(Note from C.C.: D. Scott Nichols is Argyle, who guides us through all Monday & Tuesday puzzles.)
Theme: There U go again! The letter "U" is repeated in the second word of each of the theme entries:
17A. Mischievous girl in classic comics : LITTLE LULU. Lulu Moppet's nickname. Of course I knew that.
31A. Jack LaLanne, for one : FITNESS GURU. The predecessor to such luminaries as Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda in legwarmers. I'm not at all sure that's a good thing!
47A. 1984 South African Peace Nobelist : DESMOND TUTU. I had to think for a while about Desmond - I'd always thought of this activist as Archbishop Tutu.
64A. "Star Trek" role for George Takei : HIKARU SULU. I needed all the crosses here - I'd only heard "Mr. Sulu" from Captain Kirk.
Steve here, Happy Monday everyone, and I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. I'm just back from a week in the UK and happy to be home in sunny California after a week of typically British November weather.
I'm not sure if it's because I just got off the plane, or if C.C. and her new (?) collaborator D. Scott Nichols have served up a tougher than usual Monday. It certainly wasn't a speed run for me, I needed a lot of crosses and a couple of laps around the track before I completed this one. I enjoyed the theme and some nice long downs in the fill. Let's check out the highlights:
Across:
1. Ed of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" : ASNER
6. "Mystery solved!" : AHA! Usually followed by "Mr. Clancy! It was you all along!" and "Grrr - I'd have gotten away with it if it wasn't for you pesky kids".
9. Spear : STAB
13. Picked : CHOSE
14. Artist's studio site : LOFT
16. "Arsenic and Old __" : LACE. A wonderful old Cary Grant movie - check it out if you've never seen it. "Madness doesn't just run in my family, it practically gallops".
19. Fairy tale menace : OGRE
20. Display for the first time, as a product : UNVEIL
21. Rajah's spouse : RANI
23. Until this time : YET
24. Grilled fish in Japanese unadon : EELS Food! I like that if you have more than one eel you have eels, but if you describe two kinds of eel, they're eel. Yet another example of why English is such a tough language to learn.
26. "Exodus" actor Sal : MINEO. I always associate him with his role in "Rebel Without a Cause", but he also received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Dov Landau in Exodus.
28. Florida NBA team, on scoreboards : ORL. The Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association.
35. Tries to make it alone : GOES SOLO A risky move when playing the card game Euchre, and when I declare that I'm going alone, it usually causes my partner to leave the table in disgust and come back when I've lost the four points.
37. Funereal stacks : PYRES
38. Unaccompanied : LONE
39. Baggage handler, e.g. : TOTER
42. Actress Amanda : PEET I always wait for crosses here, as I have a mental block over PEET, PETE or PEAT
43. Put the kibosh on : ENDED
45. Idle : INACTIVE
50. Williams with a .344 lifetime batting average : TED
51. High-altitude nest : AERIE
52. Lavish bash : FETE
54. Slap-on-the-forehead cry : D'OH Did this word exist before Homer Simpson?
56. The "height" part of a height phobia : ACRO
58. Dress to the nines : DOLL UP
62. __ hygiene : ORAL
66. Late-night Jay : LENO
67. Genesis garden site : EDEN
68. Scrabble pieces : TILES
69. Bustle : TO DO
70. Big name in ice cream: EDY'S - Quibble alert: Edy's is the name that pops into my mind, as borne out by the packaging.
71. Monica of tennis : SELES. Victim of a bizarre spectator-stabbing assault that put her career into a tailspin.
Down:
1. Rights protection gp. : A.C.L.U. and a nice logo to boot:
2. Knee-to-ankle bone : SHIN in English, or the Latin "Tibia" which is more commonly found in crosswords, if not in conversation.
3. Misbehaving child's punishment : NO TV. More likely to be No iPhone or No xBox today?
4. Makeup maven Lauder : ESTEE
5. Raised sculptures : RELIEFS
6. Musketeer motto word : ALL ".. for one, and one for all!"
7. Time of day : HOUR
8. On fire : AFLAME
9. __-mo replay : SLO. The slow-motion replay was captivating when it was first introduced in the 1950's with the advent of videotape rather than film.
10. Cry that starts a kid's game : TAG! YOU'RE IT!
11. Ranch division : ACRE
12. Borscht ingredient : BEET
15. North African capital for which its country is named : TUNIS, capital of Tunisia.
18. Mama Cass's surname : ELLIOT. She lived a short distance from me on Laurel Canyon where this was written.
22. Clouseau's title: Abbr. : INSP. I love Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther movies.
25. D-Day city : ST LÔ As 34D shows the correct diacriticals I thought I'd better follow suit with the official spelling of this French cité.
27. Nile Valley country : EGYPT
28. Eyed lewdly : OGLED
29. TV sports pioneer Arledge : ROONE. Ground-breaking luminary in the development of both news and sports coverage for ABC.
30. Pitches in : LENDS A HAND
32. Cry that conflicts with 10-Down : NOT IT
33. Christopher of "Superman" : REEVE
34. "¿Cómo está __?" : USTED
36. Boss's "We need to talk" : SEE ME
40. Sufficient, in slang : ENUF. I like this! I want to campaign for the replacement of "enough" with all it's supernumerary vowels and consonants.
41. Too violent for a PG-13 : RATED "R"
44. Nickelodeon explorer : DORA
46. Figures made with scissors : CUTOUTS
48. Ornamental wall recess : NICHE
49. Put down : DERIDE
53. Cow on a carton : ELSIE Borden's trademark mascot. It's a little morbid that her "husband" Elmer was the mascot for Elmer's glue.
54. Birdbrain : DOLT
55. After-school cookie : OREO
57. Gave the green light : OK'ED
59. Quiet spell : LULL
60. Beekeeper played by Peter Fonda : ULEE. From the 1997 movie "Ulee's Gold".
61. Kisser : PUSS This was new to me and I needed the crosses. Some Googling reveals that "puss" is a Swedish word for "kiss".
63. Lav of London : LOO I saw one of these this very morning!
65. "__ questions?" : ANY
That's about it from me. See you next time!
