Theme: None
Total blocks: 26
So close to the 25 blocks target I mentioned a month ago. But boy, it's a hard puzzle. Lots of unfamiliar words. Some did appear in recent puzzles before, but I simply forgot. I have too selective a memory.
I am not sure what is the record for the fewest blocks in TMS puzzle history. But it's 19 for NYT puzzles, 53 blocks being the most.
Anyway, very choppy solving today. Conquered the upper right corner very quickly, and struggled in every other corner. I kept wanting LD for 32D: 45% of M (CDL) and I knew it was wrong. Had to google CALEB (40A: Novelist Carr) to get myself out of that boggy area. Then I decided to google some more.
Dislike the clue for ASCOTS (1A: Tie types) due to TIES (5D: Draws). It's an unforgivable crossword SIN (11D: Sermon topic).
Across:
7A: Syrian capital: DAMASCUS. It is indeed the oldest city in the world, isn't it?
16A: Bologna tongue: ITALIANO. Ti amo!
17A: Gave shape to: MOLDED. I like the color of this Jello MOLD.
18A: Opposite of an enlarger: SHRINKER. Not a common word to me.
19A: Sturm __ Drang: UND. UND is "and" in German. I am not familiar with "Sturm UND Drang". I do like the translation: "Storm and Urge". Sounds so rebellious.
27A: Jewish sect member: HASID. Last times HASIDIM was clued as "Members of a Jewish sect". What a strange plural form!
29A: Radio static letters: EMI. EMI is also a British record label
31A: Common mushroom: AGARIC. I wanted BUTTON. I've never heard of AGARIC before. What's on the cap of this Fly AGARIC?
35A: Empty-nesters' vacation: SECOND HONEYMOON. Really? Don't couples take SECOND HONEYMOON anytime their schedules allow and their pocketbooks permit?
40A: Novelist Carr: CALEB. Wikipedia says he was involved in the screenplay of "The Exorcist" prequel. I've never seen "The Exorcist", have you? It sounds terrifying.
41A: Oder-___ Line: NEISSE. Not familiar with this border line (German-Polish border).
42A: "Vegas $" star: URICH (Robert). Another unknown actor. Wikipedia says he also starred in "Spenser: For Hire".
47A: Stallone role: RAMBO. Here is the new RAMBO trailor.
49A: Death rattles: RALES. Oy vey, I forgot this snake again. A gimmie for Bill I am sure. He never says die, but he sometimes RALES.
52A: Pair of 501's: MII. And CDL ( 32D: 45% of M). Why is my LD wrong?
53A: Indian bean tree: CATALPA. I forgot. It was clue as "Tree with trumpet-shaped flowers" last time. Are those beans edible?
55A: Italian possessive pronoun: SUA. His. Unknown to me.
56A: With plastic: ON CREDIT. What do you think of this clue?
58A: "Java" trumpeter: AL HIRT. I don't know this "Java" man. That's a great statue.
60A: Crystalline gypsum: SELENITE. Last time GYPSUM is clued as "Selenite, e.g.".
61A: July 26th honoree: ST ANNE. I forgot again. It appeared on Josiah Breward's July 19 puzzle with the identical clue. Oh well, "Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
63A: Gnatlike flies: MIDGES
Down:
1D: Even though: AS MUCH AS. This answer did not come to me easily at all.
2D: Prehistoric period: STONE AGE
3D: Dead end: CUL- DE -SAC
4D: Roulette bet: ODD. (Addendum: Argyle told me about the online "Crimson or scarlet"clue for ODD. I don't understand it. How so?)
7D: Throws into confusion: DISCOMBOBULATES. Wow, I checked, it's a word. How absurb looking!
8D: Plato or Aristotle, e.g.: ATHENIAN
12D: More encrusted: CAKIER. CAKY is really a solid word, bad CAKY make-up, or Barry's eyelids. But of course, you guys are so good-looking (esp you Bill) that you don't need any make-up stuff.
13D: Irregular: UNEVEN
14D: Kierkegaard and Hansen: SORENS. I like SOREN Hansen, and Thomas Levet. I had my visor autographed by them.
24D: Wind from Sahara: SIROCCO. I have such difficulty remembering this hot, windy word.
28D: A Shore: DINAH
26D: Last period of Paleozoic Era: PERMIAN. No, no, I've never heard of it.
36D: Iron ore: HEMATITE. Sigh... no...
37D: Passing through a membrane: OSMOSING. Boy, not an easy word to obtain.
38D: Ozzy of Black Sabbath: OSBOURNE. What a dysfunctional family he has!
39D: Maternity ward VIPs: NEONATES. I was thinking of the doctors.
42D: Greatest degree: UTMOST. I was used to the NTH answer.
43D: Fassbinder or Rilke: RAINER. I know neither of them. Too obscure a clue.
44D: Eaves dripper: ICICLE. Very nice ICICLE photo, I could almost feel the drop.
50D: Burst of energy: SPASM. I penned in SURGE first.
54D: High: pref.: ALTI
57D: FDR power group: REA. I start to miss Stephen REA.
C.C.
Total blocks: 26
So close to the 25 blocks target I mentioned a month ago. But boy, it's a hard puzzle. Lots of unfamiliar words. Some did appear in recent puzzles before, but I simply forgot. I have too selective a memory.
I am not sure what is the record for the fewest blocks in TMS puzzle history. But it's 19 for NYT puzzles, 53 blocks being the most.
Anyway, very choppy solving today. Conquered the upper right corner very quickly, and struggled in every other corner. I kept wanting LD for 32D: 45% of M (CDL) and I knew it was wrong. Had to google CALEB (40A: Novelist Carr) to get myself out of that boggy area. Then I decided to google some more.
Dislike the clue for ASCOTS (1A: Tie types) due to TIES (5D: Draws). It's an unforgivable crossword SIN (11D: Sermon topic).
Across:
7A: Syrian capital: DAMASCUS. It is indeed the oldest city in the world, isn't it?
16A: Bologna tongue: ITALIANO. Ti amo!
17A: Gave shape to: MOLDED. I like the color of this Jello MOLD.
18A: Opposite of an enlarger: SHRINKER. Not a common word to me.
19A: Sturm __ Drang: UND. UND is "and" in German. I am not familiar with "Sturm UND Drang". I do like the translation: "Storm and Urge". Sounds so rebellious.
27A: Jewish sect member: HASID. Last times HASIDIM was clued as "Members of a Jewish sect". What a strange plural form!
29A: Radio static letters: EMI. EMI is also a British record label
31A: Common mushroom: AGARIC. I wanted BUTTON. I've never heard of AGARIC before. What's on the cap of this Fly AGARIC?
35A: Empty-nesters' vacation: SECOND HONEYMOON. Really? Don't couples take SECOND HONEYMOON anytime their schedules allow and their pocketbooks permit?
40A: Novelist Carr: CALEB. Wikipedia says he was involved in the screenplay of "The Exorcist" prequel. I've never seen "The Exorcist", have you? It sounds terrifying.
41A: Oder-___ Line: NEISSE. Not familiar with this border line (German-Polish border).
42A: "Vegas $" star: URICH (Robert). Another unknown actor. Wikipedia says he also starred in "Spenser: For Hire".
47A: Stallone role: RAMBO. Here is the new RAMBO trailor.
49A: Death rattles: RALES. Oy vey, I forgot this snake again. A gimmie for Bill I am sure. He never says die, but he sometimes RALES.
52A: Pair of 501's: MII. And CDL ( 32D: 45% of M). Why is my LD wrong?
53A: Indian bean tree: CATALPA. I forgot. It was clue as "Tree with trumpet-shaped flowers" last time. Are those beans edible?
55A: Italian possessive pronoun: SUA. His. Unknown to me.
56A: With plastic: ON CREDIT. What do you think of this clue?
58A: "Java" trumpeter: AL HIRT. I don't know this "Java" man. That's a great statue.
60A: Crystalline gypsum: SELENITE. Last time GYPSUM is clued as "Selenite, e.g.".
61A: July 26th honoree: ST ANNE. I forgot again. It appeared on Josiah Breward's July 19 puzzle with the identical clue. Oh well, "Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
63A: Gnatlike flies: MIDGES
Down:
1D: Even though: AS MUCH AS. This answer did not come to me easily at all.
2D: Prehistoric period: STONE AGE
3D: Dead end: CUL- DE -SAC
4D: Roulette bet: ODD. (Addendum: Argyle told me about the online "Crimson or scarlet"clue for ODD. I don't understand it. How so?)
7D: Throws into confusion: DISCOMBOBULATES. Wow, I checked, it's a word. How absurb looking!
8D: Plato or Aristotle, e.g.: ATHENIAN
12D: More encrusted: CAKIER. CAKY is really a solid word, bad CAKY make-up, or Barry's eyelids. But of course, you guys are so good-looking (esp you Bill) that you don't need any make-up stuff.
13D: Irregular: UNEVEN
14D: Kierkegaard and Hansen: SORENS. I like SOREN Hansen, and Thomas Levet. I had my visor autographed by them.
24D: Wind from Sahara: SIROCCO. I have such difficulty remembering this hot, windy word.
28D: A Shore: DINAH
26D: Last period of Paleozoic Era: PERMIAN. No, no, I've never heard of it.
36D: Iron ore: HEMATITE. Sigh... no...
37D: Passing through a membrane: OSMOSING. Boy, not an easy word to obtain.
38D: Ozzy of Black Sabbath: OSBOURNE. What a dysfunctional family he has!
39D: Maternity ward VIPs: NEONATES. I was thinking of the doctors.
42D: Greatest degree: UTMOST. I was used to the NTH answer.
43D: Fassbinder or Rilke: RAINER. I know neither of them. Too obscure a clue.
44D: Eaves dripper: ICICLE. Very nice ICICLE photo, I could almost feel the drop.
50D: Burst of energy: SPASM. I penned in SURGE first.
54D: High: pref.: ALTI
57D: FDR power group: REA. I start to miss Stephen REA.
C.C.
75 comments:
If Tom Pruce wanted to DISCOMBOBULATE us then I'd say he succeeded. This one started out well for me: I got the first third of the puzzle done while I was waiting for my pizza. (The words UTE and PEEN were already used this week.) I was able to get SECOND HONEYMOON once I had the first three letters. It looked like this was going to be an easy one.
