Sunday Cryptoquote Spoiler – 07/05/20

“I sit down to write a lyric, and when I get up I’m usually about three pounds lighter.”   —   Alan Jay Lerner

(This is pretty much the same way I solve the Cryptoquote!  But, three pounds???  That seems a little excessive.  I figure two pounds, tops.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Sunday Jumble Spoiler – 07/05/20

Visual Description:  21st Century irrelevancy.

VIEIDD  =  DIVIDE,  SMTUPE  =  SEPTUM,  IMRFNO  =  INFORM,  INTTAA  =  ATTAIN,  NNCAYO  =  CANYON,  GLHEGA  =  HAGGLE   —   Giving us:  IIEPMIORANCNNHGG

Clue/Question:  Elizabeth II has been queen for 68 years, which makes her the – – –

Pre-Answer:  Two Words  (8-letters)  (8-letters) 

Answer:  REIGNING CHAMPION

(And, she has simply outlived her great-great-grandmother by 13 years and counting.  Liz is 94 now, while Vicky kicked it at 81.  Of course nutrition, medical science and healthier lifestyle have played a large factor in Liz’s success to date.  How long can she go on?  Her “mum” – The Queen Mum – made it to 101, so who knows?!  But, more importantly, who cares?  As an American, the idea of “royalty” is both archaic, and a little offensive.

All of today’s clue words are familiar old friends.  Five of the jumbles appear to be new, with “vieidd” having definitely been used before.  It took me a couple of looks to see “septum” . . . and it was right in front of my nose the whole time.  The answer letter layout was a spectacular sixteen letter jumble.  Nothing about it seemed obvious to me.  The whole royalty thing, and number of years, led me to REIGNING.  And, from the PMIOACNH I quickly figured out CHAMPION.  Gotta love a good sports/boxing metaphor!

Great cartoon of Lizzie and Phil, tooling around Trafalgar Square, in their fancy limo.  And all the folks caught up in the time warp of the British Empire – and who don’t seem to mind being referred to as “subjects” – cheer them on, never giving much thought to how their tax Pounds are paying for the antiquated, lavish lifestyle of people who happen to be of a particular bloodline.  Curious and queer, when you stop to think about it.  But, who says “commoners” truly think?  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google