Steve
Steve
Notes from C.C. & Argyle (Scott):
This theme came to me while reading one of Argyle's emails. He commented "Bad juju" to a question I had asked him earlier. It's not a familiar slang to me, but I thought a simple ?U?U will make a nice Monday puzzle. Argyle & I tried both key words in front and in the back approaches. We finally settled down on the current set both of us were happy with.
This theme came to me while reading one of Argyle's emails. He commented "Bad juju" to a question I had asked him earlier. It's not a familiar slang to me, but I thought a simple ?U?U will make a nice Monday puzzle. Argyle & I tried both key words in front and in the back approaches. We finally settled down on the current set both of us were happy with.
Nice start to the week.
ReplyDeleteEasy go around today, but I also needed perps for Mr. Sulu's first name. Other than that it was a walk in the park. Time to earn some scratch. Have a good day everyone.
ReplyDeleteMorning, all!
ReplyDeleteWell, I was going to make a joke about C.C. cheating on Don and finding a new partner, but instead I just have to congratulate Argyle! Is this your first publish puzzle?
The puzzle was definitely a bit crunchier than usual for a Monday. The theme was fine, but LITTLE LULU required a lot of perp help (since I didn't know the theme yet) and I have to wonder how many people will actually know Mr. SULU's first name. As a die-hard Trekkie/Trekker, it was a gimme, but I don't expect everybody to be in that camp...
One minor nit: If you're going to have EELS as the answer, shouldn't the clue refer to "fishes"? ^_^
Greetings!
ReplyDeleteSwell puzzle, CC and Argyle! Fun expo, Steve!
My sleep cycle really off because couldn't swim Sunday. (Had some food before friend finally answered my call.) Blogged last night at 9:32 (which appears at 11:32 here, of course.)
Yes, Barry, a bit crunchier for me also, but old ENUF to have no problem with LULU.
Cheers!
Smooth sailing and therefore not much to comment on, but I had to check in and congratulate Argyle on getting published - nicely done!
ReplyDeleteMy only perpassist was Sulu's first name; a very enjoyable puzzle, made more so when I saw the constructors' names.
Have a great day.
CC and Scott, you two have proved that early week puzzles need not be prosaic or pedestrian. This one shines. Scott, congrats on being published in LAT. Shiny write-up, also, Steve
ReplyDeleteI questioned EDY at first, but soon realized that it is the founder's name, Joseph Edy, not the product name.
Fish can be a plural, as I caught three fish.
I knew PUSS right off as slang for face. The bully smacked him right in the PUSS or kisser.
I needed perps for Sulu's first name.
Being Episcopalian, Desmond TUTU is well know, one of our heroes.
Good Morning, Steve and Friends. Congratulations Argyle! You have a great mentor and together you and C.C. made a fun Monday puzzle.
ReplyDeleteMy only stall was not knowing that Mr. SULU had a first name and finding DERIDE to be a tricky Monday word.
I liked how GOES SOLO was directly above LONE.
Jack LaLanne lived to be 96, so he was clearly doing something right, FITNESS-wise.
QOD: Consultant: any ordinary guy more than fifty miles from home. ~ Eric Sevareid (November 26, 1912 ~ July 9, 1992)
Congratulations Argyle. I see you finally figured out how to get a Monday off. This is is a very nice puzzle with a consistent theme and some great long fill. Last day in snow covered Buffalo. Have a great week all.
ReplyDeleteNice puzzle CC and Argyle, and a great write up by our substitute Steve. Nice Monday eye opener not quite a speed run as the central south part of the puzzle tripped me up for a few minutes. I got the theme after Jack Lalanne, and Knew Sulu's first name I guess being a trekker(not a trekkie as I have not seen all of the episodes enough times and I watched and enjoyed SNG,DS9,STV) the does help some times well enjoy your monday I have a few paying clients to work for today.
ReplyDeleteThank you Steve. Welcome back.
ReplyDeleteThank you CC and Argyle.
Did not know HIKARU but knew SULU, so let the perps give him a first name.
DEMEAN ? No. DEBASE ? No. DERIDE ? Yes.
Estoy muy bien, gracias.
Como se llama, Argyle ? Se llama Scott Nichols. Me llama Tomas.
Actually Tom, but my Spanish teacher - god bless her efforts - called me Tomas. Long o.
Good morning everyone,
ReplyDeleteMy compliments to both CC & Argyle. Nice job.
I certainly found the puzzle to be a level above the normal Monday. Not ever being a Star Trek fan, I needed perp help ... big time .. for 64A. The rest of the themes were uncovered without too much difficulty.
I began with "NUFF" for 40D, but DESMOND TFTU raised a red flag . 5D left me wondering too and I'm too lazy to look it up, but RELIEFS/ RAISED SCULPTURES ? I guess it;s todays learning moment.
Good morning Steve, C.C., Argyle et al.
ReplyDeleteWow, congratulations on your debut, Santa! I usually do Monday puzzles as fast as I can type, but this one had me checking downs and perps all the way. Which made it that much more enjoyable for me. Loved the theme - so simple, but very consistent. Like others, I didn't know Mr. SULU's first name, so totally relied on perps for that one.
The nice long down fill of TAG YOU'RE IT and LENDS A HAND really popped, along with some other fun short fill like SLO, ENUF, D'OH and AHA.
I can't wait to see another one from you two. Happy Monday, all!
Good morning, group!
ReplyDeleteWow, the corner had a big week last week, and it continues today. Congrats to Argyle (with C.C. mentoring) for a fine Monday offering. It was stringier than the average bear.
Got the theme early on. Hand up for NUFF and for not knowing SULU's first name. The clue for 32D could have been "Rated G", sort of a clecho for 41D.
Nicely done, you two. And nice writeup, Steve.
Good morning, folks. Thank you, C.C. And Argyle, for a great Monday puzzle. Thank you, Steve, for the usual excellent review.
ReplyDeleteI had to take a double take on the constructors today. I said "who the heck is D. Scott Nichols?". After I learned it was Argyle I was really happy. Congratulations on your first publication!
