Life's a Beach

Happy Monday! It's June 4th but if feels more like October 4th. It's definitely not a day to be "On the Beach", which is today's puzzle by Gail Grabowski. Here are the theme answers.

20A: Roofed area between a house and a garage (BREEZEWAY). This is what a breezeway looks like (see below). My friend converted hers into a loft.  Her ex-husband lived there before he moved out for good.

 

58A: Abrasive wood smoother (SANDPAPER). Sandpaper is a DIYer's best friend. It can be just as sharp as a saw and in fact works like a saw, except it can't be sharpened. There are many categories of sandpaper from superfine to coarse. There are two different grades of sandpaper, commercial (which is sold at hardware stores) and industrial (only available at industrial supply stores). Looking for sandpaper doesn't excite me as much as looking for shoes.

10D: Big name in Irish crystal (WATERFORD). I think I must have something Waterford in my apartment from our engagement party. Lots of wedding registry gifts from which to choose. Some of it is nice, most is downright tacky.

35D: Tall yellow-petaled plant (SUNFLOWER). The sunflower is not only beautiful and vibrant, but it's an excellent source of food. Sunflower oil is a healthy fat and sunflower seeds proved an excellent and tasty snack. My brother Brian eats them by the pound. However, I will always think of the Sunflower Girls, the organization (similar to the Girl Scouts) that Marcia Brady makes her brother Peter join in order to prove a point about equal rights.

Notes on Mad Men: Last night's episode of "Mad Men" was one of the saddest in the show's history. RIP, Lane Pryce we will miss you. Lane Price was a tragic character, but we can sympathize him thanks to Jared Harris's acting. Lane was in a lot of trouble financially and he sexually harassed Joan Harris (Christina Hendricks). If Lane was in that much trouble, he should have come to Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and company for help instead of embezzling money. It's ironic that he came to Sterling Cooper to trim its budget and he committed fraud. His crime came back to haunt him. Permanently. Click on this link for recaps. In the second main plot, Sally Draper (Kiernan Shipka) went to the museum with creepy Glenn Bishop and she also became a woman. There was a rare tender moment between her and Betty (January Jones), the ice princess. BTW, Marten Weiner (who plays Glenn) can't act to save his life. He got the part only because Daddy created the show.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

A Garden of Grecian Delights

TGIF! It's a new month and it's also National Donut Day. I'm also working half a day from home today. Nothing like the good life.

Today's puzzle by Clive Probert was rather clever. It's called "Mediterranean Diet" and you'll see what I mean. Research shows that the Mediterranean Diet reduces risk of heart disease. It is heavy in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, legumes, and olive oil. Red meat and sweets are limited, and drinking a glass of red wine is encouraged (in moderation, of course). See the food pyramid below:

23A: Winter Olympics Gear (FIGURE SKATES). Figure skating always looked so easy on TV. I remember my first time ice skating with the Girl Scouts. I fell all over the place. Needles to say, I didn' go ice skating too often. Roller skating, on the other hand, was a blast. There have been many U.S. figure skating champions over the years (Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Tara Lipinski, Michelle Kwan, Scott Hamilton, Brian Boitano). However, the one rivalry I will never forget is the one between Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. Tonya Harding put the sport to shame.

34A: News-story starter (DATELINE). See NBC show with the same name.

42A: Quick beats (PIT-A-PATS)

51A: Obstetrics Device (FETAL MONITOR). I felt comfort when my OB/GYN told me everything with my son was normal. However, things turned out complicated in the end. I had strep and had to go on bed rest for a few weeks. Then I was induced but didn't go into labor until around 7:00 the night of January 31, 1995. Then the umbilical cord was wrapped around Alex's neck. If it weren't for a quick-thinking nurse, Alex wouldn't be alive today. He was delivered via an emergency C-section. I couldn't go through another delivery like the one I experienced. :-(

Looks like a nice day outside, but I hear rain and cool temperatures over the next few days. Tomorrow morning Alex takes his SATs and it's closing night for "Death of a Salesman." 

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Working Stiffs

After much technical difficulty trying to get the Newsday puzzle this morning, I was finally able to download it on Crossword Social. Today's puzzle is called "Working Foursome" and features some fun characters. The author is Ki Lee (that name is new to me).

