Today's puzzle is courtesy of Trent H. Evans, a veteran of 9 NYT puzzles and two LAT
puzzles, the first reviewed by Husker on May 2, 2020. Trent is a clinical psychologist, has his own puzzle site cleverly titled Grid Therapy, and as it happens lives in Catonsville, MD, about 7 miles down the Baltimore Beltway from our home.
I
must confess that I've been reviewing so many simple "scrambled word
puzzles" lately, that I was initially stumped by Trent's theme. I
actually considered popping down I 695 to his office for a little "grid therapy", but then realized that Medicare probably doesn't cover that rare syndrome "Puzzled by theme analysis".
But
in response to my SOS to the Blogging team I promptly received the
correct diagnosis for my cruciverbal confusion. It resulted from a
failure to read the reveal fill correctly, which should be parsed as COME ON DOWN and not COME ON DOWN. Just like the question "Really?" used for all three theme clues, the idiomatic phrase COME ON (or perhaps better C'MON) can be substituted for the fill as an expression of surprise or skepticism ...
3D. *"Really?": GET SERIOUS or "COME ON"
9D. *"Really?": ARE YOU JOKING? or "COME ON?"
20D. *"Really?": GIVE ME A BREAK or "COME ON"
... and as they are all DOWN fills we get this reveal:
30D. "The Price Is Right" signature phrase, and an apt description of the answers to the starred clues: COME ON DOWN. The Price Is Right
has aired over 9,000 episodes since its debut. It is the
longest-running game show in the United States and is one of the
longest-running network series in television history. The 50th season
premiered September 13, 2021. Contestants compete by guessing the
prices of merchandise to win cash and prizes. Contestants are selected
from the studio audience as announcer Drew Carey calls their names and invokes the show's famous catchphrase, "Come on down!"
Here's the grid:
Across:
1. Novel units: PAGES.
6. "The Good Place" Emmy nominee Rudolph: MAYA. Maya Rudolph got her Emmy nomination for the role of Gen, the judge who rules on interdimensional matters between the Good Place and the Bad Place (which we won't talk about here). Rudolph is an American actress, comedian, and singer. In 2000, she became a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL), and during her tenure on the show, she also played supporting roles in the films 50 First Dates (2004), A Prairie Home Companion (2006), and Idiocracy (2006).
 |
| Maya Rudolph |
14. Cornmeal cake similar to a gordita: AREPA. Here's a recipe. Or if you'd prefer a gordita here's another recipe.
 |
| Arepas |
15. Library of Congress collection: AMERICANA. The Library of Congress' AMERICANA collection of Marian Sadtler Carson (1905-2004) spans the years 1656-1995 with the bulk of the material dating from 1700 to 1876. The collection includes more than 10,000 historical letters and manuscripts, broadsides, photographs, prints and drawings, books and pamphlets, maps, and printed ephemera from the colonial era through the 1876 centennial of the United States.
 |
| Sellers and Pennock, Philadelphia purveyors of fine fire fighting equipment |
17. One who takes the fall: PATSY. Another DOWNER 😟 How about some more AMERICANA ...
18. Takes a fall: NOSE DIVES. We're COMING ON DOWN.
19. Not to mention: ALSO.
20. USO audience: GIS.
21. Sings some high notes?: YODELS. We usually associate YODELERS with mountainous regions like the ALPS, but it was also an art form practiced by cowboys.
22. Office chore: EMAIL.
24. Early ISP: AOL.
25. Sully: MAR.
27. Spacewalk initials: EVA. Extra Vehicular Activity - "Going Outside" and a CSO to Husker ...
28. Informal "No reason": JUST CUZ. This raises a timely question - should we do something JUST CUZ we have the technical capabilities to do it? In 1976 the visionary computer scientist, Joseph Weizenbaum, one of pioneers of Artificial Intelligence, wrote a seminal book called Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgment to Calculation. In it he expressed his ambivalence towards computer technology and made the case that while artificial intelligence may be possible, we should never allow computers to make important decisions (e.g. replacing our legal system with an AI) because computers will always lack human qualities such as compassion and wisdom. IIRC Weizenbaum said in his book that computers can never be truly human because they are incapable of feeling fear or facing death.
