Cryptoquote Spoiler – 06/30/17

“I am a humanist because I think humanity can, with constant moral guidance, create a reasonably decent society.”   —   James Michener

(I completely agree with Mr. Michener!  A great writer, who liked being married.  He married both his second and third wives within a year of divorcing his previous spouse.  I couldn’t find any photos of his first two wives, Patti and Vange.  His third marriage, to a Japanese-American woman, Mari Yoriko Sabusawa, lasted the longest.  Nearly 40 years.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Jumble Spoiler – 06/30/17

Visual Description:  Taking notice of Otis.

WYLOL  =  LOWLY,  PODTA  =  ADOPT,  RHOFUT  =  FOURTH,  GULAPE  =  PLAGUE   —   Giving us:  ODOFRLE

Clue/Question:  When elevators in buildings started to become popular, people were – – –

Answer:  FLOORED

(And, all the youngsters are wondering:  “What’s with the guy in the monkey suit?”  Well, children, back in the early days of elevators they were not automatic, as they are today.  They required an elevator operator, to do things like open and close the inner and outer doors, and work the lever to make it go up and/or down.  And, the elevators didn’t stop by themselves level to the floors, like they generally do today.  The elevator operators had to control that.  It took some practice and, of course,  some were better at it than others.  They were kind of like the ride operators, at carnivals and amusement parks.

All of the clue words are old favorites again.  Three of the jumbles came up as new.  We’ve seen “podta”  before.  And, I know I’ve told you this before, but “adopt” spells out in alphabetical order.  Oh!  And “gulape” is Swahili for fly.  No, really!  Not sure if that is from the verb, to fly, or from the noun, for the annoying critter that carries germs and such.  It would be really ironic if flies carried the “plague”, but I think that was more fleas.  And, fleas do not fly, they jump.  The answer letter layout was a dandy of a jumble.  It was not obvious, at all.  The cartoon was a nice turn of the century piece.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 06/29/17

“Every thread of creation is held in position, by still other strands of things living.”   —   Don McLean

(Our first Don McLean quotation!  I also believe that we are all interconnected, to each other, and to other living things.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Jumble Spoiler – 06/29/17

Visual Description:  The queue at the café.

VROGE  =  GROVE,  COLTU  =  CLOUT,  OLODED  =  DOODLE,  PRICST  =  SCRIPT   —   Giving us:  ROECOTDODESCRT

Clue/Question:  He told his wife there wouldn’t be a long line, but he – – –

Answer:  STOOD CORRECTED

(A great, stinky pun!  I’m betting some of you struggled to get this one.  It took me a few seconds to get it, but I was impressed, so I showed it to my daughter.  She didn’t spend a lot of time with it, but she didn’t see the answer.  All of the clue words are old favorites, but all of the jumbles came up as new.  The answer letter layout was a masterful, cryptic jumble.  The cartoon provided the best clues.  All the people standing, and the wife with the angry “I told you so” expression on her face.  Nice work, guys.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Jumble Spoiler – 06/28/17

Visual Description:  Vegging out to reruns.

TUYPT  =  PUTTY,  SUDEO  =  DOUSE,  GOCCAN  =  COGNAC,  BNILEM  =  NIMBLE   —   Giving us:  TSOCIM

Clue/Question:  When the couple tried out their new furniture while watching TV, they watched a – – –

Answer:  SITCOM

(I have to guess that we’ve had “cognac” in the last few months!  I could use a “cognac” right now!  I thought it was new, but the jumble came up as not new, so that means we must’ve seen it, and with this specific jumble.  The jumble “bnilem” seems to be the only new jumble.  The answer letter layout was cryptic despite being only six letters long.   The cartoon has familiar characters . . . and a new couch.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 06/28/17

“Why should you be confused just because you come from a confused civilization?”   —   Brian Aldiss

(Maybe, because – generally – that confusion is easier than clarity.  Many/most people strive for a kind of psychological consistency.  The “inconvenient truths” presented tend to be dismissed, because accepting them disturbs that consistency.  We are more comfortable with our long held, preconceived notions.  We need to realize that truth isn’t always pretty, or comfortable.  But, it needs to be accepted.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

 

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 06/27/17

“Women have been called queens for a long time, but the kingdom given them isn’t worth ruling.”   —   Louisa May Alcott

(I was a little bit shocked to find that this is the first Louisa May Alcott quotation, used in the Cryptoquote, since I’ve been posting these spoilers.  I guess, like Susan B. Anthony, she was an early feminist.  Good for her.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Jumble Spoiler – 06/27/17

Visual Description:  The din at dawn.

CAKNK  =  KNACK,  DAGRU  =  GUARD,  SATUCC  –  CACTUS,  MEGILN  =  MINGLE   —   Giving us:  KAKGARACTMINE

Clue/Question:  The tennis player couldn’t find his equipment in the closet and was – – –

Answer:  MAKING A RACKET

(Looking for his racquet?  Their seems to be some debate over which word came first.  It looks like “racket” probably did precede “racquet”, but the original French was “raquette”.  And, the game apparently started in France.  It’s a little strange for the “racket” spelling to have so many different connotations, but English is a strange language.

No new clue words.  All the jumbles came up as new.  I thought that “dagru” was the most challenging, but it didn’t take too much effort.  The answer letter layout was a Jim Dandy jumble!  But, the totality of the clue/question, the cartoon and its dialog, made it a quick solve.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR 

Jumble Spoiler – 06/26/17

Visual Description:  Delivery before descent.

CINME  =  MINCE,  UKAQC  =  QUACK,  KOIREO  =  ROOKIE,  ARUBUE  =  BUREAU   —   Giving us:  INAROEBR

Clue/Question:  The baby delivered at 30,000 feet was – – –

Answer:  AIRBORNE

(A very elevated pun!  Maybe the boy will attend the Army Airborne School, in 18 or 19 years!  It’s possible.  All of today’s clue words are old favorites.  However, all the jumbles came up as new.  I had no trouble with any of them today.  The answer letter layout was a very good jumble.  Nothing given away.  Fun cartoon.  This shouldn’t happen, generally.  But, some women like to push the envelope, and some babies like to push prematurely.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 06/26/17

“The world is like a mask dancing.  If you want to see it well, you do not stand in one place.”   —   Chinua Achebe

(Too many are content in their provincialism.  Don’t be.  You don’t really know the world, until you see the world.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR