google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Wednesday, June 13 2012, Bruce R. Sutphin & Doug Peterson

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Jun 13, 2012

Wednesday, June 13 2012, Bruce R. Sutphin & Doug Peterson

Theme: shockwaves. each theme answer reveals a shocker from a classic film. sorry for the spoilers if you haven't seen any of these movies.

17A. "Soylent Green" shocker : IT'S MADE OF PEOPLE. 1973 science fiction film starring charlton heston, in which the planet and it's population are suffering due to overpopulation and dwindling resources. 'soylent green' is a rationed food wafer, in short supply. here's the shocker:


28A. "The Sixth Sense" shocker : HE'S ALREADY DEAD. 1999 psychological horror film starring bruce willis and haley joel osment. bruce willis portrays a child psychologist, working with a young patient who sees "dead people, walking around like regular people," who don't know they're dead. the shocker revealed at the end, bruce willis's character was unknowingly dead all the time.

46A. "Psycho" shocker : NORMAN IN A DRESS. 1960 hitchcock suspense horror film starring anthony perkins and janet leigh. perkins's character is norman bates, owner and manager of the bates motel, whose mother apparently lives in the hotel. a motel guest is murdered (the famous shower scene), and it is believed that bates's mother is the murderer. the shocker is when bates's mother's mummified body is discovered in the hotel, and norman has been keeping her alive by dressing in her clothing.

61A. "The Empire Strikes Back" shocker : LUKE IS VADER'S SON. 1980 space opera film, the second of the six star wars series to be released (fifth in chronological order). luke skywalker and darth vader engage in a light saber duel during which luke's hand is severed, and vader reveals the shocker, that he is luke's father.

melissa here. c.c. interviewed bruce back in november, where he mentions he likes movies, and puzzles in which "the entries aren't just entered in the 'usual' way." this puzzle qualifies on both counts. i've highlighted additional clues that (could) have theatrical connections in blue.

Across:

1. "As you wish" : FINE.

5. Plot that's "pulled" : SCAM

9. British racecourse : ASCOT. in ascot, berkshire, the world's most famous racecourse.

14. Sooner than thou thinketh : ANON. fresh and fun clue.

15. Glissade garb : TUTU. did not know this, glissade is a ballet dance move, literally meaning to glide.

16. Yawning fissure : CHASM. yawn, meaning, to open wide, gape.

20. Like some pains : ROYAL. haha.

21. __ tai: rum drink : MAI

22. In the know about : UPON. not sure i've heard it used this way, anyone have an example? (correction: UP ON, thanks marti and c.c.)

23. Attempt : STAB. take a stab at a glissade across a chasm while drinking a mai tai.

26. Put on the market : SELL. speaking from experience, not necessarily the same thing.

34. Campaign staffer : AIDE. interns are sometimes on, um, staffs, too .... (boo hiss)

35. Really irritate : VEX

36. Reinspire, as troops : RALLY

37. Auto dealer datum: Abbr. : MPG. miles per gallon.

38. It's read at registers : BAR CODE

41. Struggle : VIE

42. Amazon's milieu : E-TAIL

44. Barcelona gold : ORO. spanish.

45. Headliner : LEAD

50. Partner of if : THEN

51. Burglar's haul : LOOT

52. Toll lane choice : CASH

55. Eloped, say : WED

57. It's not heard by other characters : ASIDE. a dramatic device in which a character speaks to the audience, unheard by the other characters on the stage. sometimes called 'breaking the fourth wall.' anyone remember it's garry shandling's show on showtime?

65. Gussy up : ADORN

66. Pound using feet : EZRA. poet.

67. Meas. of how high you are : ELEV. elevation.

68. Western Union transmissions : WIRES

69. Break in the music : REST

70. "Calm down!" : EASY

Down:

1. Ferris wheel locale : FAIR. this is what i thought of.

2. Division preposition : INTO. arithmetic. two goes into four ...

3. Showing unwelcome interest : NOSY

4. As a group : EN MASSE

5. Time zone word: Abbr. : STD. standard, as opposed to daylight.

6. Prompt to enter : CUE

7. Basic unit of matter : ATOM

8. Simba's father in "The Lion King" : MUFASA. james earl jones is the voice of both darth vader and mufasa.

9. Powerful club : ACE

10. Slangy word of regret : SHOULDA. coulda, shoulda, woulda.

11. Abner drawer : CAPP. al capp, cartoonist best known for the comic strip li'l abner.

12. 1952 Olympics city : OSLO. norway.



13. Feds who caught Capone : T-MEN. Treasury agents. T-Men is also the name of a 1947 film noir classic shot in black and white.

18. Utah ski resort : ALTA

19. Like calico cats : PIED

24. The "A." on many a patent : ALVA. thomas alva edison filed 1,093 successful patents.

25. Rabbit's title : BRER. according to wikipedia, The name "Br'er Rabbit", contraction of "Brother Rabbit", has been linked to both African and Cherokee Indian cultures. The Walt Disney Company later adapted this character for its animated motion picture Song of the South."
27. Instrument played with a plectrum : LYRE. plectrum is latin, an instrument for striking the lyre.



28. In the know about : HIP TO

29. Award named for a mystery writer : EDGAR. this year's nominees and winners.

30. Former pen pal? : EX-CON. penitentiary.

31. Middle-earth residents : ELVES. fictional setting of tolkien's the hobbit and lord of the rings books (and movies).

32. John Smith may be one : ALIAS

33. Turned blue, maybe : DYED

34. Prayer period? : AMEN

38. No great shakes : BLAH

39. Like some exams : ORAL

40. Extinct bird : DODO

43. "Count me in" : I'M THERE

45. "Hmm ..." : LET'S SEE

47. It might be late-breaking : NEWS

48. "What nerve!" : I NEVER

49. Crowd cacophony : ROAR

52. Feline weapon : CLAW

53. TT automaker : AUDI. from wikipedia: The Audi TT takes its name from the successful motor racing tradition of NSU in the British Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) motorcycle race. The TT name has also been attributed to the phrase "Technology & Tradition".

54. Toffee candy bar : SKOR

56. Bewildered state : DAZE

58. One of las Canarias : ISLA. spanish for island.

59. Sees to : DOES

60. Emotion akin to jealousy : ENVY

62. Officeholders : INS

63. House and Watson : DR'S

64. Down a hero, say : EAT. sandwich.

Answer grid.


melissa

82 comments:

  1. Good morning melissa, C.C. et al.

    Thanks for the great write-up, and the extra movie tie-ins. Very clever!! I can’t quite put my finger on it, but this puzzle was slightly disturbing. It reminded me of the guy who always jumps in with the punch line before the joke teller can finish his story! Luckily, I have seen all those movies, so it was not a spoiler. If you haven’t seen them…well, I guess you know the endings now, don’t you?

    I hesitated at “UP ON” as well, melissa. I almost put “in ON”, but “in” was used in the clue, so I knew that couldn’t be right. I really need to study UP ON the rules and regulations for crossword entries.

    Lots of conversational idioms going on here: “FINE!”, “SHOULDA”, “I’M THERE”, “I NEVER…”, “LET’S SEE…” I find those types of entries difficult, because local and personal idioms might vary from the actual answers. But the rest was smooth and easy, so no complaints!

    Have a happy hump day, everyone.

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  2. Morning, all!

    Loved this one! Most fun I've had solving a puzzle in a long time, in fact. The theme was terrific, the fill was top-notch and the tricky clues were delightful.

    I got a bit bogged down up top with the SCAM/CUE crossing due to my inability to parse the aforementioned tricky clues. I was thinking that "prompt" was a verb and just couldn't figure out what the heck "plot" was referring to... until it suddenly came to me with a satisfying *AHA* feeling.

    No problem with UPON for me. If I had to pick a nit, though (and you know that I can't resist), I'd say that the shocker in "The Sixth Sense" wasn't that Bruce Willis's character was "ALREADY" DEAD so much as that he was dead all along...

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  3. good morning all,

    thanks marti and c.c., i wasn't parsing 22a correctly, it makes perfect sense as UP ON.

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  4. Good Morning, Melissa Bee and friends. I couldn't quite believe that the punchline of these movies was given out, but I suppose the movies are all old enough so the twist is out in the public domain. Interesting gimmick here.

    DODO: Where are you? You made the puzzle today!

    Interesting to have two In The Know About = UPON and HIP TO.

    I really liked Prayer Period = AMEN.

    Pounds with Feet = EZRA. Clear Ayes, we need you back to give us our daily poem.

    QOD: s ever been around a cat for any length of time well knows, cats have enormous patience with the limitations of the human kind. ~ Cleveland Amory

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  5. mb a really wonderful write up of a very fun Wednesday offering from one of my Friday favorites and one of the pros. This was very much a modern cultural puzzle and all it needed was a golf reference.

