Crystal Anniversary!

According to WordPress, today marks 15 years that I have been a blogger!  It was never intended to be dedicated to the Jumble and the Cryptoquote, but it just kind of turned out that way.  I’ve made many friends along the way, and a few who probably see me more as an enemy – for whatever reason – as I continue to do my own thing.  Thanks to all who either enjoy, or simply tolerate, all my observations, rants and diatribes.  I always try to be a straight shooter, and you can always rely on me to be my genuine – unautomated – self!  As always, be well and do good, friends!   —   YUR

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Cryptoquote Solved – 03/10/23

“There’s nothing more embarrassing than to have earned the disfavor of a perceptive animal.”   —   Michael Chabon

(This one was exceedingly easy to start, but because always I withhold writing the T’s and the E’s it was difficult for me to see a few of the words, until near the end.  The Celebrity Cipher was much more difficult today, at least for me.  And the author’s name did not come quickly to me, even though I have heard of him.  I’m really only familiar with his “Wonder Boys”, because it was made into a movie starring Michael Douglas and Tobey Maguire.  There’s a scene where the two walk into a bar, and Douglas’ character says something to a small group of very attractive women, and one of them slaps him pretty hard.  Maguire’s character kind of smirks, because it looks like his mentor struck out, but one of the other ladies, who heard his very racy comment/question, comes over and whispers in Douglas’ ear, and they leave together!  I have always wondered what it was that he said!  Anyway, this appears to be the first Michael Chabon quote to be used for a Cryptoquote, so we welcome Michael to the Cryptoquote Club today!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Jumble Solved – 03/10/23

Visual Description:  Cash robot.

SHOWE  =  WHOSE,  SEDSR  =  DRESS,  PAAPER  =  APPEAR,  CXEEUS  =  EXCUSE   —   Giving us:  HSEDSAPRECS

Clue/Question:  She got an advance on her credit card at the ATM because she was – – –

Answer:  PRESSED FOR CASH

(A good stinky Jumble pun, using a popular idiom.  Typically, we can be pressed for time, or pressed for cash.  I think they’re both kind of shortened forms of being hard-pressed, which means things like:  beset, bothered, burdened, or  distressed.  It’s always annoying when you don’t have enough time for something, or enough cash.  Because of many establishments charging fairly substantial fees for using credit cards a lot of people – especially those on a budget – still see cash as king!  The younger generations – the backpack generations – might grumble a little more because they just LOVE to pay by with their debit cards, and even their cell phones.  My motto is:  If it’s fee, it’s NOT for me!

No big surprises with today’s jumbles and clue words.  They’re all on the ralis95 clue word database.  Two of the jumbles appear to be new, but we’ve definitely seen “sedsr” and “paaper” in previous Jumbles.  The answer letter layout was an elegant eleven letter jumble.  Excellently cryptic.  The entire set up of the cartoon, its dialog, and the clue/question made for a quick solve though.

Nice cartoon of a couple of women friends having to use an ATM to pay for something.  Probably a meal, but who knows!  Whatever it was, it looks like they found out the hard way, after the fact.  I’ve been wracking my brain, but I can’t remember ever taking an advance on a credit card!  The credit card companies charge a hefty fee for advances, and I think the interest rate on advances could even be higher, with some cards.  And, you know me:  If it’s fee it’s NOT for me!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google