Theme: Dyno-MITE! - For those of you that don't get my reference, that was the catch phrase of the TV character, "J. J." Evans. All these creators became famous using just their initials instead of their first names. To further narrow the theme, only ones with "J" initially are used.
17A. Creator of Holden Caulfield : J.D. SALINGER. "The Catcher in the Rye"
24A. Creator of Neverland : J.M. BARRIE. "Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up"
37A. Creator of Hogwarts : J.K. ROWLING. "Harry Potter and ..."
53A. Creator of TV's island that "wasn't just an island" : J.J. ABRAMS. "Lost"
61A. Creator of Bilbo Baggins : J.R.R. TOLKIEN. "The Lord of the Rings"
Argyle here. By the nature of the theme, there aren't any long entries but nice 7 letter blocks in two corners. This is a solo debut from this constructor who also only uses her initials.
Across:
1. Depilatory target : HAIR. A depilatory is capable of removing hair chemically.
5. London rentals : FLATS
10. Planetarium roof : DOME
14. Kick off a poker hand : ANTE leading to 3D. Wagering words : "IT'S A BET" and maybe leading to 59A. Quite a tidy sum : PILE.
15. Bacall's love, informally : BOGIE
16. World's leading saffron-producing nation : IRAN
19. Unlikely party animal : NERD
20. 5-Down employee : AGT. and 5D. Justice Dept. agency : FBI. When a clue is cross-referenced to a clue already indicating an abbreviation, it isn't indicated again.
21. Belt size, essentially : GIRTH
23. Miracle-__ : GRO
27. Live-in nanny : AU PAIR
29. Be that as it may : EVEN SO
30. Lion features : MANEs
31. Mental quickness : WIT
32. Floor space measure : AREA
36. Battery terminal : ANODE
40. Book after Daniel : HOSEA
43. Golfer's pegs : TEEs
44. Fitness class : GYM
47. PC's "Do it" key : ENTER
48. Maze-solving rodent : LAB RAT
51. Vaulted : LEAPED
55. Little devil : IMP
56. Credit card lure : NO FEE
58. Era upon era : EON
65. Out of the wind : ALEE
66. Like Cognac casks : OAKEN
67. Yours, in Cognac : A TOI. French Wine regions map.
68. Schoolroom furniture : DESK
69. Prefix with foam : STYRO
70. Toward the setting sun : WEST
Down:
1. Muslim pilgrimage : HAJ. Just one of several spellings.
2. "Furthermore ..." : "AND ...". Hajj, Hadj.
4. Only U.S. president with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame : REAGAN
6. iPad feature? : LONG "I"
7. Texas A & M athlete : AGGIE. But don't call Irish Miss that.
8. Ballpark level : TIER
9. Sealy rival : SERTA
10. Kipling's "Gunga __" : DIN
11. Pizza flavoring : OREGANO
12. Like most honeymooners : MARRIED. Which is better; the initial honeymoon or the empty nest honeymoon?
13. Sign on the back : ENDORSE
18. Env. inserts : LTR's
22. Like one who errs? : HUMAN
24. Rosh Hashanah observer : JEW. As a noun, Jew is non-offensive but as an adjective or a verb, it is offensive.
25. Twice DIII : MVI. 503 x 2 = 1006
26. Have a good laugh : ROAR
28. Twinge of pain : PANG. Ever laugh so hard that it hurt? Not the same as "It only hurts when I laugh".
33. Balderdash : ROT
34. Female sheep : EWE. How are things down on the farm, Windhover?
35. Brewpub brew : ALE
37. Wrangler maker : JEEP
38. Singer Carpenter : KAREN. Canta.(3:20)
39. Cuba, to Cubans : ISLA
40. Chopper's landing spot : HELIPAD
41. Marker-to-marker highway measurement : ONE MILE
42. "that was easy." company : STAPLES
44. Monument stone : GRANITE. Rock of Ages site, VT.
45. Candied veggie : YAM
46. Atlas high pts. : MT's
49. Cain's next younger brother : ABEL
50. Tom of NBC News : BROKAW
52. Martial arts centers : DOJOs
53. Herky-__: erratic : JERKY
54. Yankee captain since 2003 : JETER. Hm? Trying to say something about Derek with 53D?
57. Campus house : FRAT
60. "It's a mouse!" : "EEK!"
62. Wish Tree artist Yoko : ONO
63. Dawn goddess : EOS
64. Petty peeve : NIT
Argyle
1) Note from C.C.:
You wouldn't believe it, but I originally sent to Rich this grid with two unchecked squares (highlighted in fuchsia). Luckily he liked the theme and patiently guided me to the second grid you solved today.
2) Here are two lovely photos of JD's grandsons. Brady is a big boy now. Here is what they looked like in July 2010 when Cameron was only 2 weeks old.
