Sunday Jumble Spoiler – 05/31/15

English: A den or family room in Camarillo, California, USA with mission-style furhishings and a brick fireplace. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Visual Description:  Today’s – dysfunctional – family room.

RASLIP  =  SPIRAL,  NEXYOG  =  OXYGEN,  ACTNAV  =  VACANT,  FUNXIL  =  INFLUX,  ANGEEG  =  ENGAGE,  TOSHOE  =  SOOTHE   —   Giving us:  SRXECTINENESTE

Clue/Question:  After increasing their home’s bandwidth, they were worried about their kid’s – – –

A family room in Vinh Moc tunnels, Quang Tri, Vietnam. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Answer:  INTERNET “EXCESS“

(A great – and socially relevant – stinky pun!  Maybe, one of the best Sunday Jumbles ever.  None of the clue words were new, but every one of the jumbles came up as new, for me.  It took me a minute or two to figure out “spiral”, but I also thought that both “influx” and “soothe” were jumbled expertly.  The answer letter layout made for another fine jumble.  The cartoon did a great job of capturing some of today’s internet related products.  From the cell phone, to the tablet, to the old reliable desktop, utilizing some form of Skype, or FaceTime.  It reminds me of a book that a co-worker/buddy once told me about, probably 20 years ago.  It was some science fiction tale about a man who lived so much on the computer that he actually became one with the computer.  I am woefully poorly read, so I can’t tell you the title, nor the author, but maybe some of you know of this book.  At the time, I thought that the premise was preposterous, but now I’d say it was prescient.  Be well and do good, friends.  And, try to place limits on your internet exposure.  Even if that means reading this blog less!)   —   YUR

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Sunday Cryptoquote Spoiler – 05/31/15

English: The American Humorists albumen print from left to right: Josh Billings, Mark Twain, and Petroleum V. Nasby (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“One would be in less danger from the wiles of the stranger if one’s kin and kith were more fun to be with.”   —   Ogden Nash

(Such a clever writer, that Nash!  The words “kith” and “kin” are not terribly unusual, though not all that common these days.  But, Nash’s reversing their order did make for a more interesting solve.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

PS.  I would have liked to give this post a picture of Ogden Nash, but they all seem to be “owned” by Getty.  They are very quietly, but very rapidly, buying up the rights to tons of internet property that – I believe – was previously classified as “Public domain”.  Companies that exercise this kind of control should be feared, friends.   —   YUR

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Cryptoquote Spoiler – 05/30/15

douglas adams inspired “Hitch hikers guide to the galaxy” H2G2 http://www.hughes-photography.eu (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“It’s nice to think that one could, even here and now, be whisked away just by hitchhiking.”   —   Douglas Adams

Cropped screenshot of Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable from the trailer for the film It Happened One Night. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(I used to hitchhike, as a teen.  I don’t think I’d recommend it for teens these days.  Too many wackos out there nowadays.  Fortunately, I didn’t have to rely on showing my legs.  I still pick up the occasional hitchhiker though.  Much more control of the situation when you’re the decider.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

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Jumble Spoiler – 05/30/15

New York Mets first base coach Rickey Henderson on July 16, 2007 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Visual Description:  A tribute to Rickey Henderson.

SUBOG  =  BOGUS,  ALUTF  =  FAULT,  CEEPIA  =  APIECE,  GANCEL  =  GLANCE   —   Giving us:  BSFAEAN

Clue/Question:  He stole second and now led the league in steals, which pleased his – – –

Rickey Henderson’s retired number displayed at the Oakland Coliseum. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Answer:  FANBASE

(We have more rules about the clue words than we do the answers.  As soon as I figured this one, I said to myself:  Ugh, another compound word!  But, then I questioned whether it was a valid compound word.  The word “fan” is generally listed as: short for fanatic, which for me puts in doubt the validity of the single compound word of “fanbase”.  WordPress doesn’t seem to like it.  And, when I tried to find a Merriam Webster listing I was unsuccessful.  I’m far from being an accomplished English major, but I do have pretty good instincts about these kind of things.  Regardless, that is the answer.

There were no new clue words today, but all of the jumbles came up as new, for me.  The answer letter layout was great, especially for the size of the answer.  The cartoon is great tribute to a great player.  Rickey Henderson played for 24 years in the Bigs, and few more in the minors.  He was always in remarkable shape, often in better shape than players half his age.  I don’t know if anyone could ever top his career stolen base mark, at 1406.  Personality-wise, he could be a bit of a lightning rod, but no one can dispute his baseball talents.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

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Cryptoquote Spoiler – 05/29/15

The guru of lateral thinking speaking at AMEE 2004. I’ve been a fan of de Bono’s since a kid so it was a bit of a treat to see him in action first hand. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Unhappiness is best defined as the difference between our talents and our expectations.”   —   Edward de Bono

(I’m not sure truer words were ever spoken!  Fascinating man, this Edward de Bono.  Many, many thought provoking quotations.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

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Jumble Spoiler – 05/29/15

Promotional photo of Ray Bolger from the television program The Bell Telephone Hour. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Visual Description:  Bombast from Bolger?

SUHEO  =  HOUSE,  NEPDU  =  UPEND,  PIHIMS  =  IMPISH,  CIRBEK  =  BICKER   —   Giving us:  HOSPNDMISIKE

Clue/Question:  Even though the Scarecrow didn’t have a brain, he – – –

Cover of the Scarecrow of Oz (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Answer:  SPOKE HIS MIND

Cropped screenshot of Judy Garland from the trailer for the film The Wizard of Oz. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(There we go!  It’s kind of funny how the Wizard and all three of Dorothy’s Yellow Brick Road companions were all originally Broadway/Vaudeville actors.  They all played multiple roles in the movie, with Frank Morgan – Wiz – playing five separate parts!  Pretty neat, huh?  We have a new clue word today, in “impish”, and all but the jumble for “upend” are new.  ralis95 will have to update his world famous clue word database!  The answer letter layout was a nice jumble as well.  The cartoon does a great job of capturing the scene.  Lots of great detail; Dorothy’s basket, and Toto at her feet, the high windows, and the curtain that the fraudulent “Wizard” hid behind.  The Scarecrow is spot on too.  But, I don’t remember the Wizard being bald.  Hmm.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

PS.   To “Anonymous” from St. Louis, unless I specifically ask for help, please do not submit any answers via the Comments.  Thank you.   —   YUR

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Jumble Spoiler – 05/28/15

Hotdogs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Visual Description:  Dirty waters rule!

IBEDA  =  ABIDE,  WRLIT  =  TWIRL,  NIRCUH  =  URCHIN,  SENLOS  =  LESSON   —   Giving us:  IDETRHILES

Clue/Question:  The hotdog was OK, but he really wished he could have – – –

There are thousands of varieties of hot sauce (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Answer:  RELISHED IT

Grilled hot dogs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(Ooh!  That’s a good stinky pun!  Truth be told, I prefer my hotdogs grilled.  They’re one of the few meats I like well-done!  There were no new clue words today, but all of the jumbles came up as new for me.  The answer letter layout was pretty nifty.  Nothing given away.  Fun cartoon.  I hate how too many in society insist that certain things HAVE TO go together.  They don’t!  You don’t HAVE TO put mustard on your hotdog.  Do, and eat, what you like.  Ketchup, onions, hot sauce, chili, even mayo – ugh – are all acceptable alternatives.  Or, you can just eat them naked.  The dog, I mean.  Try to keep your clothes on while eating!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

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Cryptoquote Spoiler – 05/28/15

Francis Bacon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“The wonder of a single snowflake outweighs the wisdom of a million meteorologists.”   —   Francis Bacon

(Take that, Lonnie Quinn!  LOL!!!  This wasn’t an easy solve, people.  I suspected the FGS was THE, but couldn’t commit to it until I figured out the author’s first name was most likely Francis.  Not that one really has anything to do with the other, but it helped me confirm that the H was the A and the V was the I.  “Francis” helped me figure out SINGLE too.  Before that, for a little while I was thinking MILLION might be FOLLOWS, but I knew the U couldn’t be the W, and the C was unlikely to be F.  But, METEOROLOGIST was the last word I was thinking of, until things started coming together.  Even with THE and A, I thought this was a challenging puzzle.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

 

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Jumble Spoiler – 05/27/15

English: CFD simulation of an internal combustion engine. Motor. http://www.cmefe.ch Français : Simulation de type CFD de l’écoulement dans un moteur à combustion interne. http://www.cmefe.ch (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Visual Description:  Vroom vroom verbiage.

PEMTT  =  TEMPT,  OORDE  =  RODEO,  RUTFOH  =  FOURTH,  MURYCM  =  CRUMMY   —   Giving us:  TTROOOHUMM

Clue/Question:  The mechanic who loved to talk about engines was a – – –

English: (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Answer:  MOTOR MOUTH

(I’ll try to be brief.  There were no new clue words today, but three of the jumbles were new.  Only “rutfoh” has definitely been used before.  I’m not crazy about answer letter layouts that have so many repeating letters.  To me it makes getting the answer a little easier.  The cartoon was great.  I wonder where Jeff picked up the gear-head lingo???  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

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Cryptoquote Spoiler – 05/27/15

Dr. Seuss cartoon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Nonsense wakes up the brain cells.  And it helps develop a sense of humor, which is awfully important in this day and age.”   —   Theodor Geisel

(Dr. Seuss is lucky that he didn’t make it to today’s world of political “correctness” and zero tolerance.  Say something even mildly humorous these days and there is bound to be someone who will take offense.   For me, banning language is naive, short-sighted, and just plain lazy.  Open dialog requires the full use of language.  Even hurtful words can be used in intellectual discussions, as long as they are not hurled as epithets.  And, to all my uninitiated, myopic, and energy challenged readers . . . go suck an egg!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

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