Theme: Drop Down Menu - The word FALL (57D: Drop down, and apt word that can follow the last words of 4-, 8-, 15- and 28-Down) can be added to the last word of each descending theme entry to form a common word.
4D: "Cutting to the chase ...": "...LONG STORY SHORT". SHORTFALL. Not meeting expectations.
8D: "The Price Is Right" signature phrase: "...COME ON DOWN". The phrase comes from the TV game show where guessing the wrong price is a contestant's DOWNFALL. A regretable DOWN/down (57D clue) duplication.
15D: Going nowhere: DEAD IN THE WATER. You're going to go somewhere if you go over a WATERFALL.
28D: Like here-today-gone-tomorrow businesses: FLY BY NIGHT. They might FLY(flee) under the darkness of NIGHTFALL
Argyle here.
I hope this is a taste of what is to come this week. Sweet! It is a different look with all the themes dropping down. Very vivid FALL visual.
I considered EDEN (12D: Notable 57-Down site) a cross-referenced bonus, even though it's symmetrically placed opposite FALL in the grid. I am somewhat vertically challenged at recognizing down words but had no trouble today.
We last saw our constructor on Friday July 3, 2009. I wouldn't mind seeing more of his work. Only 8 three letter entries...and how about that THWACK? Not much to comment on so I linked a few songs. Enjoy!
Across:
1A: Word-of-mouth: ORAL.
5A: Plastic clog footwear brand: CROCS. Do they make boots?
10A: Before: Pref.: PRE.
13A: Quash, as a bill: VETO.
14A: Fathered: BEGOT.
15A: Monopoly card with a mortgage value: DEED.
16A: Mary Kay rival: AVON.
17A: Alabama march city: SELMA.
18A: Sea eagle: ERNE.
19A: Breathing organs: LUNGS.
21A: Finely sharpened: KEEN. We have seen a second meaning related to a wailing lament.
22A: Long, long time: AEON.
23A: Playground piece that has its ups and downs: SEESAW. Another down duplication.
25A: Caught 40 winks: DOZED.
27A: Relieved end-of-the-week cry: TGIF.
29A: Country west of Botswana: NAMIBIA. And 68A: Ivory Coast neighbor: GHANA. Both are on the west coast of Africa.
33A: Jackson 5 brother: TITO. TITO today.
36A: Musher's transport: SLED. (Dogsled)
38A: Traffic tangle: SNARL.
39A: Cold War empire: Abbr.: USSR.
40A: Compulsive fire starters, informally: PYROS. (Pyromaniacs)
42A: Lobster catcher: TRAP.
43A: Has (an audience) rolling in the aisles: SLAYS.
45A: Wail: BAWL.
46A: Coop group: HENS.
47A: Provider of kisses?: HERSHEY. Um,m,m,m
49A: Cyrano had a big one: NOSE.
51A: Reddish-orange dye: HENNA.
53A: Hit with a paddle: THWACK. Five consonants!
57A: Stereotypical dog name: FIDO.
60A: __ the lily: overembellish: GILD. Shakespeare wrote: “To gild refined gold, to paint the lily," but the years have cut out the middle, leaving just "to gild the lily".
62A: International Court of Justice site, with "The": HAGUE.
63A: Allege as fact: AVER.
64A: Radiant: AGLOW.
66A: Word after duct or ticker: TAPE.
67A: Time for fasting: LENT.
69A: Bad to the bone: EVIL. George. "He's bad, but he's not EVIL."
70A: D-Day craft: LST. Landing Ship, Tank (LST).
71A: Early anesthetic: ETHER.
72A: Cincinnati team: REDS. (Baseball)
Down:
1D: Egg shapes: OVALS.
2D: Variety show: REVUE.
3D: Make amends (for): ATONE.
5D: "The Amazing Race" network: CBS.
6D: Smell really bad: REEK.
7D: Leered at: OGLED.
9D: Poem part: STANZA.
10D: Pierre's pop: PÉRE. Alliteration again.
11D: "The Biggest Little City in the World": RENO. And 41D: 11-Down machine: SLOT.
20D: Drop in the middle: SAG.
24D: Thin smoke trail: WISP.
26D: There are three in "mommy": EMS.
30D: In the buff: BARE.
31D: Shah's land, once: IRAN.
32D: Swiss peaks: ALPS.
33D: Buttocks, in slang: TUSH. ZZ Top
34D: Bermuda, e.g.: ISLE.
35D: Old Russian despot: TSAR.
37D: Pitching stat: ERA.
44D: Ship, to its captain: SHE.
48D: Interlock, as gears: ENGAGE.
50D: "Quiet!": "SHH!".
52D: Koran deity: ALLAH.
54D: Tequila source: AGAVE.
55D: Deity with a bow and arrow: CUPID.
56D: Topples (over): KEELS.
58D: Singer Burl: IVES.
61D: Finished: DONE.
65D: Original Cabinet department renamed Defense in 1949: WAR.
Answer grid.
Argyle
4D: "Cutting to the chase ...": "...LONG STORY SHORT". SHORTFALL. Not meeting expectations.
8D: "The Price Is Right" signature phrase: "...COME ON DOWN". The phrase comes from the TV game show where guessing the wrong price is a contestant's DOWNFALL. A regretable DOWN/down (57D clue) duplication.
15D: Going nowhere: DEAD IN THE WATER. You're going to go somewhere if you go over a WATERFALL.
28D: Like here-today-gone-tomorrow businesses: FLY BY NIGHT. They might FLY(flee) under the darkness of NIGHTFALL
Argyle here.
I hope this is a taste of what is to come this week. Sweet! It is a different look with all the themes dropping down. Very vivid FALL visual.
I considered EDEN (12D: Notable 57-Down site) a cross-referenced bonus, even though it's symmetrically placed opposite FALL in the grid. I am somewhat vertically challenged at recognizing down words but had no trouble today.
We last saw our constructor on Friday July 3, 2009. I wouldn't mind seeing more of his work. Only 8 three letter entries...and how about that THWACK? Not much to comment on so I linked a few songs. Enjoy!
Across:
1A: Word-of-mouth: ORAL.
5A: Plastic clog footwear brand: CROCS. Do they make boots?
10A: Before: Pref.: PRE.
13A: Quash, as a bill: VETO.
14A: Fathered: BEGOT.
15A: Monopoly card with a mortgage value: DEED.
16A: Mary Kay rival: AVON.
17A: Alabama march city: SELMA.
18A: Sea eagle: ERNE.
19A: Breathing organs: LUNGS.
21A: Finely sharpened: KEEN. We have seen a second meaning related to a wailing lament.
22A: Long, long time: AEON.
23A: Playground piece that has its ups and downs: SEESAW. Another down duplication.
25A: Caught 40 winks: DOZED.
27A: Relieved end-of-the-week cry: TGIF.
29A: Country west of Botswana: NAMIBIA. And 68A: Ivory Coast neighbor: GHANA. Both are on the west coast of Africa.
33A: Jackson 5 brother: TITO. TITO today.
36A: Musher's transport: SLED. (Dogsled)
38A: Traffic tangle: SNARL.
39A: Cold War empire: Abbr.: USSR.
40A: Compulsive fire starters, informally: PYROS. (Pyromaniacs)
42A: Lobster catcher: TRAP.
43A: Has (an audience) rolling in the aisles: SLAYS.
45A: Wail: BAWL.
46A: Coop group: HENS.
47A: Provider of kisses?: HERSHEY. Um,m,m,m
49A: Cyrano had a big one: NOSE.
51A: Reddish-orange dye: HENNA.
53A: Hit with a paddle: THWACK. Five consonants!
57A: Stereotypical dog name: FIDO.
60A: __ the lily: overembellish: GILD. Shakespeare wrote: “To gild refined gold, to paint the lily," but the years have cut out the middle, leaving just "to gild the lily".
62A: International Court of Justice site, with "The": HAGUE.
63A: Allege as fact: AVER.
64A: Radiant: AGLOW.
66A: Word after duct or ticker: TAPE.
67A: Time for fasting: LENT.
69A: Bad to the bone: EVIL. George. "He's bad, but he's not EVIL."
70A: D-Day craft: LST. Landing Ship, Tank (LST).
71A: Early anesthetic: ETHER.
72A: Cincinnati team: REDS. (Baseball)
Down:
1D: Egg shapes: OVALS.
2D: Variety show: REVUE.
3D: Make amends (for): ATONE.
5D: "The Amazing Race" network: CBS.
6D: Smell really bad: REEK.
7D: Leered at: OGLED.
9D: Poem part: STANZA.
10D: Pierre's pop: PÉRE. Alliteration again.
11D: "The Biggest Little City in the World": RENO. And 41D: 11-Down machine: SLOT.
20D: Drop in the middle: SAG.
24D: Thin smoke trail: WISP.
26D: There are three in "mommy": EMS.
30D: In the buff: BARE.
31D: Shah's land, once: IRAN.
32D: Swiss peaks: ALPS.
33D: Buttocks, in slang: TUSH. ZZ Top
34D: Bermuda, e.g.: ISLE.
35D: Old Russian despot: TSAR.
37D: Pitching stat: ERA.
44D: Ship, to its captain: SHE.
48D: Interlock, as gears: ENGAGE.
50D: "Quiet!": "SHH!".
52D: Koran deity: ALLAH.
54D: Tequila source: AGAVE.
55D: Deity with a bow and arrow: CUPID.
56D: Topples (over): KEELS.
58D: Singer Burl: IVES.
61D: Finished: DONE.
65D: Original Cabinet department renamed Defense in 1949: WAR.
Answer grid.
Argyle
Good morning, Argyle, C.C. and gang - a nice, simple Monday puzzle, albeit with a great theme I didn't get until 57D.
ReplyDeleteAs with Argyle, I loved the 'falling' theme answers; great visual. Definitely would like to see more of Jeff Chen's puzzles.
Not much to comment on with the other clues; everything was pretty straightforward.
Today is National Pig Day and National Peanut Butter Lovers' Day. Might have to go with a peanut butter and bacon sandwich for breakfast, as a tribute, of course.
Today's Words of Wisdom: "If sex is such a natural phenomenon, how come there are so many books on how to do it?" -- Bette Midler
A few definitions:
- Religions: all the same -- basically guilt, with different holidays. -- Cathy Ladman
- Puritanism: the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy. -- H. L. Mencken
Very easy puzzle today. 8 minutes.
ReplyDeleteGood morning! This was a great puzzle, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I like the down themes; for some reason I always have an easier time with the down fills. Maybe because they're often fewer letters.
ReplyDeleteNational pig day and national pnut butter day, now that's good! I wouldn't eat bacon with my peanut butter, my sandwich of choice would be peanut butter and banana.
The definitions slay me today.
Happy March, I hope the mountains of snow melt without flooding and that we start seeing some little green things popping up in the garden.
Gracie
Hi gang -
ReplyDeleteThis is probably the only time you'll hear from me this early. Woke up at 6:30. i can only attribute this to late-onset insomnia.
Nice twist with the theme falling down. Excellent theme, too. Pretty good puzzle over all, and Monday-easy. But, as has been pointed out, could have used some refinement.
The pairing of 30d and 33D calls for a pic, doncha think?
Off to the chirocracker.
Cheers!
JzB the still sniffling trombonist
Have a Happy March all; puzzle was a fine Monday, though there out to be a better way to clue PRE without PREfix. I really enjoyed the choice to have all the theme answers FALLING in the DOWN clues.
ReplyDeleteDennis:
ReplyDeleteof my two grandmothers, one was a locally famous cook, the others food was barely edible. The former didn't own a cookbook, the latter had a shelf full. I think the analogy extends to your Bette Midler quote.
Lemonade714,
Thanks for the definition late last night. When I first saw the word I imagined that it described a woman of a certain persuasion with a speech impediment.
In nonpuzzle news, lambing has begun here at Windhover. Four born yesterday. Now that the Winter Olympics are winding down, we're looking forward to what we like to call the Lamb Olympics, where 50 or 60 of the little critters race around the pasture, with leaps and pirouettes and the occasional (unintentional) double axel. Simple pleasure, to be sure, and best of all, the flockmaster is not a thesbian.
Sorry to BUTT in but I thought yours was a CHEEKY observation JB, but you need to refer to more than the clue number, or the humor will not be all it is CRACKED up to be.
ReplyDeleteMorning, CC and all. Very easy Monday puzzle. Good thing, too, since I over slept and wouldn't have been able to finish before getting ready for work if it had been hard.
ReplyDeleteI'm not KEEN on seeing the 3 in Mommy-type clues, but by know I've learned what that means.
Thanks for the George Thorogood clip. I used to listen to him all the time.
QOD: Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so. Douglas Adams
Good luck with your lambing, Windhover. Wish we could see the little critters leaping about in the fields.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Argyle, CC and All,
ReplyDelete15 minutes with no help. I liked the downward theme answers also, and I got the theme. My favorite clue and answer was 53 A. Nothing like a good Thwack to kick off a Monday.
Crazy weekend for me. My oldest's Jazz Band advanced to the State Jazz festival with a score of 1 (which is the highest you can get). All of the soloists scored 1s as well, including mine! He was really smokin'! He got congrats and raves from his competitors also. One kid said "Dude, you were totally sick man! Totally awesome!" His mother and I are getting some mileage out of the "sick" term with him.
Then I went to a 5th and 6th grade basketball tournament with my youngest. Our team is all 5th graders and they did pretty well. A couple of parents and coaches from other teams commented that they had better watch out next year.
Snow (that is really close to rain) and wind here. Many folks are still without power from the last blow.
March madness begins today. This is usually a crazy month as the budget goes through the Warrant Committee process. Many meetings and this is a particularly difficult budget year.
Have a great Monday!
Lemonade -
ReplyDeleteYou got right to the bottom of it, a posteriori. I guess, in my hamming it up, I aspire to shoot for the moon. Will you get behind me for not including 53A? Or am I in arrears?
Mainiac - Great news on the 1's and the smokin' solos!
WH - Happy lambing.
Cheers!
Jazz BUM pa
A story for March:
ReplyDeleteHis name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.
There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
'I want to repay you,' said the nobleman. 'You saved my son's life.'
'No, I can't accept payment for what I did,' the Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.
'Is that your son?' the nobleman asked.
'Yes,' the farmer replied proudly.
'I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.' And that he did.
Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia.
What saved his life this time? Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill .. His son's name?
Sir Winston Churchill.
Someone once said: What goes around comes around.
Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.
good am c.c., Argyle and folk,
ReplyDelete@Jazzbumpa:where did you get that photo of me???
@Lemonade714, Your son is so handsome!!! Is he single? I'd like to fix him up with my daughter!!! Wait a minute...that isn't your son...that's you! What age were you, 16? Very cute! All bets with my daughter just toppled; dropped down, slayed,fallen, dead end my friend...
Being a huge fan of peanut butter, I feel like having peanut butter and apples now, no pigs for this girl!
I'm out!
Good morning, Argyle, C.C., and all,
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a great puzzle, very clever theme and construction. Easily clued as it's Monday--could have been much more challenging with more obscure clues. Liked "Provider of kisses", and "THWACK".
Mainiac-Congrats on sons' accomplishments!
Windhover-Great visual of lambs dancing, prancing, and spinning. Hope all goes well with the lambing.
I'm going with the peanut butter today. Made "cookies" yesterday which included peanut butter and rice cereal. We joked about their health value since they're really mostly sugar and chocolate. Yummy!
Enjoy the day!
Great story, Lemonade!
ReplyDeleteI actually think I knew everything on the CW today, so practically no pauses.
Argyle,
Great blog as usual. One comment though: The accent on père is a grave, like crème yesterday. It's always è when there is a single consonant followed by a silent e after the è. You get é (e-acute)when there is no consonant following it in the same syllable. It's usually the only vowel, and often is the only letter in its syllable, or else at the end of a word it can be followed by a mute e to change to feminine gender, or an s for plural. At the beginning of words, é can replace the s in the English equivalent (école = school, Écosse = Scotland)
Probably more than most want to know.
MJ,
Wonderful how we can rationalize cookie health value, isn't it? My faves are oatmeal raisin.
Hi guys! Just wanted to check in. My little guy turned 2 yesterday/today (leap year) so today it's lots of cleaning/laundry/ugh. Luckily he likes his new toys so I can just let him go for a while. A fast puzzle; my favorite was THWACK! There's nothing like a good onomatopoeia to start out your week. And here's one to remind us what they really look like !
ReplyDeleteGuilty, I'm guilty. Wasn't paying attention(that happens when you type with your eyes closed). I fixed it and bookmarked one of sites that has those thingies.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to say to all those newspapers that dropped the LAT puzzles, HAH! you missed out on a great one today.
Good Morning All, This one was a combination of a very nice theme and some interesting clues and fill that we wouldn't usually see on a Monday.
ReplyDeleteI particularly liked "Plastic clog footwear brand" for CROCS. THWACK...terrific!
Nothing like a little combination geography/history lesson with SELMA, RENO, USSR, NAMIBIA, IRAN, HAGUE and GHANA.
"The Amazing Race" on CBS is the most honest of the reality shows. The scenery is spectacular and the challenges really are challenging. The winning team isn't voted for in a popularity contest; they actually win. Then too, I think New Zealander host, Phil Keoghan is cute.
I seen the Fleming/Churchill story before via email, but according to Snopes.com it isn't true. It's still a nice story.
I'm foolish enough to dance and sing without regard to who might be watching and listening. :o)
@jzb Thanks for the link. Think I need to pack my bags and head to the airport!
ReplyDelete@lemonade714 "Noted Oregon runner Steve?" Thanks for the March story.
@mainiac Good luck with the bean counters!
@aimeeaya Nice link as well.
Have a great Monday, everyone!!
Good noon, everyone.
ReplyDeleteGood catch, ClearAyes. Too bad, it is such a good story.
Great puzzle. Just my sorry speed.
Cheers
Hi all!
ReplyDeleteGreat fun and fast puzzle!
Argyle: Have you tried writing the vertical ones that are not obvious and have a number of letters the other way? Works well for me. I have a Stickie (notepad for Mac) open on the same screen to write on. (But you probably do not need a crutch as much as I.)
Really enjoyed the English discussion on Saturday! I have stopped ticking people off by correcting them in my old age. (Thought son in law was going to murder me. After 14 years he cannot get the "between/for you and me" thing right.)
Many AEONS ago one of my physics profs corrected me in a most supercilious manner--I pronounced FORTE (French word, silent E) as FORTAY. To this day, I cringe when I hear the latter, and sometimes annoyed my students, though in a gentler manner. Same thing with PORSCHE (German word, hence is "opposite" rule, pronounce the E).
Watched Branagh's (very wonderful otherwise) version of Shakespeare's "Much Ado..." the other day. Included "for you and me" or such. Maybe all hope is lost!!!
JzB: Insomnia now going for 36 straight hours here.
Enjoy the day!
No acute or grave accent mark is needed if the answer is capitalized.
ReplyDeleteI agree, very fun puzzle. Loved all the downward movement.
ReplyDeleteWe saw a little BARE TUSH this weekend in a local production of Rent. My daughter's longtime friend and roommate was in the production. I had never seen it before. A little disjointed as well as somewhat dark, but the cast was superb.
Maniac - congrats to your boys. Must be qualifying for State time. My two qualified for the State Swim Meet this past weekend. They all swam awesome fast!!! It was very fun to watch, as last year my older one DQ'd on his best event by jumping the gun. That was heartbreaking to watch so getting over that hurdle was really nice.
This weekend we saw a billboard for a local radio station that had LMAO as part of the sign. I had to laugh that my 17 year old had no idea what that meant. He said he found it interesting as there is a band that is LMFAO and he thought it should have been referring to that. Interesting name for a band don't you think? I couldn't believe that I knew the acronym and he didn't. The things you learn on this blog.
café
ReplyDeletedéja
après
@Lemonade714: I saw that story before, still a good read.
ReplyDeleteNo acute or grave accent mark is needed if the answer is capitalized.
ReplyDeleteI want to so some collaborating evidence to that effect.
fermatprime, yes I do the same thing and usually "see" the word before I'm even done writing it out.
Good day, Argyle, C.C. and friends:
ReplyDeleteGreat puzzle. I thought it was just right for Monday and enjoyed the downward theme. It's a nice change.
I liked "provider of kisses", Hershey. Can't wait until Lent is over so I can enjoy some.
Clear Ayes:
Yes, that was a good geography observation.
Lemonade:
Thank you for the definition yesterday. I had no idea such a word even existed. Live and learn!
Mainiac:
Congratulations on your sons' achievements!
Windhover:
Good luck with the lambing. your description hit home with me and I can mentally hear the "bahs" as my grandfather raised sheep and it's a vivid memory from my childhood. That and the branding of the calves.
Have a great day, everyone. It sounds like a busy Monday for everyone. I think I'll have a peanut butter sandwich for lunch.
Hi Argyle, C.C. and all -
ReplyDeletePerfect Monday puzzle...I had fun 'falling down' :)
Nice to see some new clues/answers; CROCS, BEGOT, PYROS. Clever how 35D and 39A cross (TSAR and USSR).
I find the names of African countries to be difficult at times, they have changed so many times over the years.
Glad to see NOSE in there for ol' Cyrano's 'big one'...Lois???
I laughed at the WoW today..so true.
I had a light smear of peanut butter on my toast this morning. I love bacon but we seldom have it. (except in summer when our tomatoes are ripe and I fix Joe his BLT's)
Lemonade and Jazz: you guys are on a roll..LOL
Fermanprime(11:25) I did not know that forte was pronounced FORT. I always hear it as FORTAY and if it is referring to music, then pronouncing the 'e' is correct.
@Argyle & Kazie,
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 11:29am is correct. That's why I've never accented my capitalized French answers.
Yes, capitals in French do not require accents, but if you want to know whether to pronounce an é or è it helps, and you do see them accented sometimes. Après is one case where you'd expect the é sound if it weren't shown with the accent.
ReplyDeleteI don't enjoy peanut butter at all--it sticks to too many parts of my mouth. Much prefer Vegemite!
Argyle,
ReplyDelete"It is essential to put accents in their proper places - an incorrect or missing accent is a spelling mistake just as an incorrect or missing letter would be. The only exception to this is capital letters, which are often left unaccented."
My smoking gun: French Language.
Lemonade,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed very much reading your March story, even if it's not true. But can you make a link rather than copy and paste here to shorten the post?
Dodo,
I am unhatting to show my respect for your love and passion for word discussions. You are an amazing person.
Bill G,
Thanks for the LIVER answer yesterday. I just realized that I omit the g sound in "strength" and "length" also.
My smoking gun misfire: French Capitalization - Accented Capitals.
ReplyDeleteCarol--in the case of the musical forte, the word is Italian, is it not?
ReplyDeleteFor those of you embroiled in the English Language / English Grammar discussion of the past few days, let me recommend a book that was first published 101 years ago. We have seen Ambrose Bierce in crossword puzzles before, and have referenced is book, The Devil's Dictionary in said puzzles. His book Write it Right was recently re-released. It goes into his grammar and language pet peeves in more detail than you probably want. Still, it's is an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteSallie: Thank you for the Whispering Land book suggestion. I loved it.
Fermaprime: yes, the musical word forte is from Italian. I Googled the Dictionary for the word and got a nice explanation for both the French and Italian words. Very interesting. Also, there was a survey done and 74% of people pronounce the French 'forte' as 'fortay' even though it is technically incorrect. Don't we learn a lot on this blog :)?
ReplyDeleteSince some of you have done a lot of international travel and language studies, I'd like to ask a related question to the current topic.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your understanding or opinion on pronunciation of foreign locations? Two examples I've heard someone use are: Espania (for Spain), and Barcelona (using the 'th' dialect pronunciation instead of the 's' for the letter 'c').
A co-worker uses both extensively, and I find them annoying. Apparently, he's done the same thing with friends back in the small mill town he's from too, and they've dismissed him as being pretentious.
Thanks!
Thanks all for the congrats on the boys. They made Dadio proud!
ReplyDeleteKQ, I've still got an interest in swimming having started when I was 8 and damn near burned out by the time I was a senior in HS. Did manage to get third in the state, three years in a row in 100 back. What do yours swim?
Off to deal with my dysfunctional Parks and Rec committee. Better than the TV show. (I hope none of them are crossworders!!)
C.C., Argyle, and everyone else, thanks for the comments! I hadn't noticed the duplication of the DOWN answer with the use of "down" in one of the clues. Rats!
ReplyDeleteHaving gotten started in crosswords about two years ago, it's been really surprising to me how much fun they are to solve, but even more so to create. Trying to anticipate solvers' "aha" moments as well as points of frustration has been a great exercise in creativity.
Thanks again for taking the time to blog and comment! It's really helpful for me to hear feedback, both positive and critical.
Jeff
Kazie,
ReplyDeleteIs English pronunciation for après wrong then? It sounds like aprés.
Argyle,
My French is not good enough to know exceptions to the rule.
Jeff,
Thanks for swinging by.
Jeff, this was a fun puzzle - do you have more in the pipeline?
ReplyDeleteAnnette:
ReplyDeleteThere's a rule for that, too.
It starts out:
"When in Rome ............."
Mainiac, congratulations to your "sick" sons!
ReplyDeleteHappy bithday to your son, AmieeAya. Glad to see you back.
From 10:14, "I've seen", not typo "I seen". It could have been a grammar mistake. I've heard people say "I seen it all."
My favorite grammar no-no is not using the subjunctive form for hypothetical sentences. "If I was a carpenter", rather than "If I were a carpenter" is a common example. That one was drilled into me when I was a kid. I also notice when people say, "She was the woman that...blah..blah", rather than the correct, "She was the woman who...".
Unless you know how a person will respond it is better to MYOB. Grandkids are my exception. I'm sure they would rather not be corrected, but that's too bad, It is one of the perks of being Grandma. They have to be polite and pretend to listen. Once in a while something may filter in.
Frenchie -
ReplyDeletePhotos can end up in embarrassing places. Caution is advised. I do like your traveling comanions. Do you always fly Derry Air?
Fermat -
Sooner or later, insomnia is self-limiting. Good luck and stay comfortable.
French is not my forte. But in saying that, am I co-opting a French or Italian word? The word, pianoforte (long ago shortened to piano) comes from Italian. Mirriam-Webster online says forte is French and the pronunciation is corrupted by Italian influence; and now either is standard in English.
At least I had peanut butter for lunch!
Cheers!
Jzb the protein enriched trombonist
Windhover: And when you're no longer in Rome (or Roma, as he calls it)...? Good luck with the lambs. It sounds like they put on quite a show!
ReplyDeleteAnnette, if you are actually speaking Spanish, then use Espania, or pronounce it "Barthelona". When in Rome, go ahead and say Roma, but when you get home tell people about your trip to Rome.
ReplyDeleteIf you are speaking English to other English speakers, use English names. I think anything else is an affectation. If your listeners asks for the foreign name, tell them, but leave it at that. I don't tell people I've visited Sverige (Sweden) and Norge (Norway). Nobody except a Swede or Norwegian would know what I'm talking about.
Mainiac: I forgot to add my congratulations to your sons! Had to laugh at the word 'sick'...that is a new one to me. I am sure my grandkids know it though.
ReplyDeleteAimee-Aya: nice to see a comment from you again. Please give your little guy a birthday hug for me. :)
CA: LOL about the perks of being Grandma, the kids will listen cause they have to and I too hope something seeps into their hard little skulls.
Thanks for mentioning the 'I seen it' phrase...that one really annoys me, it sounds sooooo bad. Right up there with 'so I axed him where he was'. Arghhhhh!
On the subject of grammatical goofs, has anyone else read Common Errors in English Usage by Paul Brians? One of the best I've read on the subject; I can talk and write real good now.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Clear Ayes! That's how I feel about it too, but didn't know if it was just me being too "touchy" or unworldly...
ReplyDeleteClear Ayes said: I don't tell people I've visited Sverige (Sweden) and Norge (Norway). Nobody except a Swede or Norwegian would know what I'm talking about.
ReplyDeleteOr possibly a puzzle solver! :)
Annette:
ReplyDeleteWhat CA said.
With all due respect to the many teachers on this blog (and it is due and it is considerable), she is my go to girl on most subjects, not just poetry.
I do sometimes wish I could speak Gaelic to the Irish. She thought I was the other night, but I was just muffled.
@Dennis: Rich has two more, tentatively scheduled for one later this month, one next month. Hope you enjoy!
ReplyDeleteJeff
Windhover, (off subject) I thought baby goats were kids, in which case you have been 'kidding' all this time!
ReplyDeleteI have so many English/grammar peeves it's hard for me to pick a fave. I really do despise 'for he and I' and it seems to be becoming accepted. At least all kinds of people use it.
Found today's puzzle a good Monday exercise. Very clever theme and for once I really got it!
C.C. Thank you for the compliment! I'm tugging my forelock and kicking my instep in humility!
ReplyDeleteAnnette:
ReplyDeleteI agree with the other bloggers about using Espana, etc. Use English pronunciations when among the English speaking.
As for the pronunciation, that's where western Castillian and European differ. If a person has been taught the "th" pronunciation when learning the language, then that's how they say it. In Spain that is correct. Here and in Mexico and other SA countries, we use the regular "c", "s" pronunciation that is familiar to us all.
If it's only an affectation from having just visited the country, then, yes, it's annoying.
I heard Alex Trebec once use the "th" pronunciation some time ago, but noticed lately that he has changed to the western one.
I hope you all don't mind when I use Spanish greetings for you; if you do, please don't hesitate to tell me. I know you will! And it won't hurt my feelings.
I drank a delicious peanut butter shake today. It may not sound so, but it is, believe me.
Annette:
ReplyDeleteI failed to mention that the "th" sound is not a dialect, but the correct form for all of Spain.
Jeff:
I add my compliments for a fine and fun puzzle today. Looking forward to the next.
It's so nice to see Jeff Chen make some comments. It is always a pleasure to have a constructor drop by. Jeff, we're looking forward to more of your puzzles.
ReplyDeleteDodo, your 5:03 had me laughing at the mental picture.
Hola Lucina, love your greetings.
WH, Awww, shucks.....and keep practicing that Gaelic.
Argyle:
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how 12D, EDEN, is a "cross-referenced" bonus as you said in the write-up.
Hell, I don't know how EDEN is a "Notable 57 Down site.
Carol--Am aware of this growing statistic. Wonder what the percentage is for "for you and I."
ReplyDeleteClear Ayes--the "were" thing bugs me also. Must be a good percentage there also.
Jeff--Thanks from me too!
Apparently it's not good form to have an answer in a CW be the same as a word in another clue. Right? Where does that come from? Tradition? Where did it originate?
ReplyDeleteI dropped by because I got stuck on the bottom middle. Haven't been here in months. GILd, AGLoW, GHAnA, and henNA eluded me!
ReplyDeleteYou wrote 44D is "HER" in the blog, but the actual answer is "SHE." You may want to fix it?
There's not a whole lot more to comment on about the puzzle except I enjoyed it. Hey, who doesn't like a "bare tush"? In honor of National Pig day and PB lovers day, here is a Thai pork tenderloin in peanut sauce recipe you might enjoy.
ReplyDelete1 cup light coconut milk
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter, preferably a natural variety
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 Tbs. fresh lime juice
3 Tbs. dark brown sugar
2 large cloves garlic, minced (2-1/2 tsp.)
2 tsp. ground coriander
2 small pork tenderloins (about 2 lb. total)
Vegetable oil for the grill
In a large bowl, whisk the coconut milk, peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, garlic, and coriander to make a smooth sauce.
Trim the pork of excess fat and silverskin. Butterfly the tenderloins by splitting each one lengthwise almost but not quite all the way through, so the halves remain attached.
Open each tenderloin like a book, cover with plastic wrap, and pound to an even 1/2-inch thickness with a meat mallet or the bottom of a small skillet. Put the pork tenderloins in the bowl with the marinade and turn to coat. Let marinate for 10 to 20 minutes (or up to several hours in the refrigerator).
While the pork marinates, heat a gas grill with all burners on high. Clean and oil the grate. You can cook the meat in a large skillet on the stove. Remove the tenderloins from the marinade, letting excess marinade drip back into the bowl (don’t discard the marinade). Grill the tenderloins, covered, turning once, until just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes total (cut into one to check). Transfer to a carving board and let rest for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, pour the marinade into a small saucepan and add 2 Tbs. water; bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. If the sauce seems too thick, thin it with 1 or 2 tsp. water. Slice the pork and add back to the sauce. I usually serve it over jasmine rice with a green onion garnish. Enjoy!
Could someone with an astronomer`s knowledge tell us what the effects would be if the earth`s axes was displaced by as much as three inches, as some scientists/astronauts have said the Chilean earthquake could have done?
ReplyDeleteAnon, 5:46:
ReplyDeleteEden is where the "fall", the fall from grace took place in the Bible. That is where Adam and Eve disobeyed God.
Bill G- Yes, you're right. You want to avoid using a word in a clue that is also in the grid. This 'rule' makes for a more polished, elegant puzzle. I don't think, however, that the word DOWN appearing in both an answer and a clue in today's puzzle was a mistake, even if Jeff may think so. I'm guessing Rich thought of it as being no big deal in this case.
ReplyDeleteThe exception to the 'rule' is in short words such as, a, on, an, of, in, to, etc. Once in awhile you'll see these words in the clues and in a phrase in the grid. This is always acceptable.
My two cents about 'proper grammar'. I cannot imagine the audacity it would take to correct another's language skills.
You said 44D was her----you meant she (see answer grid)
ReplyDeleteJerome...hear, hear. I only hope that I used the write (right)jarrgon. I for one, do not understand French, nor do I choose to do so and it's been no secret here on the blog. I am in awe of C.C. for being a "learner" of all the nuiances of our English language.
ReplyDeleteLemonade...nice sweater and nice beard.
Oh, I forgot Windhover...I think you actually were speaking Gaelic.
ReplyDeleteGot it.
Jeff your puzzle was fun, and we all appreciate feedback from our constructors.
ReplyDeleteFrenchie, I cannot believe in the rarefied atmosphere of intellectual pursuit, such as crossword puzzling, you would be such an ageist! I am not embarrassed by my age, nor my avatar, but for you to dangle your daughter and then snatch her away just because I am likely old enough to be her grandfather, is hardly cricket. Think twice before you offer your children to my children. I hope the peanut butter sticks to the roof of your mouth.
Windhover: Gaelic sounds like it'd be very difficult to learn, even harder than it is to understand.
ReplyDeleteLucina: Yes, it's an affectation from him having been there prior to the 10 years that I've known him! That it was a dialect only used in certain regions is something I read when I'd googled it. I had no idea which was correct, why, and in what instances.
Carol: "Axed" makes me cringe from head to toe every time I hear it. Luckily, the only person I know that uses it isn't one I deal with very often.
Rose
ReplyDeleteI can't speak with an astronomer's knowledge, but from what I've
read, the day will now be shorter by 1.26 microseconds. Like they weren't flashing by fast enough already!
Also, some of the mass of the earth was redistributed, which accounts for the axis shift.
So the axis shifted, and the earth is rotating faster. I'm sure that, and not the Harp I am drinking, accounts for the dizziness.
Cheers!
JzB the non-astronomer non-harpist
Annette, so wouldn't the person who says 'axed' be much better off in life, job interviews, etc. if someone politely mentioned it to him/her and helped correct it? I'm thinking George W. would have seemed a little sharper if his advisors had gotten him to pronounce 'nuc-you-ler' correctly. I think Obama is a bright fellow and I wish somebody would help him avoid saying something like 'with Michelle and I.' I even wrote an e-mail to a TV talk show host who regularly said, 'I felt badly for her.' She stopped doing it though I don't know if it was because of my e-mail. :>)
ReplyDeleteI guess it's the teacher/parent in me that wants to correct things in a polite, helpful way. I certainly try not to make a nuisance of myself though.
Since we`re being all grammary today...my post should have read "axes were" or "axis was."Imagine! A self-correcting rose! Now, tell me this...does the earth have one axis or a north and south axes?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jazz, I wanted to know if we were going to spin into outer space before I retired for the night. I wanted to be sure my puzzle book was packed!
BillG: I think it was you interested in the shifting of the axis/axes due to the "Flood theory." I`ve been trying to find a source but haven`t. It was something I heard in a seminar years ago and I don`t remember the speaker. Sorry.
A word on grammar:
ReplyDeleteOn his 74th birthday, a man got a gift certificate from his wife. The certificate paid for a visit to a medicine man living on a nearby reservation who was rumored to have a wonderful cure for erectile dysfunction. After being persuaded, he drove to the reservation, handed his ticket to the medicine man and wondered what he was in for.
The old man slowly, methodically produced a potion, handed it to him, and with a grip on his shoulder, warned, "This is powerful medicine and it must be respected. You take only a teaspoonful and then say '1-2-3'. 'When you do that, you will become more manly than you have ever been in your life and you can perform as long as you want."
The man was encouraged. As he walks away, he turned and asked, "How do I stop the medicine from working?" "Your partner must say '1-2-3-4,' he responded. "But when she does, the medicine will not work again until the next full moon." He was very eager to see if it worked so he went home, showered, shaved, took a spoonful of the medicine, and then invited his wife to join him in the bedroom.
When she came in, he took off his clothes and said, '1-2-3!'
Immediately, he was the manliest of men.
His wife was excited and began throwing off her clothes. And then she asked, 'What was the 1-2-3 for?'
And that, boys and girls, is why we should never end our sentences with a preposition because we could end up with a dangling participle.
When I hear someone correcting another person's grammar I get this vision in my head of Marie Antoinette saying, "Let them eat cake. Besides, I can't stand how this uneducated mass of rabble butcher the language!"
ReplyDeleteAnd we all know what happened to her.
Rose:
ReplyDeleteIf I may translate, I think what Jazz and the link he provided are both saying is that we're all going to die, some sooner than others. And then bad grammar will cease to be annoying. I for one rarely speak in the same vernacular I use in writing. I am no arbiter of anything, but I will opine that this grammatical Mr. Ed we have been flogging the past two days is not going to get up.
And Annette, the dialect I was speaking actually comes quite naturally; it's almost universally spoken.
Jerome, man, you hit it on the nose. There might be a rare exception, say, if it's a very close friend, but I could just never be that presumptuous.
ReplyDeleteHahtool and Jerome:
ReplyDeleteI am burning my last post of the day to say 1)that was a damn good joke and 2) that should be the last word on the subject, or 3) heads should roll.
Good night, all.
ReplyDeleteSomeone please tell me (tomorrow) if I am correct or not. I believe that in Barcelona, because of the civic unrest as to whether it is really Spain or not, that the th should not be used. Or maybe one should just use Catalan. or whatever the language is.
Sorry, Windhover. You can 53A me later... I have to answer a question directed to me, but will agree to disagree and say no more after that. Okay, Bill? Friends?
ReplyDeleteBill G: This man is probably 2 levels above me in the organization, a customer of mine, and at least 10 years my senior.
Why would I presume that out of all the thousands of people he's interacted with over his lifetime, I have the right to educate him or break him of a habit neither his family or many educators were able to?
Or should I assume he's never noticed that he says it differently than everyone else, or that everyone else is wrong?
Beyond our own child/grandchild, students (if we're teachers), or spouse/partner/s.o., I don't see anyone having the right to correct someone else's grammar.
Unless someone's asked for help, to offer correction of something as personal as their speech would imply that I think I'm better than them and need to educate them - ie. that they're uneducated, no matter how nicely it's done.
My father was an atrocious speller, but I would never have deigned to correct him or my mother. I would have felt disrespectful.
C.C. - I'm sorry, this reply took me one over the limit for today! Last one, I promise.
Silly people; do you not understand how racially insensitive it is to rail against a pattern of speech that grew in a sub-culture. Each part of the US has speech patterns which grate on people from other parts, from word choice, to grammar, to pronunciation. While we may never have any blacks who are part of our little family, if we do, I hope you all will remember how irritating it was to listen to anon. criticize word choices. Lighten up, it is fun to learn about words, and it is fine to express what we believe to be correct, but it is not nice to put down others.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Lemonade714.
ReplyDeleteI was responding to Annette saying that "axed" bothered her not knowing that this was a senior person where she worked. I guess I was trying to make the point (unsuccessfully) that it would be to his advantage to change that speech pattern. Coming from Virginia, when I went to Cornell, I found that my speech patterns had some regionalisms different from my new acquaintances. I made a conscious effort to change some of them.
ReplyDeleteI don't think any of us have put others down and if I've given the impression that I think putting others down is OK, I apologize. I didn't do that to my students, I don't do it to family members and friends and I hope I'm not perceived as doing it here.
Lemonade714: Now you caused me to break my promise... I thought everyone was nicely discussing their views on a question Bill G. posed. Bill, if anything I said came across harshly, then I apologize.
ReplyDeleteAlso, this wasn't a racial discussion. The man I'm speaking of is not black, as you assumed Lemonade714. He is however an executive within the department, so I wouldn't consider his career hampered by this issue.
c.c.,
ReplyDeleteSince you asked, the only difference is in the openness of the 'e'. è is more like the 'e' in our word 'egg', and é is closer to the sound in 'cake' but even tighter.
My problem is that after a lifetime of teaching, I have to really bite my tongue to avoid correcting people sometimes. I'd never do it to a stranger, though I'd have a hard time with that acquaintance of Annette's. Not that it would be correcting, just a polite suggestion.
My son, who is married to the German and who lived there for almost four years, has forgotten some of our idioms, and while he can remember all the words he needs, at times sounds comical and writes weirdly in German idiom. I sometimes gently remind him of what he means, but not always.
Incorrect usage is embarrassing for the user, and they really should appreciate the help if corrected, but if it is so ingrained that it doesn't sound wrong to them, they will be indignant at being corrected, and you're better off not going there.
For the most part I would agree with CA on correcting others, but sometimes here I add a correction because I feel we all prefer our information to be accurate, and the teacher instinct overtakes me.
Because I've been absent a lot of the time lately and only skimming when I return late at night, I missed what Mainiac's kids have been doing. But I'm sure it is indeed praiseworthy.
Jeff,
I'm adding my congrats on a really enjoyable puzzle too. Keep them coming!
I don't usually get to 5, but I started early today.
ReplyDeleteRose -
We have a single axis.
Married axes exist on a different astral plane.
Marie Antoinette was an inbred, undereducated, probably not particularly bright child who grew up to achieved one well-remembered witticism in her entire too-privileged life. Then again, she might have been dumb enough to have meant it literally.
Anyway, Jerome and Lemonade - hear, hear! Or maybe it's Here, Here!
So, leaving nothing to chance, I'll try: Hear, here!
Jeff - Thanks for stopping by. It's great to hear from you here.
WH - Yes, we are most definitely going to die. I'm on no hurry, though, and would prefer slightly longer days.
I think I'll go to bed now.
Cheers!,
JzB the 5 and out trombonist
Lemonade...always the wise and witty soul. I am afraid to post a French comment, not knowing where the apostrophe goes. WTF...Mi' Amie' then Spanish Se' gusto' Grande'.
ReplyDeleteI, and my employers (boss included) do think I have mastered the English language and grammar I learnt....that was for you CA.
Ludinda and Kazie, I did my best to combine what I know about foreign languages. I am not being sarcastic in the least.
Does no one like Thai pork tenderloin in PB sauce?
Annette, we are fine. No need to apologize. Lemonade, not so much. This is the second time you have written a strongly-worded, almost rude response to something I wrote. (The first was suggesting I start my own blog if I wasn't happy with a five-post limit. I never said that and was just trying to feel my way around through a new environment.) BTW, who's putting people down when you start your post addressing some of us as 'silly people'?
ReplyDeleteYes Kazie, I agree. I don't appreciate unpleasant criticism but when I learn something I wrote or said is incorrect via a polite suggestion, I feel as if I benefit by it.
I go for a regular bike ride on a bike path along the Pacific ocean. Lots of folks, especially ones new to the area, see it as a sidewalk and don't realize that fast bike riders (not me!) are a hazard to them and their unminded pets and children. When I politely suggest to them that they walk on the nearby Strand, some get pissed off and others apologize and thank me for the suggestion. Somehow, that seems to be related to this thread.
Bill, I guess Dubya felt it was okay to say nookular becauseit started with DDE, but you're probably too young to remember that.
ReplyDeleteI don't seem to hear 'axed' much here on the left coast.But we all seem to agree on "with Mary and I" so what's wrong with the rest of the world, anyway? We had a good friend who had a PhD in linguistics and a paper of which he was very proud was a dissertation on "snuck". It bothered me a little that he wasn't as disapproving of some of the things that peeve me because he looked at language as a 'growing' thing. I still like 'proper' Emglish. It's one of my few reactionary opinions.
It may be that people who don't pronounce words correctly don't have an ear for language. I have a friend who came here from Austria looong ago. She has such a heavy accent that some people avoid her because they can't understand her. But it's entirely possible that she speaks the way things sound to her. Lots of times people with accents are accused , not to their faces, of course, of purposely hanging on to their accents for effect. I don't think that is necessarily the case.
Someone with a very good 'ear' will easily pick up dialect the way, for instance, that many actors are able to do. Others never seem to be able to do so.
Am I making sense at all? One of my daughters can mimic other languages really well; she also plays the piano by ear, which is why we finally discontinued her music lessons!
Remember Andy Coffman doing Latke Gravis, Meryle Streep in 'Sophie's Choice'.Kazie, I'm sure you must have an opinion about this.