Theme - I can't do any better than the unifier, and it will make things easier to present it first.
14 D. Food named for how it's baked, and a hint to each set of circles: UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE. A cake that is baked "upside-down" in a single pan, with its toppings at the bottom of the pan. When removed from the oven, the finished upside-down preparation is flipped over and de-panned onto a serving plate, thus "righting" it, and serving it right-side up.
In this theme, the relevant answers, with circled letters, are fragments of down fill, read from the bottom up, indicating types of cakes spelt in reverse. Hope you got the circles. Otherwise this would be extremely opaque. It is an uncommon gimmick, but it is not unheard of, and requires the theme entries to be in the down orientation. Let's have some cake.
4. Itinerary for touring speakers: LECTURE CIRCUIT. A euphemistic reference to a planned schedule of regular lectures and keynote speeches given by celebrities, often ex-politicians, for which they receive an appearance fee.
A rice cake may be any kind of food item made from rice that has been shaped, condensed, or otherwise combined into a single object. A wide variety of rice cakes exist in many different cultures in which rice is eaten and are particularly prevalent in Asia.
8 D. Brunch dish with ham and peppers: WESTERN OMELET. Beaten eggs cooked without stirring until set and served folded in half, containing other flavor elements as described. Now you're just egging me on.
Lemon cake is a dense, flavorful and very popular cake. Lemon is used to provide its unique flavor to a variety of cakes, including bundt, angel food or white cakes. However, lemon cake commonly refers to loaf cake with a tighter grain and more elastic crumb, much like a pound cake.
16. Flatbed scanner relative: BAR-CODE READER. An optical scanner that can read printed barcodes and decode the data contained in the barcode to a computer.
A crab cake is a variety of fishcake that is popular in the United States. It is composed of crab meat and various other ingredients, such as bread crumbs, mayonnaise, mustard, eggs, and seasonings. The cake is then sautéed, baked, grilled, deep fried, or broiled.
Our constructor, Rick Norris, has provided a variety of unrelated cake types, along with an omelet, to fulfill all our culinary desires. We recognize Rich as the recently retired editor of the L.A.Times Crossword, returning now as a constructor. Here is a link to C. C.'s interview with him, back in 2009.
Across:1. GI on the lam: AWOL. A military person Absent Without Official Leave.
5. Annual festival in Austin, TX: SXSW. South by Southwest, an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, Texas,
9. Tot's crumb catcher: BIB.
12. Rural strolling spot: LANE. A narrow road, especially in a rural area.
13. Short dog, for short: PEKE. The Pekingese is a breed of toy dog, originating in China. The breed was favored by royalty of the Chinese Imperial court as a companion dog, and its name refers to the city of Peking where the Forbidden City is located. The breed has several characteristics and health issues related to its unique appearance.
14. Forearm bone: ULNA. The bone spans from the elbow to the wrist on the medial side of the forearm when in anatomical position. In comparison to the radius, the ulna is described to be larger and longer.
15. French preposition: AVEC. It means "with."
16. Rationale: BASIS. A set of reasons or a logical basis for a course of action or a particular belief.
17. Gloomy aura: PALL. Literally, a dark cloud or covering of smoke, dust, or similar matter.
18. Nissan sedans since 1982: SENTRAS. A series of automobiles manufactured by the Japanese automaker Nissan since 1982. Since 1999, the Sentra has been categorized as a compact car, while previously it occupied the subcompact class. Until 2006, Sentra was a rebadged export version of the Japanese Nissan Sunny, but since the 2013 model year, Sentra is a rebadged export version of the Sylphy. The Sentra nameplate is not used in Japan.
20. Put away, as loot: STASHED. Stored safely and secretly in a specified place.
22. "Blade Runner" actor Rutger __: HAUER. Rutger Oelsen Hauer [1944 - 2019] was a Dutch actor. In 1999, he was named by the Dutch public as the Best Dutch Actor of the Century.
23. Lives: EXISTS. Survives, perhaps.
24. Take away: DETRACT. Diminish the worth or value of something.
26. Brought up: BRED. Reared in a specified environment or way.
27. "Night" author Wiesel: ELIE. Elie Wiesel [1928 - 1916] was a Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He authored 57 books, written mostly in French and English, including Night, a work based on his experiences as a Jewish prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps.
28. Finance guru Suze: ORMAN. Susan Lynn "Suze" Orman [b. 1951] is an American financial advisor, author, and podcast host. In 1987, she founded the Suze Orman Financial Group. Her work as a financial advisor gained notability with The Suze Orman Show, which ran on CNBC from 2002 to 2015.
30. 1815 classic whose title character is played by Anya Taylor-Joy in a 2020 film: EMMA. A novel about youthful hubris and romantic misunderstandings, written by Jane Austen. It is set in the fictional country village of Highbury and the surrounding estates of Hartfield, Randalls and Donwell Abbey, and involves the relationships among people from a small number of families.
24. Take away: DETRACT. Diminish the worth or value of something.
26. Brought up: BRED. Reared in a specified environment or way.
27. "Night" author Wiesel: ELIE. Elie Wiesel [1928 - 1916] was a Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He authored 57 books, written mostly in French and English, including Night, a work based on his experiences as a Jewish prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps.
28. Finance guru Suze: ORMAN. Susan Lynn "Suze" Orman [b. 1951] is an American financial advisor, author, and podcast host. In 1987, she founded the Suze Orman Financial Group. Her work as a financial advisor gained notability with The Suze Orman Show, which ran on CNBC from 2002 to 2015.
30. 1815 classic whose title character is played by Anya Taylor-Joy in a 2020 film: EMMA. A novel about youthful hubris and romantic misunderstandings, written by Jane Austen. It is set in the fictional country village of Highbury and the surrounding estates of Hartfield, Randalls and Donwell Abbey, and involves the relationships among people from a small number of families.
34. Common interest group: BLOC. A combination of countries, parties, or groups sharing a common purpose.
35. "Same": DITTO. Used to say that whatever you have said about one person or thing is also true of another person or thing.
36. Campus bigwig: DEAN. The head of a college or university faculty or department.
37. Novelist Morrison: TONI. Chloe Anthony Wofford Morrison [1931 - 2019], known as Toni Morrison, was an American novelist. Her first novel, The Bluest Eye, was published in 1970. The critically acclaimed Song of Solomon brought her national attention and won the National Book Critics Circle Award
38. Derby town in Surrey, England: EPSOM. The principal town of the Borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England, about 13.5 miles south of central London. The town is first recorded as Ebesham in the 10th century and its name probably derives from that of a Saxon landowner.
39. Frigg's husband: ODIN. A widely revered god in Germanic paganism. Norse mythology, the source of most surviving information about him, associates him with wisdom, healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, war, battle, victory, sorcery, poetry, frenzy, and the runic alphabet, and depicts him as the husband of the goddess Frigg. His name is rendered in several, loosely phonetically related ways in various germanic languages, all ultimately stemming from the Proto-Germanic theonym *Wōðanaz, meaning 'lord of frenzy', or 'leader of the possessed'.
40. Steakhouse order: RARE. the lowest level of doneness when it comes to steaks and burgers. Diners who like extremely tender, flavorful cuts of meat will choose this option. Rare meat has an internal temperature of 125 degrees Fahrenheit. If you order your food rare, the central portion of the meat will be a bright red color.
42. Steakhouse order: RED WINE. To compliment your RARE steak.
44. Database systems giant: ORACLE. An American multinational computer technology corporation headquartered in Austin, Texas. In 2020, Oracle was the third-largest software company in the world by revenue and market capitalization.
47. Jousting weapon: LANCE. A long weapon for thrusting, having a wooden shaft and a pointed steel head, formerly used by a horseman in charging.
48. Revenue source in many a free app: POP-UP AD. A form of online advertising on the World Wide Web. A pop-up is a graphical user interface display area, usually a small window, that suddenly appears in the foreground of the visual interface.
50. Counterpoint melody: DESCANT. This is the most common usage of this term whose meaning has shifted over the centuries. Typically, this melody is in the highest pitched voice, and sounded as a harmony line above the main melody of the song.
52. Kid's plea for permission: CAN I? Should properly be "May I?" But, eh -- kids!
53. Fairway chunk: DIVOT. A piece of turf cut out of the ground by a golf club in making a stroke.
55. "__ girl!": ATTA. An informal expression of encouragement or admiration to a woman or girl. Kinda like: Ya done good, kid!
56. "Law & Order: SVU" co-star: ICE-T. Tracy Lauren Marrow [b.1958], better known by his stage name Ice-T, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and producer. He began his career as an underground rapper in the 1980s.
57. Storm rescue op: EVAC. Short for evacuation.
58. 2007 U.S. Women's Open winner Cristie: KERR. Cristie Kerr (b.1977) is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. She has 20 wins on the LPGA Tour, including two major championships, and over $19 million in career earnings. Kerr was the number one-ranked golfer in the Women's World Golf Rankings for three time periods in 2010. She is naturally left handed but plays golf right handed.
59. Lil Wayne's "__ Carter V": THA. The twelfth studio album by American rapper Lil Wayne. It was released on September 28, 2018, by Young Money Entertainment and Republic Records.
60. File partner: RANK. Rank and file is military term relating to the horizontal "ranks" (rows) and vertical "files" (columns) of individual foot-soldiers, exclusive of the officers.
61. "Grand" ice cream brand: EDY'S. Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc., is an American ice cream company, founded in 1928 in Oakland, California, where its present-day headquarters office remains. The company's two signature brands, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream and Edy's Grand Ice Cream, are named after its founders, William Dreyer and Joseph Edy
Down:
1. "Sad to say ... ": ALAS. An expression of grief, pity, or concern.
2. Greet from across the street, say: WAVE HELLO.
3. Phrase of unity in the Pledge of Allegiance: ONE NATION. Indivisible? You decide.
5. Health club amenities: SPAS. Commercial establishments offering health and beauty treatment through such means as steam baths, exercise equipment, and massage.
6. Crosses (out): XES. Deletes.
7. Winter getaway need, maybe: SKIS. Things are going down hill.
9. Malaise, with "the": BLAHS. I had Blues, which messed up the perps.
10. Cove, e.g.: INLET. A small, sheltered bay.
11. Gets thinner, in a way: BALDS. A condition of hair loss. Relatable.
19. Blues-rocker Chris: REA. Christopher Anton Rea is an English rock and blues singer and guitarist from Middlesbrough. A "gravel-voiced guitar stalwart" known for his slide guitar playing, Rea has recorded twenty five solo albums, two of which topped the UK Albums Chart.
21. Lumberjack competition projectile: AXE.
24. Mortgage balance, e.g.: DEBT. Amount of money owed.
25. Nonsense: TRIPE. Figuratively, something poor, worthless, or offensive.
26. Ulan __: former Anglicization of Mongolia's capital: BATOR. Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia. It’s in the Tuul River valley, bordering the Bogd Khan Uul National Park. Originally a nomadic Buddhist center, it became a permanent site in the 18th century. Soviet control in the 20th century led to a religious purge. Soviet-era buildings, museums within surviving monasteries, and a vibrant conjunction of traditional and 21st-century lifestyles typify the modern city.
29. Matterhorn and Weisshorn: Abbr.: MTS. Mountains. See 33 A. for location.
31. Treated, in a way: MEDICATED. Treated for a sickness or injury.
32. Primary way in: MAIN ENTRY. The entrance from outdoors into a primary building through which most customers or other visitors pass or are expected to pass.
33. Dudek of "Mad Men": ANNE. Anne Louise Dudek [b. 1975] is an American actress. She is known for portraying Tiffany Wilson in the 2004 film White Chicks, Danielle Brookson in the USA Network television series Covert Affairs, Dr. Amber Volakis on the Fox series House, Lura Grant on the HBO series Big Love, and Francine Hanson on the AMC series Mad Men.
41. Matterhorn or Weisshorn: ALP. Named peaks in the Alp mountain range. The Weisshorn in in Switzerland. the Matterhorn straddles the border between Switzerland and Italy.
43. Courtroom VIPs: DAs. District Attorneys. They are public officials who acts as prosecutors for the state or the federal government in court in a particular district.
44. Footnote abbr.: OP CIT. In the work already cited.
45. Jazz drummer Max: ROACH. Maxwell Lemuel Roach [1924 – 2007] was an American jazz drummer and composer. A pioneer of bebop, he worked in many other styles of music, and is generally considered one of the most important drummers in history. He was inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1992.
43. Courtroom VIPs: DAs. District Attorneys. They are public officials who acts as prosecutors for the state or the federal government in court in a particular district.
44. Footnote abbr.: OP CIT. In the work already cited.
45. Jazz drummer Max: ROACH. Maxwell Lemuel Roach [1924 – 2007] was an American jazz drummer and composer. A pioneer of bebop, he worked in many other styles of music, and is generally considered one of the most important drummers in history. He was inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1992.
46. Sleep disturbance: APNEA. Temporary cessation of breathing, especially during sleep.
49. Operatic icon: DIVA. Diva is the Latin word for a goddess. It has often been used to refer to a celebrated woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, theatre, cinema, fashion and popular music.
