Jumble Solved – 02/28/23

Visual Description:  Popular gym.

LYSET  =  STYLE,  TOPAI  =  PATIO,  ALFTUN  =  FLAUNT,  GHRIEH  =  HIGHER   —   Giving us:  YLEPTOFATHIHR

Clue/Question:  The owner of the successful fitness center was making a – – –

Answer:  HEALTHY PROFIT

(Boy, I need to get back to the gym!  I just shoveled about 5 inches of wet snow today, for the first time all winter, and my back is killing me.  I did work up one heck of a sweat though.  Lemme tell ya, I was plenty stinky when I finished.  But, I did have a nice sense of accomplishment.  This has been the freakiest winter I can remember.  No snow . . . until today!  Well, there was one time where we got just about an inch, back in November, but that’s still autumn.  Usually, I have to shovel at least five or six times each winter.  Very strange.

We’ve seen all of these clue words in previous Jumbles.  Only on of the jumbles is coming up as new, as we’ve definitely seen “lyset”, “topai”, and “alftun” in past Jumbles.  None of them tripped me up.  The answer letter layout was a thrilling thirteen letter jumble.  I thought it was wonderfully cryptic.  Nothing given away.

Great gym scene from our buddy Jeff.  I really like the name of the place on the window:  SWEAT SHOP!  Fun Jumble.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

PS.  On this date in 1708 there was a slave revolt in Newton, Long Island.  In 1932, Richard Spikes invented/patented the automatic gear shift.  In 1943 “Porgy and Bess” opened on Broadway.  In 1945 NFL Hall of Famer Charles “Bubba” Smith was born.  In 1977 comedian Eddie “Rochester” Anderson died.  And in 1984 Michael Jackson won eight Grammy awards.  Celebrate Black History Month!   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Jumble Solved – 02/27/23

Visual Description:  Seventies sitcom situation.

EDROO  =  RODEO,  KOPRE  =  POKER,  PSACET  =  ASPECT,  SGNIRT  =  STRING   —   Giving us:  ROESPSN

Clue/Question:  She still had a lot of clothes left to iron but would – – –

Answer:  PRESS ON

(A Classic stinky Jumble pun!  From a semi-classic television show.  “The Brady Bunch”  was about as corny a TV show could get, but many/most of us watched it anyway.  My primary interest was Marcia, because she was a cutie/hottie, around my age.  She’s only a year older than me.  But I also had my eye on Carol Brady.  Hey, if Barry Williams – aka Greg – had a crush on her, why not me???  I mean she was no Shirley Partridge – I always loved Shirley Jones – but Florence Henderson was still a looker.

As you’ve probably guessed, there were no new clue words today.  Three of the jumbles are coming up as new, for me.  However, we have definitely seen “kopre” in an earlier Jumble.  I got them all without a struggle.  The answer letter layout was a slight seven letter jumble.  But it was decently cryptic.  I saw ON first, then warmed up to PRESS.

Great cartoon!  But, at first glance, I though that Alice was John Mellencamp!  Or, possibly Willem Dafoe!  Of course, this was before I read the dialog or clue/question, but those were my first impressions.  LOL!  Great Carol Brady haircut and ’70s blouse!  That Alice had a lot of responsibility in the Brady house, although I can’t remember Carol working.  I know that Mike was an architect, but what the heck did Carol do?  Especially, with Alice doing all the housework!  Strange.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

PS.  On this date in 1872 Charlotte E. Ray became the first Black female lawyer in the U.S.  And on this day in 1902, opera singer Marian Anderson was born.  In 1964 civil right champion Anna Julia Cooper died.  And in 1988 Debi Thomas became the first African American woman to win a medal at the Winter Olympics!  Celebrate Black history Month, folks!   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Sunday Jumble Solved – 02/26/23

Visual Description:  The clock is ticking!

NUOLEG  =  LOUNGE,  PATRUB  =  ABRUPT,  SFEUER  =  REFUSE,  CANUNE  =  NUANCE,  NYWETT  =  TWENTY,  PIMIRA  =  IMPAIR   —   Giving us:  ONGAUTRSNUETWNIMI

Clue/Question:  She’d need to hurry to buy a new sports watch while it was 50% off because – – –

Pre-Answer:  Four Words  (4-letters)  (3-letters)  (7-letters)  (3-letters)

Answer:  TIME WAS RUNNING OUT

(A good stinky pun.  Kind of new, so I guess it’s a running gag without being a running gag . . . if you know what I mean.  I don’t want to advertise for any specific company, but isn’t there at least one watch out there that syncs with your cellphone, that does all that and more?  And I think that Dick Tracy foretold this some 60-70+ years ago!  For you young’uns, Dick Tracy was a popular, square-jawed detective in the funny papers . . . back in the day.  Kinda like Batman without the cowl and cape.  He had a slew of repeating villains that he had to contend with, like Pruneface, Flattop, Tiger Lily, The Blank, The Mole, and Mumbles, just to name a few.  I suppose it could still be an active comic strip, but I haven’t seen it in a number of years.

All six of today’s clue words are on the ralis95 clue word database.  Four of the jumbles are coming up as new, for me.  But we’ve definitely seen “canune” and “pimira” in previous Jumbles.  I was able to see them all immediately.  The answer letter layout was a spectacular seventeen letter jumble!  As a jumble I thought it was brilliantly cryptic.  But with all of the clues, from the salesman’s line, to the countdown clock behind the woman, to the urgency in the clue/question, I knew the final answer in an instant.  I didn’t even need to check off any of the letters.

Fine cartoon of the jogger shopping for a sports watch, in a sporting goods store.  The other sports equipment are fairly subtle, but you can make out the basketball backboard/hoop/net, some kind of a net/goal, and some golf clubs.  And the salesman dressed like a referee was a nice touch.  Fun little Sunday Jumble.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

PS.  On this date in 1869 the 15th Amendment guaranteeing the right to vote – for Black men at least, not sure about Native Americans or Asians – was sent to the states for ratification.  No women had the right to vote until the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920!  And voter suppression all over the country made – and still makes – it difficult for minorities and women to actually vote.  And in 1926 Carter Woodson started Negro History week, the forerunner of Black History Month.  In 1933 actor/comedian Godfrey Cambridge was born.  And in 1966 Andrew Brimmer was appointed the first African American governor of the Federal Reserve Board, by President Lydon B. Johnson.  Celebrate Black History Month!   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Belated Jumble Solved – 02/24/23

Visual Description:  Strange set up.

RDOWL  =  WORLD,  CLOLA  =  LOCAL,  EILGSH  =  SLEIGH,  FWLEAF  =  WAFFLE   —   Giving us:  WOLLOLSLEWFFE

Clue/Question:  The two men competing in the golf tournament were – – –

Answer:  FELLOW FELLOWS

(Not sure why this had to be a golf tournament, but I guess they just had to make up something to set up the pun.  Being grad school alums makes them fellow fellows whatever they’d be doing.  Maybe this Jumble was created as a favor to one of the guys’ friends.

Miracle of miracles!  This day has brought us a brand NEW clue word to be added to the world famous ralis95 Jumble clue word database, in the form of “LOCAL”.  The word “LOCALE” is on the database, but not “LOCAL”.  It seems weird that the more common of the two words has evaded being used up until now, but these things DO happen.  All of the jumbles are coming up as new, for me.  None tripped me up.  The answer letter layout was another thrilling thirteen letter jumble.  All the repeating letters made for a quick solve though.

Decent cartoon of three middle-aged guys standing around, waiting to golf.  The one guy is wearing Jumble-wear, but other than that a fairly unremarkable scene.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

PS.  On this date in 1811 Bishop Daniel A. Payne was born.  He was an early leader of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church.  In 1864 Rebecca Lee Crumpler became the first African American women to receive an MD degree.  In 1940 heavyweight boxer Jimmy Ellis was born.  And in 2020 NASA Mathematician Katherine G. Johnson – featured in the movie “Hidden Figures” – died.  Celebrate Black History Month, folks!   —   YUR

Jumble Solved – 02/22/23

Visual Description:  Nirvana neighborhood.

BCCIU  =  CUBIC,  XYOEP  =  EPOXY,  RIDMAE  =  ADMIRE,  SOIPME  =  IMPOSE   —   Giving us:  CUEOYARMOS

Clue/Question:  The “Q” and “S” invited their mutual friend to the party and said – – –

Answer:  COME AS YOU “R“

(A very cute letter pun Jumble!  Usually, the letter and/or number Jumbles leave me a little cold.  Maybe, it’s because of the graphic plane that Jeff generally uses with them.  This one is taking place in a nice suburban setting, making them seem a little more relatable . . . at least to me.

All of today’s clue words are on the ralis95 world famous clue word database!  However, Mr. Hoyt has come up with four brand new jumbles for them.  The only tough one for me was “ridmae”  That took me a couple of looks, but I still got it quickly.  The answer letter layout was tenacious ten letter jumble.  It did a fine job of disguising the final answer.   But the combination of the quotation marks in the final answer slots, and the cute cartoon made for a quick solve.

