Theme:
39A. Come to a compromise ... and a homophonic hint to what each of four long answers contains: MEET IN THE MIDDLE
17A. E-cig user's package: VAPOR KIT. Food! Funny, I just made a Mexican pork dish last night, pork pibil. it was dee-lish, great tacos. A friend suggested I swap out the tomatillos in the sauce for cumquat, I like that idea for the acid element. I'll report back.
24A. Place for an apian colony: HONEY BEE FARM
51A. Self-arming protection system: PASSIVE ALARM
64A. Beach party with shellfish: CLAMBAKE
Plain and straightforward theme from Gary. Nothing to complain about - except maybe "VAPOR KIT". I'd never heard of that, and Google seems to agree with me. It seems a little contrived. "VAPE" yes, otherwise - not so much.
So moving on:
Across:
1. "Cheers" cheer: NORM!
5. Lyft or Uber: APP
8. Makes fun of: MOCKS
13. Melville's "Typee" sequel: OMOO. Has anyone actually read this? It crops up in many crosswords - and has anyone actually read "Typee"? "Moby Dick" was a slog.
14. Seafood delicacy: ROE
15. "Oh, darn!": AW, RATS! Charlie Brown's favorite exclamation.
19. Dollhouse accessory: TEA SET. TEA POT slowed me down.
20. Playground retort: ARE SO!
21. ER "Now!": STAT!
23. "What fun!": WHEE!. There's a lot of exclamations today. I used to work for a Dubliner in London who called the exclamation point a "shriek". I got to like it. I asked him for the password to a computer account once when I was new, and he told me "shriek or shriek ..." I was thoroughly confused ... until I discovered he was saying "!R!". So if you want to know the password to the database administrator account at [redacted], it's "Shriek or Shriek password"
27. Married person: SPOUSE
30. "Furthermore ... ": ALSO ...
31. Keats' "Sylvan historian": URN.
32. Actor McShane and novelist McEwan: IANS. I'm fans of both.
35. Fields of study: AREAS
43. Offspring: SPAWN. Usually "hell-spawn" for some reason.
44. Merrie __ England: OLDE. The Renaissance Fair doesn't really do justice to how pretty nasty conditions were in "Merry Old England".
45. Alumna bio word: NÉE
46. "Argo" setting: IRAN
48. One of the four Evangelists: ST. MARK. Matthew, Luke and John were his Evangelist compadres.
56. May, to Peter Parker: AUNT
57. North-of-the-border brand: ESSO. Across-the-Atlantic brand too.
58. Kick to the next level: AMP UP
62. Scribe: WRITER
66. Inhumane one: SADIST. Actually, the Marquis de Sade gets a little bum rap for this, so I've read.
67. The whole lot: ALL.
68. Frank: OPEN
69. Flows slowly: SEEPS
70. Chi follower: PSI
71. Gridiron play: PASS
Down:
1. Super star: NOVA. So here's a little musical interlude to a "supernova" band who apparently predicted their explosion to fame and implosion in an omnishambles quite accurately. Damn, they were good.
2. "Rubáiyát" poet Khayyám: OMAR. I'm glad I didn't have to go look for the diacriticals in the clue, I'd have been busy all day.
3. One may be tied around a saddle horn: ROPE
4. Chinese dish with pancakes: MOO SHU. Food!
5. Torah holder: ARK
6. Composure: POISE
7. Picayune: PETTY
8. Fisher-Price parent: MATTEL. They have a "Hot Wheels" branded bus that ferries folk between their two campuses in El Segundo her in LA. It's pretty cool. When you are waiting in the lobby they have a "bus cam" so you can see where it is.
9. Need to pay: OWE
10. "Mommie Dearest" mommie: CRAWFORD
11. Buckwheat dish: KASHA. I had never heard of this before, so, obviously, I'm going to make it at the weekend and see what's what.
12. Ranch critter: STEER. Critter? Terrible clue.
16. Goblet part: STEM
18. Outback hoppers: ROOS
22. Cut down to size: ABASED
25. Teutonic turndown: NEIN
26. Morales of "La Bamba": ESAI
27. Basic math homework: SUMS
28. Help the chef: PREP. You're welcome to join me in my kitchen. I'll prep for you if you'll return the favor.
29. Draft card designation: ONE-A
33. More than apologizes: ATONES
34. Org. with Canadiens and Canucks: NHL
36. Poet St. Vincent Millay: EDNA
37. Astro or Angel: AL'ER. Baseball, ask C.C.
38. Car radio button: SEEK
40. Drawstring alternative: TWIST TIE. Creative clue.
41. Crucifix letters: INRI
42. Painted Desert landform: MESA
47. Heads off: AVERTS
49. Airport conveyance: TRAM. The longest and most aggravating tram contest is a three-way playoff between San Franscisco, Atlanta and Newark.
50. 1997 chart-topper for Hanson: MMMBOP. I looked it up on YouTube. The chorus was vaguely familiar. What I was stunned about was the ads for the current tour. I assumed they all retired when their voices broke.
51. Bear hands: PAWS
52. Mysterious glows: AURAS
53. Like some remarks: SNIDE
54. Music licensing fee-collecting org.: ASCAP
55. Takes it easy: LOLLS.
59. Nickname for Haydn: PAPA
60. Hawaiian strings: UKES.
61. Rollerball items: PENS I was trying to fit rollerskate-related items in here, then I looked at what I was holding in my hand.
63. Ability to pick things up?: ESP
65. Boxing legend: ALI. I know I've said before, I "met" Muhammad once in an elevator at Warner Bros. We had an understanding not to approach anyone you ran into on the lot, but I couldn't resist shaking his hand and calling him "Champ". He was an amazing man.
With that, here's the grid.
Steve
Notes from C.C.:
Good luck to Picard (Robert), who's having a major surgery today. Please send positive thoughts to his way.
39A. Come to a compromise ... and a homophonic hint to what each of four long answers contains: MEET IN THE MIDDLE
17A. E-cig user's package: VAPOR KIT. Food! Funny, I just made a Mexican pork dish last night, pork pibil. it was dee-lish, great tacos. A friend suggested I swap out the tomatillos in the sauce for cumquat, I like that idea for the acid element. I'll report back.
24A. Place for an apian colony: HONEY BEE FARM
51A. Self-arming protection system: PASSIVE ALARM
64A. Beach party with shellfish: CLAMBAKE
Plain and straightforward theme from Gary. Nothing to complain about - except maybe "VAPOR KIT". I'd never heard of that, and Google seems to agree with me. It seems a little contrived. "VAPE" yes, otherwise - not so much.
So moving on:
Across:
1. "Cheers" cheer: NORM!
5. Lyft or Uber: APP
8. Makes fun of: MOCKS
13. Melville's "Typee" sequel: OMOO. Has anyone actually read this? It crops up in many crosswords - and has anyone actually read "Typee"? "Moby Dick" was a slog.
14. Seafood delicacy: ROE
15. "Oh, darn!": AW, RATS! Charlie Brown's favorite exclamation.
19. Dollhouse accessory: TEA SET. TEA POT slowed me down.
20. Playground retort: ARE SO!
21. ER "Now!": STAT!
23. "What fun!": WHEE!. There's a lot of exclamations today. I used to work for a Dubliner in London who called the exclamation point a "shriek". I got to like it. I asked him for the password to a computer account once when I was new, and he told me "shriek or shriek ..." I was thoroughly confused ... until I discovered he was saying "!R!". So if you want to know the password to the database administrator account at [redacted], it's "Shriek or Shriek password"
27. Married person: SPOUSE
30. "Furthermore ... ": ALSO ...
31. Keats' "Sylvan historian": URN.
Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness,
Thou foster-child of silence and slow time,
Sylvan historian, who canst thus express
A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme:
32. Actor McShane and novelist McEwan: IANS. I'm fans of both.
35. Fields of study: AREAS
43. Offspring: SPAWN. Usually "hell-spawn" for some reason.
44. Merrie __ England: OLDE. The Renaissance Fair doesn't really do justice to how pretty nasty conditions were in "Merry Old England".
45. Alumna bio word: NÉE
46. "Argo" setting: IRAN
48. One of the four Evangelists: ST. MARK. Matthew, Luke and John were his Evangelist compadres.
56. May, to Peter Parker: AUNT
57. North-of-the-border brand: ESSO. Across-the-Atlantic brand too.
58. Kick to the next level: AMP UP
62. Scribe: WRITER
66. Inhumane one: SADIST. Actually, the Marquis de Sade gets a little bum rap for this, so I've read.
67. The whole lot: ALL.
68. Frank: OPEN
69. Flows slowly: SEEPS
70. Chi follower: PSI
71. Gridiron play: PASS
Down:
1. Super star: NOVA. So here's a little musical interlude to a "supernova" band who apparently predicted their explosion to fame and implosion in an omnishambles quite accurately. Damn, they were good.
