Theme: vowel progression - Monday starts with B-vowel progression-D.
17A. Shuttlecock swatter : BADMINTON RACKET
23A. Footwear with pajamas : BEDROOM SLIPPERS
40A. Competitive struggles at Sotheby's : BIDDING CONTESTS
50A. Collective expertise in a field : BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
62A. Spending plan approximations : BUDGET ESTIMATES
Argyle here. So...we have five grid spanners, a Q short of a pangram, and decent fill but it was still 22-Across for me.
Across:
1. "Hooked on Bach" record co. : KTEL
5. Cool cat's music : JAZZ
9. Sudden muscle contraction : SPASM
14. "Rule, Britannia" composer Thomas : ARNE. Clip(3:32)
15. Suffix with sock or smack : EROO. sockeroo - a notable success / smackeroo - 1. a hard slap or swat, 2. a dollar, 3. a noisy kiss.
16. Scrumptious : TASTY
20. Concert hall : ODEUM
21. Hat tipper's word : MA'AM
22. "I'm underwhelmed" : "MEH"
27. Org. for marksmen : NRA. (National Rifle Association)
28. Last word of "Gone With the Wind" : DAY
29. French lady friend : AMIE
33. Take __: doze : A NAP
36. Pie cover : CRUST
43. Online business : eTAIL
44. Capital of 42-Down : OSLO and 42D. Neighbor of Swed. : NORWay
45. TV warrior princess : XENA
46. Sunshine State rapper __ Rida : FLO
48. Tax-collecting agcy. : IRS. (Internal Revenue Service)
59. Bird: Pref. : AVI
60. Actress Sorvino : MIRA
61. Figure skating leaps : AXELS
66. Otherworldly : ALIEN
67. Face hider : MASK
68. "__ Lisa" : MONA
69. Rips to shreds : RENDS
70. Sommer of Hollywood : ELKE
71. PlayStation maker : SONY
Down:
1. Shish __ : KABOB
2. Baseball transaction : TRADE
3. Wrapped up : ENDED
4. Madagascar tree climber : LEMUR
5. Actress Garner, familiarly : JEN. CIA officer Sydney Bristow in the ABC series Alias, 2001 - 2006.
6. Museum display : ART
7. Goes like heck : ZOOMS
8. Broken into regions : ZONAL
9. 1765 statute imposing a tax on printed documents : STAMP ACT
10. Oregon's ocean: Abbr. : PACific
11. "I welcome your questions" : "ASK ME"
12. Range rover : STEER
13. Urban legends, e.g. : MYTHS
18. "That's my cue!" : "I'M ON!"
19. Fridge foray : RAID
24. Algerian seaport : ORAN
25. Tropical fruit : MANGO
26. Oven-safe glassware : PYREX
29. Civil War prez : ABE. (Abraham Lincoln [1809 - 1865] 16th President 1861 - 1865)
30. Cambridge sch. : MIT. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
31. State east of Wash. : IDAho
32. Spiritually enlighten : EDIFY
34. Apt. coolers : ACs. (air conditioners)
35. Salk vaccine target : POLIO
37. Draw upon : USE
38. Dot on an MTA map : STN. (station)
39. Bag-screening org. : TSA. (Transportation Security Administration)
41. Foreboding phenomena : ILL OMENS
47. "Think nothing __" : OF IT
49. Close with force : SLAM or 57D. "Fatal Attraction" actress Close : GLENN
50. Elephant in picture books : BABAR
51. Elementary seed : OVULE. Wiki.
52. Brought to ruin : DID IN
53. Doughnut brand word : KREME. (Krispy Kreme)
54. Twangy-voiced : NASAL
55. Academic hurdles : EXAMS
56. Artoo's "surname" : DETOO
58. Opinion piece : ESSAY
63. H.S. equivalency test : GED. (General Educational Development)
64. "That's a no-no" : "TSK!"
65. Cold War prez : IKE. (Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower [1890 – 1969] 34th President 1953 - 1961.)
Argyle
43 comments:
Looking for a silent game, you'll find BADMINTON lacks it.
Every player, good or bad, will always raise a RACKET!
If you detest a noisy sport
Then to the lanes you should resort,
You can hear a pin drop from ten lanes over, because it's just that quiet!
It was murder most foul, the police would acknowledge
There on the floor lay the BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
He was slain by a mace
Bound with library paste,
Yes, a bookclub from community college!
Good morning everybody.
I had Badmiton Racquet at first.
It fit.
I see this had the only two rappers I know,
Flo Rida and Ida-Ho, OK, almost.
Have a great day everybody, off to the salt mines.
Good morning!
Once finished, I saw the AEIOU progression. But I agree with Argyle's take on the puzzle. I wasn't keen on the SWED/NORW combo. It took me a while with Argyle's map to figure out what Maroc was near ORAN. Does one who hates attending concerts suffer from ODEUM odium?
That's all I've got...
Well, I thought this was a fine puzzle, thank you Bruce and Gail! No foreign words and not a lot of actors/actresses, which I seldom know. Got slowed down in the SW for a while. Then when I came here I discovered that the ONE AND ONLY actress I managed to get wrong (DOH!). Hey, "AROO" made as much sense as "EROO", but gave me "JAN" instead of "JEN". Hey, coulda been! So I ended up with one letter wrong. 😕 still enjoyed the puzzle, though. Great write-up, Argyle, thanx.
Good morning all. Thank you Bruce and Gail, and ARGYLE too.
Oh no. A Monday morning fail. I thought it was BADMItTON. Should have checked the perp. JEN Garner. Unclefred, I had aROO too, so I had two bad letters (is what I meant to say.)
Range Rover = STEER was my favorite.
A Monday FIW for me too. Had kebob/erne instead of KABOB/ARNE. I like KABOB, but always mess up its spelling. NW corner was a problem for me from the get-go, but thought I had survived.
I did not like NORW at all. Can't recall ever seen it abbreviated like that.
Jen saved me because I would have gone with arroo. Don't like rap, don't know rapper names so I let perps fill in FLO.
ZONAL came after I had tried zoned.
No other issues or delays.
"Puzzling Thoughts":
I agree w Argyle - this offering was a MEH, as was Saturday's. I slogged through it, with a final DNF as I "visited" Natick with EDIFY and BODY. Didn't see the AEIOU run; guess if I did I would've gotten BODY !! :~)
Exactly what TTP said... Fail for me too. Cheers, -T
Exactly what unclefred said ... FIW due to one letter.
JaN (instead of JEN) for an Actress I've never heard of seemed OK to me.
At least Argyle had FUN with an excellent write-up.
Off to the beach ... before the rains ...
Cheers!
enjoyed working this one..............
Good Morning:
This was not one of B and G's gems, but it was straightforward and Monday-friendly, so, no complaints. I saw the letter progression after bidding contests. Not a very exciting theme, but kudos for 5 spanners.
Thanks, Bruce and Gail, for starting the week off so gently. Thanks, Argyle, for a lively expo.
We're having another dose of the 3 H's for the next several days; 91 today and tomorrow. It's a good week to be on vacation at the shore! 🏊 🏄 🚣
Have a great day.
Hondo, I also had kebob/erne for kabob/arne. Did enjoy the puzzle though.
JB in VA
Hello Puzzlers -
Hand up for uncertainty at Erne/Arne, compounded by the fact that Kebab has so many variants. Otherwise a standard breezy Monday. The vowel progression is more impressive with those grid-spanners!
5 grid-spanners with a vowel progression on a Monday? Wow, Bruce and Gail, I’ll even let NORW go on a rainy Monday.
Musings
-RACKET vs RACQUET
-Where I get SPASMS and how I try to relieve them
-I met my friend’s girlfriend last week but did not tip my hat, as I knew what it looked like under there after a round of golf
-MIL’s pie CRUST made with lard is the best ever
-NORW – Google’s first offering is Northern Ohio Rural Water
-Why is the MONA Lisa so famous?
-Yeah, JEN Garner looks pretty threatening in that picture
-A current MYTH circulating is that Mars and the Moon will look like this on August 27th. Mars is never more than an non-twinkling pinpoint of light in the sky
-No A/C today or tomorrow here as the highs will be in the soggy 70’s
-You can’t SLAM down the receiver on an iPhone!
-DID IN - In what musical did a character shock everyone at a hoity-toity event by saying she thought her aunt had been DONE IN for a hat?
Seemed a strange puzzle to me. Are LEMUR, as clued, and EDIFY really Monday words?
As others have mentioned, lots of vague spellings did me in, too. KABOB, EROO, NORW. it hurts to have a FIW on Monday!!
I did get all the long theme fills so that soothed my ego a little. The expo was fun (thanks!) and Owen, you always make me smile!
Happy start to the week!!
Pretty much what Hondo said about KEBOB/ERNE, ZONAL and NORW. Definitely a FIW due to KABOB/ARNE.
I've seen KABOB spelled cabob, kebab, kebob and kabab, and since I didn't know ARNE I settled on KEBOB for what I thought was the correct answer. Oh well.
NORW was annoying. Will it be NORWA or NORWY next time.
Other than my minor complaining it was a nice puzzle.
I hope everyone has a great day.
Hello, friends!
DIW for me too!! KEBOB was my first fill and I never looked back, to my sorrow. Otherwise, this was straightforward and easy. I agree that EDIFY, ODEUM and OVULE aren't exactly Monday words but they were identified fairly quickly.
The vowel progression jumped out at me and the five theme spanners are impressive.
Tinbeni:
What? You haven't been following the dramatic divorce of Ben Affleck and Jennifer GARner? Shocking!!
LOL.
Have a splendid day, everyone!
HG @ 1013 - That would be the charming, if crass, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. She further shocked the "gentry" by urging her chosen horse going down the backstretch to "move your bloody arse." What a wonderful movie, with a terrific cast and glorious music.
Well, last week I struggled with Thursday, Friday, and Saturday puzzles, so it was wonderful this morning to find a Bruce and Gail puzzle that actually felt like a speed run! Thank you, both, for that! I was impressed to see five grid-spanners, and delighted that I sussed the theme right after BAD and BED, preparing me that the further downs would start with BI and BO and BU. That helped a lot. So, I loved this puzzle which got my week off to a great start.
Owen, I found your second limerick really clever.
Irish Miss, I too loved "My Fair Lady."
Have a great week, everybody.
Hi gang -
I have to acknowledge the skill and hard work that went into making this puzzle, with it's 5 grid-spanning theme entries. Some of the fill is pretty good, too
That said - yes MA'AM, 22A.
ODEUM on a Monday? EROO is less than MEH; and to me, NORW is a show stopper.
OTOH, BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE DID me IN.
There's always tomorrow.
Cool regards!
JzB
Hello Everyone, I realized there was going to be a vowel progression after I put in the first two long fills. I then went down and put in BI, BO, and BU into the other long fills. It was a piece of cake after that. I did have to wait for Contests to be filled in by perps, but a fast finish none the less.
I had never heard of Flo Rida and Oedum was a new word for me in the context in which it was used. JD, Garlic Gall and I have had lunch in a local restaurant named Odeum. Now I know where it got its name!
It is going to be a hot one once again today. It hit 100 yesterday, and it will be just a tad cooler today, so the weather man says. Thank goodness it cools off at night and we are able to sleep in relative comfort.
Have a great day, everyone. Keep cool.
And I thought it was just me...
Sorry, did not enjoy today's puzzle.
Noticed the starting "B" in the long fills, but took too long to see the vowel progression. No reveal clue didn't help.
WEES aboout KABOB. Spelled so many different ways and did not know 1A or 14A so took a WAG.
ZONAL, EDIFY, ODEUM, OVULE are not Monday words. I agree that NORW was icky.
Amazing that JENnifer Garner (the soon to be ex of Ben Affleck) is not known to everyone. Loved her in "Alias". She is a spokeswoman on Capitol One commercials nowadays.
In the end I finished it, I guess that is what counts.
Let's see what the rest of the week brings.
Over and out....
Just an FYI.
I switched over to your web version to check it out. There was a list of associated crossword names. I saw Stan Newman(the Newsday crossword enthusiast and editor) among them. He is respected and of high regard in the puzzle construction and solving community.
I am not a name dropper, but I am proud to say that he is my cousin. His father, Jerry, and my father, Murray were brothers.
I remember even as a child, Stan stood apart from the norm. He was brilliant in every way, and older than his years. Our family knew he would aspire to greatness. And he did.
Though I haven't seen him in many years, I've kept up with his accomplishments. His parents must be smiling down from above. He's a real mensch.
Let no man (or woman) rent (or rend) asunder this fine Monday offering. You don't expect a challenging crossword, just colorful and not too much 22A fill; and this had enough color, mini-themes and ambiguity to make it interesting. ZONAL/ZONED; the spelling of KABOB/KEBOB/KABAB. I had "ILL WINDS" for some time - but then I've always suffered from poor digestion…and some supra-Monday words, as noted by others.
I thought "SHUTTLECOCK" was chiefly Brit-speak, and that Americans used "Birdie", presumably to avoid the vulgar connotation of the "COCK" part; just as they use "ROOSTER" in place of "COCK" for a male hen. But that might just be me being a bit too cocksure...
Owen: Great Accentual Verse!
NC
Owen:
Great limericks! Thank you.
Happy that I knew ARNE to solve the KABOB choices. I'd have to turn in my UK passport if I'd missed his name. Thanks for the Last Night of the Proms link! Stirring stuff!
….which reminds me, once again, of the classic cryptic crossword clue:
"Pay attention to aural sex?" (4,2,4,4)
[Note: In the cryptic tradition, multi-word answers are shown with letter-count for each word in the answer]
NC
Disclaimer: In view of our earlier consensual slap-on-the-wrist/enforced exile, I hereby promise not to promulgate a cryptic thread, nor encourage others to follow such a diversive/divisive path on this blog.
Those grid spanners are admirable indeed.
NORW is just ugly. Are other neighbors of SWED abbreviated FINL, DENM, and even GERM? No, no no.
I didn't know Jennifer Garner is called JEN, though Jennifer Aniston is routinely called JEN.
MYTH is a cool word; its only vowel is Y. Like rhythm. Nifty crossword fill.
Nice Cuppa made me think that a female chicken (hen) is/was also called a pullet (French poulet, Spanish pollo). Make of "cock and pullet" what you will.
And on that note, I wish you all well.
Filled in fairly quickly today. Did not see the letter progression until I came here.
Saw the CSO to JzB.
Hot here today but no complaints after the cold winter we had!
Bland, but the grid spanning theme answers and Argyle's blogging made it worthwhile.
Buckeroo or buckaroo? Both are ligit. I waited for crosses. I always wait for kabob spelling. LAT has had ARNE, the composer,frequently. Rule Brittania is very famous.
NORW is real, but odd. N, NOR and NO a r e equally odd. What abbreviation would you approve? I like NOR as least objectionable.
Shuttlecock is common in USA and not considered vulgar at all.
Late to the party. I had food poisoning today until 2:00 pm. Maybe from grapes at dinner yesterday? The only food no one else had. A day's appointments canceled.
I was happy to find even a slight challenge on Mon.
Didn't get the theme until BUDGET...: that helped me get BODY...
Is anyone else annoyed with the spelling of Artoo DETOO besides myself? First of all, it should be R2D2 like its makers intended ( I am assuming engineers) And frankly it would be clearer if it were AreTwo DeeTwo. DETOO could also sound like "debt oo" the way it is spelled.
Greetings!
Thanks, Gail, Bruce and Santa!
A bit chewy for Monday, I thought. But, no cheats.
Liked the theme.
NORW? Seemed awkward.
Coneyro: I love the S.N puzzles. Can't find a blog anywhere. Does one exist?
Went to hospital last Thursday. GYN couldn't see me so suggested I go get an ultrasound. FIVE hours in hospital, not including waiting room. They gave me oodles of tests, finally ending with ultrasound. Found fibroid. Rest told me nothing new. All in all, a painful experience. Took two days to recover.
Cheers!
Artoo Detoo spelling is very common to Star Wars fans like my grandson. I sufferred through pretending interest in the stories when he was young. Fortunately my son, his dad, was honestly into it. These days Kenny is into reading history about WW II battles.I enjoy discussing this much more.
Virginia Sycamore, I agree. The original spelling...if you can all it that...was R2D2! It was simply the designation of that particular robot and not a name at all as we think of names.
Laziness, and perhaps even crosswords, have morphed it into a phonetic spelling. Therefore we are forced into the Artoo Detoo mess, by some kind of common consent. I didn't consent! Did you? LOL
Let's not forget that crosswords don't generally feature numbers (although I've seen one or two that did). Hence, R2, by necessity, is Artoo.
Enjoyed the puzzle. Caught onto the theme after entry two. Did find Norw a bit awkward, but accepted it. Had the hardest time with the N in Badminton. If I ever knew that was correct, I forgot it. But Jen was too solid to liberate, and I seriously doubted "Jet" as a pet name. So, a crunchy, yet Monday level puzzle completed.
Come on, guys, Artoo Detoo is right here on the cover of the comic book. It’s not open to purist qualms. It is REAL. It exists, whether you like it or not.
Link Artoo Detoo
Interesting interpretation, Ave Joe! But why , if you are correct, is it not "R-two"? That would also translate the numbers into words. I'm not picking a fight here! It's just an interesting conundrum.
I got it right in this CW and others where it has appeared, but it always bothered me .....as apparently it bothered Virginia, also.
Swamp Cat, as was discussed the other day during the Oxford comma conversation, I don't overly concern myself with precision. I try to make the point with economy. Artoo Deeto has shown up enough times in puzzles to the extent it doesn't phase me. Perhaps R two would be more precise, but I've yet to see it used. So I just go with it. YMMV.
Since R2D2 is the topic
R2D2
Artoo
and
Detoo
Manac, tooooo funny!
and Ave Joe, I agree...we all just go with the flow!
Manac, that's funny, but according to Wookieepedia,
"R2-D2, pronounced Artoo-Detoo and often referred to as Artoo, was an R2-series astromech droid manufactured by Industrial Automaton prior to 32 BBY. Resourceful and spunky, the droid developed an adventurous personality during his many decades of operation. Inside of his cylindrical frame were many arms, sensors, and other tools that could be extended to fulfill various needs..."
had plenty of gadgets, but those last two images you posted showed a couple of tools that were probably never seen on the big screen !
Speaking of gadgets, I saw something new today that was outright amazing. I was in a new subdivision, with many houses under construction. On the main road in, there's a trailer full of materials parked, but no tractor attached. The tractor was a day cab, and it had this McGuyver like device on the rear that serves as a forklift. It was in the back, not the front, but he had a BIG bundle of dimensional lumber on the fork, and made his way to the job site. It had to weigh a ton or so. As happens on job sites, there were a lot of vans and pickups around, and there was only a single lane on his path. This fork allowed him to lift the 20' or more wide load above the ladder racks of the vehicles in his way and get to the intended job. It wasn't quick, but it was neat to watch.
Like this one Ave Joe? I had to Google for it after you described it. Brilliant!
Cheers, -T
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