Filling a Hole

It's still freakin' hot on the streets of New York City!

Today's crossword puzzle theme is called "The Hole Thing" (by David W. Cromer). The theme answers are below:

17A: Specialty retailers: NICHE MARKETS. I've always loved this term and it's everywhere. This is especially true with media. I've never seen so many publications focusing on smaller niche markets. Also, audiences have more control over what they watch on TV. The result is niches--such as food, DYI, youth, women's issues--that cater to smaller demographics and audiences. The same can be said with the Internet.

The Challenger crew
(courtesy of Wikipedia)

27A: Atlantis or Endeavor: SPACE SHUTTLE. The space shuttle will be retired next month and its parts will be donated to various museums. The program has had much controversy in its 30-year history. . . . I remember the Challenger disaster of January 28,1986 vividly. I was at work that day. Christa McAuliffe was the first member of the Teacher in Space Program; as a result many school children watched it live. The shuttle exploded 73 seconds into flight, as a result of failure in the O-Ring. I was shocked when my co-worker told us.

48A: Gridiron offense's first shot: OPENING DRIVE. I can't stand watching football, so I'm not even going to touch on this one!

64A: Casino Feature: SLOT MACHINE. Now that's more like it! Atlantic city has tons of penny and nickel slot machines, so we stick to those when we go down there. I feel slot machines are purely by luck. You have a better chance of winning at the poker machines if you know how to play.

The cryptoquote of the day is by Jim Rohn (1930-2009) and it's a simple but effective one: "Either you run the day or the day runs you." Rohn was born on a farm in Washington and became rich by selling nutritional supplements with a company called AbundaVita. He started give motivational talks all over the country about his rags-to-riches story. You can buy resources through his Web site: http://www.jimrohn.com/.

The pressure is um, mounting, for Weiner to resign. It's been revealed that his wife is pregnant. Also, another woman came forward, along with more racy photos. . . . Weiner's always had a reputation as a playboy. Why that is, I don't know. He's not all that good-looking, but women are attracted to power.

"South Park" was so sad last night. (Spoiler alert!). I don't know what was sadder, seeing Cartman and Kyle become friends or Stan's parents breaking up. I would say the latter. This definitely looks like a cliffhanger for a possible final season.

More torture at the gym tonight--kickboxing and Zumba. The kickboxing instructor was a former drill sergeant and she incorporates that mentality in her classes. Still, it's fun.

You've Got Mail!

Elwood Edwards

The Newsday Crossword Theme for today is called "You've Got Mail." Elwood Edwards is the voice behind the home page of AOL (see picture on right). Anyway, these are today's theme answers:

17A: Place to jot notes: THREE BY FIVE INDEX CARD. I love index cards, especially for journaling. Cards are available with or without rules and there are many colors besides white. Do you remember the index card catalog, those draws that were once in libraries? Of course, all cataloging is digital now, but there is something about those wooden drawers that I miss!

39A: A, M, or Z: UPPER CASE LETTER. I've started collecting monograms of my initial ("K"). They come in all different shapes and sizes. I have very few pieces at the moment but will buy something when there's a sale. My monogram collection is just one of many that I've started. More on those another day.

62A: Computer store buy: SOFTWARE PACKAGE. No explanation necessary.

Today's cryptoquote is by Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993), the author of The Power of Positive Thinking:

"Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy."--

Here's an excellent link to Peale's bio and bibliography: http://normanvincentpeale.wwwhubs.com/

Sarah Palin does it again! This time it's all about the Jeffersons (and I don't mean Thomas!)

http://www.borowitzreport.com/2011/06/06/palin-we-must-never-forget-the-wisdom-of-jefferson-and-his-wife-weezy/

And finally, more on Mr. Weiner. One typo supposedly has caused this whole scandal:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/07/anthony-weiner-twitter-dm_n_872590.html?icid=maing-grid7|aim|dl1|sec1_lnk3|69043

GOPs are calling for Weiner's resignation. I disagree strongly. I'm sure half of the people in the House of Representatives are either watching or sending porn!

Sorry my post is so short . . . busy day today.

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Morrissey, You Handsome Devil!

Today's cryptoquote is by the one and only Steven Morrissey (1959-  ) (known simply as "Morrissey"):

"You have to, at least from a distance, look as if you now what you're doing, and I can manage that."


For those of you living under a rock, Morrissey is the lead singer of The Smiths, one of the greatest alternative bands of the '80s. The Smiths are one band I never had a chance to see. The subjects of Morrissey's songs aren't exactly uplifting: failed relationships, lonely nightclubs, crappy home life, burdens of the past, etc. I've always loved his voice and he is supposed to be great live. He also was quite the style icon in his day . . . I loved his haircut and clothes. Morrissey is the influence for many of today's Emo bands (e.g., Taking Back Sunday, Fall Out Boy, Weezer, My Chemical Romance).

The crossword theme for today is "First is Last" (Gail Grabowski). Here are the theme answers:

Courtesy of Travel.State.Gov

20A: Central American Nation: COSTA RICA (Spanish for "Rich Coast," Costa Rica is the most eco-friendly country on the planet. The country plans to become a carbon-neutral one by 2021. Adventure tourism is very popular here; many travel companies offer trips that include white-water rafting, bungee jumping, and SCUBA diving.

51A: Brazilian Dance: BOSSA NOVA. The Bossa Nova became popular during the early 1960s. The first, and most famous bossa nova song to achieve popularity was "The Girl from Ipanema." Check out this classic tune:

10D: Female Opera Star: PRIMA DONNA. Originally, the term was used to designate a lead female singer in an opera. Famous Prima Donnae include Maria Callas and Renate Tebaldi. The term also means someone who is demanding, temperamental, and cocky (e.g., JLo).

28D: Pottery Clay: TERRA COTTA

It's National Chocolate Ice Cream Day! The editors at Kitchen Daily (www.kitchendaily.com) did a taste test of 14 different brands of chocolate ice cream. The winner . . . Friendly's Classic Chocolate! The word "Chocolate" is of Spanish origin; supposedly it comes from the Aztecan language Nahuatl. Many modern sources say the word is derived from the term "chicolatl," which means "beaten drink."


Well, Anthony Weiner confessed that he was sending dirty pictures to his followers on Twitter. I hope he isn't forced to resign. He is good for our neighborhood, but he wasn't thinking clearly in this case. There are many Weiner jokes going around on Facebook and Twitter.


On that note, good-bye for now.


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

It's All Surreal to Me

Happy Monday! Back to blogging after spending the weekend with a painful sore in my mouth. Advil and an ice pack did the trick . . . the swelling is all gone! I do have to get to the dentist one of these days as I am long overdue for a check-up. I stopped going to my childhood dentist because of the distance and expense. I am finally getting some leads on dentists in Manhattan. . . . there is one I think I'm going to try.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

The French writer and poet André Breton (1896-1966) is the author of today's cryptoquote: "All my life my heart has yearned for a thing I cannot name." Breton was one of the initiators of Surrealism, a movement in art and literature (begun in the early 1920s) that sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind. Surrealism developed out of the Dada movement from World War I, Some of the best-know Surrealist works--including art, drama, music, and film-- are: Salvador Dali's The Persistence of Memory,  Rene Magritte's The Empty Mask, Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera, Man Ray's Return to Reason, and Edward Lear's nonsense verses. Surrealism used many absurdities and non sequiturs and influenced many later artists, writers, musicians, and humorists such as Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono, Franz Kafka, James Joyce, e.e. cummings, Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, and the Monty Python troupe.

Courtesy of Babble.com

Today's crossword was a nice, easy Monday puzzle by Billie Truitt. The theme was "Breakfast Time" and here are the theme answers:

20A: Breakfast Order, Part 1: GRAPEFRUIT JUICE (Note, I prefer orange or tomato!)
36A: Breakfast Order, Part 2: TWO EGGS OVER EASY (Meh, not my favorite style of eggs. I prefer a nice veggie omelet filled with onions, peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, and mushrooms).
53A: Breakfast Order, Part 3: WHOLE WHEAT TOAST (This is all I eat these days. . . haven't had white bread in ages! A friend sent an alarming report about butter vs. margarine. After consuming margarine all these years, I find out that butter is actually better for you!)

Breakfast literally means "breaking the fast of the night." Nutritionists all agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and I agree 100%! If I don't eat breakfast, I have no energy for the rest of the day, especially when I go to work out.

On Saturday, Matthew and I went to Home Depot to purchase some paint supplies. It was a pain in the neck carrying everything until we came across a supermarket. We needed a new shopping cart anyway, and it made the walk home so much easier! I don't always have what is considered "breakfast food." Sometimes I will have a piece of chicken or fish. When it comes to bread, I will eat the light, whole grain breads or English muffins only. And of course, I have a piece of fruit for a healthy, sweet snack. Don't get me started on cheese and yogurt--YUCK!!!

Yesterday I went to the Housing Works' (www.housingworks.org) annual warehouse and book sale. They had books for as little as a penny. However, what piqued most people's interests was the $20 bag. Shoppers purchase a brown shopping bag for $20 and you can stuff it as much as you want. I got lots of goodies: A Kate Spade bag, an Eileen Fisher bag, two pairs of Ann Taylor pants, a pair of Lululemon pants, two blazers, two scarves, and a winter jacket. The jacket is pretty badly stained; I'm going to see if the cleaners will take it out.

We got tickets to "A Conversation with Bono and The Edge," which is at the 92nd Street Y (www.92y.org) next Monday. Tickets went on sale only yesterday and I believe it's almost all sold out! And yes, Spiderman is actually opening next Tuesday after NUMEROUS delays!

That's all for now. . . . till next time!

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Take Me Out to the Ball Game (Not!)

I'm enjoying a beautiful afternoon here in New York City.

Irvin S. Cobb is the author of today's cryptoquote: "As I understand it, sport is hard work for which you do not get paid." By today's standards, I beg to differ. There are so many overrated, overpaid sports people. If they break their finger, they go on the DL for three months! Sports Illustrated just came out with its list of most overrated baseball players, and #1 was Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod himself). He was followed by his teammates Jobo Chamberlain and Derek Jeter.

Kentucky-born Irvin S. Cobb (1876-1944) was an author, humorist, and columnist who spent much of his life in New York. Here is a cartoon portrait of Cobb from the May 1916 issue of The American Magazine. Several of his stories were made into silent films: Peck's Bad Boy (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0012563/), Judge Priest (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025335/), and The Sun Shines Bright (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046384/). He also was an actor and appeared in 10 films.

The crossword theme today is about bowling ("Up Your Alley" by David W. Cromer). Here are the theme answers:

17A: Mood (FRAME OF MIND)
30A: Tactical Team (STRIKE FORCE)
46A: Brief Moment (SPLIT SECOND)
64A: Unneeded coins (SPARE CHANGE)

When I was growing up, Bowling was such an inexpensive pastime. I remember paying just $1 per game and 50 cents for shoes. The average game now is about $11 per person, even more in the so-called "upscale" bowling alleys (e.g., Bowl-Mor).

The "stumper" was 32D: Bow and scrape. The answer was KOWTOW. This is a traditional Chinese act in which a inferior succumbs to his superior by kneeling and knocking his head to the floor.



Tonight is the finals of the National Spelling Bee on ESPN at 8:30. Forest Hills' own Arvind V. Mahankali will represent New York City. Last year, Arvind tied for 9th place and just missed making the finals. He graduates from the Forest Hills Montessori school this year; I wonder where he'll go for middle school.


The food pyramid is no more! The new nutritional guideline is called "MyPlate (www.choosemyplate.gov). The plate is divided into four sections: vegetable, protein, grains, and fruits. There is a cup for dairy.

Panera Bread has opened in my neighborhood. Better coffee than Starbucks (aka "Fourbucks").

Gym tonight . . . work from home tomorrow.

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Rapid Transit

Here is the cryptoquote for today: "A hero is one who knows how to hang on one minute longer."--Novalis

This is so true! A hero could be sitting next to you right now. A hero knows knows never to quit learning, listens to others, and thinks things through before taking action. When times are tough, a hero knows how to pick up the pieces and move on.

Novalis was the pseudonym of Georg Philipp Friedrich Freiherr von Hardenberg (1772-1801), a German author and philosopher. He was born into a wealthy, noble family and was engaged at the tender age of 13! Novalis was devastated by the death of his fiancée, Sohpie van Kluhn, died at the age of 15. Novalis is most famous for his publication Notes for a Romantic Encyclopaedia. He died from tuberculosis at the age of 28. 


