Theme: NIGHT OWLS (54A. Hard-to-see critters lurking in 20-, 28-, 33- and 43-Across) - OWL is embedded in each two-word theme entry.
20A. Indoor gardener's tool: GROW LIGHT. Its emitted light spectrum is similar to that from the sun, allowing indoor growth with outdoor conditions, a la Wikipedia.
28A. Big drinker's "secret": HOLLOW LEG. New idiom to me. Also big eater's "secret", isn't it?
33A. Tutor's charge: SLOW LEARNER. I am one.
43A. Golden retriever?: YELLOW LAB. Labrador. Yellow is the same as "Golden"?
Great rhyming symmetry with the antonymous LIGHT and NIGHT. I don't get the unifier though. Why the addition of "NIGHT"? Just to form a symmetric partner to GROW LIGHT? Aren't all owls hard to see in the evenings?
Lots of excellent Down fill today. My favorite is ROE V. WADE (38D. 1973 landmark case). Also adored the overall cluing today. Very much to my liking.
Across:
1. Ivory alternative: DIAL. Plunked in DOVE.
5. Lumps of earth: CLODS
10. They're full of beans: PODS. Nailed it. Sometimes I just rock!
14. In that event: IF SO
15. Center: HEART
16. Stat start: RHEO. Rheostat. Got me.
17. What the hyphen in an emoticon represents: NOSE. In the emoticon :-)
18. Like many microbrews: ON TAP
22. Vigilant: ALERT
23. "Eek!" elicitor: BOO
24. __ Vandelay, recurring fake "Seinfeld" character who turns out to be a real judge in the final episode: ART. I do recall Vandelay. Can't remember his given name.
25. Reagan court appointee: SCALIA (Antonin). Appointed in 1986.
26. Wing, perhaps: ANNEX
31. Greenish blue: TEAL
32. Come down hard: POUR. Nice clue too.
39. Churlish sort: BOOR
40. Piano, to a pianist: SOFT. Piano can mean "soft" or "softly". Stumper.
48. __ d'Alene: COEUR
49. Hardy and North: OLLIES
50. It brought Hope to the troops: Abbr.: USO. Capitalized H. Bob Hope was actively involved in USO tours. Brilliant clue.
52. Sign of peace: VEE
53. Dr. J's alma mater: U MASS (University of Massachusetts). No idea.
57. Milquetoast: WIMP
58. String quartet part: VIOLA. And OBOES (34D. Wind section)
59. Like Granny Smith apples: TART
60. Wrath, in a classic hymn: IRAE. "Dies Irae", literally "Day of Wrath".
61. Played a part: ACTED
63. Former OTC watchdog: NASD (National Association of Securities Dealers). Who knows?!
64. Visibly moved: TEARY
65. Give up: CEDE
Down:
1. Birdbrain: DINGBAT. Archie's name for Edith.
2. Start of an opinion: I FOR ONE. And OH WELL (11. Words of resignation) & YOU WIN (43. "I give up"). Great entries.
3. Right after: AS SOON AS
4. Movie mogul Marcus: LOEW. MGM cofounder.
5. Gospel singers: CHOIR
6. Pool measure: LENGTH. Five consonants.
7. Curse: OATH
8. "Curses!": DRAT. Nice consecutive "Curse/Curses!".
9. NASCAR sponsor: STP
10. Course for a budding DA: PRE-LAW
12. Sweetheart: DEARIE
13. "In America" novelist Susan: SONTAG
21. Loose: LAX
22. Squash variety: ACORN. Love freshly baked acorn squash.
25. Talk like thish: SLUR. And LISPED (46. Talked like thith). Good pair.
27. Pipe fitting: ELL
29. "William Tell," e.g.": OPERA
36. Cybercackle: LOL
37. Pedro's "that": ESO
41. Nuclear reactor component: FUEL ROD. Not a familiar term to me. Maybe our rod expert Lois knows.
42. Amtrak canyon crosser: TRESTLE. Didn't come to me readily. I am used to the "Bridge support" clue.
44. New York city where Mark Twain is buried: ELMIRA. Unknown to me also.
45. Pack animals: LLAMAS
47. Base player?: BUGLER. Military base. Fooled me last time. Fooled me again.
48. Base bunk: COT. Again, loved the base echo.
51. Not on the up and up: SHADY
54. "Good one!": NICE
55. Scintilla: IOTA
56. Narc suffix: OTIC. Narcotic.
58. Vintner's container: VAT
Answer grid.
C.C.
20A. Indoor gardener's tool: GROW LIGHT. Its emitted light spectrum is similar to that from the sun, allowing indoor growth with outdoor conditions, a la Wikipedia.
28A. Big drinker's "secret": HOLLOW LEG. New idiom to me. Also big eater's "secret", isn't it?
33A. Tutor's charge: SLOW LEARNER. I am one.
43A. Golden retriever?: YELLOW LAB. Labrador. Yellow is the same as "Golden"?
Great rhyming symmetry with the antonymous LIGHT and NIGHT. I don't get the unifier though. Why the addition of "NIGHT"? Just to form a symmetric partner to GROW LIGHT? Aren't all owls hard to see in the evenings?
Lots of excellent Down fill today. My favorite is ROE V. WADE (38D. 1973 landmark case). Also adored the overall cluing today. Very much to my liking.