 |
| Joseph Weizenbaum (8 January 1923 - 5 March 2008) |
35. __ Mahal: TAJ. Trent didn't give us a hint as to whether this was the tomb or the blues singer. As we visited AGRA just last Sunday, I'm going with Taj Mahal's Queen Bee from the Bloody Sunday sessions (lyrics):
36. U2 lead singer: BONO. Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by his stage name BONO (/ˈbɒnoʊ/), is an Irish singer-songwriter, activist, and philanthropist. He is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band U2. Here's his I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (lyrics) released in 1987. I wonder if he's still looking ...
37. Singer Celine: DION. Here's Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On (lyrics) from the soundtrack to the film Titanic. A CSO to CanadianEh! ...
38. 2013 Literature Nobelist Alice: MUNRO. Alice Munro, née Alice Ann Laidlaw, (born July 10, 1931, Wingham, Ontario, Canada), Canadian short-story writer who gained international recognition with her exquisitely drawn narratives. The Swedish Academy dubbed her a “master of the contemporary short story” when it awarded her the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2013. Another CSO to CanadianEh!
 |
| Alice Munro |
41. Request after eating too many jalapeños: AGUA. Some like it hot, and some not. Today's Spanish lesson #1.
42. Defib expert: EMT.
43. Hall of Famer Abdul-Jabbar: KAREEM. KAREEM Abdul-Jabbar; (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.; April 16, 1947) is an American former professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. During his career as a center, Abdul-Jabbar was a record six-time NBA Most Valuable Player. He was a 19-time NBA All-Star—tied for the most ever—a 15-time All-NBA Team member, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection. He was a member of six NBA championship teams as a player and two more as an assistant coach, and was twice voted the NBA Finals MVP. He was named to three NBA anniversary teams (35th, 50th, and 75th). Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he was called the greatest basketball player of all time by Pat Riley, Isiah Thomas, and Julius Erving. Abdul-Jabbar was the NBA's career scoring leader from 1984 to 2023. He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1995.
 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
47. Taste: SIP.
48. Extra qtrs.: OTS. Quarters is abbreviated, so Overtimes has to be too.
49. Sit-up targets: ABS.
50. "The Smartest Guys in the Room" company: ENRON. ENRON: The Smartest Guys in the Room is a 2005 American documentary film based on the best-selling 2003 book of the same name by Fortune reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind. In the end these guys didn't turn out to be as smart as they thought they were ...
52. Like "Marriage Story" but not "Toy Story": RATED R.
56. Trough guy: PIG.
57. 4K display, e.g.: HDTV.
60. "Lay it on me": IM ALL EARS. I think that might be LBJ and Lady Bird off camera ...
 |
| I'm All Ears |
 | |
| View of the Ancient Agora. | |
63. Fightin' words: LEMME AT EM. Sorry, all the clips were RATED V.
64. Victorious cry: WE WON.
65. Petrol brand: ESSO.
66. "Girl on Fire" singer Alicia: KEYS. Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981) known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter. A classically trained pianist, Keys started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at age 15 years by Columbia Records. Here's the title track from her 2012 album Girl on Fire (lyrics). Oh and guys, you may want to keep a fire extinguisher by your computer ...
67. Allows to use for a bit: LENDS.
Down:
1. Dada: PAPA. ARP didn't quite fill the space.
2. Rapidly drying Asian sea: ARAL.
3. [Theme clue]
4. __ salts: EPSOM. EPSOM salts are the compound Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4), which have various medicinal uses, and were named for the town of Epsom, England where they are found in the natural springs there. Epsom is famous for the Epsom Downs Racecourse, which dates back to 1661 and hosts Epson Derby each year.
 |
The 1821 Derby at Epsom
Théodore Géricault
Théodore Géricault
5. "I've been meaning to ask ... ": SAY.
