(If your paper does not carry the puzzle we're blogging on Sundays, click here to solve on line or print out a copy.)
Theme: "Having the last Laugh" - HA is contained at the end of each theme entry.
21A. Imposing WWI weapon : BIG BERTHA. Also a Golf club brand. Boomer bought an almost new Big Bertha driver at a garage sales for $5 earlier this year. He still slices, but is very happy with his distance.
27. Kim's "Sex and the City" role : SAMANTHA. Relatively short theme entry, but if you try yourself, you'll realize that Liz's *HA choices are limited.
39. "The Impossible Dream" musical : MAN OF LA MANCHA. Still remember Susan Boyle?
53A. Barista's chocolaty creation : CAFE MOCHA
65A. Bumbling fictional spies : BORIS AND NATASHA
83. "Righto!" : YOU BETCHA. The first Minnesotan phrase I learned.
97A. Warren Buffett's nickname : ORACLE OF OMAHA. I have his autographed photo.
105A. Longfellow hero : HIAWATHA. "The Song of Hiawatha",
119A. Lover of 105-Across : MINNEHAHA. Literally "laughing water". Lucina visited our Minnehaha Falls last time she was here.
Notice
there's no HA ending word in non-theme entries? No AHA, OSHA or ALOHA
that constructors use frequently. It's a conscious decision Liz took. So
the theme is not distracted.
I sensed what the theme was after reading the title. It has to be *HA, since *LOL is impossible.
Across:
1. Islands with giant tortoises : GALAPAGOS. Stumped from the start. Look, it's huge.
10. Annual report feature : GRAPH
15. Big Ten sch. : PSU. Penn State. The Nittany Lions. I feel sorry for Joe Paterno. I shouldn't, but I do.
18. Drunk : INEBRIATE
19. Blues legend Smith : BESSIE. Faintly recall this name.
20. Batting material, perhaps : WOOL
22. Thing : ENTITY
23. Football fan's channel : ESPN
24. In __: actually : ESSE
25. 1985 Chevy Chase film : FLETCH. What's the film about?
29. Step between stories : STAIR. Nice clue.
31. Air balls miss them entirely : RIMS. Jeremy Lin's rookie card reached over 20K in those Linsanity days. Nuts!
34. Scraps for Lassie : ORTS
35. Hard-rock link : AS A
38. Geographical suffix : ERN. Western, for example.
44. Sam who employed Diane and Carla : MALONE. Never saw "Cheers".
46. Screwdriver, for one : HAND TOOL. Well, Splynter, COCKTAIL fits also.
47. Part of Chagall's theater work : MURAL
48. Turner autobiography : I, TINA. This used to stump me in my early crossword solving days, in 2008. How long have you been solving Xwords?
49. To a greater extent : MORE SO
50. "Body of Proof" network : ABC. Starring Dana Delany.
52. Floor square : TILE
55. U.K. defense gp. : RAF
57. One having trouble with his sisters? : LISPER. Clever clue.
59. IOC part: Abbr. : INTL
60. Garden product word : GRO. I'm letting my overabundant Thai chili air-dry. I pickled some. Still pretty hot.
61. Give __: care : A FIG
63. __ in Juliet : J AS
64. Explosive stick : TNT
70. Otto's "Oh!" : ACH. Hi there, D-Otto, another cat lover.
73. Chem class component : LAB
74. Stable environment? : BARN. Oh, that stable.
75. Switch settings : ONs
76. "Space Ghost" cartoonist Alex __ : TOTH. No idea. EddyB would have got him easily.
80. Not on the level : SLOPED
82. Purring pet : CAT. Cute. Mart will love this.
85. Four: Pref. : TETR
86. Half an attention-getter : YOO
88. Leggy waders : HERONS. And 26D. Leggy wader : CRANE.
91. Modern data units : BYTES
92. 5:1, e.g. : RATIO
94. Intervals between related events : TIME LAGS
96. Go bananas : LOSE IT
99. Time line period: Abbr. : CEN (Century).
100. Square root of nove : TRE. Alright, nove is 9 then. Chinese for "three" is very simple: San.
101. RAM units : MEGS. Megabytes? Shouldn't it be MBs?
102. Haydn sobriquet : PAPA
103. Stock deal : TRADE
109. "Not so fast!" : SLOWER
111. Butter amt. : TBSP
115. Land in el mar : ISLA
116. Jet-setter's destination : EUROPE. Did you read "A Year in Provence"? Lovely.
121. Fishing spot : PIER
122. Omits in speaking : ELIDES
123. "The Accidental Tourist" author : ANNE TYLER. She was born in MN.
