Theme: 90 degree LIE, I think I have the right angle on this puzzle. See this diagram (Notice the four LIEs are symmetrically placed.) In the never ending evolution of the 15 x 15 crossword, today we are treated to a new dimension, turning corners. Two of the 4 theme answers are 17 letter fill, and all 4 are run ons.The first two beginning with LIE and the last two ending with LIE. The beginning of the fill is clued correctly, with the remainder just showing a dash. Since Rich does not permit any rebus puzzles, this is another step in seeking originality. I recently did a NY Times, where the fill ran around, so I was ready. It also is the 4th or 5th Scott Atkinson puzzle I have blogged, and he always makes us work, but then he is an iron man triathlete, so let's get on our bikes and go. I am not sure what order to present the theme answers. Because all the LIE part of the words are in the Down grid, we have as our reveal:
12D. Rest a spell, or a fitting title for this puzzle: LIE DOWN.
1D. Henry Blake's rank in "M*A*S*H*": LIE, with17A. -: EUTENANT COLONEL, yields Lieutenant Colonel, which was the unit's first commanding officer's rank, played by McLean Stevenson on TV.
22D. Landlocked Alpine principality: LIE, with 33A. -: ECHTENSTEIN, yields the tiny nation of Liechtenstein. You want MORE?
44A. Lara Croft portrayer: ANGELINA JOL with 47D. - : LIE, yields Angelina Jolie, who inspired this CLIP. (4:08) BONUS: Jolie is the French word for pretty.
64A. Historic Cold War crossing point: CHECK POINT CHARL with 67D. -: LIE. yields Check Point Charlie, as the extended answer to the clue, the cross over at the Berlin Wall..
Well you asked for no puns, and no add ons, and you got what you wished for. Of course to make the two long words work, we have lots of three letter fill (24 total). What did you think? On to the rest.
Across:
1. Some are chocolate: LABS. I had some chocolate lab puppies as my avatar this summer for a while; they were fun.
5. Trim: SHAVE. More like a budget than a face.
10. 1968 self-titled folk album: ARLO. My least favorite Guthrie.
14. "My body's achin' and my time __ hand": James Taylor lyric: IS AT. One of his finest SONGS. (4:07).
15. "Climb aboard!": HOP IN. Sounds more like a train to me.
16. Israel's Iron Lady: MEIR. Former Prime minister Golda. For the boys:
12D. Rest a spell, or a fitting title for this puzzle: LIE DOWN.
1D. Henry Blake's rank in "M*A*S*H*": LIE, with17A. -: EUTENANT COLONEL, yields Lieutenant Colonel, which was the unit's first commanding officer's rank, played by McLean Stevenson on TV.
22D. Landlocked Alpine principality: LIE, with 33A. -: ECHTENSTEIN, yields the tiny nation of Liechtenstein. You want MORE?
44A. Lara Croft portrayer: ANGELINA JOL with 47D. - : LIE, yields Angelina Jolie, who inspired this CLIP. (4:08) BONUS: Jolie is the French word for pretty.
64A. Historic Cold War crossing point: CHECK POINT CHARL with 67D. -: LIE. yields Check Point Charlie, as the extended answer to the clue, the cross over at the Berlin Wall..
Well you asked for no puns, and no add ons, and you got what you wished for. Of course to make the two long words work, we have lots of three letter fill (24 total). What did you think? On to the rest.
Across:
1. Some are chocolate: LABS. I had some chocolate lab puppies as my avatar this summer for a while; they were fun.
5. Trim: SHAVE. More like a budget than a face.
10. 1968 self-titled folk album: ARLO. My least favorite Guthrie.
14. "My body's achin' and my time __ hand": James Taylor lyric: IS AT. One of his finest SONGS. (4:07).
15. "Climb aboard!": HOP IN. Sounds more like a train to me.
16. Israel's Iron Lady: MEIR. Former Prime minister Golda. For the boys:
20. Former Calif. base: FT ORD. Fort Ord is a tricky one to parse.
21. "CHiPs" star Erik: ESTRADA. Ladies, hunk or PUNK?
22. China's Chou En-__: LAI. Another part of his name this time.
24. See 25-Down: MEAL, for which you need 25D. Statement before a 24-Across: LET'S EAT.
26. "Dogma" star: DAMON. Matt played our crossword friend LOKI, the impish Norse god (2:02).
27. "Assuming I'm right . . .": IF SO. Part of a logic discussion.
29. Places to treat v-fib: ERS. Ventricular fibrillation (irregular heart beat) Emergency Rooms.
32. Not family-friendly: LEWD. I guess this really depends on the family.
38. Prefix for Caps or Cat: SNO.
39. Confuses: CROSSES UP. Like when your partner trumps your Ace in bridge.
41. Modem owner's need: Abbr.: ISP. Internet Service Provider.
48. Not very much: A TAD.
50. Hr. related to airspeed: ETA. Estimated Time of Arrival.
51. Garr of "Mr. Mom": TERI. One of my favorites, even in this MOVIE (1:21).
52. Patient contribution: CO-PAY.
54. Spanish hors d'oeuvre: TAPA. Yummy.
58. Driver's gadget: TEE. Golf.
59. Like many bazaars: OPEN AIR. Aren't they all?
62. Synopsis: RECAP.
68. Offer as proof: CITE. My token law word, an accepted abbreviation of Citation.
69. Navel variety: OUTIE. Show of hands for the rare protruding belly button.
70. Dramatic opener: ACT I. All plays begin at the beginning even if it is a flashback.
71. Part of AMEX: Abbr.: AMER. American Stock Exchange.
72. Turn aside: DETER.
73. Midway game word: SKEE. The sort of bowling game which spits out tickets.
Down:
2. Tempe sch.: ASU. Arizona State University. my cousin Beverly obtained her masters there.
3. Odd-shaped reef denizen: BATFISH. This is not the child of Bruce Wayne and a mermaid.
4. Keep one's word?: STET. This editors word for leaving a passage the way it was originally, is classic old time crosswordese.
5. Post on Facebook, e.g : SHARE. How many of us do Facebook or Twitter?
6. Passport issuer?: HONDA. One the car companies many SUV's not your ID for travel.
7. Fitting: APT.
8. __ squad: VICE. Reminds me of the classic POLICE SQUAD.(3:03)
9. Slaughter in the outfield: ENOS. How fitting, as he was a great St. Louis Cardinal.
10. Ethically unconcerned: AMORAL. See 32 Across.
11. Handles differently?: RENAMES. Not a pot handle, but a CB users name.
13. Seat of Florida's Orange County: ORLANDO. Where my youngest sleeps nightly, I hope.
18. Émile, par exemple: NOM. Our french lesson; NOM= NAME. Jeannnnie?
19. Abbr. on some cheques: LTD. The que tells you it from a place where they use LTD instead of INC for their corporations.
23. Pro Bowl div.: AFC. American Football Conference, the old AFL after it was absorbed by the NFL, and the home of many more Super Bowls than the NFC.
28. Needing no Rx: OTC. Over The Counter.
30. React in shock: REEL. Winning the $245 million Powerball jackpot sent Dudley reeling.
31. "I agree, señor!": SI SI. Oui,oui aussi.
34. Stat for Cliff Lee: ERA. Man, is it really luck or is it me; Earned Run Average; Cliff being one of the Phillies' pitchers who let St. Louis sneak in to the World Series. Sorry Dennis.
35. Share for the fourth little piggy: NONE. In case you forgot, LISTEN.
36. USMC NCO: SSGT. Staff sergeant, Non-commissioned Officer.
37. Parochial school figure: NUN. We had a Catholic girl's high school built in our neighborhood when I was a teenager. Saw lots of NUNS trying to make sure I got none, just like the fourth little piggy.
40. Light touch: PAT. There there, it will be all right little girl.
41. Big name in Chrysler history: IACOCCA. The Ford man who rescued Chrysler and became FAMOUS.
42. Shout after a purse-snatching: STOP HIM. How sexist! What if the thief is a woman?
43. Capital of French Polynesia: PAPEETE. Beautiful place, you think?
45. Personal transport, in science fiction: JET PACK. Rex Ryan's posse? I wonder why they are not more in use by now?
46. Refinery input: ORE. OR crude.
49. Comet colleague: DANCER. On Comet, and Dancer and Prancer; a little early Santa Claus for you all.
53. Tibetan milk source: YAK. Yes, they talk so much in Tibet, the milk just pours from their mouths as they just go on and on.
55. Links nickname: ARNIE. Arnold Palmer, who really will always be Mr. Golf, maybe not the best, but the one who made everyone want to play and watch.
56. '80s baseball commissioner Ueberroth: PETER. He was also head of the Olympic Committee when the US hosted the Summer games.
57. Eastern NCAA hoops gp.: ACC. Atlantic Coast Conference, home of perennial b-ball contenders Duke and NC and many more.
60. Modern music source: IPOD. UPOD, we all pod.
61. Don Juan sort: ROUÉ. A man who dedicates himself to sensual pleasure; hmm. Obviously not encouraged, as the word is from the French rouer which means to break on the wheel, a fun medieval torture.
63. Cries from successful puzzle solvers: AHAS. More fun than the V-8 can in the head.
65. Hairy TV cousin : ITT. The Addams Family, not to be confused with Thing. Itt wore a hat.
66. AAA info: RTE. Route, which is here to remind me to move on down the road.
Answer grid.
It has been fun to read all the comments from our newly recruited members as well as our core. Good to see Carol, Lois and Warren, but I intend to keep pestering all of you who read silently or now and then to come by and say hi on Wednesday November 23, 2011 as we as a nation get ready to give thanks for all we have even, in bad times. We have the Corner, and I hope you enjoyed this brief journey. Thanks Scott A. for another new experience for this long time solver.
Lemonade
Note from C.C.:
Re: Missing Numbers & Theme Clues:
Your local paper format (PDF) is exactly what the constructor & Rich wanted. Across Lite does not allow unnumbered & unclued entries, hence dashes in today's on-line theme clues.
92 comments:
Good morning Lemonade, C.C. et al.
Stellar write-up, Lemon. I really laughed when I read your comment about the NUN and also the YAK– too funny!!
I started of badly in the NW. “Some may be chocolate” is an old clue for LABS. But I made the mistake of glancing at 1D, and saw three letters for Henry Blake’s role in MASH, and wrote down “col”. Big mistake.
From there I kind of skidded around until I cam to the Lara Croft role. I knew it was ANGELINA JOLIE, but didn’t have enough spaces…but wait! What’s this? JETPACK, ORE, TERI and TEE all fill in the rest of her name going down, with LIE…
Hmm…let’s take another look at that clue for 12D. AHA! V-8 moment. I then went back and realized Blake was a LIEUTENANT COLONEL (so my first instinct about LAB was right, heh heh).
The rest of the fill went pretty smooth. The theme actually helped me to spell LIECHTENSTEIN (I always forget about that extra “e” before the C). PAPEETE is always hard for me, but I read the book by IACOCCA, so the entire SW filled quickly.
TGIF! I think I’ll go lie down now…
Morning, all!
This one came close to flummoxing me until I finally picked up on the theme. Even then, though, it wasn't exactly what I would call a speed run, and in the end I needed the red letter help to get the crossing of ISP and PAPEETE. You see, I originally had DSL and when I changed the D to an I, I didn't think that ISL made no sense whatsoever and LAPEETE looked just fine to me...
I never knew how to spell Liechtenstein, and I doubt I will remember tomorrow, but it's nice to know anyway.
CROSSES UP made me a little sad, but everything else was wonderful today.
Good Morning, Lemonade and friends. Wow! What a puzzle. I thought it was mostly A TAD easier than our usual fare, but did scratch my head a bit over the them. Like HeartRx, I knew ANGELIINA JOLIE portrayed Laura Croft. Was I spelling her name wrong? CHECKPOINT CHARLIE broke the code for me and I was easily able to fill in the rest.
I thought Henry Blake was a Colonel, not a LIEUTENANT COLONEL, so that the NW corner was last to fall into place.
What, no picture of the BAT FISH for us? Who does this remind you of?
Happy Weekend, everyone!
QOD: I have never been hurt by what I have not said. ~ Calvin Coolidge
Your numbering scheme for the "down" answers are off...
Anon, could you be more specific? In what way?
I'm grateful for your blog and the chance to see the solutions but this one... For an amateur of the bottom rank it threw me for a complete loop. Then when I started reading your answers to the clues I was thrown loopty-loop when the numbers were off. I figure you must have been confused by the numberless squares and began misnumbering.
Thanks for the help. I was ready to throw in the towel quickly. I should stick to reading I reckon.
Numbering off, hmm, I know I was not feeling great but I actually do not put the numbers in. Anyway, Hahtool, I had linked this PICTURE but the link would not hold.
Hahtool, love the BAT FISH picture - I'd say it looks like Hot Lips Houlihan from MASH !!
Took me quite some time to get the theme, even after getting LIEDOWN. Doh! Spent more time than usual solving today.
Lemon, I took 64A CITE as a verb rather than an abbreviated noun. And what was your reference to 32A? Or was that part of the misnumbering? I work the puzzle in the Houston Barnacle, and 32 is at the second E in LiechtEnstein. There is no 32A answer.
All in all, it was a fun puzzle and a great way to start off a Friday.
Hello Puzzlers -
The AHA! light came on with JOLIE, reminding me of the fascinating and challenging around-the-perimeter puzzle we had a year or so ago. A seriously clever construct, IMHO.
Top-notch blogging, Lemonade! Whether I have won the jackpot remains unknown, because lottery officials cannot reach me. Still no power in my area, you see.
This storm crisis is getting old.
I just had time to do this wonderful puzzle and am out the door to sub! I will read write-up etc later. I just wanted to post a link to what may be the only song with the word Papeete as a lyric. It is also an absolute favorite of mine. Later.
p.s. I’m subbing for Family Consumer Science (we used to call Home Ec.) today
Good morning, Lemonade and the gang. Great write up.
LABS wasn't my first thought. Bars or eggs? Check the downs. Like Marti, I thought Col was the obvious pick, but then ASU and IS AT were cast in stone. What to do? HOP oN across. Yeah, that screwed up the top middle section. Fortunately, the NE filled easily, although I didn't immediately catch the significance of LIE DOWN.
ANGELINA JOL? AHA! Now it all makes sense. I put in the four LIEs and filled the remaining theme clues. From there it was a speed run.
This was one of the easier Fridays, but a lot of fun.
Of course, there has to be a response to Lemonades horrible Yak joke.. (2:30)
Husker, be sure to teach the kids how to unsew a seam.
I just took a look at the Cruciverb version of the puzzle and the numbering does not match what was printed in my paper. There is no number at the turning point of the theme entries, which totally screws up everything else.
There are no - clues in the printed version either.
Grumpy, you made my day by your link, I really wanted someone to link that song; Dudley, there is always hope for the jackpot
Mornin' Ya'll,
Took a looong time to reach AHA!
Need I say more?
Really fun puzzle. Great blogging , Lemonade.
One of my first entries was LIE DOWN, which immediatley led to LIE and LABS in the NW, because I saw the corner turning there. Then the entire NE fell, giving me COLONEL. From there I easily got the theme, with LIEUTENANT COLONEL. I was off and running. Getting the theme so early made this a walk in the park.
More later. I'm off to the gym.
Lemon, I must have done that recent NYT also, because I caught the LIE-DOWN theme gimmick early.
All-in-all, a FUN Friday.
(That felt like a Wednesday).
I "second" your comments regarding LEWD & STOP-HIM (sexist!). lol
Hmmm, I think I need more time today.
Soooo, I already did the "Fall-Back-an-Hour" to Standard Time.
Cheers to all at (my early) Sunset.
Morning, all.
What a clever theme and a fun puzzle. I thought it was very odd that some of the side squares weren't numbered, but didn't put it together with the theme for quite awhile. I had Angelina Jol and Checkpoint Charl, so figured the theme was chopping off ie. Then went back to the west and figured out the wrap around. Very fun!
I have been keeping up with the morning blog posts, but haven't posted in ages. My daughter started kindergarten this fall, so our mornings have been a blur. I was planning to check in per Lemonade's request in a couple weeks, but figured I'd do it today while I have the time. I enjoy seeing all the old-timers, and it's fun to see all the newcomers.
Enjoy the day!
Hahtool:
I think your BATFISH looks like Sarah Palin.
(I know, NO politics ... but she did ask).
Husker:
I was humming Souther Cross while I solved.
Thanks for the link.
Rick:
I understand your angst.
This is the type of Crossword where you:
(1) Get the gimmick early
- or -
(2) Get totally frustrated as you create a beautiful INK-BLOT
Andrea, you were on my list, welcome back. You can still come back on the 23rd and the kids do grow quickly, enjoy
LIE DOWN (12D) is right! I think I need to, after working this puzzle. But after I figured out the trick it was smooth sailing.
I loved the clues on 4D and 11D (Keeps oen's word: STET, and Handles differently: RENAMES.)
Have a super Friday and a wonderful weekend!
Husker G, wonderful link to CSN. I always pronounced PAPEETE just the way it is spelled - pah - peet. Now I know it should be pah - ay -tay!!
Grumpy 1, thanks for the ear-worm…
Hey Dudley, if you want to give me your lottery ticket, I'll check the numbers for you. If you did win, I'll be sailing off the coast of PAPEETE with a tidy sum in my pocket, heh heh!
Way DNF. Had sitDOWN instead of LIEDOWN, map instead of RTE. Only part of the theme I got was CHECKPOINT...
See ya Mon.
Well, I had a nice comment constructed, which disappeared when I tried to post (what on earth is a memcache that was too full or something?), and I'm too lazy to try again. Wonderful puzzle, though.
Not much time today, but I did get this out two hours ago and have been at other things since. Amazingly as it happens, because I really thought I'd be a DNF at first.
But I poked around until I had enough perps to fill several of the many unknowns. Then memory kicked in until I hit CHECKPOINT CHARLIE and the penny dropped on all those LIE downs and I was away (or "home and hosed" as I said last week). I don't know how many times I went through that crossing into East Berlin between 1970 and 1986.
My one stumper was caused by being sure of HOP ON, which meant VICE wouldn't work and I had put SHAPE for SHAVE, so did finish with that bit wrong and I didn't really give more thought to the resulting POCE which I took to be just one more thing I don't know.
Mike, if you're too full of cash, I can help with that....
Now I read the other comments. I've always known the pronunciation of Papeete, and that gave me a bit of trouble with the spelling--that's where I needed my memory to kick in and get rid of the PAPA- that I had at the beginning of it.
Hahtool,
Lovely pic of the BATFISH. Looks like it's got legs.
My paper had no numbers for those clues either, and when I saw Lemonade's 17A, I looked to see where that was and just thought it would be the next available # to use.
Andrea,
Nice to see you back again. How's the restaurant doing?
Have a Liechtenstein stamp in the passport. Had to pay for it though. It is more ornate than most and one of the larger ones.
Thanks, Rich, for allowing something a little different today. Another speed run, though, once the gimmick was presented. This whole week seemed easier than usual.
Speaking of chocolate, Charlie, and winning the lottery, I offer this (3:14).
Good day, sir!
I've been using all you pros here to help improve my skills. Honestly, I'm only decent until about Wed. But as if Friday isn't hard enough, our paper put the numbers in differently than what you're showing. I tried to find a link to show but failed. That maybe what happened to an earlier post.
Very Nice puzzle Mr. Atkinson, and a very nicely written blog, Lemonade.
Thanks to your ref to Wiki, I read all about Licht. and found out they make all that money by what would be called in the US at least, as 'money laundering'. I guess if you have no oil, that's the only other way to go.
The right angle twist, had me confused/ crossed up / flumoxxed - and what seemed very promising - left me too many loose ends. I should have known better than to even attempt the puzzle.
Alt QOD;- Ever have the police follow you so long you'd get suspicious of yourself ? " Maybe I did kill them people ! ". ~ D. L. Hughley.
Reference to Hahtool's QOD:
Harry S. Truman also said , ' I never had to explain what I didn't say in the first place. '
Perhaps I'm thick in the a.m. but would someone explain the V-8 comments please?
