Jerry

I'm privileged to have filled in 18A. Chuck Mangione’s style of jazz was so cutting edge, it stood neck in neck with the best of 1970’s rock, whether it be folk, hard, acid, psychedelic, early funk, Latin, you name it. His band members always were and still are the best in the business, alongside the likes of George Benson, Tom Brown the late(s) George Duke, Eddie Palmieri and Al Jarreau. Next time you play “Feels So Good,” pay particular attention to the guitar work of Grant Geissman and be amazed. Thank you Chuck for your uplifting music, for the artists you influenced and for the lives you made better.

I started to post this in Jaqui J's space, but rather than decided to use my own space. I like reading her posts. In the year I've been on this board, more than a few long-timers and prominent posters have taken hiatus. I'm not either of those two categories, but I had to throw in the towel at one point. Regrettably, I opted to resurface during this recent Great Southern Freeze-out. Perhaps going back in to the witness protection program is better suited for me again(?). I belong to only one other on-line forum, which is guitar-player oriented, and it's nothing like this one. It's much less contentious and essentially zero politics. I try to keep up my (now diminishing) writing skills through my memoirs and by posting a blog. That, and periodically going through algebra problems. There's always another X to solve. I want for SP, and several other great writers and scholars here, to continue to serve us with their artistic writing skills. I miss being around minds such as theirs since I've been retired. I gain lots of unique insight into what great minds think and I applaud their sharing it.

Those salon hairdryers of yesteryear must be reeeally slow… two days straight and those ladies’ hair still isn't dry? The “remove skin from” kind of gave me the heebie jeebies. Thank goodness it referred to fruit, I was thinking too much along the lines of the Criminal Minds series. (Apologies for the darkness). As a kid, I was fascinated by the movie Bridge on… Sir Alec Guinness was one of the all-time great actors, as are so many of the English. William Holden did a phenomenal supporting role and the whole story is great. Romp and pans, I don't use either in the way they're clued and I seldom hear them used, but now I know. I almost never hear or use the term nudie bar, except if I were Al Bundy. I would use the more popular term strip club. That is, just in a passing conversation, nothing more. Honest. I swear. SMUT, is what it is. The new oil, ain't that the truth. Keep rejecting those cookies, people. That's all I care to say about that subject. We all have our idiosyncrasies, this is one of mine. Debates over whether dogs go to heaven when they pass, it's of little consequence. Any member of the animal kingdom that brings us such joy, yet so much sorrow upon their passing, may just be a glimpse into heaven. I'm with you, @Andzrej!

Duane, Nat, Awkwafina, Ocasek, FWIW (great song, by the way). Such a great start to a great puzzle. What? No Swifty clues? My favorite clues: » Lay low… I LOVE it! » Driver’s warning caused me a chuckle and an AHA moment. Hint, when you slice it in the woods, no need for a fore! Under the heading of Only In NJ: » Wallop = paste? “I'll paste ya right in the mouth, ya little twerp.” Mother-in-lawn, genius! En masse, they can aerate my lawn.😎 Head scratchers: » Twee? Brit speak? » Oner? » Exurb, a portmanteau? » Much = far? » NEA and not NRA, wow! Note to future self; MNOP no longer precedes Q. I'll just sashay my ducks into a row. I hesitated at 72D, but thank goodness one can still FAIL. 6 on a phone is still MNO and not... ya know, whew! I was all over those famous Doctors, but, much to my chagrin, Drs. Phil, Detroit and Beeper didn't make the cut. Curses! I'm very familiar with the Hasidic Jews, but I guess I’ll take ‘Hasidim’. Good people, very philanthropic and great to talk with. A puzzle well constructed!