2. "Rubáiyát" poet Khayyám: OMAR. I'm glad I didn't have to go look for the diacriticals in the clue, I'd have been busy all day.
3. One may be tied around a saddle horn: ROPE
4. Chinese dish with pancakes: MOO SHU. Food!
5. Torah holder: ARK
6. Composure: POISE
7. Picayune: PETTY
8. Fisher-Price parent: MATTEL. They have a "Hot Wheels" branded bus that ferries folk between their two campuses in El Segundo her in LA. It's pretty cool. When you are waiting in the lobby they have a "bus cam" so you can see where it is.
9. Need to pay: OWE
10. "Mommie Dearest" mommie: CRAWFORD
11. Buckwheat dish: KASHA. I had never heard of this before, so, obviously, I'm going to make it at the weekend and see what's what.
12. Ranch critter: STEER. Critter? Terrible clue.
16. Goblet part: STEM
18. Outback hoppers: ROOS
22. Cut down to size: ABASED
25. Teutonic turndown: NEIN
26. Morales of "La Bamba": ESAI
27. Basic math homework: SUMS
28. Help the chef: PREP. You're welcome to join me in my kitchen. I'll prep for you if you'll return the favor.
29. Draft card designation: ONE-A
33. More than apologizes: ATONES
34. Org. with Canadiens and Canucks: NHL
36. Poet St. Vincent Millay: EDNA
37. Astro or Angel: AL'ER. Baseball, ask C.C.
38. Car radio button: SEEK
40. Drawstring alternative: TWIST TIE. Creative clue.
41. Crucifix letters: INRI
42. Painted Desert landform: MESA
47. Heads off: AVERTS
49. Airport conveyance: TRAM. The longest and most aggravating tram contest is a three-way playoff between San Franscisco, Atlanta and Newark.
50. 1997 chart-topper for Hanson: MMMBOP. I looked it up on YouTube. The chorus was vaguely familiar. What I was stunned about was the ads for the current tour. I assumed they all retired when their voices broke.
51. Bear hands: PAWS
52. Mysterious glows: AURAS
53. Like some remarks: SNIDE
54. Music licensing fee-collecting org.: ASCAP
55. Takes it easy: LOLLS.
59. Nickname for Haydn: PAPA
60. Hawaiian strings: UKES.
61. Rollerball items: PENS I was trying to fit rollerskate-related items in here, then I looked at what I was holding in my hand.
63. Ability to pick things up?: ESP
65. Boxing legend: ALI. I know I've said before, I "met" Muhammad once in an elevator at Warner Bros. We had an understanding not to approach anyone you ran into on the lot, but I couldn't resist shaking his hand and calling him "Champ". He was an amazing man.
With that, here's the grid.
Steve
Notes from C.C.:
Good luck to Picard (Robert), who's having a major surgery today. Please send positive thoughts to his way.
Picard and his Wife, Tahoe, 2016
FIR in 48:35 min.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Corner Writers!
Thank you Gary Larson for this crunchy Thursday CW.
Thank you Steve for your excellent review.
Ðave
FIRight, but forgot to look for the theme. It would have been a fun one to find. Spent a bit longer than usual researching the J_ poem. I've only been to one taffy pull in my life, so had to see what was normal for one.
ReplyDeleteI re-posted an old Pluto poem on the tail of last nite's blog just now.
Thanks for the kind words all, but I really do miss the snipes and snarks on my poems. From some I got some great laughs, and from the rest, great lessons!
Playing video games until dawn,
When you get killed, you need to move on.
So many games have
A magical save --
You're resurrected when you re-SPAWN!
(This is a real thing, but you usually have to give up a bunch of your booty and/or experience points to continue from the point where you got offed.)
DOLLHOUSE furnishings made to adapt
Are often one-twelveth the real-world STAT.
But a TEA SET for kids
To have tea parties with
Are one-third the scale to which Mommies' are mapped.
To SEEK a SPOUSE, there is reason
To think they are always in season.
They may react with "AW, RATS!"
When you first make a PASS,
But that's a "PASS"IVE ALARM to your teasin'.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteStumbled through to victory on this one. With the "homophonic" reveal clue, I managed to see all of the meats stuffed in the middle. (Otto-correct doesn't like "homophonic.") Remembered MMMBOP from last time...almost...tried BOT. Enjoyed the outing, GL, and the tour, Steve. (Had to look up "omnishambles." Guess I'm too old for neologisms.)
Best of luck today on that surgery, Picard.
Good morning. I got the theme (unusual for me) early when I noticed PORK in the middle of each legislative, I mean, VAPOR KIT. It didn't hurt that only a few were solved by perps, starting with NORM, as I never watched Cheers. Or Argo but knew it was either IRAQ or IRAN. KASHA was all perps. And then there was MMMBOP- did I know that song or the band? Hell no. Thank you perps.
ReplyDeleteOMOO, TYPEE, OMAR, MEL OTT, Bobby ORR, NLER, ALER- constructors' best friends
Years ago it was JAI ALAI, ACRE Israel, ORAN Algeria- haven't seen them lately.
Owen- To SEEK a SPOUSE, when you first make a PASS if it doesn't work it's now referred to as: SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Good morning all.
ReplyDeleteFIR in just under 30 minutes.
No look ups or write overs needed on this fine workout.
Thanks Gary L for the fun and Steve for the review.
Had to move around on this one a bit because of unknowns like KASHA,OMOO,MMMBOP and ASCAP.
Best wishes to Picard on your surgery. Nice pic of you and your wife.
Cheers
Perfect Thursday. Made me work but I won in the end. Thanks Gary.
ReplyDeleteSteve, what can I say? I may never use a shriek again! What fun
I wanted Diva for superstar but NORM wouldn’t let me . Oh. That kind of star.
I never use a car radio so struggled with SEEK. I vaguely remember seeing it but that was all perps.
Owen, I’m not sure what you learn from comments about your poems, but I learned a great deal about Tea Set sizes today. It’s always bothered me that they are usually clued as being used in doll houses but mine were too big. Aha moment with your first offering!
As for spouse, I’m not seeking one but I’ll keep your observations in mind if I ever do!
Good morning everyone.
ReplyDeleteFIR; no searches needed. Got the theme early with 39a - MEET IN THE MIDDLE. A few unknowns like MMMBOP came from perps, ST MARK became clear with the EDNA down. Had 'else' before ALSO. Seemed a bit on the easy side for a Thursday.
Wishing a successful outcome to Picard on his surgery.
Good Morning.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gary and Steve, for a challenge and a fine explication. I struggled a bit, but honed in after I ignored the theme clue. I was flummoxed by 48 A as Matthew wouldn't work. Ah, ST before MARK! I don't know anything about vaping except for the giant adds that warn of nicotine and the danger to teens who think it's safe.
Owen, Agnes and Robert: good wishes for healing well.
Have a sine day today.
OK, I'll bite. What is a "sine day," Mme Defarge?
ReplyDeleteTook 9:55. Didn't see the theme until completed.
ReplyDeleteDidn't we just have "MMM Bop" very recently?
Hi Y'all! Great puzzle & expo, thanks, Gary & Steve!
ReplyDeleteGot the meaty theme with the reveal and immediately filled in a couple that were pending.
IANS was a lucky WAG. Always need ESP for slang entries.
Robert, Good luck with your surgery.
Our diocesan conventions were adjourned sine day, meaning for an indefinite time without scheduling a date for the next meeting. However, the conventions did occur once a year in the same month every time.
ReplyDeleteSteve, many historical novels I have read agree with you that Merrie Olde England was not merry, but quite nasty, for so many inhabitants.
I don't remember MMMBOP and never heard of the movie ARGO. Perps to the rescue. I solved this puzzle in average Thursday time. I understood the theme early on, but didn't use it in the solve. I looked for the meats after I finished.
I had a friend who cooked KASHA. I never tried it because I don't care for cooked cereal, such as oatmeal, cream of wheat, grits, etc.
Picard, my thoughts are with you for a successful surgery and a speedy return to good health.
D-O and YR: I, however, did not proof my post. My "sine" day is really a fine one.
ReplyDeleteSorry about that! :O
Musings
ReplyDelete-Back after 18 holes. Our clubhouse got broken into last night and the sheriff was still investigating when I left
-ALL - “NORM!” Woody - “How ‘bout something tall, cold and full of alcohol, NORM?” NORM – “Sounds like my wife”
-Some say the remains of Alexander The Great lie in the venerated tomb of ST MARK’S in Venice and not those of the saint.
-Music Man - As Eulalie MacKechnie Shinn (the mayor's wife) said, the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám is a dirty, "smutty" book because of the references to: "lying out in the woods eating sandwiches"; "getting drunk off of gin"; and "drinking directly out of jugs with innocent young girls."
