"YOUR ARM'S OFF~!"
Including the majestik møøse
This crossword could only appear on a Splynter Wednesday - I am one of those few people who "get" the humor and cleverness of the 1975 ( 50years ~! ) Monty Python & the Holy Grail movie, and have linked its various scenes several times here at the Corner in the past. For those who do NOT "get it", my apologies for the following "homage" write-up; but for those who do....This was a pleasant puzzle from Zachary, with no circles - though a lot of names - and a standard grid with an even distribution of 3- & 4LWs. Four themers, two of them 15-letter spanners, and each depicting a "skin surface injury";
17. Beach Boys hit that imagines Santa Claus in a hot-rod sleigh: LITTLE SAINT NICK - "Ni~!"
We had them on Monday, too - before my time, not my thing - only 2m15s
24. Extract information online: DATA SCRAPE - more here
38. Like some baked goods: MADE FROM SCRATCH - I make pizza from scratch now, using ground chicken for the crust, mixed with some cauliflower, then add my own healthy-choice toppings, like chicken pepperoni and low-fat mozzarella cheese
52. Notch on an analog watch: MINUTE MARK
and the 15-letter spanning reveal:
The entire Black Knight scene with the iconic line @ 2:08
And Away To Camelot~!
1. Milestone foods for an infant: SOLIDS
7. Rotten: BAD
"I feel fine~!"
10. Model Delevingne: CARA - We've had this "new" CARA in crosswords before - here's a link to the British model's mansion in LA - name #1
What a set of legs - I'm talking about the ones on the piano. . . maybe the dog's, too
14. Commemorative tablet: PLAQUE - found on teeth, and in arteries, too, but not commemorative . . .
15. __ out a living: EKE - in an anarcho-syndicalist commune - and maybe truth; more here
Bloody peasant~!
16. Prayer ending: AMEN
A møøse once bit my sister
20. Info from covert ops: INTEL - "...and then leap from the rabbit, and taking the Frawnche by surprise"
if we build a large wooden badger . . .
21. Belly button type: OUTIE - the alternative is an INNIE - like mine - is that TMI~?
22. Lass: GAL - "A Witch~!"
I got better . . .
23. Some pajama tops: TEES - with fleece bottoms, under an electric blanket - so, so warm & cozy on cold winter nights~!😊
26. New Mexico town north-northeast of Santa Fe: TAOS - geo name #1
28. Meeting, informally: SESH - 21st-century-speak for session
29. Can. neighbor: USA
32. Ballet garb: TUTU
34. On a grand scale: EPIC - It IS the rabbit~! That's no ordinary rabbit~!
"I warned you...just a harmless little bunny..."
"I warned you...just a harmless little bunny..."
43. Adapter letters: AC-DC - not the Australian band this time
44. Careless eater: SLOB - AND - a clever crossing with 40D. Drinks carelessly: SLURPS
45. Yes vote: AYE - "...by a two-thirds majority, in the case of more major issues." - Dennis, 37yrs old
46. Wine list heading: REDS - also 'heads' the Cincinnati baseball teams list - fills it, and ends it, too.
50. Exhort: URGE - "I order you to be quiet~!" "Help~! Help~! I'm being repressed~!"
56. Hamlet, for one: DANE - Shakespeare - I toyed with SCOT, but that's Macbeth
60. "It's __-win situation": "A NO" - "Ni~!" The behind-the-scenes making of the movie
Or 20 weird facts you didn't know - link
61. Image Awards gp.: NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - today is the dealine for submissions for the Awards; more here
62. Jordan's capital: AMMAN - geo name #2
66. Cakesters cookie: OREO - sigh, crossword staple
67. Bracket shape: ELL - I am going to use "L" brackets to secure a set of shelves I am building to my office wall, then trim the top with crown - hopefully, it will be done by the time this publishes - I throw down this gauntlet ( at my own feet ) as a challenge~! - I'll post a pic in the comments - if I succeed
68. Tree-shaping art: BONSAI
One that looks nice, and not too expensive
69. Breather: REST - my trainer Brett has moved me on to some bigger equipment, and the exercises are getting more difficult. My weight has not changed, but I dropped another 1% of body fat. I started at 43%; he wants me down to 18%, and this past Saturday it was 29%, so more than half-way there~!