Across:
1. Ivory alternative: DIAL. Plunked in DOVE.
5. Lumps of earth: CLODS
10. They're full of beans: PODS. Nailed it. Sometimes I just rock!
14. In that event: IF SO
15. Center: HEART
16. Stat start: RHEO. Rheostat. Got me.
17. What the hyphen in an emoticon represents: NOSE. In the emoticon :-)
18. Like many microbrews: ON TAP
22. Vigilant: ALERT
23. "Eek!" elicitor: BOO
24. __ Vandelay, recurring fake "Seinfeld" character who turns out to be a real judge in the final episode: ART. I do recall Vandelay. Can't remember his given name.
25. Reagan court appointee: SCALIA (Antonin). Appointed in 1986.
26. Wing, perhaps: ANNEX
31. Greenish blue: TEAL
32. Come down hard: POUR. Nice clue too.
39. Churlish sort: BOOR
40. Piano, to a pianist: SOFT. Piano can mean "soft" or "softly". Stumper.
48. __ d'Alene: COEUR
49. Hardy and North: OLLIES
50. It brought Hope to the troops: Abbr.: USO. Capitalized H. Bob Hope was actively involved in USO tours. Brilliant clue.
52. Sign of peace: VEE
53. Dr. J's alma mater: U MASS (University of Massachusetts). No idea.
57. Milquetoast: WIMP
58. String quartet part: VIOLA. And OBOES (34D. Wind section)
59. Like Granny Smith apples: TART
60. Wrath, in a classic hymn: IRAE. "Dies Irae", literally "Day of Wrath".
61. Played a part: ACTED
63. Former OTC watchdog: NASD (National Association of Securities Dealers). Who knows?!
64. Visibly moved: TEARY
65. Give up: CEDE
Down:
1. Birdbrain: DINGBAT. Archie's name for Edith.
2. Start of an opinion: I FOR ONE. And OH WELL (11. Words of resignation) & YOU WIN (43. "I give up"). Great entries.
3. Right after: AS SOON AS
4. Movie mogul Marcus: LOEW. MGM cofounder.
5. Gospel singers: CHOIR
6. Pool measure: LENGTH. Five consonants.
7. Curse: OATH
8. "Curses!": DRAT. Nice consecutive "Curse/Curses!".
9. NASCAR sponsor: STP
10. Course for a budding DA: PRE-LAW
12. Sweetheart: DEARIE
13. "In America" novelist Susan: SONTAG
21. Loose: LAX
22. Squash variety: ACORN. Love freshly baked acorn squash.
25. Talk like thish: SLUR. And LISPED (46. Talked like thith). Good pair.
27. Pipe fitting: ELL
29. "William Tell," e.g.": OPERA
36. Cybercackle: LOL
37. Pedro's "that": ESO
41. Nuclear reactor component: FUEL ROD. Not a familiar term to me. Maybe our rod expert Lois knows.
42. Amtrak canyon crosser: TRESTLE. Didn't come to me readily. I am used to the "Bridge support" clue.
44. New York city where Mark Twain is buried: ELMIRA. Unknown to me also.
45. Pack animals: LLAMAS
47. Base player?: BUGLER. Military base. Fooled me last time. Fooled me again.
48. Base bunk: COT. Again, loved the base echo.
51. Not on the up and up: SHADY
54. "Good one!": NICE
55. Scintilla: IOTA
56. Narc suffix: OTIC. Narcotic.
58. Vintner's container: VAT
Answer grid.
C.C.
71 comments:
Good morning, C.C. and gang - well, definitely Thursday-level difficulty for me - I needed perp help all over the place. I saw the common 'owl' in the first two theme answers, but didn't know for sure if that was the theme until the end. Favorite clues: 'Base player', 'Hope to the troops'. Least favorite: Llama. I think I just don't care for things that spit...
Definitely a fun puzzle.
C.C., you made me laugh, calling Lois the 'rod expert'. And I agree, 'Roe v. Wade was just a great fill.
Got an unexpected house guest Monday, my friend of some 40+ years who now lives in Anchorage; his M.O. is to call unexpectedly from the airport to announce his arrival. The point of this is that my posts will probably be shorter and more sporadic for the next week or so.
Today is Greenery Day and National Shrimp Scampi Day.
Today's Words of Wisdom: "You must not pity me because my sixtieth year finds me still astonished. To be astonished is one of the surest ways of not growing old too quickly. -- Colette
Good Morning CC and all. I loved this puzzle! Many of the bloggers here are NIGHT OWL, at least with respect to me. So many comments are made after I have gone to bed.
I got off to a slow start, though, because I had some trouble with the NW corner. It was the last section of the puzzle that got filled. I was thinking that Ivory somehow referred to Piano Keys. Soap never entered my head.
They're Full Of Beans = PODS was my favorite clue.
Interesting to see ROE V WADE in the same puzzle as SCALIA.
Marcus Loew is becoming a crossword staple. We should at least know what he looked like.
Jeannie: so sorry to hear of your mother's setback. I know all too well how hard it is for you to be so far away from her. My parents are on the other side of the country from me and I worry about them all the time.
In honor of 13D, here are today's QODs:
I was not looking for my dreams to interpret my life, but rather for my life to interpret my dreams. ~ Susan Sontag
I envy paranoids; they actually feel people are paying attention to them. ~ Susan Sontag
Good morning:
I agree lots of new looks and clues, like a new reference to ART VANDELAY and the crazy creator within a creation.
Yes, HOLLOW LEG can mean food or drink; the symbolism is so pure, where do you put it all?
Piano, to a pianist: SOFT, Come down hard: POUR, It brought Hope to the troops: Abbr.: USO, Base player?: BUGLER, are among the many great clues.
Jeannie, you know all of us Blue People are here for you and your mom, and hope this latest event is the end of the bad stuff.
