Theme: AGELESS (39D. Eternal, and a hint to this puzzle's phonetic theme) - The AGE sound is dropped from each familiar phrase.
17A. Newly certified coroner's assignment?: FIRST MORGUE. First Mortgage.
24A. Lord's ointment?: NOBLE SALVE. Noble Savage.
34A. Mutt with a conscience?: MORAL CUR. Moral Courage.
38A. Sitting Bull telling raunchy jokes?: RAW SIOUX. Raw Sewage. On my breakfast table?
50A. Taxi with no empty seats?: STUFFED CAB. Stuffed Cabbage.
58A. Topping for schnitzel?: VIENNA SAUCE. Vienna Sausage.
(Today's puzzle analysis is provided by John Lampkin, who gave us the wonderful "Waiting for the Great Pumpkin" puzzle last year.)
Thanks, C.C., for inviting me to share my thoughts as a fellow constructor of LAT puzzles.
Those who know Dan's catalogue will recognize his work immediately - seven clever and amusing theme entries, stacks of white on the sides, and mostly sparkling fill with witty clues. How did he do it?
This is a "drop-a-letter-string" idea, and one game that's fun for solvers to play is "How many more can we think of that Dan didn't use?" Typing in *AGE at morewords.com kicks out 411 words that end in AGE. Among them is BANDAGE. Dropping the AGE gives us BAND which seems that it would work with ACE BAND or some such. But wait! That won't work because Dan took one more step. His new phrase involves a homophone. The SAV in SAVAGE became SALVE, the COUR in COURAGE became CUR, and so on. It is this twist that makes this a Friday and not a Wednesday puzzle.
Continuing our search, we see MARRIAGE. That will work! We can get (the elusive but possible) HAPPY MARRIAGE which will become HAPPY MARE: Kentucky Derby winner, perhaps? Readers, how many more can you find?
A good crossword succeeds on several levels. It's lively and fun, educational, clever, and visually pleasing. My own taste is to avoid "cheater squares" whenever possible. Imagine how much more elegant the grid would look without those single side blocks and the blocks at the end of 30A and its mate! Dan probably tried, but wound up with cruddy fill. There is usually a tradeoff, and clean lively fill trumps all. Perfection in art is elusive, yes?
There is another element that can elevate a good puzzle to a higher stature - emotional engagement. Most of you know that Dan recently succumbed to illness and passed away and that this is another opus posthumous. Art gives us a glimpse into the life of its creator. His first theme entry is FIRST MORGUE, which he surely knew was an ironic and poignant foreshadowing. Sigh.
Bottom line: Once again I am impressed by Dan's craftsmanship and deeply moved by his humanity.
Across:
1. Unceremoniously breaks up with: DUMPS. And ENDS IT (26D. Breaks up). How sad!
6. 1996 film that won Best Original Screenplay: FARGO. Made by the Coen brothers, the pride of Minnesota.
11. Pro bono TV ad: PSA (Public Service Announcement)
14. As a friend, to François: EN AMI. En = As.
15. Greg Evans comic strip: LUANN. I've never heard of this comic strip.
16. Pumpjack output: OIL
19. Wash. Nats' division: NLE (National League East)
20. Daffy duo?: EFS. The letter F (spelled as "EF") appears twice in Daffy.
21. Generation: ERA
22. In pursuit of: AFTER
29. Isn't wrong?: AIN'T. Grammatically wrong.
30. Flood deterrents: DRAINS
31. Words spoken with a yawn, perhaps: IT'S LATE
33. TV palomino: MR ED. The talking horse: "A horse is a horse, of course, of course ..."
35. Annoying negotiator: STALLER. Oh, like those congress filibusterers.
42. Cops may keep them on suspects: TABS. Idiom: Keep tabs on = keep track of.
46. Rabbitlike rodents: AGOUTIS. I can never remember this word. Dictionary says they are destructive to sugar canes. Here is a photo John Lampkin snapped in Trinidad a few years ago. He loves nature photography.
