L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Friday July 15, 2011 Bruce R. Sutphin

Jul 15, 2011

Friday July 15, 2011 Bruce R. Sutphin

Theme: TAG you are it. Each of the four theme answers are in the language two word phrases which change into completely different and witty new phrases by adding a TAG before the final E in the second word. There is also a unifier, which I found unnecessary, but then this seemed a really easy Friday.

Hey, it is lemonade, and I confess I am unfamiliar with any prior puzzles from Mr. Sutphin. I have seen his name mentioned around the ACPT, but that is all. Maybe he is a lawyer getting ready to retire. Anyway, here we go.

20A. Gnome held against his will?: GARDEN HOSTAGE. GARDEN HOSE, I wonder why people began adding garden to hose; we use the same on to wash the car, or the dog. I do like the visual of the TRAVELOCITY Gnome tied up and held for ransom.

27A. Meteorologist's view?: WEATHER VANTAGE. WEATHER VANE, the twirly on top of your house if you live in New England, and a nice use of VANTAGE as view.

43A. Team equipment manager's snafu?: JERSEY SHORTAGE. I have never watched an episode of JERSEY SHORE, and you will have to provide your own links.

51A. Stamps with nudes?: EROTIC POSTAGE. An EROTIC POSE, does not have to be nude.

66A. Some graffiti signatures (which were used to form this puzzle's four longest answers): TAGS. Of course you should know HOW TO.

Okay on to the rest of the story.

ACROSS:

1. It's covered in silk: CORN. My ex-wife, just would not fit. You think it is HEALTHY ?

5. British bakery buy: SCONE. I may be half French, but I love me a good scone. My youngest bakes great ones.

10. Mass measure: GRAM.

14. Head start?: IDEA. Oh I get it, the idea starts in our head!

15. "Breaking Bad" actor __ Paul: AARON. never heard of this ACTOR, who shares my sons name and my birthday. Anybody watch the show?

16. Result of getting too far behind, briefly: REPO. Nice new way to clue this standard crossword fill.

17. Extends, with "to": ADDS. Like Rory McIlroy at the U. S. Open and his lead.

18. Serious alarm: DREAD. No one is quite sure where this word comes from but it has an almost onomatopoeia like sound about it.

19. Skip and jump lead-in: A HOP. The hop skip and jump is now known as the triple jump. The phrase is still used by some to convey a place being close by; my house is a...

23. Runner on snow: SKI. A literal answer.

25. Drink in a yard: ALE. Our obligatory BEER reference, and a fun GAME ?

26. Math ratios: SINES. Not to be confused with THIS.

32. Faris of "Scary Movie" films et al.: ANNAS. Do you like this ACTRESS? Blonde or brunette?

33. They may shrink if they aren't fed: EGOS. Nice clue, and the Corner can be a place to feed some.

34. Visit: GO TO.

35. Pasty: WAXEN. Hmm, I like the other set, 53D. Whiten: PALE.

37. Light touches: PATS. There my dear, stop crying and I will get you an ice cream cone.

41. Unrivaled: A ONE. Really, numero uno?

42. Debonair neckwear: ASCOT. A formal neck tie, popularized in the 1880's, taking its name from the Royal Ascot race meeting, where all the fine gentleman wore this looser version of the starched cravat.

48. "12 Angry Men" director: LUMET. A wonderful play and movie, you might enjoy his INTERVIEW.

49. "No thanks, I just __" : ATE. gave at the office?

50. Stop up: DAM. I am not one to miss a chance to link to BEAVER.

56. Jackson 5 brother: TITO. The only brother still getting any pub.

57. Coffeehouse order: LATTE. No thanks, I am a straight coffee drinker.

58. Tony relative: EMMY. The name "Emmy" was chosen as a feminization of "immy", a nickname used for the image orthicon tubes which were in early TV cameras. Coincidentally, the prime time nominations were made public yesterday.

61. Doesn't waste: USES.

62. Take in, maybe: ALTER. Like the waist in my pants; oops, no that is let out.

63. Short evening?: NITE. Is this now an acceptable word?

64. Benchmarks: Abbr.: STDS. Standards.

65. Lowly workers: PEONS. A degrading word from the Spanish peón meaning an unskilled laborer, like an indentured servant.