You wouldn't believe it, but I originally sent to Rich this grid with two unchecked squares (highlighted in fuchsia). Luckily he liked the theme and patiently guided me to the second grid you solved today.
2) Here are two lovely photos of JD's grandsons. Brady is a big boy now. Here is what they looked like in July 2010 when Cameron was only 2 weeks old.
89 comments:
Good morning, Argyle, C.C. and gang, and congratulations, C.C. on your solo constructing debut.
This was somewhat of a speed run, although I needed perp help to see enough of J.J. Abrams to recognize the name. Took me the first two theme answers to realize I was obviously looking for theme names starting with 'J'. Learning moment was Iran being the saffron producing world leader.
Solid Tuesday offering; maybe a tad easier than yesterday.
Argyle, nice job as always; JD, great pic of the little people.
Hope it's a great day for everyone; off to the avatar for a little swim.
Morning, all!
Wow, what a wonderful solo effort, C.C.! Smooth like butter and a terrific theme. I was amazed to find that I knew every single author (although it took me a little while to remember the second initial in some cases), so I blew through this one pretty quickly.
A few minor NITs:
I always cringe a bit when I see JEW (instead of, say, "Jewish person"). Yeah, it's technically non-offensive when used as a noun instead of an adjective, but probably best to avoid using it in any case.
I was surprised to see AGT clued with no abbreviation. I'll take Argyle's word that none was needed since it cross-referenced another clue that had an abbreviation, but it wouldn't have hurt to add some indication anyway.
Annnnnd... that's really it. As I said, a really nice puzzle overall and a great solving experience. Way to go, C.C.!
Usage Note:
It is widely recognized that the attributive use of the noun Jew, in phrases such as Jew lawyer or Jew ethics, is both vulgar and highly offensive. In such contexts Jewish is the only acceptable possibility. Some people, however, have become so wary of this construction that they have extended the stigma to any use of Jew as a noun, a practice that carries risks of its own. In a sentence such as There are now several Jews on the council, which is unobjectionable, the substitution of a circumlocution like Jewish people or persons of Jewish background may in itself cause offense for seeming to imply that Jew has a negative connotation when used as a noun. ~
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
Good morning, folks. Thank you C.C., for a swell puzzle. Did not realize this was your solo debut. Congratulations! Thank you, Argyle, for the write-up and comments.
Got through the first six Across words easily. 16A IRAN came easily. I think I ate saffron almost every day while living there.
The first theme answer, JD SALINGER I figured out once I had a bunch of the letters from perps. Did not know who Holden Caulfield was however.
JK Rowling I knew. She is quite famous and I did see one movie, way back when.
Did not know JM BARRIE or JJ ABRAMS. Perps to the rescue.
Did not know AUPAIR for 27A or ATOI for 67A. Perps worked.
Thought LONG I for 6D was clever.
Fun puzzle. A little bit of everything.
Be home in a few hours. Crossing Indiana right now.
See you tomorrow.
Abejo
Musings
-Lovely solo offering from our CEO! BTW, JR Ewing is returning to TV!
-Joann’s brother was a “Peter Pan”
-Bogie, Fonzie, Sinatra, et al played tough guys but were small men themselves
-We’re a Miracle GRO and Miracle WHIP household.
-Some peeps I play with “harvest” discarded tees on the tee boxes. Of course they only use golf balls they find on the course or in the water
-My friend runs a camp that in the fall has an amazing maize maze
-Those commercials (Alec Baldwin, Jimmy Fallon, etc.) that entice you with extra points for using fall on deaf ears here. I’ll take a NO FEE and pay it off each month.
-We have a SERTA but are thinking of a Sleep Number bed. Anyone have one?
-Honeymoons are short, empty nests are forever!
-I grew up with peeps who swore they got “jewed”! Makes me cringe.
-My MIL is 89 and we are trying to plan her funeral including what she wants on that GRANITE. I can talk to her but her daughters can’t.
-Jeter is a gentleman and not jerk and I am not a Yankee fan
-Fore! It’s gonna be hot today!
Good Morning, Argyle and friends. Congratulations, CC on your first solo performance! I didn't realize there were so many J-list authors! And, of course, a nice shout-out to our very own JD!
I am glad that the perps had already filled in LONG I for the iPad Feature, otherwise, I would have been stumped.
My favorite clue was Sign on the Back = ENDORSE.
Barry G.: As Argyle pointed out, is some usages of the word Jew is offensive. To say that one who celebrates Rosh HaShanah is a Jew, is perfectly acceptable. The problem is that the long history of anti-semitism has given the word Jew a negative connotation. See HG's reference, which is offensive. As a Jew, I was surprised to see this clue and answer, but was not offended.
Vidwan: Thanks for the Haiku. Very funny!
QOD: Before you try to change others, remember how hard it is to change yourself. ~ Bill Bluestein
Great debut C.C. This was a speed run for me. A few instances I did not know the answer out right I was able to suss out the answer by using the downs or accrosses.
On 24D technically correct even with Argyle's clarification. I would add that usage as a noun could be offensive dependent on usage i.e. Subject v object and which adjectives procede said noun. As I am one who is able to offend anybody(sometimes everybody intentionally or unintentionally.)
Thank you for the Tuesday eye opener C.C. and a great write up by Argyle.
Hello Puzzlers -
Congratulations C.C.! You continue to amaze.
Zoomed through this smooth puzzle, with a minor hitch at HOSEA, which I've never heard of. Not a religious scholar.
Had JC instead of JM BARRIE, because when it comes to Roman numerals, I can never remember whether the L or the D is the big one.
Meh. Big deal.
Anyone going to check out the Transit of Venus today?
CC, congratulations on your super solo debut. I liked the fresh theme. Argyle, fine blogging.
I knew J TOLKIEN, but not the middle RR, which I got from the perps. I was surprised at seeing the three intials.
My Jewish friends all call themselves JEWS.
Some on here are just a liiiittle too sensitive.
Congratulations on your solo debut puzzle, C.C.! You are amazing!
It was interesting to see and compare the original grid and fill to the final published puzzle.
Enjoy the day, all!
For the record...
I was not personally offended by JEW -- I was just surprised to see it because I know that some people do find it offensive (even if for no good reason) and I know that editors try to avoid any sort of controversy whenever possible.
Having said that, I dislike referring to myself as "a JEW," preferring to call myself "Jewish" instead. This is something I picked up from my mother, and I believe she got it from her mother (who barely escaped the Holocaust and left most of her family behind to die). Aside from past negative connotations, however, I just prefer to identify myself as a person first and foremost who happens to be Jewish (as well as male, brown-haired, liberal, atheistic, etc.). Which is to say that being Jewish is only part of who I am and not my sole defining characteristic, and I suspect a lot of other people feel this way as well.
[I suppose I should also mention that I am completely non-religious, which explains my ignorance of Old Testament stories the other day...]
Fun Tuesday puzzle. Thanks CC and Argyle. Cute photos - looks like they're really enjoying their ice cream!
I'm an avid reader, so this puzzle was right up my alley. Except for JJ Abrams (unless he wrote books I'm not aware of). I believe Abrams did Alcatraz, which I watched regularly, so he fits right in. (BTW: Alcatraz was canceled.)
Fun clues: 6D: iPad feature? LONG I
22D: Like one who errs? HUMAN.
Favorite word: GIRTH!
I'm having the roof replaced on my house today so you can expect the GIRTH of my wallet to shrink considerably. DH called from home and said the cats are terrified of all the noises the roofers are making.
Congratulations, C.C. I'd say your first solo flight was just right for Tuesday.
No problem areas, but did need perp help in a few places.
HG, we have been sleeping on a Sleep Number bed for eight years and really like it. DW's side is a soft 35, my side is a firmer 65.
Good morning everyone. Argyle, good title call. Wow, a C.C. solo. Well done.
Did not know all the 'initials' but saw the 'J' common tie which helped. Some cw regulars like OAKEN and ALEE, but still plenty of bright fill. Liked the signature bb fill, JETER. Interestingly, JETER is the French infinitive for 'to throw'. Aptly named. Favorite clue was for LONG I. No NITs to pick, no searches, no cross outs A big BZ to C.C.
Nice pictures, JD.
Have a great day.
A really nice solo debut, C.C.!
I enjoyed this as much for the challenge of trying to remember the initials as anything. However, perps had to rescue me several times, but on JJ Abrams I drew a complete blank since I knew nothing of JETER, which to me only signifies 'to throw' in French.
JD,
Lovely pics of those cute little guys. May they stay that innocent for a long time!
Baking bread today, so should have some time to sort the rest of the trip pics. I voted already in the recall election. They changed our ward last time and I had to figure out where I was this time because I'd forgotten about the change. I wish they would leave things alone!
Great first solo offering, C.C. Thanks for an enjoyable puzzle! My favorite clue was for 19A: NERD.
Derek Jeter is a distant cousin to my son's girlfriend, but I don't know much about him.
I read about a company that compresses styrofoam into "logs" that can be recycled to companies who use it for fresh packing material. Great idea; hope it catches on.
Husker: DH and I have slept on a Sleep Number bed for six years now, and love the way it adjusts so easily. He can make his side firmer or softer, according to how his back feels on any given day.
Barry, how can you be an atheist as well as Jewish? I've always thought that Jewish was a religious designation, like Lutheran or Christian.
I don't think JEW was much of a concern for C.C. or Rich. If it was they could have easily changed it to JEB, JED, JEN or my personal favorite JET.