My day started anxiously. Cruciverb did not work so I had to go wake up my wife's cousin and print the puzzle at her house.
Got through the puzzle easily. A little tougher than your usual Monday, but that's OK with me.
Remember LITTLE LULU quite well. All the themes came easily except for HIKARU SULU. I am not a Star Trek person. I have seen the shows way back when.
Enjoyed the Musketeer motto word ALL. All for one and one for all. I believe that's it.
Nice to see Aerie again. Contains my home town. Last four letters.
Did not know DORA. Perps and a wag.
Seeing EGYPT in the puzzle reminds me of the news. I will not comment any further on that. I do have a strong opinion of that mess. Anyhow.
SEE ME for 36D reminds me of an old boss I had for a year (only one year thank goodness). That was his favorite phrase on notes.
Well, 26 degrees in Johnsonburg this morning. Ground is still white. I slipped and fell on the ice yesterday. Nothing hurt. Just a wake up call to the season and to be careful.
See you tomorrow.
Abejo
RE Steve's California Dreaming link
ReplyDeleteNeed some creative help to edit / finish this...
All the leaves are down
And they're blowing my way
I could do more puzzles
If they'd just blow away
I'd be safe and warm
You know what I'm going say
No need to rake the leaves
If they'd just blow away
Beautiful, charming, wonderful puzzle - Thank you C.C. and D. Scott Whaaat ? Argyle you've been outed ! Your puzzle was great, a trifle tricky. The first thing I missed was your commentary - I'm like, what happened to Argyle - is he OK ?
ReplyDeleteThank you Steve, - you come halfway across the world and still do it in perfect British style - with a stiff upper lip, no puss(es) - and your 'foodie' banter - which I love - well, its, uh, eel - but still. Just last week one of my Brit colleagues was looking forward to go 'home' for the holidays .... his first thoughts were of going into an real English pub, order a dark 'stout', and eat the typical pub food - chicken tikka masala.
I had a little trouble with Lalanne and of course, Mr. Sulu. Thanks to the perps, RatedA or RatedR, I figured his first name was either Hikaau or Hikaru, so I settled on the latter.
Steve, thanks for EDyS pic, I never realized there were more than one of dem fellows. lol. I don't eat ice cream.
My DFAC - Darn Feral Attack Cat - got all the turkey leftovers, which a hostess had so kindly wrapped up for me. I am seeing a certain swagger in its hips, maybe I ought to put it on a Lalanne diet.
Have a great week, you all - and best wishes.
Wow! Congratulations on your debut Argyle. Definitely a crunchy Monday, but with enough perp help to make is entirely accessible. Like many, I had no idea that Mr Sulu even had a first name, and had to scour the grey matter for Desmond. And like Lemon, thought of this being your first day off.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Steve, and thanks for the stepping in for the writeup. When I saw your Mamas and Papa's link, I expected Twelve Thirty.
Still playing with my new computer, so my aging addled brain is going to get a workout today. This puzzle was just the right kick start for that.
Good morning everybody. WEES on SULU's first name. I didn't know who Jack LaLanne was until I came here. I thought he was a character in an espionage series of books for some reason.
ReplyDeleteSince they were long clues I wasn't sure if LENDS A HAND and TAG YOU'RE IT were part of the theme (at first).
Congrats Argyle, have a great day All.
Too easy, even for Monday.
ReplyDeleteIt’s snowing on the prairie as I look out of my sunroom (Sun? Yeah right!) and C.C. and Argyle’s lovely Monday+ puzzle provides some solace. C.C. – “Hard G, I think we should see other people ;-).” Congrats Argyle, who better to work with?
ReplyDeleteMusings
-The theme was helpful because I didn’t know Mr. SULU’s first name. I won’t next time either.
-TUTU and John McCain overcame a lot of suffering to come back and lead great lives
-Our high school put on Arsenic and Old Lace the night of Nov. 22, 1963 after much discussion
-I remember when Ford UNVEILed the Edsel. Four years later – Mustang!
-Successful and not so successful people who decided to GO SOLO
-Granddaughter has told me the Pete and Repeat joke a gazillion times. I still bite.
-I’m still a DUH kinda guy when I act like a DOLT
-Interesting reading about groups for whom ACLU had advocated
-ROONE created a TV show a lot of us will watch tonight and have every autumn Monday night for years
-QOD was a staple at school. Nobody in the bldg could know anything.
-We toured the Dodge House in Council Bluffs, IA yesterday that was built in 1870 for the man who was the driving force behind the Union Pacific railroad. The mansion had one, high tech, flush LOO on the second floor. No servants allowed.
-I’ll be we can all recall the song with the lyric “…and our love become a funeral PYRE”
Good morning:
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Argyle, on a sparkling debut and ditto to CC for a fine Monday offering. Needed some perps here and there, e.g., Mr. Sulu, as I have never seen a Star Trek episode in my life.. (Where is Sheldon when he's needed?). Great expo, Steve, welcome back!
Typical gloomy November day but no wind and temp will be 40' so no complaints. Saw a few flurries yesterday, a reminder of what's to come.
Going to put the Christmas tree up today and do the rest of the decorating at a leisurely pace so I don't become Irish Scrooge!
Have a great Monday.
Good morning Steve and everyone.
ReplyDeleteAlways something new here. Nice collaboration of C.C. with Argyle. The puzzle was interesting because I was wondering where we were headed this time. Not a speed run; I had to make ample use of the perps. Only real unknown was Mr. Sulu's first name. No searches were needed.
I wonder if words like 'Uluru' (Ayres Rock) or Uruguay, were considered to tie the u's together. (I understand this was a Monday puzzle). Maybe the title could be "Ululating with U's" :-)
Exactly what TTP said, except my Spanish name was Lucia.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine creating a crossword. I am satisfied to always be a solver. Great job, Argyle and CC.
Steve, I also enjoy your comments when it is your turn to explain.
Husker, true comment on the QOD. I was paid to be a consultant at many schools in my state, but NEVER in my own school--I didn't know anything as far as my colleagues were concerned.
Average Joe, I love your avatar!
