1A: It's compressed for delivery (ZIPPED FILE). With the advent of Cloud Computing and other advanced storage systems, the WinZip file has gone the way of dial-up Internet.
15A: They're worlds apart (ALIEN RACES). See also Marvel Comics. Sorry, I'm not a big fan of sci-fi and fantasy. I really don't care if these other forms exist or not.
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| Sierra Nevada |
17A: Stretch in the Sierra Nevada (PINE FOREST). I've never been to the Sierra Nevada, but the diversity of tree species makes for great photo-ops.
12D: Phrase coined by H.G. Wells in 1914 (ATOMIC BOMB). Wells first used this phrase in a book called The World Set Free. He was definitely the master of war games.
3D: Measure with no rhyme (PINT). I would've never guessed that in a million years, but I knew it had nothing to do with poetry.
13D: Patent (PLAIN TO SEE). I thought this clue had to do with inventions at first, but "patent" also means "obviously open to notice.
23A: WTUL's home, informally (NAWLINS). Only tourists pronounce the name of New Orleans this way. I usually just refer to the city by its more common acronym, NOLA. The campus radio station of Tulane University, WTUL has the dubious distinction for giving the epitome of "class"--Jerry Springer--his start in talk radio.
26D: Open gems (HOLES IN ONE). A very rare feat in a golf tournament, indeed.
29A: Nurses' opposite (CHUGS). This is probably my favorite clue of the puzzle, since this has to do with alcohol, lol (sipping vs. chugging).
36A: They develop less of a head cold (BEERS). Another alcohol clue! The head refers to the foam at the top of every beer glass.
41D: Plan for a peak performance (SKI TRIP). Many people I know get a rush from skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. Yours truly prefers to stay indoors, thank you.
46A: Referesher course (SORBET). Sorbet is always served after a big meal (usually weddings or bar/bat mitzvahs) to soothe the palate and to provide guests with a refreshing break.
49A: "Friendship" or "Forward" (STATE MOTTO). "Friendship" is the state motto of Texas, while "Forward" is Wisconsin's.
52A: Superblocks (URBAN AREAS). Superblocks refer to streets that are much larger than the traditional city blocks (e.g., Broadway, Madison Ave., Park Ave.)
54A: Locals around Whitechapel Road (EAST ENDERS). Also the name of a long-running soap opera on the Beeb.
The name game:
11D: Best Actress Oscar winner after Halle (NICOLE), as in Kidman
25D: Harvard Law Dean, 2003-2009 (ELENA KAGAN), who is now, of course, a Supreme Court justice.
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| Patton Oswalt |
The solution to today's cryptoquote is by one of my favorite comedians, Patton Oswalt (b. 1969):
I fantasize and idealize myself as Bugs Bunny, but I know deep down I'm Daffy Duck.
Awwww. I know just how you feel. Bugs Bunny was the alpha male. He was cocky, brash, and confident and usually outsmarted his antagonists. Daffy, on the other hand, was always down on his luck.
I had a tough time with the crytoquote and filled in "ion" for "ize" at first. There were also lots of difficult consonant combinations.
Finally, we wrap up with the JUMBLE. Some teenages from the 1950s are listening to records on a turntable, but the father disapproves of what they are playing. The caption reads "When a young Elvis topped the music charts in April 1957, some parents were _____."
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| Elvis Presley at his finest. |
Word list:
LIPTO = PILOT
OZAKO = KAZOO
HURNKS = SHRUNK
TALLEY = LATELY
Scrambled solution PLOKOSHUAL
Solution: ALL SHOOK UP
My own parents grew up in the Elvis era, but were not big fans of his music. My dad preferred country, and my mom idolized Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Imagine if Elvis was a big star in the present day. Facebook and Twitter would certainly crash.
Time to call it a day. I'm not sure if I will have a chance to solve the Sunday puzzle, so till Monday. . . .
Signing off,
The Puzzlechick
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