Btw, congratulations C.C. on your solo effort. Maybe someday I'll know what it feels like.
Good morning, All.
Great job, C.C. I was right on your wavelength today. I filled in that LONGI immediately, having only the L already filled. I got the theme at JMBARRIE, but I couldn't remember his middle initial. Perped it.
You picked a perfect puzzle day to post JD's photos. Cute kids. Fit the theme perfectly.
I can never remember if it's HOSEA or JOSEA. HELIPAD solved that issue.
This was somewhat of a speed run. Easier than yesterday, IMO. But still a good level for a Tuesday.
Husker, did you mention Peter Pan after mentioning J.R. Ewing because his mother played Peter Pan on Broadway? Sort of a stream of consciousness thing?
Is the previous post from a confused moscowite or from the KGB ??
CC , congratulations on your solo debut - Very wonderful puzzle, a trifle easy - appropriate for the day of the week - I got the theme, knew the initials and all. Argyle thank you for the lovely blog and one of my most favorite singers, the Carpenters.
l live in a heavily Jewish neighborhood, and am fairly seeped in Jewish culture. Most, if not all, of my Jewish friends have no problem with the word 'Jew', though I would certainly not use the word in general company. It is apparently perfectly acceptable if used, by a person of jewish origin..... much like the otherwise, clearly offensive, 'N----' word. Unfortunately, I have heard the latter word so casually and deliberately mentioned at places like college dorms and other places that I so desperately (try to) avoid.
For an interesting sidelight, see the Youtube on a spelling Bee - "You want me to spell Niggas ??" ...... where a pint sized 13 yr old, tries to spell "Negus" (- a title used for the King of Ethiopia .... ). He is appropriately shocked and miserably confused before he triumphs, at the National Spelling Bee.
H, you're welcome ... sent with much trepidation.
One of the best books I have ever read was entitled "Constantine's Sword" by James Carroll.
James Carroll is a former Catholic Priest and religious historian.
I picked this book up at an airport one time. The title caught my attention. The Roman Emperor, Constantine, is a personal hero of mine. I had no idea what the book would be about. I read it, all 800 pages.
The book is non-fiction and is a history of the persecution of the Jews by the Christians (and others) for two thousand years. I was enlightened greatly. Enjoyed the book, however it is raw history and gets a little tough to slog through at times.
I would highly recommend it for anyone interested in Jewish and Christian history. Just give yourself some time. It takes a while. As I recall, the last 150 pages or so are bibliography.
Abejo
Muscovite? KGB? Moi? Mais Non!
Hi There ~!
Congratulations on your solo effort, C.C., and it came a long way from the first submission with some "holes" in it. Always good to see how a puzzle progresses.
Splynter
Good morning Argyle, C.C. et al.
Great solo debut, C.C.! And thanks for the wonderful write-up, Argyle. I loved the way you linked ANTE, IT'S A BET and PILE, because I was thinking the same thing when I saw them!
And thank you C.C., for only one baseball reference- even at that, I had to rely on perps to get JETER! (OK, "Ballpark level" for TIER was kinda sorta a baseball reference, but at least you weren't looking for a name!)
I loved the theme, and was amazed that you found so many authors with initials starting with "J". I always have a hard time including "J" in my grids - I think I have only succeeded a couple times. So it really impressed me, not only how many "Js" there were, but how clean all the fill was around them. Great job!
Desper-Otto, that comment from Anony-Mouse was for a post entirely in Russian - that was deleted. Not meant for you.
Congrats C.C. on your Solo Debut! Sadly, i didn't ace it as the crossing of French & Goddess threw me.
I never knew the author of Peter Pan, Which reminds me.
James "Captain Slow" May of the BBC automotive show Top Gear pronounces iPad with a soft i, but I'm pretty sure it's a joke.
CC:I enjoyed your dyno-mite solo flight.
Didn`t know Iran was the world`s leading producer of saffron. I don`t think of agriculture when I think of that country. Remembered "atoi" from a recent puzzle. Weren`t enemy fighter planes also called "bogies?"
Recently learned that what I thought was "Ho zay uh" is/was actually "Ho she uh. Right Hatoolah? I`m one of the three people who have never read a Rowlings book.
"The Old Oaken Bucket" sort of
Congratulations CC on your solo debut: fun, easy puzzle to solve.
All the theme entries, except JJ Abrams, provided me with wonderful times as I was growing up.
Thank you
Congrats C.C.! Really enjoyed this puzzle. SMOOTHASSILK's (though not as difficult)!
Congratulations C.C.-very enjoyable puzzle-SMOOTHASSILK's (though not as difficult)!
We Chrisitans also include the prophet,Hosea, in our Bible and pronounce it Ho zay uh, as do English dictionaries. Ho she uh might be the Hebrew pronunciation.
The New York Times does indeed use the noun JEWS.
