Theme: YOUR SPYING EYES. The first part of each theme answer [identified with an *] is a word from the title of a recent movie based on a classic spy novel from 1974. These four words, in order, each representing a line of work, complete the title: TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY. In the story, the British secret agent called out of retirement for this adventure is George Smiley, played by Gary Oldman in the movie. Spying is a dangerous business, but it's his *.
18A. *"Peter Pan" pixie : TINKERBELL. Of course, the tiny winged lady from Neverland. Once upon a time, a TINKER plied the now obsolete trade of mending household utensils. This lost itinerant profession dates back to at least the 13th century. Hence the verb "tinker" meaning to fiddle around with something. This is the only clue in which the root word has a different meaning in the answer and the title, in case you give a tinker's dam.
24A. *Not mass-produced : TAILORMADE. What does a TAILOR make? Clothing. But the phrase is loosely applied to anything not off-the-shelf.
52A. *1962 Shirelles hit : SOLDIER BOY. A soldier is a trained professional killer, prepared to go to war, any time, anywhere. Here is the song - twelve years older than the novel. It sounds pretty awful now.
61A. *Hand-held telescopes : SPYGLASSES. These aren't used exclusively by spies, and are unlikely to give you x-ray vision, but do allow you to espy something at a distance. So maybe the root word is a little different in answer and title. Hmmm.
And the centrally-placed unifier -
39A. Author of the 1974 novel found in the starts of the starred answers : LE CARRE. British novelist David John Moore Cornwell uses the pen name John le Carré. I don't know why.
Hi gang, JazzBumpa here. I've never been good at espionage, but I do enjoy a good story. Let's see where this one takes us.
Down Across [D'OH!]:
1. It's found in bars : SOAP. Clever, and not the kind of bar I was imagining. But I'm indulging myself with a little Ole George Rye whiskey from right here in MI.
5. Bear in a kid's tale : PAPA. Along with mama, baby, orts, broken furniture, and some annoying little girl.
9. Savory gelatin : ASPIC. Tasty!
14. Troubadour's instrument : LUTE. Also capable of some serious music. Here is my favorite example.
15. Chapters in time : ERAS. The LUTE'S ERA was the 16th century.
16. In sorrier shape : WORSE.
17. French political unit : ETAT. A state. I was expecting a party or movement.
20. Charles Schwab competitor : E-TRADE. It's a fool's game.
22. Like morning grass : DEWY. But not if the overnight low is above the dew point. We are having a drought.
23. Belfry dweller : BAT.
26. Rips off : CONS. Purveys a fool's game.
27. "Leave me alone!" : SHOO. Away, thou perveyor!
28. Sturdy : SOLID.
30. Bookie's venue, briefly : O T B. Off Track Betting. An even bigger fool's game.
33. Den seating : SOFA. I'm sitting on one now, with my lap top on top of my lap.
36. Indian megalopolis : DELHI. Probably not the best place to go for salami.
38. California's Marina __ Rey : DEL. Wikipedia tells me this is a seaside unincorporated area in Los Angeles County, with a population of almost 9000.
41. Lengthy time : EON.
42. Treats with disdain : SNUBS.
44. Web page button : HOME. There's no place like web page button.
45. They often involve three infielders: Abbr. : DP'S. Baseball! A Double Play results when a ball in play leads to two outs, usually involving the batter and a runner already on base. We won't talk about tonight's Tigers game.
46. "I __ hug!" : NEED A. Not quite a cure all, but it helps. Especially after a 13-0 loss.
48. Island off Tuscany : ELBA. Able was I when I sussed this fill.
51. Take digs at : GIBE.
58. Drunk-skunk link : AS A. A hazard of over-indulging in Ole George, perhaps.
59. Evening in Roma : SERA. I did not know this. So - does Que sera sera mean "What happens in the evening stays in the evening"
60. From A to Z : ENTIRE. A little roll reversal with "A to Z" in the clue instead of the fill.
64. Brainchild : IDEA.
65. Most writing : PROSE. Or, in my case, illegible.
66. Capital on a fjord : OSLO.
67. Religious faction : SECT.
68. Logical : SOUND. That's reasonable.
69. Lunch time, often : NOON.
70. Clucks of disapproval : TSKS. Comic book style.
Down:
1. Wintry fall : SLEET. Sounds like calendar confusion, but it's frozen rain fall.
2. "__ my way!" : OUTTA. No easy way to indicate this irregular slangy variant. Required some perp help.
3. Arcade pioneer : ATARI. And X-word stalwart.
4. Potpourri pieces : PETALS. Flower detritus.
5. Ballplayer with the autobiography "My Prison Without Bars" : PETE ROSE. Great player with a bit of a problem.
6. Onassis, familiarly : ARI. Aristotle to you and me.
7. "Giant" bear : PANDA. Big and cute. Actually not a bear. But watch out, 'cuz he eats, shoots and leaves.
8. Did something appealing? : ASKED. Now this is a bit twee. A request is an appeal. Do you find it appealing?
9. Off the mark : AWRY. "The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley." Would it be wry or AWRY of me to again refer to rye?
10. Weep and wail : SOB. Listen to that S O B whine!
11. Like packaged kielbasa : PRE-BOILED. This seems like something made up, since PARBOILED was AWRY. We have BOILED lots of kielbasa in our kitchen over the years.
12. Explore all of Hawaii, say : ISLAND HOP. Make a stop on each island. Strangely, I googled "Hawaiian Island Hopping"and found this. Go figure. I think her name is Sandy.
13. Old Irish : CELTS. The ancient Greeks called them the Keltoi, but this was probably before they wandered over to Ireland. Keltic peoples inhabited a great swatch of Europe in the late centuries B.C.
19. Flock mothers : EWES. You should feel sheepish if you didn't suss this one.
21. Slap-on-the-head cry : D'OH! I believe this originated with Homer Simpson.
25. Freeloader : MOOCH. One who wants something for nothing, or borrows with no intention of paying back. You know the type.
26. Indians, scoreboard-style : CLE. The Cleveland-based American League team. Yep - more baseball.
29. Keats verse : ODE. To a Nightingale, To Autumn, On a Grecian Urn - take your pick, and Cf. 57D.
30. Pigs out (on), briefly : OD'S. Over-Doses. Trivializing something seriously dangerous.
31. One involved with rackets : TENNIS PRO. True in a strictly literal sense. I wanted bankers and brokers.
32. "Where the folks are fine / And the world is mine," in a Linda Ronstadt hit : BLUE BAYOU. It's OK by me if it's OK by you.
34. Toy store __ Schwarz : F.A.O. Or did they go out of business?
35. Piece-keeping? : ARMED. Clever. A weapon is called a "piece." Keep one and your armed. And arms were sometimes called peace-keepers. Pretty convoluted.
37. Personal connections : INS. I've always been an outsider.
39. '60s hallucinogen : LSD. LySergic Acid Diethylamide. Dangerous stuff.
40. Has confidence in : RELIES ON.
43. Spelling contest : BEE.
47. Far from land : ASEA. A dreaded A-word, here used in its literal sense.
49. London's Big __ : BEN. It's a really big clock. Does anybody really know what time it is?
50. Gallery exhibitor : ARTIST.
51. Short breaths : GASPS.
53. Hollywood's Welles : ORSON. He brought us The War of the Worlds.
54. Wrangler's gear : LASSO. Aka lariat, AKA riata Anyway - it's a rope.
55. Waits : BIDES. Just bidin' my time.
56. Electrolux rival : ORECK. Our old Hoover is a wreck.
57. Nobel-winning Irish poet : YEATS. Just one letter away from Keats, but I don't think he wrote many odes.
59. Winter coaster : SLED
62. "Deal or No Deal" channel : GSN. Game Show Network. I had to look this up, and now will studiously avoid it.
63. "Xanadu" rock gp. : ELO Electric Light Orchestra. Well, I guess we have time to espy one more link. [No, not kielbasa.]
Answer grid.
OK, gang - we're back from our mission, safe and SOUND. But I'd still be on the lookout for moles.
Cool regards!
JzB
18A. *"Peter Pan" pixie : TINKERBELL. Of course, the tiny winged lady from Neverland. Once upon a time, a TINKER plied the now obsolete trade of mending household utensils. This lost itinerant profession dates back to at least the 13th century. Hence the verb "tinker" meaning to fiddle around with something. This is the only clue in which the root word has a different meaning in the answer and the title, in case you give a tinker's dam.
24A. *Not mass-produced : TAILORMADE. What does a TAILOR make? Clothing. But the phrase is loosely applied to anything not off-the-shelf.
52A. *1962 Shirelles hit : SOLDIER BOY. A soldier is a trained professional killer, prepared to go to war, any time, anywhere. Here is the song - twelve years older than the novel. It sounds pretty awful now.
61A. *Hand-held telescopes : SPYGLASSES. These aren't used exclusively by spies, and are unlikely to give you x-ray vision, but do allow you to espy something at a distance. So maybe the root word is a little different in answer and title. Hmmm.
And the centrally-placed unifier -
39A. Author of the 1974 novel found in the starts of the starred answers : LE CARRE. British novelist David John Moore Cornwell uses the pen name John le Carré. I don't know why.
Hi gang, JazzBumpa here. I've never been good at espionage, but I do enjoy a good story. Let's see where this one takes us.
1. It's found in bars : SOAP. Clever, and not the kind of bar I was imagining. But I'm indulging myself with a little Ole George Rye whiskey from right here in MI.
5. Bear in a kid's tale : PAPA. Along with mama, baby, orts, broken furniture, and some annoying little girl.
9. Savory gelatin : ASPIC. Tasty!
14. Troubadour's instrument : LUTE. Also capable of some serious music. Here is my favorite example.
15. Chapters in time : ERAS. The LUTE'S ERA was the 16th century.
16. In sorrier shape : WORSE.
17. French political unit : ETAT. A state. I was expecting a party or movement.
20. Charles Schwab competitor : E-TRADE. It's a fool's game.
22. Like morning grass : DEWY. But not if the overnight low is above the dew point. We are having a drought.
23. Belfry dweller : BAT.
26. Rips off : CONS. Purveys a fool's game.
27. "Leave me alone!" : SHOO. Away, thou perveyor!