-- continued from earlier -- Pardon the observation, but there’s a fair share of complaining about generationally biased clues, as though “how dare they reference something before my birth year!” So? As a younger baby boomer I’m mildly annoyed by the terms relating to memes, internet, texting, gaming, rap artists, and woke-ism. But it all contributes towards understanding my Gen Y kids and their kids, and gives me that false sense that we “boomers” are actually relevant. And it keeps me from shaking my fist at the sky. During my last few years in the tech industry, I found myself working with lots of GenX and GenYers. I couldn’t help notice their lack of historical knowledge, movie trivia, literary quotes, who Jimi Hendrix or Miles Davis were, etc. It felt like they were saying “Life started with me, why should I care what happened before me?” Why not do what we all do and learn the past and you’ll appreciate the present more, and build a better future. One day, you too will no longer be relevant and nobody will have ever heard of yeet, yassify or nerfed. On a positive note, watch S2 of Fargo, Nick does Nick very well… true to form. Well, lemme go chase these kids off the lawn. Again, I mean no harm, I’m B+

The mention of Copland is so American and nostalgic! His Fanfare for the Common Man is played by everyone and was even covered by ELP back around ‘75, or so. Thanks to Daniel Raymon for the memory. ELP also did Tocatto, and unrelated, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, but I digress There's just something about the word Ether that fascinates me. Not in the chemical sense, more in the literary and metaphysical sense. The theory of a substance that “permeates all space, including the interstices between the particles of ordinary matter.” Or the “refined element supposed to be breathed in heaven or by the gods.” It just seems to transcend the human imagination. I can't explain why, I just like it. I love that Locke and ether are side by side, by the way. I had done a study in college on John Locke’s modern idea of tabula rasa. Makes for very interesting and some often-heated discussion, as it's believed to be pure conjecture. It's best to read up on it, since much of it is based on opinion. I could do the theory no justice in this forum. Trivia: the “Locke” character on “Lost” was named after him. Mr. Eco was named after Umberto Eco. IOBJECT to AM being stereo. From the early days of amplitude modulated radio characteristics, stereo is just not possible. Frequency modulation has the design and characteristics to broadcast in true stereo. Both travel through my favorite “ether,” with FM being to a lesser distance and strength. But, I suppose I'll get over it.

I really enjoyed this puzzle, simple, slightly nostalgic, and everything @Beth in Greenbelt so eloquently phrased. Very nice writeup, madam Greenbelt! For a seemingly themeless puzzle, I detect a very subtle er, nudge, shall we say? From the erogenous zone, to the Jungian syzygy anima, toss in ateat, we have a motif, my friends. And, very nicely topped off by spoonrest. OK, that one was reaching. Whether it be a top 12 athlete or a Native American tribe, doesn't UTE tease out one of the greatest legal minds of cinema… Mr. Gambini? Did you say utes? Yeah, two utes. What is a ute? Oh, excuse me Your Honor: two youTHs Thanks for mentioning Big Sur, one of the most breathtaking (not the kind used in Seinfeld) coastal drives on our Pacific coast. The cliffs, beaches, the Bixby Bridge… gorgeous! Brings back great memories. If you feel brave, drive Old Coast Road, which runs behind the Bixby, used by early travelers prior to the bridge. Hope your vehicle has good brakes, but I'd use low gear on the downhill portions. I tried to squeeze “visiting relatives” into 14A… wouldn't fit. Loved the comparison to odors, though. I joke, of course, we know when to leave my brother’s beach house on LBI. Stanza is always a welcome reminder of early song compositions and I will surely try to fit Hypocorism into my ever dwindling vocabulary. I do like both words.

Yesterday’s exercising and practicing went well, still is, although not as much the celebratory part as I first thought. This too, shall pass. I apologize for invading others’ daily comments. Today’s puzzle had little effect on my creative juices, other commenters did all the work for me. I tried to keep the invasion to a minimum, knowing It can be a tad off-putting to simply *have* to insert myself everywhere. Dang it! High road, right, sorry. 😉 For this month being Sober October, the NYT puzzle cartel is doing a masterful job of challenging those of us who’ve opted out of alcohol. It’s only been 5 months for me, but it’s like quitting smoking. (Actually, it’s easier than quitting smoking). Once you quit, there are cigarettes everywhere you go. They’ve always been there, unnoticed, but now they're exposed. Likewise with alcohol. The doctors agree it takes a minimum of six months before your organs adjust to being alcohol free. I’m not up on how or if your organs rejuvenate, but the lungs take ten years to completely rejuvenate. But the urge to light up never really goes away completely, it just subsides. I find that true with alcohol, too. So, take that, Crosslandia!