Link NYT
Hi - just thought I'd drop in to congratulate our C.C. on her debut puzzle. I LOVED it...even though I did have some trouble with all the "J's".
Dennis, great to 'hear' from you again. Hope you are enjoying the warmth of Fla.
C.C. thank too for the pictures of JD's darling grandsons. They really are cute...and very nice little boys, I met them all last summer.
Hello, Argyle, and all. I loved the Key Largo link. Thank you.
Congratulations, C.C., on your solo flight! Your grasp of the English language is so impressive to say the least.
Loved solving this puzzle and sashayed right through it. Js revealed themselves early on and I know all the authors except JJABRAMS.
LONG I was cute as was HUMAN.
I didn't even see ONO as it filled and shocked myself knowing DETER.
My mattress is a pillow top SERTA and is like sleeping on a cloud.
My late brother's genealogical research led him to conclude that the Lopez side of our family were conversos and that we are in fact, JEWS. He liked that idea and identified himself as such.
Have a great and wonderful Tuesday, everyone!
JD:
I love the pics of your grandsons. They are just adorable.
Good morning Argyle, C.C. et al,
Woo Hoo! Delightful xwd, and just enough baseball to put your stamp on it. Enjoyed the theme, but had to use perps to fill in Abrams~didn't know who produced Lost. A few of those actors remained in Hawaii and are on H.5-O.
Wagged Iran, Hosea and dojo, but otherwise it was a smooth run. Argyle, thanks for the write up.
C.C., thanks for displaying my little guys; it's rare to get all 3 still for a picture. We all just spent 4 glorious days up at Tahoe with fabulous weather. As we drove home yesterday it poured and later snowed.Good timing.
Kazie, I have to go back and see your gorgeous pictures. All would not come thru on my ipad.
Good morning to all, thanks C.C. for a smooth Tues. offering and Argyle for your write-up. Can you have a honeymoon without being married? To Qli: I'm pretty sure Jewish is a race of people,and some of them practice Judaism as their religion. Have a great day to all and great to here from you Dennis.RJW
Good high noon everyone.
What a debut C.C. Congratulations. It is curious to see the original submission and the final result. How did the changes occur? Over the phone? One at a time? All at once? With discussion and agreement? Most interesting.
I misspelled BROKAW which lead to some other errors. Both DH & I could not figure out iPhone feature - and he has his in his hands always. But it is a wonderful puzzle. And the write up is as always great.
Cheers
Good morning Argyle, C.C. et al,
Woo Hoo! Delightful xwd, and just enough baseball to put your stamp on it. Enjoyed the theme, but had to use perps to fill in Abrams~didn't know who produced Lost. A few of those actors remained in Hawaii and are on H.5-O.
Wagged Iran, Hosea and dojo, but otherwise it was a smooth run. Argyle, thanks for the write up.
C.C., thanks for displaying my little guys; it's rare to get all 3 still for a picture. We all just spent 4 glorious days up at Tahoe with fabulous weather. As we drove home yesterday it poured and later snowed.Good timing.
Kazie, I have to go back and see your gorgeous pictures. All would not come thru on my ipad.
PS: Dudley, the way to remember 50 from 500 in Roman numerals is to think L is lower. And since your nom d plume has both a D and an L, the L comes last.
PPS I meant iPad.
Hi Everyone ~~
Adding my congratulations to C.C. on a wonderful solo debut! This was a very enjoyable puzzle ... recognizing all the "J" names helped me to get through it fairly quickly. My only write-over was 'CIA' / FBI - BOGIE cleared that up quickly.
My favorite was 13D - ENDORSE for 'Sign on the back.' I was thinking of something like a "Kick Me" sign. ;-) I also liked 47A -' PC's Do it key' / ENTER. Looking forward to more of your work, C.C.
~~ Husker Gary - We've had a Sleep Number bed for ten years - eliminated backaches almost immediately.
~~ Mari - Poor kitties get spooked so easily - especially by loud noises. Hope things will be back to normal soon.
~~ desper-otto ~ I love your kitty/puzzle avatar. =^.^=
~~ JD - your grandsons are beautiful!
I saw C.C. and cheered "The Dynamic Duo"! Then did a double take, and marveled "The Dynamic Solo"! Yay! Fun speed run, which I needed since I didn't sleep well last night, with lots of delightful clues. And thanks for the thoughtful write-up tackling the sensitive naming issue for us, Argyle.
I haven't read "Catcher in the Rye" since I was in my teens. Wonder what I'd think of it in my golden years?
Have a great Tuesday, everybody!
Maybe I am just getting good at crosswords (only do 1 or 2 a week) but this was the first one in the WSJ I actually enjoyed without getting frustrated! Thank you!
Congratulations on your solo debut, C.C.! Very impressive. You've come such a long way. You'll be editing the puzzle one of these days. :)
Way to go C.C.! I love your attitude... bunch of Js, no problem! And in a Tuesday puzzle!