WM, wonderful to hear from you and great to know you are painting. Don’t be such a stranger, we are obviously an inspirational group!
Late night guys, nice JOB taking care of each other
Good Morning All...and Boomer.
I keep a weeks worth of archived comments, on a rotational basis, and check last week's before replacing with the current week. Which is to say, Boomer left a very late comment to last Thursday, so late it was Friday afternoon!
But he has a new distingished-looking avatar.
C.C., see if you can get him to post again so all can see...and Boomer, good luck getting a good Friday night baseball game.
Good morning, all,
Excellent puzzle today, with many fresh clues and a clever theme. I think "night" was added in line with the clue phrase "hard-to-see". As usual, I needed a lot of perp help with many of these clues. Few of them came to me readily.
I guess I will have to go back and read yesterday's late night posts, in case I missed something. I usually retire pretty early.
Have a great day.
Morning, C.C. and fellow puzzlers -Just loved this puzzle (which gave me something to do while insomniating). Thish and thith were fun clues. I managed to do a no-peeky time of 30 minutes while typing with one hand, 'cause the other was supporting my laptop.
While I am a know-nothing about sports, I do know about Dr. J (Julius Erving) because UMass is just a few miles away in Amherst, MA. There are also UMass campuses (campi?) in Worcester and Boston, and kinda recently ULowell and SMU were blended into the UMass juggernaut.
Good Morning CC and All,
Really fun grid this AM. Needed some erasing and red letter help. Sour instead of Tart led to Osis instead of Otic. Dr. J was my hero so I knew UMass which led to minor success in the SW. I also had Lisp instead of Slur which raised all kinds of hell in my brain because I doubted they would have Lisp and Lisped in the same puzzle. Re-reading this I feel real dumb!
We're moving my office this week adding to the three ringed circus. EEK!!
Have a great day!
"From last Friday":
I was on the computer earlier and an ad for the postal service flat rate box said we no longer have to weigh boxes under 70 pounds. I was just wondering how to know a box is under 70 pounds if you don't weigh it? Looks like weather in KC might screw up the Twins game tonight. Friday bowling is finally over for the season so I have a free night to watch baseball, if there's a game.
A fun puzzle today. I started off thinking I was going to fold on it, but it got better as I went along and I ended up not having to look up anything. I really had no clue as to UMASS or ELMIRA though, and when I guessed a V instead of M, I forgot to look at the UVASS perp. I didn't know he even went to college because I assumed he was a rapper. Now I remember, basketballer, right?
I do take issue with YELLOW LAB for GOLDEN RETRIEVER though. They're not the same. Our dog is a golden, and they have long hair, but the labs are short haired and generally lighter in color.
I agree with Kazie...Yellow Labs and Goldens ARE NOT the same...
Here's our Trudi in a new avatar just to show her off.
Good morning C.C. and all. Not a difficult Thursday, but definitely a fun puzzle with great texture. Loved the theming and love YELLOW LABs. Favorite clues were BUGLER and USO. Did not know NASD. Perps helped enough that no searches were needed. Note that HEART and the French equiv. COEUR are in the same puzzle. Also had IRAE and ESO as foreign words.
C.C.: RHEO. A rheostat is basically a variable resistance device that can vary the current in an electric circuit.
Enjoy the day.
Good morning guys! Loved this puzzle today, full of clues I had to think really hard about. And the fact that I couldn't finish makes it even better. Little bit of music, a few names thrown in there, a theme that brought some neat clues in... just great. Have a kid with a bad cough yesterday and today. Just trying to figure out if it's doctor-worthy. Ugh. And today is library day... hate to have to skip it. Happy Thursday to all!
Having lived through the Cuban influx in FL, I understand much of the frustration of people in states which border Mexico. It`s not that we don`t want them to have freedom, it`s that with so many of them they begin to take ours, albeit not always meaning to.
The border states are the first American soil the immigrants reach, and so the burden of feeding-clothing-caring for their medical needs falls hardest on them and their resources. Since the wheels of government grind slowly (and exceedingly fine!), hungry/sick people, many with no shelter, begin to take what they need. They want their culture, their food, their life-style but our benefits. After so many years of this, I understand the frustration of citizens...
The pendulum always swings from one extreme to the other...after a while of repression, common sense will prevail...or else we would not have "Little Cuba" in south FL. It`s now a part of our state`s charm. So...while I dont`s condone the violence/profiling, I do understand the frustrations which brought it on. "Before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes." (Then, you will be a mile ahead of them and they will have to chase you barefooted!)
I think the problem lies dually with lack of federal government enforcement of existing laws, and also with the employers who exploit the undocumented cheap labor for which they don't need to pay benefits or real wages. If the employers were prosecuted for such practices, the lure of "a better" way of life might be less. We might have to get used to paying more for our food, but then we should anyway.
ARBAON,
I can't say I agree totally with what you have to say, but I love the wit and feeling with which you say it.
I suppose we've been having this discussion since the "Indians" "welcomed" the "Pilgrims". As one who has been both the established resident and the newcomer/outsider at different times and places in my life, for once I have no answer or solution, other than ARBAON's above.
Which should make last night's Anonymous feel a little better about me. I guess we all have a little Sally Field in us.
Adding to the discussion, has anyone ever thought about the cost of becoming a green card holder? When I did it in 1974, it wasn't too bad, as I remember, and the green card was issued at our point of entry on arrival here. But our d-i-l has had to put out thousands of Euros and dollars just to get to the point of having a green card issued, which is now only possible after two years of legal residence here on a multiple entry work permit. And she's married to a citizen! What's it like for independent immigrants? Many people here assume that marriage to a US citizen is a free pass--not so!
I can't imagine too many Mexican laborers having that kind of cash to lay out on visas, either before or after arrival here. Only the drug dealers could afford it, and they're the ones we don't want.
Re: 43A. Golden retriever?: YELLOW LAB
I think the question mark is to tell you that you are not to look for a 'Golden Retriever' but a yellow dog that will bring things back to you. A yellow Labrador Retriever certainly fits the bill.
Good Morning All, Nice puzzle today. Since it is Thursday, I sneaked down to the bottom of the puzzle to look for the theme clue and was able to go back to fill OWL in all the right places, with just a little perp help.
Getting the neighbors, ROE V WADE and FUEL CELL filled in was tough, but rewarding.
My favorite "Aha" was BUGLER for 47D "Base player".
Yes to Argyle about YELLOW LAB. Their AKC title is Labrador Retriever and they come in yellow, black and chocolate. The "Golden Retriever" clue was meant to be tricky. It describes the color goldish/yellowish and the type of dog. The Yellow Labrador Retriever is light golden in color and it definitely is a retriever. BTW, Kazie, Trudi is gorgeous.
To my favorite "smugly repellent extremist"...LOL, gee, and he/she likes you?
Until Montana, North Dakota and the other northern border states enact similar illegal immigrant laws, I will have to look at the new Arizona law as a step toward racial profiling.
Dear WH,
While your intellect and wit appeal to me also (and your opinions 75% of the time), you have a
red(?)head and I still carry a torch, in my brittle bones, for Burt. So glad you like me, though!
Regards,
Sally
Your puzzle is also published in the times of India. hence we request you and all other "puzzlers" to keep that in mind,so that we can also take up your challenge.. I am doing the TOI crossword since the 15 years, but since the last 8-9 months, its become unsolvable for a non-american.
Hi C.C. & gang, a tough and rewarding puzzle today. I think that my wife and I finished ~1/3 of it before she left for work, I got the Hollow leg answer before that though. I finished it online and somehow got the owl theme to help for 33 &43A.
Great discussions on the AZ mess, I think the best one yet came from Arbaon aka 'Sally'.
For C.C.:
Here's a moving rendition of Taps.
Good Morning. Some odds and ends.
Just got base player.
First passport cost $18. Last one cost $180.
Current count of lang and dialects
spoken at BUSD is 59. Jill once had
82 ESL students when she taught at a middle school.
The light dimmer switch on the wall is a rheostat.
Cochise Co in AZ (Douglas) is where the rancher was shot and is most affected by the new law.
Jagr is now playing in Russia in the KHL (Continental League).
Redwing's plane from Phoenix landed
after curfew. Operators face a $2500 fine.
Enjoy the rest of the day. eddyB
Coeur d'Alene is the largest city in the Idaho panhandle. French Canadian fur traders allegedly named the local Indian tribe the Coeur d'Alene out of respect for their tough trading practices. Translated from French Cœur d'Alêne literally means "heart of the awl" which might mean "sharp-hearted" or "shrewd." Others interpret "Heart of the Awl" to translate to "Eye of the Needle", perhaps referring to the narrow passage through which the lake empties into the Spokane River on its way to the Columbia. However visitors from France say the term, "Coeur d' Alene" is an insult or swear word meaning the tribe of natives were mean spirited or pointed. The French point out that no matter how fanciful people want to describe the words, Coeur d' alene, it can only be translated as a mean or nasty curse, not anything kind or friendly.
C.C. I agreed with you on everything you said, except SLOW LEARNER as applied to yourself! If you look at your bio and all of you blogs (which you do at an ungodly time of day!) you simply cannot claim that!
I, too, wanted DOVE. The rest just fell into place. What I wasn't sure about, the perps gave me. I loved this one! Thanks, James.
I hope everyone is well and happy today. It's a beautiful one so far.
My best wishes to any who are ill or distressed in any way.
All these favorable conditions are making me energized. Maybe I'll finish the 'heart' pillows I'm makeing for the Heart Ass'n. I've put them off far too long!
If it wasn't for the fact that it would be a cruel and inhuman thing to do, I almost wish Arizona could deport all its undocumented workers overnight. Then, when their entire economy collapses I could laugh my ass off at their incredible ignorance. Most of the work done by the undocumented is hard labor, the kind of labor that takes commitment, guts, and fortitude, and the heart to stick it out. Are your anglo kids going to do that work? Your grandkids? Can they? A buck on the side says they won't even put down their cell phones long enough to mow the front yard.
Good day, C.C. and fellow solvers.
Wow! What an interesting slog in this xwd. My first fill was "Loew" because it's familiar from other puzzles. After that I was all over the place with the misleading clues, very clever.
Most of you already listed the best clues, and I agree. It was fun, caused many erasures and I learned a few facts. I didn't know Dr. J's alma mater, NASD, or where Mark Twain was buried; in fact I had "Elvira" thinking it sounded vaguely familiar (late night mistress,LOL) then saw the blog.
You early birds are so good at making such astute connections, thanks for that.
C.C., you are doing yourself an injustice calling yourself a slow learner. Your brilliant blogging testifies to your abilities. No, my dear, that is not you, anything but a slow learner (believe me, I've met a few).
I hope you are all having a wonderful Thursday; it's lovely here, sunny with a light breeze. I send it to you.
Jerome, I keep forgetting to tell you there is a Jerome, AZ; it's an old mining town. But maybe you knew that already.
