Theme: Dorothy was FLAT OUT WRONG! There are lots of places like home.
17 A. *Completely and utterly incorrect: FLAT OUT WRONG. Like the beliefs of flat earthers, I suppose. A FLAT is also an apartment. This is more common in British than in American usage, I think.
24 A. *Cheat sheets: CRIB NOTES. Written notes used as an aid in "remembering' things, sometimes used to cheat on a test. I vaguely remember a prof allowing us to have a crib sheet in a physics test once upon a time. I had to google to learn that CRIB could also be ones house of apartment. I don't recall ever seeing or hearing it use in this way. Then, within a couple of hours of typing this, I did see it. Irony strikes again.
35 A. *Tries to uncover old scandals, say: DIGS UP DIRT. Searches for negative information in order to damage someone's reputation, or influence public opinion. DIGS also refers to a person's place of residence.
47 A. *Thai dish also called "drunken noodles": PAD KEE MAO. This is a Thai stir-fried noodle dish. Anecdotally, its name refers to it being popular among the inebriated; alcohol is not part of the ingredients or preparation. PAD also refers to someone's home.
And the unifier -- 56 A. Change for a dollar, and what can be found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues: FOUR QUARTERS. QUARTERS refers to rooms or lodgings, especially those allocated to people in military or domestic service.
So, my homies, the four stared clues all indicate someone's living QUARTERS. I'd give 25 pennies for your thoughts.
Hi Gang -- Jazzbumpa here, reporting from the cozy comfort of my own living quarters. We've had lots of cold and snow, so I'm happy to not be anywhere else
Across:1. Reading while propped up by pillows, say: ABED. Getting comfy in the coziest part of one's quarters.
5. Peach __: MELBA. A dessert of peaches and raspberry sauce with vanilla ice cream. It was invented in 1892 or 1893 by the French chef Auguste Escoffier at the Savoy Hotel, London, to honor the Australian soprano Nellie Melba.
10. Casual greetings: HIs. Hi, and Hi again. I'm not fond of this. It's a tortured plural you are very unlikely to ever see or hear in the real world. And it is spelt like the singular male possessive pronoun.
13. Black bird: RAVEN. Any large black bird, of which the RAVEN is one example.
15. "It's our time to shine!": WE'RE ON. It's our turn to perform or present something.
16. German cry: ACH. An exclamation or interjection. It is similar to the English “Oh.”
19. Quilting party: BEE. A gathering of people for a specific purpose
20. Texas city that forms the Petroplex with Midland: ODESSA. Odessa is a city in western Texas. Downtown, Jack Ben Rabbit is an 8-foot-tall statue of a jackrabbit. Another 37 Jamboree Jackrabbits dot the city. The Presidential Archives and Leadership Library exhibits presidential memorabilia. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin's Stonehenge is a replica of the famous English site. To the southwest, meteorite fragments are on display at the Odessa Meteor Crater.
21. Activist Yoko: ONO. Yoko Ono is a Japanese multimedia artist, musician, singer, author, filmmaker, and peace activist. A pioneer of conceptual and participatory art in the 1960s, her work is known for its political messages, feminist themes, and audience participation.
22. Venue: SITE. A specific location for an event or meeting.
23. Worldwide social welfare org.: UNICEF. Originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.
26. Lease: RENT. Pay someone for the use of (something, typically property, land, or a car). A lease is a legal contract regarding the details of a rental agreement.
27. Meadow: LEA. An open area of grassy or arable land.
29. Expression of awe: OOH - AAH. An informal idiom that means to express pleasure, surprise, or both.
30. NFC East team, on scoreboards: NYG. The New York Giants are an American Football team competing in the East Division of the National football Conference.
31. Pre-GPS navigation aid: AAA MAP. A paper map obtained from the American Automobile Association
34. Rugrats: TOTS. Very young children. I fondly remember those days. Most of our grands are adults now.
37. Wineglass part: STEM. True story -- One time a few years ago we were eating at one of those small plate restaurants when the waitress accidentally dropped a utensil. It hit my wine glass, breaking the bowl from the stem. The bowl landed upright on the table and didn't spill a drop. I felt like I witnessed a miracle.
39. Pricey property: ESTATE. An extensive area of land in the country, usually with a large house, owned by one person, family, or organization.
40. Gas additive brand: STP. STP® Gas Treatment claims to improve the quality of gas by adding powerful cleaning agents that help fight the accumulation of harmful deposits in the fuel system that can reduce performance.
43. Like meat rubs: SPICED. Seasoned with various flavorful spices.
45. Air marshal's org.: TSA. Transportation Security Administration, a US agency that protects the country's transportation systems. The TSA was created after the 9/11 attacks to prevent future attacks.
