I think if I never see a "circled letter reveal" it will be too soon. I'd honestly rather have a themeless puzzle than a circled letter one. How do others feel about this?
Honestly, I love the "circled letter reveal". The more the merrier. Looks like we're on opposite ends on this.
No objections to circled letters and wonder why there would be.
RE: 24D-(RUDY'S COACH-CORRECT ANSWER=DAN
THE ERA OF ARA ENDED IN 1974 AND DAN DIVINE WAS COACH WHEN RUDY DRESSED AND PLAYED IN HIS ONLY GAME ON NOV 8, 1975. HE GRADUATED IN 1976
BILL ND'64
THE ERA OF ARA ENDED IN 1974 AND DAN DIVINE WAS COACH WHEN RUDY DRESSED AND PLAYED IN HIS ONLY GAME ON NOV 8, 1975. HE GRADUATED IN 1976
BILL ND'64
Bill,
The clue is Rudy's coach in Rudy, not Rudy's coach when he dressed and played. Without the qualifier, the entry could be DAN or ARA. Agreed?
The clue is Rudy's coach in Rudy, not Rudy's coach when he dressed and played. Without the qualifier, the entry could be DAN or ARA. Agreed?
I believe it was Dan Devine who played the cameo role as the coach in the movie. I guess I'll have to watch the movie again and check it out to refresh my memory. Rudy was a "walk-on" on the practice squad and his actual coach was Merv Johnson. Rudy attended Holy Cross College (across the Dixie Hwy from ND) his first 2 years and was admitted to ND as Junior in 1974 which was ARA's last season. I don't know if Rudy participated in any practices in his Junior year under ARA. So he may have been on the practice squad for both ARA and DAN!!!
GO IRISH!
GO IRISH!
Gnar was a gnarly one!
Gnar?? Greally!!
Don't you mean G-RELEE?
1
More of a challenge than expected for midweek.
Anyone else try to fit MERCAPTAN into 38D?
As for 41A, how about AN IRON BACK CHAIR?
Or GOSH for 56A?
As you can guess.... some strikeovers... :-)
Anyone else try to fit MERCAPTAN into 38D?
As for 41A, how about AN IRON BACK CHAIR?
Or GOSH for 56A?
As you can guess.... some strikeovers... :-)
1
GNAR? Never heard of it!
Think "gnarled".
Odorant actually makes a connection with the Tesla clue.
Odorants are added to odorless substances in order to give humans a heads-up about their unwanted presence. Teslas and other electric-motor cars have to deal with their soundlessness in a similar way. Blind people hate electric cars because they can't see them. RiA raised the point, below, albeit in a canine manner.
Odorants are added to odorless substances in order to give humans a heads-up about their unwanted presence. Teslas and other electric-motor cars have to deal with their soundlessness in a similar way. Blind people hate electric cars because they can't see them. RiA raised the point, below, albeit in a canine manner.
Blind people hate electric cars because they can't HEAR them.
1
I would have perhaps expressed my meaning more clearly had I written,
"because they can't see them the way they see the non-electric motor vehicles."
My intention was not a simple expression, which would cover all kinds of vehicles, but rather used the verb "see" in a broader sense which my blind friends use regularly.
"because they can't see them the way they see the non-electric motor vehicles."
My intention was not a simple expression, which would cover all kinds of vehicles, but rather used the verb "see" in a broader sense which my blind friends use regularly.
1
I don't use a TIMER while solving, but today's puzzle went by quickly. Gimmes in different quadrants had my pen jumping all around the grid. NEW and IRON gave me the theme.
How many DENAILS are in this puzzle? I count NEIN.
Along about the late 60s, pioneering rock n' roller Jerry Lee Lewis made a successful transition from the pop to the country charts. In 1977, he scored a Top 10 country hit with "MIDDLE AGE Crazy" (the song's protagonist is afflicted with the title malady at the age of 40. Like Deb says, shifting goalposts.) The song inspired a terrible 1980 movie of the same name starring Bruce Dern.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDF31Vy42E0
How many DENAILS are in this puzzle? I count NEIN.
Along about the late 60s, pioneering rock n' roller Jerry Lee Lewis made a successful transition from the pop to the country charts. In 1977, he scored a Top 10 country hit with "MIDDLE AGE Crazy" (the song's protagonist is afflicted with the title malady at the age of 40. Like Deb says, shifting goalposts.) The song inspired a terrible 1980 movie of the same name starring Bruce Dern.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDF31Vy42E0
2
Make that DENIALS. Denail is what you do with the other end of a hammer.
2
Is that when you hit denail on dehead?
1
Alaska is in a state of Denali.
hee hee
hee hee
2
ITCHY to join SEEPY and YEASTY.
