Theme: Polish, garnish, embellish - all to make it better. Let's start with the unifier.
61. Details that make things perfect, and what 18-, 24-, 39-, and 53-Across have: FINISHING TOUCHES. Final details or actions completing and enhancing a piece of work. The final word of each theme fill is a type of physical touch - thus, the finishing touch.
18. Wildflower with showy red bracts: INDIAN PAINT BRUSH. Also, a BRUSH is a a slight and fleeting touch.
24. Mockumentary about "one of England's loudest bands": THIS IS SPINAL TAP. The comedy film satirizes the behavior and musical pretensions of rock bands and the hagiographic tendencies of serious rock documentaries. It was Rob Reiner's feature directorial debut. Also, a TAP is a quick light blow,
39. Line in Hamlet's "To sleep, perchance to dream" soliloquy: THERE'S THE RUB. This means "that's the difficulty" or "that's the obstacle". It comes from the famous "to be or not to be" soliloquy in Hamlet, where Hamlet is contemplating suicide but is held back by the fear of the unknown afterlife. Also, a RUB is the movement of one's hand, a cloth, or another object back and forth over a surface.
53. Style in a swimming medley: BUTTERFLY STROKE. A swimming stroke characterized by both arms moving forward over the water simultaneously, while the legs perform a synchronized "dolphin" kick. It is the second-fastest swimming stroke and is known for its difficulty, requiring a rhythmic, wave-like body motion for propulsion and breathing. Also, a STRoKE is the action of passing the hand over something with a light, gentle pressure.
Hi gang, JazzBumpa here, fully enjoying the feel of this theme. Let's move along and see what else touches us.
1. Debit card feature: CHIP. A small computer on a card that encrypts transaction data to provide enhanced security against fraud. Unlike a magnetic stripe, which provides static information, the chip generates a unique, one-time code for each transaction, making it much harder for criminals to clone the card
5. Petro-Canada rival: ESSO. The petroleum brand owned by ExxonMobil, used outside the United States.
9. God, in the Haggadah: ADONAI. God is called Adonai because it is a Hebrew word meaning "Lord" or "Master," used to signify God's absolute sovereignty and authority over all of creation.
15. Frost: HOAR. Grayish white; by analogy to gray or gray-haired with age. [Like me.]
16. Flirty growl: RAWR. If you say so.
17. Swerve dangerously: CAREEN.
21. Only: MERE. That is solely or no more or better than what is specified.
22. MIT Sloan deg.: MBA. Master of Business Administration.
23. Photoreceptor cell: ROD.
22. MIT Sloan deg.: MBA. Master of Business Administration.
23. Photoreceptor cell: ROD.
30. "__ so fast!": NOT. An informal idiom meaning to slow down, wait, or reconsider something because a conclusion or action is premature, or unwise.
31. With 1-Down, martial art involving slow movements: TAI. As described - TAI CHI is a Chinese martial art and system of calisthenics, consisting of sequences of very slow controlled movements.
32. Leaves partway through: BAILS. Quit, leaves, or cancels plans, often suddenly. For example, someone might say, "I'm going to bail on this party," which means they are leaving.
33. Unexpected turn: TWIST. As in the plot of a book or movie.
36. French article: LES. Meaning "the."
38. Fabrication: LIE. Something made up.
43. Peace activist Yoko: ONO. A Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, filmmaker, and peace activist. A prominent figure in the Fluxus movement and avant-garde art scene, Ono's work blends visual and performing arts to explore themes of feminism, violence, joy, and human resilience.
44. Sigma follower: TAU. Greek letters.
45. Ice cream utensil: SPOON. An implement consisting of a small, shallow oval or round bowl on a long handle, used for eating, stirring, and serving food.
48. Fairy tale fiends: OGRES. A hideous giant of fairy tales and folklore that feeds on human beings : monster.
50. Gravel size: PEA. Pea gravel is a type of landscaping material made of small, naturally rounded stones about the size of a pea. Its smooth, pea-sized pieces make it a popular choice for decorative purposes like pathways and garden beds, as it is comfortable to walk on and offers good drainage.
