JW is here for another Friday (thank you again HG for the blogs while I was gone) and with what I believe is his first punny quip puzzle. " If I tolled them once, I tolled them a hundred times."
We also have fun fill like, CHIPS AWAY, EVIL DEEDS, LIVIDNESS and MIAMI VICE but it is the "quote" which is the puzzle.
17A. Hugo character memorably portrayed by Charles Laughton: QUASIMODO (9).
23A. With 36- and 44-Across, what 17-Across might have said when his job became too repetitious? : IF I TOLLED THEM (13).
36A. See 23-Across: ONCE, I TOLLED THEM (15).
44. See 23-Across: A HUNDRED TIMES (13).
57A. 17-Across' workplace: BELL TOWER (9).
Across:
1. Qualifier for a hall entry? : FAME. I wanted hall pass.
5. Excuse descriptor: LAME. So we start with a nice rhyme.
9. Med. recordings: EKGS. There should not be an "S."
13. Over, in much Twain dialogue: AGIN. As opposed to agin/fer.
14. "__ my way": I'M ON.
15. Relatives of windsocks: VANES. I guess.
19. Fuming: IRATE.
20. Uncle__: SAM.
21. Risk pieces: DICE. The die - a piece of the game or a tool used in the game?
22. Type of large TV: PLASMA.
26. Sitarist Shankar: RAVI. Norah Jones' father.
28. Metal sources: ORES.
29. Important part of a whale's diet: KRILL. They look like small SHRIMP.
31. Feigned: FALSE.
33. Many an IRS employee: CPA. Certified Public Accountant.
39. "Got it now?" : SEE?
40. Parts of Walmart work uniforms: VESTS.
41. Frodo's home, with "the": SHIRE.
42. Gentlemen: SIRS.
43. Actor Omar: EPPS. Once again this week; who is his publicist?
51. Lengthy account: LITANY. Usually of bad things.
52. Participate in a race, maybe: RIDE.
53. Fluoride-touting org.: ADA. American Dental Association.
56. Blazing: AFIRE. Ooh, an a-word.
59. Problems electric razors should prevent: NICKS.
60. Avoid getting into deep water? : WADE.
61. "Lobster Telephone" artist: DALI.
62. "__ who?" : SAYS.
63. Monthly Roman calendar occurrences: IDES. Twice this week. With the fate of Julius Caesar in mind, this is an interesting juxtaposition with....
64. Turned yellow, perhaps: DYED.
Down:
1. Customer info sources: FAQS.
2. Lago contents: AGUA. Lake: Water. Spanish.
3. '80s cop show featuring Ferraris: MIAMI VICE. An interesting story. LINK. Ferraris twice this week.
4. USN rank: ENSign.
5. Keep in check: LIMIT.
6. Merged gas company: AMOCO. Gobbled up by BP, this brand may be BACK.
7. Auto datum: MODEL.
8. Brian of music: ENO.
9. What superheroes seek to thwart: EVIL DEEDS. This needed many perps.
10. Gold fineness units: KARATS. From a JEWELER.
11. Grind: GNASH.
12. "They __ up!": scapegoat's cry: SET ME.
16. Alteration target: SEAM. My mother was a wonderful nurse and mother, but she could not sew. My brothers and I had to stand with one leg up on the bottom stair after she shortened the pants to make the legs look even.
18. Infamous Amin: IDI.
22. Intrinsically: PER SE. This is not a legal term, per se.
24. Rank partner: FILE. READ and discuss.
25. Doesn't do much: LOLLS.
26. Classic movie theaters: RKOS.
27. "Alfred" composer: ARNE. Not his most famous work. LINK.
30. Red state? : LIVIDNESS. This was very difficult, but when you are livid you turn red.
31. Broadway choreographer for "Chicago": FOSSE.
32. PC key: ALT.
33. Cuts into, with "at": CHIPS AWAY.
34. Cop's collar: PERP. Not her.
35. Iowa college town: AMES. Not Ed this time.
37. Jones or Gilliam of Monty Python: TERRY. The only AMERICAN in Monty Python is Terry Gilliam.
38. Passé pronoun: THEE.
42. Impertinent in tone: SNARKY.
44. PBS "Mystery!" host Cumming: ALAN.
45. LP players: HI FIS.
46. Erie Canal city: UTICA.
47. More than fear: DREAD.
48. Circumflex cousin: TILDE. Diacritic marks. COMPLICATED.
49. Doesn't do much: IDLES.
50. Satisfied: MET.
54. Editor's mark: DELE.
55. Like much of New Mexico: ARID.
57. Md. airport serving D.C.: BWI. Baltimore Washington International.
58. Not quite right: ODD. We have one living at our condo complex...not easy.
Back when this blog was young and the puzzles discussed were edited by Wayne Williams, we had many similar puzzles. They are usually called "quip" puzzles. Most were silly, so this is not a unique approach. But from Jeffrey? In the LAT? I liked it, hope you did. Lemonade out.
