Theme: Here You R at Last! - Letter R is added to a common phrase ending with GE.
17A. Park official who tickets speeding bears?: RADAR RANGE(R). Not familiar with the base phrase "Radar Range", the range of cops' radar gun? Park official = Ranger.
22A. Smallest allowable bet?: MINIMUM WAGE(R). Minimum Wage. The current Federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
35A. Steals a plumbing supply?: TAKES THE PLUNGE(R). Take the Plunge. Plunger is a new tool name to me.
45A. San Fernando creator of fake van Goghs?: VALLEY FORGE(R). Valley Forge, the winter camp of Washington's Continental Army. San Fernado Valley. "Creator of faker van Goghs" = forger.
53A. Burrowing critter cited for excellence?: MERIT BADGE(R). Merit Badge, boy scout award. Burrowing critter = badger.
Today's Dan Naddor Index (non-theme entries with 6 or more letters) is 11. Three of the Down ones intersect three theme entries.
This is the type of the puzzle I like, very few proper nouns and plenty of cleverly misguiding V-8 clues. Wordplay transcends culture/age gaps. Proper names, as sparkling as they are, should be used in moderation.
Across:
4. Alice doesn't work there anymore: MEL'S. Mel's Diner in the TV series "Alice". Blind spot for me.
8. Spring: LEAP. "Spring" seems to be a verb whenever it's a clue.
12. Oft-named time: ERA. Like the Obama Era.
13. Some trick-or-treaters: GHOSTS. We got very few trick-or-treaters this year. Kids seem to prefer candies over Joe Mauer baseball cards.
15. Annual spring race, for short: INDY. Indy 500. Held over Memorial Day weekend.
19. More than upset: IN A RAGE. Was thinking the answer might end in "er".
21. Dickinson output: VERSE. Penned in POEMS first.
27. It'll grow on you: HAIR. Of course! But I am a dummy. Dennis once said that hair grows 2 inches per month.
28. Tennis court ploy: LOB. Rather a straightforward clue. "Court ploy" would be tricky.
31. Like some stockings: MESHY
33. Drop the ball, e.g.: ERR
34. Course-plotting "Star Trek" crewman: SULU. Nailed it today.
39. Cubist Juan: GRIS. No idea. He's a Spanish painter and he died in 1927. Here is his portrait of Picasso.
41. Columnist Noonan: PEGGY. Gimme. I used to follow her columns on Wall Street Journal. Reagan's speech writer.
43. Parsley relative: DILL. For your pickle.
44. Field of study: AREA
49. Zeal: ARDOR
52. They help get the lead out: ERASERS. Good clue too.
57. "Mazel __!": TOV. Literally "good" in Hebrew. Mazel = luck/fortune.
58. Big picture: EPIC. Of course, I was not thinking of film.
59. Pictures on a screen: IMAGES. Nice consecutive "picture" clue.
61. "Forget it!": NOPE
62. Low islands: CAYS. Same as keys, correct?
63. Some appliances: GES. I've been extremely loyal to GE, despite the stock price plunge under the leadership of Jeff Immelt.
Down:
2. Commercial suffix suggesting pasta: A-RONI. As in Rice-A-Roni.
3. Stereotypical pratfall cause: BANANA SKIN. Oh, I just call it banana peel.
4. Web surfing tool: MODEM
5. Pablo's "that": ESA. Not ESO?
6. USPS delivery: LTR
7. Turkmenistan, once: Abbr.: SSR (Soviet Socialist Republic)
8. Eyelid application: LINER. Can't stand eye liner on men.
9. Certain Caltech grad: Abbr.: ENGR (Engineer)
11. Combustible heap: PYRE. Funeral heap.
13. They're scheduled to be awarded at the Staples Center on 1/31/2010: GRAMMYS. The answer emerged itself.
14. International Court of Justice site, with "The": HAGUE. In the Netherlands.
18. Declare as fact: AVER
23. Sweet-talk: WHEEDLE. This fill is located at the heart of the grid and connects three theme answers.
24. Seniors' D.C. lobby: AARP. Bet they are not as powerful as AMA or NRA.
25. Miss: GIRL. Thought "miss' might be a verb.
28. Identifier seen on a carousel: LUGGAGE TAG. The baggage carousel.
29. Jackie's designer: OLEG (Cassini)
30. Hide, dog-style: BURY. Got the answer from crosses.
31. PDA entries: MTGS. Meetings.
32. "I'm all __": EARS
36. Suspect's concern: TAIL. Follower.
37. Sledding spot: HILL
38. Hullabaloos: UPROARS
43. Scurry: DART
44. "Parties must ever exist in __ country": Edmund Burke: A FREE. Not familiar with this Burke line at all.
45. Spokesperson: VOICE. Wrote down AGENT first.
46. Hoods with safe jobs?: YEGGS. D'oh, safecrackers.
47. Irregularly notched: EROSE
48. Much of a bride-to-be's mail, for short: RSVPS. Did the answer come to you readily?
49. "Right on!": AMEN
50. Seized wheels: REPO
51. Crashing bore: DRIP. New meaning of drip to me.
54. Pen name: BIC. Ballpoint pen. Nailed it.
55. Doc bloc: AMA (American Medical Association). Nice rhyme.
Answer grid.
C.C.
17A. Park official who tickets speeding bears?: RADAR RANGE(R). Not familiar with the base phrase "Radar Range", the range of cops' radar gun? Park official = Ranger.
22A. Smallest allowable bet?: MINIMUM WAGE(R). Minimum Wage. The current Federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
35A. Steals a plumbing supply?: TAKES THE PLUNGE(R). Take the Plunge. Plunger is a new tool name to me.
45A. San Fernando creator of fake van Goghs?: VALLEY FORGE(R). Valley Forge, the winter camp of Washington's Continental Army. San Fernado Valley. "Creator of faker van Goghs" = forger.
53A. Burrowing critter cited for excellence?: MERIT BADGE(R). Merit Badge, boy scout award. Burrowing critter = badger.
Today's Dan Naddor Index (non-theme entries with 6 or more letters) is 11. Three of the Down ones intersect three theme entries.
This is the type of the puzzle I like, very few proper nouns and plenty of cleverly misguiding V-8 clues. Wordplay transcends culture/age gaps. Proper names, as sparkling as they are, should be used in moderation.
Across:
4. Alice doesn't work there anymore: MEL'S. Mel's Diner in the TV series "Alice". Blind spot for me.
8. Spring: LEAP. "Spring" seems to be a verb whenever it's a clue.
12. Oft-named time: ERA. Like the Obama Era.
13. Some trick-or-treaters: GHOSTS. We got very few trick-or-treaters this year. Kids seem to prefer candies over Joe Mauer baseball cards.
15. Annual spring race, for short: INDY. Indy 500. Held over Memorial Day weekend.
19. More than upset: IN A RAGE. Was thinking the answer might end in "er".
21. Dickinson output: VERSE. Penned in POEMS first.
27. It'll grow on you: HAIR. Of course! But I am a dummy. Dennis once said that hair grows 2 inches per month.
28. Tennis court ploy: LOB. Rather a straightforward clue. "Court ploy" would be tricky.
31. Like some stockings: MESHY
33. Drop the ball, e.g.: ERR
34. Course-plotting "Star Trek" crewman: SULU. Nailed it today.
39. Cubist Juan: GRIS. No idea. He's a Spanish painter and he died in 1927. Here is his portrait of Picasso.
41. Columnist Noonan: PEGGY. Gimme. I used to follow her columns on Wall Street Journal. Reagan's speech writer.
43. Parsley relative: DILL. For your pickle.
44. Field of study: AREA
49. Zeal: ARDOR
52. They help get the lead out: ERASERS. Good clue too.
57. "Mazel __!": TOV. Literally "good" in Hebrew. Mazel = luck/fortune.
58. Big picture: EPIC. Of course, I was not thinking of film.
59. Pictures on a screen: IMAGES. Nice consecutive "picture" clue.
61. "Forget it!": NOPE
62. Low islands: CAYS. Same as keys, correct?
63. Some appliances: GES. I've been extremely loyal to GE, despite the stock price plunge under the leadership of Jeff Immelt.
Down:
2. Commercial suffix suggesting pasta: A-RONI. As in Rice-A-Roni.
3. Stereotypical pratfall cause: BANANA SKIN. Oh, I just call it banana peel.
4. Web surfing tool: MODEM
5. Pablo's "that": ESA. Not ESO?
6. USPS delivery: LTR
7. Turkmenistan, once: Abbr.: SSR (Soviet Socialist Republic)
8. Eyelid application: LINER. Can't stand eye liner on men.
9. Certain Caltech grad: Abbr.: ENGR (Engineer)
11. Combustible heap: PYRE. Funeral heap.
13. They're scheduled to be awarded at the Staples Center on 1/31/2010: GRAMMYS. The answer emerged itself.
14. International Court of Justice site, with "The": HAGUE. In the Netherlands.
18. Declare as fact: AVER
23. Sweet-talk: WHEEDLE. This fill is located at the heart of the grid and connects three theme answers.
24. Seniors' D.C. lobby: AARP. Bet they are not as powerful as AMA or NRA.
25. Miss: GIRL. Thought "miss' might be a verb.
28. Identifier seen on a carousel: LUGGAGE TAG. The baggage carousel.
29. Jackie's designer: OLEG (Cassini)
30. Hide, dog-style: BURY. Got the answer from crosses.
31. PDA entries: MTGS. Meetings.
32. "I'm all __": EARS
36. Suspect's concern: TAIL. Follower.
37. Sledding spot: HILL
38. Hullabaloos: UPROARS
43. Scurry: DART
44. "Parties must ever exist in __ country": Edmund Burke: A FREE. Not familiar with this Burke line at all.
45. Spokesperson: VOICE. Wrote down AGENT first.
46. Hoods with safe jobs?: YEGGS. D'oh, safecrackers.
47. Irregularly notched: EROSE
48. Much of a bride-to-be's mail, for short: RSVPS. Did the answer come to you readily?
49. "Right on!": AMEN
50. Seized wheels: REPO
51. Crashing bore: DRIP. New meaning of drip to me.
54. Pen name: BIC. Ballpoint pen. Nailed it.
55. Doc bloc: AMA (American Medical Association). Nice rhyme.
Answer grid.
C.C.
63 comments:
Good morning, C.C. and gang - reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated, although it certainly seemed possible Wednesday morning.
Very much a fun puzzle today; absolutely wonderful clues, and an easy-to-get theme. The only clue/answer I didn't care for was 'meshy' stockings. 'Mesh stockings' yes, even meshed, but not meshy. I confidently put 'banana peel' for 3D, but 42A, 'SSN' made it pretty obvious that there was a problem. And I thought 'wheedle' was more like 'cajole' than 'sweet-talk', but Merriam says otherwise.
I thought 'Identifier seen on a carousel' was brilliant; also liked 'Alice doesn't work there anymore'. And for some reason, I loved 'Hide, dog-style/bury'.
C.C., I believe Radar Range refers to the Amana RadarRange, which I think was one of the first microwave ovens in the late 40's. And I can't believe you never heard of a plunger.
Today is National Indian Pudding Day, Sadie Hawkins Day, and World Kindness Day.
Today's Words of Wisdom: "To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain that sustain life, not the top." -- Robert M. Pirsig
Good morning.
Yes, as Dennis said, the Amana Radar Range was one of the first microwave ovens.
Polly Holliday of "Alice" got her own show "Flo". I think it was a flop.
Cay and key are synonymous, I think.
Valley and Girl in the same puzzle.
Yikes!! Didn't realize it was Friday the 13th. Now I know why that black cat crossed my path.
Have a great day.
2 down I wanted banana peel
I was stuck on 13 down I had to use the g spot to find staples center 1/31/10 to see Grammys. I don't know why they even have the awards shows those who should win don't and sometimes people are put into the wrong catergory get awards who don't deserve them.
Case in point 1988 Metallica's .....And Justice For All was up for best heavy metal album. But they gave it to Jethro Tull's Crest of a Knave.
It would be as though Jay Z beat out Norah Jones for best jazz CD.
Morning, all!
Fun puzzle for me as well today. I had a few missteps (BANANA PEEL for BANANA SKIN, ESO for ESA and WRANGLE for WHEEDLE), but once I got past those the rest of the puzzle fell pretty quickly. Those two missteps definitely added significantly to my solving time, though. I just refused to accept that 3D could be anything other than BANANA PEEL...
Good Morning, CC and Friends and Happy Friday the 13th!
I loved this puzzle even though it certainly gave me a run for the money. I love themes that have a twist like these. It did take me a while to catch on and I key in to the fact that the final across clue (GEs) was a clue to the theme.
Some responses came to me immediately. How I knew that Alice no longer works at MEL's is a mystery. I also immediately wrote down HAIR as something that grows on you.
Great puzzle to end the week. Hope you are doing well, Dan.
QOD: Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy. ~ Albert Einstein.
This is a wonderful puzzle, with the theme easily revealed, but the fill tricky and requiring thought and an understanding of Mr. Naddor’s unique and twisted mind.
Gentleman you are correct about the Radar Range ; and Dennis, I also cannot imagine never reaching for a plunger to deal with a stopped up toilet. C.C., if it is true, I hope you never need to find out about plungers.
Sadie Hawkins Day, ladies. Go and wreak havoc upon the men! Al Capp, a crossword staple and an inventive mind.
Dan, I hope your health is as strong as your puzzle.
Dennis,
OK, I just googled plunger image and felt silly not knowing its English name. Missed your information/fun dense comments in the past couple of days.
Jeannie,
One does not have to be a constructor to offer opinion on a puzzle or puzzle related issue, correct? I was fascinated by Jerome's stat, but Rex is an authority on NYT constructor gender parity.
Dan Naddor,
Hope you are already home working out puzzles for us.
Frank,
Thanks for sharing the great news on Jean. My friend Linda's mom stopped taking her depression medicine and she's so much happier.
Good Morning All,
I had to do a lot of erasing today. Spooky instead of Ghosts, Stares instead of Sneers and Agent instead of Voice. This and more made the entire grid difficult. I just couldn't sync up with the cluing. The SW corner was the last part to fill in due to Drip. Crashing Bore??
I needed red letter help there. Although a struggle, I did enjoy it.
Have a good one!
Same favorites as Dennis, but had to g'spot GRIS and I had trouble getting MTGS and realized I didn't know precisely what a PDA is short for and hence what it does, so g'ed it as well and then guessed MTGS.
I had forgotten Mel's name, and didn't know ESA, but once I had the M-LS it came to me. I don't know why, but none of the new comedies this fall seem funny, with the possible exception of "Big Bang". I've never been fond of Leno, so I avoid that show like the plague--nothing new except the time slot.
