Theme: Letters Stepping Down - Fifteen Es, Fs & Gs are placed in three grid-spanning columns to portray the visual meaning of each theme entry. E, F & G are in alphabetical order. Answers are placed in Down rather than Across for better visual effect.
4D. Online IRS document submission system, literally? : EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. E-filing. E filing down the grid. January 15 - April 15 is the window to file tax returns.
7D. '60s sitcom set at Fort Courage, literally? : FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF. F-Troop. F trooping down also. ABC sitcom 1965 - 1967. I've never seen it.
8D. Skimpy bikini part, literally? : GGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. G-String. A string of Gs. That, i've seen.
Interesting looking grid pattern, with eight cheater squares. Not an easy puzzle. I don't remember seeing this kind of theme before, with 3 grid-spanning (down) theme answers that repeat one letter. And a total of 33 E's, wow. The last Elizabeth Long puzzle to appear in the LA Times was over a year ago. Speaking as the only female guest-blogger, it's nice to see the work of female constructors.
Melissa here.
Reminds me a little of Mangesh's recent puzzle, that coincidentally, I also blogged, and included theme answers E-Trading, F-Number, and G-String once again, for posterity.
Across:
1. Use chicanery on : DUPE. Chicanery - the use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose. And 48. Achieves via trickery : FINAGLES. Obtains something by devious or dishonest means.
5. Pole worker? : ELF. You were expecting something else?
8. Lots : GOBS
12. Author __ Stanley Gardner : ERLE. Crossword staple - wrote detective stories.
13. Islamic mystic : SUFI
15. Work on, as a bone : GNAW. Great word.
16. Fit of fever : AGUE
17. Roosevelts' successors as first family : TAFTS
19. Festive event : GALA
20. Desert with a view of Beersheba : NEGEV. In Israel. From the Hebrew root denoting "dry".
22. One studying saucers : UFOLOGIST. Actual word. Who wants to be a pole-ologist?
24. Awfully long time : EON
26. Popular pâté : FOIE GRAS. The fattened liver of a duck or goose. I've never had it.
27. He's not always a beast : WEREWOLF. Clever clue. Werewolves change from human to beast, usually at the full moon.
31. Cat chaser : DOG
32. Take the stand again : RETESTIFY
34. Mass unit : GRAM. Base unit of mass in the original French metric system; one-thousandth of a kilogram. And 53. Metric energy unit : ERG. Clecho.
38. Gen. Robt. __ : E. LEE
39. Gather : INFER. Tricky.
41. Arizona river : GILA. A tributary of the Colorado River, in New Mexico and Arizona. 650 miles long.
42. It has a floor on Wall St. : NYSE. New York Stock Exchange.
43. Good feeling that lingers : AFTERGLOW. Ahh.
45. Common Mkt. : EEC. European Economic Community. And 23D. War on Poverty org. : OEO. Office of Economic Opportunity.
49. Lets up : EASES OFF
54. Working hours for night owls : LATE SHIFT.
56. Libya neighbor : EGYPT
60. Creamy cheese : BRIE. Grilled brie and bacon sammy.
61. Volunteer : OFFER
63. "La maja desnuda" painter : GOYA. This should be a gimme by now.
64. Stare at impolitely : OGLE
65. Words before then : IF SO
66. Pita sandwich : GYRO. Anyone else hungry?
67. Playground shout : WHEE
68. Co. whose logo features Mercury carrying a bouquet : FTD. Florists' Transworld Delivery.
69. "What __ around ..." : GOES. "What goes around, comes around."
Down:
1. Official with a list : DEAN. A Dean is the head of the faculty, and the Dean's list is a category of students who achieve high grades.
2. Attempt to persuade : URGE
3. Outlet connection : PLUG. Anyone still looking for ideas for halloween?
5. Educ. guess : EST. Estimate.
6. Island cookout : LUAU
9. Studio warning light : ON AIR
10. Wood for model fliers : BALSA. Hi Dennis.
11. Deals with, as a fly : SWATS
14. "__, Sing America" (Langston Hughes poem) : I TOO. There's your cue, Clear Ayes.
18. Arrived at a base, in a way : SLID. Ball. I meant baseball.
21. Promises : VOWS
25. "It must have been someone else" : NOT I
27. St. Paul's architect : WREN. St. Paul's Cathedral (in London), designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Prince Charles and Lady Di were married there.
28. Hard to hold : EELY. Okay.
29. AAA suggestions : RTES. Routes.
30. Filmmaker Wertmüller : LINA. No idea. Italian filmmaker and director. First woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for directing. She looks like a character. Wiki says she was expelled from more than a dozen Catholic schools in her youth.
33. Mythical Himalayan : YETI
35. Brooklet : RILL
36. Ointment ingredient : ALOE
37. Animal mouths : MAWS. I forgot.
40. Actor Auberjonois : RENE. Played Father Mulcahy in the movie version of M*A*S*H, among other roles.
44. Like a once-in-a-blue-moon event : RARE. Love me some Van.
46. Hook shape : ESS
47. Small to mid-size salmon : COHO
49. Macaroni shape : ELBOW
50. Plaint from a pirate : AARGH
51. It turns a lot in rush hour : STILE. Nailed it.
52. Stereotypical poodle name : FIFI
55. __-drive : TEST
57. Fluctuate wildly : YOYO
58. Combustible pile : PYRE
59. New Mexico resort : TAOS. Pretty. Who's been?
62. Gun, in slang : ROD
Answer grid.
Here is a nice photo of Chickie (most left, green shirt), JD & WM taken yesterday at an art gallery in San Jose.
Melissa
Answer grid.
Here is a nice photo of Chickie (most left, green shirt), JD & WM taken yesterday at an art gallery in San Jose.
Melissa
79 comments:
Good morning, Melissa Bee, C.C. and gang - what a clever theme - I loved this puzzle, even though when I was sitting with four 'E's in the NW, I wondered what the hell I did wrong. So I changed my normal solving pattern and went all the way down the West side to see if the 'E's continued, which of course they did. That certainly made the other two theme answers easy once I got the first clue for each.
The rest of the puzzle went very quickly, especially with all those 'F's and 'G's. I did have unknowns in 30D, 'Lina' and 14D, 'I too'. More later, but I'm running late for the gym.
Melissa Bee, nice blogging, with some interesting 'dish' links.
Great picture of Chickie, JD and WM; it's great that you guys can get together.
Today is Brandied Fruit Day.
Did You Know?:
- The oldest American college sport still in existence is rowing.
- Both Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein married their first cousins.
- The average American consumes 1 ton of ice cream in his or her lifetime. I'm certainly doing my part ever since I discovered Ben & Jerry's Vanilla Caramel Fudge.
Just skimmed the late posts from last night. Bill G., our thoughts are with you - overcoming any addiction is tough, but it seems to me you've got the mental toughness to do it. As they say, one day at a time, stay focused on the end result and the difference it'll make for you and your family, and lean on this group for support. Very best of luck, not that I think you'll need it.
Off to the gym.
Morning, all!
This one started out a bit tough, but I quickly figured out the theme and that let me fill in all the E's, F's and G's in one fell swoop (or swell foop, if you prefer). After that, it was smooth sailing all the way home.
The only minor sticking point was when I put in LANI instead of LINA at 30D, which had me scratching my head at ___ESTAF_ for awhile at 32A. That didn't last too long, fortunately.
A quick update on my dad, for those who have asked... They were able to perform an angiogram yesterday and we will hopefully get the results today. The good news is that they used a minimal amount of dye in the test and, as a result, managed to not destroy his one remaining (and already impaired) kidney. We knew that was a risk, but felt it was more important to do the test and find out what the underlying problem was. Now we're just on tenterhooks waiting to see whether he will need bypass surgery, angioplasty, a stent, etc.
Oh -- and best of luck to you, Bill! The important thing is that you have made up your mind to change. Everything else is just the follow through... ^_^
Wonderfully creative puzzle, though once you started believing in the theme, it went very quickly for a Wednesday. Also a wonderful Wednesday from MB, who kept the boys happy.
Jeannie, I am happy to hear you engineered another triumphant food show, and amazed how fast time goes by.
Bill G., you do have a very large support group here, and I am sure we all have been touched by the effects of addiction. To change an ingrained behavior is daunting, but to save your family and yourself make it doable. It really is one day at a time, and while not the same, I am in my ninth year without cigarettes after 35 years smoking, and the visceral memories are still there, but we just do not let them control. Our best, and if you need any more words we are here, or those of us who post emails, do so because we are there too.
Good morning Melissa and all, a nice easy puzzle for a Wednesday. Like Dennis I filled in the NW corner first and when I saw the ‘E’s strung together I thought what have I done wrong. I worked down the west side and saw the string of ‘E’s and realized the theme which made the remainder of the puzzle easy as I could fill in the next theme letters very quickly.
I did not know Lina and I read the clue for 32A as “Take the stand against” and this caused me some angst. I finally had the Dah moment when I reread the clue for 32A.
Nice blogging Melissa and I did like your links.
Hope you all have a great Wednesday.
Good morning.
A pretty easy puzzle. Clever theme.
I'm not going to stick around any longer except to say to TINBENI:
Excuse me! I wouldn't want to piss NASSA off either. But there are other people in the world who skip stones besides those in North America.
Later days.
Bill, to break any habit one must first want to do it. From your post last night I think you have achieved that first step. It is not easy, but as they say "one day at a time." My friend is now in his seventh month of sobriety after 35 years of heavy drinking and I have never seen him happier. Good luck.
Good Morning, Melissa Bee and friends. You and I were on the same wavelength today, MB. You got all the links that I was going after. Great Job.
I thought I was a goner when I started this puzzle, but after the first pass, I was surprised at all the fills I had actually made. Of course, seeing the E, F, G progression helped with some of the fills. I also liked how so many of the responses crossed two of the E, F, G columns.
I recognized the photo of RENE, but never knew the actor's name.
GOYA is becoming a crossword favorite.
If you have never visited the NEGEV, I recommend a trip. It is a beautiful and living desert.
I will leave the Langston Hughes poem to Clear Ayes, but he is one of my favorite poets. I discovered him while in High School. The first brand new school post-Katrina that was built in New Orleans is the Langston Hughes School. The photo doesn't do it justice. It is absolutely beautiful.
Pole Worker? = ELF was my favorite clue. Elf certainly wasn't the first image to pop into my head for that clue!
BillG: Thank you for sharing with your blog friends. Recognition of the problem is the first step to recovery. I wish you the best of luck as you continue your path to a full recovery. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
QOD: I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go. ~ Langston Hughes
Good Morning, Melissa and all,
I hope you don't mind but I have changed your "F-Troop" link to this, F-Troop quiz.
When I was new to the world of audulthood, and travelling the country defending people, LINA WERTMULLER was a conversation staple for her movies and her personality. To me she was a storyteller like Shakespeare was in his time, interweaving politics, class warfare, the battle of the sexes into movies which had a point of view, but unlike Michael Moore or other modern movie commentators, did so with humor and emotion.
She also used the wonderful Giancarlo Giannini as her leading man, an excellent choice.
Speaking of Shakespeare, I am reading a fun little book My Name is Will that theorizes about his Catholic upbringing, while paralleling Shakespeare's life with that of a hippie (sort of from my time) studying the master.
JD, thank you for the picture of lovely ladies and lovely paintings; I can see why our Wolf Mother does not have much time to visit any more.
Barry, thanks for the update on your dad. The success rate of kidney transplants even in older people is rising rapidly, so there is much to hope for. Our best to youa dnall your family; it is a good thing for children to have grandparents.
BTW, MB how did you think of, let alone find, the PLUG costume, which I must say was very sexually explicit.
I have enjoyed the work of
Rene Auberjonois since he was in Benson , the wonderful spin off series from SOAP which is another whole story. He also was a very interesting character on the Star Trek - Deep Space Nine series.
Have a great day all, must stop fooling around and get ready to work.
Good Morning Melissa Bee, CC and All,
Council meeting went late again last night and I'm still struggling to shake out the cob webs. Seeing all the EEES, FFFS and GGGs, really threw me so I kept back tracking to see what I screwed up. Finally I just wrote them all in and got enough footing to fill the rest. All those letters stacked is a first for me.
Hoping Lois will liven the day with a post.
BillG, best of luck and positive thoughts heading your way.