6. Capital city on Luzon: MANILA. MANILA is the capital of the Philippines and its second-most populous city. Manila is located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on the island of Luzon. It is highly urbanized and as of 2019, was the world's most densely populated city proper. The second most populous city is Quezon City, which is larger and thus not as densely populated as Manila.
 |
| Manila, Philippines |
 |
| John Amos |
9. [Theme clue]
10. Prilosec target: ACID. In my experience drinking lots of AGUA is the best antidote for indigestion.
11. Greet silently: WAVE.
12. Scott Turow book: ONEL. ONE L tells author Scott Turow's experience as a first-year Harvard Law School student. First years, or One-L's as they are often called, all face similar issues their initial year of law school. Harvard, known for its reputation as one of the best law schools in the country, takes only about 12% of applicants. Turow recounts his time there, the professors, and the classes that helped mold him into the lawyer and writer that he became.
16. Megastars: IDOLS. Here's Rudolfo, played by one of my favorite IDOLS, introducing himself to Mimi in the Act I aria Che gelida manina of Giacomo Puccini's La Boheme, followed by Mimi telling him her story in Mi chiamano Mimi ...
20. [Theme clue]
23. __ Lingus: AER. In our experience they treat their coach passengers like First Class.
24. Barely open: AJAR.
25. Gold __ flour: MEDAL. Here's a recipe for banana-blueberry muffins.
29. Alternative to an uphill climb: T BAR. A CSO to Malodorous Manatee.
30. [Theme reveal]
31. Yet to be satisfied: UNMET. See 36A.
32. Goes lickety-split: ZOOMS.
34. Pesky insect: GNAT.
35. Blast letters: TNT.
39. Ballpark judges: UMPS.
44. National Poetry mo.: APR. Here's how to celebrate.
47. Quakes: SEISMS. The people of Turkey and Syria can tell you that improving our capabilities for timely predictions of impending large SEISMS is a matter of life and death. Over the last 20 years or so the QuakeFinder project, described in the video that follows, has made important strides in reliably predicting earthquakes DAYS in advance instead of within MINUTES or YEARS, which are too short and too long respectively. The Corner is privileged to have in our community a very talented engineer named John Doering, known to most of us as jayce, who designed the magnetometer sensor stations (shown in the splash screen below) that provide the data that enable these more precise predictions . To find out about the current status of the project see quakefinders.com. For a brief discussion of John's magnetometer sensor station see this October 6, 2022 EOS Newsletter.
51. "Gosh!": OH GEE.
52. Irritate but good: RILE.
53. Iowa State city: AMES. AMES is a city in Story County, Iowa, United States, located approximately 30 miles (48 km) north of Des Moines in central Iowa. It is best known as the home of Iowa State University (ISU), with leading agriculture, design, engineering, and veterinary medicine colleges. A United States Department of Energy national laboratory, Ames Laboratory, is located on the ISU campus.
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| Scottish TAM |
55. Monster who's in his own world: ELMO. I guess because he always refers to himself in the third person ...
56. Salmon, to bears: PREY. COME ON UP!
58. Stepped: TROD.
59. "Off the Wall" sneakers brand: VANS. My son brought along a pair of VANS sneakers to China for my 3 year old grandson to wear home.
And let's sign off with one of VAN'S greatest hits ...
61. Did lunch: ATE.
62. Leatherwork tool: AWL.
Cheers,
Bill
As always, thanks to Teri for proof
reading, for her constructive criticism.
There once was a MAYAN priest
ReplyDeleteWho caused all sorts of grief.
Before he FELL apart,
He first took heart --
Then several more till the sacrifice ceased!
There was a miss from MANILA
Who wanted to wed a gorilla.
Asked why that was,
She replied, "JUST 'CUZ,
He'd match my shag-carpeted villa!"
{B+, A-.}
Obviously, no one has to hunt for a theme when it’s this kind of word puzzles, but I still thought the reveal was clever (and easy to suss!) Actually, this entire puzzle seemed easier to me than yesterday’s. FIR, so I’m happy.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning:
ReplyDeleteI agree with SG that this was much easier than yesterday’s puzzle. I like down themers because that placement makes the theme itself less obvious, and, also, because this layout is a nice change from the standard across-themer’s construction. While the three letter word count was relatively low, the preponderance of proper names/nouns and pop culture references was too high for my taste. Van’s was the only unknown and Nag/Pig was the only w/o. I liked the repetitive “Really?”cluing gimmick. Also noted the Email and AOL side by side.
Thanks, Trent for Thursday treat and thanks, Bill, for the bountiful banquet of facts, fun, and, most of all, the musical interludes. What a treat to hear Pavarotti, Patsy, Celine, Alicia, and even Elmo, not to mention Handel’s Messiah, plus several others. The earthquake video was informative, and kudos to our Jayce. As always, I learn a lot from your in-depth commentary. Thanks to Teri, as well.
My birthday celebration was most enjoyable. The food was brought in from one of my favorite Italian restaurants and was delicious, as usual. Appetizers were Clams Casino and Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms, followed by Chicken Milanese and Fettuccine Alfredo, Bread, and topped off with a Coffee Ice-Cream Cake! It was a perfect ending to a day filled with cards, emails, phone calls, and flowers.
FLN
CED, thank you for that kooky cake! And thanks to everyone for your kind birthday greetings.
Jinx, you have my sincere sympathy for the sad and challenging ordeal you’re facing. Your patience, endurance, and loving care are to be admired. Please lean on us whenever you have the need.
Have a great day.
I checked on DAB's site for a new puzzle, but there was none. However here's a second chance to solve last week's. However I'd missed this timely lament posted immediately above the link:
ReplyDelete"What with supply-chain issues and some strategic downsizing, our store of words has been sadly depleted. A long course of severe weather has shut down the mines from which we imported most of our homophones. And of course a small concern like ours can’t hope to compete with the big players while the global anagram shortage keeps driving up prices. So for now we’re going to have to make do with fewer theme answers and smaller words, such as you’ll find in today’s puzzle".
Here's the link to yesterday's Chairman MOE (Chris Gross) puzzle published on the Boston Herald site (be sure to select 4/5/23).
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteNo problem with JUST CUZ and LEMME AT 'EM, but it should've been GIMME A BREAK, but that wouldn't fit the length constraints. Didn't know AREPA, but the perps filled it nicely. ELMO was easy. (D-o sees no problem with those who refer to themselves in the third person.) Thanx, Trent and Waseeley.
We had a brief power outage yesterday from 1:15-3PM. But the restored power lasted less than a minute. Things went dark again until 9:30. Hooray for the whole-house generator. No internet, though, while Soddenlink's distribution equipment across the street was out of power. More thunder-boomers expected today.
Clever theme which I voiced in my head as C'MON, down. I have used all of those phrases at one time or another! Interesting to know the fruits of Jayce's labor.
ReplyDelete55D I think refers to the sub-segment of Sesame Street called "ELMO's World" which is for a younger age group than the rest of Sesame Street
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gt6cHooI6M
I think Alicia KEYS is one of the most talented performers currently performing. She is an amazing pianist and composer as well as vocalist. Like Taylor Swift, she is not dependent on someone else writing her music.
Thanks Bill & Teri for the blog- enjoyed the music clips! and to Trent for the puzzle
Glad you had an amazing meal and time with family for your birthday, Agnes!
Oh, and I almost didn't recognize BONO without his signature tinted glasses he wears for his light sensitivity from glaucoma
ReplyDeleteI'm a "tough guy" but not a PIG. I'm always clean and properly dressed before I knock your lights out. :)
ReplyDeleteR eached the end in 6:19 today.
ReplyDeleteE njoyable puzzle.
A lice who? Munro was unknown, as usual on the novelists for me.
L iked an arepa when I ate one last year for the first time.
L oved not having circles.
Y ou all have a good day.
FIR. I must admit I too didn't get the theme until coming here and having it explained. For a Thursday this seemed somewhat easy. However having said that, I almost was stumped in the east because "just cuz" just didn't seem right.
ReplyDeleteinanehiker said: "Like Taylor Swift, she is not dependent on someone else writing her music."
ReplyDeleteAre great performers diminished by not having written their own songs and music? Beethoven playing Mozart or Luciano singing Puccini didn't seem so. Sinatra singing Porter brought the great song writer's work to life in a way the composer could not.
I agree with d-otto about GIMME to go with LEMME and CUZ and he left off 'EM. As C.C. said the other day, English can be very confusing to learn. But unlike Bill I noticed the 'c'mon' in the COME ON that were down fills. MAYA and AREPA were filled by perps today. AMOS, ELMO and VANS were WAGS that I didn't know as clued.
ReplyDeleteAGUA and Prilosec for the acid from jalepenos? Cervesa Modelo and leche work well with salsa.
KAREEM- UCLA only lost one game in his college career to University of Houston with Elvin Hayes as center, The Big E. Held in the Astrodome with over 50,000 in attendance.
Interesting video about the SEISMS. But quakes are like the old Candid Camera line "when it's least expected you're elected and surprise, you're in candid earthquake".
Gold MEDAL flour. I wonder when WONDRA will show up in a puzzle.
Once again an easier puzzle slips into a late-week spot. No complaints through since I FIR! Thanks, Trent, for a fun puzzle. Really!
ReplyDeleteWaseeley and Teri, thanks for all the information in your review. I listened to the Messiah, a favorite, as I read the review. I've read some of Alice MUNRO's stories so I knew her name.
In my experience, when I eat Mexican food that's too spicy for me, AGUA just makes it worse. A banana or some sour cream does help.
Thinking of you, C Eh. A sad experience.
Didn't know about Elmo's World. Thanks, inanehiker.
Sounds like you had a good day, IM!
The days fly by. Hope everyone is doing well!
#55 down, Elmo, completely threw me. Knew most of the proper nouns. Didn't know Eva for 27 across . All an all a pleasant Thurs.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning! Today's puzzle was slow going, but I thought easier than many Thursday puzzles. Thanks, Trent.
ReplyDeleteThe long phrases were all familiar and easily recognized once a few perps were in.
The NW was the last to fill, and one careless WO (Grrr) because I didn’t recheck. Lady to LASS.
DNK: AREPA. or EVA and VANS as clued. Perps to the rescue.
Theme: I tried to make something about the vertical themers, got the “down” but didn’t see the COME ON as the unifier.
Dogs are curious creatures. They have their secrets and reasons. We adopted one who would shiver and shake when “C’MON” was (loudly) expressed, so we had to be careful not to. My niece has one who is afraid of boxes and garbage cans. Makes you wonder why.
Thanks, Bill and Teri, for the reveal and the fun & informative recap. Loved the musical links.
My go-to remedy for indigestion is to chew 6 – 8 unsalted roasted almonds about a half to an hour after eating. Works every time, and I prefer the natural remedy over pharmacy.
AER LINGUS. My experience was different. On a night flight, lights are dimmed, time to snooze – NOT!! The stewardesses were in the galley laughing and talking loudly and slamming the trolly doors over and over…..
D-O, your 3rd person comment 🤣 Too funny!!
I actually came up with BONO sans perps, inked it right in(same for MUNRO). I even knew KEYS but not VANS
ReplyDeleteEasy Thursday after that crunchy Wednesday
Lots of music in today's write-up
WC
I never considered Elmo to be a monster! Not happy with MANILA, AMOS and MAYA crossing each other. But other than those nits, a very nice Thursday CW and a FIR in decent time. “Prilosec target” coulda been ACID or GERD. When PRILOSEC first came on the market it was introduced by Merck, where I worked, and it was called LOSEC. All the literature was printed and we (Merck reps) went out to tell doctors about the new class of drugs to fight GERD (gastro-esophogeal reflux disease). Soon a problem arose: due to physicians’ sloppy handwriting, pharmacists couldn’t tell if the Rx said LOSEC or LASIX. The FDA asked Merck to voluntarily rename the product, and PRILOSEC came to be. A very expensive re-brand, requiring all new literature to be printed, all prescribing information to be changed, etc. all the old literature had to be thrown out. The drug had already been shipped to pharmacies all over the country with the prescribing information attached to every bottle. All had to be recalled to change the prescribing information. Quite the fiasco. Anyway, back to the CW, thanx, THE, for the fine creation. And (imagine this) I did get the theme. Thanx for all the hard work and effort put into your outstanding write-up, Bill, it is appreciated.