124. Flat sound : SSS
125. Miata maker : MAZDA
126. Sees the point of the discussion? : READS LIPS. Nice clue also.
Down:
1. Taunt : GIBE. I always confuse this word with JIBE.
2. Licorice-flavored liqueur : ANIS
3. Piano parts : LEGS
4. French clerics : ABBES
5. Beginning of school? : PRE. Pre-school.
6. Travelocity quote : AIR FARE
7. Larry of country : GATLIN. Well, to me, it's this guy, Larry in real life.
8. Remaining : OTHER
9. Subway commuter's hope : SEAT
10. Mil. bigwig : GEN
11. 18 to 20 in a sequence : RST. Alphabetically.
12. Yard sale caveat : AS IS
13. Fillable bread : PITA
14. Kid's attention getter : HEY MOM
15. One may follow a signature : POSTSCRIPT. Consonant-heavy.
16. Junior-to-be : SOPH
17. Forearm bone : ULNA
19. Derrieres : BEHINDS. I just mentioned to JD the other day that I did not know Italy is so hilly. No wonder girls there all have sexy behinds.
20. Flipped : WENT NUTS
28. Composer Khachaturian : ARAM
30. Popular coffee hr. : TEN AM
32. Stop along the highway : MOTOR INN
33. Bay Area airport letters : SFO
35. Friends in Rome : AMICI. The single is Amico then?
36. Evil guy : SATAN
37. "Need __?" : A LIFT
39. "The Social Network" actress Rooney __ : MARA
40. Rye buy : LOAF
41. Priest's robe : ALB
42. "Jump" band Van __ : HALEN
43. Wide-awake : ALERT
45. Hamburger order, perhaps: Abbr. : ONE LB
46. Santa's favorite snack cakes? : HO HOS. Yes, Argyle?
49. Adam's favorite fast food sandwich? : McRIB. Funny.
51. Stock designation : CLASS B. Well, Tinbeni knows. CNBC & Crosswords & Coffee are his breakfast.
54. Sweet Rosie of song : O'GRADY. Drew a blank. Never heard of the song.
56. Turkish title : AGA
58. Boy chaser? : ISH. Boyish.
61. Cursed thing : ANATHEMA
62. Manhattan's __ Drive : FDR. Guessed.
63. Two-faced deity : JANUS
66. Flamenco concert shout : OLE
67. Legal gp. : ABA. Lemonade is going to be a new grandpa next week. 69. 67-Down mems. : ATTYs
68. Bugs and Elmer, e.g. : TOONS
70. Elroy Jetson's dog : ASTRO
71. See-through : CLEAR
72. "3 Alarm" candies : HOT TAMALES. Strange name for candies.
77. Large chamber music group : OCTET
78. "A League of __ Own" : THEIR. Did any of you like "Little Big League"?
79. Speed : HASTE
81. Mall battle : PRICE WAR
82. Salon creation : COIF
83. Stretching discipline : YOGA
84. WWII saver's purchase : E-BOND
87. Plains Indian : OTO
89. Goes by : ELAPSES
90. 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby : RAHAL. EddyB would have nailed this entry. Man, I missed his cryptic comments.
93. Big name in lingerie : OLGA. Not fond of this brand.
95. Clean, in a way : MOP
96. Found out : LEARNED. Was shocked when I learned of Mo Yan's Nobel Prize award.
98. Hold in high regard : ESTEEM
99. Richard of "The Flamingo Kid" : CRENNA
103. Tie that binds : TWINE
104. __ alcohol : ETHYL
105. Swinging joints? : HIPS. Mo Yan also wrote this book. Most of his books have a raw, sexual content.
106. Fertility goddess : ISIS. As you know, religion was forbidden when I grew up. You seldom see God or Goddess reference in Chinese literature.
107. Hilo dance : HULA
108. Painted Desert st. : ARIZ
110. Barbra's "Funny Girl" co-star : OMAR
112. Tourist haven east of Java : BALI. Bra brand also.
113. "George of the Jungle" elephant : SHEP. No idea.
114. What many players shoot for : PARS. I think Boomer has 3 or 4 birdies this whole summer.
117. Unmatched : ODD
118. Stew veggie : PEA
120. UFO drivers, ostensibly : ETs. You can now find them in Madame Tussauds Museums.
C.C.
JD's Italy series continues. Today, we visit Florence. JD said:
"After reading "The Agony and the Ecstasy" I was anxious to see Florence.
Unfortunately the Statue of David was in a museum that was closed, but in
the square there were many statues, and one was a replica of David. In the
photo of the parade, he is on the left. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del
Fiore is their main church. It is covered in various shades of green, pink
and white marble. Santa Croce Basilica was filled with so many sculptures,
paintings, and is the burial place of Michelangelo, Galileo, Rossini and
many others. There is way too much to see in a day." Click here for more photos.
71 comments:
Greetings!
What a joy to work this puzzle! Many thanks, Elizabeth! Entries were right down my alley, for a change. Always wanted to go to the Galapagos Islands. However, it is a difficult trip and the tortoises are disappearing.
Love Man of La Mancha, Rocky the Flying Squirrel.
Thanks for the interesting and timely write-up, CC!
After taking one tablet of Bacopa Gold for breakfast and dinner each Friday (for memory and cognitive function and prevention of Alzheimer's, theoretically) I have not slept a wink. Not since 1 PM Friday. Have not taken any since and hope to sleep after submitting this missive!
So sorry I missed your bday, Boomer! Belated best regards!
Cheers!
What Fermatprime said about the puzzle. I didn't have the title, but I noticed all the HAs. This was a fun puzzle. CC ,I enjoyed your write up.
-Galapagos was my first entry.
-I liked HOHO and MCRIB. I think foods clued like this would make a fine theme.
-The Japanese three has the same character as the Chinese, with almost the same sound, san.
-I enjoy watching Cheers reruns.
-I think MIATAs are cute, but impractical for a person who owns a single car.
-I solved x-words in HS and college in a desultory way. Since I was 22 I have become a regular solver. My mom was a great x-word fan, too.
-The only racer named Bobby I know of is Unser. RAHAL was new to me.
Morning, all (and a Happy Belated Birthday to Boomer)!
Fun puzzle today. Lots of pop culture references that I actually knew, and the theme answers were all familiar to me.
Favorite clue by far was "One having trouble with his sisters" for LISTER.
Had a couple of trouble spots. The first was in the mideast, where CLASSB could have had any final letter as far as I was concerned and TOTH was a complete unknown. Fortunately, the perps took care of it all.
Second spot was in the SE, where ANNE TYLER met SHEP (both unknown to me). Took me awhile to accept that PARS was valid, since it just doesn't seem grammatical to me (players shoot for PAR, not PARS, don't they?). Maybe just cluing it as "standards" would have been better...
Also, I'm embarrassed to admit that I still don't get what READS LIPS has to do with seeing the point of the discussion. Oh, wait. I was focusing on "point," but I guess it just means that somebody is "seeing" the discussion instead of hearing it. OK, never mind...
Wow! And it's not even my birthday yet, although that pic was taken on my birthday in 2006.
Thanks, C. C. (I think ).
Good Morning, C.C. and friends. Interesting Sunday puzzle.
Like Yellowrocks, I immediately knew the Galapagos (it's on my "to visit" list). I never heard of Bobby Rahal, either, so confidently wrote in Unser.
I wanted Goad instead of GIBE for Taunt.
I also initially tried Bottoms instead of BEHINDS for Derrieres.
My favorite clues were Tie that Binds = TWINE
Stable Environment = BARN.
I have been doing crossword puzzles since I was in High School, so it has been just a few years.
QOD: Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. ~ Bill Gates (DOB: October 28, 1955).
This was a fun puzzle thank you Elizabeth for the great work.
Thank you CC for the write-up. this was a long and plodding puzzle but not too much challenge just perfect for a hurricane challenged sunday.
Like Yellowrocks I started with Bobby Unser but when that did not fit I recalled that Bobby Rahal had won that year.
I think Barry means LISPER not (LISTER.)
Having watched Space Ghost (in reruns) and George of the Jungle as a child I sort of recalled Alex Toth and Shep.
To all the east coasters stay dry during the Frankenstorm.
20:05. Pretty good, for me, for a Sunday puzzle. With Sandy looming.
I think Barry means LISPER not (LISTER.)
Yes. Yes, I did...
Good morning C.C. and Sunday Solvers.
After toughies on Friday and Saturday, it was nice to find an easy solve today. I started badly, though, penning in OUZO and KEYS for 2D and 3D. When I looked at the across clues, GALAPAGOS immediately showed up, so those first two entries were history.
I also thought of both COCKTAIL and HAND TOOL for screwdriver, but waited for the perps to decide. My first stab at the one having trouble with his sisters was PRIEST -- didn't last long.
C.C. thanks for the shoutout. I guess I've been doing crosswords on a daily basis for thirty something years. I started when I was taking the park-n-ride bus to work. I'd do the Post xword in the morning and the one in the Chronicle on the way home.
Good Sunday puzzle.
The crap-streak ends at 2.
Good morning C.C. et al.
I love it when I can fill in 1A and then confirm it by checking the down perps. I hate it when 1D could be Goad or GIBE, and I pick the wrong one...