Hi all: As anon said at 6:16am, I too had all different numbers starting at my 19 which was FtOrd, they were all one number less than yours, then at my 36 "Sno" they jumped two numbers then 3 numbers different and then 4 numbers. Same with down clues starting with 17D which was your 18D; then it jumped two numbers and finally 3. I had no number across for two answers and no numbers down for two answers. (Lieutenant Colonel, and Liechtenstein across and Lie and Lie down. Crazy, but somehow I got it.
Hello.
Numbers just fine on cruciverb.com.
Skipped the dashes and let the Ds
fill them.
Great game last night!
We finally got some rain.
eddy
You have all heard the old saying, "don't pee on my leg and tell me its raining", right?
Well, what do you tell this poor guy?
Hope everyone's day has started better than this!
Virginia C,
As someone said yesterday, it comes from the V* ads where someone slaps their head to indicate they "should have had a V8". Here it's taken a step further, and the head slapping is done WITH the V8 can.
Liechtenstein (pronounced according to the German rule: IE sounds like ee, EI sounds like eye) is easy to spell if you remember the rule. It is known for its beautiful postage stamps too, and many tourists stop at the post office there and get some so they can send postcards home with the stamps on them.
Today's crossword printed in the San Jose Mercury was confused somehow by the '-''s and wound up miss-numbering the 17 and 33 Across leaving 17A blank and pushing 17A to where 18A was etc.
My wife saw this problem immediately and so I printed on a hard copy from the on-line version, but I never got the wrap around theme until I got here.
Nice idea, Mr. Atkinson and nice blogging there, @Lemonade.
CHECKPOINTCHARLIE was the one that got me on the right track, I'm hopeless with movie or TV actors so Angelina wasn't going to help. I love these kinds of new angles on the puzzles, really keeps everything fresh.
On the "cheque" hint towards the LTD answer, because I'm now totally bi-lingual in Brit/American English I never even noticed the "odd" spelling. Funny how that happens.
Jolly Good!
Good morning everyone.
Some posters used to tell their times for doing the puzzle. I can tell you only how many answers I got right: 22.
Yippee.
Got LIEDOWN, but it didn't help when I saw no clue or number at the corners. I don't like horsing around with xword puzzle forms. I'm too literal. So I was totally flummoxed. I applaud all you who did figure it out.
Cheers
Good Morning All, Thank goodness I am a James Taylor fan, 14A)IS AT, so I was sure that 1D) couldn't be COL. I also figured out most of the NE section with MEIR, ESTRADA and DAMON, although I still didn't have the key LIE DOWN (Duh!) Then it was on to the SW where 41D)IACOCCA, 42D)STOP HIM and 43D)PAPEETE came easily
After that I have practically no idea how I managed to get through the rest of this puzzle. Those little three and four letter words helped as perps to the extra long corner tuning themes.
CHECKPOINT CHARL IE was the first light bulb moment and I finally was able to back into the rest of the themes. THEN...I loved it. and finished off smiling.
Sounds like the newspaper solvers had an extra problem with the numbers. I probably would have given up at that point.
Great idea, Scott Atkinson and always fun to read Lemonade's comments.
Clever, clever, clever! Thought I wouldn't get this in a million years and figured the puzzle was botched because numbers were missing in so many squares. (Spent some time trying to figure out how to bring this up tactfully in my comments). Then somehow, somewhere the 'lie' clicked and I got it! Where's the opposite of a V-8 when you need one!
Another surprise. Couldn't remember Angelina Jolie to save my soul, but got both Arnie Palmer and Peter Ueberroth even though I know zip about sports. I love the smell of surprises in the morning--they smell like victory! (Sorry, all the military stuff in this puzzle got to me, I think).
Good morning Lemonade, C.C. et al,
Mercy, mercy! Usually it doesn't matter if I don't catch on to the theme; not today.Like Andrea, I thought the lack of ie on Jolie and Charlie was part of the theme. It wasn't until I was filling Liechtenstein that I got the a-ha. There were numerous names, so I figured Stein was another one...then I saw it.
Kazie, I agree with you about the stamps. My collection was an early introduction to geography. Vatican City stamps are the far the most beautiful.I think it was the stamps that made me want to go to Africa.
I did not "get" why 6D is Honda.Didn't appreciate 24A linked with 25D.Had get on for climb aboard, so I missed that train.
Bill, you should have rain by now.
stop him is not as sexist as ur comment about golda meir!
Re: Missing Numbers & Theme Clues:
Your local paper format (PDF) is exactly what the constructor & Rich wanted. Across Lite does not allow unnumbered & unclued entries, hence dashes in today's on-line theme clues.
Good morning everyone. Great write-up, Lemonade.
As some probably did, when I saw the unnumbered start of some sections, of course, the WTF expression was invoked. Tried Henry Blake's rank LTC; no joy. (Sherman Potter who succeeded him was a COL). Left that and went South and CHECKPOINT CHARLIE filled right in. Getting the 'lie' of the land, I then sussed LIECHTENSTEIN. (We are expecting a Liechtensteiner to visit during Thanksgiving). Spelling out LTC and Ms Jolie completed the long fills. Other than getting how the theme worked, I did not think the puzzle was hard. ITT begat OUTIE. Hands up. Initially wanted Noumea for the Polynesian capital, but COPAY and ISP augured for PAPEETE . BATFISH was a WAG. Liked the clueing for LABS and LETS EAT -- MEAL. Nice challenge, Scott.