Barry, glad to hear your Dad is making progress.
Jeannie, It seems like you just completed you last successful food show. Congrats! Your superiors probably don't expect any less now.
Good to see you west coast girls are still getting together. Nice picture.
Great blog MelissaB, going down through the clues I was slapping my head trying to get a cleaner focus. Oh well!
Have a great Hump Day!
Melissa Bee, Great write-up.
The theme ... WOW, WOW, WOW !!!
I liked this very much. Esp. the G-String (they do look nice on the girls at Clearwater Beach).
Fave today was my mantra, "AARGH" !!!
As my NY Yankees who are letting things slip away.
Tears ...
Learned:
SUFI, the Islamic mystic
WREN, St.Paul's architect
LINA, Filmmaker Wertmuller's first name.
I think I'll let them be forgotten by Noon.
CNBC made EEC, Common Mkt., a gimmie.
All-in-all, a FUN Wednesday.
It left a nice AFTER GLOW ...
Thank you, Elizabeth.
Good morning, everyone.
What a delightful puzzle! I was a bit concerned when I had the first three Es in 4D, then couldn’t believe three Fs in a row, for 7D, and got my AHA on the G string for 8D. After finishing it took me a while to see the E file and the F troop. Really clever. Way to go Elizabeth!! This one gets a 67A.
Bill G., the fact that you are where you are says volumes about your character. You have made two very important steps: You have seen that there is a problem and have identified it and You have taken positive steps to remedy the situation. Life is not easy, it's something that we all must deal with on our own terms, but I think you'll be a success. Keep on keeping on. Fill the time with something positive -- like reading. Do what you need to heal yourself. Best of luck to you.
Now time to go read the write-up and early comments.
Hi Melissa Bee, c.c. and all:
Melissa Bee great writeup as usual.
BillG: Wanted to wish you the best, my thoughts are with you.
Fun puzzle. I really thought things were amiss at first, but once I figured out the theme, things went quickly.
Have a wonderful day everyone!
Good Morning C.C.,Melissa B. and all,
Loved the puzzle this am. The stacked letters were fun; however, perps gave me Lina and sufi.
Melissa B, you did yourself proud; I loved all your links and your fresh approach.
Jeannie- Great new avatar! Beautiful! Glad the food show is under your belt; so to speak.
CA your barn is super! I've heard that watercolor is the toughest medium to master and it looks as if you're on your way!
Bill-We're all cheering for you! Keep us posted. I have a few friends, who had to make the same decision you made, and once that was done it got easier fairly quickly. I hope you can access a computer from time to time to give us a shout.
NC- from yesterday- Top of your game!good laughs.
Have a nice day everyone.
Good morning, folks.
Just starting the puzzle and seeing a strange pattern at 4D. I guess I'll see how it pans out later, but wanted to post a quick couple of comments now before heading off for work.
Bill G.-My thoughts and prayers are with you. I wish you and your family the very best. Please keep us updated.
Barry G.-I've also had you and your family in my thoughts and prayers in recent days. I'm glad the situation with your father isn't quite as dire as you first reported.
Enjoy the day!
For a Wednesday puzzle, I got through it rather easily.
The string of E's, F's, and G's helped a lot in the solution. Sufi was a bit of a wag, but I was confident the perps were correct. Never heard of an animals mouth being called a Maw. Favorite clue was "Pole Worker."
Argyle, I remember F Troop well. Forrest Tucker was a hoot. lots of really funny scenes. I answered 6 of the 10 questions correctly, better then I expected.
G'morning all,
Melissa,
Great job blogging!
Bill G,
I concur with everyone else--you've taken the hardest step already. All that remains is to hold that resolve, and I'm sure you can do that.
BarryG,
I'm very glad to hear your news. Heart problems can be scary, especially when coupled with other health concerns as with your Dad. My mother had a serious heart attack when I was only 15, and that was the scariest thing I remember from my entire childhood. But she was a smoker, and she quit right then cold turkey. She died 13 years later of cancer, and my Dad had a fatal heart attack 10 weeks after that. He had never stopped smoking, so it was easy for me to decide never to start.
When you have bad genes, it can be a lesson for us to avoid the mistakes of our parents. I passed my latest stress test a couple of weeks ago with flying colors. I am now the age my Dad was when he died, so I was being a bit of a hypochondriac about it, but I'm hoping it is more nurture than nature.
Jeannie,
I'm sure it's more intense for you, but I get a sense of that "thank goodness it's over" feeling when I put each issue of my newsletter to bed. Along with that, however, comes the satisfaction of having created something for others' benefit. So you must be proud!
My puzzling today was sheer enjoyment. I first discovered the gggg's in the SE corner, and then noticed them in the NE, so caught on quickly. Then I just had to get a few in the other two columns to see what the letter was for each, and I was away!
Unknowns SUFI and MAWS were perped, and everything else fell smoothly.
Hello all. Thanks to CC, Melissa B and Argyle (Tues.)
BILL G--Been there, done that, twice. Last time in hospital was given some sort of medicine that took away cravings. Then I spent 5 days in a hellish facility. The good thing was that we were taken to at least one AA meeting each day. Heard some famous guest speakers. People I met dragged me to subsequent meetings for 90 days. I continued every week for 2-3 years. (I could make some really unflattering comments about AA, but someone would probably want to kill me!)
Best wishes to you in your recovery!
CA--Love the painting. Greatly admire your courage!
Have a wonderful trip. How many hours to get there?
For me puzzle today rather easy for Wednesday. Got G String immediately, so other 2 were also easy. Great way to fill in a puzzle!
All though Sundays syndicated offering was very difficult for me, the Calendar puzzle by Sylvia Burstyn was great fun (33 min.!)
Yesterday and this morning have been terrible. (Thus I can contribute early so that someone will actually read my post, hopefully). I need a sliding door extension with a doggie door. Have been sclouring the web and sending emails. My dog was chewing on my (good) foot at 9 AM. Called by best friend who came over. Of course, at that point construction workers arrived and dog hid in corner. Subsequently we had thunderstorms. So she hopped up on the head of my bed and would not depart. When I was finally able to get her off, she attacked my new commode (I leave the rest to your imaginations.)
BARRY G--So glad to hear that they limited the dye!