Off to volunteer today,
Montana
Congratulations Argyle on becoming a Constructor !!!
ReplyDeleteThe first "toast" at Sunset is to YOU and C.C. for this wonderful Monday offering.
Desper-otto: My thoughts exactly on 32-D, NO-TIT, being clued "Rated-G".
(It's ALL on how you "parse" an answer). LOL
Husker: re: DUH-v-D'OH, I'll always be in the DUH camp. NOT a Simpsons fan.
BTW, The Doors, Light My Fire
Cheers !!!
I recently read that "D'oh" is Homer Simpsons contribution to the OED, but I can't remember where I saw it. Maybe I read it here...
ReplyDeleteSpitzboov, I just read your comments. I immediately though of Bing Crosby's song, Too ra loo ra loo ra. However, when I looked it up, I saw that those vowels are "oo's, not u's."
ReplyDeleteMontana
Well i was sure i was going to get to rib Argyle for the ethics of writing up your own puzzle. Thanks a lot Steve! (#@^%*)
ReplyDelete(p.s. pls don't take me seriously...)
My only nit: Arsenic & old BLANK?
I appreciate gimmes', but you could have printed that along with the black boxes! ( I blame Rich )
(again, pls do not take me seriously...)
How about, Queen Annes BLANK? It might fool some people!
---------------------------
I consider myself a Trekkie, but have to do some serious soul searching for not remembering Sulus 1st name!
(P.S. Dave, don't take yourself seriously...)
Actually, my only hang up was 10D!
A kid would say "Tag your it!"
So it took me the whole puzzle to finally add the "you're" to make it fit!
( i guess i need to do more crosswords...)
Congratulations, Argyle. It was a refreshing puzzle without the use of overused words like ALOE and GALA (which I used at first instead of FETE). I look forward to more stellar puzzles.
ReplyDeleteGood morning and happy Monday to all,hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. Congrats to Argyle and C.C. Thanks Steve glad your back from across the pond. Enjoyed the puzzle I also had no idea what Sulu's first name was, but perps gave it to me.
ReplyDeleteHuskerG ; guess the links are closed today, but if it is any consolation 30 degrees here in my sunny Fla. neighborhood this A.M.
Have a great day to all RJW .
Hi Everyone ~~
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing the constructors' names, I, too, thought, "C.C. has a new boyfriend!" ;-) Congrats to the new duo, C.C. and Argyle/Scott on a wonderful Monday puzzle. Thanks, Steve for another enjoyable write-up.
I zipped through this quickly with my only write-over being 'Mia' before ORL on 29A. I did need perps for 'Mr.' SULU's first name.
~ I had quite a collection of LITTLE LULU comics.
~ I saw Amanda PEET just last night on "The Good Wife."
~ Like Tinbeni, I'm more of a 'Duh' than a DOH.
Can't wait for more from our new Corner partners!
Enjoy the day ~~
Loved the excitement of CC and...Argyle! Congrats!
ReplyDelete"Crunchy" is a great description, Barry - and perps for SULU.
On the all-time favorite Monday list.
Thanks, Steve- always pleasurable.
Have a nice day, everyone.
Great puzzle! Really smooth, like a Monday should be. I'm jealous.
ReplyDeleteThank you one and all for those accolades but it is C.C. who deserves the kudos. I was just as much a hindrance as a help but we got 'er done. I wanted Juju Chang but she didn't fit the pattern. Still, it was good juju. D. Scott Nichols
ReplyDeleteTin, I loved your criteria for a RATED G movie! We have found a PG-13 movie allows one view of the body part you mentioned and one use of the F Bomb. The latter is either a coarsening of the culture or, as George Carlin would say, just a word.
ReplyDeleteRon, I’ll clean my clubs today but it’s gonna be in the 60’s at the end of the week… I had kids in Orlando when it got down to 28°F one night and all the shirts the kids left at the pool were frozen stiff - yeah, the kids swam that night. Disney also lost $6M worth of palm trees that night but that’s lunch money for them.
Off to the Y for lifting and walking on the elevated track.
Acro??? STUMP THE CHUMP clues on a monday????? Niche, Aerie definitely monday words. Other than that pretty dull start to a monday.
ReplyDeleteanon@10:16, Rich Norris (who has a very high rejection rate) is the editor, and if he finds the puzzle a solid Monday-level offering, then it's most likely a solid Monday-level offering, your protestations notwithstanding.
ReplyDeleteAnd do let us know when yours is published -- I'm sure we'd all like to comment.
PFFFT!
DeleteYes check comments from 720 to 745. Then comment. Everyone has a opinion. Can't take comments, get another life. ..........Natalee
DeleteMontana @ 0924 - Here is some boola boola at 2:00 into the clip.
ReplyDeleteHi all:
ReplyDeleteI had fun with this puzzle...congrats to Argyle (Santa)!!
I'm sure you and C.C. had lots of fun with it too.
I'm in the group that didn't know SULU's first name, but it came with the perps.
Smiled at LITTLE LULU...loved those comics as a kid.
22D I read it as Cousteau. Little confusion there.
70A EDY...had to learn that doing C/W's as it is not on the west coast.
Dennis: Good comeback (10:28)
Congratulations, Argyle! I thought that was you when I saw Scott. So we have another dynamic duo with C.C. at the helm. Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteWEES on this puzzle. Easy Monday with only HIKARU unknown but the perps aided nicely.
Like Fermat I, too, am old ENUF to remember LITTLE LULU.
I look forward to another gem from you both.
Have a fabulous Monday, everyone!
CCD = 300 = Perfect score = today's puzzle
ReplyDeleteThanks for a fun puzzle and write-up. Not so sure I like shin as a bone. I tend to think of it as the front lower part of the leg which contains two bones but then again, we say "shin bone" so, OK.
ReplyDeleteI am strictly a DUH guy. Have never watched the Simpsons so all I know about them is from crosswords.
How about ululating with ewes?
I bet Mr. Sulu's mom didn't know he even had a first name. I would guess it was used in only one episode and only the most rabid of fans would know it. Saved by the perps.
I had an enjoyable, easy time with this one, less crunchy for me than for some others apparently. My only little hangup was SULU's whole name. Crossing letters took care of that. Thanks C.C., Argyle and Steve. A very pleasant start to the week.
ReplyDeleteIrish Miss @ 9:03, a little glüwein goes a long way toward making one "Un-Scroogy," LOL!!
ReplyDeleteQOD, so true, Hahtoolah, HG and Montana. As property manager at church for the past 10 years, I get plenty of respect from our vendors, the congregation, and the people I have worked with in our condo assn., but not from our priest. I am just an ordinary housewife to her. After all I am only a woman. Yet she complains about women clergy meeting sexism.
ReplyDeleteToday I wrote an email to the plumber, asking, among other things, how much time he spent on the toilet. Oops! I caught it in time and changed it ask how much time he spent repairing the toilet. Phew!
Good afternoon everyone.
ReplyDeleteI add my congratulations to Argyle. And what fun to have you and C.C. make a puzzle together.
For me, it was a DNF because of 64A. I have never seen a Star Trek film, so I had no clue. But I blush that I didn't get ACRO either. But the puzzle, even though crunchier that a usual Monday, was fun.
Very nice write up, Steve.
Naples is going to have a high of only 73°, so I empathize with all of you who have cold weather now.
Cheers
ORL is the IATA airport code for Orlando Executive Airport where more pilots are likely to GO SOLO than at nearby Orlando International Airport (MCO). Btw, Orly Airport in Paris has the ORY code.
ReplyDeleteBusy day with laundry and trying to get a handle on how much Christmas stuff I really want to drag out this year, since we won't be having company this time.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the puzzle, and C.C.'s "new" collaborator didn't dawn on me until I came here. Sorry Argyle, for not recognizing your real name.
Nice job, Steve. Pretty good, in fact on a jetlagged brain.
Actually, St. Lô is actually a partial "cité" in the strict French sense-- a fortified walled town. Only some of the medieval walls remain. Without them, it would just be a "ville".
Hi Y'all, Great start to Monday, Scott, C.C. & Steve! Congratulations, Scott!
ReplyDeleteOnly hickup was putting in 32d as NO SIR which put Desmond in a RUT instead of a TUTU. But knew TUTU's first name from watching Oprah for years.
YR: My son quit going to church because he says their female pastor is the biggest sexist ever. He says she has her little cliche just like in high school and hates men. So much for brotherly love!
I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't know Argyle's alter ego!
ReplyDelete@Anony-mouse - I should post my Facebook pics of my UK trip, they're mainly pictures of beer or dinner, and most of the dinners are in Indian restaurants! We did do some cultural stuff as well, but I always seem to forget to take pictures of Stonehenge or old cathedrals :)
Wow! A terrific puzzle from Dynamic Duo Number Two! Congratulations, Argyle! I sailed through this one because so many of the items were blasts from the past, as it were. Sweet to be reminded of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (one of my all time favorites), "Little Lulu," Jack LaLanne, Mama Cass, and "Star Trek" (although I too had to perp Sulu's firt name). And of course the wonderful DESMOND TUTU.
ReplyDeleteGood to have you back home, Steve!
Have a great Monday, everybody!
I've just gotta share this. Five years ago I bought an AT&T GoPhone which I keep in my pickup for emergency use. About the only calls I make on it are to report a cable outage when my home phone (VOIP) and internet don't work.
ReplyDeleteI've got a balance of $492 which expires today. I've used $8 worth of minutes over the past 5 years. As usual, I tried to add $100 to extend the phone for another year. Oops! Catch-22. I'm not allowed to have a balance over $500, so I can't extend my minutes, but if I don't extend I'll lose them all.
After three hours of automated assistants and on-hold hell, I finally got to speak to a flesh-and-blood person. She extended my minutes for a full year -- No Charge! She did ask, though, that I try to use up $100 worth in the coming year. That'll be tough, but I'll try.
Barry G, D-Otto & LaLaLinda,
ReplyDeleteThanks for making me laugh with your "cheating on Don", NO TIT, and "New boyfriend" comments.
This is Argyle's first ever LAT submission, so he has a perfect record with Rich. I'm so happy for and proud of him.
Creature,
Thanks for making today special.
Yellowrocks,
I like how you bring up PROSAIC again :-)
I may have forgotten to congratulate Argyle on his first puzzle. Well, here's a hearty congratulations - and many, many more for the future...
ReplyDeleteSteve, I never eat in Indian rests., except in India, where they cannot be avoided. I prefer Chinese rest.s ( Schezuan ) first, then Mexican ones. The last time we were in England, we did all the tourist landmarks - The Tower (twice- ), Westminster Abbey, Madame Tussauds, St. Pauls etc., and lived on pizza.
I had dinner the other day, with an old family friend, a never-married CRNA nurse. ( picture a blond, Irish-American, about 55 yrs, 5'10", blue eyes - ). I casually asked her how her mother ( who lives with her - ) was doing, and she told me that her mother had fallen and broken her femur (thigh bone)... and she raised her skirt, under the table, to show me where the fracture had occurred .... I realize some medical professionals are kind of blase' and matter-of-fact impersonal and down-to-earth about body parts, but, trust me, men, even in my age group, are not .... the rest of the evening, and the dinner seems to be a bit of a blur. I mention this only because she assured me that her mother's tibia and fibula were not affected. And I can assure you there was no ulterior motive whatsoever.
D-Otto,
ReplyDeleteRemember the song, "Call Me Maybe?"
Hondo,
I never saw Oliva play. But I've met him a few times. I only wish I had met Kirby Puckett in person. He used to live in Brooklyn Park too, but at the other side of the road where the rich folks live.
Hi gang -
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats on your into to the constructing world, Argyle.
Nice fun start to the week. I really like the long down fill.
The V of NOT V was my last letter. NOT V?!? DO'H!
I was thinking of Jacques Cousteau, and wondered what his title might be?
Best. Funeral. Pyre. Ever! (6:13 video, one body part away from RATED R.)
Gray day here today. A dusting of snow from yesterday morning is gone.
Cool regards!
