Jumble Spoiler – 06/30/12

English: Smokey Bear’s debut poster, released on August 9, 1944. From: http://smokeybear.com/vault/museum_main.asp Smokey Bear’s image and name is covered in the USA by a special law, the Smokey Bear Act. This law makes it illegal to misuse Smokey’s image without permission. However the work is copyright free. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Visual Description:  Smokey Bear and his arboreal sidekick, the young Harry Caray.

GITTH  =  TIGHT,  SLSIB  =  BLISS,  KANBIG  =  BAKING,  MRUEES  =  RESUME   —   Giving us:  IHBISANGRES

Clue/Question:  Smokey got lost in the woods after he lost this.

Answer:  HIS BEARINGS

(No new clue words, today.  Good jumbling, but nothing too tough.  Answer letter layout was good, too.  Answer was pretty easy.  Another fun cartoon, though.  Hope and pray for rain in Colorado!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Related articles

• Colorado Springs is Warming Up to Big Government Now That The Place is Burning Down (thelastofthemillenniums.wordpress.com)
• ‘Warming’ skeptics similar to Holocaust deniers? (wnd.com)
• As Exxon CEO Calls Global Warming’s Impacts ‘Manageable’, Colorado Wildfires Shutter Climate Lab (thinkprogress.org)

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 06/30/12

 

20th anniversary of the assassination against Adolf Hitler on July 20th 1944 :*Graphics by Gerd und E. Aretz :*Ausgabepreis: 20 Pfennig :*First Day of Issue / Erstausgabetag: 20. Juli 1964 :*Michel-Katalog-Nr: 433 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.”   —   Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 

“Commemorate the victims of Nazism” (Photo credit: payorivero)

(A remarkably virtuous and principled man.  He was one of the conspirators in the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler.  “Everyone who acts responsibly becomes guilty.”  He was executed by the Nazis in the waning weeks of WWII.  I knew there were many good and decent Germans during the war, despite what many would have you think, but I was not aware of this individual’s story.  You can learn something everyday, just by doing the cryptoquote!  Despite there being only one single letter word in this puzzle it was not all that simple to decipher.  I had guessed that the first word might be “action”, but was not sure until I figured out the word “thought”.  From there the whole thing came together.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Related articles

• Bonhoeffer’s prayer (ilifejourney.wordpress.com)
• Wind – Dietrich Bonhoeffer: a spoke in the wheel (celclibrary.wordpress.com)
• Lecture Review: Eric Metaxas, author of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (todworner.wordpress.com)
• Nazis Take Power. (irishmediaman.wordpress.com)
• “Bonhoeffer” Movie Screening (stlukesls.wordpress.com)

Jumble Spoiler – 06/29/12

Japanese rice bread (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Visual Description:  Satisfied customers at:  eats& sweets, 401 South Public Rd., Old Town Lafayette, CO. 80026

NOLEV  =  NOVEL,  TCETO  =  OCTET,  SLEONS  =  LESSON,  DAPRAE  =  PARADE   —   Giving us:  OLOLNRA

Clue/Question:  As the owner of the most successful sandwich shop in town, he was this.

Answer:  ON A ROLL

(And you can get that on a gluten-free roll, if you like!  I don’t even know what that means, but apparently it’s a big thing with a lot of the health conscious folks, these days.  To me, it sounds like I’m going to be deprived of something that I like, like: sugar-free, fat-free and sodium-free.  Hey!  I like my gluten!  . . . I think.  What the Hell is gluten again?  Just gimme my damn sandwich . . . please.

The usual “quality” product, today.  Nicely jumbled clue words.  None were new, none required anything other than a few visual plays.  I did enjoy the jumbling of “lesson”.  The answer letter layout gave nothing away, and the answer itself was a cute little pun, convincingly conveyed by Mr. Knurek’s cartoon.

