Today's Gail Grabowski offering called "Labor of Lug." As always, the Monday puzzle is the easiest and I solved it while waiting for a problem to be resolved on the subway train at the station after mine. Below are the theme answers:
21A: Hot-rod vehicle (DRAG RACER). I am not a big fan of car racing. In fact, I find it boring and I feel it's the ultimate "white trash" sport. However, one of my favorite songs as a child was the theme to "Speed Racer," one of the first Japanese cartoons to be shown in the U.S. They changed the words in the updated 1990s cartoon (boo!).
29A: Get help from influential pals (PULL A FEW STRINGS). This is for rich spoiled college kids who need help from Daddy, especially when it comes to getting a job. Most of us had to find our own jobs.
52A: Prepare to punch (HAUL OFF ON). There should be no violence in crossword puzzles. This is obviously language used by sportswriters to make it more colorful. Corresponds with 66A: Minor quarrels (SPATS).
Below is a video clip of the Shondells' "Draggin' the Line," which is the perfect music accompaniment for this puzzle (no copyright infringement intended).
Alphabet soup:
42A: Approximate takeoff hour (ETD)
36A: Written promise to pay (IOU)
52D: Medical insurance grps. (HMOS)
Oh, the places you go:
16A: Nevada city (RENO)
48D: New Hampshire neighbor (MAINE)
10A: Norway's capital (OSLO)
Other notes:
30A: Valentine flower (ROSE) crosses with 30D: Sneaky plan (RUSE)
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| Will Rogers |
Have you ever seen "Will Rogers Follies?" It is an excellent musical based on the life and career of the humorist and performer. We saw it at Westbury of Music Fair with Gary Sandy (of "WKRP" fame). I didn't realize that Keith Carradine played him in the original Broadway version. Anyway, Will Rogers (1879-1935) is the author of today's cryptoquote:
Will Rogers was born to a prominent Cherokee family, made over 70 movies, wrote over 4,000 newspaper colums(!), and became a star on the then-new medium of radio, all because of a vaudeville rope act that made him famous. He even "ran" for president in 1928 with a mock election campaign. People looked up to him for his defense of the "common man" and encourging them to follow their dreams to success.This philosophy is relfected perfectly in the above quote. Sadly, Rogers died in a plane crash--he was just 55.
Know what you are doing, love what you are doing, and belive in what you are doing.
Today's JUMBLE shows a picture of a butcher shop, which features a customer complaining that her meat was lopsided. The butcher then says that he is going to have to fire the employee. The caption reads "The butcher shop's new employee wasn't _______."
Word list:
GARTN =GRANT
TOVEC = COVET
VINTIE = INVITE
FURNIA = UNFAIR
Scrambled solution: GTCTINTUI
Solution: CUTTING IT
Wow, it's been almost five years (May 25, 2009) since Sam the Butcher (Allan Melvin) from "The Brady Bunch" passed away. He was also the voice of Magilla Gorilla and played Barney on ""All in the Family, along with its spin-off, "Archie Bunker's Place." A great comedic talent who will always be missed.
Have a great Monday, everyone!
Till tomorrow. . . .
Signing off,
The Puzzlechick
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