ReplyDeleteFairly easy for Thursday. WOS
ReplyDeleteAlmost finished with the last season of "The Good Place" should have remembered MAYA "Rudolph" the wacky judge .. Having an AOL email address dates me they say
ELMO is a monster? 😳
IMALLEARS?...Mark Antony said: "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your rears"...in other words.."have a seat"...😆
C'mon does anyone use CUZ when commenting on the blog? LEMME know who they are 🙄
VANS sneakers? MUNRO must be now permanently implanted in my CW cerebral cortex JUST CUZ it popped out of nowhere.
SEISMS...remembered this new-to-me word from a past puzzle. (autocorrect don't like it at all)...LIU...it's pronounced, "size-ems"
A progression of singers: Celine DION, DION, DIONne Warwick
Was once Abdul J's favorite hair product: Bryl ___... KAREEM.
Admits being bad at piercing, "____" .. IMALLEARS.
Evaluate physician...RATEDR.
Waz..a veritable encyclopedia of information. Thanks 🧐...
IM...I see no mention of liquid libations included in your birthday menu....🤔
Musings
ReplyDelete-I’m surprised AREPA with those lovely letters does not appear more often
-Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov performed the first EVA and nearly died in the process
-If I forget to take my antacid (omeprazole) when I get up, I get the message around noon.
-I was told milk is what you should drink to counteract hot peppers not water
-LENDS – I think the wheelbarrow my SIL borrowed 25 years ago will never leave Lincoln
-I shoulda said, “SAY, Jeff, could I take my wheelbarrow back to Fremont?” a long time ago
-UMP’S enforcing the new pitch/bat clock have so improved the viewing experience.
-Buzz and Neil left a SEISMOMETER on the Sea Of Tranquility in 1969
-Nebraska veterinarians are usually graduates of schools in Manhattan, KS or AMES, IA
-You have my sympathy, Jinx. tried having Joann’s mother live with us until she did something that endangered her life and we knew it was time for her to get professional help.
-Our Lily hears a garbage truck outside and runs and hides but will let me run the vacuum within 10” of her and not flinch.
Ray O @ 10:34 ~ The guest of honor was served her usual Dewar’s 🥃 and the other guests sampled the wine offerings. 🍷🤫
ReplyDeleteFIR. Pretty easy for a Thursday, but I thought some of the clues were a tad iffy. About 50-50 again on the names, but the perps were fair. Once again, the theme failed to C'MON DOWN to me until Waseely coaxed it out. Somehow, I've gone through life without ever hearing of VANS shoes.
ReplyDeleteHi Y'all! Thanks for an enjoyable puzzle, Trent. Great expo, Bill & Teri.
ReplyDeleteDNK: John AMOS name--just his face; VAN sneakers, AREPA.
Thanks for the info on Jayce. We heard about his illustrious career from him more a few years ago. Enjoy his posts.
Drew Carey is the host of Price Is Right. The announcer is George Gray. Watch them occasionally.
KAREEM's most career games points record by any player ever was only recently topped by LeBron James. The event had been expected and Kareem was on hand to graciously hug LeBron. Very classy guy.
The dachshund we had on the farm told us how he came to adopt us. He'd get anxious anytime we'd start packing up boxes. He also had to be forced to ride in our car altho he hopped right in the pickup. He appeared one night in our farm yard barking and insisted on coming in the house. We figured someone packed to move and put him in the car, then dumped him at our place. We were known to rescue unwanted dogs. He was beloved house dog the rest of his life.
Hola!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Trent, for the giving us the DOWNSIDE today!
If you have teenagers, you know VANS! I bought many of them in the past.