50. Tie up at the pier: DOCK. Literal. Tie up at a dock, especially in order to load or unload passengers or cargo. I'd say moor, but that's all I have.
51. Patches, as a driveway: TARS. Covers a surface with tar, a viscous mixture of organic materials.
54. Part of a moving story: VAN. If you can get emotional about a truck-load of possessions being transported to a new location.
That wraps up another Wednesday.
Cool regards!
JzB
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteYay, this day shall not live in infamy. Went wrong with SNOW/SKIS and MOOR/DOCK, but Wite-Out saved the day. Didn't notice the circles. Failed to read the full reveal clue. Some things never change. The 14-letter themers were all interesting on their own. Nicely done, Rich, and astutely explained, JzB.
RICE Cake: You buy them in Nara, Japan to feed to the deer in the city park.
ULNA: D-o managed to break the radius and ulna in his right wrist -- twice -- both times in PhyEd class.
ORACLE: No I.T. manager ever got fired for recommending Oracle. Great database, horrible software. By trying to be suitable for everyone, their apps aren't really suitable for anyone.
AXE Throwing: Ed Ames gave a famous demonstration to Johnny Carson.
FIW.I had circled BALsS x STASHEs for later review, but I focused on ROACH x THA for so long that I forgot to go back. DNK HAUER. DESCANT, THA, REA, ANNE and ROACH.
ReplyDelete"Jousting weapon", or "Judge ______ Ito".
LECTURE CIRCUIT? I've always heard it called "rubber chicken CIRCUIT."
I must be cooking steak wrong. Whenever I cook it RARE, it seems less tender than when I cook it medium RARE or medium.
Thanks to Rich for the fun challenge. And thanks to JzB for the tour.
Google and I FIR (?) in 32. I really hated this CW. Far too many proper names (14) and obscure references. (Frigg? Who the frig is THAT?) W/Os SONATAS:SENTRAS, FEMA:EVAC. While the theme was clever, and, yes, I got it, overall this was NOT a fun CW. JzB thanx for the really excellent write-up.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning:
ReplyDeleteThe last puzzle by Rich was a super-difficult Saturday stumper that had us gnashing teeth and pulling hair out, but todays’s is a stroll in the park, albeit along a pot-holed path of bumps and detours. The reveal placement and the unnecessary circles took all of the challenge and solving satisfaction down a couple of notches, IMO. Wednesday puzzles should offer more brain exercise and challenge the solver to find those cakes, which would have been easy to do, considering the Upside Down directive. Conversely, the difficulty level was amped up a notch or two by the some of the cluing and fill, such as, Kerr, Tha, Odin, Oracle, Roach, and the obscure clue choices for Anne and Rea.
Thanks, Rich for the culinary caper and thanks, JazzB, for your always entertaining and informative perspective and for your dry, droll humor.
Somber thoughts on this most infamous day.
FIR, despite crossing proper names, my pet peeve: Hauer and Rea, Roach and Tha. Took a WAG on both and guessed right.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the proper names
DeleteThought Rich was going to give us a doable Wednesday puzzle when I started at the NW & MW. NOT!! Of the twelve names asked for, I knew four. AND there were two NATICKS, and a triple which I had never encountered before: 19D & 22A, Then 45D, 56A AND 59A!
ReplyDeleteI sussed the theme when I got 14D and went back and worked the circles. (Yes, I like the circles.)
So, DNF. Gotta run to an appt. Will read the recap anon.
D id this puzzle in 6:11 today.
ReplyDeleteN ever heard of today's actress (Anna), this Roach drummer, or "descant."
U ncleFred and Ms. Irish Miss already provided apt critique of this puzzle, so I'll just say "ditto."
O h joy, circles.
P lease, no more circles.
WEES about the proper names. What drives me crazy is cluing normal words (ORACLE and ROACH) as proper names in a puzzle that's already full of them. I didn't know ORACLE, ROACH, OP CIT and THA in the SW, but I managed to WAG my way through.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if anyone else noticed, but this puzzle has a THEMELESS-worthy word count (only 70!). It was bound to have... suboptimal fill, let's say. Especially with stacked 9s right next to a theme answer.