-Critter works out here on the prairie
-My daughter used to be a recruiter in Western Nebraska and when she hit SEEK, the radio when ALL the way around without finding a station
-Good Luck, Robert!
I liked the way the pork "meet" crossed Mooshu.
ReplyDeleteFun puzzle today!
I wonder if Gary considered whooPI Goldberg
ReplyDeleteSine - I've heard of "sine qua non'. : something absolutely indispensable or essential.
ReplyDelete"MMM Bop" was in the LA Times Crossword Puzzle on Wed., July 31, 2019.
ReplyDeleteFIW,
ReplyDeleteThose Darn Evangelists got me again...
(I will never remember the Crosswordese "MMMBOP!)
Have been too busy to post much these days, MIL's broken neck
has me driving DW to Brooklyn daily. It's been 4 weeks &
she was finally showing signs of improvement, when things took a turn for the worst.
We are not sure if it is Senility, Dementia, Alzheimers, Medication, or
shock from the trauma, but everyone is very concerned at her deterioration.
On a lighter note:
Are they just meeting in the middle,
or just trying to avoid becoming Steaks?
Irish Miss, Betty, Chickie, & Picard:
Sorry for any belated cakes, Been so rushed I had to compromise...
ReplyDeleteZero issues with this Thursday puzzle. Might be the easiest of the week so far.
Okay what’s wrong with the 12D clue? Critter definition: a living creature; an animal.
Too eager again, leading to
Markovers...just one....ALERTS/AVERTS.....soooo close.
And on to Friday.
Ack! I forgot OwenKL!
ReplyDeleteFeel better Owen!
(Darn memory has me worried about "myself...")
FYI/PSA
was about to rush out and walk the neighbors dog
when I remembered not to walk her around the Lake anymore.
Todays paper said the algae blooms that have shut down several
lakes here also poisoned and killed several dogs!
Looking back to July 31, I see that I didn't comment on MMMBOP, although I must have needed every perp. Even with ---BOP I didn't recall it today. I am listening to it now. Not my cuppa. Not memorable. I probably will forget it again.
ReplyDeleteSine qua non literally translated is "without which not", meaning a thing which is absolutely necessary or essential. I think of it as "without which it could not be what it is."
Sine day, or more properly sine die, literally, is "without a day" (to meet again).
HG, your citing PIG as meat, led me to wonder why we use pork for the food rather than pig. We do name the animal when we eat lamb, fish and poultry. LIU.
pig/pork, cow/beef
Dave, so sorry to hear about your MIL. It seems that very often a fall will lead to serious physical and mental deterioration in the elderly. I am sending positive thoughts that that she can overcome this.
Fun Thursday puzzle, Gary--many thanks. As a "Cheers" fan for many years, I got NORM instantly. Cute to see HONEY BEE FARM turn up so easily. Had a bit more trouble in the north and south east. Never heard of Peter Parker and his AUNT MAY. Haydn was nicknamed PAPO? New one for me. I'm going to focus on modernist poets in my Senior class next spring, and EDNA St. Vincent Millay is one of the poets we'll explore. Thanks again, Gary, and you too, Steve.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see your poems, Owen!
We miss you, Irish Miss.
Sorry to hear about the difficult time in your family, Cross-Eyed Dave.
Good luck on the surgery, Picard.
Have a good day, everybody.
" has anyone actually read... "Moby Dick" You are kidding, right? One of the greatest novels ever written and still in print and you wonder if anyone reads it. By the way, the correct spelling is Moby-Dick.
ReplyDeleteGod afternoon, folks. Thank you, Gary Larson, for a fine puzzle. Thank you, Steve, for a fine review.
ReplyDeleteGot through the puzzle easier than most Thursdays. I'll take it!
Got the theme description and all the theme answers, but not the theme until I came here. I was looking for something different.
Not sure who URN was. Perps.
Liked 57A clue and ESSO. Very clever. Was trying for something Mexican.
Tried OOZES before SEEPS worked much better.
I am not into shellfish much so others can go to the CLAM BAKE.
KASHA was unknown. Maybe I will remember it next time.
Lots to do. see you tomorrow.
Abejo
( )
NORM! Steve and friends! This was speed-run Thursday. I was totally on Gary Larson's wavelength on this puzzle. Fun Thursday.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the crowd who has yet to read either Moby-Dick or OMOO. The latter isn't even on my TBR list.