Have a great day.
Either I'm getting better at this or I've been incredibly fortunate to be on the same wavelength with our constructors the last two days! Wow - two awesome puzzles completed with no look ups. It's been a great week, but I'm realistic enough to be cautious with my soapbox since there's tomorrow where I'm sure to stumble. Will it be another Silky Saturday, I wonder?
Thanks Lemon for the terrific write up. Haven't tried the links yet as I still have no Internet access on my pc. I'll see how my phone handles it. Santa, please leave an iPad under the tree.
TGIF - enjoy your weekend.
Hello, Lemonade, C.C. and all puzzlers.
Brilliant blog, Lemon.
AHA! I got it! It took a looong while and almost giving up before the light turned on at CHECKPOINTCHARL IE. Then I went back to COL and revisited 1D, erased BARS at 1A and LIE UTENANTCOLONEL filled the picket fence.
HONDA also gave me fits because I am literal but then I honed in on the ? and realized, AHA, not the ST. DEP!
Had to consult the dictionary for the spelling of LIECHTENSTEIN as the middle T eluded me.
Nice going, Scott. Thank you for the entertainment.
Have a terrific Friday, everyone! Rain expected today!!!!
Erik ESTRADA had a second career in Mexican soap operas and is considered an idol there. I read he had to take Spanish lessons because being Mexican-American, he spoke mostly English.
Hahtool, that batfish looks like Dame Edna to me.
Hello everybody. Great puzzle. I really liked the gimmick, but like HeartRx I didn't get it until ANGELINA JOL. Also, similarly to what you did, HeartRx, I pencilled in LTC for 1D, which prevented me from getting that corner right until later.
A very nifty puzzle.
I thought the numbering was just fine. When I saw no number in the leftmost square of the third row down, and of course no clue, I figured the idea was to get that across entry (and the others) filled in by another means. Not a problem for me.
It seems both the online version and the print version were confusing but which was worse....
1-Down leading to an unnumbered Across(no clue) or a 17A. : - (just a dash)?
I had a similar experience to most of you, especially confidently filling in COL for 1 down. The trick finally came to me somewhere on the last 2, then the perimeter was completed.
But the thing that actually gave me the most trouble was that spot in the middle. I had __tseat and was thinking Hot seat. (I still hadn't decided if you'd treat V-fib at an ER or an OR.) I was also thinking that MEA_ might be any vowel, as in "give me a b" or whatever. The aha moment finally arrived, so victory was declared.
Someone the other day mentioned Eric Clapton's cover of Autumn Leaves. Here's the song covered by Eva Cassidy.
For your entertainment? The Batfish Boys (later simply called Batfish) were a gothic rock/garage rock/rockabilly band from York, England, active between 1984 and 1990, releasing three albums.
Another One Bites The Dust (Purple Haze Mix)(5:39)
Just wanted to say that thee paper in louisville ky was not numbered the same and really messed up being able to solve the puzzle correctly. hope next weeks is better
I thought the newspaper version was helpful with the missing numbers and theme clues. Seeing 1D ended in a box with no number and that the across answer had no clue, I realized right away that the the answer would be L shaped, going down and then across. The reveal was LIE DOWN. I assumed it meant the word LIE would be spelled going down, so LIE fit in 1D and would be the just the beginning of the complete answer. Without the missing number and clue, it would have been much more difficult to suss the pattern. When I got ANGELINAJ, I realized that LIE could also be used at the end going down.
Finally, after all these years, I learned to pronounce Papeete.
The papers are numbered correctly but not the same as the online puzzle that Lemonade714 used. Both are correct for their own genre but can't be cross-referenced.
Looking at the puzzle in hindsight (and perhaps looking to the future) I think the print version with the missing numbers and clues should have been a tipoff that the clued entry would wrap around into the unclued/un-numbered squares. Since I hadn't run into that before, though, it just served to further confuse me. But that's what Friday puzzles are supposed to do.
What a fun theme! I was having trouble 'cause I knew Potter was a Lt. Colonel but I couldn't figure out how to abbreviate it to fit in. At first, I had ABBA instead of ARLO and that led to BEDDOWN instead of LIEDOWN. Once I straightened that out, I tumbled to the theme and had smooth solving.
My wife got a bogus ticket for speeding (she usually drives too slowly in my opinion) and has to take Traffic School online. They had the usual information about steering into a skid. She didn't understand it. Having driven in snow and ice, I feel as if I understand how to steer the car to recover from a skid. So I Googled it and the advice was all muddled, confused and contradictory too.
Now that the "two version" issue has been explained, I have to say that I'm glad I was confronted with the online "Clue - Dash" version.
I think if I'd have seen the unclued/unnumbered version it would have been less of a challenge? It seems to me it makes it move obvious - especially the bottom two where the answer wraps at the end, rather than at the beginning.