I want to give a small shout out to a semi-forgotten actor, who passed away this week, with very modest fanfare.  Mr. Don Grady.  Most people under 50 – and that’s a lot of people – are saying Who?  But, us Baby Boomers remember him as Robbie Douglas on My Three Sons.  Originally, he was the middle son, but after they wrote out the character of Mike, and they adopted Ernie, Robbie became the elder son.  The show had a pretty long run, from 1960 to 1972, which is a little surprising because I always thought the show was a dull as dishwater.  The funny thing that I noticed about the show was all the sons picked up the acting style and mannerisms of the father, played by Fred MacMurray.  I don’t know if that was by design, at the director’s instruction, or if it just came naturally, out of respect and admiration for their father figure, Fred.  If it happened naturally, I can’t imagine it helped Don get work after the show ended.  Not exactly relevant to the hip and happenin’ early ’70s!  He was a good looking guy, though, and fortunately he had success as a musician and composer.  So long, Don!  68 seems too young to die, these days.  Doesn’t it?  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Related articles

• “My Three Sons” star and former Mousketeer Don Grady has died of cancer at the age of 68 (pinkbananaworld.com)
• “My Three Sons” Star Don Grady Dies At 68 (wibw.com)
• Is Gluten-Free Really All It’s Cracked Up To Be? Should You Follow Suit? (vivendidesign.wordpress.com)
• My Gluten-Free Story (onebelleofablog.wordpress.com)
• Let’s Speak “Gluten” Freely, psychologically speaking! (glutenfreepleaz.wordpress.com)
• http://www.eatsandsweets.biz/www.eatsandsweets.biz/home.html

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 06/29/12

 

English: William Saroyan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“In order to write, all a man needs is paper and a pencil.”   —   William Saroyan

(A little dated, and a little obvious.  Maybe this was a wry – and possibly a little bored – response to an interviewer’s question.  I don’t know.  All I do know is that he has many more interesting quotes than this.  Just look at some of the Related articles, below.  Hey!  No one promised you continuous profundity!  Be well and do good, friends.  Stay cool.)   —   YUR

Related articles

• “There Is No How To It” (afrikanking.wordpress.com)
• Slightly Exhausted At The End (chichikir.wordpress.com)
• The Valley Bucket List (atavlian.wordpress.com)
• Beautiful quotes about friendship (arirjames.wordpress.com)

Jumble Spoiler – 06/28/12

Photograph showing the hooks of a piece of Velcro. Taken using a web camera in macro mode. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Visual Description:  Great moments in commercial history!

CFIKL  =  FLICK,  CEXTA  =  EXACT,  DWYOSR  =  DROWSY,  PFPOLY  =  FLOPPY   —   Giving us:  FIEDROFPP

Clue/Question:  George de Mestral patented Velcro in 1955 because he didn’t want to get this.

Answer:  RIPPED OFF

Interface (Photo credit: cbmd)

(There’s a lot to like in today’s Jumble!  The clue words were all jumbled very well.  I had the most difficulty with “floppy”.  I didn’t have to write it out, but it did take some thought.  As it turns out, “floppy” is also going to be a new addition to the ralis95 clue word database!  I like the word “flick”.  I don’t think we’ve seen it used in the Jumble in quite a while.  Welcome back, “flick”!  LOL!  The answer letter layout was super.  Nothing given.  You just had to understand the nature of Velcro in order to get today’s answer.  From the one comment I’ve seen, so far today, it might not have been obvious to everyone.  The cartoon was very informative.  Burdock burs were de Mestral’s inspiration for inventing Velcro.  I have loads of experience removing them from my dogs’ coats!  Nice job, guys!  That’s it, folks.  I spent too much time opining on today’s cryptoquote, so I’m going to cut this a little shorter today.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Related articles

• My Son Corrects A Myth (cafehayek.com)
• Hey, Have You Ever Noticed This? (forbes.com)
• I should patent this idea (scripting.com)
• Ten Accidental Inventions (livasperiklis.com)

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 06/28/12

English: Conservative Party poster from 1909, in which socialism represented by the beast, is choking Britannia.How the Tories saw the socialist menace in 1909. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”   —   Henry Ford