Then things fell apart. I wanted SUMMIT for 42 down but Robert URICH told me to try thinking of a word beginning with U so I tried UTMOST and it fit. Suddenly I had most of the puzzle filled but there were still some words that I had to google when I got home, namely SIROCCO, CALEB Carr, RALES, AL HIRT and NEONATES. I had ST ANNE but I read it as "Stanne" and I remember thinking "Wasn't he the villain in the Iron Man movie?"
I spent some time this afternoon trying to find out what the difference between a mosquito, a gnat and a MIDGE is. Apparently, they are all
nematocera. According to the wikipedia article, the nematocera include the mosquitoes, crane flies, black flies, gnats and midges.
So then I wondered how the nematocera were related to other insects. Apparently, the nematocera are a kind of insect known as a diptera. Diptera is, apparently, simply the Latin word for "flies" so if you try to find out more information about the diptera, wikipedia will redirect you to "flies".
Flies belong to the superorder of insects known as the endopterygota which are winged insects that start off as larvae before becoming adult insects. The endopterygota belong to the infraclass neoptera which includes all winged insects that can fold back their wings. Neoptera which do not start off life as larvae are called exopterygota. The exopterygota include insects known as hemiptera, ie "bugs".
Anyway, I retrieved all that information so that none of you would have to: some of the pictures I saw were a bit gross.
Martin
Martin,
The On-line clue for ODD (4D) is "Crimson or scarlet". Does it make sense to you? Also, why 450 (32D) is CDL rather than LD? What's the rule for those Roman numerals?
CD =400
L = 50
CDL=450
"Crimson or scarlet" would be RED.
Martin
Martin,
RED, that's what I was thinking. The on-line clue was simply wrong.
D: 500
L: 50
LD: 450
Doesn't make sense?
Except that 995 would be CMXCV and not simply VM. Roman numerals use the decimal system.
CM=900
XC=90
V =5
Or consider 95. It's XCV and not VC.
Martin
Cokato,
I don't always respond to every comment.
Clear Ayes,
Thanks for the the "moving finger". Now I think I like this "Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead" attitude.
Argyle,
Yes, I was asking "The Best Little Hairhouse" pun. I did not know the wordplay on who?ehouse. I still don't understand the below list:
Shear Magic (play on sheer?)
Chop Shop (why?)
Mane Street Cut & Curl (Main?)
the Clipper Ship (?)
Hair Razors (hair raisers). Got it.
and the classic
Hair Port (???)
Buckeye & Crockett1947,
"To sleep, perchance to dream-ay,there's the rub." What does "rub" mean? Why does Crockett want one too?
4D one may choose even or odds in the roulette; red or black or numbers, I guess. I'm not much of a gambler, but have seen the table...
56A is an excellent clue. I just could not get the answer without the perps.
D=500
Urich died maybe 3-4 years ago, but not sure. He had a blood-related cancer (lymphoma or leukemia). He was just an OK actor that never made it really big.
Rales are a "gurgle" sound in the lungs that could indicate pneumonia and/or fluid built-up from heart failure and the "a" is pronounced as in apple (rales). The "e" is silent.
As Martin said "PTERA" is a winged suffix. Could be anything that flies, I believe...
Cc re your question "why is my LD wrong"? If the smaller numbers follow larger numbers, the numbers are added. If a smaller number precedes a larger number, the smaller number is subtracted from the larger. Thus CDL L is smaller than D so it is added to D yielding 45% of M or 450. Hope this helps. Have a great week end.
C.C., dick IS correct.
Cc lost some of my response. Also, since C is smaller than D you subtract 100 (C) from five hundred (D) to get the 400 to which you add fifty (L) to give 450 or CDL.
Good morning, c.c. and gang. Well, I was breezing along on the top portion, and then came speed bump after speed bump. Suffice to say Mr. G. and I are intimate once again.
c.c., I thought 56A was brilliantly clued - couldn't figure it out until I had most of the perps.
Rales are a horrible sound - first time I heard one, I didn't know what it was, but after you've heard a few, you never ever want to hear one again. Forty-plus years and they're still in my head.
I thought 35A was ok - most people don't even think about a second honeymoon until the kids are gone.
c.c., for all your protestations, you indeed are a DF - witness today's mushroom picture. Like that isn't gonna stir the sirens' pots....which is a very nice image, by the way.
Hope it's an outstanding weekend for everyone - beautiful here in the NE.
Had trouble with SIROCCO, RAINER and AGARIC. Realized after looking at your picture that I had seen Fly Agaric while hiking week before last-just didn't know what it was called. Also found out it is a poisonous and psychotropic fungi. Thanks for another nice writeup cc.
Hey, all!
Late to the party, but it's Saturday and I was trying to sleep in. Unsuccessfully, as it turns out, but it was still awhile before I had a chance to do the morning puzzle. Ah, the joys of having a 3-year-old...
Anyway, as to the puzzle. Overall, I really enjoyed it. DISCOMBOBULATES is a terrific word, one that I use all the time, and any puzzle that can manage to fit it in gets a thumbs up from me. The rest of the puzzle was challenging but fair for the most part, although I wasn't overly thrilled with SHRINKER or the cluing for 52A. I mean, I got 52A right away, but shouldn't the clue indicate that the answer was in Roman numerals?
