John Hawksley’s puzzle today had two five-answer stacks in the center, with each answer eleven letters. One stack ran across and the other down. Pretty impressive, IMO. One of the acrosses was “Blame-shifting words,” and the answer was HE STARTED IT. It called to mind this scene:
One of the prettiest clues was “Who wrote ‘Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.’” Ring a bell?
The author is Emily BRONTË, and the quotation is spoken by Catherine about Heathcliff in “Wuthering Heights.” Here’s Kate Bush. (Brace yourself for her voice. It’s a good song once you settle into it (IMO).)
14D was tough because I don’t know the constellations. The clue was “Constellation named for the instrument it depicts.” I kept thinking of musical instruments, but the answer was TELESCOPIUM. There was some griping, but it was gettable from the crosses, so all is well.
Commenter kitchef added:
As a general note, a lot of the Southern constellations are named for instruments. I swear I am not making these up:
Microscopium (the microscope)
Antlia (the air pump)
Circinus (the drafting compass)
Norma (the carpenter’s square)
Sextus (the sextant)
I posted that the Florida legislature voted to remove Sextus from the sky over Florida.
At 32D, the clue was “Quoth the raven?,” but the answer was not Nevermore! Yikes — what to do? It turned out to be CAWCAWED. Good one!
The commentariat erupted over 34D: “Prudent poker player perhaps,” and the answer was PASSER. Apparently, you pass in bridge. In poker you “check.”
Commenter Jim led the seething chorus with “I was actually genuinely angry at PASSER. That is absolutely NOT A THING in poker. Unbelievably shoddy.”
OK — take a breath.
Here’s a still of Kate Bush.
Hey, ladies — ever need to get away from it all? Seek refuge? That buffoon you married has his mancave — where do you go? How about 33D? — “Certain zen retreat.” Your MOM CAVE. What goes in there? Alcohol for sure. Chocolate? Playgirl magazines? Maybe you can find the one with George Maharis.
At 53A we learn that a “Natural treatment for nausea” is GINGER. Here’s sexy Tina Louise (nee Blacker) from Gilligan’s Island, everyone’s favorite Ginger. Aren’t I right, Lovey? Looking good TL!
Did you know Ginger’s last name in the show was Grant? Tina is the last living Gilligan Islander — she’s 89, kinahora. Her dad owned a candy store in Brooklyn before becoming an accountant. In 1958, the National Art Council named her “The World’s Most Beautiful Redhead.” Yup, we can see that.
Tina was only married for five years (’66 to ’71) and it was to Les Crane, radio and TV announcer/interviewer. They had one daughter, Caprice Crane, an MTV producer and novelist. Caprice dedicated her first novel to her mom.
Check this out: The clue at 31A was “Roman statesman for whom a Midwest city was named,” and the answer was CINCINNATUS.
Carola shared this with us:
“I learned about him on a visit to ‘his’ city, where there is a wonderful, full-building-sized mural dedicated to him. It’s a trompe l’oeil [fool the eye] tour de force. Take a look: none of the architectural elements are real; everything is painted on an unbroken flat surface.”
Saul Bellow was born on this day, 110 years ago, in Lachine, Quebec. The Adventures of Augie March (1953) made him famous. Although Bellow’s family moved to Chicago when he was nine, not a word of the novel was written there. It’s worth a minute to read the opening sentences again.
“I am an American, Chicago born — Chicago, that somber city — and go at things as I have taught myself, free-style, and will make the record in my own way: first to knock, first admitted; sometimes an innocent knock, sometimes a not so innocent. But a man’s character is his fate, says Heraclitus, and in the end there isn’t any way to disguise the nature of the knocks by acoustical work on the door or gloving the knuckles.”
Here he is, being disturbed at his breakfast by Owl Chatter photographer Phil. (Much better, Philly — no more wake-ups please!)
Thanks for popping in. See you tomorrow!
The Wellington Files 