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  6. Thanks for the nice writeup Melissa. Glad that people seem to enjoy the puzzle. Thanks for the thoughtful comments as well. You can't help but have a great time when you make a puzzle with Doug and this one was no exception. Our original thoughts were potentially a Sunday sized with other things like "Dallas" and "Newhart" spoilers, but in the end we decided to only "spoil" movies that were more than a decade old. I personally have never seen "Psycho" or "Soylent Green" but knew those reveals already.

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  7. Nice, but difficult puzzle, with very cute clues, thank you melissa for your blogging - now it almost makes sense to me.

    Spoilers - what spoilers ? Your story line cleared up one misconception for me. I always thought Norman's mom committed the murder in the shower, because she wanted to ruin her son's motel business. Now, I'm shocked to discover that it was Norman who wanted to ruin his mother's reputation and Then ruin his motel business... or something like that.

    (why didn't they just sell the motel off to a Patel ?... )

    I thought A. in patents stood for Anon. - then I'm like, why would you file a patent anonymously ? ... maybe inventors are too, 'a little off their rocker'. BTW, the National Inventors Hall of Fame, in Akron, OH is technically bankrupt ... apparently, people are interested in the money they made, but nobody is interested in reading about WHAT they made ....


    I have an ALT QOD, which, again, I don't understand .... I'm sure some of you will... if so, please let me know.

    Henry Fielding:- Nowhere can you find a more ridiculous, nor a more contemptible, animal than a proud clergyman . (??)

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  8. I thought of the "Princess Bride" movie with 1A clue- as you wish.

    61A- Did anyone want "Luke' I am your Father". Finally gave into son.

    I was all over the place while solving this one. Sure glad I saw "Sixth Sense" a couple months ago. Wow, I wouldn't have wanted to know that beforehand.

    Never saw and never plan to see "Psycho". My son is always recommending movie that creep me out!

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  9. bruce! so nice to see you drop in! such a fun and fresh theme. enjoyed the solve and the write up. would have also been a great sunday puzzle. I remember well the dallas shocker ... but not newhart. what did I forget?

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  10. anony-mouse, norman didn't want to ruin his mom's reputation, he wanted to protect his relationship with her, and destroy anything that might interfere with it. it was he who murdered his mother and her lover.

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  11. Great puzzle today. Thank you Bruce and Doug!

    Nice blogging from Mel too!

    I only had a couple of hesitations here: Started thinking WHEN & if, since most "partner" clues are linked with 'and'. Also wanted IN ON before UP ON.

    The aside is something used a lot in Shakespeare. I think of it as another way of keeping the audience aware that what they're seeing isn't reality. One example of what Bertolt Brecht called the Verfremdungstechnik--estrangement technique. Some of his plays are full of really odd juxtaposings that make you very much aware that it's not realistic.

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  12. His dead mother was in love with Janet Leigh ? Now, that's too creepy.

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  13. Wow - fun puzzle that had me puzzled. Especially in the NW. I like the theme and several of the clues. Especially:

    - 5A: Plot that's pulled: SCAM
    - 66A: Pound using feet: EZRA
    - 30D: Former pen pal? EX-CON
    - 64D: Down a hero, say: EAT

    I work for a large corporate bank that gobbled up little Continental Bank. The folks who originally worked for Continental are known as "ex-Cons".

    34D: Prayer period would also work for LENT.

    Psycho was the first horror movie I saw. It's my dad's favorite, and it still creeps me out. I've been by the motel and house on the Universal set.

    Loved Sixth Sense.

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  14. PS: Also loved the "ALVA" clue.

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  15. Anony-Mouse, Never Mind - just watch the movie, and have '911' on speed dial.

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  16. Excellent puzzle! I'm on the list that's never seen Soylent Green or Psycho, but the first reveal was no spoiler and the second is not of importance. The shower scene is enough of that movie for me.

    I thought The Sixth Sense was one of the best suspense movies ever. It's worth getting from Netflix just to watch the bonus material.

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  17. As Anony-Mouse said, “ Nice, but difficult puzzle, with very cute clues, thank you Melissa for your blogging.”
    The North central was the hardest for me. I had difficultly remembering the MU syllable in MUFASSA. I needed STD to see SCA(M) and TUT(U), and finally the MU.

    Anony-Mouse, yesterday, I was intrigued by your mention of your time with the Japanese Buddhist sect and many other of your overseas experiences. If you like you can email me.

    All you posters are such an interesting bunch of people.

    Last night I danced six sets!! What fun! In the last 5 months I have spent no more than 5 or 10 minutes on the dance floor only once or twice. I feel as pain free as normal this AM, not 100%, but the new normal.

    Lucina, how are you this AM after your surgery?

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  18. Nevermind, I got it. I thought it was initials for a large organization (A.C.E.)

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  19. Happy hump day, all. Thank you Bruce, Doug and Melissa for a really fun puzzle and expo. And as an extra bonus, no sports names to slow me down.

    I had seen all of the movies, so the theme entries really helped me today. BTW, Avg Joe, if you look at the shower scene frame by frame, there's nothing really awful or scary about it. It's the editing and the ack-ack-ack music that makes it frightening.

    Anony-Mouse, on your Henry Fielding quote: Just think of Jim Bakker or Jimmy Swaggart. Fielding nailed it.

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  20. Melissa,

    It finishes off after Bob gets hit in the head with a golf ball, I won't give away more in case anyone plans on watching it. The clip is available on youtube though. "The Usual Suspects" and "Saint Elsewhere" were also on our radar for inclusion.

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  21. IMHO
    Henry Fielding:- Nowhere can you find a more ridiculous, nor a more contemptible, animal than a proud clergyman.
    Many public figures who have great charisma and speaking skills, such as some big name clergy, some on the speaker circuit, TV gurus, and some college professors, become so full of themselves that they are contemptible to me and others. Their pride negates all their skills.

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  22. Melissa Bee, on the second Newhart situation comedy, where Newhart was a caretaker of an inn, Bob wakes up in his bed (in the old bedroom set). Next to him is his wife from the first series "Emily". It was shot in strict secrecy, and was a fantastic payoff for both long running series.

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  23. Thanks for the fun writeup, Melissa. Bruce & I avoided "Citizen Kane," "Planet of the Apes," and "The Crying Game" because those three movies had been "spoiled" in an old NY Times puzzle.

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  24. This is just me nitpicking, but in 14A, I think it should be "thou thinkest" instead of "thou thinketh". Thinketh is 3rd person singular. Thou is 2nd person singular, so agreement requires 'thinkest'.

    I think.

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  25. Fun puzzle, but why all the "blue" in the write up? ( i kept thinking they were links.)

    I knew Mufasa, but i wrote Musafa, making bring to market = fell? I knew it had to be sell, but i had to look at Musafa several times because i was seeing Musafa, but thinking Mufasa. (ever see one thing & think it's something else?)

    I wanted UPC code, but it wouldn't fit.

    We have had Ezra Pound several times recently, & yet Pound using feet=Ezra failed to make a connection in my head. I got it after a few perps, but never really understood until Hatoolah's post.

    As usual, i wanted to provide a wacky theme link, but i didn't get far before i found this. Not having a clue as to what it meant, i went to Urban Dictionary, & was truly "shocked"! (i cannot provide the Urban Dictionary link because it is too disturbing. If you do not know what it means you will have to look it up yourself...)

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  26. Good morning:

    Thanks Bruce, Doug, and Melissa for a fun puzzle and great expo.

    This was a DNF for me as I needed red letter help. Like Yellowrocks, the north central had me stumped. Liked the clues for Ezra, ex-con, and Amen. The only movie I have seen is Psycho, as I'm not into sci-fi or supernatural. and, today, I would probably not even watch Psycho.

    Happy Wednesday everyone.

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  27. Many great clues today. I do not understand "I'm there". Must be a regional phrase. Also, 5A, pull a scam? Can anyone explain it to me?

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  28. A very good day to you, Melissa and friends.

    First, the puzzle which I loved!! Those movies are so good though I've never seen Psycho, just enough trailers to know I don't care to see it. The Sixth Sense is one of the best ever made.

    WEES about the cluing. Mari, you listed exactly the ones I would have.

    Great fun from Bruce and Doug. Thank you.

    The surgery went well and thank you all for your good wishes. Today it is like looking through a clean window after having washed it. it is incredible! What a wonderful, magical procedure. Now, I can't wait for the other one.

    You all have a delightful Wednesday!

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  29. Hi gang -

    Puzzle 1, JzB 0.

    I am neither UP ON nor HIP to enough of what makes this puzzle tick. I did eke out the theme entries, though.

    FINE, not EASY puzzle.

    MUFASA - Sounds right, I guess.

    SHOULDA - had it, but didn't.

    I NEVER - finished.

    Regarding REST - what you really need to do is keep the music going in your head - don't take a mental vacation - to nail your next entrance.

    Cool regards!
    JzB (my screen ALIAS)

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  30. Doug P @ 9:54 am: The Crying Game definately had a surprise twist!

    Bruce S @ 9:20 am: I loved The Usual Suspects.

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  31. Anon @ 10:14,
    I agree--the old English verb inflections are related to the German ones that are still used, and -(e)st is definitely the ending for the 2nd person singular.

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  32. Melissa: Thank you for an excellent write-up.

    Bruce S. & Doug P.: Thank you for a wonderful, FUN, Wednesday!

    Kazie: I was also in the "if & When" thingy. But "I'M THERE!" fixed it.

    Ron: Hope your 'Hot-dogs & Beer' were better than THAT game.

    Cheers to all at Sunset

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  33. Morning all ,

    Fine puzzle indeed , and great write up to boot .

    I liked how Dead and Dyed intersected

    Didn't get I Never for What Nerve except they share the same letters , anyone care to explain ?

    Fore!

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  34. The originality of this puzzle gave it the same fresh twist as you'll find in all the movies mentioned. I loved it! Especially because because it took me back to those incredibly creepy aha moments when we discovered what was really going on!

    I give it a rave review ...kudos to Bruce and Doug!

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  35. Well, I had to erase a bit on this one, but totally loved it--many thanks, Bruce and Doug. And you too, Melissa, for pointing out lots of extras in the write-up.

    My favorite clue, of course, pointed to the poetic feet of Ezra Pound. Here's a Pound quickie, called "In the Station of the Metro":

    The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
    petals on a wet, black bough.

    Have a great Wednesday, everybody!

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  36. Hello everybody. Wowie zowie, what a clever and fun puzzle! I liked it for all the same reasons y'all have already mentioned. Prayer period is a truly awesome clue, as is Down a hero.

    Took me a while to figure out that the "club" in 9D refers to the ACE of clubs, a powerful card to have in many card games.

    Mari, that's cute about ex-Cons.

    Lucina, I'm so glad you can see now!

    I'm so there!

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  37. Chin @ 10:34 -- So far as "plot that's pulled" = SCAM, it's pulling in the sense of pulling a fast one.

    SL Zalameh@12:05 -- When one person says something outrageous the other might exclaim, "What nerve!". In that same situation, can't you picture someone getting all huffy and exclaiming, "Well, I never!" Maybe you had to be there....

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  38. I wouldn't be surprised to hear United Airlines employees refer to their former Continental associates as ex-cons. That's a marriage that is still rocky two years later.

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  39. Yellowrocks, congratulations on the dancing. I'm glad you are back to a new normal.

    Jazzbumpa, I couldn't remember MUSAFA either. Then again, I never saw the movie. Did see all the movies in this puzzle's theme, though.

    I'm still chuckling over the Star Trek clip that Argyle posted yesterday. I loved the series, and my wife and I were total trekkies, but I sure can see why comedians and impersonators love William Shatner so much. His acting style and clipped speech sure were distinctive.

    Also very much enjoyed the discussion about wines yesterday.

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  40. I played 27 holes in 2.5 hrs and arrived home to this fun puzzle!

    Musings
    -Hitchcock was a master of scaring with subtlety and inferences!
    -In the same vein, this movie The Thing 1951 was a better movie than the The Thing 2011 sequel full of gore.
    -First Star Wars was great but I walked out of one sequel and didn’t see the others
    -Ascot is more famous than Churchill Downs and Indy Speedway?
    -OKC RALLYed to win against hated Heat last night.
    -George Burns used ASIDES all the time
    -Here is the chain store where we ride the ferris wheel (loved your Bueller reference MB!)
    -Division verb/preposition phrase I used – guzzinta
    -How many John Smith’s register at No Tell Motels each day?

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  41. Er, MUFASA. See? I'm not UP ON my lion kings. LOL

    When I was doing programming, I wrote a lot of what were called IF-THEN statements.

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  42. Happy Wednesday! I usually read the writeup and comments after doing the puzzle but before I add my own two-cents worth. But for whatever reason, I thought I would write first today. I really enjoyed this puzzle! It seemed to have the cleverest clues that I can remember. "Plot that's pulled; Like some pains; Pound using feet; Powerful club; The A on many a patent, John Smith may be one; Sooner than thou thinketh" -- for a few. Those and others seemed really clever and original to me. Then a really good theme too. I think this is one of the best puzzles I've seen all year. Good job Bruce, Doug and Rich.

    Lucina, I'm really happy for you!

    BTW, a few days ago, I asked a question about what themes Rich might reject. I was hoping to get a couple of responses from some of the constructors here.

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  43. How many triangles?

    Take 15 coins. Arrange them in an equilateral triangle with one coin at the top, two coins touching below, then three, four and five (in the bottom row). Remove the three coins at the corners so you’re left with 12 coins. Using the centers of the 12 coins as points, how many equilateral triangles can you find by joining the points with lines.

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  44. Thank you, thank you, everyone! I'm happy I can SEE, too. Today during the follow-up exam I'm going to try moving the next one for an earlier date. It's scheduled for July 10th.

    What a wonderful gift is our vision.

    My 2 1/2 year old granddaughter has started watching the Disney movies her big sister once watched and her new favorite is The Lion King so Mufasa again reigns in our house.

    I'm off to SEE the doc.

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  45. I have an off- topic question for our constructors. In Sunday's NY Times puzzle, the clue was Lunchtime errand and the answer was "nooner.". Would either the clue or the answer be acceptable to Rich?

    Lucina, glad all went well.

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  46. Lucina: How wonderful to hear thiungs went well. My surgery and subsequent lasrer work never did work, so I know how much you appreciate being able to see again.

    HG: why "hated Heat"? By you? 27 holes in 2.5 hours? was there nobody on the course? Were you being chased by bears? What are the course dimensions? Guzzint a hade to you.

    St. Z, picture either a southern woman like Scarlett, or an older lady like Aunt Bee, when confronted with something they thought was inappropriate saying, "Well, I nevah!" This being a short hand expression for "I never have seen/heard such rude behavior."

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  47. Irish Miss,


    Rich had NOONER in a puzzle in 2010 clued as "twelve o'clock meeting".

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  48. Lemonade -

    The Heat are the Yankess of B-ball, generally hated by anyone out of their local area.

    Here in the midwest, it's especially intense, since former local hero, now turncoat, LeBron James flew the Cavs coop for the hated Heat.

    NE Ohio is most particularly rancorous.

    Cheers!
    JzB (would rather watch baseball, anyway)

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  49. Jazz,

    That makes sense. I work with a guy from Ohio. He always says he went to THE Ohio State University. I heard NFL players say that before, but never knew why they added the "THE" until I met my co-worker. Who, by the way, is a big NBA fan and hates LaBron.

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  50. Fun puzzle & write-up! Thanks.

    I struggled with this one since the only two movies I had seen were "Song of the South" as a child and the first "Star Wars". Had very few squares filled before I got to the SE corner and worked my way back up.

    The only part of "Pscho" I ever saw was the shower scene. To this day, I can't shower in a motel if I'm staying alone unless I'm really stinky and about to socialize. Especially at night. Many strange noises in a motel.

    Didn't finish because I thought heRMAN instead of NORMAN, taG for MPG, and wanted the name of a prayer periods in a monastery such as vespers.

    Has anyone read any of the books on the EDGAR list? The only one I'd read is "Shelter" by Harlan Coben.

    Just finished reading "The Wreckage" by Michael Robotham. Fiction about the Iraq war and international banking. Easy and interesting read.

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  51. Lemon, I listen to sports radio, especially Tony Kornheiser and Colin Cowherd, and have heard the Heat mentioned as being hated and included a link in my first post to explain why some reach that conclusion. Having a rooting interest one way or the other makes games more interesting, unless you’ve got a few bucks down. Me? “Jimmy Crack Corn and I Don’t Care.”
    I teed off at 7 am on a 5,800 yard course in a cart and there was no one there but me, the geese, the turtles, the meadowlarks, etc. No bears, but some foursomes were starting to rouse from hibernation around 9 am.

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  52. I'm a big Thunder fan. I don't hate LeBron, I just hate his arrogance. I knew he and Dwyane Wade were friends so the move didn't surprise me. The hype was just a bit sickening as is his "King" James nickname.

    I got turned off of the HEAT when a good friend of my niece's husband was drafted by them and sat on the bench instead of being developed to his full potential. He left NBA because of health.

    The Heat isn't so much a team as it is a star showcase with very good players diminished by the attitudes. Mario Chalmers and Udonis Haslem would be more outstanding in any other franchise. The HEAT uses them mainly to feed the stars.

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  53. This was a DNF for me. Felt more like a Friday than Wednesday. Probably because I entered ISEEDEADPEOPLE in 28A and didn't want to change it until IAMYOURFATHER didn't fit in 61A.

    So I gave up and read the blog.

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  54. Lucina, i wanted to link you a funny eyechart, but i could not read any of them :(

    HG, if you liked the 1st StarWars movie, you MUST see the 3rd. (Return of the Jedi) The 2nd movie is one long, depressing, setup for the 3rd movie, & is necessary to understand the plot.

    The 3rd movie is non-stop great stuff, from how they get Han Solo out of the giant chocolate hershey bar, to how Darth Vader & luke are finally reunited. Along the way are many great scenes, like the speeder chase.

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  55. I was watching Letterman one night when Nathan Lane spoiled the Sixth Sense for everyone. After the audience gasped, he said "get over it, the movie has been out for 6 months now!" I tried watching it with a friend a month or so later and couldn't enjoy it since I knew the twist. I always wondered why he did that. Maybe he got rejected for a part in the movie?

    Remember this synth-pop hit from the '80s?

    I don't follow the NBA much but I am aware of the Heat haters. I see it on PTI every night at 5:30. One more reason seems to be that they complain a lot.

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  56. My kids got me a Nook for a Christmas present. In the process, they also purchased a book, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." I started it a week or so ago and am about 15 percent into it. But I'm finding it tedious. Nothing much is happening and what does happen doesn't really hold my interest yet. Should I give up and order some other books of my own choosing or does it get better?

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  57. Good afternoon to all and happy hump day. Gotter done but took longer than usual.Thanks Bruce and Doug. To Tinbeni what a stinker,but we went to Ferg's before the game for wings and brews so that made up for it. We left after the 7th inning so got an early start for home. RJW.

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  58. Why do not all the people in Oregon hate everyone on OKC where the whole Seattle team left?

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  59. Bill G. @ 3:55-The best way to decide whether or not to continue reading is to go to Amazon.com and read some of the reviews. I pay attention to the one and two star reviewers because they will tell you the negatives of a book.

    I read this book when it first came out and even though I finished it, my memories are of extreme violence and sexual sadism. Because of those factors, I chose not to read the two sequels. Good luck.

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  60. bill g.
    41?
    now my head hurts

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  61. Irish Miss: I am with you on The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I found the book very violent and disturbing. Furthermore, I did not think the resolution fit the rest of the novel. Somehing about the ending felt "off" to me. I had no desire to read the sequels, although most of my friends couldn't wait to read all the books. One acquaintance even called the books " delightful."

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  62. Bill G:
    Please stay with it. I promise it does get better. For some reason the first chapter is particularly tedious and my theory is that it had a different translator. Once you realize there's a mystery, it's riveting to want to know it.

    Lemonade, I am so sorry your lasik didn't work. Today my right eye measured 20/20. I would wish that for everyone.

    And the next surgery was moved up to June 26th so that is exciting news. I was also given approval to drive. Life is good!

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  63. First you have to read "The girl with the golden tat"

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  64. Sex and violence? Who knew.

    Off to Barnes & Noble; thanks for the tip.

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  65. Well, I'll keep making an effort on TGWTDT but I tend not to like books where I have to make much of an effort. Thanks for the input.

    I just got back from a bike ride and lunch. I sat outside on a second-floor patio with a nice ocean view. The music was unpleasant and the Reuben sandwich was mediocre; but then, a mediocre Reuben sandwich is still pretty damn good.

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  66. Bill, I'll add this as potential encouragement. Back in the day when I had time to read for entertainment, I liked Sci-Fi. I had a copy of Dune. Over the course of a year or more I picked it up and tried to read it at least 4 or 5 times. It draggggggggggged. I'd be bored to tears after a half hour and quit. But I kept at it and finally got past the point where the plot line had been laid out and then it was off to the races. I could hardly put it down after that, and found it to be one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I've had. In retrospect, the laying of the ground rules was what nearly did it in, but it was essential to the entire story.

    I haven't read the Stieg Larson books, but my wife has, and she thought they were great.