MANILA folders are a staple in classrooms.
AGUA is desperately needed here in the desert southwest.
EPSOM salts relieves aches and pains when soaked in it.
My AMIGA, Kathy, and I share good news and bad news.
Time to go. I have an appt. for a mani-pedi.
Have a lovely day, everyone!
From yest,
ReplyDeleteHi Irish Miss, the crazy cake yesterday should be switched with the one from the day before,
Because it's supposed to be an UNbirthday cake....
FLN,
Anon-T, I never saw that Log commercial before...
(But, why do I want one...)
From today: (beggining of rant)
(Actually, all last week.) I was trying to get CVS (Cotton, Vaseline & Stuff) to fill one of my prescriptions. I don't know what's happened to them, but they have turned totally incompetent. They don't answer the phone. They issue recordings that Rx's are ready when they are not. And when they could not fill a needed prescription for DW in Florida, claiming someth8ng went wrong with the transfer, we flew home to NJ to our home CVS to get it filled.
Our home CVS also would not answer the phone...
I went in person with the phone on speaker in my shirt pocket blaring their annoying recorded message (which had been going for 45 minutes) to the entire store while I waited on line. I asked why they are not answering the phone, to which they replied, they will answer the phone when they get more help!
Anywho, one lady tried to help me, but said the Rx was in process in Florida, and they would have to call the store to release it before they could fill it. I tried to tell them, but they called anyway, and they wouldn't answer the phone, and that annoying recording went on again for the entire store to listen to...
(End of rant)
Come on down?
come on down at our house...
a the shirt I wanted to wear to CVS today...
Puzzling thoughts:
ReplyDeleteVANS crossing WE WON was my Natick
Thanks Bill, Teri and Trent - and thanks for posting the link to my puzzle
CSO to me: C-MOn DOWN ;^)
With apologies to Ray-O-Sunshine:
"What guys with a 32-34" waist order?" SEISMS
Neat Thursday puzzle, many thanks, Trent. And always enjoy your commentary, pictures, and especially your music today, Bill and Teri, thanks for that treat too.
ReplyDeleteWell, not much food in this puzzle, except for that AREPA (never ATE it), but at least there was some AGUA to SIP afterwards. Also not much art, but lots of great music to listen to, so that was a treat.
And PK, I loved your dachshund story, many thanks for that. I miss my dachshunds, but after the last two were taken out of the back yard by coyotes, I couldn't risk getting any more.
Have a great day, everybody.
@AGM at 8:09 - I was referring to pop singers - not opera or classical singers- but didn't have the time to type that specific of an entry before work this morning
ReplyDeleteJust an FYI.. on The Price Is Right .. Drew Carey does not call the contestants names to “come on down” That job is done by the shows announcer George Gray. Kkflorida
ReplyDeleteAnon @1:24 PM The nightmare of every reviewer - somebody who actually knows what they're talking about! 🙄 I probably haven't actually watched the show since the early Bob Barker days, and the nuance between "Host" and "Announcer" is way above my pay grade. Thanks for that Kkflorida(?)
ReplyDeleteHi All!
ReplyDeleteI found Trent's puzzle to be pretty tricky - or at least it took me a while to get on his wavelength.
Thanks for the excellent expo waseeley & Teri. I enjoyed the music!
BTW - I think 55d refers to the segment ELMO's World on Sesame Street. //LOL - inanehiker beat me to it.
WOs: TAM-> TAT(?) at LEt ME AT EM and then back.
ESPs: AREPA, MONRO though other names took copious perps.
Fav: PIG - I kept reading "Tough guy" and got a chuckle after PIG filled and I realized it was Trough.
{B+, B+}
My favorite U2 song: Where the Streets Have No Name [Video - The story of the video]
CED - My Walgreens near the grocery store isn't much better. I got the text that Rx was ready, got their and was then told they were out(???). Another (less popular) Walgreens nearby is much better.
Enjoyed reading everyone!
Cheers, -T
I think the most poetic name ever is Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
DeleteToday's PZL by Mr. Evans is escorted by our own waseeley.
