google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Sunday June 7, 2020 Mark McClain

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Jun 7, 2020

Sunday June 7, 2020 Mark McClain

Theme: "Case in Point" - Each familiar phrase is humorously clued as if it's law-related.

23A. Bailiff who keeps the jury in stitches?: COURT JESTER.

34A. Music played between attorneys' arguments?: BRIEF INTERLUDE.

52A. Polite argument on behalf of the accused?: CIVIL DEFENSE.

76A. Cartoon dialogue introduced as evidence?: TRIAL BALLOON.

93A. Satisfaction for a prosecuting attorney?: GUILTY PLEASURE.

109A. Action brought by a cowardly plaintiff?: CHICKEN SUIT.
 
15D. High-hat challenge of a conviction?: SNOB APPEAL

69D. Magistrate who specializes in agricultural litigation?: FIELD JUDGE.

Solid punny theme from Mark. I bet our regulars can come up with more sentence/hearing candidates.

Great grid design as well. Theme entries are spread everywhere. And you won't find strange Abbrs or words in Mark's grids.

Across:

1. Jouster's wear: ARMOR.

6. Language of 100,000+ Canadians: CREE. Winnipeg is Cree for "muddy water".

10. "Waterloo" group: ABBA.

14. Jr. challenge: PSAT.

18. Early "Masterpiece Theatre" host Alistair: COOKE.

19. Got the news: HEARD.

21. Champagne word: BRUT.

22. Toy owner in "Toy Story" films: ANDY. Saw lots of Buzz Lightyear toys at our flea market over the years.


25. Hotel unit: ROOM.

26. Egg-white omelet's lack: YOLK.

27. Close friends, say: DEAR ONES.

28. Dramatic technique: IRONY.

30. "The Sandbox" playwright: ALBEE.

31. Frigg's spouse: ODIN. Or Frigga (Rene Russo).


32. Parade features: FLOATS.

33. Bull alligator sounds: ROARS. Really?

39. Faithful spring?: LEAP. Leap of faith.

40. Pal played her in early films: LASSIE. Pal the dog.


41. Invitation encl.: SASE. Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope.

42. First of an alley's 10: HEADPIN. Bowling alleys here have been reopened. 25% of the capacity only. 

45. Tribute creator: ODIST.

46. Palm species: ACAI.

48. Home of the Big 12's Cyclones: AMES.

50. Actress Ward: SELA.

51. "The Great" detective of kid-lit: NATE.

56. Ins. giant: AIG. Founded in Shanghai in 1919. AIA is a subsidiary of AIG.

57. Bar group: DRINKERS.

59. Toyota logo shape: OVAL.

60. Chaucer works: TALES.

62. Prompts on stage: CUES.

63. Steam up: ANGER.

65. Vanishing act word: POOF. PFFT too.

67. Send (to): REFER.

70. Do the crawl, e.g.: SWIM.

71. Cause of ruination: DOWNFALL.

75. Action film shooter: UZI.

81. Garfield's foil: ODIE.

82. Place for a nest: TREE.

84. Vishnu's quartet: ARMS. Can you imagine life with four arms? I'll be so confused.


85. Solemn promise: OATH.

86. Get a hard copy: PRINT.

87. Persian hunting dogs: SALUKIS. Wiki says they hunt "primarily by sight rather than scent".


89. Sing the praises of: LAUD.

91. Turn into cash: REDEEM.

92. Scott in an 1857 case: DRED.

97. Mustard town: DIJON.

99. __ Fables: AESOP'S.

100. Plate crossings: RUNS.

101. Blow a gasket: ERUPT.

102. Justice Kagan: ELENA.

103. Aggressive stingers: FIRE ANTS.

107. __ one's time: wait: BIDE.

108. Tennis great Steffi: GRAF. Happy couple.


112. Links org.: USGA.

113. In __: unmoved: SITU.

114. Spot cost: AD FEE.

115. "Neon" fish: TETRA.

116. After that: THEN.

117. Scientist __ deGrasse Tyson: NEIL. He was the classmate of constructor Andrea Carla Michales at Harvard.


118. Alan in old films: LADD.

119. "My bad, Francesca": SCUSI.

Down:

1. Clemson's NCAA div.: ACC.

2. Large cross: ROOD.

3. Pouty face: MOUE.

4. Often-fried veggie: OKRA.Tastes great with bonito flakes.


5. Upgrade technologically: RETROFIT.

6. __ blanc: Loire Valley wine: CHENIN. Not familiar to me. Not a wine drinker.


7. Take exception to: RESENT.

8. Digs in: EATS.

9. Prior to, in verse: ERE.

10. Out of the country: ABROAD.

11. Literary Yorkshire family name: BRONTE.

12. Channel markers: BUOYS.

13. Drive-thru device: ATM.

14. Truckers' cargoes: PAYLOADS.

16. Freud disciple: ADLER (Alfred)


17. Little shavers: TYKES.

20. Goes for oil: DRILLS.

24. Foster with Oscars: JODIE. I've only seen one of her movies.

29. Bounder: ROUE.

30. Tiler's calculation: AREA.

32. Sickly: FRAIL.

34. Flaxen, as hair: BLOND.

35. Speed gauge: RADAR.

36. Question in Matthew: IS IT I.

37. Heart and soul: ESSENCE.

38. Morales of TV's "Titans": ESAI.


39. Not as much: LESS.

42. Female lobster: HEN.

43. "Would __ to you?": I LIE.

44. Pesters: NAGS.

46. Refreshes, with "out": AIRS.

47. Walgreens rival: CVS.

48. Way over yonder: AFAR.

49. Filmmaker Gibson: MEL.

52. So-so mark: CEE.

53. Firm belief: DOGMA.

54. Genesis matriarch: EVE.

55. Town across the Thames from Windsor: ETON.

58. Composer Weill: KURT. Known for "Mack the Knife", which Boomer loves.

61. Makes available to: AFFORDS.

63. Hole-making tools: AWLS.

64. Pen part: NIB.

65. Milne creation: POOH.

66. Control: OWN.

67. Wagon road features: RUTS.

68. Biblical scribe: EZRA.

70. "Cheers" bartender: SAM.

71. URL element: DOT.

72. "Ta-ta, Thierry!": ADIEU.

73. Big ship: LINER.

74. "I can do that": LET ME. I finally planted daikon radishes this year. Hope mine can be as good as these ones in a few months'.


77. Carefully timed operation: RAID.

78. E-file org.: IRS.

79. Awkward sorts: LOUTS.

80. Title for Gaga: LADY.

83. Pole, for one: EUROPEAN. Nice clue.

86. Farm workers of old: PEASANTS.

88. Canterbury's county: KENT.

89. Companion of Dorothy: LION.

90. Camel cousin: ALPACA.

91. O'Connor who played Gabrielle on "Xena": RENEE. Learning moment for me.


93. Italian treats: GELATI.

94. Handy: USEFUL.

95. Selling for, with "at": PRICED. Grape prices are finally down here. Been $3.99/lb for a few months.

96. Waited in hiding: LURKED.

97. First appearance: DEBUT.

98. "Fighting" Indiana team: IRISH.

99. Lofty home: AERIE. So many sticks.



103. World Cup org.: FIFA.

104. Tiny bit of a min.: NSEC.

105. Ballet attire: TUTU.

106. Titles of respect: SIRS.

108. "Family Feud" reruns channel: GSN.

110. "Good" cholesterol initials: HDL.

111. Mai __: TAI.

C.C.




47 comments:

  1. The COURT JESTER said a jouster he would be,
    With his motley as his ARMOR for to see!

    He brought a trampoline, placed it in the lists,
    To be his noble steed for the contest he insists.
    His timing must be perfect, an acrobat is he.
    A squire is his opponent, (he paid the kid a fee).

    The charge comes down the list with leveled lance.
    The jester bounces high, in an aerial dance.
    He lands upon the lance, which becomes a teeter-totter,
    And the squire goes a-flying, his pate over his trotters!

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  2. {B+.} Much better than yesterday at least.

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  3. Fun Puzzle from Mark and a beautiful blog from C.C., I love your images.

    Raced through without too many missteps, I grasped the ESSENCE of the theme and seemed to LEAP to the answer of most of the long fills. Made for a pleasant Sunday morning diversion.

    I accept your challenge C.C.

    Severe penalty for a panel - HUNG JURY

    Safe sequestering, all.

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  4. Good morning!

    This wasn't a race, but a slow and steady avalanche from top to bottom. The theme was apparent, and helped a tad with the solve. Cute to see POOF crossing POOH. Thanx, Mark and C.C.

    HEADPIN: CSO to Boomer.

