google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Sunday, July 31, 2011 Mike Peluso

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Jul 31, 2011

Sunday, July 31, 2011 Mike Peluso

Theme: Oohs and Aahs -"Ooh" sound in the last word of each familiar phrase is changed into "aah" sound.

21A. Charity that rewards golf talent? : ALMS FOR THE PAR. Alms for the poor.

33A. Treat a Saudi king with TLC? : COMFORT FAHD. Comfort food. King Fahd's look terrifies me.

56A. Timid officer? : CHICKEN COP. Chicken coop.

67A. Miniature B-17? : BABY BOMBER. Baby boomer.

88A. Hall of Famer Warren after garage work? : GREASY SPAHN. Greasy spoon. Warren Spahn. Remember the poem "Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain"? No, Marti/Splynter, no baseball for you?

106A. Padding in an Easter basket? : CHOCOLATE MOSS. Chocolate mousse.

15D. Stuffy trio? : THE THREE STODGES. The Three Stooges. But stodgy is an adjective, how can it be pluralized?

41D. Onset of boredom? : BIRTH OF THE BLAHS. Birth of the Blues.

Fun theme, isn't it? I would have enjoyed the theme more if I spoke English properly.

Notice how Mike spread out his theme entries in the grid? I like puzzles with Across & Down theme arrangement. More impressive is the intersection and overlapping.

Chopping solving for me. Again, the names gave me trouble.

Favorite clue today is AHAs (31D. Clicking sounds?). Awesome! Totally click with me.

Across:

1. Look up to : ADMIRE

7. "Zen and the __ Motorcycle Maintenance": 1974 best-seller : ART OF. Unknown to me. But anything motorcycle related can't be Zen.

12. Tournament slots : BERTHS

18. Gradually removed (from) : WEANED

19. When Lear banishes Cordelia : ACT ONE. This clue is very Mike.

20. University of Delaware mascot : BLUE HEN. Delaware the Blue Hen State.

23. Jockey Angel : CORDERO. Stranger to me.

24. __ Rebellion: 1786-'87 insurrection : SHAYS'. What's it about?

25. Liqueur flavoring : ANISE

26. Rim : EDGE

27. Overly : TOO

28. Stitching on Li'l Abner's towel? : HIS'N

29. Enemy : FOE

30. Feeds amply : SATES

32. Phenom : WHIZ

38. Travesty : FARCE

39. "Hang on a sec," online : BRB (Be Right Back)

42. Off : DO IN. Off is a verb here.

43. Forearm bones : ULNAS

44. More than just worry : OBSESS

45. '70s Struthers co-star : REINER (Rob). Sally Struthers. "All in the Family". I drew a blank.

47. Tiffs : SPATS

48. "Go fly __!" : A KITE

49. Sitting still : AT REST

50. Terrible twos, one hopes : PHASE

51. Coach Parseghian : ARA

52. Big petrol seller : ESSO

55. Danish explorer Bering : VITUS. You all know his given name?

58. Hoosegow : STIR. Jail.

59. Durham sch. : UNH (University of New Hampshire)

60. All-time RBI leader : AARON (Hank). 2, 297. Guess how many grand slams he has? Don't google.

62. Diarist Nin : ANAIS

64. Medical suffix : OMA

65. Crucifix : ROOD

71. Army doc : MEDIC

73. __ Romeo Spider : ALFA

74. NYC-based securities gp. : ASE (American Stock Exchange)

75. After-school treats : OREOS

76. Player with an orange and black-striped helmet : BENGAL. Cincinnati Bengals.

77. Junk : TRASH

79. Did well on the quiz : GOT A "B". Trick to parse.

80. "What's My Line?" regular Francis : ARLENE

81. Pennsylvania university : LEHIGH. Is it very famous?

83. Like some casks : OAKEN

84. Aromatherapist's supply : OILS. Melissa or Barbara B introduced Jojoba oil to me some time ago. I love it.

86. Sound after a pop : SSS

87. Alaskan native : ALEUT

91. Lobster house freebies : BIBS

92. Wicked one : FIEND

94. Hall of Fame pool player __ Mataya Laurance : EWA. Wow, no idea. She looks cool

95. West Coast sch. : UCLA. And 102D. West Coast sch. : UCAL. Not the same?

99. Handy communication syst.? : ASL. Good clue. (Added later: ASL is American Sign Language.)

100. Allure rival : ELLE

101. When repeated, "Hungry Like the Wolf" band : DURAN

103. Greek promenades : STOAS

104. Noxious fumes : MIASMAS

109. Artsy district : BOHEMIA

110. Run roughshod over : MARAUD

111. 2009 aviation biopic : AMELIA

112. Comeback : ANSWER

113. Little silvery fish : SMELT

114. Words on some Montana license plates : BIG SKY. Their nickname.

Down:

1. Overrun (with) : AWASH. I've only used "awash in".

2. City NE of Jodhpur : DELHI

3. Words from dolls : MAMAS

4. On the same page : IN SYNC

5. They sometimes count to 10 : REFS. Boxing, right?

6. Shogun's capital : EDO

7. More uncomfortable : ACHIER

8. AAA suggestions : RTES

9. Reach for the Skyy, excessively : TOPE. Spell checker doesn't like this verb.

10. __ roll: winning : ON A

11. Backin' : FER

12. Promotes oneself online : BLOGS. Verb here.

13. Chartres's river : EURE. I can never remember those European rivers.

14. The color of money owed? : RED

16. Daring rescue, say : HEROICS

17. Grabs some shuteye : SNOOZES

19. When many a whistle blows : AT NOON. I don't get this clue.

20. A train? : BCDE. A B C D E. Alphabet. Meh entry, but saved by an excellent clue.

22. "Bananaphone" singer : RAFFI. Here is a clip.

26. SFO listings : ETDS

30. South Carolina river : SANTEE. Named after the Santee tribe. Learning moment!

32. Fails to recycle : WASTES

34. Black Sea port : ODESSA

35. Cartoonist Walker : MORT. "Beetle Bailey".

36. Rapper __ Shakur : TUPAC

37. Lab container : FLASK

38. "Most Wanted" org. : FBI. And 78D. 38-Down employee : AGT.

39. Dazzling performance : BRAVURA. I like this word.

40. Vitamin A : RETINOL. It reduce the wrinkles.

44. Giraffe relative : OKAPI

46. Fresh out of the box, in Berlin : NEU. New.

47. Freshly minted : SHINY

48. Like a loud crowd : AROAR

50. Suffix for techno : PHOBE. Technophobe.

51. Dermatologist's cases : ACNES

53. Monkeys, e.g. : SIMIANS

54. They have all the answers : ORACLES. Including answers to this puzzle!

56. Computer problem : CRASH

57. Big cheese : NABOB

61. Bring shame to : ABASH

63. Bond nemesis : SMERSH. Weird looking word.

66. Persian king, 522-486 B.C. : DARIUS. Darius the Great. Stumper.

68. Unavailable, as for appointments : BOOKED

69. "Coffee __?" : OR TEA

70. Wherewithal : MEANS

72. Like mil. volunteers : ENL (Enlisted)

76. __ Cynwyd, Pa. : BALA. No idea.

79. Former Utah senator Jake who flew aboard Discovery in 1985 : GARN

81. Ritchie Valens biopic : LA BAMBA

82. Apostrophe's purpose, often : ELISION

83. Curved molding : OGEE

84. Role in Stone's "JFK" : OSWALD. "Life" magazine with Lee Harvey Oswald on the cover is a collectible item.

85. "Brusha, brusha, brusha" toothpaste : IPANA

89. Ump's call : YER OUT!

90. Eggnog topping : NUTMEG

92. Distinctive style : FLAIR. Do you miss Jerome?

93. "Casablanca" heroine : ILSA

96. Becomes safe to eat, in a way : COOLS. Simple in retrospect.

97. Cornea-reshaping surgery : LASIK. I just don't feel it's safe.

98. Test for purity : ASSAY

100. Former "Fashion Emergency" host : EMME. Unaware of the program.

101. 19th-century French book illustrator : DORE (Gustave). French & 19th-century spell out nothing for me, unfortunately. Interesting read in Wikipedia.

103. Cargo hauler : SEMI

105. Embroider, e.g. : SEW

106. Ruler amts. : CMs

107. Breakfast side : HAM

108. Folder user's aid : TAB.

Answer grid.

C.C.

45 comments:

fermatprime said...

Hello fellow puzzlers!

It's late so I won't say much. Fun puzzle, Mike; great thoughts, CC. Will go over your many links when I get awaken (optimistic about sleeping, aren't I?)

UCAL should refer to all of the various branches, I would think. There are many apart from UCLA, e.g., UCSB (Santa Barbara), UCSD (San Diego), UCB (Berkeley). I gave my first paper at the latter an aeon ago. Gosh I was scared to death. For one thing, I was the wrong sex!!!

I worked Merl's Calendar Puzzle--it was lots of fun. I urge you all to try it if you can find it. There are 12 theme answers which are almost all hilarious!

Have a peaceful day!

fermatprime said...

PS. Thanks, Mr. Ed!

Barry G. said...

Morning, all!

This was a bit of a struggle until I finally figured out the theme and had my "AHA" moment. I did not at any time make a clicking sound, however, and still don't quite get what clicking sounds have to do with AHAS. Oh, wait. When something clicks, you make the sound AHA. So AHAS are sounds associated with things clicking. Got it...

The rest of the puzzle went fairly smoothly, except for the rather high number of complete unknowns that had me scrambling for the perps. VITUS? ASE? EWA? DORE? CORDERO? EURE? RAFFI? SANTEE? BALA? As usual, I seem to have the most trouble with proper nouns.

Oh -- and just for the record, shouldn't the clue for AGT at 78D have some indication that the answer is an abbreviation? I mean, I'm just saying...

Hahtoolah said...

Good Morning, C.C., and friends. Getting BIRTH OF THE BLAHS was the key for me to open up the other theme clues.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was required reading when I was in school.

My favorite punny clue was Handy Communication Sys = ASL.

Lots of universities in today's puzzle ~ some obscure, not not so. Nice to see the UNH, where I earned my graduate degree. My niece is a BLUE HEN.

QOD: I just don't want to be hampered by my own limitations. ~ Barbra Streisand

HeartRx said...

Good Morning C.C. et al.

Spahn and Sain – pray for rain??? No idea! But, Hey!! I actually filled in AARON without relying on every perp…Yay!

Agree with you on 15D. Never heard “STODGEs” used as a noun.

Interesting entry for SHAY’S Rebellion. I lived in Uxbridge for a while, which is where this “famous” rebellion against taxes began.

About your question for AT NOON…In many factories, they used to blow a whistle at noon, signaling the beginning of lunch hour.

I liked “Reach for the Skyy (vodka), excessively”, but had a hard time remembering TOPE.

Have a great day, everyone – it’s a beauty here in the NE!

Anonymous said...

88A. Hall of Famer Warren I was thinking football and Moon. I didn't know it was a baseball clue and Spahn.

24A Rebellion I wrote Boxer Never heard of Shays.

56D computer problem I had virus.

36 D Rapper Shakur Tupac

100 D fashion emergency host Emme

She hosted Fashion Emergency on E! where she gave fashion advice to women of all ages

Melissa Aronson, better known as Emme (born 1963), is a plus-size model, and is largely recognized as the leading model in the profession, as well as its highest earner.

EMME

Fun Facts by Dave Letterman

In 1961, NASA studied the viability of having Jackie Gleason punch astronauts to the moon.

To liven up their portraits, courtroom sketch artists often ask witnesses if they have any hobbies.

Anonymous said...

hahtool

ASL American Sign Language

Hahtoolah said...

I know. That is why I though the clue was so punny!

Annette said...

Ohhhhhhh! NOW it clicks with me!
Click as in to gronk or "get" something; to understand...

Not the sound of a click!

When I saw the constructor's name, I leaned forward, knowing it would be a good one! Thanks, Mike - you didn't dissapoint. It wasn't easy by any means, but what made it more enjoyable for me was that on my first pass of acrosses, even though I had more blanks than answers, the answers I entered were definites, not wishy-washy "it could be this or this, let's stop momentum and look at the perps..."

Splynter said...

Hi There ~!

Yeah, it took a while for the "click" to click with me, too, with it crossing FAHD.

As a pool player, I was familiar with EWA, but the other proper names dragged this one down.

Sorry, C.C., but you're right - SPAHN sounded football to me; I dig the 'chops' on Mr. Dore (sport them myself), and I agree - had it not been for the witty clue, BCDE was like QRST Friday....

CA - the "Castle" is 3800SF, and despite looking monstrous, it is actually a working regular house - no specialty rooms, no dance halls or ball rooms - Oh, and no servants, either - if I can't maintain it, then it needs to be smaller. Thanks for asking.

S'plynter

Spitzboov said...

Good morning C.C. and all.