47. Gulf War reporter Peter: ARNETT. When he was with CNN. I've heard several in-depth interviews with him.
49. Peddle: VEND
53. Disappointed postgame comment: I LOST
55. Back muscle, for short: LAT. Short for latissimus dorsi.
56. Nest builder: ANT. Thought ants build hills rather than nests.
57. Seventh-largest st.: NEV. Don't know this trivia.
63. Legal ending: ESE. Ending of the word legalese.
64. Bugs once sought by cops: MORAN. A Chicago Prohibiton-era gangser. Nicknamed Bugs. Gang slang for "completely crazy". Stumped me.
65. Havens: OASES
66. Old map inits.: SSR (Soviet Socialist Republic)
67. Steamed: ANGRY
68. Take forcibly: WREST
Down:
1. Stand up for: DEFEND. "Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights..." Love Bob Marley.
2. Combat outfit: UNIFORM
3. Candy "whose success is out of this world": MARS BAR. Now called Snickers Almond in the U.S.
4. Downing St. bigwigs: PMS (Prime Ministers)
6. Botanist's study: FLORA
7. Hearing-related: AURAL. Sometimes the answer is OTIC.
8. Wiper: RAG. The cleaning cloth.
9. Migratory African critter: GNU. Curvedly horny.
10. Fit to serve: ONE A
11. Firebird maker: PONTIAC. I like C/K ending words.
12. Guest letter?: SILENT U. The U is silent in the word Guest.
13. Siren, for one: ALERTER. And earlier STALLER. One ER suffix enough in the grid.
18. Predicament: MESS
23. Pride follower, so they say: FALL. "Pride comes before fall".
25. It's not true: LIE. So, "True Lies" is an oxymoron.
27. Baroque stringed instrument: VIOL. In the 16th and 17th centuries.
28. Raison d'__: ETRE. Satori is the raison d'être of Zen.
32. "No Exit" dramatist: SARTRE. Womanizer! My brother loves his "Being and Nothingness".
34. Half of MMCXX: MLX. Don't like the MX repetition, and crossing STALLER, a word no one ever says, in the center it's even worse.
36. "What I look forward __ continued immaturity followed by death": Dave Barry: TO IS. Dennis might have quoted this line in his Words of Wisdom once. He loves Dave Barry.
37. Hung. neighbor: AUST. Austria. I blanked, but then enjoyed the vague naughtiness.
38. Coulees: RAVINES. Coulee is a new word to me. Same pronunciation as coolies.
40. Convinced: WON OVER
41. Brewski: SUDS
44. Unsatisfying response to "Why?": BECAUSE. Nice clue.
45. Positions: STANCES
47. Aqua Velva competitor: AFTA. Punning on "after". The after shave lotion.
48. Exam given intradermally, for short: TB TEST. Tuberculosis Test. Obtained the answer from crosses.
51. Like the nerve near an arm bone: ULNAR
52. Rear: FANNY
54. "South Park" rating: TV MA. Mature Audiences. Got me again.
59. H+, for one: ION. Charged atom.
60. Work unit: ERG. From Greek Ergon, literally "work".
62. Rhine feeder: AAR. Sometimes it's AARE. Rising in the Bernese Alps and flowing to the Rhine.
Answer grid.
John & C.C.
PS: Please click here for John's "Waiting for the Great Pumpkin" puzzle. Here is the answer.
17A. Newly certified coroner's assignment?: FIRST MORGUE. First Mortgage.
24A. Lord's ointment?: NOBLE SALVE. Noble Savage.
34A. Mutt with a conscience?: MORAL CUR. Moral Courage.
38A. Sitting Bull telling raunchy jokes?: RAW SIOUX. Raw Sewage. On my breakfast table?
50A. Taxi with no empty seats?: STUFFED CAB. Stuffed Cabbage.
58A. Topping for schnitzel?: VIENNA SAUCE. Vienna Sausage.
(Today's puzzle analysis is provided by John Lampkin, who gave us the wonderful "Waiting for the Great Pumpkin" puzzle last year.)
Thanks, C.C., for inviting me to share my thoughts as a fellow constructor of LAT puzzles.
Those who know Dan's catalogue will recognize his work immediately - seven clever and amusing theme entries, stacks of white on the sides, and mostly sparkling fill with witty clues. How did he do it?
This is a "drop-a-letter-string" idea, and one game that's fun for solvers to play is "How many more can we think of that Dan didn't use?" Typing in *AGE at morewords.com kicks out 411 words that end in AGE. Among them is BANDAGE. Dropping the AGE gives us BAND which seems that it would work with ACE BAND or some such. But wait! That won't work because Dan took one more step. His new phrase involves a homophone. The SAV in SAVAGE became SALVE, the COUR in COURAGE became CUR, and so on. It is this twist that makes this a Friday and not a Wednesday puzzle.
Continuing our search, we see MARRIAGE. That will work! We can get (the elusive but possible) HAPPY MARRIAGE which will become HAPPY MARE: Kentucky Derby winner, perhaps? Readers, how many more can you find?
A good crossword succeeds on several levels. It's lively and fun, educational, clever, and visually pleasing. My own taste is to avoid "cheater squares" whenever possible. Imagine how much more elegant the grid would look without those single side blocks and the blocks at the end of 30A and its mate! Dan probably tried, but wound up with cruddy fill. There is usually a tradeoff, and clean lively fill trumps all. Perfection in art is elusive, yes?
There is another element that can elevate a good puzzle to a higher stature - emotional engagement. Most of you know that Dan recently succumbed to illness and passed away and that this is another opus posthumous. Art gives us a glimpse into the life of its creator. His first theme entry is FIRST MORGUE, which he surely knew was an ironic and poignant foreshadowing. Sigh.
Bottom line: Once again I am impressed by Dan's craftsmanship and deeply moved by his humanity.
Across:
1. Unceremoniously breaks up with: DUMPS. And ENDS IT (26D. Breaks up). How sad!
6. 1996 film that won Best Original Screenplay: FARGO. Made by the Coen brothers, the pride of Minnesota.
11. Pro bono TV ad: PSA (Public Service Announcement)
14. As a friend, to François: EN AMI. En = As.
15. Greg Evans comic strip: LUANN. I've never heard of this comic strip.
16. Pumpjack output: OIL
19. Wash. Nats' division: NLE (National League East)
20. Daffy duo?: EFS. The letter F (spelled as "EF") appears twice in Daffy.
21. Generation: ERA
22. In pursuit of: AFTER
29. Isn't wrong?: AIN'T. Grammatically wrong.
30. Flood deterrents: DRAINS
31. Words spoken with a yawn, perhaps: IT'S LATE
33. TV palomino: MR ED. The talking horse: "A horse is a horse, of course, of course ..."
35. Annoying negotiator: STALLER. Oh, like those congress filibusterers.
42. Cops may keep them on suspects: TABS. Idiom: Keep tabs on = keep track of.
46. Rabbitlike rodents: AGOUTIS. I can never remember this word. Dictionary says they are destructive to sugar canes. Here is a photo John Lampkin snapped in Trinidad a few years ago. He loves nature photography.
47. Gulf War reporter Peter: ARNETT. When he was with CNN. I've heard several in-depth interviews with him.
49. Peddle: VEND
53. Disappointed postgame comment: I LOST
55. Back muscle, for short: LAT. Short for latissimus dorsi.
56. Nest builder: ANT. Thought ants build hills rather than nests.
57. Seventh-largest st.: NEV. Don't know this trivia.
63. Legal ending: ESE. Ending of the word legalese.
64. Bugs once sought by cops: MORAN. A Chicago Prohibiton-era gangser. Nicknamed Bugs. Gang slang for "completely crazy". Stumped me.
65. Havens: OASES
66. Old map inits.: SSR (Soviet Socialist Republic)
67. Steamed: ANGRY
68. Take forcibly: WREST
Down:
1. Stand up for: DEFEND. "Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights..." Love Bob Marley.
2. Combat outfit: UNIFORM
3. Candy "whose success is out of this world": MARS BAR. Now called Snickers Almond in the U.S.
4. Downing St. bigwigs: PMS (Prime Ministers)
6. Botanist's study: FLORA
7. Hearing-related: AURAL. Sometimes the answer is OTIC.
8. Wiper: RAG. The cleaning cloth.
9. Migratory African critter: GNU. Curvedly horny.
10. Fit to serve: ONE A
11. Firebird maker: PONTIAC. I like C/K ending words.
12. Guest letter?: SILENT U. The U is silent in the word Guest.
13. Siren, for one: ALERTER. And earlier STALLER. One ER suffix enough in the grid.
18. Predicament: MESS
23. Pride follower, so they say: FALL. "Pride comes before fall".
25. It's not true: LIE. So, "True Lies" is an oxymoron.
27. Baroque stringed instrument: VIOL. In the 16th and 17th centuries.
28. Raison d'__: ETRE. Satori is the raison d'être of Zen.
32. "No Exit" dramatist: SARTRE. Womanizer! My brother loves his "Being and Nothingness".
34. Half of MMCXX: MLX. Don't like the MX repetition, and crossing STALLER, a word no one ever says, in the center it's even worse.
36. "What I look forward __ continued immaturity followed by death": Dave Barry: TO IS. Dennis might have quoted this line in his Words of Wisdom once. He loves Dave Barry.
37. Hung. neighbor: AUST. Austria. I blanked, but then enjoyed the vague naughtiness.
38. Coulees: RAVINES. Coulee is a new word to me. Same pronunciation as coolies.
40. Convinced: WON OVER
41. Brewski: SUDS
44. Unsatisfying response to "Why?": BECAUSE. Nice clue.
45. Positions: STANCES
47. Aqua Velva competitor: AFTA. Punning on "after". The after shave lotion.
48. Exam given intradermally, for short: TB TEST. Tuberculosis Test. Obtained the answer from crosses.
51. Like the nerve near an arm bone: ULNAR
52. Rear: FANNY
54. "South Park" rating: TV MA. Mature Audiences. Got me again.
59. H+, for one: ION. Charged atom.
60. Work unit: ERG. From Greek Ergon, literally "work".
62. Rhine feeder: AAR. Sometimes it's AARE. Rising in the Bernese Alps and flowing to the Rhine.
Answer grid.
John & C.C.
PS: Please click here for John's "Waiting for the Great Pumpkin" puzzle. Here is the answer.
45 comments:
Good morning, C.C. and gang - just great to start a Friday off with one of Dan's puzzles, isn't it? Every time I do one of his puzzles, it strikes me again just what a clever soul we've lost. It's wonderful that we still get pieces of his brilliance every so often.
The clue completely escaped me until I got to 'ageless', then the head-smack happened. Couldn't come up with 'Luann' even though we've seen it before; same with "No Exit"/Sartre. And of course, I loved the Dave Barry quote; definitely my words to live by. Too many favorite clues to mention, and the only answer I didn't care for was 'alerter'.
John Lampkin, great analysis; thanks so much for taking the time to explain Dan's process to us.
Today is National Chocolate Mint Day. Celebrate appropriately.
Today's Words of Wisdom: "Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't." -- Erica Jong
Here's a couple more Steven Wright lines:
- "I saw this guy hitchhiking with a sign that said 'Heaven'. So I hit him."
- "I had a friend who was a clown. When he died, all his friends went to the funeral in one car."
13 & a w/u. You guys warm it up yet?
Dennis,
What if ALERT-ER clued as the adjective "More aware"? Also, were you bothered by the clue/answer letter repetition for MLX (34D: Half of MMXCC)?
John Lampkin,
I treasured the opportunity working with you on this puzzle write-up. I could only think of MEDIA COVER(AGE) & ERROR MESS(AGE), Lots of words just do not lend themselves to this "drop-a-letter-string" idea. Words like blockage, dosage, teenage, patronage, etc.
C.C., no matter how 'alerter' is clued, it'd still bug me. And no, the roman numeral clue/answer didn't bother me; I was too surprised I got it right.
Carlos del Oeste,
Your old Chuck of the West profile is still there. You just need a way to log in.
Good Morning, CC. When I saw Dan Naddor's name, I wanted to really take my time and savor this puzzle. It was not a disappointment. I am proud of myself that I even got the AGELESS theme. It did help with completing some of the clues. I scratched my head over FIRST MORGUE and MORAL CUR until I hit upon AGELESS.
As always, some wonderful clues. I think my favorite was GUEST LETTER: SILENT U.
I wasn't keen on Siren / ALERTER.
MR ED is one of our own. I hope he chimes in today.
QODs: Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. ~ Dave Barry.
Magnetism is one of the Six Fundamental Forces of the Universe, with the other five being Gravity, Duct Tape, Whining, Remote Control, and The Force That Pulls Dogs Toward The Groins Of Strangers. ~ Dave Barry
Veterinary practice excluding equines:
Is the pumpkin puzzle archived somewhere in the internet?
I had to figure out the theme on this one in order to finish the NE corner (MORALCUR). Nice challenge for a Friday morning. No serious difficulties, just a steady slog through the clues. Took me a minute to connect 64A with Chicago's Bugs Moran. 22 minutes.
Horseless care (Horseless carriage)
Fighting fir: Combat tree(Combat triage)
I pretty much guessed the theme after STUFFED CAB but it was good to know it for sure after 39D: Eternal. Plus a shout-out to Mr. Ed.
Good morning again to all--
Thanks Anonymous, for asking about the puzzle.
I'm sure the puzzle is archived in puz format at the LAT site. The puzzle date is October 25, 2009.
Since I continue to get requests for this puzzle, I just posted it on my site in pdf format:
http://johnlampkin.com/lat091025.pdf
If you insist on seeing the answers:
http://johnlampkin.com/lat091025solution.pdf
I'll be in Brooklyn tonight and Sunday for the Crossword Tournament. If any of you are there, be sure to say hi! I'll be performing on stage on Sunday, accompanying Vic Fleming who will reprise his amusing song from the "Wordplay" movie--"If You Don't Come Across, I'll Be Down."
Thanks C.C. and Dennis for the kind words. Happy solving!
Dan delivers again. Either I'm getting better or this was one of his easier ones. I'll probably manage without g'ing by the time they run out.
I hit the g'spot for AGOUTI in order to get that SW corner. I had guessed either COL or MON for the state, so had LOSS for LESS there until RAVINE revealed itself and I gave up on SELL for VEND.
My only other stumble was not knowing TVMA or MORAN. I guessed TVPA (parental advisory), so not having a clue about the bugs, left it as it was.
The theme became obvious when I got CAB, though at first I thought of CRAB and realized my error on reviewing the others I already had.
I second the appreciation of John Lampkin's input. Dan is certainly remembered fondly by a lot of people.
All in all a great Friday!
FOOD SHORTAGE
Good morning, everyone.
John Lampkin, so nice of you to guest-blog. I loved your in-depth analysis of Dan Naddor's craftsmanship. As you probably know, his work is well appreciated by this group.
I didn't know Greg Evans from beans, but I was able to finally parse out LUANN since it is in our local paper.
Hand up for OTIC. Took me a while to give it up.
Have a fantastic Friday!!
Good morning John, CC and All,
I'm off today also and took my time with this one. Very, very clever theme which I got, amazingly. I did need some g-spot help in the NE. Wicked good fun!
John, thanks for the write up. Its nice to have some insight from within. Have a great time in the city.
We're heading into the north Maine woods.
Have a great weekend all!
Hi gang -
John - thanks for joining us today. I appreciate your insights.
Wow - Dan strikes again. Just right for a Friday. I amazed myself by getting the theme - which helped a lot. I first had FIRST CORPSE for 17A, but FIRST CORSAGE is a stretch too far, besides not making any sense.
I got most of this one, but have to give the win to Dan on a split decision.
I guess my fav theme answer is RAW SOIUX (AGE), the yuck factor not withstanding. "Sitting Bull telling raunchy jokes" is absurdly funny on its own. Having been both a child and a parent, my fav fill clue is "unsatisfactory answer to why?"
I really dislike letter-related self-referential cluing, so my low points were SILENT U and EFS - ranking even below the Roman Numeral.
But it's all worth it to get MORAL CUR, AGOUTIS, and the entire bottom third of the grid.
I wasn't going to come up with Bugs MORAN if I stared at the puzzle forever.
"Havens" put me on a aquatic course, so I never got OASES, which is a great fill.
This boy of Hung. descent can hardly wait to hear from Lois.
