Theme: While You Slept - Occupations you might want to be kept in the dark about?
20A. One debating the unpopular side: DEVIL'S ADVOCATE
31A. Healer using magic: WITCH DOCTOR
41A. Uncredited author: GHOST WRITER
55A. Wee-hours work period for 20-, 31- and 41-Across?: GRAVEYARD SHIFT
Argyle here.
Not too sure of the theme since none of the three entries necessarily work at night. Oh well, not many names today. Good solid corners on the grid. Long entries. On the whole, I liked it.
Across:
1. Roe source : SHAD
5. Scrape, cat-style : CLAW
9. 100 kopeks : RUBLE and 6D. Turkish bread? : LIRA. Russian bread and Turkish bread. No euros yet.
14. Geographical extremity : POLE
15. Little suckers : LICE. 16. Matriculate : ENROL. 23. Washing aid for pupils : EYE CUP. 11D. Sassy kid : BRAT. The clues all made me think of students.
17. Turow memoir subtitled "The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School" : ONE L
18. The "Habanera" from "Carmen," e.g. : ARIA. Clip.(4:14)
19. Blunt, as reality : STARK
24. Blood bank fluid : SERUM
25. "Hold on __!" : A SEC
27. Stew : SEETHE
36. "Man oh man!" : "WOW!"
37. Out of kilter : AWRY
38. Dove murmur : COO
39. About 1,609 meters : MILE
40. Game system played with gestures : Wii. Nintendo's spelling of "Wii" with two lower-case "i" characters is meant to resemble two people standing side by side, representing players gathering together. So they say. The big thing is it gets people off the couch to play.
45. Long-haired cat : ANGORA
47. Part of a family business title : SONS
48. Pitching miscues : BALKS
51. Where AMZN stock is traded : NASDAQ. Amazon.com, Inc. / "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations Systems," but the exchange's official stance is that the acronym is obsolete.
58. Japanese cartoon genre : ANIME
59. Oklahoma tribe : OTOE. They're out there somewhere. The tribe got moved around a lot and you can't be sure from where they might be clued.
60. Naysayer : ANTI
61. Deadly : FATAL
62. Zip (along) : TEAR
63. Chick's sound : PEEP
64. Head lock : TRESS. Had me thinking wrestling move for awhile.
65. At __: arguing : ODDS. This idiom uses odds in the sense of "a condition of being unequal or different," and transfers it to a difference of opinion, or quarrel.
66. Messes up : ERRS
Down:
1. Fine porcelain : SPODE. Named for Josiah Spode who developed the manufacturing of bone china with blue glaze, based in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Image. I think porcelain and bone china aren't exactly the same but I'll read the Wikipedia article later.
2. Sweetheart : HONEY
3. Naproxen, commercially : ALEVE. Image.
4. Epicurean delight : DELICACY
5. Held firmly : CLASPED
7. Fatty __ : ACIDS
8. Make, as baskets : WEAVE
9. Fireman, sometimes : RESCUER
10. Wild : UNTAME. More familiar with untamed.
12. Folk tales and such : LORE
13. "Benevolent" fraternal member : ELK. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE)
21. Having abundant vegetation : LUSH
22. Thereabouts : OR SO
26. Chanel of fashion : COCO
28. Nincompoop : TWIT
29. Burrow indicator : HOLE
30. Pretty pitcher : EWER. Pretty alliteration.
31. Guitar effect : WA-WA
32. Triumphant cry : "I WIN!"
33. Math course : TRIG
34. Business orgs. : COs.
35. Little ones : TOTS
39. Form incorrectly : MISSHAPE
41. Covers, as a driveway : GRAVELS
42. Robust : HALE. NYT Sunday puzzle once had this clue for HALE: Sarah Josepha ___, who wrote "Mary Had a Little Lamb". Can you say obscure?
43. Worldly seven : WONDERS
44. Messenger molecules : RNAs. These little molecules are everywhere.
46. White House family : OBAMAs
49. Onetime capital of Japan : KYOTO. Kyoto was Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. The city in the central part of the island of Honshu, southwest of Tokyo.
50. Filled up : SATED
52. Restaurant patron : DINER
53. Following : AFTER
54. Wax removers : Q-TIPS
55. Growl : GNAR. Add an 'L' at the end and it becomes a tree knot.
56. Ceremony : RITE
57. Country way : ROAD
58. Toward the rudder : AFT
Answer grid.
Argyle
20A. One debating the unpopular side: DEVIL'S ADVOCATE
31A. Healer using magic: WITCH DOCTOR
41A. Uncredited author: GHOST WRITER
55A. Wee-hours work period for 20-, 31- and 41-Across?: GRAVEYARD SHIFT
Argyle here.
Not too sure of the theme since none of the three entries necessarily work at night. Oh well, not many names today. Good solid corners on the grid. Long entries. On the whole, I liked it.
Across:
1. Roe source : SHAD
5. Scrape, cat-style : CLAW
9. 100 kopeks : RUBLE and 6D. Turkish bread? : LIRA. Russian bread and Turkish bread. No euros yet.
14. Geographical extremity : POLE
15. Little suckers : LICE. 16. Matriculate : ENROL. 23. Washing aid for pupils : EYE CUP. 11D. Sassy kid : BRAT. The clues all made me think of students.
17. Turow memoir subtitled "The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School" : ONE L
18. The "Habanera" from "Carmen," e.g. : ARIA. Clip.(4:14)
19. Blunt, as reality : STARK
24. Blood bank fluid : SERUM
25. "Hold on __!" : A SEC
27. Stew : SEETHE
36. "Man oh man!" : "WOW!"
37. Out of kilter : AWRY
38. Dove murmur : COO
39. About 1,609 meters : MILE
40. Game system played with gestures : Wii. Nintendo's spelling of "Wii" with two lower-case "i" characters is meant to resemble two people standing side by side, representing players gathering together. So they say. The big thing is it gets people off the couch to play.
