Theme: Thereby Hangs a Tail - A tale of a jumbled TAIL.
21A. "Let's say we're even" : CALL IT A WASH
54A. It's all in your mind : MENTAL IMAGE
3D. Off-ramps : EXIT LANES
34D. Sudden downturns, and a literal hint to this puzzle's circles : TAILSPINS
Argyle here. The letters of TAIL are spun into different orders. I found this not as intriguing as Monday's offering but still quite nice. I hope our regulars would catch the meaning of the reveal and find the permutations even without the circles.
Across:
1. Think tank nuggets : IDEAs
6. Party freebies : SWAG
10. Hurricane response org. : FEMA. (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
14. Confusion : MIX UP
15. Shakespearean villain : IAGO. (Othello)
16. Ink color, to Shakespeare : EBON
17. Flower symbolizing freshness : DAISY
18. Turkish money : LIRA
19. Barnes & Noble reader : NOOK
20. Sandwich initials : BLT
24. Some corporate jets : LEARS
26. Internet hookups? : E-DATES
27. "Oh my goodness!" : "DEAR ME!"
29. Like much barley soup : BEEFY
31. Marriott competitor : OMNI
32. Tuneful : ARIOSE. This was seen on a Sunday back in September.
34. Line on a restaurant receipt : TIP
37. Slice of pie : PIECE
39. Car starter: Abbr. : IGNition
40. Bitcoin, e.g. : E-CASH
42. UFO crew, supposedly : ETs
43. "Golly!" : "BY GOSH!". Will we have to hear about this being sacrilege from anon again?
46. Like some garage floors : OILY
47. Raise aloft : HOIST
48. "How do you like them __?!" : APPLES
50. Baltimore athlete : ORIOLE
53. What undercover cops may wear : WIRES. Spy stuff.
57. Fido's foot : PAW
60. Proactiv+ target : ACNE
61. Eins, zwei, __ : DREI. ...und es ist ein zwei drei Schläge Sie auf dem alten Ballspiel sind out.
62. Suspected perp's story : ALIBI bolstered by 58D. Provide a fake 62-Across for, e.g. : ABET
64. Downpour that can hurt : HAIL
65. Has a snack : EATS
66. Rolled to hold fries, as paper : CONED
67. Does impressions of : APES
68. Bug repellent ingredient : DEET
69. Rapidity : HASTE
Down:
1. Website with movie trivia : IMDb. (Internet Movie Database)
2. Use a rotary phone : DIAL
4. Vienna's land: Abbr. : AUStria
5. Surveillance device : SPYCAM. More spy stuff.
6. Window shelves : SILLS
7. Cry miserably : WAIL
8. Prefix with culture : AGRI. Agriculture.
9. Chin growths : GOATEEs
10. Green Monster ballpark : FENWAY
11. WWII German torpedo craft : E-BOAT. The submarines were U-boats.
12. Bullwinkle, for one : MOOSE. Rocky's friend.
13. Egyptian crosses : ANKHs
22. __ rug: small carpet : AREA
23. Magazine revenue source : AD FEE
25. Actor Dane of "Grey's Anatomy" : ERIC. Dr. Mark Sloan.
27. Lowdown : DOPE. Info that isn't as dumb as it sounds.
28. Exude : EMIT
29. Intolerant sort : BIGOT
30. Years on end : EONS
33. Tractor trailers : RIGS
35. Dot on the blue part of a map : ISLE
36. Sci. class : PHYSics
38. Deadly African virus : E-BOLA
41. Handle it as well as one can : COPE
44. Produced, as crops : YIELDED. That bottom land has produced/yielded a bumper crop three years running.
45. Reagan's first secretary of state : HAIG. Al “I’m in charge here” Haig
47. Monopoly buys : HOTELS
49. Lead the flock : PREACH
50. City name famously used by Peyton Manning when calling signals : OMAHA
51. Summarize : RECAP
52. Navel type : INNIE
53. Slacks measure : WAIST. at the innie.
55. "Dies __": hymn : IRAE
56. Ration (out) : METE
59. Like EEE shoes : WIDE
63. Mauna __ : LOA
Argyle
41 comments:
Hi Y'all! No circles but I caught the TAILSPIN okay without. Great Tuesday exercise, Janice! Thanks for the expo, Argyle!
Filled this so fast, I missed the clues for BLT & ETS. All perps.
Learning moment; IMDb. Have seen this but didn't know what it meant. All perps.
Didn't know ERIC but he looks worth knowing. All perps.
Why is FENWAY (ESP) the "Green Monster Ballpark"? New nickname to me. OK OK, I'll look it up.
Wiki says the "Green Monster" is the 37'2" left field wall which is painted green. Okay. Glad I checked. I though FENWAY was somewhere else, not in Boston.