JzB
HeartRx @ 11:17 - The tree is up, 95 per cent of the decorating is done, and I am not the least bit Scroogie, so no need for the gluwein. However, a Dewars at sunset might be just what the doctor ordered. With lots of ice! Sorry, Tinbeni, couldn't resist. -:)
ReplyDeleteLest anyone think I am a whiz for accomplishing so much since this morning, putting the tree up consists of uncovering it, bringing it up from the basement, and placing it on a table. Last year, I bought a pre-lit 4 1/2 ft. tree, decorated it, and when Christmas was over, brought it to the basement, covered it with plastic and that was that. So, smooth sailing today.
Really good puzzle, C.C. and Argyle. Had me worried I wouldn't finish a Monday, especially after all the frustration with last week's later puzzles. No comments about those because I had nothing nice to say. If you can't say something nice....
ReplyDelete43A had END IT, SEE ME looked like SEI_M_ ???? 44D Nickelodeon explorer looked to be TEEN. Ah well, I got it. Did NOT get the theme until Steve's write-up.
Thought it would be double consonants after LITTLE LULU.
so LaLanne would have to be a
FITTNESS FREAK or FIEND.
Lousy Thanksgiving, no dinner.
DH gave a music lesson to a guy who could only come that day and brought another student with him. They were 2 hours late and stayed too long. I made pot stickers and drank wine.
Had to recall what key and lyrics to Christmas songs for my steady gig.
Lights are up in the neighborhood. The pressure's on.
BAH!
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteThis was a fun puzzle,I was excited to see C.C. was one of the constructors. Then when I saw where Argyle also worked with it, it made it special. Thanks to both of you and Steve, too.
The one I never heard of was Sulu, I never watched any Star Trek movies.
Yellowrock- The United Methodist Church was also very fond of Desmond Tutu and consider a great hero.
I also read the book "Cry The Beloved Country' by Paton,it showed the world what Apartied was.
Sallie- our Grandson who goes to college near Naples was just here in Atlanta for Thanksgiving. The temp got down to 26 here the other night and he got cold. He grew up in Wisconsin but hes not used to that anymore.
Have a good afternoon.
Marge
Good afternoon Steve, C.C.,Argyle,et al,
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice surprise!Congrats Santa ... and welcome home, Steve.Thanks for the blue U'-D'oh.I had to laugh at your comment about Elmer.
Lovely Monday cw..hand up for not knowing ?ikaru Sulu. It took me a double pause to eke out that h in niche.#2 D'oh.
Little Lulu and Tubby were my favorite starter comics. Didn't remember that she was a trouble maker. At that point in my life, I got spankings, not Time Outs or loss of TV (the only one was in my Grandma's bedroom).
I wonder if Amanda Peet is going to continue her role on The Good Wife. She has been on the last 3 episodes, looking very good as a lawyer.
Marge, I read Cry the Beloved Country and Too Late the Phalarope, both by Paton. I read The Covenant by Michener, also about South Africa. All good books and sad stories of man's inhumanity.
ReplyDeleteSo it "was" your 1st puzzle Argyle! Congratulations are in order, to both you & CC! I had a lot of fun solving it!
ReplyDeleteHowever, the Dynamic Duo is already taken, hmm, what to call this pairing? Lets see, the 3rd hero on Batman was,,, Batgirl?
( Oh Good Grief, this will never do! Blog regulars, I could use some help pls! )
Jzb, that Game of Thrones clip was intense! I never heard of this! Research i must!
Pas de Chat:
Curious Thanksgiving story! I suppose if you shared the potstickers & wine, i would not leave either! But what is all this about no dinner! There is more to this story...
Interesting research on the origin of D'oh.
C.C., Like any good teacher, YR is determined to use "prosaic" to educate this hick until I will agree that, yes, indeed it is a common word. "Berm" was a common word at my household full of dirt movers, but I bet it isn't common at YR's house. LOL!
ReplyDeleteLucina, I copied your tamale recipe to my daughter who is a teacher and fluent in Spanish. Her husband is a chef. They have a request from me to let me have a tamale or two if they make some. She was delighted to get the recipe. She was part of a summer Mexican student exchange when she was in high school and loves the culture.
Congrats Argyle for being published on your very first try! Thanks Steve for pinch-hitting!
ReplyDeleteTis the season! I had so much fun hosting my son's two K-State friends. Neither had ever had turkey or traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The young man born in China and raised in Japan added A-one sauce to most of his dinner. My pumpkin pie was a hit with him. I promised to make him another pumpkin pie if he returns. The other young man was born in Senegal and parents now live in Pennsylvania. He seem to like my homemade cranberry sauce the most. We seemed to have a substitute mother-son relationship. He even ask me about his communication with girlfriend. My son (and twin sister) turned 26 yrs on the Friday after Thanksgiving. We were a little bit lonely after they left.
There's a SULU and a Solo? I don't think I'll ever watch those movies.
ReplyDeleteWanted mATure for RATED R, and wondered if TOTE'm was a new word for baggage handler, since I haven't flown for 12 years. I still call'em Red Caps.
enjoyed the puzzle, just seemed challenging for a Monday, but doable.
ReplyDeletePK, please don't take it personally. No offense intended. I wasn't addressing you. Many posters here had not heard of PROSAIC. I am always amazed that we all are so different. Often I have not heard a word, or even more often a name, that many others are familiar with. Conversely, words that I thought were part of everyday speech have not been heard by others. I find that using words imprints them. I especially try to use the ones that are new to me as often as I can. I more easily learn the words than the names. I seem to have a blank about the Simpson names.
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention berm. Yesterday I wrote a post about berm which the computer ate and I didn’t retype it. We have a berm planted with trees across the lane from us to screen our homes from the road. The trees are dying and the raised earth berm is becoming barren. Also our woods are filled with fallen trees which look like someone dropped a bunch of pickup sticks and they fell haphazardly all over each other. So much for our lovely park.
Remember my mother exercising with a chair in the middle of the living room with Jack LaLane on TV.
ReplyDeleteWhen practicing as a university nurse, students would ask me about treating SHIN splints. I had to ask coaches about the term as I only studied "tibia." No internet or sport's trainers in the 70's.
