WHY IS A RAVEN LIKE A WRITEING DESK?? be-caws they both can have caws for thoughts....2...WHAT KIND OF CAT GRINS? the kind of cat who shows paws to paws a smile....
SAHARA is a 1943 drama war film starring Humphrey Bogart stars as a U.S. tank commander in Libya during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II.
In Sahara events are depicted which point to an important battle of the Western Desert Campaign of World War II, fought around the port of Tobruk in Libya. As both sides neared exhaustion, the British were able to check Rommel's advance at the First battle of El Alamein, which is where the radio report calls Bogart and tank crew to rally in the film.
That is what Wikipedia says about the flick. What I remember is that a handful of Allied troops with a tank captured hundreds of German soldiers because they held the only water well for hundreds of miles and thirst is an interesting weapon in the desert.
The cast also included Bruce Bennett who died in 2007 at the age of 100, J. Carrol Naish (my favorite character) who received an Oscar nomination for his supporting role as Giuseppe, a captured Italian soldier, Lloyd Bridges (father of Beau and Jeff and was Mr. Sea Hunt), Richard Aherne (an Irish born actor who lived to 91) and one of my favorite character actors Dan Duryea who in his last years joined Jimmy Stewart for the adventure film The Flight of the Phoenix, about men stranded in the Sahara desert by a downed airplane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZGIqpWiYXA
In Sahara events are depicted which point to an important battle of the Western Desert Campaign of World War II, fought around the port of Tobruk in Libya. As both sides neared exhaustion, the British were able to check Rommel's advance at the First battle of El Alamein, which is where the radio report calls Bogart and tank crew to rally in the film.
That is what Wikipedia says about the flick. What I remember is that a handful of Allied troops with a tank captured hundreds of German soldiers because they held the only water well for hundreds of miles and thirst is an interesting weapon in the desert.
The cast also included Bruce Bennett who died in 2007 at the age of 100, J. Carrol Naish (my favorite character) who received an Oscar nomination for his supporting role as Giuseppe, a captured Italian soldier, Lloyd Bridges (father of Beau and Jeff and was Mr. Sea Hunt), Richard Aherne (an Irish born actor who lived to 91) and one of my favorite character actors Dan Duryea who in his last years joined Jimmy Stewart for the adventure film The Flight of the Phoenix, about men stranded in the Sahara desert by a downed airplane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZGIqpWiYXA
1
P.S. About Monday's Final Jeopardy: France?!?!?!
4
Yeah, I had the same reaction. I mean there are two really, really good reasons why that couldn't possibly work for the clue.
I remain completely baffled (and she was the champion).
I remain completely baffled (and she was the champion).
4
Very strange. We all have gaps in our knowledge of stuff, but that one was astounding on various levels.
4
What RiA said.
I can only assume a misreading of the "answer." Or a synapse lapse.
I can only assume a misreading of the "answer." Or a synapse lapse.
2
[wet blanket alert] I regret that this puzzle was not my cup of tea. The main thing was the almost-but-not-quite symmetry. When a diagram is as close to symmetrical as this is, but isn't, something rubs me the wrong way. (In computer graphics and art there's something called the "uncanny valley": When a depiction of a human face is almost realistic yet fails to be in some obvious way, it tends to make a lot of people uncomfortable; that's kind of how I felt about this diagram.) The punch line of the riddle struck me likewise — It was _almost_ good, but not quite. POE WROTE ON BOTH OF THEM? Let's see: "Poe wrote on a writing desk"? Check. But "Poe wrote on a raven"? Hmm, there's that poem "The Raven" ... was that _on_ a raven? Yes, it was, I suppose. Sorta. But if I need to think about it that much, then something is lost. Also, something about the word TEENER makes my skin crawl. [you were warned]
2
TEENERS might confuse IDOL winner Kelly Clarkson's "BECAUSE of You" with Arthur Hammerstein's 1940 popular song of the same title. Albertan birthday girl (now a 55er) K. D. Lang performs one of my favorite DUETS with Tony Bennet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLHdJca8_gA
I earned a demerit when I tried to force demote where DEMEAN went...Timely clue for 25d. TheFederal jury has been deliberating all week in Newark. I expect a verdict by tom'w but juries have been known to do the un-expected...A pair of terms that were curiouser and curiouser today: TEA COZY and ERAGON.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLHdJca8_gA
I earned a demerit when I tried to force demote where DEMEAN went...Timely clue for 25d. TheFederal jury has been deliberating all week in Newark. I expect a verdict by tom'w but juries have been known to do the un-expected...A pair of terms that were curiouser and curiouser today: TEA COZY and ERAGON.
