Theme: GRAND FINALE (61A: Big finish, and what the first words of the answers to starred clues can be) - The first word of each theme entry can follow the word GRAND. Superb tie-in phrase.
17A: *Sam in "Casablanca," eg.: PIANO PLAYER. "Casablanca", my favorite movie but I'm glad we weren't looking for a last name or the actor's name. (Dooley Wilson) He wasn't playing a GRAND PIANO, I know that.
36A: *Fast paced: SLAM-BANG. SLAM-BANG is what NASCAR racing has been this year. And while GRAND SLAM could express some of the accidents this year, it really means a sweeping success or total victory.
42A: *Collapsible headgear: OPERA HAT. (a top hat). GRAND OPERA is big production with lavish costumes and sets and a serious topic.
11D: *Hank Aaron's 6,856 is the career record: TOTAL BASES. TOTAL BASES refers to the number of bases a player has gained by his hits alone. Getting on base any other way isn't counted and any advances once on base aren't counted either. A single counts as one base, a double is two, a triple is three, and a home run is four. Combine them all and you get the GRAND TOTAL.
29D: *1962 Gene Chandler hit: DUKE OF EARL. The song. The meaning of GRAND DUKE at Wikipedia. (It's more than this but less than that.You can figure it out for yourself, if you want.)
And on that note, I'll say Argyle here. I kept waiting for Cruciverb last night but it didn't happen. I know I can count on my fellow blogsters to fill in the thin parts of my commentary. It's what makes this site GRAND!
Across:
1A: "The — Kid: early TV Western: CISCO. Very early. Song by War.
6A: Suit parts: VESTS
11A: "__ the season ...": 'TIS
14A: Choir members: ALTOS
15A: Even if, for short: ALTHO
16A: Cal. neighbor: ORE.
19A: Spinner: TOP
20A: Squealed, so to speak: SANG
21A: Be under the weather: AIL
22A: Formally unsay: RECANT
24A: Cutlass or 88: OLDS. Oldsmobile models.
26A: She plays Julia in "Julie & Julia": MERYL. Watched it this week. Agree with the rest of you; wanted more Julia, less Julie.
27A: Tack on: ADD
30A: Standards of excellence: IDEALS
32A: CEO's degree: MBA. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Master of Business Administration (MBA)
34A: Dirty: GRUBBY
39A: "Wake Up With Al" weatherman: ROKER Best known as the weather anchor for NBC's Today show. On July 20, 2009, he began co-hosting his new morning show "Wake Up with Al" on The Weather Channel.
40A: China's Mao __-tung: TSE
41A: Studio stand: EASEL
44A: "Honor Thy Father" author Gay: TALESE. Cover. Any readers?
45A: Sun, to Esteban: SOL
46A: Outcome: UPSHOT
48A: Canonized 26-Down: STE.. 26D: Swiss miss, maybe: Abbr.: MLLE.. Hands up for those that saw Swiss Miss and thought "Cocoa!".
49A: Festival showings, perhaps: FILMS
51A: Quartz variety: ONYX
53A: Began the betting: OPENED
55A: UN anti-child-labor agcy.: ILO. International Labour Organization
56A: Old oath: "EGAD!"
60A: Menu phrase: A LA
64A: Roofing material: TAR
65A: Part of a pound: OUNCE
66A: Best-seller list entry: NOVEL
67A: NBC fixture for nearly 35 yrs.: SNL. Since 1975.
68A: Dirty campaign tactic: SMEAR
69A: Show reverence, in a way: KNEEL
Down:
1D: Limits: CAPS
2D: Hip bones: ILIA
3D: Ollie's partner: STAN. Laurel and Hardy.
4D: Zaire, today: CONGO
5D: Disney toon panda, "Special Agent ": OSO
6D: Travel bag: VALISE
7D: Airline to Tel Aviv: EL AL. Literally "skyward".
8D: Farm home: STY
9D: "Spider-Man 3" actress Russell: THERESA. Pic.
10D: More ticked off: SORER
12D: Heavy metal: IRON
13D: Back-to-school mo.: SEPT.
18D: Rice source: PADDY. Sorta like saying your wheat comes from a field.
23D: One of a drum set pair: CYMBAL
25D: Scales of the zodiac: LIBRA
27D: Soil-related prefix: AGRO
28D: Fails to grasp: DROPS
31D: Helpers: Abbr.: ASSTS.
33D: " __ of robins ...": Kilmer: A NEST. Another reference to the poem "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer.
35D: Capital east of the Elbe River: BERLIN
37D: Substantial: MEATY
38D: Elation: GLEE
40D: Base melody: TAPS. A military base.
43D: Boring: HUMDRUM
44D: Like a __ bricks: TON OF
47D: Obama attorney general Eric: HOLDER. A pic with Obama.
50D: Tyke's blocks: LEGOS
52D: Arc lamp gas: XENON
53D: Granola ingredient: OATS
54D: Word after flight or floor: PLAN
55D: Ancient Peruvian: INCA
57D: Contributed: GAVE
58D: Away from the wind: ALEE
59D: Farmer's place, in song: DELL. ''The Farmer in the Dell''.
62D: "Wheel of Fortune" buy: AN 'E'
63D: Printer need: INK
Answer grid.
Picture of the Day: Here is a grand photo of our fellow LAT solver Spitzboov "The Rascal". In his own words: "Sptzboov, in blue hat, sending greetings from the stern of the SS American Victory moored at Channelside, Tampa, FL in Feb., 2010, with his son, Peter."