17A: Spinach-loving toon (POPEYE THE SAILOR). I have to say that Popeye was never one of my favorite cartoons, although the character has been around over 80 years. Popeye began life as a comic strip character and became the star of a series of animated shorts in the early '30s. The stories were all the same: Popeye is put into a hopeless situation (usually by Brutus), Popeye eats a can of spinach that he carries in his shirt sleeve, and the spinach makes him superhuman. In the end Popeye wins and usually gets the girl (Olive Oyl). Here's a clip from the very first Popeye cartoon:

28A: Kiddie-Show contractor (BOB THE BUILDER). I watched this show with Alex when he was younger. I loved the theme song. Bob is from a family of builders and Wendy is his business partner. Will Bob and Wendy ever get together? The vehicle characters are cute. "Bob the Builder" is originally from the UK, but they use American voices in the US version. For your listening pleasure, the theme song.

Joe the Plumber

44A: Campaign '08 personality (JOE THE PLUMBER). Real name, Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher. This conservative activist and politician enjoyed his 15 minutes of fame in 2008. After receiving then-candidate Barack Obama's answer to his question about the tax policy, he appeared on the road with John McCain and Sarah Palin. McCain brought up "Joe the Plumber" frequently during the presidential debates and speeches when he charged that there would be high taxes under Obama. Joe the Plumber is running for Congress this year. I'm curious to see how that will turn out.

 55A: WWII icon for working women (ROSIE THE RIVETER). During World War II, women took jobs in place of men serving in the military. There was even an all-female baseball league (see A League of Their Own if you're one of the few people in this country who haven't). Anyway, the term "Rosie the Riveter" was first used in a 1942 song by Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb, which portrayed a tireless and dedicated factory worker.

All the day long,
Whether rain or shine,
She's part of the assembly line.
She's making history,
Working for victory,
Rosie the Riveter.

Once the war was over, however, women were expected to return to their jobs as housewives and caretakers for their children. The image of Rosie that comes to mind for me was the one Norman Rockwell painted for the Saturday Evening Post.

I would like to take this time to remember Doug Heller, a puzzle and tech genius who passed away last week from pancreatic cancer. at the age of 57. He was the Webmaster and judge for the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament as well as the U.S. History Web site. I worked with Doug briefly in the late '80s when he came to Official (now Kappa) Publications from Penny Press. He was responsible for typesetting puzzles electronically and in-house (a new phenomenon at the time). I doubt Doug would have remembered me because it was so long ago. My sincere condolences to his family.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

Thick As Thieves

I had a horrible subway ride this evening. First off, someone was struck by an LIRR train. Second, a passenger needed medical assistance in my neighborhood. It took an hour and a half for me to get home. On top of almost 90-degree temperatures, what a way to start the week!

Now that I've finished venting, it's time to discuss the theme answers to today's puzzle—"Thievery" by Billie Truitt.

21A: Skier's purchase (LIFT TICKET). I've been skiing only once in my entire life. It was in New Hampshire with the family. Once was enough. Seeing me on skis is one experience nobody should watch. I was extremely overweight and clumsy at the time. My sister complained because she wanted to hang out with her friends on New Year's Eve. Besides, I've heard about so many injuries and deaths (Sonny Bono, Natasha Richardson, Michael Kennedy, Olympic skier Sarah Burke) that I've decided staying on the ground is best. Also, skiing is a very expensive sport, so if you don't enjoy it, it's not worth it.

39A: Outshine a film's stars (STEAL THE PICTURE). I have an entire laundry list:


Spike Jonze in "Three Kngs"
Eli Wallach in "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly"
Judd Nelson in "The Breakfast Club"
Ice Cube in "Boyz n the Hood"
Tupac Shakur in "Juice"
Emily Blunt in "The Devil Wears Prada"
Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight"
Leonardo DiCaprio in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?"
Val Kilmer in "Tombstone"
Daniel Day-Lewis in "Gangs of New York"
John Goodman in "The Big Lebowski"
Marilyn Monroe in "Niagara"
Mila Kunis in "Black Swan"

The list goes on.

