Theme: Conductor's Conduct or Overbearing at the Opera or Tyranny from the Pit. In-the-language phrases are repurposed as harsh instructions from the conductor to members of a musical ensemble.
20. "Second oboe, play the right notes this time!," e.g.: WIND DIRECTION. This normally refers to the compass point from which the wind originates, rather than where it is blowing towards. But here it is a rather rude instruction given to one of the wind instrument players. There are generally considered to be the woodwinds.
26. "Sing your solo correctly for once!," e.g.: VOICE COMMAND. This usually indicates a spoken word or phrase used to control devices, software, or applications, enabling hands-free operation via speech recognition technology. But here it is another rude correction of a poor singer, probably feeling a bit intimidated.
45. "Perform the music as written! No sharps or flats!," e.g.: NATURAL ORDER. This typically refers to the inherent, logical, or spontaneous arrangement of things in the universe, operating according to natural laws rather than human design - perhaps the music of the spheres. Or maybe not. This one is a bit of a stretch, but yes, one should play the notes on the page and not add in any vagrant accidentals [written sharps of flats that are foreign to the key signature.]
54. "You must!," or how a demanding conductor would interpret 20-, 26-, and 45-Across: IT'S IMPERATIVE. Disobedience is not an option, so get it right.
Hi, Gang, JazzBumpa here to conduct us on our way through this musical composition. I promise not to be over bearing.
Fortunately, I never had to deal with that kind of conductor - though there are many of them out there. Once, when I was playing in an amateur symphony orchestra, due to a copyists error - so, totally not my fault - I wound up playing a note that clashed with the music. IIRC, this was in Howard Hanson's 2nd Symphony - an absolutely gorgeous piece of music. The conductor looked a me and said, "Just play any note in the chord." I asked, "What is the chord?" "D Major," he replied. I was playing a G. Probably the worst possible note in that context.
1. "__ Secretary": Téa Leoni drama: MADAM. Madam Secretary explored Elizabeth McCord's life as the reluctant but determined United States Secretary of State. She drives international diplomacy, battles office politics, and circumvents protocol, if needed, as she navigates global conflicts. The show also focuses on McCord's personal life and family, and their relationship with her work; she is married and has three children. Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni [b. 1966] known professionally as Téa Leoni, is an American actress and producer. Leoni also starred in the short-lived 1992 sitcom Flying Blind and The Naked Truth. She's been married to both Tim Daly and David Duchovny, with whom she has a child named West. Leoni is also a dedicated supporter of UNICEF, traveling to see their programs in action and serving on their National Board.
6. Sound effect made with coconut shells: CLOP.
14. Horace composition: EPODE. Horace's Epodes is a collection of 17 early Roman poems, published around 30-29 BCE, that imitate the iambic verse of the Greek poet Archilochus, featuring themes of love, nature, politics, and social commentary with a tone ranging from witty to vitriolic. The poems, written in a mix of meters, often use a longer first line followed by a shorter second line (the "epode"), and explore topics like loyalty to his patron Maecenas, the contrast between rural and urban life, and sharp invective against enemies, showcasing a more aggressive style than his later Odes.
15. "Houdini" singer Dua: LIPA. Dua Lipa [b. 1995] is an English singer, songwriter, and model known for her dance-infused pop anthems and husky vocals. Her music blends influences from pop, dance, and electronic genres, with retro-inspired disco and pop rhythms. Lipa has won seven Brit Awards and three Grammys. The name Dua was her grandmother's suggestion, and means "love" in Albanian.
16. 2017 Tony winner "Come From __": AWAY. Come From Away is a Tony Award-winning musical by Irene Sankoff and David Hein that tells the true story of the 7,000 airline passengers stranded in Gander, Newfoundland, after the 9/11 attacks, and the small town that welcomed them with open hearts and homes.
17. "... and anything else that might come up": OR WHATEVER.
19. Hon: BABE. Terms of endearment.
22. Sneaky: SLY. Having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature.
23. Blood: KIN. Those in a familial relationship.
24. Ashram figure: MONK. An Ashram is a hermitage, monastic community, or other place of religious retreat. A MONK isa member of a religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
31. "Gnossiennes" composer: SATIE. Eric Alfred Leslie Satie (1866 – 1925), better known as Erik Satie, was a French composer and pianist. "Gnossienne," a word he invented, refers to a set of seven piano pieces composed by Erik Satie around 1890, characterized by a unique, unconventional style without traditional bar lines or structure. They are fabulously experimental pieces in which the form consists of haunting melodic fragments which circle around without any specific direction or goal. In their circularity and stasis they seem to lay down a challenge to German 19th century dominance: music does not have to be developmental; neither does it have to be goal-directed or hierarchical. It can simply float along and be an evocative mystery.
34. Take a chance: DARE.
35. Online marketing strategy, for short: SEO. Search Engine Optimization is the practice of improving a website to increase its visibility in organic (unpaid) search engine results. By optimizing content, technical structure, and authority, SEO helps search engines like Google understand and rank pages higher, driving more targeted traffic to a website.
36. Count in the cereal aisle: CHOCULA. A chocolate-flavored, marshmallow-filled breakfast cereal introduced by General Mills in March 1971, featuring a friendly vampire mascot. Primarily sold during the Halloween season, it is part of the "Monster Cereals" line alongside Franken Berry and Boo Berry.
39. "Girl With a Pearl Earring" painter: VERMEER. Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675) was a renowned Dutch Baroque painter specializing in intimate, meticulously detailed domestic interior scenes. He worked slowly, producing only about 35 known paintings, often using expensive pigments to masterfully depict light and calm, quiet atmospheres. Despite his talent, he was not wealthy and left his wife and many children in debt upon his sudden death, leading to centuries of obscurity before his rediscovery.
41. __ Lingus: AER. Aer Lingus, the flag carrier airline of the Republic of Ireland, was founded in 1936. Headquartered at Dublin Airport, it operates a hybrid business model providing both low-cost European and full-service transatlantic flights to over 100 destinations across Europe and North America.
42. Invalidate: VOID. To cancel, invalidate, or nullify something, such as a contract, check, or warranty, rendering it legally ineffective.
44. Like a dive bar: SEEDY. Said of a person, place, or thing that is disreputable, shabby, or in poor condition, often implying a sense of moral decay or dishonesty. It can also mean run-down or dirty.
49. Lavish love (on): DOTE. Be extremely and uncritically fond of.
50. Graphic opening?: GEO-. The prefix geo- means earth, ground, or land. It is used in English to form words relating to physical, geographical, or geological aspects of our planet. Some people think this kind of clue is clever. To me, it is self-referential and misleadingly annoying.
51. Check out: VET. To thoroughly investigate, examine, or check someone or something for accuracy, authenticity, or suitability. It is commonly used in professional contexts to screen candidates, check documents, or evaluate potential risks before approval. It is a 19th-century back-formation from the abbreviation of "veterinarian," originating in the 1890s. It initially meant to submit a horse to a physical examination by a vet before a race, and by the early 1900s, it broadened to mean examining anyone or anything for flaws.
59. Coil in a garden: HOSE. A coil is a length of something wound or arranged in a spiral or sequence of rings. This is a typical arrangement for a garden hose. Or, perhaps, a snake. Be careful.
61. Worker who tracks transactions: BOOKKEEPER. A person whose job is to keep records of the financial affairs of a business. I don't know of another English word with either a double K, or a sequence of three consecutive double letters.
62. The America's Cup, for one: EWER. The America's Cup is a sailing competition and the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. Or, as here, the relvant trophy. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one from the yacht club that currently holds the trophy and the other from the yacht club that is challenging for the cup. A EWER is a large jug with a wide mouth.
42. Invalidate: VOID. To cancel, invalidate, or nullify something, such as a contract, check, or warranty, rendering it legally ineffective.
44. Like a dive bar: SEEDY. Said of a person, place, or thing that is disreputable, shabby, or in poor condition, often implying a sense of moral decay or dishonesty. It can also mean run-down or dirty.
49. Lavish love (on): DOTE. Be extremely and uncritically fond of.
50. Graphic opening?: GEO-. The prefix geo- means earth, ground, or land. It is used in English to form words relating to physical, geographical, or geological aspects of our planet. Some people think this kind of clue is clever. To me, it is self-referential and misleadingly annoying.
51. Check out: VET. To thoroughly investigate, examine, or check someone or something for accuracy, authenticity, or suitability. It is commonly used in professional contexts to screen candidates, check documents, or evaluate potential risks before approval. It is a 19th-century back-formation from the abbreviation of "veterinarian," originating in the 1890s. It initially meant to submit a horse to a physical examination by a vet before a race, and by the early 1900s, it broadened to mean examining anyone or anything for flaws.
59. Coil in a garden: HOSE. A coil is a length of something wound or arranged in a spiral or sequence of rings. This is a typical arrangement for a garden hose. Or, perhaps, a snake. Be careful.
61. Worker who tracks transactions: BOOKKEEPER. A person whose job is to keep records of the financial affairs of a business. I don't know of another English word with either a double K, or a sequence of three consecutive double letters.
62. The America's Cup, for one: EWER. The America's Cup is a sailing competition and the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. Or, as here, the relvant trophy. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one from the yacht club that currently holds the trophy and the other from the yacht club that is challenging for the cup. A EWER is a large jug with a wide mouth.
63. Sea eagle: ERNE. An older, traditional name for a large sea eagle, specifically the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), a massive bird of prey found across Eurasia, closely related to North America's Bald Eagle. This used to be a frequent flier in crosswords. Now it is a rare bit of nostalgia.
64. Signals from space, perhaps: OMENS. Omens are events regarded as portents of good or evil. I am not getting the connection to the clue.
65. Dumpster fire: MESS. A chaotic or disastrously mishandled situation. Mess hardly seems adequate.
66. Mary __ Lincoln: TODD. Mary Ann Todd Lincoln [1818 - 1882] was First Lady of the United States from 1861 until the assassination of her husband, President Abraham Lincoln, in 1865. Mary Todd was born into a large and wealthy slave-owning family in Kentucky, although Mary never owned slaves and in her adulthood came to oppose slavery.
67. Hospital employee: NURSE. Registered nurses (RNs) provide direct patient care, acting as health educators and advocates in hospitals, clinics, and homes.
Down:
1. Feline chorus: MEOWS. Stylized cat sounds.
2. National Scrabble Day month: APRIL. National Scrabble Day is celebrated annually on April 13th to honor the birth of the game's inventor, Alfred Mosher Butts, born on this day in 1899. The day promotes playing the iconic word game, which was originally developed during the Great Depression and is now enjoyed globally in over 120 countries.
3. Soft and fluffy: DOWNY. Covered [or filled] with fine soft hair or feathers. By extension, anything with a similar feeling.
4. Med. condition treated with Ritalin: ADHD. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning. It typically starts in childhood and can continue into adulthood, affecting how the brain manages focus, organization, and behavioral control.
5. Medieval fair quaff: MEAD. Mead, or honey wine, is an ancient alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water, often with fruits, spices, or hops. It ranges from dry to sweet and 3.5% to >20% ABV. Best served chilled (white wine temp) or slightly warmer for spiced versions, it offers a versatile flavor profile reflecting the honey source, ranging from floral to fruity or spicy.
6. Healing character class in D&D: CLERIC. Dungeons and Dragons features 13 core character classes. Each has a different set of strengths and weaknesses. Clerics have a special relationship with a specific god and can function as versatile divine spellcasters and armored front-line support, serving as armored healers, protectors, and undead hunters who draw power from a deity or divine domain.
7. Pepped (up): LIVENED. Made something more lively, exciting, energetic or intereresting.
8. Gp. founded in Baghdad: OPEC. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
9. Hair line?: PART. The line on the scalp where hair is divided and brushed in different directions, often dictated by natural growth patterns, cowlicks, or styling preferences. The other hair line is the edge or border where hair growth begins on the human head, particularly along the forehead. In recent years I have experienced significant forehead growth.
10. Explosive sound: KABOOM. Used to represent the sound of a loud explosion.
11. "Lemme look!": I WANNA SEE. A couple of colloquial contractions expressing a desire to observe something.
12. Open page on a web browser: TAB. A user interface element located at the top of the window that allows you to open and switch between multiple websites within a single browser window. At the moment, I have 13 open in Chrome.
13. Cornea locale: EYE. The cornea is the transparent, dome-shaped outermost layer at the front of the eye, covering the iris and pupil.
18. Polynesian carving: TIKI. A carved human-like figure representing Polynesian deities or the first man in Māori mythology, embodying a deep spiritual connection to nature.
21. Plunge into liquid: IMMERSE. Dip or submerge in a liquid.
25. Gave a leg up to?: KNEED. Hit someone with the knee.
26. The Old __: London venue: VIC. A historic, independent theatre in Lambeth, South London, founded in 1818 and famously nicknamed for its 1833 renaming to the Royal Victoria Theatre. Renowned for Shakespearean productions, it served as the original home of the National Theatre from 1963 to 1976 and is a major cultural landmark.
27. Bodies of work: OEUVRES. The works of a painter, composer, or author regarded collectively.
28. CLE player: CAV. The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. They are currently in 4th place.
29. Mine deposit: ORE. A naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be profitably extracted.
30. Flat-bottomed fishing boat: DORY. A small flat-bottomed rowboat with a high bow and stern, of a kind originally used for fishing in New England.
31. Airport security check: SCAN. A safety screening process using technology like millimeter-wave imaging or X-ray systems to detect metallic and non-metallic, prohibited items (weapons, explosives) on passengers or in luggage.
32. Up, in a way: AHEAD. A team or individual that is leading - or ahead- of their opponent is said to be "up" on them.
33. Giant Galapagos natives: TORTOISES. The Galápagos tortoise (Chelonoidis niger), also called the Galápagos giant tortoise, is a very large species of tortoise in the genus Chelonoidis (which also contains three smaller species from mainland South America). The species comprises 15 subspecies (12 extant and 3 extinct). It is the largest living species of tortoise, and can weigh up to 417 kg (919 lb). They are also the largest extant terrestrial cold-blooded animals (ectotherms).
37. Hawaiian for "long": LOA. Distant, long, tall, far or permanent.
38. Feel bad: AIL. Troubled or afflicted in mind or body.
40. Large body of eau: MER. French for water and sea.
43. Backyard feature for a water-loving pup: DOG POND. A specific body of water, a designated area within a park, or a business dedicated to dogs swimming, playing, or training. I suppose there could be one in a backyard somewhere.
46. Says out loud: UTTERS. Makes a sound with one's voice.
47. Stunk: REEKED. Emitted a strong and unpleasant odor.
48. "How To __ Your Diary": interactive edition in a YA series: DORK. An interactive, DIY companion book to Rachel Renée Russell's popular Dork Diaries series, offering tips, prompts, and space for readers to create their own secret journals, inspired by Nikki Maxwell's experiences with diary-keeping, code words, and the importance of privacy.
51. Bygone Dodge two-seater: VIPER. A sports car manufactured for most years between 1992 and 2017.
52. Levels: EVENS. Gives something a flat and even surface.
53. Hardly rambling: TERSE. Sparing in the use of words; abrupt.
55. Skeptical scoff: I BET. A phrase used sarcastically to mean the opposite of it's literal meaning, hence indicating severe doubt or disbelief.
56. __ reflex: infant's instinctive protective response: MORO. An involuntary, protective, two-phase reaction in newborns triggered by a sensation of falling, sudden movement, or loud noise. When startled, a baby throws back their head, extends arms and legs, cries, and then pulls limbs back inward. It typically appears at birth and disappears by 5–6 months.
57. Millennia upon millennia: AEON. A very long indefinite time period.
58. Online discount marketplace: TEMU. Temu is an online marketplace operated by e-commerce company PDD Holdings, which is owned by Colin Huang. It offers heavily discounted consumer goods, mostly shipped to consumers directly from China.
59. Haw counterpart: HEM. To hem and haw is to be uncertain and take a long time deciding something. The phrase originated in the 16th and 17th centuries as an imitative phrase for hesitant, indecisive, or evasive speech.
60. Be outstanding: OWE. Any unpaid debt is said to be outstanding.
So ends our more or less musical excursion. Hope it hit the right notes for you.
Cool regards!
Ron
36 comments:
Besides a few “unusual “
words (“oeuvres,” anybody?) I didn’t find this puzzle too difficult.
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
I love how this creation from long time constructor CRAIG STOWE is discussed by our professional trombone master. Other than no recollection of the term MORO this was a good puzzle for me. Thanks Ron and Craig
Good morning!
DORK, MORO, and TEMU made the lower section challenging for yours truly. It also resulted in BANKTELLER where BOOKKEEPER needed to go. Fixed. Thanx, Craig (long time, no see) and JzB. (Wow, today's expo was chock full of learning moments. Nice.)
Musings
-A true challenge for a Hump Day. I’m getting ready to leave for my cataract surgery. My lens in Jazz's EYE diagram will be replaced at 11 am today.
Best wishes for a successful and trouble-free outcome, HG.
Good Morning:
This offering had more than the usual Wednesday challenges, IMO. The SE corner, as DO mentioned, had several obstacles including the unknown SEO, Dork, Moro, and the Eons/Aeon quandary. It eventually all fell into place, however, so a FIR was achieved. I really like the word “Oeuvre” but the plural spoiled its desired effect, IMO.
Thanks, Craig, and thanks, JazzB, for explaining the theme and reveal from a musician’s viewpoint. Your interpretation added some much-needed fleshing out of an unusually narrow theme, at least to this solver’s experience.
Have a great day.
FIR, but mede->MEAD (UNTIE!) and hee->HEM. DNK AWAY, CLERIC, DORK, MORO, and DOG POND.
Blood Sweat and Tears recorded Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie (1st and 2nd Movements - Adapted from 'Trois Gymnopedies')
I thought SEO was foreign to me, but when JzB explained it I remembered that I used to know it. The practice is similar to inserting key words and phrases into a resume to get through HR's skimmer software and make it to human eyes. IIRC, most SEO is done in metadata.
Blah, blah, blah Dua will always be LIPA.
Never heard of a DOG POND, but when I had Irish Wolfhounds I kept kiddie pools filled with clean water for them to cool off in.
Lots of lore about America's Cup. The actual name of the trophy is the "20 Guinea Cup," and was first awarded in 1851. It was won in 1857 by the US yacht America, and the trophy has been called America's Cup ever since. Queen Victoria watched from her royal yacht, and when it became obvious that America would win, she asked which boat was in second. One of her servants famously replied, "Your majesty, there is no second."
The New York Yacht Club held the Cup for 132 years. Lore had it that any skipper who lost the Cup would have his head replacing the spot formerly occupied by it. Dennis Conner lost the trophy to an Australian boat in 1983. I remember watching the series on a fledgling TV channel called ESPN. Conner had a big lead on the last leg of the race, but made a bad decision (or maybe threw the race) by sailing into a lull that the Australian boat avoided. (Why would he throw the race? The defending club was the NYYC. Losing the Cup would open the door for another yacht club to gain possession of the trophy, and that's what happened.)
Conner went on to win back the Cup four years later, becoming the first skipper to both lose and win the Cup. When the Cup arrived in San Diego (Conner's hometown) it was put on public display before being ensconced in the San Diego Yacht Club. I drove down from LA to view it. Seeing The Auld Mug (which was another nickname for the trophy) was worth the trip.
Thanks to Craig for the Wednesday challenge, and to JzB for the fun tour.
FIR. Phew, what a workout! This had all the trappings of a Friday puzzle.
The only good thing for me was the theme which was truly clever.
But overall not an enjoyable puzzle.
Good luck! I'm sure you'll have success.
I liked the music theme and thought the difficulty was Wednesday appropriate. But while the revealer made an IMPERATIVE statement, it had nothing to do with music, except in the clue. Was hoping for GOOD CONDUCT or something.
OMENS such as comets or certain alignments of planets can be considered "signals from space."
JZB, thanks for your thorough review. You're like an encyclopedia!
I lucked out and FIR. I didn't catch the musical theme, which is not a NATURAL thing. Thank you perps because SEO, CLERIC, DORK, and MORO were complete unknowns. DOG POND was an easy fill but the term was unknown. A large bird bath.
Best wishes, HG for great outcome.
Several perpped answers like SEO, CLERIC, DORK, MORO. In fact they filled without my noticing. So, a smooth puzzle full of fun clues. The theme surfaced quickly.
I love Satie’s music. I have several of his CDs. CHOCULA and DOG POND were WAGS. I notice quite a few Ks in this puzzle.
OEUVRES appears in hors d’oeuvre, meaning appetizers, therefore outside, as hors means, the works, that is the main dish.
Thank you JZP for your very informative review. In another life, I would have loved to be a musician.
Did anyone else read Chevalier's novel "Girl with a Pearl Earring" based on Vermeer's painting. I really enjoyed it.
I liked Tea Leoni as Madam Secretary. She played a wonder woman who could solve the most serious complicated world event in just a few days.
I dunno, bit of a work out, but a doable one if you count ending in alphabet runs.
Question. Is (that) word in an "English" dictionary?
Also, I dunno. I think I would prefer my fires to be contained, like in a dumpster.
Safer that way...
Aside from the possible smell, all you need is some nice music. Maybe some Satie, and some marshmallows, and very long sticks... and remember to stay upwind...
Tough for a Wednesday, but clever and doable. I caught the musical theme with the first theme clue. FIR in 15.
14 names, DNK 3. Also DNK SEO, OEUVRES, or MORO.
Thanx CS, a very nice creation, I enjoyed working it.
Wow, very impressive write-up, JzB. This CW was right up your alley, and it showed. I enjoyed the Satie music, and your description as "haunting" is absolutely correct.
Not sure if this will work, so, sorry for testing on the blog...
I didn't know today's puzzle would be so enlightening. See:
17 Across. "... and anything else that might come up": OR WHATEVER.
Wow, interesting explanation of hors d'oeuvre. I had no idea. Now, thanx to you, I do!
Hola! What a lovely Wednesday puzzle although at times it felt like Saturday! Fun! And Jazzbumpa's additions were like icing on the cake. Thank you for that.
I loved "The Girl with the Pearl Earring" and the movie as well.
OEUVRES was challenging to spell but perps to the rescue!
I certainly did not understand the use of DORK in the puzzle so thank you, JZB, for explaining it. As for TEMU, i am a big customer especially around the holidays. Since it's Ash Wednesday, I have to get ready to go for ashes at 12. Have a great day, everyone!
Yes, I read the novel and I remember liking it.
This was beyond Wednesday-level difficulty, with too many obscurities (yes, I realize one solver's obscurity is another's wheelhouse) and too-cute cluing.
And to those who object to proper names as "you either know it or you don't," how did you all like that Dungeons and Dragons entry?
Not an enjoyable puzzle at all.
Have you bought several items fromTEMU? Are you totally satisfied? At first sight, I wouldn’t dare order from them.
Hi Gang -
Full disclosure -- I do not have encyclopedic knowledge on any subject. I use the google monster and do a lot of cutting and pasting.
I did enjoy this puzzle, and was happy to get to comment on the quasi-musical theme.
Love Satie's music.
Cool regards,
JzB
I have the same question as Monkey. Did the item you received match your expectation?
I found Craig's puzzle to be challenging, but satisfying, and doable in normal Wednesday breakfast time. Changed SEamY to SEEDY and Hee to HAW. The IMPERATIVE interpretations were clever. Anything I didn't understand, JzB explained thoroughly. Thanks!
Jinx at 8:18 AM, I found your stories about America's Cup fascinating.
Delightful puzzle, many thanks, Craig. And, yes, you were really helpful with your discussion this morning, JazzB, thank you very much for that too.
Well, it's hard to believe that this MADAM would CLOP a KITE (OR WHATEVER), but that kite would probably continue to go in a WIND DIRECTION by itself. Still, Madam would later listen to a VOICE COMMAND, or to a CLERIC, and given the commercial and financial spirit of much of this puzzle, IT'S IMPERATIVE to have a BOOK-KEEPER of some sort to help us out.