Argyle
17A: *Sam in "Casablanca," eg.: PIANO PLAYER. "Casablanca", my favorite movie but I'm glad we weren't looking for a last name or the actor's name. (Dooley Wilson) He wasn't playing a GRAND PIANO, I know that.
36A: *Fast paced: SLAM-BANG. SLAM-BANG is what NASCAR racing has been this year. And while GRAND SLAM could express some of the accidents this year, it really means a sweeping success or total victory.
42A: *Collapsible headgear: OPERA HAT. (a top hat). GRAND OPERA is big production with lavish costumes and sets and a serious topic.
11D: *Hank Aaron's 6,856 is the career record: TOTAL BASES. TOTAL BASES refers to the number of bases a player has gained by his hits alone. Getting on base any other way isn't counted and any advances once on base aren't counted either. A single counts as one base, a double is two, a triple is three, and a home run is four. Combine them all and you get the GRAND TOTAL.
29D: *1962 Gene Chandler hit: DUKE OF EARL. The song. The meaning of GRAND DUKE at Wikipedia. (It's more than this but less than that.You can figure it out for yourself, if you want.)
And on that note, I'll say Argyle here. I kept waiting for Cruciverb last night but it didn't happen. I know I can count on my fellow blogsters to fill in the thin parts of my commentary. It's what makes this site GRAND!
Across:
1A: "The — Kid: early TV Western: CISCO. Very early. Song by War.
6A: Suit parts: VESTS
11A: "__ the season ...": 'TIS
14A: Choir members: ALTOS
15A: Even if, for short: ALTHO
16A: Cal. neighbor: ORE.
19A: Spinner: TOP
20A: Squealed, so to speak: SANG
21A: Be under the weather: AIL
22A: Formally unsay: RECANT
24A: Cutlass or 88: OLDS. Oldsmobile models.
26A: She plays Julia in "Julie & Julia": MERYL. Watched it this week. Agree with the rest of you; wanted more Julia, less Julie.
27A: Tack on: ADD
30A: Standards of excellence: IDEALS
32A: CEO's degree: MBA. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Master of Business Administration (MBA)
34A: Dirty: GRUBBY
39A: "Wake Up With Al" weatherman: ROKER Best known as the weather anchor for NBC's Today show. On July 20, 2009, he began co-hosting his new morning show "Wake Up with Al" on The Weather Channel.
40A: China's Mao __-tung: TSE
41A: Studio stand: EASEL
44A: "Honor Thy Father" author Gay: TALESE. Cover. Any readers?
45A: Sun, to Esteban: SOL
46A: Outcome: UPSHOT
48A: Canonized 26-Down: STE.. 26D: Swiss miss, maybe: Abbr.: MLLE.. Hands up for those that saw Swiss Miss and thought "Cocoa!".
49A: Festival showings, perhaps: FILMS
51A: Quartz variety: ONYX
53A: Began the betting: OPENED
55A: UN anti-child-labor agcy.: ILO. International Labour Organization
56A: Old oath: "EGAD!"
60A: Menu phrase: A LA
64A: Roofing material: TAR
65A: Part of a pound: OUNCE
66A: Best-seller list entry: NOVEL
67A: NBC fixture for nearly 35 yrs.: SNL. Since 1975.
68A: Dirty campaign tactic: SMEAR
69A: Show reverence, in a way: KNEEL
Down:
1D: Limits: CAPS
2D: Hip bones: ILIA
3D: Ollie's partner: STAN. Laurel and Hardy.
4D: Zaire, today: CONGO
5D: Disney toon panda, "Special Agent ": OSO
6D: Travel bag: VALISE
7D: Airline to Tel Aviv: EL AL. Literally "skyward".
8D: Farm home: STY
9D: "Spider-Man 3" actress Russell: THERESA. Pic.
10D: More ticked off: SORER
12D: Heavy metal: IRON
13D: Back-to-school mo.: SEPT.
18D: Rice source: PADDY. Sorta like saying your wheat comes from a field.
23D: One of a drum set pair: CYMBAL
25D: Scales of the zodiac: LIBRA
27D: Soil-related prefix: AGRO
28D: Fails to grasp: DROPS
31D: Helpers: Abbr.: ASSTS.
33D: " __ of robins ...": Kilmer: A NEST. Another reference to the poem "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer.
35D: Capital east of the Elbe River: BERLIN
37D: Substantial: MEATY
38D: Elation: GLEE
40D: Base melody: TAPS. A military base.
43D: Boring: HUMDRUM
44D: Like a __ bricks: TON OF
47D: Obama attorney general Eric: HOLDER. A pic with Obama.
50D: Tyke's blocks: LEGOS
52D: Arc lamp gas: XENON
53D: Granola ingredient: OATS
54D: Word after flight or floor: PLAN
55D: Ancient Peruvian: INCA
57D: Contributed: GAVE
58D: Away from the wind: ALEE
59D: Farmer's place, in song: DELL. ''The Farmer in the Dell''.
62D: "Wheel of Fortune" buy: AN 'E'
63D: Printer need: INK
Answer grid.
Picture of the Day: Here is a grand photo of our fellow LAT solver Spitzboov "The Rascal". In his own words: "Sptzboov, in blue hat, sending greetings from the stern of the SS American Victory moored at Channelside, Tampa, FL in Feb., 2010, with his son, Peter."
Argyle
Good morning, Argyle, C.C. and gang - unfortunately, another speed run this morning; just under 5 minutes.
ReplyDeleteDidn't pick up the theme until the very end, and I never heard of a 'Grand Duke'. I thought there should have been a 'perhaps' attached to 6A, as most suits don't include vests. 'Paddy' always brings back bad memories, plus that smell is one you never forget. And both the Cisco Kid and Duke of Earl should be gimmes for us near-deads; I think we've had a discussion of both previously, as well.
Argyle, I agree, more Julia, less Julie would've been even better.
Today is National Chip & Dip Day, and Near Miss Day. Isn't a near miss a hit?
Today's Words of Wisdom: "When you're finished changing, you're finished." -- Ben Franklin
And a few Fun Facts on booze:
- The average American consumes 22 gallons of beer a year. (I'm closer to 0)
- France produces 20 million bottles of wine a day.
- Why six-packs? Breweries back in the day thought six-packs were "the maximum a woman could safely carry."
And a most HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Doreen, and one of our charter members, Crockett. I hope it's a truly special day for both of you, followed by many, many more.
For Dennis:
ReplyDeleteJanuary 10, 1954
A photo will be forth coming as soon as possible, At the moment, I don't have a recent one to send. Thank You for taking time to contact me
Good Morning, CC and all. Is it me, or are Tuesday puzzles a tad easier than Monday puzzles? I zipped through this one pretty quickly.
ReplyDeleteI was not aware that an OPERA HAT was actually collapsable. I thought that was just in cartoons. Not sure I would really want to flatten a hat that cost so much.
The first thing I thought of for Suit Parts was VESTS.
Not much else to say about today's puzzle.
In honor of the Collapsible Hat, here is today's QOD:
Opera is when a guy gets stabbed and instead of bleeding, he sings. ~ Ed Gardner
Happy Birthday, Doreen and Crockett! Hope you have many, many more to share with us.
ReplyDeleteGood morning all!
ReplyDelete(Argyle, typo in 31D.)
Any Mac users still having difficulty with cruciverb, etc., I sometimes without thinking click on the date (in blue). One needs however to download puzzle to email using pull down list at bottom. Could this be the problem? I then save the attachment from mail to the desktop (Command-D) (rather than opening it there).
will cruciverb ever be fixed? i want my money back.
ReplyDeleteI thought this one was a little tougher than usual for a Tuesday, but no real surprises. Not being much of a morning person, maybe the brain just wasn't in gear yet. 15 minutes.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Argyle, CC and All, a rather boring puzzle today (IMHO); not much new or challenging. As usual I did not get the theme until most of the puzzle was competed. Like Hahtool if I paid $300 plus for a hat I don’t think I would fold it.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Doreen and Crockett!
Dennis is that really true about the six-pack?
Rain and colder here today.
Hope you all have a great Tuesday.
Good Morning Argyle, CC and All,
ReplyDeleteMy biggest problem was spelling Cisco with a S. My excuse is we have a food delivery company called Sisco. Their trucks block the streets in Town and I cynically sing the tune to the grumbling Police Chief when he's in my truck. I actually got the theme early leading the way to an easy solve. Typical Tuesday difficulty.
Thanks to all for the congrats yesterday. The day flew by and I never got back here to comment again.
Happy Birthday to Doreen and Crockett. Double cheers! Have a super day.
Great pic Spitzboov. Looks like your right at home.
Much needed rain here today and then we're expecting temps in the 20's by the end of the week.
Have a great day!
Maniac, a belated congrats to your son and his band.
ReplyDeleteLois, you post at 9:07 was funny.
JD, I remember standing along side the Cub and proping it when there was nobody around to help.
Barry, great looking family.
Dot, good luck with your operation.
From yesterday, spelt is grown, by the Amish, in our area. They also use it as a cure for some ailments by putting the spelt in an elongated cloth tube and wrapping it around their neck. This is a practice that came from Germany, I think.
Good morning Argyle, C.C. and all
ReplyDeleteFairly easy Tuesday. No problems other than 'spelt' MERYL as Merle, but CYMBAL took care of that. Liked the ONYX/XENON cross.
Maniac: Congrats to you and your son on the Jazz Band achievements. Well done.
Thanks for your pic comment.
Birthday greetings to Doreen and Crockett
Enjoy the day.
Frenchie, thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteDick, yep.
Spitzboov, great picture; what was the occasion?
Well a happy happy birthday to Crockett and Doreen.
ReplyDeleteSpitzbov you look swell and happy up there.
Jazz, in case you forgot on the Cruciverb (although it appears down today again), right click on the puzzle and save to downloads. Then open from there. Should work swell.
Not much to say about the puzzle except that I found it a little easier than yesterday, although I did have a few areas that I had to fix up. Read Gay Talese in college. He was good, but I was a little biased against him. My teacher (it was a TA mind you) was incredibly sexist. If you read Talese he was fabulous, if you read Gloria Steinem she was trash. All the guys got A's, all the women got C's - no joke. So Talese quickly moved down the ranks as someone to read for me.
Finally, the Aye's all won!!! My DH is using the - in the cold for three months - blackberry and it texts, emails and makes phone calls. Amazing story. He is so excited to have it back, as it was brand new and he really liked it. It is GRAND don't you think.
Have a great day everyone. Dot, the best to you on your surgery.
So when can we collect our prizes, KQ? Seriously though, I am glad it is working. You should be on a commercial and get a year's worth of free service.
ReplyDeleteDennis said: what was the occasion?
ReplyDeleteBH and I were vacationing N of Tampa during February and our son, DIL, and 8 mo. old granddaughter came down for a 6 day visit. So one day we visited the Florida Aquarium, and the Victory ship was moored right behind it. (Same wharf as where the cruise ships depart from.) As Peter and I were finishing the tour, the ladies appeared on the pier, below. As BH took a picture as is our wont I rendered her a snappy salute.
