More Life's Lessons Learned From Puzzles

Good afternoon! It seems to have warmed up a bit from yesterday's almost sub-zero weather. I took a walk around the block; I can't wait to start walking on the High Line again.

We have lots of quotes today. Today's Newsday puzzle ("Forget About It" by Bruce Venzke) reveals a saying by the actress Ingrid Bergman:

Happiness is good health and a poor memory.

Staying in good health will always make one happy. I've been struggling with my weight ever since my teens. My weight has fluctuated over the last several years and I finally reached a good point about 10 years ago when I lost 50 lbs. and kept it off for six years. I had gained back 25 lbs. over the last year but now my weight is where I want it to be. I am ready to stay this way the rest of my life and forget about the past--all the bullies who teased me, lost dates, clothes I couldn't wear, etc.

I also wish good health and happiness to my friends and family members who have been sick over the last few years. May they erase any bad memories so they can look forward to the future. 

Ingrid Bergman (1915-1982) was one of the most prolific actresses of all-time and is ranked as the fourth greatest female star by the American Film Institute. . She won several acting awards: three Oscars, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globes, and a Tony. Her classic films of the 1940s include: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, For Whom the Bell Tolls,  Gaslight, The Bells of St. Marys, Spellbound, Under Capricorn, Joan of Arc, and of course, Casablanca.

Bergman's career was nearly ruined because of her affair with Italian director Roberto Rossellini. She was even "blacklisted" by the U.S. Senate. However, she attempted to clear her name on the "Steve Allen Show" by declaring "I am just another woman, a human being." As a result of the scandal, Bergman left her husband and and daughter (former news anchor Pia Lindstrom), which led to a scandalous divorce and cutody battle Pia. Bergman and Rossellini had twin daughters, the actress Isabella and Isotta Ingrid, a professor of Italian literature.

After Bergman separated from Rossellini, she returned to the American screen in such films as Anastasia, Murder on the Orient Express, and Autumn Sonata. Ingrid Bergman died from breast cancer on August 29, 1982 (her 67th birthday).

I did get stumped on 28D: Golden-___ corn. I orignially had "EAR OF" when I figured the answer should be "EARED." 

Alphabet soup:

1A: Drilling expert: Abbr. (DDS)
22A: Technical school (INST)
37A: ABA Member (ATT)
50A: MapQuest owner (AOL)

Famous last names:

4A: 1986 Peace Nobelist (Elie WIESEL)
27D: 62-Down boss of the '80s (62-Down's answer is MOB, the famous name is John GOTTI)
32D: Elysium star (Matt DAMON)


Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) is the author of today's cryptoquote. Of course, he is known for his many proverbs, such as those found in Poor Richard's Almanac.  One of 17 children, Ben Franklin trained as an apprentice printer at a New England newspaper (run by his brother James) and ran what you can call an early advice column. His nom de plume was a fictional widow named "Silence Dogood." When his brother was thrown in jail for his views against vaccination, Ben was left to run the paper. He couldn't take it anymore and escaped to Philly. In Philly, he ran a print shop, fathered a child out of wedlock (gasp!), founded a paper called The Philadelphia Gazette, opened the nation's first public library, promoted cleaning the environment, and studied electricity. Franklin was elected to the Second Continental Congress and became an ambassador to France.

Today's cryptoquote reads: "Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears, while the used key is always bright." Franklin is saying that laziness will eventually destroy s a person, while work keeps them useful and balanced. The key that is seldom used begins to rust (this is true!) while the key that is often used stays shiny. 

Today, we have two of life's lessons learned from puzzles, folks.

It's now JUMBLE time. Today's picture is a very angry and rude jerk (who obviously needs to learn customer-service skills) behind a pizza counter who is trying to rush a man and his son. BTW, I really have to be in the mood to eat a slice of pizza. It usually just lays in my stomach.

"The pizza parlor's approach to getting customers to make a purchase was ______.

Word list:

TUOYH = YOUTH
PIEML = IMPEL
CUBSAA = ABACUS
CEDDEA = DECADE

Scrambled answer: YTHILBUSECE
Answer: "BUY" THE SLICE

The day is nearly over and  I am ready to just veg out.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick