The unifier first. 36 A. Commonplace, and what the start of 17-, 24-, 51- or 60-Across is : GARDEN VARIETY. The first recorded use in a figurative sense is from 1928. The evident reference is to something that might be found in anyone's home garden, hence, not special, unique nor exotic. The meaning has expanded a bit to imply mediocrity.
17. Green Day's "American Idiot," e.g. : ROCK OPERA. Released 10 years ago. A sample follows, if you're into that sort of thing. A ROCK GARDEN, cleverly enough, is an an area landscaped with ROCKs and plants suited to that environment.
24. NASCAR winner's celebration : VICTORY LAP. One turn around the track at low speed to allow the winner to bask in the adulation of her/his adoring fans. VICTORY GARDENs were vegetable and herb gardens planted at private residences or public parks in the U.S. and several other countries during WW II. They took considerable pressure off of the public food supply and contributed to morale on the home front.
51. 1995 Stephen King novel : ROSE MADDER. Story about abuse, with the main character ROSE Daniels, in which the pigment ROSE MADDER plays a peripheral role. There are many ROSE GARDENs. One of the famous ones borders the Oval Office and West Wing of the White House. It was established in 1913 by First Lady Ellen Loise Axson Wilson.
60. Spare tire : BEER BELLY. Two slang expressions denoting excess in the midriff region, aka Dunlop's Disease, 'cuz when you sits down, yer belly done lops over yer belt. A BEER GARDEN is an outdoor area, usually associated with a pub or restaurant where beer and food are served. The history is quite interesting.
This clever theme presents us with four quite different VARIETIES of GARDENS. Mediocre? I think not.
Hi, gang, it's JzB your humble GARDEN VARIETY trombonist. Let's see what else Robert has planted for us.
Across
1. Place to wipe your boots : MAT. On the floor by the door.
4. Vice squad strategies : RAIDS.
9. "Darn!" : SHOOT. I'm guessing this is a not-quite-sound-alike substitute for a less polite word.
14. Sister of Zsa Zsa : EVA. The third sib is Magda.
15. Flynn of film : ERROL. Famous buckler of swashes in Captain Blood, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Sea Hawk and many more.
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16. Main artery : AORTA. Literally, the main artery of the blood stream.
19. Govt.-backed bond : T-NOTE. T is for Treasury. These notes are issued in terms of 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 years.
20. Secretary of the Interior under FDR : ICKES. Harold L., progressive Republican deeply involved in Chicago politics, who was recruited by FDR to appeal to middle-of-the-road [Garden Variety?] voters. No politics at The Corner, but you can read about him here.
21. Navel type : INNIE. There are two varieties. Check them out [or in] here.
23. Commuting start? : TELE. Telecommuting. Working from home via an electronic device.
29. First-class : STELLAR. The best - probably because this word in its literal sense refers to stars, and they are brilliant.
31. Sales incentive : REBATE. Money back from the seller can be STELLAR.
32. Send to the statehouse : ELECT. In this case, as the governor.
35. "¿Cómo __?" : ESTA. How are you, amigo? Lots of Spanish today.
41. Shade of green : JADE. Green-blue hue named for a gem stone.
42. German steel city : ESSEN. This western German city dates from the 9th century. For the last 400 years it has been associated with the Krupp steel company.
43. __ energy : ATOMIC. Kinetic, potential, chemical, mechanical, magnetic, thermal -- the list goes on.
46. Sleeveless shirt : TANK TOP. Here's one in JADE green.
54. Prefix with space : AERO. A refreshingly honest prefix clue referring to efforts in science, engineering and business to fly in the atmosphere of Earth (aeronautics) and surrounding space (astronautics). [Wikipedia]
55. English Channel port : DOVER. In a region famous for it's white cliffs, as in this WW II era song.
56. Fashionista Mary-Kate : OLSEN. I guess M-K and her twin sis Ashley have become celebrities, which one wag defined as people well-known for being famous.
57. Bolt on a track : USAIN. Love this clue. Bolt means [among other things] to move fast, and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt certainly does that.
63. Red Sea peninsula : SINAI. A region of Egypt between the Red Sea to the south and the Mediterranean to the north. To the East, it borders Israel. It is mostly separated from the rest of Egypt by the Gulf of Suez.
64. Pi, for one : RATIO. Specifically, the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.
65. Tempe sch. : ASU. Arizona State University.
66. Prop for a clown : STILT. Nice double meaning. Looks harmless.
67. Hacienda brick : ADOBE. Straw reinforced bricks of clay or mud, dried in the sun.
68. Fall mo. : SEPtember.
Down
1. Inherent rights and wrongs, as of a case : MERITS. Perhaps our legal beagles can elaborate.
2. Long-legged shore bird : AVOCET. This had me so stumped for a while, that I doubted the perp EVA. Finally had to go googling.
3. Take on, as a challenge : TACKLE.
4. Vintage cars : REOS. It seems that Ransom Eli Olds enjoyed naming cars after himself. I don't think he has anything to do with this, though.
5. Dadaism founder : ARP. Jean or Hans, depending on his audience, a French-German sculptor, painter, poet, and abstract artist. Dada [a word of uncertain origin] rejected reason and logic, prizing nonsense, irrationality and intuition.
6. Rage : IRE. Anger.
7. Greek architectural style : DORIC. The plainest of the three classic support column styles.
8. Viewpoint : SLANT. Everybody has one.
9. "The Colbert Report" stock-in-trade : SATIRE. Political.
10. Winged stinger : HONEY BEE.
11. Gold, in Guadalajara : ORO. Spanish gold.
12. Polo Grounds hero Mel : OTT. Most famous crossword baseball player.
13. __ Bo : TAE. a total body fitness system that incorporates Martial Arts techniques. This phrase is both a portmanteau and a backronym. I am not making this up.
18. Ship stabilizer : KEEL. Either the backbone of a ship or a vertical projection from the bottom of a boat. It lowers the center of gravity to help keep the vessel upright, and also aids forward motion by resisting side-slipping.
22. "... a borrower __ a lender ...": "Hamlet" : NOR. I thought it came from Ben Franklin. Live and learn.
24. Low-lying land : VALE.
25. "Me, Myself & __": Jim Carrey film : IRENE. I wanted EILENE. That's my mom. IRENE is her twin sister.
26. In the cellar, sportswise : LAST. Surprisingly, where the Red Sox are at the moment.
27. ABA member : ATTY. American Bar Association and ATTorneY.
28. Pot pie veggie : PEA. I like them, but not everybody does.
30. Was in front : LED. Like the K. C. Royals did briefly in mid-June.
33. Rite Aid rival : CVS. Drug stores
34. Sample : TASTE. Is it in good taste to taste a TASTE?
36. Chihuahua cat : GATO. Mas Español.
37. Ruckuses : ADOS. Not often seen in the plural.
38. Like some skill-building classes : REMEDIAL. These classes are intended to correct a deficiency.
39. __ admiral : REAR. The lowest of the admiral ranks.
40. Bed-and-breakfast, e.g. : INN. Establishment offering food and lodgings.
41. Moonshine container : JAR. I had JUG at first.
44. "Consider the job done!" : I'M ON IT. As with this puzzle, but I'm not done yet.
45. Cleveland NBAer : CAValier.
47. Cabbagelike plant : KALE. A leafy green.
48. Electric cars named for a physicist : TESLAS.
49. Ultimatum words : OR ELSE. Sounds like a threat.
50. Fork over what's due : PONY UP. The meaning is clear. The origin - not so much.
52. Actress Winger : DEBRA. Her break-through role was in Urban Cowboy (1980.)
53. Profound fear : DREAD.
56. Clarinet cousin : OBOE. I don't think this is valid. Cylindrical vs conical bore is simply too great a difference in my mind, let alone single vs double reed. But you can check it out and draw your own conclusions.
57. Naval letters : USS. United States Ship. I just recently learned that SS means Steam Ship.
58. Grab a stool : SIT. In a bar or a barn?
59. "Give me __!": start of a Hoosier cheer : AN I. For Indiana. Why Hoosier? There's more here than I cared to read.
61. WWII arena : ETO. European Theater of Operations.
62. Tease : RIB. Another word uncertain origin, perhaps from something funny being rib-tickling.
Quite a nice puzzle, despite a couple nits, and fun to blog. Hope you all enjoyed it.
Cool regards!
JzB
69 comments:
Hi Y'all! Another fast & fun puzzle. Thanks, Mr. Morris! Great one, JzB! You ROCK (or your clips do)!
Green Day's American Idiot and ROSE MADDER were unknown to me but perped in speedily. I'd heard of the first but had no idea it was a ROCK OPERA. Don't quite know what that is. Do they stone the singers or are the singers stoned? I listened to the clip and didn't understand many of the words. Good beat!
Isn't this about the third time in a week we've had CAV or CAVALIER? As an avid NBA fan, they aren't my favorite team, but do have a couple outstanding players.
For those who asked about my brother (thank you), he was able to be out of bed and walk around yesterday. We continue to be encouraged about his future.
Morning, all!
This was a pretty standard, run-of-the-mill, dare I say GARDEN VARIETY puzzle for me. Never heard of ICKE, but the perps took care of him. Wanted DALE instead of VALE and JUG instead of JAR, but once again the perps were very straightforward and those mistakes didn't cost me much time.
I've never read ROSE MADDER, but I used to be a huge Steven King fan and have at least heard of the book. And I've never heard of "American Idiot" but know who Green Day are and didn't have any trouble guessing what type of OPERA they might have written.
I saw a TESLA on the road for the first time recently. I wonder if there are any charging stations around here or whether the owner has to stay close to home when he goes driving...
A Literate Lead Up A Garden Path
Samuel T. Coleridge in Xanadu
To his GARDEN would escort you.
Omar Khayyam
Would say, "Thank you, Ma'am."
They're dead, but I'm a poet, too!
(Thanks Jazz, for giving me a better title than the one I had before.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Cryptic clue for a word in today's puzzle.
Lineman's pole (6)
Good morning everyone!
Wonderful, entertaining write-up as ever, JazzB. I spent way more time than I would have liked, reading about word etymologies and Secretary ICKES, voting for INNIES or outies, revisiting the origins of BEER GARDENS…the list goes on!
I stared at USAIN for the longest time, and had no clue what it meant. I figured it was an obscure railroad term!! Also, the crossing of AVOCET and ICKES was particularly tricky, and only solved with a WAG at the C.
CSO for Dudley today with DORIC. I hope he’s having fun down on Block Island this week. Too bad the weather has been so nasty.
Happy hump day!
Musings
-AVOCET and ROSE MADDER dared me to get (learn) ‘em but I did.
-Tommy and JC Superstar are my only two rock operas
-ROCK GARDEN – A Tempe lawn alternative?
-ROSE GARDEN where we’ll be on July 26th
-BEER GARDENS are a constant source of trouble during our John C Fremont Days but bring in bucks
-Many a biology teacher has had kids put a finger through a cow’s AORTA
-REBATE center at Menards
-Those guys you ELECT sometimes forget who elected them
-An infamous customer shaking hands with a Krupp of ESSEN
-Was splitting the ATOM a wise crack?
-OLSEN fashions look best if you weigh less than a house cat
-Did you ever know a tall guy nicknamed STILTS? Me too.
-I think we’re going to TACKLE the 6 hour drive to Minneapolis next month instead of a $240, 5 hour flight (through Denver)
-Colbert’s SATIRE is very SLANTED but funny
-Keeping an even KEEL during detasseling season with 360 kids is tough
-Is a REAR admiral a very, uh, stern person?
-Niece named her new baby TESLA and told me that I would be the only one in the family to know who that was. She was right.
-Easy - Who sang of “Grape wine in a mason JAR”
-Tougher - With what scandal was Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall involved?
-Fore!
Good day to all..
So many wags today that at least one had to be wrong and one was. 20A & 2D I had a crossing L instead of C. Ilkes/ICKES or Avolet/AVOCET. Both were unknowns.
I was sure RODE MADDER was wrong, but the perps all looked good. And USAIN?? I was sure one of the perps or more were wrong, but I had no alternate either.
One nit.... to me the correct abbreviation for September is Sept, not SEP. See it all the time in Xwords and it always bothered me.
That's my tale of woe for this Wednesday DNF.
Damn, i got to do a better job of editing my writing...RODE MADDER, of course should be ROSE MADDER.
Good morning everybody.
I thought this puzzle was very easy for a Wednesday. Most of it I filled in very quickly.
However, I had never heard of ROSE MADDER. I just finished reading The Shining and thought the book was excellent. Has anybody read the follow-up to The Shinning: Dr. Sleep? I'm wondering how it is.
I also didn't know USAIN, but now that I see what it means I think the clue was clever.
Have a great day!
Good morning all.
Liked the puzzle and loved the write up. "Dunlop's Disease." Too funny.
That NW corner was tough for me. AVOCET crossing ICKES was a natick, and that C was a WAG. Prior to that, time was extended because I couldn't think of a prefix for commuting. And I've been doing it for over 20 years ! We just don't use that term.
I've never read a single Stephen King book or watched a single movie based on his books. Don't care for the genre.
My favorite was "Bolt on a track"
Re, REO's "Keep on Loving You" lyrics of "Instead you laid still in the grass, all coiled up and hissin'..." That sounds like some people I've worked with during my career, and some of the recent night anons. Except that they attempt to strike and cause pain. Or sting as it were.
Speaking of which... Winged stinger... HONEYBEE. Doesn't it seem that a honey bee sting would be less painful than a wasp ? Or hornet. Or yellow jacket. Or mud dauber ? Or carpenter bee ? Bumble bee sounds like it might be fun and playful.
Speaking of ASU... I was talking to a friend that lives in Casa Grande, AZ yesterday, and asked him if he ever got caught in a haboob. He had. Had to pull over to the shoulder of the highway and wait it out while praying no one ran into him.
Missing our QOD regular. Where are you Hahtoolah ?
Work beckons. See all y'all later.
Hi Gang -
Owen - a double definition involving an American sport and angling?
This one might be hard.
Only remaining shoemaker's tool. (4)
Cool regards!
JzB
Good morning everyone.
Another fun puzzle with lots of gardens. My favorite is BEER GARDEN - less hoeing.
Got most of it ok. AVOCET and USAIN were gotten from the perps. Luckily finally remembered ICKES.
Felt TESLA never got enough credit for his work in alternating current technology, the basis for large electrical grids.
KEEL - Our destroyer had a bilge KEEL on each side located at the turn of the bilge; its purpose was to dampen the ship's roll. One time the port side bilge keel became partially detached from the forward end and the ships force through the water rolled it back into a coiled spring which acted like an underwater hammer. We had to proceed into port to have the bad section cut away, and operated without the full bilge keel until the next yard period.
I'm amazed that I knew ICKES, AVOCET, and USAIN Bolt (He's touted as the fastest man in the world.) when others of you were having trouble with them. I seldom am more in the know than "youse guys" about anything. Sure an 'tis a good feelin' for once.
Husker, are your lyrics followed by "chugalug, chugalug"? And did he warn about "rollerskating in a buffalo herd"? Did I actually get another one? Oh, happy day!
We arrived at the Portland ROSE GARDENs just after they had heavily sprayed for pests. We had to stand at the edge up wind of the garden and view its beauty. Still awe inspiring.
Surprised you did not recall the great speech by POLONIUS sending of his son Laertes, HG.
AVOCET crossing ICKES does not seem like a Wednesday level pair.
With Scorpions and HABOOB I have stopped going to Arizona.
TTP as one who is allergic to the sting of a Bee and who had had to have an epinephrine shot after an encounter, I assure you bees are not fun.
What is fun is Debra Winger in my favorite cry good movie SHADOWLANDS .
Rubes cartoon panel.
Husker: The house where I grew up is less than a block away from the Peninsula Park Rose Garden. The photos in your link still look pretty much the way I remember it. That's a blast of nostalgia for me!
-Your cracks about the atom and admiral cracked me up!
-But what's detasseling season?
-The song that came to me had a lyric of "Whack for de daddy-o" or "Wack fol the daddy-ol" or "Whack fall...", like the fall-guy for the empty teapot.
Hondo: Pre-computers, calendars had Sept., June, Thur. With computers, standard 3-letter designations were required, so we're now stuck with Sep, Jun, and Thu; not even a period, otherwise May would be lopsided.
Bolt on a track I first wanted spike, then sprint.
Jazz: Good Cryptic, although very easy! As you apparently found mine, too! :-))
Good Morning:
I thought this was a tad chewy for a Wednesday but finished w/o help. Fav clue was for Usain. Thought of CED at Gato.
The rains of the last few days have ended and we're now enjoying lower temps and humidity. Yesterday, the humidity was so high you could barely breathe.
Really enjoyed seeing the fans pay tribute to Derek Jeter at the All Star Game. He has been a class act on and off the field and represents the true meaning of sports and sportsmanship. CC, were you there?
I hope all is well with YR. PK, continued best wishes to your brother.
Have a great day.
Sorry! I forgot to thank Mr. Morris for a fun Wednesday romp and JZB for a witty write-up. Thanks!
Irish Miss..... Well said. Derek Jeter has been one of baseballs top ambassadors during his career. He will be missed for more then his athletic ability. I cringe when I think he will leave at seasons end and next year ARod returns.
Nice job today Jazz. Like you, I had trouble with AVOCET, but avoided googling and just guessed. Otherwise all pretty much clear going, albeit with much perp help here and there.
The explanation of Dunlop's disease reminds me of what my family all have (according to my mother), duck's disease: bum too close to the ground, i.e.short legs.
Those Greek columns--I always remember them as spelling DIC if you go from the plainest to the most ornate.
Errol Flynn was another Aussie.
My younger son was nuts about Green Day from his middle school years on for a while. I couldn't stand the lead singer who sounds as if he has a permanent nasal blockage.
Good morning, folks. Thank you, Robert E. Lee Morris, for a fine puzzle. Thank you, Jazzbumpa, for a fine review.
Robert E. Lee Morris: Are you related to the famous General? Interesting name.
Most of the theme came to me easily. ROSE MADDER and ROCK OPERA did not. Even though my daughter's favorite group is Green Day. As TTP, I am not into Stephen King stuff at all.
I have an INNIE, just looked.
I have heard of the TESLAS. Have not seen one.
USAIN was not known. With 5 solid perps I accepted it. After reading the write-up I remembered him running, by his last name. He is fast!
I have heard of AVOCET before.
Lots to do today. See you tomorrow.
Abejo
(5510)
Another nice doable puzzle for this week.
I can never remember if ERROL Flynn's name was spelled with two R's or two L's. Perps prevailed.
Also, at first I thought the Bolt was USIAH, not USAIN. It made sense until perps prevailed again.
Barry G: The Tesla is a neat car. Maybe a little ahead of it's time, but I'd love to have one with a solar array on my roof to get free energy. There are only a few public charging stations in central PA but according to the DOE website there are 233 in Mass with many in the Boston area.
Beautiful day here today. Hope it is where you all are.
I watched a production of "American Idiot" at the Broward Center a few months ago. The season ticket holders are mostly older and they were not pleased. It was a bit embarrassing as they walked out during the performance.
It was different.
Remember another great ROCK OPERA, "The Wall" by Pink Floyd?
"Fair to Middling" is a reflection of today's crossword, but radiantly outshone by JazzB's crib notes and hyperlinks. It is also a standard North of England response to "How are you?" or "How do you do?". More honest I suppose than "Fine", or "Very well, thank you", which are polite, and assume that the questioner does not actually care to know the state of the responder's physical/psychological health.
More recently, "Good" has come to the fore as a response to the same question; but that still sounds strange to my ear, when an adverb or adverbial phrase seems required. Is "I'm doin' good" now considered standard U.S.-speak?
I am also noticing the response to: "Would you like something more to eat?" given as "No, I'm good". My immediate reaction is that I wasn't enquiring into the state of the person's piety or propriety, or indeed that I was suggesting anything naughty at all.
I'm not a linguistic dinosaur; I respect the powerful fluidity of the English language.
But I were just wonderin', like (that's Northern Brit-speak vernacular).
NC
Morning all!
Well, WEES 2d and 20a. I flipped a coin and it came up "C." I just let USAIN stand hoping I'd learn about a new piece of hardware. Now I remember that Bolt.
PK - great to have some positive news...
As an average GARDENer myself, I enjoyed the theme. I'm putting in a nice ROCK G. up front in a few weeks. DW's ROSE G. isn't doing that well. I'm definitely going to have to figure out how to sow BEER next year.
Thanks Mr. Morris and thanks JzB for a wonderful writeup!
Cheers, -T
I found my favorite clip on how GARDENing works. Sorry, they don't let iThings look at it.
Cheers, -T
Nice Cuppa: you still haven't given us the solution to the stumper clue you posed back on the 14th,
Correspondingly crazy, egocentric, and in retrospect contains memorable elements (9)
I'm growing correspondingly crazy with frustration and suspense waiting for you to explain it!
I LOVE your comments/answers. Please continue this for another 40 years (I'm hoping to be mentally active until I'm 100).
NC @ 10:22 - Fair to middling was my mother's stock answer to "How are you?"
Re the use of "I'm good" as a reply to health status or not wanting more food/drink, I think this is used more by young people just as no problem has replaced you're welcome as a response to thank you. Personally, when asked "How are you?", my response is "I'm fine, thank you, how are you?". I always say, "you're welcome" and a simple, "no, thank you" to any basic refusal. I think the popularity and proliferation of texting has contributed to the "shrinking" of verbal expressions.
Hondo @ 9:37 - Yes, Derek will be greatly missed and I share your angst re ARod but, to use another of my Mother's favorite expressions, "Many a slip between the cup and the lip!". (My Mother had an adage for practically everything and everyone.)
Nice Cuppa,
Is that vernacular spoken with a Geordie accent ?
One Woman, 17 British Accents
Some of the other Anglophenia videos also crack me up.
Jazz: Outstanding and very informative write-up & links.
You always make me wonder how long it takes you to do all your research for the puzzle's blog.
I couldn't tell you 'WHO' the current Secretary of the Interior is, let alone the one under FDR.
Did ICKES serve in that position for all 4 terms?
I once met USAIN Bolt when on vacation in Jamaica. He was movin' pretty fast on some of the gals at Hedonism II.
Obviously my favorite theme was BEER BELLY ... I like the former, don't have the latter.
Moonshine container, JAR, came in as fave answer. Go figure ...
Many thanks to Avg.Joe & Lucina for their comments last night.
(Yeah, I read the late-night comments!) I agree 100%
Cheers!!!
Interesting Wednesday puzzle with just the right amount of challenge--many thanks, Mr. M. Also really fun write-up, JazzB, with lots of great pics.
Was absolutely sure USAIN was wrong, but saw no other alternatives. Also never heard of AVOCET. Glad to see I wasn't alone with these two items.
PK, so glad your brother is doing better.
Have a great Wednesday, everybody!
JB
Despite your heroic offerings today, you did rather give away Owen's cryptic clue. As remaining amusement, you may wish to check out the "wedding" variety of the answer in Brit-slang.
As for your cryptic clue, "Only remaining shoemaker's tool (4)", it's very cute, and we hope not the first (although JC reports an exception for vineyard workers).
Here is mine. "She returns, spiteful but topless (5)"
NC
Greetings, friends! Thank you, JzB for a STELLAR review.
Unlike the use of French and German, "lots of Spanish" in the puzzle is my preference. LOL!
And a shout out to AZ at ASU/Tempe as well as ROCK GARDEN. The state is covered with them and in some communities it is a requirement.
Lemonade:
You really should visit here in winter when the temps are mild and there is no sign of any severe weather.
For the most part this was quick and easy but not a sashay. Sadly I often don't go back to review and I had ROSE GADDER/I GOT IT, didn't get USAIN whom I love to see Bolt on that track. SHOOT!
This was fun, thanks to Robert E. Lee Morris. Hmm. I wonder if he's from the South.
Have a happy Wednesday, everyone!
Irish Miss,
Nope. Couldn't afford the ticket. If I were there, Adam Wainwright "The EWER" (Big mouth pitcher) would have shut up and stayed classy.
Irish Miss and Others
Here's to good manners, and all that they imply. I fear we are being overrun by the "new ways".
NC
OwenKL
Sorry to keep you hanging around:
Correspondingly crazy, egocentric, and in retrospect contains memorable elements (9)
Answer= SIMILARLY (Correspondingly)
Crazy=SILLY
Egocentric = "I" in the center
In retrospect contains memorable elements = Random Access Memory = RAM; in reverse = MAR
SI-m-i-L-ar-LY = Correspondingly
Rather convoluted, I agree.
NC
C.C. never have like the Cardinals, do you get to see many regular season Twins' games, or are they expensive because of the new stadium?
Anon 10:47, how nice to see positivity.
NC it is good to have you back; do Brits resent authors like John Dickson Carr and Martha Grimes who made/make their living writing British mysteries despite being from and living in the US? Have you ever read a Richard Jury book?
My initial reaction is/was to be offended by "good" for well and the rest of the 'evolution' of language. My love of Shakespeare reminded me that language has always been dynamic and changing with the times, where truly democracy rules and what is acceptable to the most people is what becomes the norm.
Some Garden Variety thoughts on todays theme...
I was perusing some funny rock garden pics when I came across this amazing rock garden in Chandigarh.
I used to play a lot of Call of Duty online, now if only I could get Grandma into it...
-------------
I never
promised you
a rose garden..
-------------
Although, the beer garden is coming along nicely...
Hello everybody. I've been enjoying all the crossword puzzles and all your comments during the past several weeks.
Thank you, JazzB, for your excellent writeup today.
The Tesla is a very cool car, and deserves the excellence awards it has received. Mr. Edison worked very very hard to crush and discredit Mr. Tesla's ideas and works.
Best wishes to you all.
Jazz: Interesting link re: ICKES.
Geez, he did serve through FDR's whole Presidency.
(But I'll forget him by Sunset).
CED: TOOOOOOO Funny!!!
(Think I'll plant a Scotch Garden!)
Cheers!!!
JzB says he hopes we enjoyed it. I did, I did! I didn't know of Rose Madder. I knew of Tommy as a rock opera but never cared for the music enough to listen to it.
Re: The White Cliffs of Dover. I love WWII era music, styles, etc.
TTP, I really liked your British accents video. Here are some American accents too.
We own some stock in Tesla. I believe in Elon Musk. I have been cogitating about whether or not I would enjoy owning one of their cars too.
Musings
-Yeah, PK! When any girl I was coaching tried to dribble in a crowd, I always yelled out, “Ya can’t roller skate in a buffalo herd!” and the point was made
-My BIL had a marriage that resembled the John Travolta and Debra Winger relationship in Urban Cowboy at the same time that movie was popular. It did not end well.
-I loved the Polonius speech, Lemon! Didn’t know that a Bill Murray version existed.
-Explanation of detasseling. I had 360 work for me every summer for 23 years. The season is just getting started here now due to a cold, wet spring.
-What detasseling looks like
-What are the odds that Robert E. Lee Morris was born south of the Mason-Dixon line?
-Greetings - everyone who comes into the Pawn Stars shop is greeted with, “How’s it going” or “Sup?’ and receives the same verbiage in return. No one answers or expects to hear an actual response.
Lemonade
Thanks, it's good to be back.
No, Brits do not resent Americans writing mysteries based in Britain. I will assume they have spent time in Britain and have their basic facts straight; and "outlanders" of course often provide unique (often humorous) insights into a country's psyche and idiosyncrasies.
No I have not read any Richard Jury. Can you recommend one?
NC
TTP
Thanks for the link to Brit accent variety show! I think I have seen/heard it before but it is now safely bookmarked for future reference.
It's quite accurate. She rushes the Scots and Irish a bit; and does not do full justice to the Geordies - I have friends here in California with stronger accents - but otherwise FAB.
NC
Attention, fellow foodies. You may already know this but I made a discovery today while shopping for tomato paste. I found tomato paste in a tube which can be used in small quantities then refrigerated. How cool is that! It's perfect for those 1 or 2 tablespoon requirements in many recipes. The brand is Delallo.
Hey Jzb,
Justin Verlander has been to 5 straight All-Star Games, 6 total in his 8 full years in the bigs. Then in walks Kate Upton and boom, he can’t pitch for shit and he misses the ASG. Does this strike no one as odd? Has no one said, hey maybe Kate Upton has witch powers and put a hex on Justin Verlander and made him bad at baseball so he would be forced to take her on vacation to Mexico and maybe pop the question? And even if he didn’t propose to her this week this vacation still adds to his ticking clock. Just racking up the quality 1 on 1 time until he has no choice. Am I the only one who sees this? Am I the only who sees that all these dinners, and road trips and vacations are just Kate Upton’s plot? Sometimes I feel like the whole world is crazy and I’m the only sane one. Whatever, don’t say I didn’t warn Tigers fans and Verlander, end of rant.
CEDave:
Your links are so funny! And the Chandigarh ROCK GARDEN is fantastic! Thank you for all your efforts.
Lucina,
Good catch! I haven't seen it here but in Germany it is commonly sold in tubes, as is mustard. I'll have to watch for the Delallo tomato paste.
Re asking someone how they are...my aunt used to advise not doing so unless you really want to know, in case they might tell you!
P.S. TTC
"But I were just wonderin', like…." would be most typical of West Yorkshire. If you have ever seen any of the Brit TV series "Last of the Summer Wine" you would recognize it.
NC
Summer Wine
NC
Lemonade,
I have not attended even one game after Morneau left. Except the first year at the Target Field, Twins' tickets have been rather affordable. The All-Star game is crazy though. Between $400 to $1,000 (not suites).
The original PK did not post at 2:03. I have no idea what that person is even talking about.
Greetings!
Interesting effort, Mr. Stewart! Nice expo, Jazz!
AVOCET took a while. Ultimately it all filled in. Theme good.
Keith--love your new avatar (as hated the old one)!
Have read all of the Richard Jury novels. They are great fun.
Cheers!
With all the talk of GB and old sayings and limericks, my mind wandered here.
On the chest of a barmaid in Sale
Were tattooed the prices of ale.
And on her behind,
For the sake of the blind,
Was the same information in braille..
NC, I suggest you start at the beginning; it is the characters for me
Book ONe .
I thought this was a rather easier than most Wednesday offerings but I got caught up in the middle west mostly because I don't like Stephen King novels.
I also looked a long time at USAIN but finally had to accept it.
Enjoyed this puzzle... had a couple unknowns that waited for perps.... thank you Mr Morris for a fairly easy straight forward puzzle and thank you JazzB for a great review.....
Haven't had time to finish reading the comments... but I will :) this day is getting away from me for some reason.....
Mari..... it has been years since I read The Shining...... it is packed away somewhere in the garage :) but I just started reading Doctor Sleep..... not far enough into it to make any judgements.... but I like it and it has held my interest so far..... :) I'm sure I will like the rest of it just fine......
Just finished reading Joyland..... if any of you readers out there like King I think you will like it.... need to find more time to read... :) still have Mr Mercedes waiting for me...... :)
Yellowrocks.... I do hope all is well with you and yours......
Qli and Pk... thoughts and prayers for your loved ones......
Wishing you all a wonderful day.....
thelma
Alt PK -
So Verlander is human. Please post on topic - OK?
Tin Man - I usually put 3 or 4 hours into a post. Ickes served from 1933-46, the longest tenure of anyone in that post.
NC - I am utterly baffled by "She returns, spiteful but topless (5)"
Help!
Cheers!
JzB
Ave Joe & Lucina
Tin's comment today made me aware of you late posts from yesterday. Count me in as one who is 100% in agreement with both of you.
Nice Cuppa @2:13
Thanks for the link to "Last of the Summer Wine." I hadn't seen those actors before.
JzB, hmmm? Topless I get since she wasn't wearing a support garment. But spiteful?
My favorite limerick from college days: (Warning, possible bawdy offense.)
There was a young plumber named Lee,
Who was plumbing his girl by the sea.
She said, "Please stop plumbing,
I hear someone coming!"
He said, "Don't be silly, that's me!"
(One crypto response and one limerick can be forgiven, can't they? No more from me.)
Cuppa: you are definitely British. That SIMILARLY one would probably be right at home in the Guardian or Telegraph, but would never be accepted in any American Cryptic. She returns, spiteful but topless (5) on the other hand would be acceptable (tho maybe a bit more barbed than anything I'd write).
It's late, but here's the solution to mine, a double definition type clue:
Lineman|'s | pole (6)
[{football} TACKLE] [is] [{fishing} TACKLE]
Congrats to Jazz for getting it (JB, I don't think your comments were too much of a spoiler).
Spiteful, but topless DEBRA ?
Old Limerick favorites
Quatrains
Little Mary took her skates
upon the ice to frisk;
Wasn't she a little fool
Her little *
OK, so that's not a limerick, anyway,
There was a young girl named Ann Heuser
Who swore that no man could surprise her,
But Pabst took a chance,
Found a Schlitz in her pants,
And now she is sadder Budweiser.
A bather whose clothing was strewed
By breezes that left her quite nude
Saw a man come along,
And unless I am wrong,
You expect this line to be lewd.
So long.
Cryptic joke from yesterday's clue -
Airline Hostess: Would you like some of our special TWA coffee ?
Passenger: No, but I'd love some of your TWA tea.
Evening, fellow crossworders.
Couldn't remember how to edit my post before publishing (I am not very Google savvy), so its gone.
Read daily, but rarely post. Today was an enjoyable puzzle. Over too quickly.
Hope Yellowrocks & Alan are okay. Almost all of the severe weather from the last 2 days bypassed us here in SE PA & went over to south Jersey instead. Hope they have gotten by largely unscathed.
Off to make like Mr. Creosote.
HG - RE: Sec. Fall - - The Teapot Dome Scandal.
Hope I got in before the buzzer.
Doesn't every word of a cryptic clue have to relate in some meaningful to a part of the answer?
I was taking "topless" to mean the loss of an initial letter, and "She returns" sure looks like it ought to be something female spelt backwards.
De-bra could be topless, I suppose, though a verb and an adjective don't match.
Spiteful? I do not get at all.
JzB [your perplexed trombonist]
Very vanilla Wednesday puzzle. I and everyone else had never heard of ICKES or AVOCET. As for USAIN Bolt, the television was touting the swimming medals of Phelps, but get serious; how many people competitively swim vs. Run. Phelps will fade like Mark spitz but USAIN Bolt holds the record that everybody would want: namely being the fastest person in the world.
Hey Big Easy, I'd heard of Harold Ickes. I can't remember anything about him but I certainly remember hearing his name growing up. Once I got a couple of crossing letters, his name popped into my rusty old brain.
Jazz: look at the first paragraph of my 7:10pm comment. Any word there that's a loose synonym for spiteful? Work with that.
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