For crossword newbies- All letters in a puzzle must be part of an across AND down answer. This rule was broken in C.C.'s original grid with the "unchecked" K and N.
Thanks for the WBs - I still do the puzzle and read the blog every day, but given my current scenario, I'm finding it very difficult to be inside for very long. The condo, that is.
Ron Worden, how's the leg?
Hi gang -
Ahhh - C.C. flying solo. Congrats!
Not a speed run, but a little quicker than the typical Tuesday.
Knew all the authors except ABRAM.
Terrific down fill. Knew AUPERE, but spelt it rong.
I'm a bit short on WIT today.
Cheers!
JzB
My niece sent me this link. I think you might like it. It's a compilation of 10 seconds of every song that ever hit the Billboard Top 100 between 1959 and 2011. Just click on the year you'd like to hear. Each year runs 15-16 minutes.
I listened to all of 1959 and only found 2 songs I couldn't identify. The compilation includes the loudest 10 seconds of each song--not necessarily the most familiar 10 seconds. Enjoy!
Argyle, went back to fully enjoy Key Largo (stunning photography); liked seeing lyrics, and Karen Carpenter will always be n=missed. What a lovely voice.
Also watched that quarry tour video and thought what a good theme either monoliths or "granite is forever" would be...so many beauties all over the world.Many are on my bucket list.
Dennis, always good to see you.New avatar is a beauty.
Thanks for sweet comments about the boys.They are a joy, even with their sometimes runny noses.
Kept waiting for JA Jance. One of my favorites. Otherwise, a very nice CW. Any other "Js" out there?
Same time and same chn tomorrow.
Could be all over untill Sept.
eddy
For those who may be interested in non-fiction lit. - a book "Lords of Finance", ( The Bankers who broke the world ) by Liaquat Ahamed, by The Penguin Press, 2009.
The book, on macroeconomics and banking, and the world recession of 1930, won the 2011 Pulitzer on Biography and History. It is about the central bankers of the world's richest nations US, UK, France and Germany. Mr. Ahamed is a super successful hedge fund manager and managing partner, MS Harvard, World Bank VP etc. Eminently readable.
Jerome's crossword newbie reference made me put the old answer grid next to the new one to check out the changes.
Not only are all the theme answers reversed, i would love to here the clue for the old 68A "myeye" & 1D "PBJ."
(for you PC Newbies, right mouse click each link and choose open in new window so you can flip back & forth between links!)
Desper-otto, I tried the music 'cutup' program for 1970. The songs were so memorable - and very, VERY frustrating, because I wanted to hear the rest of the song..... too late, the next song came over, and so on !!!
If that does not bother you - then it is certainly a very nice concept. Sure brought back a lot of memories.
Thank you for the introduction.
eddyB. @ 12:48, J.G. Ballard wrote "Empire of the Sun", which was made into a film directed by Steven Spielberg. Excellent book and move.
Aupair, atoi, dojos, serta perfectly good for a tuesday. Last week it was haji. Two weeks before hajj. Now haj? Wtf. I guess its like tsar or czar, depending on who the stump the chump author is. I knew someone would be offended by 24d. Usually i would have a favorite clue of the day. But not in this puzzle. Thought it was weak. Aeeeeeeee...
DO, I have mentioned the Mary Martin/Larry Hagman connection before but it was not a conscious link today. What a FABUOLOUS link to top songs of the year!!
Hahtool, QOD, I have seen habitually late teachers haranguing kids for being tardy and others who are weeks late turning in forms ragging out a kid who is a day late with homework.
Baseball parks where I have been refer to upper and lower decks as opposed to tiers. For example, I have heard of tape measure homeruns referred to a upper deck shots.
Naming a Yoko Ono artistic achievement would be tough for me. She married John Lennon and has four O’s in her name. That’s about it!
Great pix JD!
Frank Burns of M*A*S*H was going to burn a Norman Mailer book because it had “that word” in it
C.C., very impressive. Congratulations on your first solo publication, and I'm sure there'll be more.
Also, please ignore those wretched anons who strike out out of jealousy. Such pathetic little people.
Lastly, Dennis, so very good to see you back on top, even if short-lived. Your presence first thing in the morning is, I'm sure, missed by many of us. I particularly miss your back and forth with Lois, Melissa Bee and others in the DF club.
Annie (long time reader, first time commenting)
You go, girl! Exquisite theme,C.C., although I am surprised that Rich allowed the one initialed entry to have three letters (JRR)instead of two like the others. But that certainly doesn't spoil it.
What many solvers will not know is how difficult it is to create a puzzle with five theme answers and 6 J's. You're asking for trouble! So congrats on sticking with it. I liked your other grid better, BTW. I wish Rich would have let it stood. I love it when unusual grid features present themselves.
