD: great pix! Looks like a wonderful family.

Favorite S&G: "Scarborough Fair" (also known as "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme"). Who knew back in those days that Paul Simon would turn out to be the one with real talent and Art Garfunkle was just a singer? (Not that there's anything wrong with that, just that I always think of songwriting as being a "higher" talent--probably because I can't write songs.)

Clear Ayes said...

Good Afternoon All, We have had a houseful of company since yesterday afternoon. Daughter's birthday and Labor Day BBQ combined. The gang just left a little while ago. School tomorrow, so they had to get back home. It's a good thing that Mondays are the easiest puzzles, or I might not have had time to finish it.

I liked the 12 and 15 letter theme fills, but like many others I needed a head start by working the Downs first.

Although not difficult, there were some unusual fills like DOGPATCH, TROUSER and IRRIGATE.

Looking for connections I noticed that BANTU(10D) speaking people reside in the Kalahari(51D).

C.C.'s memory serves her well again. Yes, GAH and I have been to Chichen Itza. It is spectacular. The only sensible way to go up the very steep pyramid is to crawl on hands and knees and the only way down is on your butt, one step at a time. Not attractive, but it entitles you to a T-shirt. :o)

My favorite Simon and Garfunkel song is Cecelia. I never had a "Kazie" experience with it. I've linked it before, so I won't do it again now.

"Everything old is new again." I found out last night that our 16 year old grandson is a raving Beatles fan. I copied all 17 of our CD's onto a disk so he can put them on his computer when he gets home. He was ecstatic.

Dennis, Loved both the Clavenism and the Seinfeld quotes, all good stuff.

JD, What a lovely, happy family you have!

eddyB said...

Good afternoon all,

Hahtool, Great photo. Did you take it?
It is probably a good thing that it is closed to foot traffic. If I
made it to the top, I would never be able to get down. Not with my sense of balance and touch of vertigo.

I was one of the last to climb to the top of the tower in Pisa. They
removed the bells and tried to anchor it with steel cables. I did
take a great photo of the Basilica.
The priests below look like little ants. It was really scary hanging
over the edge.

For some quirky reason I can't down load the LAT from cruciverb.
I will try another browser.

eddyB.

Mary said...

Am I the only one who liked trouser? That and 365 dias for ANO both made me grin. I couldn't believe I got stuck on A in Abruzzi.

This is the first time I tried doing the verticals first. I liked it and will try it again on a harder puzzle.

ERN and TERN are kind of stale for crosswords but the pictures made them more fun. Thanks, Argyle. Good job with the hosting, in spite of all the problems.

JD, you have a beautiful family. Those hats really made the picture.

KQ, thanks for pointing me to CC's sidebar. I had completely overlooked it, probably trying to ignore ads.

I love all the S&G songs. Actually went to two of their concerts, Albuquerque in 1968 and Chicago in 1981.

I climbed the pyramids at Uxmal as well as Chichen Itza. Thrilling climb, terrifying descent.

Mary said...

Moon,
Your flying lesson sounds like fun. I'm so glad there was an instructor on board!

eddyB said...

Hello,

Ta-da! Firefox worked.

eddyB

Anonymous said...

This was a nice Monday puzzle. A little more challenging than usual, but not difficult at all. It works for the amount of time I have to spend on it today.

I am with Embien on my favorite S&G song being Scarborough Fair. I really enjoy so much of their music though, it is hard to pick. We saw them in a reunion concert six years go (wow, that long?) and it was an outstanding concert. They were a real class act. While Paul Simon had the greater writing talent, you cannot discount the incredible voice of Art Garfunkel. His high notes are simply amazing. I love All I Know, and you cannot forget his version of I Only Have Eyes for You.

CA, my teenage kids often come home loving some old music, often redone by another artist, or just heard somewhere. I remember my then 15 year old wanting to get the song he heard at a movie, and I realized it was Jim Croce singing I've Got a Name. Off to the library we were looking up old cd's. I find it hilarious as they think they have "found" something unique.

JD, lovely family. You all look like you have such a great time together, and I can tell what a proud grandma you are, with good reason.

Sorry you had to experience such frustration today Argyle. Hope tommorrow all is back to normal. Apparently, someone didn't want to labor on Labor Day.

JimmyB said...