The “Q” and the “S” are meeting on the sidewalk in front of “R”‘s house, because they live on either side of him.  They must live alphabetically . . . “Q”, “R”, and “S”!  Considering all the yard work that “R” is doing, I think it would be a nice idea if he took a shower before attending the little get together.  I don’t care how casual it’s supposed to be, showing up all sweaty and funky is very offensive!  And NOT in some silly politically incorrect way either.  But . . . that could be the next thing on the PC agenda.  Scent shaming!  Ridiculous?  Just you wait, people.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

PS.  On this date in 1841 painter and lithographer Grafton Tylor Brown was born.  In 1888 painter Horace Harding Pippin was born.  1950 basketball Hall of Famer Julius “Dr. J” Erving was born.  1979 Frank E. Peterson Jr. is named the first Black general in the Marine Corps.  And, in 1989 Dj Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince won the first Rap Grammy!  Celebrate Black History, folks!   —   YUR

Images 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

Jumble Solved – 02/16/23

Visual Description:  Drill baby drill?

CEFTA  =  FACET,  NREAA  =  ARENA,  DYYAEH  =  HEYDAY,  SCAAUB  =  ABACUS   —   Giving us:  AETRENHEDBU

Clue/Question:  There’s ice below the surface at some locations on Mars that may one day – – –

Answer:  BE UNEARTHED

(An ironically stinky pun!  You can’t possibly unearth something when you’re on Mars.  You cannot unearth anything when you’re not on the planet Earth!  All you can do is excavate, or quarry.  Ya dig?  We call our soil and our dirt, and silt and clay “earth”, so soil, dirt, clay and silt on Mars could be called “mars” I suppose.  I wonder if they will start using the word unmarsed some day?  If we colonize the planet, in the future, it wouldn’t seem appropriate to use the word unearth, now would it!

All of today’s clue words have been used before.  I knew immediately, but I always consult the ralis95 clue word database.  Two of the jumbles are coming up as new, for me.  But we’ve definitely seen both “cefta” and “scaaub” in previous Jumbles.  None of them stumped me any.  The answer letter layout was an exemplary eleven letter jumble.  I thought it was ethereally cryptic.  Because of the way the clue/question played out I knew the first word had to be BE.  And I kind of saw UNEARTHED right away regardless.

Wonderful Mars mission cartoon.  When I first opened the paper, for a second or two, I thought we might have a guest artist.  But upon actually looking at it I recognized that Knurek style.  It looks like a scene right out of “The Martian”, starring Matt Damon.  That was a very entertaining movie, and it had a tremendous cast.  For me, the biggest surprise was Kristen Wiig playing a non-comedic role.  Great Jumble.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

PS.  On this day in 1857 Frederick Douglass was elected President of Freeman Bank and Trust.  And in 1904, the actor James Baskett was born.  He was the first Black man to win an Academy Award, for his portrayal of Uncle Remus, in the Disney film “Song of the South”.  In 1958 Tracy Morrow, aka Ice T, was born.  In 1965 LeVar Burton was born.  And in 1970 “Smokin'” Joe Frazier knocked out Jimmy Ellis to become the world heavyweight boxing champion.  Celebrate Black History, folks!   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Today in Black History – February 28

Phyllis Wheatly was invited to General George Washington’s headquarters in Cambridge, MA, on this date in 1776.  Wheatly had written a poem in his honor.

The play Porgy and Bess, starring Todd Duncan and Anne Browne, opened on Broadway on this date in 1943.

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, comedian, died on this date in 1977.  Anderson performed over 30 years on both radio and television, with Jack Benny.

Image courtesy of Google, info courtesy of  yenoba.com

Today in Black History – 02/25/20

Hiram Rhodes Revels of Mississippi was sworn in as the first Black U.S. Senator on this date in 1870.

Cassius Clay, boxing legend, changed his name to Muhammad Ali after converting to Islam on this date in 1964 immediately after winning his first heavyweight title (KO of Sonny Liston, round seven).

Elijah Muhammad, activist and founder of the Nation of Islam, died at age 77, in Chicago, on this date in 1975.

Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr., the first Black Four-Star General in the U.S. Air Force, died at the Air Force Academy in Colorado on this date in 1978.

Edgar Daniel “E.D.” Nixon, civil rights leader and primary figure in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, died in Montgomery, AL, on this date in 1987.

Courtesy of Yenoba.com and Google

Today in Black History – 02/17/19

Today is the 83rd birthday of James Nathaniel Brown.  Better known simply as Jim Brown, the most dominant NFL running back of his era, and possibly of all time.  He’s also been a successful actor, color analyst for NFL games, and a vocal civil rights advocate.  I’ll always remember him as Robert Jefferson, in “The Dirty Dozen”, one of my favorite movies of all time.  Super cast, and a super pre-politically correct World War II story, of redemption and heroism.  Happy Birthday, Jim!  You will always be one bad-ass mutha!  Be well and do good, friends.   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google