Last Cryptoquote Spoiler . . . of 2014

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2004–05 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Make it a safe New Year’s Eve:  don’t drink if you are driving, and don’t drive if you’ve been drinking.”   —   Your Conscience

(And for you contrarians, who just have to do the opposite of what you are told:  go get wasted and drive into a tree.  There.  That should cover just about all of us!  Be well and do good, friends.  Happy New Year to all!)   —   YUR  😉

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New Year’s Eve Day Jumble Spoiler – 2014

This is apparently the actual ball which will drop in Times Square signifying the start of 2008. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Visual Description:  At the top of the Times Square countdown.

EVALE  =  LEAVE,  NOPUD  =  POUND,  RAZDIL  =  LIZARD,  HOABIP  =  PHOBIA   —   Giving us:  LAEPODLRDPB

Clue/Question:  New Year’s Eve would be problem-free, as long as someone – – – 

English: Ball drop in water, 201 frames, 480 frame/s (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Answer:  DROPPED THE BALL

(Aahh!  A little irony in today’s answer, huh?  Usually, dropping the ball is about the worst thing that could happen, but not when it comes to New Year’s Eve!  Of course, in reality it’s not really a “ball”, and it’s not really “dropped”.  Not like the cool little video above.  It’s a highly decorated, and well-lit, orb on a pole.  And, the “dropping of the ball” is really more of a controlled slide down the pole.  But, they’ve always referred to it as watching the ball drop.  It’s a New York tradition that is broadcast across the country, and around the world.  What are you going to do, or watch, to ring in the new year???

There were no new clue words today, but all of the jumbles are coming up as new on my end.  I was able to get them all immediately.  The answer letter layout was a beautiful jumble!  If the fantastic cartoon did not give you the answer, by itself, you might have been hard-pressed to figure it out from the answer letter layout alone. 

There’s good and bad in every year, but I hope that most of you had a happy and productive 2014.  No complaints coming from yer uncle!  Happy New Year‘s 2015!  Tonight marks the beginning of another fresh start.  Optimism abounds!  Embrace all the possibilities, my friends.  As always, be well and do good.)   —   YUR

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