Hahtool's Quote of the Day reminds me of one of my favorite Art Linkletter moments. Art is interviewing children, giving them the beginning of a common saying and having the kids finish the saying in their own words.

Art says to one kid: "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and you can fool all of the people some of the time . . . . " Art pauses and puts the microphone up to the kid and the kid completes the saying with:

"But you can't fool Mom!"

Fred said...

@Bill G

My original clue for ERA was "Past time". The editor changed the clue to "Periods". I don't think that works either.

Timothy Parker edits both Universal Crosswords and USA Today. Wehen I submit a puzzle to him I never know which publication it's going to end up in. So far, he's published 4 of my puzzles in Universal Crosswords and 31 puzzles in USA Today.

99% of the time there is no feedback. He either accepts a puzzle or rejects it with no explanation either way. So yes, you could say he is easy to work for.

lois said...

Good evening Argyle, CC, et al., I 'relee' liked this one and was 'able' to beat my own time. Was only 'at sea' w/one clue. I'll explain. Thought 'trouser' was interesting and got all excited when its cross 25D was misread as 'sweet spot'.. Holy Hotwick! 'Can it' be? Looking for 'moor' I found 'bic'..as in "flick my 'bic', and I 'new' something wasn't 'right'. It can't be 'as bad' as that. Sure enough. I reread the clues and the light was 'shed'. 'Itza' mistake - or perhaps a 'dream'...and brother,I felt the 'warmth'! Holy Hotwick!

JD: great pictues! Beautiful family. Love those smiles!

Argyle: Sorry for your troubles, but thanks for hanging in there. Another great job!

Enjoy your evening.

carol said...

Hi all - really late today - finished the puzzle early but no time to comment till now. No problems to gripe about (poo)

Great job Argyle...sorry you had a fight with the 'electronics' but look, you WON:)

JD - Loved all the pictures of your family, the kids and grands are all so cute. You and Bob are too!

Dennis - Loved the WoW..now I know why I am so much smarter in the evenings, LOL

Pick a Simon & Garfunkel song and I'll tell you it's my favorite - guess I like Cecilia a 'little' better than others. I really do love all their stuff and all of Paul Simon's solo works too, especially Graceland.

Moon - so glad you had fun and are now safely back on the ground.

I think we had a pant(s)/leg(s) discussion here sometime last year. Funny, we don't say a 'pair of sleeves' for a sweater or shirt.

Clear Ayes said...

"the unbearably grotesque LA Times Java applet". Gee Embien, it's only a crossword puzzle grid :o) (I get a mental picture of you rolling on the floor screaming in agony.) What is it that annoys you so much? I like cruciverb.com because I can do the puzzle the night before, otherwise it doesn't matter much. It looks like cruciverb.com still doesn't have the LAT available. I wonder if it will be up and running for tomorrow's puzzle. Good luck, Argyle!

Jerome, Do you know something we don't know? Not exactly a spring chicken, but Jimmy Hoffa would only 96 years old in 2009...not impossible. Some mysteries are more interestingly left unsolved.

Boomer said...

Not out here much anymore. Bowling season has started, although there was no bowling this weekend. But as Annie once said - "Tomorrow, Tomorrow..." Simon & Garfunkel comment by PJB caught my eye. My favorite used to be "Homeward Bound" but now I guess I'd have to say "Old Friends". "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" is great and I think it won a Grammy in 1972 or '73. But Art blew the lyrics at the Concert in Central park in 1981. He also screwed up the opening of "The Boxer". (He must be high on something someone said). I don't mind that they cut "Johnny Ace" from the recordings. I didn't like that much anyway.

JD said...

Hahtool,sorry that my source was off by 3 days. I know yours is accurate because I rechecked.

Chickie, the wedding was at the St Claire Hotel downtown San Jose.Because Joe was here on a travel visa at the time, they had only a few weeks to pull it all together, but it turned out beautifully.
Like CA, I also descended C.I. one step at a time on my butt, but I didn't get a shirt.
CC and Argyle, thanks for posting the pictures.And to all of you who commented, thanks, I love your pictures too.

windhover said...

It appears that I am the only one who has not been to Chichen Itza.
I have, however, visited Paris, Versailles, Frankfort, Manchester, and London on the same day.
All in Kentucky, of course.
Welcome, Boomer.

Dennis said...

It appears that I am the only one who has not been to Chichen Itza.

