Theme: Imelda's love - Three theme enders that are types of the hint in the unifier...and what Imelda Marcos collected over 2700 pairs of.
20A. How many fall in love: HEAD OVER HEELS
34A. Temperature control devices: HEAT PUMPS. Not comfortable with the clue, although the use of any source of heat could be said to be a temperature control device.
40A. Bonneville Speedway terrain: SALT FLATS. The Bonneville Salt Flats is a densely-packed salt pan in northwestern Utah that is a remnant of the Pleistocene Lake Bonneville.
53A. Abridged maxim about accepting an apt description, and a hint to this puzzle's theme found in 20-, 34- and 40-Across: IF THE SHOE FITS.... "...WEAR IT" was left off the end of the maxim, that's why it is abridged.
Argyle here.
Have to say this feels a little flat after yesterday's puzzle but then, I don't have a shoe fetish. I do think it's funny that some sneakers are pumps now. Image.
Across:
1. Like serious collectors : AVID. Could apply to Imelda!
5. Ristorante staple : PASTA
10. Bristol baby carriage : PRAM. Alliteration and British (and no comments about Palin, please).
14. Fishing need : LINE
15. Turn red, as tomatoes : RIPEN
16. Genesis creator : SEGA. Video games system.
17. It may be enough : ONCE. ONCE is enough. (Doesn't apply to buying shoes.)
18. Keats, e.g. : ODIST
19. Arabian Peninsula port : ADEN
23. Mule's parent : ASS. A palomino mule. Image.
24. __ majesty : LESE. A crime, esp. high treason, committed against the sovereign power.
25. Adjustor's assessment : DAMAGE
28. Sought office : RAN
29. Dent or scratch : MAR
30. Mauna __ : LOA. "Long Mountain" in Hawaiian, it is the largest volcano on Earth in terms of volume. Mauna Kea, a neighbor of Mauna Loa on the same island of Hawaii is the tallest, from the sea floor.
31. Israeli desert : NEGEV. Map.
37. Door-to-door company : AVON
38. Stolen goods dealer : FENCE
39. Went like the wind : TORE
42. Less, in La Paz : MENOS. Either La Paz, Bolivia or La Paz, Mexico, it is still Spanish.
43. Do the math, in a way : ADD
44. Rowing implement : OAR
45. With it : HIP
46. Duds in a lot : LEMONS. The cleverest clue? A car lot.
48. Tiny power source : ATOM
50. Drama featuring a DNA lab : CSI. Crime Scene Investigation.
56. Course list : MENU
58. Spanish folk hero : EL CID. A hero for his fight against the Moors.
59. Mound stats : ERAs. See 56Across from yesterday.
60. Golf rarities : ACEs. A hole in one. Aces are also baseball pitchers, too.
61. River through France : RHONE
62. Earth tone : ECRU
63. Sit for a shooting : POSE
64. Located : SITED
65. Fashionable way to arrive? : LATE
Down:
1. Hilo hello : ALOHA. Hilo is on the Big Island with those two volcanoes. Musical interlude. (3:51)
2. Jungle growth : VINES
3. Pizarro victims : INCAs. Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador.
4. Certain title : DEED
5. No longer in doubt : PROVEN
6. Helpers : AIDES
7. Kremlin feature : SPIRE
8. New Age musician John : TESH
9. Precede : ANTEDATE, A date before the date in question.
10. Biblical hymn : PSALM
11. Fish also called a sockeye : RED SALMON
12. Candle count, on many cakes : AGE
13. Isle of __ : MAN
21. Patron saint of Norway : OLAV
22. Wild West lawman : EARP
26. Give up amateur status : GO PRO
27. Lets up : EASES
28. Tenants' strike leverage : RENT
29. PC alternatives : MACs
31. Twangy : NASAL
32. Get around : EVADE
33. Places with valuable veins : GOLD MINES
34. Catch wind of : HEAR
35. Tolkien tree creature : ENT
36. Lone Star State sch. : UTEP. University of Texas at El Paso.
38. Hazard lights, e.g. : FLASHERS
41. Type specification : FONT
42. Actor with nothing to say : MIME
45. Like some sweatshirts : HOODED. Hoodies, in modern parlance.
47. Helpful : OF USE
48. Fancy tie : ASCOT
49. Biblical possessive : THINE
50. Approximately, in dates : CIRCA
51. Onset : START
52. Debate subject : ISSUE
54. K-12 catchall : ELHI. The catchall we'all hate.
55. Sense : FEEL
56. It may be topographical : MAP
57. "The Name of the Rose" author Umberto : ECO. Finally has become a gimme but only through doing crosswords.
Answer grid.
20A. How many fall in love: HEAD OVER HEELS
34A. Temperature control devices: HEAT PUMPS. Not comfortable with the clue, although the use of any source of heat could be said to be a temperature control device.
40A. Bonneville Speedway terrain: SALT FLATS. The Bonneville Salt Flats is a densely-packed salt pan in northwestern Utah that is a remnant of the Pleistocene Lake Bonneville.
53A. Abridged maxim about accepting an apt description, and a hint to this puzzle's theme found in 20-, 34- and 40-Across: IF THE SHOE FITS.... "...WEAR IT" was left off the end of the maxim, that's why it is abridged.
Argyle here.
Have to say this feels a little flat after yesterday's puzzle but then, I don't have a shoe fetish. I do think it's funny that some sneakers are pumps now. Image.
Across:
1. Like serious collectors : AVID. Could apply to Imelda!
5. Ristorante staple : PASTA
10. Bristol baby carriage : PRAM. Alliteration and British (and no comments about Palin, please).
14. Fishing need : LINE
15. Turn red, as tomatoes : RIPEN
16. Genesis creator : SEGA. Video games system.
17. It may be enough : ONCE. ONCE is enough. (Doesn't apply to buying shoes.)
18. Keats, e.g. : ODIST
19. Arabian Peninsula port : ADEN
23. Mule's parent : ASS. A palomino mule. Image.
24. __ majesty : LESE. A crime, esp. high treason, committed against the sovereign power.
25. Adjustor's assessment : DAMAGE
28. Sought office : RAN
29. Dent or scratch : MAR
30. Mauna __ : LOA. "Long Mountain" in Hawaiian, it is the largest volcano on Earth in terms of volume. Mauna Kea, a neighbor of Mauna Loa on the same island of Hawaii is the tallest, from the sea floor.