46. Formal address: SIRE. An archaic form of respectful address for someone of high social status, especially a king.
50. More svelte: LEANER. More slender and elegant.
52. Midmonth time: IDES. In the ancient Roman calendar, a day falling roughly in the middle of each month (the 15th day of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th of other months) from which other dates were calculated.
53. As well: TOO. Also.
54. Groom-to-be: FIANCE. A man to whom someone is engaged to be married.
55. Knock: RAP. As knuckles on a door, to gain entrance.
59. "The Bear" Emmy winner Edebiri: AYO. Ayo Edebiri [b. 1995] is an American actress, comedian, and television writer who has solidified her star status in recent years. Since 2022, she has played chef Sydney Adamu in the comedy-drama series The Bear, winning a Golden Globe Award for her performance.
60. "Sense and Sensibility" novelist Jane: AUSTEN. Jane Austen [1775-1817] was an English novelist known for her six novels that critique and comment on the English landed gentry in the late 18th century. Her works are celebrated for their social commentary, particularly on class, status, and gender barriers.
61. __ Lawrence College: SARAH. Sarah Lawrence College is a private liberal arts college in Yonkers, New York, United States. Founded as a women's college in 1926, Sarah Lawrence College has been coeducational since 1968. The college's campus in Yonkers maintains a Bronxville mailing address and sits roughly 20 miles from New York City. Founder William van Duzer Lawrence named the college for his wife, who was a bog proponent of higher education for young women
My son went to Lawrence Technological University here in Michigan. No relation.
62. Acid: LSD. Lysergic acid diethylamide is a psychedelic drug that can cause hallucinations and alter thoughts and emotions. It's considered a soft drug, which means it's not thought to be as addictive as harder drugs. However, LSD is still considered unsafe.
63. Dough: BREAD. Synonyms for money.
64. Actor Rogen: SETH. Seth Aaron Rogen (b.1982) is a Canadian actor, comedian, and filmmaker. Known primarily for his comedic leading man roles in films, the accolades he has received include nominations for three Golden Globe Awards, five Primetime Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Independent Spirit Award.
Down:
62. Acid: LSD. Lysergic acid diethylamide is a psychedelic drug that can cause hallucinations and alter thoughts and emotions. It's considered a soft drug, which means it's not thought to be as addictive as harder drugs. However, LSD is still considered unsafe.
63. Dough: BREAD. Synonyms for money.
64. Actor Rogen: SETH. Seth Aaron Rogen (b.1982) is a Canadian actor, comedian, and filmmaker. Known primarily for his comedic leading man roles in films, the accolades he has received include nominations for three Golden Globe Awards, five Primetime Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Independent Spirit Award.
Down:
1. Sound in a vet's office: ARF. Canine utterance. Perhaps a reaction to a lab test.
2. "My eye!": BALONEY. Expression of unbelief or disdain. There are more colorful alternatives.
3. Ducking: EVADING. Slipping away from, especially by cleverness or trickery,
4. Catch a hint of: DETECT. Discover or identify the presence or existence of something.
5. Sound in a vet's office: MEW. Feline utterance, and a clecho. Perhaps a reaction to a cat scan.
6. Blunder: ERROR. A blunder is a particularly dumb or careless mistake.
7. Téa of "Madam Secretary": LEONI. Téa Leoni (b Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni, 1966) is an American actress. In her early career, she starred in the television sitcoms Flying Blind (1992–93) and The Naked Truth (1995–1998). Her breakthrough role was in the 1995 action comedy film Bad Boys. Leoni had lead roles in films such as Deep Impact (1998), The Family Man (2000), Jurassic Park III (2001), Spanglish (2004), and Fun with Dick and Jane (2005). From 2014 to 2019, she starred as Elizabeth McCord, Secretary of State, in the CBS political drama series Madam Secretary.
8. Chimpanzee kin: BONOBO. The bonobo (Pan paniscus) is a great ape that lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are endangered and have experienced a significant population decline in recent years. Bonobos are distinguished from common chimpanzees by relatively long limbs, pinker lips, a darker face, a tail-tuft through adulthood, and parted, longer hair on their heads.
9. "Sense and Sensibility" director Lee: ANG. Ang Lee OBS is a Taiwanese filmmaker. His films are known for their emotional charge and exploration of repressed, hidden emotions. During his career, he has received international critical and popular acclaim and numerous accolades including three Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards.
9. "Sense and Sensibility" director Lee: ANG. Ang Lee OBS is a Taiwanese filmmaker. His films are known for their emotional charge and exploration of repressed, hidden emotions. During his career, he has received international critical and popular acclaim and numerous accolades including three Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards.
Since :Sense and Sensibility" is another clecho, here is a little bit about the movie based on the novel. When Elinor Dashwood's (Emma Thompson) father dies, her family's finances are crippled. After the Dashwoods move to a cottage in Devonshire, Elinor's sister Marianne (Kate Winslet) is torn between the handsome John Willoughby (Greg Wise) and the older Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman). Meanwhile, Elinor's romantic hopes with Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant, aka "that annoying British guy") are hindered due to his prior engagement. Both Elinor and Marianne strive for love while the circumstances in their lives constantly change. But, then, don't we all.
10. Savanna or steppe: HABITAT. The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism, like the bonobo.
11. Lipton offerings: ICE TEAS. Drinks made by infusing the dried crushed leaves of the tea plant in boiling water, and then chilling. Shall we revive the ice tea - iced tea controversy? I vote no.
12. "Puh-leeze": SHEESH. Exclamations of disbelief or exasperation.
14. __ ring: NOSE. A hooplike piece of jewelry worn on the nose, either through a pierced hole or held by a clasp.
15. Aryna Sabalenka's org.: WTA. Aryna Siarhiejeŭna Sabalenka (b. 1998) is a Belarusian professional tennis player. She is currently ranked as the world No. 1 in women's singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), and is a former world No. 1 in women's doubles.
18. Pinned item on many a pol's lapel: US FLAG.
22. Übertrendy: SO HOT. "Very trendy" or "extremely fashionable." Some of us are too old to care.
23. Continental breakfast vessel: URN. Coffee reservoir.
24. Literature Nobelist Albert: CAMUS. Albert Camus(1913 – 1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, journalist, world federalist, and political activist. He was the recipient of the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His works include The Stranger, The Plague, The Myth of Sisyphus, The Fall and The Rebel.
25. __ Dame: NOTRE. Notre-Dame de Paris, often referred to simply as Notre-Dame, is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité, in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, France. The cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Construction was started in 1163, and the opening was in 1345.
10. Savanna or steppe: HABITAT. The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism, like the bonobo.
11. Lipton offerings: ICE TEAS. Drinks made by infusing the dried crushed leaves of the tea plant in boiling water, and then chilling. Shall we revive the ice tea - iced tea controversy? I vote no.
12. "Puh-leeze": SHEESH. Exclamations of disbelief or exasperation.
14. __ ring: NOSE. A hooplike piece of jewelry worn on the nose, either through a pierced hole or held by a clasp.
15. Aryna Sabalenka's org.: WTA. Aryna Siarhiejeŭna Sabalenka (b. 1998) is a Belarusian professional tennis player. She is currently ranked as the world No. 1 in women's singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), and is a former world No. 1 in women's doubles.
18. Pinned item on many a pol's lapel: US FLAG.
22. Übertrendy: SO HOT. "Very trendy" or "extremely fashionable." Some of us are too old to care.
23. Continental breakfast vessel: URN. Coffee reservoir.
24. Literature Nobelist Albert: CAMUS. Albert Camus(1913 – 1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, journalist, world federalist, and political activist. He was the recipient of the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His works include The Stranger, The Plague, The Myth of Sisyphus, The Fall and The Rebel.
25. __ Dame: NOTRE. Notre-Dame de Paris, often referred to simply as Notre-Dame, is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité, in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, France. The cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Construction was started in 1163, and the opening was in 1345.
The University of Notre Dame du Lac (known simply as Notre Dame) is a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Catholic religious order of priests and brothers, the main campus of 1,261 acres has a suburban setting and contains landmarks such as the Golden Dome main building, Sacred Heart basilica, the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, the 134 foot tall Word of Life mosaic mural (nicknamed "Touchdown Jesus" because of the Christ figure's upraised arms), and Notre Dame Stadium.
28. Simplicity: EASE. Simplicity is the quality or condition of being easy to understand or do.
31. Pop singer Mann: AIMEE. Aimee Elizabeth Mann [b. 1960] is an American singer-songwriter. Over the course of four decades, she has released ten studio albums as a solo artist. She is noted for her sardonic and literate lyrics about dark subjects, often describing lost or lonely underdog characters.
28. Simplicity: EASE. Simplicity is the quality or condition of being easy to understand or do.
31. Pop singer Mann: AIMEE. Aimee Elizabeth Mann [b. 1960] is an American singer-songwriter. Over the course of four decades, she has released ten studio albums as a solo artist. She is noted for her sardonic and literate lyrics about dark subjects, often describing lost or lonely underdog characters.
From the comments under the Youtube vid, this song is deeply meaningful to some people who were struggling.
32. Likely will, with "is": APT TO. Describing a presumed high probability expectation.
33. Old-school organizers, briefly: PDAs. Personal Data Assistants. Now we can do it all with our phones.
35. Knocks to the canvas: DECKS. Delivers a punch that knocks an opponent or adversary down.
36. Roma's land: ITALIA. Both words rendered in their native language: Italiano.
37. Times for pampering: SPA DAYS. A SPA DAY is a day of pampering and relaxation at a a commercial establishment offering health and beauty treatment through such means as steam baths, exercise equipment, and massage. It's a chance to escape daily stresses and rejuvenate.