IMHO, of course.
Hi Everyone ~~
What a week! We lost power minutes after I posted here on Saturday afternoon. It was restored Wednesday night and then cable service--TV and Internet, last night. Most of the state is a mess. At the worst point over 800,000 CL&P (Connecticut Light & Power) customers were without power. That's down to about 300,000 today. Some areas are still inaccessible because of downed trees and wires.
I've been keeping up with the puzzles but I've really missed being able to come here! Today's puzzle was fun but challenging for me. I didn't get the 24D and 23A thing and 'HOP on' instead of HOP IN messed things up for a while. Thanks for a great write-up, Lemonade ... I really needed your help!
I'm going to go back and read what I've missed all week. I don't know if 'thehondohurricane' has been here ... I hope things are OK with him.
Thanks for the update on un-numbered clues, This is the first time that I or my wife have seen this kind of thing so we were confused...
;-)
As Argyle mentioned, in order to have the blog ready for you when you awaken, we all use the cruciverb across/lite version to solve before preparing our write up. I agree the "gimmick" would have been much more apparant without the little dashes I saw.
How in the world was my comment on Golda Meir, a true inspiration to people, not mattering if they were men or women, sexist? because I label every picture of a woman "for the boys" and every picture of a man "for the girls"? hardly serious commentary. GOLDA MEIR was an incredible person, who did more good by the time she wa 17 than most people in a lifetime. I grew up admiring her strength and leadership in a very troubled world. If you do not remember her, read about her life.
I've been working these puzzles for a long time and never noticed the blog. Not very observant, I guess. Honestly, I never get the themes. It took me a while today to figure out this puzzle. Friday's are usually harder for me. Now that I've found the blog, I'll try to remember to read it. Like the humor. Should make the day a better day. Keep it up and thanks.
LaLaLinda, great to "see" you back again - I was just wondering about you the other day. Now we just have to hear from Maniac!
Lemon, I chuckled to myself when I read your "for the boys" comment above Golda Meir's picture, and immediately started looking for one for us gals. I guess I'll just have to be content with the guys in "Naked Gun", huh?
Lemon:
I get the LAT Crossword in my
St.Petersburg Times.
(Soon to change its name to Tampa Bay Times on 1/1/12 as it attempts to put the Tampa Tribune, our area's newpaper step-child, out of business) ... but I digress ...
The "gimmick" was obvious to this
"In-Pen/On-Paper" solver.
I think the "on-line" solvers had a more difficult time.
Anon (from yesterday):
C'mon ... you're gettin' lazy ...
No bitching that this "wrap-around" thingy being done before in the NYT?
Not to mention the answer "TEE" being used in other puzzles?
jeez ...
Hola Everyone, Thanks, Lemonade for the explanation of the theme. I didn't find numbers where I thought they should be, then went to the Internet version, and didn't find clues where I thought they should be. The numbers were different. SOoooo, after scratching my head and hitting my forehead with a V-can I got Check Point Charlie way down at the bottom.
Per Marti, I started off with Col for Henry Blake's rank in M*A*S*H*.
I decided to do what Dodo does and go to the bottom to start off. This gave me the toehold I needed.
Out came my eraser and I started over with a different perspective
but I didn't lie down! I did finally finish. What a workout today.
This was a Friday puzzle for sure.
HeartRx:
Lemon left "one for the ladies" at:
21-A "CHiPs" star Erik: ESTRADA. Ladies, hunk or PUNK?
Good day folks,
Power back on! Out since Sunday, 1:30 AM. Returned from Newburyport, Ma earlier today where we sponged off my son and his family for a few days. Got to see grandson play football for high school frosh team yesterday.
Ct was really trashed by the storm. Hope LaLinda and any other Ct residents on this blog are safe and comfortable. Some folks in the State have suffered terribly and continue to do so.
I'll get back to doing puzzles tomorrow or Monday. Until then, nice to be in touch with everyone again.
Hondo
Home from subbing and I didn’t have to do Home Ec. after all. She sent me down to sub for what she thought was a history teacher and it turned out to be a math room. So that’s where I spent the day. It’s amazing what people don’t know in a school with a thousand kids!
Like Marti, I love CSN (&Y) and Southern Cross is my favorite song. I never could figure out what where they were headed and so I googled the lyrics years ago and found Papeete. I also love the nautical terms and lovely lyrics as well. I wonder what CA’s assessment is of their poetry.
Checkpoint Charlie gave me the theme today. We were there not long after the wall came down and spent quite a bit of money to get what I was told was a "genuine" piece of the wall. It was a hunk of concrete with some paint on it, so how could you fake that? Oh yeah, not too hard, but we did buy it at the Checkpoint Charlie museum/store and not from the hustlers on the street.
thanks lemon,
i stared at this puzzle for more than an hour. i knew you would have figured it out. It would have bugged me all weekend.
Joon on “Jeopardy” Tournament of Champions today!
Posted on Diary of a Crossword Fiend on November 4th, 2011, by Amy Reynaldo
Whoops, I meant to alert you last night to set your DVRs and VCRs for Jeopardy! today. Joon Pahk makes his debut appearance in the Tournament of Champions this afternoon/evening. Don’t miss it!