I am an INACTIVE registered nurse, but haven't given up my license yet. I was up til 2AM on the phone with my son ( an RA at K-state) while he ended up taking a dorm resident to the hospital for a bad case of the flu and dehydration.
Yellowrocks needs to be a little less strident in her posts. They can be very off putting. I've noticed this over the last few weeks.
ReplyDeleteHope you don't mind me sharing a new Cranberry Sauce recipe I tried this Thanksgiving. It was easy and yummy.
ReplyDelete1(12oz.) pkg. fresh cranberries
1 1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1(12 oz.) jar orange marmalade
1 c. chopped walnuts
3 T. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. almond extract
Place cranberries and sugar in microwave til berries break down. Stir in other ingredients and chill over night.
Lucinda, I would have looked at your Tamale recipe as a challenge, but alas I do not have the stamina now.
Blue Iris. Your cranberry recipe sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteYR, I always enjoy your post and your commitment to post everyday!
ReplyDeleteHello Puzzlers -
ReplyDeleteLate to the dance today, but I didn't want the day to lapse into tomorrow without congratulating Argyle & CC for their collaboration. Well done, Team 2!
I always thought I was a true blue Trekkie, but darned if I could come up with Mr. Sulu's first name. That was all perps.
Sure could use some glühwein. mmm
CED @ 4:28
ReplyDeleteDH doesn't care about turkey, or cranberries, or mashed potatoes and gravy. It's only us since Mom passed. Relatives are all scattered around the country.
I was going to get a sampler dinner from Honey Baked. (Turkey, ham and ribs and sides) The line on Wednesday was like a snake around the shopping center.
I decided to make shrimp and other
stuff.
The kid is a bassist from China and lives now in San Fran. The other kid is a drummer also from China and studies weekly with
DH. The two kids are friends and came to the house. While the lesson was happening, drum student sat in living room.
They were supposed to arrive at 1.
2:30 they arrived. The DH got me involved in lesson because I'm the pianist. I couldn't get dinner going because, 1. They weren't invited to dinner ( We've hosted MANY dinners for students, but not on Thanksgiving)and 2. They stayed too long and DH gave them tea and pumpkin pie. They finally left at 7:30, so the day was pretty much a wash for dinner.
That's where the wine and pot stickers came in. Bummer day.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
SAL MINEO : Gene Krupa story for me
is the best clue.
"Cheers" to all of you.
Since not one person knew or remembered hearing Mr. Sulu's first name, Is it possible CC and Argyle just made it up? Ohhhh, I smell shenanigans!!!
ReplyDeleteGood job you two crazy kids. I thought it was a very appropriate solve for cyber Monday. Now let's see what the rest of the week brings.
Starting the countdown to December...
Good evening everyone! Congratulations on your debut, Argyle!! Thanks to you and C.C. for a swell Monday puzzle that was a step up from most. Coming up with all those _u_u answers was impressive. Always enjoy your write-ups, Steve.
ReplyDeleteLiked DOLL UP for Dress to the nines. Amanda PEET was an unknown, needed the perps to get. I’ve noticed that films from 20-30 years ago that were RATED R would barely raise an eyebrow today.
Chin @ 11:03: Made me laugh with “I bet Mr. Sulu’s mom didn’t know he even had a first name.” Now I don’t feel so bad for not knowing either.
Enjoy the rest of your evening, all. I’m going to indulge in a little Cyber-Monday shopping – much less stressful than facing the hordes at the mall on Black Friday.
Yellow rocks: Keep up the good work. You are one of the ones I like to read every day!
ReplyDeleteAbejo
Yellowrocks - I have to agree with June. You have a tendency to come on strong with your opinions and imply your take/opinion is the right one. On the other hand, you do have a lot to offer. Just tone it down a bit. I did seem like your prosaic comments were aimed towards PK.
ReplyDeleteHow about you, July and August ? May and June have already chimed in.
ReplyDeleteBogus.
I like my pumpkin pie with a DOLLUP of whipped cream.
ReplyDeleteI finally got around to watching both Part 1 and Part 2 of NCIS. I'm curious about your reactions. I found the story hard to believe and hard to follow. I hope that's not an indication of new writers and things to come.
YR, I agree. There are words that some people complain about that I know well. Other clues seem tough to me that don't seem to make others blink. I know PROSAIC OK though it's not part of my normal speaking vocabulary.
This Corner is replete with really interesting writers. By the time about 1 pm rolls around, the puzzle has been analyzed to death and the topics start to drift. I love to read all of the interesting stuff, well-written too.
Pas, sorry about your bummer day but it was fun to read about because you described it so colorfully.
Who knu SULU?
GG, shenanigans! What a cool word! I need to use it more often.
~ It's getting so I can almost always tell when they are using fake dinosaurs in the movies these days.
The word is 'dollop'.
ReplyDeleteC.C. and Argyle, I found an LAT in a newsrack and I should get the puzzle page mailed off tomorrow morning.
ReplyDeleteI know what would make Crossword Corner ever so much better. Rich Norris and C.C. (with all the guest bloggers) should run all of the puzzles and columns by our group of anons first to get their input and criticisms ahead of time. That would take an already good thing and make it perfect! Why hasn't anybody else thought of this?? I know it would improve my posts.
Did someone mention Shenanigans?
ReplyDeleteI knew SULU's first name was HIKARU.
ReplyDeleteBTW: At 6:29 THIS MORNING ...
Yellowrocks said:
"CC and Scott, you two have proved that early week puzzles need not be prosaic or pedestrian. This one shines. Scott, congrats on being published in LAT. Shiny write-up, also, Steve."
Now how this was/has been construed as directed at ANYONE other than CC, Scott or Steve is beyond cognitive perception.
Yes, YR, you're right.
ReplyDeleteTommy James said...
ReplyDeleteChildren behave
And watch how you play
Look at the way
You've got to hide what you're doing
Cause what would they say ?
Everyone lighten up.