31. Israeli desert : NEGEV. Map.
37. Door-to-door company : AVON
38. Stolen goods dealer : FENCE
39. Went like the wind : TORE
42. Less, in La Paz : MENOS. Either La Paz, Bolivia or La Paz, Mexico, it is still Spanish.
43. Do the math, in a way : ADD
44. Rowing implement : OAR
45. With it : HIP
46. Duds in a lot : LEMONS. The cleverest clue? A car lot.
48. Tiny power source : ATOM
50. Drama featuring a DNA lab : CSI. Crime Scene Investigation.
56. Course list : MENU
58. Spanish folk hero : EL CID. A hero for his fight against the Moors.
59. Mound stats : ERAs. See 56Across from yesterday.
60. Golf rarities : ACEs. A hole in one. Aces are also baseball pitchers, too.
61. River through France : RHONE
62. Earth tone : ECRU
63. Sit for a shooting : POSE
64. Located : SITED
65. Fashionable way to arrive? : LATE
Down:
1. Hilo hello : ALOHA. Hilo is on the Big Island with those two volcanoes. Musical interlude. (3:51)
2. Jungle growth : VINES
3. Pizarro victims : INCAs. Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador.
4. Certain title : DEED
5. No longer in doubt : PROVEN
6. Helpers : AIDES
7. Kremlin feature : SPIRE
8. New Age musician John : TESH
9. Precede : ANTEDATE, A date before the date in question.
10. Biblical hymn : PSALM
11. Fish also called a sockeye : RED SALMON
12. Candle count, on many cakes : AGE
13. Isle of __ : MAN
21. Patron saint of Norway : OLAV
22. Wild West lawman : EARP
26. Give up amateur status : GO PRO
27. Lets up : EASES
28. Tenants' strike leverage : RENT
29. PC alternatives : MACs
31. Twangy : NASAL
32. Get around : EVADE
33. Places with valuable veins : GOLD MINES
34. Catch wind of : HEAR
35. Tolkien tree creature : ENT
36. Lone Star State sch. : UTEP. University of Texas at El Paso.
38. Hazard lights, e.g. : FLASHERS
41. Type specification : FONT
42. Actor with nothing to say : MIME
45. Like some sweatshirts : HOODED. Hoodies, in modern parlance.
47. Helpful : OF USE
48. Fancy tie : ASCOT
49. Biblical possessive : THINE
50. Approximately, in dates : CIRCA
51. Onset : START
52. Debate subject : ISSUE
54. K-12 catchall : ELHI. The catchall we'all hate.
55. Sense : FEEL
56. It may be topographical : MAP
57. "The Name of the Rose" author Umberto : ECO. Finally has become a gimme but only through doing crosswords.
Answer grid.
Note from C.C.:
Today we celebrate the birthday of Dick (flanked by JD & Carol). With Dennis and Dr. Dad, Dick formed the formidable 3-D in the earlier days of this blog.
Argyle
Today we celebrate the birthday of Dick (flanked by JD & Carol). With Dennis and Dr. Dad, Dick formed the formidable 3-D in the earlier days of this blog.
Argyle
I was up, bright & early again. This was an easy puzzle again but took be a little longer to solve. I guessed that shoes was somehow the clue early on and the phrase equally easy.
ReplyDeleteNice job is setting the title "Emela's Love--she really loved her shoes.
liked the food link--pasta, red salmon, menu, lemons.
My surgery went very well yesterday. I was home by 3:00 p.m.
Morning, all!
ReplyDeleteEasy, breezy Tuesday puzzle. My only real hesitation came when I put in ANTECEDE instead of ANTEDATE for 9D, which messed things up for a little bit. I usually hesitate at OLAV/OLAF, but this time I got the V immediately off NEGEV. Years ago my sister, who was majoring in Biology, did a Summer internship studying wildlife in the NEGEV desert, so the name is in the forefront of my brain....
Happy birthday, Dick! And I'm glad to hear the surgery went well, Jacel!
Good Morning, Argyle and friends. Your commentary was more inspiring than today's puzzle.
ReplyDeleteONCE may be enough for this puzzle, but it wasn't for Jacqueline Susann.
Tie versus ASCOT. Which do you prefer?
I am a MAC user, so in my mind, there is no alternative!
My favorite clue was Certain Title = DEED. Occupational hazard, I suppose.
Happy Birthday, Dick. Hope this is a good one.
JimmyB, we are nearing your birthday, too, aren't we?
QOD: Youth is when you blame your troubles on your parents; maturity is when you learn that everything is the fault of the younger generation. ~ Bertolt Brecht.
Good morning Argyle and all, a very easy walk through the park today. My only errors were Lase for Lese and Olaf for Olav both of which were easily seen and corrected. I got the theme of shoes, but did not tie that in to Imelda.
ReplyDeleteHahtool, I really liked your QOD this morning.
Thanks to all for the birthday greetings.
Hope you all have a great Tuesday.
Happy Birthday, Dick,
ReplyDeleteGreat picture, looking good.
But you'd have to try hard to look bad between those two.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI always thought lese majesty meant the right of the feudal lord to any woman in his realm.
Ruth S
Good Morning Argyle, C.C. et al.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Dick! I won't ask what the 12A on your cake is, but wish you many more !
Thanks for the great write-up, Argyle. I did like this puzzle, but then again - who doesn't love shoes !! I finally got the theme after filling in the unifier. Have to admit, it had eluded me until then. I thought this was a nice clean puzzle with a difficulty level that was well-suited for a Tuesday. Again, it was a speed run and I missed a lot of the down clues until I read your blog.
"Genesis creator" for SEGA (got me)
"Duds in a lot" for LEMONS - great clue!
.... and then we saw ODIST again
What, no ASTA??
Have a great day everyone!
Ruth S., here is a more complete definition of “Lèse_majesté”
ReplyDeletewith a rather impudent cartoon for illustration.