Good Afternoon CC, et al., Really enjoyed this puzzle..and on a Thurs
too. Go figure! Things just fell into place one at a time and there it was! Very clever clueing and cute theme, altho' I didn't get it until I came here. Wonder why that is. Chaos theory in action, I guess.
CC: you made me almost choke during a quiet work time today trying to silence a gut level LOL w/your comment about 41D . That was priceless!
When considering 'fuel rod's for power and energy, the size of the rod is critical when considering high energy, breeding ratio, fertile material but esp and what I consider most important, nuclear magic! Yep, the 'idolic' 'fuel rod' is the Holy Hotwick! And just like the SE corner, I'd
cross 'tart's in pursuit of 'fuel rod's too. And I would take no prisoners. 'I for one' was not a 'slow learner' in this area. Where the 'heart''s desire, or thereabouts, is involved, the 'wimp's will 'cede' and say 'you win' to me, all'teary' eyed and 'boo' hooing. I tell 'em if ya want to play with the 'night owls' ya better be 'alert' and learn to singw/the 'choir', 'cause just like 'opera', it ain't over til the fat lady sings. It's all about 'fuel rod's and nuclear magic. It's all good.
Jeannie: I need to catch up on comments, but you and your mom are in my prayers.
Enjoy your day.
Easy puzzle today. 16 minutes to complete successfully. Can't say I had to think much about any of the clues.
Hi gang -
C.C. - If you are a SLOW LEARNER, then I am one of the CLODs.
Quite a good puzzle today. Thematically dense, but lots of good, long cross-fill, clever cluing and very little dross.
When I first scanned 2D, I thought I FORSEE . . . Which wouldn't have been a great answer, but then I got fixated on a two-word fill, second word being FORxxx , so I got flummoxed. BOO should have saved me, but I kept trying to fit MOUSE into three squares.
I've never heard anybody refer to a lamp as a "tool" before.
I thought ELMIRA was the worst song the Oak Ridge Boys ever sang.
We're going to the science fair open house this evening, so the LW can see Rebekka's project, and I can show her what my judgees did. It's all good.
Those curfew-busting Wings play tonight. Hope they're more consistent than they were in the Phoenix series.
Anyway, it'll be a late night.
Cheers!
JzB hoping to stay ALERT trombonist.
Lucina- I spent many years tramping and working all over Arizona. I've had many a cold beer in Jerome. Funny thing, I learned early on not to introduce myself there by my real name. People think you're being a wiseguy. If anyone in Jerome were to remember me that memory would be of a boistrous dude named Henry.
Afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen.
5 days w/o a x-word and I woke up to this one. What a pleasure. My favorite answer was NIGHTOWL, as I crawled out of bed after 10 am. I am not hard-to-see, but I really don't understand how I made it through 31 years of a job that required morning attendance. Hahtool and I could not co-exist.
Missed the reference to (Bob) Hope in 50A and got really upset at the past tense. The USO is alive and well, and an important part of my son's life. Once I calmed down, I think it became my favorite clue. I also love the cross of BUGLER, USO, and COT.
Typically, my son had done no planning or prep for his deployment, so we spent Saturday thru Monday packing and finding a storage unit. Undoubtedly, he's paying too much, but he hadn't even done his laundry and was planning to pack it away dirty. It did give his mother something to occupy her mind, which was a very good thing.
Jerome, how about a crossword centered on BASKETCASE??
Gotta go, I have several puzzles to work back through.
Jerome. I don't believe for a second any thing you said. If the AZ economy tanks, it will be because of the drain on social services and law enforcement.
We had a "desert lawn" because we couldn't afford the water bill.
Illegals have cell phones.
The work would get done. It would just cost more.
Oakland just paid subs
$300/day because of a one day teacher strike. What did that do to the budjet? The state had to run the district because of budget problems in the past.
Didn't know we had a problem with Canadians sneaking across the border.
eddyB
EddieB, how much do you think a sub should be paid?
Jeannie, in case you didn't get the email: Williams Sonoma has 20% off on LeCreuset until Sunday. Three discontinued colors, however. Did I see free shipping?
Not sure, might have been Land's End. (I get too much spam!)
The bottom half filled up pretty quickly for me, but I really struggled with the top half, especially the NW. Wound up googling about 5 clues to kickstart various sections for me…
1A had me thinking the EBON’ and ivory route, then wedding dresses being ivory or eggshell or off-white. I didn’t catch on to the soap until the very end!
Hahtool: I love your 2nd QOD!
JzB: LOL - You fit mouse into 3 squares by calling it a RAT, which is what I had entered for quite a while! I even changed it to BAT for a short time.
yes, undocumented workers(law breaking, illegal immigrants) certainly help keep the economy afloat. perfect example is california. it is the state with the most help from this group and look how robust and healthy its economy is!
Yes, and you are a undocumented blogger.
Lol, eddyB. Of course Canadians don't sneak across the border...why would they want to? Apparently, Canada keeps very poor tabs on their illegals from Africa, Asian, the mid-East and eastern Europe. Once in Canada, it is just a hop, skip and a jump across the northern states borders into the U.S.
Gosh, how could a Montana police officer guess if a person were from Darfur or Kansas, or from Romania or Arizona just by looking at them?
I'm against illegal immigration from anywhere, but I can't go along with the idea that a person could be under suspicion because of what he or she looks like. If the new law really has nothing to do with racial profiling, then everyone in Arizona should be prepared to "show their papers". I'll be bringing my passport the next time I head to Phoenix and I hope everyone else is prepared for that eventuality too.
is that illegal?