28. Sturdy : SOLID.
30. Bookie's venue, briefly : O T B. Off Track Betting. An even bigger fool's game.
33. Den seating : SOFA. I'm sitting on one now, with my lap top on top of my lap.
36. Indian megalopolis : DELHI. Probably not the best place to go for salami.
38. California's Marina __ Rey : DEL. Wikipedia tells me this is a seaside unincorporated area in Los Angeles County, with a population of almost 9000.
41. Lengthy time : EON.
42. Treats with disdain : SNUBS.
44. Web page button : HOME. There's no place like web page button.
45. They often involve three infielders: Abbr. : DP'S. Baseball! A Double Play results when a ball in play leads to two outs, usually involving the batter and a runner already on base. We won't talk about tonight's Tigers game.
46. "I __ hug!" : NEED A. Not quite a cure all, but it helps. Especially after a 13-0 loss.
48. Island off Tuscany : ELBA. Able was I when I sussed this fill.
51. Take digs at : GIBE.
58. Drunk-skunk link : AS A. A hazard of over-indulging in Ole George, perhaps.
59. Evening in Roma : SERA. I did not know this. So - does Que sera sera mean "What happens in the evening stays in the evening"
60. From A to Z : ENTIRE. A little roll reversal with "A to Z" in the clue instead of the fill.
64. Brainchild : IDEA.
65. Most writing : PROSE. Or, in my case, illegible.
66. Capital on a fjord : OSLO.
67. Religious faction : SECT.
68. Logical : SOUND. That's reasonable.
69. Lunch time, often : NOON.
70. Clucks of disapproval : TSKS. Comic book style.
Down:
1. Wintry fall : SLEET. Sounds like calendar confusion, but it's frozen rain fall.
2. "__ my way!" : OUTTA. No easy way to indicate this irregular slangy variant. Required some perp help.
3. Arcade pioneer : ATARI. And X-word stalwart.
4. Potpourri pieces : PETALS. Flower detritus.
5. Ballplayer with the autobiography "My Prison Without Bars" : PETE ROSE. Great player with a bit of a problem.
6. Onassis, familiarly : ARI. Aristotle to you and me.
7. "Giant" bear : PANDA. Big and cute. Actually not a bear. But watch out, 'cuz he eats, shoots and leaves.
8. Did something appealing? : ASKED. Now this is a bit twee. A request is an appeal. Do you find it appealing?
9. Off the mark : AWRY. "The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley." Would it be wry or AWRY of me to again refer to rye?
10. Weep and wail : SOB. Listen to that S O B whine!
11. Like packaged kielbasa : PRE-BOILED. This seems like something made up, since PARBOILED was AWRY. We have BOILED lots of kielbasa in our kitchen over the years.
12. Explore all of Hawaii, say : ISLAND HOP. Make a stop on each island. Strangely, I googled "Hawaiian Island Hopping"and found this. Go figure. I think her name is Sandy.
13. Old Irish : CELTS. The ancient Greeks called them the Keltoi, but this was probably before they wandered over to Ireland. Keltic peoples inhabited a great swatch of Europe in the late centuries B.C.
19. Flock mothers : EWES. You should feel sheepish if you didn't suss this one.
21. Slap-on-the-head cry : D'OH! I believe this originated with Homer Simpson.
25. Freeloader : MOOCH. One who wants something for nothing, or borrows with no intention of paying back. You know the type.
26. Indians, scoreboard-style : CLE. The Cleveland-based American League team. Yep - more baseball.
29. Keats verse : ODE. To a Nightingale, To Autumn, On a Grecian Urn - take your pick, and Cf. 57D.
30. Pigs out (on), briefly : OD'S. Over-Doses. Trivializing something seriously dangerous.
31. One involved with rackets : TENNIS PRO. True in a strictly literal sense. I wanted bankers and brokers.
32. "Where the folks are fine / And the world is mine," in a Linda Ronstadt hit : BLUE BAYOU. It's OK by me if it's OK by you.
34. Toy store __ Schwarz : F.A.O. Or did they go out of business?
35. Piece-keeping? : ARMED. Clever. A weapon is called a "piece." Keep one and your armed. And arms were sometimes called peace-keepers. Pretty convoluted.
37. Personal connections : INS. I've always been an outsider.
39. '60s hallucinogen : LSD. LySergic Acid Diethylamide. Dangerous stuff.
40. Has confidence in : RELIES ON.
43. Spelling contest : BEE.
47. Far from land : ASEA. A dreaded A-word, here used in its literal sense.
49. London's Big __ : BEN. It's a really big clock. Does anybody really know what time it is?
50. Gallery exhibitor : ARTIST.
51. Short breaths : GASPS.
53. Hollywood's Welles : ORSON. He brought us The War of the Worlds.
54. Wrangler's gear : LASSO. Aka lariat, AKA riata Anyway - it's a rope.
55. Waits : BIDES. Just bidin' my time.
56. Electrolux rival : ORECK. Our old Hoover is a wreck.
57. Nobel-winning Irish poet : YEATS. Just one letter away from Keats, but I don't think he wrote many odes.
59. Winter coaster : SLED
62. "Deal or No Deal" channel : GSN. Game Show Network. I had to look this up, and now will studiously avoid it.
