Saturday Stumper - April 7, 2012

Hi there! Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend! I'm back catching up with yesterday's Stumper by Lester Ruff. This one was fairly easy compared to most. Here are some of the more interesting answers:

23A: Aromatherapy Supply (LAVENDER OIL). There are many benefits to lavender oil. Its soothing scent can treat digestive problems, insomnia, anxiety, and restlessness. Lavender has also been used to treat wounds and scrapes, as well as women's health problems. It is widely used in potpourri and sachets to make rooms smell better and has also been used as a bug repellent. Lavender can even been used in baking goods, such as lavender scones.

49A: Result of some substitutions (SECRET CODE). I've always loved cracking secret codes, and I miss solving the Newsday cryptoquote. But what about the episode of "Seinfeld" when George refused to tell anyone his ATM code? He is forced to reveal it when a man is stuck inside an ATM booth during a fire. This classic scene below shows Kramer guessing the secret code:

Of course, there is a more serious side to learning secret codes, or crypt analysis. This article by Ron Hipschman is an excellent introduction. Even kids can get in on the fun!

10D: Penguin Habitat (ADELIE COAST). This is a claimed territory in Antarctica. The territory is owned by France and a scene from "March of the Penguins" was filmed there. I took my son to see this wonderful film, one of the rare outings were shared without Daddy.

24D: Course Rarity (DOUBLE EAGLE). My husband is sitting and watching golf. I don't understand the fascination of the game. Both my brothers play for both business and pleasure. I find it to be a big snooze. A double eagle is a rare score of three strokes under par on one hole. It is also known as an albatross. This rare feat occurred at today's Masters and shook Phil Mickelson's lead. Tiger Woods got into trouble for kicking his own golf club. I love seeing that "man" squirm!

On vacation this week . . . it will be a quiet one.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself

I am having trouble with the Newsday answer grid today, so I'm just going to post the theme answers. Today's theme is "Fear Not" (by Norma Steinberg). Here are the theme answers:

20A: Warning with no backing: EMPTY THREAT. I found a cartoon that illustrates a good example of an empty threat.



40A: Comics Moppet: DENNIS THE MENACE. This was never my favorite comic strip. And I hated the '50s TV show. No wonder Jay North turned to drugs. He was wearing those stupid overalls and that cowlick at age 12 and reportedly abused by his handlers and onset people.


55A: Pond on the links: WATER HAZARD. The official definition of a water hazard from the USGA is "any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch or other open water course (whether or not containing water) and anything of a similar nature on the course." Since I'm going cartoon-happy today, I may as well post a comic about a water hazard. BTW, I'm not a big fan of golf either.

It's another cryptoquote about fine arts today:

"My love of fine art increased--the more of it I saw, the more of it I wanted to see."--Paul Getty (1892-1876)

As many of us know, J. Paul Getty was an avid collector of art and antiques. He also was married five times and had a pay phone in his mansion! He put a lock on all his regular telephones so visitors wouldn't use them. The actor Balthazar Getty is of course, his great-grandson.

Check out today's Google doodle! There's a total lunar eclipse in South America today.

Not surprisingly, "Spider-Man" got panned. Most of the critics didn't like the music. I love U2, but when Bono and the Edge crash, they do it spectacularly. Such a shame. I did hear they filmed the new "Spider-Man" film in parts of Queens, including Forest Hills.

Well, I'm working on a major project at work, so I will have to sign off.

Till tomorrow,
The Puzzlechick