TITLE: AT THE TURN - Holes 1 - 9 are said to be the "front nine" in golf. Being at the turn means you've finished the front nine and are heading for the "BACK NINE", holes 10 - 18 and that is where Gail and Bruce are taking us today
Gail and Bruce have given us this theme by not only hiding the word NINE but spelling it backwards in three long fills as you can see in the grid below.
Here is their reveal:
59. Take on holes 10 through 18 ... and a hint to a letter sequence hidden in 17-, 27- and 45-Across : PLAY THE BACK NINE
There is a golf apparel business shop with that name in its logo.
The actual theme fills with the ENIN motif are:
17. Stock in company producing solar panels, e.g. : GREEN INVESTMENT - Perhaps one day we can invest in a Solar-Powered charging station for electric cars like this one at the University of Iowa. It will charge 40 cars/day for a 30 mile run.
27. Exonerated by the evidence : PROVEN INNOCENT - He was "found not guilty" not "PROVEN INNOCENT"
45. Standing hospitable offer : OPEN INVITATION - Our lovely, though too infrequent, blogger Chef Wendy has this house on Kauai. She has told me that Joann and I have an OPEN INVITATION to visit her and use the bedroom on the right side of this picture.
Resident golf hacker Husker Gary here, ready to holler FORE and hit the cwd links with Bruce and Gail:
Across
1. Rough guess : STAB
5. Company that developed the first aluminum teakettle : ALCOA
10. Pre-coll. catchall : ELHI - Not a favorite word with this veteran educator, but waddaya gonna do?
14. Words of lament : AH ME
15. Inventive types? : LIARS
16. Wild way to run : RIOT
20. California rolls and such : SUSHI - "SPICY TUNA ROLLS" was in Mark Diehl's Saturday puzzle
21. Bud holder? : KEG
22. Touch-and-go : RISKY - Two girls trying to emulate Tom Cruises's entrance in RISKY Business.
25. Cato, for one : ROMAN
33. Single : LONE
34. Suggested actions : DO'S - A DO and a DON'T for Uggs
35. Wish for : DESIRE
37. In-flight fig. : ALT - Altitude
38. Jack's value, sometimes : TEN - Pair it with and ace and you're good to go!
39. Spearheaded : LED
40. Fixture that may have claw feet : TUB
41. Closed in on : NEARED
43. Fish that can swim backwards : EEL
44. A.L. West pro, informally : STRO - Some people like to call the Huskers the Skers. I'm about as big of a fan of that as I am of ELHI.
48. Five-time Olympic swimming gold medalist Ledecky : KATIE
49. Church-owned Dallas sch. : SMU
50. Moth-__ : EATEN
53. "Inside Politics" airer : CNN - Their final pre-election poll was as errant as most others
55. Initial stage : ONSET - It's hard to believe that just a year ago near the formal ONSET of this past election we were really interested in the Iowa Caucuses.
62. Vacation spot : ISLE
63. Nemesis : ENEMY
64. Canal past Rochester : ERIE
65. Far from friendly : COLD - Maybe most faculties aren't as COLD to sub teachers as they are indifferent
66. Parceled (out) : METED
67. Frees (of) : RIDS
Down
1. Loses firmness : SAGS
2. No __ traffic : THRU - This sign might work as well
3. Former Iowa Straw Poll city : AMES
4. Dwelling fit for a queen : BEEHIVE - She's right there...
5. Boxer Laila : ALI
6. Website offering : LINK
7. Stalactite sites : CAVERNS
8. Home of college football's Ducks : OREGON
9. Mule's father : ASS
10. White-coated weasels : ERMINES
11. Golf ball positions : LIES - First rule in golf - "Play it where it LIES"
12. Sound of frustration, often : HONK
13. __-bitty : ITTY
18. Good-natured : NICE
19. Copied, in a way : TRACED - I hated it when I TRACED in books like this
24. Called the whole thing off : ENDED IT
26. Early assembly-line autos : MODEL T'S - You could have one any color you wanted EXCEPT black for the earliest ones. Years later, Ford figured out that using only black paint was cheaper and speeded up the process.
27. Arrange : PLAN
28. Logger's contest : ROLEO
29. Ready to draw, as beer : ON TAP
30. Physics particle : ION - Has an excess or deficiency of electrons
31. Capone cohort : NITTI
32. Cape Cod community : TRURO
36. Black, in verse : EBON
38. Studio renter : TENANT
39. Sweet-smelling garland : LEI
42. Typed in again : REKEYED - My specialty (curse)
43. 50-50 wager : EVEN BET - I know the Sunday LA Cwd is carried in fewer newspapers and so this is a repost of an image from my comment on Gail's solo Sunday puzzle. Two punters died this summer in a car crash, one from Nebraska and one from Michigan State. The Big Ten minted this coin to be used in the 50-50 coin toss before each game.
46. __ Creed : NICENE
47. Wild way to run : AMOK
50. Large-scale : EPIC
51. "One more thing ... " : ALSO - One of his catchphrases
52. Towering : TALL
54. Put a handle on : NAME
56. Apple Watch assistant : SIRI
57. Oklahoma city : ENID
58. Driving needs? : TEES - Apropos for a golf-themed puzzle day
60. Clothes line : HEM - HEM lines and the stock market
61. Dancer Charisse : CYD
Well after finishing the BACK NINE, I think I'll head for the clubhouse and let you TEE off with your comments!
Greetings!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gail, Bruce and Gary!
Took longer than usual today. Same time as NYT, which wouldn't present itself until 1:00 AM.
Didn't know OREGON and TRURO. MODELS took awhile (stupid me).
Am enjoying Good Behavior. Dockery is quite an actress!
Have a great day!
Terrific fun romp of a CW....except the NE where I got stuck for a while. I seemed to be on the right wavelength for this one, for some reason all the long theme clues just popped right into my head. 10A, 16A, 11D, 12D just buggered up my head for the longest time, though. After racing tight through this CW, I came back to the NE and sat looking at it for the longest time, causing me to run way over my usual Wednesday time. Finally, HONK made me realize TEES was wrong for 11D, and then I remembered ELHI, and the NE fell with LIES. Thanks for this nice CW, GG & BV!! And for the terrific write-up, HG!! Have a nice hump-day, everyone.
ReplyDeleteFIW. Couldn't figure out why the crossing of UNDID and TEN wouldn't match, but didn't have a doubt about I.C.u. > ICE nor uNDiD > ENDED!
ReplyDeleteDid get the theme easily and accurately at least. Even filled in BACK NINE before reading the clue with only a couple perps in place!
HG: Loved the colored grid image today!
Been feeling a bit depressed lately, and realized the happiest part of the day is when I'm writing, so you are subjected to a surfit yesterday and today. This may seem strange, but I miss the anons carping about my poems. That means they're reading them even if they don't want to -- just like all those "classics" we had to read back in ELHI! It's nice to have something in common with all those great writers!
Truro, Massachusetts is 100 miles from Boston.
Natick, Massachusetts is 10 miles from Boston.
Truro has a population of 2,000.
Natick has a population of 34,000.
Truro consists of Truro and North Truro.
Natick consists of Natick Center, South Natick, East Natick, and West Natick.
Truro was settled by Pilgrims in 1620, abandoned, and resettled by English immigrants in 1690's.
Natick was settled by Puritans in 1651.
Spellcheck doesn't like Truro or Natick.
RetFizz fln (from last night) WEES is What Everyone Else Said.
{B+, C+, C, C+, B-.}
ReplyDeleteHenry loved to play golf, every day that he'd seize,
Though to PLAY THE BACK NINE was sometimes a tease.
The opening LIES
To LIARS gave rise,
So Henry invented the well-known MODEL TEES!
The teachers' union faced a moment of dread!
They mustered their members for N.E.A. RED!
As the ENEMY NEARED
It was just as they feared --
To rewrite ELHI textbooks, D.C. Comics LED!
There once was a mobster, by name, Frank NITTI
Who arranged devious deeds in Chicago City.
Frank NITTI was needed
When "enforcement" was METED;
It was dirt on his hands that made NITTI gritty!
EEL may be used for most of fish SUSHI.
Puffer, when used, is sort of RISKY!
SUSHI is sold
To be EATEN COLD,
And in bite-sized chunks, cut ITTY-BITTY!
The ERMINE stole was frosty white
Until it was stolen, one frosty night!
Cops thought it a 'STRO
Who stole the stole,
But he was PROVEN INNOCENT -- it was the mice!
{B+, C+, A-, C+, A-.}
ReplyDeleteThe whole team was given an OPEN INVITATION
To a ROMAN party at a secret location!
There was plenty of ICE,
And a KEG that was NICE --
And RIOT police, from the opposing team's station!
There was a young man from AMES
Who thought they really were shames
That we don't Donald to put on,
And a car-lift's not a John,
And we don't exercise in a James!
There was a young lady from ENID,
And you never would guess what she did!
(To find out in a blink
Just click on this LINK,
And on to our spam list you'll skid!)
The BEEHIVE state's in the west.
It's Utah, once called Deseret.
That's where Brigham Young
Told Mormons to come
To prepare for the apocalypse ONSET!
A webfooted duck was from OREGON,
Who couldn't fit his galoshes on!
He'd pull and he'd strain
In the driving rain --
Then his girl said he'd the wrong type of rubbers on!
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, DO got the theme before the reveal! Wasn't needed for the solve, though. Misread the clue as "Standing hospital offer." Got NICENE Creed, but had to look it up to find out what it was. Hmmmm. Had nothing to do with being cordial in Nebraska. Thanks GG and BV, and Husker for your yeoman service.
We used to stay in North TRURO when we visited the Cape. My Catholic upbringing finally paid off with NICENE. I got all of the longs today with no help from perps.
ReplyDeleteOwenKL: Thanks for the answer to my question of yesterday. I liked your last limerick the best. I too am a science-fiction fan, ever since I bought my first issue of Astounding Science Fiction walking home from my first day of junior high in 1937.
ReplyDeleteI sailed through this puzzle – thought it much easier then yesterday's. Thanks to Gail, Bruce, and Gary.
I didn't know there was a Truro on Cape Cod; the only Truro I know is in Cornwall. It's where Poldark goes into town and has a hospital where Doc Martin sends his seriously ill patients.
ReplyDeleteGood morning all.
I am so not disappointed. Got the theme, saw the backward nines, and heard the tada. Thank you Gail and Bruce. You too Gary. Liked the visuals.
Loved the golf-centric theme. GREEN, LINK, LIES, TEE, (The) OPEN, PLAY THRU, RISKY (shot).
Should have played yesterday, but opted for the needed lawn work instead. I enjoy both.
Bud holder wasn't obvious at first.
Seems like we had ERIE recently...
Ledecky was easy for me.
NICENE not so much. Read a little about it in WIKIPEDIA.
Never hear of TRURO either.
Would have REKEYED that S to an O yesterday, but never noticed it...
The theme answers were easy and I knocked this one out fast with only two unknowns- TRURO and NICENE Creed.
ReplyDeletePROVEN INNOCENT- a lawyer friend of mine told me that he always told his clients 'don't tell me you didn't do it, I just need to convince two of the jurors you didn't. The other ten don't matter."
How are pollsters, weathermen, and lawyers alike? Right or wrong they still get their money.
LIES- sometimes you should take an 'unplayable lie', take a drop, add a stroke, and DON'T BUST YOUR ASS. It's only a game.
OwenKL: Most movie theaters have closed-caption gadgets that work very well. They fit into the cupholder in your armrest and can be adjusted so that you can see the captions (reflected from the rear of the theater) without bothering your neighbors. Ask at the box office. You might want to see Interstellar, The Martian, and Arrival.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Oops! That was Astounding Stories in 1937; the name change to Astounding Science Fiction didn't come until later.
ReplyDeleteNow it's Analog Science Fiction and Fact. No matter what the name, it's still here, and Saturday Evening Post and Colliers are long gone.
While I'm enjoying the easier puzzles this week, the letter sequence today was totally lost on this non-golfer. I was looking at the beginning letters: G, P, O, which in Australian, and I suppose, British parlance, stands for General Post Office. The clue for TRURO went totally unnoticed for me, it was filled by perps, and just as well, since I've never heard of it.
ReplyDeleteRetfizz,
ReplyDeleteI second your suggestion to see Arrival. The others are good too, but as a linguist, I found Arrival especially rewarding in that it showed the value of having the ability to communicate across linguistic and cultural lines. One of my former students is currently working with a tribe of people in a remote area of Africa, creating an alphabet for them, so they will be able to write in their own language, and become educated in ways never embarked on until now. How exciting and what a unique achievement for her!
Clever theme today - at first I thought it had to do with everything starting with IN (which it did, but in a more creative way).
ReplyDeleteThanks HG for the creative write-up as well and to Gail & Bruce for the puzzle!
"Puzzling Thoughts":
ReplyDeleteWas it just coincide, or an "odd Duck", that the appearance of the word OREGON occurred the day their head football coach was fired? Do you think you could've gotten an EVEN $ BET to have predicted that??!
Other than putting RAN before LED in 39a, this was a pristine puzzle. No runs, drips, or errors. Used perps when I had to, and figured out the theme/reveal before even reading 59a clue. Another fun puzzle from Gail and Bruce, and an equally enjoyable recap from Husker.
Owen, from a fellow limercist (?), I always read yours but regret I rarely comment. If I recall correctly I will reply when I see one that really connects, and reads like a limerick. As I've commented before, I prefer limericks to have both a funny (or punny, and sometimes, borderline risqué/lewd) "story", as well as having perfect, anapest meter. Your limericks rarely have the latter, but to your credit, you make a concerted effort, each and every puzzle, to try to connect as many of the daily crossword words as possible. That ain't easy! And you've come up with many that are very clever, as well as many that would have me cry the words from yesterday's puzzle, "BOO HISS!"
Unbeknownst to you - until this post - I have used the "core" of a few of your poems to form a revised limerick using the 9-9-6-6-9 (or 10-10-6-6-10) syllabic meter. Your gift of puns and double entendres is well-noted. Don't beat yourself up just because you don't always get recognized or critiqued when you post. Grades are fine when you're in EL HI.
Just my two cents ... BTW, "dirt on his hands Nitti griity" was a great line ...
Husker: Outstanding write-up and links. Liked watching the golfer "hit it where it LIES." Too funny!
ReplyDeleteGail & Bruce: Thank You for a FUN Wednesday puzzle.
Since it wasn't being added to a glass ... I wrote in ICE for the first time in probably 4 years.
Fave today, of course, was 21-a, Bud holder, KEG ... I do like a KEG. lol
Needed ESP (Every-Single-Perp) to get TRURO and KATIE. Never heard of the town or the Olympic swimmer.
Both "learning moments" I will probably forget by noon.
Stuck with COLD weather today.
Yeah, it is sunny ... but it is down to 74 degrees.(Heading to 81).
Guess I'll tough-it-out ... Cheers!
So many golfing terms! Great puzzle, Gail and Bruce. I noticed ENIN and used it for the other long answers. Even with the reveal I didn't see that it was NINE backwards, although it should have been obvious. HG, I love your inimitable style and great links.
ReplyDeleteI've always enjoyed Columbo. The reruns are still on TV.
I stayed in Cape Cod many years ago, but TRURO does not ring a bell. NICENE was a gimme.
Kazie, your former student's project in Africa is exciting. It is so satisfying to a teacher when former students do well.
For those who find sushi unappealing due to the raw fish, you might like California Roll made with cucumber, avocado and cooked crab or imitation crab. Yummy. Eel and shrimp sushi are not raw, either.
I miss Barry. I hope he can join us soon.
Good Morning:
ReplyDeleteIt's always a pleasure to see this duo's byline and know you are in for an enjoyable ride. Clever theme which was hidden until the reveal. Truro was a gimme but I hastily and confidently filled in Apollo instead of Nicene. Why a character from "Rocky" entered my mind before a prayer that I have recited more times than I could count is a mystery. Other than that, smooth sailing.
Thanks, Gail and Bruce, for the mid-week treat and thanks, HG, for the colorful and chatty expo.
Wilbur Charles from yesterday, I'm assuming that 1977 World Series game is the one in which Reggie Jackson hit three home runs? My mother and I watched that amazing feat.
Have a great day.
Yes, exactly. MLB Channel had Reggie Jackson saga, his ups and downs climaxed by that 3 Homer game for the ages.
DeleteIt was a late post. To sum up I won big, bought a VW and used it to change my life
And gave up gambling😃
Good Morning.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fine challenge this morning! Congrats to D-O on sussing the theme!! Great clues and fill. Thanks, Gail and Bruce. Favorite: clothes line for HEM. I wanted moth-proof(ed) for moth EATEN. I have too much wool around here, and the thought of moths weakens my knees. Lots of lavender in my knitting stash!!
Thanks, Gary for a great tour and links. RISKY is right!! I wonder if the second gal passed the NFL concussion protocol?
IM- I really chuckled at your Creed comment! ;-)
It's a sunny day in Chicagoland; I hope it is for all of you also.
Thumbs up for Husker's thumbs down on ELHI!
ReplyDeleteGood morning everyone.
ReplyDeleteSolved it without lookups or erasures. A little crunchy as a Wed. level should be. Parsing PROVEN INNOCENT was helped by the theme.
NICENE - Is regularly said but Apostle's Creed is sometimes substituted. Shorter and (IMO) says it all, too.
GREEN INVESTMENT - RE: Gary's Iowa solar panel. Surprised the Iowans would do that; it competes with their ethanol - lower mpg gas additive production goals. :-)
22a Touch-and-go. Made me think of Dudley shooting touch-and-goes to keep his pilot skills well-honed. As a young middy in training, spent an afternoon once on the flag bridge (The flag was not embarked.) watching carrier pilots shoot touch-and-goes with S2Fs (Grumman twin propped ASW aircraft). The carrier had the older straight-through deck; not the canted deck of today's vessels.
Off to play some bridge.
Well they had a "Drunkest City in Each State on the MSN site.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it ... Villa Incognito wasn't even close to it in Florida.
NOT Tarpon Springs ... but Tallahassee (state Capital, home of FSU & FAMU).
Time to head to Captain Jack's on the Anclote River to change that ... LOL
Cheers!
Good morning, folks. Thank you, Bruce Venzke and Gail Grabowski, for a fine puzzle. Thank you, Husker Gary, for a fine review.
ReplyDeleteGot through this easily. The theme appeared and I finished the puzzle before I discovered the backwards NINEs (ENIN).
My favorite word, ERIE, again. Erie seems to be applied to many places and things. There are three ERIE Counties, one in New York, one in Pennsylvania, and one in Ohio. Not sure how many cities are named ERIE. I know there are two. One in Pennsylvania and one in Illinois.
Liked NICENE Creed. We use that in church occasionally, usually the Apostles Creed. The NICENE Creed was caused to be written by the Roman Emperor Constantine, early in the 4th Century. Constantine is one of my personal heroes.
TRURU was unknown. Perps.
I do REKEYED a lot since I am a hunt and peck typist.
I never watch CNN. They have upset me several times.
Lots to do. See you tomorrow.
Abejo
( )
Ah, sleep! Wonderful, glorious sleep! I finally slept eight hours straight, something that hasn't happened in many nights.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gail and Bruce for a lovely puzzle and though it was about golf, I still enjoyed it. After the reveal I, too, found the backward NINEs. Good for you, d-otto!
Yes, NICENE was a given for me also. During Advent our church will substitute the Apostles Creed for the NICENE. Not sure why.
I really liked the clues for LIARS, HEM and ICE. Swell treatment is very clever.
Alas, I missed ROLEO/ALT!
Mi casa es tu casa is an OPENINVITATION of hospitality.
Thank you, Gary, for your sparkling commentary!
I hope you are each and everyone enjoying an excellent day!
Thanks to Bruce & Gail for a nice puzzle. Took a while to get the theme, but once I read the NINE backwards, got the "DOH!"
ReplyDeleteReally nice effort today, HG. Loved the "RISKY" clip and the "LIES" clip. LOL! You really outdo yourself on the clips/pics. Thank you!
While I failed to see NINE reversed, Gail & Bruce didn't fail to entertain. They even had me running AMOK and TEE'd-up twice; hence my mess in the NE. Thanks to the two of you. HG - you have an OPEN INVITATION to play THRU anytime you want to visit HOU (maybe we'll take in a 'STROs game :-)).
ReplyDeleteI thought the theme had something to do w/ 'V' until PROVEN wrong(?)
Cato - the right-leaning Inst.? Nope, some ROMAN dude (Wiki - learnt something.). Tricky.
WOs: AMOK b/f RIOT; tAME b/f NAME (didn't think TNT had political shows)
ESPs: ERMINES, CYD, and 48a CSO to DW
Fav: How can it not be a KEG (ON TAP) over a ROMAN party.