54A: Process a payment, perhaps (SWIPE A CARD). Gone are the days when you had to phone in a credit card number and/or carbons. With just one swipe, you've made your purchase. However, you should watch your purse and pocket at all times. There has been a rash of identity thefts over the last several years. 

I am exhausted so I'm going to relax and watch "What Not to Wear."

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

Fasten Your Seatbelts!

Good evening! I hope everyone had a relaxing and peaceful Memorial Day weekend as we remembered our veterans. This is also a sad day for my family since it's my mother-in-law's birthday (RIP). She would have been 77.

Last night, we had the pleasure of seeing Aztec Two-Step perform the Simon & Garfunkel songbook at the City Winery. It was all part of a tribute to the late, great DJ Pete Fornatale. Friends who joined him included Willie Nile, Tom Chapin, David Bustin, and Julie Gold (her claim to fame was writing "From a Distance").

Nail clippers

Now on to today's Newsday puzzle by Gail Grabowski, which is called "Fasten-ating." 

20A: Manicurist's tool (NAIL CLIPPER). The first time I cut my son Alex's nails, I accidentally cut into his skin and he was bleeding. We panicked and called a neighbor who was an EMT. The bleeding stopped eventually, but we were so embarrassed. At 17, he cuts his own nails now (I should hope so, lol).

38A: Electricity in a storm (BOLT OF LIGHTNING). I'll never forget a classic episode of "The Flintstones" called "The Time Machine." At the World's Fair, Fred, Wilma, and the gang travel in time thanks to a professor's time machine. One of the stops was in Philadelphia, where they met the man responsible for discovering electricity, Benjamin Franklin. Go to this link to watch the complete episode: http://www.trilulilu.ro/video-animatie/the-flintstones-5x18-time-machine.

 53A: Vodka and orange juice cocktail (SCREWDRIVER). Aaaaah. This is probably the easiest cocktail to mix, but I've had too many of these in my time. On the other hand, how many of you remember that Tommy Pickles always carried a screwdriver  in his diaper on "The Rugrats?" He used it for many purposes, such as escaping the playpen.

 

But I'm sure most of you spent the weekend with this:

 

On a final note, run, don't walk, to see "Moonrise Kingdom." It is a very poignant and touching love story. The cast includes Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Frances McDermand, Tilda Swindon, Edward Norton, and the funniest scout troop I've ever seen! 

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

Gone Fishing?

With the long weekend coming up, I'm sure some of my friends are looking forward to fishing! This theme answers to today's puzzle, "Catch of the Day" (by Fred Piscop) are perfect for the occasion! 

17A: Enviable vantage point (LOFTY PERCH). No explanation necessary.

56A: Underside of some shoes (RUBBER SOLES). Louboutins, anyone? These VERY pricey shoes are famous for their red soles on the bottom. Many, many people have tried to copy Christian Louboutin, but none have succeeded. His NYC store is within walking distance of my office. I won't even attempt to walk in there. However, if you're lucky to own a pair of his shoes, you can replace the red rubber soles.

11D: He reached his peak in 1806 (ZEBULON PIKE). Zebulon Pike (1779-1813) enjoyed a career in the military and eventually was promoted to U.S. army captain. In 1806, Pike organized the first American effort to explore the southern and western territories. He discovered Pikes Peak (originally called El Capitán) in western Colorado. Pike and his troops were captured by the Spanish and taken into Mexico in February 1807. Mexico and Texas provided him with important data about the Spanish military. Pike published an account of the expedition in 1810; it was translated into French, German, and Dutch. In 1813, Zebulon Pike was killed during an attack on the area now known as Tornoto. There are many places and two ships named for the explorer.

24D: Move on a rink (ROLLER SKATE). I loved roller skating as a child! To me, it was much easier than ice skating. I had a pair of metal skates that adjusted with your shoe size (see ad at right from a 1970s British magazine. Then there was the Levittown Roller Rink, one of the many places on Long Island that are gone but not forgotten. This was a place where many kids hung out at night. People met and married there. It was also a site for some major skating tournaments. I remember my elementary school always used to throw parties there. Also, I remember going roller skating in college at a rink in Centereach, but it didn't have the character of Levittown. Sadly, in 1986, the rink was bought by a discount drugstore chain. It's now home to a Staples store. Bor-ing!