38. Procter & Gamble detergent pack: TIDE POD. Tide PODS are laundry detergent pacs that contain detergent, stain remover, and color protector. They are designed to work in any washing machine, including high-efficiency machines.
40. Genuine: SINCERE. Free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from legitimate feelings.
41. Squirrel, in slang: TREE RAT. "Tree rat" can refer to a number of rodents that live in trees, including roof rats, spiny rats, and other tree-dwelling rodents -or squirrels.
42. Each: PER. Relative to a single unit of something.
43. Feature of a well-thrown football: SPIRAL. A ball thrown so that it rotates around its axis in flight.
44. Way out of the way?: DETOUR. Rerouted travel in order to avoid some obstacle or difficulty.
46. Seasonal mall workers: SANTAS. Don't fall for it, they're impersonators.
48. Menu opener: MOUSE. A computer accessory used to actuate applications and processes.
49. Major artery: AORTA. The main artery of the body, supplying oxygenated blood to the circulatory system. In humans it passes over the heart from the left ventricle and runs down in front of the backbone.
51. Corn units: EARS. The spiked part of a corn plant that contains kernels.
54. Good times: FUN. Enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure.
56. Terrif: FAB. Slangy indications of fun or something of high quality.
57. Logician's letters: QED. QED is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase quod erat demonstrandum, which means "what was to be demonstrated". It's used to indicate that a proof or argument is complete.
58. [Finger on lips]: SHH. A plea for silence.
32. Likely will, with "is": APT TO. Describing a presumed high probability expectation.
33. Old-school organizers, briefly: PDAs. Personal Data Assistants. Now we can do it all with our phones.
35. Knocks to the canvas: DECKS. Delivers a punch that knocks an opponent or adversary down.
36. Roma's land: ITALIA. Both words rendered in their native language: Italiano.
37. Times for pampering: SPA DAYS. A SPA DAY is a day of pampering and relaxation at a a commercial establishment offering health and beauty treatment through such means as steam baths, exercise equipment, and massage. It's a chance to escape daily stresses and rejuvenate.
38. Procter & Gamble detergent pack: TIDE POD. Tide PODS are laundry detergent pacs that contain detergent, stain remover, and color protector. They are designed to work in any washing machine, including high-efficiency machines.
40. Genuine: SINCERE. Free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from legitimate feelings.
41. Squirrel, in slang: TREE RAT. "Tree rat" can refer to a number of rodents that live in trees, including roof rats, spiny rats, and other tree-dwelling rodents -or squirrels.
42. Each: PER. Relative to a single unit of something.
43. Feature of a well-thrown football: SPIRAL. A ball thrown so that it rotates around its axis in flight.
44. Way out of the way?: DETOUR. Rerouted travel in order to avoid some obstacle or difficulty.
46. Seasonal mall workers: SANTAS. Don't fall for it, they're impersonators.
48. Menu opener: MOUSE. A computer accessory used to actuate applications and processes.
49. Major artery: AORTA. The main artery of the body, supplying oxygenated blood to the circulatory system. In humans it passes over the heart from the left ventricle and runs down in front of the backbone.
51. Corn units: EARS. The spiked part of a corn plant that contains kernels.
54. Good times: FUN. Enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure.
56. Terrif: FAB. Slangy indications of fun or something of high quality.
57. Logician's letters: QED. QED is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase quod erat demonstrandum, which means "what was to be demonstrated". It's used to indicate that a proof or argument is complete.
58. [Finger on lips]: SHH. A plea for silence.
So, on this quiet note we arrive at home.
If you recall from my blog last month, our 18-year-old granddaughter Emily was badly injured when the car she was riding in got struck broadside by a drunk driver on December 16. She is still in the hospital, and has had some complications to deal with, but has made significant recovery. She gets 3 hours of physical and occupational therapy every week day. She was healed enough to stand up - with assistance - a few days ago, and can now pivot while standing. We are very proud of her for the progress she's making and her determined efforts to fully recover. This kid has a lot of grit.Cool regards!
JzB
42 comments:
Pretty tough, especially the Thai dish. But I got through it. FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
D-o had heard of Kung Pao chicken, so without a second thought, entered a P in PAD KEE _AO, and never looked at the down answer. Bzzzzzt. Sometimes you're the windshield... Lipton packages mention "iced tea." Have you ever noticed the similarity between fiancé and financier? Thanx to Brian for the excursion, and to JzB for your always illuminating expo. (Just what is a "bog proponent?" Best wishes for your granddaughter's full recovery.)