As Doug P. says, you've come a long way. You are one of the most persistent and fastest learners that I have ever known!
TOO EASY.
C.C. Thank you for a FUN Tuesday.
Annie: Great to hear from you!
Many of us prefer to see Dennis as the first to comment each day.
Liked how IT'S-A-BET crossed ANTE and STAPLES went into DESK.
Fave for me was the Sunset reference, WEST.
Tonight my 'first toast' is to you C.C. for your solo debut.
Cheers!
To Dennis: thank you for asking. Everything is very well and I am able to wear it all the time,it's very comfortable and I am able to drive and even kick the soccer ball around with my grandson. Wait until the hot July and Aug. days here you will be inside in the A.C. for longer durations. RJW
Desper-otto, Awesome link, but it was driving me nuts! Need names, & longer music...
try FreeJukeBox, pick your year, pick your top 100 song in the jukebox, & enjoy...
Now to go to youtube & type "how to play (insert name here) on guitar"(piano/organ/bass, Kazoo etc...)
Good morning all:
Great solo debut, CC. Congratulations! Clever theme and a fitting Tuesday offering. Thanks, Argyle, for your usual fun expo and you are right re Aggie. Some people call me that but I don't like it. (Agnes is not much better!)
To answer your question, Have you ever laughed so hard it hurts?, the answer is yes, just last night watching a re-run of The Big Bang Theory. I had tears running down my face and my ribs are still sore from laughing so hard.
Great pictures of JD's grandchildren.
Happy Tuesday to all:
Sallie 11:08 - thanks for that memory aid! I'll be able to keep that one straight (probably)!
Irish and other Big Bang fans - thanks to Netflix, we're cramming in Season One right now. It's kinda like Friends with geeks, wouldn't you say? Lots of entertainment.
Hello everybody. I'll add to everyone else's my congratulations to you, C.C. Good puzzle.
Caught on to the initial J theme quickly, which was helpful. Cool idea.
Some downs were already filled in before I read their clues. After filling LO at 6D, I wanted LOgin or LOgon for about 15 seconds until I got JDSALINGER.
Like LaLaLinda, I thought of some sort of "Kick me" sign for "Sign on the back." Clever cluing, and neat-o fill, too.
Best wishes to you all.
Our local PBS station aired 4 episodes of Downton Abbey on Sunday. LW and I ODed on it for almost 6 hours straight. The final 3 episodes will air next Sunday. Whew.
Glad you had a good time at Tahoe, JD. Yep, you drove back on a bad weather day. Thanks for sharing the photos of your grandkids.
All I remember about Catcher In the Rye was that I didn't understand it at all and hated being forced to read it.
Anony-Mouse, thanks for the reference to the book about the bankers who broke the world; it sounds like an interesting read. During this past couple of decades, it seems the bankers damn near broke the world a second time.
JD, what adorable grandkids! This is a wonderful age. Enjoy to the fullest. I did. My grandson lives 90 minutes away. Now that he is a teenager he is still adorable, (Aw, grandmom!!)but is tied up with activities almost every day. If I lived locally I could squeeze in between the comings and goings.
After a really cloudy afternoon, the sky is sort of clearing, but probably not enough to see Venus transit the sun. If anyone is lucky enough to get good video, please forward.
C.C.: Just like Bogie and Bacall, this puzzle "had it all".
Not a runaway. Had to think. Really fun! Thanks. Argyle loved the music links for a mellow mood today.
After filling in MARRIED, I was thinking the just married sign on the back, so ENDORSE surprised me. Which reminds me I have a bank deposit ready to go in my purse from a week ago. Maybe I'll get there tomorrow.
I became a first-time mother 47 years ago today.
The controversy over JEW reminded me, it's not the word but the tone of voice used to say it, that is objectionable. When my grandmother said my given name, it sounded like music. When my mother said the same name, it meant I was in trouble.
Hi all,
C.C. this was a fun puzzle and I am so amazed at the knowledge you have of the english language. Thank you so much, and Argyle, thank you for the great write-up.
I read Dlll as dill on 25D and wondered when the answer was in Roman numerals. Oh well!
Anon 10:14 PM- Yesterday, you are right, it was Gary Cooper who played Lou Gehrig. Thanks for correcting that.
Well,we voted today! (Wisconsin). Now we wait for the results. I have decided I will try to be happy regardless of who wins.
Have a good evening all!
Marge
C.C. Congratulations on your solo debut! Got it all correct; usually you stump me by at least one letter. I knew Salinger, Rowlings and Tolkien, but not the other two. However, perps took care of them. Worried when I got to JOJO, but it worked out. For 57D, I initially had DORM until I realized FRAT was called for. Thought maybe that should have been clued as an abbr., but it didn't matter in the end.
Argyle: Thanks so much for the Key Largo link. That is such a nice song.
