17 A. Actor who plays Cho Sang-woo on "Squid Game": PARK HAE-SOO. [Park Pyeong-ho b. 1978] is a South Korean actor who has appeared in many movies and TV shows in his homeland. But - have any of you ever heard of him? PARK is the gear selection when you don't want the vehicle to move.
24 A. Travel that largely avoids rush-hour traffic: REVERSE COMMUTE. This is typically a round trip from a home in the city to a job in the suburbs, the opposite of the more common route. REVERSE is used to go backwards. Look out behind!
35. Cult-favorite indie band formed by Jeff Mangum: NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL. An American band formed in Ruston, Louisiana, by musician Jeff Mangum. They were active from 1989 to 1998, and again from 2013 to 2015. The band's music featured a deliberately low-quality sound, influenced by indie rock and psychedelic folk. Mangum wrote surreal and opaque lyrics that covered a wide range of topics, including love, spirituality, nostalgia, sex, and loneliness. I am usually quite circumspect in my critiques on this blog. But having two theme entries that I have to characterize as gratuitous obscurity is, in my humble opinion, beyond the pale. NEUTRAL is used when the vehicle is idling.
51. Infuriate: DRIVE UP THE WALL. Make someone irritated, angry or crazy. I haven't heard this expression in recent decades. DRIVE is the gear selection for making forward progress.
59. "Plug me in soon!" warning: LOW BATTERY. Notification from your electronic device. LOW gear is used for slow progress - to avoid sliding or digging the tires into mud or sand
Hi Gang - JazzBupma here in the driver's seat today. Let's see where today's journey takes us. Looks like this is Will's first entry in the L.A. Times, so congrats!
1. "You crack me up": HA-HA. Funny.
5. Print sources?: PAWS. From your pet doggo.
9. Cookie quantity: BATCH. Often some number of dozens.
14. Bake-off appliance: OVEN. Sometimes full of cookies.
15. Unseen Beckett character: GODOT. From the play "Waiting For Godot," who never arrives.
16. Bugler's blast: BLARE. Sadly, I couldn't find an actual BLARE, so here is some pretty good bugle playing.
19. Ingredient in piccata dishes: CAPER. Capparis spinosa, the caper bush, also called Flinders rose, is a perennial plant that bears rounded, fleshy leaves and large white to pinkish-white flowers.
The plant is best known for the edible flower buds (capers), used as a seasoning or garnish, and the fruit (caper berries), both of which are usually consumed salted or, alternatively, pickled.
20. "Exile in Guyville" singer Phair: LIZ. Elizabeth Clark Phair (b. 1967) is an American singer-songwriter. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Phair was raised primarily in the Chicago area. Phair's 1993 debut studio album, Exile in Guyville, was released to acclaim; it has been ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
21. Clamor: DIN. A loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise.
23. Way to go: ROAD. A place to get your vehicle in gear.
28. Alcorn __: HBCU in Mississippi: STATE. Alcorn State University is a public historically black land-grant university adjacent to Lorman, Mississippi. It was founded in 1871 and was the first black land grant college established in the United States.
30. Personal: OWN. I guess you have to consider a phrase like, "This is my OWN thing."
31. Court clown: JESTER. AKA: fool.
32. Arcade giant: SEGA. A Japanese multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo.
33. Culture essayist Tolentino: JIA. Jia Angeli Carla Tolentino (b. 1988) is an American writer and editor. A staff writer for The New Yorker, she previously worked as deputy editor of Jezebel and a contributing editor at The Hairpin. Her writing has also appeared in The New York Times Magazine and Pitchfork. In 2019, her collected essays were published as Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion.
34. Letters of urgency: SOS. Derives from Morse code dot dot dot dash dash dash dot dot dot. More here.
42. Window boxes?: ACS. Air Conditioners. Clever clue.
43. __ kwon do: TAE. a Korean form of martial arts characterized by punching and kicking techniques, with emphasis on head-height kicks, spinning jump kicks, and fast kicking techniques. The literal translation for tae kwon do is "kicking", "punching", and "the art or way of".
44. Sad Keanu or Grumpy Cat: MEME. A humorous image, video, piece of text, etc., that is copied (often with slight variations) and spread rapidly by internet users.
45. Toiling away: AT WORK.
49. Thanksgiving mo. in Canada: OCTober.
50. Needle: TEASE. Drive up the wall?
54. Copenhagen resident: DANE. Citizen of Denmark.
55. Kung __ chicken: PAO. A spicy, stir-fried Chinese dish made with cubes of chicken, peanuts, vegetables, and chili peppers. The classic dish in Sichuan cuisine originated in the Sichuan province of south-western China and includes Sichuan peppercorns.
56. Orange or peach: HUE. Colors.
57. Antique mall?: AGORA. In ancient Greece, a public open space used for assemblies and markets. Clever clue.
65. Countryman and Clubman: MINIS. Mini (stylised as MINI) is a British automotive marque founded in 1969, owned by German automotive company BMW since 2000, and used by them for a range of small cars assembled in the United Kingdom, Austria and the Netherlands. The word Mini has been used in car model names since 1959, and in 1969 it became a marque in its own right when the name "Mini" replaced the separate "Austin Mini" and "Morris Mini" car model names
66. "Silas Marner" novelist: ELIOT. Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe is the third novel by George Eliot. It was published in 1861. An outwardly simple tale of a linen weaver, the novel is notable for its strong realism and its sophisticated treatment of a variety of issues ranging from religion to industrialisation to community. Mary Ann Evans (1819 – 1880 known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era.
67. Loyal: TRUE. Giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution.
68. Does some onstage improv: SCATS. To improvise nonsense syllables usually to an instrumental accompaniment : sing scat.
69. Reject: DENY.
70. 38-Down ingredients: EGGS. Primary component of an omelet.
Down:
68. Does some onstage improv: SCATS. To improvise nonsense syllables usually to an instrumental accompaniment : sing scat.
69. Reject: DENY.
70. 38-Down ingredients: EGGS. Primary component of an omelet.
Down:
1. Bounce: HOP.
2. "When They See Us" creator DuVernay: AVA. Ava Marie DuVernay [b. 1972] is an American filmmaker, television producer and former film publicist. She is a recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award, a NAACP Image Award, a BAFTA Film Award and a BAFTA TV Award, as well as a nominee of an Academy Award and Golden Globe.
3. Feminine pronoun: HER. In objective case.
4. Art that may be covered by a boot: ANKLE TAT. Skin art.
5. "The Purloined Letter" writer Edgar Allan __: POE. Edgar Allan Poe’s stature as a major figure in world literature is primarily based on his ingenious and profound short stories, poems, and critical theories, which established a highly influential rationale for the short form in both poetry and fiction. More here.
6. Promos: ADS. Advertisements.
7. Like heavy clogs: WOODEN. Made of wood.
8. Showing little emotion: STOIC. not affected by or showing passion or feeling. Having a wooden heart.
9. "EastEnders" network: BBC. British Broadcasting Corporation, the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom, based at Broadcasting House in London, England.
10. Startles: ALARMS.
11. Submit, in an MMA match: TAP OUT. Submit to an opponent by tapping one's hand repeatedly either on the arena or the opponent's body.
12. Generate: CREATE. Produce
13. Sheepdog, e.g.: HERDER. A type of pastoral dog that either has been trained in herding or belongs to breeds developed for herding. Their ability to be trained to act on the sound of a whistle or word of command is renowned throughout the world.
15. Steady look: GAZE. Look steadily and intently, especially in admiration, surprise, or thought.
18. Bee complex: HIVE. A structure where bees live, either built by people or made by the bees themselves :
22. "Seriously!": NO JOKE. For realz.
24. Barilla rival: RAGU. Makers of Italian style sauces.
25. Churns: ROILS. Disturbs. physically or literally.
26. Paddled, say: SWAM.
27. Get along well: MESH. Like gears.
28. W-2 fig.: SSN. Social Security Number
29. Merch table buy: TEE. I suppose this is a shirt. Or possibly a golf accessory, depending on the type of merch.
33. Raise dramatically, as prices: JACK UP.
34. Bluish gray: SLATE. Slate is a dark shade of grey that has been mixed with a hint of azure for a cool tone, modern shade.
36. Steak order: RARE. Cooked so that the inside is still red
37. Nagging desire: ITCH. A strong desire to do something
38. Brunch choice: OMELETTE. A dish made by mixing eggs together and frying them, often with small pieces of other food such as cheese or vegetables; here spelt pretentiously.
39. Aqua kin: TEAL. Blue-green colors.
40. Two-fifths of Miami?: EMS. Letters in the word. Meh!
41. Gymnast Suni: LEE. Sunisa "Suni" Lee [b. 2003] is a Hmong American artistic gymnast. She is the 2020 Olympic all-around champion and uneven bars bronze medalist. She was a member of the teams that won gold at the 2019 World Championships and silver at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
45. "Altogether ooky" family: ADDAMS.
46. Woeful: TRAGIC. Characterized by, expressive of, or causing sorrow or misery.
47. Actress Ryder: WINONA. Winona Laura Horowitz [b. 1971] professionally known as Winona Ryder, is an American actress. Originally playing quirky roles, in the 1990s, she rose to prominence for her more varying roles in productions of diverse genres. Numerous views.
48. Ready to move on: OVER IT.
49. Annette of "Virgin River": O'TOOLE. Annette O'Toole [b. 1952} is an American actress. She is known for portraying Lisa Bridges in the television series Nash Bridges, Beverly Marsh in the 1990 television mini-series adaptation of Stephen King's epic horror novel It, Lana Lang in Superman III, Kathy in the romantic-comedy film Cross My Heart and Martha Kent (the mother of Clark Kent) on the television series Smallville.
49. Annette of "Virgin River": O'TOOLE. Annette O'Toole [b. 1952} is an American actress. She is known for portraying Lisa Bridges in the television series Nash Bridges, Beverly Marsh in the 1990 television mini-series adaptation of Stephen King's epic horror novel It, Lana Lang in Superman III, Kathy in the romantic-comedy film Cross My Heart and Martha Kent (the mother of Clark Kent) on the television series Smallville.
50. Pulled tight: TAUT. Stretched or pulled tight; not slack.
52. Lost color: PALED. Looked more wan.
53. "Come again?": WHAT? Please repeat.
58. Burro: ASS. Beast of burden.
60. Come in first: WIN. Be victorious.
61. Lad: BOY. Young boy.
62. Rowing machine, familiarly: ERG. Is it the Ergatta or the Concept Two RowErg? Beats me.
63. Hallway runner: RUG. A long, narrow rug meant to be used in a hallway, galley kitchen, or other area of the home where space is narrow, but long.
64. "You got it": YES. Correct.
So we arrive at our Wednesday destination. I was able to say something good about the puzzle and something bad about the puzzle. Overall, the journey was OK. Hope you made it to the end with no accidents.
Cool regards!
JzB
I agree with JazzB that having two extremely obscure theme answers is “beyond the pale.” Nevertheless, I managed to solve the whole puzzle until I got to _acked up. I just couldn’t se the “j” until I turned the “red letters “ on and then, eventually, I did get it. So I can’t say I’m totally happy with my performance on this puzzle, but I am happy to have made the attempt, anyway.
ReplyDeleteGood morning!
ReplyDeleteGot 'er done, but don't ask me how. There were too many totally blank spaces that were filled with WAGs: TEE, RAGU, SWAM, OWN, JIA (dw says if I would warm up, I could be STOIC.) Two-fifths of Miami could be Ms or Is. Wasn't crazy about this one. Several names looked off, even after filling them. Never saw the theme, but that's my failing, not the puzzle's. I'll take the win and call it a day. Thanx, Will, Shannon, and JzB.
Off to meet with a potential medical advocate later this morning...
I happened to know PARKHAESOO just because I remember having to use HAE (ugh) to fill one of my own crosswords. Still, this was tough for a Wednesday (and not just because it was slightly oversized). I just wasn't on the constructor's wavelength with the "?" clues, the only one I got on my first pass was AGORA (best clue by a long shot today! I expected the NYT puzzles to have used this same trick with AGORA, I only found "Antique store?" for SHOPPE, and that was on a Friday).