My favorite clues were: (1) Ability to pick up things = ESP; and (2) Fisher-Price parent = MATTEL
I wanted to Help the Chef by Peel(ing) food items.
When I took piano lessons (years ago), I learned a piece by PAPA Haydn. There was a little ditty that went along with the piece. Does anyone else remember this:
Papa Haydn dead and gone,
but his memory lingers on,
when his mood was one of bliss,
he wrote jolly tunes like this.
QOD: A party without cake is just a meeting. ~ Julia Child (née Julie Carolyn McWilliams; Aug. 15, 1912 ~ Aug. 13, 2004)
Big Easy, re sex harassment :-))
ReplyDeleteSwampCat: Glad my TEA SET poem was useful! That clue bugged me for the same reason it did you, so I took some time to research it. Barbie/G.I.Joe are 1:6, standard dollhouses are 1:12 (1:10 in metric countries), and there are other smaller sizes for serious hobbyists down to doll-house dollhouse at 1:144.
Sorry I was pedantic instead of funny today with those first two l'icks.
BTW, my projected release date is Monday, followed by 2 weeks in rehab.
Worried to hear about Picard! What's he going in for?
Jerome.
ReplyDeleteTo whom are you referring? I cant find where anyone was questioning who ever read Moby-Dick.
Steve was questioning about reading Omoo and Typee. Is this the question to which you are referring?
He did saying reading Moby-Dick was a slog for him personally.
I guess I dont understand was your rant was about.
Moby-Dick Classics Illustrated. As I vaguely recall, I tried reading an abridged version that left out all the educational chapters on whaling. I don't think I even finished that. I'm going to go read the CI version now.
ReplyDeleteDamn, lost my entire post. Not gonna type it all again. Yes, I did copy (into the "clipboard") what I posted so that in case it got lost I could paste it right back in again, but even THAT got lost.
ReplyDeleteI liked this puzzle. Did not like ALER and never will.
Wow, I just found my original post! Ah, the magic of this Edge browser moving tabs around. Here's the original:
ReplyDeleteI liked this puzzle. Was stuck for a moment trying to fit JOAN CRAWFORD into that 8-letter space. Forehead slap when the penny finally dropped. ST PAUL changed into ST MARK when SEEL didn't look right; ALE- was of no help to me as ALEU looked fine. I like to drink ALE; does that make me an ALER? Or maybe an ALER is the guy who makes ALE, like an armorer makes armor. Would any real life American League player, coach, or manager ever call himself an ALER?
LW used to eat a cold cereal called Kashi. I tried some once but it made me feel like Euell Gibbons.
No, I have not read Moby-Dick, not even a Penguin Books condensed version. Did see the movie with Gregory Peck and Richard Basehart, though, and even it was a slog. The only other Melville work I'm familiar with at all is Billy Budd, and only via seeing the movie starring a very young Terence Stamp.
Good wishes to you all.
This is a main reason why we come to the Corner--to find out what we missed in the theme. Here was a fine pzl from our Mr. Larson, but even while solving it in relatively good speed (Ta ~ DA!), I breezed right through the meaty theme placements.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and good health to Picard!
Misty ~
I guess you've figured it by now, but just in case: Haydn's nickname was PAPA, not PAPO. My kids used to call popcorn "Poppo," but it's not the same.
~ OMK
____________
DR: One diagonal today, NW to SE.
Its anagram refers to a fantasy of the luxurious life, a...
"POSHNESS DREAM"!
Hola!
ReplyDeleteOne thing about insomnia and rising late is that you all have commented by now and I have the fun of reading what you all have to say.
I mostly enjoyed this puzzle and was quickly on Gary's wave length and am familiar with the references: NORM, OMOO, ROE, etc. I have not read either OMOO or Moby Dick which I started once and got through the first chapter but just could not go any farther. I also have a book called Ahab's Wife and have not read it, either.
I have, however, read many books about Merrie OLDE England and agree that it wasn't all that merrie unless you were royalty and only for men at that though they were so often at war.
I've seen MMMBOP in several other puzzles but still have a hard time recalling it.
Not having seen Spider Man, AUNT May is a stranger to me but easily guessed.
In my study of the history the English language I learned that our terms for MEAT have two origins, French and Saxon. After the conquest of 1066, French was spoken at court and so BEEF, PORK, mutton and poultry entered the language but cow, pig, sheep, chicken, etc., remained the terms for the natives. That's what I vaguely recall so I'll have to research again.
Prayers and positive thoughts going to Picard and good wishes continuing for Irish Miss.
Have a lovely day, everyone!
Last night I saw a movie called "Duchess" based on a true story and it emphasized to me what a sad plight it was for women in the past.
ReplyDeleteTook a "Hawthorne, Melville, and Twain" course taught by a professor emeritus whose thesis was a treatise on Twain. The prof got his timing all mixed up, and never did get to Twain in his lectures. I did learn two things in that course. I learned that I didn't like Moby Dick, and I learned not to sign up for a course if it's taught by a professor emeritus.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Lucina. You might be interested in my reference at 11:40.
ReplyDeleteMoby-Dick is one of my favorite books. Hey, the sea wins in the end! What’s not to like? Am I still welcome here?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ol'Man Keith. Since I didn't know that chart topper for Hanson, I put TOSS for the Gridiron play instead of PASS, and that's how I came up with PAPO instead of PAPA. Tough to get a crossword answer when you don't know your modern music your sports or even you classical Haydn nickname.
ReplyDeleteLucina: I have been listening to a podcast on the history of English. Today’s lesson was on the influence of French after the Norman conquest. Your memory serves you right. The French was used by the aristocracy and such words as Pork and Beef made their appearances in the language, while the hoi polloi ate pig and cow.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to Picard, Irish Miss, OKL and any other ailing member of our clan. Maybe Gary will do a fish puzzle next. Be well all.
ReplyDeleteThanks to Gary L for the puzzle and to Steve for the as-always fine review. As much as I found yesterday’s puzzle to be pretty difficult, today’s was pretty easy. FIR in just a tad under 17 minutes.
ReplyDeleteI think I may be the only one here in the Corner who has read Moby Dick, Typee, and OMOO. Typee I enjoyed, Moby Dick I did not, and OMOO lies somewhere between but closer to Typee than to Moby Dick.
Hand up for never liking ALER, nler, nhler, or any other of those Elr Fellers. Like fingernails on a blackboard they are.
I’ve heard of Kashi but have never seen the name KASHA. Made that part of the puzzle a bit iffy until perps came to the rescue.
Steve, I have never seen ! called shriek. I have seen it called bang. I think I like shriek better.
Does it bother anyone else that lately words like SEEP have been used as synonymous with FLOW? I have always thought of flow as reasonably rapid and seep is not at all rapid.
That’s it for today; I am proud that I got my 2¢ worth in before supper time. Have a day, all.
WikWak, today's clue was "Flows slowly."
ReplyDeleteTerrific Thursday. Thanks for the fun, Gary and Steve.
ReplyDeleteI FIRed, saw the theme and found the Meat. (Was STEER an Easter egg?)
One inkblot where Rein changed to ROPE, meaning Omee changed to OMOO. OH RATS, it's Typee.
I smiled at OMAR crossing OMOO, crossing MOO SHU.
ESSO again. I'm getting almost as many CSOs as Abejo with Erie.
I wanted my HONEYBEEs to be in a Hive; I had the . . RM and was even wondering about Swarm.
I must run and get supper; then off to concert in the park (Beatles' music tonight!)
I'll try to catch up on the blog later.
Best wishes on your surgery Picard.
Good day to all.
YR:
ReplyDeleteI just read the article you referenced and see that the differences were explained there, if a little loosely; it was not an accident that the masses spoke anglo-saxon and the French used their language. Conquests have consequences. Consider Mexico and South America. Spanish has all but overtaken all the native languages with only a few remnants found among the Maya and others.
I love the study of language, especially English. Spanish also has its history as it evolved from Latin and the western tribes that overran Spain over the centuries with many Arabic roots thrown in as well. Eight hundred years of occupation by the Moors is bound to leave its traces.
At first, read "homophobic for "homophonic.
ReplyDeleteNever sure where to put the M in OMOO.
I guess I'm too protestant to think of using "saint" before Biblical names.
Most of the "boy groups" are men how.
I didn't know Robert (Picard) was having an operation. Get well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with PVX on ease of solve today. I even remembered to look for the theme. No write-overs.
Along with Melville we have Scott. "Moby Dick " is an Emeritus (hi Misty) type and Ivanhoe is your basic High school reading.
Sequel. Thackeray wrote "Rebecca and Rowena" . Meat? How about the dastardly Front de Boeuf. I have outlined a version which I'm going to get OMK to produce and Owen to do the lyrics. Anyone in here want to try the music?
Btw, Ivanhoe not only is not the hero, he's never actually seen or heard. The tale that Scott wrote is about Bois de Boulogne and the power of love .
If someone could sell a tale about Alexander Hamilton anything can be sold.
WC
@Jerome - not "Moby-Dick", I agree a great novel - but the others? Maybe I wasn't clear about that.
ReplyDeleteFinally gave up and turned on error check and erased CAB. When I erased that I immediately knew ARK, POISE and PETTY. Also erased am not, scion for SPAWN, rein for ROPE, koshi and like others, peel for PREP.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, Picard. You two make a beautiful couple.
Thanks to Gary and Steve for the fun.
WW & d-o -- so "flows slowly" is an oxymoron? Yep, I'll go with that.
ReplyDeleteHi All!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fun Puzzle Gary! I got the theme with VAPOR KIT [I agree w/ Steve and I used to VAPE] and MEET IN THE MIDDLE sans perpage. The reveal had America's Sister Golden Hair's refrain in my head all morning - quite lovely.
Thanks for the wonderful expo Steve. I know I was assigned Moby-Dick in High School so it's likely I only read the Cliff Notes. [You're still welcome SwampCat @2:54p]
WOs: I put "sous"-Chef in ESAI's squares and then had to change it to PREP when URN blocked the French "under." Phi b/f PSI, AVEReS was so close @47d
ESPs: ESAI, PAPA, EDNA, KASHA
Fav: Learning that the New Orlean's paper is the Times-PETTY :-)
I also liked the c/a at MATTEL - that was a V8 moment [I was thinking, "those little wooden-people on the airplane had names?!?" for quite a spell]
Whoot! I remembered MMMBOP for 15 whole days! //well, I had some perp-help...
{A, B+, B}
Cute DR today OMK.
Add Picard to the list of Cornerites I'm sending nothing but good vibes to get well soon. CED's MIL too!
Love the QOD Hahtoolah!
YR - I think you may have heard of the movie Argo [Trailer]. It's based on a true story.
Have a wonderful evening! Cheers, -T
T,I LIU Argo this morning. It was news to me. I do not watch or pay attention to many current movies, just old ones.
ReplyDeleteI will probably catch it in a few years.
I think one meaning of flow can mean merely move continuously in one direction. Water can flow quite gently and gradually. I know we mostly think of flow as being more vigorous.
Steve- Read the quote wrong. Sorry... and my apologies.
ReplyDeleteI had a lovely response to a message from Irish Miss today. She is hanging in there, although it is not easy. But she clearly loves hearing from us.
ReplyDelete(Hi Wilbur)
Flow - Why the questioning on flow? It can mean any fluid movement from seepage up to vary rapid - such as the flow over Niagara Falls. Traffic flows, too. But it does't seep. Inch along, maybe.
ReplyDeleteMisty, there was a comment about Professor(s) Emeritus. I immediately thought of you.
ReplyDeleteWe had Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying" just recently. Again, I immediately thought of you .
Interesting that you would like "Cheers" so much. Did you also follow "Frasier"?. I think that SEQUEL may have surpassed the original.
Btw, if anyone caught the ARGO previews, was that NORM in the cast?
WC
ARGO is an excellent film with riveting scenes even though the outcome is known. I may watch it again on Netflix.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone read "Educated" by Tara Westover? If so, please give me a quick review. I'm currently reading "Wild Girl" by Jim Fergus but will need one ready for when I finish.
WC - re: ARGO trailer - Me thinks that was John Goodman not George Wendt [NORM!]
ReplyDeleteLucina - I can't comment on 'Educated' but I really enjoyed Python's Eric Idle's 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - a Sortabiography' and Cult of the Dead Cow [spoiler: Psychedelic WarLord is Beto O'Rourke].
My favorite moment at Defcon: meeting and having all the cDc guys (who attended) ++the author, Menn, sign my copy! //I'd post pics if it weren't so late.
Cheers, -T
AnonT:
ReplyDeleteThank you. Lucky you to score an autograph!
Lucinda, Educated is a worthwhile read. Not exactly riveting, but it tells the gritty story of a girl who pushed beyond the circumstances in which she was raised. Plus, the background setting in Alaska is beautiful. I found it an eye-opening peek into a type of life that I was unfamiliar with. I recommend it.
ReplyDeleteCanadian: Educated by Tara Westover takes place in Idaho, not Alaska. She is the daughter of survivalist parents who don’t believe in government, hospitals or schools. They did, however, have access to computers and the internet.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hahtoolah. I was confusing Educated with The Great Alone. Both are good reads!
ReplyDelete