Fairly easy for a Sunday. Loved the theme phrases. Liked 20d, A train, BCDE. VITUS was a gimme. He discovered Alaska while in the service of Russia. No searches were needed. Good puzzling, Mike.

Barry, re: AGT. The clue was linked to 38d. which implied an abbreviation for FBI. Maybe that covered it.

Grumpy 1 said...

Good morning, C.C. and Sunday solvers all. Same problems as others have mentioned on some of the proper names. I caught the theme with ALMS FOR THE PAR and just kept on going, filling across the top five lines and down the east side. I worked back up toward the top got stuck on the FA_D/A_AS crossing. I wanted FAuD and wouldn't give it up.

Down in the SW those noxious fumes got to me for a while. I finally got enough perps to dredge up MIASMAS. Over in the mid south, the MA_AUD/DO_E crossing didn't fall until I got all the way to 'R' in the alphabet. I don't recall ever seeing MARAUD used, but I guess that's what MARAUDers do.

After about ten minutes of studying that first pesky crossing, I finally figured out that FAHD gave the required AH sound and tricky clicky clue finally clicked. AHA!! Done!

Thanks for a great puzzle Mike.

Lemonade714 said...

This was almost a wonderful Sunday but the proper names were clearly not Wednesday/Sunday, but were often obscure. It was all doable and the theme was very well crafted as C.C. pointed out.

Warren Spahn began his career as a Boston Brave, before Milwaukee or Atlanta. I believe he is the winningest left hander of all time, and a fixture with Lew Burdette as well.

Marti I am surprised you did not go into more detail about Shay's as it probably was the most important influence in creating a unified 13 states rather than 13 independent states. The rebellion was by all the soldiers who fought, were never paid and came home to find their homes etc. being seized for bad debts. It also inspired Jefferson's comment about a little rebellion being a good thing.

Go New England, not Patriots who have Ocho Cinco and Haynesworth; only Belichek would dare.

Husker Gary said...

Hi All! Just back from a hot, humid bike ride with an inexhaustible 9 year old. This puzzle was like a desert – dry spots with a sure oasis and a lovely completion!

Musings
-Faud and his ilk in the Mideast are fighting to keep their people in the 15th century socially. My friend over there says she thinks women may get to drive themselves soon! Imagine that!
-Warren Moon? Warren Sapp? Nope, lefty Spahn!
-They nursed it, rehearsed it and gave out with hurrahs; the southland gave birth to the blahs!
-Whiz is better as a noun!
-Meathead took his lumps from Archie!
-Objects at rest…
-Oh, NOT Durham North Carolina
-My MIL is from Bohemia but is not bohemian at all!
-The federal gov’t and central California farmers have been at war about the Smelt. The farmers claim that thousands are out of work trying to preserve this little fish.
-New river for me
-Lots of small towns around here blow a noon (fire) whistle!
-A train was my last infuriating fill

HeartRx said...

Lemon, thanks for elaborating on Shay's rebellion. It has been many years since I read about it in the Uxbridge library, so forgive me if the details were a little hazy!

BTW C.C., in our town, the fire whistle blows every night at 6:00. I will have to investigate why that particular hour. Maybe to signal all the kids to run home for dinner? But our house sits on top of the hill overlooking the fire department, so it is hard to ignore those blares!

Argyle said...

Re: Daniel Shays. His last name is Shays so C.C. was correct in using Shays' Rebellion. Stone marker in Sheffield, MA. He fled to West Sandgate, VT, just over the state line from Salem, NY. Vermont didn't become a state until 1791.

Clear Ayes said...

Good Morning All, Good puzzle and good blogging. It took a while. I started last night and finished this morning.

I've seen what I consider to be stranger things in CWs, so I guess I could say, "You're such a STODGE". As a matter of fact, I think I will...now I just have to find a target.

Thank you all for the SHAYS' Rebellion information. It just didn't ring a bell with me.

The University of California (UC) is part of California's higher education system, which includes the State University (23 campuses) and Community Colleges (112 campuses). UC has ten campuses, one of which is UCLA. I've never heard of UCAL as a separate school.

Anyone who has ever lived in a factory town in the '50's got used to "the whistle". During its Kaiser Steel days, Fontana CA had whistles at 8 AM, NOON and 4 PM. The swing and graveyard shifts had to figure it out on their own.

Jayce said...