63. "Xanadu" rock gp. : ELO Electric Light Orchestra. Well, I guess we have time to espy one more link. [No, not kielbasa.]
Answer grid.
OK, gang - we're back from our mission, safe and SOUND. But I'd still be on the lookout for moles.
Cool regards!
JzB
Morning, all!
ReplyDeleteSmooth, solid puzzle today. I picked up the theme early on and sailed through the grid. PREBOILED was a bit of a clunker (PRECOOKED, maybe, but PREBOILED?) but everything else was spot on. Had to make an educated guess at PETE ROSE, but the rest was solidly in my wheelhouse today.
Good morning, folks. Thank you, Patti Varol, for a swell puzzle. Enjoyed it. Thank you, as well, Jazzbumpa, for the excellent write-up.
ReplyDeleteStarted in the NW. Was able to fill it in which gave me confidence. Even got ETAT. Worked my way across the top.
Was able to get the theme answers easily. Did not know LE CARRE. Perps fixed that.
11D PREBOILED was interesting. We brought back some KIELBASA, kiszka, and city chicken from Erie. Had some KIELBASA Monday night and Tuesday morning.
Thought Piece-Keeping?/ARMED was a good one.
Enjoyed BLUE BAYOU, Jazzbumpa. Linda Ronstadt is a great performer.
Well, off to my day. Hope we get some rain.
Abejo
Good Morning, Jazzbumpa and friends. This was probably the easiest Wednesday puzzle in ages. I had many answers filled without even reading the clue. Still, it was a Cold War Thriller. (Jazz: you have 2 down categories, but no acrosses)
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't seen the Gary Oldman version of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, I highly recommend you go out an rent it. Oldman is fabulous.
I liked the crossing of Bear in a Kid's Tale with the "Giant" Bear.
I liked seeing ERAS and EON in the same puzzle.
I almost outwitted myself in initially trying Gold instead of SOAP for something found in Bars.
The BIG BEN clock tower is being renamed in honor of Queen Elizabeth II.
My mom used to say we had BATS in our Belfry whenever we did something silly.
QOD: The other night I ate at a real nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going. ~ George Carlin
Super Speed run for me today must have been on the patti's wavelength from the just after the 1A and 1D. Every clue seemed to make sense and fall into place. Used to love Kielbasa now I find it way to salty for my taste need to find a way to rinse off the salt flavor, and it is usually preboiled after it is stuffed and before it hits the smoker. Saw early on tinker and then tailor and had lecarre on the brain so at 39A didn't even stop to think about it. Enjoy hump day all!!
ReplyDeleteIn the OC, MD tonight for a steamed crabs all hot and dirty for dinner tonight.
Good morning:
ReplyDeleteI guess you were doubling down on this fun Patti Varol puzzle, JzB. Between the liquor and the gambling and a little Linda Rondstat, it felt like home.
I knew it was going to be a good day when SOAP and PAPAS were confirmed by the downs. Liked DEHLI followed by DEL and ODE followed by OD'S.
You really worked hard with many great links and lots of the JzB wit.
Had a dream about humping so I guess it is time to go...
Great Wednesday CW! The kind I hate to finish, because it's immensely doable, enjoyable and smartly clued. My only true unknowns were FAO, GSN and DPS, but they all perped easily.
ReplyDeleteI got the theme early too, having been a long time reader of Le Carré novels. Maybe he chose the name to seem like a "square" (translation of carré), so as to disguise his real I.D. in true spy fashion.
Happy hump day to all!
We all seem to have been on the constructor's wave length. After TINKER TAILOR, the theme answers and reveal were obvious. Jazz, your links and wit, added the spice to today's offering. I especially liked your article on tinkers dam and the link to the Duke.
ReplyDeleteIn our family BATs in the belfry was quite a bit more unflattering than just silly. "Your ideas are insane."
Our Peter Pan DVD has a fabulous section on the drawing of Tinker Bell. A real model was filmed going through all the actions and poses. Margaret Kerry, the model was a real scamp, very pixie-like.
Link Margaret Kerry
I loved the book, Eats, shoots and leaves.
The title role in Sabrins was tailor made for Audrey Hepburn.
I'll take your writing, JzB even if it is "illegible". Thanks for the fun comments and links!
ReplyDeleteDidn't see TINKER TAILOR, but I do like Gary Oldman. I suspect I'll see him this weekend in Batman.
Great clues today (thank you Ms. Varol). I liked 1A: It's found in bars: SOAP. 8D: Did something appealing? ASKED, and 31D One involved with rackets: TENNIS PRO.
Another scorcher in Chicago, but I think a cool down is headed our way.
Que sera sera means whatever will be, will be. Enjoyed puzzle and write up. I, too, loved Eats, Shoots, and Leaves.