My main problem was not even seeing BANANASKIN because I had NOT for NON, so I thought the pratfall was something metaphorical and not literal--something with a bat in it. So came here with BAT ANAS KIN.
But I enjoyed the journey today. Good theme clues/answers.
JimmyB,
How is your LAT stat lately?
Barry G,
Six days a week of Tianjin style cooking, no wonder you want to try your own.
Jeannie et al,
Delicious tomato sauce recipes yesterday. Thanks for sharing. Honey and mushroom, yummy...
Good morning, C.C. and all,
What a great Friday puzzle! It did take me a bit to get the theme as I didn't recognize "Radarrange." Also, I had some difficulty in the NW as I started with EVE for 12A, then ETA, finally ERA. Loved the clever cluing, with "Identifier on a carousel" and "Hoods with safe jobs?" among the favorites.
Dan Naddor, Thank you for today's entertainment. I hope you are enjoying improved health.
Enjoy the day!
Another fun puzzle by Dan. Initially had trouble getting traction all around; but once the theme words began to fall, could enjoy and savor the rest of Dan's delicious clues.
Don't know what he had in mind, but radar range is also the distance at which a radar can detect a target such as a plane or coastline.
Another nice day at 43ºN 75º17'W.
Good Morning All!
A little something for Kazie there: 4A & 8A, Alice Springs, right in the heart of Oz.
I chuckled at 31A answer: MESHY with the next clue being 33A Drop the ball. I said to myself, "Somebody sure did on that answer."
Good morning C.C. and all, another fairly difficult fill for me again. For some reason I just never got into the swing of this puzzle. I did manage to get it done, but had two trips to the G-spot and got a lot of help from the perps.
I guess I will be back to doing the puzzles on line as the Beaver Valley Times has gone to the Tribune Media Services, Inc puzzles. This was sudden and without notice so I guess this will warrant a call to the editor.
Al,
Thanks for that. I thought it might be a site giving info on "the Alice", as it's sometimes referred to. I might be headed there next June. I haven't ever been to "the Center" of Oz, and a friend has offered to go with me if I visit her next year in Sydney. She sent brochures to look at, so I know she's serious.
Good morning everyone. I am so touched by your well wishes still coming in over a full week after Jerome blew my cover. You're a very sweet group of people. And yes, I'm doing better, thanks.
Glad you seemed to like the puzzle. You'd never know it was the same puzzle Rex Parker ripped to shreds in his blog. I'm not sure what to make of that guy.
BTW, my original clue for TAKES THE PLUNGER was "Embarks on a plumbing mission". I think Rich had a "breakfast test" problem with that one. Would you have objected?
Y'all have a great Friday the 13th. See you Wednesday.
Hi C.C. and gang, I'm glad to see that Dennis survived to write another day and Dan Naddor is doing better! I thought the best clue was 27A: It'll grow on you - Hair! I got that one before my wife did with the perp AVER.
Here's one wrong way to use a radar range
Good Morning All, Thanks to Dan Naddor for checking in. I'm glad to hear that he is doing better.
The theme was terrific. The first one I got was VALLEY FORGER, saw the pattern and went back to fill in GER in the others. That gave me a foothold in the east and I worked my way west.
My only complaint was with BANANA SKIN. I've never heard it referred to that way. Might as well say that the covering for an orange is an orange skin. I know it is accurate, but it sure doesn't sound right to me.
My favorite was "They help get the lead out" for ERASERS.
I've got a fasting blood test scheduled this morning. No big deal, just the standard stuff...but ...no coffee! I'm going to get out of here, so I can stop for a cuppa joe on my way home. See you all later.
A good day in Puzzle-land! I "got" the theme, a fine Naddorian theme to boot, by the second entry, and filled in the whole dang grid with no major erasures or google-izing. Second day in a row free from JA RULE music, so I think we're in the clear. Whew!
I'm also glad that MESHY seemed "off" to other people. "Sedgy" would not have been appropriate! The ARONI suffix was either really good, or not so good for me, depending if I am thinking like an American or an Italian! :-) ~ONE as a suffix makes something "big" and the plural is ~ONI.
I liked the clues for EPIC, YEGGS and HAIR, and the theme answer VALLEY FORGER. WHEEDLE is such an underused word; c'mon folks slip it into a conversation today!
Like yesterday's UNA (versus UNO) for Italian (and Spanish) "one," with ESO/ESA the constructor can choose between masculine and feminine forms for the fill, and you only can guess which one it is via the perps. I trip over banananana peels, not "skins," but no big deal. I forgot the airports have carousels, not just the amusement park. Remember, slide projectors had carousels too...
Finally: Juan GRIS painted in a cubist style very similar to Picasso's. People debate who influenced whom. The best bio on Picasso is a series by John Richardson. Norman Mailer wrote one also. Picasso had such an active love life that it's a wonder he had any time to paint at all! Even for people who don't care for his work like the Picasso Museum in the "Marais" section of Paris: it's a small museum in a wonderful old building, and close to good restaurants and two great bakeries. That was my 'hood twenty years ago.
Now I'm being a "Crashing Bore" so will close!
p.s. Nice puzzle, Dan! Be well.
Well, C.C., since you brought it up . . .
Am I just having a bad week or are we getting back to tougher puzzles at the end of the week? This is the first week in a long, long time that my average time for the most recent week is within a couple of minutes of my overall average (since we started with LAT). For the last couple of months my weekly average had been 10+ minutes quicker. If we have a difficult Saturday I'll be convinced.
This was our 28th Dan Naddor puzzle, by the way. Donna Levin is next with 10.
My struggles were with WHEEDLE and YEGGS, which came from the perps but were new to me so I mistrusted my answers. The SW corner slowed me down a lot, too.
And, speaking of MAZEL TOV, just heard that Topol will be replaced by Harvey Fierstein when Fiddler on the Roof comes to San Francisco. Apparently Topol is nursing a bad shoulder.
Yikes, it's Friday the 13th and Dan's puzzle has BURY, PYRE, GHOSTS, and AMEN. Gimme a Xanax... Now!
Loved the theme and got a kick out of it. However, I had a blast with many of the clues. Goofiness reigned supreme. Speeding bears. What an image.
C.C.- I never implied there wasn't a gender gap in the ratio of male constructors to women. It wasn't even part of my comment. Of course there's a gender gap, but that fact does not mean there's a bias against women constructors. That a crossword editor chooses a puzzle based on the gender of the author is ridiculous. The same for age, ethnicity, religion, politics, etc.
Unless the editor knew you, they wouldn't have the slightest idea of who or what you are.
Why most solvers are women and most constructors are men is beyond my ability to understand. Any ideas... anyone?
I had a little bit of a pratfall today, but thought the theme was a good one and I caught onto it very early once I got radar ranger. The new word for me today was “yeggs” – safecracker. I wanted “keys” for “cays” and like several others had banana peel instead of skin. I actually looked up dill weed as I questioned whether it was indeed a member of the parsley family, and lo and behold it is! In the summer I hang a bunch in the entry way of my house. I love the smell of fresh dill. I was a fan of the show Alice and Flo’s signature saying was “kiss my grits!”
Good to see you Dan, and thanks for a very enjoyable puzzle.
C.C. as I said to Lemonade last night, point well taken. Also did you really give away Joe Mauer cards for Halloween?
Dennis, good to see you survived. I had faith in you.
My wife sent me this URL and she thought it was very funny: Demotivators
here's an example for: "BLOGGING
Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few."
Dan, great of you to check in, and thanks for the good news that you're improving. Power of a lot of positive thoughts coming your way.
You'd never know it was the same puzzle Rex Parker ripped to shreds in his blog. I'm not sure what to make of that guy.
Well, I know what to make of him, but in the interest of domestic harmony, and to keep C.C. and Lemonade from having any angst, I'll just say, consider the source. The puzzle was excellent on several levels.
As to 'embarks on a plumbing mission', I find it hard to believe that anyone would've objected.
Indian Pudding Crockpot Recipe
3 c. milk
1/2 c. cornmeal
1/2 tsp. salt
3 eggs
1/4 c. light brown sugar
1/3 c. molasses
2 tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. ginger
2/3 cup chopped dates or chopped raisins
Lightly grease crockpot. Preheat on high for 20 minutes. Meanwhile bring milk, cornmeal and salt to a boil. Boil, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes. Cover and simmer an additional 10 minutes. In a large bowl, combine eggs, brown sugar, molasses, butter, and spices. Gradually beat in hot cornmeal mixture; whisk until smooth. Stir in raisins or finely chopped dates. Pour into crock and cook on high for 2 to 3 hours or low for 6 to 8 hours.
And because I am thinking about dill here is a wonderful dill sauce that is good over any fish, but I prefer salmon.
1/2 of an English cucumber peeled and shreadded
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup sour cream
2 tbspn milk
2 tbspn chopped fresh dill
Combine and let chill for about an hour.
Hi Gang -
Dan -
Glad you're doing better.
This is by a wide margin my favorite puzzle of the week. Love the clever cluing, and misdirection - lot's of sparkle. I had PEEL, too, but SKIN is valid. Had MOVIES for iMAGES.
Great theme, too. MERIT BADGERS is a hoot.
TAKES THE PLUNGER could have a better clue. Something along these lines.
I'm gong to be very busy the next week or so - all good stuff, BTW - so my attendance here will probably be irregular.
Gotta run - house full of granddaughters.
Cheers!
JzB the gotta work on my plunger technique trombonist
Must have bad link karma.
PLUNGER
Chers!
JzB
So...
Am I the only one who thought that "get the lead out" was an inaccurate clue for ERASER since, as we all know, pencils haven't actually had lead in them for quite some time now? Of course, I suppose that "get the graphite out" wouldn't quite have the same ring to it...
