google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Monday, August 26, 2013 Billie Truitt

Gary's Blog Map

Aug 26, 2013

Monday, August 26, 2013 Billie Truitt

Theme: It's all mud after it rains for a week - Various terms for the stuff under our feet...or under our nails.

17A. Home country : NATIVE SOIL

23A. Out of touch with reality : IN LA-LA LAND

37A. Get one's head out of the clouds : COME DOWN TO EARTH

47A. Strike it rich : HIT PAY DIRT

58A. Position of moral superiority : HIGH GROUND

Argyle here with a solid Monday puzzle. In the words of Goldilocks, not too easy, not too hard but just right. All in language phrases, although I had to change 17-Across when 23-Across showed up. I like to see a grid spanner on a Monday, also. Fertile loam for those mash-ups that some of you do so well.

Across:

1. "Pay attention!" : "FOCUS!". "Look here!"

6. Taj Mahal city : AGRA

10. __ of Arc : JOAN

14. Tokyo automaker with a liar named Joe in its old ads : ISUZU


15. Forehead : BROW. The spot for smashing V-8 cans.

16. Neutral shade : ECRU

19. Amble : WALK

20. Add blonde highlights to, say : DYE

21. Whole bunch : SLEW

22. Free-for-all : MELEE

26. Musical with nightclub scenes : CABARET


31. Men of the future? : BOYS

32. Take to the soapbox : ORATE

33. Disco brothers' name : GIBB. The Bee Gees, brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb.

34. Church seat : PEW. 34D. Seek guidance in a 34-Across : PRAY

41. Tooth tender's org. : ADA. (American Dental Association) Cute pun in the clue.

42. Trim, as a photo : CROP

43. Any one of New England's six : STATE

44. Fly alone : SOLO

45. So far : AS OF YET

51. Stave off : AVERT

52. March Madness org. : NCAA. (National Collegiate Athletic Association)

54. Performing pair : DUO

57. Missing : GONE

61. Bear in the sky : URSA

62. Clarinet cousin : OBOE

63. "Rubber Duckie" Muppet : ERNIE

64. Checked out : EYED

65. 911 responders: Abbr. : EMTs. (Emergency Medical Technician)

66. Helps, as a perp : ABETS

Down:

1. Discover : FIND

2. Anthem start : "O, SAY..."

3. Just darling : CUTE

4. Israeli weapon : UZI

5. Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer, briefly : SUVs. (sport utility vehicle)

6. Not there : ABSENT

7. Watchdog's warning : [GROWL]

8. "Vive le __!" : ROI. "Long Live The King!"

9. Piercing tool : AWL

10. Tiara sparklers : JEWELS

11. Central Florida city : OCALA

12. Specter formerly of the Senate : ARLEN. Not usually in a Monday puzzle.

13. Microwaved : NUKED

18. "Night" author Wiesel : ELIE. His vowel rich name shows up on any day of the week.

22. "It's possible" : "MAYBE SO". "Would I lie", J.Isuzu

24. Slightly : A BIT

25. Gray wolf : LOBO

26. __-Cola : COCA

27. Longtime infield partner of Jeter, familiarly : A-ROD. And now known as A-Roid.

28. Ole Miss rival : 'BAMA

29. Downed : ATE

30. Minuteman enemy : REDCOAT

 33. Econ. yardstick : GNP. (Gross National Product)

35. Suffix with sermon : ETTE

36. Sharpen : WHET

38. Air France destination : ORLY. "We'll always have Paris."

39. Lumber : WOOD

40. DOJ division : ATF. (Department of Justice / Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives)

44. Butter or mayo : SPREAD

45. McDonald's golden symbol : ARCHES

46. Without a date : STAG

47. World Court site, with "The" : HAGUE. MAP

48. Old white-key material : IVORY. If it's new, it's illegal.


49. Anxious : TENSE

50. Gold bar : INGOT

53. Geometry calculation : AREA

54. Sandy slope : DUNE

55. Military squad : UNIT

56. Keats works : ODES

58. Whack weeds the old-fashioned way : HOE

59. "Big Blue" : IBM

60. Sphere : ORB


Argyle

Notes from C.C.:

1) Happy Birthday to dear Montana, a retired math & science teacher based in Montana. I'm waiting for some updated pictures. But here is a great one from her Oregon Trail trek last year. Click here for more.


2) To regular commentators: Please email me (crosswordc@gmail.com) if you have pictures to share or your birthday is not in my Blog Birthday List.


69 comments:

  1. Happy Monday everybody!

    Nice ‘N’ Easy puzzle today. One write-over, LOST (which I thought went well with FIND) for GONE….

    How did we bachelors ever survive before the invention of NUKED food…?

    CABARET was okay, but I prefer the movie Burlesque. Never heard Christina Aguilera sing before that film - now I know why she is so popular….

    If only all sermons were sermonETTEs….

    I’ll be moving to LA LA LAND in about a month….

    Don’t think the ADA WOOD appreciate being crossed with COCA Cola, which can destroy IVORY enamel…. On the other hand, it does a fine job as a toilet stain remover….

    Finally, here’s the Alan Parsons Project performing Standing on HIGHer GROUND….

    Okay, okay, one more, Hocus Pocus by FOCUS (1973)….

    Okay, okay, uno mas, Los LOBOs with Don’t Worry, Baby….

    ReplyDelete
  2. Doha Doc, I agree, nice and easy, but not mindless.
    OnLy write over, A TAD soon became A BIT.
    Shout out to La La Linda. I miss you. It's been a while.
    Happy birthday, Montana. I always wanted to take that Oregon Trail trip. It must have been fabulous.I waited too long, I think. My knees don't take to hiking any more.

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  3. My Native Land by Sir Walter Scott
    Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
    Who never to himself hath said,
    This is my own, my native land!
    Whose heart hath ne'er within him burn'd,
    As home his footsteps he hath turn'd
    From wandering on a foreign strand!
    If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
    For him no Minstrel raptures swell;
    High though his titles, proud his name,
    Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;
    Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
    The wretch, concentered all in self,
    Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
    And, doubly dying, shall go down
    To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,
    Unwept, unhonour'd, and unsung.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Aren't Monday puzzles delightful after a tough weekend?
    I didn't race through this puzzle but had no difficulties.

    And isn't it great when Cruciverb/LA Times Crossword works on iPads? I am flying to Denver this morning to celebrate my birthday with my grand-daughter who is 2 today. Cake and ice cream this afternoon!

    I emailed some pictures to CC, but see the message got lost in cyberspace somewhere.

    Later,
    Montana

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  5. Good morning!

    At least the Barnacle is apparently still carrying the weekday LATs. Argyle, I'd gladly take your "rains for a week." We sure could use some. Both Saturday and Sunday our 50% chances turned to nuttin.

    Hand up for ATAD/ABIT. And my NATIVE LAND required some revision. But I agree with Argyle, that this was just right for a Monday.

    My brother used to soak rusty washing mashine parts in Coca Cola overnight. They looked shiny and new the next morning.

    I hope LALALINDA got to see her shoutout. Maybe she'll stop by today...

    Could you imagine today's army going to war in red coats and white pants? Excellent camouflage.

    Happy Birthday, Montana. Hope you do something special today.

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  6. Good morning Argyle, C.C. et al.

    A little crunchier than usual for a Monday, I thought. I had to check perps for GIBB, but ARLEN had already filled by the time I got to that one. Good thing. Also AS OF YET didn't immediately come to mind. More perps.

    Thanks for the musical interludes, Doha Doc. I totally agree with you about Burlesque!

    Have a great start to the week, everyone.

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  7. Good morning everyone.

    Agree with Argyle; solid puzzle. I had 'land' for SOIL first, too. The theme fills, including the spanner, came easily and it moved right along. ARLEN was in the news so much for so many years, that popped right out.
    The HAGUE is Den Haag in Dutch. Derived from des Graven hage (the Count's hedge). Btw - the Dutch gender article, de, is no longer inflected.

    Have a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good morning, folks. Thank you, Billie Truitt, for a swell puzzle. Thank you, Argyle, for the fine review.

    Skipped the NW at first. Went to the North center. Then sashayed through the puzzle. Nice beginning to a Monday.

    Yesterday, our minister asked us a question. "What is the first thing you think of on the Sabbath?" I told her the Sunday Crossword. She got a kick out of it, as did the congregation.

    Tried to squeeze in HELP FIND THE CORRECT WORD for 66A, but settled for ABETS.

    Enjoyed the theme. I am a lover of the soil, earth, ground, etc.

    Had SOLO for 46D before STAG. Only inkblot for the day.

    Yellowrocks: Enjoyed the poem.

