Home is where the heart is. The last word of each theme clue describes a type of living space.
16-Across. Digs for a member of a string quartet?: CELLO SUITE. Suite: a set of rooms designated for one person's or family's
use or for a particular purpose.
26-Across. Digs for a gym rat?: MUSCLE BUILDING. Building: a structure with a roof and walls, such as a house,
school, store, or factory.
42-Across. Digs for a Greek mythology buff?: OEDIPUS COMPLEX. Complex: A building complex consists of a large building or
series of interconnected buildings that fulfill a specific purpose.
56-Across. Digs for a dancer?: BALLET FLAT. Flat: A term predominantly used in the United Kingdom to
describe a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building.
The etymology of flat originates from the Old English word “flett,” dating back to the 1300s.
The term means level and in one plane. Hence, the term flat is
used to describe a one-level apartment.
Across:
1. Dynamism: PEP.
4. Eatery with a chalkboard menu: BISTRO. Bistro: a small,
casual restaurant with a relatively inexpensive, simple menu. Though often a
French restaurant, it doesn't have to be, and not every bistro serves French
food. I was just reading something about the defeat of Napoleon and
learned about the word Bistro came into the French language. It was
first used in the early 1800s following the 1814 occupation of Paris by
Russian soldiers. It seems that it was a mispronunciation of a Russian word that meant hurry. Russian soldiers would
shout Hurry at restaurant owners while waiting for their
food. Small restaurants began to pop-up that could quickly serve food ~
the original fast food restaurants!
10. Free TV spot: PSA. As in Public Service Announcement.
13. "Origin" writer/director DuVernay: AVA. Ava Marie
DuVernay (b. Aug. 24, 1972) is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and
producer. She has been involved in many movies,
including Selma, and A Wrinkle in Time. Origin is based on Isabel Wilkerson's book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. [Name # 1.]
14. Off-the-cuff performance: IMPROV. Short for Improvisation.
15. Final push?: CRAM. Cram: Study intensively over a
short period of time just before an examination.
18. Roll-call call: HERE.
19. "At Wit's End" writer Bombeck: ERMA. Erma Bombeck (née
Erma Louise Bombeck; Feb. 21, 1927 ~ Apr. 22, 1996) was an American humorist.
She wrote over 4,000 newspaper columns which gave a humorous view on
family life. She also published 15 books. At Wit's End, her
first publish book, came out in 1967. [Name # 2.]
20. Spherical body: ORB.
21. "Ant" on a celery "log": RAISIN.
23. Scand. land: NOR. Norway is a Scandinavian country.
25. Flakes on plans: BAILS. This clue appeared in last
Tuesday's puzzle as Flake (on): Bail. [See 68-Across in last week's
puzzle.]
32. Lauder in the cosmetics aisle: ESTÉE. Estée Lauder (née
Josephine Esther Mentzer; July 1, 1908 ~ Apr. 24, 2004) makes frequent guest
appearances in the crossword puzzles. She was an American businesswoman.
She and her husband, Joseph Lauter co-founded her eponymous cosmetics company.
[Name # 3.]
33. Measurement given in degrees: ANGLE.
34. __ Lanka: SRI. Sri Lanka is the tear-drop island off the south-east coast of India.
36. OPS or RBI: STAT. Both OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) and RBI (Runs Batted In) are baseball Statistics.
37. Prunes: TRIMS.
38. Sparks or Fire: TEAM. The Los Angeles Sparks are a WNBA Team and the Chicago Fire is a soccer Team. This clue is immediately followed by 39-Across.
Like sparks and fire: HOT.
40. __ Monica Pier: SANTA.
41. Mazda roadster: MIATA.
45. Entrepreneur __ C.J. Walker: MADAM. According to the
Guinness Book of World Records, Madam C J Walker (née Sarah Breedlove; b. Dec. 23, 1867 ~ May 25, 1919) was the first
female self-made millionaire in America. That's a pretty amazing feat
considering she was an African-American woman who born in Louisiana a year
before the State was readmitted into the Union. Her older sibling were
all born enslaved. She made her fortune by developing and marketing a
line of cosmetics and hair care products for black women. [Name # 4.]
46. Language in which to order larb: LAO. Larb is certainly
not a Tuesday word. Larb is a spicy and sour meat salad and is the national dish of Laos.
47. Puts one's feelings on display: EMOTES.
49. Woebegone: SAD. // And 52-down. Woebegone
word: ALAS.
51. Hand-held coolers: FANS.
55. Checkout lane purchase: TOTE.
59. Starchy snack bites, for short: TOTS. Think of Tater
Tots. Yummers! // And 40-Down: 59-Across,
perhaps: SIDE.
60. Tennis star Andre: AGASSI. Andre Kirk Agassi (b. Apr.
29, 1970) was briefly married to actress Brooke Shields (b. May 31, 1965) in
the 1990s. [Name # 5.]
61. Periodontists' gp.: ADA. As in the American Dental Association.
62. "Without further __ ... ": ADO.
63. Like some work from home: REMOTE.
64. "__ your piece": SAY.
Down:
1. Four-minute mile, for one: PACE.
2. CCR's "Have You __ Seen the Rain": EVER. This song was
first released in 1971 by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Can it really be
over half a century ago?
3. Acai tree, e.g.: PALM.
4. Info on a profile page: BIO. As in a Biography
5. Post-triathlon lament: I'M SORE.
6. Barrel racer's accessory: SPUR.
7. Chi-Town paper: TRIB. As in the
Chicago Tribune. Film critic and journalist Gene Siskel
(1946 ~ 1999) wrote for the Tribune.
8. Turn brown, maybe: ROT.
9. Clothes with bibs and braces: OVERALLS.
10. Film similar to cling wrap: PRESS'N SEAL. A bit unfair,
since cling wrap is a generic term and the answer is the name of a product.
11. Garment that may be nine yards long: SARI.
12. Grace ender: AMEN.
15. Cook-off entry: CHILI.
17. Small surgical knife: LANCET. Another déjà vu from
last Tuesday. Also the name of a medical journal. The Lancet, which was founded in England in 1823, is one of the oldest medical
journals. [See 30-Down from last week.]
22. Congressional staffer: AIDE.
24. "Rah," in fútbol: OLÉ. Today's Spanish lesson.
25. Signature Golden Arches offering: BIG MAC. I understand
it has a special sauce.
26. Sports bib material: MESH.
27. "We totally agree": US, TOO.
28. "Liberty and Prosperity," for New Jersey, e.g.: STATE MOTTO.
Louisiana's state motto is Union, Justice and Confidence.
What's yours?
29. Bailey's circus partner: BARNUM. As in P.T. Barnum (né
Phineas Taylor Barnum; July 5, 1810 ~ Apr. 7, 1891) and James Anthony Bailey
(né James Anthony McGinnis; July 4, 1847 ~ Apr. 11, 1906). [Names # 6
and 7.]
30. Curriculum parts: UNITS.
31. Shred, as cheese: GRATE.
35. Big big-screen format: IMAX.
37. Eatery with small plates: TAPAS BAR. A tapa is an
appetiser or snack in Spanish cuisine. Tapas can be combined to make a full
meal, and can be cold or hot. In some bars and restaurants in Spain and across
the globe, tapas have evolved into a very sophisticated cuisine.
Yummers!
38. WNBA game start: TIP OFF.
41. UFC sport: MMA. As in Mixed Martial Arts and Ultimate Fighting Championship.
43. eHarmony matches: DATES.
44. Like Yellowstone, among National Parks: OLDEST. Yellowstone National Park was established by and Act of Congress and President Ulysses S Grant ()
signed it into law on March 1, 1872. Not only is Yellowstone National
park the first National Park in the United States, but it is also believed to
be the first national park in the world.
47. "At Last" singer James: ETTA. Etta James (née Jamesetta
Hawkins; Jan. 25, 1938 ~ Jan. 20, 2012) makes frequent guest appearances in
the crossword puzzles. [Name # 8.]
48. Atmosphere: MOOD.
49. Shut with a bang: SLAM.
50. Additionally: ALSO.
53. Nothing at all: NADA.
54. "Hang around a bit longer!": STAY.
57. Just a number, for some: AGE. Age is just a number.
It might be a big number, but it is just a number.
58. Cause for overtime: TIE.
Here's the Grid:
חתולה
Happy Passover for all who celebrate. Enjoy the Second Seder tonight.
Not the easiest Tuesday puzzle I’ve ever done, I would say. On the other hand, there weren’t a lot of obscure names or foreign words, either. So it was definitely doable, and I did it. FIR, so I’m happy.