Now maybe can get some more sleep.
Today's was pretty easy and very unique. To Bill G., may I suggest that a brighter vision of what is ahead is that you will be making a choice, which only you can make. It's a simple program, but not always easy. My sponsor told me, "If you don't take a drink, you won't get drunk!" It's the FIRST one that you choose not to have - it's the path to a new freedom of spirit. This year marks 30 years of continuous sobriety for me and life keeps getting better. My prayers are with you - you can do it.
Good morning, all. Melissa, thanks for your commentary.
The puzzle was not difficult for a Wednesday, but pushed the edge a little with its theme. Going into the 3rd row, the EEE..FFF..GGG.. stacks became clear. As others have pointed out, it made for interesting crosses. The only unknown was LINA, but was easily gotten with the perps. WREN and TAFTS were gimmes. No lookups were needed.
BillG, my hat is off to you. I wish you well in your rehab program, and that it will go better for you with time. That you shared your situation with this group shows how sincere and determined you are.
Keep up the good fight. With the love of your family and support of your friends, you will make it.
Good luck and continuing best wishes.
Hope you all have a good day.
Thanks for your nice blog Melissa Bee ... very informative and your links were just as interesting-
To Elizabeth Long - Thank you for this unusually fascinating puzzle - I too thought there was 'something wrong' in my answers,until I figured out the theme. I know 'E-Filer' ... and kept wondering when the 'filer' bit would eventually turn up ( it din't ).
I too, watched MASH, but never knew the Father's ( actor's ) name -
Bill G - May I offer my prayers and sympathies, with all the others - we all have our demons - and confronting them is the first big process. I have been fighting such problems myself, and I wish I had your courage. I wish you success in your efforts, my friend.
Dennis - if I may add - the 'first cousin', Albert married, was Albert Einstein's second marriage - and despite the fact that he was a great scientist and a great humanitarian, Einstein was very mean and unfair to his Serbian first wife, who was a mathematician in her own right ...
Well, none of us is perfect.
Believe it or not, I found this easier than a Monday puzzle, because the theme gave away too many clues.
Talk about your "resorts."
http://1031424110.blogspot.com/2010/07/sky-park-in-singapore.html
In the honor of JEROME, JazzBumpa, Jayce, Lemonade, Argyle, Dennis, CC, NC, and many. many others who have anagrammed, panagrammed and epigrammed us to 'death' -
This anagram won the Special Category prize for May 1999 at the web site Anagrammy.com and this 'doubly true anagram' is the word puzzle of the millennium. The first half equates thirty elements on the periodic table with thirty other elements:
hydrogen + zirconium + tin + oxygen + rhenium + platinum + tellurium + terbium + nobelium + chromium + iron + cobalt + carbon + aluminum + ruthenium + silicon + ytterbium + hafnium + sodium + selenium + cerium + manganese + osmium + uranium + nickel + praseodymium + erbium + vanadium + thallium + plutonium
=
nitrogen + zinc + rhodium + helium + argon + neptunium + beryllium + bromine + lutetium + boron + calcium + thorium + niobium + lanthanum + mercury + fluorine + bismuth + actinium + silver + cesium + neodymium + magnesium + xenon + samarium + scandium + europium + berkelium + palladium + antimony + thulium
Second half follows ... I can hardly wait -
Second part -
The kicker is if you replace each element with its Atomic Number, the anagram still balances.
1 + 40 + 50 + 8 + 75 + 78 + 52 + 65 + 102 + 24 + 26 + 27 + 6 + 13 + 44 + 14 + 70 + 72 + 11 + 34 + 58 + 25 + 76 + 92 + 28 + 59 + 68 + 23 + 81 + 94
=
7 + 30 + 45 + 2 + 18 + 93 + 4 + 35 + 71 + 5 + 20 + 90 + 41 + 57 + 80 + 9 + 83 + 89 + 47 + 55 + 60 + 12 + 54 + 62 + 21 + 63 + 97 + 46 + 51 + 69
= 1416
The anagram author, Mike Keith, said " This is the longest 'double -true' anagram ever constructed, using the chemical elements or otherwise.
If you are really interested, please Google - Youtube - Tom Lehrer's song 'The Elements' - and he names every element in 86 seconds, in song....'There's antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium ...' - Its a riot, very funny and will charm your whole day !!!
Now, HOW DID THIS SCRIPT SUDDENLY CHANGE ???
I think I have been infected by a virus #@!#@!
Hi all ~!
I saw the pattern developing early on, with a lot of GG GG down the right side, and I knew about F-Troop, which I used to watch as a kid in re-runs, but had AMASS for INFER, which made my FF FF column not work...then I gathered that the EE EE must also be true, but I didn't quite get the 'filing' part off the top...
Bill G, I have 5years, 9+months,
Spent 13 months in a "sober house"
- talk about characters !!!
Everyone is right - the first step is done, and that sometimes is the hardest one to take...the next ones will come "one day at a time", too....
Barry G, my dad has a kidney transplant, going on 15years, but he's losing his mind, and forgets the meds now - not so bad, but he has the attitude problem associated with dementia - the " I don't have a problem" outlook - sometimes, I think he could use some AA....
Glad this blog is here for those who care to talk about such things - and discuss the puzzle, too!
I am glad to be a part of it all!
Be well !!!
Splnyter
Good Morning All, A puzzling puzzle at first. Then, since I knew 7D was F Troop, and I had a column of six of seven "F's" already in place, I filled in the whole column with F. Bingo! Off to fill in the E and G columns. Another minute to figure out what the columns meant...Ah, satisfaction.
My first inclination for (54A) "Working hours for night owls" was GRAVEYARD, but it didn't fit the E column.
No trouble with WREN, LINA or RENE. People names seem to stick pretty well with me.
Bill G., difficult, but doable. You have made a good start. All of us are wishing you well.
Chickie, JD and WM...Nice photo, beautiful paintings...next time definitely.
Barry G., good news about your father. I hope his recovery continues with no unexpected problems.
Jeannie, sounds like the foodshow was a big success....and it sounds like you have a very nice prime rib main dish for your Christmas dinner (if you can wait that long).
Argyle, I'm almost embarrassed to admit I got 8 out of 10 on the F Troop quiz. In my defense, there was a family connection to one of the cast, so we pretty much had to watch it.
Elemental Quirks.I love Tom Lehrer and The Elements. I'm sure our anagraming scientists will love "the longest 'double-true' anagram ever constructed", but...ARRGH! I was lost after the first line, or maybe even before.
Now, it's on to Langston Hughes for me.
William Christopher played Fr Mulcahy on M.A.S.H., not Rene Auberjonois.
William Christopher played Fr Mulcahy on M.A.S.H., not Rene Auberjonois.
Clear Ayes -
Thank you for the html link - I couldn't/dont know/ how to 'do it.'
Have a safe and enjoyable trip down west err, or is that ? ... east - and don't drink the water ! ( lol ;-D )
In 1926, Langston Hughes wrote,
"The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain"
"The younger Negro artists who create now intend to express
our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame.
If white people are pleased we are glad. If they are not,
it doesn't matter. We know we are beautiful. And ugly, too.
The tom-tom cries, and the tom-tom laughs. If colored people
are pleased we are glad. If they are not, their displeasure
doesn't matter either. We build our temples for tomorrow,
strong as we know how, and we stand on top of the mountain
free within ourselves."
His poem I, Too, Sing America reflects this philosophical credo.
I, Too, Sing America
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.
Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--
I, too, am America.
- Langston Hughes
Bill G and Barry G
We wish you the best of wishes, our prayers and thoughts are with you.
Easy puzzle today, it's ironic that the constructor's name is
E. Long ,
didn't get " stile " at 51d,, any help ?
@ Bill F - Rene Auberjonois played Fr. Mulcahy in MASH the movie.
Zcarguy, think 'turnstile', as in subways, etc.
Good morning all and what a great blog Melissa Bee.
It was a fun, fun puzzle for me and a very easy ride all along. I did have some one letter misses but only due to my poor spelling.
Hope your dad is doing well Barry, it sounds like he has some very good doctors.
Jeannie, congratulations on your success! Your boss is very lucky to have you on board.
Bill, I quit all alcohol and cigarettes on Christmas eve, last year, so I am coming up on one year. As you know, it is not easy, but the benefits you reap are so worth it. You have taken the first step and I have no doubt you will be successful. You have many friends here and if you ever want to chat, please mail me.
Hope everyone has a lovely day, it is raining in Phoenix and that makes me very HAppY!
Clear Ayes - I forgot to mention in my previous post -
When you are in that part of the world - doown south -
Keep your head down - and don't ever look up - somebody told me - you might fall off the face of the earth...
Be Safe.
@melissa bee, I think you misspelled "posteriority"...
@Elemental et al.
Wow. My humble contribution is, once again, to anagrammatize the constructor/compiler (Elizabeth A. Long). It seems there is a hidden message for those headed for a DNF:
"ANALIZE THE BLOG"
(Please accept the Esperanto spelling of ANALYZE and move on).
NC
René Auberjonois fans should look for Robert Altman's dark comedy "Brewster McCloud", recently released on DVD.
René plays a professor who slowly becomes a bird (sort of).
Good Afternoon Melissa B, C.C. et al.
I usually get here much earlier, but I was having some computer glitches and couldn't blog until now (Dennis, would that make them "Blitches"?)
Great write-up and Links, Melissa B! With all the G-STRING and “pole” references today, maybe a little decorum is in order for 63A, La Maja Vestida?
This was a speed run for me today - Like most others, I got the three theme answers by the third row, and screamed along after that, with only a couple pauses. Didn’t know LINA Wertmüller, or Islamic mystic SUFI, but the perps took care of them for me.
FTROOP brought back memories – thanks for the links MelissaB and Argyle. I scanned the questions, and remembered that the “tribe of which Chief Wild Eagle and Crazy Cat are members” was originally supposed to be “Fugawi”, but TV censors made them change it because when you say “We’re the Fugawi” sounded too much like something else…
Bill G.
I am so glad to hear you are taking positive steps. I can only imagine what you are going through, but the hardest thing must be to admit there is a problem. I'm sure you have lots of support, not only from your family at home, but also from your "extended family" on this blog.
Barry G.
Continued prayers for your dad.
CA
Lovely painting! I just caught up on this week's earlier blogs, and noticed the new avatar. You have a real talent - watercolors seem so difficult to me. With oils, you can always go back and re-do an area. With watercolors, I think you pretty much have to get it right the first time, no?
I have to go catch up on my work, now that the computer is back in shape. But I had to take a break and come here before I tackled the pile on my desk.
Happy hump day to all!
Clear Ayes,
Once again have a wonderful trip tomorrow (and the next day) in flight, and then relax and enjoy the rest.
Chickie, JD and WM,
So nice to see you all in that nice photo. Good that you can get together.
Hello, Melissa Bee, C.C. et al.
Yowza! What an interesting and fun puzzle today. Like others, after the fourth E, I thought something was wrong, but continued and it all fell in place. That's very creative and the first I've seen of continuous letters in a xwd.
Filling in all those Es, Fs, and Gs gave me a foothold and validated my first pass. LINA and RENE Auberjonois were unknown, but they emerged easily.
I have visited TAOS and can testify that it's lovely, set in the mountainside with unique art galleries and wonderful eateries.
GILA river was a given.
One tiny error, I thought FOIEGRAS needed a D' so had to clear that one.
Chickie, JD, WM thank you for sharing your photo; it's great that you can see each other. WM's paintings are spectacular.
Jeannie, congratulations on another successful food show! You are the bomb, girl.
BarryG, thanks for the update on your Dad. I wish him the very best for a successful recovery.
BillG, I repeat my wishes from last night; my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Hello Puzzlers -
I really liked today's puzzle, with its unusual theme. RENE Auberjonois came right to mind because of Deep Space Nine. As Lemonade pointed out, his was an interesting character, the shape-shifter Odo.
BALSA was a gimmee, since a few million hours of my youth involved shaping the stuff into airplanes (and susbsequently retrieving same from treetops). I bet Dennis knows...
CA: Bon Voyage! I wish I could go. The most I've seen of NZ is the Auckland Airport, on a day so cloudy that nothing else could be seen going in or out.
Thanks MB for your fun write-up. I like me some Van Morrison too, and it happens that a fellow from my town played some bass for the Van.
Good Afternoon C.C. and cheers everybody!
I must say that figuring out the theme helped me a lot on this puzzle. Once I saw all the “E”s filling down then the “F”s I confidently filled them all the way down as well as the “G”s. I actually like the looks of this one once completed. I didn’t need any outside help as I made a WAG on Negev and Lina. My favorite clue was “He’s not always a beast” – werewolf.
Bill G, I have a SIL that was secretly drinking during the day when the kids were in school. Of course, you can’t hide the effects of alcohol use, so she finally admitted to a problem and went through rehab both as an outpatient and when that didn’t work, as an inpatient. When I went over to clean their house and make a few dinners for the rest of the family, I found numerous vodka bottles hidden all over the house. She has now been sober for about 10 years. You can do this Bill, I am sure of it.
Nice write up today Melissabee…just an observation, where are the links for us ladies??
Clearayes, I hope you have one fabulous trip after the journey you have been on the last couple of years.
Chickie, JD and WM, great picture!!
Well, back to my 350+ e-mails that have amassed in the last two days!
Hi all....Melissa Bee, great job on the write up, I had to re-read the puzzle theme explanation a few times and I'm still a bit confused. I was blown away by all the GGGGGG, etc and was sure (as the rest of you) I had made a mistake. Interesting pattern, don't think I have ever encountered one like it before.
I danced around the grid with quite a few unknowns: ISLAMIC MYSTIC, ACTOR AUBERJONOIS, MASS UNIT, ST.PAUL'S ARCHITECT, FILM MAKER WERTMULLER.
Re 51D; we don't have subways in Portland, or any other place I can think of that has 'turnstyles'. I did see them when I was in NYC and had my first subway ride.
JD, Chickie, WM...nice picture, wish I could have been with you.
Barry G..thanks for the update on your Dad. I am glad his kidney was not harmed with the dye. His condition sounds fragile but somewhat stable, I hope he continues to improve.
Bill G..I congratulate you on your choice to stop a bad habit. It is not easy to stop something you have been used to doing for years. In 3 days it will be 27 years since I have had a cigarette. I quit cold turkey and it was the hardest thing I have ever done. I am so glad I did though, I don't really think I would be here today if I hadn't. You have a lot of friends here so let us be your cheering section :)
Bill G
Good luck with your program.
I wish you nothing but success.
Dilbert (from yesterday)
I love the early voting.
Voted on Monday and now the "political commercials" are even funnier than before ... as the candidates call each other "names" and disperse their mis-information.
Gal-Pal, KRIS and I went to Howard's funeral this morning. Her brother, who died last Friday.
Even when the end isn't unexpected (he had a long illness) it always amazes me. You're here one minute and then ... poof, you're gone.
I hate (HATE!) funerals.
I love the 'early' voting - Vote early and vote often - First you vote by mail ballot - then on Nov 2- why you show your various ID cards and vote 'gain. In my opinion. Karzai is just doing a sloppy job - he should have instituted early voting by mail, long time ago.
Hi all.
An easy Wed puzzle but I liked it.
The Gila "flows" north to join the Salt near Phoenix Intl Raceway. Both rivers are normally dry. I have seen water in the Salt but not
in the Gila.
Sorry Andy. The fat lady is ready
to start singing in Texas. SF/Phi
still TBD.
Take care everyone.
Hola Everyone,
I had the same thoughts as many others today when I found EEE FFF and GGG in the first lines of fills.
I realized what the Literally? meant and filled in the rest of the columns of E's, etc. and the rest of the puzzle came together pretty fast.
I can't add anything new to what has already been said, but that this is the first time I think I have ever done a puzzle with a whole column of the same letter. This was fun.
Bill G. You have taken the first step which is always the hardest. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other to accomplish the journey. My thoughts will be with you and your family.
I'm off this afternoon for my Election Day Training Class. And Anon at 2:17, voting twice in our precincts is a non-issue. We have too many checks in place for that to happen.
I really enjoyed this puzzle even tho I don't fully understand the theme.
Melissa, you did a good job, especially the links, my fav is the halloween one.
Stay cool Bee, luv ya!
Thanks for a great write-up, MB. I haven't been around lately. I've been doing the puzzle every day, just not commenting.
Fun puzzle today. I was mystified by the first three Es, but when I got to NE, I noticed all the Gs. I thought it was "really a string of Gs." That is when it hit me - aha, G-string. From there I decuded the others. Knew WREN and RENE, but not the other names. All came from perps without hitting Google or red letters. I was satisfied with this one.
BILL G., I wish you well in your quest to rid yourself of a bad habit.
I quit smoking 30 years ago and it was the easiest thing I've ever done. I simply got up one morning and said "I'm not going to smoke anymore" and I didn't. I started smoking when my youngest was two months old and quit a few days after his 17th BD. I chewed gum for about a week and that was it, no more cravings, no looking back.
I've been to Taos several times. Lovely place, as are Red River and Angel Fire. Not skiing, just sight seeing.
BARRY G., I've been keeping your father in my thoughts and prayers.
Dennis, someone is getting my share of the ice cream. I have a sensitivity to dairy products, so ice cream is out of the question. I's not one of those things I hanker for anyway.
Forgot my password, so I'm back to black for now.
Hi gang -
Fresh puzzle concept today. At one point I had 5 G's scattered in one long column, and thought, "What the . . .?"
Then I blithely filled in all the E's, F's and G's. Fun, but it did make the rest of the puzzle a bit too EZ.
Bill -
You have a lot of courage to share your story with us. Your path won't be easy, but I'm confident you will succeed. As always, everyone here is behind you when you need us the most.
Everyone else -
You are one terrific bunch of guys and gals!
Pathways (A Haiku for Bill G)
Could it be that the
Hardest path is what takes you
Where you need to be?
Busy day, rehearsal tonight, IMBO.
Here, from the TURNSTILES album
is a song Billy J wrote about me, before I got old.
Cheers!
JzB the angry old trombonist
Not a difficult puzzle, although I missed one through carelessness (23D OEO). I was in a rush to finish before leaving for work this morning. Didn't much care for the strings of EEE, FFF, GGG.