    SALUKI: I learned this word during March Madness a few years ago. Team from Southern Illinois, methinks. Weird name, though. This from the guy whose high school team was name the Pigeons.

    COOKE: Remember those Sunday afternoon Omnibus programs back in the day?

    LASSIE: I remember a Sunday dinner (probably after Omnibus) when my sister and her family were visiting. The youngest, Jay, hadn't started talking yet. The TV was still on in the living room. When the familiar theme song started, Jay excitedly screamed,"Wassie!" -- his first word.

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  5. Yes, DO, the Southern Illinois University mascot is the Saluki, a beautiful coursing hound. I can vouch for this as SIU is my alma mater, let's not go into how many years ago. They may seem an odd choice, but they are presented as Egyptian, not Persian, and are a link to the Little Egypt area of Southern Illinois. Cairo and environs. They are nowhere near as odd a choice for mascot as a Blue hen, the mascot of my adoptive Alma Mater, the University of Delaware (ass-kickin' chicken). Of course, nothing tops the Yellow Banana Slug as a strange mascot, IMHO.

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  6. Good morning, folks. Thank you, Mark McClain, for a fine puzzle. Thank you, C.C., for a fine review.

    Started this puzzle at 1:30 AM. Could not sleep. Worked my way through it in about an hour and a half. A real decent puzzle. Not too hard, not too easy.

    Caught the theme early on with COURT JESTER. All the rest fell as I got to them.

    A few unknowns: ALBEE, CHENIN, SCUSI, FIFA. A perps or two for others. All worked out.

    AERIE again. Just had that. That's OK with me.

    Got a little sleep as the morning approached. Cool today. Back in the garden. See you tomorrow.

    Abejo

    ( )

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  7. Really enjoyed this puzzle Mark. Entering RESisT for RESENT caused major problems at the top. Everything else filled nicely.
    As always thank you C.C.
    MO

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  8. Musings
    -BIRTHDAY SUIT?
    -Where were you when you HEARD – JFK shot, OJ not guilty, Challenger blew up…
    -2 minutes of Twlight Zone IRONY
    -The most famous Indiana State SALUKI basketball player was Walt Frazier
    -I spent two weeks in the hospital in 2015 and watched the USGA sponsored US Open played on a horrible golf course that I and the pros hated
    -5’6” Alan LADD made a lot of movies with 4’11” Veronica Lake
    -Adjacent ROOD and MOUE represent cwd learning to me
    -I always think ALPACA has double letters somewhere
    -My iPhone is so very USEFUL. Last night I leveled up my bird bath with it
    -If you don’t enter a station number correctly on our cable service, it defaults to Steve Harvey and Family Feud
    -Owen - I loved "his pate over his trotters"!

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  9. Husker, I can just see you sticking your iPhone under the low corner of that bird bath.

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  10. Good Morning:

    This puzzle gets an A+ from me for the following reasons: The theme was clever and perfectly executed (no pun intended); the fill was fresh and lively; there were fewer than usual three letter words for a Sunday grid; there were almost no unknown proper names or places; there was no crosswordese, at least none that I noticed; and, last but not least, it was truly an enjoyable solve. So many duos caught my eye: Moue/Roue, USGA/FIFA, Odie/Jodie, Esai/Açaí, and the cute trio of Odin, Odie, and Odist. I particularly enjoyed all the creatures, great and small: Alpaca, Lassie, Odie, Salukis, Tetra, Lion, Fire Ants, Hen, Chicken, Aerie, and Roars. CSOs to Tin (Andy), Tony (Gelati and Scusi), and Moi (Irish ☘️).

    Bravo, Mark, and thank you for creating a Sunday offering that was such a pleasure to solve and thanks, CC, for your expertise and explanations that highlight the talents and achievements of the constructors. Good luck with your radishes.

    Lucina, what does Esai translate to in English?

    Stay safe, all.

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  11. HG, how could you? Walt Frazier = Indiana State? Surely you mean Larry Bird = ISU. Walt Frazier attended Southern Illinois University and is the reason I hung up my jock strap and decided to concentrate on my studies. Better I should work on something I could master rather than a sport I was obviously second-rate at.

    And now for something completely different. If I own season tickets to both the UD football and basketball seasons, does that make me an athletic supporter?

    Cya!

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  12. SCUSI- really? A non-English, non-Italian word to finish Mai Tai. Rich and Mark could have reworked that corner. But then Mark has the plural ending of gelato in Italian-GELATI.