Well we have filled lots of three, four and fives, so let's see what the Downs do.

DOWN:

1. Operation Neptune Spear org.: CIA. I think you can buy a T SHIRT.

2. Curious: ODD. Am I the only one who thought of THIS.

3. Arcturus, for one: RED GIANT. A star classification, we had a nice discussion of these after a Jerome puzzle back on April 23, 2010.

4. Galileo's patron: NASA. A nice deception, not the ancient astronomer, but the exploration program of our SOLAR SYSTEM.

5. It might be Western or English: SADDLE. How many ride? I like it but not many horse live in condos.

6. Professional pursuit: CAREER. I was going to put their secretary, but it would not fit.

7. Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Michael: OREN. He wrote the RESPONSE to the Obama plan. No politics, but an interesting read.

8. First matchmaker?: NOAH. Well if you are going on a boat and can keep only two, you had better get your kids companions.

9. Prefix with morph: ENDO. The opposite of ECTO.

10. Part of e.g.: GRATIA. Our Latin lesson, exempli gratia. For example.

11. Put back up: REHANG. I guess....45D. Second flip: RETOSS. Fits with REHANG. Icky/

12. Zenith: APOGEE. We just had this discussion.

13. Acts gloomily: MOPES. From Ger. mopen "to sulk."

21. Sounds from stands: RAHS. Rah Rah Ree, kick em in the knee, Rah Rah Rass, kick em in the other knee.

22. Grounded big birds?: SSTS. Supersonic transports.

23. Booty: SWAG. What do you think, Stole Without A Gun?

24. Game with 80 balls: KENO. Las Vegas; original lottery game.

28. "The __ of Steve": 2000 comedy: TAO. An obscure, but critically acclaimed romantic comedy.

29. Bugs: VEXES.

30. Beauty antecedent?: AGE. I always held the door for my two older brothers and always said, "Age before beauty." I was an endearing child.

31. Reims rejection: NON. French lesson Lolita, a toughy" NON = No.

35. Tribulation: WOE. A good guilt word, woe is me.

36. "__ takers?": ANY. I wanted UNDER and feel bad about that thought process.

37. Eureka hrs.: PST. Pacific Standard Time.

38. Dean's domain: ACADEMIA. Sounds so pompous.

39. Draped attire: TOGA. Made more famous by Animal House than anything else.

40. A snifter has a short one: STEM. IMAGE.

41. Piedmont wine region: ASTI.

42. Two-dimensional analogue of volume: AREA. Height time Width, no depth.

43. Legal scholar: JURIST. Yeah, that is me all right.

44. Frustrated the director, perhaps: EMOTED. Hammed it up is the phrase.

46. Expedite: HASTEN. Not Expedia, Travelocity Gnome.

47. Furry frolickers: OTTERS. They love to play.

48. "__ go then, you and I": Eliot : LET US.

"Let us go then, you and I,

When the evening is spread out against the sky

Like a patient etherized upon a table;

Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,

The muttering retreats

Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels

And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:

Streets that follow like a tedious argument

Of insidious intent

To lead you to an overwhelming question ...

Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”

52. Show support: CLAP. Let us give him a great big hand.

54. Comics dog: OTTO. Sgt. Snorkel's dog in Beetle Bailey, who is the younger brother of Lois, from Hi and Lois.

55. Mannerly man: GENT. Okay almost time for this gent to depart.

59. Short session?: MTG. This meeting is nearing an end.

60. Word said with a fist pump: YES. Time for my fist pump, another in the record books. A tough blog, but I did it.

Answer grid.

Happy belated Bastille Day.

Lemonade

Note from C.C.:

Here is another "Hard to Believe" picture, a curious boy with his sisters. Tell me who the boy is. Hint: He is one of the very few regulars who have read every post/comment on this blog.

67 comments:

Barry G. said...: Morning, all!

Well, this may have been easy for Lemonade, but I found it to be a real struggle, especially in the North and Northwest sections.

The puzzle itself was fine, and figuring out the theme reveal definitely helped me go back and fill in the theme answers in relatively short order. The crossing of AARON and OREN was pretty rough, though, especially with ENDO and SADDLE right next door. Oh -- and it took me awhile to get NOAH as well, thanks to the tricky clue.