H.G. I wish I had a Sleep Number bed because I have a very bad back. I hear they work quite well, but don't get one if you let your pets on the bed. My sister had one and her chihuahua somehow punctured something and that was that. 2K down the tubes! I'm thinking in the next couple of years maybe the price will come down. We'll see, and I'll be watching!
Hola Everyone, A great puzzle today. At first I thought all the authors would be JD something, and not knowing JM Barrie that worked until I reached JK Rowland. The perps helps fill in the correct initials and the full Abrams name. I almost gave up on JRR Tolkien, but knew it had to be right.
Congratulations, C.C. on your first solo puzzle. I'm totally amazed at your grasp of the
English language.
Thanks for the great writeup, Argyle.
I also loved seeing Dennis and Carol both today. They have been missed.
JD, loved the pictures of those darling boys. One of my grandsons is here with us for two weeks. We have him busy painting a garden fence and repairing some pickets. Thanks goodness for local cousins to come over to hang out with him for a while. At 16,having to hang out with grandma all day isn't too cool.
Have a great evening, everyone.
Forgot to mention:
JAYCE: I completely agree with you about "The Catcher in the Rye."
It was required reading in my HS Senior year, I think, and I absolutely hated the book. I had other required reading that I loved, Shakespeare's plays, "A Tale of Two Cities", etc, but never saw the point in wasting my eyesight on this book. I recall that I found it extremely depressing and it brought me down.
Yesterday's rain spoiled the first day of our house painting. The men had just masked some of the windows and the porches, when it started to rain--hard. They are back today, so it didn't set us back too much. I'm anxious to get things back into order.
Kazie, I'm imagining the odor from your bread baking and how wonderdul your kitchen must smell.
Here is a somewhat relevant link between monuments, granite and Mormons. Link.
Greetings!
Wondeful puzzle, CC. Loved the theme. Swell expo, Argyle!
Just got back from holistic dentist. Broken tooth finally mended with temp (sans metal) crown. $1750. Really tired.
Had Sleep Number bed for about 9 years. Pump crapped out and couldn't be fixed or replaced. Price had gone up about $2K. Have a Serta now. Not altogether satisfactory.
Cheers!
Thanks Argyle!
C.C., you amaze me! I enjoyed the puzzle as well as the comments.
It was certainly nice to see Dennis again. I get the Fla. calling!
Here's on going Venus Transit
.
Thanks, Fermatprime for the link to the Transit of Venus. My husband just called from the university observatory where he had an opportunity to view the Transit. Alas, I couldn't go with him as I have a sick cat that I picked up from the vet. We just learned that she has chronic kidney problems.
Good afternoon all! Fun puzzle C.C. "sign on the back" was my favorite clue. Speed run for a Tuesday, although I did write "dorm", then erased it for "frat".
JD - Oh my, those kids are oh so cute!
Chickie - keeping up with a 16 year old? I'm impressed. And that was quite a little storm we had yesterday. Thank goodness Don was home to run out and put the top up on the VW!
Fermatprime - thanks for the Venus link.
I just read "Peter and Wendy" by J.M. Barrie on a recommendation from my daughter (the Eng. Lit. major working on her PhD). She had to read it for a Children's Lit. class. It was entertaining and brought back memories of the Mary Martin/Cyril Richard Broadway
version.
Enough already! Over and out from Gilroy.
Thank you, fermatprime, for that link. We've been trying to see the transit with a pinhole setup, but the image is too small. We are resigned to seeing it on TV and on line. Hahtoolah, it's great that your husband got to see it.
Well - it shows the pimple crossing the sun for a few minutes, but then, some Professor or someone starts talking... bummer... we want to see the transit... well, whatever. Good night all. Can't wait for tomorrow's puzzle!
When I was avery young lad,walking to St. John's parochial school in Seattle, occasionly the public school kids would yell-"cat licker, cat licker" I tried once or so "public licker" but that had no ring to it and no alliteration. If I had been older and better educated I should have responded-- "Pubic licker! Pubic licker"
Rats! It clouded over and we couldn't watch the Venus transit live. I guess I'll have to stick around for the next one... NOT!
Chickie,
I get high on that smell every time I bake bread. Unfortunately, with that, getting the car in for a brake job, walking the dog, doing the ironing and a big job backing up some computer files that were long overdue, I didn't have enough time to completely get the next lot of pictures ready for tonight. I want to keep the quantity down, and it's hard to decide between them.
Hutch...LMAO!!!
Jayce, I also remembering loathing MOST of the books we had to read, and it was probably due to a lack of understanding or strange words, like in Beowulf. We didn't have access to those black/yellow short cuts for dummies(Cliff Notes?). I didn't become an avid reader until I could choose my own novels.
Chris, great to see you!You must be busy preparing for the Garlic Festival.
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