Hello everybody. I had pretty much the same experiences solving this puzzle as you all did. Only knew a couple of the proper names. By pure coincidence my wife and I were discussing SMERSH just the other day, the subject having been raised by our discussing the movie and book Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith, so that entry came easily.

We all blog here, but I don't consider myself or any of us self-promoters.

I don't think the ASE exists any more, or am I thinking of the AMEX? Or are they the same?

Loved HISN.

"UNH" sounds like a grunt!

Lehigh is famous pretty much only to eastern Pennsylvanians. BALA Cynwyd, too.

Wanted RETINAL, and not knowing ROOD didn't help me fix it.

Isn't Larry ELISION the CEO of ORACLE? (I know, bad joke. Sowwy.)

ELLE and EMME? Is ENNE next?

Later, folks.

olberwoman said...

Found this one easier than the usual Sunday puzzle once I figured out the trick to the theme. Only had to look up two answers, which unfortunately crossed: CORDERO and BLUE HEN. Seriously? A blue hen for a mascot? I'm sure that inspires serious fear in opponents.

Bill G. said...

I don't know if any of you are fans of Sunday Morning on CBS? They had a wonderful segment today on people getting married in NYC at City Hall. The couples were committing to each other in the simplest way. No fancy church, no expensive wedding dresses, no bridemaid dresses, usually no music but occasionally somebody would sing something appropriate... There was no narration. It was just little snippets wonderfully editing together. I found it very emotional. I've watched it twice and maybe will again. Great stuff.

eddyB said...

Hello.

Lehigh Univ. is located in Bethlehem, PA. Ranked 37th among
small, private schools for 2011.
(US News and Report).

Twice the # students and cost than Grove City. GCC ranked #1 this year. Same source.

Lehigh is a very good engr school Same for GCC.

take care eddy

Unknown said...

Same here, however I gave up on the puzzle and am going to take a nap instad. The newspaper was late getting here this morning, so I fired off a letter and called the circulation department. Everything is automated!
Reading the paper online is not the sameas holding it in my hands!
Off for a snooze, Bye-Bye!

Clear Ayes said...

During the Revolutionary War, the Kent County BLUE HEN Chicken, developed a repupation for ferocity and success at cock fighting.

I know, Lemonade, I said I was tired of "Odes", but since we've had references to both chickens and breasts this weekend...just one more time....

Ode to Chicken

Oh Chicken, how I worship you
Your crispy puckered skin.
I love your outer breastmeat
And the giblets hid within.

My kitchen is a fragrant place
When chicken's on the hob.
I love to rip your leggies off
And stuff them in my gob.

Oh chicken, golden tender meat
So juicy firm and pure.
I love you with potatoes
And I will forever more.

- Jonesey (2006)

Clear Ayes said...

"harm and disruption to the blog"? Give it a rest, Bub. Even you and your ilk haven't been able to harm and disrupt anything. Pay attention to the rules yourself, "no personal attacks".

OK, C.C. that's it from me. (Sometimes, chemo patients just get cranky and have to spout off a little.) :o)

Dudley said...

Hello Puzzlers - since the puzzle has been well covered, I'll just add a bit about Shays' Rebellion. Presumably needing weapons, some of the rebels tried to storm the Federal armory on a prominent hilltop in Springfield. I don't think they succeeded. That armory's site, chosen by George Washington, is now a National Historic Site. It was still an armory when my dad worked there on the 50's; much of the place is now a community college where I first studied Engineering. The museum is superb. One nice touch is the use of old cannon barrels as boulevard lamps along the grand avenue.

olberwoman said...

What a great ode, ClearAyes! "I love to rip your leggies off and stuff them in my gob." Precious.

As for the UD Blue Hen, however, the furry costume the mascot wears does not look at all like a ferocious fighting cock. (Er, um, a ferocious fighting HEN?) It looks like Tweety Bird in blue drag.

Spitzboov said...

Anon @ 3:55. This blog is about crosswords as I understand it. Have you done today's LAT yet. I'm sure we're all waiting with bated breath to hear how you did and what your comments might be about it.

Argyle said...

If this particular anon doesn't quit then no anon will be able to post to this site.

Hahtoolah said...

Ya want a ferocious school mascot? What about the Santa Cruz Banana Slugs? Anyone know the history behind that school mascot?

Clear Ayes said...

In 1986, students voted via referendum to declare the banana slug the official mascot of UCSC, rather than the previous (disliked) sea lion.