    Other than the last questionable fill it was a nice easy Sunday puzzle.
    Just a few unknowns easily taken care of by perps today- NATE, KURT Weill, RENEE O'Connor.
    Pal (and other male dogs) playing LASSIE was unknown but an easy guess.
    Wasn't sure of the correct spelling of CHENIN blanc; I don't drink wine either.

    SNOB APPEAL- didn't Neiman Marcus file for bankruptcy. Not enough rich snobs.

    Bluehen- you have been a SALUKI & BLUE HEN but weren't a TERP, BANANA SLUG, or a MUD HEN

    Gary- school, work, work. Larry Bird went to Indiana State. Walt Frazier (Clyde) went to Southern Illinois.

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  13. Record solving time for me on a Sunday, but

    NO NO NO Clemson's NCAA division is Division One. The ACC is not an NCAA division. It is a conference (Atlantic Coast Conference). The ACC itself has Atlantic and Coastal Divsions in football and baseball. Clue it as "Clemson's NCAA grp."

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  14. Great puzzle, clever theme, interesting, fresh clues and fill, Mark. The theme entries made it very easy and fast for a Sunday puzzle.
    I love egg yolks, the golden crowning glory of the egg. Eggs whites might be fine for baking, but IMHO deviled eggs, hard boiled eggs, omelets, eggs over easy, scrambled eggs, etc. are not worth anything without the yolks.
    So many great fried veggies. Cholesterol again, but the air fryer cuts down on that and calories. Also, I love restaurant tempura veggies. My homemade tempura is not that great.
    LEAD PIN before HEAD PIN. HEN took care of that.
    I liked seeing the other meaning of AFFORD.
    "It also affords more time to sort through the process of filing for unemployment."
    Washington Times May 29, 2020
    "It guaranteed Hong Kong some autonomy and afforded rights and freedoms that do not exist in mainland China."
    BBC May 28, 2020
    Nate the Great was a book young boys could relate to.
    KURT WEIL's compositions are played on NPR from time to time. His wife, Lotte Lenya, has appeared in crosswords.
    My ex loved dogs, so I was familiar with SALUKI as a breed, but not as a mascot.
    I have watched shows on the Game Show Network, but GSN was all perps. That, CHENIN and HEAD (pin) were the only unfamiliar fill.
    I am no longer dizzy and will have my porch visit with Alan this afternoon.

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  15. Good morning everyone.

    Mostly WEES; not too hard, not too easy; just right. No aid needed. FIR.
    I love radishes. I may have had Daikon in the past. Nice pic, C. C.
    BUOY - German Boje, L. Ger. Boi, Dutch boei. In the Eastern US, generally, BUOYS are red when on the right of the channel returning from the sea. Hence the sailor learns "red, right, return." Buoys have different shapes including 'nun' and 'can'.
    EAT - Dig in. My Dad used to say "Hau rin"

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  16. Musings
    -D-O – No, I used the iPhone to hammer down the high side of the birdbath! :-)
    -Dang, Blue Hen and Big Easy, I looked that up and still got the Indiana schools flipped around! Larry signed with Bobby Knight at Indiana first before thinking, “This ain’t for me and hitchhiked back home.”
    -Creighton had a memorable win against Larry and Indiana State by one at the buzzer in Omaha in 1979

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  17. Where is everyone, sleeping in? Loved the puzzle which went quickly for a Sunday FIR. Slowest area was surrounding "is it I". Otherwise, a walk. Has anyone seen the NYT puzzle for today? Actually, I think The Arizona Republic prints it a week later. The title is Case in Point. An absolute bear if anyone is interested.

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  18. I enjoyed all the theme answers where the legal terms had other meanings in their phrases!
    Like YR I had LEAD before HEAD PIN (a gimme for Boomer and Tom)- but otherwise this was a quicker than usual Sunday run.

    I'm close enough that student athletes who don't want to travel too far often attend the main SIU campus and are SALUKIS, but even closer is the SIU-Edwardsville satellite campus near St. Louis who are the more common Cougars. Saint Louis U are the imaginary Billiken which is supposed to be a bringer of good luck which has changed over the years but is usually an amorphous imp that looks part leprechaun and part Buddha.

    Thanks CC and Mark for a fun morning!

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  19. Hola!

    What a fine puzzle from Mark McClain! The puns were just funny enough to elicit a chuckle and as has been mentioned, no obscure names. SALUKIS is unfamiliar to me but it easily emerged.

    I liked the clue for DIJON and I've read enough British novels that KENT immediately popped up. Two of my brothers are wine aficionados so the same for CHENIN.

    DOGMA no longer impresses me knowing that most were created by men whose MOTIVES seem questionable. If that sounds cynical it's for good cause from those who should be the guardians of the Faith.

    Irish Miss:
    I'm not sure how to translate ESAI but it may be related to Isaiah. It certainly sounds biblical.

    I love seeing BRONTE, POOH, and anything related to literature. ABBA ranks up there, too, with their upbeat music.

    Many thanks, C.C.! Those radishes are huge. I've never seen any that big.

    Have a sensational Sunday, everyone! Still no church services here.

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  20. I second (third, fourth, etc.) the comments about the delightful fill and reasonable use of proper names, etc. Also a record time for me.

    Having spent last weekend in Portal, AZ, a town with no cell coverage or internet at the few lodgings, I am also just getting to last Sunday's puzzle with the theme that I, among several, did not get until it was explained here. It reminds me of something I was told 30 years ago when I was a budding product manager of a medical device company: "User Interfaces are like jokes. If they have to be explained they are no good." One might say the same for crossword themes!



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  21. Thanks all, for the kind compliments. Been quite a while since a puzzle of mine appeared in the LA Times (I've been lurking elsewhere, but more to come soon). I'm gonna give credit where credit is due, because Editor Rich is the one who suggested turning this into a pun theme. Also blame where blame is due - my clue for ACC was "Athletic org. for Clemson and Duke" - not "division" as correctly pointed out above.

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  22. Woohoo! Woohoo! I got my entire first Sunday crossword puzzle ever today (well, at least in my senior memory)--Woohoo! So exciting, thank you, thank you, Mark, and thank you for stopping by. I had to work through it slowly but persistently and took a brief break before fishing the southeast. But in the end I got it all. Woohoo!

    Got started with ABBA, and then soon got ALBEE. Nice to see Alan LADD in a puzzle. And, of course, fun to see LASSIE turn up too. But SALUKIS gave me trouble and kept hoping I got it right. Neat pictures, C.C.--thank you for that treat too.

    Enjoyed your poem, Owen.

    Cute Lassie story, Desper-otto.

    So nice you can visit Alan again, Yellowrocks.

    Have a great Sunday, everybody.

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  23. Thrilled for Misty's success today! It was a solid finish for me, too, and I chuckled at the GUILTY PLEASURE. In the past few years, DH and I have enjoyed a couple of wonderful driving tours of France -- out on our own, enjoying CHENIN blanc in the Loire Valley and mustard in DIJON, as well as so many other things. Until the pandemic subsides, we'll just have to enjoy treats like today's puzzle and commentary.

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  24. Lucina @ 11:53

    Re: IM's question about the name ESAI. like Spitz I have an interest in word/name/place derivation so I LIU. You were correct it's a name of Spanish origin a form of Isaiah.

    My question now is. How is it pronounced?

    (Dont want to embarrass myself should I meet Mr Morales. 😊)

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  25. Had a bit of a problem spelling BALLOON correctly, but the perps took care of it. The theme was moderately helpful. I guessed right on the NEaL or NEIL choice, which was really a GELATa or GELATI choice after all. I likened it to basso pluralizing to bassi. I almost got got (too much bingeing on The Wire).

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  26. Satisfying Sunday solve. Thanks for the fun, Mark and C.C.
    I FIRed in good time. I was online so no inkblots, just a few changes- Pfft to POOF, chemin to CHENIN.
    Learning moment with SALUKIS and GSN.
    Thanks C.C. for explaining LEAP of faith. Nice clue but I failed to get it!

    Irish Miss beat me to noting all the duos (and she found even more).
    I really wanted LION to cross that "action brought by a cowardly plaintiff".

    This Canadian took a perp to get CREE, so there was no Canadian advantage today. And of course there was the usual Canadian disadvantage. We have CRA not IRS; our ARMOR has a U, and our DEFENSE has a C. But you all knew that, didn't you?! And I have learned to use my American spelling hat for CWs.

    Enjoy the day.

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  27. Ray-O:
    Thank you for LU ESAI. I pronounce it EE-sigh.