ReplyDeleteO.K., I looked at this CW, took out my red pen and circled the clues calling for a proper name (12 by my count) and almost didn’t even start. I only knew five of those 12, but many were short names that looked like I could perp them, so I decided to give it a go, and 20 minutes later drove to the finish line, FIR, and put it in park. Never saw the theme, it went as far over my head as the moon. 9D could be BBC or in the U.S., PBS. The NE was the last to fill. W/Os SCARE:ALARM, YEP:YES. NEUTRALMILKHOTEL: really? Took all perps. Thanx for the entertainment, WE&SR. And thanx too for the terrific write-up, JzB. As the rain bands come through SOFLO, huge downpours of short duration as this hurricane nears. Not as much wind (yet) as I was expecting. My pool floweth over.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the solve and the review! Hope everyone enjoys the puzzle . :)
ReplyDeleteFIR. Odd to see a couple of "J's" in the middle of the puzzle. Loved the clue for "window boxes?" Enjoyable Wednesday romp.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteGood morning. Thank you, Will and Shannon, and thank you, JzB
The first thing I would say is, "Thank goodness for perp help !"
One typo. Actually more, but I caught all but that one - SWAn instead of SWAM.
Still had fun and enjoyed the puzzle, as well as JzB's thorough review.
Nope, never heard of PARK HAE-SOO, and never heard of either Jeff Mangum or NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL. Nor JIA Tolentino.
Where's the bugle boy ? He's making the company jump by playing reveille at Company B.
Steve McNair followed his dreams and played QB at Alcorn STATE and set many NCAA passing records rather than taking a scholarship to play running back for Florida. He played QB in the NFL primarily for the Titans, who retired his number.
"... here spelt pretentiously." - Amusing.
I finished this in 7 minutes flat, but to be honest, it really grinds my gears for the reasons that JazzB and SubG wrote.
ReplyDeleteNeutral Milk Hotel and Jeff Mangum were equally unknown and obscure.
"Culture essayist Tolentino"?
Otherwise, it seemed like a Wednesday level.
Finally saw the theme after all was well and done, but there were several "holes" in my grid before I got there (specially the NE)
ReplyDeleteThe first themer filled by perps was "parkhaesoo." And using that to try and figure out the others when I had completely forgotten the clue, and that it was a name, really gave me agita.
(What the heck is this theme?.?)
(Looks like something to with sneezing?)
(Oh,,, it's a name... nevermind....)
Learning moment, "erg" is a stationary bike.
Luckily filled in by perps, or it would have definitely caused a nose wrinkle, and possibly a sneeze...
Also, apparently, PRNDL is a meme...
I wonder, what did they called it before automatic transmissions?
FIW today. Like Jinx, I put MARK UP, thinking the name MIA looked OK, but wondered about ARS. I puzzled over Window boxes, which didn't indicate the answer would be abbreviated. I guess AC is commonly accepted enough.
ReplyDeleteThanks anyway, Will (congratulations on your debut) and Shannon (thanks for coming by). In general, I enjoyed your clever cluing. Like D-Otto I didn't even think about the theme. I was in a hurry to read JazzB's humorous review. (D-Otto is becoming a bad influence on me!) Thanks, JazzB.
I guess ROAD could be an Easter EGG today.
Hope you are feeling better, Jinx. Be careful not to fall.
Hope everyone cruises along safely today!
ReplyDeleteFIR but an unusual (prolly cuz I didn't figure it out) theme and some strange clue/answers. 😮 (was this supposed to be last Saturday's puzzle?) ....NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL..wha?.. At least WE had normal names for bands like "Strawberry Alarm Clock"...
I saw "Squid Game" but the names of the actors?...Singer "Phair"? (That's not), Tolentino? O'toole was perped.... MINIS huh?(what's a British automotive marque? a brand?)..."rowing machine" ERG? I've been riding a stationary bike for years; never heard it called that even by the spinning instructor.
a dozen was wrong cuz the only TV Brit networks are the two BBC's (I think 🇬🇧)...Additional inkovers: late hour/REVERSECOMMUTE (driving yer car backwards to work/home?), markUP/JACKUP, (What is the lowest "cookie quantity" that qualifies as a BATCH?)