Good Morning folks. Enjoyed the easy puzzle, David. Good jump start for a Tuesday. I got it done at home before I got on the train and bus. By the end of the week that all changes. The theme became obvious right away. Shoes. I am a shoe person of a sort. I wore Mason Shoes for about 35 years. They were made in America, in Chippewa Falls, WI. They fit great and were priced just fine. They were mail order. When they shut down their factory and moved all the machines out of the country, I quit buying them. Now I buy Red Wings, for work shoes. They are of the highest quality. I needed a pair of dress shoes and bought Allen Edmonds. Best dress shoe I ever owned. Made in America. I would buy another pair in a heart beat. Yes, they are expensive. But, you get what you pay for and, the money stays in the country and helps a US worker. My two cents.
ReplyDeleteI had a misstep with 54D k-12 catchall. I had ELEM on first pass, but RHONE and SITED fixed that. We seem to see Mauna LOA a lot lately. ASCOT appears a lot as well. Liked the HEATPUMPS. Good reminder to us all that there are many ways to be more efficient with energy. Another way I am trying to be more efficient with energy is to follow my wife and daughter around the house and shut lights off. It's a daily routine, it seems.
For some reason I had trouble getting into this site this morning. It kept coming up with the wrong day, yesterday. See you all tomorrow. Abejo
Good morning Argyle, CC and solvers all.
ReplyDeleteThis one went pretty smooth with just a little trouble in the NE corner. SEGA just wasn't in my thought process and I had that port as ADON. A few more sips of coffee and a head slap or two finally got that straightened out. Everything else flowed smoothly.
After years of accompanying two wives on shoe shopping sprees... If the shoe fits, she won't like the style or the color.
If the shoe fits, she still has to try on the next size smaller.
If the shoe fits, and she likes them, it's the most expensive pair in the store.
Abejo, Re: Red Wing shoes:
ReplyDeleteGood for you. And while I'm not sure where else they may have operations, Red Wing still makes shoes in their plant in Danville, Ky., 20 miles from where I live. There once were shoe factories all over Kentucky, a dubious benefit of our low-wage, non-union status, but in the 21st Century, where capital is King (and highly mobile), I suppose we're lucky to have jobs at any wage.
In any case, it's patriotic (and not necessarily xenophobic) to buy American, and I salute you.
Here at Windhover, we also try to buy local and patronize our small businesses over the Big Box Store when and where possible.
Hi All ~!!
ReplyDeleteThat's too funny, Grumpy1, but so true ~! - even though I am single again, I never had an issue with my ex buying shoes...I liked some of , themmyself...
I got done in by OLAF, as I too, have to guess F or V - and I started with V, switched to F, and got fooled anyway...teach me to fill it in.
ARGH ~!!
ReplyDeleteI got nixed trying to edit my own comment, so I will just say -
Take care all !
Splynter
No pauses at all today. Even got the theme early.
ReplyDeleteArgyle,
I thought the link for ALOHA in the blog was interesting, as it's in a mall in Anchorage AK, thus linking the two newest states and the sock eye/red salmon which is plentiful in AK as well.
Dick,
Happy birthday!
Jacel Morgan,
Hope you recover quickly from whatever surgery it was.
I think ascots look affectatious but the normal tie is such an anachronism, I can't understand why it has survived in our culture this long. Women in business dress so much more comfortably than men, and I would never be able to function with anything tied so tightly around my neck.
Good Morning All Argyle, I agree with Hahtool that the write-up was the best part of this enterprise today but waddaya gonna do?
ReplyDeleteLaboring under the idea that there is no such thing as a stupid question, I would like to ask C.C. if there are or could ever be a Chinese crossword puzzle or are the characters such that it would make no sense.
Musings
-HeartRx, I loved the cartoon!
-When I saw Head, Salt and Heat weren’t going anywhere, it became obvious that the back of those phrases were the obvious key
-My son-in-law is as much into shoes as my daughter! He heads to DSW every time we go shopping with them. I buy very expensive SASS shoes ($150/pr) and they last so long that I have not bought any for years. Love ‘em!
-If I could find shoes that would allow me to be on my feet for long stretches, I’d do that Wal~Mart greeter job in a heartbeat. My back can’t take standing on concrete very long.
-My first fishing need was a LURE
-Genesis creator took some time as I am not a video gamer
-Come on, you thought THERMOSTAT for heat control device didn’t ya?
-We have a Vornado space heater here in the sunroom and even when it is on low, it gets this room up to 70 and since the thermostat is in the kitchen next door, the rest of the house can get a little chilly
-Remember when Elite or Pica were the only two fonts available?
-ELHI is like the red headed cousin at the picnic. I just have to deal with it!
Good Morning C.C.,Argyle and all,
ReplyDeleteArgyle, as usual, your write-up was tops.I especially liked your theme title- what would we do without Imelda's shoes-2700 is a lot; and to think they go out of style too!
The theme didn't figure for me with this puzzle. It was easy with a few unknowns:menos and the spelling for Olav{until Negev}.Some of the clues hinted at double meanings which didn't make me flinch.
Over all, it was a good Tuesday puzzle. Thanks,David.
Happy Birthday, Dick! Many more.
Jacel, glad your surgury went well.
Lucina, Hope you're still on the mend or better.
CA, thanks for the shout- out, the other day.
Have a nice day everyone.
Lois, I remembered your story and your hero lab,Bruno, with the pink rabbit ears. I shed some tears when you announced you had lost him- I loved his picture and his heart. The Betty White addition to it really touched me; what an honor for Bruno and you.
ReplyDeleteMJ, Gunther looks like the perfect dog. Story really grabbed me.
Annette, I'm so sorry about your precious cat- 22 yrs is a very long time. Sounds as if you may be ready for another committment.
Husker Gary,
ReplyDeleteMartin, a Canadian living in Taiwan, showed me some Chinese crosswords two years ago. Very rudimentary. I had never heard of it previously.
Husker Gary, Try some of the pumps featured in Argyle's blob. They'll probably cost as much as your 'good' shoes ,but be much more comfortable.
ReplyDeleteC.C.,
ReplyDeleteYour mention of Martin made me wonder how he's doing. Have you heard anything more recently from him?
Lois,
I also remembered your Bruno story. I was thinking too how awful it must have been to watch your kids being pistol whipped by those thugs and then never to have had any justice served. It had to be really heart-rending to lose Bruno when the time came.
To Anon - Ruth S @ 6.45 am
ReplyDeleteMaybe you have confused 'lese Majeste' with -
'Droit de Seigneur' ( lord's right ) - jus primae noctis -
The 'right' of the lord to 'bed' all or any virgins in his realm.