Hope my wheat will have YIELDED a bumper crop in another week. The current hot dry weather is a big help for harvesting. Last year the crop YIELDED just enough to pay the taxes on all my land. Insurance was harvested for any profit. HAIL blasted the "bumper" out of it.
{A}
Of a birthday party upon a time, I have a tale to spin,
We had the standard games; a pinata with a tail to pin.
But then a mighty wind arose,
The air was whistling ARIOSE,
And on the paper donkey, you should have seen the TAIL SPIN!
The wind increased its tempo, the whoosh became a WAIL,
The heavens opened up their SILLS, and it began to HAIL!
The kids all grabbed their SWAG
As we herded them inside,
But that donkey hung by wires, still hung on to its TAIL!
We felt the mighty thunder, as lightning struck the tree!
We heard as branches YIELDED to electricity!
At last WASHED fresh as DAISY,
The lawn was rich with candy --
And of that stubborn donkey, still the tail left to see!
{C, C+.}
You'll spend E-CASH on E-DATES, son,
Squire her to E.TEAS, buy her EBON bons.
Spend time afloat
On a sim E-BOAT,
And still not find her turn-EONS!
He was a quick-draw artist from the town of OMAHA.
His sketches altho done in HASTE still garnered awe!
When someone broke his rabbit-foot charm
He reacted with alarm,
Told everyone, "I'm lookin' for the man what killed my PAW!"
Morning, all!
Pretty smooth today, despite not having any circles. I obviously didn't even know there was a theme until I got to the reveal, but yeah, I was able to go back and find the mixed up TAILs throughout.
It helped that both FENWAY and NOOK were familiar to me from personal experience, otherwise that NE corner might have been a bit of a challenge. Other than that, I just had to deal with minor missteps along the way (ARIOSO before ARIOSE, MY GOSH before BY GOSH, etc.)
EBON EDATES ECASH ETS EBOAT EONS EBOLA....EGAD!
Nice simple theme with a creative reveal and no obscurities.
The green monster looms high above Fenway,built 104 years ago.
Growing up in New,England it was a must see. It 60 years ago that I went to my first game. I went to Marlins Park for Fathers Day with a retractable roof (no sunburn or heat stroke) comfortable but not legendary even with the home run toy in centerfield.
Happy summer all
Good morning!
Janice had me chasing my tail with faulty WAGs: Dirt/DOPE, Draw/WASH, Chem/PHYS, Boost/HOIST. My grid is a mess -- but it's finally correct. Thanks, Janet and Argyle.
Lemon, sounds like you had your own personal retractable roof. :7) I've only been inside two major league ball parks: County Stadium when the Milwaukee Braves played there, and the Astrodome in Houston to attend a rodeo many years ago. PK, I didn't know the name of that "Green Monster" ballpark, either. Also didn't know what IMDB stood for. Now I do. Tomorrow I won't.
Argyle: Nice write-up. Especially enjoyed the OMAHA link. LOL
... OK, I admit it ... DEAR-ME, BY-GOSH, I abhor the numerous use of "circles" in puzzles.
Use to be an gimmick used a couple of times a year ...
Now, it seems at least "once a week" ... End of rant!
Fave today was that CSO to our Nebraska Guys with OMAHA.
Cheers!
IMDB- Response to, "Which one of you is Cooper?"
Good Morning.
Pretty smooth sailing with a couple of careless keystrokes on my part. Thanks, Janice. I didn't have the circles and missed the theme, but no harm. Favorite: CALL IT A WASH--reminding me that I should probably get to the laundry today.
Thanks again, Argyle. Loved the OMAHA clip. I've seen it before. Even for a lifelong Bear fan with season tickets for 45 years, my hands down favorite/best quarterback to watch has been Peyton Manning. I've only seen him play with the Colts, but watching him control the offense on the field was a most memorable experience.
Hope you have some shade to enjoy today.
Musings
-Chasing your own TAIL left after the reveal
-If you’re far left, I could see a problem getting to an EXIT LANE
-LaBron HOISTED two trophies Sunday night. NBA champion and MVP
-HAIL here Sunday night was scary but harmless but the 7” of rain…
-I can never find this shirt from Bullwinkle’s alma mater
-A guy I play golf with sometimes reveals he is somewhat of a BIGOT but he’s nothing like what I grew up with
-If your corn YIELDED less than 250 bu/acre last year, you were judged to be not such a good AGRIperson
-Just because you’re PREACHIN’ doesn’t mean anyone is followin’
-The first number in my jeans WAIST line changed this year. UH, it didn’t go down
-OMAHA on the philanthropic Manning team
-FORE!
I loved your theme title, Argyle! A play of words upon a play of words.
I also loved Janice Luttrell's IDEAS on this grid and noticed the E words as mentioned by Lemonade. Circles helped to complete some of the theme answers though it was a swift sashay for the most part. Only two write overs and now I'll remember that it's IMdB knowing it's database. My impulse is to say IMbD for no good reason. Also, ARIOSO to ARIOSE.
PK, I had no idea about the Green Monster, either, but once FEN was in place I could finish it just didn't know why.
BY GOSH and DEAR ME give this a little quaintness.
Tinbeni (from yesterday)
LOL at your remark and it would be entirely laughable if it weren't for the wild fires, 16 now, sweeping throughout the southwest. Flare to flame indeed.
Have a marvelous day, everyone!
Lucina
I have noticed that you are "in flames" there in Phoenix.
Geez, todays High is reaching 113 degrees. (I know, its a "dry heat!")
Here, in the Tampa Bay Area, I have my A/C Off, windows open ...
and it is a pleasant 78 degrees @9:35 am.
Hope you have plenty of ICE!!!
(yeah, I used that 3-letter word!)
Jerome, I'll bet you hijacked that line from somebody else.
Good morning everyone.
DREI mal hoch!. Argyle, the word for inning is Spielrunde and it's feminine. I imagine Newhart would have fun with that.
Nice Tuesday puzzle, no issues. Liked the theme. ARIOSE was a new learning. Been to FENWAY several times.
BH is undergoing hip replacement surgery tomorrow, so posts may be sporadic the next several days.
Have a great day.
Argyle, yep. No circles, but the reveal was clear, and it was just a matter of finding the jumbled letters for TAIL in the longer answers. With three theme answers, I was looking for the fourth and symmetry, but that's where the reveal was. As you said, still a nice puzzle. Thank you Janice.
Internet hookups ? First thought was PC LANS. Second thought was probably not on a Tuesday.
When I see HOIST, I think of hoisting bales of hay up to the loft of the barn using a block and tackle. Then I think of hoisting a few glasses of lager or ale at the end of a long day for a job well done.
Rap, rap, rap (on the window). "Do you like apples ?"
"What ?"
"Do you like apples ?"
"Yeah, I like apples."
"Well I got her number." (Flashes slip of paper). "How do you like them apples ?"
Read exclude before exude, so had omit before EMIT. To paraphrase Cochran, "If omit doesn't fit, then it must be emit !"
Take me out to the ball game... Missed seeing a great pitching duel last night. Strasburg was scratched. Kershaw was in control. No contest. BTW, JzB, did you see that blast Miggy hit ? Unreal. One bounce and out.
I've made homemade fries and doused them with malt vinegar. Not as good as at the county fair. Must be the waxy paper CONED holders that makes the difference.
Spitz, best regards for Betty.
Owen, loved the donkey tale!
Jerome, I don't get it...
Hmm, that reminds me why I have not been able to listen to my Emerson Lake & Palmer
Pictures at an exhibition album. Scratches everywhere...
Jerome and D-O, Groan, and then Groan again.
CED, DB Cooper. "I'm DB"
Alexander Haig was the Supreme Allied Commander for all NATO forces in Europe when I served, and George Blanchard was Commander in Chief, US Army Europe. Both were 4 Stars. Trying to recall which one I encountered on the dock in Rotterdam, Reforger '77. Probably Blanchard.
Good Morning:
This was an easy, breezy Tuesday. Saw the "tail" theme immediately and the reveal confirmed it. I don't think the circles were needed at all. Nice CSO to our Nebraskan Cornerites.
Thanks to Janice and Argyle for a pleasant romp.
Spitz, best wishes to Betty.
Misty, a belated welcome back to the blog.
Have a great day.
Interesting crossing of BIGOT and BY GOSH
Their etymologies appear to be the same = BY GOD. The first is a simple euphemism, the second is from a Germanic oath "bi god", coming to us via Old French.
So there we have it - BLASPHEMY ON THE CROSS.
Tx TTP,
Spitz, Good luck!
Note that an ironing board makes a great adjustable height bedside table...
Speaking on 29D:
Star Ledger Thought for Today is:
"He, who will not reason, is a bigot;
he, who cannot, is a fool;
and he, who dares not, is a slave."
- William Drummond, Scottish writer(1585-1649)
Yes, thank you, my refrigerator keeps me in ice (very courageous of you to use that word). On Sunday it reached 118 yet I can't complain because we had an absolutely beautiful, mild spring right up until June 1st.
Tinbeni:
That's odd. I thought this would be posted in reply to your comments @8:37 but didn't. Anyway my 11:28 post was a reply to you.
Nice theme, and yes, I think we're seeing a lot of circles lately, but as a constructor, it allows you a lot more options and ideas on themes. Thanks, Janice!
Argyle, wish I could go to all the places you show. Really loved the one of Vienna. And LOL on the Omaha clip! Thanks as always!
IMO just right for Tuesday. To each his own.
Hi All!
I had the circles but thought the theme was a CSO to me?! - ITALIA; yeah I know (now), an A & I short, but that's how dyslexia MIXes UP the WIRES in one's MENTAL IMAGE and makes ya' look like a DOPE. LIRA above the circles didn't help un-reinforce the IDEA.
Thank you Janice for a fun Tuesday puzzle - BEEFY in places, but a nice run. Thanks Argyle for the writeup and links.
WO: I wanted Tax for 34a but when I thought TIP, I ink'd Poly-Sci for 36d.
ESPs: 55d & 61a. Their xing (the R) was a lucky WAG.
Fav: CALL IT A WASH. I owe you, you owe me, it's the same thing (@50 of 10:05 -MA). Russel is not a BIGOT; just safely exploring stereotypes.
Honorable mentions: c/a for WIDE and APPLES. The latter nominated for clue punctuation.
OKL - {A}{C,B+}
HG your EXIT LANE link went right off the information super-highway (404).
Spitz - BY GOSH, stay strong for BH. Positive wishes your way.
Lucina - DEAR you, adding fire to 113F? Should we start for you a crowd-fund for tickets to visit Canadian, Eh! ?
I can't let ALIBI go with out a Clapton link.
"Yeah, here's a TIP kid; lose that shirt." -Dangerfield.
Cheers, -T
Cool puzzle. The circles made it easier. Had NOAA before FEMA, ARIOSO before ARIOSE. Looking back at DEAR ME all I could see was DE-ARME; funny how the brain works. Loved the clue for OILY! The clue for BEEFY was pretty good, too.
LW and I are looking forward to watching the USA play Argentina in the Copa Americana futbol match later this afternoon.
Best wishes to you all.
Fun Tuesday puzzle, Janice--many thanks. I happen to like circles, but then our paper shows them so there's never a problem with circle themes. Beautiful photo of Vienna, Argyle!
Nice to be back on the blog, Irish Miss.
Have a good day, everybody!
AnonT:
LOL! I'd love to go to Canada right now! I envy those Canadian geese and other birds, human and avian, that fly at will.
Pretty hard slog today, at least for me. I didn't get enough of the circles in place for them to be of help. Eventually I got 'em all (Oh, except for peeking to find ERIC Dane - oops!), but for whatever reason, I found it a tough go. I may be off my meds...
I got the theme (with the circles) right away so that helped fill in the rest, with preps.
My only sticking point was APPLES for 48A. Never heard that expression. In New Orleans there is a bit of local lore which gives us a similar expression.
Tradition has it that when FDR visited the city some 70 years ago, Mayor Maestri, who had a strong local accent which resembles Brooklyn more than the south, took the president to the famous Antoine's restaurant for Oysters Rockerfella.
Thinking no one was listening he whispered to FDR, "How ya like dem esters, Mr President?"
A reporter overheard him, and making fun of the mayor's accent, blasted it all over the news. And thus a local saying was born, which is still heard today.
Speed run today, but didn't get to it until afternoon for various reasons. Fun CW, thanx, Janice! Great write-up, thanx, Argyle!
TTP- What do you expect from two groan men?
Thank you, Janice, for the entertainment with my lunch. Argyle, your write-up was great with my dessert. Thanks for the links.
22d AREA rugs. When the tri-pawd Dobie visits I put down numerous area rugs on the hardwood floors to give him secure footing.
Jerome: groan men!!!! Love it!
Nice job, OwenKL.
Have a nice evening.
Pat
Wonderful fun today, Owen. The donkey's tail was a ballad!
And yesterday's serious poems were very special.
Thanks for the pleasure.
Too hard to, I must, I can't. resist... The Dude's AREA rug (MA-L). Cheers, -T
Hello Puzzlers -
Speed run today. It took a while for Ariose to look familiar, though.
The word "tailspin" comes from early aviation, when the "spin" phenomenon was thought to be caused by an airplane's tail. It isn't. The cause is entirely in the wings. Even though the aerodynamics of a spin were figured out long ago, the word has managed to hang on.
Jerome, excellent. have you really forgotten D>B> ?
Lem - thank you! I knew I knew DB Cooper but could quite place it. He's talked about at least yearly on the crazy-people channel (if you can't sleep at 2a find Coast To Coast AM - you still won't sleep, but at least it's a giggle). Thank for the link; It makes Jerome's post more funny. C, -T
Jerome, touché. Well played.
Good thing it was a long day from sunrise to sunset. Finally got done cutting the grass about 8 PM. Started about 3:30 after running errands. Normally a couple of hours. But, the snap ring that holds the wheel on the axle popped off, and the front left wheel on John Deere fell off. Inexplicable. Back in fine working order and ready for the next 25 years. Nothing runs like a Deere.
Jerome, you really made me laugh today. I remembered DB Cooper.
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