You should always wear a pair of thick socks (FLN) to avoid WOODEN clog splinters!!😲....So it wasn't a "mall" that sells "antiques" (wonder what kind of antiques they could sell at an ancient AGORA? Hmmm, maybe caveman tools?)
My SIL had a scar on his ANKLE coverd with a panther TAT.
Don't say "ooky" or it'll show up in a CW.
OMELETTE is Brit English, but spelt omelet in 'mer'can per the internette. What say ye Canada..Eh?
BTW.."The USDA has predicted a turkey shortage for 2022" (cuz you Canadians ate them all up in OCT !! 😝)
Why the jester was beheaded .... NO JOKE
One sexy dance....ATWORK
Uncommon "steak order" .....RARE
JzB thanks for your in depth informative research.🧐 Will there be a written or an oral (frequent CW visitor) exam?
I never grok'ed the theme. Forgot to look for it after finishing.
ReplyDeleteMy new Rav4 has a REVERSE camera . Tricky.
I read Churns as CHUMS.
EMS not I's. But… Window boxes fooled me as I already had mArK UP. MIA Made sense but ArS not. As did Atl I see
Finally a difficult Wednesday as we've had in the past with of course uber-obscure pop-cul and no unifier on the theme
NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL????
WC
Musings
ReplyDelete-Backwards: PARK… and NEUTRAL… were ungettable but made sense once I saw the wonderful gimmick.
-In French I would say, Le défilé des noms obscurs continue (The parade of obscure names continue)
-AT WORK for me as a sub requires very little toiling
-Joann’s twin sister ALARMED their mother when she got an ANKLE TAT of a butterfly at age 65
-My collection of TEES (esp. NASA ones) needs to be pared down
-JACK UP – If you come to Omaha for the College World Series and want a hotel room or parking space…
-Lots of window boxes here in Fremont at this public housing
-Antique mall? Hmmm… What’s a word for an old sledge hammer? :-)
-Recent funerals have been more celebratory than TRAGIC. That’s the way to do it.
- ANNETTE, and two other fine actresses, starred in this wonderful 1981 HBO presentation
-WHAT? I say that much less with new Bluetooth hearing aids
Addendum
ReplyDelete-Wilbur, I have back-up cameras on both my vehicles and they are great for those of us who are septuagenarians and beyond. I’d add them to my “must have” list of underground sprinklers and remote garage door openers.
I crashed this morning. Too many unknowns for me.. I got the theme, but the names DRoVE me UP THE WALL. I have so much to do today that I couldn’t devote any more time. There were some really clever clues, lie antique mall and window box. I also was so sure dozen was the right number of cookies.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning:
ReplyDeleteAfter a couple of theme entries, the gears became obvious, but not so much the unknown actor or the off-the-wall band name. Jia and Erg were also unknown. What does Erg stand for or is it a brand name? Annette O’Toole plays a quirky but well meaning meddler in Virgin River. I would never have guessed that Winona Ryder is 51.
Thanks, Will and Shannon/Nora (Two beautiful Irish names), for a mid week treat and congrats to Will on the debut and thanks to Shannon for dropping by, and thanks, JazzB, for your always informative and honest critique.
Jinx, hope you feel better.
UncleFred, hope you are spared any harm from the hurricane. Stay safe.
Re the Sock Saga, I can honestly say that I have never “lost” a sock in my life. Is there some kind of honor for that achievement? 😂
Have a great day.
Thank you Will and Shannon. Is today Friday? Only because I gave up on this puzzle and had nothing to lose, did I relax and manage to get a FIR. The plethora of P&P was perplexing, and although most of it was perpable, I had to finally SWAG on JIA.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks you JzB for the recap and for explaining the theme, about which I completely STALLED.
A few favs (and NOT):
5A PAWS. Cute clue.
16A BLARE. The "Tuba Mirum" from Verdi's Requiem might count as BLARING. The conductor is Daniel Barenboin, who has only recently retired.