ReplyDeleteFIR, but erased hiram Walker for MADAM, and likes for DATES.
ReplyDeleteToday is:
NATIONAL TALK LIKE SHAKESPEARE DAY (What hath Spot wrought? Tis but pooh and wee, signifying nothing. Out, damn'd Spot.)
SCHOOL BUS DRIVER APPRECIATION DAY (yet another job that I’ll never have the temperament for)
NATIONAL LOST DOG AWARENESS DAY (please check with your chip issuer to make sure their contact info is current. Found out that Zoё’s was directed to her rescue agency, now out of business. It wasn’t easy to get them to change their info, but got ‘er done)
NATIONAL TAKE A CHANCE DAY (Chris Montez sang “Hey baby won't you take a chance, Say that you'll let me have this dance” which, of course, was bastardized by my group of miscreants to “Hey baby won't you take a chance, I left my condoms in my other pants”
NATIONAL PICNIC DAY (oh sure. We’ll have a high temperature around 65 today, with saturated ground)
NATIONAL CHERRY CHEESECAKE DAY (if you make me picnic out in the cold and dank, at least thanks feeding me a good dessert. I was gonna say that Katy Perry would prefer “the taste of her cherry ChapStick,” from her huge hit I Kissed a Girl, but I thought a gripe about the weather would be sweeter.)
I got STAT right away, but thought OPS was probably a computer Operations Per Second. Tech has an unbelievable number of statistic acronyms, like “flop” (FLoating Point Operations).
I used to walk to the Santa Monica Pier at lunch. I worked on the 17th floor of the Lawrence Welk building, on the corner of Wilshire and Ocean blvds. Best. Place. To. Work. Ever.
In my ute, funeral homes used to distribute free hand fans through churches and fairs. Want air conditioning? Go to a movie.
STAY is a great song originally recorded in 1960 by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs. But my favorite version is from Jackson Browne.
I consider myself to be 1/3 Virginian, 1/3 Floridian, and 1/3 Kentuckian. Virginia’s motto is “Sic semper Tyrannis,” meaning "Thus ever unto tyrants." More original than Florida’s "In God We Trust," and Kentucky’s “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.”
Thanks to Matthew and Wendy for the mostly-fun puzzle, and to Ha2la for the 100% fun review.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteWasn't familiar with a CELLO SUITE, and assumed the theme was going to be "sounds like" words. Nope. Wasn't familiar with PRESS'N'SEAL. Saran, yes. Guess I missed that Flakes/Bails pairing last week. Managed to finish Wite-Out-free in under ten minutes, so that should qualify as an early-week puzzle. Sure didn't feel like it at the time. Thanx, Matthew, Wendy, and Hahtoolah.
CHILI: Our nextdoor neighbor in Houston was a two-time champion at the Terlingua Chili Cookoff. She got to challenge Bobby Flay on his TV show. Tied.
STATE MOTTO: Here in Texas it's "Friendship" -- an unknown concept in our state capitol. We do have "Drive Friendly" road signs.
Good Morning, Crossword friends: Tuesday puzzles are certainly making me think harder, as we ventured into some "not-Tuesday" clues, but then had some of our staples to help fill in the gaps. The clue for Press'N'Seal seemed to indicate a generic term, not a name brand, which seemed to me a bit unfair.
ReplyDeleteQOD: I feel a physical happiness when spring is coming. ~ Halldór Kiljan Laxness (né Halldór Guõjónsson; Apr. 23, 1902 ~ Feb. 8, 1998), Icelandic writer and recipient of the 1955 Nobel Prize in Literature
Took 5:43 today for me to empty the chamber.
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of this madam before, but I knew today's Spanish lessons (nada, ole, & tapas bar). Were there no actresses in today's puzzle?
I agree (as usual) with our good friend Sub G's take on this puzzle.
I bought Press n Seal once, which was for an off-label use. I got it for one of my kids who had a recent surgery. We placed the Press n Seal over the incision and bandage, then he could take a shower.
FIR. A bit rocky for a Tuesday puzzle. Several unknowns made for a crunchy solve. Answers like press n seal and madam certainly didn't help.
ReplyDeleteI got the theme early with only 42A being a challenge. An answer starting with OE and ending in X seemed unlikely for a while until the perps filled in. But all were clever overall.
Despite these few nits, I enjoyed this puzzle.
Funny, I don't think I've ever had to write "SAY your piece" and in my mind thought "peace", conflating it with "hold your peace"
ReplyDeleteUsed to be a fairly common dialog line in old westerns. Say your piece or speak your piece.
DeleteFun theme that was easy to figure out
ReplyDeleteI had just had MADAM CJ Walker refreshed in my memory recently with Black History Month heading into Women's History month recently.
Missouri's motto "Salus populi suprema lex esto" which translates "Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law". The state I grew up in Kansas's motto "Ad astra per aspera" translated "To the stars through difficulties" which is its history in a nutshell.
Thanks Susan for the always entertaining blog - enjoyed the re-posting of 613's Billy Joel Passover medley and Matthew & Wendy for the puzzle
Terrific Tuesday. Thanks for the fun, Matthew and Wendy, and Hahtoolah.
ReplyDeleteQuick solve on a busy day with appointments and supper guests.
I saw the theme and FURed.
Two inkblots. I rushed to enter CELLar (wrong space) before perps gave CELLO
And I started to enter MC at 25D for the Golden Arches offering.
Quickly fixed.
Read you all later tonight.
Wishing you all a great day.
A rare one today. A completed puzzle without a single unknown. I even noticed the theme.
ReplyDeleteI even knew MADAM C.J. Walker because the company I worked for actually sold some of those products when I was working there in 1970.
TOTE bag Purchase? We have many we got for free and would never consider paying money for one.
Andre AGASSI is now married to a bigger star, Steffi Graf, who IMHO was the best female tennis player ever. In 1988 she won all four major tournaments and the Olympic Gold. The only tennis player, male or female, to do it. She also had enough sense to retire at age 30. Too many athletes hang on for 'just one more year' and end up getting injured.
PRESS'N SEAL- we have some but rarely use it. The cling wrap with the cutter attached is so much better.
Together, Steffi and Andre raised a family and ran a tennis academy in Las Vegas. A couple to admire!
DeleteNow that was the most fun on a puzzle for a while! FIR with only a couple unknowns (madam, pressnseal). It had a few gimmes mixed with clever but not too clever clueing! Kudos to the constructors for new ways to clue standard answers! Very fun. I never time myself, but while I didn’t fill in many answers on the first try, I never had to slow down and perps eventually gave me enough clues to finish the tougher fills such as cello suite (never heard of), madam, tote, pressnseal and I did have to change tan to rot.
ReplyDeleteThank you Matthew and Wendy for a fun Tuesday FIR -- Tuesday being the perfect ABODE for a puzzle like this.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you Susan for the usual Hahtoolian hilarity. Loved the Passover clip -- I've sent the link to my son, who is a big Billy Joel fan and to DJ Jonathan Palevsky of WBJC.COM, who is a big Passover fan.
Some favs:
10A PSA. Who the heck is Kewlew?
16A CELLO SUITE. Here's Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 played by living treasure Yo-Yo Ma.
21A RAISIN. What genius of a mother came up with this idea?
34A SRI. Set in India, SRI LANKA is the site where The Good Karma Hospital was actually filmed.
45A MADAM. A fact worth knowing.
46A LAO. "larb" may not be a Tuesday word, but we've seen it here before.
49A SAD & 52D ALAS. The News from Lake Woebegone.
29D BARNUM. The trailer for the The Greatest Showman.
35D IMAX. This IMAX film is on our bucket list.
Cheers,
Bill
Piece of cake for me today. Easier than yesterday. YMMV.
ReplyDeleteSPUR filled itself before I got there. I needed the picture of the horse to remind me what barrel racing is. V-8 can moment. Now I remember seeing it on TV.
Interesting info about Madam Walker. I hadn't heard of her.
We have seen LARB here before. Three letters was all the prompt I needed.
I read several of Erma's books, funny and light hearted.
We have a bistro here which serves residents continental breakfast at no extra charge. As HG would say, not really free. It also serves a midday meal on our meal plan or for cash. Alan loves it.
Clever use of Press and Seal for covering bandages.
CELLO SUITE. "A suite, in Western classical music, is an ordered set of instrumental or orchestral/concert band pieces." Waseeley, thanks for the Bach clip. Yo-Yo Ma is one of my favorites.
Susan, thanks for the fun, informative blog.
Good Morning:
ReplyDeleteThis was a cute theme that was fun to uncover, although there were a few stumbles along the way, e.g., Race/Pace, Run/Rot, and some hesitations at Madam, Spur, and Press n Seal. I knew what was being called for at Press n Seal, but I wasn't sure of the product's name. Surprised to see Lancet again, this soon. My favorite themer C/A was Digs for a gym rat?=Muscle Building. Sari reminded me of Vidwan whom we haven't heard from in ages.
Thanks, Matthew and Wendy, and thanks, Hatoolah, for another fun and fact-filled review. The numerous favorite illustrations today include: The Croc(k) old woman, Here, Here History, the Kitty Fan, the Tote shopping list, and Mrs. Moses! Billy Joel's Passover skit was special, too. New York State's Motto is Excelsior, (Ever Upward).
Have a great day.
Neat theme. It was fun figuring it out. No unknowns, so that’s a first.
ReplyDeleteTOTE on top of TOTS.
We had a MIATA many years ago.
Thank you Hahtoolah for the usual fun and informative review. I had read the history of the word BISTRO before, but I wonder…….
This morning is gorgeous and the wind has subsided, so I’m happy.
Wouldn't Andre Agassi be happier if you had posted a photo of him with his wife, Steffi Graf, instead of harking back to a defunct relationship???????
ReplyDeleteAgree!!!
DeleteI thought today's puzzle was a bit easier than yesterday's yeoman effort by Irish Miss and CC. Maybe it's just me. I did hesitate in a few places; I didn't know that the source of acai was a palm tree, that there was a starchy snack called TOTS, and PRESSNSEAL slowed me down because the first word in the clue was film, and as a film buff I was trying to think of a movie that reminded me of cling wrap!
ReplyDeleteThe long theme phrases were cute. The only unfamiliar one to me was BALLETFLAT. i'm assuming that must be a type of shoe worn by ballet dancers.
Overall, Matthew and Wendy, I found your puzzle fun and clever. I loved picturing a suite inhabited just by cellos, or a building designed just for Oedipuses and muscles!
I look forward to your next crossword.
OMG, Jinx, I totally forgot to mention two things: first, the Santa Monica Pier, which you and I talked about a couple months ago. I knew you worked right there at Wilshire and Ocean, and you may recall that I used to carouse around the pier getting into trouble.
ReplyDeleteSecond, you said you're 1/3 Virginian, and ditto for Florida and Kentucky. What the heck happened to California?
Thanks, Cat, for the fun. I loved both the Miata photo and the Mrs. Moses cartoon.
ReplyDeleteI was in Santa Monica last weekend.
Started out slowly across this morning, but picked up speed going downhill, to arrive at an enjoyable FIR. Here in Illinois our state motto is "From the Statehouse to the Big House." Do not pass go. (Hand the $200 to me under the table).
ReplyDeleteHola!
ReplyDeleteWEES. You all commented on what I would have said had I been up at the crack of dawn. this puzzle was fun and filled quickly. I enjoyed the twisted versions of living places.
BALLET FLAT. I bought many, many pairs in the past. Both my daughter and oldest granddaughter took BALLET lessons. As they grew older, the BALLET FLATS also grew larger. Luckily there is a store here that caters to dancers and sells not only the shoes but costumes, head gear, etc., etc. It's at Halloween, though, that their sales zoom.
California is the only state I know of where it's necessary to take one's own TOTE BAGS because there's a charge for grocery bags. It's a small charge but over time it adds up. Here, it's NADA for both paper and plastic bags. Of course, we all know how that works out since we ultimately pay for it all.
Have a sensational day, everyone!
Oh, our state motto is DITAT DEUS, God enriches. There is some irony there if I think about it.
ReplyDeleteHi Y'all! Enjoyed today's puzzle as well as Agnes & C.C.'s puzzle of yesterday. Thanks to all as well as Hahtoolah. I haven't been getting to some of the puzzles at all and other puzzles days late. Have missed many Corner blogs entirely.
ReplyDeleteMadam C.J.Walker was a topic on TV's Master Minds this past week so she was fresh in my mind.
Hope things will go better for me so I can enjoy y'all again.
PK @11:18. Best of luck for improvement.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the theme and FIR but certainly learned a few things! DNK that acai berries came from a palm, and never learned about Madam C.J. Walker before. Don't think I've encountered Press N Seal wrap, so just assumed it was a regional generic term.