No, you're not alone, Windhover. But while I haven't been to Chichen Itza, I have been to Itza Chicken, a one-time fast-food place in PA.

JD said...

Our area has CLUCK U., a chicken /beer haven next to Santa Clara University.

Jazzbumpa said...

My sister has been to Chichen Itza, but not me.

I have, however, been to Versailles, KY. It is pronounced Ver-SAY-ILZ.

It there any truth to the rumor that Col. Sanders wanted to call his KY food emporiums Chicken Eatsa?

Anyway, there was a little boy who went to the beach determined to throw rocks at all the birds there. He was so thorough, he left no TERN unstoned.

Cheers!
JzB the fine-feathered trombonist

Hahtoolah said...

Back from a wonderful Labor Day BBQ. al kosher foods, of course. All in all, a good weekend. Too bad I have to go back to work tomorrow.

JD, it was nice to "see " your family. Thanks for sharing all the photos of your beautiful family.

My new avatar was taken at an estate on the Mississippi River near St. Francisville, LA. I took the photo on a fairly typical February day. Because of the humidity in southern Louisiana, there is often a lot of fog in the morning, which creates an interesting effect.

Alas, the photo of Chichen Itza was not one of my photos. Although I dabble in photography, l cannot claim that one as my own.

In regard to the "judgment" vs. "judgement" discussion, all I can say is that in Louisiana "Judgement" without the "e" is the "proper" form. Early in my legal career, I saw judges refuse to accept written judgments if the attorney had entitled the document with an "e." I followed suit, and always used "judgment," although I never had an attorney submit a document labeled "judgment" with an "e."

Jazzbumpa said...

I just was Dennis's last post. Made my lame joke even lamer, by a drumstick, or so.

Cheers!
JzB the scooped trombonist

kazie said...

And I have never been to South America at all either. Only all but maybe 4-5 US states, all but one state of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Soviet Russia, Poland, Czech, the old Yugoslavia and every country of western Europe except Portugal. I have always been interested in seeing Chichen Itza and Machu Picchu too.

carol said...

JD (9:18) re: Cluck U - LOL... wonder if that figures in with 'trouser trout'?

Al said...

CA's 4:17 post about old music reborn reminded me of this series of comments I got from younger kids starting way back when I was in college. "Hey, did you know Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings?" Then some years later on, while I was telling that story and laughing about it, someone else said: "Wings?". These days, I've heard: "Who is Paul McCartney?"

I then take some solace in my own kids knowing (and really liking) songs by the Beatles, ELO, Foreigner, Boston, Aerosmith, Kansas, ZZ Top, and even a bunch of other music from the 70's that even I barely remember. I frequently find myself asking them: "How do YOU know that song, you weren't even born yet?" Guitar Hero has a lot to answer for, but it sure re-introduced a lot of music to the gamer generation. I can hardly wait for the Beatles version of Rock Band to come out. At least then they'll know who John, Paul, George, and Ringo are again.

If you tell a Brit about wearing pants, don't be surprised if he or she laughs or blushes and responds: "Under your trousers, I hope..."

PJB-Chicago said...

Speaking of music recycling through the generations: a quick story.
Was in a trendy store feeling horribly out of place and looking for a small gift for a summer intern who was leaving after having been a tremendous help to me and everyone else. I found a lava lamp which fit the bill because she loves retro things. While on line to get it wrapped, I noticed they were playing a new version of an old Carpenters tune over the loudspeaker and said "Wow, I haven't heard that song in years." Trendy gift wrapper sniffed and said "No way, that track was just released a couple months ago!"
No trips to Chichen Itza, yet., here, either. Someday...
Did see S & G in their reunion tour. Never once did they look at each other or speak a word. Still, that concert was magic. With "Graceland" Simon helped issue in the age of "world music" and introduced the US to harmonies we might not have other heard otherwise. Art is supposedly world-ranked in chess and i still listen to his solo "album" called "Break Away" which was very good, although you have to wonder why he picked that particular title!
Back to the grind....

Chickie said...

Dennis and Jazz, LOL at your banter about the names for Chicken eateries! Chicken Eatsa? and Itza Chicken? JD, Cluck U is pretty funny, too.

JD, thanks for answering my question. The St. Claire Hotel has really been renovated. It is a beautiful venue, now.