I hoped you enjoyed looking at some nostalgia today.

Till tomorrow. . . . 

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

We Interrupt This Program. . . .

Still adjusting to summer hours. The boys went to see Jack White at Roseland tonight. One of the music critics compared him to Willy Wonka, which I think is a good one. Jack White is an intensely private person and a bit eccentric, but he is a musical G-d! I had the pleasure of seeing The Raconteurs at Voodoo Experience in New Orelans:

Back to today's puzzle, called "This Just In" (by Billie Truitt):  

20A: December 31 (NEW YEAR'S EVE). I think I've mentioned before that this is not my favorite holiday. Lots of hype, people getting drunk, overpriced meals. I will, however, always associate this holiday with Dick Clark. He started "New Year's Rockin' Eve" back in 1972. When we lost Dick Clark earlier this year, we lost a great businessman and entrepreneur. I don't think "Ryan Seacrest's Rockin' New Year's Eve" has the same ring to it. Here is a clip welcoming the 1990s:

39A: Not feeling very creative (FRESH OUT OF IDEAS). Unfortunately, this happens to TV shows that stay on too long. 

56A: Fiction Fan (NOVEL READER). I love reading. Also, I love the smell of the printed page. I don't know whether I will break down and buy a Kindle or a Nook. I can see the advantages of using an e-reader while commuting because it's so lightweight. On the negative side, book publishing isn't what it used to be. This is the print-on-demand era. Books aren't edited as meticulously as they once were. Publishers have laid off entire copy editing departments or they have sent their work overseas. Both produce shoddy products. As a professional copy editor, I feel like my job is on the line each and every day. Fortunately, we have been assigned a new task of proofing marketing materials, which is a lot less complicated than law text.


Watching a bio about Walt Disney, so I will say "good night."


Till tomorrow. . . .


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Like Water Under the Bridge

Hi! Hope everyone had a nice weekend. The weather was just beautiful here in the city. That all changed to rain today for a gloomy Monday. 

I started my summer schedule so I'm a bit tired tonight, so it's Music Monday.

Today's puzzle by Gail Grabowski is called "Holding Water." The theme answers, please:

20A: New Orleans "blues" thoroughfare (BASIN STREET). The song "Basin Street Blues" is a Dixieland jazz staple. It was first made famous by Louis Armstrong (see video below) in 1929 and recorded by several other artists, including Glenn Miller, Sam Cooke, and Louis Prima. The title refers to Storyville, the notorious red-light district of the early 20th-century French Quarter.

51A: Sports-Car Features (BUCKET SEATS). Last night on "Mad Men," Don Draper and Joan Harris test drove a Jaguar. They looked great inside the car! Don was trying to calm down Joan after she was served divorce papers. Don was also back in full swing as he announced that they would be working 24/7 in order to land the Jaguar account. You remember that they lost a chance at the account because of Pete Campbell's extra-curricular activities with a hooker.

11D: Success-vs.-failure choice (SINK OR SWIM). Here is a song called "Sink or Swim" by the folk-pop artist Tyrone Wells that was first featured on "Gray's Anatomy."

29D: Prohibition-era liquor (BATHTUB GIN). See The Great Gatsby. Also see the video for this jazz-inspired song by the band Phish.

Speaking of music, we have lost many musicians in 2012 at the prime of their lives: Whitney ("Witless") Houston, Adam Yauch (MCA), Robin Gibb, Donna Summer, Davy Jones, Levon Helm, etc. And the year isn't even half over yet. So sad.

Till tomorrow. . . .


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

In Good Hands

The puzzle for today is called "Show of Hands" and it's by Billie Truitt. I'm in kind of a lazy mood after the gym and it's late, so this will be a post filled with videos.

20A: On hand (AVAILABLE). Here's the video for the song "Available" by Flo Rida. I think it's new.

 

61A: Throw in one's hand (SURRENDER). One of my favorite songs from the '70s is "Surrender" by the band Cheap Trick. For those of you who missed one of the great bands of that decade, here is Cheap Trick performing live. FYI, they also sang the theme for "That 70s Show."