ReplyDeleteKeats and Yeats and a very cheeky photo of Sandi, courtesy of JzB. What's not to like?
ReplyDeleteAs most everyone realized, TINKER and TAILOR gave away the theme before reaching the unifier in the center.
PRECOOKED/PREBOILED was my only overwrite today.
Changing the name of Big Ben seems a royally stupid idea, about as good as renaming Niagara Falls as Nixon Falls.
Recently learned that another word for a TINKER is a whitesmith.
ReplyDeleteYears ago, I was lucky enough to hear Julian Bream, of LUTE fame.
Nice puzzle and write-up.
@Hahtoolah - Will it be "Old Liz"?
@Abejo - but, who stole the Kishka?
Que sera is Spanish for what what will be
ReplyDeleteSfingi, did you perhaps learn about the whitesmith on This Old House?
ReplyDelete@Desper-otto - I seem to think it was on NPR.
ReplyDeleteWhiresmith was an answer on a recent Jeopardy episode.
ReplyDeleteThank you Patti Varol for a VERY nice and enjoyable puzzle, and JazzB for your cute and gentle humor and your links... Linda Ronstadt, especially.
ReplyDeleteSo far, this week, the CW's have been relatively easy, but I've been too busy to contribute - Not that I delude myself that I am being missed ....
'Taylormade' seems to be a very popular trademark (?), name for many diverse companies and corporations, from making golf clubs to constructing houses (!)- and even a 'payday' money advance scheme - the name itself is so popular that I suspect that it has become generic, and 'lost' its traditional legal protection - though I can't understand why.
ALT QOD:- Doesn't Prince Charles look like somebody kissed a frog, only it didn't change all the way ? ~ Wendy Liebman.
( I guess every woman is entitled to her opinion - )
Good morning Jazzbumpa, C.C. et al.
ReplyDeleteWonderful expose this morning, Jazzb! I did not expect King Crimson to pop up at the link for ASPIC! The BLUE BAYOU link was outstanding – ya gotta love the talent of those muppets (oh yeah, and Linda, too). And thanks for explaining DPS…I had no clue what it meant, but since it was baseball I just went with the perps and hoped it was right.
When TAILOR… appeared after I had filled in TINKERBELL, I immediately dropped down and filled in SOLDIER BOY and SPYGLASSES. Ironically, I had constructed a puzzle with this exact theme, but chucked it after I searched the databases and found that it had been done several times before. But I don’t think any of them appeared in the LAT, so it would be new to this audience, at least.
The fill was particularly nice on this one, and made for a breezy speed run on a Wednesday. WMS (“what Mari said”) about the clues for SOAP, ASKED and TENNIS PRO. WBS about PRE-BOILED.
Good morning everyone. Great write-up, JazzB.
ReplyDeleteBTW, the intro write-up has 'Down' where 'Across' is meant.
What Kazie said in her first line - " immensely doable, enjoyable and smartly clued." Spot on. Hint of the theme let me get SOLDIER... and SPY.... Speeded up the solve a lot. Learned GSN today. Especially liked the cluing for ASKED and ARMED. On the OSLO clue, my map of Norway (bought in Norway) calls it 'Oslo Fjorden'. A well polished puzzle with a nice cadence. Thanks Patti.
Have a great day.
The EPA rules in certain counties in Ohio, require an E-Check for every motor vehicle, once every 2 years, to renew the registration. This is to ensure that the catalytic converter is intact and functional and that the emissions from the tail pipe are within permissible standards.
ReplyDeleteRecently, the 'Engine light' on my 6 yr old Lexus, lit up, and I headed to the nearest garage for a diagnostic. Surprisingly, the mechanic on duty was as honest .... as Abe. He told me:
1. The computer under the console, indicated an 'emission' problem.
2. That would require him to, .... sequentially, .... change the actuator emission sensors ( $ 788 ), ..... put a new, specially silicone coated gas cap and clean out, with emery paper, the inlet housing ($ 120 + 46 ) .... and (possibly) change the vapor recovery pump in the gas tank ($ 846 ). The computer does NOT pin point the problem, and works in sequence.
3. That he has seen this problem before, and that it would re-occur.
4. That there was nothing otherwise wrong with the engine, or my emissions.
OR, for $ 35, he would 'reset' the computer, and the light would not come on for at least 48 hours, giving me enough time to head for the nearest E-Check garage, for the mandatory 2 yr. E-check .... and pass it.
My question is, is this a good example of 'Occam's Razor' or is it merely a third degree felony ?
It may be a moot question. In NY, you can't get an inspection if the computer has recently been reset. The car must be driven approximately 200 miles before you can get it inspected.
ReplyDeleteI tried it with my sister's car; the light came back on at 180 mi. which is why I drive a car made before 1996. Older car are exempt.
Hi gang -
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the kind words. I really enjoyed blogging this fine puzzle. It's a law of nature that I must make some sort of blunder in each write up. My double DOWN DP is pretty hard to suss, since I was most definitely not feeling DOWN at the time. I refuse to blame Ole George.