I saw all the ending "A"s but did not notice the title, so I didn't "get" the theme until I read your write-up, C.C. I have been solving puzzles since High School. Like Hahtoolah, it has only been a "few" years...(^0^)
Yes, I loved the kitty shoes!!
Hand up with D-Otto for "cocktail" and "priest" instead of HAND TOOL and LISPER...Loved the clues for MCRIB and HOHOS.
IMBO - Sandy is bearing down, and I have an outside doorknob to fix...
What's a "crap streak?"
Good Morning All,
Sarasota, Fl has a statue of David at the Ringling Museum. So, if you can't get to Florence, come here!
I enjoyed this puzzle and C.C.'s write-up.
I've been doing puzzles since the seventies. On Sunday mornings my family didn't get breakfast until I'd finished the NYT crossword. Still true, but now it's the LA Times and your comments.
Very enjoyable puzzle Ms Gorski, and very enjoyable write up, Ms Burnikel. Today was a stroll compared to yesterday.
CC, check your cards. Perhaps you have a rookie of SAM MALONE :>) ? He was a retired major league pitcher that opened CHEERS.
Fletch ? Chevy Chase plays a reporter in both Fletch and Fletch Lives. They were recently on Encore. Nothing special, but if you like Chevy Chase's humor and delivery, then maybe... I like his line in Fletch Lives when the pretty girl approaches: "What can I do to y- for you? "
Did not get one letter. The crossing F at Give:___Care and Manhattan's ___ Drive. Never heard of that expression or street. Natick for me. On the other hand, no issue with the ORACLE OF OMAHA or CLASSB. For the latter, just had to wait for the perp. The difference between BRKA and BRKB is ~ $129,600.
Galapagos was immediate, except that my last a was an O until AIRFARE down corrected it.
I thought the consecutive Down clues that led to HOHOS and MCRIB were cute.
Didn't really start doing crosswords until this year. Prior to that, it might have been a couple of times a year, if that often. At first, it was only on Sundays starting in March when I got out of the hosp, and couldn't do much physically. Found your blog in May or June ? and started to do this one daily. A couple of months ago started trying to do 4 every day, but time doesn't always allow...
Have a great day everyone.
Enjoyed mini-HAHAs-nicely done Liz! Also your write-up cc and Larry and JD's pics. Good way to start a Sunday. Thanks to all of you!
Whoopee! A Sunday puzzle with no errors! I am elated! Thank you, MS Gorski! Fun write-up, C.C.!
This was not without struggle. I knew GALAPAGOS but wrote it in starting with a "P". Took a while to see where I'd erred.
I thought crankily, "How would I know Warren Buffett's nickname?" when OF showed up first, I realized I did know it, but spelled ORACLE with a "cal". Also didn't know I knew Longfellow's hero or girlfriend, but they came in a flash.
Saw a very moving stage presentation of "Man of La Mancha" many years ago with my teen daughters. Loved it. Wore out the tape of songs.
I've been trying to solve puzzles since about 2007, but couldn't do Thurs-Sun until after getting my computer in Feb. 2011 and finding this blog sometime later. Now I'm doing much better as I learn the language and develop some insight.
My son brought meds & groceries yesterday. I got to wave at my smiling grandsons. Didn't want them to catch my croup, but so nice to know they care.
Hi there~!
Went with COCKTAIL first, go figure
Hand up for GOAD not GIBE
Had FARM before BARN
Not sure about the lingerie, but I do like the BEHINDS
Following up on yesterday's "signs", here's one for our Santa, Babylon, Long Island
Splynter
Musings
-A pleasant Sunday romp on this perfect fall day.
-BIG BERTHA was one of the first oversized clubs that revolutionized golf
-Warren’s very modest home is on tours of Omaha. He had a very unusual marriage
-Some have called Song of Hiawatha the most parodied poem in the English language
-GRAPH not gross, Batting material wasn’t ASH, HAND TOOL not liquor, TIME LAGS not Time Outs
-Many at PSU made very bad decisions. CYA doesn’t cut it when kids are involved.
-TINA Turner not Ted.
-I have been solving cwds since grade school.
-RAF, “…never have so many, owed so much to so few.”
-The cartoon last week showing men’s and women’s control panel switches is right on
-Papa is my name to grandkids and now my daughters when they reference me. I love it.
-We’ve been to EUROPE twice but ain’t no Jet setters
-C.C. I agree on both of your points about Italy. Both lovely topography!
-High octane JUMP tradition in Big 10 (different song but…)
-Transparent and Lingerie maker very close in puzzle.
-Secretary kept giant bag of HOT TAMALES behind her desk. Yum!