English: Henry Ford on the cover of Time Magazine, January 14, 1935. Copyrights on this issue were not renewed. See wikisource:Time (magazine). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(Sounds like there was a strong socialist side to Mr. Ford!  The words “socialist” and “socialism” have been heavily demonized by the conservative right, particularly over the last four years.  They’ve been bashing/demonizing the word “liberal” for a much longer time.  But, now that there is a so-called “liberal” in the White House, the right feels right at home dropping the “S” bomb at every proverbial drop of a hat.  Language is funny that way.  Connotations change.  Back in the ’60s and ’70s, with all the – still then – young Baby Boomers, and the prevalent “Hippy” mentality/movement, the word “conservative” was the word to use to insult someone.  It meant – implied actually – that you were a fuddy-duddy, reactionary, or a crank, who was incapable of change.  And, in terms of racial equality, it also implied you were likely a racist.  For the gender and sexual preference issues, it implied you were likely a “male chauvinist” – maybe even a misogynist – and a homophobe.  In those days, the wise republicans avoided that word like the plague!  Today, because of the resurgence of the right, the words “conservative” and “conservatism” are now worn as badges of honor.  We’re supposed to associate these words with responsibility, tradition and virtue.  The tables have been turned.  So, as times change language implications change.  Thinking people today don’t fear the “L” word and the “S” bomb, anymore than thinking people back then did the “C” word.  So don’t sweat it, folks.  It’s not the first time around for the demonization of socialism.  This kind of societal linguistic hysteria is impermanent.  Be well, do good . . . and think things through, friends.)   —   YUR

Related articles

• Spirituality and the Politics of Language (subjunctivemorality.wordpress.com)
• The Old Switcheroo (prideinmadness.wordpress.com)
• A Language for Life (anushkag.wordpress.com)
• Language used as a tool of oppression (morningstaronline.co.uk)

Jumble Spoiler – 06/27/12

English: Cher & Sonny Star at Hollywood (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Visual Description:  ’60s pop music icons, who had added success with a ’70s comedy/musical variety television show.

BOEES  =  OBESE,  TAAWI  =  AWAIT,  ORVOYG  =  GROOVY,  MEBURN  =  NUMBER   —   Giving us:  OBEAITGOYUB

Clue/Question:  When Sonny caught Cher after she stumbled and fell on the stage, he said this.

Answer:  “I GOT YOU, BABE“

(And, they may have already been divorced by this point in time.  They had one of those divorces where they knew they couldn’t possibly live with each other, but they still loved each other.  I don’t know how common this is in divorces, but it’s got to be better than the kind with all the bitterness and animosity, that seems so prevalent.  Bob Mackie costumes, great comedy sketches and popular music!  I always found their shows to be very entertaining.

The clue words were all jumbled very well.  I had to think a bit to come up with “obese”.  And, there’s another word to add to the ralis95 clue word database, in “groovy”.  It’s probably no accident that this clue word was used in this Jumble.  It was such a popular word during the second half of the ’60s, and into the early ’70s.  I think that Sonny and Cher even did a cover version of “Groovy Kind of Love“.  Fantastic cartoon, Jeff!  Great likenesses.  The answer letter layout gave nothing away.  If you’re not of a certain age, or you don’t care for ’60s pop music, you might have had a tough time getting today’s answer.  But, this was pretty much right in my wheelhouse.  I always think of the movie Groundhog Day whenever I hear, or see mention of, this song – “I Got You, Babe”.  I’m thinking of that movie a lot lately.  Anyone out there want to psychoanalyze your dear old uncle???  Ooh!  You’ll need a strong stomach for that!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Related articles

• Cher developing Broadway musical about her life (panarmenian.net)
• June 26 1975 Sonny and Cher’s divorce becomes final (craighill.net)
• Artist Top 15 Hits: Cher 9pm ET (radiomaxmusic2.wordpress.com)
• Some Jumbled Thoughts on Divorce (passionatechristianmarriage.wordpress.com)
• Divorce & The Housing Crisis (jimdew.wordpress.com)
• Telling Your Spouse You Want a Divorce (sixtyandsingleagain.wordpress.com)

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 06/27/12

 

Onions on a neutral, mostly white background (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“It’s probably illegal to make soups, stews, and casseroles without plenty of onions.”   —   Maggie Waldron