Since corrected. Thanx to Hatoolah and Lemonade for catching it.
Yellowrocks - Thanks for the Margaret Kerry link. Wish I would've thought to call Tink the "winged blonde coquette."
Granddaughters Alexa and Emily each have perfected the Tinkerbell pout. Must be a genetic predilection.
Anony-mouse - I think it's a loophole.
Cool Regards!
JzB
Good morning:
ReplyDeleteThis was a fun, easy-peasy Wednesday puzzle. Got the theme very early on and the rest was a walk in the park. Liked the clues for soap, asked, and armed.
Thanks, Pattie, for a fun romp and thanks, Jazzb, for a witty and informative write-up.
BTW, yesterday I received two scam emails which, on the surface, looked quite legitimate. One was from (supposedly) Wells Fargo and one was from Discover Card. Both indicated that there was suspicious activity on my account and that I should click on the provided link to verify my account information.
Since I have not had a Wells Fargo account for more than 20 years, I knew that was a scam. I was pretty sure the Discover Card was a scam as well, but I called just to be sure. I spoke with someone in the Fraud/Security Dept. and was told that they never send that type of an email. She asked me to forward it, which I did.
I don't know which is more annoying: the daily barrage of scam telemarketers, or the scam/spam emails. Our ever-advancing technology is great, but we are paying a price for it. And, just think what we have to look forward to when the political campaigning begins! Thank goodness for Caller ID.
Enough ranting; have a wonderful Wednesday.
Anony-Mouse As i recall we Montgomery county had the E-Check they also would check the seal on the gas cap. You could try going to the nearest auto store and buying a replacement cap. Many times the seal is cracked and that will cause the light to come on.
ReplyDeleteThe lute is a delicate instrument that lacks the projecting power of the acoustic guitar. To give it a little more oomph, the strings are doubled, as you can see here.
ReplyDeleteHere's Bream playing some more Dowland.
Cheers!
JzB
Very smooth, and fun, Wednesday puzzle! Thank you, Patti.
ReplyDeleteWhen I got the email from Patti identifying our puzzle publication date (yesterday), she said that Rich couldn't resist putting it back-to-back with today's. Now I see why.
"Big Ben" is actually the name for the bell in the tower, not the tower itself. The tower is officially named Clock Tower, but everyone just calls it Big Ben. The bell is not being re-named, but the tower's name is being changed to Elizabeth Tower. However, since most people call the tower itself Big Ben, I expect that name will stick for at least a generation or two. Just my 2p worth. :)
I did the puzzle in record time, for me. Got the theme early, and only had a few perp helps.
ReplyDeleteIRISH MISS- Yay for caller ID and blocked caller. Unless listed as an unavailable I can block it. I'm surprised at how many junk calls I get even though I'm on the 'list'.
Have a great day everyone.
Thanks Patti and JzB. I liked the puzzle and will have to look for the movie. I'm no fan of Pete Rose though. A good ballplayer overshadowed by his enormous ego.
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of Blue Bayou by Linda. It was written by Roy Orbison but his version can't compare to hers I think.
I enjoyed the lute music but as JzB said, it pales beside a classical guitar also played by Julian Bream and other pros. My early recording of Segovia show his ability and musicality but the sound quality is not up to modern standards. That is probably partly due to improvement in recording techniques and sound recording equipment but also because nylon guitar strings hadn't been invented and perfected yet.
Charlette @10:56~how do you block calls? I have a land line with service through Verizon.
ReplyDeleteTotally delightful puzzle, Patti--thanks so much. And a fun write-up, JazzB. I especially loved your little joke with 'Que SERA'! Not a bit twee!
ReplyDeleteWe just saw the 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' movie on Netflix--my first exposure to LE CARRE. Incredibly complicated plot, I thought--had to Wiki it to make sure I understood what was going on. But it was worth it.
Have a great Wednesday, everybody.
Thanks for the kind words yesterday. Glad to be home - too. Nurse and PT person stopping by today. Oncologly appoint tomorrow. When Priss was explaining what happened to Lemon, little did I know I would be next.
ReplyDeleteOne good thing about a hospital stay is no cigarettes for 11 days. Maybe it is time to quit.
Two yr smog check here. Last time mech undid some hoses and charged $15 to reattach each.
Take care. eddy
Good afternoon everyone.
ReplyDeleteGot quite a bit of this, but DNF.
I didn't put MOOCH because "freeloader" indicates a noun, and I consider mooch a verb. I wanted moocher, but it didn't fit. And missed the theme because I put Keats, not YEATS.
But what I did get was fun. And the write up is superlative.
Cheers
PS:
ReplyDeleteSERA was easy for me because it appears in an opera, I don't remember which. But bona SERA is one of the arias my late husband used to sing frequently.
(And I'm sure I misspelled "bona".)
Good day, Jazzbumpa and puzzlers. JZ, I enjoyed your jest at SERA.
ReplyDeleteLate to the party so WEES. Lots of fun clues in this one by Patti Varol and that made the sashay smooth for the ENTIRE way.