70. Cryptography org.: NSA - National S--- Agency; if I tell you, "...then. you. shall. die. - Right~!"
71. Most senior: OLDEST
1. Bowler's challenge: SPLIT - Run Away~!
oh, not that kind of split . . .
2. Group of NFL blockers, in brief: O-LINE - the Offensive Line
3. Foamy coffee drink: LATTE
4. Measure of sharpness: IQ TEST - what is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow~?
I don't know that - aaaaaaaaah~!
5. Not sharp: DULL - clever clue adjacency
6. Understand: SEE
7. Real humdinger: BEAUT - he's already got one, you see~?
( I told them we already got one~!)
8. Japanese dogs: AKITAS
9. Richards of "The Bold and the Beautiful": DENISE - name #2
10. Is able to: CAN
11. Latina friend: AMIGA - Espaniol feminine lesson
12. Go over again: RECAP - "Listen, in order to maintain air-speed velocity, a swallow needs to beat its wings forty-three times every second, right~?"
It could grip it by the husk . . .
13. Joint above a foot: ANKLE
18. In order that: SO AS TO - a bit clunky, but it works
19. Private eyes, in pulp slang: TECS - deTECtives
24. Sullen: DOUR
25. "Cheers" star Perlman: RHEA - name #3
27. DOJ agency: ATF - Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms + Explosives, now - "Three sir~!"
The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch
29. "Dexter: Resurrection" actress Thurman: UMA - yada yada 3LW Thurman = Ektorp name #4
30. Anatomical pouch: SAC
31. __ fuel to the fire: ADD
33. Hesitant syllables: UMs - could've been ERs, but a good WAG on my part
35. Fundraising org.: PTA
36. Showing no warmth: ICY - I'd rather just . . . sing~!
You're not going into a song while I'm 'ere~!
37. Nickname for Ernesto Guevara: CHE - Name #5
39. Beige hue: ECRU
41. Wine stopper: CORK - so UNcork is the starter~?
42. SCOTUS initials from 1993 to 2020: RBG - The Notorious RBG - SCOTUS = Supreme Court of the US, and one of its members, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, until 2020 - name #6
47. Sicilian volcano: ETNA - Crossword staple, geo name #3
48. Overpower with noise: DEAFEN - how I like my rock concerts
49. Biggie __: 1990s rap moniker: SMALLS - filled via perps, but I remembered him - better known as The Notorious B.I.G., and the inspiration for 42D above - name #7
51. Astronomer Halley with an eponymous comet: EDMOND - If I make it to its next pass through the inner solar system, I will be 90yrs old - name #8
52. Groundbreaking: MAJOR - Spamalot, the Broadway adaptation of MP and the Holy Grail, co-written by Python member Eric Idle, won Best Musical and more in 2005
53. Toughen: INURE
54. Schnozzes: NOSES
55. Amtrak option: ACELA - name(ish)
57. Entertain: AMUSE - "...and there was much rejoicing . . . yay."
"silly English kuh-nig-its"
58. Some maternal babysitters: NANAS
59. Call the whole thing off: END IT - I had ABORT; this is a breakup, not a mission
62. AFB no-show: AWOL - Air Force Base and Absent WithOut Leave
64. Tater __: TOT
65. "Task" network: HBO - Never seen the show, as I don't have Home Box Office streaming - I used to enjoy going to my aunt's duplex in the Bronx on Thanksgiving - they had cable HBO~!
Splynter
And now for something completely different . . . .
45 comments:
I wasn’t familiar with
the term “data scrape” though it makes sense. And, without too much difficulty, everything else made sense too.
FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ZDL provided a nice mid-week romp. And Splynter evoked plenty of memories of the Monty Python madness. Good show, all around.
FIR, but recon->INTEL, role->DANE, and eldest->OLDEST.
Four-letter New Mexico town blah, blah, blah will be TAOS.
Don't know what a cakester is, but that's a snappy clue for the old, tired OREO.
LITTLE SAINT NICK was unknown, but when I heard the song I recognized it. My favorite quirky Christmas song is the late Jimmy Buffett's Christmas in the Caribbean,
Thanks to ZDL for another fun puzzle. I was waiting for Rocky Racoon to declare "Doc it's only a SCRATCH," but the Baker's Coalition aced him out. And thanks to Splynter for the fine review. I'm a lesser fan of Monte Python than you, but your review will make Bayou Tony very happy.
FIR. I've never heard of data scrape, but no matter, I soon got the theme and was able to finish rapidly.
I appreciate all the Monty Python clips included in today's blog. I'm quite a fan, and still laugh at so many of those lines. "It's only a flesh wound" is one of my favorites.
Overall a very enjoyable puzzle.
Liked the puzzle, loved the recap. I'm not a huge Monty Python fan, but the shared scenes are among my favorites.
Is SESH the new YEET?
Thank you, Zachary, for brightening the day with your paean to Monty Python. People who don't appreciate the boys strike me as silly twits, busily chewing on life's gristle, eh? Cinematic masterpieces is what I call 'em. "Epochal," according to Turner Classic Movies. Or did they say "execrable"? Cue the coconut bit.
Oh--the crossword. Much fun, even apart from the Holy Grail. I like the word "DOUR," but never use it in speech because I don't know if it rhymes with "four" or "hour." How do people ever learn English?
Thanks, Splynter, for the entertaining recap, especially all the extra gems on Monty Python. As they sing at the end of "Life of Brian," "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life."
Good Morning:
This was a neat theme with a comical reveal. Data Scrape and Edmond were the only unknowns, but perps solved those obstacles in a hurry. Thought of dear Boomer at Split.
Thanks, ZDL, and thanks, Splynter, for the review and commentary. I’m sure all of the Monty Python fans appreciated all of your references.
Have a great day.
Musings
-The puzzle was fun and less complicated than Splynter’s pizza crust recipe.
-I can more easily quote lines from Airplane (e.g. Don’t call me Shirley) but appreciated Splynter’s effort.
-My first Timex watch had radioactive “glow in the dark” minute markings. Um, dermatologists said they had better stop doing that.
-That Cara with a very obscure surname took every bit of help to “SEE”. Is that an AKITA in the background?
-EKE out a living: $5,800 starting salary for teachers in 1968 seemed to fit this category
-I’ll bet a lot of us remember The movie that featured this BONSAI tree
-The Husker O-LINE this year has had trouble protecting its slow-footed, 5-star millionaire quarterback
-Arrowhead Stadium’s in KC has architecture that help fans produce a DEAFING roar judged to be the loudest in the NFL that can disrupt the opposing team’s signal calling.
-Is there a more mispronounced named that Sir Edmond’s HALLEY’s? His surname rhymes with valley not bailey. That’s probably because of Bill Haley and the Comets.
-Did anyone else go out last night to see the Northern Lights. I needed to use my iPhone camera to see them but they were spectacular!
Took 4:14 today to put a band-aid on this one.
I didn't know one of the Actresses of the Day (Denise; I knew Rhea), nor do I know any soap opera actresses aside from Susan Lucci - the long-time runner-up. I didn't know the model (Cara) either.
Hasn't Jordan geography recently been a topic here?
I pronounce "dour" to rhyme with "hour". No one has corrected me.
Yet.
If you're not familiar with Monty Python and the Holy Grail, well, shame on you. But, it is a great movie and more popular than you may think. I respectfully submit that most people "get it." It's got 8.2/10 stars on IMDB and a 90+% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. There's a reason it's still relevant, and often quoted, 50-years later.
Fun theme, not too difficult although DATA SCRAPE was unknown to me, but as someone said, makes sense, so easy to guess. SMALLS and EDMOND were the only true unknown names, but perps were kind.
Even though I didn’t know cakesters, I confidently entered OREO, what else could it be ending in -eo.
Thank you Splynter for SCRAPing together all those great MP videos.
HG: I see we posted at the same time. I tried to see the Northern Lights last night even using my iPhone camera which helped tremendously a couple years ago. Alas, it was too cloudy.