ReplyDeleteOn top of Celine DION, here's another CSO to CanadianEh! Let's not leave Alice MUNRO out of today's tributes!
I nominate for another Gold MEDAL whoever it was who discovered that ultrasonic devices can cure dogs of barking.
We just rec'd ours in the mail, tested it on our noisy Buddy, and finally--FINALLY!--got relief from his incessant barks. I thought it might take a while to train him, but it worked instantly.
Crossing our fingers that this "cure" holds steady!
~ OMK
____________
DR: One diagonal far side.
Its anagram (14 of 15) gives us two words not usually seen together, but each bearing religious connotations.
The first means "Soul," and in this time of Passover, I wonder if it is not too much to make a connection with the second as a kind of "soul food"--especially when related to the "staff of life"...
"ALMA, UNLEAVENED"!
I liked much of this puzzle and shall remain mum about the rest of it.
ReplyDeleteWhat I liked:
The theme;
The clues for PAGES, EMIGRE, AGUA, PIG, TBAR, LADLE, and PREY;
The fill AMERICANA, JUSTCUZ, and IMALLEARS.
Okay, I won't remain mum. What I didn't like:
Proper names and the way they are clued.
I loved your write-up, waseeley, as I usually do, and learned a lot.
At some point in one of the several videos about QuakeFinder you can see my name on one of the circuit boards I designed. I think it's in the NBC Bay Area News video, the report by Robert Handa, that is linked from the quakefinder.com web page.
RosE and Tante Nique, how are your eyes coming along?
Jinx, I add my support to you that others have expressed,
Irish Miss, I'm glad you had a good birthday celebration.
Good wishes to you all.
Bill Seeley Thank you for including Joe Weizenbaum's wisdom on Artificial Intelligence and doing things JUST CUZ we can. I had him as a professor and very much valued the wisdom in his book "Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgment to Calculation".
ReplyDeleteLearning moment about THE PRICE IS RIGHT and COME ON DOWN. Fun theme.
Here I was at the Sarao factory in MANILA where they creatively construct Jeepneys out of whatever comes their way.
Of course, I have many hundreds more MANILA and LUZON photos.
Picard @5:14 PM That is so cool. I know someone who was taught by Joseph Weizenbaum! He is one of my heroes and his book is in my top list (see my profile). He has formed my understanding of what is possible and not possible to do with automation.
DeleteI have no complaints about this puzzle. My only unknowns were AREPA. and MAYA. We hadn’t seen ARAL in a while.
ReplyDeleteIM☘️, that meal sounds delicious, but especially the coffee ice cream cake.
CED. I understand your frustration with CVS. I finally had to move our prescriptions from CVS to Albertson’s SAVON pharmacy. I dont know about elsewhere, but here they are fantastic. Glad we made the move.
I knew MANILA, because DH spent 2 years on Luzon many years ago.
ReplyDeleteReg, perhaps you were thinking of this doggerel:
The sons of the Prophet are brave men and bold
And quite unaccustomed to fear,
But the bravest by far in the ranks of the Shah,
Was Abdul Abulbul Amir.
(Kareem Abdul(bul)Jabbar)
Percy French
I remember game six of the 1974 finals where John Havlicek played the role of Ivan Skivitzky Skvar to Kareem's Abdubal. After every great Havlicek basket Kareem would sink the skyhook, including the final winner
ReplyDeleteWC
C's came back to win game 7 in Milwaukee
Thanks for your thorough write-up, Waseeley! FAVS: Gene Autry & Going Outside videos -- so opposite but both so cool!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your puzzle, Trent. FAV: NOSEDIVES
The traffic in MANILLA is bananas! It's the worst I've ever been around.
MAYA R. co-hosts "Baking It". In S2, she spoke Japanese with one of the contestants. It turns out her step-mom is Japanese.
I wear my VANS most days. I also keep my older pair for kayaking & stand-up paddleboarding.
Jayce@4:58 I had an appointment today with the ophthalmologist and he said my eye were healing very well. Thank you for remembering.
ReplyDelete