Good morning, everyone.
@dennis So nice to see you back at your regular post. You must have had one heckuva celebration!
@hahtool Good catch on GES. Love the Einstein quite!
Dan, let me add my wishes that your health is improving.
@tfrank Good news on your Honey! Hope she is back to her old self soon!
@mj I also had EVE and wouldn't give it up. Had to check letters and finally got it with assistance. Hated to do that!
Dan, re: Rex. Who cares?
@jazzbumpa Loved the Plunger link.
@barryg Don't agree with your nit. Can you go to the store and buy pencil graphite? I've only seen pencil lead.
Have a fabulous Friday!
Good to hear your are doing better Dan! Everyday is a plumbing mission for me. I would have gotten a chuckle out of that one.
Getting the lead off would have gotten my mind off speeding up. I was trying to think of kick in the pants type answers that didn't fit.
Jazz, Wycliffe Gordon has quite the chops.
Jeannie, That dill recipe looks great! Can we use good ole American cukes? We're having flounder tonight. No deer yet.
Speaking of stuffing: I made some baked stuffed flounder last week. Stuffing was bread, PBR, lemon juice, garlic, onion, tarragon, rosemary (wife said I used to much), pepper, celery and shrimp. Sauteed all the hard stuff then added a some shredded carrots at the end. Gave it a bit of crunch. Bought some haddock later in the week and used up the leftover stuffing on that. The flounder was better.
@dan naddor: not so tough, not so easy. a most enjoyable solve.
@jeannie: you are my favorite crossword corner blogger.
MY GUESS IS JEANNIE USES AN ENGLISH CUCUMBER BECAUSE IT IS SEEDLESS.
Whew! That was a tough one for me. Only G'd one - Juan Gris - but many of the fills took a lot of thought and erasing. Never did get the theme.
One problem was that I penciled in "mouse" instead of "modem" and was determined to stick with it. Also wasn't really happy with "banana skin." Had "luggage tag" from fills, but didn't realize what it was until C.C.'s blog. Of course I was thinking merry-go-round.
Hope everyone continues on the road to better health. Looks as if things are looking up for most of you.
Peggy Noonan has been here a few times for seminars at the local university. I've never gone even though I am an alumna of that school and have always been invited to attend. Maybe someday I will go.
Hello all.
I was going to say a "great Dan
Naddor" puzzle. But, that would be redundant. Loved this puzzle. There was a big smile on my face
when I finished it.
The 21A clue and answer that I referenced yesterday was: tater TOT casserole.
Off to play cards.
P.S. Check Jazz's blog to see some
great photos.
eddyB
...but on his computer. He dictates but I type whatever I want ! Shhh. Don't tell.
@Jeannie - We're trying the cukes tonight. I'm supposed to say "But NO WORMS with our cukes." Inside joke, I am thinking.
Little known fact: Peggy Noonan responds to "interesting" email. [Maybe only to PJ B?]. "May not agree with her on everything, but is worth listening to some times."
To the store to buy dill. And other things. Making hummus tomorrow maybe, but it "never tastes of chickpeas". Lemon or garlic or chipotle peppers are favorite flavors. You can put it in or on cut vegetables, bread, pasta, potatoes (mash it in there good, sneak in bacon or something with "crunch appeal") and "maybe" PJ B will post a recipe on his "microblog." Maybe he will procrastinate.
[I think I wouldn't look for it too soon!]
L-J P
(the Swedish half of the rarely performing comedy duo. The shorter and funnier one!]
Dan, re: Rex Parker. Ditto Crockett1947 @11:57. Who cares? Your productivity triggers his jealousy instead of admiration.
Happy Friday the 13th everyone. No slipping on any BANANA SKINS!
Good puzzle for me with thought provoking twists and turns.
Happy that you are doing well Dan, stay out of the hospital!
I need to check out those guidelines for Sadie Hawkins day. See you all later.
Hello All--I enjoyed this puzzle, and got the theme right away. However, I had to Google Juan Gris and Peggy Noonan. Once those were in the rest all fell into place.
Dan Naddor, thanks for checking in and letting us know that you are improving healthwise. Another fun puzzle with just enough challenge to keep us all thinking.
I liked It'll grow on you=hair, and They help get the lead out=erasers. I thought the, Some appliances clue needed to denote an abbreviation. GES is an abbreviation and I couldn't understand the word ges! Duh!
Jeannie, I use dried dill on so many of my dishes--especially sliced tomatoes and avacados with chopped chives and a sprinkle of dill. Dill seems to enhance the flavor of fish and eggs as well.
Thanks for the cucumber sauce recipe. I'll add it to my book.
JimmyB,
Thanks for the confirmation. Personally I feel the clues are getting tougher.
Jerome,
Why? I think women enjoy solving problems, and men seem to get more excitement from creating them. By the way, I don't believe editors pick up puzzles based on gender or ethnicity either.
Jeannie,
Yes. I thought candies are bad for kids' teeth.