    Montana: Happy Birthday. Good shot of hiking. I enjoy hiking myself. If I had time I would do the Appalachian Trail. I have 75 miles of it done. Helped my mother 10 years ago.

    Doha Doc: Where are you coming back to?

    Isn't is time for Barry G. to be back?

    See you tomorrow.

    Abejo

    (yetimag)

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  9. Hi Y'all! Speed run I enjoyed, Billie! Thanks for the comments & music, Argyle.

    Happy Birthday, Montana! Wish I was flying into Denver today. Spent many hours on layovers in the shadow of the Rockies.

    YR, Sang in a big chorus some song with Sir Walter's poem or at least part of it as lyrics. Can't even remember where or which choir, but the song is very stirring: "Breathes there a man with soul so dead...." Good grief, what is that song?

    I loved the movie "Burlesque" watched it several times.

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  10. Postscript:

    HBD to Montana!

    Abejo, somewhere near Riverside CA, so it's literally in L.A. L.A. land....

    What was the name of that Weiner-like politician who "hiked the Appalacian Trail" not too long ago...?

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  11. Good morning everybody, better late than never for me today.

    I agree, a good Monday level puzzle today. I'm sure we've seen it before, but I liked 31-A: Men of the future? BOYS.

    Abejo: I love your story about your first thoughts on the sabbath!

    Doha: I was wondering when you come back too.

    My brother in law started on the Appalachian Trail a few years ago. He gave up abut half way thruogh and now he's doing it piecemeal over the years.

    Have a Spectacular Birthday, Montana! And many more :)

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  12. Greetings!

    Swell puzzle, Billie! Fine expo, Argyle!

    Five theme answers!

    Harv still laid up. Can't seem to get his blood pressure down despite double usual meds. I sent him a book on magnesium and super-grade pills.

    Woke up after 2 hours' sleep. Must try to get some more.

    Montana--Happy birthday! Loved your travelogue!

    Cheers!

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  13. Hello Puzzlers -

    Glad to have had an easy puzzle to work on during the insomnia period. No speed bumps.

    From yesterday: Houston Street is where Katz's Deli is located, the place where I had that first Reuben last December. Not knowing any better, I pronounced the street name incorrectly when asking a local for directions to the deli. I was corrected right quick.

    The Hague reminds me of two things: first, it's kind of interesting when place names include an article (The Netherlands, The Ukraine), and second, I've never gotten a grip on how much of The Netherlands is Holland, and how much isn't. I tried reading up on the latter and didn't get much clarity.

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  14. Well, must have been the six solid hours of sleep I got, but I found this puzzle actually easier than most Mondays. In fact, I had so much filled in in every corner that I would know answers even before looking at the clues and try to guess what the clue would say. So, Billie, this was a gift for me this morning--many thanks!

    Loved the PEW PRAY SERMONETTE bundle--very cute and clever.

    My husband used to do much of the cooking before his stroke. We couldn't survive if I couldn't NUKE food now.

    Cool expo, Argyle, and have a wonderful birthday, Montana!

    Here's to a great week, everybody!

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  15. Good Morning:

    Another vote for this being a just right puzzle, ala Goldilocks. Clever theme and some nice, fresh fill. Only write-over was scad before slew. Thanks, Billie Pruitt, for a great start to the last week of August, and thanks, Argyle, for your always witty commentary.

    Doha Doc, that Weiner-like pol is Mark Sanford, former governor of North (?) Carolina and now, just recently elected as a Rep. In Congress.

    Happy Birthday, Montana, hope you have a wonderful day.

    I, too, miss LaLaLinda and wish she would drop by.

    YR, thanks for sharing that powerful poem.

    Where is Barry?

    Happy Monday.

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  16. Happy birthday Montana. And many more.

    Thank you , Billie Truitt for a wonderful puzzle. Really enjoyed it.

    Thank you Argyle for a wonderful blog, really enjoyed it as well.

    The puzzle was relatively easy, appropriate for a Monday. Thank you spitz for the explanation of The Hague - the hedge. Although the Parliament and all other courts and official buildings are in The Hague, the capital city of the country is Amsterdam.....

    Dudley, I thought the Netherlands WAS Holland.... I must read up on that.

    Thank you YR for the poem, by Sr Walter Scott. Really enjoyed it.

    Have a nice week, you guys.

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  17. Good morning everyone.

    I do love Mondays, and this was a very good one. Had to check with DH about WHET, but that was the only stopper.

    Am still OK with the chemo mostly.

    Happy birthday, Montana. I do enjoy your comments.

    Cheers

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  18. Argyle's picture of one of the Minutemen brings to mind one of my favorite poems. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

    CONCORD HYMN by Raplh Waldo Emerson
    By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
    Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
    Here once the embattled farmers stood,
    And fired the shot heard round the world.

    The foe long since in silence slept;
    Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;
    And Time the ruined bridge has swept
    Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

    On this green bank, by this soft stream,
    We set to-day a votive stone;
    That memory may their deed redeem,
    When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

    Spirit, that made those heroes dare,
    To die, and leave their children free,
    Bid Time and Nature gently spare
    The shaft we raise to them and thee.
    Link More info.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concord_Hymn

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  19. Dudley and Vidwan - Here is a Map depicting the modern Dutch provinces. Two are North Holland and South Holland. The country is officially The Netherlands. But the habit of saying "Holland" continues. The Germans say "Holland", too.

    Happy Birthday to Montana.

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  20. I almost always read the blog and the comments before posting but I haven't yet this morning. I just wanted to make my own remarks without saying WEES.

    I started this late last night where I always start, in the upper-left corner. Right away, I had some trouble. Neither FIND, FOCUS or ISUZU came readily to me. It didn't seem like a Monday; more like a Thursday. Anyway, once I got past that troublesome corner, everything flowed more smoothly except for not knowing how to spell HAGUE.

    I was amused to find "perp" in the puzzle.

    I learned a new word this morning while "Today" was on in the background; "Twerking" it was.

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  21. Happy Birthday Montana! Cake and Ice Cream this afternoon sounds perfect.

    Other than the 'same' LAND before SOIL @17-A as Argyle this was a WALK in the park.

    Also liked the Sandy slope, DUNE as a theme 'bonus'!

    Cheers to all at Sunset!

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  22. Montana! I fogot to wish you a happy birthday! I enjoyed going back and looking at your travel photos again. Have a fun day!!
    .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.


    Dudley @ 9:57 and Vidwan @ 10:43, the correct name for the country is “The Netherlands.” North and South Holland are simply two provinces within The Netherlands, as Spitz pointed out. The Dutch people do not take kindly to people who use the term “Holland” to refer to their entire country – I have friends who live in Eindhoven, and they straightened out any misconception about the correct name of their country early on.

    It was officially named the Kingdom of Holland for only a few years when Napoleon Bonaparte set up a puppet kingdom to be ruled by his brother. He used the name of the leading province when naming the new country. When his brother didn’t do as he was told, Napoleon sent in an army and seized the country back, and renamed it the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

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  23. Good day, Puzzlers.

    Thanks, Argyle and Billie for today's entertainment.

    And happy birthday, Montana! Denver sounds like a great place to celebrate with your granddaughter. Thank you for sharing your photos. Very nice.

    Well, this was a nice WALK in the park today. As Pearl Buck might have said, it's the Good EARTH that gave us the theme. To me OCALA is more obscure than ARLEN who was often in the news.

    Thank you all for the musical links but no BeeGees? I love their music.

    Abejo:
    I enjoyed your jest.

    YR:
    I love the poetry. Keep it coming.

    Have a fine Monday, everyone!

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  24. G'Afternoon All!

    Nice "baby-bear" puzzle (just right). Thanks Billie! Of coruse, thanks too to Argyle for the writeup..

    My only inkblot was starting off as COMEsDOWNTOEART, um, oops. HAGUE is one of those words that can take pretty much any vowel you throw at it, so I had to wait for the perps (Abejo - funny @ 66a). My only wish was that Ford crossed with FOCUS - the best selling US car in the world. USAUSA! :-)

    IM - Mark Sanford is South Carolina.

    Dudly - In NYC it's house-ton street, but here, in our fair city, its hew-stun. I learned it the 'ard way too :-).

    D-O we've got a fine English mist down here, any precipitation up there?

    Where is CED and Berry G? Those BOYS haven't been around for a week!

    HBD Montanna!

    Cheers,

    -T

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Everyone ~~

    Well, I guess with this puzzle, it's a good day to crawl out from under my rock IN LALALAND. Thanks for the shout-outs and kind words. What a thoughtful group!

    I've been a bit under the weather - nothing serious. It seems that my old nemesis, Fibromyalgia, is back after a wonderful five year respite. I find it affects me in many ways, not just physically. My difficulty in "socializing" is apparent. :-\ I started seeing a chiropractor again last week and I'm hopeful she'll be able to help.

    I've been doing the puzzles and reading the blogs, although I often have to catch up. I've enjoyed reading all your posts ~ I'll try to be a more active participant. :-) Thanks again for the kind thoughts.

    Happy Birthday, Montana! I enjoyed your photos.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Musings during 90 min. subbing lunch break. If you like saying “Pay Attention” or “Focus”, have I got a job for you.
    -I watched the PBS Special on Who Kidnapped the Lindberg Baby last night and then saw SOLO and a Paris Airport (not Lindberg’s) cross today. The kidnapping and Lindberg himself were full of oddities like eugenics.
    -The Royals have COME DOWN TO EARTH after a 17 – 5 run
    -My BROW was a PATE first
    -My daughter’s church has theater seating instead of PEWS
    -Interesting photo CROPPING
    -We have NUKED corn in the husk all summer
    -I’d be a gourmet bachelor with all the food you can NUKE now.
    -McDonald’s ARCHES in Venice, Italy had lots of customers as it had the only free bathroom near St. Mark’s Square
    -Cosby coin/flip bit on who had to RED COATS (2:11)
    -Alan Alda watched his dad in burlesque as a child and grew increasingly interested in the strippers as he aged
    -Happy Birthday Montana from another retired math/science teacher! I’ve enjoyed our off blog conversations.
    -Heigh ho, heigh ho, it’s back to sub I go.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Here are a couple of totally off-the-wall questions for our diverse group.

    1. For you math teachers: Why is area considered to be a "geometry" calculation? What I member of geometry is doing proofs, then using already-proven stuff to make more complex proofs. I don't ever remember calculating the area of anything.

    2. For you gourmet cooks: Have you ever tried an induction cooktop? I have an 1800W portable unit (purchased while awaiting repair of the kitchen cooktop). To me it's very similar to cooking with gas -- very precise, quick temperature control. Much better than our electric non-induction cooktop. Of course, not all cookware is induction compatible. Your experience?

    TTP -- we got a 5-minute downpour a little bit ago. Hoping for more. That one barely lifted the "puck" off the bottom of the raingauge.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oops, meant Anonymous-T, not TTP. Oh well...

    Anonymous-T, did you notice the Barnacle switched things around again? NYT Sunday crossword (a week late) and only one Sunday Sudoku where there used to be two?

    ReplyDelete
  29. Forgot to thank you for the poem, Yellowrocks. I always enjoy the ones you post.

    ReplyDelete
  30. D-O:

    I did use an induction cooktop when we built a house in OK, and loved it. I've got electric here and its a PITA. I'm hoping that I can find (and afford) a gas down-draft for the kitchen. I need to make sure the island will support gas.

    I haven't finished the Sunday paper yet, so didn't notice. I did get the NYT yesterday, but haven't finished it yet either. Too much to do.

    Rain here has subsided. We need more. I'm hoping for <Allison tropical storm.

    -T

    ReplyDelete
  31. Good morning Argyle, C.C. and all,

    What a nice start to the week...feet firmly on the ground.I also saw the words before seeing some of the clues.

    Argyle, like the addition of that inane Isuzu commercial... not so much a Liza fan.

    HBTY, Montana-fabulous birthday gift to yourself! Have a great time.

    Looked for an old "fact?" sheet about coke..couldn't find it, but just as well because who knows if any of it was true. Here are some fun facts.

    LaLaLinda, sorry to hear that you are feeling poorly. Hope your crack meister can fix you up.

    ReplyDelete
  32. D-O: I am not a teacher but I remember plane and solid geometry, and we calculated things like area and volume, etc. That's what I thought of while doing the puzzle.

    Abejo

    (ayrlgets)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Spitz and Hearti - Thanks, that's more clarity than before!

    Glad I'm not the only one confused by the improper name of Holland.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous T @ 12:29 - Thanks for correcting the state. I wasn't sure.

    Linda, sorry to hear of your relapse and hope it is short-lived. So glad you posted again.

    Tin, did you receive my email? I messed up on the first try, so I hope the second one went through. Fittingly, my captcha is " ohdraft!". Cheers at sunset.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Fun link: The Boomer by New Holland.

    LINK

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  36. D-O,
    If it's of any comfort, we are pretty warm in Chicago. We need rain.