My favorite on-screen werewolf will always be Lon Chaney Jr. (actually Creigton Chaney), who created the role for Universal in 1941. He was the only actor at the Universal monster factory to play the werewolf, a vampire (Son of Dracula), the Frankenstein monster, and the Mummy. Here's a link to photos of Chaney in some of his various roles (no sound). It is generally a good collection, although I think there's one ringer in the mix--a mistaken shot of Michael Landon from "I Was A Teen-Age Werewolf" at about the 2:53 mark.
LON CHANEY JR.
Short video on The Wolfman (1941)
Good stuff as we move into the Halloween season.
Like Dudley, I've spent a lot of hours over the years working with balsa, only I didn't give it up when I grew up, or maybe I just decided not to grow up. Anyway, here are photos of two of my WWII balsa productions. Both have wingspans of about 28".
DeHaviland Mosquito
Japanese Zero
Wed. 10/20
Dear C.C., Argyle, Melissa and folk,
I wouldn't have ever guessed the letter repetition. It was fun and quick once the pattern fell in. Melissa, thank you so much for a great explanation of the theme. It deepened my understanding of the construction once I read it.
1a. Use chicanery on : DUPE. FOOL was my first mistake.
16a. Fit of fever : AGUE I've never heard anybody use this word. I actually have never been around anyone who has had a 'fit of fever. Go know...
20. Desert with a view of Beersheba : NEGEV. My 'learn a new fact' for today.
21d. Promises : VOWS I thought I recalled 'I DO' as a fill we'd had in the past. With a bit of adjustment, vows works just fine.
60a. Creamy cheese : BRIE.
I wish I could snap my fingers and pop up in Provence sitting on a terrace overlooking a vineyard with a beautiful Vouvrais, some Brie and a warm bagette right from the brick oven! 43a. afterglow...I feel like I was almost there when in fact, I'm sitting in my living room with my Chihuahua, Tia, by my side, working on the crossword. Oh, I'm also watching, "House Hunters".(GRIN) 26. Popular pâté : FOIE GRAS. If I ate meat I would have this, too!
BTW, we almost had rain, the painters went home and nothing more than a few drops. They said when they left West Phoenix, it was pouring so hard, they had to use the windshield wipers on the fastest mode! Now, as usual,the sun is shining! Like France, it was wishful thinking.
27. He's not always a beast : WEREWOLF. Though it doesn't interest me, Vampire shows and movies are very popular these days. One serial is on HBO, my daughter, Annie, told me if I gave it a chance, I'd like it. Fat chance!
8D. Skimpy bikini part, literally? : GGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. That I've worn and I did it justice! Oh, those were the days!
I can't believe I wrote this whole thing.
I'm out.
Lucina,
Foie means liver, and gras means fat (as in Fat Tuesday: mardi gras)so no "of" or "de /d'" needed.
I finally solved my newsletter problem--got the whole thing into PDF format. Found the problem was on page 1, and so I took everything off that page and carefully put them all back on. Never did figure what was wrong, but at least it works again now.
I can’t think of much to add that hasn’t already been said about the puzzle. I like the way the word FINAGLES sounds – it reminds me of my mother for some reason. And of course, how can you not like AFTERGLOW…?
I’m shocked to have guessed 7 correct answers on the F-Troop quiz!
RENE Auberjonois’ character of Odo was my favorite on Deep Space Nine.
Bill G., congratulations on taking that first big step. It must’ve been difficult to admit there was a problem, so I respect that you are dealing with it. It must be scary too. You’ve got all your blog friends behind you!
Nice photo, West Coast ladies! The paintings in the background look beautiful too.
Bob, it must take a lot of patience to build those planes. Nice job.
Frenchie:
You're on early. There goes your vampire persona!
As for "those were the days", your avatar suggests those days aren't quite past.
BillG -
I join the rest of the membership in wishing you well. I sent an Email earlier today. Hang in there. At our age the days whiz by.
Islamic Mystic = SUFI. They are also know as being the Whirling Dervishes and are trained in Konya, Turkey. Rumi, the poet that Clear Ayes has quoted, was one of most well know Sufi Dervishes. I was in Konya a few years ago and got to meet some of the dervishes. They begin training as very young boys.
I liked seeing both BRIE and FOIS GRAS in the same puzzle. Both are very tasty treats, however, the poor goose is not well treated during its short life in order to sacrifice its fatted liver for our enjoyment.
I think of Lina Wertmuller as being an art-house film maker. One of her best know films was "Swept Away by an Unusual Destiny in the Blue Sea of August."
Kazie:
Thank you! I'll not forget that the next time I see it.
MelissaBee:
Thank you, as well; I believe I failed to do so before. I'm also wondering, where is our beefcake?
Dilbert:
The Gila River does occasionally fill up. It's during one of those rare rainstorms with driving rain. I have actually crossed that bridge over the Gila when the water was at it's edge.
Bob- fantastic planes. Thanks for the photos. They remind me of the ones my brother made; he was a perfectionist.Good nostalgia.
Chickie,JD & WM- such fun to see your picture; WM when will you drop in again? your art is wonderful,and congratulations on your show.
CA- Oh dear, its that time. You will never know how much you will be missed- is it the 9th, when you return? I'm invisioning a great trip for you two and a safe return. Bon voyage!
Bill- I hope your feeling better this evening.
Wow Bill G, what you have done is admirable indeed. Hearty congratulations to you. May you be as successful as my dad was in sticking with it.
Melissa Bee, thanks for a great writeup with interesting links. It's fun to see what stumps others and what gives them aha moments.
Jazzbumpa, I listened to that little fugue you wrote, that you linked to yesterday. Very cool!
Thank you for the photo of Chickie, DJ, WM, and the paintings.
Best wishes to you all.
FYI: Where the 'de' went, "Pâté de foie gras".
Sufi is a new word to me and I couldn't believe that ufologist was really a word but the perps insisted so there they are.
we have been having a problem with geese in a park not too far from the airport in Madison. There have been and will be more, public meetings to discuss the solution. Yesterday, a columnist suggest that they should round up all the geese,give them to local farms, whtere they can be force-fed and slaughtered for their livers which would be used for locally made foie gras. Since Madisonians put a lot of emphasis on locally grown foods that should be a success. But since Madison also is a stronghold for animal lovers there will probably be a major outcry over his suggestion even though it is obvious he was not being sincere. I thought it interesting that this appeared just the day before the term appeared in the CW.