-What Bing Crosby song contains lyric, “…if you don’t care a feather or A FIG..”
Good morning:
After Friday's and yesterday's brain busters, this was a breath of fresh air. It wasn't a gimme, but it was fun and, with some perp help, quite doable. I, too, had ouzo before anis. Have never seen it spelled without an "e.". Liked the clue for barn and McRib and lispers.
Thanks, Ms. Gorski, for an enjoyable start to my lazy Sunday and thanks, CC, for a great expo. I started doing crosswords in the 70's, tackling the Sunday New York Times. Silly girl! I think the first one I tried took four or five days and I still didn't finish it. I have learned a lot since then and even more from this blog.
I have to go to a christening and brunch later but after that, I am staying put and getting prepared for Sandy. Stay safe everyone. Happy Sunday.
Husker, in answer to your question, I'd rather carry moonbeams home in a jar.
OLGA is a new one for me. The only Olga I can think of is the sparrow from Minsk, Olga Korbut. But that was a year or two ago.
Hello, weekend warriors! Hi, C.C. Did I miss Boomer's birthday? I am sorry and I hope you both celebrated in a special way.
Yesterday was very busy for me, starting with a morning meeting at school and then preparing dinner for my family so no time for the puzzle.
Funny thing about MINNEHAHA Falls: they are completely dry due to a drought. Then we went to Fergus Falls and LEARNED no falls exist there and no one knows why the name is Fergus Falls. We loved all the lakes, though.
Next year we're going to Niagara Falls.
Fun puzzle from Elizabeth Gorski and lovely commentary from C.C. thank you both.
It was a fairly quick sashay all the way through. Loved the cluing for BARN and ARIZ!
East coasters, please stay safe and out of harm's way.
Have a superb Sunday, everyone!
I started Cw's about 2 years ago with the Kiddie puzzles on the comics page. But when i could do them completely in 5 minutes i moved up to the LAT, which caused me to come to the blog. (& still causes me to come to the Blog)
18A Drunk = inebriate, being my area of expertise, i take exception with this clueing. Drunk, being past tense, should = inebriate"D." For the answer "inebriate," the clue should be "drink" (present tense.) Which leads me to Cheers!
Man of La Mancha, sadly i have not seen the entire play (yet) but was inspired to watch it by seeing the TV show Quantum Leap. If you ever get the chance, watch Scott Bakula in this Tour de Force & see what acting is all about...
(also, 7 of 9 in ST Voyager plays an emotionless character. But you cannot appreciate the acting skills involved until you watch show after show, & then see her adopt the persona of the Doctor! Amazing! Standing ovation!)
FDR Drive reminds me of another CED's Prolix Corner Story, involving motorcycles ( i was going to send to Windhover ), but without feedback, i do not know if i am annoying enough people to make it worthwhile...
Good morning everyone.
The hurrieder I go the BEHINDer I get. Pretty easy for a Sunday. Few unknowns like I TINA and ANNE TYLER were prompted by the perps. Wanted fishing hole before PIER. Overall, nice relaxing puzzle. No swearing.
Nice pix of WH, and JD's trip.
Stay safe from Sandy.
CED@11:30 -- If you are a drunk, you are an inebriate. If you are drunk, you are inebriated...or as those who are say it, "ebreeniated."
Aw Crap! Wrong again!
(excuse me while i go drown my sorrows...)
I have mentioned before on the blog that I started solving crossword puzzles in fourth grade when our teacher, Mrs. Joplin, would give us the spelling words in that format every week.
It soon became a passion and have been doing them ever since. That was in 1947. Do the math. I was ten at the time.
CED
desper-otto beat me to it. I was going to say INEBRIATE is a noun as a drunk is also a noun.
Good morning C.C. and all,
I haven't done a Sunday xwd for a long time, and was pleasanly surprised how smoothly most of it went.Some of the easier things stumped me for a bit, like mural.Sheesh! Loved all the humor in this one, like Mc Rib and lisper.The real ha,ha's escaped me.Thanks for a great write up, C.C.
Like PK, I've only been doing xwds for about 5 years.I've always enjoyed them and taught my 6th graders how to do them..even made up a few to go along with novels.
The end of the week puzzles are still over my head, but always a learning experience.
friend-singular: amica/amico
"Would you like to swing on a star?" by Bing Crosby in the movie "Going my Way" for an answer to Husker Gary-- I loved all the word play in that song when I was a kid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjQNoXWBWaM
Live in State Colle so nice to see PSU
You're right cc it is very sad
Hello everybody. Enjoyed this puzzle a lot. Thought I was off to a good start when I filled GALAPAGOS immediately. Hand up for goad and Unser. Wanted ouzo but the A prevented that. Thank you, Elizabeth Gorski for giving me and all of us bloggers many minutes of fun. Thank you for your writeup, C.C.