Good morning, everyone!
ReplyDeleteHand up for cocoa. Cisco Kid was an early boob tube favorite. Had no idea that onyx was a variety of quartz.
Thanks for the birthday wishes. Will try to make the most of this one! Doreen, Happy Shared BD to you. I have a cousin and a first cousin once removed who also share the date.
Cruciverb still doesn't have the puzzle up, I sure hope we'll get back to normal soon. Don't care for the LAT interface at all.
Have a fantastic Tuesday!
Argyle Grand write up.
ReplyDeleteHonor Thy Father by Gay TELESE was probably the first Mob book I ever read. KQ sorry to hear your TA was such an A-Hole.
Dennis: I'm about a 2 gal. of beer in a year. But now I wonder, what is the average consumption for Scotch? (I know I exceed it, whatever it is.)
At 12D, Heavy Metal, first put in lead. Fixed to IRON then checked google. Turns out it is a term in chemistry.
Fave was TOTAL BASES, ahhh, baseball season opens soon.
About the spelt in the Amish "neck tubes": Any small, dry grain or bean sewed, in quantity, into a cloth tube can make a wonderful "hot pack." I heat mine in the micro-wave and it stays warm far longer than other hot packs(and readily conforms to the neck,..it is dry heat, though.)I need it frequently at the pc!
ReplyDeleteHello all.
ReplyDeleteAlso tired of waiting for cruciverb. Went to fredericksburg.com for the puzzle.
Drove down there once to visit some CW battle fields.
Puzzle? It was fast and easy. What's to say.
eddyB
Good Morning All, I agree with Hahtool, about Tuesday fill often being easier than Mondays. Of course, like Dennis, CISCO and DUKE OF EARL were gimmes today. The themes may be a little more difficult though. Without 61A GRAND FINALE and its clue, I doubt I would have been able to make the connections.
ReplyDeleteI've read "Nicholas and Alexandra" a couple of times and it is loaded with GRAND DUKEs.
I liked the cross of CYMBAL and BANG. I wonder how many of those serendipitous crossings are purposeful or coincidental?
I didn't like "Rice source" for 18D PADDY either. I think "Rice locale" would have been better.
A NEST...maybe too much Joyce Kilmer for one week, but that isn't the constructors' fault, just a coincidence.
I got tired of waiting for cruciverb too and went to Al's link Fredericksburg.com. at 9:15 California time. It does have the applet so many of you don't like, but as long as cruciverb is AILing, it seems to be the earliest online site to get the puzzle.
KQ, Always happy when the Ayes have it. Really glad to hear the Blackberry is working properly.
Happy Birthday Crockett and Doreen. And that is a nice photo, Spitzboov. Looks like you were having a good time.
Maybe a half dozen beers for me in a year. California wine is another matter
Good afternoon everyone.
ReplyDeleteUnlike most of you who have commented, I found today's much more difficult than yesterday's which was a snap. Having pence rather than ounce did me in. The nce in both words made pence seem like the correct one. I couldn't grok paddy for rice source. Nothing came to mind even after I had PA in, but as I had soiled, not grubby, I had PA--D.
Ah well. The happiest of birthdays to Crockett and Doreen.
And belated congrats to Maniac for his son and son's band for their achievements.
Well done Argyle.
Have a loverly Tuesday. Our new wall clock which keeps atomic time, has trouble with days of the week. Today it's "DIE". It did get MON correctly, though. With SAM for Saturday and SON for Sunday, it's a treat to see what each day will bring.
Cheers
Hi to you all. My family member has taken a turn for the worse, so I'm spending time doing what I'm trained to do, be a nurse. Hopefully this suffering won't last must longer. I am frustrated and sad.I worship my father and I miss you all. Hug each other closer and say I love you every day, you just never know when the end will come. xoxoxo Robin
ReplyDeleteSallie: Sounds like your atomic clock is German:
ReplyDeleteMonday Montag
Tuesday Dienstag
Wednesday Mittwoch
Thursday Donnerstag
Friday Freitag
Saturday Samstag, Sonnabend
Sunday Sonntag
If tomorrow's comes up "MIT" then you'll know
Robin, you'll be in all our thoughts.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I haven't done the puzzle yet, so those comments will come later. But I wanted to share the following:
ReplyDeleteFYI - Not long ago, there was a discussion on the blog about Akira Kurosawa’s movies. I just discovered that TCM is celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth. Every Tuesday this month, they’re showing his movies. They're playing all day today, but tonight is “Rashomon” and “The Seven Samurai”.
Next Tuesday, they seem to only being showing them in the evening. As I recall, several of you had recommended the movie “Ran”. It’s scheduled for Tuesday, 03/31/2010 at 1:45 am.
Interesting, the rest of that day appears to have a “Blue” theme…all the titles have the word Blue in them.
And for you guys, on April 1st, the Guest Programmer on TCM will be…Raquel Welch!
Wow, there’s some great old movies coming up!
Good morning all -
ReplyDeleteThis one was more difficult than yesterday but not too bad...just some oddities that I didn't know. OPERA HAT being the first. Geez, those puppies are expensive!!!
Got a kick out of 40D (BASE MELODY)- took several minutes to figure out it wasn't the 'basis' for a musical score.
The Gene Chandler and Credence songs were gimmies for me...also the Cisco Kid.
Crockett and Doreen - a very happy birthday to you both. I know it has been a good year for you Crockett even if there is 'less' of you, LOL, it's a good thing.