Not to beat a dead horse around the bush, but we have a discussion most times when the give away implies something in the "middle" as in "middle ages". ICE is in the middle with 6 letters on either side. The other themers are just "inside" or "within" but not in the middle.
ODORANT reminded me of the request Mikey made to Sully in Monsters, Inc. to borrow some "odorant":
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/29c3f1c5-f8f4-41ba-9a60-2ddc39efc286
Not to beat a dead horse around the bush, but we have a discussion most times when the give away implies something in the "middle" as in "middle ages". ICE is in the middle with 6 letters on either side. The other themers are just "inside" or "within" but not in the middle.
ODORANT reminded me of the request Mikey made to Sully in Monsters, Inc. to borrow some "odorant":
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/29c3f1c5-f8f4-41ba-9a60-2ddc39efc286
1
RMP, I disagree. ITCHY and YEASTY are common words. SEEPY sounds made-up.
1
What's up with the Purple People Eater clues? First on Sunday and now on Wednesday. Loved that song when I was a kid!
1
So Hamlet dies?! Never got that far; stopped reading because I got tired of his constant whining. Didn't stop working on this nice Wednesday puzzle, though. Two writeovers: cleanup/CLEANSE and suvs/GMCS.
4
Lewis, loved the Dave Barry quote. I may resemble that remark.
IREFUL ODORANT: "The scent you'll be mad for!"
I fell for the sneaky "Snaky character" clue and promptly wrote in Eel.
I always enjoy finding hidden words in the answers and would like to think I'd have figured it out without the circles.
The only one I could think of was LEBRONZEROSCORE as "Sports headline you'll never see." But it's not a "thing."
Jules, I think you did great job using the most viable AGES you could in familiar 15 phrases with MIDDLEAGE being the perfect reveal. Thank you!
IREFUL ODORANT: "The scent you'll be mad for!"
I fell for the sneaky "Snaky character" clue and promptly wrote in Eel.
I always enjoy finding hidden words in the answers and would like to think I'd have figured it out without the circles.
The only one I could think of was LEBRONZEROSCORE as "Sports headline you'll never see." But it's not a "thing."
Jules, I think you did great job using the most viable AGES you could in familiar 15 phrases with MIDDLEAGE being the perfect reveal. Thank you!
2
Struggled to recall mercaptan (aka methanethiol) as it was used in a late week puzzle at one time. Happily ODORANT was the fill.
Had disects (sic) for BISECTS. Wondered why ODE was appearing twice in the grid only to discover my solving and mercaptan both stink. To add insult to injury I stared at 42D wondering what the first letter was, getting no help from 41A as my knowledge of Roman numerals seemed to have gone on holiday with the Tidy Bowl man.
Speaking of MACABRE: Went to the Guillermo del Toro exhibit at MIA (Mpls., MN) -- if it comes to your area go. Will be watching Pan's Labyrinth tonight.
A jewel of a puzzle jabbered Tom jealously.
Had disects (sic) for BISECTS. Wondered why ODE was appearing twice in the grid only to discover my solving and mercaptan both stink. To add insult to injury I stared at 42D wondering what the first letter was, getting no help from 41A as my knowledge of Roman numerals seemed to have gone on holiday with the Tidy Bowl man.
Speaking of MACABRE: Went to the Guillermo del Toro exhibit at MIA (Mpls., MN) -- if it comes to your area go. Will be watching Pan's Labyrinth tonight.
A jewel of a puzzle jabbered Tom jealously.
1
Hand up for clean up. Also, this pair was in need of write-overs today: suvs/GMCS, and lays low/LIES LOW...IREFUL was the last to fall. The word just sounds clumsy...I knew right off the bat what today's music link would be when I filled in 1a. This is Small Faces with "ITCHYcoo Park."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBZgu9riZyc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBZgu9riZyc
2
Someone clue me in here: what does "O.B.E." actually stand for? I figured out that the answer would have to be British, but even after solving the puzzle and reading the blog, I'm none the wiser. Clue a fellow in, would ya?
Order of the British Empire.
Interesting. When I wrote my reply, there was no other reply here. Now, half an hour later, there's another reply time-stamped earlier. (I'm just writing this to fend off anybody saying I should read the comments before commenting)
2
That was a WW for me. Worthy Wednesday. It did have its plus in POSitive and its negatives in DENIALS and NEIN. I guess the negatives outweigh the positive. My only question is this: Is 'Mid-life' the equivalent of MIDDLE AGE? Were I to find myself discussing the 'crisis time', I would refer to it as 'mid-life', not MIDDLE AGE. Perhaps that's just me. Loved seeing MACABRE.
1
I got hung up for a while in a few places. Unknowns or things that weren't dawning on me contributed - like IREFUL and GNAR, along with some alternative possibilities (CLEANUP before CLEANSE). The first themer was pretty obvious, but I didn't get any of the others until I got the reveal. Most notable was 44a where I had something... DECKCHAIR at one point and really needed the IRON for that to dawn on me.
Nice puzzle overall. A few kind of icky chunks, but some nice entries too - MACABRE being a favorite. Always a bonus when you need the reveal to finish up.
I'm always a tiny bit put off when I see common phrases rendered with the gender-neutral ONES (LOSTONESMARBLES), as that's just not what people say most of the time. I wondered if there were any alternatives for that answer that didn't involve ONE as a possessive and of course didn't embed the word STONE in the phrase. So I did a search for the pattern on Xword and ended up with a greater appreciation for the art of construction. piSTONEngine was one of the few good options I could see, but once you've decided all your themers are going to be 15 letters, that's out. coalSTONEwcastle would have been great. It's 16 letters. Close. No cigar.
I guess this stuff's not that easy.
Nice puzzle overall. A few kind of icky chunks, but some nice entries too - MACABRE being a favorite. Always a bonus when you need the reveal to finish up.
I'm always a tiny bit put off when I see common phrases rendered with the gender-neutral ONES (LOSTONESMARBLES), as that's just not what people say most of the time. I wondered if there were any alternatives for that answer that didn't involve ONE as a possessive and of course didn't embed the word STONE in the phrase. So I did a search for the pattern on Xword and ended up with a greater appreciation for the art of construction. piSTONEngine was one of the few good options I could see, but once you've decided all your themers are going to be 15 letters, that's out. coalSTONEwcastle would have been great. It's 16 letters. Close. No cigar.
I guess this stuff's not that easy.
1
My usual OT addendum(s): Late note to Jimbo. I did recognize Nadia's Theme when I listened to it, but really didn't make that connection when I initially listened to your video. And even if I had recognized the melody, I never would have remembered that connection on my own.
ELECTRIC cars are great, but I have one problem with them that occurs when I'm walking my avatar through the neighborhood. You can't hear them coming, which means that I am now in the habit of turning around to look behind me about every 10 seconds on our walks. I would note that avatar fairly frequently makes a sudden decision to cross the street (I'm just holding up my end of the leash on our walks), so I have to be really careful. Just wondered if anyone else has that issue.
ELECTRIC cars are great, but I have one problem with them that occurs when I'm walking my avatar through the neighborhood. You can't hear them coming, which means that I am now in the habit of turning around to look behind me about every 10 seconds on our walks. I would note that avatar fairly frequently makes a sudden decision to cross the street (I'm just holding up my end of the leash on our walks), so I have to be really careful. Just wondered if anyone else has that issue.
1
Finished with one error SHEP before SHEB - that crossing was a Natick for me. Growing up in Quebec near the American border, we called them ADIRONDACKCHAIRS. I now know them as Muskoka chairs.
2
Does that now make you an Oka from Muskoka?
2
LOL - but not quite.
Well, it's early. ICE and STONE, then IRON, convinced me that I was looking for hard substances, so when NEW emerged, I was unable to put things together despite the central (supposed) Reveal. AGE..... oh, okay. Touchy subject around here, after I asked the DHubby what he wanted for his upcoming 76th birthday. Turn backward, O Time, in thy flight....
I woke up at 2:30 and went to the guest bed, where unfortunately I picked up an interesting book.... by 5:30 I had decided I wasn't going to get anymore sleep, so I think I'm halfway through my day already.
I woke up at 2:30 and went to the guest bed, where unfortunately I picked up an interesting book.... by 5:30 I had decided I wasn't going to get anymore sleep, so I think I'm halfway through my day already.
1
All the spanners were very nice, and good clues for BRIDGE, ANTE, and ESS. I always loved the word MACABRE. IREFUL, not so much, but these words are sometimes necessary to make the puzzle work. I'm wondering how the solve would have gone had the circles not been there.
Regarding midlife crises, I think I'm still waiting for mine. I didn't buy the red sports car, or stray in my marriage, and I believe I'm past what is considered middle age. But maybe Dave Barry discovered the secret when he said, "You can only be young once. But you can always be immature."
Regarding midlife crises, I think I'm still waiting for mine. I didn't buy the red sports car, or stray in my marriage, and I believe I'm past what is considered middle age. But maybe Dave Barry discovered the secret when he said, "You can only be young once. But you can always be immature."
6
From a birthday card, "Age is inevitable, maturity is not."
1
I needed the reveal to get the theme, which then helped to get the long answers. It also helped me to have ARA from Rudy show up again as well as SHEB of the Purple People Eaters. I think I would have gotten SWAP even it we didn't just have that.
A cute theme with nice long entries, a little easy for a Wednesday (and BTW, I thought it was Wednesday while I was doing the puzzle yesterday which is why I thought it was far too easy) and I did enjoy the solve.
A cute theme with nice long entries, a little easy for a Wednesday (and BTW, I thought it was Wednesday while I was doing the puzzle yesterday which is why I thought it was far too easy) and I did enjoy the solve.
3
My thoughts on MIDDLE AGE: ICE for the achy parts; kidney or gall STONES; IRON for blood production; and the occasional NEW part (knees in my case).
3
and Elke
As far as I am concerned, MIDDLE AGE has become a movable era.....
Like others, am not sure of "NEW" age. How about having "when a cardiologist inserts a "TIMER": PLACESPACEMAKER ?
Otherwise, interesting puzzle, and only one ERROR : "men" before HES.
As far as I am concerned, MIDDLE AGE has become a movable era.....
Like others, am not sure of "NEW" age. How about having "when a cardiologist inserts a "TIMER": PLACESPACEMAKER ?
Otherwise, interesting puzzle, and only one ERROR : "men" before HES.
1
Senescence begins
And middle age ends
The day your descendants
Outnumber your friends.
(I can't acknowledge this one -- don't remember who write it. Maybe I'm already there ...)
And middle age ends
The day your descendants
Outnumber your friends.
(I can't acknowledge this one -- don't remember who write it. Maybe I'm already there ...)
3
Dr. W., it sounds like it could be Ogden Nash, but on second thought I think he wrote something that began with the same or similar two lines but continued with something different. If I find it I'll tell you.
and Elke
Dr W- mr Google identifies verse :"Middle age ends, and senescence
begins, the day your descendants outnumber your friends " as from Ogden Nash.
Your version has the better rhyme/rhythm.But either way it's sorta sad .
Dr W- mr Google identifies verse :"Middle age ends, and senescence
begins, the day your descendants outnumber your friends " as from Ogden Nash.
Your version has the better rhyme/rhythm.But either way it's sorta sad .
New seemed out of place to me, as the others were all geological ages. But I understand that bronze was nearly impossible, although I like David's idea.
Good puzzle, with the perfect amount of challenge for a Wednesday. Thanks for the fun.
Good puzzle, with the perfect amount of challenge for a Wednesday. Thanks for the fun.
2
NTSa was my undoing today! Enjoyed the puzzle. Though ENGINE instead of motor grated.
1
Rampiak, your comment describes my experience exactly. To me, SHEa Wooley was a better guess than SHEB, and I forgot that the National Transportation Safety group is a Board, not an Agency.
When I studied engineering back in the STONE age (in the SF Bay Area, of all places), the nomenclature was ENGINE for thermal-powered and motor for electric-powered. It is interesting how the meaning of words gets watered down over time.
When I studied engineering back in the STONE age (in the SF Bay Area, of all places), the nomenclature was ENGINE for thermal-powered and motor for electric-powered. It is interesting how the meaning of words gets watered down over time.
I remembered SHEB Wooley in a clue from Sunday's Puzzle. Is it considered cheating looking up old clues to fill in new ones?
Nope. A good memory is a major asset here.
1
Laxer dude's rave recommendation for a tourist destination:
HEY BRO, NZED RULES!
I tried. It's 15 letters at least...
HEY BRO, NZED RULES!
I tried. It's 15 letters at least...
3
Maybe something with a HEBRON ZEBRA?
1
I know it's acceptable "casual" usage, but ELECTRIC ENGINES is like fingernails on the blackboard. Tesla calls them motors.
Motor and engine later came to be used largely interchangeably in casual discourse. However, technically, the two words have different meanings. An engine is a device that burns or otherwise consumes fuel, changing its chemical composition, whereas a motor is a device driven by electricity, air, or hydraulic pressure, which does not change the chemical composition of its energy source.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine
Motor and engine later came to be used largely interchangeably in casual discourse. However, technically, the two words have different meanings. An engine is a device that burns or otherwise consumes fuel, changing its chemical composition, whereas a motor is a device driven by electricity, air, or hydraulic pressure, which does not change the chemical composition of its energy source.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine
9
I was trying to fit in ELECTRIC BATTERIES, which, although redundant, seem to me to be what actually power the vehicle.
3
My son the car guy jumped on me so many times when I would say "start the motor" that I finally learned the difference.
1
Be a tad dfifficult without a motor, tho.
enjoyable puzzle. with ice and stone in circles, figured bout the age theme. like Adirondack. I am from upstate NY originally and my family has those at the lake!
2