Cryptoquote Spoiler – 02/25/20

“I can excuse everything but boredom.  Boring people don’t have to stay that way.”   —   Hedy Lamarr

(Ah!  Brains and beauty!  Back in the day she was called a Bombshell, but her advances in communication technology led to the developments of Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth technologies.  Of course, the good ol’ boys in the military – during WWII – dismissed her idea of “frequency hopping”, but they did finally utilize it sometime in the 1960s.  She wasn’t formally acknowledged for her contributions until 1997, but by then she was an 82 year old recluse.  Thankfully, we’re getting better about acknowledging all forms of genius, regardless of sex, race and creed.  For those “good ol’ boys” . . . Times Up!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Jumble Spoiler – 02/25/20

Visual Description:  Toxic boss.

UPNTI  =  INPUT,  FOTYL  =  LOFTY,  LARSIO  =  SAILOR,  DEGAAN  =  AGENDA   —   Giving us:  TLOILNA

Clue/Question:  The pessimist had such a negative attitude, that everyone considered him to be a – – –

Answer:  “NO“-IT–ALL

(Aah!  Another great classic stinky pun!  Those are my favorites, because they make the “sophisticated” snooty types groan.  Their painful groans give your sadistic Uncle great pleasure, like Lord Yabu, in “Shogun”, revelling in the sounds of the Dutch sailor being boiled alive.  Well, that might be taking things just a tad too far, but you get the picture.

There were no new clue words today.  However, all of the jumbles do appear to be new.  The only on that gave me trouble was “larsio”.  I skipped it, came back to it, said the Hell with it, and then thought I’d back into it.  But, with only five of the seven answer letters, I wasn’t coming up with the final answer either!  So, I went back to it again and finally saw it.  I believe I’ve had trouble with “sailor” before.  I have no idea why.  The answer letter layout was a cryptic and concise seven letter jumble.  Not obvious, to me.  I wasn’t anticipating this answer at all.  But, I soon saw NO, and from the TLILA I figured out the rest.

Nice office scene cartoon.  That boss looks like a real bastard.  Someone should put a couple of eye drops in his beverage of choice.  Don’t actually try this folks!  It can be much worse than just giving someone diarrhea.  It can make some folks violently ill.  Be well and do good, friends.  And, do no harm!  Even if you think they deserve it.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google, and the Washingtonpost.com

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 02/24/20

“All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was.”   —   Toni Morrison

(A nice quote.  But, how come the only Toni we’ve ever gotten quotes from is from Ms. Morrison?  How about Toni McNaron, or Toni Braxton, or Toni Childs, or Toni Collette, or Toni Tennille?  I’m sure there are other quote worthy Tonis out there!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Jumble Spoiler – 02/24/20

Visual Description:  Campaign crisis!

HMASE  =  SHAME,  SCHUR  =  CRUSH,  DGUSEL  =  SLUDGE,  PMLIPE  =  PIMPLE   —   Giving us:  SHECSSLEPE

Clue/Question:  When the writer suddenly quit, the politician was – – –

Answer:  SPEECHLESS

(A nice traditional stinky pun!  And, appropriate for the season too.  Most politicians rely on speech writers, although some are proficient at speaking extemporaneously.  When our current President gives a formal speech he can sound presidential.  I just wish he had a speech writer for his tweets and rallies!

All of today’s clue words are familiar old friends, but – surprisingly – all of the jumbles came up as new.  Usually, one or two of them are reruns.  No stumpers for me today.  The answer letter layout was a respectable ten letter jumble.  The prevalence of the E’s and S’s made for an easy solve.

Fine campaign headquarters cartoon.  I don’t remember the last major U.S. politician who had a mustache!  Seems like they’ve all been clean shaven during my lifetime.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Sunday Cryptoquote Spoiler – 02/23/20

“There are two types of knowledge.  One is knowing a thing.  The other is knowing where to find it.”   —   Samuel Johnson

(Another fine quote from Dr. Johnson!  He had a slew of medical problems during his life, like childhood tuberculosis, deaf in one ear, blind in one eye, testicular cancer, gout and a stroke.  But, he made it to 75, which is pretty good for the 18th Century.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Sunday Jumble Spoiler – 02/23/20

Visual Description:  America’s favorite food!