Only been doing xword puzzles regularly for about 3 or 4 years, since I became semi-retired and had the time and opportunity. Did the LAT puzzles in our local newspaper and the USA Today puzzles on line. Got a book of NYT puzzles as a gift 2 years ago and it darn near put me off xwords for good, until I realized the LAT puzzles continued to be fun. The high standard of quality that Rich and his team demand and achieve is admirable.
Now I'm going to try the NYT puzzle (last week's) that is in today's paper, simply because it has a wierd, intriguing grid pattern. Later...
Hi All ~~
Pretty smooth sailing today ~ I caught the theme after BIG BERTHA and SAMANTHA. A few unknowns were taken care of with perps. Thanks for an enjoyable Sunday puzzle, Elizabeth Gorski.
I always enjoy your comments and explanations, C.C. I started doing crosswords in the 80s. I'd start before leaving for school in the morning, and finish when I got home - usually with a glass of wine - in the PM not AM - although with some of the 4th graders I had, a glass in the AM might not have been a bad idea. ;-)
Favorites were the clues for HOHOS, MCRIB and LISPERS. Of course I also liked 'Purring pet' - CAT. =^.^= I, too, liked the shoes!
Starting some storm prep - so far just charging cell phones and Kindles. It's already getting windy and some local schools have announced closings for Monday and Tuesday. After the extended power outages of last year, the state is taking no chances - lots of warnings.
More beautiful pics, JD ~ thanks for sharing!
Good afternoon, folks. Thank you, Elizabeth Gorski, for an excellent puzzle. Thank you, C.C., for the great write-up.
Really liked this puzzle. Much better than yesterday, that's for sure.
Went to the center and South first. Could not get started in the NW.
The themes were easy to answer. But, I did not get the theme. Go figure. I zipped through the puzzle so fast I never tried to figure out the theme.
Toward the end I got GALAPAGOS after a few perps helped.
I do not consider myself an INEBRIATE, however I have been INEBRIATED in my life at times. Mainly long ago.
I remember BORIS AND NATASHA from years ago on cartoons. I always felt the U S government had some hand in that cartoon and was using it as propaganda against the Russians.
Isn't the singular of AMICI, AMICUS?
I started doing crosswords when I moved to Illinois from California in 1984. I did them sporadically until about 15 years ago, and then did them almost daily. I really enjoy them and found this Blog by accident in December, 2010. I am hooked.
See you tomorrow.
Abejo
My favorite answers today were "hohos" and "lisper". At first, I had for 83A "yougogirl" until I finally got 'youbetcha'. Hey, I'm from NY.
Since it was asked, I worked for over 30 yrs. in the computer industry and we always said/typed 'Megs' for megabytes and 'Gigs' for gigabytes.
Interesting to see all the corrections/interpretations of DRUNK. INEBRIATE sounds so much classier than SOT, but I have learned that AA welcomes either and both with no class distinction.
Rereading the comments.
FDR - been stopped on it many times due to heavy traffic. One of the world's longer parking lots.
I've been doing cw's regularly for 20 years or more. Our local paper has carried the LAT puzzle except on Sunday for over 3 years, I think. When I was still working, I would do them after getting home. Since retirement, I usually do them first thing in the morning. Slow to posting, not my style, but forces me to compose complete thoughts and spell well. This is a good group, though, and I enjoy the back-and-forth. C.C. is a good moderator. I'm beginning my 4th year as a Corner participant.
Happy Sunday! I thought this was a little harder than the typical Sunday offering but I got it done and enjoyed the process and the fine writeup. WEES.
My solving experience parallels Jayce. For whatever reason, I started solving online with the Universal Crosswords edited by Timothy Parker on MSNBC, very similar to USA Today I think. They don't seem to get harder during the week. All of them are sort of Tuesday level I would say. I don't know why I switched to LAT but it may have been after Googling an answer and finding this blog.
I hope Sandy doesn't cause any problems for the Cornerites. Well, I hope it doesn't cause any problems for anybody but that's probably too much to ask for. Stay safe.
We're heading out for lunch at the local Cuban restaurant. They have other choices but we always get the roast pork with black beans and plantains.
Some of you might enjoy some very special entertainment of flying skills from the Klipdrift Dam, RSA, The Flying Lions Aerobatic Team; the runway is wet.
Good puzzle for a snowy Sunday afternoon! Thanks, Ms. Gorski. Thanks to also C.C. for an informative write-up. I have read "A Year in Provence", as well as the sequel, "Encore Provence". Made me want to go there.