17A PARK HAE SOO. I didn't watch the "Squid Game". The REALLY scary part about it was that millions reveled in it.
9D BBC. "EastEnders" is a long running British SOAP, and celebrated its 64th season this year. Many an English actor got their start on the show.
13D HERDER. My favorite is the Border Collie, originally bred in Ireland. The AKC describe them as energetic, affectionate, and smart.
Cheers,
Bill
NAME FEST. The theme should be DRIVE UP THE WALL. Hello, Tante Nique.
ReplyDeleteWho here has heard of the obscure NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL? LIZ PHAR, PARK HAE SOO, JIA Tolentino, ERG. Fun sponge. 3 bad cells before red letters.
When the puzzle drives me up the wall I don't look very hard for the theme.
JzB, thanks, your blog made the morning worthwhile.
Subgenius, the J got me, too. Window boxes fooled me, but was a great clue.
Subbing for elementary teachers is hard work. Real teaching, not busy work or videos. The only relief is that subs don't work before and after school. Permanent (long term)subs work just as hard as regular teachers and carry the full responsibility, but get paid more than per diem subs. I suppose high school subbing is different because the sub's specialty doesn't always match the class's subject. An elementary teacher has to be a jack of all trades (subjects) and so the the subs are expected to teach and move the class forward. We had a sub who dug out and used up the teacher's stash of worksheets for days to come instead of teaching. He was never asked back.
HG, my last car has back up camera. Wonderful! I see what I was missing and would never go without again.
Irish Miss - Although I don’t know what “erg” refers to in this cw any more than anyone else, I wonder if it could be a play of some kind on the word “ergonomics”? That’s a possibility, anyway.
ReplyDeleteI suspect the wrong ERG refers to the unit of work in physics. Makes sense for a rowing machine.
ReplyDeleteI meant the word ERG.
ReplyDeleteSpot on, informative and amusing review, JzB! I tried to book a room at the Neutral Milk Hotel but was told that I'd first have to take an Aeroplane Over The Sea.
ReplyDeleteThanks for driving over to the Corner, Nora aka Shannon! I liked your puzzle's gimmick but I needed more help with the second half of the themed clues than with the first half. Nevertheless, I surprised myself by managing to FIR.
ReplyDeleteFAV: Print sources?
Thanks for the informative write-up, JzB!
Public service announcement:
ReplyDeletehere is where you socks went...
However:
there are alternate theories...
I couldn’t finish this puzzle due to too many unknown names - I guess I need to get out more. I did, however, know ERG because I just finished reading Lessons in Chemistry, a very enjoyable book in which ERG is featured prominently.
ReplyDeleteThank you Will and Shannon for the workout and Jazz B for your excellent tour.
More like a Saturday puzzle than a Wed. DNK 17A or 35A, and especially didn't like that they were themers. Too many DNKs to be fun, and too many proper names of obscure people. This was a grind. Same as ATLGranny: Mia to JIA; mark to JACK & ARS made no sense, but I was at "whatever" by then.
ReplyDeleteNever saw the theme until I read the blog. Thanks, JB
ReplyDeletePRNDL
In 1960 Dad traded in our 1950 Dodge Meadowbrook with obviously standard shift for a used 1958 Ford Fairlane with automatic drive
Mom was driving, stopped at a red light. Me (10) and my brother Rich (6) were fighting in the back seat ignoring Mom yelling for us to stop.
The light turned green. Already angry and frstrated she forgot she was in the Ford and not the Dodge and instead of just hitting the gas, she grabbed the gearshift thinking to put the car in first gear not realizing she was putting it in reverse and
Rammed the car behind us
😆😆😆😡😡😡
I thought I had this one, but nope. Only after utilizing the red strikethrough button was I able to figure out that “mark up” was, in fact “jack up.”
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteA rowing machine is not the same as a stationary bike. I see both when I go to the Emory University gym. Rowing machines are called ergometers, or ergs for short, according to Google. I personally haven't heard anyone call them that. It seems to be part of some brand names too. I'm just saying.....
Irish Miss and CED, I don't lose socks either. I look for the missing one a few minutes and find it clinging to something in the load because of static (I rarely use fabric softener because of so many wicking sports clothes) or left behind in the washing machine or on the the closet floor. I guess our "reward" is not having to buy new socks so often?
