17A. High-jump style named for 1968 Olympic gold medalist Dick : FOSBURY FLOP. Revolutionary (!) technique introduced by this OSU student:
23A. Morning-after shot : HAIR OF THE DOG. I swear I've never felt like I've needed one, honestly. No, really. Oh well, maybe once.
36A. Last Martin/Lewis film : HOLLYWOOD OR BUST. Dean and Jerry road caper also starring Anita Ekberg. She gets the picture honors.
49A. Subject of 1950s testing : HYDROGEN BOMB.
58A. Lays it on the line : TALKS TURKEY. A curious expression, with no truly believable explanation as to it's origins (apostrophe uncertainty precedes).
Hi everyone - Steve here with Kurt's latest midweeker. I enjoyed the theme and, as convention allows, there's no reveal required as the link between the entries is reasonably obvious. Some nice long downs too. Although there were quite a few 3's, the grid was thankfully light on abbreviations. Nice job!
Let's see what else jumps out.
Across:
1. AARP concern : AGEISM
7. Other, in Oaxaca : OTRA
11. AOL chats : IM'S. Instant messages, IMHO.
14. Quick look : GLANCE
15. Need to retake in summer school, say : FAIL
16. Sylvester, to Tweety : TAT. More usually "Puddy Tat".
20. Adams of "American Hustle" : AMY. Thank you, crosses. 2013 comedy drama which never even blipped on my radar, I had to go look it up.
21. Sitter's handful : BRAT
22. Signal to stop, with "down" : FLAG
27. Spoke out against : OPPOSED
30. Zany : LOONY. Tweety's "Tunes" brand name is spelled with an additional "E".
31. Lobster part : CLAW. Not if you're a spiny lobster. Food!
32. "Wish you __ here!" : WERE
33. Expose, in verse : OPE. Romeo, on the subject of Juliet:
"She will not stay the siege of loving terms,
Nor bide th' encounter of assailing eyes,
Nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold."
She sounds like one tough cookie!
She sounds like one tough cookie!
41. Cold War missile prog. : S.D.I. Strategic Defense Initiative, or derisively "Star Wars".
42. Sound from a pen : OINK
43. Former VOA overseer : USIA. Unknown to me - thank you, crosses! I now know that the United States Information Agency was the overseer of the Voice of America broadcasts.
44. "Bye Bye Bye" boy band : 'N SYNC. No music links yet - I'll spare you this one.
46. Stumped : AT A LOSS
52. Big-grin borders : EARS. Fun clue. Grinning from ear to ear.
53. Flying prefix : AERO
54. Unlike a spring chicken : OLD
57. "Alice" waitress : FLO. 70's-80's CBS sitcom.
62. San Antonio NBA star Duncan : TIM. A very pleasant, self-effacing man if you've ever seen him interviewed.
63. Skin soother : ALOE
64. Daily special, e.g. : ENTRÉE. When I moved to the US I was confused by this being the main course - in England and France it means a course between the appetizer and the main. Marti would not bat an eyelid at three courses, but wonder why we don't all have aperitivo, antipasto, primo, secondo e contorno, insalata, formaggi et fruti, dolce, caffè and digestivo every Wednesday. And that doesn't even include the wine! Fooood! I'm moving to Italy.
65. "Comprende?" : SEE? The more I think about this, the more it seems odd - wouldn't we expect a Spanish answer here (except that the only one I can think of is "Entiende?" and that doesn't fit!)?
66. Remain up in the air : PEND
67. Swordfish servings : STEAKS. Food-fest today.
Down:
1. Former Belgian camera brand : AGFA. Knew the name, but didn't know it was a Belgian company.
2. Steal, slangily : GLOM. Crosses helped here - I thought GLOM meant "cling to, annoyingly".
3. Simple : EASY
4. Having five sharps, musically : IN 'B'
5. Dives with a tank : SCUBAS
6. Like olde England : MERRIE. Quite a lot of times not so much; plenty of wars, famine, pestilence and London catching fire to keep you on your toes.
7. __ a good start : OFF TO
8. 1960s chess champ Mikhail : TAL. Crosses again. This might be a little obscure, what do you think?
9. Ebro, por ejemplo : RIO. 578 miles long, it drains into the Mediterranean Sea. Pretty!
10. Swiss skyline sight : ALP
11. "Shoulda listened to me!" : I TOLD YOU SO
12. Region on the South China Sea : MACAO. A short ferry ride from Hong Kong and popular with gamblers.
13. Immortal college coach Amos Alonzo __ : STAGG
18. Farm attachment? : YARD
22. Bog : FEN. This seems to have cropped up a few times recently.
23. Lupine cry : HOWL
24. Took it on the lam : FLED
25. Deere competitor : TORO
26. Field worker : HOER. Hmmmm. I'll leave it at that.
27. Adolph of publishing : OCHS. Former "New York Times" owner. I never made the connection before, but when Ochs built a new headquarters in 1904 for the Times on what was then Longacre Square in Manhattan, the city renamed it "Times Square".
28. Walk with effort : PLOD
29. Mom or dad, e.g. : PALINDROME. Nice word, fun clue.
32. Bowl-shaped pan : WOK
34. Greek consonants : PSIS
35. Greek vowels : ETAS
37. Ma with a cello : YO-YO. Great stuff.
38. Annex : WING
39. "If I told you __ ..." : ONCE
40. Tulip-to-be : BULB
45. Soon-to-be alumni: Abbr. : SRS
46. Fivers : ABES. "Lady Godivas" in UK rhyming slang (she's not on the note, alas!)
47. Flourless cakes : TORTES. Food!
48. Invoice figure : AMOUNT
49. Lifts with effort : HEFTS
50. Connecticut collegian : YALIE. We had the plural on Monday.
51. In one's birthday suit : NAKED. Just like Lady Godiva.
54. Pickled or deep-fried veggie : OKRA. Food!
55. Onion relative : LEEK. Food!
56. Colorist's supplies : DYES
58. Bug on a wire : TAP
59. Microbrew choice : ALE. Comes out of a 58D!
60. Horror star Chaney : LON
61. Driver's decision: Abbr. : RTE. I let Google Maps make those decisions for me now, it does a much better job than I ever did.
And, in the words of Sylvester and Tweety: That's all, Folks!
Steve
Notes from C.C.:
1) Happy Birthday to our Jam Master Chickie! Chickie has a loving & tight-knit family. Her kids and grandkids will probably celebrate her birthday this weekend.
 |
| L to R: Chickie, Lucina, Garlic Gal, JD, and Dodo |
 |
| Spitzboov
& Betty at the reunion dinner held at the US Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT, 2012 |
This crossword puzzle needs an adjust.
ReplyDeleteIt's a FLOP, it's a DOG, it's a BUST!
I can't remain calm
When faced with this BOMB,
It's a TURKEY we all should mistrust!
This puzzle's the best, not a BUST.
It's DOG-gone good, if you must!
It's a flip, not a FLOP
A BOMB it is not,
The constructor is due TURKEY struts!
Fun write up, Steve.
ReplyDeleteI discovered the theme and thus got FLOP, but the natick at F in FOSBURY did me in. I didn't know AGFA, either, but now that I see it, it rings a faint bell. I wasn't sure of the key with 5 sharps, either. I had to run the entire alphabet in my mind to get the Y in YARD. But I enjoyed the puzzle. ARRGH, beat by two cells on a Wednesday!
Off for Alan's commute. I hope the roads are not ooo flooded.
Morning, all (and Happy Birthday to Chickie and Betty)!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't overly enamored with this one, to be honest. The theme was cute and I figured out what was going on about halfway through, although knowing the theme didn't affect the solve at all.
I went with IN A instead of In B at 4D which, since I didn't know FOSBURY from a hole in the wall, caused me some grief. Mr. STAGG may be "immortal", but I've never heard of him. I knew AGFA made film, but had no idea they also made cameras. I've never seen SCUBAS as a verb before, only SCUBA Diving. I thought "Skyline" always referred to buildings, not mountains. And I always thought the expression was HAIR OF THE DOG that bit me.
Hmmmm... Now that I think of it, all those issues were in the top section of the puzzle. The rest was perfectly fine, but I guess when I get off on the wrong foot like that it kind of sours me on the whole puzzle...
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteThis one started out like a Saturday, but ended in normal Wednesday time. I knew the high jump answer was going to be that backward thingee, but had no idea who invented it. The other theme answers came easily.
Wish You Were Here might remind you of Pink Floyd or Rotten Tomatoes, but folks of a "certain age" might think instead of Eddie Fisher. Or maybe that old postcard standard: Weather's here. Wish you were beautiful.
USIA reminded me of its one-time director Edward R. Murrow. VOA was a propaganda vehicle for the US government. Murrow, along with Fred Friendly, produced some outstanding documentary programs for CBS back in the day. Murrow was instrumental in bringing down "Tailgunner" Joe McCarthy.
Happy birthday, Chickie and Betty!
When I enrolled at Susquehanna U in 1955 Amos Alonzo Stagg, Jr. was legendary there having been athletic director, great football coach and, sometime basketball and tennis coach. He retired in 1954, just before I came. Later I was surprised to learn through crosswords that his father, Amos Alonzo, Sr. is even more famous. STAGG is a crossword staple.
ReplyDeleteI love SKYLINE Drive in VA with its many panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Happy Birthday Chickie and Betty.
Our commute was a bust. We never got to test the waters. We stopped for breakfast. Alan had an anxiety attack so we came home.
Barry- in music the flats are
ReplyDelete1 B
2 E
3 A
4 D
5 G
Sharps are the opposite; GDAEB
This puzzle took a little extra effort due to the unknowns AGFA TAL OCHS GLOM and HOLLYWOOD BUST.
For me, 17A was the easiest because I was a high jumper on the high school track team and graduated in 1968. The FOSBURY FLOP was never done earlier because you would have broken your neck landing in the SAWDUST, but the Cloud Nine air inflated cushions that were becoming available allowed a different style other than the straddle-roll that was previously used. These cushions were too expensive for high schools to use.
11D gave me a little trouble because I had CAT instead of TAT and the 28D 'Mom or dad' clue was a good misdirection that I couldn't grasp until I had most of the perps filled.
But this was a nice EASY Wednesday puzzle and I am AT A LOSS as to why NSYNC could ever become famous, other than a good manager who ended up in prison.
So BYE BYE BYE (never heard it)
Good morning everybody.
ReplyDeleteThis puzzle started easy for me, but took a turn for the worst. I didn't know FORSBURY, AGFA, STAGG, etc.
I thought the clue for 46D was cute: Fivers: ABES
Have a great day!
In other news, the picture of Ms. Ekberg that Steve posted for the HOLLYWOOD OR BUST answer made me think of this brief scene from "Naked Gun 2 1/2 The Smell of Fear."
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Chickie and Betty!
ReplyDeleteFun outing today. Picked up the theme after the first 2 and knew what to expect. Filled in Turkey with just a couple of perps. The only real unknown was Tav, but we've had it before....
I've never owned an Agfa camera, but I burned through at least $10,000 worth of their film prior to going digital. Not only was it a little cheaper than Kodak, but their small 35mm rolls had 15 exposures, not 12. That was a perfect size for my purposes.
And since Wish You Were Here is on the table, why not add one more as a tribute to Robin Williams. From the same album, Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Kevin, I enjoyed the Death of a Clown link from last night. Had never heard that one.
ReplyDeleteGood morning all. Thanks Kevin. Thanks Steve.
Couldn't make sense out of "Morning-after shot" until I got most of the letters via perps.
Never saw "HOLLYWOOD OR BUST" but that one resolved easily.
Just watched a PBS show on the development of the HYDROGEN BOMB.
The easiest answer for me was FOSBURY FLOP. I was second on the high school track team in the high jump. My teammate that was first in high jump adopted the Fosbury flop in the off season. He won sectionals and set our high school record, and qualified for the state championship. He also led the basketball team in rebounding.
Ditto AGFA Steve. They did a lot of advertising in Europe.
I thought GLOM, esp as "glom onto" was slang for becoming part of, or taking part of. Never knew it had anything to do with stealing or theft.
Because of "Wish you were HERE!" how about a little Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Because of "If I told you ONCE ..." how about a little Journey - Walks Like A Lady
Oh yea, fail for me. Had OdE instead of OPE and had no idea pn VOA 3rd letter.
Happy Birthday Chickie ! Happy Birthday Betty !
Hey Joe ! You post came through while I was proofing and previewing. Oh well !
ReplyDeleteSee y'all later. Gotta get crackin'
As a diver I never went scubas. Just went diving. Didn't like Swiss skyline sight and that ebro por ejemplo. Saw that kind of cluing a few times this week and it's getting as old as the Simpson clues. Ok puzzle for a Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteSteve: Excellent write-up. Especially with all the FOOD!
ReplyDelete(Needed ESP for the same answers).
Liked the CSO to Otto with PALINDROME.
Big Easy and TTP: It was nice to see that there are other former High Jumpers here at the Blog.
At 5'10" my best was only 6'4" ... but the FOSBURY FLOP hadn't been invented yet.
Obviously, my fave today was HAIR-OF-THE-DOG ... I've been known to have enjoyed them on occasion.
[And that is "the entire expression" those of us who have done this ... call it!]
Cheers!!!
Hi Y'all! Lots of unknowns for a Wed. WEES plus FLAG evaded me until the end. I staggered on STAGG, not having attended Susquehanna U. The NE filled last. I got the theme. Yay me! Fun despite the trip-ups, Kurt. My mind wasn't NSYNC somehow since I couldn't figure out how "fiver"= ABE until I read Steve's great expo. Duh!
ReplyDeleteS.A.C. (Strategic Air Command) before SDI. SAC bases were all over the middle USA. Never heard of SDI.
TIM Duncan is most admirable. He is now OLD for the strenuous game he plays without ever smiling.
Steve, I also expected a Spanish word at 65a. Finally plugged in the second "E" on SEE and was surprised it was right.
Happy Birthday, Chickie & Betty!
I'm off to see about getting that vacuum if the guy comes with it to follow me around and do the sucking up. Too funny! Talk about liposuction!
Good morning, folks. Thank you, Kurt Krauss, for a fine puzzle. Thank you, Steve, for a fine review.
ReplyDeleteSTAGG was easy after a couple letters. STAGG Field (football field) is in Chicago at the University of Chicago. The A bomb was invented underneath it, I believe.
Theme was fine and a bit humorous.
Liked 29D PALINDROME. Great clue/answer.
Have never been an OKRA fan. Of course in a stew or soup it all blends together.
Watched the guys take down one tree yesterday. One went up with all his ropes, gear, and a saw, and never came out of the tree until it was a stump. Everything he cut of any size was lowered with ropes, not dropped. Amazing! Two more to go. Then the village takes the other two.
Happy Birthday Chickie and Betty, and many more.
See you tomorrow.
Abejo
(1901)
... oops! How could I forget ???
ReplyDeleteNow that my HAIR-OF-THE-DOG has finally kicked in ...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Chickie and Betty!!!
You BOTH have moved to "The Top of the List" for today's Sunset Toast.
Cheers!!!
August 1
Found this to be a bit challenging with all the names, but the theme helped open several areas enough to get it done.
ReplyDeleteI shared Steve's frustration with the ENTRÉE usage here when I was first here. I'm used to it now, but it still feels like I'm misspeaking when I say it.
Congrats to Spitz and Chickie!
And thanks Spitz for that amazing video! I felt sick just watching it, can't imagine actually being up there!
This is a re-post as the first one disappeared.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning:
A bit crunchy but quite doable. Only write over was Stang/Stagg. Fav clue was Mom or Dad=Palindrome.
Well done, Kurt Krauss, and thanks to our Favorite Foodie who made a "feast" of his expo!
Happy Birthday to Chickie and Betty.
Have a great day.
Hi gang -
ReplyDeleteAGFA - FOSBURY Natick left me AT A LOSS.
PSIA - USIA was a near-Natick [so - a Framingham?]
In the process of filling in 36 A I Had _ _ _ ODOR BUST.
Challenging Wed, but enjoyable.
All the Detroit expressways flooded in Monday's rain. First time EVER for that to happen. One spot on the Southfield FWY still had 14 feet of water last night.
I understand the east coast is getting it today, possibly even more severely. Meanwhile, CA has the worst drought ever.
Stay safe, everyone
JzB
Oh, yes -
ReplyDeleteHBD to Chickie and Betty.
Cool regards!
JzB
Hello Puzzlers -
ReplyDeleteZoomed right through, just a few unknowns - Forsbury, Stagg, and USIA. These were easily perped. Didn't have a clue what the theme was until the end, and it was good for a smile.
Morning, Steve, always enjoy your blogging style, complete with food emphasis!
AGFA was a gimme. The waning of film technology and the decline of the mighty Kodak Company have been much on my mind lately, because I found so much old photo and movie stuff in the family attic. There were lots of the familiar yellow Kodak boxes, and there was one pristine unexposed roll of AGFA 35mm film. AGFA was dominant in Europe, but here at home Kodak was clearly king. I now find I miss the store displays, with diamond shaped cubby holes full of yellow film boxes.
Good morning everyone.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Chickie.
A stellar puzzle today with much fresh fill. Haven't seen PALINDROME in a while. Other eclectic fill (for me) included OCHS, AGFA, MACAO, FOSBURY____, and HEFTS. Fun to suss out the theme, too.
AGEISM - A new ratchet pawl for BH, today.
LEEKS - The biggest and most delicious looking leeks I ever saw was in the Farmer's Market, Bytown, Ottawa, some years ago. Love leek soup.
Kurt - Gut Gemacht!
C.C. - Betty and I thank you and all those who have expressed good wishes to her today.
Glad you like the recent links.
Here's a related one on the perils of being a Wing-Suit Skydiver.
Greetings, Puzzlers!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Chickie! Happy birthday, Betty!
WEES. Today was fun but not necessarily EASY. Since I didn't know FOSBURYFLOP, I thought all the theme answers would start with H. TALK TURKEY disabused me of that idea. Across/down solving was de rigueur today for some unknowns and obscure cluing. However, AMY, FLO and even Amos Alonso STAGG are all familiar and that provided much needed anchors. Hand up for expecting Spanish at 65A.
Sword fish would not be my first choice for STEAKS.
Steve, I almost spit out my coffee with the image of Lady Godiva on a fiver.
Thank you for the amusing review.
Thanks to Kurt Krauss for a good jump start to my day.
R.I.P Lauren & Robin. You both brought us special joy.
Have a special Wednesday, everyone!
Good morning everyone!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Chickie and Betty! (Spitz, @ 10:16, GUFFAW!!! )
¸¸¸.•*¨*♫♥♫¸¸¸.•*¨*♫♥♫¸¸¸.•*¨*♫♥♫¸¸¸.•*¨*♫♥♫
Steve, very entertaining write-up, as always! I had to chuckle at your comment on ENTRÉE. The first time I took my MIL to dinner in Milan, we had aperitifs and antipasto, followed by a primo of Ravioli. She ate every bite, and then announced, “That was the best meal I have ever had!” She was totally shocked to find out that we had another 4-5 courses to go!! (^0^)
I had slow going in the northern hemisphere, for the same reasons others have stated. (TAL, STAGG, AMY…I’m looking at you!) I knew it was ***BURY FLOP, but couldn’t remember the alliterative name until perps jogged my memory. (AGFA, GLOM, EASY…thank you!)
I think I’ve seen this theme several times before, but it was still fun to figure out the entries.
We are getting pounded with rain today – thank goodness. Not only do our lawns really need it, but I get a day off from painting the house next door. Yippee!
Chickie, on behalf of all the Anons here, I would like to wish you the happiest of birthdays. You tower head and shoulders over the other women of this blog. Literally.
ReplyDeleteBetty, we don't know you, but Spitz always seems to be in a good mood, so you must be doing something right. Here's to hoping he returns the favor.
Happy Birthday!
Well, bit of a toughie for a Wednesday, what with the unknowns others have mentioned. Had to do a lot of alphabetizing to get words like FOSBURY. But the theme was a lot of fun, so, many thanks, Kurt. And Steve, you were in great form today with your ENTREE, OCA, and Times Square explanations. I too wanted to put YAM and couldn't understand why it wouldn't work.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Chickie and Betty!
Have a great Wednesday, everybody!
Lots of material for tuneagement today.
ReplyDeleteFor Lauren Bacall
The weather is here. I wish you were beautiful
Just dropped in to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, Chickie! Hope you have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteHave not started the puzzle. Looked at 1Aand just howled. There are LOTS of concerns
Later..
Happy birthday Chickie and Betty! I hope you both are well and have an enjoyable day (and week and year and...).
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the puzzle. Though I've never been a track star, I certainly knew the Fosbury Flop (though I wasn't sure how to spell it).
Cornell was where I first learned 'Turkey' to mean a stupid person, a jerk, etc. I'm glad the expensive tuition wasn't wasted. O'course I also met Barbara there.
I wish we could have some of that rain some of you guys are having.
See ya later.
A very happy birthday to Chickie (one of our long standing regulars) and Betty (who puts up with one of our long standing regulars) and many more. Kurt has presented another fine puzzle with some meat on the bones, but Fosbury was a gimme as was as was Stagg.
ReplyDeleteUSIA was my biggest slowdown and I apparently have a mental block with Mr. TAL, who we have had many times but it all filed easily and the theme was cute.
My uncle used AGFA in Hassleblad.
Thanks as always Steve, you make it look easy
HAIR OF THE DOG, by Nazareth, came out the same year as Wish You WERE Here - 1975.
ReplyDeleteIf you're pretty hungover today,
ReplyDeleteAnd the headache just won't go away;
Since you're still in a fog,
Have a HAIR OF THE DOG
That bit you, while it found you astray!
In their split-level Alaskan home,
Where Russia's seen from the city of Nome;
Their kids always knew,
As you do now, too,
"Mom" and "Dad" were the best PALINDROME!
Though the picture Steve posted does show how he went over the bar, here is a clip from the 1968 Olympics showing him win the Gold Medal.
ReplyDeleteFosbury Flop (1:19)
What I also like about this clip is that it shows the losing Russian doing the former dominant High-Jump "Straddle technique" ... for his 3rd Place, Bronze Medal.
Here is are skylines for us nature lovers.
ReplyDeleteLink skylines
Oops! Happy Birthday Chickie and Betty. Many happy returns!
ReplyDeleteYellowrocks, they is are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMy "puzzling thoughts":
ReplyDeleteI was OFFTO a great start with the NW corner; the FOSBURY FLOP was indeed a "revolutionary move" in the world of track and field. AGEISM was a "Meh" but it fit and completed GLOM.
I went to the bottom half of the crossword, as I was initially ATALOSS for the middle, western border (eventual answers of OCHS, SDI, OPPOSED). But I gradually used perps and a couple of WAGS to get everything to fit correctly. I used to live near the VOA Relay Station in Butler County Ohio, but, as others admitted, did not know that it was the USIA that oversaw the VOA. The area around the VOA in West Chester OH is now a major shopping plaza.
I liked the use of 34D and 35D next to each other (Greek Consonants and Greek Vowels = PSIS and ETAS); 42A was a cute clue and solve (sound from a pen = OINK). Last words entered were OCA and MACAO in the NE corner. I knew STAGG and the others, too. OCA/MACAO was a WAG that happened to be correct . . .
Was a bit surprised that no one commented on my link to Verve Records yesterday. No jazz fans here??
Chairman Moe, I do remember Verve records with Ella, Stan, Oscar and, of all people, Shelley Berman.
ReplyDeleteRemember Archie Bleyer's Cadence Records? He had the Chordettes (married one of 'em), Andy Williams, and the Everly Brothers. Not sure how Link Wray got in there. I'm guessing Archie must've lost a bet.
Wow found a puzzle in a box of dishes that was packed with newspapers. BR Advocate Sept. 9, 2004 A Barry Silk on a Thursday. Almost nailed it but had Anne S instead of Agnes for Cecil B niece. What a find !!
ReplyDeleteChairman Moe
ReplyDeleteI "checked-out" the Verve link yesterday ... but wasn't "in the mood" to go searching for something to listen to.
OK, I'll admit that when I "check-out" a link ... I prefer to have something "already selected" for me to watch, read or listen to.
Whenever I post a link ... I don't expect (nor demand) that others here comment on that link.
Hi everyone,
ReplyDeleteSteve, thanks for the great write up. I had never heard of TALKS TURKEY; it might as well be TALKS SMURF since turkey seems to be used to mean anything these days.
Also thanks for those lines from Romeo and Juliet. Whereas I will not be using the phrase "talks turkey" anytime soon, I might make "ope her lap" a new household euphemism. After all, how could she not ope her lap for Dick Fosbury every time she saw him flop.
I liked the "I oca what I oca." Maybe it will help me remember that answer more quickly in the future. Incidentally, my wife's favorite Robin William's movie is Popeye.
Hello all,
ReplyDeleteI'm fairly new to this venue and need a bit of insight. What are 'perps' and 'wags?'
(Plus any other jargon I may need to know)
Thanks in advance.
Wag is wild a$$ guess. Perps are letters that are there from other words .
DeleteMusings
ReplyDelete-We like Melissa McCarthy and so we went to this FLOP, TURKEY, BOMB, DOG,
-Modern FOSBURY FLOP jumpers can’t believe we used to jump face down
-As seen with this lovely “flopper”, the Fosbury method rewards flexibility as much as height off the ground
-Dean and Jerry grew to hate each other and this guy tried to reunite them in 1976 to no avail
-AGEISM? I’ve turned down three jobs since I retired!
-Summer school was always a punishment. Hardly anyone benefited
-It’s hard/dangerous to stop for anyone FLAGging you down today
-A church down the road voted to build a new facility when it was well known those OPPOSED were going to be out of town. What a mess!!
-I love lobster but that CLAW meat is expensive and takes work to get
-More annoying? This FLO or that gecko?
Seeing TIM, et al beat the Heat was very pleasing to me
-A real DEERE competitor around here
-All the retirement homes are adding WINGS in our town
-“If I told you ONCE, I’ve told you a million times, don’t exaggerate!”
-HBD, Chickie and Betty!
Husker Chuck, see the "Comments Section Abbrs" in the sidebar on the first page of the blog.
ReplyDeleteYou win some and you lose some.
ReplyDeleteVery good news! Alans' MRA came back negative for an Aneurysm. YAY! We dodged that bullet.
Pending, more tests in Sept. I suspect multiple interconnecting causes.
Bad news: Alan is very sick in bed all day today. He mostly sleeps. It looks like a repeat of the three weeks of illness he had in June. The reason is still unknown. Back to square one. And he is quite scared. Me, too.
YR, our prayers for you and him.
ReplyDeleteBoo... AGNES was quite famous in her own right. Finding an old Silkie would be fun.
I also assume BR stands for Baton Rouge? Hahtoolah where are you????
Yes it is Baton Rouge. I live in Eunice which is a little over a hours drive west of the Westside of br in the heart of Cajun Country.
DeleteHappy birthday, Chickie and Betty. It makes me smile to see how happy you two look.
ReplyDeleteTerrific writeup, Steve.
Wanted BARN until perps made me realize the answer was YARD.
I also have never heard SCUBA as a verb, but I am never ever again going to question the correctness of the cluing.
I have never thought of MACAO as "Region on the South China Sea" but rather as two land masses in the South China sea. The Sargasso Sea is a region, or an area, in the Atlantic Ocean, not on it. But again, I'm not going to question the correctness of the cluing. Just picking the ole nits today.
Best wishes to you all.
Wees! I managed to successfully Wag oca/stagg & ope/psi/usia, but the Natick of agfa/fosbury made me go belly up... (Sorry, bad pun...)
ReplyDeleteHusker Chuck, your guide to the abbrs is half way down the right side of the Blog under a section called "OLIOS."
Also Wees re: Glom, I also thought it meant stick to something unpleasantly.
Never saw the theme, I was too busy grumbling about the Naticks...
Follow me & it won't be a flop...
I couldn't get past this funny dog...
I recently tried chocolate covered bacon! Delicious! However this guys fruit attempt was a bust! caution, slightly DF...
This is just too wrong, Bomb...
This is just tooo cute, Turkey...
HBD Chickie!
HBD Betty!
Tinbeni, I am finding more and more that I agree with you about.
ReplyDeleteMoe -
ReplyDeleteI'm a jazz fan (surprize!)
But missed the blog yesterday.
Kai Winding also recorded on Verve.l
IIRC, that's Phil Woods on alto, Kai on the trombone sole.
Cool regards!
JzB
Greetings!
ReplyDelete(No swim today, so get to blog at a reasonable time.)
Happiest of birthdays to Chickie and Betty!
Thanks for puzzle and write-up, Kurt and Steve!
No problems, really. Just needed some perps.
Did anyone see the end of Murder in the First?
Cheers!
Lemonade714, thanks for responding to my question about IOL yesterday.
ReplyDeleteThe very first album I ever bought was on the Verve label. The Righteous Brothers Greatest Hits.
ReplyDeleteIncluding Ebb Tide. This is how addictions begin. Never did buy a 45. Not one.
We've had three fairly easy puzzles this week, and because of my stupid mistakes they've all been DNFs. I don't think things are going to improve until next week. Thanks to all the constructors and bloggers for your time and effort. I enjoy your work.
ReplyDeleteTinbeni: in the Basic Crossword puzzle in today's paper, 7D clue/ans.: nip/PINCH! Finally! Right answer, wrong puzzle.
Happy Birthday to two very lovely young ladies! I hope your day is special.
Pat
YR - Great news about the MRA, but I'm sorry to hear about Alan's present condition, not to mention the worry and stress you're both suffering. Prayers and more prayers.
ReplyDeleteFerm - Yes, I watched the ending of Murder In The First and was so glad the Evil Eric got his comeuppance.
Jayce @ 3:23, thanks for taking over for my nit-picking for today! (^0^)
ReplyDeleted-o @ 1:41 - can't say that I recall that label, but when I googled it, I found that it was the label for Vaughn Meader and his comedic rendition of The First Family. Meader's career pretty much ended when JFK was assassinated. I do remember the album as my Dad had it in his stash of LP's
ReplyDeleteTinbeni @ 1:50 - neither do I, put point taken. Here's one of my favorite VERVE performers, singing one of my favorite Billy Joel songs.
JzB @ 3:56 - thanks for the Kai Winding clip. Here is a link to another of my favorite Verve Jazz Greats, doing On Broadway
Yellowrocks @ 5:50am & 2:43pm - Thank you for introducing "natick" into my crosswordese vocab (a la Rex Parker). I certainly had some natick snags today. I enjoy Rex Parker's write ups of the NYT puzzles, but I have never posted on his blog because it is not nearly as interactive and cozy as this Corner--and I shall add in earnest that I prefer the write ups here (with all due respect to Rex).
ReplyDeleteMy NYT learning moment today was that Mark Twain's burial place is in Elmira, New York. I have been to his house in Hartford, CT, but didn't know he was buried in NY. Anyway, I only mention this because it made me think of you, Yellowrocks, and your love for Twain. I am glad to hear about the test results and hope that Alan feels better.
On a note to everyone else: I really enjoy all of the links the people post on this site and feel bad that I never have the time to comment on them all; in effect, however, there are so many good links that I think it would take far more than 5 twenty-line posts to acknowledge how neat they all are in their myriad ways. So Kudos to everyone!
Chairman Moe, I remember that album -- "Vote for the Kennedy of your choice, but vote!"
ReplyDeleteAnd speaking of jazz, who can't remember this classic scene from Jerry Maguire when the nanny, Chad, asks Jerry to use his Miles Davis/John Coltrane tape before engaging in sex with Dorothy. "No borders, no bounderies, jazz!"
ReplyDeleteHola Everyone, Somehow this puzzle was easier than the one yesterday. I didn't get to it until after lunch, but finished it in no time.
ReplyDeleteI loved the clue for Mom and Dad. Also, In B for having 5 sharps. Hard wouldn't fit. I hated playing piano pieces with more than three sharps!
Since we had Ebro in one of puzzles very recently, Rio was a given.
C.C. Thank you for the shout out for my birthday. Also, Spitz for the links. The workers on the Christ the Redeemer Statue are very brave men.
Also, Happy Birthday to Betty. It is always fun to find someone else with my same birthday.
And yes, we had a dinner celebration for my DH's birthday and mine this past weekend. HIs is on the ninth of Aug. However, our great granddaughter will be here with her parents to celebrate again on the 23rd. I can't wait to get my hands on that new little one.
Thank you each and every one for the birthday wishes. They are much appreciated and taken to heart.
ReplyDeleteYR, my thoughts are with you and yours.
CED, I didn't know that I had a delicious chocolate dessert named after me. Those Chocolate Chickie Cake Balls were delicious.
Thank you for the treat.
Argyle, in response to Kevin's mention, could you link the picture of the ale that was named after Rex? :-)
ReplyDeletetesting out sending a link with new computer
ReplyDeletemarmotENJOY!
Used my eraser quite a bit today..lots of unknowns, but doable with Mr. G. sigh.
Happy birthday Betty.
-T, Jazz, and anyone else who was interested in Cryptic clues: do please let me know what you think of the experiment on the cryptic blog today!
ReplyDeleteHeartRx @ 4:35, you're welcome! (^0^)
ReplyDeleteYR, it must be very hard for you not to know the reason, but ruling out an aneurysm is good news. Loved your skylines. I never appreciated Van Gogh's many paintings of the rolls of wheat until I saw them on our last trip down the Rhine.
ReplyDeleteBoo luquette at 5:33 PM - Geaux Tigers!!
ReplyDeleteYes that's how we spell GO down here !!
DeleteA little mouthful that doesn't have any concept of his diminutive stature. Two dogs
ReplyDeleteSpitz, is your wife getting along with Veronica better these days? (I always liked Betty better.)
Ale
ReplyDeleteAle
ReplyDeleteAle
ReplyDeleteAle
ReplyDeleteBetter use the Designated Driver.
ReplyDeleteThat was fun.
ReplyDeleteAnd it was a graphic display of the diverse interests of our group. Thanks Argyle and all else.
HI All!
ReplyDeleteHBD Chickie & Betty!
I SEE I'm not the only one that issues today. I finally had to lookup AGFA (I had the F) to finish out the NW. DNF on an otherwise fun puzzle. Thanks KK & Steve for the entertaining writeup.
Fav. HAIR OF THE DOG is a close runner up (esp. after NOLA trip), but i PALINDROME i wins out.
You may be OPPOSED to some of the c/a pairs today - I'm just happy I CLAWed my way back from a total DNF.
Thanks all for the links - they helped passed the time during a canceled meeting - CED - so glad I didn't click on your chocolate banana at the office :-)
TTP - do you see AGEISM in IT in CHI? I don't in HOU - we grey-beards can run circles around the ute.
PK - SDI Strategic Defense Initiative aka Star Wars from the '80's. Here's more '80s that introduced me to VOA and I looked up USIA. (Red FLAG - OLD EARS beware, same with anyone who hates stupid LOONY goofs who TALK(S)TURKEY.
Argyle - Funny. I've played on REX's blog and most (not all) seem to fit the shoe.
Cheers, -T
Ha, that was quite an Ale storm; I feel a little bit tipsy.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Rex Parker Ale, I am a little disappointed it wasn't a Pale Ale. Some people could benefit by a little extra vitamin D, in my worthless opinion.
Now I have to go on Craigslist to see if I can buy a horse and a dog that knows how to steer one in order to cut back on those taxi fees :)
Kevin, if it helps, I have a camel saddle. True story. But I don't actually have a camel, so you'd have to find that. Let me know if you're interested. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt re: Sob Softly - it is too tempting and doesn't seem to add to the conversation nor the solve - I'm still AT A LOSS on both.
ReplyDeleteOK, Ave Joe - where did you get a camel saddle and why did you get one?
Cheers, -T
Avg Joe, I probably shouldn't ask why you have a camel saddle; yet, I will say that getting humped home on a camel driven by a dog sounds like something I'd be interested in pursuing further. Is it safe to assume that PennySaver has a whole section on camels for sale?
ReplyDeleteReally nice to see a lively Corner.
ReplyDeleteAle to all the posters!
Joyce you are more than welcome.
Rec Parker is quite popular, he used to visit here once in a while but he got angry and has not been back. The different philosophy of the NYT seems to extend to their bloggers. I find it hard to accept there being only one way to create and critique puzzles.
Thanks for all the entertainment
Okay kids, gather around the fire, because we are about to hear the legend of the camel saddle...
ReplyDelete(honestly, I don't think it will get any better than what is about to come on other crossword blogs)
Splynter, if you are lurking, please tell us you are okay. I saw a TV segment on flooding on Long Island.
ReplyDeleteWhat the ale are you guys up to tonight? LOL! If it gets much drier in places, one or more of us might have need of a camel. AvgJoe, hang on to your saddle for top dollar!
BUSTed by self - error in post - it should have read "OwenKL in re":..
ReplyDeleteLEM - I kinda agree - Simple curious questions are shot down as if everyone knows the FLO(w). C.C. has created a great place here W(h)ERE dumb-s**ts like me can ask an honest curious question and get a real answer.
I'd try to call out all for their contributions, but I know I'd miss an important contributor.
Cheers, -T
I'm over my allotment of posts, but the question begs...
ReplyDeleteI bought the camel saddle at a garage sale. Why? Because it was there... And I've always wanted one. It's the epitome of kitsch. They're used as ottomans. It took me at least an hour at said garage sale to decide I wanted it. But I did not negotiate price. $10 seemed fair. It was a "yes-no" proposition, not one of cost. So, after much mental wrangling, I came home with a saddle. My wife is still questioning my judgement.
And even though we'd have room to graze a camel, it's never been a desire to actually own one. So we shall remain camel-less.
But hey! I more recently went to another garage sale and they had not one, but two English riding saddles. I commented on them, but discretion ruled and they did not come home with me. Domestic tranquility prevails.
And all was quiet on the Western front:)
ReplyDeleteKevin we may not always right but we have fun and try to take care of each other in the cyberworld, laughing ND learning and producing great puzzlerd
ReplyDeleteAvg Joe - I probably have overstepped my posting limits as well, so I will end on this. When selecting items for our wedding registries a few years back, I added a chainsaw for good measure. My fiancé-now-wife simply said, "That's a nice touch" and quickly proceeded to change all of the registry passwords. The best part is that we lived in an apartment and had no trees; she did not bother to inquire, I did not feel compelled to explain.
ReplyDeleteAah, the art of domestic tranquility!
In re: Lemonade @ 9:39
ReplyDeleteI've seen you take a pretty snooty attitude yourself over at Amy's site, so watch what you're saying.
And, really, watch what you're saying. Your constant typos are truly atrocious and mind boggling.
Dinner (supper?) is mostly cooked. Barbara got a well-marbled piece of prime boneless rib-eye steak at Costco and I got it back up a bit hotter than body temperature on the propane grill. I even smeared on a very little bit of Jeff Foxworthy BBQ sauce about halfway through. It has a really good but subtle flavor.
ReplyDeleteNow, baked potatoes and an ear of corn cooked and husked ala the microwave CWC recipe.
Anon (10:50), it's always helpful to get your thoughtful, snarky, unattributed, uninformed opinions. I live for your posts. It also speaks volumes about your ignorance and/or thoughtlessness when you choose to complain about typos by a person with serious vision problems. Oh well...
Other than that, I've been really enjoying the more-than-usual late night activity around here. Such an enjoyable group of people to hang out with. (With whom to hang out?)
Excelsior!
Sorry, but I am now going to commit a major faux pas and comment once more after I have already said I have stopped. I feel like I locked into a certain discussion and did not acknowledge other (more long-standing) voices, so:
ReplyDeleteLemonade @ 10:16 - I wholeheartedly agree with what you said. I have been to so many other sites, and the majority of posters simply want to vent, pat themselves on the back, curry favor, hear themselves speak, or rip others apart.
This is why I adore the Corner: it is a place where people share, learn, grown, help, and support each other. When a place is this harmonious, it is inevitable that a few pathetic anons will stop by out of jealousy to attempt to bring down the camaraderie.
That said, and since it has become apparent today that nobody goes to anybody other's links (JK), I will definitively leave on this song:
Cheers Theme Song
Kevin:
ReplyDeleteWe'll let you slide - this time... :-) Bill G - No math pzls in weeks, what AMOUNT of time must pass?
Nick Anderson, the local ed. cartoonist had this today. I nearly teared up.
Cheers, -T
@Kevin - chainsaw hilarity.
ReplyDelete@AvJ - English saddles are definitely better as a decoration than to actually sit on one. I think they were designed to help assuage some Victorian misplaced guilt "If you're going to ride on that poor burdened creature of God, you're sure as hell not going to like it".
It's why we have ALE. Numbs the senses.
Many Happy Returns to the Birthday Duo.