Dodo, I don't know if you saw it, but I answered your question late last night.
Final exams for ESL soon. You would be amazed at how much they have learned!
Undocumented blogger! Classic!
Hi all -
Wow, I thought this puzzle was easier than Wednesday's but the NW and SW corners stumped me for a long time. I hate to start out staring at 1A thinking WTH...the word IVORY conjured up piano keys and elephant tusks and that was it. I just never thought of soap. I have never used Ivory soap, it is absolutely terrible for the skin.
23A EEK elicitor had me putting down BUG. That ruined that area too. I felt like a SLOW LEARNER. 25 and 46D had me thinking of someone with a HOLLOW LEG...at least that's what most drunks sound like.
Lois, great avitar!! Somehow it just seems to suit you - LOL.
Jazz: the Oak Ridge Boys got into hot water with that song "Elvira" because they stole it from The Coasters 1957 song "Searchin'".
GOOD PUZZLE...JUST THE RIGHT BALANCE.
IT WAS ODD SEEING ROE V WADE
IN THE PUZZLE. I WON'T TOUCH THAT ONE AND SCALIA FOR THAT MATTER.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF AMERICAN INDIANS, EVERYBODY HAILED FROM ELSEWHERE. I READ AND HERE HOW PROUD PEOPLE TEND TO BE WHEN THEY TELL OF THEIR RELATIVES COMING TO AMERICA TO ESCAPE POVERTY, HUNGER, BIAS, ETC. THEY CAME HERE TO AMERICA, THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY.
THEY WERE ALLOWED TO COME AND MAKE GOOD. NOW, MANY OF THE SAME FAMILIES
BEGRUDGE OTHER FOREIGNERS GRASPING AT THE SAME BRASS RING; THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES. WHY IS THAT?
I CAN'T IMAGINE GOING INTO ANOTHER COUNTRY NOT KNOWING THE LANGUAGE AND HAVING NO SKILLS. THESE MEXICAN'S COME HERE AND MAKE A GO OF IT SUCCESSFULLY. I HAVE TO ADMIT I RESPECT THAT ABILITY TO SURVIVE. I'M NOT SURE THAT I COULD GO OUT ON A LIMB LIKE THAT. SADLY, I'M TOO MUCH OF A MILQUETOAST AND WOULD MOST LIKELY I WOULD FOLD LIKE A CHEAP SUIT.
LOVE 'BASE CAMP' AS I AM FASCINATED WITH THE CLIMBS PEOPLE DO IN THE HIMALAYAS. THEY USE LLAMAS THERE TOO...OH, NO, YAKS. THEY SEEM SIMILAR TO ME. I THINK THEY USE SOME SORT OF FOOD MADE FROM YAK FAT. IT IS SAID TO BE STINKY AND NOT PLEASING TO OUR PALATES...SO SAYS SHIRLEY McCLAINE.
USO IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION; SO SELFLESS. LOVE THE 'ART VANDALAY!'
IVORY, HA HA...I WAS THINKING OF 2 THINGS. THE KIND OF EBONY AND IVORY FROM YESTERDAY, THEN IT TURNED OUT TO BE BAR SOAP...THE BAR SOAP MEMORIES FROM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. CAMAY, NOT CAMEO BAR SOAP IS IS THE ONE MY FATHER WOULD BUY FOR MY MOTHER. FOR MY MOTHER. NOW PRELL...HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF THAT ONE IN YEARS.
MY FATHER HAD HIS CANCER TREATED AT UMASS MANY YEARS AGO...HE'S BEEN DEAD FOR 20.
I'M HAPPY TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS POD AND WELL COULD BE FULL OF BEANS...YOU'LL NEVER REALLY KNOW!
I'M OUT!!!
Hi.
Dodo. I don't know or have an answer to your question. Just know that Jill isn't being paid $300/day to sub. She wasn't making $300/day as a full time teacher. For get about $/hrs for a 12 hour day. Question for you. What good do you think a one day strike does?
CA. I thought your comment was in jest but can see someone trying to sneak into ND from Europe or Africa.
Maybe the loop hole in current Federal Law are people coming here
by foot. If you come by ship, train, plane or car you need a passport.
The AZ law was very craftfully written to follow current law to avoid lawsuits.
eddyB
Frenchie: I echo that which you said so eloquently.
Gunghy: Au contraire, sometimes the best way to co-exist is to have an early bird and a night owl. Be advised, however, I am not looking. I am very happy with my own night owl.
The oil spill in the Gulf is a disaster. The gulf coast is now under a state of emergency and the oil is expected to reach landfall within the next 24 hours. It will have a major impact on the US, but economically and environmentally.
Hi all,
Loved today’s puzzle--seemed easier than a normal Thursday puzzle--but I loved the clues. Really seemed fresh to me.
@Lois, I have passed that sign for Intercourse many times--absolutely love Lancaster Co. for its beauty and serenity. I think you can start your trip in Blue Ball, definitely stop in Intercourse and finish up in Paradise. Who knew the Amish could be so creative in the naming of their towns. Will have to do some research on the origins of their towns.
I am not in favor of the new AZ law, but I can understand their frustrations. Half of illegal crossings into the U.S. occur along the Arizona-Mexico border. Phoenix is now the number one city for kidnapping in the U.S . In Phoenix, there are violent battles between the end drug distributors for the various drug cartels. Without border security, this will be an ongoing battle. What I’m also not in favor of is the comparison of AZ law to Nazi Germany. We all have to carry a driver’s license when we drive a car, do our banking, cash a check at a grocery store, etc. According to Federal Law, a legal alien must carry their “green” card with them at all times. I don’t think this is too much to ask of any of us. Hopefully the AZ law will encourage our Federal government to actually make an even stronger effort to secure our borders.