Started out right with GALAPAGOS; those tortoises are amazing. I got to touch one at the San Diego Zoo a long time ago. Wonder if they let you do that nowadays?
Great cat shoes!
Enjoyed Boris and Natasha as well as Rocky, Bullwinkle, and Dudley Do-RIght. They were usually on TV right after the bus dropped us off from school.
Favorite clues: 57A for LISPER, and 49D for MCRIB.
Hope you get some sleep soon, fermatprime
Bill G, what you said awakened my memory; I, too, now recall having come across this blog because I was Googling an xword answer. That was somewhere between 2 and 3 years ago, I think. Liked it, stayed, and have been a happy reader and contributor ever since.
By the way, the NYT puzzle I just finished (not without plenty of lookups) was very strange. Not even sure it could be called a crossword puzzle; more like a rebus game, map puzzle, and treasure hunt all rolled into one, like something one might see in Games magazine. I didn't like it much, perhaps because I tend to dislike rebus puzzles anyway. I thank Rich for not allowing them in the LA Times.
Bob L, I have also said "megs" and "gigs" for a long time in my profession.
Bill G, funny you should mention how you always order the same thing at the restaurant. LW and I do too. In spite of the extensive menus that some of our favorite places have, she and I keep gravitating back to the same tried-and-true, favorite dishes.
I always thought Bobby Rayhal never fit my image of a racer but he sure was.
A bit late today. The Men of Corn had a late game yesterday, and for the first time in 20+ years I slept in for 2 bonus hours. Good game, and we were pleased with the outcome. Also liked the final score of the VBall game between Penn State and Nebraska a few minutes ago.
The puzzle was a bit of a plod for me, but it was enjoyable and I got it all without assistance. My biggest mistake was trying to finish some of the wrong answers with HA.
I've been doing crosswords
since I was 10 or 12. Have been completely hooked (read daily solver) for the past 35 years~. Its not a stretch to say we get the paper because of the comics and the crosswords. The LAT first showed up in the Omaha paper 10 years ago. The NYT became a Sunday feature in the Lincoln paper at about the same time. Prolly 7 years ago, the LAT became a daily feature in the Lincoln paper. I took a long road to find this Corner, first finding Rex's blog while wrestling with the Sunday NYT, then becoming a regular lurker, at his old LAT blog. Been hanging out here for close to 2 years, posting since approx March of 11.
I'd also like to add my concerns and best wishes for anyone in the path of the storm. Stay safe!
Never fear, east coasters, help is on the way. Interesting article in our newspaper today said that the local electric company had 44 linemen with trucks and
equipment headed toward Pennsylvania. They were going due to a request under a mutual aid pact to be on standby if the storm is as destructive as it is expected to be. From here with the equipment trucks is probably a 2-3 day drive.
Late to the crossword today because a friend is in town with his family for a soccer tournament.
Pretty much got all answers with a few hiccups in the southeast. It wasn't until reading and rereading that the theme of the final "Ha" finally came to me.
"You Betcha" - Sarah Palin catch phrase from 2008.
Big Bertha is the name of my best friend's 1978 Ford F-250, which gets a lot less gas mileage than a Miata, that's for sure.
A bunch of us manage to squeeze in a week of Spring Training baseball in Ariz every March - and on that note, Go Giants!
Postscript - I have been doing crosswords ever since my Dad turned me onto them, I'd say about ten years ago. Great way to exercise the old cranium.
PK, Thanks for the support. We sure need it. JCP&L expects 50% of us to be without electricity, most of us for a week or more. I am told that the most difficult part of having no electricity is the cold. Today I cranked up the heat to keep the house very warm, so that it will not chill so quickly. This, too, is uncomfortable.
I will fill the bathtub with water so I can use a bucketful at a time to flush the toilet or fill the wash basin.
I bought ice and will put it in a cooler when the power fails so that I have access to perishables without opening the refrigerator and letting out the cold. After 4 days or so I will empty the fridge into the garbage to avoid the stench of rotting food.
I do have a propane camp stove, but I would have to open the garage a tad to get enough fresh air to use it. Maybe I can do so when the storm is past and the electricity is still off.
It’s back to the pioneer days. I am up for the adventure, but the cold is a bit daunting. I seriously doubt that I will be flooded. I cross my fingers that the roof holds up and that debris does not break a window. Many of my neighbors will be subject to severe flooding. Some of them were flooded out during Irene. They have not yet recovered completely. My heart goes out to them.
Spitzboov @ 3:48, are they flying...or water skiing???? Awesome video!!