Today's puzzle (by Fred Piscop) is called "Rapid Transit." Here are the theme answers:


18A: The press, in Britain: FLEET STREET. During the 1980s, most of the British papers left Fleet Street and moved to either Wapping or Canary Wharf. Today, Fleet Street is known for its courts of law. It is also the setting of some of the most famous works of drama and fiction (e.g., Sweeney Todd, A Tale of Two Cities, The Pickwick Papers).


28A: Not yielding: STANDING FAST


44A: Cornmeal concoction: HASTY PUDDING. I always wondered what hasty pudding looked like. British in origin, it was called Indian Pudding when made during Colonial times. Also, I wonder why it's called "hasty" when it takes two hours to bake! I associate Hasty Pudding with the famous Harvard theatrical troupe (www.hastypudding.org). Jay Leno and Julianne Moore were named Man and Woman of the Year by the truope.


50A: Country-music superstar: TAYLOR SWIFT. No explanation necessary. 


That's all for today. . . . 


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Good or Bad? You Decide

I am slightly behind with the post from Sunday's Puzzle, but here it goes. . . .

Courtesy of makefive.com

The quote acrostic is from Woody Allen: "As I think about it it seems to me that the world is divided into two types: the good people and the bad people. The good ones sleep better at night while the bad ones enjoy the waking hours much more." (Source: To Be Good or Bad).

I don't need to list his all of Mr. Allen's accomplishments as that would take too much time. You can find them in his official Web site (www.WoodyAllen.com). His reputation was briefly damaged by his affair with Mia Farrow's 22-year-old daughter, Soon-Yi Previn. They eventually got married--he was 56 and she was 22! He also is an accomplished clarinet player and I think he plays in the soundtrack to most of his films.

The crossword (by Bruce Venzke) was called "As Seen in the Kitchen." Here are the theme answers:

23A: Fried-chicken coating: BREAD CRUMBS. Here is the link to an easy, 5-step fried-chicken recipe (with video): http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Fried-Chicken.

Courtesy of tvacres.com

25A: Grilled entrées: LAMB CHOPS: Many people don't like lamb chops, but I love the succulent flavor! The key is to pick the right chops and add the proper flavoring. When I think of Lamb Chops, I also think of Shari Lewis's famous puppet (her daughter Mallory now performs with Lamb Chop)

40A: Sandwich accompaniments: PICKLE SPEARS. There is nothing like dill pickles on a hamburger or a sandwich! Although they are loaded with sodium, they are also just 5 calories apiece. Below is the video to  Vlassic commercial from 1983 (courtesy of You Tube):

Courtesy of chocolate.com

50A: Poached fruit servings: PEAR HALVES. When I think of pear halves, I think of those in the can. Yuck! I'd rather have the real thing. They even have dried pears covered with chocolate!

67A: Sweet-and-sour sauce ingredient: PINEAPPLE CHUNKS. I have to admit that sweet-and-sour sauces are not among my favorites. However, I do love pineapple chunks on their own or in a fruit salad. Nothing beats Dole, of course!

88A: Cocktail garnishes: LIME WEDGES. Aaaah, nothing like a lime wedge and a Corona! This custom supposedly goes back to 1981 and supposedly is used to make the beer look more attractive and enhance its flavor.

Courtesy of cartoonstock.com

956A: Crudités displays: CARROT STICKS. My favorite veggie. No explanation necessary. . . . The psychological idiom of "carrot and stick" refers to a policy of offering rewards and punishment to induce behavior.

116A: Salad toppers: BACON BITS. The thought of artificial, dried bacon sort of makes my stomach queasy. Give me the real stuff any day!

118A: Party snacks: POTATO CHIPS. I am a salty snack aficionado. I am very critical when it comes to potato chips. My favorite flavors are  barbecue and jalapeño. I don't like anything cheesy. My favorite brands are Wise, Lays, and Cape Cod. Of course, they are addicting, so I don't eat them very often. A bag of Lay's Baked Crisps usually satisfies my potato-chip cravings.

I'll be back with today's Newsday puzzle and cryptoquote.

Signing off for now,
The Puzzlechick