52. Mare's meal: HAY. Grass that has been mown and dried for use as fodder.
58. Boxer Muhammad: ALI. Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. [1942 – 2016] was an American professional boxer and activist. A global cultural icon, widely known by the nickname "the Greatest", he is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time
59. Sweets: BAE. The acronym "BAE" has several full forms depending on the context, but most commonly it means "before anyone else" and is used as a term of endearment for a significant other.
60. McDonald's magnate Ray: KROC. Raymond Albert Kroc [1902 - 1984] sometimes called "fast food's founding father", was a businessman who played a key role in McDonald's becoming the world's most successful fast food chain. While not the founder, Kroc was a milkshake mixer salesman who convinced the McDonald brothers to franchise their restaurant nationwide in 1955. He served as CEO from 1967–1973 and developed the McDonald's Corporation franchising program.
68. Timing of many first steps: AGE ONE. Development stage for infants. A somewhat misleading clue, since it could also refer to the first step of a process.
69. Ashram adviser: GURU. In Hinduism and Buddhism, a spiritual teacher, especially one who imparts initiation.
70. Box __: KITE. A type of cellular kite with a rigid, three-dimensional structure made of sticks and cloth or plastic, designed to be stable and strong. Unlike simpler flat kites, it uses multiple surfaces to generate lift, often in a box-like or cellular shape, which makes it highly stable in strong winds and typically eliminates the need for a tail.
71. Good thinking: REASON. The power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic.
72. Cranky state: SNIT. A fit of irritation; a sulk.
73. "Get outta here!": SCAT. Go away; leave.
Down:
69. Ashram adviser: GURU. In Hinduism and Buddhism, a spiritual teacher, especially one who imparts initiation.
70. Box __: KITE. A type of cellular kite with a rigid, three-dimensional structure made of sticks and cloth or plastic, designed to be stable and strong. Unlike simpler flat kites, it uses multiple surfaces to generate lift, often in a box-like or cellular shape, which makes it highly stable in strong winds and typically eliminates the need for a tail.
71. Good thinking: REASON. The power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic.
72. Cranky state: SNIT. A fit of irritation; a sulk.
73. "Get outta here!": SCAT. Go away; leave.
Down:
1. See 31-Across: CHI. TAI CHI is a Chinese martial art and system of calisthenics, consisting of sequences of very slow controlled movements.
2. Sweets: HON. BAE.
3. Fault line?: I ADMIT IT. I did it, and I'm glad! Clever clue about owning up to some action.
4. Gets too personal: PRIES. Inquires too closely into a person's private affairs.
5. "Ready Player One" author Cline: ERNEST. Ernest Christy Cline is an American science fiction novelist, slam poet and screenwriter. He wrote the novels Ready Player One, Armada and Ready Player Two, and co-wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg.
6. Tree goo: SAP. The vital, sugary fluid that moves through a tree's internal tissues to transport water, nutrients, and energy. It can be collected for products like maple syrup, used as a natural adhesive or sealant.
7. Most bogged down?: SWAMPIEST. The most boggy, marshy, miry, mucky, muddy, quaggy, sloppy, sloughy, soggy, squashy, waterlogged.
8. Savanna grazer: ORIBI. The oribi is a small antelope found in eastern, southern and western Africa. The sole member of its genus, it was described by the German zoologist Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann in 1783. While this is the only member in the genus Ourebia, eight subspecies are identified.
9. Do something: ACT. As defined.
10. Blot: DAB. To dry or lightly touch with blotting paper or a towel.
11. NHL great Bobby: ORR. Robert Gordon Orr OC [b. 1948] is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players of all time. Orr used his skating speed, scoring, and play-making abilities to revolutionize the position of defenceman.
His most famous moment
12. Like brain activity: NEURAL. Relating to a nerve or the nervous system.
13. __ Fables: AESOP'S. Aesop [c. 620–564 BCE] was a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop's Fables. Although his existence remains unclear and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a storytelling tradition that continues to this day. Many of the tales associated with him are characterized by anthropomorphic animal characters.