2
What fun today! The riddle was bouncing around my cranial cobwebs and came spilling out with a few crosses. The proposed answer gave me a chuckle--never heard it before. Like many other solvers, I had DEMOTE before DEMEAN, and furrowed my brow at TEENER. I was never a MILKDUD guy; Raisinets were my movie candy of choice for years, until the recent arrival of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites. I strive to not eat a whole box during a film.
DUETS albums are a really big thing in the music industry now. Didn't really start with Sinatra in 1993, but did kick into high gear after that. Usually the featured artist rerecords her/his greatest hits with a roster of guest singers.
Thumbs up for Andrew's notes in today's blog.
Obvious musical pick today: "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane. Why? Go ask Alice...I think she'll know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR8LFNUr3vw
No soap, transistor radio.
DUETS albums are a really big thing in the music industry now. Didn't really start with Sinatra in 1993, but did kick into high gear after that. Usually the featured artist rerecords her/his greatest hits with a roster of guest singers.
Thumbs up for Andrew's notes in today's blog.
Obvious musical pick today: "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane. Why? Go ask Alice...I think she'll know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR8LFNUr3vw
No soap, transistor radio.
6
As close to a perfect puzzle that I ever hope to solve. Classicly Erudite with some modern witty. Instructive. I solved it bottom up.. Thank you!
3
An excellent start to the tougher puzzle days ahead in the week—well-balanced in terms of references and reasoning skills required. An A+ effort!
Best clues: 10D, 26D, 31D, 38D
5D: "Blacken on a grill" appeared last Wednesday as well with SEAR as the solution. Today, it was CHAR.
20D : NOG, short for eggnog = rum + brandy + milk + sugar + eggs. Hmm.. gotta try it someday!
49A : TEENER is a new word to me and without the help from vertical clues, I wouldn't have been able to solve it. The clue wasn't able to steer my imagination toward teenage activities of the past.
43D: Beaten, all ends up!!! SWEE 'Pea, really? Is this short for "Sweet Pea"?
54D: Which coffeehouses play FOLK music these days? Ones I've visited always play jazz or electro. Got tripped here a bit.
Some subtle traps: DEMEAN for DEMOTE; SURER for SAFER; GAM for POD
Great puzzle! Thank you.
Best clues: 10D, 26D, 31D, 38D
5D: "Blacken on a grill" appeared last Wednesday as well with SEAR as the solution. Today, it was CHAR.
20D : NOG, short for eggnog = rum + brandy + milk + sugar + eggs. Hmm.. gotta try it someday!
49A : TEENER is a new word to me and without the help from vertical clues, I wouldn't have been able to solve it. The clue wasn't able to steer my imagination toward teenage activities of the past.
43D: Beaten, all ends up!!! SWEE 'Pea, really? Is this short for "Sweet Pea"?
54D: Which coffeehouses play FOLK music these days? Ones I've visited always play jazz or electro. Got tripped here a bit.
Some subtle traps: DEMEAN for DEMOTE; SURER for SAFER; GAM for POD
Great puzzle! Thank you.
3
AKG, SWEE' Pea is a character in the Popeye comic strip/cartoons. A baby left on Popeye's doorstep.
2
It may not be brillig, but twas fun. More of a challenge than most Wednesdays, which is most welcome. Learned (or remembered) something that I didn't know about the Alice tale. The cherry on top was that my little Avatar's namesake is in the grid. Not much of a mystery once you see the hair.
2
I didn't have much trouble with this puzzle but I never considered a teenager (or a teener) as being someone who listened to a transistor radio. Back when I was a kid maybe but it would have been helpful if the clue implied that somehow.
3
(off topic but on topic...there's never a place to comment on monthly puzzles...)
The monthly special puzzle has a whopper example of what I've designated the Nixon (NxN, proper name crossing proper name with no hope of solving), a crossing of the name of a character in "Hunger Games" and the name of either an actor or character in "Game of Thrones". The crossing square could be E, A, O, I, U, or Y, in that order. Since both are fantasy/speculative fiction, all rules of language and nomenclature are off in both (Peter is spelled Peeta, after all...) It's my contention that the variability isn't the important factor in calling it out as a NxN - it's my "I really couldn't care a whit less which letter this ends up being" that defines it. I like finishing crosswords. I hate NxNs!
The monthly special puzzle has a whopper example of what I've designated the Nixon (NxN, proper name crossing proper name with no hope of solving), a crossing of the name of a character in "Hunger Games" and the name of either an actor or character in "Game of Thrones". The crossing square could be E, A, O, I, U, or Y, in that order. Since both are fantasy/speculative fiction, all rules of language and nomenclature are off in both (Peter is spelled Peeta, after all...) It's my contention that the variability isn't the important factor in calling it out as a NxN - it's my "I really couldn't care a whit less which letter this ends up being" that defines it. I like finishing crosswords. I hate NxNs!
5
This was fun. I knew the riddle and got very excited as I thought the answer in the grid might be being introduced here to the world, wow! It's certainly a great answer, so perfect it's hard to imagine that Carroll didn't have it in mind. (I haven't checked whether the dates would gel, though...)
The rest of the puzzle fell towards the earlier part of the week for me, as opposed to announcing that here we go up the hill to Saturday. I only slowed down where I didn't know the finch and had never heard GAM used that way.
(For some reason, Deb, I've never minded GAM used for a woman's leg. It's probably because I first encountered it in an old movie I saw on TV in my early teens, in which a man declares, in a friendly and enthusiastic, as opposed to leering, way: "Them ain't legs -- them're GAMs!")
The rest of the puzzle fell towards the earlier part of the week for me, as opposed to announcing that here we go up the hill to Saturday. I only slowed down where I didn't know the finch and had never heard GAM used that way.
(For some reason, Deb, I've never minded GAM used for a woman's leg. It's probably because I first encountered it in an old movie I saw on TV in my early teens, in which a man declares, in a friendly and enthusiastic, as opposed to leering, way: "Them ain't legs -- them're GAMs!")
3
Much harder than a typical Wednesday, for me at least. Several writeovers today, including (of course) pod/GAM; also DEMote/DEMEAN, SafER/SURER, fliES/LURES, top/MAX.
In the 9th grade I went through a fascination with Poe and read all of his short stories and poems. Will I do that again? Nevermore.
In the 9th grade I went through a fascination with Poe and read all of his short stories and poems. Will I do that again? Nevermore.
8
My grandparents gave me a complete set of Poe's works when I was 13. We had moved to Atlanta, and we lived too far from a library (compared to Schofield Barracks, where I could bike anyplace I liked.) So I read them all. [Picture Bill the Cat, overstuffed, going 'URP.']
3
MOL --
In Atlanta, did you live "on the economy" or at Ft. Mcpherson?
In Atlanta, did you live "on the economy" or at Ft. Mcpherson?
I'm a long time lurker, first time commenter. But I had to chime in to note your carefully typed response (and now I see it in several other comments) where you only capitalize the actual puzzle letters that are correct (e.g., fliES/LURES). I don't recall seeing this before, and definitely not from multiple people (Did I miss the PSA?). But it's much easier on the eyes and brain when scanning this section for that last elusive word to finish off a puzzle. ...No big deal, but the extra effort is definitely appreciated (at least by one person). -Thanks, and have a good one.
