Cryptoquote Spoiler – 03/31/11

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“I never knew whether to pity or congratulate a man on coming to his senses.”   — William Makepeace Thackeray

(Today . . . I’m voting pity.)   — YUR

Jumble Spoiler – 03/31/11

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Visual Description:  Building designers with their over-sized blueprints.

CFLIF  =  CLIFF,  LUPBM  =  PLUMB,  ALGNOL  =  GALLON,  SROASC  =  ACROSS   —   Giving us:  LIPBGNAS

Clue/Question:  The architect who designed the skyscraper had these.

Answer:  BIG PLANS

(Nothing wrong with the overall scrambling.  I particularly liked seeing the word “plumb”.  But, I thought that the cartoon was unnecessarily obvious.  I can’t see anyone having much difficulty in getting today’s answer.  I might just be a little bit cranky.  I slept very hard.  Woke up groggy as heck.  And, I just can’t seem to shake the strange, fuzzy feeling.   We have kind of an opening day preview in baseball today.  For me, baseball is supposed to start in April – traditionally on a Monday.  This is the first year of a new rule change which has opening day earlier, “in order to prevent the World Series from extending into November”.  If it’s such a big deal I don’t understand why there aren’t more than six games being played today!?!?  And, while we’re on the subject of change, I wish they’d move Daylight Savings Time back to it’s traditional date of the first Sunday in April.  The projected energy savings have not been realized, and the disadvantages seem to be mounting.  In 2008, I voted for “Change You Can Believe In”.  After two plus years of Republican stonewalling, Democratic acquiescence, and extremely limp-wristed , dish-water blah, and toothless “reforms”, the caving in to corporations and the rich, and no positive – in my mind – change in US military deployment/operations, I’ve decided that the name Barack is really just Swahili for: brown bush!  His slogan should be changed to: Change You Can Deceive [The Naive] In.  I’m sending back my White House Christmas card.  Then – maybe – I’m going back to bed.)   — YUR

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 03/30/11

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“A healthy attitude is contagious but don’t wait to catch it from others.  Be a carrier.”   — Tom Stoppard

(It’s hard to improve upon this kind of advice.  Perhaps this quotation is from Arcadia, which is now playing on Broadway, at the Barrymore Theatre, for a limited engagement.  Go out and get a little culture.  You might even get some couth!)   — YUR

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Jumble Spoiler – 03/30/11

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Visual Description:  An Endangered Species Act offense on the golf links.

CIBKR  =  BRICK,  FTINA  =  FAINT,  RNCIGY  =  CRYING,  LSIFOS  =  FOSSIL   —   Giving us:  BIKFATCRGOS

Clue/Question:  What the magician had on the course.

Answer: A BAG OF TRICKS

(I think the new guy has, now, got the art of the scramble down pat.  Nothing obvious in the clue words, or the answer letters!  I guess you could say that the name, “HOCUS POCUS”, on the side of the golf bag is a “bonus clue”.  But, if so, it’s not really needed.  From the the clue/question, the guy’s outfit and spiel, I’m sure no one experienced any confusion.  Golf purists might take offense to this scenario.  Even Bill Murray observes a certain amount of decorum on the tees, fairways, traps and greens.  Though, anything goes in the rough!  Be well, friends.  And, when possible, do good.)   — YUR

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 03/29/11

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“It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.”   — Thomas Jefferson

(Getting started is usually the hard part.  But, once the bodies get in motion they tend to stay in motion.  And, before you know it, you’ve accomplished quite a lot.  It’s been a while since we’ve had a Thomas Jefferson quotation.  I’m still incredulous that religious right wing douche bags, in Texas, are downplaying the importance of Thomas Jefferson in the History textbooks.  The principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and a proponent of “limited federal government”!  All because he supported the concept of the “separation of church and state”.  These bozos even have it in for Teddy Roosevelt!  I guess his “trust-busting” and government regulation of monopolies ran contrary to their ideal of unfettered capitalism, which they are replacing with the term “free-enterprise system”.  You know . . .  to avoid any negative connotations.  I wonder what they would do with Mt. Rushmore, if they had the ability and authorization to “edit” that?  And, this is only to mention a few of their radical changes.  Should I be resorting to this kind of name calling?  Probably not.  But, their reluctance to accept ANY of the responsibility for the violent rhetoric that may, or may not, have played a part in the Tucson shooting, makes me care just a little less about what we used to call “civil debate”.  My choice of words – douche bags and bozos – may be crass, childish and unproductive, but at least they are not violent.)   — YUR

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Jumble Spoiler – 03/29/11

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Visual Description:  Geek in a Smart car, stuck in heavy traffic.