14. With crisp resolution: IN HD. High-Definition, referring to a higher resolution than standard definition for video, audio, and images, resulting in clearer and more detailed content
19. D-backs, on a scoreboard: ARI. For Arizona, the location of their home field.
20. Photographer Goldin: NAN. Nancy Goldin [b. 1953] is an American photographer and activist. Her work explores in snapshot-style the emotions of the individual, in intimate relationships, and the bohemian LGBT subcultural communities, especially dealing with the devastating HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s.
24. Big bang letters?: TNT. Tri-Nitro Toluene, an explosive compound. Another clever clue.
25. "That shouldn't have been possible!": HOW? Inquiry into an extraordinary event.
26. Holiday weekend retail event, often: SALE. A period during which a retailer sells goods at reduced prices.
27. In a position (to): ABLE. Having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something.
28. Hideouts: LAIRS. Secret or private places in which a person, especially a criminal or enemy, takes refuge.
29. Bog down: TIE UP. Have obstacles or impediments to progress.
34. Curt: SHORT. Using or expressing in few words, in a way perceived as rude.
35. Article of faith: TENET. A principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy.
37. Roofer's tool: STAPLE GUN. A handheld mechanical tool for driving staples into a hard surface.
40. Followed a standing order?: ROSE. Stood up, as requested. Clever clue.
41. Lewis in the News: HUEY. Hugh Anthony Cregg III [b. 1950] known professionally as Huey Lewis, is an American actor and former singer-songwriter. Lewis sang lead and played harmonica for his band, Huey Lewis and the News, until being forced into retirement due to hearing loss in 2018; he also wrote or co-wrote many of the band's songs.
42. Fashion style related to luxe grunge: BOHO CHIC. A style that blends the free-spirited, unconventional elements of "bohemian" with the elegant, fashionable aspect of "chic," resulting in an eclectic look that is both free-spirited and curated. First I've heard of it.
13. __ Fables: AESOP'S. Aesop [c. 620–564 BCE] was a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop's Fables. Although his existence remains unclear and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a storytelling tradition that continues to this day. Many of the tales associated with him are characterized by anthropomorphic animal characters.
14. With crisp resolution: IN HD. High-Definition, referring to a higher resolution than standard definition for video, audio, and images, resulting in clearer and more detailed content
19. D-backs, on a scoreboard: ARI. For Arizona, the location of their home field.
20. Photographer Goldin: NAN. Nancy Goldin [b. 1953] is an American photographer and activist. Her work explores in snapshot-style the emotions of the individual, in intimate relationships, and the bohemian LGBT subcultural communities, especially dealing with the devastating HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s.
24. Big bang letters?: TNT. Tri-Nitro Toluene, an explosive compound. Another clever clue.
25. "That shouldn't have been possible!": HOW? Inquiry into an extraordinary event.
26. Holiday weekend retail event, often: SALE. A period during which a retailer sells goods at reduced prices.
27. In a position (to): ABLE. Having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something.
28. Hideouts: LAIRS. Secret or private places in which a person, especially a criminal or enemy, takes refuge.
29. Bog down: TIE UP. Have obstacles or impediments to progress.
34. Curt: SHORT. Using or expressing in few words, in a way perceived as rude.
35. Article of faith: TENET. A principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy.
37. Roofer's tool: STAPLE GUN. A handheld mechanical tool for driving staples into a hard surface.
40. Followed a standing order?: ROSE. Stood up, as requested. Clever clue.
41. Lewis in the News: HUEY. Hugh Anthony Cregg III [b. 1950] known professionally as Huey Lewis, is an American actor and former singer-songwriter. Lewis sang lead and played harmonica for his band, Huey Lewis and the News, until being forced into retirement due to hearing loss in 2018; he also wrote or co-wrote many of the band's songs.
42. Fashion style related to luxe grunge: BOHO CHIC. A style that blends the free-spirited, unconventional elements of "bohemian" with the elegant, fashionable aspect of "chic," resulting in an eclectic look that is both free-spirited and curated. First I've heard of it.
46. Bourbon barrel wood: OAK. Bourbon must be aged in new, charred oak barrels. It’s a critical step in developing bourbon’s distinct flavor. Freshly distilled bourbon doesn’t look anything like what you use to make an Old Fashioned. When it comes out of the still, it’s crystal clear, and smells and tastes like funky raw grain. Most of a bourbon’s character, and all of its color, come from the cask itself. As the bourbon ages in the barrel, it soaks up flavor, aroma, and pigment from the oak. All barrels used to age beverages are heat-treated in some way, since raw wood has an unpleasantly green and sappy flavor. Wine barrels are usually toasted, while bourbon barrels are always charred, giving them a sweet, smoky tinge.
47. Dec. 31: NYE. New Year's Eve, the last day of the calendar year.
48. Do a kindness for: OBLIGE. Do as someone asks or desires in order to help or please them.
49. Liberia neighbor: GUINEA. Guinea is a country in West Africa, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. It's known for the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, in the southeast. The reserve protects a forested mountain range rich in native plants and animals, including chimpanzees and the viviparous toad. On the coast, the capital city, Conakry, is home to the modern Grand Mosque and the National Museum, with its regional artifacts.
51. Invite to coffee, say: ASK OUT. Request for someone to accompany you someplace.
54. Slugger's stat: RBI. Runs Batted In, A statistic credited to a batter for driving in a run for their team. It's a key metric for evaluating offensive performance..
55. Viper teeth: FANGS. Generally, the biting mouthpart of an animal; more specifically, the tooth of a venomous snake, by which poison is injected.
56. "Ur not wrong": TRU. Short for true or correct.
57. Is awesome: ROCKS. As a slang verb, "rocks" means something is very good, enjoyable, or impressive,
58. In the distance: AFAR. Over yonder.
62. Apple platform: IOS. An operating system used for mobile devices manufactured by Apple Inc.
63. Commercial prefix that evokes winter weather: SNO-. A common abbreviation for "snow" or "snowy".
64. Female lobster: HEN. This is the standard term for a female lobster. When a female lobster is carrying eggs, she is specifically called a "berried hen".
65. Three-legged race, briefly?: TRI. Generally, a prefix indication for three of anything. Here, an abbrev.
66. Best guess as to when, initially: ETA. Estimated Time of Arrival.
67. Matching game with diamonds, squiggles, and ovals: SET. A real-time pattern-recognition game where players race to identify a "set" of three cards from a layout of 12.
So this set, and this Wednesday, come to a close. Thanksgiving day is next week. Hope yours is joyous and food-full. We'll have a house full of family members and significant others.
Cool Regards!
JzB
49 comments:
I wonder how many
people here are familiar with the
“mockumentary” “This Is Spinal Tap”?
I guess we’ll find out today.
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Weird -- the themers came to me almost immediately, the crossing words, not so much. Still, it all came together in the end. Wanted OKAPI, but it just wasn't working. HAY reminds me of my H.S. years, spending the summers in the hay fields bringing in the bales for the mom'n'pop farms. Cute theme, Joe. Great explication, JzB. (Your careful researching introduced me to the word "viviparous.")
FIW, missing my WAG @ OlIBI x the dreadful RAWl. Why does Blogger use a font where capital eyes and lower case ells look the same? Anyway, scoop->SPOON, shoo->SCAT, mar->DAB, and uno->SET. Oddball clue for SET.
Thought of CC's swimming classes @ BUTTERFLY STROKE. I hope her medical issues don't keep her out of the pool.
Had KROK invented cheap plastic holey shoes instead of developing the McDonald brothers' restaurant idea, he might have been able to afford a better team than the Padres.
STAPLE GUNs are sometimes used on a roof's paper underlayment, but the shingles are fastened with nail GUNs.
Thanks to Joe for a mostly-fun, Wednesday-appropriate puzzle. I could have done without RAWR in general, but especially when crossed with ORIBI. And thanks to JzB for another thorough review.
I have to say, I ADMIT IT. I had all kinds of trouble putting the FINISHING TOUCHES on the puzzle but I worked it out. The N gave me fits, with multiple unknowns and dead ends.
Fault line? I AM NOT IT, hey, it wasn't my fault that "I am not it" didn't work out. I finally filled I ADMIT IT. OKAPI -I knew it wasn't a savannah animal but an ORIBI is not an animal I knew. An ORANG is in Borneo and an OKAPI is browser. But you can find an ORIBI in GUINEA. ERNEST, NAN, and ADONAI were unknown people and a god. After filling the rest of the puzzle and reading the 'touches', I was thinking CRUSH for the end of 18A. INDIAN PAINT BRUSH was also an unknown. But I managed to FIR.
I ADMIT IT, really. I didn't know THIS IS SPINAL TAP was a movie. I've heard of it but I thought it was some some fake cover band from years ago.
IMHO, Yoko ONO is most famous for managing to take all of John Lennon's first son's money. Gold digger. A good job if you can get it.
SET- that's a new game for me, a complete unknown.
Guilty for not knowing.
Ray Kroc
ORIBI, ADONAI, and a couple of other entries in the top third of the puzzle had me stumped, and ready to declare "this is not a Wednesday puzzle."
But THISISSPINALTAP, THERESTHERUB, and BUTTERFLYSTROKE all filled in quickly and I was able to breeze through the bottom two-thirds before returning to chip away at the top.
Overall, a fine Wednesday puzzle.
FIR. I found this a little more crunchy than the usual Wednesday fare. The top took me the longest to fill. It didn't help that I threw down okapi first at 8D. That really slowed me down. Oribi arrived and everything fell into place.
I picked up on the theme early on and that helped a lot.
So overall a fairly enjoyable puzzle.
all those who fell for okapi jump up and ululate!
Good Morning:
This was a cute theme, well-executed. There was even an Easter Egg with 10D Dab. The difficulty level was about right and the perps made the solve easily attainable. The NW took a while but once I changed Limn to Hoar and parsed I Admit It, I finished 1-2-3. I’m not familiar with Indian Paint Brush, Oribi, or Ernest but, again, perps to the rescue. Swampiest is kind of awkward but that’s a small nit in an otherwise clean grid.
Thanks, Joe, don’t be a stranger, and thanks, JazzB, for a very interesting and detailed review.
Have a great day.
You do and you'll clean it up!
Knew.
FIR. I found this to be a challenging but highly enjoyable puzzle. Lots of fun clues: SWAMPIEST, TRI, ROSE. Had trouble filling in the reveal from perps, but after careful examination of the themers it came to me. That was very satisfying!
I fell into the OKAPI trap, but then what the heck is an MPA degree??
Thank-you to Joe for the pleasing trip through the grid, and to JazzB for the entertaining review.
This was a steady solve with a little crunch here and there as expected for a Wednesday.
We have INDIAN PAINTBRUSH here, but the name has changed to be more p.c. but less attractive Orange Hackweed
I had rime go to HOAR
Christopher Guest's films often in conjunction with Rob Reiner are often longstanding cult classic mockumentaries including THIS IS SPINAL TAP about rock bands, "Best in Show" about dog shows, "A Mighty Wind" about folk singers. He has a collection of actors that are usually in his company including Eugene Levy , Catherine O'Hara, Ed Begley, Jr, Jane Lynch et al
If you enjoy quirky humor, you'd enjoy these.
I think TRI was a shortened for TRIathlon whose three "legs" are swimming, biking, running
Thanks JzB for an informative blog and Joe for the puzzle
Took 8:31 today to, well, finish this one.
There were some unsightly words in the top third of this puzzle: oribi, adonai, rawr, Nan, and inhd. That doesn't include the unpleasant "foreign language + part of speech" so-called clue, which today gave us "les." Seemed like way too many 3LWs today too. So, not my favorite puzzle, but at least it didn't have those pesky circles.