@C.C. Perfect observation! ;)
RedstateDEMOCTAT: I agree with you that awards are sometimes given to the wrong people. I became totally disillusioned many years ago when John Wayne won the oscar for "True Grit" instead of Dustin Hoffman or John Voigt for "Midnight Cowboy." That one had to be political because Wayne was getting old and had never gotten an Oscar
Jeanne: Thanks for the dill sauce recipe. Sounds simple and fast and I grow dill in my herb garden. This will become a regular with my fish dishes.
Doreen
11:50 today. This was a fun romp through Naddor-ville! I got the theme practically at the start with RADAR RANGE(r) and that made most of the puzzle a slam dunk.
But then...I'd filled in VALLEY GIRL(er) based on the VALLEY and the R from SNEERS, confirmed by the E in EROSE and the R in RSVPS. D'oh! Took a bit to get that straightened out. Sometimes getting the theme early is a bad thing.
And then....I came to the SW corner, where I already had BADGER but otherwise was looking at a sea of blank squares. What kind of BADGE could it be? POLICE or SHERIFF didn't fit, and no other badges came to mind. Eventually the V8 kicked in after remembering my boy scout days (eons ago).
A wonderful puzzle, and quite entertaining to solve from start to finish. I even caught the "theme shout out" GES in the SE corner. I'll forgive MESHY for a puzzle like this any day. Thanks Dan!
I'm going to snitch on Jimmy B. He hasn't mentioned this so I would like to send congratulations to his son.
His son, a rookie San Jose Policeman, saved a two year old from choking on a hard candy by performing the Heinlich (Sp?) maneuver. It was in the Mercury-News about a week ago. I hope Jimmy B. doesn't mind, but his mother-in-law, who is a good friend, was telling her grandchild's story to a group of us at a recent meeting. I know that the family is very proud of this young policeman.
Vern said....
I must be getting better because Friday puzzles usually are my personal Waterloo. Got this one today after agonizing over the many words associated with a merry go round until, duh, it's an airport carousel!
Those of you who are physically attached to cell phones might want to read the key article in Bottom Line, November 15. In addition to cell phone dangers, the author suggests that we leave the kitchen when the microwave is working. Too late for me, but it might help you younger folks.
I had a comment all ready to post here yesterday but my sister-in-law came over just as I thought I hit the 'publish' bar but later discovered that I did not.
I will try again for today.
Heck of a puzzle for me...I had trouble all over the place but really enjoyed the surprise when I pulled the V-8 can away and found the answers. I don't know much about PDA's either, so missed that one.
I have to agree with Dennis on MESHY. I have never heard that word. Some cute clues/answers in this: 27A HAIR, 55D AMA.
T.Frank, I am so glad Jean is back to the 'girl' you knew. It must be a tremendous relief to you both.
Dennis, glad you survived the party. Hope it was worth it :)
Mr. Naddor, I hope you are feeling better. Take care of yourself, we all enjoy your puzzles (difficult or not :))
More later, I have to catch up with the rest of today's comments.
C.C: Great write up.
Dan: Nifty puzzle.
Jeannie: Your recipes are top-notch. I used to make a similar dill sauce with Armenian cukes that I grew!
Dennis: Glad to see you back.
Everyone: What is wrong with using perps? There are few clues that have have unique answers. OK, there are proper names (and Roman numerals), but sometimes these are given alternate spellings! I like to work in both directions at once.
Monday is operation day. Oh goodie!
Have a good weekend!
Good luck on your surgery Lorraine L, and speedy recovery.
I can't tell you how many times our police officers have jumped in to save the lives of those at risk! Congratulations to your son JimmyB. Your family must be very proud. People in my occupation truly appreciate our officers. Thanks Chickie, for the heads up
I know I'm new here, but you all feel like 'family'.
Forgot to mention 28D 'Identifier seen on a carousel'...I kept thinking of a 'merry-go-round'. I had L U G G but could not think of a single thing. I finally had to look at the answer and just had to laugh at the way my mind works (or doesn't). Can you tell we don't travel by air???
Beyond the puzzle discussions, I do so enjoy the recipe sharing/discussions. One of this blogs sub-themes, I guess?
@PJB--We made your "Oriental Cucumbers" yesterday. Yummy, even better today! I have always made a similar recipe Scandinavian style with dill. Your recipe made it to a 3x5 card in my permanent recipe file, which I hope you'll recognize as a definite honor. :)
@Jeannie--I am cooking your recipe for the Tomato and Basil Pie, along with the vodka pie crust recipe for Thanksgiving brunch. Is it okay to make the crust the night before and chill it? I will be assembling and baking the pies at my son and DIL's home. Also, thanks for the cuke/dill fish sauce recipe. We'll be trying that, as well. Hubby likes fish, and this sounds healthier than the mayo based tartar he likes. I bet this sauce would also be tasty on a baked potato.
Lorrain L. There is nothing wrong
with using "perps". You are supposed to use the As ands Ds together. I don't know why some people view them so negatively.
Maybe they can answer the question.
eddyB
MJ- From RECIPE you can get a PIECE of PIE, RICE or a CREPE, for CRIPE sake! PRICEless, I say!
Not to mention pierce.
Although the puzzle was tough, we really enjoyed it. And for once, I got the theme fairly early in the solving. I did stick with 'not' which messed me up.
Dan N. I did not write to you last week but I did add you to my prayers immediately. I am glad you are improving. Keep going that direction!
Frank, Glad to hear that Jean is so improved. Medicine can be such a tricky thing. That's why it is important to have it monitored often.
And Lorraine, I hope the surgery goes well and you have a speedy recovery.
Regarding bore, I received an e-mail today that told about a teacher asking her class, "What do we call a person who keeps on talking after people have lost interest in what is being said?" and a child replied, "A teacher."
Ouch!
Dot
I personally don't own a microwave I know that sounds weird to most. I also don't own a digital camera or my avatar would change. Carol, and et al this is for you. I personally don't like V-8 juice as it reminds me of straight tomato juice. We had a cutting yesterday and I recommend buying the strawberry/banana skin blend. See what I did there?
Jeannie, I don't like V-8 juice either, I only refer to it as the commercial suggests: "Wow, I could have had a V-8"
and the clunk on the head. Just another way of saying 'D'oh'!
Dennis- Dead presidents don't count.
Anon. thanks for picking me as your fav...that's a big honor. There are so many people on this blog that contribute their own talents. Mine happens to be cooking, a little DF humor. If cooking is your passion, join in with recipes of your own. Also, give us a name at least...
This will be messy....,'Cuz it's about FOOD.
Movie Night is about to start and I am in charge of the popcorn. It looks kinda gross, but I thrown on a little salt, some black pepper, a few drops of toasted sesame oil (a theme here...), some garlic powder (not garlic salt) and a skosh of smoky (not sweet) paprika. Anything spicy can work. Any herb blend with some good melted butter works, also. I've even been known to just use a little bit of italian dressing with a little bit of oil. Secret is to go light on the add-ins, shake the heck out of it so it coats everything, eat it hot, and don't touch the remote (or hold hands I suppose) etc until you've washed your nasty gritty hands! Have made some really bad popcorn over the years but unlike stew or rack of lamb, if it's a botched job, you just wasted only two minutes and about 75 cents. You can afford to experiment here!
Hummus is chilling in the fridge. I think I overdid the chipotle peppers. Supposed to taste smokey, not fiery. Supposed to be not too creamy, not too chunky, not too "meshy!" or Sedgy....
MJ: glad you liked the cucumber recipe. (Couldn't find dill tonight so Jeannie's recipe will have to wait The dill looked like it was left over from the 1970s and we might get arrested for possessing a controlled substance!)
I'm honored to have a spot in your recipe box. I love J's recipes because they're not too complicated. I don't own a microwave at present and am awful with a crockpot. I avoid the communal microwaste machine at work because it turns everything into a bean burrito, or something that looks like one.
Back to puzzle-mindedness in the a.m. Have been wheedled into using an avatar, so I may experiment with a few. I'm one crapola photog. This picture is, being honest, hardly flattering.
Dennis glad to have you back. I checked the police blotter every day while you were gone, so either you didn't get into trouble, or your talked your way out of it. Either way, I'm happy to post on the same blog as you.
Lorraine: I hope the surgery brings you some relief.
Lights, Camera, Popcorn, ACTION!
PBJ, enjoyed your alter ego today, not to say I don't enjoy you. If you are in CHI town I am shocked you couldn't find fresh dill. Alas, I cannot find it locally but dried my bundle that hung in my entry way.
I am very, very, jealous of Mainiac as he lives on the coast and gets all that great seafood. I am reduced to Salmon at best. No grouper, no lobster, no clams.
HMMMM PJB-Chicago, a very interesting avatar I must say. I too have a coloboma. Has anyone ever told you that with such said affliction, you have magical powers?? The picture, is being honest, very flattering!
OMG, Robin, I used to have a coloboma too. Eat more fibre. If I do, it will also make me Poooof, which in one way or another makes me magical....
I can't help it, I crack my ownself up. And to think that people like RP take me seriously. WTF? LMAF NROTF as my floor is dirty.
Jeannie--Have you heard the expression that a clean house is the sign of a woman who doesn't have anything else to do? I'd rather work in the garden or make jewelry or read or do crossword puzzles any day than clean my house. Your cucumber dill sauce sounds a lot like the cucumber salad that I make, though without the milk and the cucumber in slices.
I had trouble with "Identifier seen on a carousel." Got stuck on the idea of a height restriction on a merry-go-round. Is MESHY a real word? Had a lot of trouble with the bottom of the puzzle. The Saturday one is really hard--can hardly get started but will try again another time.
MamaRuth,
I copied part of your comments to today (Sunday's) Comments section. I am afraid Jeannie (or others) won't come back to read a Friday post.
Post a Comment