FIR. I had to take a WAG at pad lee mao, since I had no idea, and mouse looked like a clever answer for menu opener.
Aside from some difficult proper names here and there, this seemed easier than most Wednesdays.
But overall a so-so puzzle for me.
FIW, missing my WAG @ hOUSE x PADKEEhAO. No idea about sot's noodles, and was thinking of restaurant menus that feature "hOUSE made chili" or "hOUSE made Caesar dressing." Also, saint->SARAH, aimie->AIMEE, and baboon->BONOBO.
Midland-ODESSA is kind of like Dallas-Ft. Worth, aka "the metroplex."
I'm a Dallas Cowboys fan. We have two mottos: 1) "Wait until next season!" and B) "We're better than the Giants!"
I really loved the AAA Trip Ticks. They were little spiral-bound collections of map segments, customized by AAA for your trip. Felt like progress on long journeys when you flipped from one page to the next.
DNK that air marshals were in TSA. If I was king, they would be under the FBI.
Who's half-baked idea was it to use "dough" and "bread" for "money?"
JzB got the usual meaning of DETOUR right. But it can also be used in a pleasant sense, as in "when we drove back from San Francisco, we took a DETOUR around 17-Mile Drive to see the beautiful environs of Pebble Beach."
Thanks to Brian for the fun. My favorite was the theme and its components. And thanks to JzB for the tour. I'm so happy to hear that your granddaughter is making progress. Oh, and it's good to know that we can always collie on you for a couple of good pet puns.
Took 7:35 today, without much dwelling.
Like Jinx just said, it's the "AAA TripTik."
I knew today's actresses (Leoni & Ayo), but not the obscure foreign food (padkeemao), Sarah Lawerence College (Saint fit and sounded just fine), or the Literature Nobelist.
FIR in 15:09, typical that my time is double that of SS. Needed perps for AYO, CAMUS, SARAH, and like most others, PAD KEE MAO. Always need at least one perp to decide between eluding or EVADING. A HABITAT and ESTATE can also be considered QUARTERS. A MOUSE doesn’t actually open a menu, it activates a cursor or link to do it. I wonder if DOGE will defund UNICEF. Anyway, a good mid week puzzle IMO, thank you Brian for that. And to JzB for your very detailed write-up. Glad to hear your granddaughter is making progress in her recovery!
TGFP today. PAD KEE MAO took perps all the way. I didn't catch all the places of residence until FOUR QUARTERS was filled. AYO was also perped.
AAA MAP- I just kept old gas station maps. Remember those.
Yesterday, I put a bottle of STP fuel injector cleaner in the tank before I filled up. Car dealers try to get you to use their 'fuel injector service', that costs about 10 times as much.
Chimps are north of the Congo river. BONOBOS live south of the Congo river. Neither can swim and one theory is that is what caused the divergence of the two species.
An ESTATE is also a dead person's property, until heirs start fighting over it.
The NW held me up for a time. Finally parsed ABED and NOSE ring completing FLAT OUT (already had WRONG)
Inkover CRIBsheet/NOTES
WEREON, APTTO. kyna klunky. OOH AAH (same) as opposed to the noun hoo-hah 🤭
Watched 3 seasons of The Bear “yes, Chef!” But except for Carmy the cast escapes me
LIU: SARAH Lawrence College 2024-25 cost of attendance direct and indirect fees = $86,758 🫣.
“betcha can’t eat one” it’s a teen dare phenomenon called the “TIDEPOD challenge” 🙄
”teriff” a tax on imported goods to bring down prices: 🤔
“Menu opener”’MOUSE??!! Call the health department!! (if it still exists). Oh that kind of “menu”
“Mid month time”: thought we were talking about a lady thing 🤭
“Sound in a vets office”. “I shoulda bought pet insurance” or “ that’s too expensive just put him/her to sleep” 😮. AAAMAP you mean like the famous TripTik(Jinx). For a sec I thought Roma’s land referred to Gypsy people. Also figured “Squirrel” would be something akin to stock up on
Wonder when we pull out of UNESCO
Equine front legs:FOURQUARTERS
Texas non Petrotown named for "Sense and Sensibility" novelist Jane… AUSTEN
TIDEPOD competitor … FAB
What a gossipy graveyard worker does…. DIGSUPDIRT
JZB: Great to hear about your GD’s steady improvements. Hope the psychological trauma that often accompanies such a catastrophic event for 18 y o is addressed as well. 🙂
Good Morning:
This was a clever and well-hidden theme, with a surprise reveal. I was held up by Pad Kee Mao, Ayo, WTA, and Tree Rat, but mostly by holding on to Saint too long before other entries finally uncovered Sarah. Should have read the clue more carefully as Saint Lawrence is a university, and Sarah Lawrence is a college. I think there were a few too many close calls in the green paint department, I.e., Ooh Aah, AAA Map, US Flag, and So Hot.