SubG, I have seen "This Is Spinal Tap." I believe they're making a sequel.
It’s not too late to ungulate
Absolutely hilarious. If you haven’t seen it, do so. Reiner now working on sequel!
DNF. Couldn't suss the upper Midwest, and couldn't get on Joe's (editors?) wavelength this morning. Some strange clues.
This started the Mockumentsry series . “Best in Show” “A Mighty Wind” and “Waiting for Guffman” with many of the same actors
FIR, but didn’t feel like a Wednesday due to several unknowns coupled with difficult clues. I thought boho chic was around long before grunge? And while it certainly had to be okapi, it wasn’t! Never heard of oribi. Didn’t know writer E Cline; and give us a break on rawr since that was just jammed in clumsily. But fun overall for a Wednesday since there was enough to work with. Also Spinal Tap sequel coming out soon I think.
FIW which I sorta knew. Had oat for HAY which gave me BOOOCHIC (If you’re a ghost at a gala). I’ve heard of hoboCHIC NOT BOHOCHIC which I couldn’t work in
All this rubbing and stroking where I work will land you in the HR office 🤨
Had it backwards : I was TAI when I shoulda been CHI
Inkover: scoop/SPOON
RAWR ?? Like a Lyon? You’ll scare off the ORIBI whatever that is. SET is a “matching game”?
GUINEA? Hey!! 😠
Wheres the Vicks?: … THERE’S THE RUB
Greek sea … AGEONE
Bobby ___ shoulda done Crew…. ORR
Happy 🐫 day
I had no problems with the theme and the theme fills, in fact I really liked them. Where I bogged down was the NE. Mainly not knowing ADONAI, OLIBI and RAWL.
Other obstacles included not knowing HUEY, ERNEST, as clued, and NAN. Finally guesses and perps took care of them. It didn’t help that I hung on to scoop for SPOON and oat for HAY far too long.
Yes, I knew THIS IS SPINAL TAP. LOL.
Thank you Jazzbumpa for your nice review. Although we’ve had BAE frequently in our puzzles, I never knew what it stood for, so thanks for your reveal.
Um, that should ORIBI and RAWR.
Musings
-Ralph Kramden would tell Alice that a large amount of money was a “MERE bag of shells”
-ONO did find an avenue out of what would have been her obscurity
-ALI, on the other hand, had actual skills to avoid obscurity
-The movie Founder stars Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc and tells real story about ruthless capitalism. Trailer
-Parson Weems fabricated the cherry tree/axe story where Washington said I ADMIT IT
-More obscurity: O _ _ _ I seemed to call for OKAPI
-ACT: My mother used to say sarcastically, “Don’t just do something, stand there!”
-The ARI D-Backs and Cardinals have pushed Onassis off the grid recently
-The air compressor guns have increased roofers’ speed and saved their hands
-Items can look much different in Apple IOS (iPhone) than in Apple OSX (Mac)
Hand up for not knowing.
Hand up knew THIS IS SPINAL TAP. But who had heard of KATIE BAR THE DOOR yesterday?
Wonderful Wednesday. Thanks for the fun, Joe and JazzB I FIRed and saw the FINISHING TOUCHES early.
The NW corner held me up, until CHIP and PRIES opened the logjam there.
Unknown-to-me names, HUEY, ERNEST, NAN perped.
I had Boxed SETS at 70A until I needed SET at the crossing 67D. I’m not familiar with Boxed KITEs.
ScOOp changed to SPOON (I like ice cream!)
Okapi changed to the lesser known ORINI.
Mar changed to DAB, Oat to HAY.
EVE became the initials NYE to match the abbreviated Dec.
RAWR after HOAR was amusing. BAE not so much (but we did have HON). Thanks JazzB for the “before anyone else” explanation. That seems more acceptable than the “short for Babe” that I had in my head.
Wishing you all a great day.
Not I.
Hola! Not too easy, not to hard. This was just right for a Wednesday, IMO.
Only one change, NEURAL from MENTAL.
Thank you, JazzBumpa, for your usual thorough expose'.
I'll take a CSO at ARIzona.
ORIBI filled in thanks to Saturday programming narrated by Sir David Attenborough who knows where the "wild things are."
Have a lovely day, everyone!
Great catch on that Easter Egg.
Started with pen-on-paper, but had to switch to online w/ red-letter help due to top-center. DNK ODONAI but got that with perps. But also DNK ORIBI or RAWR; the crossing "R" forced me to do an alpha run. So...finished the CW in 14, but the alpha run means I can't claim I managed to FIR. Rats. 11 names, only DNK 3. KROK? CROC? CROK? KROC? Oy. I knew the name but needed red-letter help to get the spelling, since I also DNK BOHOCHIC. My bad eyes had me reading "Fairy tale friend" at first. And I do not like BAE: I have never heard anyone say that. "Swampiest" is pretty clunky, and I have never heard anyone say THAT either. Overall, not a good CW day for me. :-(( . Thanx anyway, JD, gotta admit it's a clever CW. Thanx too to JzB for the fine write-up.
Well, I bet Ernest in this puzzle was very earnest about wanting to find a partner he could TIE UP with. He probably first searched in the SWAMPIEST places for someone he could ASK OUT, and then he found the HON he was looking for. He gave her a ROSE on that first date, and she did OBLIGE him in return with a kiss and a KITE. That felt like a BUTTERFLY STROKE to him, and he told her 'that ROCKS'! and kissed her back. They spent the next few months putting the FINISHING TOUCHES on their relationship and a year later they celebrated their little boy on the day of his AGE ONE birthday. A very happy family!
Have a lovely sunny day, everyone.
I had. Don’t ask where or how.
sdfsdf
I thought this puzzle was an eleven...
well, somebody had to link it...
Enjoyed the bottom of this puzzle but not the top one third RAWR!
Send some left over Thanksgiving fixins . Oh and a bag of Pennies with good King Chuck’s image on them instead of Abe.
Sounds like a "beauty contest" in the US Congress. They are all swamp creatures, but we could have a panel to compare the self-serving things they have done. Could have the swampiest, swampy runner up, and swampy dishonorable mention.
One of DH's favorite movies.
Thanks, Joe, for the wonderful Wednesday puzzle, and JazzBumpa for the encyclopedic review. I did not see the FINISHING TOUCHES until 61-Across clued me in, and I enjoyed the aha moment. Felt uncertain about "set" as a game, but it worked out.
When reading Hebrew prayers or Biblical texts, Jews do not attempt to vocalize the consonants YHVH, the name of God, which was uttered only in the innermost chamber of the tabernacle, and then the temple, where the Ark of the Covenant (containing the tablets with the ten commandments inscribed by God) were kept. It helps to know that Hebrew has no vowel signs (except in modern annotation developed for language learners), so since the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, no one has uttered nor heard the name of God, and its vocalization is unknown. (Jehovah and Yahweh are modern attempts to reproduce it.) THEREFORE, when we encounter YHVH (Hebrew characters יהוה) in a text, we say Adonai, or My Lord.
I should add that we wouldn't pronounce יהוה even if we knew how, because it is a holy name and its usage was always restricted. In fact, my more Orthodox friends would object to my writing the tetragrammaton here, and would substitute יי . And some people don't say Adonai, but say instead HaShem, meaning "The Name." God told his name to Moses, but the rest of us are not on a first name basis.
I liked this puzzle. I usually like Joe Deeney's work.
Thank you for that interesting and informative explanation.
We've had a lot of rain! it's needed!
Thanks to Joe Deeny for his "touching" puzzle. FAV was the clue for ROSE.
What Inanehiker said.
Thank you for this information.
Thank you NaomiZ. Does that also mean that putting "In God We Trust" on anything goes against this Biblical rule?
Not much left from Thanksgiving last month - just some turkey soup in the freezer. And we don’t have Pennie’s any more, but all our other new coins (including loonies and toonies) have King Charles on them. But I rarely use change any more, and haven’t seen too many of them. A $20 bill with his image is in the works.
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