In the puzzle today, the answer at 27D was ILL ADVISED (“Unwise”). It reminded me of this:

Driving through the backroads of heavily treed Oregon years ago, we passed many side roads with the sign “Truckers Not Advised.” After several hours of seeing them, Linda and I had this brief conversation:

Me: What does that even mean?
Linda: It’s telling truckers not to use that side road.
Me: It’s advising them to avoid the road?
Linda: Yes.
Me: So the truckers are advised.
Linda: Yes.
Me: But it says Truckers Not Advised.
Linda: Don’t do that.

It’s a verbal Escher painting.

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Here are belated Happy Hanukkah wishes from the late Tom Lehrer, alav hashalom.

Tom Lehrer passed away last June in Cambridge MA (“our fair city”) at the age of 97. Amazingly, until yesterday, I had not heard this song of his. Tom never married and had no children. So who’s Betsy? IDK. A sister?

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The theme today was FAKE IDs. Answers used the initials I and D and had something fake about them. ITALIAN DRESSING is actually from America and is rarely consumed in Italy. ISAK DINESEN is the author of “Out of Africa” who is actually named Karen Christentze von Blixen-Finecke. And INDEPENDENCE DAY is an “observance celebrating a decision actually made on July 2 — the date when John Adams predicted it would be celebrated.”

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John Adams wasn’t the only wild guy in the puzzle today. At 6D for the clue “Silly character on the Sesame Street segment ‘Elmo’s World,’” the answer was MR NOODLE. Nice ‘stache, Mr. N.

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We’re closing the store early today. Xmas eve festivities, then it’s off to Michigan in the morning. Broadcasting may be spotty for a few days.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Owl Chatter. Maybe next year will be better! (Just kidding — we’re f*cked.)