Cryptoquote Spoiler – 04/30/21

“I didn’t start out writing to give children hope, but I’m glad some of them found it.”   —   Beverly Cleary

(I think hope is one of those foundational things that all children need, in order to grow up to be happy and productive adults.  The lack of hope leads to terrible things such as addiction, abuse, and lives of crime.  Always give your kids a reason to hope!  We welcome Ms. Cleary to the Cryptoquote Club today!  Posthumously unfortunately, as she passed just a little over a month ago.  Thank you, Ms. Cleary, for setting a great example for some of today’s writers!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Jumble Spoiler – 04/30/21

Visual Description:  Venice Beach.

TAHSS  =  STASH,  CHNEE  =  HENCE,  GPDOAA  =  PAGODA,  NPHOCO  =  PONCHO   —   Giving us:  STHENEPAAPNC

Clue/Question:  When she unknowingly took a pic of the flexing bodybuilder, it was – – –

Answer:  HAPPENSTANCE

(Not exactly the strongest of puns, but I’ll buy it.  It literally was happenstance that they accidentally captured another person – the bodybuilder – in the photo.  And, he just happened to be making a stance, also known as a pose.  I’d be reluctant to call this a stinky pun though.

Four well used clue words today.  All of the jumbles are coming up as new for me though.  The only one to trip me up any was “chnee”, but I did get “hence” legitimately.  The answer letter layout was a tremendous twelve letter jumble.  Without the clues in the cartoon’s dialog – “I didn’t mean to”, and the clue/question – “unknowingly” this might have been a more difficult solve.

Amusing beach scene cartoon.  The bodybuilder is classic!  And, I always appreciate the sight of the classic sinking sailboat on the horizon!  Good fun.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 04/29/21

“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.”   —   John Steinbeck

(As the father of a teacher . . . I approve of this message!  Teachers deserve more respect . . . and pay.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Jumble Spoiler – 04/29/21

Visual Description:  “It’s a Twista!  A twista!”

IANGA  =  AGAIN,  CGOEK  =  GECKO,  HRXOTA  =  THORAX,  BUDTIO  =  OUTBID   —   Giving us:  GNGETOOID

Clue/Question:  In “The Wizard of Oz”, when Toto escaped from Miss Gulch, she thought – – –

Answer:  DOGGONE IT

(Fairly predictable pun this time.  Still cute though.  To me, Elvira Gulch was scarier than the Wicked Witch of the West!  That old biddy really had a stick up her butt!  She didn’t need fireballs or flying monkeys to put fear into people.  Just that puss of hers.

No new clue words today.  Three of the jumbles are coming up as new, for me.  But we have definitely seen “cgoek” before.  None of them tripped me up today.  The answer letter layout was a nifty nine letter jumble.  Couldn’t hide the final answer from me though.

For me the cartoon was the saving grace!  I’d buy that as Kansas!  A really great Elvira Gulch, with her bicycle and both baskets!  And, of course the burgeoning twister on the horizon.  Toto should be home in no time!  Tough luck, Miss Gulch.  Very fun Jumble!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Jumble Spoiler – 04/28/21

Visual Description:  The pleasant surprise.

LALFI  =  FLAIL,  DEYEN  =  NEEDY,  PALPRO  =  POPLAR,  RNAMEN  =  MANNER   —   Giving us:  FINEOLAMNE

Clue/Question:  When their bill was much lower than they expected, it was – – –

Answer:  “FEE–NOMINAL“

(Gotta love a groaning good stinky pun like this one!  Not for nothin’, but this kind of rings as a David L. Hoyt original.  I don’t think we’ve had this good – bad – a pun in quite a while!  Keep ’em comin’, boys!  Diehard Jumblers absolutely eat them up!

None of today’s clue words were unexpected.  And yet, all of their jumbles appear to be new.  My brain flailed at solving “lalfi” for a couple of minutes.  I was tempted to back into it, but it finally came to me.  Good thing too, because I don’t know if I would’ve got the final answer without the “F”.  Even with the “F” and “I” I thought the answer letter layout was cryptic ten letter jumble.  I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you struggled to come up with the final answer.  But the quotation marks and the hyphen were a big help.

Fine service call cartoon.  The way the cat is looking at the repairman you’d think that he was there to fix him, or her.  Now, I’m just wondering what kind of repairman he is.  I’m not getting a plumber vibe.  Maybe an HVAC guy?  Could be just about anything I guess.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Happy birthday to Chuck Leavell!  Great musician!

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 04/28/21

“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”   —   Voltaire

(Definitely explains Abu Ghraib and other war crimes committed by U.S. service personnel and “independent contractors”.  And, the scarier thing is the vast majority of Americans – still – believe the official narrative of the events of 9/11/01 and the need for “the war on terror”.  They crafted a nearly perfect “us vs. them” scenario, and most Americans swallowed the lies . . .  hook, line and sinker.  Not that this still isn’t an ongoing concern, but to add a slightly more recent example would be Trump’s insistence on referring to COVID-19 as “The China Flu”, or even worse “Kung Flu”, and how there has been a resulting 150% increase in Anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S..  And, the years and years of being told that Blacks are “the bogeyman” has played a big part in our systemic racism.  I think that Voltaire might be my favorite source of quotes.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

 

   

Jumble Spoiler – 04/27/21

Visual Description:  Passing down his mitt.

NAGTI  =  GIANT,  TCCAH  =  CATCH,  EECDDO  =  DECODE,  SKARHN  =  SHRANK   —   Giving us:  GANCAHDEDSHN

Clue/Question:  When he gave his baseball glove to his little brother, it – – –

 

Answer:  CHANGED HANDS

(That’s a good older brother.  A new baseball glove kind of sucks, until it gets broken in.  This kid is pretty much good to go.  No oiling it, and tying it up with a ball inside it.  It’s already supple and flexible.  Play ball!

All hand-me-down clue words today.  Three of the jumbles are coming up as new, for me.  But we’ve definitely seen “nagti” at some point in time.  They all came to me right away today.  The answer letter layout was a twisty twelve letter jumble.  It did a fine job of masking the final answer.  But I was a little surprised how quickly that final answer came to me.

First-rate cartoon of some baseball diamonds.  I liked the occasional dandelion poking out of the grass.  A little strange seeing a – real – wooden bat.  Little League uses the aluminum ones, and I think high schools do too.  Looks like a great day to play a game .  Kinda like today!  As Ernie “Mr. Sunshine” Banks would say:  “Let’s play two!”  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Happy birthday to Herb Murrell, of The Stylistics!

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 04/27/21

“In our house, everyone has a job, and my job in our house is to play football.”   —   Ronaldinho

(Sounds like a typical lazy, macho dad!  Hey, I’m the bread winner here!  Fetch me my slippers!  And, bring me a beer!  LOL!  Considering he’s now a former football – soccer – player he probably should soften the rhetoric a bit.  This is the 21st Century, broheim!  And, the #MeToo-ers could take you down in a snap!  This is the first quote from the Brazilian superstar to be used in the Cryptoquote, so we welcome him to the Crytoquote Club today.  Now, I’m just waiting to hear from Wes!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

PS.   If today is your birthday, and you have some musical talent, you should consider a career in music!  I counted eleven various singers celebrating their birthdays in Today’s Birthdays!  Gotta be a record!   —   YUR

Jumble Spoiler – 04/26/21

Visual Description:  Music to their ears!

OPRUG  =  GROUP,  HNITN  =  NINTH,  TAUERM  =  MATURE,  DOYTID  =  ODDITY   —   Giving us:  GRONIATRODI

Clue/Question:  They got a new chime for their front entrance and were – – –

Answer:  “A–DOOR–RING“ IT

(Ooh!  A pun that probably only works in print!  AKA a visual pun.  If you were just to hear this – without any pregnant pauses – it would likely go right over your head.  I wonder if this pun was suggested by a fan, or did Hoyt come up with this on his own?

All of today’s clue words should ring familiar to all of us.  Three of the jumbles are coming up as new for me.  However, we’ve definitely seen “hnitn” in the past.  The answer letter layout was an excellent eleven letter jumble.  I thought it was suitably cryptic.  I didn’t have to rearrange it into consonants and vowels today though.  Somehow, the pun just rang a bell for me!

Fine little domestic scene cartoon.  I liked the notes coming from the chimes.  Maybe it’s playing “Volare”!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Happy 79th birthday to Bobby Rydell, who’s still touring!

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 04/26/21

“I am a daughter, a sister, a wife and a mother.  I am a friend of women and I am their advocate.”   —   Carré Otis

(That’s nice.  The name is not ringing a bell for me, but apparently she’s a model and an actress.  Starred in “Wild Orchids” with Mickey Rourke, then was married to him for a while.  Very attractive.  First time at the Cryptoquote, from what I can see.  So, we welcome Carré to the Cryptoquote Club today.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Happy 83rd birthday to Maurice Williams, of “Stay” fame!