Have a good evening; and Lois, if you ever visit Intercourse again, give me a call and we can meet for lunch. Lots of good restaurants in Lancaster Co.
has anyone said that they oppose immigration? i think the policy still is "give us your poor...". please, come and make a better life for yourself, your family AND our country. just do it legally and obey OUR laws. is that a problem?.....bueller? bueller?
Frenchie, Well said! We do see a lot of 'I'm here now; shut the door!'
And speaking of Himalayan treks, have you read 'Three Cups of Tea'? Forget the authors name but he also has another book out.
EddyB. Neither was I, and I really, really despise the old worn-out argument about 5 hour days! Teachers work damned hard, much longer than the 5 hours the children are in school! And besides that, these days they're expected to raise the kids for the parents!
Dodo: The author of "Three Cups of Tea" is Greg Mortenson. His new book is "Stones into Schools." My reading group read the former, and may read the latter next year.
@Dodo, Greg Mortenson is the author of "Three Cups of Tea" and his newest book is "Stones into Schools". Both are amazing books about the strength and courage of one person to bring education to girls in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. For the cost on one U.S. soldier in Afghanistan for one year, he could build 25 schools. Talk about one way to win the hearts and minds of the people. Highly recommend both books.
I had to google several names but I got the theme fairly early which I liked very much. We finished the bottom half but labored over the top half. By now, all the comments I wanted to make have been made.
The immigration question is so complicated but I feel most people accept immigrants who come in legally. But if we citizens have to obey the laws of our land and do things legally, shouldn't all the newcomers have the same requirements? However, I know several illegals who work very hard & have endured so much in order to try and better their life style. So, even though intellectually I can say, "They shouldn't be here, emotionally, I want to do everything we can for them."
Jerome, it is so easy to make a blanket statement covering a whole class of people which is really not true about the majority. I have several grandsons who are working at dirty, unrewarding jobs in order to earn money for their schooling. Then on their off days they come to Grandma's house and mow the lawn, move furniture, change light bulbs, etc. They've shovelled snow, both for pay and to help someone out - even strangers. And although I'm prejudiced enough to think they are super kids, I'm honest enough to know that there are many more like them. They aren't the exception. But when a teenager walks into a Job Service agency and is told, "I'd love to give you a job but you may as well not fill out an application. You aren't a minority; you have working parents; you don't seem to have any psychological hang-ups so your application would be passed over", I think there is a real problem.
Not easily solved.
Dot
I had to google several names but I got the theme fairly early which I liked very much. We finished the bottom half but labored over the top half. By now, all the comments I wanted to make have been made.
The immigration question is so complicated but I feel most people accept immigrants who come in legally. But if we citizens have to obey the laws of our land and do things legally, shouldn't all the newcomers have the same requirements? However, I know several illegals who work very hard & have endured so much in order to try and better their life style. So, even though intellectually I can say, "They shouldn't be here, emotionally, I want to do everything we can for them."
Jerome, it is so easy to make a blanket statement covering a whole class of people which is really not true about the majority. I have several grandsons who are working at dirty, unrewarding jobs in order to earn money for their schooling. Then on their off days they come to Grandma's house and mow the lawn, move furniture, change light bulbs, etc. They've shovelled snow, both for pay and to help someone out - even strangers. And although I'm prejudiced enough to think they are super kids, I'm honest enough to know that there are many more like them. They aren't the exception. But when a teenager walks into a Job Service agency and is told, "I'd love to give you a job but you may as well not fill out an application. You aren't a minority; you have working parents; you don't seem to have any psychological hang-ups so your application would be passed over", I think there is a real problem.
Not easily solved.
Dot
Hello All--I wasn't on James Sajdak's wavelength today. The NW and NE corners were disasters as I had put in bone for ivory alternative--thinking carving medium. I also put in rat for eek elicitor and Hemostat for Rheostat. All in all my mistakes kept me from finishing today.
If it hadn't been for the easier bottom half of the puzzle, I think I would have given up. The theme became apparent fairly soon, but the rest was a problem today.
My favorite clues, though, were Base player, Base bunk, and It brought Hope to our troops.
Dodo, "Three Cups of Tea" was the school wide read at my Grandson's University. I gave him both of Gerg Mortenson's books for Christmas and he loved them. He's thinking of the Peace Corp after graduation.
As for Golden Retrievers and labs, they aren't the same dog, as already mentioned here today, but the question mark made me look for something out of the box. That happens to be a yellow lab puppy in my avatar.
Jerome!! I'm with you pal. However, although our American kids work hard and put themselves through school, only the Mexican men and women are willing to do "grunt" work. This means getting down on your knees, and sweating it out. Lets just give them a work pass and let them go home after farming is over, which is what they want to do.
Hello all.
Really good discussion today.
Now I can make some thing for dinner and do tomorrow's puzzle.
Jill has to leave early tomorrow for her drive to Fresno.
Nite all.
eddyB
Fun theme today, with lotsa clever clueing. "Dingbat" twice in one week! I love watching the reruns of "All In the Family", which I didn't watch at the time the shows were first aired, as the 70's were a busy time in my life. Jean Stapleton is one of my favorite "older" female actresses. So expressive.
Jeannie, I hope all is going well with your mom. BTW, has your Le Creuset pot arrived? Mine is simmering with split pea soup tonight. Yum!
C.C., Thank you so much for this blog.