4
Thanks, Lewis, for “they both come with inky quills.” That is my favorite answer.
IRock before IRULE along with SafER before SURER (like about a gazillion of us). Oh, and DEMote before DEMEAN, too. Other than that this was a steady solve slowed down by not knowing the riddle or the answer.
Thank you, Andrew, for something different and out of the norm, sort of like Poe himself, no? And like your comment today, too, well done!
IRock before IRULE along with SafER before SURER (like about a gazillion of us). Oh, and DEMote before DEMEAN, too. Other than that this was a steady solve slowed down by not knowing the riddle or the answer.
Thank you, Andrew, for something different and out of the norm, sort of like Poe himself, no? And like your comment today, too, well done!
4
Nice poem there Andrew.
Found out the difference between GAM and pod today. A pod is a family of whales and while this may not be PC, they all look alike to me.
And, as I am still a bit woozy from Halloween candy MILKDUD was a treat.
Once had a photo assignment at a NASCAR track in Southern CA (I think it has been razed, it has, and was known as Ontario Speedway). One driver opined: "We drive to win while everyone in the stands hopes we crash and burn - what a life!" So I guess in 1974 a riddle may have been: Why is a NASCAR driver like a rock star --- they both crash and burn.
My first transistor radio was the size of one of those Almond or Soy milk boxes and only had an ear piece (no speaker). It was mono but I managed to replace the ear piece with headphones (ahhh the old days of Radio Shack). The headphones looked like grapefruits over my ears. The total look was capped by my horn rimmed glasses. KRAMER had nothin on me.
Found out the difference between GAM and pod today. A pod is a family of whales and while this may not be PC, they all look alike to me.
And, as I am still a bit woozy from Halloween candy MILKDUD was a treat.
Once had a photo assignment at a NASCAR track in Southern CA (I think it has been razed, it has, and was known as Ontario Speedway). One driver opined: "We drive to win while everyone in the stands hopes we crash and burn - what a life!" So I guess in 1974 a riddle may have been: Why is a NASCAR driver like a rock star --- they both crash and burn.
My first transistor radio was the size of one of those Almond or Soy milk boxes and only had an ear piece (no speaker). It was mono but I managed to replace the ear piece with headphones (ahhh the old days of Radio Shack). The headphones looked like grapefruits over my ears. The total look was capped by my horn rimmed glasses. KRAMER had nothin on me.
9
Not my favorite kind of theme, but I'm fine with it as a change of pace.
Solve was tough for me. I didn't recall the riddle and of course had no idea on the answer. Also had the same unknowns that others have mentioned - notably ERAGON and TEENER. Also had POD, but did recall GAM (vaguely) with the AM finally in place. What really slowed me down was some wrong guesses. I had DEMOTE before DEMEAN, and tried MYWAY for the Sinatra album (never heard of DUETS). And then after I had the last line of the answer filled in, and guesses at chunks of the first part, I decided that BECAUSEYOUWRITE seemed like the most likely thing. That made a mess of that middle section. A couple of failed checks, but I got there eventually. Could only remember DESICA after I recalled his first name.
On a personal note, I found out last night that I'll be meeting next Monday with a couple of people from the math department at Emory in regard to some work I did regarding prime number theory about a year ago. I had just about decided to let it go and just live with the dream (so to speak), but decided to give it one more try. It's been 48 years since I did any serious math stuff and I have no idea if this is going to go anywhere. How do I feel? Think long-tailed cats and rocking chairs. Wish me luck.
Solve was tough for me. I didn't recall the riddle and of course had no idea on the answer. Also had the same unknowns that others have mentioned - notably ERAGON and TEENER. Also had POD, but did recall GAM (vaguely) with the AM finally in place. What really slowed me down was some wrong guesses. I had DEMOTE before DEMEAN, and tried MYWAY for the Sinatra album (never heard of DUETS). And then after I had the last line of the answer filled in, and guesses at chunks of the first part, I decided that BECAUSEYOUWRITE seemed like the most likely thing. That made a mess of that middle section. A couple of failed checks, but I got there eventually. Could only remember DESICA after I recalled his first name.