45. Long-haired cat : ANGORA
47. Part of a family business title : SONS
48. Pitching miscues : BALKS
51. Where AMZN stock is traded : NASDAQ. Amazon.com, Inc. / "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations Systems," but the exchange's official stance is that the acronym is obsolete.
58. Japanese cartoon genre : ANIME
59. Oklahoma tribe : OTOE. They're out there somewhere. The tribe got moved around a lot and you can't be sure from where they might be clued.
60. Naysayer : ANTI
61. Deadly : FATAL
62. Zip (along) : TEAR
63. Chick's sound : PEEP
64. Head lock : TRESS. Had me thinking wrestling move for awhile.
65. At __: arguing : ODDS. This idiom uses odds in the sense of "a condition of being unequal or different," and transfers it to a difference of opinion, or quarrel.
66. Messes up : ERRS
Down:
1. Fine porcelain : SPODE. Named for Josiah Spode who developed the manufacturing of bone china with blue glaze, based in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Image. I think porcelain and bone china aren't exactly the same but I'll read the Wikipedia article later.
2. Sweetheart : HONEY
3. Naproxen, commercially : ALEVE. Image.
4. Epicurean delight : DELICACY
5. Held firmly : CLASPED
7. Fatty __ : ACIDS
8. Make, as baskets : WEAVE
9. Fireman, sometimes : RESCUER
10. Wild : UNTAME. More familiar with untamed.
12. Folk tales and such : LORE
13. "Benevolent" fraternal member : ELK. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE)
21. Having abundant vegetation : LUSH
22. Thereabouts : OR SO
26. Chanel of fashion : COCO
28. Nincompoop : TWIT
29. Burrow indicator : HOLE
30. Pretty pitcher : EWER. Pretty alliteration.
31. Guitar effect : WA-WA
32. Triumphant cry : "I WIN!"
33. Math course : TRIG
34. Business orgs. : COs.
35. Little ones : TOTS
39. Form incorrectly : MISSHAPE
41. Covers, as a driveway : GRAVELS
42. Robust : HALE. NYT Sunday puzzle once had this clue for HALE: Sarah Josepha ___, who wrote "Mary Had a Little Lamb". Can you say obscure?
43. Worldly seven : WONDERS
44. Messenger molecules : RNAs. These little molecules are everywhere.
46. White House family : OBAMAs
49. Onetime capital of Japan : KYOTO. Kyoto was Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. The city in the central part of the island of Honshu, southwest of Tokyo.
50. Filled up : SATED
52. Restaurant patron : DINER
53. Following : AFTER
54. Wax removers : Q-TIPS
55. Growl : GNAR. Add an 'L' at the end and it becomes a tree knot.
56. Ceremony : RITE
57. Country way : ROAD
58. Toward the rudder : AFT
Answer grid.
Argyle
81 comments:
Good morning, Argyle, C.C. and gang - quite the smooth solve today, with familiar clues and very easy theme answers. I agree with Argyle about the nice long fills; the only discordant note for me was 'gravels' -- I've never heard of it used as a verb before and doubt I ever will again.
'Kyoto' brought back some fun memories. As a young, twenty year old Marine, I went there with a couple buddies to see some castles over a long liberty weekend. It seemed everywhere we went sightseeing, we found ourselves surrounded by high school-aged kids who wanted to talk English with us. Really a fun experience.
My posts will probably be pretty sporadic and even sparser than normal over the next several weeks. Things are starting to get a bit hectic with the stores, fortunately, and I'm spending more and more time trying to accommodate special orders, etc. On the flip side, there doesn't appear to be a 'must-have' hobby/toy item this year.
Today is Stay At Home Because You Are Well Day. Where was this day when I needed it, back in the day?
Morning, all!
Nice, smooth puzzle for the most part. I wasn't crazy about UNTAME (as opposed to UNTAMED), but everything else was fine.
Had this one run a month ago, I would have assumed the theme was Halloween...
Good Morning, Dennis,
Yes, meant to mention that, about gravel. I worked on the town highway department and using gravel as a verb was quite common.
"We will gravel the dirt sections of Coach Road next week."
Hello All,
Thanks to Argyle, CC and Mark!
Fun puzzle! Cute theme! No problems. Not thrilled with UNTAME either.
BIG NEWS: With huge black boot on and small triangular walker, went about 20 feet! PT thrilled!
Time to catch some zzzzzzs.
Good Morning, Argyle and friends. I had some trouble getting started in this puzzle this morning. It didn't help that I had thought Fine Porcelain was China instead of SPODE, or that something Wild was Unruly instead of UNTAMED.
I quickly filled in GRAVEYARD SHIFT, which definitely helped me with the other theme clues.
My favorite clue today was Head Lock = TRESS. I was momentarily mislead into thinking it referred to wrestling.
Carmen is my favorite opera. Everyone is probably familiar with this piece from Carmen.
Today marks the official end of Hurricane Season.
Good news, Fermaprime! Glad to hear you are making progress in your recovery.
QOD: What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence. ~ Christopher Hitchens.
Good Day Everyone,
Like other posters before me, an easy solve today. I agree with Argyle about the theme. It doesn't really fit. Devil, Witch, and Ghost are or can be 24 hour toilers. Whenever I see porcelain, I think china first. Thanks to Argyle, I finally know where the term Spode comes from. Now if I can only remember the next time it appears!
Enjoy the day
Argyle, What an informative write-up.
I've been a DINER on SPODE porcelain all my life and thought it was just called China.
Note, it was left to me by Grandma. Older sib's didn't want it. I just liked the design.
Hmmm, DEVIL'S ADVOCATE sums me up.
As a CFO, Auditor or Consultant I always have to point out the "other-side" ... most of my co-horts are "toady yes-men."