Interesting that few knew Mr. Sulu's first name but most were able to get it from the perps. I wouldn't expect I'll even remember it but, at least, now I know he has a first name. [from Wiki on how the name came about]
ReplyDelete"Novelist Vonda McIntyre first presents 'Hikaru' as the character's first name in the novel The Entropy Effect. McIntyre derived the character's first name from The Tale of Genji. Although McIntyre was unaware at the time of any controversy surrounding her giving Sulu a first name, editor David Hartwell had to clear the name with Gene Roddenberry and George Takei in order to supersede Paramount's objections. However, the name did not become canon until its mention in Star Trek VI, and it was included only after Peter David, who authored the film's comic book adaptation, visited the set and persuaded director Nicholas Meyer to insert it."
The is Barbara's brother (Robbie on bass) and his band. This short video is a treat for the ears and eyes. The Magnolia Jazz Band.
ReplyDeleteDH has taught drums at a school where many foreign students attend for over 12 years. On breaks, when they don't go home we have asked countless students to dinner. DH will say that the German, or Japanese, or Chinese, or South American, or Mexican, or Scandinavian, or Italian, etc. group is coming. It makes the menu easier and they tend to carpool. If one of them doesn't understand that much English, the other kids chime in and translate. It's always fun.
ReplyDeleteOnce, a student from Puerto Rico came to dinner and his family was here for his graduation. There were probably 8 family members who drove him to our house in a rented van with GPS. He said they would drive around until after the party. Well, we would have none of that, and invited everyone to dinner. I cook enough for "thrashers" as Grandma would say. I was scrambling to set extra plates and glasses and silverware...it was the most fun party ever!
p.s. The German kids always enjoy the sausages,onions potatoes and peppers....don't tell them it's an Italian staple. LOL
Oh my gosh Anon at 8:05. You're kidding right? Bill was using a blog "play on words", if you will. The regular posters do it all the time. How do you not know this?
ReplyDelete@Yellowrocks - I enjoy you, though I don't know you. I tend to be the same, having been a teacher. Sometimes the problem is geographical. We of NJ and NY tend to be blunt, and it's nothing personal. I've discovered that Midwesterners tend to be much more guarded. (Some say they couldn't say s--t if they had a mouthful, but I'll lave that to others.) The strongest statement I heard in IA was, "Well, that's different." It is suggested to do in Rome, etc. But there is no geographical location on the internet. So - until a handbook comes out, be yourself
ReplyDeleteYellow Rocks,I LOVE your posts and missed you during "Sandy". I was SO glad when you logged in (and CED)
ReplyDeleteAll this talk about PROSAIC got me to look it up AGAIN.
Absolutely appropriate for your review, this was no ordinary puzzle.
Thanks again C.C. and Argyle.
Re: Anons....WGAS?
(Who Gives A S***?
Bill,
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the Jazz band video very much.
Wish radio stations around here would
play more of that genre but only hear it on Sundays if you're lucky. So I usually turn the radio off on the way to work and just argue with myself. Sometimes I win, Most often not. Ah well!
All my best!
Alt QOD: "It's been my policy to view the Internet not as an 'Information highway,' but as an electronic asylum filled with babbling loonies." -- Mike Royko
ReplyDeleteCongrats on an excellent puzzle, Argyle and C.C.! I loved the theme. U's are often tough to work into a puzzle, and that may explain why it was a little harder than the typical Monday. So I took my time and enjoyed the extra challenge. Great long non-theme answers and a fun cross-reference. Great debut, Argyle!
ReplyDeleteThe banter with YR about "prosaic" was definitely tongue-in-cheek with me. YR is so serious, I just have to try to loosen her up. I enjoy her posts too. Don't y'all rib your friends? The most fun I ever have is laughing at myself and I like to share that.
ReplyDeleteLucina, I failed to thank you and Marti for the tamale recipe. Mea culpa. My daughter was delighted to get it and also thanks you.
I can't remember who linked the lovely music late last night, but thank you. I spent a happy hour browsing the sidelines for old favorites. Thanks, BillG. for the jazz band tonight.
YR: I really am sorry to hear about your trees & shrubs on the berm. Is that from the storm or heat last summer--or both? I love beautiful plantings. The blue spruce in my yard was one of the reasons I bought my house. The drought killed it this year and I mourn the loss. Cost me to have it removed.
PK, would the music have been "Vincent" and "Lara's Theme", both with Chet Atkins? If so, that was me too. I don't think you can go wrong with Chet Atkins playing anything. He was to guitar like Fred Astaire was to dancing; they both made it look so effortless that you think maybe you could do it too.
ReplyDeleteI am going to throw my two cents in before I read the blog tonight. Thanks Steve for the write up of this great puzzle. thanks very much to our resident constructors, C.C. and Argyle. I enjoyed doing this one but did think was harder than the typical Monday level. However, that is not a complaint as I like being challenged. Didnt know ROONE or HIKARU. I wanted GALA instead of FETE. As many times as ULEE has been in puzzles and I still have trouble grabbing that one out of my brain. Good nite all!
ReplyDeletePK
ReplyDeletePlease let me know if your daughter makes the tamales and how they turn out for her.
Argyle, many congrats, I didn't know this was your first publication.
ReplyDeleteBill G., you made me lol when I read your summary of the blog posts!
Pas, I too am sorry about your Turkey day, mine was a REAL bummer too for complicated family reasons.
I didn't cook and that just felt wrong on so many levels. Won't do that again.
BillG: yes, the Chet Atkins music that you linked was what I started out with. Thank you for brightening my very prosaic life.
ReplyDeleteBill, Did you happen to see any of the Clippers game tonight? I just caught the last quarter and sat there stunned because it was so bad. Poor Blake Griffen was stunned too, I'm sure. Worst game of his career. I think they are getting tired. I wish they would limit games to every other night. I think they are more injury prone when they play so many close together. And the games aren't as good.
PK, no I didn't watch the Clippers game. I didn't notice that it was on. The Clippers have a pretty good squad this year but I have only enough basketball interest for one team at a time and it's the Lakers until they really screw things up.
ReplyDeleteThe distracted driver hit the prosaic.
ReplyDeleteBill G,
ReplyDeleteThank you!