ODUPR  =  PROUD,  ONSWH  =  SHOWN,  ASEVGA  =  SAVAGE,  DFRIEF  =  DIFFER —   Giving us:  RDHVADIER

Clue/Question:  The computer repairman had one.

Answer:  A HARD DRIVE

(Not bad.  I seem to be getting over my personal issue of scrambled clue words that start with the same letter as it’s unscrambled answer word.  I was able to get “differ” in a matter of seconds.  I was a little surprised to see “savage” again, so soon, but today’s scrambling was different.  I’m still getting queries on “gaauin”!  It – “iguana” – just might be the most queried scrambled word since I’ve been posting these spoilers.  Mr. Hoyt should take note:  Funky animal names make for good scrambled clue words! Be well, do good, my friends.)   — YUR

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 03/28/11

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“I like to think big.  If you’re going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big.”   — Donald Trump

(Which kinda explains his comb-over!  The Donald is as The Donald does.  Nuff said, there!  I sure hope he appreciates being highlighted in my Mets colors.  I suspect he’s actually one of those front-running Yankee fans though.  Too bad, cupcake!  Yer Uncle has spoken.)   — YUR

Jumble Spoiler – 03/28/11

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Visual Description:  A pair of po-po arresting a pair of purloiners.

NBDAL  =  BLAND,  ACCRK  =  CRACK,  KCBELU  =  BUCKLE,  TPNTEO  =  POTENT —   Giving us:  BLDAKUEOET

Clue/Question:  What the cops did when they spotted the twin burglars.

Answer:  A DOUBLE TAKE

(Not bad.  I had no trouble with the clue words this morning, but there was nothing obvious about them.  And, the answer letters were also well scrambled.  I love the word “potent”.  I always look forward to the Jeopardy category: Potent Potables.  And one of my college roommates always queried me: Potables and comestibles? when he wanted to go to the cafeteria.  Brilliant guy.  Of course, he was baked half the time back then.  But, now he’s the Editor of the Engineering and Science Magazine at Caltech.  And, as far as I can tell, he’s still a bit of a goofball!  Hey!  How about VCU knocking off Kansas yesterday?!  I don’t think many had that happening.  And, they did it decisively!  71 to 61.  And Kentucky prevailed over UNC, 76 – 69.  So, half of this year’s Final Four are perennial powerhouses, while the other half are head scratching Cinderella stories.  And, it will come down to one powerhouse vs. one Cinderella for the championship.  I bet Barack is bemused, to say the least!  Be well, do good, my friends.)   — YUR

Sunday Cryptoquote Spoiler – 03/27/11

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“You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can get with a kind word.”   — Al Capone

(Said Al, as he was campaigning to become President of the NRA!  Just kidding.  I used to be big on “gun control“.  But now, I’ve grown so distrustful of the federal government, that I’m kind of glad that there’s an organization that fights for the public’s right to bear arms.  I kind of miss my old values, in this regard.  But, in the real world you have to be able to adapt to the unfortunate realities of life.  Happy Birthday to my bouncing baby boy!  Derek turns 24 today!)   — YUR

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Sunday Jumble Spoiler – 03/27/11

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Visual Description:  Jeff . . . banking on his celebrity?

APUORR  =  UPROAR,  LNMIEG  =  MINGLE,  RYOWTH  =  WORTHY,  AILSDN  =  ISLAND,  ASIRAF  =  SAFARI,  LWUATN  =  WALNUT —   Giving us:  RNGWHIDAIWT

Clue/Question:  How Jeff Knurek kills time while while waiting in line at the bank.

Answer:  WITH DRAWING

(Today, Jeff is his very own “bonus clue”!  Jeff Knurek, of course, is the cartoonist end of the Jumble.  Looks like he’s working on one for next week, or so.  Today’s answer made for a nice banking pun.  You actually have to make it to the window – or an ATM – to execute a withdrawal, but the general connection should have been apparent to all.  It also looks like Jeff is wearing his trusty WILCO shirt.  All around great scrambling today.  Nothing exotic about any of the clue words.  A tip of the hat to Mr. Hoyt.  Nice going, cuz.  Boy, yesterday it seems that a lot of people had trouble getting “iguana”!  I counted over a 140 various queries on that scrambled word.  That’s big. I didn’t watch the NCAA games yesterday, but it looks like the UCONN v. Arizona game and the Butler v. Florida games were great ones.  Tiny Butler making the Final Four for the second year in a row is pretty impressive.  Unless VCU pulls off some kind of miracle today, over #1 Kansas, it’s doubtful that Butler will be able to get to the championship game.  But, one never knows.  I’m still holding out for a Battle of the Ks! Be good, do good, friends.)   — YUR