Do you know what the cannibal gave his wife for Valentine's Day?
Candied Farmer's FANNYs.
Cheers!
JzB the {Nope- not gonna say it} trombonist
Fascinating beginning to the weekend, boththe puzzle which was classic Naddor intricacy, to the wonderful bonus of the perspective and thoughts of Mr. Lampkin.
If you want to catch up on teen-age angst in cell form LUANN .
Thoughts on the Men's skating results? Tiger's non-press conference? Firday? 39 Steps?
Here is the link to C.C.'s interview with today's most excellent blogger/constructor, John Lampkin.
C.C and guest analyst, John:
Thank you for that most enlightend and enlightening explanation. I loved it because . . . Naddor ain't easy. It's such a delightful solve, however, and with clever cluing of which you have given me deeper insight.
Solving the Roman numerals gives me a lift; and Bugs Moran lay in the deep recesses of my mind from some long ago movie, speaking of which, Fargo is one of my favorite Coen ones.
I actually had to read "No Exit" in an English class eons ago.
I, too, thought "raw Souix" was classic as well as "stuffed cab."
Webster helped me with "ravine"; I know of Grand Coulee Dam, but always assumed it was named after a person.
Jazzbumpa:
You make me laugh!
John:
Good luck; I would love to be there.
Adios, I'm off to find a salve, and have a great day, all.
Jazz,
I'm sure you'd like the HBO late night series called HUNG. I find it amusing anyway. I've watched most of the pilot episodes, and I'm hoping they continue it.
John Lampkin, thanks for insider analysis and the pumpkin links.
Anon @7:04
Morning all.
CC. When I try your link to the answer page to the pumpkin grid,
I get the empty grid again. ???
Thanks to JL for his insight and links.
Thanks to Jerome for the reminder to Pointers. Much better than going to Boston Phoenix.com for Matt's puzzle.
eddyB
Good Morning All, Is it just me, or do Dan Naddor's puzzles start out deceptively simple in the north and get tougher as we travel south?
I was zipping along in the fast lane until I got to the midpoint of the grid. All of a sudden, my letters slowed almost to a stop. STALLER really stalled me.
The SE with "coulees" ,"rabbitlike rodents" and "South Park rating" blanked me out too.
The theme light bulb went on for me with MORAL CUR, so I understood the theme, but that didn't make it much easier to get the rest of them.
But, as always with Dan Naddor puzzles, his generous perps got me through to the end. His clever clues and theme are always smile time when they appear.
Thanks to John Lampkin for giving us some additional constructor insight.
Hi everyone, Thursday on, too tough for me yet,although a ball falls into the slot once in awhile.
I get a little over 1/2 before I'm in the dumps, and have a long face like John K I mean Mr.Ed.Still thinking single word answers too often, and take clues too literally. Can't wait for Monday to raise my IQ back up to 95.
WTF with Cruciverb.com?
Good afternoon CC and friends. This is a very cleverly constructed puzzle.
Of course I knew the answer to 33A=TV palomino in a flash. but I looked at 37D too quick and thought of my neighbor who wears a size 15 shoe.
I struggled with most of the rest of the puzzle but I got the roman numeral one straight away.
I notice there was an earlier reference to the Minnesota ties of the Coen Brother, who have brought us so many memorable films and characters, such as Fargo and it reminded me that Bugs Moran was in fact a Minnesota native. I know we have many transplanted Minnesotans, but do we have any natives? Did they teach the history of Mr. Moran in school? Where are my friends wearing their high heeled skates?
Yesterday - got 'er dun!
Today - Well, not so hot. The whole SW corner was lost till I came here. AND, I had to read the theme here a couple of times before I understood what the heck it was.
That darn Dan is still getting me.
Oh, well, there can't be many left, so I guess I'd best make the most of them.
CY'all Later
Did I say I had trouble with the SE corner? That's what I get for having a glass of wine at all those lunch stops yesterday. They were very small glasses, but I did I mean SW corner problems this morning.
Beautiful 78 degree weather a couple of days ago and now it is foggy, damp and 50 degrees chilly. More rain is expected this weekend.
For those of you who are expecting more snow, the rest of us are thinking of you.
The Snow Storm
No hawk hangs over in this air:
The urgent snow is everywhere.
The wing adroiter than a sail
Must lean away from such a gale,
Abandoning its straight intent,
Or else expose tough ligament
And tender flesh to what before
Meant dampened feathers, nothing more.
Forceless upon our backs there fall
Infrequent flakes hexagonal,
Devised in many a curious style
To charm our safety for a while,
Where close to earth like mice we go
Under the horizontal snow.
- Edna St. Vincent Millay
I guess I deserve a grade of about C- on this one. Didn't use the Gspot but had to wait for the blog to get "raw Sioux". Kept thinking Bugsy Segal while looking at "_oran" and still didn't get the M. I've never watched South Park. I got the Roman numeral arithmetic, but I always have to translate on paper into Arabic first.
I guess I'm not tuned to the theme thing. Even when I got it from the blog, it didn't add up until fully explained. Maybe I'll grow into theme-age as a help one day.
Enjoy the weekend. CA I guess we're to have a little more rain.
eddyB, try the grid again; should be fine now.
Good afternoon, CC et al., Clever puzzle after I read the blog. The perps saved me.
Theme? What theme? it's my chronic 'anal glaucoma' kicking in again. My 'fanny' just can't see a theme even if it were to bite me there. Thank goodness for CC! I come here and the fog lifts.
Appreciate Dan Naddor's talent and John Lampkin's insight into it. Very nice of him to guest blog and to stop in. Really was enlightening.
Mr. Ed: fun to see you ref'd here today. LOL at your 'Hung neighbor' comment (1:46). Wonder what he does on windy days. I'd want to keep 'tabs' on that guy with 'silent u'biquity, by blending in with the 'flora'. Yeah, I'd be checking out his 'stances' all right. No 'lie'. I may have sporadic anal glaucoma, but my 'ageless' hind-sight is 20/20.
Got the neatest present last night. I call it my 'Jeannie' mug. It's a crossword coffee mug with a great recipe for 'special' coffee printed on the bottom. Get this: It's created by 'Lolita'. Isn't that hilarious? I filled it immediately w/ another present, Woodford Reserve Bourbon from right outside Lexington, KY and toasted to darlin' WH (Wonderful Hunk) first (who I met last summer in Lexington right after touring the distillery)then to each of you in succession. It was quite a day and an outstanding night. You all really made it even more fun. Thank you again for all the kind wishes.
Off to another party this time in Va Beach. Thank you Santa Baby, for the dispensation. I'll make sure you get the best cookies ever when you come in my chimney this Christmas.
Enjoy your night.
Hello All--I knew this was Friday when I saw Dan Naddor's name at the bottom of the puzzle. I enjoyed the top half, but like CA the bottom half gave me fits.
I put in Bad Sioux for Raw Sioux and things went from bad to worse in the South west corner. But I just knew sold had to be correct, but nothing would fit. Vend just didn't pop into my head.
I didn't get the theme until I came here and C.C. and John Lampkin gave us a very excellent explanation. Thank you both. John, your crossword insight is very much appreciated.
I still enjoyed the puzzle a great deal and will be sorry to see the last of the challenges disappear when Dan's puzzles have all been published.
Luann is one of the Comic Strips that I do read. Great teen angst, but very true to real life.
Because is a very necessary answer to all those "why" questions. I've used it a lot--much to my children's chagrin.
you what?
I am marking this day on my calendar....I just finished a Dan Nador puzzle unaided. I wish he were here to note my accomplishment! Somehow though, I think he knows.
Lemonade, my electronic challenged counselor, although I am not originally from here I did know that "Bugs" Maren was.
Lois, that is absolutely hilarious. A crossword mug with a recipe and made by Lo-li-ta....I gotta have one! My birthday is coming up in a couple months or so...(hint, hint).
Tomorrow is the annual "polar plunge" festival...we'll see if I consume enough Jag bombs to participate. I'll let you know...
My favorite clue was 44D "response to why?" When I was growing up I vowed I would never tell my child, "just because" or "because I said so." but after I had four kids, I found those were the only possible answers some times. However, I did try to keep it at a minimum & would explain to a child that he couldn't understand any more detailed explanation. He had to just accept the fact that 'mother knows best.'
Although I've been doing the cw's for a long time, like Dodo, theme- age is still my downfall - esp. when it involves sounds or words not actually shown. But the clues are interesting!
Dot
4 Dennis. Link working fine now.
I put a towel over the screen so I wouldn't see the answeres until needed. Thank you.
Anyone taking or giving odds on when cruciverb.com will be back up?
eddyB
Oh how we will find, the finesse of the dance of maturity, and elegance. The diversity is theirs.
Robin, are you a little non-plussed about the mens' skating finals? E.Lysacek was very elegant (although I do think the orange tinted spray tan is a little distracting). Johnny Weir was waaay underscored and should have wound up at least in 4th place and maybe even 3rd. AND, I think E. Plushenko had a valid point that at Olympic level, a quad (well executed, of course) should be part of any routine that is going to be seriously considered.
Water under the bridge and on to the Dance!
@anon 10:05pm there is a method to her madness. Her last post was talking about the Olympics and the dance partners competition. The post before that was....I'm not sure. I am thinking it was a response to Lemonade's "high heeled skates" suggestion. Either which way she is funny and makes me laugh out loud.
It's never to late to honor National Chocolate Mint Day. This is an easy recipe for Chocolate Mint Fudge.
2 cups (12 oz. pkg.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup premium white chocolate chips
1 tablespoon peppermint extract
Green or red food coloring (optional)
1. LINE 8- or 9-inch square pan with wax paper.
2. MELT chocolate chips with 1 cup sweetened condensed milk in heavy saucepan over low heat; add vanilla.
3. Spread half the mixture into prepared pan; chill 10 minutes or until firm. Hold remaining chocolate mixture at room temperature.
4.Melt white chocolate chips with remaining sweetened condensed milk in heavy saucepan over low heat (mixture will be thick). Add peppermint extract and food coloring, if desired.
6. Spread on chilled chocolate layer; chill an additional 10 minutes or until firm.
7. Spread reserved chocolate mixture on mint layer. Chill 2 hours or until firm.
Remove from pan by lifting edges of wax paper; peel off paper. Cut into squares.
Jeannie, I'm not sure either. I am non-nonplussed by Robin's comments.
This one is for all you "health conscious" people. It is very tasty and low-cal...
Sweet and Sour Pork
1 spray(s) cooking spray
1 1/2 pound(s) lean pork tenderloin, cut into thin strips
15 oz canned unsweetened pineapple chunks
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp table salt
1 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 medium green pepper, sliced
1 medium red pepper sliced
1 small onion(s), sliced
3 cup cooked brown rice, kept warm
Instructions
Heat a nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat.
Add pork and cook until golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes; remove from skillet and set aside. In a separate saute pan, saute the onions and peppers in 2 Tbsp of olive oil to al dente'.
Drain pineapple chunks, reserving juice; set aside.
Combine water, vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, salt, soy sauce and reserved pineapple juice in a small bowl; add to skillet and cook until sauce is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Add pork, pineapple chunks and veges; cook covered over low heat until meat is tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Serve over the brown rice. This recipe also works very well with chicken.
For a little bit of added flavor/kick I added some red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture.
Enjoy...the "wannabe chef"
Jeannie, The heck with fudge. Personally, I don't really like chocolate and mint mixed together anyway. But I do LOVE Sweet and Sour Pork. Nice to see a recipe where the the pork isn't dipped in a cornstarch based batter and deep fried before being doused in the sauce. Thanks. I'll save this one and give it a try soon.
Five and out for me. Have a good night, all.
Forgotten re: the recipe:
I also added some freshly grated ginger...about 1/4 tsp. If you are mushroom fans, throw in some small quartered buttons when sauteeing the veges. Just an afterthought. I am not a baker so to speak but CA, your peppermint/brownie recipe sounds scrumptious. I love that word...scrumptious. I wish we would see that in a crossword puzzle.
Jeannie, the tired old gal who did the impossible this week getting all the information in so the foodshow books could go to print.
I'll let you know how the "plunge" goes tomorrow.
45 minutes of steady solve.
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