Dennis: re 6 packs - is the safe carriage inside the woman or out?? ;)
I can drink 6 beers but I wouldn't bet much on me being 'safe' at that point.
Spitzboov - nice picture of you and your son. Ships have always interested me and I worked with them and their international cargoes for many years.
Robin - so very sorry to hear of your situation. Many of us here have gone through that ordeal but it's helpful that you have the training you do so you can help your father.
Robin: Be strong, and create whatever "Moments of Joy" you can for yourself and your patient. Our thoughts are with you.
ReplyDelete(I'm currently reading a book called "Creating Moments of Joy" for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients.)
Good morning Argyle, CC and all,
ReplyDeleteOur TV programming has changed a lot since we sat around that 9 inch green tinted tube.
Old Cantina Lady: What do you want?
Pancho: Something to eat and a cerevza.
Cisco Kid: And I'll have a senorita.
Old Cantina Lady: I am the only senorita.
Cisco Kid: Make that two cervezas.
Be back after the gardening...
Hello all. Nice job Argyle. Cool puzzle today
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of the Cisco Kid,
I get a channel called RTV(Retro Television Network) and Cisco Kid is on every week-nite, as well as Dragnet, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and several other oldies.
Birthday wishes to Crockett and Doreen.
Nice picture of your son Spitz. Heh, Heh.
Dennis, count me OUT on the beer thingy.
Would someone please tell me what 'cruciverb'is.
A comment on the other day: I agree with C.C. that the word Jew has a derisive connotaion. Jewish sounds a lot better.
Robin,
For what it's worth,you have my support.
Robin, we have missed you in the past few weeks. Right now you are where you need to be and where you are needed. Our thoughts and best wishes are with you at a very difficult time. If you need to let off some emotional steam, most of us have email addresses on our profiles. Feel free to contact.
ReplyDeleteGood day, Argyle, C.C. and fellow bloggers.
ReplyDeleteGood job Argyle. Today was very straight forward, I thought, zipped right through it. My only rough spot was 40D, base melody; did not even think about a military base until reading it here.
I"m always happy to fill my fave's, Meryl Streep and Sam from Casablanca, my all time favorite movie. Duke of Earl and Cisco fall into my time line.
Ironically, a prior puzzle (I always do two from our newspaper) had Ollie as Stan's partner.
Happy Birthday Doreen and Crockett! I hope you celebrate heartily.
Sptitzboov, nice pic with your son.
Robin, I am sending good thoughts and prayers your way. That is a tough spot for you. Just love your Dad every moment.
My beer consumption: 0. Wine, that's another story. Love a spot of whiskey, too.
Happy Tuesday, all.
KQ:
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad the blackberry works! you should have a commercial.
Robin- You might be trained as a nurse, but you're a natural at being a beautiful person.
ReplyDeleteHahtool and Dick, I inherited my father's old opera hat. Collapsing it is no problem. The hat material is satin covering a collapsing metal framework. So the satin just folds a bit and then snaps back into shape.
ReplyDeleteI'm just getting around to watching Frost/Nixon on cable. Very interesting.
Tinbeni, have you ever tasted Laphroig single malt? Very peaty.
Robin, Positive thoughts heading your direction for you and yours.
ReplyDeleteRobin - As a dad I can't imagine a greater compliment from a daughter than that she worships him, as you said. I'm sure he feels comforted and blessed to have you (and your expertise) close during this challenging time. Thoughts and prayers are headed to you both.
ReplyDeleteRobin, best wishes for you, your dad and the rest of your family.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't going to say any more on this topic, but for me silence is acquiescence.
ReplyDelete"A comment on the other day: I agree with C.C. that the word Jew has a derisive connotation. Jewish sounds a lot better."
Mr. Ed, I don't mean to pick on you. Many people use the word "Jewish" exclusively, to indicate they are not prejudiced. That's well and good, but it is also giving in to anti-Semites, who have been so long in trying to make the word "Jew" a slur.
It is NOT derisive. "Jew" is the proper noun and "Jewish" is the adjective. They both have their correct grammatical places.
Early religious writing, the Spanish Inquisition, Hitler's Nazis and now, modern skin-heads, have tried over the centuries to make the word "Jew" one of derision.
I hope we will not allow that to continue, by speaking up when we hear an insult aimed at any religious, racial or ethnic group.
BillG:
ReplyDeleteLaphroaig is a fine sipping experience.
EddyB's McCallan
Arygle's Dalwhinnie & Oban
All are excellent.
Pinch is my "everyday" stuff, along with Cardhu and Dalmore.
To paraphrase Will Rogers:
"I never met a Scotch I didn't like."
This was almost my first sub 5 minute puzzle, which I did at lunch, when I go much faster for some reason, maybe I am hungry. This was a rare puzzle where I did not look at many of the down fill, as it just flowed. I did not get the theme, but it was cute once I finished.
ReplyDeleteI liked the beginning of 14A: Choir members: ALTOS, then 15A: Even if, for short: ALTHO. The only one I had any difficulty with was ILO which was an obvious guess. I enjoyed seeing the Duke of Earl reference.
OK you scotch loving boys: This one is for my favorite..
ReplyDeleteHERE'S TO A GALLON OF BEER
AS YOU DRINK IT, YOU START TO LEER
YOU'VE BECOME BETTER LOOKIN',
YOU'RE SEXY, YOU'RE COOKIN'
BUT WHO THE HELL IS THAT IN THE MIRROR?
Mr. Ed 12:31 - Cruciverb.com is a website for crossword enthusiasts. It subtitles itself "Crossword Community Center" or something very similar. As you may have gathered, it crashed recently, due to server-oriented problems. I understand it has been moved to another host location. Worth a browse.
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon, all,
ReplyDeleteI solved early today, but am posting late. I thought the puzzle was a little harder than yesterday's, but no problem. No unknowns and no lookups, 24 online.
Good picture, Spitzboov. Is that a 5 inch gun behind you?
Happy birthday to Doreen and Crockett, and belated congrats to Maniac for your son's accomplishments.
Good news! The bees are back. I checked my tangerine tree today, and they are hard at work doing what they do. We have had some cold nights lately, and that may have slowed them down. Today is the first warm day we have had in a while.
The bee decline around the world is really scary.
Enjoy the rest of the day.
Happy Birthday, Doreen and Crockett!
ReplyDeleteKQ: That’s so amazing that the phone worked. I’ve seen the instructions about drying them out, but never knew anyone who actually had.
I thought COCOA first too.
Carol: Thanks. I didn’t understand 40D BASE MELODY either until I saw your post, then thought about it a minute… I had been thinking that it was a lame TAPping of fingers…
My dear Clear Ayes,
ReplyDeleteAlthough I think a lot of you and respect your position on issues,
I am sorry but I do not agree with you regarding the use of the term Jew & Jewish. Maybe it's all in the eyes of the beholder but if I were of that persuasion,I think I would rather be referred to as being Jewish. It just seems a bit more respectful.
Again, let me emphasize that I hold you in very high esteem.
Dudley,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the help.
Carol that is a very nice poem for the BEER drinkers.
ReplyDeleteThe reality of us "Scotch Guys" is we tend to sip.
Crapulence to the point of being truly BESOT from our consumption is not our nature.
(We generally don't drink excessively to the point of inebriation.)
And the start of a Robert Burns poem to ...
Scotch Drink
Let other poets raise a fracas
Bout vines and wines, and drunken Bacchus,
And crabbit names and stories wrack us,
And grate our lug:
I sing the juice Scotch bear can make us,
In a glass or jug.
Tinbeni: What is the proper way to drink Scotch?
ReplyDeleteHi all again.
ReplyDeleteGrand prize could be a text message from the infamous Blackberry! Seriously, we are considering contacting them about a commercial because we think it is so incredibly amazing. However, we think we should wait a few weeks to make sure this isn't a fluke. Who knows, maybe we will be on TV.
Robin, sending warm thoughts your way. That nursing stuff, especially when it is someone you are close to is so hard, but the best thing you will ever do. You will never regret it I promise. The crazies out here miss you, but are happy to wait in line for something more important.
BEER Guy ...
ReplyDeleteScotch, Neat, Snifter
As to proper, watching a West Coast of Florida sunset.
Not with SODA !!!
Forget the Ice & Water.
I've even heard (today) that some people are having a shot of pickle juice after a shot of Scotch.
They say it adds to the flavor. YUCK !!!
Those people need to BE SHOT!
Believe it or not there is a web site @ google on the proper way to drink Single Malts.
tfrank re: picture. Yes that is a 5"/38 caliber gun.
ReplyDeleteGood news on the BEESKNEES! Glad they were not AWOL.
Robin - our thoughts and prayers are with you.
This is not the forum for a theological debate, but I feel I must weigh on on the Jew vs. Jewish debate.
ReplyDeleteI am a Jew. The word is not a slur. I echo the sentiments of Clear Ayes.
In one of our daily prayers, we thank G~d for making us Jews. A portion of one of our prayers goes thus:
"I am a Jew because in every place where suffering weeps, the Jew weeps.
I am a Jew because at every time when despair cries out, the Jew hopes."
And to Robin, Jews have a daily prayer for healing that is called the Mi Shebierach. I will add you to the prayer.
Just for the Scotch drinkers out there: A Wee Deoch an' Doris
ReplyDeleteGood evening, to all.
ReplyDeleteThe surgery went well. I will have the right eye done on Aprl 13I was supposed to take it easy the rest of the day so I started the puzzle while my husband went to the Mall to do the daily mile. My favorite, which took some thinking, was Base music.
Robin, I am so sorry to hear about your father. My prayers are with you. the prayer that hahtool quotes is great. I feel so sorry for people who have only despair and have no source of hope.
Happy birthday to Crockett and Doreen. march seems to have an over abundance of birthdays - at least in our family. There are 6 grandkids with Mar. birthdays, one son and the head of the tribe finishes up the month with a Mar. 30th birthday. The one coming up will be his 96th.
Spitzboov, good picture!
Time for more eye drops - twelve a day for a week!
Dot
Dot, great news - thanks for letting us know. Take advantage of being pampered.
ReplyDeleteHello All--A clever puzzle today with several unusual fills. Humdrum, Slambang, and upshot all in one puzzle was interesting and no Mr. G. for once.
ReplyDeleteBase melody was my favorite clue today. I had put in tune at first, but that was quickly fixed.
My hand is up, altho I thought chocolate instead of cocoa. We always have a cup of hot chocolate at our house.
Happy birthday and many more to Doreen and Crockett.
Spitzboov is a Victory ship the same as the Liberty ships that were the workhorses of WWII?
Robin, I've been wondering how things were going. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your Father. He is so lucky to have you to care for him.
Dot, I just read the posts that came in while I was getting my comments typed, and saw that your surgery went well. Hooray!
ReplyDeleteHi all...beautiful day in CA,
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit grubby after gardening, but I love it.Most has been said about the puzzle which flowed pretty smoothly for me, almost a slambang. Slowed up filling hat, and then bases.EGAD was my last fill. Remember when people actually said that instead of sleezier oaths?
Loved your quote this am, Hahtool, AND your thoughts on being called a Jew are valid.
Robin, wish we could be more help to you. Sending you hugs, and you know we think the world of what you are doing.
HAPPY HAPPY birthday to youuuuu, Crockett and Doreen.Are we having beer or scotch today? I vote for wine. CA, that ,i>Menage au Trois,/i> was pretty good.My spelling may have gone astray there.
I came across the first two episodes of "Life" on the Discovery Channel last night and recorded them. I'm watching the first one now. Remarkable photography! It's a great workout for an HD TV set.
ReplyDeleteI meant to comment on the use of the word, "Jew". That is a term that this ethnic group has used for themselves for a few thouseand years. Every ethnic group has had their enemies who have tried to make their national name a derogatory term - Italians, Irish and Chinese, for instance. Any insulting nickname that has been given to them should be abhored and abolished but the national name should be spoken with pride. Surely, the Jews, have faced more of this than other ethnic groups but refusal to call them by their proper name will not erase the bigotry. Fortunately, I've never had any close associates who expressed prejudices against the Jews. Most of my friends tend to look on the Jewish people as someone special because they have given to us the Old Testament and laid the foundation for Christianity.
ReplyDeleteSo if I ever ask any of you, "Are you a Jew?" please don't be insulted. I would mean it as a compliment.
Just when I almost have enough nerve to try & get an avatar, someone on the blog starts having so much difficulty with the technology, that I chicken out.
Dot
Good evening all,
ReplyDeleteSome fun words today like GRUBBY and SLAMBANG. "Got" the theme, but didn't know "Grand Opera" or "Grand Duke". All in all, an easy, enjoyable ride, with perps covering for the unknowns.
Robin, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.
Dot, so glad to hear that you're home and resting comfortably after your surgery.
KQ-Hooray for the Blackberry! Great story, deserves commercial time, indeed.
Doreen and Crockett, HB to y'all, and many more!
Spitboov, enjoyed the photo. Sounds like a fun family vacation.
Argyle, thanks for the write-up, esp. the explanation of all the "GRANDs." Also, thought the "Farmer in the Dell" was a riot!
Hi gang -
ReplyDeleteI thought the puzzle was a bit hard for a Tuesday. Oh, well.
Thanks to those who offered Mac advice. None of it worked for me yesterday. All of it works today. Go figure!?!
Happy birthday, Doreen and Crockett. You share the day with my mother in law, so I had cake and ice cream.
I do remember both Duke of Earl and the Cisco Kid.
My favorite Scotches are Talisker and Lagavulin, the latter from the Isle of Islay, (pronounced "eye-la"), same as that LeapPhrog stuff, which I have never tried.
Oban is good, but overpriced due its relative rarity.
Wasmund's Virginia single malt is interesting and very different. Not like Scotch at all. Very smooth, semi-fruity taste and aroma with a dry, malty finish. But no hint of peat, smoke, seaweed, or leather.
Not a substitute for Scotch, but an interesting change of pace. About $36, at the liquor store in VA.
Cheers!
JzB Wasmund's sipping trombonist
Chickie asked: is a Victory ship the same as the Liberty ships that were the workhorses of WWII?
ReplyDeleteVictory class ships began to serve in the last 2 years of WWII. They could steam at up to 17kts versus 11kts for the Liberty ships. They had more power and were a little longer and wider than the older Liberty class. Here is information from the American Victory web site.
This my 5th post so I'll say Good Night
Hi all, I did manage to finish the puzzle about 7pm tonight and that will probably be the norm for the rest of the week. The foodshow looms ahead and unfortunately some of the vendors and brokers are not as organized as I am. That means last minute "shuffles" and ordering of product to source and show. I am not going to comment on the puzzle as it has pretty much been hashed over.
ReplyDeleteDennis, time for a new avatar...maybe a pic from sunny FL? Also, maybe today was "getting" near a Miss day.
Doreen and Crockett, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I hope you did something fun.
Mainiac, a belated congrats on your talented son. A side note, the food delivery company is called Sysco and is one of our biggest competitors. BOO!
Dot, glad to hear that your eye surgery went so well. My Mom has had both eyes done and it's amazing how quickly one heals.
Sptizboov, love that picture and as others said, you look like you belong on that bridge.
Robin, I am sorry to hear about your Dad and just know that he is in the best hands available....his daughter's skilled and loving ones.
Hello there.
ReplyDeleteI'll uncork the Mac and raise a glass with a wee drop or two to yah. Thanks for the song.
Wish I could be in St. Pete this
weekend to see the IRL cars. The weather looks real good for Sunday.
Am waiting for tomorrow's puzzle at fredericksburg.com
Dot. Did you get an eye patch so you could play pirate? Still have mine.
eddyB
Hi
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Doreen and Crockett, and great news Dot on your surgery. Jeannie, hang in there your show will be over soon. Spitzboov, a wonderful picture of father and son.
Robin, you know we are generally a silly, contentious bunch of fuddy duddies, but if you need anything, I know this path; I have buried too many already but as we say birth is a beginning, life a journey, daeth a destination.
I too will pray for you and yours.
Robin:
ReplyDeleteIn addition to adding my good wishes to your Dad for the best possible resolution to his (and your) present trials, I want to compliment you for just being there. A great majority of older people these days face this stage of life in the "care" of relatively disinterested strangers, who are themselves overworked and underpaid.
You, like everyone else, have a job, a career, and a life of your own that you have interrupted to care for someone you love. You have the admiration of all us for having made that choice. As someone earlier said, you won't regret it. Good outcomes for you and yours, and care for yourself as you can.
Two alcohol related comments:
1)At least one other person besides Dennis is not drinking their share of beer. I calculate my consumption to be about 3x the average. There are only a few days a year I don't have one, a couple of times a week two, and maybe once a month 4 or 5, usually away from home where music is playing. I should say that if the only beer available was Budlitemillercoorsnatural, I'd quit drinking.
2)Tenbeni: "these people should be shot". Yes. Our state beverage is Kentucky Bourbon, and like other spirits, there's good stuff and not so good stuff. But in either case, it sets my teeth on edge to hear someone order a "Bourbon and Coke". And a margharita is fine with cheap tequila, but why would pour sugar water into
Patron or Cabo? I guess if your addition is Grand Marnier and fresh lime juice that different than a mix, but.......
Just in case this horse we're beating today might try to get up, here's my two cents on the "Jew" question (and this only nominally a religious issue, since what we're really talking about is ethnicity): I agree totally with ClearAyes, Hahtool, Dot, et al. Anti-semitism and other forms of bigotry and hate are and should remain external. One should be able to take pride in their origin; anything less smells of self-loathing, which I believe is one major thing that causes people to despise the "other". If you hate yourself or your ethnicity, it becomes essential to find someone or some group to hate more.
Because of my name (I suppose), I have often been mistakenly "accused" of being Jewish. I have never objected, denial would feed the hate. Most of the antisemitism I have encountered over the years has been
subtle and discrete; it is no less despicable for that.
8
I have experienced the subtle, the direct, the sneaky, the violent, the "educated" the ignorant and I do believe WH,you are correct most bigotry is nothing but projected insecurity. I am a Jew. I also am left handed and short, so what are you going to do. As the late Gilda radner said, "It's always something"
ReplyDeleteMissed it by "this much" and boy I worked for it. About the Jew, Jewish thing. I have learned more about the Jewish religion on this blog than anywhere else. Shame on me I guess, but I have not been a big study of any of the religions. I remember 50 years ago it was a big deal to my Mom's mom that she was marrying a Catholic of all things.
ReplyDeleteTo each their own is my philosophy.
I forgot, Counselor you are handsome and I bet your handwriting is atrocious and most smart women wouldn't judge a man buy his height. My mom at the time of marriage was 5'8" and my dad was the same. She even wore heels the day of their wedding. As far as her being Southern Baptist and he being Catholic, I am sure WH could agree with me that she made a big move against her Mother's wishes back in 1960. They currently both attend a small Methodist church now that suits them well.
ReplyDeleteEddy B,
ReplyDeleteNo self-respecting pirate would wear an eye patch like mine. It is clear plastic with a grid of little air holes.I'm only supposed to wear it when sleeping so I won't accidentally scratch my eye. After I see the doctor tomorrow, they will remove the left lens from my glasses so I can wear them. Then I should be able to do anything I want to do - read, TV, computer, etc. I'm not to do any heavy lifting or strenous exercise for two weeks.
Our community outreach - Twice Touched- is to be April 17. This is when medical, chiropractic, dental and personal care professonals donate the day to care for people who can't afford their services. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to help after my surgery of the 13th but now I'm confident that I'll be able to volunteer as usual. I am so pleased with the way it is going.
Dennis, I don't think anyone else addressed the 'Grand duke" subject.
It is a title that originated in Germany but Napoleon bestowed the title on several men. The title also has appeared in quite a bit of literature and I believe there was an opera about a Grand Duke - Gilbert and Sullivan, maybe. I'd look it up but it is getting late.
I miss Kazie.
Dot
Dot, thanks for that; I'll check it out.
ReplyDeleteDennis: Today's "USA Today" puzzle looks like it was made for you. Your name is almost center, and there's plenty of DF fill throughout to go along with it.
ReplyDeleteOh, and by today, I mean Tuesday, 03/23. It's so close to midnight, and with the blog being different than our local time, I thought I'd better clarify, in case you choose to go check it out. Enjoy! ;-)
My 2 cents worth: Why is calling a Jew a Jew more derogatory than calling Sean Connery a Scot?
ReplyDeleteDot, I'm delighted that you're delighted with the outcome of your surgery...and so soon! Isn't it almost miraculous what can be done?
Robin, I've been missing you but I knew you must not be in the mood for fun and games while your dear father suffers. Windhover put it so well,as he always does, when he extended wishes for "the best resolution" to your dad's problems, and yours, of course. I offer mine for the same. It's so good of you to think of us in this
difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dot:
ReplyDeleteGreat news that your surgery went well. Take care and yes, take advantage of the pampering.
I must weigh in on the discussion and be on record that I detest any kind of bigotry, prejudice or racism. I admire those of you who are proud to be Jews just as I am proud to be Hispanic.
I believe those misplaced negative feelings are due to ignorance and inherited prejudices passed on from one generation ot another.
I hope we can all work toward a world that accepts us all for who we are and looks beyond appearances.
Spitzboov, thank you for the info on the Victory Ships and for the link. It was very informative. My father was a Machinist and helped to build the engines for these ships at Hendy's Iron Works in Sunnyvale, CA. It later became Westinghouse.
ReplyDeleteWe have one Liberty ship in San Francisco which is taken out on a cruise during Fleet week and people can buy tickets to sail along with the fleet, be treated to a lovely lunch and have full run of the ship.