Ditto for knowing the theme immediately after TINKER and TAILOR and liked LECARRE smack in the center. Interesting about the translation, Kazie.
Wintry fall, SLEET was especially good.
My late DH and I used to love to ISLAND HOP.
I hope your Wednesday is wonderful, everyone!
Good afternoon JazzB, CC, et al., Another fun run. Thanks Patti. LOL'd at the same clues/ans as others and Kazi said it perfectly, " immensely doable, enjoyable and smartly clued," as Spitz pointed out. Just outstanding. JzB, hilarious job!
ReplyDeleteWanted so badly to fill 1A's four letters 'found in bars' w/'Lois' but then realized that can't be true. I NEEDA be HOME to SHOO that S O B SOLDIER BOY off my SOFA before I get ARMED and dangerous & LASSO his sorry MOOCHin AS-PICkin' retired has-BEN self OUTTA here..& by NOON! LE CARRE? He can take le bus! les legs! but w/out my DOH. What were the ODdS that a retired CMDR would be like PETE ROSE & try to run CONS on me!He had no IDEA that my nickname is Charliene Hustle. Oh, TSKS, TSKS, TSKS. Que SERA, SERA, SERA PAPA con ARTIST. Find your abODE behind 'bar's and pay for your sINS until DEWY TINKERBELL turns into a macho PAPA PANDA bear, EWE-sOR-SON of a motherless BAT! SHOO!!(hear the SOUND of a gun being cocked!)
Whew! That was cathartic! I feel so much better. Thank you, drs, one and all.
Enjoy your day.
Come on this was a tuesday or even a mondays puzzle. Glad Chen wasnt the author. Didnt like the pig out clue (30d). WHO uses pigs out for overdosing? you? or you? I usually heard it in the form of eating or over eating, not "pig out on LSD." Love song Soldier Boy. My copy has 1,2,3 count off. I like Roy Orbisons version of Blue Bayou better. Pandas on a slump, Go SF Giants!
ReplyDeleteBreezed thru a Wednesday, & it has been a while since i enjoyed a JzB writeup! I believe it was you Jazz that made me a "link" fanatic in the first place...
ReplyDeleteLearning moment = orts (from the writeup)
My only experience with Aspic was in a can of catfood. (anything but savory!)
Jzb, your 7D eats shoots & leaves comment reminded me of a joke i heard about a Koala Bear & a prostitute... (but i can't tell it here.) Yellowrocks, i looked up the book, interesting, i must read it.
Somewhat unrelated, here is a bit of English humor about crosswords from Two Ronnies. (5:15)
I use to watch ronnie corpet and ronnie barkerall the time. they were great. so was dave allen at large.
DeleteGood afternoon to all and happy hump day. Nice puzzle and great write-up JazzB. Glad that you are home EddyB I hope you can quit smoking your heart and lungs will appreciate it. I quit almost 17 years ago and never regretted it, For my health and my pocketbook. Have a great day to all RJW.
ReplyDeleteJim P., how nice to see you back.
ReplyDeleteThe KOALA is an old joke, and do not click the link if you are offended by stuff.
Very clever theme and fill, Patti.
ReplyDeleteMusings
-There is a beautiful folk song about not letting “sister Sara” become an old maid but marry among others a …tinker or tailor…
-You can buy TAILOR MADE golf clubs but I can’t justify it.
-Earth is the “Goldilocks” planet because we are not too hot like PAPA’s porridge or…
-Day trading looks like hard work to make it work, which it often does not. OTB is even dicier.
-TINKER to Evers to Chance = DP
-The capital of Crosswordistan? OSLO!
-A lot of SECTs seem to be having sex.
-I wanna get OUTTA here and you ain’t gonna stop me.
- PETE not only illegally bet on games he lied about it over and over again until he finally relented a few years ago. Bye, bye Hall Of Fame. Hubris has gotten better people than you.
-Lovely two ISLANDS to HOP in that link in your fun write-up, Jazz.
-Nice effort Linda, but you ain’t Roy Orbison
-Orson Well’s War of the Worlds caused a panic in 1938.
@Hahtoolah - Yes, that's it.
ReplyDeleteHubster explained DPS, today.
Be apprised that cities are beginning to apply the EPA 1992 Lead Abatement Law. I recently had to pay $5,000 for a special paint job in which all scrapings were carefully removed and collected from the exterior of my tiny house that was older than 1978 (1852, in this case). Alternative was to take a course and do it myself. The good news was, it took a couple days and looks great.
Hola Everyone, Put in Precooked for Kielbasa, but Bat soon fixed that error. Then I couldn't figure out what would start with a B that would have to do with Kielbasa. Error of my ways was soon discovered.
ReplyDeleteFor once, all the BB terms were within my grasp. Even the DP clue.
The theme emerged after Tinker, Tailor. I don't remember reading the book those many years ago, but the title was familiar. Thanks for the recommendation,Hatoola. I think we will rent the film version.
Thanks, Jazz for a great writeup.
I clicked on the South pole Google piece today and was amazed at all the info that Google has put in about the South Pole. Great pictures.