TinbiniL My first thought was: LIPSTICK!
JD, yes, we got our rain. Not much but still nice. It's funny. We get a little rain and all the TV news shows are on Storm Watch!! It quit a couple of hours ago so I headed off for a short bike ride and a macchiato (espresso with some foamed milk on top). I had the bike path pretty much to myself.
My newspaper was not delivered today for some reason so I printed it from the LAT site. When I saw the dashes at 17A, 33A, 44D and 67D I thought the answers would have something to do with . . . dash as we have seen that before, not dashes but other symbols.
Erik ESTRADA is definitely a hunk!
Lemony - I didn't think the Meir comment was sexist. Mean, yes. Funny, most definitely. But not sexist.
Ant - Thanks for the REELing Grandpa Joe, while Charlie's other bed-ridden grandparents LIEDOWN in their bed. FYI, the guy who played Violet's father just died this week.
Power just came back! Woo hoo!
Back to civilization!
Dan, welcome. Hearti, not an EE fan? Frank, funny is not always nice, but I really admire Ms. Meir. I fell into the habit with earlier pics. It was not intended to be mean.
A really fun bunch of comments today; thank you all. Good to see all of our Connecticut contingent has power, part me will always smell of nutmeg. Maniac where are you? For that matter the list is long
Here are some pics. which were taken from color slides found at the Library of Congress. They are dated between 1939-1943. Denver Post The pictures are so clear and the color is so vibrant, it looks as though they were taken just yesterday.
Husker Gary, I've liked Crosby, Stills & Nash for a long time. "Southern Cross", written by Stephen Stills, is a dandy. As far as Neil Young goes, I think a person has had to spend a long time on hallucinogenic drugs to be a fan. I know, I'm going to get big time criticism for this, but his voice is awful, most of the tunes are bland and lyrics like...
"Hey hey, my my
Rock and roll can never die
There's more to the picture
Than meets the eye."
OR
"I want to live,
I want to give
I've been a miner
for a heart of gold."
give me goosebumps (not the good kind). Then too, my sister has eaten dinner at the same table and says he is a pretentious nitwit.
Windhover...thoughts? ;o)
Argyle, thanks for the "heads up" on Jeopardy.
Welcome Dan!
CA, I'm with you on Neil Young.Of course, there was a time that I thought Bob Dylan was the best..but he didn't have much of a voice...and then there was Rod Mc Kuen. LOL! I still like his poetry.
I've been catching up on the puzzle blogs and comments from the time I lost power Saturday afternoon. I'm through Wednesday. Good stuff! A couple of things stand out so far ... COUPLES' or COUPLES'S, TYLENOL and BAYER and WHATEVER. ;-)
Marti ~~ thanks for thinking of me. Were you not affected by the storm? I thought you were near Dudley and I see he just got power back ... yay Dudley!
I'm glad to see thehondohurricane is back, too!
Good evening,folks.
I am late signing in due to travel to Pennsylvania.
Thank you, Scott, for a swell puzzle. Thank you, lemonade, for a swell write-up.
This puzzle was very doable. Not bad for a Friday.
The theme came slowly. The right angle thing did not become apparent at first. Eventually it did and the four answers appeared.
OUTIE seems to have appeared before if I remember correctly. That is OK. That is a good clue/answer.
Enjoyed 59A BAZAARS. Been to many of them. I believe that is a word and facility od Persian origin.
I had SHAPE instead of SHAVE for 5A--Trim. Fixed it eventually.
Hope to get a lot of work done in Pennsylvania this next few days. Also hope to do the crossword puzzles, if I can print them. We'll see.
See you tomorrow.
Abejo
Well, ClearAyes,
I have to say I'm a big Neil Young fan, although I agree about the voice. But then Bob Dylan didn't become famous for his pleasing tones, either.
I've also always been a CSNY fan, and agree with whoever mentioned Southern Cross. A great Stills tune.
I was a fan from the start, but when I began attending the Farm Aid concerts in the late '80's I really got into Neil. A lot of his lyrics have held up over the years. I'm thinking of Rockin' in the Free World and Pocahontas, but it's all good. (for me).
Maybe we can get Avg. Joe to chime in. It's only 9:30 in Cornhusker country.
To Vorginia C:
I believe the V-8 can reference is that when you make an error, you take a V-8 can (the vegetable drink) and hit your forehead with it. And crunch it. Or, like doing the same with a beer can.
I have never used that reference myself, but see it just about eery day in this blog. Like it.
Abejo
I probably add that the closest I come to anything hallucinogenic these days is made from barley and hops. And like AJ, that Millbudcoor crap (rice and corn) doesn't cut it.
Neil Young
Sorry, wrong link, this is the one.
Anon:
That's what I'm talkin' about. Thanks.
In the writeup of the video, there is a mention of the film 'Dogtown Z-Boys'. I can't recommend this film enough. We watched it earlier this Summer (outdoors) at the Chicken Bristle Film Society. Great story, great music. Look for it.
Bedtime in the Bluegrass.
More Neil for WH & CA
sleep well all, splynter and a smooth saturday silkie await
Rock and Roll
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