On a personal note, I found out last night that I'll be meeting next Monday with a couple of people from the math department at Emory in regard to some work I did regarding prime number theory about a year ago. I had just about decided to let it go and just live with the dream (so to speak), but decided to give it one more try. It's been 48 years since I did any serious math stuff and I have no idea if this is going to go anywhere. How do I feel? Think long-tailed cats and rocking chairs. Wish me luck.
8
How exciting, Rich! I do wish you the very best of luck.
1
Rich,
I hope you're primed for the meeting on Monday.
I hope you're primed for the meeting on Monday.
3
That's great, RiA.
Best of luck.
Best of luck.
1
It's been years since I sought to break my teeth on stale MILK DUDS, but surely they were chocolate covered malted milk balls and not caramels. Has the candy been changed?
2
Nope, confusion is understandable, but it's Whoppers that are chocolate-covered malted milk balls; Milk Duds are chewy (at least theoretically).
2
Thank you for clearing that up! (Memory is so tricky...)
1
The puzzle went swiftly enough, since the riddle was instantly recognizable and fill-inable. Then, farther down the grid, so was the answer, although I don't think I'd heard it before.
I've heard of the book "ERAGON"--well, at least I knew that there was a book of that title. But I had to get it pretty much letter by letter.
My pauses were on the spelling alternatives of OLAV/f and COZ/sY, and on POD/GAM. Also, I entered SIMMERS before SEETHES.
TEA COZY made me think of my grandma, she of butter spheroids fame. She had many of them. They weren't knitted, but crocheted, by her. Also I doubt she knew what "a social" was. (Not sure I do either.) She just used them every day. Probably would have used the S spelling, but since she had only one year of formal education, literacy wasn't her long suit.
I remember tasting MILK DUDs once as a kid--probably at a movie theatre--but didn't remember that they were caramel. I like caramel. I remember not liking MILK DUDs. (Movie fare of choice was Junior Mints.)
Can the [Bridgegate problem] be called a TIE-UP without the "massive" qualifier?
Further proof today, if any were needed, that Jeff Chen and I inhabit completely different universes. First, he said he'd never heard that riddle. Really????!!!! Then today's view of "the older crowd" was even more removed from reality than usual. I'm especially intrigued as to whether he thinks all yoga, or only HATHA yoga, was invented about five minutes ago.
Thanks all.
I've heard of the book "ERAGON"--well, at least I knew that there was a book of that title. But I had to get it pretty much letter by letter.
My pauses were on the spelling alternatives of OLAV/f and COZ/sY, and on POD/GAM. Also, I entered SIMMERS before SEETHES.
TEA COZY made me think of my grandma, she of butter spheroids fame. She had many of them. They weren't knitted, but crocheted, by her. Also I doubt she knew what "a social" was. (Not sure I do either.) She just used them every day. Probably would have used the S spelling, but since she had only one year of formal education, literacy wasn't her long suit.
I remember tasting MILK DUDs once as a kid--probably at a movie theatre--but didn't remember that they were caramel. I like caramel. I remember not liking MILK DUDs. (Movie fare of choice was Junior Mints.)
Can the [Bridgegate problem] be called a TIE-UP without the "massive" qualifier?
Further proof today, if any were needed, that Jeff Chen and I inhabit completely different universes. First, he said he'd never heard that riddle. Really????!!!! Then today's view of "the older crowd" was even more removed from reality than usual. I'm especially intrigued as to whether he thinks all yoga, or only HATHA yoga, was invented about five minutes ago.
Thanks all.
5
Same thoughts on Jeff's comments.
And ditto on Junior Mints.
And ditto on Junior Mints.
1
I don't think a knitted OR a crocheted COZY would keep the pot warm enough. Mine has a fluffy fiber stuffing and a quilted exterior with a little loop to pick it up by. Keeps the tea piping hot!