ReplyDeleteYes, BALLET FLAT is a dancer's shoe, but also used today to refer to a popular style of flat shoes for women, with a harder sole than the dancer's variety.
DH loves Jewish a capella groups like Six13 and the Maccabeats, but I wish they would write original songs for Jewish holidays. After all, didn't Jews write most of the popular Christmas tunes? The list: Link text
Loved the review with musical links and cartoons, especially "History repeats itself."
Many thanks to Matthew, Wendy, Patti, and Hahtoolah for the cerebral calisthenics!
T.Ken, my fourth third is comprised of Zonie, Californian, Texan and Georgian. I have great memories of them, but they aren't part of my core. I've lived in Kentucky and Virginia for more than 20 years each, and I've wanted to live in Florida for more than a half century. Maybe that's my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteYellowrocks - "suite" isn't just for classical music. Crosby, Stills and Nash's masterpiece Suite: Judy Blue Eyes has four interconnected movements. It tells the story of Stephen Still's relationship with Judy Collins.
At least in this song, the term “suite” refers to a composition made up of several interconnected sections or movements. In this case, the song is divided into four distinct sections that represent different stages of Stills’ relationship with Judy Collins. It starts with he joy and excitement of new love, then delves into the pain and heartbreak of their breakup. The third section relates his longing for reconciliation and forgiveness, and finally, the fourth section represents acceptance and moving on.
Charlie Echo - I once heard that an honest politician was one who stayed bought. (Maybe from Stranger in a Strange Land,one of my favorite books ever.)
MalMan - That would be "The People's Republic of Santa Monica" to you.
Lucina. I think that Bill's Maryland charges a fee for grocery bags. Here and in Florida, Publix just nags us with signs saying "don't forget to bring your own bags!"
I can't believe that I was the only one who confidently wrote Hiram Walker. Guess you can you can take the drunk away from the bottle, but you can't the bottle away from the drunk. Wait a minute - I mean... oh never mind, you get where I was going.
This was a little crunchy fot Tuesday, but I found it fair and fun. Favorite themer was OEDIPUS COMPLEX, and favorite fill was CHILI. Jack won a chili cookoff with Emerald Isle Chili, featuring bits of cilantro as “shamrocks” and shots of Bushmills Irish whiskey. Delicious!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matthew and Wendy for a pleasant outing, and thanks H2lah for always amusing and informing us. I loved the Mrs. Moses cartoon and learning about Madam Walker.
My home state of Michigan’s State Motto is “Si quaeris peninsulum amoenam circumspice.” If you seek a pleasant peninsula , look around you. Quite a mouthful! California’s “Eureka” is sure more succinct.
I did not pick up on both Irish Miss AND C.C. Being our constructors yesterday. I’m not used to IM’s real name being used. Very impressive to have both of our superstars entertaining us. There’s no end to the talent among us!
NJ grocery stores and many other stores are not allowed to give us plastic or paper bags. Before the ban took effect I began saving my old used plastic bags to take shopping. I also used them for trash can liners and other purposes. Now that they are all used up, like most people in NJ, I must bring reusable totes or buy them at the store.
ReplyDeleteThank you Matt and Wendy for the clever collaboration today. Typical difficulty for a Tuesday IMO as I managed a FIR in 11:23. Only a few unknowns filled by perps.
ReplyDeleteHahtoolah ~ I always enjoy your blogs and appreciate the time you spend to find all the cartoons, videos, etc… Always entertaining!
Chairman Moe ~ thank you for the email detailing the step by step process that constructors and collaborators go through to get a puzzle published! Very interesting! I think that other Cornerites would like to be enlightened on just how it’s done if you’d post your email here. If I ever get a creative spark…..thanks for your offer! 👊🏼
ReplyDeleteStill have my 92 Miata, supercharged and ready to go.
Got 'er done, but took 29 minutes to FIR. This is as much due to my deteriorating vision as my ignorance. I guessed right on ERMA/IRMA, and did get the theme. Clever! 14 names did not help get to a FIR. Did not know MADAM and one other that I don't recall now. Overall a fun CW, thanx MS&WLB. And Hahtoolah, we can always count on you for a fun and informative write-up. Thanx for all the time and effort you so obviously put into your write-ups. The one cartoon with the guy in the barrel was a forehead slapper: dopey me WAS thinking of that type of barrel race and thought, "Wait: SPURS?" It wasn't until I saw Hahtoolah's cartoon that the V-8 can hit. I'm not sure I should admit to that level of dopiness! You all will probably see less of me here, as it is getting too difficult, sight-wise.
ReplyDeleteMusings
ReplyDelete-The wind was so bad today we BAILED after nine holes.
-REMOTE: Remember walking across the room to turn on a TV or change channels?
-The four-minute mile was once thought to be impossible. Now the record is 3:43
-There are champion barrel racers at our school. I wonder if they use SPURS.
-PRESS N SEAL is much easier to work with than Saran Wrap
-Bib number 261 has been retired from the Boston Marathon
-TIP OFF: Basketball used to have a jump ball after every basket, then to start every quarter and now just to start the game and overtime periods
Puzzling thoughts:
ReplyDeleteFIR in a bit longer than normal Tuesday time. If memory serves, I just recently recapped a Stock/Brandes puzzle. Great collaboration, guys!
Thanks Susan for your recap; I, too forwarded the Billy Joel song parody to a few of my Jewish friends and acquaintances
YooperPhil @ 12:49 ==> I will abridge my email I sent to you and post below. Maybe - as you say - the other readers here will be enlightened by the process of puzzle collaboration:
1) as I know from first-hand experience, collaborating on a puzzle is just that. You, for example, have a really clever theme for a puzzle but haven't either the software or connections (to editors) and want to see if it's worthy of publication
2) you select a published constructor (CC Burnikel, e.g.) to assist you with the creation of the grid as well as choosing intersecting words. All of we constructors have a crossword puzzle software program on our computer that assists us with constructing both the grid as well as searching for words that will fit into all of the spaces on the grid
3) after the theme words/entries are placed into the grid (and other words are added) you would assist the collaborator with writing the clues and reviewing the "rough draft"
4) when you are ready to submit your puzzle, you and the collaborator discuss which might be the best publisher to consider. Some publishers - Newsday and Universal - offer an immediate "yes/no" on your idea, while others (WSJ, LAT, NYT) require you to submit a completed, clued puzzle, and can take up to six months to reply with a "yes/no". Only one publisher should be selected at a time, and only after they give you a firm "no" can you submit to another
5) editors will sometimes change or modify the entries, and almost always edit some of the clues. This is not uncommon, and as a constructor the end result of having your name in print in a newspaper (and getting paid) is worth any edits of your original idea. Once a puzzle is accepted that publisher claims any and all copyrights to it
6) for collaborative puzzles, the person (you) with the idea gets their name listed first; both constructors get paid 1/2 of the $ amount that each editor/publication rewards
That said, I have collaborated with other newbie constructors, most notably, Joseph Schwartz (aka, Malodorous Manatee), and would be happy to assist you if you like. As a retiree I have way too much idle time on my hands. I love working on crosswords and would be honored to help a fellow Cornerite
Let me know, too, if you want some feedback on your idea. I'd be happy to help in any way you choose
FY - Irish Miss, I apologize for sounding critical of the TLW puzzle. I wasn't intending to be, but merely riffing off of Anon’s comment.
ReplyDeleteProf M
H.Gary, we never had to get up to change the channel, because we only got Channel 3 WSAZ-TV in Huntington, WV. We did have to get up sometimes to tweak the fine tuning knob, to adjust the volume, or to turn it on and off.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember a time when there were TIPOFFs after every basket, but I do remember that they only had two referees, no shot clock, no 3-point line. For about a millisecond they outlawed dunking, deeming (correctly) that is was goal tending. Before the water got hot, pizazz trumped technical correctness. IIRC, they shot free throws from the first foul, then at the bonus you got 1+1. Don't think there was any 2-shot threshold, you only got two when fouled in the process of shooting. I think the girls' team restricted guards to the defensive half of the court, and the forwards to the offensive court. Don't remember what the center was able to do. (Maybe the tipoffs resulted from the requirement for someone to fetch the ball out of the peach basket so play could resume.)
The discussion of what one needs to know to construct and submit a puzzle, this nicely done puzzle following yesterday's CC and Irish Miss effort reminds me of my first published effort with CC on April 6, 2014 just over ten years ago titled HOME SWEET HOME. It has been impressive to see how many she has guided into being published. I don't post often but I still read daily. My best regards to all.