Eddie B. Good start on the no cigs for 11 days. Keep it up--a day at a time. You'll feel soooo much better.
ReplyDeleteHatoolah: Your avatar is PURR fect!
ReplyDeleteCED: The "Two Ronnies" clip was hilarious!
Eddy B: Glad you "escaped" and hope you feel better. Quitting smoking would be the best present you could give yourself. Good luck.
CED:
ReplyDeleteHilarious clip of the two Ronnies!
Lemonade:
Naughty but funny koala joke.
HG:
Nice links.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteI use to watch ronnie corpet and ronnie barkerall the time. they were great. so was dave allen at large.
--That was the Dave Allen who also did the tonight show on Australian TV in the 60's and 70's, wasn't it? Really funny guy.
Liked clue for SOAP.
ReplyDeleteWanted POOH for bear.
JzB- Spent some of my afternoon listening to several Chicago tunes after link got me started.
CED- Two Ronnies was very funny. Does anyone know if BBC still runs episodes? I've never seen them before now.
It seems odd that the Brits would change BIG BEN's name and wave tradition. Queen Elizabeth certainly deserves recognition.
I enjoyed both renditions of Blue Bayou. I had old Roy Orbison 45s when a teen. They are missing from my collection now.
EddyB, Glad to here that you are home!
ReplyDeleteFermatprime, Noticed you mentioned tooth implant yesterday. Just had one molar done. $2400 went to oral surgeon and $1200 to dentist. It was all out of pocket!
Xed here and replace with hear! Oops again.
ReplyDeleteBlue Iris. You are scaring me - I have to have some wisdom teeth pulled sometime within the next couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteLike Alec Guinness as George Smiley better. Better fit of someone coming out of retirement.
ReplyDeleteeddy
Blue Iris, if you lived in Canada, I'm guessing the whole thing would have been free or at least much less expensive.
ReplyDeleteHahtoolah, I had mine done when I was a teenager or young adult. Good thoughts for you. I hope all goes smoothly.
Elements of math puzzle
Take the names of the first nine elements of the periodic table: hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and fluorine. Select one letter from each of these names in order to spell a familiar nine-letter word. Hint: It's a common word used in math classes.
the clue for 8A could have been "Did some appealing."
ReplyDeleteFTPer here. Nay, STPer. No, now TTPer here that still doesn't have a google account.
ReplyDeleteAs life is what happens to you while you are preparing for the future, work is what happens when you want to get to today's puzzle or create an account, but you have to bide your time until you can.
Enjoyable puzzle today and great write up with fun links. I really enjoy the blog comments as well. I feel like I'm getting to know everyone.
Struggled a bit in the NW corner, but TINKERBELL came easily. When I saw the asterisk, and now knowing that there's a theme involved, looked for what you all call the unifier as a clue. After TINKERBELL, LECARRE was my next fill. Author of 1974 novel and Tinker did it.
Read Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy when it first came out. May have been the first newly released book I ever read. Prior to that, I was into Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C Clarke and Robert A Heinlein. Then found the trilogy of middle earth. Not sure how I got into Alistair MacLean, but it was probably along the same lines of action / fantasy. The action and suspense of MacLean brought upon John LeCarre.
Wandered off there for a bit.
Argyle and Jayce, thanks for the support Sunday. I apologize for not responding sooner. Life got in the way. But it is good.
Eddy, get well soon.
CrossEyedDave, that link to the two Ronnies was so apropos.
All, have a great evening and a successful Thursday solve.
Bill G - NUMERATOR
ReplyDeleteBill G.
ReplyDeleteGood one today.
Nice misdirection with the mention
of the periodic table that had me focusing on their symbols for a while.
Then just like a tough xword puzzle you step away for a bit and then realize the answer. so as not to spoil it for anyone. N*******r.
Spitz
ReplyDeleteI realized you posted as I was typing
TTP'er here again.
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention. We've had SHOO a few times lately.
If you've never had Shoo Fly Pie, try it. Or get Mikey to try it first. He likes it.
Hahtoolah, check on your insurance...most dentist and/or oral surgeons will check to see how much insurance pays on wisdom teeth extraction. Seems many don't take payments anymore. They want it on a credit card or give you a company that provides a loan. Hope you have insurance that pays since it is a surgical procedure. ( Implants are considered elective because you could just pull the tooth. )
ReplyDeleteGreetings!
ReplyDeleteVery nice puzzle, Patti! Amusing, thorough expo, Jazz!
Got theme very quickly. Great novel!
Now have horrible ear infection, either from swimmer's ear or rotten tooth. Finally got some antibiotics an hour ago.
Cheers!
Fermatprime, I'm sorry to hear about all of your travails lately. Soothing wishes heading north. I hope crossword solving acts as a balm.
ReplyDeleteI see where my (don't I wish) girlfriend, Sophia Vergara, is the highest paid actress with TV salary, a clothing line, spokemodel for Cover Girl, etc. So I guess a lot of other people like her too. I guess I'll have to go to the back of the line. Rats!
for those who may have forgotten:
ReplyDeleteAtari
(FOR THE LATE NITE CROWD)