 

 

Slices of red onions (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(I’m with Magg on this!  Onions rock!  Onions, and their cousin garlic, are probably the most flavorful and aromatic edible vegetables going.  And, they’re good for you!  Just be careful if you’re taking blood thinners, because that is one of their natural qualities.  For those who are offended by their odor . . .?  Get over it!  Hey.  We all have our crosses to bear.  I don’t care for most perfumes and colognes.  And, most scented candles and potpourris are just too intense for my olfactory senses.  Be well and do good, friends.  Eat onions.  Breath be damned!)   —   YUR

Related articles

• The Marlboro Man Sandwich (yestersdinner.wordpress.com)
• Summer eats when it’s not that summery (curiouslyfeelinggood.wordpress.com)
• Crispy Onion Rings & Assorted Vegetables with Lime Chile Mayo (frugalhausfrau.wordpress.com)
• Brat Wraps (yestersdinner.wordpress.com)
• Polenta Sausage Casserole (potsandplots.wordpress.com)
• Chennai street food : Masala kadalai with a twist (mychocolethandbag.wordpress.com)
• Irish stew – the way my mother made it (livingincheapluxury.wordpress.com)
• If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, an onion will take care of everyone else 😉 (snstoman.wordpress.com)

Jumble Spoiler – 06/26/12

Bruce Dickinson (Photo credit: Hard Rock Café Berlin)

Visual Description:  A send-up to The Far Side.

HHRAS  =  HARSH,  ATOPI  =  PATIO,  LEGNOB  =  BELONG,  VEEROM  =  REMOVE   —   Giving us:  HAOLMO

Clue/Question:  The cow couldn’t buy the new cowbell because she didn’t have enough . . .

Answer:  MOOLAH

(What a difference a day makes!  Yesterday’s wasn’t impossible, but the answer was twelve letters, and involved some thought.  Today’s is just a single, six letter word answer, that would only challenge those who speak English as a Second Language.  And, I’m sure many of those people got it fairly easily, as well.  The saving grace of the Jumble is the humorous cartoon.  Why does the one cow almost appear to be wearing a dress, while the other one is Doe-naked, save for her bell and purse?!?!  I think it’s udderly ridiculous!  I wonder what “The Bruce Dickinson” would say about this cartoon???  Hmm!

Alright.  Now, down to the nuts and bolts of it.  All the clue words were well jumbled, but especially “belong”.  I didn’t need to write it out, or anything, but I had to go through quite a few mental combos before seeing it.  It looks like “harsh” is going to be a new addition to the ralis95 clue word database.  The answer letter layout did not give anything away.  But, the cartoon . . . OMG!  Are those Holsteins shopping at Halston‘s???  LOL!  Be well and do good, friends.  And, as Salma would say:  Don’t forget to dreenk your meelk!  How come her Mexican mom has less of an accent than her???  Por qué?)   —   YUR

PS.  LOVE the Salma Hayek!  How hot is she?!?!   —   YUR

PPS.  I like this mask.  It reminds me of a Mexican wrestler’s mask!   —   YUR

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 06/26/12

English: Sir Winston Churchill. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see.”   —   Winston Churchill

(There is a huge difference between studying, knowing and appreciating history . . . and living in the past.  With today’s overemphasis – in my opinion, at least – on math and science, combined with the philosophy of living in the moment, while looking to the future – which I actually subscribe to – I think that too many of us have lost sight of this distinction.   I think that old Winnie has succinctly hit  the nail on the head.  Spot on, as the Brits would say.  Don’t be some kind of history parrot though.  Realize that history is written by the victors, and it’s fairly malleable and subject to political whims.  But, don’t be arrogant enough to ignore it, or write it off as merely the past.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Related articles

• Original Churchill letters dig up in UK (bigpondnews.com)
• Worcester’s war: Newly released letters reveal grovelling five-year campaign to get Winston Churchill to visit town (dailymail.co.uk)
• Lessons from Winston Churchill’s A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Vol. 1 (thisboysmind.wordpress.com)