10D: Upper hand (ADVANTAGE). There was a band from Sacramento, CA called The Advantage who did covers of old NES songs. Here is a video of the band performing live with a song called "Mega Man 2."

35D: Try one's Hand (TAKE A SHOT). And finally, here's a song called "Take A Shot" by the band a Finnish band called Lovex. I never heard of them before, but this song isn't bad:

Hope you enjoyed your entertainment for tonight.


Till tomorrow. . . .


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Shave and a Haircut

Back after a two-week hiatus and feeling much better.

Today's Newsday puzzle by Gail Grabowski is called "Barbershop Quartet", and here are the theme answers.

20A: Head of a political group (PARTY CHAIR). I don't wish to talk about the 2012 Presidential campaign. 

62A: Narrow escape (CLOSE SHAVE). I know that my hubby loves nothing better than a close shave. It's also the name of a popular cartoon by Wallace and Gromit, but I couldn't find the video.

10D: Extremely slim (RAZOR THIN). Something that Betty Draper no longer isn't. On last night's episode of "Mad Men", she's joined Weight Watchers and is trying to be nice to everyone. When she sees Megan put a blouse on over her slim figure, she can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Betty drowns herself in whipped cream and retaliates by telling Sally about the first Mrs. Draper.

36D: Minor Rural Blaze (BRUSH FIRE). With all the global warming, there have been too many of these lately. There was a serious one at Brookhaven Labs a few weeks ago.

I've always loved the sounds and harmonies of the barbershop quartet. There have been many variations on TV. One of the funniest was a very pregnant Lucy, Ricky and the gang singing "Sweet Adeline." They try to keep Lucy from singing by stuffing shaving cream in her mouth:

On an episode of "The Flintstones," Fred, Barney, and their friends want to appear on the "Hum Along with Herman" show. Barney can't sing unless he's in taking a bath or shower:

Wow, I just found some interesting news. There was supposedly claims of an assassination plot hidden in a crossword puzzle from a Venezuelan newspaper. The alleged target was President Hugo Chavez' older brother. Of course, the creator of the crossword puzzle said it was "ridiculous."

Ghostface Killah (from the Wu Tang Clan) was an answer in last Monday's New York Times puzzle. I've noticed that the contributors to the NYT puzzles are getting younger and are supplying hip clues.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

Stay tuned!

I've been on hiatus while trying to figure out what to do with this blog. I will be back soon to talk about my new venture, PuzzleFavors.

Stay tuned!

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

Far and Away

It's hump day! However, I felt so exhausted that I decided to skip the gym tonight and relax. Besides, I need the occasional change of pace, so I will do kickboxing and Zumba tomorrow night.

Today's Newsday puzzle by Norma Steinberg is called "Outta Sight." 

20A: Exotic vacations (FARAWAY PLACES). One of my co-workers is in Tahiti on vacation. I should only be so lucky. However, I am fortunate to be part of a postcard-exchange program called Postcrossing. Although I've received just 20 postcards, I feel like I'm living in other lands, as well as other sections of our country. I enjoy receiving snail mail, so the person who thought of the Postcrossing program is a genius! 

38A: Fifth cousin, for instance (DISTANT RELATIVE). A couple of months ago, I received a Facebook friend request from a distant cousin who I hadn't seen since I was 16. I had good memories of her house in Ossining, so it was a pleasant surprise. While I'm a devout city dweller, she is living on a farm in Virginia with lots of turkeys and other assorted animals. 

Speaking of distant relatives, we found out that Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, who have been married over 20 years, are distant cousins. This was discovered on the PBS program "Finding Your Roots." I watched this for the first time last Sunday and they explored Robert Downey, Jr.'s past. I enjoyed the program very much. Remember, Franklin and Eleanor Rooosevelt were distant cousins, too.

58A: Den accessory (REMOTE CONTROL). I can't even remember what life was like without a remote control! I know that tin a previous life, we only had the three major networks, Channel 5, Channel 9, Channel 11, and PBS. For my family, that all changed in 1976 when we got cable TV. We were the first family on our block!

From 1987 to 1990, MTV aired a show called "Remote Control." It was MTV's first non-musical program and also the first to feature spring-break episodes. I was such a fan that I even had a Nintendo game. Contestants would sit in lounge chairs and select one of nine channels (or categories) on a big screen TV. They would then need to answer questions related to that category. We were introduced to Adam Sandler and Colin Quinn on this classic show. Sadly, Ken Ober, the host, passed away in 2009. Why don't we watch a little clip from the very first episode?

This show lasted only four seasons while that train wreck known as "Jersey Shore" is still running? I don't get it!


That's all for this evening. 


Till tomorrow. . . .


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Passing the Puck

Today's puzzle by Gail Grabowski is hockey-themed and is called "Pass the Puck." I don't follow hockey much, but I think the Rangers are in the playoffs.

20A: Penny Pincher (CHEAPSKATE), I went searching for current celebrities who are notoriously bad tippers. The ironic thing is that many of them are worth more than $100 million. The list includes Madonna, Barbra Streisand, JLo, and Harrison Ford. Then I found even more famous cheapskates. C'mon people, waiters and waitresses barely make enough as it is, and they have to rely on tips!

61A: Firewood igniter (MATCHSTICK). Mom always said don't play with matches! 

Seriously, though, here is the '60s classic "Pictures of Matchstick Men" by the British group Status Quo:

There are also matchstick puzzles. These are games of logic in which you have to create new space and all the matches have to be used:

10D: In a precarious situation (ON THIN ICE). Remember the song "Walking on Thin Ice" by Yoko Ono? I didn't realize Mike Mills (from REM) produced it. It's a very cool video:

36D: Source of Security (SAFETY NET)

In puzzle news, there's a tournament called Crosswords LA coming up on May 12. Constructors include Andrea Carla Michaels, Brendan Emmett Quigley, Trip Payne, and Doug Peterson. The tournament takes place at Loyola Marymount University and proceeds go to a charity called "Reading for Kids"


Sorry for the short post, but it's getting late and I have to turn in soon.


Till tomorrow. . . .


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Fast Track

Happy Monday! After a glorious week of above-average weather, we're stuck with rain for most of this week. :-(


Today's puzzle by Billie Truitt is called "Zippy." Here are the theme answers, which are not the most exciting. It was hard to find  cute commentary and videos. 


20A: Great beginning (FLYING START). British Airways and Comic Relief have teamed up to form a charity called Flying Start. The goal of the charity is to help disadvantaged children from the U.K. and around the world. Money goes to educate children and to give them a break from caring for sick family members. Dollars can also help people buy the tools they need to make money, and to provide meals to the world's poorest children.


41A: Package shipping option (EXPRESS DELIVERY). FedEx. DHL. UPS. Express Mail. These are all the options we have for quick shipping. It's expensive but convenient. Sit back and enjoy an old FedEx commercial from the early 80s (When it absolutely has to get there overnight!):

58A: Defendant's constitutional guarantee (SPEEDY TRIAL). Time for a cartoon:

Last night's "Mad Men" was a trip. Literally. Roger and Jane took LSD and ended their marriage. Don and Megan took a trip to HoJo's. Don left Megan in the parking lot after an argument. Peggy had a rough day, went to a movie, smoked pot, and hooked up with a random stranger in cool pants. This season has been so bizarre already; the best is yet to come!


It's getting late and I'm beginning to nod off. I hope the weather gets better.


Till tomorrow. . . ..


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Video Thursday!

Since I'm feeling lazy today, I've decided it's Video Thursday! Today's puzzle by S.N. (aka Stanley Newman) is called  "Nounsense." Sit back and enjoy!


17A: Hotshot (IMPORTANT PERSON). Does anyone remember a series of shorts they showed during the 70s called "The Most Important Person?" These shorts included lessons on topics from hearing to multiculturalism. I've posted one of the shorts below. This one's called "Oops, I Mad a Mistake!" It's corny but it serves its purpose.

18A: Seemingly everywhere (ALL OVER THE PLACE). In 1984, The Bangles released an album by the same name. Although the album was not a commercial success, it contained some great songs. Here's my favorite, "Going Down to Liverpool." It features the one and only Leonard Nimoy:

I hear the Bangles are back and touring this year.

60A: Argument extender (AND ANOTHER THING). Well, I couldn't find a video that corresponded with this answer, but here's a cute stamp by the stationery company Knock Knock:

All the NBC sitcoms ("The Office", "Community", "Up All Night", and "Parks & Recreation" are on tonight. It's almost time to sit back and get comfy.


Till tomorrow. . . .


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

A Great Asset to All

Today's Newsday puzzle by Billie Truitt is called "Asset Management." The theme answers are below:

17A: Real-estate sales aid (CURB APPEAL). Because I live in an apartment, I have no use for these tips. But for all you homeowners out there, there is a show on HGTV by the same name. A panel of experts will help the homeowner turn outdated and boring homes into showplaces that will make them proud. Also, Better Homes & Gardens offers tips on making that great first impression. In the real estate world, this is also known as home staging.

 30A: Redeeming quality (SAVING GRACE). "Saving Grace" was also a TV show on TNT that ran from 2007 to 2010. The show focused on Grace Hanadarko (Holly Hunter), a jaded Oklahoma City detective who met up with a "last-chance" angel named Earl after a night of drunk driving kills a pedestrian. The show discussed the topic of faith, and how difficult faith can be in an imperfect world.

 44A: Kids' horsey novel (BLACK BEAUTY). This was one of my favorite books to read when I was a child. Written by the novelist Anna Sewell, the book originally wasn't meant for children. Sewell wanted to enforce kindness and sympathy in the treatment of horses. Her novel brought about reforms and help abolish some of the cruel practices in treating working animals. The novel starts as a memoir by a colt named Black Beauty, which starts with his young days on a farm in England and continues through his difficult days pulling cabs. The book describes the horrible conditions of the horse-drawn cab industry in London, including high license fees and low fares. Beauty goes through several owners, some kind and others not so kind. The book was adapted into film and television several times.   

59A: Amulet (MAGIC CHARM). An amulet is intended to bring good luck to its owner. Amulets can include gems, statues, coins, drawings, rings, pendants, mugs, plants, or animals. In Judiasm, we wear a tallis to distinguish Jews from false gods. Christians wear a cross for the same reason. Other lucky charms include four-leaf clovers, a rabbit's foot, horseshoes, charm bracelets, and wishbones. 



Accused killer George Zimmerman is a fan of word games. He was allowed to purchase a crossword puzzle book and a word search book in the jail commissary. Being in prison is not fun. He's going to be purchasing a lot of books to help bide the time.

I've decided on the name of my personalized puzzle-creation biz. It will be called Puzzle Favors. Now to come up with a logo.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

A Taxing Matter

Today is Tuesday, April 17th. Have you filed your taxes yet? We were lucky this year and got two extra days because 1) April 15th was a Sunday, and 2) yesterday was Patriots' Day in Massachusetts. Today's puzzle, "After Taxes", by Sally R. Stein reflects the theme:

20A: Device that attracts iron (HORSESHOE MAGNET). I loved playing with this toy as a child. I remember the fascination that the magnet attracted everything from paper clips to coins. Common uses of magnets include recording data, encoding information for credit and debit cards, speakers and microphones, pickups in electric guitars, MRIs in medicine, and many more. They are popular in construction toys as well. If you're interested in how they're made, check out the Made How Web site.

57A: Where bandages may be kept (MEDICINE CABINET). Medicine cabinets and junk drawers can often give us information about the way a person lives. Some cabinets are neater and others are quite cluttered. One of the glass doors is broken on mine and I'm unable to open it. The basic items one should keep in a medicine cabinet include g alcohol, band-aids, cotton balls, tweezers, scissors, iodine, thermometer, hot and cold packs, sterile gauze, surgical tape, eye drops, and over-the-counter medicines. Other items may include antacids, painkillers, nail polish, cough and cold medicines, and antihistamines. I keep my contact lenses and solution in one of my two medicine cabinets. Of course, all items should be kept away from children (common sense)! An artist named Damien Hirst did an installation of medicine cabinets for an exhibition in 2010. 

49A: Chronic preoccupation (BEE IN ONE'S BONNET). Time for a cute cartoon. This one's by Bill Benzon.

That's all for today. It's another glorious day in the city and I'm enjoying it before the weather gets cooler.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick