Jumble Spoiler – 12/30/21

Visual Description:  The pause that refreshes.

INNOU  =  UNION,  GSYOG  =  SOGGY,  LOWHOL  =  HOLLOW,  NCRAYA  =  CANARY   —   UOGGHLCNA

Clue/Question:  They passed out water at the marathon so the runners could – – –

Answer:  CHUG ALONG

(Run run run.  Glug glug glug.  Run run run.  These water stations are life savers to these marathoners.  Some of the runners just chug it, while others douse themselves with it . . . especially when it’s hot.  And, some drink some of it and wear the rest.  Different strides for different glides!

As usual – these days – there are no new clue words.  But three of the jumbles are coming up as new.  We have definitely seen “lowhol” before though.  They were all quick solves.  The answer letter layout was a naughty nine letter jumble.  I thought it was beautifully cryptic.  I was able to see ALONG right away, but I didn’t see CHUG as I forgot to include the C in my original answer letter layout!  I saw that I was short a letter, and re-examined the clue words.

Great cartoon of one of the marathon’s water stations.  The volunteers are a big help to the runners.  I thought the crumpled up cups on the ground were a nice touch.  Fun Jumble.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Happy birthday to Patti Smith!  (I don’t think that anyone would be running barefoot though!)

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 12/30/21

“Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.”   —   Robert Frost

(Perhaps *being educated* would be more apt than “education”.  Because “education” is more of a process, than an “ability”.  But either way, you can be educated in something that is total crap.  Because if you were paying attention to it, and totally bought into it, you could be a complete – unwitting – buffoon.  I just find this quote to be a little odd.  Maybe, it’s about knowing better?  Because when I hear flat earthers and creationists speak I could easily lose my temper.  But I also know that that would be a waste of my time, because – generally – you can’t change how people have been indoctrinated.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Happy birthday to Jeff Lynne!  (He co-wrote this song with Tom Petty, and sings backup on it.)

Jumble Spoiler – 12/29/21

Visual Description:  Cheering up dad.

NUEOC  =  OUNCE,  LIHWE  =  WHILE,  ALSDIN  =  ISLAND,  RNLAMO  =  NORMAL   —   Giving us:  UEWSMA

Clue/Question:  When their son began to learn addition, his proud parents thought it was – – –

Answer:  “AWE–SUM“

(Ba-dum-tsss!  Yes, this is an extremely stinky pun!  If it was a Chinese family, and the son was NOT good at Math, and the clue/question was reworded . . . maybe the answer would be DIM SUM?  Aah, I don’t think the guys would risk a Jumble gag like that.  There might be some kind of backlash!

All of today’s clue words are tried and true . . . far from new.  Three of the jumbles did come up as new for me.  But we’ve definitely seen “lihwe” sometime before.  I didn’t find any of them difficult today.  The answer letter layout was a sweet six letter jumble.  But the short final answers are usually pretty simple solves.  Especially when there are quotation marks and a hyphen!

Nice homey domestic scene cartoon.  Mom, Dad and the little buckeroo, sitting at the kitchen table, on a Sunday morning . . . after the big game.  And, a contented pooch sleeping under the table.  It looks like Mom is a Wolverines fan, while Dad is a Spartans fan.  That’s probably why she looks so chipper, while he looks down in the dumps.  Not a big challenge, but a fun Jumble nonetheless.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Happy birthday to Glen Phillips of Toad The Wet Sprocket!

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 12/29/21

“So if you stay ready, you ain’t gotta get ready, and that is how I run my life.”   —   Will Smith

(A good philosophy . . . if not a little forced ghetto.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m as big a Will Smith fan as the next guy.  Good looking guy, with a lot of various talents!  I’ve just grown tired of all the forced Y’alls and various and assorted urbanics.  Will grew up in a diverse middle-class neighborhood, in a fairly stable family.  And, he was always a good student, who reportedly turned down a scholarship to MIT.  I get it, it’s hip to sound a little ignorant.  It’s been that way for a while.  I’m certainly not above dropping a few kindas, gonnas, and gottas, as you all – see, NOT y’all – know.  And of course, he can turn it on and off, as he pleases.  Another guy who plays up the urbanics is Nick Cannon.  He’s been hosting a bunch of talent type shows for a number of years, where he generally kept things straight/low key.  But on his new daytime talk show he’s all urban . . . ALL the time.  But at least he has the excuse of his projects housing upbringing.  I’m a big supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, but I hate it when someone asks me if I’m “woke”.  I just don’t appreciate the normalizing of bad English.  Languages are fairly fluid, but I certainly wouldn’t call it the evolution of the English language.  Just the opposite actually.  Can’t we all just show a little more respect for our native tongue?  This ends today’s Uncle Rave rant.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Happy birthday to Dexter Holland of The Offspring!  (One of my favorite ’90s songs!)

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 12/28/21

“My mother loved children.  She would have given anything if I had been one.”   —   Groucho Marx

(Even though we have had this very quote before – and not all that long ago – I still found it a challenging solve.  Groucho was a very funny fellow.  I’m sure that there are other Groucho quotes worthy of the Cryptoquote.  How ’bout it, Becks?  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Happy birthday to John Legend.  (Sappy balladeer dug by chicks, and used by guys to get said chicks.)

Jumble Spoiler – 12/28/21

Visual Description:  Celebrity endorsement.

RUSEH  =  USHER,  OPRDO  =  DROOP,  NAREBT  =  BANTER,  XTCEEI  =  EXCITE   —   Giving us:  USHDOOBTEXITE

Clue/Question:  They wanted to put George Foreman’s name on a grill, so they thought – – –

Answer:  OUTSIDE THE BOX

(Because . . . having George Foreman on the inside of the box makes absolutely no sense!  LOL!  I’ve been hearing this expression – think outside of the box – since sometime in the 1980s.  It comes from management consultants, and it just means to think creatively, or unconventionally.  Sometimes the idea has plenty of merit, but other times you really want to stay within the box.

All of today’s clue words are on the ralis95 clue word database . . . that only a very select few have access to!  I’ve been asked not to share it, so save yourself the trouble asking how to get it.  Three of the jumbles are coming up as new, although we have absolutely seen “xtceei” before.  The answer letter layout was a thirsty thirteen letter jumble.  I thought it was pretty challenging.  I was first going with HIS BOX, but that left me with UDOTETE.  When I swapped HIS for THE it left me with USDOTEI, and I saw the OUTSIDE.

Fun cartoon of some corporate types selling George on selling their product.  They came out about 27 years ago.  I know that we have one of those George Foreman Grills somewhere around here.  We even used it a time or two.  Meh.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Happy birthday to Edgar Winter!  (My favorite albino blues man!)

Belated Jumble Spoiler for 12/27/21

Visual Description:  Itchy and Scratchy!

ROOFG  =  FORGO,  PITNU  =  INPUT,  OTMDEH  =  METHOD,  NWENIR  =  WINNER   —   Giving us:  OITONN

Clue/Question:  Animated shows will continue to be produced as long as viewers – – –

Answer:  “TOON“ IN

(A marvelously stinky pun!  Kids love cartoons, just as dads – sometimes secretly – do.  Most moms seem to think that they’re silly wastes of time.  They also don’t seem to be too fond of any live-action slapstick humor, or over-the-top bawdy humor.  I remember my Mom not liking The Three Stooges and Jerry Lewis.  My wife doesn’t care for the Stooges, or almost anything Jim Carrey does.  She even finds it hard to suspend belief watching the “Home Alone” movies.  I just laugh myself silly!

All of the clue words have been used in previous “Jumbles”.  Three of Monday’s jumbles appear to be new, however we’ve definitely seen “nwenir” before.  I was in a little hurry yesterday morning, and had to back into “input”.  Good thing the final answer was so obvious.  The answer letter layout was a simple six letter jumble.  I was completely in tune with where the guys were leading us.

Awesome send-up cartoon of the longest running American animated series . . . without pushing the limits of copyright and trademark infringement!  The famous dad was supposed to be 36 years old, according to an episode that showed his driver’s license.  And, I believe that would make him 64 going on 65, as the show has been on for 32 years.  Apologies for this being late.  We were visiting visiting family for much of the day, and later I had to join my MNF pals!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 12/27/21

“People who have no time don’t think.  The more you think, the more time you have.”   —   Henry Ford

(Hank may have hung with the best and the brightest, but thinking doesn’t make more time.  Planning, and sticking to a plan, can make your time more productive, but thinking will not produce more time.  So sayeth yer Uncle!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Sunday Jumble Spoiler – 12/26/21

Visual Description:  Spousal taunting . . . 15 yards!

DEELGP  =  PLEDGE,  COSILA  =  SOCIAL,  RSEYDS  =  DRESSY,  APBOHI  =  PHOBIA,  RNEHWC  =  WRENCH,  CAEIEP  =  APIECE   —   Giving us:  PLOALSSYPOIRENPE

Clue/Question:  When he made the wisecrack about his wife’s skiing ability, he was – – –

Pre-Answer:  Four Words  (2-letters)  (1-letter)  (8-letters)  (5-letters)

Answer:  ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE

(She is giving him an icy stare.  If he doesn’t mind his manners she might give him the cold shoulder . . . after they get off the slopes.  One frigid partner means that the other one might be forced to take cold showers the rest of the weekend.  Just shut your mouth and schuss, dude!

All of today’s clue words are already members of the ralis95 clue word database.  Five of the jumbles are coming up as new for me.  However, we have definitely seen “cosila” in earlier Jumbles.  All the clue words came to me immediately.  The answer letter layout was scintillating sixteen letter jumble.  If the final answer slots didn’t kind of lay it all out for me I would think it was a very cryptic jumble!

A chilling cartoon of the skiing couple, at the top of the double black diamond ski run.  With the chalet/lodge at the bottom of the mountain, a ski lift and skiers.  And, other slopes off in the distance.  I don’t know about you guys . . . but you can point me to the bunny slope!  Better yet, just park me in front of the fire, at the lodge, with a nice strong drink!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google.

Sunday Cryptoquote Spoiler – 12/26/21

“Do not conceive that fine clothes make fine men, any more than fine feathers make fine birds.”  —   George Washington

(I can dig it!  But what I don’t like are these people that they trot out as “experts” who dress like friggin’ slobs, with a four day growth of stubble, and greasy hair . . . all akimbo!  Can’t they at least try to look respectable?  This is taking ol’ George’s words to the extreme!  C’mon, “experts”!  Your parents are watching!  LOL!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google