Dot
Anon@2:20, as Chickie said, it doesn't work that way in California (and I expect in other states). If you are a "Vote-by-mailer", and you show up at your polling place asking to vote, the poll worker checks your name against the official register. If there is a notation that you received a mail-in ballot, you don't just sign your name and get another ballot. Sure, if you say you didn't get your ballot, lost it, yada..yada, you can fill out a ballot, but it goes into a special provisional bag that the county Registrar of Voters checks against the ballots received. If your ballot has already been received by mail, no do-overs, you don't get a second chance. Besides which it is illegal to try to vote twice. You could get in a heap of trouble if the Registrar wanted to make an example of you (not you personally, I know you wouldn't think of doing such a thing!).
Lucina. I don't doubt that the Gila
has water flowing at point.
We used to live at Indian Bend and
Hayden before moving to Tempe.
We never went back after my sister died in '88
Remember the TV stations warning us that water would be released from Granet Reef and Saguaro Lake.
Some idiot would ignore the warning and try to crosss the river bed. They would be found
some where down stream.
Where is the bridge across the
Gila? The only bridge I remember
was the one in Tempe across the
Salt.
Take care.
Thanks Argyle,
I'd forgotten that phrase--literally paste (made) of/from fat liver.
BLTN, thanks Melissa Bee for your excellent blogging. Always enjoyable.
Bob, more unplumbed depths! How long did it take you to complete the models? They are amazing.
Hahtool, at one time did I know that Rumi was a Sufi Dervish? I just don't remember. Either way, thanks for the interesting information.
Daffydill, I had the same quit smoking experience. I had quit a dozen times previously, but I didn't quite really mean it. When I REALLY made up my mind that I would never have another cigarette (after my oldest grandson was barely old enough to give me that "I wonder what Grandma's doing?" look) it was pretty easy. I've never been tempted since.
I'll be back in the morning...you have to work hard (even if it only for a couple of weeks) to get rid of me!
Dilbert, the bridge is much farther south, on the way to Tucson actually through the Sacaton Indian Reservation.
Indian Bend between Hayden and Pima Roads still floods. It is usally blocked as soon as the clouds form (exaggeration) and of course, we have the "stupid motorist law" for anyone who gets stuck because of ignoring said blocks and requires rescuing.
Whew! I've been marking my ballot and it's a monster, two sides with propositions, charter changes, judges, etc. Does anyone else have a longer one than usual this year?
CA, again, bon voyage in case I log on too late tomorrow. Have a fantastic time!
When I posted my other comments at 6:26, I kept getting a message that I was using the wrong password, although I know it was correct. After several attempts, I gave up & went anon.I'll see if this one will post.
I had intended to write another message right away but had to leave at 6:30. I just wanted to tell Barry G. that I'm glad his father is improving & pray that the improvement will continue.
And Bill G., as so many others have said, you've taken steps in the right direction. Take it one day at a time and know that if you could make it yesterday you can also make it today. I have a number of friends who have given up alcohol and/or drugs through an Intervention program that I am somewhat involved with and for some it has been years since they have had a drink. It can be done! My prayers are with you.
Dot
Just got a chance to look at the blog. Bob, wonderful job with the models. I can build really well-detailed plastic models, but I totally suck at wooden ones, which I think require much more skill.
Hahtool _ Regarding Sufi(s) and 'Whirling Dervishes'...
I was reading your post, and I think there should be a little distinction:
1. Sufi(ism) is the more meditative and mystical and esoteric sphere of Islam - one might say something like the Jewish Kabbalah. There is cited evidence that there was a (some ) deal of interaction between Sufis and some jewish philosophers, in ancient times ... and some paragraphs in the Wiki also attest to that.
2. Sufis are also called dervishes - but not necessarily so - dervish is more like a mendicant and not all sufis necessarily are mendicants.
3. Whirling dervishes (WD )exist only in Turkey, and of course, Rumi was a WD.
4. Although Sufis are found all over from the Middle East Asia to the far East - most of them do not attain the ecstasy or direct connection with the Creator, by whirling.
5. Because of the nature of their avowed aim on love/ on one-ness with God, Sufis tend to place more emphasis on purity of the heart etc. - something more akin to certain eastern religions. There are a number of current, modern Muslims, who believe or hold that Sufi-ism is not Islamic-per se, because of the above.
(Since neither of us are Sufi's, this is only a theoretical discussion)...
Clear Ayes,
Best wishes to you and GAH on your travels to OZ. I look forward to seeing pics upon your return.
When I had a few moments to get back to the puzzle today, it was a speed run, but what fun! A dangling of EFG's. I hope we hear from Elizabeth Long again soon.
Melissa-Thank you for your blogging. You always do a great job!
Night, all!
Somehow I lost my earlier post. Thanks you'all for all the kudos on a job well done. I got my first when checking in. I managed to obtain a historical suite. I should have spent more time there. Oh, and I forgot the prime rib was a bonus too.
BillG, you sound like you are in hell like Fermatprime was. I think maybe you can reach out to the younger ones there and make a difference in their lives somehow. You never know, perhaps they will touch you as well. I wish you the best. Here's Jeannie giving you a big hug over the net.
Kazie, you are right that I drew a huge breath of relief once the show was over. I do this twice a year not every month.
Frenchie, I just read your profile. Lunch is my favorite meal. I am curious if you mix it up or go to your favorite haunts. I am due to go lunch now that I am in a more structured routine. I have been brown-bagging it the last couple of months now. I can honestly say that I never could pull off that g-string look, but can still fill out a bikini top quite well.
Dennis,
I know this is late, but I believe Edgar Allan Poe also married his first cousin, who was 13 at the time (he was 26).
A.R.E.
First of all i've worked on the nightshift, swing shift and 24 on 24 off. Never on the late shift. Is there one? I started eating Gyros in Europe in the late 70's. We always called it Gyros, not Gyro. So far I have not liked this weeks puzzles starting with Monday. The author today was fun but I tried to get my buddies interested this week but they now refuse to play. To hard for them. Now I'm marked lousy. I guess its just set for some people, but I can't wait til tomorrows. Its very relaxing for me, solving these puzzles. Keep up the good work.
gmony
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