    Mark McClain:
    Great of you to stop at the Corner! I do like your puzzles and besides here I have solved some of yours in my puzzle book.

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  28. If this wasn't the easiest Sunday puzzle I've done, it's in the top 5! Thank you, Mark and C.C., for the fun!

    I had a couple of corrections and a couple look-ups and was done.

    We're having pleasant weather today; mid-80*'s and low humidity. Since we're in a valley with a river running through it we usually have at least 50% humidity in the summer so today's 38% feels wonderful!

    Java Mama, when will you be at the shelter? I'd like to meet you! You can send me an email.

    Happy Sunday!

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  29. It always seemed to me that ESAI is a form of Isaiah.
    "The name Esai means God Is Salvation and is of Spanish origin. ... Form of the name Isaiah" which has the same meaning.
    Pronunciation is long e plus sigh.
    Today Alan sat 6 feet from me for more than an hour and engaged in meaningful conversation all that time. Amazing! He wanted me to stay longer. This long focus is quite unusual for him. We both needed this connection. David calls me several times a week and texts me often. I enjoyed his appropriately distanced outdoor visit yesterday, but I missed the hugs from both of them. I am beginning to see this new normal as a cup more than 3/4 full instead of thinking of the emptiness of this present life style. ZOOM church and the after Mass conversations seemed odd at first, but now I feel connected to my old friends. Telephone calls become more and more treasured. Maybe my new antibiotic treatment is lightening my outlook.

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  30. COOKE: Took an educated guess. I remembered Cookie Monster's alter ego, Alistair Cookie, of Monsterpiece Theater.

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  31. Hi everybody,

    Thanks Mark and CC. Very enjoyable puzzle and analysis.

    Sunday Morning was less pleasant for me than usual since it was filled with some of the same depressing news that we're surrounded with. As Charlie Brown would say, Rats! They did end with some cute hummingbird babies though. Years ago, I did successfully raise both a baby blue jay (John Jay) and a baby mockingbird (Chico) that had fallen from their nests. Very rewarding.

    I defer to those of you with more knowledge of Spanish than mine but I would have thought ESAI would be pronounced as EH followed by SIGH. Doesn't 'E' sound like our short 'E' sound whereas 'I' has a long 'E' sound like EE?

    ~ Mind how you go...

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  32. LIU. I found this pronunciation on every site I visited, many of them. "I just asked the Esai Morales unofficial fan club web page and they say he pronounces it EE-SIGH."

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  33. Lucina and Ray O ~ Thanks for the Esai info.

    YR ~ Thanks for your input, as well. Happy to hear that Alan is adapting so well, especially under these harsh restrictions.

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  34. Sunday Lurk Say....

    {A for imagery}

    YR - Good to hear you're feeling better and you got to visit Alan.

    A Misty Woohoo! Woohoo! Good on you!

    @9:21a D-O: I couldn't stop laughing for 20+ seconds...
    HG - Touche for the point!

    inanehiker - Little Bro (CEO not Army) went to SIU-Edwardsville for pre-dent. Now he's CEO of a dental co out of Denver.
    Speaking of Little (Army) Bro. He's supposed to be back Stateside getting ready to retire but still stuck in Kuwait 'cuz pandemic.

    Mark: You're a big man to own up. Good on you. //I wouldn't know the difference anyway :-)

    I stumbled across Hot Ones / First We Feast last night and binged it. NEIL deGrasse Tyson v. Scoville scale. [26m]

    Cheers, -T

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  35. Pat@3:14 -- I tried emailing you using the link in your profile, but somehow failed (the problem is probably somewhere between the back of my chair and the keyboard LOL). Maybe see if you have better luck emailing me.

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  36. Got the double meanings in the theme answers, but I was slow to get the law connection. Very clever, with lots of theme answers! Last to fill was cross of cleverly clued ADFEE and unknown FIFA. Had to WAG SALUKIS/EZRA/KENT cross. FIR.

    Hand up learning moment about SALUKIS and the alligator ROAR.

    Did anyone else know this meaning of BOUNDER? Learning moment for me.

    Did anyone else think of this Eurythmics song WOULD I LIE TO YOU?

    Here you can see my video and photos of sea LIONs on the BUOYs at the beginning and end as we went on a whale watching trip.

    I just noticed that the white boat with green trim in the background of my last photo is the Conception that tragically burned this past Labor Day weekend.

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  37. Java Mama, I just emailed you. Hope it works.