Thanks, Brian, and thanks, JazzB, for a fun and fact-filled review. As always, your unique, subtle humor is noticed and appreciated. Thanks for the update on Emily’s progress. Her grit and resilience are amazing and bode well for continued progress and recovery. Best wishes to the entire family.
Have a great day.
Musings
-From Husker Gary (It’s a long story)
-It’s 10 below here on the banks of the mighty Elkhorn River. I’m subbing and o ur school is one of the few open today and so far there is very little absenteeism.
-Brian’s puzzle got SPICEY at PAD KEE MAO and AYO (changed SPA DATE to SPA DAYS). DOH, it’s plural!
-My Beatle uber fan friend and his family met ONO outside the Dakota one day. He said she was gracious and gladly took a picture with them.
-RAP and RAVEN in the same puzzle? Accident?
-PDA’s were so impressive until the technology blew past them
-We have two brown and one black squirrel that frequent our bird feeders. They are very welcome.
-Great news on granddaughter, Jazz.
Wonderful Wednesday. Thanks for the fun, Brian and JzB (continued thoughts and prayers for your granddaughter).
I FIRed in good time and saw the FOUR QUARTERS theme.
Unknown names and Thai food perped.
Hand up for Baboon to BONOBO.
My PTA changed to PDA.
Busy day. Read you all later.
Brian's entry today struck me as an appropriate and straightforward midweek challenge. It had an interesting theme, and it was mostly devoid of obscure pop culture and "celebrity" distractions.
It did contain a few "in-the-language" utterances like SHEESH, SOHOT, OOHAAH, and WEREON (we're on) that I could have done without.
A couple observations:
--Lipton calls it iced tea, and grammatically that is correct, since "iced" is the adjective modifier. So I go with the "iced" voters, but will not lose any sleep over it;
--AAA maps, constantly updated, are still available at AAA stores.
Thanks, Brian, for a fun midweek diversion. And thanks, JzB, for your entertaining recap. You've got a lot of folks rooting for Emily, and she clearly has grit!
Enjoyed the theme answers and reveal. I got the PAD of the Thai food because I was on to the abodes, but where I stumbled was in entering SPICEy, so missed the DETOUR, MOUSE as menu opener, never thought of that.
I’m on an Austen theme. Last night I finished viewing the 6 episode 1995 series of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice which introduced to the world handsome Colin Firth. The acting/casting for this series is outstanding.
I had no trouble with any of the proper names except AYO.
Thank you JZb for á very nice review and best wishes for continued recovery of your gritty young grand daughter.
Like Iced skates. ⛸️
Waiting in the Doc’s office trying to get my out of control BP reduced before I have a stoke .
There’s an AARP mag next to me with Jon Bon Jovi on the cover. SHEESH!!
I liked the theme. I think calling one's residence a crib came from African American slang. I read it often.
This was typical Wednesday level and time for me.
Only fill new to me was pad kee mao and Ayo, all perps.
When I am abed, I like to read my Kindle. It is so much lighter than a book. It is backlit, so no need for a lamp. I can enlarge the print. I can get a new book any time of the day or night. I thought I wouldn't like the Kindle, but soon, with practice, it became second nature. Now I like both eBooks and paper ones.
Flat out can mean maximum effort or speed. I also can mean unequivocable or downright. That's a flat out lie.
I was happy to see ACH clued as a German cry/OH. Like OH, it can express so many varied emotions. It is not only, or even mostly, a cry of woe.
OOH AAH makes me think of fireworks exclamations. No nit to my ears.
We had tree rats (squirrels) in our attic. The exterminator waited until they were out and about before cleaning up and laying repellants. Then we quickly closed the hole with metal flashing.
JzzB, I am so glad your granddaughter is improving with grit and courage. What a horrible accident.
The theme reveal was a pleasant surprise, better than the sum of its parts, but I didn’t lock in my FIR until I finally got the clever MOUSE misdirection.
There were two dreadful entries. One was OOH-AAH and needs no further explanation. The other was SO HOT. When I got SITES, I looked at the down clue and said to myself, “Please tell me the answer isn’t “so hot.” ABED/ARF were a weak combination for 1A-1D.
TALKING POINTS: Dallas-Fort Worth proudly adopted “Metroplex” about 50 years ago, back before I participated in the last great newspaper war there in the early 1980s, so it tickles me to see Midland-Odessa boasting it’s the Petroplex. . . . Waseeley and I are humming “Steppes of Central Asia” as a result of the HABITAT clue. Anyone else? . . . I’m still unhappy about the loss of distinction between “likely” and “probably,” as illustrated by the APT TO definition. Is likely to. Probably will. Not interchangeable. . . . I’ll never throw out my AAA MAPs. They’re more useful for planning than Google’s flawed “maps.” If I relied solely on GPS, I’d never learn my way around. . . .If you had “Austin” before “AUSTEN” for Jane, you’re not copy-editor material. See also: Hans Christian AndersEn. . . .U.S. FLAG lapels aren’t just worn by a certain sect of pols; they’re compulsory in the eyes of too many "patriots."
"
Enjoyable FUN,, logical puzzle BC and a surprising reveal even when it obvious was going to be about housing. Thank you JzB for all the info.and about the chimp kin BONOBO - totally new to me
unesco before I ran the letters and changed to UNICEF. Am flag/US FLAG, RAVEN changed eluding to EVADING.
One might say OOH or AAH but not OOH AHH, so shouldn’t “Expression of awe” have been plural? Escoffier also created MELBA toast for Miss Nellie, something years ago was given to teething babies.
HG2 9:35 —- OOH, -10 below! You are a hearty bunch! We also welcome squirrels at the bird feeder.. Freddy the cat will sit in the window and watch them, and birds, for hours. He also has a bunny friend that he visits outside. They will sit 6 ft. apart and stare at one another for 20 minutes. Animal communication is a mystery.
Happy day, all!
Good thing the clue cites Yoko Ono as an activist because her music is dreadful and will give you a migraine headache 🤕
FIR, thanks to perps and a WAG at the drunken noodles. The clues were a tad outside of my wheelhouse today. OOH, AAH...why, that's the sound of the men, working on the chain gang.
Hey JazzB, so glad to hear about your granddaughter. Please keep us posted.
Good luck with your BP problem. Since I am in Troy, I’ve wondered if your elevator job was in Fah’s?
If you buy gas that has the Top Tier sticker on the pump, you should be fine without the injector cleaner. I occasionally throw a can of BG 44K cleaner in my tanks, but I'm not sure it does any better than just the Top Tier gas.
The guy that started the famous Silver Springs, FL glass bottom boat operation released six rhesus monkeys in 1938 to attract tourists and increase revenue for his boat tours. They quickly disappeared, so he bought six more. He didn't know that they could swim from his island. These are considered an invasive species, and about a third of them carry Hepatitis B, which don't bother the monkeys but can be deadly for humans. Locals tried to relocate them, but were forced to stop after someone found out that the relocated monkeys were being used for medical research. You can occasionally see them hanging out near FL 400. Some idiots stop to feed and photograph them.
That’s Flah’s!
I love it that the rock and roll idols from my youth now look like the Crypt Keeper.
Iced skates are what you bring back from fishing on the continental shelf.
Not “obvious” - obviously.
From yest: HG asked "what do you prefer, a sundae or onion rings?"
Definitely onion rings! But I'm picky. In addition to the thousand different batter types, they must remove the inner skins! If you ever had your onion slide out of the batter, it's because the lazy chef did not remove the inner skins!
However, you could possibly tempt me with a sundae, "if" it was drizzled in dark chocolate syrup, "and" raspberry sauce! Yes! It reminds me of the the first Tartufo I ever had, smothered in dark chocolate sauce and raspberry sauce... I now ask for it tartufo this way in every restaurant, to the incredulous looks of waiters everywhere.
Where was I?
Oh the puzzle, yes... definitely chewy, not as good as a sundae or onion rings but definitely chewy. Baboon b/4 bonobo, and FAA b/4 TSA. And Thai? (I will never dis "Frawnch" again...). Hey! Wait a sec! According to the internet: The Federal Air Marshal Service began on March 2, 1962, as the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) FAA Peace Officers Program. Hmm, where can I apply to get my two bits back that I payed for this puzzle!
obligatory silly theme link
And, for anyone caught in the FAA/TSA trap.
JzB - Best wishes for a mental and physical recovery from this life changing accident of your Emily. Also thoughts of caring for all who love her.
In the beat a dead horse" department, (if you care...)
The YouTube imbeds resulted in "sign in to prove your not a bot." With no escape. In the past, I have found that having YouTube running in the background can evade this annoyance, but I often forget this extra step.
So today I did a little more research, and discovered something, that I include here just to as " technical " if this is a bad thing or not.
the thread I followed you do not have to read. stated :
In safari, go to settings, then privacy, then "allow cross site tracking" and enable.
I did this and saw this was already enabled, but the list of sites that requested "cross site tracking" were all disabled. I enabled YouTube only, and on first check, the blogs YouTube imbeds opened just fine...
So, is enabling this "cross tracking" feature a bad idea? I don't know...
P.S.
Typo, I was "asking" technical...
And note that enabling notifications does nothing for imbeds... it's a wild goose chase. Cross tracking seems to be the answer, but is it dangerous?
My wife operated the elevator in a woman’s clothing store called “Sherry’s” in Albany NY as a weekend job when she was a student at College of St Rose in the late 60’s.
Orbiter Dictum: I still do my trip planning with paper maps spread open on my dining room table. The GPS is great for what it does, but its failure is not providing a sense of place.
JazzB, thank you for the blog and especially for the update on Emily...prayers for her and your family continue.
Tough CW today for me. Friday-on-a-Wednesday. 20 names, 9 DNKs. Plus DNK PADKEEMAO, giving me a WAG at that intersecting E with AIMEE, one of my DNK names. Guessed right. Also DNK QED. Before I forget, did anyone do this past Sunday's NYT CW? When I TITT and looked at the answers I got so upset to see some cells had two letters in them! "Oh, how CLEVER!" NO!!! "Oh, how ridiculously impossible to suss". WORST CW I have ever laid eyes on. Anyway, I did eventually manage to FIR but took 24 on today's CW. I did not like it. Too many DNK names. The "CRIBNOTES" fill reminded me of when I taught HS Chemistry, many, many years ago. One of my kids dropped a cheat-sheet during a test and tried putting his foot on it so I wouldn't see it. I picked it up and chided him but let him finish the test. Looking at his cheat-sheet gave me an idea: future tests I handed out index cards, one for each student, ahead of time, and allowed my students to put whatever notes they wanted on the single index card. It forced them to study harder to try to figure out what to put on the index card! Great write-up, JzB, and I hope your granddaughter is out of the hospital before long. The story about the wine glass: did you figure out a way to save the wine?
Question: Is a worker on a dairy farm that doesn't know how to milk cows udderly useless? (I had more, but will spare you).
Thanks to Brian C. for the Wednesday fun! FAV: Way out of the way?
I needed the reveal to fill FLAT. Nice!
Hand up for thinking there was a hOUSE wine and a hOUSE salad on the menu.
Thanks to JzB for taking us through this one! Thanks, also, for the update on Emily. Her determination is impressive!
I almost had Austin for Austen because spell check in it’s arrogant wisdom automatically “corrected “ me and it would have remained misspelled had I not looked back.
Hand up stuck with that amusing MOUSE misdirection and PAD KEE MAO. We have eaten DRUNKEN NOODLES, but did not know the THAI name. Surprised to FIR. Enjoyed the theme and glad not to have to RENT any FLAT, CRIB, DIGS, PAD or QUARTERS now. Never heard of that AYO, but wow she is gorgeous.
RAVEN is our colorful friend who is now married to my dear Solstice friend Pali.
From Yesterday:
CanadianEh, AnonT Glad you were amused at my SLIDING DOORs photo. I call it "the Harry Potter DOOR" when I lead that hike. You first have to pass through a squeeze between two rocks. When you look back, it looks as if the rocks have SLID closed behind you. On the return, it looks like an impossible dead end.
To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.
I enjoyed the QUARTERS today, and FIR in spite of the Thai noodles, the NFC East scoreboard abbreviation, the charming Ms Edebiri, and Ms Sabalenk's org. Thank you, Brian. Jazzbumpa, your reviews are always a pleasure. Your wine glass miracle is very impressive!
Best wishes to your granddaughter. So unfair that she should have this struggle.
Hi All!
Nicely executed theme, Brian, with a lot of crunch (or my coffee hadn't kicked in).
Thanks, JzB, for the witty expo. Good to hear that your grand is on the mend.
WOs: aVoidin, SsH
ESPs: MELBA, OHH AAA, KEE MAO
Fav: Aside from what's printed on my favorite ball cap (ITALIA), I thought DETOUR's clue was cute
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one thinking hOUSE Red / Salad / etc. Great minds & all that.
FLAT - stayed in the company one for 9 days in Egypt
PAD / DIGS - would describe DW & my first apartment over a garage.
QUARTERS - Army training, Sir!
HOUSE - since '98 ;-)
CRIB NOTES - Unclefred, I made them for every math / engineering class I took. By the time they were written in tiny print, I had the formulas memorized.
I've had Drunken Noodles but only remembered the PAD part of the
Jinx - DW & I rented bikes and rode the 17-Mile Drive to some cool little islands. "Hey, we could walk out there," so we did and played. Then the tide came in. We had to stop and buy jackets at a London Fog store - that ocean is cold!
Another time, we took the kids, and my bike broke down near Carmel. This was taken that Father's Day (my bike was not working properly after stopping at a beach and laying it in the sand).
CED - your actions are NOT terribly dangerous. YouTube & Blogger are both Google owned. They are cross-site tracking themselves :-)
I enjoyed reading y'all today.
Cheers, -T
Thanks for responding, Ray-O_S. Hope your BP is in control. Sorry about St. Rose. At one time my husband taught there.
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