Didn't know the commercial name of Naproxen, ADVIL. If I took a pill I think there would be a "news-flash" ... Tin's on pills!!! Yikes!!!
Finally, tonight's Sunset is dedicated to the end of Hurricane Season.
Though I think my USF-Bull's win over my Miami,
23-20, in OT, last Saturday, (yup, the BA beat the MBA) was the real end for my beloved 'Canes).
Cheers !!!
Husker Gary (from yesterday)
I've been to Lincoln and you Nebraska football fans are a class act.
Was always amazed at your full house's since I don't believe their are 100 parking spaces near the stadium.
Good Morning C.C.,Argyle and all,
Thanks for write-up, Argyle. Yes, I hear gravel as a verb all the time, since I live in the world of gravel driveways. However,IMHO,'untame' is incorrect and my very being shook as I wrote it in. Other than that, thanks Mark, for an unboring puzzle.
Fermatprime, I love your news! I found myself holding my breath as you described your brief trek.
Gloomy here, today, so I'll be back, I'm sure.
Have a nice day everyone.
Good Morning Argyle, C.C. et al.
Thanks for the write-up, Argyle. Wow - I got to listen to TWO clips from Carmen today - Habanera and Toreador, thanks to you and Hahtool. Yay!
A cute theme and easy puzzle today. Like BarryG, I thought this would have been fun a month ago.
Hand up for "UNTAME" - I don't think it's really an accepted word. But I did like "Blood Bank Fluid" for SERUM. Right up my alley. I also liked "Wax removers" for Q-TIP. I was scraping candle wax off the Thanksgiving tablecloth last night, and tried to fit "razor blade" in there. No luck, alas.
Speaking of “Head lock” for TRESS, has anyone taken their children/grandchildren to see Tangled? I always loved the story of Rapunzel when I was little. But nowadays, I would venture to say that more children learn about these tales from watching Disney cartoons than reading them from the book of Grimm's Fairy Tales.
Dennis, I am well, and I will stay at home, since that is where I work. How do you call in well when you are the boss and you work at home? Hmmmm....maybe I'll ask the cats, LOL!!
Have a great day everyone!
Another nice'n'easy Tuesday puzzle. I didn't like having AFT and AFTER in the same puzzle - but can't say why it bothered me. Didn't know SPODE or ONEL but got the O through a process of elimination. 13 minutes including making my instant Cream of Wheat (consumed with real maple syrup). Pretty good for a 34F morning in N. Cali. Good day all. Nice blogging Argyle.
PS: inre shopping. I'm a last minute shopper - just part of the fun for me is to go out the day before Christmas. I like to give lots of little stuff so I hit the cooking stores for kitchen gadgets, office supply stores for desk gadets, etc. Fun!!
Good Morning, all. Enjoyed this puzzle, although I had "horn" for "pole" and "amok" for "awry" which had me going in circles for awhile. Once I got "delicacy" everything pretty much corrected itself.
Frosty, cold morning in Central CA. Wish I could call in "well", but it's not to be.
Enjoy the day.
Good Day Argyle and all,
VERY big news, Fermatprime. Mobility is the key.
I had little report on today. Nice 'n' smooth; no warts. Jute remember to call a Spode a Spode, when it comes to Porcelain.
A brief note on "Slap-up" (almost conjures up a high-five) if I may. The phrase is nowadays used only in the sense of a meal, or something a little fancier, like a dinner-dance. And it means something like "excellent/lavish (but not overpriced/overindulgent)".
"They gave us a slap-up meal after the game".
"We had a slap-up do last night at the Golf Club".
According to my OED the phrase was used more widely in the 19th century. Even in its more limited usage today, it's sounding pretty dated.
My father used the term, as well as "cracking-good" and such-like. Various words related to "hitting" seem to used in this positive connotation, of course:
belter, thumper/thumping, bash (party), hit, etc.
I'm sure you can think of many more....
NC
Apologies - meant to hit "preview" - here is previous message with couple of typos corrected.
Good Day Argyle and all,
VERY big news, Fermatprime. Mobility is the key.
I had little to report on today. Nice 'n' smooth; no warts. Just remember to call a Spode a Spode, when it comes to Porcelain.
A brief note on "Slap-up" (almost conjures up a high-five) if I may. The phrase is nowadays used only in the sense of a meal, or something a little fancier, like a dinner-dance. And it means something like "excellent/lavish (but not overpriced/overindulgent)".
"They gave us a slap-up meal after the game".
"We had a slap-up do last night at the Golf Club".
According to my OED the phrase was used more widely in the 19th century. Even in its more limited usage today, it's sounding pretty dated.
My father used the term, as well as "cracking-good" and such-like. Various words related to "hitting" seem to be used in this positive connotation, of course:
belter, thumper/thumping, bash (party), hit, etc.
I'm sure you can think of many more....
NC
Argyle, et al, Okay, everyone who finished this 1* with no empty spaces, step forward! Hey, not so fast Husker! The O in SPODE and ONEL got me! The rest was fun and quick (reminds me of some dates!) and a nice diversion on a cold, windy day on the prairie! My golf clubs go downstairs today!
Fermatprime, I appreciate your off line note and I completely agree with you!
Tinbeni, yes there has not been a ticket for sale for a Husker FB game since 1963. That means there have been over 300 consecutive sellouts. It is a tradition to applaud the opposing team as they walk off the field after a win or a loss and rival fans write the World Herald every year raving about how well they are treated in Lincoln. BTW, the volleyball team has a consecutive sellout streak of many years in their 4,200 seat coliseum also. Husker athletics are the only athletic show in this state and they receive a lot of support despite very bad parking!
Musings
- I will head to the YMCA today and ALEVE is a miracle drug for my bad back! Another BTW, the YMCA in our little town of 27,000 is the second largest in the world with two swimming pools, an Olympic sized hockey rink, 4 gyms, a suspended track, a world class workout room, etc.
- Matriculate Down The Field is an odd phrase made by Hank Stram of the K.C. Chiefs years ago in a Super Bowl.
- I had GRASPED for CLAMPED briefly
- UNTAME is what a night’s sleep does to my hair!
- Seeing a Q without a U in the second cell always gives me pause
- My old home town used to put down a layer of gravel on city streets and then put tar right on top. It was a real event for us kids but not so good on cars that had to drive on it for the first few weeks.
- Dennis, I’m glad your business is doing well. Ain’t capitalism great? Hey, aren’t we retired?
Good morning Argyle, CC and solvers all.
I suspect this was originally an attempt to put together a halloween puzzle but there was a better one available. It was a good Tuesday level puzzle though.
Hand up for the misdirection on "Head lock" and China instead of SPODE, but perps to the rescue.
I didn't mind UNTAME. I'm getting used to seeing word tenses that are not commonly used in crosswords.
ALEVE was a gimme. My late first wife used prescription Naproxen for several years before it became available as Aleve OTC and she made the switch.
@Fermatprime, great news! One step at a time. I well remember my first trip of about the same distance after getting a couple of plates and a handful of screws installed to put my shattered hip socket back together. Keep up the good effort.
I finished the puzzle early but had to run out for my appointment to get my ears lowered a notch or two, so I'm a little late posting.
Re "Slap up" from yesterday. I t almost sounds like it would be the opposite of what the meaning is, i.e. something that is slapped together. What was that about two countries separated by a common language? Brit speak vs Yank speak does get confusing at times.
Good Morning All, A very nice solve today. What didn't come to mind right away, was taken care of by the perps.
Argyle is right about DEVILs, WITCHes and GHOSTs. They don't necessarily punch a late night time clock, but (in our fantasies and movies too) we don't expect to see them strolling down the street at high noon. Along with vampires and werewolves, they are usually "creatures of the night" oooh...ooohh....scary! That gives me an excuse to link this favorite Werewolves Of London by a young and talented Warren Zevon.
GRAVELling isn't an unusual term out here in the sticks. Most people have a gravel driveway. We have a concrete drive, leading to a gravel parking area next to the garage (where we deep fry them thar turkeys)
Hahtool, QOD, Hitchins is an interesting writer. Enough said...here.
RATS! I have to spoil "Stay At Home, etc. Day". If it's Tuesday, it must be a doctor's appointment. At least I'll be able to get my seasonal Costco-ing done today too.
I kept getting an error message and resubmitting. I'll try to get all my duplicates deleted! Sorry!
Hi all~!
Yeah, hand up for UNTAME, too, but I do get GRAVELS. I am not a buig fan of WA-WA, either; as a guitar player for 20years now, it is usually written as WAH-WAH, as in the
pedal, if anyone cares to ask.
My parents were born and raised in Arnold and Matlock, England, and I have heard TWIT my whole life - mom usually refers to the hockey team on TV as the "TWITS".
Had some concrete work to do today, but the weather looks like it won't co-operate ( LI, NY). Glad it's "stay at home because you are well" day - thanks, Dennis, I feel better already !!!
Splynter
NC, an easier, cleaner solution to your corrective post is to just use the trash can beneath the bad one to delete it.
Husker Gary, there must be a problem with the blog software, where it flags you with an error message if it deems a post too long, but publishes it anyway, sometimes more than once. The powers-that-be know about it, and either can't or choose not to fix it.
Fermatprime, great news -- you give new meaning to the term 'one step at a time'.
Thanks to all who have enlightened me about the verb 'gravel'; it's always a good day when you learn something new.
Top o' the mornin' to all. Thanks, Argyle.
Hand up for hearing GRAVELS used as a verb. The only slowdown for me was GNAR and ANIME, even though I knew GNAR and had a distant memory of the Japanese cartoon genre from other puzzles. I kept trying letters until I said "Oh, yeah, GNAR!" I still don't like words that are formed by arbitrarily adding "un" to them. UNTAME suggests that something was once tamed and had become untame.
Maybe I am a curmudgeon, but I don't like the idea of a "Stay at home because you are well day." If the employee is going to be gone for a length of time, a temp is usually hired, but a one-day absence has to be covered by the remaining staff. Too many times, I was the "remaining staff" who covered. It always seemed to happen at a time when I had a deadline on a budget presentation. If the person is genuinely sick, it is one thing, but playing hooky is another. End of rant.
Congratulations on your progress, FP.
Other than having to look up what a “kopek” was I didn’t have much trouble with this one today. One L, Anime, and spode were all taken care of via the perps. I had never heard of “spode” as fine porcelain. Favorite today was “head lock” – tress. I didn’t like “gnar” for growl. You don’t see too many gravel drives in MN, mostly black top and cement. We do on the other hand have a lot of gravel roads out my way.
Fermatprime, great news on your “baby” steps.
I wish I had known it was stay at home because you’re too well day. It took me about an hour and a half to crawl my way in today. We didn’t get much snow, but the wind really has picked up and with all the open fields in my neck of the woods, the roads get drifted and icy. I am not looking forward to the drive home as the winds are supposed to continue to pick up and the temps drop.
The puzzle was very nice and I enjoyed it -
- and I got to complete almost all - I missed SpAde - and Anel made little sense ( variation of Anal ?? ) .( must remember Spode )
couple of points -
Q Tips SHOULD NOT be used as wax removers ( from ears - ). The FDA and NIH and just about everyone else - ESPECIALLY the Q-Tips manufacturers, themselves, say and explicitly state on the packaging itself -emphasize that Q-Tips should not be used to clean the inner linings or the canal of the ears. More ear drums have been damaged by this socalled quick and easy and dangerous procedure than anything else. This cannot be emphasized enough or enough times. Never do this.
Next, I thought 'Matriculates' or 'Matriculated' meant a person had graduated from high school- not 'enrolled'. Matric is the high school exam , generally given by a state or public board in Britain and other previous colonies - and to matriculate means to 'pass' the exam, i.e. graduate out of school. ( needless to say, I guess I am wrong.)
I agree with Daffy Dill. I knew my algebra students were going to be idling if I was out. I hardly ever missed a day. When I retired, I got credit for over 200 sick days.
Re. Leslie Nielsen: He became known as a serious actor in the 1950s and then reinvented his career with spoofy turns in “Airplane!," “Police Squad” and “The Naked Gun” in the 1980's and '90s. Leslie Nielsen, who died Sunday at the age of 84, was part of numerous comedies and even more water-cooler conversations. He didn’t write his trademark lines, but you wonder if we’d remember any of them if he didn’t deliver them in his daffy deadpan.
Herewith, then, a quick study in Nielsenology.
--The hospital quip. (“A hospital? What is it?” “It's a big building with patients but that's not important right now.”) Admittedly an overused one compared to his other misplaced-modifier specials (“That's the red-light district. I wonder why Savage is hanging around down there.” “Sex, Frank?” "Uh, not right now, Ed.") But still a classic.
--The political Leslie, as evidenced in an exchange with George Bush in “Naked Gun.” “Frank, please consider filling a post I'm creating. It may mean long hours and dangerous nights, surrounded by some of the scummiest elements in our society.” “You want me to be in your cabinet?”
--The Goodyear blimp gag. “It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girl dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.” “Goodyear?” “No, the worst.” Never fails to get a laugh. Who else could pull off wordplay involving vulcanized rubber?
--The moment-of-panic Leslie, with a who’s-on-first spin. “Captain, how soon can you land?” “I'm just not sure.” “Well, can't you take a guess?” “Well, not for another two hours." “You can't take a guess for another two hours?”
--The standard-bearer. "Can you fly this plane and land it?" "Surely you can't be serious." "I am serious, and don't call me Shirley."
--And finally, not from a movie, but somehow appropriate the day after Nielsen's passing. “Doing nothing is very hard to do -- you never know when you're finished.”
--Steven Zeitchik
I agree with Daffy Dill. I knew my algebra students were going to be idling if I was out. I hardly ever missed a day. When I retired, I got credit for over 200 sick days.
Re. Leslie Nielsen: He became known as a serious actor in the 1950s and then reinvented his career with spoofy turns in “Airplane!," “Police Squad” and “The Naked Gun” in the 1980's and '90s. Leslie Nielsen, who died Sunday at the age of 84, was part of numerous comedies and even more water-cooler conversations. He didn’t write his trademark lines, but you wonder if we’d remember any of them if he didn’t deliver them in his daffy deadpan.
Herewith, then, a quick study in Nielsenology.
--The hospital quip. (“A hospital? What is it?” “It's a big building with patients but that's not important right now.”) Admittedly an overused one compared to his other misplaced-modifier specials (“That's the red-light district. I wonder why Savage is hanging around down there.” “Sex, Frank?” "Uh, not right now, Ed.") But still a classic.
--The political Leslie, as evidenced in an exchange with George Bush in “Naked Gun.” “Frank, please consider filling a post I'm creating. It may mean long hours and dangerous nights, surrounded by some of the scummiest elements in our society.” “You want me to be in your cabinet?”
More Nielsen:
--The Goodyear blimp gag. “It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girl dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.” “Goodyear?” “No, the worst.” Never fails to get a laugh. Who else could pull off wordplay involving vulcanized rubber?
--The moment-of-panic Leslie, with a who’s-on-first spin. “Captain, how soon can you land?” “I'm just not sure.” “Well, can't you take a guess?” “Well, not for another two hours." “You can't take a guess for another two hours?”
--The standard-bearer. "Can you fly this plane and land it?" "Surely you can't be serious." "I am serious, and don't call me Shirley."
--And finally, not from a movie, but somehow appropriate the day after Nielsen's passing. “Doing nothing is very hard to do -- you never know when you're finished.”
--Steven Zeitchik
fermatprme, I forgot to congratulate you on "One small step for (wo)man, one GIANT leap for fermatprime" !!
BillG, thanks for the quips from Leslie Nielsen. He really was a great comedian, and who could ever forget his role in "Airplane" once they have seen it? Priceless!
Hi everyone!
I started out thinking that this puzzle was very difficult for a Tuesday. I was just looking at the Across clues; and some of them just didn't make any light bulbs come on. I switched to the Downs and had much better success.
I have never heard of EYE CUP....is this item for a 'glass' eye? How in the world does one use it?
Would some kind soul please explain 17A (ONEL)? What does that mean?
I don't like GNAR for growl either. When it crossed ANIME (I didn't know that one either) I had to look at the answer.
Sorry, Carol, I forget sometimes.
One L stands for first year law student.
A better clue for "UNTAME" would have been "MAKE Wild" (i.e., verb instead of adjective).
Hello, Argyle and everyone.
Today was a fairly easy run, good for Tuesday, and Hand up for thinking it would have been funny near Halloween. Still clever,though.
Hand up also for China before Spode.
My British friends who visited last spring live in Stoke-on-Trent and brought me a Spode clock, a very lovely piece.
ERRed on WII with IWON and didn't know any better to correct it. I'm still not used to those terms.
Laughed at Turkish bread, LIRA recalling that two American dollars equalled one million lira when I was there in 1998. Taxi ride: two million.
Thank you, Mark Feldman, for an entertaining time this morning.
Fermatprime:
Great news on your progress! I hope it's soon better and better.
You all have a wonderful Tuesday! It's cleaning carpet day at my house so I shall stay home.
Re: Eye cups.
We used them for flushing out dust or whatever, back on the farm. They are collectable now, well, not the plain ones we had. You can still buy them in a pharmacy.
Tinbeni, look up the word rodomontade.
Argyle, thanks for the explanations! :)
I really had no idea on that eye cup, what a hoot....sort of like taking a belt at a bar only you throw the shot in your eye. Wonder if the term 'red-eye' stemmed from that? (just kidding).
One can get quite an education reading this blog!!
Marge, what makes you think Tinbeni HAD to look up the definition of rodomontade? I know I didn't need to.
Nice Tuesday puzzle ... new word to me is 55D GNAR!!! Now, to remember it!!
I have an eye cup that belonged to my grandfather!! I use it occasionally --- it's a treasure.
Congrats to Fermat ... you have a rooting section here!!
Hey all... too much to do to stay long.
I started to put spat in 5a before changing to claw. The over-write of the P and L resembled an R. So for 6D, I was staring at R_RA. Gave up and came here. Didn't help that I hate opera.
Fermat: Go! Go! Go!
I've heard graveled, but never the present tense. Untame seemed fine and tress was the first word that jumped out at me for headlock.
I was sick so rarely and loved to ski so much that all my colleagues just assumed that if I was out in the winter I was skiing. I never tried to disabuse them until one day the principal asked me how the snow was. Fortunately?? that day I had a relapse and had to leave work.
I, too, thought that matriculate meant to finish school. But, GiF, I looked it up and we are/were wrong!
Marge, I have seen some rodomontades in this blog. Hell, I'm probably guilty of several. But I just don't see it in Tin's note today. What set you off?
Gotta run.
No bones about it, nice puzzle. Fun to see GRAVELS and GRAVE crossing.
Unfun-
STARK- Opposite of 'slight
IWON- Elmer Fudd's laundry chore
FATAL- Cosby character, in short
COO- Dove revolt
MISSHAPE- Bathing beauty winner
DEVILS ADVOCATE ADVOCATED EVILS
SEC investigations have NASDAQ
Q AND A'S
Unhappy with the golf book
TIGER THROWS GHOST WRITER
Hey gang, here's something from Dave Barry to get you in the Christmas spirit.
Once again, it's time to bring back a quote from a great Kentuckian and a (too late) wise man,
Muhammad Ali:
"it ain't bragging if you can really do it."
Come to think of it, most of us are "too late" wise.
Dennis, as always, Dave Barry is hilarious. Thanks for the link.
Also, I'm happy for you that customers are flooding into your store. Do you have an idea what 14 year old boys are buying? I have one on my list and no clue what to get for him. Thank you.
Good afternoon everyone.
Great write up, Argyle.
And I agree that to have two clips from Carmen is a treasure.
And best of all, good news from Fermatprime. Go, girl.
Luckily it's only 81° here because out AC has died. DH is talking with AC people. That will take a while, because we have to buy a new one and he is fussy. (Thank heavens.)
Cheers
P.S.
You guys (and gals) were hilarious last night about Duke, Jake, etc. Great fun.
Hi all.
Had to look up rodomontade. I've
done that.
For a really great photo, check:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/.
Loved that photo.
Take care.
For those of you thinking of frying a turkey.
fermatprime, I like your picture.
Fermatprime,
what happened to you that you need PT?
Easy puzzle (12 minutes). Not much to comment on.
45A ANGORA: Angora can refer to a long-haired cat, goat, or rabbit. Since I have an obvious soft spot for rabbits, here's a link to the Angora type:
ANGORA RABBIT
ELI--Physical therapist coming after I managed to acquire three compound fractures in right leg, left hospital, got out of nursing room from hell and became a fixture on my bed. This after two previous operations from falls which haven't healed and long-time fibromyalgia. Briefly.
THANK you all who responded to my big news this day!
DENNIS--Loved Dave Barry column! Really miss his weekly column.
BILL G--Thanks for info on Leslie Nielsen. Was saddened when I read of his passing in highlights from Washington Post.
CA--Did I ever thank you for the pictures? They made me drool with envy. How long did you say it took to get there?
Hi Argyle, C.C. & gang. My wife knew all of the tricky ones today and we actually finished the puzzle before she left for work.
RE: OneL? I'm surprised that no one remembered Ogden Nash's The Lama
Good evening Argyle, CC et al., This puzzle seems to be a little out of season...Halloween would be better. But yet, I enjoyed it and sailed thru it pretty well. Argyle, you do make me laugh. Cute comment on the Otoe tribe. Being from OK, the Otoe are not o'foot in my neck of the woods.
'Wow', I loved how 'see the' 'twit' hole' all crossed each other in the central east and it was well over a 'mile'. What a beast! Now my Dicky-bird sings, "Willow,twit-willow, twit- willow."
Love the Carmen delights. Thank you Argyle and Hahtool. One of my favs ..along w/ The Mikado.
Texas Tech was the first place I ever 'matriculated'. Everywhere else I had just enrolled. It was a great experience! 20,000 students at that time and it was done extremely well. I was 'in and out' in no time and very satisfied w/the experience. Loved matriculating.
DrDad and Husker Gary and other Cornhuskers: I'm so looking forward to this wkend's OU/Neb game. Can't think of a better send off to Neb as they go off to the Big 10. Wish you well!
Ferma: keep up the great job. I'm proud of your resolve. You're a lesson to us all.
Enjoy your night. I sure will. It's a no date night...a lull in the action. Cheers!
Hey, I am late today, as I try to reconnect with the world. back to the doctor tomorrow morning.
Anyway, wonderful Tuesday puzzle, with some new stuff, GNAR? some fun stuff, HEADLOCK:TRESS, some icky stuff, UNTAME, like SPODE, always thought ONE L was prentitious, but then lawyers are prententious, so I guess it makes sense.
Hahtool, do you watch the Hitchens' DEBATES ?
A sspeial second hello to ELI thanks for coming to our site. I cant wait to watch your BOOK .
I really enjoyed your write up A., especially the insight on the "ii" in Wii. My suggested theme is DENIZENS of the DARK.
Oops, forgot:
Santa cutie, great job blogging, as always. I meant to tell you that. And I love your avatar, Santa baby. My chimney is waiting for you to come in it...just 23 more days, 5 hours, 15 mins, 25 secs, but who's counting.
Dennis: thank you for the Dave Barry article. Always good for a laugh.
Bill G: Loved the Nielsen funnies. He will be missed. Thank you.
Jerome: funny stuff. Great job.
No problems at the doctor's office today and even better, I got out of Costco with my sanity (sort of) intact. It was very busy and will only get worse. But I got what I needed and I don't think we will have to go back before the 25th.
fermatprime, good for you. Sounds like you are healing. 25 feet next time!
Gunghy@2:56 Apparently those idjits didn't read their fryer instructions. The way to avoid a fire is to put the turkey into the empty pot and fill the pot with enough water to come up to the proper level, which should be marked on the inside of the pot. (YAY, Archimedes!!). That is how much oil should be used, so it doesn't overflow and cause a fire. Then dump out the water, dry the pot and the turkey and begin the marinade/injection process. Follow all instructions carefully!
Just as some people shouldn't be allowed to have a driver's license, have a child, ride a motorcycle (I bet you know a few of those, Gunghy), or walk and chew gum simultaneously, a turkey fryer isn't for everyone.
I agree with daffy dill and Bill G. about not taking sick leave when you aren't sick. I had over 2500 hours of sick leave when I retired. (Is that rodomontade?) I got retirement time credit it for it, but that isn't what the time was actually worth. My co-workers probably thought I was really dumb for not using as much sick leave as I could, but I just couldn't make myself do it. I guess I am one of those "can't walk and chew gum" people...duh.
Thanks marge, I admit that I didn't know the word rodomontade. I do now, but I have to agree with Windhover@12.58
Thanks Dennis for the Dave Barry and to Bill G. for the Leslie Nielsen quotes. A good day is one with at least one "out loud laugh". I got several today.
Eli is Mr.E.
Just skated home about a half an hour or so. Weather here has definitely taken a dive. 30 mph winds, 15 degrees which makes the windchill about zero. Sorry Sallie, I can't feel sorry for your 81 degrees without an air conditioner no matter how hard I try to.
Gunghy, your clip on frying turkey's is just another reason why I will continue to roast my bird. CA, I still can't quite wrap my head around frying a pork loin or a tri-tip.
My handsome counselor, love your new avatar. I can only assume you guys might have enjoyed some of the micro brews that were crowding your refrigerator.
Kazie, where are you today? I hope everything is okay in good 'ole Wisconsin. From what I understand your crappy weather should be hitting you right about tomorrow or the day after.
Lois, when are you on Christmas break? (I guess I should have said holiday break in retrospect).
Husker Gary, I have been meaning to tell you how much I enjoy reading your "musings".
Jazz, if I have my Wednesday's straight you blog tomorrow. Maybe, you're taking a nap?
Dennis, I enjoyed that Dave Barry clip, but five martini's???
Argyle, I don't take your blogging for granted and probably don't applaud you enough. I hope that doesn't hurt my chances with my wish list this holiday season.
Hello everybody. A quick in and out. Just got back home from a wonderful visit with our kids'n'grandkids in Arizona. Exhausted but gloriously happy. Actually did go back and work Monday's and today's puzzles, which I found found easy but enjoyable. Took some time to read all your comments of yesterday and today, and enjoyed them immensely, as I always do. Some exceptionally interesting conversation has been going on. Love it.
Best wishes to you all.
Oh, I planned to, but forgot, to say it was cold in Arizona but a lot colder here! Holy cow!
Jerome, I love your "alternate" meanings for the clues every day. IWON for Fudd's lawndwy chore was a knee-slapper.
But I don't get FATAL for Cosby character? Please enlighten this dim-wit !!
Warren, I remember and enjoyed the lama, llama and lllama. Thanks.
Fat Al(bert)
fermatprime, sorry I missed your question. The flight each way to/from Aukland NZ is about 12 1/2 hours. Get well first and then think about a just for you vacation.
Jeannie, too bad there isn't a "The weather is too awful to go to work" day for all you mid-westerners. Of course, if that were true, there might not be too many people in MN, WI...etc. showing up for work in January AND February...just kidding, I know you have some glorious winter weather too.
We're shopping for a new car for Barbara, to replace the 1965 VW that I bought for $1900 new. We are looking at a Toyota Yaris and are going to look at a Honda Fit. Any opinions?
Monday's blog topic introduced by FP,FP (enquiring minds want to know) reminded me of this video. Warning: Contains (im)mature humor and language.
Hi gang -
Nice puzzle, but I had trouble with the SPODE - ONE L cross.
For kicks, I googled ANIME FATAL and found this
Yikes!
Heart - Remember FAT AL(bert)?
Here is a magnificent demonstration of a real WAWA.
After the 3 min mark he goes to a bucket mute. His King looks a lot like mine, but I'll bet it's much newer. Wish I knew what they were saying.
Jeannie - I'm coming into a very busy time, so it will be a few weeks before I blog a puzzle again - but not too long.
Had to turn down a paying gig next week AGAIN, because of prior commitments.
But, as we sometimes say, it's all good.
Cheers!
JzB
Grumpy1 and JazzBumpa,
DOH, thanks for the Fat Al explanation - of course, now I 'member!
And Jazz - loved the WA WA of "Summertime". I lived in Milan for a while (worked for the VP of Finance at Exxon Chemical) and had a good idea of what they were saying. But, "mi manca la practica" to translate exactly for you - sorry!
Jeannie: we get out somewhere around Dec 23. Just in time for Santa baby. Can't wait. Do you have snow tires on your car?
There is a song called UNTAME MY HEART.
This is for Gunghy ( hope I spelled it right - )
Re; Matric / Matriculated - you, me - WE were right (also) - after all.
If you read the article, on Matriculation, in Wikipedia , in almost 10 countries around the world - New Zea, Austr, Canada, South Africa, Singapore, Bangladesh etc etc AND in parts of merry old England - matric/matriculated means graduating from either middle school or high school.
It is also a ceremony at (Univ. of ) Oxford, amongst others, where new students are 'formally' admitted to college - but that does not detract from the 'original' meaning of graduating from high school - a rite of passage and an honor in itself.
Moral of the story:- It is good to be modest, and be open to other points of view, ---- but it is not modesty, when you have to give up your long held convictions, before others have proved you wrong. In short, you may very well, be right.
Jeannie here; magic number...Tinbeni, I have never once thought you were a braggart. Anything you can accomplish in life, that you are good at and obviously you were; is all good to me. You aren't to look at either.
Sorry Marge.
Bill G, I am not the gal you want to talk cars about, but...I have owned Buicks for most of my adult life and they have never let me down. I was so bummed out when they stopped making the LeSabre. I know they had the stigma of being an old peoples car, but Geives, (my car) could go through anything that MN weather decided to throw at us.
BTW, I am so happy to see you back here on the blog. You were missed immensely by me. I am hoping all is well with you, and I mean that.
I was at Starbucks, and did today's NY Times. It was another version of the five anagrams of TOPS. I thought it was really easy, Tin man?
Speaking of which, Lo-li-ta, kitty got your tongue? You left out the "too hard" in your pseudo compliment. Not like you to leave that out!
Lemonade, yes, the NYT puzzle was indeed easy today.
Bill G., if you're looking for the cheapest, the Yaris would be the choice. The Fit costs more, but comes with a lot more stuff standard, and in my opinion (FWIW) is a much better car. Hope this helps.
Hola Everyone, I'm with Carol today in that I had a hard time with the first few across answers. Switched to the downs, and things started to come together.
I didn't have to look up anything today, but was flumoxed by Gnar and Tress. Gnar was a new word for me and I couldn't get wrestling out of my mind for Head Lock! Duh!
Other than that the puzzle was quick to come together. I did want china for Spode, but as soon as I got Shad and Pole, I knew we were looking for a brand name. My Christmas Tree Spode is out and in use for the season. It is always fun to change the dishes for a while. These were a gift from a very dear friend, and every Christmas I got another piece to add to the collection.
Fermatprime, Great News! Keep it up.
Another great job of Blogging, Argyle. Your explanations and links are always a learning experience.
I've been very busy with house guests, and grandchildren and grand dogs. I did manage to get most of the CWs done, but didn't get to the Blog until very late each evening. Too late to comment. Besides everything was pretty much said before I got here.
Have a great evening everyone. Planning a brunch for 20 on Sunday, so I'll be getting here late most days until then.
Jeannie
When I graduated from college with an A.A. at St.Pete.J.C.in '73 then a B.A. at U.S.F. Bay Campus, in '74, I never imagined the adventure I was about to go on.
The other degree's were paid for by the companies I worked for over the 36 years ... they don't even appear on the C.V.
I remember a friend, Randy Rabby, the 1st person to water-ski, bare-foot, backwards, who use to say: "It's better to be a has-been, than a NEVER-WAS!"
As such, I ignore the unknowing.
On the other hand, I didn't get any insight into how Marge thought today's puzzle was as a Tuesday offering.
Just returned from my TG hideaway...
After unpacking...I read the Thanksgiving posts. It was marvelous to "see" old friends like Tarrajo, Jimbo, WM, Dr. Dad and so many others. Good to "see" the "regulars" too.
In case you missed it when I posted early in November (since I knew I`d be away on Lemonade714`s designated day), I`m in the process of buying decorations and planning food and the trip for our 50th anniversary celebration in May. I know the children are supposed to do this but I am better able to than them...and this way I can feel free to do what I want.
I will not do traditional gold decorations but will use the colors I had in our wedding reception. I still have my wedding cake topper and one piece of crystal serving wear from my original showers, which I`ll also use. For our favors, we`re doing an "Our Story" booklet with "courting" pictures.
My husband and I are relatively well and my children are getting it together better than they were when I resigned, for which I`m grateful.
CC: You did a far better thing than you realize when you created this blog.
Again, it was wonderful to "see" you all again and I do drop by occasionally.
May God bless each of you.
Jeannie, that is really nice of you to say. I'm doing OK. Changing old habits isn't easy. One day at a time. Thanks for your concern.
Dennis, I appreciate your opinion. Money is a factor of course but not the most important factor. Thanks.
Bill G., the Yaris was at top of the small cars list in the December Consumer Reports, yet wasn't recommended. It didn't say why there wasn't a recommendation. The Honda Fit was the top recommended "best buy". I don't know about your area, but our Honda dealer here and former dealers in So Cal have been terrific with fast dependable service, which is always a consideration. Fair's fair, so FYI, GAH and I are Honda people and are very happy with our (#8 on the list) Honda Insight Hybrid.
Laurie, there was a movie "Untamed Heart", with Christian Slater, but the song you're thinking of could be Unchain My Heart by the great Joe Cocker.
Clear Ayes-- The song I'm thinking of is Untame My Heart by Jessie Rogers. This link is for the lyrics but I couldn't find the actual song.
http://razzledazzle.wordpress.com/2007/01/27/another-awesome-song/
Sorry, I don't know how to do the link thing.
Laurie is right. "Untame my Heart"
This song is done by Jesse Goodman and this is a cover done by Kelsey Gallagher.
UNTAME is used as a verb.
Lyrics
Well that just goes to show ya. I'm not a follower of the Christian music genre, so Jessie (Rogers) Goodman and "Untame My Heart" were totally new to me. Learned at least two things today. Thanks Laurie and Argyle.
5 and out. I'm still glad to have mistakenly linked a Joe Cocker song. Have a good one, everybody.
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