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  38. From Yesterday:
    Lucina thanks for the clarification about the scary charges. Please keep us posted. Glad you also enjoy the National Parks! You really get around! Yes, I have also enjoyed those you listed: Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Acadia in Maine and Volcanoes in Hawaii. I think Yellowstone is still my favorite.

    Wilbur Charles I am honored that I could show you EL CAPITAN!

    Wilbur Charles and AnonT I think you definitely would enjoy The Prisoner. It has something for everyone. It was a British mini-series in 1968 about a spy who resigns. He is captured and taken to a mysterious "Village". On the surface, life is idyllic there and it is tempting just to stay there on a permanent vacation. But he is constantly trying to figure out which side has brought him there, Just as they are trying to figure out which side he is on. It is full of surprising plot twists. And seductive women. And LAVA Lamps.

    In 2017 I paid $150 to get the full series on DVD.

    Here you can watch it for free now, which is less than I paid. I invite you all to watch the first episode. It may bring back memories or at least intrigue you.

    AnonT thanks for the Mel Brooks clip!

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  39. I know bounder from the phrase, "You are a bounder and a cad."
    "Both are dated humorous/sarcastic words. A cad is a man who behaves dishonourably (especially towards a woman). A bounder is an informal word (especially in British English) to mean a dishonourable man." This fill came to mind easily. Addiction to novels has its rewards.
    Alistair Cooke seemed so aristocratic and authoritative.
    Amid the depressing national outlook I try to remember all the catastrophic time the US has survived in the past.
    I had scurrilous charges on my bank statement from known evil doers and they were easily resolved. I wish you good results, Lucina.

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  40. A football forum I frequent refers to ISU-r and ISU-b (Illinois State's main color is red, Indiana State's is blue). Both are in the Missouri Valley Conference.

    Another odd nickname is the Georgetown Hoyas (from the mixed Greek and Latin chant "Hoya Saxa" (meaning "What Rocks"))

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  41. A quick hello to you all and thanks to Mark. Been busy today but did have time to solve this puzzle, and an enjoyable solve it was. Ciao!

    ReplyDelete
  42. YR, Ray, et al:
    In a Spanish speaking setting I believe it would be pronounced Eh-sigh, but the Americanized version is what we have been citing, EE-sigh. I can see that growing up his parents would likely call him Eh-sigh.

    YR:
    It gladdens me that you are able to visit with Alan albeit from afar.

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  43. A pleasant romp today - only three digs into reference books. Needed this after a BUSY week of virtual graduations and birthday parties (too many grandkids???). Actually it's college scholarship time for me. Handing out seven college savings accounts to middle school graduates @$1,000 each! They're for struggling students who had a "turn around" in middle school- probably the most difficult time for maturing kids. I get a real "high" seeing their faces when they receive the news! It's really the high point of my year!

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  44. Bobbie,good for you supporting and encouraging struggling middle alcohol students.It must be fulfilling.

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  45. Darn spell check. Middle school.

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  46. Hi Y'all! Really amusing theme, fun & enjoyable, Mark, thanks! Great expo, C.C.! Now I'm craving radishes. Haven't had one in years.

    I WAGd CREE immediately. One of my bus tours stopped at a buffalo jump in Canada and we had a very informative CREE "warrior" as our docent. One thing he mentioned was the large population of his tribe.

    DNK: CHENIN, ACC, KURT Weill, NEIL or RENEE. Forgot ROOD, ANDY, & HEN lobster. Tried "ewe". Turned red.

    Not Ibsen but ALBEE. DIJON, not (grey) pupon. Not meter but RADAR.

    Couldn"t remember GSN, my most watched channel. Could tell you the channel number tho. Duh!

    Knew SALUKIS from watching past March Madness games. Thought it was so unique, so I remembered.

    Agnes: I think that is the first time in history anyone ever said, "I enjoyed...FIRE ANTS...".

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  47. Even after perps revealed ODIN I didn't catch on to Norse mythology. FriggA might have clued me.

    CSO to OMK on drama. I thought perhaps something like Deus ex machina.

    SALUKIS remind me of Rhodesian lion hunting dogs

    Oh no. The very last box. I knew TAI but Mr S insisted on SCUSe. My string of FIR is over.

    Middle "alcohol". Google naturally thought the turnaround for these students was 12 Step recovery. Not rare even at that young age.

    WC

    Ps, yes an unusually easy weekend.

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