SS @ 8:10 ~ In for a penny, in for a pound, so they say! 🤭
ReplyDeleteAnonymous @ 8:17 ~ Your second sentence has been my mantra for the last eight months, sadly, to no avail. ☹️
More like a Saturday for me ...Essentially a proper name disaster..DNF, the SW did me in..unkown Max, the drummer crossed with the obligatory rap reference and L&O that I've never watch. Lots 'n lots of other proper names: to wit..."Rutger"? who? (and I've see both "Blade Runner" film versions)..plus every FRIGGin' episode of "Madmen".."Dudek"?...
ReplyDeleteUnusual to see such lengthy verticals but required to create the UPSIDEDOWNCAKE flavored theme. (Mom made hers with pineapple rings on the bottom which became the top when turned upside down.)
Inkovers: Ormon/Orman, moor/DOCK, blues/BLAHS
Tot's crumb catcher: I considered dog ...French proposition: "voulez-vous coucher AVEC..🤭....etc" oh wait "preposition" !! In English you can make a verb out of any noun but BALDS is kyna klumzee. 🧑🦲
Matterhorn, Weisshorn, Flugelhorn, which does not belong? And I already forgot the name of the Austin festival...dang! 🤠 (perped). Never heard a Pekenese called that. (Is Beijingese the name now?...When I was in grade school it was Beiping)
"ATTA girl! Use that high fiber wheat to make us some Indian naan."
What came down in 1989 Berlin....AWOL.
Cooked cow's stomach....TRIPE
ETA: when an airplane ____ ...LANCE
To make an UPSIDEDOWNCAKE you start with ____ ... BATOR
JzB. A veritable encyclopedia of information thanks...A Jazz Bumptanica...📚
ELIE and ORMAN were two names I knew. And TONI with no Y. I knew Christie Kerr but thought the question was about tennis
ReplyDeleteThe other names were easily perped. I must admit I didn't know what the combo of RICE,CRAB and LEMON produced
Yes, I noticed the double Natick in SW.
Bluetooth got a big laugh spouting "The Germans bombed Pearl Harbor". They engineered the whole thing except flying the planes. Aldo, talk about not revealing secrets garnered from Enigma except the advice to move the aircraft carriers out
WC
Saw the Circles; Filled the circles; the CAKES were uneaten; didn't notice them.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Rich made the puzzle before or after his retirement. The fills were easy and I'm glad because unknown DESCANT would have never made it without the perps. The cross of BAUER and REA was a guess- both unknowns to join ANNE Dudek.
Lil Wayne's THA Carter V- only know of it and him because he was a local rapper who shot himself at age 12 a few years back and the policeman who save him recently died.
Max ROACH, Buddy RICH, Rufus JONES, Elvin Jones- great drummers; Ringo- a lucky mediocre replacement drummer. Very lucky. Right place at the right time.
IM, it was a challenge for me, not Wednesday easy. The names got in the way. The reveal and the circles gave nothing away for me during the solve. I found the cakes after I finished.
ReplyDeleteNice theme.
Ditto, JzB, the axe throwing immediately brought to mind Johnny Carson.
I love crab cakes, especially those in Maryland. Yummy, almost all crab and little filler. During my internship at a Baltimore church I was given money for dinner and I always chose crab.
Blues before blahs.
SXWX all perps. New to me.
My two bad cells were due to lack of patience. I missed the CH in ROACH. I should have guessed the C for ICE T. I didn't know THA.
I have been mostly AWOL on the blog. I planned an 85th birthday party for myself with 45 guests and held it last Saturday, although my birthday is on Christmas. I was making appetizers and arrangements on Friday, and setting up, hosting and taking down on Saturday. The main meal was catered. Then I was washing up and putting away on Sunday. My son returned Monday to help me decorate my apartment and put up my tree. Monday night I square danced because I am class cordinator.
Tuesday I was in charge of our floor's trim a hall tree party. It was informal and everyone helped. Lotsa fun and friendship, but no time to blog.
Whew! Bored in retirement? Not me.
I hope you had a great birthday, Lucina.
Congrats on your early birthday party, YR. Jeez, I don't think I know 45 people, let alone invite 'em to a party.
ReplyDelete🎂🎄🎁
ReplyDeleteYR: ditto DO..anticipated congratulations on your Christmas 85th birthday. My oldest cousin appropriately named Carol turns 90 on Christmas. As busy and active as you.
The SW gave me agita,
ReplyDeleteBut while I was pondering, (unsuccessful sussing...) I did notice the cheater squares for the first time.
Also, those "x"'s, more like plus signs, of 5 squares, made me wonder if a puzzle ever used that inner boxed in square for a puzzle?
Interesting, perhaps a puzzle could be created using the boxed in square for a letter that connects words left and right/top and bottom? Ah, the possibilities...
here is the store where I like to get my cake ingredients.
Desper-Otto,
Yes, here is that classic Carson scene.
(I think Johnnys quip at the end was the icing on the cake...)
KS @7:12 DITTO
ReplyDeleteAnonymous @ 8:17 makes a good point about the clueing of ORACLE and ROACH.
In 2000 I bought shares in ORACLE.
I make good CRAB cakes but crab meat has become so expensive I have not made any lately.
JzB. What a wealth of info you’ve given us.
Musings
ReplyDelete- R_A/HUR_A and T_A/ROAC_ took care of themselves
- And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
A PALL-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game.
- The BLOCS are all in place for the next congress
- EPSOM – I first thought of ASCOT Races as seen in My Fair Lady
- You can make a steak more done but not more RARE
- DESCANT – I immediately thought of Simon and Garfunkel in Scarborough Fair
- ATTA flour? Not today.
- A new AXE throwing venue downtown is doing great business
- The MAIN ENTRACE at our lumber yard is way on the west and the exit is way on the east by the checkout stands. We found we can go in the exit door just fine and save a long walk
I know that someone on this Blog has a birthday today but can't remember who. It's either Hahtoolah or Jzb. They follow me and I'm sorry I can't recall. Maybe C.C. will chime in later and enlighten us. It's also my youngest granddaughter's birthday. She's now 13.
ReplyDeleteAh. The puzzle. Nicely done by our former editor, Rich Norris. I saw the CAKES and salivated.
Last night I had, not RED WINE, but Riesling, my favorite. I know it doesn't go with red meat but ask me if I care. My brother, Art, would be aghast. I had ribs and they were delicious.
My late friend, ANNE Marie had a heavenly voice and sang DESCANT. Sometimes I really miss her. My granddaughter, the one in the hospital, also has a gorgeous voice and sings DESCANT. She inherited her musical talent from my late DH.
We've seen that Austin festival in puzzles before but, of course, I couldn't recall it. Perps helped. I love a WESTERN OMELET!
YR
I'm so happy for you that you are enjoying life and had a fabulous birthday party.
Have a wonderful day, everyone! A salute to our brave men and women in the armed forces on this remembrance day of the Pearl Harbor bombing.
Sorry I’m so late today. I got busy with my lovely girlfriend and didn’t notice the time (“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may…”) In spite of one or two obscure proper names (“Hauer” anyone?) I found this puzzle eminently solvable. I sussed the reveal before I got the “crab” of “crab cake” and that allowed me to get “bar code reader “ which otherwise might have proved difficult. Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
ReplyDeleteIt is always amazing to me to see the differences in knowledge among posters. What brought it to mind just now was seeing "Hauer" called obscure, since I was a big fan of Rutger Hauer so his name was a gimme for me.
ReplyDeleteI generally google any names unfamiliar to me, just to find out more about them. I just love picking up bits of knowledge; a silly analogy is like a chicken picking up kernels of corn!
Put the icing on this one in 9:56, a good time for me on any CW by Rich Norris. There were a few Naticks that perped with WAGS and the other unknowns filled by perps, but I liked the theme, thank you Rich.
ReplyDeleteJzB ~ very interesting write up today, appreciate the time and effort you put into it. Seems you must enjoy doing the research that we all benefit from. Thank you.
Puzzling thoughts:
ReplyDeleteI, too noticed both the low number of clues/answers (70) but also the high number of blank squares (44 I think). If you look at the submission guidelines for a puzzle @ LA Times, these numbers don't jive. But as Rich was the previous editor, I'd hope he has a lifetime pass for any puzzle he creates
Re: the common words clued as proper names is, I'm pretty sure, a Patti thing
I got the theme after filling in the circles in the first three entries. Not sure it needed circles but since the puzzle appeared on a Wednesday instead of a Friday, e.g., the circles probably mattered
After reading YR's comments, it now makes mefeel old when I realize that someone who's 85 years old is too young to be my parent 😬
Hi All!
ReplyDeleteDrat - FIW at TRItE & BATaR; I should have remembered EPSOM.
Thanks Rich for the grid. I liked the theme but the names took some of the fun out of it.
Great expo, JzB. Thanks for the music!
WOs: BLueS->BLAHS, STASHEs, RAsp->RANK
ESPs: Names! I did know ROACH so I had that going for me.
Fav: AXE for the exact elicitation D-O cited and CED provided the link for.