1
I have a nice knitted cozy that does the job thanks to the gathers - it's extra insulated due to the structure, in out in out all the way around.
1
Some more background on the riddle from The Guardian:
Martin Gardner, in More Annotated Alice (1990) gave two possible answers, sent in by readers: "both have quills dipped in ink" and "because it slopes with a flap". In 1991, The Spectator held a competition for new answers, among the prize winners were: "because one has flapping fits and the other fitting flaps"; "because one is good for writing books and the other better for biting rooks"; and "because a writing desk is a rest for pens and a raven is a pest for wrens".
(Dr) Selwyn Goodacre, Editor, Journal of the Lewis Carroll Society, Swadlincote, Derbyshire.
And this, from the site WiseGeek:
A number of people have come up with creative answer to “why is a raven like a writing desk.” The answer “Poe wrote on both” is popular, as is “they both stand on sticks” and “they both come with inky quills.” One wit responded with “because there is a B in both and an N in neither,” an answer which was meant to highlight the absurdity of the original question. (Saying it aloud might make it clearer.)
I'm thinking that there are some today who would answer, "One is a football player, and the other... wait! What is a writing desk?"
Martin Gardner, in More Annotated Alice (1990) gave two possible answers, sent in by readers: "both have quills dipped in ink" and "because it slopes with a flap". In 1991, The Spectator held a competition for new answers, among the prize winners were: "because one has flapping fits and the other fitting flaps"; "because one is good for writing books and the other better for biting rooks"; and "because a writing desk is a rest for pens and a raven is a pest for wrens".
(Dr) Selwyn Goodacre, Editor, Journal of the Lewis Carroll Society, Swadlincote, Derbyshire.
And this, from the site WiseGeek:
A number of people have come up with creative answer to “why is a raven like a writing desk.” The answer “Poe wrote on both” is popular, as is “they both stand on sticks” and “they both come with inky quills.” One wit responded with “because there is a B in both and an N in neither,” an answer which was meant to highlight the absurdity of the original question. (Saying it aloud might make it clearer.)
I'm thinking that there are some today who would answer, "One is a football player, and the other... wait! What is a writing desk?"
12
The one that vexed me most was KRAMER!! It should have been a piece of cake after all those years of wastching "Must See TV" but my brain wouldn't spit it out, to my dismay. I guess I'll blame GAM and TEENER for confusing me. Who listens to transistor radios? Definitely not teenagers. They'd be last on my list, only after babies. Perhaps if past tense was used, it may have made more sense but I've still never heard of a TEENER. Oh well. As a POE fan, the riddle made me happy.
2
This was solid Wednesday fare, with an amusing quotation theme.
Not being a betting man, a yoga enthusiast or a Arby’s customer, I needed Google’s help in the NW corner. He had to be consulted in the mid-east as well, where I had SAFER before SURER and POD before GAM, and have not read any of Paolini’s books.
The clue for CARE caught me up short. I wish I were more certain of the answer than I am at this moment.
Not being a betting man, a yoga enthusiast or a Arby’s customer, I needed Google’s help in the NW corner. He had to be consulted in the mid-east as well, where I had SAFER before SURER and POD before GAM, and have not read any of Paolini’s books.
The clue for CARE caught me up short. I wish I were more certain of the answer than I am at this moment.
2
Amitai, the Affordable Care Act is known--both pejoratively and admiringly--as Obamacare.
If you haven't heard that, you haven't been following U.S. politics. Wise move.
If you haven't heard that, you haven't been following U.S. politics. Wise move.
1
Sorry to have been misunderstood, DL.
I am quite familiar with the Affordable CARE Act, though I am not a beneficiary of it. The answer that I would like to know "at this moment" is the one that I will be certain of a week from today.
I am quite familiar with the Affordable CARE Act, though I am not a beneficiary of it. The answer that I would like to know "at this moment" is the one that I will be certain of a week from today.