75 comments:
And he's off! First A 3-3s, 3-4s, 3-5s, and 8 red first letters. First D filled mid east cell, 10 D-6, and 33 D-9. Met our friends AGIN, RAVI and EPPS. Second A 17A-9, and with it 3D-9. Last square at 31A - 22D S. Able to complete without letters today.
I learned 41A SHIRE from the BBT where Leonard was a hobbit for H-ween. The clue for 51A, lengthy account, LITANY seemed to be too long, but I can't refute 2, b : a usually lengthy recitation or enumeration. Then there is Mar a Lago, the inspiration for 2D Lago contents AGUA, bigly agua.
The end
Dear Anonymous T,
As I write this the clock struck two. They struck back with analog. My habit is to revisit the Corner several times each day to see what gems have arrived now. Anon.T, you are usually last to post so I thought 1009P was it, but wait by yonder window, he has returned.
Your $0.02 at 1130P are priceless. Thank you!
The Randy Report may be long, but I wouldn't change a word of it. Thank you for reading it, and giving it a "Cute."
I stumble on the mark in puzzles often, but I have never been required to give a book report until now. I always FIR each puzzle with help if needed. I will refrain from FIRRING in the future because there are those who feel that doing so with help is cheating.
QOD "I like to tell myself that it's ok to 'cheat' a little because that's how I learn new things." puppy, "Right here on our stage," the Corner, 1-26-08.
I am reviewing early comments. Even C.C. was new on Jan. 21, 2008. She made errors which were explained by commenters. Each person learned.
I also often find you hard to parse, but never hard to enjoy. When I see the picture of the anonymous square, I get excited.
Thanks for caring enough about me to write much more than you would ever do.
Dave
Greetings!
Thanks to JR and Lemon!
Toughie, but I prevailed!
BWI was filled by perps.
Got lost getting home from cardiologist today. Too dark.
Still sick!
Caesar went to shower on the monthly IDES.
Wash away the dust and mud clinging to his hide!
He used a shampoo on his hair
To hide the gray a-starting there -
And thus it was that on the ides, the mighty Caesar DYED!
.
Once his day was done, QUASIMODO didn't linger!
On the local football team, he rated as first stringer --
Until he was disqualified¡
FALSE documents did ill betide,
The hunchback couldn't quarterback, because he was a ringer!
.
Some days I think the l'icks I write will bring me FAME!
Other days I think my l'icks are doggerel and LAME¡
Erato seems to roll the DICE
With moods that range from SNARK to nice,
But if I RATE response IRATE, I have myself to blame!
{A, A, B-.}
This was an excellent puzzle. Nice to get a "quip" again.
Can we retire crossword puzzles with circles?
Good morning!
Enjoyed this one, especially the long non-theme entries. CHIPS AWAY sounds like it oughta be a cookie. I was certain the "Circumflex cousin" was going to be CARET to echo KARATS. Nope, Wite-Out, please. I usually see the expression as "Who SEZ?" rather than SAYS. Thanx, Jeff Wechs and nice expo, Lemonade.
BWI -- Flew there several times when heading to D.C. It turned out to be cheaper, even with a car rental, than flying to Reagan -- Washington National to oldtimers.
NICKS -- I still prefer shaving with a blade, but the high cost of razor blades is getting ridiculous! I read yesterday that Gillette is coming out with less expensive blades before they completely lose out to Dollar Shave Club and Harry's.
QUASIMODO -- Makes you wonder what a real MODO looks like.
Good Morning, Lemonade and friends. I rather liked this punny quip puzzle. I got the BELL TOWER before I had completed all the blanks in the quip, which greatly helped with the solve.
I struggled a bit with the 1-Across and 1-Down. It didn't help that I wanted Hunchback in lieu of QUASIMODO.
19 working days before retirement, but who's counting?
QOD: The worst part of success is to try finding someone who is happy for you. ~ Bette Midler (b. Dec. 1, 1945)
The Corner is new and improved! Or is it? Goo. is new AOL is old. Wait a minute. I clicked on "Web version" on Goo, and I was in Kansas again with Auntie Emm.
When I did the puzzle at 0 dark 30, the theme was yet to be revealed because the Corner was still in the arms of Morpheus. I didn't think to check before I posted my puzzle progress so here 'tis. Sincere thanks to Jeffrey for a Monday puzzle on Friday, and to Lemony for our tour thru it. Lemony would you like to be "Melony?" Rich Norris has his blue pencil ready with ten minutes this afternoon.
OKL
-I hear that Caesar has secretly been using Grecian Formula.
This note is short if not as sweet as you might like.
Dave
I felt like an idiot after I realized that TOLD sounded exactly the same as TOLLED. I had filled IF I TOLD__THEM twice before QUASIMODO TOLLED in my head. Tricky Mr. Wechsler.
Other than that slowdown ALAN Cumming was really the only unknown/unheard of. I had know idea as to what a 'Circumflex' was but TILDE was a decent guess. DALI & FOSSE were also WAGs. I confidently filled MAGNUM PI for 3D and said oops; there was a square left over. My only write-over. I never watched MIAMI VICE.
BWI-DW is flying Columbia, SC to New Orleans Tuesday through BWI. Out of the way but it was real cheap, as in FREE with frequent flyer miles.
ECG & CARATS and EKG & KARATS could be two correct answers for today's puzzle. I used K.
KARAT=200mg=CARAT EKG=ECG
KARAT is used when talking about the percentage of gold.
There are plenty of comments so far. You all must have found this as easy as I did. I found Quasimodo and tolled early on.
www.dictionary.com/browse/quasimodo
"Low Sunday," 1706, Quasimodo Sunday, from Latin quasi modo, first words of introit for the first Sunday after Easter: quasi modo geniti infantes "as newborn babes" (1 Pet. ii:2). The hunchback in Victor Hugo's novel was supposed to have been abandoned as an infant at Notre Dame on this day, hence his name.
"WebMD explains the different kinds of electrocardiograms -- also known as EKGs or ECGs" Adding the S seems okay.
OKL #1 is #1.
It was nice to see EKG spelled correctly for a change, with or without the S.
FIR, but erased MOtO for MODO, esc for ALT, stet for DELE and off for ODD. Like BE I hesitated at "c" or "k", but remembered Hudepohl Gold 14K sold at Reds games at Crosley Field in my ute. "Cold and golden flavor any time of day." The 14K stood for purity not mass, so I nailed it. (Talk about going through the back door to get to the front door!)
D-O, I don't know what a real MODO would look like, but I do know the difference between shampoo and real poo.
Thanks JW for a fun Friday puzzle. And thanks to Lemony for another fine tour.
Good morning. Thank you Jeffrey and Lemonade.
Fast Friday fun. 25 and change. Can't help but notice the clock when solving online. No red letters. Just one typo to correct. Had 3 els as I filled in the first TOLLED. Momentary confusion ensued.
I almost failed to fix FAked to FALSE for feigned. That area was looking like a mess of gobbledygook, especially with the extra el.
Got Quasimodo very early, mostly by perps. I couldn't picture him or what it was about. But then I remembered hunchback and Notre Dame.
The majority of puzzle was solved, but I was hung up on the quip. It was the sudden realization of the TOLLED in 23A and LOLLS at 25D that made it super easy and allowed me to recall his workplace as the BELL TOWER.
Alteration target. Unfocused eyes read alliteration target.
BWI - Maryland. IAD - Virginia.
We have AGIN again.
FOSSE - Bob, not Ray.
Frodo in his home, the SHIRE. Bilbo gets no love. Wasn't he the first hobbit we came to know as we read the trilogy ? While on the subject of hobbits, and other Tolkien created creatures seen in crosswords - such as ents, orcs, elves and dwarves - please don't feed the trolls.
Big Easy, did you see the Bond movie Golden Eye ? Alan Cummings played Boris Grishinko. Nerdy programmer. "I am invincible" was his catchphrase. He wasn't.
Good morning everyone.
Found this JW easy like YR said. No searches or strikethroughs. Liked the punny quote like Lemonade pointed out some of the history of. JW seems to have a special knack for keeping the toughness just ahead of you but within reach so one can solve without undo Storm u. Dräng. Kind of like the rabbit staying ahead of the greyhounds going around the track.
Nice SO to UTICA as I gaze upon it from the S flank of the Mohawk Valley while writing this. There are lots of Erie Canal cities, but can't quickly think of one with 5 letters.
TOLL - a very interesting word with several (somewhat different meanings, including legal. Our word (bank) 'teller' comes from the same root as (road) toll.
And then there is the clue that might have read, "Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for ____." Coincidence, or tied into today';s theme?
Nice to have a quip puzzle for a change. Good one. Thanks, Jeffrey.
Lemon, welcome back. I always enjoy your blogs. I can't play your links today. I am advised my Adobe Flash player is blocked. I can't get the Mensa puzzle site and can get only the pictures, not the music on YouTube. Dare I unblock the flash player? It worked fine last night.
RIP, Jim Nabors. I always liked his work. Lovely singing voice, too.
Musings
-Masterful! Once I saw TOLLED for TOLD I was good to go!
-Dallas Cowboy fans will recognize these “triplet” signatures and the years they went into the HALL OF FAME (HOF)
-Is it EKG or ECG? Oh well the perps will get it, Arrggghh is it KARAT or CARAT?
-A 24” tube color TV in 1964 was $329, A 55” HD TV on Black Friday at Wal Mart $298.
-Me too D4E4H - Frodo - ”That’s how we roll in the SHIRE!” (:30)
-Very subtle MODEL evolution
-“They SET ME up!” – Lee Harvey’s cry until Jack Ruby shot him
-SUNBURNED was my first “Red State” thought and SNARKY had to replace SNIPPY
-FOSSE’s semi-autobiographical film he co-wrote and directed
I'm with Husker Gary. I grew up with ECG and CARAT.
I got the solve without having any fun. Puns AND a theme, what fun....but not for me.
An objection, livid means leaden colored not red.
Kerry_in_carefree
Hooray! A Friday JW! This one was so different and so interesting. Thanks, Jeffrey , for the fun and the learning moments. Lemon, you were at your best. Thanks for all you give to us here on the corner.
Cody Spitzig, I also noticed the THEE as in for Whom the Bell Tolls. There are NO coincidences in Jeffrey's puzzles!
Who questioned VANES as relatives of wind socks? On a sailboat your life can sometimes depend on your weather vane and wind socks. They are both wind indicators. Racing speed often depends on the direction of the wind, so both measures are useful. (Of course, it also helps to know the speed of the wind, but that's another matter.)
Spitzboov, thanks for the info on "teller". I had no idea!
It's Nov. 30, and you are reading posts:
CSO to the creator Morton for such a fun puzzle, and to the "Seven Mile High" reviewer Steve.
Lemony714, 740A
-Thanks for reminding me of Meryl Davis DWTS, and introducing me to Geri Jewell. Here is her quote:
"God you have a really quirky sense of humor." I second that emotion.
CSO to HG for your moving one liner on a vowel. How do you make meaningful one liners in your musings. You set the standard for use of space. I want to be just like you if I ever grow up.
-I have to share a Louisville story and then I really must go. I see tank trucks from a Co. that cleans out septic tanks. Their logo is "We're #1 in a #2 business."
Spitz530P Thanks for the advise "Take 2 APC's and call me in the morning." My Dr. agrees. He wants me to take them after a warm bath. I haven't started them yet. I can't get all of the bath water down. I'm writing you 'cause I don't have your no. Gotta pee now!
Dave
Owen, all three were masterful! Now we know how Caesar dyed.
Your self-effacement in your third offering is attractive but unnecessary. You give us much pleasure.
Really nice to be able to finish a Friday puzzle......................
Thank you, Jeffrey Wechsler! You TOLLED it all!
All that white space seemed daunting but filled somewhat easily in the end. CHIPSAWAY describes my experience. I solved from the bottom upwards so with BELLTOWER in place and QUASIMODO above I filled the quip and all the rest fell around it. Of course, AGUA was my first fill and though I was never a fan of MIAMIVICE that filled as well since RAVI and KRILL provided part of it.
The last time we saw AMES it was ED and today it's Iowa. And we see PERP in its more usual sense. Seeing FOSSE takes me to Robin Williams in The Birdcage. FOSSE! FOSSE! FOSSE!
This was a fair challenge, so thank you again, JW. And many thanks, Lemonade, for your expo. I always learn something from you.
A happy Friday to everyone!
Solved it but had to plow through some crunch in the mid-section...brain still asleep I guess.
There once were two friends, ALAN and TERRY
Who had a SNARKY friend who went by Jerry
They lived up in AMES
And when snowed-in played games
Passing time shooting DICE and drinking sherry
Owen, enjoyed your limericks today, especially your second one. Happy Friday to all!
TTP: I also first read the clue to 16D as "alliteration" target and couldn't make sense of SEAMS in that context. I have made an appointment with my ophthalmologist.
Many thanks, J.W., for a nifty Friday puzzle, that tickled my brain. What a great theme!
Thanks, Lemony, for another great write-up. Glad to see you back!
Woohoo! Woohoo! I got a Friday Jeffrey Wechsler puzzle perfectly, without a single cheat or look-up! Woohoo! Thank you, thank you, Jeffrey, you've made my day! And I loved the theme and the clever clues. Took me a little while to get QUASIMODO, but once I did the bells tolled with such clever punning that I had to laugh. Never heard of KRILL but it fell into place. And thank you, too, Lemonade, for a delightful write-up.
Owen, I loved your first limerick, and Coach J, loved yours too.
Fermatprime, so sorry to hear about getting lost in the dark after your doctor trip. Must have been a little frightening. Glad you're okay.
I woke up this morning feeling fine, but as soon as I stood up, I felt a slight pain in my chest, right by my heart, pounding a little every few seconds. Three hours later it's still doing it. It doesn't actually hurt--I was able to forget about it while reading the morning paper--but it hasn't stopped and is still doing its slight pounding three hours later. Not sure what to do--try to go to the local clinic tomorrow or wait until a regular check-up appointment with my doctor on Wednesday. At least it doesn't feel like a heart attack coming on or anything very serious.
Have a great weekend coming up, everybody.
Hi Everyone:
Late to the dance due to a hectic, but productive, morning. This has been an unusually busy week for me, so I say TGIF at last!
Seeing JW as the constructor always brings a smile and a thought of "What's he got up his sleeve this time?" I filled in Quasimodo immediately and then, without a second thought, filled in Notre Dame before perps showed me how wrong I was and Bell Tower came into view. My only other w/o was Faked/False. Thought of Spitz at Utica which was a gimme. Omar Epps is the new Uta Hagen or Uma Thurman it seems. The puzzle wasn't difficult but you had to wait for the long theme answer to fill in via perps. I thought the reveal was not only humorous word play but very relatable. How many times did I hear my mother say, "If I told you once, I told you........!"
Thank you, Jeffrey W, for an entertaining, change of pace theme and thanks, Lemony, for the informative and witty write-up.
Billocohoes, so sorry for the devastation and destruction suffered by your city and its people.
Have a great day.
"Puzzling Thoughts":
JW got me on this one. And while I did manage to fill in most of the spaces, I technically FIW by using C's (couldn't remember TERRY, and ALAN could've been IVAN), and for some reason I was "LATE", rather than "LAME" in 5a. Well, today I was both!
WO's: FAKED > FALSE; started with SOVIET___ > LIVIDNESS; LATE > LAME
Clever theme and well-punned. Thanks Lemony for recapping it for us
KRILL was a known solve, as I ingest one of these capsules (krill oil) each morning as a "vitamin"/"supplement". Not sure if it helps, but lately folks have been telling me to shut my blowhole ... 😜
I remember taking flights out of BWI when it was called Friendship International Airport.
Seeing the SHIRE, and reference to Frodo, made me recall this ditty I penned earlier this year - I don't think I offered it up, here at The Corner:
Bilbo Baggins was recently scarred,
And the news really caught us, off guard.
He expired from infection
After getting an erection.
Guess it's true that old hobbits die hard.
And my Moe-ku du jour is just a silly pun:
Down in Mexico
They show Looney Tunes reruns.
Folks ask: "¿Por qué Pig?"
Misty,pls go to the local clinic TODAY!
"PT2":
Actor's new iPhone
Came equipped with some shortcuts.
They're called Omar's apps
Anon 9:49 - livid also means extremely angry. People who get that upset are pictured as turning red (both literally and figuratively). Crossword puzzles are not dictionaries.
PVX, you have posted your daily condemnation of a puzzle with a theme and a sense of humor. Not only are the Friday and Saturday NYT and Saturday LAT themeless, there are many indie puzzle sites featuring themeless puzzles. Are you opposed to laughter in general? I do not understand why you would put yourself through an exercise 6 days a week that you do not enjoy.
I agree- RIP Jim Nabors. While I was never a fan of GOMER PYLE he was a talented singer and he played the part well. I also learned the rumor about Nabors and Rock Hudson apparently was a joke in the gay community.
Misty, having almost died twice last year, I urge you to go to the emergency room NOW. Worst case- they tell you that you are fine. That is always a good thing.
Jeffrey Wechsler (sigh)
It's getting so that Jeffrey kicks my butt every Friday...
Had to look up victor, as this is the only Hugo I could remember.
Even then, 58d, not quite right,
all I could think was "off."
(Lobster telephone artist, Fali?
(Turned yellow, Fyed???) (actually, I wanted "cowed"...)
(Hmm, imagine, CED not getting Odd?, Nope, I am not seeing it...)
From yest, (actually late late last nite) ( or early this am)
Mark M @ 9:38am
WC stands for Water Closet, English in origin (AKA Crapper) often seen
in railroad cars with a bathroom...
You know, maybe I should see a shrink, I think this guy is why I have an aversion to French in Crosswords...
Meanwhile, in Paris...
Hi Y'all! thanks for a humorous puzzle, Jeffrey. Thanks for a great expo, Lemonade.
The puzzle also have words that define QUASIMODO: FAME, LAME, IRATE.
I tried "do it" my way before I'M ON my way. EVIL DoErS before DEEDS.
RANK & FILE: is also known if you've ever been in a marching band. You have to maintain your position to form a straight line ahead & behind you (FILE?) as well as with players on both sides of you (RANK?). Tricky since you also have to march & toot. Easier if you have memorized the music.
Didn't know TERRY, ALAN, BWI.
Hahtoolah: Congrats on your retirement.
IM: where does billocohoes live. Did we miss something?
Misty: have a friend or taxi take you to the clinic. Best wishes, friend.
All those who have a hand up for the LOO yesterday may go to the LAV now.
CED1252P FYA
-Where can I buy "Letter-Rip" in the Ville? It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase buy a vowel.
OMK238P FYA
-When you solve a Thu. diagonally it must matter not A or D just so the square on the diagonal is filled. How often do you have a clear shot? Inquiring minds must know. I couldn't picture what you meant til I put a straight edge on the screen and drew a line. Does anyone know how to get ink off a screen?
Picard241P FYA
I meant to give you your own post, but there seems to be a shortage caused by an overactive keyboard gland. You asked if I had a meta-awareness that I am dreaming? I don't even know what that is. I feel that this is going beyond the breadth of the blog. My contact info. is on my "The Blogger" profile. Don't be a stranger.
Dave
Billocohoes lives in Cohoes, NY, just north of Albany and on the mouth of the Mohawk River. Huge fire last night. Hope he's alright.
I visited my heart doc this a.m. (EST). I tolled him I ran 6.5 miles at 5:00 a.m. I think he was jealous.
PK we must think alike. (You may not think that a compliment!) . I also had do it my way before I'M ON my way, and EVIL doers before EVIL DEEDS.
Misty, please listen to all the good advice! We care.
Misty1129A, I don't mean to alarm , but your sxs could be Atrial Fibrilation which may be a medical emergency.
Quick action is needed if my guess is correct. Does any one know how to contact Misty off Corner.
Dave
Swampcat: sounds like a compliment to me. Thanks. LOL!
Karat and carat are both correct and are different measurements.
Karat is a unit of purity measuring gold in jewelry.
Carat is a unit of weight used in gemstone evaluation.
I was going to suggest an antacid for Misty. Thank God for wiser heads prevailing. Yes, have someone take you to emergency or clinic.
I'm such a stupid*. I mixed up Quasimodo with Queequeg. I couldn't recall the harpooner ringing de Bell a'tall. I also had FALI and OFF before ODD.
And, I can never remember whether gold or diamond has the K/CARAT.
I was cruising until I peeked at the author. Uh-oh, a Weschler. And I stalled until I changed SUIT to SEAM.
C-Moe and OMK have been red-hot lately. A's across the board, Owen and ROTFL for C-Lao-tse after the phonetic mystery l'ick from yesterday.
Ok. I'll shut my blowhole.
WC
* Somebody help me with the source of that line.
Lemon @ 11:53 am: Some people are only happy when they are unhappy.
I wonder if the lobsterphone helped Jimmy Buffet dream up "Coconut Telegraph", his term for the rumor mill in the Caribbean islands.
The Dali museum in St. Petersburg, FL is worth a visit, and a good excuse to go south to thaw out this winter.
Anyone else have trouble with this puzzle?
I also found this under Official Town Bellringer...
Welcome D4E4H, you should fit right in...
Another reason we may not respond, even though we read everything,
is that we only get 5 posts per day, max 20 lines.
I always have to save a post, for late in the day,
just in case "Manac" posts a Dogs are better than Cats link
and I have to reciprocate...
(Although, I am still not sure why Irish Miss calls me Mr. Meow...)
A neat & clever pzl today from our esteemed Mr. Wechsler and one that caused me a surprising amount of delay before I reached that ultimate
Ta-
DA!
I mean, truly, a pzl of this sort makes me wonder why the ol' walnut doesn't just leap to the answer!
But no-o-oh!
Even after reaching the obvious penultimate step, i.e., IF I TOL[---] THEM, it took me several more minutes to get to the key word, TOLLED. Grr.
Well, anyway, I guess I should be pleased that it eventually came to me.
But, still ...
Late Bulletin: I just reviewed the earlier postings, so let me add this note to
Misty!
Yes, you should get checked out by medical pros. If you hesitate, thinking that you don't want to raise a fuss over something minor, please think again! The good thing about our SoCal region is that, even though we're approaching the weekend, we are loaded with all sorts of available medical centers. There is practically a Hoag facility on every other street corner, and I can vouch from experience that they are very welcoming.
While you are taking action, I'll add my Congratulations and a "WooHoo" for your cheat-free Ta- DA!
Good job, Sistah!
Irish Miss and Argyle, thanks for caring, but I’m on Fort Myers Beach FL this week. Read about the fire online, but it was all in the mostly business district. 20+ buildings damaged but only one fireman slightly injured. Started by somebody imitating History Channel’s Forged in Fire, trying to make a sword - outdoors in a 30 mph wind. Idiot
WC @12:53 noted, "I was cruising until I peeked at the author. Uh-oh, a Weschler."
Well, yes, but aren't we also seeing co-evolution in action? He gets tougher, we get better.
It used to be that a puzzle by JW left everyone flamboozled, but now I see in others and myself, that the paralysis caused just by seeing his name has gone ... we've progressed!
Michael@2:37
You're so right! I actually almost salivate at the challenge when seeing JW's name.
Misty:
Yes! Go to an urgent care now! Please.
Wilbur Charles, exact quote is “What a stupid I am” by Roberto de Vincenzo, who signed his scorecard at the 1968 Masters without noticing Tommy Aaron had marked the score wrong. As a result he fell out of a first place tie
Hi All!
I was doing the happy dance ala Misty* until I saw Lem spelt QUASIMOtO with a 'D'. Dang! Ironic too, because I nailed Quasimodo with only the thought of Fame and FAQ still in my head [couldn't ink it - I was driving into the office, no texting :-)]
Thanks JW for a fun (almost) doable Friday. I got a big grin as the penny dropped on the pun. Fill was fun too and you only really FAked me out once (evil doer!)
Thanks Lem for spoiling the party in my head :-). Enjoyed the expo and the "Lobster Telephone" gave me the aha! (all I could think of w/ Lobster and artist was the B52s).
WO/Stumbles: EVILDoerS [hi! PK]; Fakes b/f FALSE.
ESPs: PERSE (? - Oh, Per Se; thanks again Lem)
Lots o' WAGs w/ most PERPs in place.
Fav GNASH - I just like that word.
Runner-up TERRYs Gilliam & Jones. Did you expect it?. No one does... [Python]
{AAA+s} {groan :-), cute} [:-)] //was [] the nomenclature I chose for CoachJ? :-)
BillO - thanks for the update. Glad to know all is well with you.
Dave - I'm glad you took FLN with the kindness I meant. Cute: Grecian Formula.
YR - thanks for the history of Quasimodo; I shall never spell it w/ a T AGIN.
Cody & Swamp - Nice catch w/ THEE.
C.Moe - LOL Blowhole
KRILL in Finding Nemo.
W/ -OSSE inked, I did an alphabet run and stopped at F when I thought "dance? FOSSE, Like in Birdcage?" Lucina, I see we think the same. [31a & 22d were my last fills]
Cheers, -T
*Misty - the hard-rhythm may be from your happy-dance but don't take that chance as the weekend looms; ERs is no fun and cost uninsured $$$.
Tony said: EVIL DoErS [Hi, PK]. I'm trying to decide if he means I am one. LOL! Haven't been accused lately so don't send the Inquisitioners after me.
Today is my daughter's last day at a job she has worked for 30 years. The business was broken up and sold to satisfy the heirs of a partner who died several years ago. On this last day of the company the remaining partner DIED. The few employees left, including my daughter, are in shock.
Strictly speaking 'carat' is both a unit of weight and (seperately) an alternative spelling of 'karat' a measure of purity.
That's like saying the dogwood is both a tree and a flower. I heard that sometime, somewhere, maybe in a movie, I think.
I enjoyed this puzzle immensely. Jeff doesn't intimidate me any more. His puzzles have gotten to be fun rather than frightening. Had the U from AGUA so wrote in HUNCHBACK. Not an auspicious start, even after nailing the nicely clued LAME right off the bat.
I love Bob Fosse's choreography. Jerome Robbins, also. Actually, I think that Mark Ballas guy in Dancing With The Stars does some pretty imaginative and outstanding work, too.
Hahtoolah, congratulations! I hope you find retired life fulfilling. Lots of time to spend on scholarly pursuits and travel.
Lemonade, thanks for all you do. It is truly a pleasure to see you so happy these days. Oo is good for you.
After all these years I still sometimes can't help but snicker to myself when I see the name Bilbo Baggins. Chairman Moe, your limerick about him was excellent.
PK, you're right about rank and file.
Good wishes to you all.
Thank you billocoes. The peculiar ways of golf.
I'm working on the 1119 NYT and I happened to mention that I was hung up on a name. "Google it" he said. No! Although someone in here might have said LIU!
From yesterday.
Il y avait trois plumes. Une pour Pierre, une pour Rene. Trois moins deux a egal UNE. If it were stylos, 3-2= UN stylo.
That was in response to an objection regarding UNA vs UNO.
And since I'm in the past: this much about near beer I do know. The cheaper the better. Schmidt's was superior to O'Douls.
WC
Should I unblock my Adobe Flash Player? Why would it block unbidden? I wanted to follow Lemon's links.
YR, what choice do you have?
PK I'm horrified at your daughters shock! We can never predict the future but it shouldn't be so outrageous! Best wishes to all.of you! What an awful thing to go through .
Yes, I put EVIL DOERS before EVILDEEDS. Do you suppose I was thinking of Jeffrey? The evil CONSTRUCTOR doer? Hehehehe. Since so many of us found this one easier, do you suppose he is getting mellower? Horrors! Say it ain't so!! I need my battles against overwhelming odds!