    And I would agree. Even a mediocre Reuben is a pretty good meal.

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  67. Man oh man, what a bunch of eclectic, disparate, diverse, and interesting bunch of people you all are.

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  68. Hatoolah: I agree with your comments about TGWTDT. And, IMO, calling this series "delightful" would be the equivalent of saying The Silence of the Lambs was charming. Oh well, if we all thought the same, it would be a mighty dull world!

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  69. Hi everyone. I'm just back for a short visit, but I wanted to compliment oou constructors on today's puzzle. Really enjoyable and it went reasonably well for me except for some reason I had a senior moment over 35A 'vex' I simply pulled a blank, and that messed up 'alva' and 'xcon'. So I guess I just have to take a DNF.
    That's too bad, too, because I agree with so many of you who feel it's an outstanding puzzle. The clues were great and I got all the theme entries, even though I never saw any of the movies and have no desire to do so.

    Lucina, I'm glad you're happy about your surgery. It was for cataracts, as I think you told me last spring.
    I'm glad I happened to pick today to read the whole blog, and Hahtoolah, I entered 'dodo' without even thinking it was a shoutout! So thanks, my dear!

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  70. Hello everyone.

    Just drove back from NYC so did the puzzle after supper. Enjoyed the theme. Favorite clue was for 9d, ACE - powerful club. Also liked ROYAL pains, EX CON and ALVA the inventor. Liked the possible misdirection on some clues such as for E-TAIL and ALIAS. Also like a puzzle that has VEX in it. Love BRER Rabbit molasses on my cereal.

    Anon @ 1014 - good catch.

    Enjoy your evening.

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  71. Ooh, almost forgot. One of my favorite words is cacophony. Gotta love a puzzle that includes that as either a clue or an answer.

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  72. Very long crazy day but gotta do the puzzle

    Great write up Melissa Bee.

    WEES about the great clues

    Only nit, as a realtor when we put a property
    on the market we list it (and pray it will sell)

    Hitchcock was a genius (understatement) There
    is not one violent scene in Psycho, it’s all in your
    mind. A friend of mine also wouldn’t use a shower
    for a very long time after seeing it. Washed her hair
    in the kitchen sink and took a bath in the bathtub.

    Anyone see When A Stranger Calls Back (1993)
    had me sitting on the edge of my chair before it
    was over.

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  73. I'm sorry but I respectfully disagree about comparing TGWTDT to Silence of the Lambs. It is not about the disturbing incidents; there are at least three subplots intertwined within these novels which keep the reader spellbound. The perversions happen to be the work of one of the characters, unfortunately, and in the end, it's what created the mystery.

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  74. Dodo:
    Thank you. Yes, it was cataract surgery and lasik lens implants as well. It gives a whole new meaning to the term "crystal clear" for me.

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  75. Lucina:

    I wasn't comparing TGWTDT to The Silence of the Lambs.
    I was critiquing someone using the term "delightful" to describe a violent, sadistic movie. Neither TGWTDT or The Silence of the Lambs could be described as delightful. That was my point.

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  76. Late once more...Today's puzzle might have been my most favorite of all Wednesdays. Lots of fun clues, like "former pen pal". Wasn't really on board for the longest time, but bit by bit all fell into place.

    An a-ha @ 6:14. I wondered about upon/up on also.

    Melissa, very impressive summaries of the movies.

    Hurray for a most successful surgery, Lucina.Oh, and I agree with your take on TGWTDT. It did take me awhile to get into the book, but there was so much going on.

    Dodo, wonderful to hear from you too.

    Saw Madagascar3 today with the boys. Have to say, not my favorite cartoon; not a big circus fan.

    Looking forward to another Bruce and Doug xwd!

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  77. Hahtoolah and Irish Miss, I join you in your opinions re: TGWTDG.
    The girl was a fascinating character but that novelty soon wore off. I didn't read the other two, either. Have no desire to.

    I've done my share of touting "The Elegance of the Hedgehog" which also starts a bit slowly, but it ended up being possibly my favorite of all time. I can't be certain because there are so many many good ones of course. So far nobody I've suggested it to has ever mentioned having read it which is too bad!

    Melissa, I forgot to thank you for the greaat write up. It was terrific as usual.

    I wish someone would email me the translation for WEE, since if it has ever been mentioned it's been in a blog I've missed.

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  78. dodo: WEES = What Everyone Else Said.

    thanks all, for the nice comments - alot of fun ones today.

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