SSolver - Nice POUND post.
YR - I wondered where you were. Glad it was all good-busy fun.
Tante - IIRC, that was a bad time to buy ORACLE as it was at it's PEKE [sic] then. It's doubled since but, adjusted for inflation,....?
//I'm not judging - I have a knack for investing at just the wrong time - 1/2 my IRA is still underwater 6 years later :-(
So, I've been on hold with Houston PD for over 2 hours today to file a minor accident (insurance (not that I'm going to file a claim for a minor dent on a 7 year-old long paid-off car) and DW! requires it). I called the local constable but, because it was S. of the Belt, they can't take the report. Frustrating.
Oh, the incident? A red mini-VAN turned into me trying, I guess, to take my lane. By the time I realized what happened (and re-adjust my driver's side mirror to see the VAN) the VAN faded behind me in the rain PLUS!!! I needed to focus on the traffic in front of me.
I'm fine - just a little twitch in the back rejuvenating an old injury; I left the office & went home to take some Doan's to head it off at the pass.
//if this doesn't make any sense - that's the Doan's talking ;-)
Cheers, -T
Ack! Even more frustrating - after 2+ hours, the nice lady said I need to go to a police-officer station to file the report. Why does their website NOT say this?
ReplyDelete//If I go to the police-officer's station will I get 27 8x10 color-glossy photos with a paragraph on the back of each one 'splainin' what each one is? That might be worth the trip! :-)
Cheers, -T
FIW. Thanks, Rich, for the clecho-full grid and JxB for all the hidden chuckles.
ReplyDelete"Best Dutch Actor of the Century" is quite the accolade!
Changing mEDWell to REDWINE took me a while.
Speaking of well done, Annon@8:10, pound. Nice!
YR @ 9:23. Thanks for catching us up. Good times.
ReplyDeleteSo good to see Rich's byline! Enjoyed the puzzle but am now salivating for pineapple UPSIDE DOWN CAKE!
Anon-T, as soon as you said "police officer station" I knew where you were headed. At least you shouldn't be cited for littering or creating a nuisance.
ReplyDeleteA-T: so frustrating to spend time on a problem not of your doing.
ReplyDeleteI still own Oracle and it has been quite profitable for me. Just dumb luck.
Jazzbumpa is our genial host for Mr. Norris' fine Wednesday PZL.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the diagram of those arm bones. I always forget which is which.
(The ULNA is on the outside. Repeat 3 times...)
I haven't had UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE in decades. My mom used to make it. Loved the pineapples!
~ OMK
____________
DR: Egad! Today we find a FULL SIX diagonals, three to a side!
An abundance of riches!
When they finally come, they come...
"not single spies, but in battalions!"
The central diagonal on the near side gives us today's anagram (14 of 15 letters!!). It is a variation of the well-known audio aid that helps one to fall asleep.
We are all familiar with "white noise" as a sleep aid. Also helpful is the sound of "rushing water."
(Older males are advised to give this one a pass, as it can send them directly to the bathroom.)
Today's anagram combines "rushing" with "roaring" and, with a wrap-around sound effect, we may hear this ...
"STEREO CATARACT"!
OMK, "Stereo cataract" is a perfect description of my current vision situation.
ReplyDeleteAnnonT@1:00. Even on the Doan's, you treat us to a funny link! Hope things get resolved soon.
ReplyDeleteJazzBumpa. Apologies for my type-o!
-T, we don't like your kind, and we're gonna send you fingerprints off to Washington.
ReplyDeleteNatick filled puzzle by a former editor who should know better that names crossing names is a no-no.
ReplyDeleteHi Y'all! The CAKEs may have been too Rich for some tastes, but I enjoyed this challenge. Had the same problems WEES about the unknown names. When I got done, I hadn't recognized the reveal (until Jz 'splained) and thought it was themeless. Then I saw the circles, sussed them from down up properly but didn't get a unifier.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rich & JzB.
Pearl Harbor is one of the historic dates I always remember. I was born earlier that year.
YR: glad you had a lovely party. Wish I had your energy. Hearing of all your busy-ness makes me need another nap.
desper-otto ~ Sorry to read of your vision problem!
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw today's anagram, I flirted with the notion of applying it to our eyes, but did not know how easily that would be understood.
I imagine more people have difficulty with sleep these days.
~ OMK
The word gratuitous comes to mind once again.
ReplyDeletePK ~ I wonder how many of our fellow Corner-sites were living during the War...?