Puzzling thoughts:
ReplyDeleteMaking a mid-week cameo here
First puzzle I solved (other than the ones I blog) in awhile. I miss doing them in ink and on paper, but I doubt I will renew my subscription to the Arizona Republic "print edition"
As others said, I, too, screwed up 33-across/33-down with MIA/MARK UP instead of JIA/JACK UP
12 proper names today; [spoiler alert] wait until you get to Friday's puzzle! Fewer pn's but a plethora of abbrs
There aren't many recognizable words/phrases/anagrams that end in "DL". And though I am not Jewish, I immediately thought of the word "Dreidl" when I saw PRNDL in this puzzle. So instead of a haiku/Moe-ku, how about a song parody instead? (To the Hebrew Folk Song, "Dreidl Song")
My car's equipped with PRNDL,
It's there in full diplay;
And when I shift it into gear,
My car gets on its way!
Oh PRNDL, PRNDL, PRNDL,
You're there in full display;
Oh PRNDL, PRNDL, PRNDL,
My car gets on its way!
It has a lovely gearshift
It slides along a track;
You never need to pop the clutch
There's no need for a tach!
Oh PRNDL, PRNDL, PRNDL,
It slides along a track;
PRNDL, PRNDL, PRNDL
There's no need for a tach!
:^)
Hi Y'all! Groan, Will & Shannon. Hadn't heard of any of the first three entries. Good grief! Apparently you intended to DRIVE us UP THE WALL. The only redeeming factor was I saw the gear shift theme when done.
ReplyDeleteAlso DNK: CAPER, LIZ, JIA, O'TOOLE. WOODEN was the last fill. Don't know what a WOODEN clog is unless it is a Dutch shoe.
Thanks a bunch, JzB. I felt like you did about this puzzle. Your blog was a reward for our perseverance.
Ray-O
ReplyDeleteLmao! (Only because...)
I have posted these before, but it was before you were a regular Ray-O-Sunshine...
Being new to the motorcycle, I made careful research into how the left foot was 1 down for 1st,
1 up for neutral,
1 more up for 2nd!
And 1 more up for 3rd etc...
(All while holding the clutch lever in)
( note, my clutch was really stiff, after a while my left arm looked like Popeye's)
All set to to take off, helmet, sunglasses, gear one down (in first),
(Note, it took me forever to be brave enough to give it enough gas and less clutch.)
Wailed out of my parking spot, and Wham!
(I had forgot to unchain the bike from the parking sign...)
So,
I parked my bike at a friends garage 3 blocks from my house, and used my ten speed bicycle to go back and forth.
That damn stiff clutch took a lot of getting used to, and I was always clamping down on it at every brooklyn stop sign. (Meaning, everywhere...)
So,
I'm in my way home after a motorcycle ride, on my bicycle, and I come to a stop sign, and without thinking clamp down on what I thought was my clutch, but it was my bicycles front brake,,, aaand, ass over teakettle thru the intersection.!
Hi All!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the debut, Will. And thanks for teaming with him, Shannon (I reviewed your LAT debut 31 Aug). A fun theme that needed no reveal.
Thanks for the recap, JzB. I'll second the NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL comment - not only do I know a lot of alternative music, I was at LA Tech (Ruston, LA where they formed) from '88 to '93. According to WikiP, they were active '89-'98. Maybe I heard them at a bar or something but they didn't stand out enough to remember their name ;-) //Google them - the songs aren't bad.
WO: I had an S at the end of OMELETES [sic]
ESPs: AVA CAPER (as clued), JIA, LEE (as clued), PARK HAE SOO, NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL, OTOOLE, ERG
Fav: When the JESTER sang for the King & Queen / In a coat borrowed from James Dean / In a voice that came from you and meeeee.
Windows boxes? - nothing to do with Microsoft's Operating System / PCs.
SWAM took forever to appear 'cuz I kept reading the clue as 'Padded' and kept thinking 'as in rubber-room or expense reports?'
Like WC, Churns looks like Chums in the paper.