Dot- Your suggestion that your grandson can't find work because he's not a minority or doesn't have psychological problems is turning reality upside down. Do you really believe that most jobs are being filled by people of color and folks with mental problems. I hope not. He can't find a job because there aren't any new ones to be had. For anyone.
And there aren't any jobs because fat cat capitalists have robbed this nation of its wealth and no one has the juevos to indict the entire class of them for their crimes. Bernie Madoff? Hah! There's a million of them laughing all the way to the bank. Read carefully their responses Tuesday before the U.S. Senate. They pretty much told all of us to go to hell.
If you put me in control of the Department of Immigration, I don't know what I'd do to solve the problems. Ideally, you'd like to be able to close off the borders to illegal immigration but it's not clear how to do that. Second, what to do about the people who are already here illegally and leading honest and productive lives? I think that's the harder problem to solve and I am not the one who can figure out the best solution. I hope we've elected a president who has surrounded himself with intelligent and compassionate advisors to tackle this problem.
Our house cleaner is Guatemalan, our gardeners are Mexican, the guys that took down our dying pine tree in our front yard were all Mexican, the crew that painted and reroofed our house were all Mexican. They all were skilled and hard-working. I assume they were all here legally but I have no way of knowing for sure.
Thank you, Jeanne and Chickie, I knew it was Greg something that was Scandinavian but I had a "senior moment", I guess. Anyway, I think he is a Minnesotan, too, or am I wrong? I'm going to get the second book right away (if I can remember the title!). It's so wonderful to know that there are people like Greg Mortenson who stand behind their beliefs and really work to make a difference. Why can't we have leaders more like him? Say, in Congress?
hi all ...
while there has been no shortage of puzzly brilliance and interesting comments, all i have time to say is ...
GO SHARKS!!!
Good evening, all: Enjoying the discussion regarding illegal immigration. Some good points are being made. Just finished "The Snakehead" by Patrick Radden Keefe, the true story of Sister Ping, a human smuggler (snakehead) responsible for illegally bringing thousands of Chinese into America. Good writing, very interesting. Introduces us to immigration aspects most of us don't think of. Obviously it's a complicated issue. Would this be as explosive an issue if our economy were better?
Growing up on a farm in the 1950s, I remember migrant families moving in for the season, living in substandard housing (garages with beds)and working very long hours in fields with no porta-potties provided. They were often derided as "dirty Mexicans," but who DIDN'T provide them with proper housing, etc.? However, they still sent their kids to school for as long as they were here. Due to technological advances, these migrant workers became unneccessary, although many families remained in the area. My husband and I were both post-secondary teachers, with some of these kids in our classes. Their parents were very involved in their education. They only wanted a better life for their kids. Just another aspect of this discussion.
Hi all my blue named peeps, you too anon. I guess I owe an apology. First to you C.C. if my "S" word diminished the credibility of your blog. It just came out. I am under a lot of stress from work and not being there for my Mom, who by the way is coming along nicely. She will be home tomorrow. I had no time for the puzzle today but cheated and read your clue/answers and probably would have faired better than yesterday's puzzle.
Lois and others thanks for your thoughts. I really appreciated them. I too, have your Brooke, Lois in my prayers. BTW, Lois, your comments rock!
My thought on immigration. My Grandmother and Grandfather both came across the big pond and landed on Ellis Island to acheive the American dream. Both became citizens, learned to speak the English language and were successful in acclimating. What I don't see anymore is the acclimation. I just had to have my drivers license renewed and was very troubled to see you can take a written drivers test in about 10 different foreign languages. If you can't read English how can you read the road signs? I am also troubled that I am now being forced to take a SASL class. (Spanish as a sencond language). My opinion is if you want to live here, learn OUR language.
Gee, Dodo, what am I, chopped liver?
My apologies for the double posting, especially since it was such a long commentary. I don't know wwhat happened.
Jerome, It was not a grandson but that is exactly what a young man was told. I suspect the clerk or whatever she was called was out of line but nevertheless that's what she said.
Kazie, a beautiful dog.
Has anyone heard from Robin? I wonder how she and her ailing relative are doing?
Dot
hahtool, the answer is yes.
Hahtool, you are far from chopped liver...more like caviar....
And yes, to make me feel better....I nailed my number.
sorry about the caps in my previous post...i was in a hurry. i picked annie, (my daughter, 23) up at her office and we met up with peter (my husband 56) at an auto dealership and presto! annie bought her first car! our little girl has grown up! she chose a dark red '09 mini cooper. it's almost as cute as she is!
@EddyB, it's the American way! If I could parlay a day's work into $300, I would take advantage of it. i know teachers are exploited...and somehow in the mix are held accountable for the students learning.
@hahtool, i heard briefly the authorities were considering setting the oil on fire! it's pretty frightening...it's devastating...
*thanks for the book suggestion. i was unaware of it.
greg mortenson book i'll pick it up, it sounds quite good.
@seen, not heard said...wow, that says it all!
@jeanne, 'For the cost on one U.S. soldier in Afghanistan for one year, he could build 25 schools.' i'm sick over that situation. i can't even go into it!
@jerome, lucina, i love jerome! peter and i haven't been out for a country ride lately and jerome sounds like it will fit the bill!
@dodo,good take on things...really great points.
i am so tired and must beat insomnia to my bed tonight. i have read carefully, each and every comment and feel very positive, though frustrated.
love to all you guys. it's been a long day.
Just to let you know, I love your comments. Here is a bit of trivia. A night owl is a person who is a night person, someone who loves to stay up late and is at his or her best at night.
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