    CGP Grey explains the difference between Holland and the Netherlands

    Montana, HBD.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Marti and Dudley And Spitz

    On the naming of The Netherlands .....

    Napoleon conquered the low country, and appointed his brother ( who else) to the throne. His brother loved the Dutch people.... So that became a stick in Napoleon's craw. When Napoleon went in to 'kick out' his brother, ( who shall remain unnamed - and whose name has been lost to history -). ---- he went in with a big army.

    The good people of that country had decided that they loved Napoleon's bother, so much, that they actually wanted to name the country after him.

    However, at the sight of Napoleon's army, his brother panicked and fled the country. In the confusion and his haste, the brother forgot his pants, and all that the good people of that country saw, was his bare bottom, in retreat. This they never forgot .

    But, so determined were they, that they insisted on naming their country after his last famous image.

    So it became ,'The Netherlands'.

    Now, you know, the rest of the story.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Irish Miss:
    Yes I received your email.
    Really enjoyed the story about how Mariano Rivera spent his 'off-day' last Monday.
    He is such a class-act!
    (Also enjoyed his 'save' yesterday).

    Hmmm, my captcha is "pinch" ...
    And "It's Five O'clock Somewhere!"
    Cheers!!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Happy, happy birthday Montana; enjoy Denver.

    LLL,m feel better, pain ain't no fun but it reminds you that you are alive.

    Monday Monday

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  40. Really cute story about the name of the Dutch homeland

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  41. TTP:
    That's a great and informative video. Humorous, too. Thank you for posting it.

    Montana:
    I just went back to finish looking at your travelogue. It's an impressive trip you took! That on goes on my bucket list.

    It also reminds us of how hardy and persevering those pioneers were. It seems incredible now looking through the lens of the present when the same trip can be achieved in a much shorter span of time.

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  42. Husker Gary, we all have "off blog conversations". I wonder why you keep mentioning it.

    ReplyDelete
  43. That's a nice story and very colorful, too,anonymous@2:20, but as fourth graders learn, Netherlands means "low lands" from which water had to be pumped out and the Zieder Zee and other dikes built to keep it from flowing back in.

    I'm sure most people would prefer your version, however.

    LalaLinda:
    I am so sorry you are in pain. I've been made aware of the distress of fibromyalgia from my sister and a friend, as well as fermatprime. I hope your chiropractor brings some relief.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hello puzzlers! Sorry I did not announce my departure, (but it is not my fault!) Yes, I was on V/K. However it involved taking over the rented out Model Home in Naples Fla. (Hello Sallie!) According to plan, day 2 was supposed to be hooking up TV, Cable & Internet. However, the nearest cable hook up was 2 driveways away, & our appt for digging a trench is now in Sept... (So much for planning!)

    I tried to use DW's Ipad at a local Starbucks, but honestly, following links was a nightmare! I had to wait till I got back to NJ to read all the backlogged Blog because Apple is so link unfriendly. I think people like me will wind up like Ham, & CB radio if Apple takes over the world!

    Belated HBD's to:
    Chickie (8/13)
    Doha Doc (8/16)
    & Tinbeni (8/27) Since you did not acknowledge last years post, I will keep using these whiskey stones for your B-day...

    I did note on 8/16, someone named iwood (@12:09pm) requested video of people almost falling out of chairs & LMAO which has now been renamed LFMAOSHASTOADT

    ReplyDelete
  45. How do you know (other than memorization from CW puzzles) that the first word of our anthem is "O" instead of "Oh"?

    Happy birthday Montana!

    D-O, I agree with you about geometry and proofs. Still, area and volume are about shapes and certainly fit into the geometry curriculum. Do you remember how to find the volume of a pointy shape like a square pyramid or a cone?" (The surface area of a cone is the one I have to memorize though the surface area of a cylinder makes perfect sense to me.)

    So, does everybody know "twerking" but me?

    TTP, thanks for the info about Holland. I understand it a little better now. It's a little like Great Britain vs England vs The British Isles vs The United Kingdom.

    Candy bar quiz
    Use the clues to figure out the names of the candy bars. The first one is given.
    1. Bumpy street = Rocky Road
    2. Charlie Brown’s girl friend
    3. Happy nut
    4. Our galaxy
    5. Toe attendance
    6. Feminine pronouns
    7. A funny laugh
    8. Burial grounds
    9. Famous author
    10. A trio of pals
    11. Famous New York street
    12. Elmer Fudd’s clever pranks
    13. The day a worker likes best
    14. Sweet infants
    15. Lots of benevolence
    16. Bovine failures
    17. Gentlemen’s nice tavern
    18. Lab monkey’s jigsaw puzzle
    19. Nibbled a spouse
    20. Little feline — big feline
    21. Supernova
    22. Collision with a Scottish loch monster

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  46. Hi all,
    I thought this was a little harder than a Monday puzzle but did enjoy it. Thanks Billie.