Y'all click JzB's ERG link. A rowing machine is NOT a bike. It's to simulate being at an Ivy League where they have crews.
YR - LIZ Phair was big in the '90s. //hey, look!, there's rowers in the video ;-)
Ray-O: you made me curious... C, Eh!, do Canadians eat turkeys for OCT Thanksgiving?
IM - I bestow the "Golden Stocking." ATLGranny will be up for the award next year :-)
CED - Socks took a page from ball-point pens.
//in one HHGTTG rendition AD[D]AMS referred to socks as bi-roids and that they have a similar planet. OR!, we could go quantum theory.
Ray-O / CED - I've always driven a stick as my daily driver. One time, driving to Sulfur Springs from Norman, I dropped off of I-20 onto the exit ramp. Getting ready to slow down, I put my left foot on the clutch...
Um, no. It was DW's car, the break, and DW (unbuckled to get her makeup bag) slammed into the dash. BOY, was she ROIL'd.
Cheers, -T
Bill, if you only had a Border Collie and a Jack Russell Terrier you could relax. Between the two dogs, you would never have to (or be allowed to) make a decision again.
ReplyDeleteI put a back-up camera in my 2003 Sequoia to make it easier to hook up my travel trailer and sailboat. When I sold all three, I put the OEM radio back in the Sequoia and moved the "good"radio and the camera in my old (2001) RAV4. The hardest part was snaking the camera cable to the radio, and reinstalling all the plastic trim pieces. Works great, except instead of turning the camera on and off when the transmission is in R, I added a diode and made it so the camera comes on when the headlights are on. That's so I can check my position with parking lines and driveways without putting the car in R. The only thing I forgot was that the camera's white light now comes on when I drive at night. I don't drive the RAV in the dark very often (mainly because it is usually stored while I'm in Florida for the long winter nights), but that would cause it to fail state inspection. So I put a piece of Scotch 33+ electrical tape over the camera and light before I get it inspected, and remove it before I leave the inspection station. Problem solved, or at least Rube Goldberged.
Anyone know if the kerning setting is selected in Blogger, or if it can be overridden in a client computer? Like other Cornerites, I am unable to differentiate "r n" (without the space) from "m", among other combos. Turning off kerning should fix it, but I can't figure out how.
ReplyDeleteThe only way I came even close to being able to fill PARK HAE SOO and NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL was that I had already figured out the PARK REVERSE NEUTRAL DRIVE LOW gimmick. Even so, it still took Every Single Perp to fill them. Many of the proper names I will forget by dinner time. I was able to FIR without looking anything up, even though I found myself frequently repeating "Yeah, okay, so..." as I slogged through the puzzle.
ReplyDeleteThe one redeeming factor was the neato clue for PAWS.
I enjoyed your write-up, Jazzb, and all your comments, folks, much more than the puzzle.
Speaking of hearing aids, I am very much looking forward to getting mine next week.
Take care, Jinx. Good wishes to you all.
A-T: an American pie for you.
ReplyDeleteWednesday workout. Thanks for the fun, Will and Shannon (thanks for dropping by) and JzB.
ReplyDeleteI’m late to the party and will just say What ATLGranny Said.
But I did see the Gears theme, which helped to fill NEUTRAL.
I’ll take a CSO with OCT. I hope you all knew ourThanksgiving month. AnonT- yes, we eat turkey and all the trimmings, followed by pumpkin pie (and blueberry for my kids who don’t like pumpkin!).
Ray-o- I had heard that we might have a shortage of turkeys and that they would be expensive. But I found an 8.5kg. bird at the usual price. We shall see what Christmas brings. I hope we didn’t eat them all up on you LOL.
I see Omelet more frequently around here now. In the past, it was used interchangeably with Omelette.
We had ERG with similar clueing but it was a Saturday and many of you might have missed it. I commented as follows:
“This Canadian knew ERG as clued. Daughter of a friend won two gold medals in Pan Am rowing. I remember her talking about Erg training and competitions. Perhaps this is more common in Canada where our cold weather keeps rowers from being on the water outdoors.
April 30, 2022 at 1:49 PM”
Wishing you all a good evening.