ReplyDeleteI was almost 3 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. I don't remember it, but I do recall several events when grownups seemed to be more frantic than usual.
We lived in San Francisco, so were feeling more vulnerable than those in other parts of the continent.
In fact, I recall vividly the terrible night when the enemy bombed us!
It was during a then-routine "blackout," to test our ability to "douse all lights." My dad was an air raid warden, so was not at home. We heard the sirens, which were always frightening. Then things got much worse. We heard a series of explosions in the harbor--the Bombs!
My mom and I felt our way up the pitch-black back stairs to join the family in the upper flat. The lady upstairs was crying and praying out loud. The explosions continued.
My mom started to cry too. All of us crawled under their kitchen table, a tight squeeze. Praying! Crying! Explosions sounding nearer all the time!
Years later, we reasoned that the Coast Guard was detonating old mines in the Bay, something they did periodically, usually in the daylight. Doing it at night--and during a full "blackout," with the sirens wailing--that was a VERY bad idea.
~ OMK
OMK
ReplyDeleteWhat a frightening experience for you!
I was four years old in 1941 so have no recollection of it. During the ensuing four years it seems to me the adults were in a constant state of panic. What I did not understand at the time, I came to know many years later.
The one thing I do remember are ration books. My mother was often trading her unused coupons for some to buy shoes for us. I have a distinct memory of those trading sessions.
Both of my granddaughters were born on days of national crises. The older one was born on 9/11 and the second one on 12/7. We try very hard to make their birthdays extra special because of that.
DNF this morning and later didn't notice the problem area before beginning to read JazzB's excellent review. Rich's puzzle had me doing the hokey pokey in a couple of other spots, putting letters in, taking letters out, and putting the letters in again because they were right after all. It was an interesting puzzle.
ReplyDeleteYR, good idea to celebrate your upcoming birthday early. Turning 85 is special and you are so energetic!
AnonT, sorry to hear of your car accident. Is this contagious?
Anon @ 8:10 AM, I noticed your POUND too.
Be well everyone!
The Doan's knocked me out pretty good for about 5 hours and then I went to the police station. At 9:30 at night - no line!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, officer-friendly came out and looked at my car. Asked if I was going to file a claim (no) and then said if it was him, he wouldn't bother with a report 'cuz CarFax doesn't differentiate accidents and, if I were ever to sell the car, #BigRedFlag.
At least DW is happy I tried. //I still have 9 more days to file a report if my back acts up.
Lucina - I went into the Wayback Machine and found it's Windhover's Birthday today. We've not seen him around in a while :-(
Jinx - Washington already has my finger-prints (a Study in black & white) enshrined in some little folder. #Army #DoD :-)
So, I can't start that revolution but I can hum a few bars; "You can get any thing you want..." and then walk out.
Cheers, -T
OMK: How scary! We moved to Kansas City before I was two and I remember the adults were always listening to the radio & anxious, an emotion I seemed to catch. I lived near Boston during the Cuban Missile crisis and felt anxious there turning 20 yrs. old. My husband was military then.
ReplyDeleteAnonT
ReplyDeleteThank you for that reminder. I usually remember but have been preoccupied with dark thoughts these last two days. I need to snap out of it.
I believe he is the same age as Mark, 77.
I know. I like being a cougar!
WEES!!!
ReplyDeleteAnother one-square DNF! I didn’t know the C in ICET/ROACE. Guess I should have been able to guess the former, but I didn’t. Bah! Humbug!
Living here in Texas, I got a gimme with SXSW. I’ve never attended (think an annual Woodstock-type event in the middle of Texas’ sixth largest city), but I have streamed a couple of groups I wanted to see.
ULNA --- The first thing I learned in whatever class that was way back when was that the RADIUS rotates around the ULNA, when one rotates the hand. I’ve never had a problem knowing the difference (not that I’ve ever had to actually KNOW the difference anywhere but in crossword puzzles).
HAUER, ELIE, EMMA, TONI, DESCANT, KERR, EDY’S,REA, and ANNE: --- All were perps. I don’t watch much “Vast Wasteland” anymore.
The girl I dated through most of high school wanted me to call her TONI. Not her real name! A few years ago, I asked her about it. “Huh??? I don’t remember THAT!!!”
ATTA --- “Atta boy, girl: Atta way to break my heart!.” Old Roger Miller song.
Thanks, Rich and JazzB!
Way, way too many names, and most of them not common enough. I really did not like this puzzle.
ReplyDelete