Theme: None
Total words: 72
Total blocks: 29
There are total 14 multiwords in today's grid, including the lively triple stacks in upper left and lower right corners.
Normally I struggled with proper names. But today I nailed NPR's IRA GLASS (12D. "This American Life" host) and YMA SUMAC (41A. Singer in the 1954 film "Secret of the Incas"), who was born in Peru. Always nice to see their full names in the grid.
Would prefer LARUE (16A. Eva of "57-Across: Miami") clued as Lash La Rue to avoid the duplication with the answer MIAMI HEAT (59A. Team with a flaming ball in its logo).
Had my normal struggle, but fared better than I did in the past several Saturdays. Looking at my completed grid now, I do know most of the answers. It's some of the clues that are beyond my ken.
Across:
1. "Scram!": TAKE A HIKE. And OVERDID IT (15. Got very sore, maybe). So simple in retrospect.
10. Orly sight: AVION. Orly is the airport in Paris, an alternative to Charles de Gaulle.
17. If often requires a bedroom set: LOVE SCENE. Sweet clue/answer.
18. Montana motto word: PLATA. Montana motto is "Oro y Plata" (Gold and Silver).
19. Seventh-century date: DCL. Roman 650.
20. Cooper's creation: KEG. Oh, the barrel maker "Cooper". I was picturing CNN's handsome Anderson Cooper.
21. Accepted without question: BOUGHT. Bought the story, for example.
22. Pines: YEARNS
25. Kung __ chicken: PAO. With cashews sprinkled in.
27. Group that "had decayed to a mere beautiful futility": Wells: ELOI. The beautiful race in "The Time Machine", written by H. G. Wells.
28. Features of some hotels: ATRIA
29. Effort: DINT. Know this word only in the content of "by dint of".
30. King deposed in 1964: SAUD. Thought he died in his throne. Had no idea that he was deposed.
31. Go along with: ASSENT TO. Hmm, they are not synonymous to me. (Added later: I mis-read the clue as "Get along with".)
34. Vane reading: Abbr.: SSE
35. Sudafed alternative: DRISTAN. Only have ginger tea when I catch a cold.
38. Sight from Marie Byrd Land: ROSS SEA. In Antarctic. Named after the discoverer James Ross.
40. Took off: RAN
43. Like the Kalahari: ARID. Kalahari Desert.
45. Town inland of the IJsselmeer: EDAM. The Dutch cheese town. Have never heard of IJsselmeer (Lake IJssel), the largest lake in Western Europe. The Dutch digraph IJ (Y) is pronounced the same as our I.
46. Actress Gershon et al.: GINAS. Do you think Gina Gershon is beautiful?
50. It may be chased by un perro: GATO. Spanish for "cat". Was ignorant that perro is Spanish for "dog".
51. Lake Thun feeder: AAR. First encounter with Lake Thun, an Alpine Lake in Switzerland.
52. Studio renamed Paramount Television in 1967: DESILU. A combination of "Desi" (Arnaz) and "Lucille"(Ball).
53. 1986 N.L. batting champ Tim: RAINES. Gimme. I've quite a few of his baseball cards, all worthless.
55. R&B group __ Hill: DRU. The answer emerged itself.
57. Show with DNA testing: CSI
58. __-garde: AVANT. Is aprés-garde a word also?
62. Paramecium features: CILIA. Here is a good picture of paramecium lined with cilia, which stymied J.D. last time when it's clued as "eyelashes".
63. All in all: ON BALANCE
64. Test track challenges: ESSES
65. Living end: BEE'S KNEES. Old slang for something marvelous. I am not familiar with the idiom "living end" at all. It means "extraordinary".
Down:
1. Know-it-all's taunt: TOLD YA
2. Long-legged shore bird: AVOCET. With upcurved bill. Those legs are so thin.
3. Body armor fiber: KEVLAR. No idea. What's the name origin of kevlar?
4. Poet's preposition: ERE. "Before".
5. Things to zap: ADS. D'oh, the damned commercials.
6. Bumpkins: HICKS
8. Top dog: KINGPIN
9. Hiver's opposite: ETE. Hiver is French for "winter".
10. Chop House Originals brand: ALPO
11. Societal concerns: VALUES
13. Rustic place to go?: OUTHOUSE. Great clue. Way to go, Mr. Doll!
14. "Very clever!": NEAT IDEA. We also had IDEE (7D. __ fixe). French for "idea". Some solvers don't like the cognates appear in the same grid. I do.
21. Duff: BOTTOM
23. Inlets: RIAS
24. Cold and rainy, say: NASTY
26. Anatomical cavity: ANTRUM. Rooted in Greek "antron" (cave). New to me.
29. "Gracias" reply: DE NADA
32. Just like, with "the": SAME AS
33. Truman Dam river: OSAGE. Have never heard of the Truman Dam, located in Missouri.
35. Contest that's usually over in less than 20 seconds: DRAG RACE. I know nothing about drag racing. 20 seconds is too short.
36. One in a million: RARA AVIS. Can't fill in this phrase without thinking of Kazie.
37. Approves, in a way: INITIALS
39. Some H.S. courses: SCIS
42. Certain rush hour commuter, metaphorically: SARDINE
44. "__ Darko": 2001 sci-fi film: DONNIE. Here is the poster. Another complete unknown to me.
47. Christianity's __ Creed: NICENE. First adopted by the Nicene Council (325 AD).
48. French region along the Rhine: ALSACE. The Alsace-Lorraine region.
.
49. Bach compositions: SUITES
52. "The Count of Monte Cristo" author: DUMAS. I've only read the Chinese version of the book.
54. LAX postings: ETAS
56. Broccoli __: RABE. I like stir-fried broccoli rabe with a bit of garlic & red pepper.
59. Hit-making group?: MOB. Felt stupid staring at M?? forever.
60. Kind: ILK
61. Solo in space: HAN. Han Solo of "Star Wars".
Answer grid.
C.C.
Total words: 72
Total blocks: 29
There are total 14 multiwords in today's grid, including the lively triple stacks in upper left and lower right corners.
Normally I struggled with proper names. But today I nailed NPR's IRA GLASS (12D. "This American Life" host) and YMA SUMAC (41A. Singer in the 1954 film "Secret of the Incas"), who was born in Peru. Always nice to see their full names in the grid.
Would prefer LARUE (16A. Eva of "57-Across: Miami") clued as Lash La Rue to avoid the duplication with the answer MIAMI HEAT (59A. Team with a flaming ball in its logo).
Had my normal struggle, but fared better than I did in the past several Saturdays. Looking at my completed grid now, I do know most of the answers. It's some of the clues that are beyond my ken.
Across:
1. "Scram!": TAKE A HIKE. And OVERDID IT (15. Got very sore, maybe). So simple in retrospect.
10. Orly sight: AVION. Orly is the airport in Paris, an alternative to Charles de Gaulle.
17. If often requires a bedroom set: LOVE SCENE. Sweet clue/answer.
18. Montana motto word: PLATA. Montana motto is "Oro y Plata" (Gold and Silver).
19. Seventh-century date: DCL. Roman 650.
20. Cooper's creation: KEG. Oh, the barrel maker "Cooper". I was picturing CNN's handsome Anderson Cooper.
21. Accepted without question: BOUGHT. Bought the story, for example.
22. Pines: YEARNS
25. Kung __ chicken: PAO. With cashews sprinkled in.
27. Group that "had decayed to a mere beautiful futility": Wells: ELOI. The beautiful race in "The Time Machine", written by H. G. Wells.
28. Features of some hotels: ATRIA
29. Effort: DINT. Know this word only in the content of "by dint of".
30. King deposed in 1964: SAUD. Thought he died in his throne. Had no idea that he was deposed.
31. Go along with: ASSENT TO. Hmm, they are not synonymous to me. (Added later: I mis-read the clue as "Get along with".)
34. Vane reading: Abbr.: SSE
35. Sudafed alternative: DRISTAN. Only have ginger tea when I catch a cold.
38. Sight from Marie Byrd Land: ROSS SEA. In Antarctic. Named after the discoverer James Ross.
40. Took off: RAN
43. Like the Kalahari: ARID. Kalahari Desert.
45. Town inland of the IJsselmeer: EDAM. The Dutch cheese town. Have never heard of IJsselmeer (Lake IJssel), the largest lake in Western Europe. The Dutch digraph IJ (Y) is pronounced the same as our I.
46. Actress Gershon et al.: GINAS. Do you think Gina Gershon is beautiful?
50. It may be chased by un perro: GATO. Spanish for "cat". Was ignorant that perro is Spanish for "dog".
51. Lake Thun feeder: AAR. First encounter with Lake Thun, an Alpine Lake in Switzerland.
52. Studio renamed Paramount Television in 1967: DESILU. A combination of "Desi" (Arnaz) and "Lucille"(Ball).
53. 1986 N.L. batting champ Tim: RAINES. Gimme. I've quite a few of his baseball cards, all worthless.
55. R&B group __ Hill: DRU. The answer emerged itself.
57. Show with DNA testing: CSI
58. __-garde: AVANT. Is aprés-garde a word also?
62. Paramecium features: CILIA. Here is a good picture of paramecium lined with cilia, which stymied J.D. last time when it's clued as "eyelashes".
63. All in all: ON BALANCE
64. Test track challenges: ESSES
65. Living end: BEE'S KNEES. Old slang for something marvelous. I am not familiar with the idiom "living end" at all. It means "extraordinary".
Down:
1. Know-it-all's taunt: TOLD YA
2. Long-legged shore bird: AVOCET. With upcurved bill. Those legs are so thin.
3. Body armor fiber: KEVLAR. No idea. What's the name origin of kevlar?
4. Poet's preposition: ERE. "Before".
5. Things to zap: ADS. D'oh, the damned commercials.
6. Bumpkins: HICKS
8. Top dog: KINGPIN
9. Hiver's opposite: ETE. Hiver is French for "winter".
10. Chop House Originals brand: ALPO
11. Societal concerns: VALUES
13. Rustic place to go?: OUTHOUSE. Great clue. Way to go, Mr. Doll!
14. "Very clever!": NEAT IDEA. We also had IDEE (7D. __ fixe). French for "idea". Some solvers don't like the cognates appear in the same grid. I do.
21. Duff: BOTTOM
23. Inlets: RIAS
24. Cold and rainy, say: NASTY
26. Anatomical cavity: ANTRUM. Rooted in Greek "antron" (cave). New to me.
29. "Gracias" reply: DE NADA
32. Just like, with "the": SAME AS
33. Truman Dam river: OSAGE. Have never heard of the Truman Dam, located in Missouri.
35. Contest that's usually over in less than 20 seconds: DRAG RACE. I know nothing about drag racing. 20 seconds is too short.
36. One in a million: RARA AVIS. Can't fill in this phrase without thinking of Kazie.
37. Approves, in a way: INITIALS
39. Some H.S. courses: SCIS
42. Certain rush hour commuter, metaphorically: SARDINE
44. "__ Darko": 2001 sci-fi film: DONNIE. Here is the poster. Another complete unknown to me.
47. Christianity's __ Creed: NICENE. First adopted by the Nicene Council (325 AD).
48. French region along the Rhine: ALSACE. The Alsace-Lorraine region.
.
49. Bach compositions: SUITES
52. "The Count of Monte Cristo" author: DUMAS. I've only read the Chinese version of the book.
54. LAX postings: ETAS
56. Broccoli __: RABE. I like stir-fried broccoli rabe with a bit of garlic & red pepper.
59. Hit-making group?: MOB. Felt stupid staring at M?? forever.
60. Kind: ILK
61. Solo in space: HAN. Han Solo of "Star Wars".
Answer grid.
C.C.
51 comments:
Happy Saturday, C.C. and all you quiet mousketeers:
Wow, you thought this was easy, and I saw it as a tough puzzle. I started so well in the NE, with the stacked nines coming easily, as did the SW nines, but everything in between was work. I had to use the depths of my memory, with fill like YMA SUMAC who I am not sure I remembered other than her name, because I once caught poison sumac. Of course when you have a name beginning YM, there are not many choices.
I have read references to the bird the AVOCET but it is not a word I know. Nor is, ROSS SEA . I also do not really know AAR but I have seen it in enough puzzles. I also do not like David Caruso, so I do not watch CSI MIAMI and do not know much about EVA but it is nice it is nice to see an actress successful in her 40s. Which of course is also true of GINA GERSHON who also did some funny work as Sarah Palin, and is perhaps most famous for her kisses with Jennifer Tilly and Elizabeth Berkley.
I grew up watching Desi Arnaz’ brainchild DESILU pump out tv programs, which gave us not only the eponymous I Love Lucy but also The Andy Griffith Show and The Danny Thomas Show , and perhaps more surprisingly, the Untouchables, Star Trek and Mission Impossible and many others.
“Get off your DUFF and clean up your room”, is a memory form childhood, It is gorgeous in paradise, but remember, they steal an hour from us at 200 AM
I l-o-v-e Ira Glass.
In the continuing teaching of French to everyone we HIVER which means winter, and Orly sight: AVION, which means airplane. I am sure we all remember the old Air Mail envelopes from the USPS, which always included Par Avion. Finally, IDEE:IDEA>
I am not sure of your problem with ”Go along with: ASSENT TO. Hmm, they are not synonymous to me.” But ASSENT and Agree are synonymous.
GINA GERSHON is interesting and exotic, IMHO.
Must not forget our Spanish lesson, PERRO: DOG, PLATA: SILVER. YOU ARE WELCOME: DE NADA.
Why is poor TIM “Rock” RAINES worthless? He was a star in Montreal.
Living end: BEE'S KNEES; these are both phrases from the distant past, with many 50’s teenagers updating the older BEESKNEES, to LIVING END. You could watch old and hear it from Maynard G. Krebs.
I also loved Rustic place to go?: OUTHOUSE.
Most drag races are over in 5 to 6 seconds; 20 seconds is more like street racing, a popular, dangerous past time, featured in all the versions of The Fast and Furious
Lemonade,
I misread the clue for ASSENT TO as "Get along with". No rational explanation for the card value of baseball players. Cal Ripken Jr's cards are incredibly affordable. So are the collectibles of the new Twin Jim Thome. Are you conversant in French/Spanish?
Okay, final comment; I am not too familiar with our constructor, Robert A. Doll, but his name does remind me of a Key West , Florida legend ROBERT A DOLL .
It is Saturday, play nice everone. Good morning Eddy B....
Oops, sent that too fast; I am half French from my mother's side, and we lived in a small town which was primarily French speaking French Canadians. I have lived in South Florida so long, I do not speak very much French any more except with Canadians and Haitians, but it is different than what I learned at home.
The other half being, living where I do, one must learn some Spanish, or one could never eaves drop at the grocery store. I am sure many learn some German in communities in Minnesota.
Morning, all!
I struggled mightily through most of this puzzle, but managed to get through it. All except the NE corner, that is, where I totally crashed and burned and finally had to resort to multiple visits to our friend, Mr. G.
I thought I was pretty smart knowing that Orly was somewhere in France and putting SEINE for 10A. Oops. And then I had no clue that ALPO was made by "Chop House Originals," no idea who Eva LARUE is (Longoria, yes, but not LARUE), never heard of IRA GLASS or "This American Life," didn't know who king SAUD was... As a result, I couldn't get BOUGHT and VALUES to save my life.
I did manage to get ELOI, PLATA and ROSS SEA in that section, though, so I don't feel completely stupid. Just mostly.
Good Morning CC and All,
This was another tough one for me. All of the names sent me online. I finally gave up because I was just guessing.
Thanks for the recipe Andrea. I think I'll try that one when I get some fresh shrimp (right off the boat, still wiggling).
My avatar is the sunrise I was seeing on my 7 minute commute to work the past few weeks. One of my employees took it last summer. The time change will put me back in the dark but around June I'll be enjoying it again.
WH, How are the new arrivals. Glad to here your mobile again. Nice Woodmizer! I've got some poplar trees that need to be milled. I could use it for trim.
Nice pic Bill. Good looking boy!
I've got to get at it. Need to do some cedar shingling and then hit a tide for clams and mussels.
Have a great Saturday!
Good morning, C.C. and all,
Another Saturday slog for me with all the stacked nines and eights. It took me 52 minutes with a lot of red letter help and some good guesses. My last fill was the NE corner, because I was stumped by Ira Glass, for which I had to go to the G. spot.
Favorite clue was "rustic place to go". I have been to a few in my life. In the South, the tissue was usually a Sears Roebuck catalogue.
Next week is our big Spring break week, with all local schools and big state colleges participating. We allow cars on the beach here, and it becomes a real mob scene. You won't find me there.
Enjoy the weekend.
Good morning C.C. and All, a real slog for me today. Like Barry I feel mostly stupid. The NW corner fell rapidly and I started to think how easy this puzzle was going to be. I knew Orly was a reference to the airport, but I struggled to come up with avion. As Lemonade said, once I had the YM from the down clues Yma Sumac became a given.
I did not know Eve LaRue or Gina Gershon, but did enjoy the pictures and movie links. Both are beautiful ladies.
15A made me think of Windover and Thinking he must be sore today. Hope you are doing well today WO.
Snow is almost all gone, but the rains have come. Looks like the worst of the flooding will occur today and into tomorrow. Hope all of those in the low lying areas are on their way to higher ground.
Hope you all have a great Saturday.
Good morning, C.C. and gang - just wanted to add a couple comments before playing outside.
I did this puzzle around 2 this morning after a great couple hours at the local Blue Martini, and for some reason the brain lubrication helped. Loved the puzzle, a nice difficulty level, and of course, I always like the longer triple stacks. Maybe it's just the word 'stacked'...
There were a couple answers, such as Yma Sumac and Avocet, where I knew the answer after a couple letters, but would never have tied it to the clue. We've been hearing 'Bee's knees' a lot lately due to the incessant Geico commercials. And I didn't have a problem with 35D; unless you're talking about the elite nitro-powered funny cars and dragsters, the average drag race is in the 12-second range or higher.
Today is Muff Day.
Oh, wait - I read it wrong; it's Ear Muff Day. Damn.
C.C., I don't know if I'd classify Gina Gershon as classically beautiful, but I've always found her incredibly sexy. Awesome lips, bedroom eyes as well.
Windhover, hope you're not too stiff in all the wrong places. Just remember, pain is weakness leaving the body.
Mainiac, great picture; what a nice way to start your days.
BillG, great looking boy - you must be incredibly proud.
And last, Lemonade et al, before you waste too much time fretting about eddyb, as C.C. well knows, he pulled this same stunt several months ago and will no doubt pull it again upon his (hopefully distant) return.
Good Morning all,
BarryG has covered about all I had to say. I didn't want to give up but after ten hours, I broke down and Googled to get 'er done.
To me, this was NASTY.
Not the BEESKNEES.
ON BALANCE, it took me to the OUTHOUSE (now that had a great clue).
Did not know that ALPO, is the Chop House Originals dog food brand.
The TV show that IRA GLASS is the host.
Couldn't recall that the NL batting champ from 24 years ago was Tim RAINES. And I'm a huge B-Ball fan.
The constructor must go to the slowest DRAG RACEs in America. Most are over in about 5 seconds (or less).
Maybe 20 seconds in a AMC LeCar, geez.
Add in some obscure geography, 14 multi-word answers and my slog was complete. Ass Kicked!!!
I did like KEG, though I believe Cooper's actually make barrels, where Scotch is aged.
Hit-making group, MOB was good also.
If I ever wore one, I would 'Tip-My-Hat' to those who solved this easily.
I thought this was easier than recent Saturdays. I was very frustrated with myself when I couldn't think of Yma's last name. I finally looked it up and then everything crossing it fell.
Am I the only one who's never heard of broccoli rabe? I figured it was a recipe but found that it's the name of a broccoli-like vegetable. I'm off to the grocery store now, with broccoli rabe on my list.
Good Morning All, It's a very good thing that I worked on this puzzle last night via cruciverb.com because I had some serious Googling to do. I don't know if AVOCET is a RARA AVIS, but this shore bird didn't ring a bell with me. Antrum? There are several. My favorite is the "follicular antrum, which is the portion of an ovarian follicle filled with liquor folliculi"...Huh??
I'm usually pretty good at names, but IRA GLASS, Eva LA RUE, Tim RAINES and DRU Hill were all unknowns.
At least I knew YMA SUMAC right away! Believe it or not, I have a CD of hers. I friend who knows I enjoy crosswords gave it to me.
I also recognized that Marie Byrd Land was somewhere in Antarctica, but most of ROSS SEA had to come from the perps.
Lots of Spanish words today, PLATA, RIA, DENADA, GATO. Living in California allows us the luxury of being familiar with a lot of Spanish words, even if we aren't fluent.
This was pretty tough for me, but that is what a Saturday puzzle is supposed to be. I liked the challenge and I hope I will remember some of the more difficult clues and fill.
Glad to see Mary show up. I was starting to think it was a "Guys' Morning" on the blog. BTW Mary, Broccoli RABE was a new one for me too.
Here is some of the slower racers at my local dragway. Check out the last race and the car in the near lane. What is it?
Good morning CC, et al., Interesting puzzle, doable for the most part but it took a while.
Had to laugh at a few answers, like 'nasty', 'antrum' and 'take a hike'...all of course make me think of the poor wretched malcontent anons who show up sometimes. But like Sam Goldwyn said,ya gotta take the bitter with the sour.
This puzzle was a perfect example of extremes being 'on balance'. Mr. Doll took us from the French region 'Alsace' to an 'outhouse', from Miami to Montana, from paramecium to 'avocet', from 'initials, to full names ('Ira Glass'), from 'hicks' to 'kingpin',christianity's 'nicene'creed to 'scis' or even sci fiction's 'donnie' darko, from 'rias' or 'Ross Sea' to 'arid', 'bees knees' to 'nasty' and 'kevlar' (unpenetrable) to 'love scene'. What a fun trip!
And with that I'm off to find some ears to celebrate this wonderful 'ear muff' day.
Dennis: good to see you. Hope you're tan is coming along.
WH: How are the twins? Hope you're ok too. I'm a great believer in kissing where it hurts. XXX for you. Hope you feel better soon.
Enjoy your day.
Cheer up snow people. Spring is almost here.
Tomorrow is the day, or I should say, tonight is the night. The extra hour of sleep we luxuriated in last autumn will disappear tonight. Don't forget to "Spring forward".
Turn O' The Year
This is the time when bit by bit
The days begin to lengthen sweet
And every minute gained is joy -
And love stirs in the heart of a boy.
This is the time the sun, of late
Content to lie abed till eight,
Lifts up betimes his sleepy head -
And love stirs in the heart of a maid.
This is the time we dock the night
Of a whole hour of candlelight;
When song of linnet and thrush is heard -
And love stirs in the heart of a bird.
This is the time when sword-blades green,
With gold and purple damascene,
Pierce the brown crocus-bed a-row -
And love stirs in a heart I know.
- Katherine Tynan Hinkson
Hi gang -
Lots of clever cluing in this puzzle.
My easiest fills were CILIA, AVANT, GATO, DE NADA and ELOI.
I don't watch TV drama, so EVA and GINA were ???? to me. Yes GINA is beautiful, without being pretty in a bland way. I agree with Dennis.
Though a plural of a given name is a third class fill.
Nice to see X-word cliches YMA SUMAC and RARA AVIS not as partials.
Misread 10a as "Only sight" which got me nowhere. Damned bifocals. But I do deeply loath seeing French in a crossword puzzle.
Guessed at VALUES, and BOUGHT 21 A, but the NE territory was otherwise terra incognita until I came here. I know IRA GLASS, but could not dredge up his name.
Robert Baer's "Sleeping with the Devil" (no LOVE SCENE in the way you're thinking) will tell you all about the absolutely loathsome house of SAUD, with info about the roots of terrorism. Citizens of that country are the property of their rulers.
I haven't had a DRISTAN in at least 30 years, and didn't know the brand still existed.
What characterizes Saturday puzzles is obscurity. AVOCET, frex, for a fill, and Studio renamed as Paramount, as a clue.
Kevlar (poly paraphenylene terephthalamide) is the duPont trade name for a synthetic polymer that is useful as a fiber. Trade names come out of marketing departments, and don't have to mean anything, if they sound impressive. The Akzo trade name is Twaron.
Kevlar is impressive - it has tensile strength 5x as great as steel, and superior thermal stability for an organic material. It's used as reinforcemnt in tire and hose constructions (as needed), and, of course, in protective body wear. It is uv sensitive, so it's generally protected by some sort of composite construction.
The difficult manufacturing process makes it en expensive material.
As a historical (not religious) note, the council of NICEA is where Jesus became God, by a vote of something like 297 to 3.
20 and a w/u until the long drive to Vero Beach.
Cheers!
JzB the materials guy cum skeptical trombonist
Good Morning. Pretty much echo Argyle's comments. Misspelled NICENE which didn't help the SE. Liked the stacks but suffered in the NE. Thought OUTHOUSE and BEESKNEES were very clever and helped make the grade for the solve experience. Had iceberg before ROSSSEA loomed. Did not know Lake Thun but assumed it was Swiss. That gave me wag AAR.
C. C. The Dutch IY has the I sound but the tongue is placed closer to the roof of the mouth.
Cheers all
good morning c.c. and all,
wow, very tough puzzle for me. as always, when i get finished and look over the grid, i wonder why it was so tough ... i guess that's the art of clueing.
had fun in the northeast, with ira glass (LOVE him) and the outhouse clue, superb. if you haven't heard 'this american life' on npr, i recommend it highly. available on podcast. haven't heard 'living end' in a long time, made me smile. as did take a hike ... making plans to do just that.
broccoli rabe is delicious, but i'm one of those people who loves vegetables.
lemonade, 'steal' is right. i'm also one of those people who dislikes daylight savings time, so i'm grumbling as i change my clock. grrrr. happily, i've nothing more serious to complain about ...
Argyle: ew, ew, I know, I know. it's fast! very very fast. It's also yellow and gray -two toned-peugeot??
MJ: keep forgetting: beautiful baby, congratulations.
bill G: you as well. Gorgeous baby. I'm happy for you.
Arygle: Enjoyed the local "dragway" clip.
Is the car you pointed out an out-of-the-showroom stock LeCar?
If so, I stand corrected.
When doing the puzzle, I had more of a Gator Nationals NHRA mindset.
Also want to correct that after hitting the 'G' This American Life is on NPR.
It did have a 2 year TV run on Showtime, won 3 Emmys.
Hi C.C. & gang, a typical tough one for Saturday, my wife and I did it again with me checking our guesses online and she doing it on hard copy.
She also thought that the "King" in 30A gave her the 'king' in 8D kingpin.
Jeannie: I printed out your recipe for pork loin, I'll let you know when we might like to make it.
Happy Saturday, C.C., and friends,
This one really knocked me on my DUFF, the hardest Saturday puzzle for me in months. So many common names and geograpical clues that were complete unknowns. But the perps were helpful, and I slogged through with just one error in the end, the "L" in the cross of DCL and KEVLAR. Figured I had only four options--I, V, X, and L. Easily ruled out the V and X and went with the "I". (Thanks, JazzB for the info on Kevlar.) Like C.C. and Melissa Bee, I found the completed grid to be straightforward, and I definitely feel a sense of satisfaction for having stuck with it.
@Windhover (from late last night)-Glad to see your sense of humor is intact! Hope the cuts and bruises heal quickly.
@Bill G.-Darlin' little guy in your avatar.
@C.C.-Terrific write-up! Loved Gina Gershon's pose.
Enjoy the day!
I've decided that the themeless Saturday crosswords are not much fun for me so I just come straight here to see what's going on.
I hope I didn't mislead anyone about my grandson. That is one of my favorite photos of us but it's from a couple of years ago. He is in kindergarten now.
We made Jeannie's pork chops last night. Very good! I think the trouble is that most pork these days is so lean that it's not very flavorful. Maybe I could go to the meat market in downtown Manhattan Beach and they might have something better.
A tough puzzle today. I usually draw the line at about an hour and prefer not to look anything up. After 62 minutes I still missed 21D and 56D. In retrospect, I shouldn't have missed 21D, but I couldn't dredge it up at the time. Not knowing 25A and 41A didn't help. Didn't have a clue about 55A or 56D, but I should have figured out 55A. Anyway, a nice mental challenge to end the week.
Lemonade,
I would expect in western Florida you'd hear plenty of German in the tourist season too, when most of Germany is traveling there.
Well, I thought this CW was NASTY. I know no biology, didn't recognize any of the people's names, nor most of the geographic ones, except Edam, Alsace, Aar and Lake Thun, which I know as the Thuner See in German. It's one of two lakes (the other is the Brienzer See) either side of Interlaken, forming a sort of infinity sign around it, close to the Bernese Alps of recent CW fame.
Too much specialized knowledge required for me on a Saturday, when I can't disguise how much time I need to solve it. So I'm swearing off Saturdays from now on. I'll visit the blog, but I can't use half my day chasing Mr. G.
Gloria Vanderbuilt is Anderson Cooper's mother. She had two sons, one of whom killed himself in front of her and Anderson by jumping off a balcony. Anderson and his brother were young at the time--in their teens, I think.
Doreen
Good afternoon, C.C. and all.
This is a good Saturday puzzle.
Ironically, I filled in all the French, (except ete, which I know means summer, but am unfamiliar with "hiver") Spanish and Latin (Nicene) first and that gave me a toehold for the rest.
My computer was down until just an hour ago so even if I wanted to, I couldn't ggl anything. Had to rely on my trusty Webster which has a small encyclopedic section at the end. It helped with 38A, sight from Marie Bird Land.
On 21D, I confidently wrote "Howard" (Howard Duff) which clearly didn't work out, but he was so handsome, don't you think? those who remember him.
I also had no idea about rabe broccoli but it showed itself.
Great clues, especially, duff, as it turns out, solo in space, rustic place to go, and living end. I haven't heard Dristan in years and know nothing about drag racing, yet it all emerged. Lovely.
Now I'm going to take a hike because it's a beautiful, sunny day and no chance of wearing ear muffs. Enjoy yours.
What a beautiful pose for Gina Gershon, whom I don't know, but I'm certain she must practice yoga.
CA:
I love your poem. Where do you find them all?
Spitzboov, thank you for the help.
Hey Boomers! I always thought that this particular puzzle was out of Philadelphia since it is printed in the Philadelphia Inquirer everyday! It's my fave!
On Doreen's happy note, I've read all the comments so far. I needn't say more than what's already been said. Good puzzle but hard! Tells me there are a lot of the holes in my brain!
Jazz, Last week I heard a lecture by a University of the Pacific professor who is doing research on black widow spider silk, which he says is even more inpenetrable than Kevlar, steel, and I can't remember what else. Very interesting even to me and I simply loathe spiders and am a simpleton when it comes to chemistry and most other sciences. Imagine dissecting spiders! What he told us about the insides of black widows was incredible! Thought you might be interested being the scientific trombonist that you are.
MJ and CA, I'm another one who never heard of broccoli rabe. My mom talked about kohl rabe, which she called kohl rabbi, an accepted name according to the net, but broccoli rabe is a new one. Sometimes the market has broccolini but it doesn't look anything like the picture of b.r.
or anything else, for that matter.
Was Ira Glass the one who used to have 'Car Talk' many years ago? Bit of a southern accent?
Hello All--This puzzle kicked my duff. With that said, the unknowns were mostly the proper names and geographical clues. I spent too much time on Google this morning and finally gave up and came to the blog for answers.
I did know avocet as we have/or had them in the slough areas of the San Francisco Bay in the 1950's. so much of our area has been filled in for development, that the natural habitats are disappearing.
We attended a San Jose Symphony Broadway Night last night and had a wonderful rendition of "The Most Happy Fella". The cast only used chairs for the chorus, and few props and no scenery. I'd never seen a "play" done this way. It was excellent.
I didn't get to the puzzle yesterday, but will slog away on it at another time.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
Hi, All! Glad to 'see' everyone again! Tough puzzle today. It's all been said so nothing to add really. Frustrating to be kind of zipping and erasing along feeling somewhat good on a Saturday morning and then hit that NE corner. I needed major help there. I knew the one clue was about the Antarctic but that was about it! Couldn't come up with anything. Outhouse was obvious after it filled in a bit for me. A real d'oh moment!
Snow is melting. Will be dragging the Christmas lights in and taking down the wreaths by next weekend!
john28man, niets te danken.
I was thinking about the discussions we've had about grammar recently. I was wondering about the proper use of the word "Comprise", so I Googled and came across this website. I enjoyed it very much with LOTS of good information cleverly presented. I thought some of you might enjoy it also. Explore around to find all kinds of fun information about grammar and usage.
Yee gads guys, a toughie today,
Yes CC, I got cilia easily this time and that picture looked exactly like our biology class drawings-back when we were saying,"Fungus is among us!" We thought that was so cool.
And Larue was a shoe in as I still tape "All My Children", a fan for 38 yrs. Eva was the sister to Mateo(Mark Consuelos) who is married to Kelly Ripa (they were a couple on AMC too) Yes, that is my shallow world for 30 min a day. Left 7 incomplete.
I was so relieved to hear that CA, Lucina, dodo and Mary were not familiar with rabe either. It kept me from completing dru, bees knees, and on balance. G gave me plenty of information.I've never seen it, but I am NOT going to hunt for it like I did those morel mushrooms!!
I will always go to G for geography. Lake Thun is gorgeous, and Truman Dam must be "top dog" in dams.
Lemonade, I had forgotten that parental overuse of "Get off your duff".I hate to think what some parents say to their teens now-a-days.I enjoyed? Robert's chilling tale.
Bill, I vodka your new avatar.
Dennis, I've decided to not celebrate muff day...not cold or hot enough. Did anyone see last episode of "Grey's Anatomy"?
Kazie:
I actually live on the East Coast of Florida, though I have many German friends and clients who have bought property in the Boca and Delray area, and I have learned some of the language and understand some from my Yiddish upbringing.
Spitzboov, are you Dutch?
Biil G., thanks for grammar Girl, I often disagree with people at work about grammatical issues and this should help.
JD, I am glad I am not the only to remember being told to get off my DUFF. I guess you are the only one who went to my DOLL link, which I thought was pretty interesting.
Every Italian chef I know uses Rapini, also known as Broccoli Raab which they tend to say like it is one word.
Lemonade714
No, But I can speak some and read basic stuff. I am of Low German descent. Many ordinary Dutch words are similar to Low German, but the grammar is different.
Lemonade, since I do not know any Italian chefs, that was a very informative site-thanks!
BTW guys, I think Gina probably looks VERY different without all that make up, but she certainly is flexible, a trait most men would like.
Broccoli Rabe is very good. You'll often see it listed as side dishes in Italian restaurants. Served in a similar way as most other greens - sauteed with garlic, oil and maybe red pepper flakes. I think it's less bitter than the others. I've also seen it mixed into pastas.
JD: Bailey was hilarious on "Grey's Anatomy" this week!
dodo -
Interesting stuff, that spider silk. It's somewhere between to difficult to make it worth while, and impossible to raise spiders. They'll eat anything, including each other.
I went to a presentation several years ago where someone was trying to commercialize spider silk by splicing a gene into a goat to get the silk protein in goat's milk.
Hadn't thought about that in years. It's too late to read up on it tonight (Losing an hour.)
Here
are a bunch of links on the subject.
Here, at no extra charge, is an original haiku on the time change.
DST
Spring ahead tonight:
Time to withdraw that hour's sleep
We banked in the Fall.
Nite, all
JzB the hour withdrawing trombonist
Regarding broccoli rabe, if you like green vegetables, do you enjoy beet tops? They are my favorites.
I am springing ahead as we speak. Don't like the change very much though. I'd rather keep the DST all year round.
Bill, Beet greens are my favorite cooked green, even more so than chard! I love them and beets are delicious, too. I've spoken to many people who never knew that the greens were edible. They're really missing something.
I'm about to change my clocks, too. I really don't like DST. Last night Rachel Maddow did a little spoof about why we have it. I guess coming from the northern midwest, as I do, where in summer darkness doesn't fall until 9:30 or so, is my reason.
'night,all,dodo
I've never cooked Brocoli raab, but I cook other greens regularly. I like to sautee with garlic and olive oil after blanching first. I serve most greens with vinegar drizzled over the top. We eat Mustard greens, beet greens, chard, kale and spinach. All are very healthy, a good side dish and go with most meat dishes.
Time to spring ahead and get to bed early enough to wake up at a decent hour tomorrow morning. All of our circadian rhythms will be off for a few days until we adjust to the time change!
Oops on Yma Camus...she was actually born in Quebec, and her name was Amy Sumac...Yma Camus was a stage name and the fake birth place of Peru was a publicity stunt.
Cheers
Zoila Augusta Emperatriz Chávarri del Castillo was born on September 13, 1922,[4] in Ichocán, Cajamarca,[5] Peru. Although she claimed to have been born on September 10, "her personal assistant, who claimed to have seen her birth certificate, gave her date of birth as September 13, 1922."[6] Other dates mentioned in her various biographies range from 1921 to 1929. Some sources[7] claim that she was not born in Ichocán, but in a nearby village or possibly, in Lima, and that her family owned a ranch in Ichocán where she spent most of her early life. Stories published in the 1950s claimed that she was an Incan princess, directly descended from Atahualpa. A story claiming that she was born Amy Camus—Yma Sumac backwards—in Brooklyn or Canada was fabricated while she was performing in New York City in the early 1950s.
Re: Truman Dam. It creates an impoundment of the Osage River @ Warsaw, MO to create the Truman Reservoir whose major tributary is the Pomme de Terre river. The Osage is also impounded by the Bagnell Dam to create the Lake of the Ozarks.
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