    Happy birthday Montana, have a great day. I always wanted to visit the Oregon trail and Glacier Park. My DH worked in Glacier one summer during college years but we never got there together. One reason is we like the south west and went there several times.

    I found the bottom half of the puzzle easier than the top. On 17A I started with nation. When I got oil for the last 3 letters I realized it was native.

    I prefer Pepsi to coke but my family in Ga. naturally prefer Coke since Atlanta is the home of coca cola.

    Last weekend we were down in NW Mo.to a 50th wedding celebration.
    My sister-in-law and I were told that we helped serve the punch and cake. We were embarressed to say we didn't remember that part. I guess its a sign we are getting older.

    On the way home we decided to go south about 50 miles to Indepdence which is just east of Kansas City to visit the Harry S Truman library, since we had the time. It was very interesting.

    Like many of you we actually need rain now. We are now getting the hot weather we didn't have most of the summer.

    Have a great day!
    Marge

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  47. To continue:

    This was all I could find for a Calico Poodle

    Desper-otto@12:57am

    The house came with an Induction Cooktop! (I never used one before,) we bought the wrong 12 pc cookset, & returned it for an induction set, but the damn cooktop has only one size rings, with an auto pan finder, which means we can only use 3 pieces of the 12 piece set of cookware. (There has got to be a way to use a smaller pot on the damn thing! Maybe an iron ring of some kind...)

    caught my 1st Bass

    These totally unknown kids who helped me unhook the dang thingy are much more photogenic than I am. (note the crayfish lure that is totally useless in NJ's pea soup green algae saturated waters...

    & A trip to the tourist trap known as Naples Pier is well worth the trip. We saw dolphins, giant sea turtles, & what I thought was seaweed until these kids jumped in & caught hundreds of baby fish!

    That cloud is actually thousands of fish! we caught some kind of yellow fin going after them!

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  48. CED:
    I received 'Whiskey Stones' as a birthday gift from my best friend last year.

    They allow me to say "I'll have a Scotch-on-the-rocks" ... lol

    (Actually, you chill them in the freezer and they work just fine).

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  49. CED - maybe I don't really know what an induction cooktop is - I was thinking like electric with a glass top but much faster. No?

    D-O We just got 1/4" here and its still coming. Yippee!

    HG - Coz' clip - I've heard it a thousand time and still laugh. "Sit, whatcha gonna do?..." I follow Bill C. on twitter just for the quips. A very funny & insightful man. - T

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  50. Anonymous-T, an induction cooktop has a flat glass top, but it doesn't have any "burners" under the top. It doesn't heat by conduction. Instead it generates magnetic currents within the cookwear, causing the cookwear to heat up, cooking the food. So far as rain is concerned, may 2/10ths, 3/10ths tops.

    BillG, I emailed you my candy bar guesses.

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  51. LaLaLinda: Sorry you have not been well. I think this summer weather has been bad for a lot of people with fibro relapses. My daughter & best friend are two. My chiropractor many years ago said fibro is a catchall term used by medical doctors meaning "I don't know how to help you." I thought this was very funny and too true. Fuzzy thinking is also associated with fibro and my BFF is complaining about this.

    CED: Welcome back! No TV or internet? That must have been a real culture shock for you. But your pictures bring new meaning to the old New Jersey term: "swimming with the fishes". Or is it "sleeping with the fishes"?

    Thanks y'all for all the great links today.

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  52. Happy birthday, Montana. LaLaLinda, sheesh, feel better soon.

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  53. Woe are we. Jordan and I went for a bike ride. First we went around the corner to the local school playground and he practiced getting on and off. Then we loaded the bikes on the bike rack and headed to the bike path. Alas, when we we got there, there was no helmet to be found. I probably set it on the trunk and drove off with it still there. We retraced our path but no helmet. My guess is that some kid is feeling lucky that he found it. Finders keepers I'm guessing. Oh well. Lesson learned...until the next time my brain skips a beat.

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  54. Gary, I remember that you or someone else posted a recipe for nuking corn on the cob but, surprise surprise, I forgot. Could you remind me please?

    I thought this was cool! The computer predicts what 16 celebs would look like as normal aging folks. Celebs looking like normal folks.

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  55. CED, welcome back my friend and nemesis! I figured you were on a little R&R. Hope it was all enjoyable.

    Bill, One nit about your puzzle, I got them all but some answers aren't actually candy bars.
    I'll Email you my answers

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  56. Hey Manac, it was great catching a Bass, but it was not without its minor mishaps.

    Bill G, a little help with the candy bar answers pls?

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  57. The best to you, La La Linda. Hope you feel better.

    Abejo

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  58. Hey Manac, only one nit in a puzzle of mine? That's way better than my normal error rate! But you're right. I should have called it Candy Quiz. CED, answers coming up. Lucina asked me not to post them right away 'cause she was still working on them.

    Candy answers: 1.Bumpy street = Rocky Road 2. Charlie Brown’s girl friend = Peppermint Patty 3. Happy nut = Almond Joy 4.Our galaxy = Milky Way 5. Toe attendance = Tootsie Roll 6. Feminine pronouns = Hershey bar 7. A funny laugh = Snickers 8. Burial grounds = Mounds 9. Famous author = Oh Henry 10. A trio of pals = Three Musketeers 11. Famous N Y street = Fifth Avenue 12. Elmer Fudd’s clever pranks = Twix 13. The day a worker likes best = PayDay 14. Sweet infants = Sugar Babies 15. Lots of benevolence = Good and Plenty 16. Bovine failure s= Milk Duds 17. Gentlemen’s nice tavern = Mr Goodbar 18. Lab monkey’s jigsaw puzzle = Reese’s (Rhesus) Pieces 19. Nibbled a spouse = Bit O’ Honey 20. Little feline — big feline = Kit Kat 21. Supernova = Starburst 22. Collision with a Scottish loch monster = Nestle’s Crunch

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  59. Bill G., I loved your candy bar puzzle and was surprised how many of them I got. I guess in my pre-prediabetic younger days, candy bars were just about my favorite food group. As a result, I got a surprising number of the items. One mis-step: for "Sweet Infants" I put "Baby Ruths."

    You also got me to took look up "twerking," and even to watch the Miley Cyrus clip on the TV news tonight. She's come a long way from "Hannah Montana"!

    ReplyDelete
  60. Misty / Bill G:

    Arggg. I wish I never looked up twerking. I least when the kids say it, I won't be a square...

    Bill G. Hands up for Baby Ruth too. Doh!

    CED - Glad your back. I hope you did have the pasta salad and not the bait on your trip :-)

    Cheers, -T

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  61. Bill G:
    Thanks for waiting. I see that most of my answers were correct but did miss five.

    That was fun. Thank you.

    Have a good night, everyone!

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  62. CED,enjoyed your pictures at the Naples Pier. had to laugh when you called it a tourist trap. I have lots of photos of DH fishing there as a kid....not very touristy back then.

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  63. Bill G - I just noticed my favorite candy wasn't there. Fish Stories == Whoppers!

    -T

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  64. CC: I'm a Speech-Language Pathologist and a wife of a person who had a TIA. If this happens again, get him to a hospital ASAP. If he doesn't want to go, call an ambulance. Time is most important. What's he going to do? Divorce you?

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  65. Shoot... That was supposed to be CED's Fish Story == Woppers :-)

    Oh, well. Here's a bass clip from Napoleon Dynamite . If you've never seen the movie - its the dumbest thing ever, until the second time you watch it. My brothers made me do it - and I'm the oldest!

    CED - Nice fish, did you toss it back or enjoy the flavor? -T

    ReplyDelete
  66. Linda,
    Check in whenever you feel so. You'll always be in our mind. You care so much whenever one of our blog members is sick or needs comfort.

    Anonymous 11:54pm,
    I'll do so next time. I'm just used to asking for his permission. He's been doing great. His bowling season started yesterday, and he's back to his old routine: 3 different leagues, 2 pot game days.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Just did the Tuesday puzzle, and have to say the grid is impressive. There is a complex symmetry.

    Morning C.C., I'm relieved to hear that Boomer is apparently not showing deficits. My experience with stroke/TIA has to do with my mom, who benefitted from fast diagnosis and treatment. It appears you are paying attention to details, good for you!

    ReplyDelete

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