Runners up: Love me some EEL SUSHI. DOS still looks like Disk Operating System to me :-)
{A, B, B+, A+, C} {B, D, C+, B, B}. Whew. Slow down Bud!
Lucina - we're on the same sleep cycle. I've not had 8 since last Wed. I'm up for 8 down for 4 and up again.
Tin - It's only going to be 70F today. That's not Fahrenheit, that's F-COLD.
HG - I did the Tom Cruise RISKY business thing for an '80 party last summer [hey!, I had shorts on!] singing into a candlestick. My sister still has the video - I need to go NITTI on her until she gets RID of it [I know she won't really - *itch (I say that w/ love; Sis is awesome!)]
IM - LOL Apollo Creed. Growing up Catholic I knew NICENE, just not how to spell it (I wanted a second I). I also knew Lucina would nail it.
For Tawnya: U2's DESIRE.
If you've got 53min Watch Falk nail 'em. Still love Columbo HG. Thx.
Cheers, -T
Enjoyable Wednesday level puzzle. Thanks Gail and Bruce, and Husker Gary.
ReplyDeleteI was held up in figuring out the theme by seeing only NIN. Then I entered Golf THE BACK NINE instead of PLAY. This held me up in the SW corner.
I had Alas before AH ME (until I noted the plural words in the clue).
I had Tees before LIES for 11D but it was needed for 58D.
Noted NICE crossing ICE and old CW favourites ELHI and ERIE.
Thought that the plural of ERMINE had no s but I see that there is a variant spelling.
ETA filled in until pushed out by ALT.
Not familiar with ROLEO and had Rodeo for a while.
There is a TRURO in Nova Scotia but I was not familiar with the one in Cape Cod.
Enjoyed your prolific work today OwenKl.
Good day to all.
What a relief, to get a sports theme puzzle and still get the whole thing without cheating! Yay! Hurray! I always like Gail and Bruce puzzles but this one scared me a bit at first--but slowly, slowly, everything fell into place and perps even helped me get the sports references even though I still have no idea what a STRO is. But all's well that ends well.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see Columbo again, Husker Gary. I didn't know the re-runs are still playing--I'll have to look for them.
Went on my patio yesterday and saw a Monarch butterfly flitting over the milkweed. Can you believe it--it's almost December!
Have a great day, everybody!
Misty.- STRO == Houston Astros ['da Stros] baseball teammate. We used 'ta be NL central but Bud Selig thought it best we were in the AL West. I have words for him that aren't fit to publish. I miss Cards' & Cubs' visits. -T
ReplyDeleteAlright, already, Gary, I give!
ReplyDeleteAfter our conversation the other day I had no problem filling in 45A. Followed by 62A (where I will greet you), followed by 39D (what I will greet you with). There are plenty of BACK NINES here, so do take me up on that INVITATION.
Two write overs eta before ALT and CYD over syd.
I didn't know it was called ROLEO. I didn't know it was called anything.
ReplyDeleteAnd I didn't know an EEL could swim backward. How can we tell? I never tasted one, although I know they are popular in England. I'm usually game to try anything, at least once, but somehow my taste buds have given EEL an automatic exemption. Am I alone here?
I never played golf. It always struck me as a time-passer for businessmen and politicians. My son took it up in college. I watched him play, but I couldn't see the ball on those opening drives. Easier to see on TV.
Nice pzl, Mr. Grabowski and Ms. Venzke.
Misty,
ReplyDeleteI'm next door to you. We don't have butterflies in our garden, but I appreciate the temps in the 80s. My pansies are blooming again. We are told we have a "Mediterranean" climate, but I think it's the other way around. Along the Riviera and Costa del Sol they must claim a Clima de California.
Another wonderful puzzle from Gail and Bruce, who somehow always create such clean, drek-free (except maybe ELHI) grids. Thanks to you both.
ReplyDeleteGary, thanks to you, too, for once again providing an interesting writeup with lots of pictures.
Sure enough, like Anonymous T, I see DOS and think "doss" not "dooz."
Wanted AMOK at 16A, but it didn't work. Oh wow, there it is at 47D.
I think of TRURO as RetFizz does.
OwenKL, I take a long time to read your verses, because I like to savor them.
Emperor Constantine virtually invented the Roman Catholic church.
Kazie, that is so interesting that your student is actually helping to create an alphabet, a writing system for those people. Talk about inventing!
Ah milkweed, the SOLE Monarch butterfly food.
Madame Defarge, may your woolens never become moth food.
Best wishes to you all.
Keith, eel tastes just like fish, specifically like a white-fleshed fish such as cod.
ReplyDeleteI tried learning golf once; never could get the hang of it. Perhaps that's because I wasn't really interested. Bowling is another story; I used to bowl regularly, on a league. I even served as league chairman one year; that main job of that position was to order the trophies to be awarded the top scorers of the season. By the way, I was never a very good player; as I recall I usually scored in the range of 130-160. But it was fun, which is the point after all.
Has anyone driven from Natick to Truro/
ReplyDeleteA nice Wednesday puzzle with just enough crunch to keep it interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for explaining STRO to me, Anon T. Should have guessed that.
ReplyDeleteAnd sorry you don't have Monarchs, Keith--but yes, aren't we lucky to have such a lovely climate.
As a resident of the Pac NW, I started with "Eugene" as the home of the Ducks figuring that a city would be fair game for a Wednesday. Didn't quite work out.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this one, but if I knew how to spell TENeNT I would have enjoyed it more. That would have given me KAT_E, which I could have guessed. As it was, I WAGed KeTaE for my two bad cells.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of NICENE or TRURO. Favorite clues were "Bud holder" for MUG and "boxer Laila" for ALI. Much more imaginative than the standard cluing for either of the father-daughter boxing duo.
I used to get to Grapevine Golf Course in Dallas on Saturday mornings. The front NINE would be booked solid with reservations, but I could PLAY THE BACK NINE as a walk-on. We usually played as a twosome, and could usually get through NINE holes and tee off on number 10 again before the first foursome finished number NINE.
Sigh,
ReplyDeleteI was going to post about the couple of Naticks
I found today, but in the interest of brevity,
I will just post the comic Shoe from a couple of days ago...
Why do we do crosswords anyway?
Good afternoon. I enjoyed seeing the video of Columbo endings. I remember most of them. I haven't finished the video yet and I'm wondering if they will include the one at the winery where a rare port has gotten spoiled because of the actions of the bad guy...
ReplyDeleteI used to be a big fan of WKRP. More recently, I think Modern Family is pretty good. Some of you turned me onto The Big Bang Theory a year or two ago. I enjoyed some of the old ones. The new episodes aren't funny and they try to make up for it with a very annoying laugh track. The audience sounds hysterical at the weakest attempts at humorous dialog.
Beautiful weather here. Bike ride time and then tutoring. See ya...
"Put a handle on" was a clue I hadn't seen before, darn clever. Elhi has shown up so many times in the LA Times puzzle, at least once a month I think, it seems like one of those answers (like amok, lei, roleo, and stro) that we just have to commit to memory.
ReplyDeleteNicene was where Constantine convened the bishops and told them to work out their differences which were legion. So they beat up on Arius and threw him out.
ReplyDeleteThus sparking the long lived Arian heresy
I thought along with all the usual chestnuts we'd have PSAT rather than ELHI. Pretty much a smooth, fast run through.
Truro might have been where Patti Page smelled the "salty air".
I too love Gail G puzzles especially when we get a HG write-up. Owen: particularly prolific this morning.
So. Who was the sports Grabowski and what famous game did he play a big part in.
Now I have to run to Google and double check.
Sorry I'm so late, I finished at 8:00 am.
WC
Oops. Grabowski didn't play in the ice bowl game in 1967. Mercein(Chuck) replaced him and was the hero of the last drive.
ReplyDeleteAnyway. When I see a Gail G XW I think of Jim Grabowski, ex Packer from the glory days.
Agree with AnonymousT that the theme seemed to involve "V". There was a "V" next to every "ENIN". which seems more than chance.
ReplyDeleteI lived in the Boston area for years and never heard of TRURO. But Natick really is not obscure if you live in the area. It is right on the Green Line MTA(now MBTA) line and I even knew someone who lived there.
If you ever drove out to P-town on the end of the Cape, you drove through Truro.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Argyle! I never owned a car when I lived in Boston! Maybe next time I visit I will make the trip out to Provincetown!
ReplyDelete