Good luck with your Wordl streak. I hope you keep it going, and going, and going. My current streak is the longest streak I've had (by far), so I can relate to that trepidation you mentioned. And, be thankful that in Wordl, there are none of those pesky circles.
The embarrassing thing about last night was that my daughters in Lincoln had to text me to tell me I could do this. They heard about it from their local TV weather person and their amateur astronomer father had no idea. It reenforces the idea that our eyes are amazing but there is A LOT/TONS of radiation all around us that we need instruments to detect.
I had to engage in data scraping during my phd research 6-7 years ago, I wish I could go back to the times I had not heard of it because it was no fun at all haha.
NW section had me confused for a long time because I had SPARE instead of SPLIT, which caused all the other downs in that section to get very confused, but ultimately it came together. Great puzzle, great recap, it's a great day to have a great day folks.
Fun, fast FIR from ZDL this morning, and even more fun with Splynters recap! That movie is one of those classics that can be re-watched over and over, and still produce laughter. Off for round three of chemo. So far, so good!
Hola! Irene CARA would be more familiar to me, but it filled with no problem. AMIGA is, of course, a given.
I make cookies FROM SCRATCH.
TAOS was interesting to visit when my sisters and I went on a road trip several years ago. It's a great place to buy southwestern jewelry.
Thanks to ZDL and to Splynter for today's AMUSEment.
Thanks for all the kind comments yesterday after CC and my meet up in the Twin Cities - I was very busy so couldn't add to the comments. So fun to have in-person time together after a many year long distance friendship! I think I'm starting a tradition - the last 3 years I have gotten to meet another Corner friend in the fall. 2 years ago it was Bill & Teri in the Baltimore/DC area, last year it was Gary in Nebraska, and CC & Tom Pepper this year. All have been a joy.
Personal update - my mom finally died yesterday peacefully at 94 after a long 5 months on hospice. Hoping all the kids can make arrangements to come in amidst the airline issues
YP here ~ condolences on your mother’s passing 🙏🏼
Thank you Splynter. This was the best puzzle recap you have produced. What a lot of effort and time to have prepared fond memories of John Cleese and Monty Python clips. Bravo!
And thanks ZDL for a fun and entertaining puzzle.
4 letter Nmex town blah blah blah? Maybe easy for you, but I still tried to ink in Tulsa...
Indeed, condolences...
I had a little trouble with datascrape/dour crossing Tulsa. Otherwise my only complaint is that the content outshone the puzzle, and thereby its constructor. Thank you Zachery!
Splynter, it's a good thing you got this gig instead of me today, I would have linked Monty Python to each and every clue... (no, seriously,, I'm serious...)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Little Saint Nick was a Christmas rework of their song, Little Duece Coup, that they made specifically as a Christmas gift to fans...
One thing I had no idea of, (thank you perps) was smalls, and it's killing me!
P.S. to Splynter, that last Blog image insert is an absolutely perfect ending!... :)
P.S.
From yesterday, thank you Ray-O, I'm a little slow, but I know you always have a clever and witty meaning to your posts. So when I saw "a bad wines defect = NONOS" and did not understand it, I knew I had to look closer. It took a while for the V8 can to come whistling in, and the "aha" moment was delightful...
It is killing me that I can't post a Monty Pythons clip. Of the thousands to choose from, the one I cannot find, either thru mis naming, or censorship, is the one where they line up in butcher aprons, and bow to the audience, and then the orchestra behind them.
To give you an idea of what I mean, here is a clip from Patch Adam's (that I modified the start time for you) where Robin Williams "stole" the joke from Monty Python. modified start time test...
PeePeeS...
Last week you had to pay to see the Movie, Patch Adam's, this week it is free on YouTube. Catch it while you can.
Sorry to hear about your mom passing.
My starting salary for teaching high school chemistry in '68-'69 was $3,985. 5 years later, teaching first year chemistry, second year chemistry (for which the school system had no text book, I had to make one up as I went along) and a research class, my salary was $7,985. That's when I quit teaching and went to work for Merck and immediately doubled my pay, with half the work and headaches of teaching. So I know what you are talking about.