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Greetings! I did the puzzle this morning then had to rush off to get on with a busy day before I could comment. Now I can kick back and attend to the fun stuff.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matthew and Wendy. Lovely puzzle. Was there more to the theme than the second word being a building or structure? The only one that seemed to be an actual expression was OEDIPUS COMPLEX.
I was all set to point out that Cling should have been capitalized when I checked the box and the product name is actually Cling‘nSeal, a sister product of Press’nSeal. I have and use both.
I paused a couple of places to determine where our constructors were going with the clue and perps were very kind. Like solar lights on a dark pathway. Nice!!
I did not know acai, a fruit that often appears in our CWs, was a PALM.
Thanks, Hah2lah. Your recap was a delight! Loved the Old Woman with her Croc, the roll call and the barrel race. Now I’m going to back and enjoy the music.
Happy Passover to you and others here who celebrate.
Prof M @ 2:31 ~ Apology accepted. Thank you. 😉
ReplyDeleteLemonade @ 3:17 Nice to hear from you and hope you're doing well.. Can't even imagine how grown-up Charlotte, Harper, and Owen must look by now.
PK @ 11:18 ~ Best wishes for improved health in the coming days. We miss you! 😔
ReplyDeleteUncleFred @ 12:53 ~ So sorry to hear of your continuing eyesight problems. 😔
Two puzzle descriptions struck my fancy today, the first by NaomiZ @ 11:32, "Cerebral Calisthenics" and the second by RosE @ 3:36, "Like solar lights on a dark pathway." 😉
Once again I got too smart for my britches, thinking that CELLO SUITE was a funny way to expand the expression C SUITE and that BALLET FLAT was an expansion of B FLAT. Then MUSCLE BUILDING and OEDIPUS COMPLEX proved me wrong. Still a cool theme, though.
ReplyDeleteI liked the clue Roll-call call.
My checkout lane purchase changed from ITEM to TOTE. Turning brown changed from DYE to ROT.
Good reading you all.
Fast easy puzzle today. Thank you Matthew and Wendy, and loved the “funnies” Hahtoolah.
ReplyDeleteTurn brown - tan?, dye?, no ROT. With the “m” in place, plums for prunes before TRIMS became obvious with BARNUM and UNITS. Some of the nicest people I have ever met are on NORway.
Our yellow box with the red “GLAD’ logo is “Cling Seal”. Is this a regional name?
West Virginia motto “Montani Semper Liberi” - Mountaineers Are Always Free.
Jinx - We played basketball with 3 guards and 3 forwards on each half of the court. We could only bounce the basketball twice until 1952 when they changed the rule. My Mother scored 50 points once in a high school tournament and received a college scholarship in 1923. The half court logic was that women did not have the strength to run the floor. No one imagined Caitlin Clark or Dawn Staley’s South Carolina teams.
Thanks to Matthew and Wendy for another fine puzzle but the real prize today is what I learned from Hahtoolah and the commenters on this blog!
ReplyDeleteDid the puzzle on the plane.
ReplyDeleteNot knowing dynamism made the crossing of 1a and 1d a personal Natick.
(An alphabet run did finally reveal the peppery pace of this puzzle, and rem8nded me that it's good to be back home...)
Trivia:
Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) is home to the world UNESCO site of Sirigiya.
You will have to research this yourself (if interested) as to "who's" home this was, as this teaser video is only one minute long.
Lemonade
ReplyDeleteHow nice to see your post! I have missed you and hope you are doing well.
Hi All!
ReplyDeleteLOL apropos living spaces, Matthew & Wendy. Thanks for the puzzle.
LOL The Doors comic, Hahtoolah. Another sparkly expo in the bank.
WO: mATE -> DATE
ESPs: MADAM as clued.
Fav: BISTRO for Hahtoolah's learning moment.
Hope things turn up soon, PK.
UncleFred - if you are on a PC in a browser, you can hit Ctrl + to zoom in and make the text bigger.
Funny IL motto, Charlie Echo. I grew up in SPI and much of my family still lives there; they keep me abreast of the politics.
Lucina - IIRC, I had to pay for bags in NYC.
Nice to see you Lem!
Cheers, -T
It's very interesting how many states now charge for grocery bags! Thanks for the information, all. Forewarned is forearmed! Although my travel is quite limited these days but you never know ......
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