All preparations for Frankenstorm are complete. Tonight, we even had a practice run, by making apples that were cored and filled with brown sugar, a bit of flour, cinnamon and nutmeg, with a dab of butter on the top. Wrapped tightly in foil, and baked in the fireplace. Yummm! I CAN DO THIS!!
(I may not be online tomorrow, but not to worry..."I shall return!")
Fermatprime, are you getting my emails?
Although I have never personally experienced really devastating results from storms and hurricanes, my local friends and neighbors have been severely impacted. These life and income altering events are nothing to sneeze at. It is not as romantic as baking apples in the fireplace. This time I am really concerned, even more for my neighbors. It could be hell.
Schools closed monday & tuesday,
NJ Transit shut down
Outdoor patio table is upside down in the grass, & the chairs are up against the fence & tied together.
Storm windows down,, i am going to bed...
Oh, & PK is fine down the basement!
I hope everyone in Sandy's way will be safe. I know how devistating hurricanes can be in warm/hot weather, but can not imagine what it would be like in the midst of a winter storm.
Yellowrocks, HeartRx is simply showing a positive attitude. Your shot at her is most unwelcome.
Good night folks.
Jayce, speaking of ordering the same thing in eating establishments I can go to my favorite spot at the mall and just say, "Lunch". It's getting to be the same where DH and I often go for breakfast.
Did not get the title hint, so DNF.
But it was fun. I was surprised that EUROPE was correct, it was so easy.
And it's SATAN, not devil.
Thank you Ms Gorski and C.C.
Cheers
P.S. My older son and his family live in Manhattan, and he reports they are ready for Sandy with food, water, batteries, flashlights, cell phones, battery radios and battery-powered chargers.
Good luck to all of you on the east coast. We ducked it again in Florida.
To all of our East Coast x-worders:
My prayers are with you tonight.
I hope it's just hoopla, like it is sometime on the west coast. YR, sounds like you are prepared. Nothing can prepare us for the unknown, only what we think we might need. Bless you all and keep you safe in the coming week.
Sallie, Your son’s attitude is positive and constructive in the face of awesome odds. Trivializing the odds is not constructive or positive.
Good for you, Marti! Your upbeat outlook is sure to see you through this safely, and just as important, sanely! Hopefully, you'll be using any downtime the storm imposes on you, in constructing more fun puzzles to entertain and challenge us.
I hope you and other bloggers in the storm's path stay safe!
Sallie, my niece's family lives in Brooklyn. I hope they're as well-prepared as your son.
Last week was the 7 year anniversary of Hurricane Wilma, when I lost my home. I don't think any of us take these storms lightly as we breath sighs of relief to have dodged another one, knowing we may not be so lucky next time.
Slept 14 hours; one stupid phone call.
Certainly hope the best for those in the way of Sandy.
Did not even notice LISPER. Brain fog. Don't get it.
Started working cws in late 70s. Daily news had NY Times. Used a crossword solver. (Uses up 4 batteries every time you sneeze.) Colleague got me interested in LAT puzzle. Found them online and discovered this fabulous blog, most fortuitously.
Knew nothing as a child as was not allowed recreational reading. Bad for the eyes, accdg. to mother. Have regretted loss of learning opportunities in childhood all of my life. Have many nightmare stories.
PLEASE let me know if you read this! It would be nice to know. It is so late for most of you and do not know how many of you go back . Also, am paranoid.
Cheers!
Fermatprime, I'm up late too watching the World Series
Rahal was easy.
Giants win.
Got a generator in 1998.
Talk to you when we can.
p.s. really miss eddyB today.
Ferm:
Don't worry. We in the west read the last entries. Glad you were able to sleep. I hope you feel better.
My prayers are for all to safely survive the storm.
LISPER refers to one who lisps and has trouble pronouncing the S in sisters.
Seen,
Your post made me want to cry. Thank God for you and Tinbeni, eddyB knew he was understood. I told Jazzbumpa last Friday that "I'm now worried Giants will never lose again."
Yellowrocks et al,
I look forward to your safety reports.
Ferm, I too read them all. I think most of us read the previous night's posts before hitting today's.
What Dennis said
Yup. Me too.
While I wonder just how obscure the reference is to my old friend Alex Toth, I know he would have been very amused to see his name in a crossword. But as irascible as he was he would have had some pissy comment about it.
Almost got all of this one! Astro boy and Sloped defeated me, also Airfare Fletch and Gatlin, Boris and Natasha. All in all a great puzzle. Thanks!
Almost got all of this one! Astro boy and Sloped defeated me, also Airfare Fletch and Gatlin, Boris and Natasha. All in all a great puzzle. Thanks!
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