We wimpy southerners are dealing with another wintry cold snap (scorm?) and forced to hunker down. I'm not partial to hunkering, sorry. I'm assuming arr = arrangement in sheet music? I wanted the Lord's Prayer solution to be padre. It was to my surprise was when it turned out to be in Latin, and not Italian and definitely not Espanich or Francias. Here's what I didn't realize: Pater Noster also historically refers to rosary beads, named after the prayer's opening. Not being Catholic, I had no idea, although rosary beads are not new to my vocab. My wife worked in the Abrams Building in Frankfurt back in '88, or so. In between floors were devices called Paternosters, kind of intimidating looking contraptions. They're continuous loop elevators that one leaps on and off at will. Here's what else I never knew: The name Paternoster elevator is called as such because of its design of a loop, similar to rosary beads. Now I understand the name, as I remember calling on the Lord's name several times as it rounded the top floor for the descent. Similarly, while rounding the basement level for the ascent.

I'm amazed at how young the NYT constructors are. I had visions of… ah, never mind. Great job, Rena and yes, your Oct 2024 puzzle had my undivided attention. Today I finally learned (TIFL) what a TIL is. It took me some time to figure out MOL. Some verse from Ms. Woah, and all’s right with the world. I had to rub my eyes after a few passes to rethink Utah’s geologically to *geometrically* speaking. The only American not “running on Dunkin,” I suppose. But, it did bring me back to our last year’s visit to Moab and surrounding areas. Regardless of the shape of that beautiful state, the parks are spectacular! The alcohol laws are a bit strange, but if that's what it takes, so be it. Even Antelope State Park is an incredible experience, albeit the no-see-ums are a tad too clingy. Four wheeling and off-roading in Ga is a popular pastime, but pales in comparison to Utah. Those folks are serious!

Not so warmy this morning, and not as birdy as yesterday. The water is slightly white-cappy with the wind being more blowy than yesterday. I'm picturing George Carlin ranting; “Here is another pack of (string of expletives) who ought to be (something horrible done to them): People who create new adjectives by adding a "y".” Or, “People who make up words with shortened words.” Both grievances would be hilarious, sweary, but rad. I actually see the former as cute and humorous, but thank goodness it replaced “-ish.” My daughters-in-law make it sound so cute, the “y's” get a pass. I saw “fighty” yesterday, which was grinny. The latter? Def not my fav-ish. Too abbreviationy. P.S. That's one bad-(vulgar for bum) bunny! Very pecy

Following up on yesterday’s soccer/futbol/football/fussball and Rx zealots, my imagination places me in a doctor’s office/surgery. The doctor is treating the patient with a serious injury from a recent match on the field. You see, the player was a victim of a slide tackle, and is very upset that the referee produced no card. The doctor reminds the athlete “That was a penalty and didn’t require a card.” A much heated discussion ensues. The doctor finally concedes and proceeds to write out a Rx for pain medication. When asked “What’s this?” The doctor replies “It’s a scrip for some pain meds.” Player: “A what? You mean script!” Doc: “No, a scrip. Player: Everyone knows it’s a script!” Doc: “Read the script, it’s a scrip!” Apologies, there was no way to end that one, much like yesterday’s lunchtime learning session. I mean no harm. Carry on.

The two uses of the word 'prop' is very clever. I was relieved not to have to live another day in a capo scandal. If the banjo players come out of the woodwork to protest 'knee,' I'm cancelling my wife's overpriced games subscription. I don't expect an uprising between the hihats and snares, but it would be comical. The cowbell people may be offended, though. Thank you Deb for today's image of the twins. I'm guessing thats either a meetup of identical twins, or the girls spending time with their two PEEPAWS (or papaws).

Gary Oldman is credited as saying, “Reality TV to me is the museum of social decay”. Not that I hold him in any regard outside of acting, but I just wish he'd have said that about social media. @Sam, I foresee your entire thread being deleted, as will mine, but you're spot on. I agree 150% about the observations made regarding this forum. Some of the brightest minds frequent here, and yet only a handful just cannot exercise the least amount of self-restraint. It's always the 1% (who knows, pick a percentage) that establish the least common denominator and, err… take over(?) with their incessant whining. With all the social media outlets available, none of which I'm on, Wordplay has to become a cesspool of mindless blathering. I know it will never stop, it'll only become worse. I hope I'm wrong. I, for one, like to read nostalgic, humorous, witty and informative writings by well-educated people worldwide. I scroll past the usual suspects, but some of the cleverly covert comments just seem to surface in the most benign clues. We can do better. Peace, y’all.

It's always a welcome sight when Jesus makes an appearance in the puzzle, especially on a Sunday. I struggled for a proper name beginning with “L” but Lazarus wasn't healed, nor did it fit. Once I filled 6D, Theme From Billy Jack immediately popped in my head, although I don't quite follow the red-coated part of the clue. If memory serves me correctly, the song starts out with a flute? (not a lute) Or maybe a fpiccolo? Can a lute use the ever popular mandolin capo? The forte piano does not. Right? After correcting the spelling of Nadia’s last name, I found that neither beans nor lemons are part of an Iranic ethnic group. Whew! Lastly… Ali… Thank you. Wow!

I'm reminded of one of the classiest and most eloquent of Jeopardy! champions, Sam Buttrey, who jokingly said to Alex, “I'll take stuff only old guys know for 400,” during a quarter final round. This puzzle spoke to me as very generational, with a few familiar hints that we RELICS find satisfying. (Tai Chi, Bill Withers, Hera and especially kelly). The 18 Hungarian cases sent me on a quest and the results boggled my mind. I cannot even imagine what swims around in the mind of a linguistics major. I see enough music theory, algebra and beach scenes in my head to where I forget where I am. So many of the constructors are young, I often wonder how many young people find solace in solving a good crossword puzzle. It must be difficult for them to relax with a crossword puzzle, with a career, a family, and all the distractions thrown at them.

Robin Williams' impression of Karl Marx... "imperialism is the woist thing I ever hoid" Thank you to the Zhang/Curry duo for a very cleverly-crafted puzzle and for the nod to Spinal Tap. I think of Michael McCean's acting chops from Lenny, to St. Hubbins, to his brilliant performance as Chuck on Better Call Saul and all points in between. What a transformation, huh? Wow, dees... my limited research on the word relating to the clue, culminating in a deep dive into the workings of a cyclotron. "Writer of Disco Duck" would have been too easy, I suppose? 10D was such a great tribute to what we'd do in our muscle cars, or for a few, pony cars. The original pony cars weren't quite so beefy until later, but you get my drift (pun intended). Also, the 92D... nice memories of my '68 Ford Gran Torino GT, which was kind of heavy to continually peel out. But the purring of that 390/4bbl Holley... music, baby! 53D... Ha! It got Elaine blacklisted from Hop sing's. That's what you get for dating a communist. I always related *bad rap* to having to serve time for NOT naming names. "Bad rep" fits the solution much better, but that would upset the lip reeders. I was expecting the key to turn and all the secrets of the universe to be revealed, but nice job guys!

I’m about halfway through with the puzzle and I’m putting it aside for later. It’s too nice of a day out to give this any more of my time. But, a young buck caught our attention this morning. We looked outside our backyard windows and spotted a deer with newly-sprouted spikes, about 6” long. He was staring intently at our back deck area, where we heard some commotion earlier in the morning. The deck area is slightly recessed under the upper porch, therefore we couldn’t see what he was looking at. It turns out, he had chased a young doe, who made her refuge under the porch overhang, on our deck. Her hind end was pressed against the sliding glass doors, and she was soaking wet and trembling. It hadn’t rained all week, so maybe it was sweat, or morning dew, who knows. Fearful that she’d kick her hind legs through the glass, we just watched. She had a wound on her left shoulder, likely from struggling to escape the clutches of her suitor. We left it at that, they’ve gone their separate ways now. Poor doe. Mother nature; just leave her be. I was so glad to see Jesus made it into crosslandia, what a welcome sight! I took this photograph a few months ago while on our weekly Meals On Wheels delivery. <a href="https://imgur.com/a/cant-make-this-stuff-up-2aTR9qJ" target="_blank">https://imgur.com/a/cant-make-this-stuff-up-2aTR9qJ</a> It’s rural Georgia, what can I say?

Diabolical... del Diablo! 👹 I definitely will work in svelte and sommelier into my casual conversations at the local gym… then run! Storage units are almost always BINS, but oh, no! Bits, bytes, data archives, how many were going to St. Ives? (Hey, I'm no Whoa Nellie). I recall laughing at Edgar Bergen (Candice’s dad) with that iconic dummy. I just never knew he appeared on Sesame Street. How clever of Jim Henson to honor the past. 12D and 39D, almost a vuja de moment (think about it) A case book? Is that Police Detective-related? Germany a bobsled powerhouse? Was all of John Candy's work with the Jamaicans all for naught? Ghees!

I started visiting the comments section around April, so I don't know what the comments were like during the 2021 to 2025 administration. Was the mood here always like this? Today's clues and solutions just seemed so benign to me. I honestly believe I'm a happy person. I've taken frequent breaks from reading comments, even disciplined myself to scan past most of them. I will do so again after today. When returning to the comments section, I'm reminded of the Jaws II tagline, "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water..." To better my Wordplay comments experience, should I return, I've compiled my own emu filter of such uplifting phraseology (in no particular order) as: - It's just sad… - With such a dismal outlook… - Given our current climate… - Sadly,... - We’re now forced to… - It's become a… - Current situation in our country… - It's too bad… - 2029 will be… - Can't wait for 2029 Hope this helps 😛 Now on to solving that fifth leg in the photo.

Part 1 of 2: I get a hint of today’s puzzle constructor being an expectant mom. Just a feeling. Quick ramen story, maybe one or two of the Veteran solvers here can relate: My first tour of duty in Korea was in 1979. We did our training in the mountains that dwarf Tongduchŏn (TDC, to those in the know), in preparation for our 30-day rotations in the DMZ. My weapon (not by choice) was the M-60, a most devastating weapon with awesome firepower. Our rucksacks were packed for the usual 5-7 day trek up to the ridge line, to various overwatch positions. The name of the mountain range escapes me, but what we named it will never make it past the emus. A mama-san or 3 would normally accompany our patrols, carrying large quantities of orangee soda bottles, wrapped in a tarp on their head. Their backpacks consisted of metal cooking bowls, chopsticks, etc, and… Ramen! Mama-sans’ ages? Probably in the 60s or 70s. It's hard to tell, as they were of farming origin, mostly from rice paddies and lots of vegetable farms. They were of very rugged countenance, to say the least. As steep as those mountains are, and as tired and sore we were, mama-san would walk seemingly upright, while smiling and nodding to us in encouragement. Her pace and her poise, while trudging past us, was humbling. It would quiet the complainers for a short while.

In our early retirement years, we enjoy our hobbies and we travel quite extensively. I play my guitars regularly (always have) and I'm an avid fitness devotee (always have been). Today's agenda: - Practice: self control - Exercise: restraint - Travel: on the high road - Celebrate: others that do the same. 😇

I enjoy watching scholars debating over the correctness of the American English language. I enjoy watching scholarly debates over any subject, actually. I think I could seriously party with Sam Lyons all night long. I’m not so sure about a few other scholars here, but Jaqcui J can join us, while we debate the Rock N’ Roll-ness of Tears for Fears. I do like that song, though. I’ve been playing Rock ’N Roll for decades now. I am a classically-trained musician from my very early years. I won’t reveal which stringed instrument I was forced to learn. That’s a story for another time. Suffice to say, Isaac Stern was my hero, and I display his autographed photo from 1966 in my music studio. He shakes his head a lot at me. I had to re-learn everything when I picked up the guitar and started playing Eagles, Hendrix, Santana, Vaughan, Bad Company, Skynyrd, ABB, Clapton, etc. When my guitar teacher, way back when, asked me about my musical journey, I told her that I could read sheet music, tablature and knew music theory quite well. Her reply was “I’m so sorry to hear that.” She is a fierce RR/Blues guitarist, a la Lita Ford/Bonnie Raitt. Wow, was she ever right! I learned that Rock ’N Roll has rules, but it doesn't. There are mistakes made while playing Rock ’N Roll songs, but they’re not mistakes. Rock ’N Roll has structure, but it doesn't. -- to be continued --

Worthless piece if information… as many times as “epee” appears as a crossword solution, the fencers in the photo are using a foil. 😁

For Gym, I think I had pec—- forever. I get the gist of working pecs at the gym, but ooohhhh… that! Not fair Thankfully there is 59A for the 79D, else we couldn't tarry in that Gym locker room! 7A may as well read “Yeah, as if that’s possible!” There are a few hotmail holdouts, and even some leftover Yahooligans, but I know no one with an AOL address, nor an MSN. Those had been exploited by spammers so badly, people had to distance themselves. I never know when it's “aah” or “ahh.” Ah well. I absolutely loved allays, astir and ascerbic, though. Derelict, meaning the unkept and disheveled vagabond? I don't see me using the word “disused,” nor would I use the word “derelict,” unless referring to dereliction of duty, perhaps? Star Trek II: As only Ricardo Montalban could say it. “AD-meeril? AD-meeril!” And: “THEES IS CETI ALPHA FIVE!” I'm gonna go out on a limb here assuming the “Cry near a scarecrow” is made upon discovery of said scarecrow, therefore said bird is beating wing outta there, post haste. Now I BEATIT. GOTTA. NOMO. Yesterday’s display shed a light of anger and toxicity, and is something up with which I will not put. I just cannot THRIVE in this HERBGARDEN of such negativity. What does it all ADDUPTO?

For some reason, this puzzle seemed to flow nicely. I caught on to the rebussesses right away and proceeded with caution on many clues. They can be intimidating, but the zen of today's solve was apparent and I my wheelhouse. The Erlenmeyer Flask was my moment of deja vú all over again, having just referred to it in my Friday’s comments about the microscope clue. Could it be the Chandi/Adam tag team was sending me their positive vibe, or the metaphysical world was nudging me. My fascination with the ether, ichor and prisms really does have merit haha. A reminder to all, Walter White’s Science department noticed the disappearance of the round bottom flasks, assorted beakers, Erlenmeyers and infamous 3M respirator mask. I understand those have been controlled items for quite some time now, so get that the super lab built below the laundry facility quickly enough and Gus will buy you the material. The mention of NORAD’s Cheyenne Mt. brings back nice memories. While Barry Ancona was out terrorizing the panhandle beaches, I was navigating the back 40 of Ft. Carson, Colorado, and surrounding high desert. Outside of the 4th ID mountain post, the Colorado Springs area has stunning geography. Rock climbing the highly treacherous Garden of the Gods, rappelling Pinyon and Cheyenne Canyon areas and staring down Royal Gorge made for some fascinating off-duty activities. Hiking up Pikes Peak always proves a very challenging activity. Hint… take the Cog Railway, it's easier.