Cryptoquote Solved – 02/17/23

“Clothes make the man.  Naked people have little or no influence in society.”   —   Mark Twain

(Unless you’re Lady Godiva!  Or, that emperor dude who was ratted out by the little kid.  Funny quote, but also a pretty quick solve, after deciding that the B was the E, and quickly seeing the author’s name.  Fashion-wise, I’ve always been pretty conservative.  Some of today’s get-ups and “styles” just make me shake my head, in disbelief.  To each their own, I guess!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Jumble Solved – 02/17/23

Visual Description:  The dwindling do.

INNOO  =  ONION,  STIHO  =  HOIST,  GETIHW  =  WEIGHT,  TREATO  =  ROTATE   —   Giving us:  NINHOIIHTRAT

Clue/Question:  He was gradually going bald because his follicles were vanishing – – – 

Answer:  INTO THIN “HAIR“

(Ooh!  A classic stinky balding pun!  It’s right up there with:  Hair today, gone tomorrow.  David L. Hoyt is younger than yer Uncle, by about seven years, but he’s been bald from the first time I ever saw him.  He’s always looked naturally bald, not partially bald and shaving his head.  At least that was the impression I always got.  Maybe it’s one of those genetic deals, like Alopecia, or something.  Considering he was roughly 43 when we first met, I would say he started going bald at a fairly early age.  Being about as vain as a man can be, I tip my hat to the man.  I’m currently on a saw palmetto and biotin regimen, to fight the thinning of my flowing tresses.  I have made SO many bald jokes, to my friends, over the years that I cannot afford to go bald!  In this corner it’s Yer Uncle Rave!  And in the opposite corner it’s Karma!  Oy!  I’ve got to fight the good fight!

I don’t think it would surprise anyone to hear that all of today’s clue words are on the ralis95 clue word database.  Two of the jumbles are coming up as new, but we’ve definitely seen both “innoo” and “treato” in previous Jumbles.  I got them all quickly.  The answer letter layout was a tremendous twelve letter jumble.  Marvelously cryptic.  I wasn’t getting the pun right away.  I had to step away, and do the Celebrity Cipher and Cryptoquote before coming back and solving it.

Fine cartoon of the stressing, aging man, and his semi-sympathetic wife.  Thinning hair does NOT just happen to older men though.  A LOT of women also experience the unfortunate reality.  There’s the conventional association between hair and beauty, so it can be tougher on women.  So, they’re a lot less likely to shave their heads!  Fine Jumble.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

PS.  On this day in 1870 the state of Mississippi was reinstated to congress, provided they would never change their constitution to disenfranchise Blacks.  In 1902 opera singer Marian Anderson was born.  In 1936 NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown was born.  In 1942 Black Panther founder Huey P. Newton was born.  And in 1963 NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan was born!  Big day for birthdays!  Celebrate Black History, folks.   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google