(Tough) Sunday Jumble Spoiler – 12/06/20

Visual Description:  Barnard Courtois’ accidental discovery.

CURPES  =  SPRUCE,  NRVITE  =  INVERT,  VEDROU  =  DEVOUR,  AMULYS  =  ASYLUM,  TQAUEE  =  EQUATE,  MYIFLR  =  FIRMLY   —   Giving us:  SPEINEOURSLMETEFR

Clue/Question:  When the chemist discovered iodine in seaweed ash in 1811, there was an – – –

Pre-Answer:  Three Words  (7-letters)  (2-letters)  (8-letters)

Answer:  ELEMENT OF SURPRISE

(Dude was also involved with isolating morphine.  That is one wild narcotic!  This iodine is both essential yet dangerous to humans.  And other animals, I suppose.  The substance is an element.  #53 on the Periodic Table of Elements.

No new clue words today.  Five of the jumbles came up as new, but we have seen “curpes” before.  I got them all right away.  But, that answer letter layout was a massive seventeen letter jumble!  And, did it stump me but good!  All I was certain of was OF.  I did not pick up on the clues in the dialog.  Luckily, my daughter was able to see it, after a couple of minutes.

Fine historical cartoon.  I never stopped to think about the discovery of iodine before.  This made for a very tough Jumble.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google and BrainKart

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 12/07/20

“The decline of literature indicates the decline of a nation; the two keep pace in their downward tendency.”   —   Goethe

(Wolfie was the man!  Ya know, this is one of those rare occasions where both the Jumble and the Cryptoquote feature a form of the same word.  Down in the Jumble, and downward in the Cryptoquote!  And, today is Pearl Harbor Day!  Wow!  That was 79 years ago.  The Japanese were super ambitious that day, as they also raided targets in Malaya, Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippines and Wake Island.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Jumble Spoiler – 12/07/20

Visual Description:  Operation Fillerup!

DHIWT  =  WIDTH,  NYADH  =  HANDY,  SUCINO  =  COUSIN,  CRAAED  =  ARCADE   —   Giving us:  WTHHNCOAD

Clue/Question:  When they resupplied the submarine with provisions, everything went – – –

Answer:  DOWN THE HATCH

(One of those literal/figurative puns!  The idiom is originally a nautical term that dates back to the 18th Century, and it literally meant as in Jeff’s great cartoon, but more generically for any ship.  Not exactly sure when it came to being like a toast for drinking alcohol, or swallowing anything strong or unpleasant.  I’m pretty sure it must’ve come from some sailor though.

There were no new clue words today.  However, all four jumbles are coming up as new, for me.  The only one to give me pause was “craaed”, but I saw “arcade” after a few looks.  The answer letter layout was a fine nine letter jumble.  By itself, it was wonderfully cryptic. 

Jeff’s great cartoon was the biggest clue to solving this.  Right off the bat, you can tell this is a guy popping out of the submarine’s opening, better known as its hatch!  I guess it was just a little too busy to include a classic sinking sailboat on the horizon.  Maybe next time.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google