I hope we found this one easier because of the theme. Once we got QUASIMODO the rest fell into place. That is not usual with a JW puzzle. Jeffrey, I look forward to doing battle against you again!
Hahtoolah, once you have more time come for lunch when you are in town!
TTP- I think the last Bond movie I watched was Live and Let Die.
HG- EKC or ECG, KARAT or CARAT- both are correct.
JimmyB- the only place I've seen ECG is in a Xword puzzle. The only time I saw a cardiologist, she called it EKG.
Yellowrocks, go ahead and allow Flash.
Funny D-O and better yet Jinx.
Hahtoolah, congratulations ! Even though I was more than ready in every aspect, and have always had other interests and projects to pursue, I still had withdrawal. Mostly the daily and weekly interactions with people on different teams...
Speaking of retiring... ordered a new desktop computer yesterday. i7-7700 quad core cpu w/ 8GB cache, 16GB main, 2TB disk. The old XP desktop is going to be put out to pasture. Big Easy, it's coming in at about 10 % of the monthly lease you had on your first computer. It's about twice as big as a toaster.
xtulmkr, exactly ! I was looking at SEA- when I reread the clue. Yup, time to see the doctor.
Congrats Misty. Now, go see a doctor yourself.
Irish Miss, where is a post from Billocohoes about devastation ? Oh, thanks Argyle ! Hope all is well w/ Bill o'. Oh, there you are at 2:37. Good to hear.
Chairman Moe, Bilbo finally got some love ?
Yeah, where is Manac ? Could have used some dog support yesterday.
Yellowrocks, linking to (most) urls shouldn't have anything to do w/ FlashPlayer. Also, most YouTube videos don't use FP. What browser are you using ? Chrome and Firefox block FP for your protection, and let you decide. FP is forever buggy. Apple won't integrate it, but you can add it as a plug in or add on. Check to make sure your Windows 10 is up to date and your browser is at the current level. FP should also be updated to level 27.0.0.187. If not, you are exposed. Run a security scan.
Well, on everyone's urging, I did contact my doctor who suggested that I go to the clinic to have my symptoms checked out. I just came back, and the tests down there were basically fine, although there is a little ambiguous thing they think I should have a cardiologist check out. So there may be issues to deal with in the days ahead. I just hope I'll be okay until I see my primary care doctor for my regular visit on Wednesday, and get his recommendations on what to do next.
At first I wondered if it would be possible to fill all that empty white space. Then I got the theme and it was a fun ride!
I was very happy to hear RAVI Shankar perform with his daughter Anoushka Shankar back in 2006. I don't seem to have any photos. The Beatles brought his music to the west.
I actually own a DALI piece... sort of. Back in the 90s I got it in Florence, Italy. The gallery claimed he cast this melted clock sculpture himself. Maybe not. It seems more likely he licensed the right to make the sculpture to another artist and he just signed it. It still looks cool.
About ten years ago I was forced to replace my last CRT television when it died. I replaced it with a PLASMA TV and am very pleased with it. It is so much better than the LCD TVs which replaced them. A lot of the best consumer products get replaced with inferior products that are cheaper to make. The fault lies with consumers who don't make the effort to notice the difference.
Unknowns: ARNE, ALAN, EPPS. Hand up for FAKED before FALSE!
Thanks, Chairman Moe, for reminding us that BWI was Friendship Airport which was our "local" airport when I was growing up. Our real local airport was George Washington Airport just outside DC, but it is harder to get flights there. I will never acknowledge the name change of that airport. Who ever heard of renaming something named for George Washington?
Finally finished this tough puzzle. Some unknowns and a great learning experience. I will run 7 miles in the morning to prepare for Saturdays challenge.
Cheers,
Mark
Picard - I grew up in the DC suburbs in MD and remember Friendship and Washington National. Dulles was Dulles since it was built. But I have no memory of George Washington - to what was it changed?
Thanks.
Mike Sherline thanks for asking. George Washington Airport was the actual name of Washington National Airport. It was renamed for someone whose name I refuse even to speak.
Read the second paragraph of this Wikipedia entry "Transfer of control and renaming" for the details.
Of course the Dulles brothers were responsible for overthrowing the government of Iran which eventually led to the rise of Islamism in the region. The rest is history. It seems there is a pattern of naming airports for loathsome people.
Another example is the Las Vegas airport. Named for the man who kept out the victims of WWII but let in those who brutalized them with his immigration law.
This tells the story of this shameful act: "While opening the doors wide to former Nazis, the new law would make admission to this country practically impossible for Jews and others..."
Mike S. it is now Reagan National. The link sets out the history.
How funny, Picard and I responded at the same time this morning
Cohoes Fire
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