2
I like the quip themes, and this was especially fun to figure out. I did need a couple of look ups, and was also slowed down because I spelled two of the answers correctly, OLAf and COsY. That is my only nit however. I would definitely like to see more from Andrew.
3
OLAf was an answer I felt sure of except it didn't work. COZY was pretty straightforward because that's the common American spelling. OLAV??!
1
Both words are in that category where I just put in the letters I'm sure of and wait for the crosses to decide which alternative spelling to use.
7
Already had the 'Z' from SUEZ so I didn't fret the COZY.
And what Deadline said about OLAF/OLAV. It pops up both ways. Still slowed me down up there as I had to work out that line from the quip bit by bit.
And what Deadline said about OLAF/OLAV. It pops up both ways. Still slowed me down up there as I had to work out that line from the quip bit by bit.
Had to give up POD letter bybaffling letter, then run the alphabet (albeit not far) to reach The Green Screen of Solvitude. Christopher WHO? And Annie Proulx introduced us to GAMmy birds, but whales?
...but I did love the riddle. And its always nice to see The Little Giant, Mel OTT, faithfully serving his long-time role as a FILLie.
Ducking and running....The fate of the Tribe is decided tonight.....
...but I did love the riddle. And its always nice to see The Little Giant, Mel OTT, faithfully serving his long-time role as a FILLie.
Ducking and running....The fate of the Tribe is decided tonight.....
3
I liked the puzzle—a nice, stiff challenger for a Wednesday. I have to say, however, that I think the ERAGON/GAM crossing was a total Natick. I've never heard of Christopher Paolini or this novel, nor was I familiar with GAM in this context. Pretty heavy sledding for midweek.
4
MIJ, The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind.
2
As I said on yesterday's thread, now you know how a Giants fan sees life.
Hearkening back to the '68 series again, I'll just say this:
Kluber is very good, but he ain't Bob Gibson. Stranger things have indeed happened.
Kluber is very good, but he ain't Bob Gibson. Stranger things have indeed happened.
An IDOL he was, with many ROLES, but his nickname would certainly not be an ACE on the course.
and Elke
I just ADORE riddles. I liked especially how the constructor INTROduced todays. Had to read the INTRO several times to get the rhythm ; very clever.
Seeing CHAD reminds me of upcoming elections south of here ; I like paper ballots and pencils and Xs .
Have been on both TWA and PAN AM (ok-not at the same time).
Mel OTT is nevermore an otter, and I also had "pod" instead of GAM , so I had to look up whales. The "local" ones are orcas :
https://www.sanjuansafaris.com/whale-report
I hope tomorrows puzzle can be done while watching a ball game.....
I just ADORE riddles. I liked especially how the constructor INTROduced todays. Had to read the INTRO several times to get the rhythm ; very clever.
Seeing CHAD reminds me of upcoming elections south of here ; I like paper ballots and pencils and Xs .
Have been on both TWA and PAN AM (ok-not at the same time).
Mel OTT is nevermore an otter, and I also had "pod" instead of GAM , so I had to look up whales. The "local" ones are orcas :
https://www.sanjuansafaris.com/whale-report
I hope tomorrows puzzle can be done while watching a ball game.....
4
We had finally saved up enough miles on PAN AM for a free flight when they went bust.
4
I toon thought of a group of whales as a pod. Cubs ahead by 7 in the nnth. So it looks like Game 7 is ahead! Always liked Sophia Loren in Two Women.
3
I always heard a group of whales described as a pod, particularly the orcas that hang out around the San Juan Islands. I've never heard GAM except in crosswords.
We try to go see the orcas in September each year. We missed them this year, of course, due to a more pressing engagement.
I enjoyed the puzzle and the theme. I finished quickly, as I knew the riddle right away.
We try to go see the orcas in September each year. We missed them this year, of course, due to a more pressing engagement.
I enjoyed the puzzle and the theme. I finished quickly, as I knew the riddle right away.
9
If I remember my school biology right, a pod is a family (i.e. The mother and upto two calves), while a GAM is a group that lives and migrates together.
1
Gam is whaler-speak. It was first a meeting of whaler crews at sea, and then applied to groups of whales.
https://americanliterature.com/author/herman-melville/book/moby-dick-or-...
https://americanliterature.com/author/herman-melville/book/moby-dick-or-...
3
Martin, that is pretty much what it says in my oft mentioned book "An Exaltation of Larks", which Viv recommended to me a few years ago. It's a real delight.
4
When I got my first transistor radio I was not yet a teenager, but I assure you that at that time a teenager was called a teenager, not a TEENER. Here is evidence from that period:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6f_qwY8RfU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6f_qwY8RfU
10
I agree. I built several transistor radios in my teens, both on breadboard and one Heathkit project. The only one that didn't work was the Heathkit, as it had a reversal in the directions. My father took it to work and got a radio tech to fix it for me. One benefit of working on a large government project (Hanford Nuclear Reservation).
1
or could be teenybopper...though they probably didn't make Heathkit radios, they did listen to transistor radios...
1
Dada is not a style; it was a movement that amounted to a rebellion against the political and economic system that had produced colonialism, industrial exploitation of workers and consumers, and destructive wars. An artistic style is a set of design criteria that can be reduced to a set of rules (descriptive or prescriptive). Dada was, by its very nature, a negation of all rules, i.e. a rejection of style itself. Dadaist Marcel Duchamps declared manufactured items to be “readymade” works of art; so he can’t be said to have had a style at all, since he did not have a hand in the design of his found-art objects, e.g. urinals; cf. “‘— means nothing’ (1918 manifesto declaration)” = DADA (7/2/14).
11
Let's credit this answer to the riddle to Sam Loyd, please.
JOHN FISHER, in his book "The Magic of Lewis Carroll" (Thomas Nelson 1973, Penguin 1975), quotes Carroll's own answer, supplied in a preface to the 1896 edition of "Alice in Wonderland": "Enquiries have been so often addressed to me, as to whether any answer to the Hatter's riddle can be imagined, that I may as well put on record here what seems to be a fairly appropriate answer, viz: 'Because it can produce few notes, tho [sic] they are very flat; and it is never put with the wrong end in front!' This, however, is merely an afterthought; the Riddle, as originally invented, had no answer at all." Fisher also quotes Sam Loyd's solution, in his posthumous "Cyclopedia of Puzzles", published in 1914: "The notes for which they are noted are not noted for being musical notes." Fisher continues: "Loyd also reminded the world that 'Poe wrote on both' and that 'bills and tales are among their characteristics.'"
https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-2083,00.html
JOHN FISHER, in his book "The Magic of Lewis Carroll" (Thomas Nelson 1973, Penguin 1975), quotes Carroll's own answer, supplied in a preface to the 1896 edition of "Alice in Wonderland": "Enquiries have been so often addressed to me, as to whether any answer to the Hatter's riddle can be imagined, that I may as well put on record here what seems to be a fairly appropriate answer, viz: 'Because it can produce few notes, tho [sic] they are very flat; and it is never put with the wrong end in front!' This, however, is merely an afterthought; the Riddle, as originally invented, had no answer at all." Fisher also quotes Sam Loyd's solution, in his posthumous "Cyclopedia of Puzzles", published in 1914: "The notes for which they are noted are not noted for being musical notes." Fisher continues: "Loyd also reminded the world that 'Poe wrote on both' and that 'bills and tales are among their characteristics.'"
https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-2083,00.html
6
Interesting theme.
But also an interesting asymmetry. I'm a little surprised that Deb didn't mention it.
But also an interesting asymmetry. I'm a little surprised that Deb didn't mention it.
2
Some of us are blind to symmetry..... It just does not reveal itself to me.
1
I didn't notice it until I went to xwordinfo.
Jim Horne did comment that it "nearly fools the eye."
Jim Horne did comment that it "nearly fools the eye."
1
Cue William Blake.
..
..
3