We haven't seen Frenchie for a while. I wonder what she thinks of Scottsdale Community College's Fighting Artichokes?

And let's not forget the UC Irvine's Anteaters, or the gentler (we can only hope) Whittier (CA) College Poets.

I think a lot of student/athletes just got tired of being Spartans, or Tigers and wanted a little individual identity. Here's some more ridiculous team names ...at least according to the author. (Don't feel bad, Philadelphia Soul fans.)

Jayce said...

Clear Ayes, thanks for that Ode to Chicken by Jonesey. That kind of poem is right to my taste, being as how one of my favorite poems is the Cremation of Sam McGee. By the way, Robert Service himself called it doggerel. What exactly is doggerel, anyway? Was Service insulting himself? Would the Highwayman by Alfred Noyes also be considered doggerel? What about The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere?

eddyB said...

Hello again.

UCSC was going to be called the Sea Lions (another ferocious animal) when they joined Division III completion. Undergrads revolted
and picked the Banana Slug as their mascot. The slug loves the decay of the redwood forest floor.

The Pats also picked up the best corner in the NFL. That is quite an out-field that they now have.

Finished my nap. eddy

ps. About time. Went blue again for that reason.

Bob L. said...

I was good with everything except for "Chocolate Moss". It didn't sound right to me. I guess it's my NY accent. Moss is pronounced mawss, not mahss here.

Jayce said...

Banana slugs are so much fun!

Lemonade714 said...

A. Sorry about that, I knew his name was Shays but proofreading is not going well these days.

Lucina said...

Good evening, C.C. and folks. That last word inspired by HIS'N.

Very late to this party today. My granddaughters stayed overnight and they require my undivided attention, especially the baby but the 14 year old as well.

While I did manage to finish this puzzle, seeing Mike Peluso's name caused an instant shudder, I DNG those darned sports names!

Otherwise I had much the same experience as most of you and I liked the theme.

AARON is a given but BENGAL, BLUEHEN, SPAHN, not a chance.

Funny you should mention the Scottsdale Fighting Artichokes, CA. Back in the days when the students were debating the choice of a mascot the prevailing feeling was anti-violence which is the perception of most sports, IMHO, and so they voted for the vegetable instead of an animal that denotes violence.

The school colors are green and pink.

I hope your Sunday has been joyous!

Lucina said...

I'm sorry. I have no idea what word I meant to say after "shudder" perhaps "and."

Bill G. said...

I don't know if you'll like it as much as I did, but just in case, here's a link to the segment of Sunday Morning on CBS that I enjoyed so much. Marriage in NYC, old and new.

olberwoman said...

Thanks, Bill G. That video was great. Everybody here should watch it.

Anonymous said...

Boy, do we have different backgrounds. Some clues were obvious to me and not you as to the answer or what it might mean. Others appear to be obvious to you but have no meaning to me - just letters. It would be helpful to me learning wise if you gave a little more explanation of abbreviations. Did so with ASE and BRB but apparently felt ASL was too obvious I guess. Could have stood an explanation on that one. Not sure what your purpose is for posting to this blog since I can it fill in automatically on line. I assumed some educational purpose but I'm not getting that.
- Jim

Bill G. said...

Olberwoman, I'm glad you liked the video. I've enjoyed watching it several times. Each time I enjoy anticipating what's about to happen next and notice some little detail I missed the first time.

Jim 10:12, ASL is American Sign Language as in a jokey 'handy communication syst.'

Clear Ayes said...

Jayce, "Doggerel is a derogatory term for verse considered of little literary value." But that doesn't help much. There's a lot of awful junky poetry out there, but those writers keep right on, and people read it. Robert Service's narrative poems are still popular because they tell a good yarn. (I like him too.) Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky" is pure nonsense, but "Through the Looking Glass.." wouldn't be the same without it. Keep on reading what you enjoy.

Bill G. I saw that segment this morning. I agree with you, it was very touching.

Anonymous said...

Argyle, this will be my last post if you allow it.

I don't like it, not one bit!

Good luck all you future anons...

Anonymous said...

31 down is missing and I still don't understand "clicking sounds" being "ahas" which I only got via crosswords.

Argyle said...

31D was in the write-up, after the themes.

When you are puzzling about something and suddenly you 'get it', you might say 'aha' because everything 'clicked' together, in your mind, not out loud.