In the NE, I had no idea which organization was behind Operation Neptune Spear. FBI? CIA? OSS? NSA? The clue for NASA was cruel and unusual (obviously I was thinking of the person and not the spacecraft, since spacecrafts don't have "patrons"). "Head start?" had me thinking of a word that precedes "head" in a phrase. Could not think of a 3-letter word for "curious." Also could not think of anything covered in silk...

I finally got RED GIANT at 3D, which let me slowly make headway on that section, but it was a slog the entire way.; July 15, 2011 at 5:52 AM
Hahtoolah said...: Good morning, Lemonade and friends. This was a fun, but easy, Friday puzzle. It is our first by Mr. Stutphin? I had a bit of trouble in the NW corner, but eventually got it filled in.

I agree that I didn't really need the unifier, as I had already figured out that TAGS had been inserted into the theme clues.

There were some good misleads. It's Covered in Silk = CORN was a great start, even if it did take me a while to figure that one out.

I was thinking of the CHIC meaning for Tony instead of the award. I also wanted Adopt instead of ALTER for Take In.

We had APOGEE earlier this week, so that fell into place quickly.

My favorite clue was Head Start? = IDEA.

I am well familiar with Michael OREN, so his name was an easy fill.

Happy Friday. We are getting the much needed rain. Will it be enough to get us out of the drought?

QOD: People who say they don't care what other people think are usually desperate to have people think they don't care what people think. ~ George Carlin; July 15, 2011 at 6:18 AM
Anonymous said...: Struggled until I noticed the theme bu t I still had a hard time gaining traction.

TGIF. My favourite song for Friday at 5 PM.

The Kings - This Beat Goes On/Switchin to Glide

THE KINGS

Fun Facts By Dave Letterman

Due to a clerical error, from 1931 to 1932, Delaware had a dog for governor.

The Q-tip was designed after serious design flaws were found in O- and P- Tips.; July 15, 2011 at 6:53 AM
creature said...: Good Morning CC, Lemon and all,

Thanks, Lemon, for your nice write-up.

This was an appealing puzzle to me , today, for all the aforementioned reasons.
The clues and fill are fresh and the theme is tops. I liked that you included the unifier, as it made a nifty tie-up.
Hope to see more of you, soon, Bruce. Thanks.

I’m going to guess Boomer for the baby that was being spoiled rotten by lots of loving sisters. Was this a favorable thing, CC?

Meant to say that the center 'x' was the biggest hang-up for me. For some reason 'x's are usually elusive.

Have a nice day everyone.; July 15, 2011 at 7:10 AM
Yellowrocks said...: Easy puzzle for a Friday. My first entry was CORN, opening up the NW. It's Jersey corn season. Yummy buttered on the cob.
I had SHORTAGE early on for 43A, dropped the TAG and was delighted to "see" JERSEY SHOR(TAG)E.
Nice shout out to us Jerseyites. No, most of us are not at all like the characters on"Jersey Shore," thank God.; July 15, 2011 at 7:43 AM
kazie said...: I too found this a bit easier than most Fridays, despite not really grokking the theme, other than that TAG was in each. I never saw what was there without it. The NW was my downfall--I couldn't think of CORN, had no clue on Arcturus, and had BORDER for GARDEN--another probably reason I missed the theme. Only after coming here and seeing CORN, did I fill in IDEA and ADDS. I thought of CIA earlier, but then thought naah--too obvious, I've never heard of Neptune Spear.

Great blog links, Lemonade! Lots of fun.

Bruce, great debut, if indeed it is one. Thanks.; July 15, 2011 at 8:32 AM
Spitzboov said...: Good morning everyone. Nice write-up as usual, Lemonade. Thank you.

Thought the puzzle would beat me today in the NW but I finally nailed it. Had the wrong Galileo, and couldn't suss the silk clue, but at last the light came on and I got the CORN/NASA cross. Great clueing. Didn't fully get the theme but realized they were all ending with TAGE, so then I could fill in HOSTAGE as part of 20a. Filled in RED GIANT on a hunch. Arcturus is easy to spot in the Summer evening sky. Just continue the 'arc' from the Big Dipper's handle. Nice doable challenge, Bruce. Thank you.

Have a great day.; July 15, 2011 at 8:46 AM
Hahtoolah said...: I am inclined to agree with Creature that our mystery lad is Boomer.

Lemonade: Lois' younger brother is Sgt. snorkel's dog, Otto?; July 15, 2011 at 8:51 AM
Jazzbumpa said...: Hi gang -

Fun puzzle. I like playing TAG -- alas, missed the CORN - CIA cross, of all things. Wrong silk image, I guess.

Quick in and out - off to T-Town today - mom maintenance and the Mud Hens game tonight.

Happy weekend, everyone.

Cheers!
JzB; July 15, 2011 at 9:07 AM
Grumpy 1 said...: Good morning, TGIF, and all that stuff. Thanks for the great blog and links, Lemonade.

This one started a bit slow, but I was visualizing everything but an ear of corn that could be covered in silk. SCONE was pretty obvious though and and what else but AARON was going to fit when the double A emerged? BTW, my great grandmother's second of three husband's was an Aaron so I have a few distant cousins around with that last name.

Had 'ashen' instead of WAXEN which also slowed things until VEXES straightened out that area.

I figured out the theme after the second theme entry and the other two were easy fill. The 'A' at the ANNAS/TAO crossing eluded me because I didn't read the clues correctly.

Yes, EGOS get fed here, but sometimes they're deflated here also.

Lemonade, would a cautious legal scholar be exercising JURIST prudence?; July 15, 2011 at 9:08 AM
Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...: Creature,
Nope, it's not Boomer. I specifically mentioned he's a regular on the blog. I think you like him very much. So do I.

Hahtool,
Man, if you fail, I don't have confidence in others.

Grumpy,
Can you send me an email crosswordc@gmail.com?; July 15, 2011 at 9:20 AM
Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...: Bill G,
Yes, I know Li Bing-Bing. I keep forgetting to tell you this: Boomer enjoyed your comment on Killebrew & "Bonus Baby"/Senators & "First in war, first in peace and last in the American League" some time ago.; July 15, 2011 at 9:22 AM
sherry said...: Like this puzzle better than yesterday's. Got the theme & just had to work it out to fill in the names I didn't know. I put worm for covered in silk & couldn't justify the wia. I get it now.; July 15, 2011 at 9:46 AM
Hahtoolah said...: Then our mystery baby must be Argyle.; July 15, 2011 at 9:53 AM
creature said...: CC,
I figured Boomer read every post there ever was.

Of course, then it's dear
Argyle; and..

As Tina Turner says: "You're Simply the Best! Better than all the rest..."

Your sisters did a great job. Which one has the antique clock?; July 15, 2011 at 10:01 AM
HeartRx said...: Good Morning Lemonade, C.C. et al.

Fun puzzle, and a wonderful write-up, Lemonade. You sure do know how to nail these Friday devils!! I agree with your "yucky" on REHANG and RETOSS. Wasn’t crazy about ANNAS, either. But other than that, there was a lot to like about this offering from Mr. Sutphin.

I mostly breezed through the north, and CORN was my first thought for 1A. But in the SW, I got bogged down by entering ToyO instead of TITO for the Jackson clue. But no, I was mixing up Latoya and Tito. I also had Odie instead of OTTO for the comics dog. (sigh…) After I got over my stubborn streak, and took those out, I finally saw JURIST and EMOTED, which helped me finish that section.

I just loved the GARDEN HOSTAGE entry and agree that it was a great visual of the irritating Travelocity gnome, Lemon!

TGIF – make it a good one, everybody!; July 15, 2011 at 10:29 AM
Anonymous said...: SWAG - stuff we all get; July 15, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Argyle said...: Creature, you mean, 'in spite of my sisters".

L to R: Sheila, Kalista(clock owner), Patricia and Claire - I think the dog was Pal. I have a younger sister but she didn't come along untill 1954. No brothers, alas.; July 15, 2011 at 10:40 AM
kazie said...: Did anyone else think of something else for STDs, like Sexually Transmitted Diseases? Or for me, before even that, in Oz it meant Subscriber Trunk Dialing, when it became possible to make long distance calls yourself without an operator.; July 15, 2011 at 10:40 AM
Clear Ayes said...: Good Morning All, just checking in to say, "Hi". No time for the puzzle until later today. It is difficult not to read Lemonade's blog and the comments until later....but....no cheating, even though it is soooo tempting. Have a good day, everyone.; July 15, 2011 at 10:41 AM
fermatprime said...: 'Morning all!

Nice puzzle from Bruce. Wonderful write-up from Lemonade! Great fun! Loved the gnome clue! (Really sick of Travelogue ads.)

Yesterday was hell around here. DirecTV installers came again and still did not have the correct instructions. They managed to create a huge calamity. Four hours and phone no longer worked. Then I received a second letter from the IRS saying that they had not yet received my 2009 return (sent twice). Well, they are open late at night so I finally got things straightened out--but who knows?

Did you know that it does no good to send returns with return receipt requested as these cards get separated immediately from the returns?

Cheers!; July 15, 2011 at 10:50 AM
Tinbeni said...: FUN Friday.

Really liked the TAGS themes.

OK, I originally had 'pets' for PATS and 'odie' for OTTO, but the perps corrected those items.

Didn't know OREN, AARON or ANNAs. Perps to the rescue again.

I guess the thing is by Friday I get a little gun-shy and hold back on my first instinct.
I knew the 'British bakery buy' was SCONE but hesitated until I had the SADDLE, CAREER & NOAH downs.

Hmmm, not a fan of REHANG & RETOSS.
Really liked the REPO cluing.

Oy vey!

kazie, Yeah, I had the same thought for STDS.
Plus the puzzle had the CLAP.
I guess those WOEs could be a Mini-theme?

Cheers to all at Sunset!; July 15, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Anonymous said...: Good afternoon everyone.

Great write up Lemonade. This puzzle was a DNF for me. But I did get 30 correct answers. Could get no toehold in the NW, except for ODD. Didn't grok the long ones or the hint. I was glad to know the T.S. Eliot verse; I should know it because we spent a semester on him in college! It took me a long time to give up loot and then couldn't find SWAG in the deep recesses.

Cheers; July 15, 2011 at 11:12 AM
Tinbeni said...: Oops!

Avatar liked his STEM "shout-out."; July 15, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Jo Tyler said...: I usually don't blog, but the "Rah Rah Ree, kick em in the knee, Rah Rah Rass, kick em in the other knee" made me laugh as it reminded me of Jerry Lewis saying it years ago in some movie, sis boom bee hit em in the knee..... It still makes me laugh.; July 15, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Anonymous said...: Whats with that JoTyler?; July 15, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Seldom Seen said...: The JERSEY SHORE is a reality T.V. show that will never win an EMMY.

It features several non-PALE EGOS that make a CAREER of catching STDS like the CLAP by going to NITE-clubs to shake their BOOTY and execute the GO-TO move of an EROTIC POSE accentuated with a FIST PUMP.; July 15, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Anonymous said...: Art Moreno, owner of marijuana dispensary in Beaumont, at empty dispensary after release from jail.; July 15, 2011 at 11:52 AM
Not Me said...: C.C. -

Is it a picture of Anonymous?; July 15, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Yellowrocks said...: All those reality TV shows are somewhat scripted and rigged. They are not really an accurate slice of life, although some of the college kids and 20 somethings actually are pretty wild in some towns. But the "real" characters in Jersey Shore are not real and not representative. We love Wildwood and Wildwood Crest, a nice family vacation spot.; July 15, 2011 at 12:12 PM
Lucina said...: Hello, Lemonade, C.C. et al.

I enjoyed most of this puzzle but thought the theme was STAGE even though 66A clearly said TAGS.

Sashayed through SCONE, GRAM, AARON, REPO, etc. but DNF the NW and CORN was the farthest from my mind.

Very surprising to learn that Operation Neptune Spear was the taking of Osama bin Laden.

Loved seeing e.g., exempli GRATIA.

Ditto for WAXED before WAXEN and quite clever.

I wonder if we'll ever see EROTIC POSTAGE?

Thank you, Bruce S. for a very nice challenge on this Friday.

You all have a wonderful Friday!; July 15, 2011 at 1:01 PM
Bruce S said...: Thanks for the nice writeup Lemonade. I am not a lawyer (I stay home with my three kids), but I did attend the ACPT this year. Also thanks all for the comments. This is my first published puzzle and already would do some things differently. I too am not a fan of RETOSS or REHANG, but they made my first puzzle work so I cut them a tiny bit of slack. They won't be in future puzzles if I can help it.; July 15, 2011 at 1:25 PM
Grumpy 1 said...: If you consider the nudes painted by Picasso and Reubens to be erotic, then there are several countries that have produced erotic postage over the years. Some examples can be found on the link.; July 15, 2011 at 1:37 PM
Scotty said...: Mea culpa,I didnt' get CORN in NW corner and I grew up in IOWA! Tsk, tsk (or maybe husk, husk).

Your blogs are so fun to read - the subtle (??) humor is priceless.

I appreciate all the write-ups, analyses and the variety of links.

Great weekend to all.; July 15, 2011 at 1:40 PM
Lemonade714 said...: Thank you for stopping by Bruce (while I have a penchant for referring to people by their initials, I will waive that choice due to obvious reasons) we appreciate the feedback on our work as well, and hope our comments are never seen as anything but showing our affection for the craft and the crafters. A big Corner congratulations on your first published puzzle. Hope to talk to you soon.; July 15, 2011 at 1:58 PM
Lemonade714 said...: Really cute comment on your sisters, Argyle. I am glad you were able to eventually escape. I imagine the poor doggie was stuck.; July 15, 2011 at 2:04 PM
Seldom Seen said...: I heard about a fox sighting on a beach at the Jersey shore. Here is an eye-witness account.; July 15, 2011 at 2:47 PM
dodo said...: Hello Happy Folks,

Thanks for a very nice writup, Lemonade. I like your new avatar; is that No.2 son, the brewer? And is that your castle in the background?

Bruce, what a great debut! I swore off Friday puzzles a while ago, but sometimes I just can't resist. This one turned out to be enjoyable, even though I really, really messed up the NW corner and only got it straightened out with Lemon's help.

We've been experiencing beautiful weather for the past week, after a nasty hot few days. Hope it stays like this.

Have a great weekend, friends.; July 15, 2011 at 2:53 PM
Bill G. said...: Good puzzle. I love it when I figure out the theme and it actually helps me solve it.

I am finish up watching "The Social Network." It's still a slog and I don't enjoy the characters or their creation much.

When I go to check Jo Tyler's profile, I end up at AOL. Why is that?

Scone is in the puzzle. Did you know that in England, scone is pronounced as skon (rhymes with pawn)? I would have thought the silent 'e' would make the vowel sound long but apparently not.; July 15, 2011 at 3:04 PM
Spitzboov said...: Bill G: re: Jo Tyler. The security in my software warns that it is a possible phishing site.

Scone. Thats how we pronounce 'done'. Different than the 'lone' ranger. That's English.; July 15, 2011 at 4:11 PM
Chickie said...: Hola Everyone, I found this puzzle to be easier than some Friday offerings. I did have to look up "Breaking Bad" actor, Aaron Paul and the Isareli ambassador to the U.S., Oren.

If I hadn't put in Pouts instead of Mopes and Serfs for Peons, I might not have had to use my eraser at all today.

The theme escaped me, however. Thanks Lemonade for a great explanation. I thought it might have something to do with age as all the endings ended with age.

My favorite clue today was The first matchmaker/Noah.

Some of my other miscues were the same as Barry's. He seems to be on my wavelength almost everyday when it comes to thinking through the day's clues.

Have a great weekend everyone.; July 15, 2011 at 4:17 PM
kazie said...: The 'o' in a baked scone rhymes with the short 'o' in 'pond', but in the city of Scone it sounds like phone.

Actually, we always baked scones at home. I can't imagine Brits buying scones other than as part of afternoon teas. I always remember the Devonshire teas available out on the road. They consist of tea and scones with dollops of fresh whipped cream and jams of various sorts.; July 15, 2011 at 4:53 PM
kazie said...: Forgot to alert you to my new avatar. I decided to change it to fit in more with the new crop of 'baby' pix.; July 15, 2011 at 4:55 PM
Chickie said...: Argyle, What a great picture of you and your sisters. To be the only boy in the sibling group, you really had to hold your own, didn't you?

I absolutely loved the picture of those barefoot little girls. It looked like summer and they all looked so carefree. I spent some summers on my grandparent's farm and being barefoot and footloose for long lazy days still makes me smile.

Thanks for stopping by Bruce Sutphin. Congratulations on you first puzzle publication. I hope we see many more CW's in your and in our future.; July 15, 2011 at 4:56 PM
carol said...: Hi gang, I cannot believe I actually worked MOST (not all) of a Friday puzzle!! This was a lot easier than yesterday...I gave that one up early on.

I am like Dodo, I have given up Friday and Saturday's puzzles as they are just toooooo difficult, but sometimes I cannot resist trying.

Hahtool (8:51) re: Sgt.Snorkel's dog....funny! I thought "wth?" too.

I have never heard of a 'yard' of ale, but after watching that clip, I won't soon forget it. Yikes, guess you have to be young to do that sort of thing. As Lois might say "Holy Hot Drunk".

I never knew what the g in e.g. meant, thanks Lemon! (also enjoyed your write up :))

1A got me thinking of lots of things but CORN certainly was not one of them.; July 15, 2011 at 5:14 PM
creature said...: They all looked so carefree, except Claire, who has on her shoes and a 'together' kind of dress and a more uptight look on her face than her sisters.

Was this her particular take on life, that sets her apart? Beautiful.

Nothing like a little 'chardonnay'
psychonalysis.; July 15, 2011 at 5:20 PM
creature said...: Okay,

Psychoanalysis..? That's as good as it's gonna get tonight,. from me; July 15, 2011 at 5:23 PM
Lucina said...: Bruce, thank you for stopping by and as others have said so well, it is wonderful to have the constructor's perspective.

You can certainly be forgive for REHANG and RETOSS when there is such lovely other fill.

Kazie, Grumpy, HeartRX, and Fermat:
I have been admiring your new Avatars. How clever to use child hood pics.

Argyle:
Thank you for sharing the photo of you and your sisters. You must have been the prince of the house as the only boy.; July 15, 2011 at 5:41 PM
Lucina said...: Seen:
Is that you as a baby? What gorgeous blue eyes!; July 15, 2011 at 5:44 PM
Argyle said...: Lucina, I didn't see much of the house. Pawn of the barn is more like it. That is, once I got big enough to stop being a life-sized doll. Oh, the inhumanities I had to suffer. Sob! Don't look at me! Sob.; July 15, 2011 at 6:08 PM
Seldom Seen said...: Lucina: No, not eye(I). This avatar was part of a tongue-in-cheek post while you were away.; July 15, 2011 at 6:12 PM
Lemonade714 said...: Hey, DD, no that is number 1 son in Italy, where he is currently working on a dig at Gabii, outside of Rome. If you want to read more, here is the LINK .; July 15, 2011 at 6:25 PM
Lemonade714 said...: KZ, nice avatar; July 15, 2011 at 6:26 PM
carol said...: Argyle, Forgot to mention what a cute picture that is...what fun for your sisters, a real live 'doll'... for you, maybe not so much. Still, you seemed to have turned out o.k. and you are 'Santa' as well ;)
That picture also brings back sweet memories of being a kid in summer. Bare feet, running through sprinklers, catching bees in jars, picnics, roller skating (the type you screwed on your shoes with a 'key')down the sidewalks, making 'Gymp' bracelets in the park as part of a 'keep the kids occupied' project, eating sno-cones...ah childhood :); July 15, 2011 at 6:50 PM
Clear Ayes said...: I'm glad I got home in time to spend some time with Bruce Sutphin's puzzle.

I thought the TAG theme was very clever. It was made easier after ...HOSTAGE and ...VANTAGE to fill our the 3rd and 4th TAGE.

Lemonade, interesting information about Operation Neptune Spear. I had CIA, but didn't know why until you filled us in.

I've never seen "Jersey Shore", but I have seen some of the participants in the newspaper and on TV interviews. Even if you don't watch the show, it is hard to avoid "Snooki". I don't understand the attraction.

I'm ashamed to admit that I had a problem with T.S. Eliot's LET US. Again, thanks to Lemonade for reminding me. But the SW was also a problem for me with LUMET, TITO and STDS.

Poor Argyle, the only boy in a houseful of girls!; July 15, 2011 at 6:53 PM
Clear Ayes said...: Carol, I'm going to go way out on a limb here and say that nothing has even felt as totally enjoyable as running through a sprinkler on a hot summer day. That shocking shower of cold water on sweaty, usually dusty, skin, the feeling of your toes squishing through long wet grass and the feeling of instant relief and pleasure was unbeatable.