Fast FIR for me for a Wednesday: 10 minutes, in spite of the 17 names. It helped that of the 17 I only DNK 3. Never heard of "datascrape" or "tecs" for detectives. Other than that a terrific CW, thanx, ZDL. 38A "madefromscratch" reminds me how versatile this stuff "scratch" is. It seems you can make anything from it. Splynter, I always enjoy your write-ups, but you really out-did yourself today. I can't imagine how much time you put into putting this together for our entertainment. Thanx for all the Monty Python clips, and, as always, the fine legs.
I didn't know the Monty Python quote but I noticed those minor bleeding causes.
CARA, DENISE,- don't know of those GALs or AMIGAs but UMA is a gimme.
A Thurman clue with a 3 letter fill = UMA every time.
UMS, ERS, UHS and other hesitant sounds could work
SMALLS- who killed Biggie Smalls? The multi-million dollar question. But a new hamburger chain that sells sliders has opened. The name is SMALLS.
Time to SPLIT.
I didn't really know it but have seen it before. But not in a crossword puzzle.
Sincere condolences, Nina.
Condolences and prayers for all, Nina.
OK, gotcha.
“tec”for detective was new to me, so “data scrape” was a no go as I was unaware of the term and couldn’t WAG it. Otherwise, A-OK. Remember seeing MP and the Holy Grail in the theater with my dearly departed.
Hi All!
As an avid fan of all things Monty Python (including the eponymous computer language), I thoroughly enjoyed Zachary's puzzle. Thanks ZDL.
And, Jinx called it, Splynter's review added a new level of silliness not seen since the Black Beast of Aaaaargghh gave the animator a heart attack. The icing on the cake is Splynter's sign-off graphic.
[Cut scene to Frank the Famous Historian]
"And Anonymous -T, on his quest to solve the puzzle, encountered many perils:
WOs: SPare -> SPLIT; innie in INTEL's squares which became OUTIE in the correct blocks. sOUR became DOUR when a) web-SCRAPE was too short and b) SATA*-SCRAPE seemed a little too technical for a general audience xword
ESPs: DENISE, CARA
'Having slain the menaces, tales abound extolling the"
Fav: Aside from the EPIC theme, the aqueducts, education, and roads, what have the Romans given us [Life of Brian]? BEAUT
Cheers, -T
*SATA - Serial AT [Advanced Technology] Attachment is interface for hard drives.
Coda - CED, if it's the clip sans anything under their aprons, It's from Live at the Hollywood Bowl "Sit of My [..]" song. I don't have time to dig it up now (and if I did, I probably wouldn't link it :-))
Delightful Wednesday puzzle, many thanks Zachary. And your helpful commentary and pictures are always a pleasure, Splynter, thank you for those too.
Well, this puzzle had many SOLID references, and therefore was a pleasure and not a bit BAD. I loved the reference to LITTLE SAINT NICK, one of the OLDEST saints we've been remembering from childhood on. So let's celebrate him by giving him a toast with some LATTE, and then enjoy an OREO as a treat in his honor. I'd say that gets our day off to a lovely start. AMEN.
Have a pleasant and enjoyable sunny day, everybody.
My Wordle streak ended on Sunday. I just flat out forgot to do the puzzle. Oof! Turns out, it was not the end of the world -- or Wordle.
Inanehiker. I'm sorry for your loss. Prayers for you as you journey through the days ahead.
Thanks to ZDL for a really fun puzzle! I saw the scratches early but your reveal was simply delightful. FAVs were 4D next to 5D and 44A crossing 40D. (I see Splynter called that out, too.)
Thanks to Splynter for all the DATA SCRAPing he did to get those clips. I love that this one fell on your day. You must be very happy.
Yes, unCORKing the wine is the starter of something.
Also, congrats on your fitness progress!
C-Echo. Three rounds in three days. Oof! Hope you can REST the rest of the week.
Inanehiker
Please accept my condolences as well.
Sorry to hear that inanehiker. God Speed to you & yours.
It's always too soon. Sorry for your loss.
Yes, takes a couple of days to get back in the swing of things! Next rounds not until December.
My deepest sympathy, Innanhiker. No matter the age, losing a parent is never easy.
So sorry for the loss of your mother.
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