Wiki has an article on it - under ' droit de seigneur'.
Nice to see one of my nom de plumes in the puzzle.
ReplyDeleteLove shoes! Anyone have Z coils or Tom`s?
HBTY Dick. The one I drive for also has a BD today. Talk about your April love!
Kazie,
ReplyDeleteI've not heard from Martin for a long time. He probably developed other interests than crosswords.
Grumpy,
Funny yet true "If the shoe fits..." lines.
Good morning from chilly Minnesota (-10) this morning! Who doesn’t like a puzzle with shoes as a theme? I thought of Robin. I had a couple of missteps. I had pole instead of line for a fishing need and I had to hit the g-spot for Negev. Aden, Sega, and Lese all came via the perps. When I hear “aces” I think of tennis; golf wouldn’t even cross my mind. I didn’t have a chance to complete the puzzle yesterday, but I liked reading all your dog stories. I would love to get one, but am gone 10 hours a day and I don’t think that’s fair. I grew up with dogs and my favorite was Rusty. He was a German Shorthair/Springer Spaniel mix. One time he came home FILLED with porcupine quills. It took one of us to hold him down while another pulled out the quills with a pair of pliers. If I remember correctly, there were over 50 quills! Ouch.
ReplyDeleteDennis, are you still in the sunny south?
Happy, happy birthday to you Dick!! Are you doing anything special today?
We lived in a townhouse once (in Cupertino, CA) that had a HEAT PUMP which both heated in the winter and air conditioned in the summer. Not sure how, but I'm sure someone here does. It was an all-electric community, so the cheaper natural gas was not an option. The folks that live there now say the electricity bills are outrageous.
ReplyDeleteHahtool - Indeed we are. On Saturday.
By the way, I followed GarlicGal's prompt and signed up for the Silicon Valley Puzzle Day. I probably have no idea what I'm getting myself into. Maybe I'll just try for the "best handwriting" award! If anyone else is going let me know.
Good morning all. Good commenting, Argyle.
ReplyDeleteThe puzzle was easy as most of you have said. Got the 'shoe' theme early which helped with the unifier. St. OLAV always reminds me of our visit to Trondheim where some relics of the Saint are interred in the Nidaros Cathedral. I think the crown jewels of the Norwegian monarchy are kept there, too. Did not know MENOS, but the perps helped. I knew 9d was ANTE____ but had to wait for the crosses for DATE.
Happy Birthday, Dick
HBDTY Dick, and many more. Jacel (is that a family name, a creation or a compromise?) heal from your surgery, whatever it may have been. I am in seventh week of post-op and ready to be done with it. I go back Monday. I enjoyed the puzzle, but home computer is ill; luckily my nephew is Geek Squad regular, so I should be back at it soon; hopefully by Thursday night.
ReplyDeleteMartin is one of the regulars from when I started who are in the mist, and also missed.
Grumpy, you are funny and worthy of your name. It makes me think of this classic SALESMAN .
Thanks Argyle, and Happy New Year all
Good morning Argyle, C.C. and all,
ReplyDeletea pretty straight forward puzzle today, although I would not have filled in Negev, menos, lese,or fence without the perps.Did the stealer throw his goods over the fence??
♪♩♬♫•*¨*•.❤.•*¨*•♫♪•.¸¸.•´♫♪♩♬*¨*`•.♥.•´*♫♪♩♬ HBTY,HBTY,Happy Birthday, dear friend.Enjoy the day!
Argyle, love,loved your theme title. Wasn't she something;big news for awhile "back in the day" (an expression I never use)
Did anyone else read 20A"How many fall in love"? with the accent on the wrong word, making it quite odd to answer? I could see the answer and then reread the clue.LOL
Avon-When I 1st started teaching, AVON was "the gift".My girls loved anything smelly. Perfume makes me sneeze, so I only use body lotion, and am picky about those too.The BEST AVON product was their pale green rubbery detangling brush for the shower.Remember the days when we had long hair?
Off to Cameron's 6 month dr. appt. These little guys are just growing up too quickly.
BTW, in Florida most apartment have only a/c units with heat pumps, no actuall heating system. Last winter one office building I was doing work in realized it did nto even had a heat pump and they had to close it for a day when we had a cold spell (30's!).
ReplyDeleteYes, where is miss red shoe diary this year?
Jeannie, pobrecita, stay warm.
Argyle, great write up. I agree that is is better than the puzzle itself. I love shoes, but am limited as to what I can wear because of back issues. Flats only for me. It is hard to make a dressy outfit work that way though.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Dick. Hope it is a wonderful day for you. Love that picture of the three of you.
In honor of the puzzle today, and for Abejo who buys them, here is a little tour of the Red Wing Museum where they sport the largest boot ever made - a size 638B apparently. Red Wing is in south eastern Minnesota and is a beautiful area if you want to visit someday. Click on Red Wing Shoe Museum to watch a very short but good video.
Good day, puzzlers!
ReplyDeleteYes, I feel much better, just a bit weak. Thank you.
Argyle, super blogging today and much more sparkly than the puzzle although the theme made me quiver with excitement.
I am AVID about SHOES though I assure you not as much as Imelda. When I was young and could wear any kind of shoe, cheap or expensive, I would buy shoes to match every outfit. I love heels but alas can no longer tolerate more than a two inch. (sigh)
I believe St. OLAV is the name of the saint although OLAF is the variation used by many kings and others.
It's nice to see our Spanish lessons continue here, MENOS vs. MAS.
It feels good to not have a single erasure which is about right for a Tuesday.
Happy, happy birthday, Dick!
JACEL, I'm glad you are recovering nicely from surgery.
Have a wonderful day, Amigos!
Hello Puzzlers - An easy enough puzzle, for sure, but I managed to get caught up in that Negef/Negev trap, and somehow Olaf looks more natural to me. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteACES as golf rarities didn't make much sense either.
Husker from yesterday - Amaryllis was the young girl in "The Music Man" who had a crush on Winthrop Paroo. In the film version, she makes fun of Winthrop's lisp, about which he is so self self conscious that he hates to say her name since it ends in that darn S. It always struck me as a bad bit of script writing; she wouldn't have laughed right in the face of the boy she loved, sending him off in tears.
Otherwise, Music Man is a fabulous American classic.
Awww thanks for thinking of me Jeannie and Lemony.
ReplyDeleteSplynter, I think you would look divine in those leopard heels!!
I "see" you all every day, I just don't have much to add.
xoxo
Hi everyone:
ReplyDeleteThe NW corner had me completely stumped for quite some time...I got 1D right away (DUH)but I put LURE in for 14A and that got me off on the wrong path...I did get 20 and 23A but still could not fill the rest in. Must be a slow brain day. The rest fell in easily and I like the fresh cluing.
46A was another ???? for me but I laughed when I finally figured it out, and alas my V-8 can has another dent in it. :)
JD: I had the same thought about 20A
at first...was thinking of an amount of people.
Dick: a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY my good friend, I hope Irene has 'fun plans' for you today/tonight. Enjoy!!!
Kazie: I'm with you on the look of an ascot...too fussy/prissy. I am one of those who cannot stand snug thingys around my neck, cannot even wear turtle neck tops.
Jacel: glad you are out of surgery in good order.
Hola Everyone, A rather straighforward and easy puzzle today. Hands up for the Olaf/Olav spelling. Thanks, once again, Arglye for a superb writeup.
ReplyDeleteI did think that Circa, Lese, and Negev were not quite Tuesday words, but made for a little more interesting puzzle today.
My favorites today: Duds in a lot/Lemon, and Genesis creator/Sega.
Shoes are my downfall, but I've gone from those lovely high-heeled shoes of my youth to the more mundane dress shoe with not much of a heel. Interesting how our (needs) likes change as we age!
Jacel, Heal fast and well.
HBDTY Dick, and many, many more. I love the picture of you, JD and Carol. Our blog friendships are more than virtual as we can all see.
KQ, thanks for the Red Wing link. Back in the 70's when hiking boots for women came in only smaller sizes, I couldn't find a pair in my size 11 size.
ReplyDeleteI went to our local Red Wing Store and was fitted in a pair of Men's boots that were the most comfortable and durable shoes I think I have even owned.
Those boots carried me for many miles in the back country of the Sierra Range.
Kazie:
ReplyDeleteForgot your poll. I prefer the tie; the ascot looks unkempt. For myself, I'm with Carol, cannot stand things around my neck, not even turtle neck sweaters. I love scarfs, but they have to be worn loosely.
Hi gang -
ReplyDeleteWoke up with a bad headache this morning - totally undeserved, too, dagnab it.
Made it through the puzzle, and I guess I liked more than most of the rest of the crew.
What would we call this kind of theme - collective with unifier? Kinda like yesterday's dogs.
Hmmm - dogs one day, dog covers the next.
I have no cleverness in me today (obviously.) Guess I'll go have a little lie-down.
Cheers!
JzB
Good Morning All, First laugh of the day was Argyle's theme title, a funny and accurate observation.
ReplyDeleteOne of my cousins and a friend were in London about 15 years ago and chatted with Imelda in the hotel lobby. Cousin's friend asked Mrs. Marcos for a photograph of the three of them. It was a big family joke for years seeing the photo of cousin...Imelda..friend stuck on the refrigerator with a magnet.
Back to the puzzle. It was a fine Tuesday offering, except for my own stumbling.
I bounced along until I hit (16A) "Genesis creator". Clever me, I was sure it had nothing to do with the Bible. Since I know zip about video games, I opted for PHIL Collins, one of the original members/creators of Genesis, the band. Clever? Not so much.
I also had problems with (9D) ANTEDATE and (42A) MENOS.
It still looks like the name of an Egyptian god to me, but I've finally got (36D) Lone Star State sch./UTEP down pat.
In spite of recent pleas from various posters, EL-HI made an appearance. I know it is one of those "go to" crossword fill and sometimes nothing else will do.
GAH would never wear an ASCOT and he isn't fond of ties either. I, OTOH always looks forward to A Sharp Dressed Man. How's that for a "twofer", ZZ Top AND Gerard Butler?
Glad to hear you are feeling better Lucina.
Jacel Morgan, always glad to know that surgeries have gone well and hope you recover quickly.
Aw Jazz, feel better soon!
Dick, enjoy your day!
ODIST anyone? Some Keats coming up.
I didn't get a chance to thank JD yesterday for posting the link to the Silicon Valley Puzzle contest. So, Thank You!! Yes JimmyB, I preregistered yesterday as well. It is a fun way to spend an afternoon...in a masochistic sort of way that only a puzzler can appreciate.
ReplyDeleteHere's how it was in the past - 3 timed tests, with a 20 minute time limit - Mon, Wed, Fri level. I'm usually able to finish the first 2
but oh that Friday....
Oh boy, Tortilla Soup Tuesday! Adios mi amigos...
C.C. Thanks for the Chinese cwd answer. I assume it is because the Chinese language has no alphabet per se and each character is a word or phrase?
ReplyDeleteDudley, yes, Amaryllis was the annoying little girl in Music Man who did not treat her desired boy friend very well. A lot of those classic musicals had some odd relationship ideas. Spousal abuse was really not taken seriously in Carousel.
Creature, those pumps look very comfortable but I can't teach in 'em!
Puzzle was easy. I couldn't think of ACES, so I entered ONES. Wrote it very lightly, as I was working in pen.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Dick. Get well soon or congratulations to all who ail/ed.
I returned last night from a ski trip where I did very little skiing. The snow started with the New Year, and I was snowed into the cabin for the next 2 days. It still took me an hour with the snow blower to dig out the car after they finally plowed.
Shoes do nothing for me. Probably something to do with the fact that I'm in a 14 4E. I still shop at BA Mason, because they fit sometimes. Red wing uses the wrong last. Now that I graduated from middle school, I live in New Balance, which still makes some in the US. My ski boots are custom made in Utah by Dale Boots, the only American ski boot maker.
I have a collection of ties that is not quite as impressive as Imelda's shoes, but students can't easily give Avon to a male. Most are decorated with Looney Tunes, aliens and other strange designs. I used to wear 2 or 3 a week, but haven't put one on since I retired.
A belated Happy new year to all
Hi, everybody.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even think about a theme because everything filled in as I went and the types of shoes escaped me. I knew most of the answers immediately. I debated with myself between OLAf and OLAV, but as soon as I saw NEGEV, I knew which it was. I had reel for 14A, but I knew that was wrong as soon as I saw 1D. I started to put lure, but I saw INCAS and that made it clear that it was LINE. I would never have known SEGA, but the perps got it before I read the clue.
At one time, I had more shoes than DH thought I should, but after having four surgeries on my feet, I am unable to wear any kind of shoe except the most comfortable. For special occasions (more funerals than weddings these days) I wear a nice pantsuit with black leather walking shoes. I think that us oldsters can be forgiven some (necessary) eccentricities.
On the tie/ascot question, I prefer the tie. Ascots seem pretentious to me.
I'm all for anybody just being comfortable. I'd rather see a guy without either tie or ascot, as long as his clothes are decent (i.e. no baggy pants, no objectionable tees, etc.) My mama usta say about clothes, "As long as they don't stink and they cover your nakedness, they are OK."
Jacel, I missed what kind of surgery you had, but I wish you a speedy recovery.
Happy birthday, Dick. Many happy returns.
Easy Tuesday and a lot of pretty trite answers and clues. Oh well, they can't all be great and I still love doing any crossword puzzle, even the easiest ones.
ReplyDeleteBright sunny day here in No. Cal.
[Off topic rant]: I had to buy a new printer yesterday because my 2-year old Epson (just out of warranty, of course) had clogged jets which couldn't be cleared through the normal cleaning cycle. I used a complete set of ink cartridges trying. I bought a Canon MX870 because I'm tired of dealing with Epson problems and I hate the software that HP loads on your PC. The Canon seems pretty good so far and it prints photos *directly* from my iPhone over WiFi once I downloaded the free app. Wow! FAX, copy, scan, ADF (auto 2 side duplexing), 2 paper trays (letter and photo), WiFi, and memory card slots all for $200. I guess they make it up on ink (razor/razorblade strategy).[end of rant]
Sure, Keats was known as an ODIST (at least in crossword puzzles). Personally I'm not so fond of blabbing on about Grecian Urns, Autumn, Melancholy and so on. I much prefer (some of) his sonnets. This one is a killer as far as I'm concerned. Keats did take some poetic license and put Cortez, rather than Balboa as the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean via the New World. (He needed two syllables, not three).
ReplyDeleteGeorge Chapman was the 17th century English translator of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. It must have wowed Keats when he read them.
On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer
Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold,
And many goodly states and kingdoms seen;
Round many western islands have I been
Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold.
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told
That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne;
Yet never did I breathe its pure serene
Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold.
Then felt I like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken;
Or like stout Cortez, when with eagle eyes
He star'd at the Pacific - and all his men
Look'd at each other with a wild surmise -
Silent, upon a peak in Darien.
- John Keats, 1816
I just got an email from Peter Gordon of Fireball Crosswords. Subscriptions to Year 2 of Fireball Crosswords are now open. Go here if you want to strain your brain.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info on printers, MJ. We need a new and had a similar problem as you had with the old one. I like the idea of being able to print off my iPhone!
ReplyDeleteSorry, I meant MH. And I know you have been a participant here for quite a while.
ReplyDeleteGarlicGal, where do you get tortilla soup? There's a little Mexican restaurant about a mile from here that makes it muy bueno.
ReplyDeleteChickie, how did your bean soup turn out? Do you know the story about Senate bean soup? It has to be on the US Senate's cafeteria menu every day by law.
Poor Barbara. She's having trouble backing her new little Yaris straight down the driveway and past my car which is parked in the driveway. She driven her VW for years but for some reason, backing up the Yaris even with its good mirrors has her flummoxed even though I've helped her practice. Oh well. It'll come.
The Music Man is my favorite musical. What great songs! A decent story too.
Husker Gary, the reason you couldn't teach in those pumps is because the students would be looking at your feet instead of paying any attention to what you were saying. :>)
Great write-up...Loved the theme...and QOD! Shoes AND purses ... can't have too many. It doesn't matter if they are expensive (> $350)and never wear out...one always needs/buys/loves new shoes!!!
ReplyDeleteGood evening everyone.
ReplyDeleteGreat write up, Argyle. Thinking of Imelda was a true brainstorm.
Happy birthday, even though it's to be celebrated next Saturday, Dick.
I always thought lese majesty meant when the majesty did something not appropriate to his/her rank. So thank you Argyle for informing me.
Clear Ayes, thanks for the shout out from Charley.
I had to have a chimney sweep do our chimney and another person's. The other asked me to let them in and be there because she was at work. Two sweeps came complete with top hat, etc. My Schipperke went nuts, barking etc. She didn't like strangers in the house or anyone in something like a uniform. So I put her out on the deck 'til the chimney was swept. Then the men and I went to my neighbor's. She had a yellow lab. In contrast, the lab welcomed us in, brought toys to the men, and was completely charming.
Cheers
Since today's theme was about shoes, this sad story about the Nevada shoe treecaught my eye. Had anyone heard of this tree before?
ReplyDeleteHusker Gary,re: your musings at 9:16A.M.,"If I could find shoes that would allow me to be on my feet for long stretches, I'd do that Walmart Greeter job in a heartbeat. My back can't take standing on concrete very long."
ReplyDeleteHence, my suggestion about the pumps.
I didn't mean for your teaching job, per se; just, in general, for your back. My back also suffers from walking on concrete.
CA, 'Sharp Dressed Man'; me,too.
Enjoyed Keats poem; thanks for explaining it.
Jazz, Hope your 'lie-down' helped
cheer you up and ditched the headache.
Jeannie, 'Aces' is tennis to me,too. Hope your 10 hour days will be coming under control soon.
Wrap-up--10 degrees is indeed chilly.
Hahtool:
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry! It was you who asked the question about ties or ascots. My only excuse is age . . . too much of it.
Jazz:
ReplyDeleteFeel better soon and return to your witty, sparkling self.
CA:
I love ON LOOKING INTO CHAPMAN'S HOMER! Thanks for posting it.
CA, I need someone(who can pronounce demesne) to read that poem aloud. I'm sure it would then make sense. Strange wording back then.
ReplyDeleteAlmost forgot to mention Soles 4Souls. In 2005 this org. started sending shoes to victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the Asian tsunamis. They have now distributed more than 12 million pairs in 125 countries. Our town is currently participating and has boxes all over the place, like at Starbucks, and some of the schools are doing it for a community project.
Jacel, glad your surgery went smoothly.
Funny story, Sallie.
Garlic Gal, maybe Chickie and I will come down to the puzzlefest. I KNOW I can't do a Fri xwd in 20 min..not even a Wed!It would just be fun to be there.Thanks for information.
Jacel, I have not been very polite in the fact that I have not welcomed you to our little corner of the world. I would like to know more about you however. If you just update your profile with a couple of facts such as where you live, what you do, and what interests you. I hope I am not being too much of a busybody.
ReplyDeleteGunghy, it seems pretty ironic that your skiing trip was hampered by the fact that you got too much snow! I hope that your cabin was well stocked and cozy warm.
BillG, I can feel Barbara's pain. It takes me a while to get used to a new car when it comes to the "backing up" maneuver! Oh, and to back up a trailer? Forget it!!
Creature, I will always be gone 10 hour days as my commute is about 45min each way, my lunch a half and hour, and I work 8 hrs. Oh, and I didn't say it was 10 degrees, I said it was MINUS 10 degrees!!
Question for all you fine folks; guys and gals included. What is the highest amount of money that you ever spent on a single pair of shoes? Come on, be honest!
Hello all,
ReplyDeleteThanks Argyle. Great write-up. Learn new somethings all the time from your efforts! Cute puzzle, Mr. Cromer. It worked itself almost as fast as I could type (with left hand, lying on right side). Unknowns like SEGA filled in by themselves. Of course I never come close to DENNIS and BARRY's times!
ROSE--It is customary to cap words from puzzle and related words. I was not shouting at you! You did not need to shout at me.
Am happy to report that I fell asleep again easily last night. Will tell you about it later, since I ate some bad shrimp (I think) and woke up later with intense intestinal and stomach problems and am now completely worn out.
Happy birthday DICK!
Jeannie--That would be $150 years ago on orthopedic shoes for plantar fasciitis, which blessedly healed itself eventually. Being very tall, I really never did heels. Good thing, since I acquired bad back at early age (28).
ReplyDeleteHello Everyone ~~
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed today's puzzle and had no problems except for the OLAV-OLAF thing. Really liked "Duds in a lot." Enjoyed your write-up, Argyle. Informative & entertaining.
Yesterday HeartRx mentioned that one of her cats was overweight at 13 pounds. One of my cats, Grace, is a very plump 18 pounds. (I just put her picture in my avatar.) She is very sweet and very affectionate. Her vet appointment is coming up--maybe she's lost a few ounces! >^.^<
Jacel, I second what Jeannie said. Mea culpa for not saying welcome. I am also interested it knowing a little more about you. Feel free to check out my little résumé.
ReplyDeleteJeannie, the most I ever spent on shoes was about $100. I am not much of a shoe person since I have very narrow feet (AA) and I wear a size 7 1/2, which is one of the most popular lengths (or it used to be). I can never fine narrow shoes that fit right and look good. I end up settling for a B width with straps or ties to keep them on. sigh. Thankfully I don't dress up (fancy, fancy) so don't wear heels anymore.
ReplyDeleteBill G: we have a great Mexican restaurant in Gilroy . Their Tortilla Soup is mostly potato chunks, tortilla chips, cilantro, onions and shredded white cheese in chicken broth. Very bueno!
ReplyDeleteJD, Chickie and any other NorCal folks head on down to Morgan Hill on the 30th and we can meet up before the tournament for coffee...or afterwards for wine!
Jeannie, I've never been a "shoe person", and all I want now is comfort. I spend most of my time in sneakers, slippers or barefoot. However, in my pre-sixties (probably more like pre-fifties) I was just as concerned with style as comfort. I think the most I ever spent on shoes was about $150 for a pair of rust colored suede leather high heel boots. (Very hot!) I bought them at a SoCal discount mall when they were having a big sale. I think the original price was $300. That was 25 years ago, so I'm sure they'd be more expensive now. I had to smile at erieruth's comment that shoes costing over $350 would be the expensive cut line. I'm much more of a shoe cheapskate. I usually spend in the $50-$75 range. I'd consider over $100 expensive and wouldn't buy them unless they were on sale. Luckily, I don't have any foot issues, so I don't have to shop at special stores....just so long as they carry 10 X-Wide.
ReplyDeleteMinus 10 degrees? Ouch!!
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteI liked this puzzle, too. Most of it came easy which is more fun to do. I also got the theme after the unifier. I didn't think of Amelda until you mentioned it, Argyle, you had a good write up, as usual.
My brother put a heatpump in when they remodeled their house 25 years ago. It is used as a back-up. They live in central Indiana.
I try to buy local also, the local grocery store instead of Big box stores. Our medical insurance makes us buy from a large Mail order co. and I find it frustrating. My Oldest brother had a Drug Store in downtown Baraboo for 30 years. He sold it to another drug store in town and it is still downtown. I feel sad we can't get our Meds there.
Our church has a project every year and last fall we collected shoes for Sole4Souls. We collected several hundred pair, it was a project the kids could really get into.
I used to not be able to stand tight things around my neck, including Turtle necks. But since I stopped being hot all the time and am now cold all the time, I wear them a lot.
Happy birthday Dick. Jacel, I hope you recover well from your surgery.
A good evening to all!
Marge
Fermatprime: hears a third chainse to correkt a feleuow blogger. have fun!
ReplyDeleteJeannie: Probably the most I have spent on shoes is about $150. I am more apt, however, to find a nice pair of shoes on sale, then have to spend a small fortune on an outfit that matches!
ReplyDeleteAs for Soles-4-Souls ~ one of our Bat Mitzvahs was collecting shoes for that organization as part of her bat mitzvah project. She had hoped to be able to collect at least 200 pairs. Her project came up when I was in the process of downsizing. I was probably able to give her about half of her anticipated quota.
Fermatprime, your comment about being too tall for heels reminded me of how careful our generation was about not being taller than our men friends. That doesn't hold true anymore. (I'm thinking of Tom Cruise and the love(s) of his life.)
ReplyDeleteBy the time the 80's rolled around, women liked to show off their height. My daughter and both sisters are 5'10" and a little over. They loved to get together in public wearing 4" heels. The best I could hope for for 5'10" with the heels and they all topped 6'2"....very impressive.
Jeannie, how about you, shoe price-wise?
JD, it is "di mān; also, -mēn", very much like domain, and means pretty much the same thing. Why Keats couldn't just say "domain" is a mystery to me too. Fancy schmancy, yes, but I do love the imagery of the last three lines.
Good Evening Argyle, Cc, et al., Excellent fun puzzle and another great job, Santa, baby. Love your humor. I’ve got some ‘pumps’ for you, Santa, darlin’.
ReplyDeleteLemonade: the ‘salesman’ clip was hilarious.
Dick: Happy, Happy Birthday. I hope your day is a spectacular one. Love the picture of you 3 bloggers. Such a good lookin’ group!
JD: 20A How many fall in love threw me for a while too. Certainly needed perp help. My mind was going wild. Got h___‘over’___el…well, it was a while before I thought clearly enough to see anything reasonable.
Welcome to all the newbies. Fun times!
Where is Martin? And where the hell is Dennis?
Enjoy your night.
CA: Back at you on the comfort level for shoes! I never wear anything that isn't comfy....I don't care a thing about what is 'in' now but years ago, I wore the high heels everyday and didn't think a thing of it. I was 5'6" (not so much now), so I could get away with heels - and I do remember those times when young women would not wear any heels making them taller than a guy. What fragile egos the guys had, and how we always made sure they felt 'superior'. We all know better now, and that is a good thing for both sexes.
ReplyDeleteI echo Lois's question, where is Dennis???
Also, where is Buckeye???
I must admit that I "splurged" one day when I got a windfall (remember the Iron Chef Kraft challenge at work?) and paid $250.00 for a really pretty pair of tan suede pumps to "go with any outfit". Herein lies the problem. If there is any chance of precipitation of any kind I can't wear them. Oh, if I need to go to an event when I have to dress up, I will "tote" them along and change on site. Us Minnesota gals know how to adapt!!
ReplyDeleteTo KQ: Enjoyed the Red Wing Museum link. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteTo: Garlicgal: From your note today it looks like you are from Gilroy, or at least live there. Now I get the name. I used to work in Gilroy, at the phone company. I remember going to the "Garlic Room" a few times. This was circa 1981/82.
Abejo
These are beautiful and sexy, but I could never spend that kind of money on shoes that you just wear once in a while. My go-to shoes are mostly casuals and are Clarks, Bass, or Naturalizers. None of those brands are cheap, but the shoes generally last me a couple, three years; IF I take care of them. I have a really bad habit of not wearing my boots in the winter and get a lot of salt damage/buildup. I usually ruin at least one pair a year due to my laziness. One day I'll learn...
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, Happy Birthday to the 3 Ds. I think. And I'm not sure if JD and Carol should be wished well or not. Well, I certainly do wish them well, but is it a birthday or not?
ReplyDeleteAnd Hello to the rest of you, Argyle, C.C., snd all. Thank you, David for the nice Tuesday challenge. I zipped through it just as one should on a Tuesday. Hope we see more of you.
I haven't read the comments yet, so I will see you all later. dodo
Drois de Seignour is the same as Lese majeste. If you deny his right, he is insulted.Therefore he has the right of primogeniture.
ReplyDeleteJeannie, I have to admit, the most expensive "shoes" I ever bought was a pair of Apex ski boots, at around $1250. Does that count?
ReplyDeleteDodo: that picture of the 3 of us was taken last August but shown because there was no individual picture of Dick. Today is his birthday :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I feel like a wuss, complaining about a headache when Jacel had surgery!
ReplyDeleteThing is, I've still got it. The nap didn't help, nor Tylenol after every meal. I hopeful for a good night's sleep.
I think I've paid about $60 for wing tips, but it's been quite a while.
Recently a put out $50 for a pair of Dr. Scholl's orthotic inserts.
OSU up 31-13 late in the third. Arkansas has made a lot of mistakes.
Cheers, and Go Bucs!
JzB
dodo, it is only Dick's birthday..well, I'm sure other people are celebrating as well, but not Carol nor myself. C.C. mentioned that Dick was a part of the blog with Dennis and Dr.Dad from very early on...they were known as the 3 D's.
ReplyDeleteCA, I must admit, the imagery is lovely.In some of those older works, I may read a poem over many times just for a few lines that touch me...such as Wordsworth:
What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind...
I'm glad I saved my 5th post. Just had to thank JD for reminding me of another great ODIST, William Wordsworth. The lines JD quoted are from the 10th stanza of "Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood"...so lovely and evocative of our youth.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Jeannie, we in the warmer states forget how tough the weather can be on footwear. Keep those boots handy! BTW, I can understand why Sex In The City's Carrie Bradshaw said, "Hello, Lovah!", when she passed by a display window of Manolo Blaniks...gorgeous and extreme pricy.
Carol and JD, thank you, darlings for setting me straight on the Ds. I did see that picture after you all got together. Dont' know how I missed it today. And JD, now I know where the title for "Splendor in the Grass" came from! Natalie Wood (R.I.P.) and who? Please don't say Rock Hudson! I've read lots of Wordsworth but remember little.
ReplyDeleteJeannie, I think they were $135 but it could have been $125. Strangely, I can't remember.....
I now wear flats or Reeboks, or Arcopedicos, which I recommend for anyone with back troubles. I wear them for slippers
Bill G. The bean soup was delicious. I used the bone, with some meat still attached, from our Christmas ham. When the soup cooks all day the meat falls off the bone, and the beans become very tender.
ReplyDeleteThe leftover soup made for a great lunch today, and we'll have it tomorrow, too! This recipe makes a big pot of soup.
Bill G., I didn't answer your other question about Senate Bean Soup. I'm afraid I haven't heard about it. But I'll Google it to find out more.
ReplyDeleteJeannie:
ReplyDeleteThe most I remember paying for shoes was in the $150.00 range, Cole sandals. However, even Merrell thong sandals are at least $100.00.
I buy them at the end of the season when they are on sale. Here sandals are required from at least April to mid October.
Good night everyone! I see that Wednesday's blog is already posted.
Jacel:
I am not sure if I welcomed you to our group and I do so now.