The only place I ran into problem was the intersection of PERMIAN and NIESSE. Bother were unknown to me, and my guess of PERMEAN and NEESSE was just, well, wrong.
Other things that were unknown to me, but obtainable via the perps, were:
AGARIC (I've heard this before, but just forgot)
CATALPA (heard of it, but didn't know it was an Indian bean tree)
REA
RAINER
ST ANNE (Well, I know who she is, but I didn't know July 26 was her day)
Oh -- and I had no problem with the clue for SECOND HONEYMOON. As the father of the aforementioned 3-year-old, I'm looking forward to taking another REAL vacation in 15 years... ^_^
61A, July 26th honoree, led me to your blog last month. Had checked my church calendar then went to Mr G and there you were c.c.! In 25A I first tried stoic until marry wouldn't fit. Thought all in all this was a good puzzle....just took some thinking through the cobwebs of old age. (I'm 77 & 3/4th but start every morning with at least one cw.)I really admire you to even try to understand American idioms.
Good morning, C.C. and all.
I'm ticked that Mr. Google and I got to meet this morning, but this is a great puzzle. I had to look up RAINER and SELENITE.
I didn't know SUA, AGARIC, CALEB or EMI, but they came, as did a lot of others with the fills.
C.C. you have to be my memory! I've been sitting here wondering just who STANNE is!! I remember that I solved this clue without understanding the answer once before.
Just what is EMI? I get that it's radio static, but in what context? Is it an abbreviation for the scientific name for static?
The two long crosses came easily, but some of the words in the SW corner were killers. I agree that ONCREDIT was clued well.
I'm going to try to make a foray on our local Farmer's Market with my mother. I hope you all have a good weekend!
kittyb,
EMI = Electromagnetic interference, also known as radio frequency interference.
Martin
Southern belle, My mother, who will be 92 in a few months, did crosswords every day right through her eighties. You're a spring chicken, sweetie, and we expect to see your comments for years to come!
Let me ask for forgiveness now, should you feel my comment is rude. It's meant in the absolute best manner. I've enjoyed all you've had to say.
Buckeye, I was in dreamland long before your 12:21 comment last night, but I'll be happy to accept "nut case" standing with melissa bee.
"To sleep,perchance to dream-ay,there's the rub."
What a lovely way to end the day.
CDL
you start off with making the bigger numbers first and work your way down.
to make 450
to make 400 you have to have CD
now to get 450 you add L
CDL
even though LD technically equals 450 it is incorrect notation. you have to get the hundreds place first which is 400, the tens, 50
so should look like
CD 400
L 50
_________
CDL 450
Happy Saturday Everyone,
I finished the puzzle without Google, but I went right to it when I was done, to find out what/who these confounded things and people were. "A common mushroom" may be AGARIC, but I had never heard of it. Did anybody know beforehand that the Oder-NEISSE Line was the western border of Poland? I got RAINER, but not because I knew who "Fassbinder or Rilke" were. (Thanks to Google, I do now.) I thought "Burst of Energy" was a poor clue for SPASM. "Muscle contraction" would have been better. I did laugh at "July 26th honoree". I couldn't figure out who STANNE was, but the lightbulb went on and I finally saw ST ANNE. I think I'll start a Clue Notebook like Lois suggested. Maybe I won't keep forgetting those words that show up fairly frequently. I liked the "Pair of 501's" clue. I tried to think of all the ways I could abbreviate Levi's, Strauss, denim and jeans. Finally, the lightbulb again! I was still puzzled by ODD for "Crimson or Red" until I saw C.C.'s (Argyle's) explanation. I guess a "Ebony or Black" clue would be answered EVEN. I've never played roulette, but now I know.
c.c Buckeye may not show up until later. He seems to be a night owl. "To sleep, perchance to dream. Aye, there's the rub." It's a line from Hamlet. Hamlet is tired and wants to sleep, but is afraid of having nightmares. "Rub" means an unpleasant consequence. Crocket1947 showed up just in time for a play on words, asking for a back rub (massage).
good morning c.c. and all,
a definite challenge, this one. i did get it without googling, but only because i did it online and took the red letter help. never heard of an agaric mushroom, and question its 'common' clueing, especially after seeing what it looks like. still partial to morels. sw corner was hardest for me .. wanted to plug in 'arturo' for 58a once i got the a from spasm, so got stuck there for a while. osmosing .. really?
@dick: great explanation of roman numerals .. thx.
@flyingears: roulette! now it makes sense .. thx.
don't know fassbinder, but there is probably no more sensual poet than rainer maria rilke. he wrote 'the seven phallic poems.' the seventh ends this way:
you primal peak of pleasure: suddenly well-nigh
breathless it leaps to your inner ridge.
o surrender yourself to feeling its pilgrimage;
for you'll be hurled down when it waves on high.
I also finished about 3/4 of the puzzle before I started to pull my hair out. Tom had me longing for Matthew. Trying to make Rocky fit in 47A was so discombobulating. Selenine, Hematine, Permian were total guesses. Instead of spasm I wanted to write spurt. The old eraser got a good workout this morning. At least I only used Google to check spelling. Here's to an easier Monday. Have a great weekend all.
c(ool) c(ool) and the Gang.
youngcollegeundergrad, Best answer of the day on the Roman numerals. LD does 450 but is incorrect when transposing R.N.s into Arabic #s. Good Job.
I liked today's x/w. Pretty smooth sailing until SW corner. Got ST Anne last month, figuring an honoree might, very well, be a Saint. However, I thought female Saints were abbreviated Ste.
Knew Permian because my bro-in-law was the head of the Permian Basin oil fields in Texas (around Midland & Odessa).
Put in "Rocky" for Stallone role but got it corrected (Rambo) with Osbourne which gave me "Neonates".
As an ex trumpeter, Al Hirt was a "gimme". One of the very few autographs I own. (Duke Ellington and Earl Klugh the others).
The Sirens will go "postal" on "Opposite of enlarger." I put in "My ex wife" but had to change that. "Shrinker" is synonymous with my ex.
Put in "taconite" before I got "hematite". "Mum" and "Honeymoon" solved that error.
Loved "Sturm Und Drang".
Everytime it storms I get the urge. Often, it doesn't even have to storm.
Also, loved 3d. Dead end = cul-de-sac.
Realtor: "I have this beautiful house on a cul-de-sac."
Buyer: "What's the difference between a cul-de-sac and a dead end street?"
Realtor: "About $175,000".
cc: No I did not make up "Barbass" nor the limerick. (Sorry Dennis- just responding to a c.c. question). Also, in roulette, the scarlet (red) numbers are odd and the black, even. The one or two green numbers (0 and/or 00) means "Thanks for stopping by, sucker!".
That's about as much as I can comfortably cram into this post. Trying the c.c. method of "one long one instead a few short ones. - The door's open, Sirens.)
As the old Irish song says, "I drive me wagon, she drives me nuts".
I must be off.
MelissaB: Wow, Rilke must be the Poet Laureate for sirens everywhere.
Got me thinking, maybe it wasn't a back rub Crocket1947 was asking for, but some other kind of rub.
I had some luck with this difficult one because my late first husband was a geologist. I was discombobulated with sirocco because I lived for a while in Socorro, NM, and got the two confused.
For me, Caleb Carr is better known for his book "The Alienist", which is a terrific thriller.
melissa bee, I had to towel off after reading that. An excellent choice.
Buckeye, "sorry, dennis"? I don't understand.
clear ayes, you hide your DF well; it emerges ever so slyly.
barry, Kicking a kid at 18??? I wait till he has done the mowing after age 30!!! He, he... I agree with all the comments about 2nd honeymoon. It's after all kids are gone. I'm enjoying my third honeymoon with my wife here in Puerto Rico. Couldn't have a better (or bitter) time. At times it's a VERY NOISY place. We seem to enjoy anything that is VERY loud (horns, radios, loud speakers, you name it).
Hi to all,
Good puzzle, had me thinking! I never heard of Agaric, Caleb Carr, but got them from the fills. I had spurt instead of spasm (not a great clue for that I don't think). I did know of Al Hirt so knew that had to be wrong and finally figured out midges. I originally had Osmosion (not a word), but finally filled in osmosing). Had Rocky instead of Rambo! Needless to say my puzzle in "ink" was a bit messy in the end. Didn't google at first, but did so after to check my answers. I, too, kept thinking it was Stanne and wondered who that was. I totally forgot about St. Anne. Also, as others did I loved the clue for On Credit. BTW my clue for Odd was Roulette Bet!
Great day to everyone!
Morning all,
I filled in all the words, but veerry slowly. Hard to get a toehold in a puzzle with so many long words. Like MelissaB I used the online version with red letter helps, and like Clear Eyes, didn’t know what all the answers meant, but I bypassed google and went straight to the blog – much more fun for me.
Sallie, I’ve never met another person who lived in Socorro, NM. I lived there about a hundred years ago (seems like.) It was very small and sleepy then. Haven’t seen it since around 1958. Still have the school yearbook somewhere.
MelissaB – you are soooo naughty. Where can I find that book?
Good morning everyone! The second bear in a row for me. Went to Mr. G. for loads of help. AGARIC, CALEB, NEISSE, URICH, SUA, SELENITE, PERMIAN, RAINER, and REA were problem children. I had problems computing my 45% of M and went to the online version to check the clue and discovered that online has the author as Josiah Breward. Interesting.
C.C., thanks for the Oder-Neisse map. I didn't realize that is was based on the two rivers.
Martin, interesting info on insects.
C.C., I was using a different meaning for "rub" -- i.e., "massage." A massage before retiring would be nice, was my meaning. Shakespeare's "rub" is a "problem," the way I understand it. Clear ayes, you're right on on your first comment. I'll reserve comment on your second comment (10:35).
Have a fantastic Saturday. It's supposed to be our third double digit day in a row. Unfortunately, I don't have central air like carol does.
Dennis; You kind of indicated on Thursday that we had worked the "limerick" topic to death. (Which we had). The "sorry" was for regressing.
clear ayes; I'm so glad you're around to explain some of my references since your ability to express ideas and your vast knowledge of literature are spellbinding. The "...there's the rub" part of the quote is to indicate that I, too, fear my dreams. The meds I take (heart)often give me wild and vivid dreams-not all of them enjoyable. (In fact, very few.) That's why I am a night owl. Fortunately my dreams are not about the players acting out the "...murder of my father Before mine uncle;" That's a blessing. If only you could choose your dreams, "I shall never go hungry again". Tis true, I take great pride in my "cunning linguist" abilities.
barb b: 'rainer maria rilke: rilke on love and other difficulties.'
also, 'letters to a young poet' is good.
@buckeye, yes 'tis a skill to be employed and enjoyed. Remember, practice, practice, practice.
Needed assistance. I had ROCKY instead of RAMBO which messed up the entire SE corner. Otherwise I was OK but still it took a while. I think the def for SPASM was not very good. EMI = electro magnetic interference which we call static when we hear it on a radio. I don't know why everyone struggles with Roman Numerals - didn't you guys learn them in school? It's a pretty simple formula. They weren't very good for doing math because they lack a symbol for zero and they are irregular. I guess the arabians helped us out there.
Where's drdad? He's supposed to inform us that both Elvis and Babe Ruth died on this date - 8/16.
BMV worker; "When's your birthday?"
Customer; "September 16th".
Worker; "What year?"
Customer; "Every year"
IMBO
Good Morning C.C. and gang:
What started out so well went downhill very quickly...about mid-way, ruined my second honeymoon!
Where does Mr Pruce get all those oddities???
56A was a very clever clue, too much for me and a real head-slapper when I looked at the answer from C.C.
Roman numerals - aghhhgg! I have trouble with 5th grade math, so I didn't even understand the various explanations all of you wrote.
Clear Ayes, I suggested the notebook to Jimbo. I have kept one for several years. There are just some words that are not found in c/w dictionaries and I started it before I used the computer. It has come in handy!
Interesting mushroom!! Could make for an inviting "supper" supplement.
Crockett are you sure it's your back you want rubbed??
@crockett: sounds like you know the way to carnegie hall.
While it's true that DL and CDL both equal the Arabic 450, DL is not conventional. In counting from four hundred to five hundred you have:
400 = CD
401 = CDI
402 = CDII
403 = CDIII
404 = CDIV
405 = CDV
406 = CDVI
407 = CDVII
408 = CDVIII
409 = CDIX
410 = CDX
411 = CDXI
(Skip)
449 = CDXLIX
450 = CDL thus DL is out of place
451 = CDLI
(Skip)
499 = CDXCIX
500 = D
mh, yes, i think we all learned roman numerals in school, but they aren't often kept at the forefront after several decades. We learned slide rules too, but i couldn't use it for much more than a back scratcher now...
buckeye, certainly no need to apologize - if ever there was a 'freedom of speech' blog, this is it.
OOPS. I should have written LD for the 450 discussion not DL. My Bad.
All you have to do is read your link about Roman Numerals.
"...only subtract powers of ten but not V or L....
Are agaric mushrooms common everywhere, or are they found only in some areas of the country? I've never seen one, so they are not common for me. St. Anne's day is not one that is high on my list of holidays. It totally got by me this year. The department stores were no help either. I didn't see even one Happy St. Anne's Day card on the shelves. Oh well... I'll have to mark my calendar next year.:)
I agree with Dennis about Roman Numerals. The only ones I remember from 5th grade are "I" through "X". The ONLY time I ever use them is in crossword puzzles. I know there is a link on the Blog homepage, but unfortunately that doesn't help mid-puzzle. I"d better put the basic numbers on the inside cover of my new book.
I was wondering if COMBOBULATE is a word? I couldn't find a standard online dictionary that had it. But I did find "(Verb) To put together in a somewhat mysterious manner. To bring something out of a state of confusion or disarray." That's what I do with my life every day. I think I'll start using it. ie. "It's time to go and combobulate some lunch."
Buckeye and Crockett1947: You certainly are a pair of comedians.
@clear ayes: i think i need to be combobulated.
melissa bee - not quite the word I'd use...
@dennis: what then?
oh, something that would discombobulate you.
@dennis: is it a verb?
in any case .. commence discombobulation.
Buckeye's comment 'Also, in roulette, the scarlet (red) numbers are odd and the black, even.' is not correct. If that were the case, you would not need separate bets for odd/even and black/red as they would amount to the same thing. Actually, the red numbers are 1,3,5,7,9,12,14,16,18,19,21,23,25,27,30,32,34,36, and the black are 2,4,6,8,10,11,13,15,17,20,22,24,26,28,29,31,33,35.
Clear Ayes, perhaps it's time for you to explain to C.C. what the comments about band camp and flutes were all about. You have SUCH a way with words! *G*
What a pleasure to have a Saturday puzzle that wasn't full of artificial long words (see last Saturday's puzzle for examples)!
I joined the crowd that initially put in ROCKY and SPURT (quickly changed from the crosses). Had never heard of AGARIC mushrooms or CALEB Carr, and would never have gotten the Oder-NEISSE Line without the crosses.
Now to the quibbles:
The newspaper had 4d: Roulette bet (ODD). I'm glad I didn't do this puzzle online because the red numbers in roulette are not all odd. You can see the roulette layout here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roulette#Roulette_table_layout. Equating red and odd is just flat out wrong.
It's considered kind of cheating (I think) to have more than one "Roman numbers" fill in the grid (CDL and MII).
Non-quibbles:
I have a CATALPA tree in my yard, and as far as I know, those beans are not edible, c.c.. At least I wouldn't try one.