Yes, I've just checked a list of things that have felt wonderful. I know I may have some disagreement, but I figure it this way. I only had eight or nine "sprinkler years". Other things on my "felt totally enjoyable" list have been there for more years than I care to count. I have to give my vote to something that was for a limited time only and I'll never feel again. (I'm guessing I probably won't be running through sprinklers again....LOL...I might slip and break an ankle, or even worse a hip.); July 15, 2011 at 8:08 PM
carol said...: CA: I'll have to join you in thinking I won't be running through sprinklers again and for the same reasons. LOL...the grands would love to see me 'slip sliding away' so to speak, but I know they would not want me to be hurt. Hell, maybe I'll try it anyway.

Those were the days my friend!; July 15, 2011 at 8:16 PM
Bill G. said...: I remember catching lightning bugs, watching the snow fall quietly at night by shining a flashlight out the window, making a super crystal radio, going camping and fishing with my father, weekends at my grandmother's house in Upperville, Virginia, riding horses through the woods in Sequoia National Park, looking through my first astronomial telescope, getting a used 1950 Ford as the best Christmas present ever...; July 15, 2011 at 8:53 PM
Lemonade714 said...: Well in the words of the late great Don Meredith, turn out the lights the party is over. Another Friday in the record books, a new constructor with some nice original thinking, a fun bunch of comments and many nice words to the old blogger. Thank you all. Rest up the themeless is next.

Ciao; July 15, 2011 at 9:35 PM
Bill G. said...: Thanks but I never look forward to Saturday themeless puzzles.

C.C., I think I remember your saying that you didn't enjoy themeless puzzles as much either. As a constructor, are you planning to try one or are themed puzzles more enjoyable for you to create?; July 15, 2011 at 9:42 PM
Lemonade714 said...: BG:

You misunderstand, I love a good themeless, they are just harder; July 15, 2011 at 10:04 PM
JD said...: Good evening Lemonade, C.C. et al,

Even though the Friday xwd is "beyond" me,I give it my all just to read your always entertaining and educational blogging.. Today I snuck in 5 min here and there until it was done...in between running through the sprinklers, and building sand castles.LOL

Lemonade, is Aaron living his dream? If I had had a brain that could retain scientific stuff, I would have been an archeologist. Local digs are exciting.A Colombian mammoth was dug up in 2006 and now "Lupe's" is on display at the Children's Discovery Museum.

Laughed at the ah ha moment when I saw that TAGS was the unifier. Sorry Bruce, I thought it was AGE. I did enjoy your puzzle. I guess we will always hear whining about oddly formed words, even though we regulars know perfectly well WHY they sometimes have to be there.The brainy people hate the re.... ones, but those are the ones that I can easily fill.

OK, I bet I was the only one who put pupa for corn. Very weak.

Love the new avatars Carol,Kazie, Clear Ayes and Lemonade!

Favorite clue: they may shrink if they are not fed.Never understood booty=SWAG. Is that a swinging ass?; July 15, 2011 at 10:20 PM
kazie said...: Thanks Lemonade and Lucina.
I had the advantage of being an only child, so I was in all the photos.

My Dad was just the opposite of Argyle's family. He was one of nine boys, and the tenth child was the only girl.

I think CA's pic is really cute too.; July 15, 2011 at 10:26 PM
dodo said...: Creature, don't let that spritzer go to your head!; July 15, 2011 at 10:42 PM
dodo said...: Lemon, you've got a real heartbreaker there! How old is your handsome son? Probably a little old for my wonderful 17 year old grandaughter, Jacquie. Oh well, you can never tell.

Argyle, I'll bet your intended was a nervous wreck when she felt she had to pass muster with that female jury! I only had one sister-in -law and I'm pretty sure I was a disappointment!

JD. I forwarded your email about water to everyone I know, including any friends on the blog whose email address I had. I suppose it's their second time, but that's okay too. I really worry about our overpopulation!; July 15, 2011 at 11:16 PM
Lucina said...: JD:
PUPA was my fill, too, for covered with silk! I had PISA for Galileo sponsor as well, but none of that worked out.

I also look forward to the themeless tomorrow. I like both.

Have a good night, all.; July 16, 2011 at 12:00 AM
Anonymous said...: Just discovered you. Thanks for adding to the fun!; July 16, 2011 at 5:31 PM