FYIANM  =  INFAMY,  SEISMU  =  MISUSE,  GUFHOT  =  FOUGHT,  CLASUL  =  CALLUS,  NLOYFD  =  FONDLY,  NWAYSK  =  SWANKY   —   Giving us:  IAYIEOUTCALNYSWY

Clue/Question:  Regardless of the size of the pieces, this place served great pizza, – – –

Pre-Answer:  Five Words  (3-letters) (3-letters) (3-letters) (5-letters) (2-letters)

Answer:  ANY WAY YOU SLICE IT

(Once again, these Midwesterners have offended the Brooklyn in me!  Us Nu Yawkas never order/have a “piece” of pizza.  It is ALWAYS a slice!  A “piece” of pizza???  Aay!  Fuggedaboudit!  LOL!  Okay, we’ve been down this road already.  Ya know, guys, I do not eat my slice like the New York way.  I don’t do “the fold”.  I take a bite of the crust AND a bite of the saucy-cheesy part, kind of rotating it back and forth.  I don’t like being left with plain crust, and I don’t want to waste it like a lot of people do.  Clearly, this is not a regional thing.  It’s just an Uncle Rave peculiarity! 

David L. Hoyt has hit us with an extra cheese, double whammy of new clue words today!  Both “fought” and “swanky” are not on the current version of the world famous ralis95 clue word database.  Hey, Hoyt!  FYI, I noticed that we haven’t used SWANK before either.  All six jumbles are coming up as new today.  That is a little unusual.  The answer letter layout was another impressive sixteen letter jumble.  By itself, I don’t think it gave anything away.  It was the final answer word slots, and the avoidance of the word SLICE that gave me the answer.

Great cartoon of a family about to enjoy some delicious pizza, at their local pizza parlor.  I like the pie-man, in the background, tossing the dough.  I also like the shakers of crushed red pepper flakes, and – hopefully – garlic.  I guess it could be Parmesan, but I consider that unnecessary and redundant on pizza.  Love it on certain pastas though!  Fun Sunday Jumble.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 02/22/20

“A budget tells us what we can’t afford, but it doesn’t keep us from buying it.”   —   William Feather

(Spoken like a man of Experian . . . er experience!  Credit – while necessary – can quickly become a quagmire, that is tough to escape.  Be well, be fiscally responsible, and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Jumble Spoiler – 02/22/20

Visual Description:  Making a bad first impression.

TDHIC  =  DITCH,  NYIKD  =  DINKY,  DDDEEW  =  WEDDED,  NMENAR  =  MANNER   —   Giving us:  DIHDINWDDEANNE

Clue/Question:  All her dinner date did was complain.  She wasn’t happy about being – – –

Answer:  “WHINED“ AND DINED

(Now, this is your basic stinky pun!  It made for a classic Jumble answer.  I’ve heard people refer to complaining as “whining”, but for me, whining brings with it a pretty specific audible tone.  Regular complaining is bitching, or kvetching.  But, there is a time and place for complaining.  And, a first date is probably not the best time to show your gripier grumpy side!

All old familiar clue words today.  Two of the jumbles are coming up as new, with both “nyikd” and “dddeew” having definitely been used before.  The answer letter layout was a very impressive fourteen letter jumble.  I don’t think it was obvious in any way.  The combination of the cartoon, its dialog, and then the quotation marks were what led me to the final answer.

Great restaurant scene cartoon.  Your eyes are drawn to the wine bottle and the diner’s wine glasses.  I think she was hoping for a Hamiltonesque Lin Manuel Miranda, but she was struck with this wannabe pony-tailed pretender.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 02/21/20

“I know it sounds corny, man, but I like to bring folks joy, and I like to have a good time.”   —   Wolfman Jack

(Jack, my man.  You left us far too soon!  Not the most profound of quotes, but it’s definitely something most of us can relate to.  We welcome you to the Cryptoquote Club today!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Jumble Spoiler – 02/21/20

Visual Description:  Residential extension.

VOCEL  =  CLOVE,  XRETE  =  EXERT,  SAMPIH  =  MISHAP,  CECHTI  =  HECTIC   —   Giving us:  COERTMSHHET

Clue/Question:  Construction of their house’s new addition was almost complete and in the – – –

Answer:  HOME STRETCH

(Aah!  A slightly more challenging and nontraditional pun.  I liked it very much.  Wouldn’t it be so much easier if homes were built with the kind of physical flexibility, whereby you could just stretch it to add space?!  They have that with the more expensive RVs and mobile homes.  I guess it would have to be more of a temporary thing.  No foundation, and maybe only good in fair weather.  But, the idea is intriguing.

No new clue words today.  Three of the jumbles appear to be new, with only “sampih” having definitely been used before.  The answer letter layout made for a swell eleven letter jumble.  I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you struggled to get the final answer.  Like I said, this one was a little different.

Great cartoon of the home renovation/extension.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google