So let's leave all this serious stuff behind and head to the NATURAL ORDER of things. Let's just hang out with that NURSE taking care of a BABE who will be playing with the family TORTOISE before too long, and listen to the kitties making their MEOWS. That would be a lot more fun, wouldn't it.
Have a lovely day, everybody.
Did anyone else put EYE for CHECK OUT? Just CHECKing.
There is more to the theme than I am seeing in JazzB’s commentary. It took me a few looks to see DIRECTION, COMMAND and ORDER in those three themers. Those are the IMPERATIVE’s (besides the clues being Imperative).
Musical notes that are not sharp or flat are called NATURALs. That makes sense of NATURAL ORDER.
Best wishes for the best result.
Puzzling thoughts:
This puzzle seemed more difficult than most Wednesday's, but I FIR with a couple of write-overs
Good luck, HG, with your cataract/lens surgery/replacement - hope you had a nice celebration yesterday
Thanks to all who wished me a Happy Birthday yesterday; and yes, TTP, I did know about my connection with Jim Brown and Michael Jordan as fellow 2/17 birthday worshipers (Brown, now, in the afterlife). The others (of note) include Ed Sheeran (Gen Y), Rene Russo, Paris Hilton, and Larry the Cable Guy
Wednesday Workout. Thanks for the fun, Craig and JazzB.
I FIRed and saw the theme , but it took a second look. (See my comment @1:23)
Was OR WHATEVER an “anti-Easter Egg” to the IT’S IMPERATIVE theme?
This seemed a little sticky for mid-week, but perhaps I was concentrating more on the Canada-Czech hockey game. Phew, we squeaked out a victory.
And now I see that actually did not go back to sort out my personal NATICK at 24A, 25D and 35A. If the clue had been Abbey figure instead of Ashram figure, I would have seen the K for MONK, which would have given me KNEED (great clue) and SEO.
I’ll take a CSO with Come from AWAY. I saw the play in Toronto in 2020, just before Covid shut everything down.
Local TV station has been playing reruns of MADAM Secretary. Last night’s was the dramatic Season 4 finale, "Night Watch" with its false alarm nuclear attack.
From yesterday: belated Happy Birthday to CMoe, and belated Happy Anniversary to HuskerG and Joann.
Wishing you all a great day.
Thank you, Craig and Jazzbumpa
JzB, it is appropriate that you blogged this puzzle. I liked your three options for the theme title.
DNK MORO. Learning moment.
The perps helped solve both SATIE and VERMEER. The clues did not. Ditto on the clue for DORK.
I sensed it would be TEMU, but couldn't think of it until I got the MU. Thank you, perps. The other major Chinese online discounter is Shein. I've never ordered from either, but the guy that installed our bedroom flooring told me that he buys from TEMU.
My first thought at bodies of work was corpus, but I couldn't recall the plural form, and it didn't fit anyway.
SEO - What JzB said. And also moderate and delete the spam in the reader comments. An otherwise perfectly fine and well constructed website or blog that is rife with spam comments and links is indicative of poor ownership and oversight. That drives readers away and decreases the SEO score. Lower SEO scores mean less traffic. So if you have intentions of creating your own blogspot and becoming the next Ree Drummond, find the time or tools to keep spam out of the comments.
Chairman Moe, there you are among the pantheon of great celebrities born on that date. They had a blurb on the news about Michael Jordan's birthday and then I read it was also your birthday.
HG, I hope all went well with your procedure today.
praying all goes smoothly!
I'll third that - a good read
Amusing puzzle once I caught on to the theme
A few gimmes: the MORO reflex is one of 7 reflexes checked on the initial newborn exam - the only other named after the doctor who first described it is the Babinski reflex. Over my career I've done this hundreds of times
Big fan of VERMEER as an artist - he wasn't very prolific because he was such a perfectionist
Another layer for NATURAL ORDER - is those notes that aren't sharp or flat are NATURAL
Thanks JzB for the blog and to Craig for the puzzle!
Mixed results from TEMU. Bought several $20 items like an RC car or games, and they were pretty good for the price. Then bought some shirts size XL and they were like mediums, but too cheap to return. So, if the price is too good to be true...
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