I think having 1a: Tie types (ASCOTS) and 5d: Draws (TIES) is probably OK. These are two totally different usages of the word "tie", and that's OK, I believe. (Not that the TMS puzzles strictly adhere to "crossword etiquette.")
I, like, TOTALLY, stand corrected. I must have been thinking a checkerboard. Mea Culpa.
IMBO
Hi ya'll,
Needed all kinds of help today. I think my son made up that word,(discombobulate). Sounds like something he would do.
Any way, added about 12 new words to my notebook.(thanks Carol) BTW, do you use looseleaf or cards?
I keep forgetting to think like a constructor. (Dinah for A Shore --REA for FDR power group) I was thinking "Beach" and something political.
Anyway, I"M learning.
Vaya Con Dios
Kittyb: "perhaps it's time for you to explain to C.C. what the comments about band camp and flutes were all about. You have SUCH a way with words!"
Oh No...you aren't going to catch me that easily :o) I'm not a musician AND I've never been to camp, "Band" or otherwise. If C.C. needs any explanations, she'll have to go directly to the original sources.
Thanks to Anon.2:28 for giving us the "skinny" (C.C. that's slang for inside information or the truth) on roulette colors. I'll still put a note in my book, because I'm pretty sure another constructor will use the same incorrect clue again. The percentage of odd to even with Reds and Blacks is pretty close, but clues "Mostly crimson or red", or "More red than black" would be accurate for an ODD answer.
G.A.H. and I are off (yes, we too, Buckeye) to a big annual neighborhood party this afternoon. Food, wine, a couple of well-known local cowboy bands...what's not to like? I may be checking in a little later that my usual later tomorrow morning. Have fun everyone.
@melissa bea. I don't know if that practicing will ever get me to Carnegie Hall, but Valhalla is certainly achievable. Free mustache rides are available at any time.
@anonymous at 2:28, thank you for the roulette table explanation. I knew someone here would step forward.
@clear ayes, stay cool down there. Don't overheat your radiator.
Flyingears,
Funny how you can connect everything to your special medical field. I rather like your unique take. I had no idea that RALE is pronounced that way.
Melissa,
Why did you want "arturo" for 58A? It does not make any sense to me. The line before the "you primal peak of pleasure" is very telling. What does "sounds like you know the way to carnegie hall." mean?
Buckeye,
I don't understand the CUL-De_SAC & Dead end street joke.
G8rmomx2,
What's the name of your newspaper? I am very surprised by your ODD clue.
Der Katz & Dick,
Thank you. I vodka you both.
Mary Ann,
D'oh! If only I absorbed what I had written!
Embien,
Tie/TIES. Technically maybe OK, but visually they displease me.
Clear Ayes & KittyB,
Were you talking about Melissa's "Camp Band" and Dennis' flute comments? If so, yes, I've been discombobulated. Explain to me what's the story behind it.
Crockett1947,
What kind of practice were you talking about? Musical or linguistic? What do you get at Valhalla? "Free mustache rides are available at any time." Why?
C.C., buckeye said at 11:49, “Tis true, I take great pride in my "cunning linguist" abilities.” Cunnilingus is oral sex for females, the male to female equivalent of fellatio. I guess you could call this a linguistic practice since the tongue is definitely involved. Valhalla is the Norse conception of heaven, and that’s where you go with the big O. If the male involved in pleasuring his female companion orally has a mustache, then she will be riding upon same. Do I really need to explain the mustache rides comment any further? Whew, it’s really hot in here!
Crocket, you get a LOT of credit for explaining your own comments. Way to go!
C.C., I stirred the pot, but I'm going to leave the explanation to dennis and melissa bee. I'm sure that Gertie will come through for you.
@kittyb, I figure it's better to get the straight skinny from the horse's mouth. If someone else explains, they may be off base. I have practice explaining many similar things to my wife, who had a fairly sheltered upbringing, shall we say.
@c.c.:
Melissa,
Why did you want "arturo" for 58A? It does not make any sense to me.
it wouldn't have made sense, it just was the first trumpet player that came to mind when i saw the first letter a. andy garcia (yum) portrayed him in the movie 'for love or country.'
The line before the "you primal peak of pleasure" is very telling.
indeed. i'm glad you looked it up.
What does "sounds like you know the way to carnegie hall." mean?
it means crockett's got skills. an old saying/joke: q: how do you get to carnegie hall? a: practice, practice, practice. i was using carnegie hall as a euphemism in the same way valhalla was used.
crockett: your df is showing. i like it.
I thought for sure someone would give you some answers. Sorry, I'll do so now.
To paraphrase my August 15, 2008 8:40pm post: "I do it for the pun of it".
Anyway, there are a lot of little one or two person beauty salons out there and a name that sticks out is good business. Hence, they like to come up with a catchy name that grabs your attention or tweaks your funny bone. Ergo, The Best Little Hairhouse in Town.
First we'll do KittyB's,
"Curl Up & Dye" means instead of getting into a fetal position and expiring, you should get a perm and change your hair color.
"Shear Magic" is using a pair of shears to do unqualified, utter magic to your hair.
"Chop Shop" In normal slang, a chop shop is where they cut up stolen cars but it also has become a shop that specializes in custom vehicles. A salon using this name would probably give you hip, sassy, and colorful hair cuts.
"Mane Street Cut & Curl" You got it, just main/mane street.
"the Clipper Ship" A take on using clippers in the shop. A picture of the tall ships would be apropo.
"Hair Port" Every small town is nothing if it doesn't have a hair port/airport.
Thank you, Argyle, for doing my explanation! And doing it well.
Will your picture at the end of the year show you in a Santa suit? It seems to me that I've seen C.C. make a comment about you and Santa, and I didn't catch whether it was just a reference to your beard, or something further.
Most people don't know that we are two Santa brothers. My goody two shoes brother gets the nice list. I get the naughty list. Wouldn't trade him for the world!
I feel mine is always after most other posts, but today I am particularly late, having driven my middle daughter to college, a 12 hour round trip!
I completed today's puzzle without help or "Mr. G" in SPASMs at rest stops and at lunch. The top portion up through "Second honeymoon" was easy, even when the answer was an unfamiliar word, agaric, for example.
The lower portion was a different matter however. I was too quick to fill in "Rocky" instead of "Rambo", and "upmost" instead of "utmost". And I stumbled over "catalpa" which I have always pronounced as "catalpHa". Once I corrected those errors though, the other words fell into place. I particularly liked "with plastic" as the clue for 56A "on credit".
BUCKEYE: The "ste." is the abbreviation for (female) saint in French. In English there is no distinction made in the abbreviations for male or female saints.
Hey c.c.
My paper is Charlotte Sun and I live in Port Charlotte, Fl. Our Crossword was edited by Robert Williams. Thanks for asking!
Doesitinink:
Where does your daughter go to college? Just interested. And,Xchef: Any decisions on where your son wants to go?
Actually, Der Katze's explanations for Roman numerals was the best. The key to explaining anything is to keep it simple: you can always go into more depth when you are sure the person being explained to understands what's been said so far.
CC, English is probably the most difficult of all common European languages to learn how to pronounce. The problem is that the vowels a, e and i are pronounced differently from the vowels in other European languages. You probably learned this when you studied KK phonics: the long "a" is pronounced /e/, the long "e" is pronounced /i/, the long "i" is prounounced /ai/ and the short "o" is pronounced /a/ (as in the French "dans"). I don't think anybody today knows how or why this "vowel shift" occured. Anyway, we thus have a hard time learning to spell words from other European languages (such as "restaurant" or, apparently, "rales").
My theory on RED/ODD? I think somebody was typing in the clues online, saw "Roulette bet" and assumed the answer was RED so he changed the clue to "crimson or scarlet".
Martin
g8rmomx2: My middle daughter is a sophomore at St Mary's University in Winona, MN. My oldest is a senior at Albion College in Albion, MI. I will be driving her to school next Saturday.
Doesinini:
Does it get any better than that? I remember so well moving my daughters in and out of dorms and apartments. My oldest daugher is at UF Medical School, 4th year, but did her undergraduate there as well. My youngest also did her BS/BA at UF and now is at Nova in a PHd program. Hence the name G8rmomx2 (as in Gator mom times two)!
GO GATORS!!!
27A: Jewish sect member: HASID. Last times HASIDIM was clued as "Members of a Jewish sect". What a strange plural form!
To quote Paulie Walnuts (Tony Sirrico) from the Sopranos " Hasidim, but I don't believe 'em!"
57D: FDR power group: REA
I put TVA instead.............
Just got back from the casinos in Atlantic City - a winning night at the poker tables, plus got to see Michael Phelps get #8; all the TVs in the Borgata had the Olympics on and it was pretty neat to hear the whole casino go nuts during that relay. Chants of 'USA USA' throughout.
Melissa Bee, most definitely a very active verb.
crockett, you've gone from mild-mannered poster to full-fledged DF in no time at all. Welcome. I don't think even the boldest of us would've ventured into 'mustache ride' territory.
Argyle, any chance you'd sell a copy of the naughty list?
Sleep well, everyone.
@dennis, thank you for the DF anointment. I surprised myself a bit there as well. What a swimmer Phelps is, and what a nice human being. Good for him!
Back from our party at midnight. Fantastic time. Only lost one earring and my glasses. I'm having a difficult time reading all the previous posts without my specs. (That and a bottle and a half of cabernet blanc.) G.A.H. and I are on party clean up duty tomorrow morning at the neighbors, so hopefully my glasses will show up. I'll check in after that to see what you all are up to.
Dennis & Melissa & Clear Ayes,
I still don't understand what's behind this innocent "Camp band". I got the flute.
Crockett1947,
I stand in awe of your "Road to DAMASCUS" change. Wow! Yes, please explain to me further what exactly is a "mustache ride".
Argyle,
Maybe you can sell Lois' naughty list to Dennis? Don't sell mine!
Martin,
Do you get TMS Sunday puzzle as well?
Oh, Lord, C.C. If you have Crockett explain any further we'll all MELT! I thought he was fairly explicit in an earlier post.
GatorMom, and Doesitinink, my youngest sis took her oldest daughter off to college this weekend. She said she managed to wait until she was in the stairwell to cry when they parted. She still has one more daughter at home, but I think the empty nest syndrome hit for all four of them.
I hope you're weathering your "freedom" well. *S*
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