Theme: CC - in more ways than one. One more way is that it is actually CH* CH *, but I'm ignoring that.
8A. Affectedly trendy : CHI-CHI
17A. Chinese dog with a blue-black tongue : CHOW CHOW
31A. Tot's toy on a track : CHOO-CHOO
46A. "Make it snappy!" : "CHOP CHOP!"
64A. "Bottoms up!" : "CHIN CHIN!"
69A. Mambo cousin : CHACHA
Argyle here. We've had "OO" and "WWW" and now we have "CC", with the twist that the second word is a Carbon Copy
of the first. And our fearless leader, C.C., is today's constructor.
The two longest words are necessarily relegated to the Down columns. I
want to be here when we get the Double "D" puzzle.
Across:
1. Furry foot : PAW
4. Sign of healing : SCAB
14. Earth Day prefix : ECO
15. Corn Belt state : IOWA
16. Muzzleloading aid : RAMROD. We had this last Tuesday.
19. Pierce with a point : IMPALE
20. Ward on TV : SELA. Her Fan Club.
21. New York's __ Island : ELLIS
23. 26th of 26 : ZEE
24. NBA position : CTR. (center)
26. Doctor whom Captain Kirk calls "Bones" : McCOY.
"I'm a doctor, Jim, not a [moon shuttle conductor / bricklayer /
psychiatrist / mechanic / engineer / scientist / physicist / escalator /
magician / miracle worker / flesh peddler / veterinarian]."
29. Love, Italian-style : AMORE
34. Doo-wop syllable : SHA na na
35. College football's Famous __ Potato Bowl : IDAHO. With sour cream, at half time.
37. Molecule parts : ATOMS
38. Adds color to : TINTS. Or tincts, last Thursday.
40. Cup edge : RIM
41. Sensitive spots : SORES
42. Texas A&M athlete : AGGIE.
The letters "A&M", originally short for "Agricultural and
Mechanical", are retained only as a link to the university's past.
43. Port west of Paris : BREST
45. __-Caps: candy : SNO
48. Walks without going anywhere : PACES
50. Red giant in the night sky : S STAR
51. "Sting like a bee" boxer : ALI, Muhammad
52. Chicken __ king : À LA
54. Winner's gesture : V SIGN
57. A dime a dozen, e.g. : RATE. Pretty cheap!
61. One-named Tejano singer : SELENA. Sadly, she was murdered in 1995.
66. Pennsylvania home of Lafayette College : EASTON. Just across the river from NJ.
67. Steaks and burgers : BEEF
68. Off-road ride, briefly : ATV. (all-terrain vehicle)
70. Pell-__: hastily : MELL
71. Dim sum sauce : SOY
Down:
1. Bench-presser's pride : PECs
2. Aleve target : ACHE
3. What daydreamers gather, metaphorically : WOOL. This is a good explanation.
4. [Not a typo] : [SIC]
5. Made logical sense : COHERED
6. Troop truant : AWOL
7. Cry like a baby : BAWL
8. Big name in cooking oil : CRISCO
9. It's often smoked : HAM
10. Little troublemaker : IMP
11. Victor at Little Bighorn : CRAZY HORSE
12. Swiss cheese feature : HOLE
13. Nantes notion : IDÉE. Here's an idea; take a canal boat from Nantes to Brest.
18. City SSW of Dallas : WACO
22. Announcement while coming through the door : "I'M HOME"
25. Divide in threes : TRI-SECT
27. By the seashore : COASTAL
28. Septi- plus one : OCTO
29. End on __ note : A HIGH
30. Fruit-based chip dip : MANGO SALSA (C.C. This is Argyle's clue. Remember Geico Caveman's Roast duck with Mango Salsa?)
31. Tweet : CHIRP
32. Broken mirrors, to some : OMENS
33. __ buco: veal dish : OSSO
34. Opp. of legato, in music : STAC. (staccato)
36. Shady spots : ARBORs
39. Helpful hints : TIPS
44. Brittany or cocker : SPANIEL
47. Largest city of the West Indies : HAVANA
49. Cosmo concern: Abbr. : CIRC. The magazine worried about circulation.
52. "Hang on __!" : A SEC
53. Rachel's sister : LEAH
55. SALT subject : ICBM. Missiles/Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
56. Indian butter : GHEE
58. "Got it!" cries : AHAs
59. Longtime Yugoslav president : TITO. No, not one of the Jackson Five.
60. Green emotion? : ENVY
62. And so on: Abbr. : ETC
63. Japanese drama : NOH
65. Org. with Giants and Titans : NFL. Their season is almost over.
That's it, so "CHIN CHIN" everybody and let's CHA CHA outta here and hope we get back to the Corner soon.
Argyle
Notes from C.C.:
1) I'm sad to say that Jazzbumpa (Ron) lost his mother-in-law Rita on Sunday morning. Ron and his wife Gloria traveled to Toledo often in the past few years to take care of Rita, who is now in a peaceful place and pain-free.
2) Happy 5-year anniversary to our Crossword Corner blog! I'm sorry things have been out of whack lately. Thank you so much for sticking with us.
100 comments:
Good morning, Argyle, C.C. and gang - how fitting to have one of C.C.'s puzzles on this, the fifth anniversary of the best crossword blog in existence.
As the longest-running active member of the blog (aside from C.C., of course), I've seen its progress almost from the beginning. You only need go back in the archives to those early days and look at the handful of posts, and compare that to now, where we routinely hit triple-digit posts with a loose membership well over one hundred, to realize how C.C. has nurtured and grown this site. It's been a fun ride, and a very educational experience for me.
Congratulations, C.C., you've indeed created a wonderful community and an outstanding blog.
As to the puzzle: Thought I had a speed run going until I got to the SE. While I needed perps to get the Indian butter and to see CHIN CHIN, I hit a full stop on 49D, 'Cosmo concern', where it crossed 57A, 'A dime a dozen'. I was looking for a synonym for cheap, and it took quite some time for me to realize that it was something as simple as RATE, which of course gave me CIRCulation. Nicely done by C.C. Oh, and there was one crossing that made me smile, too.
Hope it's a fun day for everyone.
Jazz, Gloria, deepest sympathy on your loss.
(Misplaced post)
good morning c.c. and all,
perfect theme for today, CC by c.c., on the 5th anniversary of the corner - congratulations are most definitely in order. it's been great fun, thank you c.c. for providing a friendly place to gather and learn. vodka to you.
loved seeing GHEE, i cook with it almost every day - would bathe in it if i could. if it weren't so expensive i'd use it as a massage oil.
Hello Puzzlers -
JazzB, my condolences.
As to the puzzle, well, it seemed like Monday simplicity until I hit the SE corner. Hand up for getting stuck at the Rate/Tito crossing.
Happy Blog Anniversary, C.C.! How fitting that your clever puzzle should appear today, was that arranged? Thank you so much for having grown this cyber gathering place to its present grandeur. It has been a much appreciated part of my daily life for some years now.
Thanks and Happy Anniversary to Dennis, Argyle, all the guest bloggers and supporters who tirelessly contribute to the smooth running of the ship. This really is a marvelous community.
Ah, here it is! Sorry I missed y'all yesterday. I misplaced the link to this blog and then got busy...
Morning, all! ^_^
Five years, eh? I think I've been around for at least 4 1/2 of those. Can't believe it has been so long, though.
The puzzle today was about 95% Monday and 5% some other day I know not what. CHIN CHIN was a completely new expression to me, I struggled with BREST, and the clue for HAVANA seemed unnecessarily tricky. And yes, having tricky clues crossing at CIRC and RATE definitely slowed me down a bit today. Everything else was smooth sailing, though.
CC, as Dennis said... How fitting !
(That was nice of you to do Rich. Thank you.)
Thank you for creating the Corner. It's such a great gathering place.
Happy Anniversary ! Loved your puzzle and Argyles writeup. Pretty much filled the left two thirds from top to bottom except for SSTARS, ARBORS and VSIGN.
Right side top to bottom took just a bit more. Liked RAMROD over IMPALE.
Argyle, you made me smile with Bones response to Cap't Kirk. And it was always with such a serious demeanor.
Time to make coffee and get sleepy head up. Talk to you all later
Ron, deepest sympathy to you and your wife.
Monday, Monday...
Congrats, C.C., on the fifth anniversary of the blog. To misquote Samuel Morse, "What hath C.C. wrought?"
The theme was easy, though CHIN CHIN was a new one for me. There was some nice non-Monday fill with COHERE and MANGO SALSA. My worst misstep was inking in SITTING BUL and realizing I'd run out of spaces! I'd always associated him rather than CRAZY HORSE with the Little Big Horn.
Sorry for you loss, Jzb.
HAVANA ice day, all.
Congratulations on the 5th anniversary and thanks for providing a very enjoyable way to start the day.
This was, as described above, pretty much of a "speed run" though there were enough perps (and a few frozen fingers?) to keep it from being a true (i.e sub-five-minute) speed run. [5:55]
Greetings!
Was very frustrated since I couldn't contribute to the Sunday blog during my usual ridiculous morning hours. Was able to get another swim! Had 3:30 PM breakfast and went to sleep for a long nap. Linner while watching Downton Abbey. There was a sentence in the previews about Vera's suicide that I could not make out even with subtitles racing by. Can anyone email it to me?
Loved the Sunday puzzle. Got the theme rather quickly. So the theme entries were a treat!
Thanks for the fantastic Monday puzzle, CC! The double word CH theme was really great! Thanks too, Argyle the Great!
My deepest sympathies to Jazz and Gloria.
Cheers!
Good morning everyone,
CC, such an appropriate theme for your fifth anniversary. I'm not sure, but I think my 3rd anniversary on the blog is nearing. A great way to stet each day.
Like some others, I thought today was going to be a no brainer, but the South turned out to be a struggle.
MANGO SALSA, SELENA, & SSTAR were the primary causes and GHEE is aways a wag. Can never remember it.
JazzB & Gloria, my deep condolences for your loss.
Good mroning. I just spent 20 minutes trying to capture the CAPTCHA word.
CC, thank you for this wonderful blog. It is the best blog on any subject I have ever found and the only one I read every day. It is intelligent, witty, fun, interactive, and promotes a strong sense of community. Thank you for persevering through the present difficulties. You are great! I love our virtual community.
Jazz and Gloria, you have my deepest sympathy on the loss of Gloria's mother.
Cute puzzle, today, CC. CHOW CHOW is also the named a pickled vegetable relish. My mother used to put it up in the PA Dutch way.
Dennis, I paused at RATE, too, and recited the ABCs to find the R. My only frame of reference to dime a dozen is figurative , easily attainable, plentiful, or cheap. I see that this sense was developed in the 20th century. Before that things actually were sold at the RATE of a dime a dozen.
Congrats & congrats, C.C CH -CH!
What made me smile here was seeing theme entries on the top and bottom rows. That's something constructors usually don't consider trying. The fact that they are only six-letter entries made it doable, and with six theme entries, putting them there opened up the center making it easier to get good fill.
Congratulations to C.C. on a great puzzle and the 5 year anniversary! I've been here since July '08, so 4 1/2 years for me.
I'm very sorry to hear of recent losses for Jazz, Spitz and Splynter and their families.
I had the same problem as Dennis with the CIRC/RATE crossing, and also didn't know how to finish NOH/SELENA at the "N" crossing. Nice to see a word like COHERED on a Monday too.
Congratulations, CC, on your long running, outstanding blog. And thank you for all the effort it takes every day. You and your team are the best.
This group has become a powerful part of my life. It has seen me through an extremely hard time and I am most appreciative on a daily basis.
Its so much fun that your puzzle is here today! I had similar trip ups as others and am now going to buy GHEE to either cook with or rub on me- ala Melissa.
Love to all. Especially to Jazz and Gloria at this sad time.
Have a nice day everyone.
Good Morning, Argyle and friends. And a very Happy Anniversary to C.C. for the success of her blog and constructing career. I think I came by about a year and a half later.
I loved this GotCH! theme, although I wasn't fooled. Getting CHOO CHOO confirmed that the CHOW CHOW had a blue-black tongue (a piece of trivia that i was unaware of.)
I misread Furry Foot as Furry Boot, but I still knew we were looking for a PAW.
Green Emotion = ENVY was my favorite clue.
I always toy with SCAB and Scar for the sign of healing. I have had lots of both.
I know that CRISCO is a big name in cooking oil, but here in Louisiana, no cook would use anything other than LouAna, that originated in Opelousa.
Robert Parrish was a long-time center for the Celtics, but is a Louisiana native.
Impale makes me thing of Vlad.
Jazzbumpa: my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family on the loss of Gloria's beloved mother.
QOD: Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 ~ April 4, 1968)
C.C.-Congratulations on a fine puzzle, as well as on the fifth anniversary of The Corner!
Sincere condolences JazzB, Gloria, and family. I hope you can all take comfort in fond memories of times spent together over the years.
Enjoy the day!
Good morning, folks. Thank you, C.C., for a swell Monday puzzle. Thank you, Argyle, for the swell review.
Congratulations, C.C., on the fifth anniversary of the Blog. Great job! I really enjoy this every day.
My deepest sympathies to Jazzbumpa and Gloria on the loss of Gloria's mother. I hope God will see you through this difficult time.
Got through most of the puzzle easily. The SE corner was my tough spot.
I did not know SSTAR, but perps fixed that.
Never heard of CHIN CHIN. Makes sense, though. I wonder where that originated? What area of the country, or what country?
Theme was easily discovered and with two unexpected entries on the first and last row. Great going!
Thought WOOL was clever for 3D. Must relate to counting sheep.
Well, it was 10 degrees in NE Illinois when I got up this morning. That is supposed to be the high for the day. We will see.
See you tomorrow.
Abejo
I'm very confused--no Crossword Corner, but I found you all meeting at Gingerroot. LOL --did you move and forget to tell me?
Oops, I meant to say SW corner was my tough spot.
Abejo
Hi there ~!
Congratulations, C.C., on a solo puzzle effort on your blog's 5th anniversary~! I am honored to be a part of its ongoing growth, and let's hope the problems clear up soon.
I, too, have never heard CHIN CHIN, plus I agree with Barry that some of the clues/fill were not Monday grade, but I did OK.
My condolences to JazzB and family - it's been a rough couple of weeks here on a personal level.
Splynter
Hi Everyone ~~
Happy 5th anniversary, C.C. ~~ heartfelt thanks to you and your team for creating and maintaining this crossword blog. It has become so much more than that and means so much to so many.
I smiled at seeing C.C.'s puzzle being published on this day and for the C-C (H) in the theme. This was everything a Monday puzzle should be ~ fast and fun!
My only stumble was the same one already mentioned ~ didn't realize 'A dime a dozen' was being literal.
I thought of some blog members with some of the answers: LEAH - Chickie, AGGIE - Irish Miss, PAW for all the cat lovers =^..^=, and well ... Dennis - BREST (close enough!)
I'M HOME made me think of us all soon getting back to the "CORNER!"
I'm off to the Vet, again, for what I hope will be the last time for a while - last recheck, I hope!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My thoughts are with you Ron & Gloria during this sad time.
Diane,
Unfortunately, all our email addresses are stored on the blog I.D. links, so if nobody had used your email for any reason previously, we wouldn't have known how to contact you and let you know. There are probably several of us in that situation.
Husker has been letting us know when the blog was down these two times, so contact him and let him know your email address for future reference.
Are we being targeted for some reason?
Diane,
Pls send Husker Gary (gschlapfer@gmail.com) your email address so you can be included in his mailing list.
I don't know the exact reason. But Google's robots have locked many innocent non-spamming blogs the past weeks. Then those blogs need to be reviewed by human and then manually restored.
As you know, we've spammed no one. In fact, we've been heavily spammed by others. All we talk is just crosswords, life and cats.
Dudley,
It's not arranged. It just happened.
Hahtoolah, apt QOD on this holiday. I was wondering which one you would use! I have a similar saying: “It’s not impossible to eat an elephant…just take one bite at a time.”
CHIN CHIN is a common toast in Italy and France, so I have used it many, many, many, many…times.
And you don’t need to buy GHEE. You can make it at home from regular butter. Take a pound of butter, and bring it to a boil over med-high heat (3-4 minutes.) Continue boiling until the butter turns golden and a second foam forms on the top. Then strain through cheesecloth and discard the solids. Voila! I use clarified butter in several recipes. It is different from GHEE, because you don’t cook the butter until it is golden – just until it is melted and the first foam forms.
Dianne, I don't think so. I see other blogs have also been shut down.
Blogger is owned by Google. It is my understanding that Google's software has detected that spam was coming from the Corner Blog. So Google shut it down.
It may be that some "add on" or "widget" on the blog has been corrupted, and is now an "intermediary" for all of the spam that is being generated.
Or it may be that the address http://crosswordcorner.blogspot.com/ is being spoofed. ie, spam is coming from somewhere, and the address is indicating it is the Corner blog.
So, it could even be an infected an unsuspecting Corner regular that's generating all the spam, but it "appears" as if it's coming from the Corner.
A couple of weeks ago, Homeland Security advised that all Java users should disable or remove the service. Security issues in the code. Most users probably ignored, and hackers have most likely already deployed tools to exploit the vulnerability.
Not saying that is what happened here, but it is highly unusual that Homeland Security would step in about software vulnerabilities.
It's always a good idea to keep one's antivirus software up-to-date and run a daily quick scan and then a full scan every week or two.
CC is working with the Google support team to identify and resolve the issue.
TTP,
Thanks for the detailed explanation.
I mentioned this the other day. We got over 230 spam on Saturday before the blog was blocked. The contents are more or less the same, numerous links about counterfeit bags/watches.
Now I think they might be from the same person.
To prevent this problem, we'll have to use Captcha when the blog is restored. Otherwise, we'll always be vulnerable.
C.C.: You are too funny. I had to laugh at your comment that all we talk about is Crosswords, Life and CATS!! Well there are a lot of cat lovers here. (Probably why even though I read Furry Boot instead of Foot, I got to PAW because one of me cats has white "boots" when the rest of her is mostly grey.)
Hi Everybody! I got a late start today since I'm home for MLK Jr. Day. Good puzzle, with a few hang ups (which is rare for a Monday). Like others, I didn't know SSTAR, CHI CHI or CHIN CHIN.
Perhaps our "Resident Otis" could fill us in on the meaning of CHIN CHIN, huh TIN?
Winter has finally hit Chicago - burrrrrrr!
Thank you Husker Gary for keeping us informed.
Congrats to CC & the Blog Vets!
Condolances to JzB and Gloria and a much delayed Condolances to Spitzboov.
Greetings! Happy anniversary, C.C.! You are to be congratulated many times over for this blog. It is a tremendous help and the source of numerous friendships as well as providing learning experiences every day.
Jazzbumpa and Gloria, I'm so sorry for the loss of Rita. My prayers are with you and the family.
What a wonderful puzzle today and how appropriate that C.C. is the constructor. It was a sashay all the way with only one write over, WESSON soon changed to CRISCO but GHEE is well known in puzzledom.
I liked the alliteration of troop truant, furry foot, Nantes notion and sensitive spots.
Have a super Monday, everyone!
As CHIN CHIN made me think of TIN TIN, Brest had Dennis on my mind. :)
Good morning, and Happy 5th Anniversary C.C. and all Crossword Corner denizens! Even though I’m a relative newcomer, reading the blog (and occasionally posting) have quickly become a most enjoyable part of my daily routine. The recent difficulties – and everyone’s hard work to keep us up and running – make me appreciate it even more.
Fun puzzle today, C.C., and a whimsical theme; especially liked CHI CHI. Thanks for a swell write-up, Argyle, particularly the link on the origins of WOOL-gathering. Abjeo, I’m not sure this a legit explanation of CHIN CHIN, but at least it’s amusing.
JazzB and Gloria, my sympathies for your loss. I hope the good folks at hospice were able to make her last few days peaceful and pain-free.
Hahtoolah, thanks for the spot-on QOD for Martin Luther King Day – very appropriate.
Have a fine Monday, everyone!
Happy Anniversary C.C. this has been an awesome accomplishment topped off by Rich' s choice of your creation as today' s puzzle.
Ron and Gloria my sympathy and it is great C.C. was able to overcome blogger to allow us to be here today.
Good morning Argyle, CC and a very happy anniversary! A round of applause for all of you who have been "guesting" and have made it possible for C.C. to have time to create these wonderful puzzles.
The Corner is a special place for all of us.I do miss some of our bloggers, but it has been fun to welcome all newcomers, most are not so new anymore.
Loved the CW..thanks to Rich for making it happen.It was not a speed run for me as I had never heard of chin chin, and could not fill the c's in iCbm and ciRC. Rate didn't click.There were a few more sticky parts on the east coast.
Bumpa and Gloria, so sorry for your loss.
C.C. ~~ Hahtoolah beat me to it, but I just loved your line: "All we talk is just crosswords, life and cats." So perfect / purr-fect!
Re: CHINCHIN
According to Wikipedia, "Cin Cin" (pronounced "chin-chin") is an adaptation from the Chinese "ch'ing ch'ing" (please, please). I had always assumed it had something to do with Cinzano (vermouth) but apparently not.
Jazz & Gloria: My sincere condolences for your loss.
C.C. Congrats on your 5th Anniversary. Thank you for a FUN Monday offering.
I especially like how the puzzles are written up HERE without "slamming the constructors" for minor nits, ETC.
(ALA as Rex Parker does with the NYT. Geez, follow his blog and you wonder if HE and the solvers actually LIKE crossword puzzles ... or just enjoy bitching about them.)
HERE we have FUN daily ... though I'm in the "Love Dogs!" camp with Avg.Joe/and a few others!
I probably say "Bottoms up!" more than anyone, but CHIN-CHIN was a total WAG and learning moment.
Thanks Marti.
A "CHIN-CHIN" to all when the puck drops (for the Lightning-v-Islanders @1:00pm EST).
Cheers !!!
Happy 5th Anniversay!
TTP's 9:32 post has me worried, i do not know what i would do without adding all those links. Could they be infected? I am using Norton Antivirus with this new PC, & so far i only came across 1 bug in an image related website, & Norton stopped it immediately. (i do not have Java on the new PC, i checked!)
CC, your puzzle gave me a workout for a Monday! I put "i'm here" instead of i'm home which took a while to correct. The crossing of ra"t"e & "T"ito was not a Natick, more of a Timbuktu... But i messed up putting ZED & thought Chic was spelled Chiche, which gave me "eded" which made about as much sense as "idee" to me anyway.
Obligatory McCoy link.
& finally, I must thank you for the Blog, as it turns confusing Crosswords into wonderful learning experiences. Thank you CC! & in that vein, i must add something you may not be aware of. If it were not for the study of Cats, we would have difficulty in pointing our space telescopes. (a bit long at around 9 Minutes, but i found it fascinating...)
Hmmm...my first post from this morning seems to have disappeared.
I got a call to sub this morning and so I assume most of you have found this site without further prompting from me! CC’s great puzzle with C___C___ entries was a lot of fun on the 5th anniversary of what has become a staple of my mornings. I’m sure I’ll learn about CHIN CHIN in the Argyle’s write-up!
Musings (while waiting for 4th graders to come back from music)
-IOWA corn took a bigger hit than Nebraska’s because they don’t irrigate like we do
-Vlad the IMPALEr, now there’s a name and a creepy job description
-ALI is a poster boy for the perils of boxing and was the first champ that blew his own horn so brashly
-In some CHI CHI restaurants, BEEF is labeled as BOUEF
-How does CC come up with such obscure references as WOOL gathering? Amazing!
-How many times did Klinger go AWOL?
-For me, the CRAZY HORSE monument and visitor center is more impressive than Rushmore
-Some people remember WACO for a terrible event there and OCTO for a disturbing mother
-Broken mirrors, walking under ladders, black cats? I’m with Sheldon, they mean nothing!
-Just think what HAVANA could be today without Fidel
-We were at the stadium for the Tennessee Titans just after the Cumberland River water had left
-So sorry Ron and Gloria. It‘s good that her suffering is over.
-Read y’all later, I gotta go explain MLK to 10 year olds.
Thank you C.C. for a nice, charming, innovative puzzle. I enjoyed it and 'got' the theme, as well.
Congratulations on a very successful blog. I had never participated in a blog before, and the concept does not particularly interest me, but I was charmed by the other comments .... and kept on going. Now, I come here just to read the blog meister's and other comments.
My sympathies to JazzB / Ron and his family for their loss.
Thank you, Argyle for your always stimulating commentary. I realize that because of the problems caused by all these security issues, you must have worked long and hard, on overtime, to complete the blog. Thanks to all of you.
Ghee has been discussed before, as above. Ironically, my wife hates ghee with a passion - mostly because of its very high saturated fat and high cholesterol ( after all, it IS an animal by-product - ) .... and she can smell it a mile away. So I try to avoid it in my cooking. But occasionally, I just succumb to its flavor, and then I have to go on my knees and ask my wife for forgiveness, when I do use it. However, it is ideal when used as a massage oil .... if fact, it is routinely used as a massage oil, on little babies, before they are bathed, to prevent the drying of the skin.
Have a nice week, you guys, and best wishes.
Good morning:
What a Cute Coincidence to have a CC-themed, Cleverly-Constructed Conumdrum, Crafted by our own CC appear on the 5th Anniversary Celebration of her Creation of the Crossword Corner. Congratulations to CC and her Capable Crew.
Thanks for giving us this great community where we can learn, laugh, be entertained, and share the ups and downs of our daily lives. I am glad to be part of this special family.
Enjoyed the puzzle, though not familiar with chin chin. Well done, CC, and nice expo, Argyle.
Condolences to Ron and Gloria on the loss of Gloria's mother. So much sad news these past few weeks.
Happy Monday.
CED @ 10:31, fascinating video - I watched the whole thing and was impressed with his clear and entertaining explanations. But I certainly hope no cats were harmed in the making of that video, LOL!!
Good afternoon everyone.
Congratulations C.C for this outstanding blog (the only one I read, and am addicted to), and its fifth
anniversary. You and your fellow authors are doing a fine job of keeping us abreast and able to read the blog. Thank you.
Condolances to JzB and Gloria. You and Spitz and Betty have been having a hard time.
Let's hope this week finds us all well, our relatives all well, and the Corner back in place!
Cheers
Tin @ 10:24 am: Ah yes - welcome back NHL! Chicago Blackhawks are 2 in 0!
Irish Miss: Thank you also for keeping me in the loop and sharing your TV insights and recomendations! A great and fun group all around.
That was a very enjoyable puzzle. Thanks CC and Argyle. Happy anniversary Crossword Corner!
JzB, best wishes for you and your family. Sincere condolences.
I was watching the inauguration ceremonies; James Taylor singing American The Beautiful. It doesn't get much better than that.
Java Mama: Your CHIN-CHIN link was a hoot!
re: 9-D, It's often smoked, HAM ...
My first thought had me thinkin' POT.
As in "No stems no seeds that you don't need Acapulco Gold is bad ass weed." lol
Živjeli (Croatian)
Salute (Italian)
Na zdrowie (Latvian)
Priekā (Polish)
На здоровье (Russian)
-or- ... in boring English ...
Cheers !!!
(Misplaced post)
Good morning Argyle, C.C. et al.
It was so nice to see a puzzle from C.C., with a C-C- theme, on the FIFTH anniversary of the Corner, no less!!! Congratulations on a home run.
I suspected the theme right away when CHI CHI was followed shortly by CHOW CHOW.
Nice execution for short entries, and tight theme with repeating CH- words. No trip-ups, just a smooth run from start to finish.
Ron, I am so sorry to hear about Rita. I know that you and Gloria must have been a big comfort to her over the years. My thoughts are with you.
I was so excited to see a C.C. puzzle this morning, and then even more, as the very cute Ch.Ch. theme evolved. A wonderful way to start the week! And then the bummer, no blog, but C.C. (bless you, bless you) directed me here and I learned that on top of all the other CC Coincidences, as Irish Miss calls them, we are celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Blog! Here's a toast to C.C. and to all of us lucky enough to be part of this community!
JazzB and Gloria, my condolences for your loss--so very sad.
Have a good week, everybody!
Congrats C.C. on 5 years! Condolences to Jass and Gloria. Puzzle was easy for me except in the Far West. Had cHA for SHA. I should have known better. Never heard of Chin Chin, but perps made it solid. Lets hope Google gets the Corner fixed ASAP!
It is still morning here, so Good Morning, everyone.
So sorry for your loss, JazzB and Gloria. May time and good memories help with your loss.
Thank you, CC for 5 years of the Corner. After nearly a year of lurking, and never posting as an ‘anonymous’ I turned blue just over a year ago and appreciate what a wonderful community this is. Didn’t we all realize how much we ‘feel at home’ here when we lost the Corner for a day or two. Solving feels good, but isn’t it fun to share one’s hang-ups when we DNF?
This puzzle was a great one for a cold, wintery morning.
Montana
Java Mama @ 9:56, I have heard that CHIN CHIN story and it is plausable. Marti explained its use as a common toast in France and Italy. In Japanese slang it does means penis, especailly of a little boy. My Japanese American grandson called it that when he was little.
In Japanese the spoken CHIN (not doubled) has many meanings (like our homonyms)but with different written characters (kanji).
Two of the meanings are Ding (bell sound) as the article states or a spaniel type of dog.
I remember discussing CHIN CHIN as a toast and as an appendage some time ago on the blog.
Hello everybody. Happy blog anniversary! Dudley said it so well!
Really cool puzzle today, fun to solve. I am familiar with all the CH-CH phrases, including CHIN CHIN, which, as Marti pointed out, is a very common toast in Italy and France. In Chinese, it is common to say "gan bei" which is very close to "bottoms up." (Literally translated, it is "drain the glass dry.")
Salud!
Dennis, I think I know which crossing made you smile.
By the way, some of the fill today is absolutely terrific, including TRISECT, COHERED, and SPANIEL.
Skål!
I do seem to remember the chin chin discussion, but then:
what is this guy selling?
hip & cool new dining place in Melbourne???
Ah, i am not sure,, if this adage is appropriate,, considering the conversation thread?
Dave, your McCoy link was a hoot. Either his character has identity issues (sounded like a union doctor) or the writers have a lazy device for generating his dialogue. The cat rotation video was cool too. I have been in that bldg at MSFC and the man looked to be much more interesting than some of the rocket men I got to meet.
I don’t think I could handle 4th graders for a living but it is still fun. H.S. Social Studies tomorrow and H.S. Phys Ed on Wed. I getting a full ELHI (yuk!) experience this week.
In honor of CC’s 5th anniversary, I just (12:46 CST) sent out an updated map with lots of new names. If you don’t get a map or want to be put on the map, contact me at gschlapfer@gmail.com. This map truly reflects the great number of people the blog now reaches and we know there a many more lurkers out there too.
感谢您、周
Thanks C C for shepherding this blog for five years. May it last five times five time five more years.
I found this one to be a typical Monday puzzle and was only slowed a little bit in the SE.
Hola Everyone, I was charmed by the chary chase of this fun puzzle.
Congratulations, C.C. on your puzzle today and also on this your 5th anniversary of the Crossword Corner. You have created a community in the true sense of the word.
I also want to tell all those who contribute with their erudite blogging to keep us all entertained, informed and educated. I have learned so much.
I had exactly the same hangup as Dennis with 49D crossing 57A. Everything else fell into place nicely. Once Chow Chow and Choo Choo were in place I had the theme idea. Chin Chin was a new expression for me,too.
Have a great day everyone and enjoy the holiday.
In honor of CC's cute cute puzzle, here's a song from 1942. CC's song.
My sincere condolences to Jazz and Gloria. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I know that you have been a great comfort to Gloria's mother these past few years.
C.C., Happy Anniversary!
Congrats on a great puzzle.
It was FUN!!
My toast to the Corner......
Cent'anni! (a hundred years)
We just saw Silver Linings Playlist. It is a sweet little movie.
Good morning (yes, it's still morning here) Puzzlers.
WEES!!! Speed run, CIRC/RATE slow down, CHOW CHOW - Martha Stewart's dog, CHOO CHOO - Brio train set my daughter played with for years, CHA CHA - my husband's specialty, CHIN CHIN - a toast we've used for a long time in my family.
Happy anniversary to CC, Dennis, et al. This blog is made up of some truly special folks. Thanks to everyone who contributes.
Condolences to all who have lost family and friends this past month. It's been a tough time for so many on the corner.
Go Niners. Go Sharks - I'm sure that win last night was for EddieB!
Life is good.
(PS - I'm calling my friend at Google right now! Hah)
Well, it WAS morning when I started to post...
Does anyone recognize the script in Dave's Chin Chin take out? I read that West Africans make a fried pastry called Chin Chin. Could that be it? Could Dave'e Melbourne restaurant be Chinese? We have Chinese restaurants in NYC by that name. Isn't it fascinating that the same word can mean so many different things in different languages?
Congrats to C.C. on the anniversary of the blog. It remains my favorite way to start the day.
Condolences to JazzB and way too many of the Corner family who have lost love ones recently. I think the care and concern that the denizens of the Corner share for each other is closely related to the longevity of this wonderful blog.
To our fearless leader: Cheers CC hope we continue many, many more years.
Thank you to all the regular contributors for the hours, effort and love you put into this blog.
Great fun Xword on anniversary.
L8R
Razz
I'm looking for the guy who shot my paw.
Hi Y'all, Really special puzzle on a really special day for C.C. and all who know how special she is! Thank you so much, C.C. and all who contribute. I went into mourning when I couldn't get the CC blog. Since I seldom leave home anymore, it has become a sort of social life for me that I would sorely miss. Keep up the good work!
Deepest sympathy to Spitzboov, Jz and their families.
In past "So you think you can dance" segments, they have danced to a spoken piece that has CHIN CHIN in it which made absolutely no sense to me, but at least I had heard of it.
A CHOW CHOW named Smoky lives next door to me and sticks his tongue out a lot.
I thought "Pierce with a point" was going to be Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce who has a great scoring record.
Surely Dennis' reference was to the 22D finding "I'M HOME" in the middle of BREST. LOL!
Even if you were well before the blog bug struck, C.C., all this mess is enough to contribute to a relapse. Take care, lovely lady!
Congratulations to C.C. on her 5th year of running this blog. Quite an achievement.
Jazz B, I am so sorry for the loss of your Mother-in-law. My condolences to your family.
Splynter, I am so sorry for the loss of your Dad. My deepest Sympathy to you and your family.
Re: CHIN CHIN. I started with CHUG CHUG. Chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug(2:04) wouldn't fit.
First, of all, condolences to Jazzbumpa and wife Gloria. Cyber hugs, and prayers for you during this time. Spitzboov, I am thinking of you and Splynter at this time also. My friend Natalie, just lost her grandfather, Stan Musial. She was lucky to have had him for so many years.
C.C., I thank you so much for this site, Happy Anniversary today, five yrs is a good start to a long blog life! I enjoyed the puzzle very much today. A few new words for me, BREST, and CHINCHIN included.
TTP, I had a question. Java is prompting to download an update and I am not sure what to do. I had checked to make sure it was disabled when you had mentioned it. However, I wasn't sure about this new version.
I sure hope the issues with Google can go away soon. I look forward to reading how each and everyone is doing. What did everyone think of Tom leaving his wife behind in Ireland on Downton Abbey last night?
Have a good afternoon!
I forgot to thank Husker Gary for the new map. It is so nice of you to take the time to do this. Our little world is growing.
WEES about the puzzle. It's delightful to have a C.C. solo on this most important day! Happy anniversary to our very talented C.C. and the rest of the bloggers and contributors.
Like many, I found this blog quite accidentally while researching the answer to a clue a couple of years ago. I was hooked almost immediately and rarely miss it.
I thoroughly enjoy this cyber family - you bring laughter, knowledge and tears. Thanks to you all.
Jazz- my heartfelt condolences to you and Gloria for your loss.
Martha
michele:
Re Downton Abbey: at first I was shocked that he would leave Sybil at home, but then considering her strange telephone call in the beginning and his description of his life being in danger, I could understand. I still think he is a hothead, though and will be surprised if he does not lose his life.
Hi all
Good puzzle today,finished without any cheats.
Congrats CC on five years! I've read this for years and really enjoy the back and forth.
Thanks Gary for getting me on the map and showing me how to find the blog.
Spent the day with a friend for her first chemo treatment for breast cancer. She finally realized what she is going through.
Condolences to al. For yor losses. My Mom died in oct. at 95.
Argyle@4:16, Tx for that Chug a lug link! I 1st heard that 3 chord combination on Sesame Street, & always think of it when i hear it. Carol King used it, & also, Petula Clark!
On a side link to Chug-A-Lug was Roger Miller & Johnny Cash. I was like, "Who is Roger Miller," (D'oh)!!!
Can you explain to me (@ 0:50 mark) why writing songs in front of people is like having kittens in front of people = "dirty joke???" (i don't get it)
Which brings me back to Petula Clark! If the Blog had a theme song, i think it would be I know a Place, the words remind me of the Blog, thanks CC!
CED you are the link KING! Today is Mariposa's birthday, one of the 2008 posters; and many more!
Congrats on five years of the blog! It's been a fun and educational experience, and I look forward to many more years of puzzling enjoyment. A good Monday puzzle.
Condolences to Jazz and GLoria. A friend's mom was buried today, in below-zero weather. Brr.
Saw some pictures of the inaguration; some of the soldiers in the parade looked like children. Kind of sad.
CED, in keeping with one of today's theme entries, I think this would also be appropriate for The Corner people....with a special shout out to Husker Gary @ 0:40, who has made such a Labor of Love with our special blogger map. You are the best, Gary!! (And we know your name!) CHIN CHIN!
C.C., congratulations on your fifth anniversary of the corner. And thank you for all you do, and have done, to create this haven. Many thanks also to those that work so closely with you and help keep the blog the great place it is. I found so much more than crossword answers when I found the corner and the many people that contribute to help make it the site that it is. Thank you all.
My sincere sympathy to Splynter and Jazzbumpa... my thoughts and prayers are with you at this very difficult time.
Thelma
Marti:
Well that seems appropriate ... especially since I end (virtually) every comment I've ever made here with that "Toast."
Cheers !!!
PS Ya gotta love Hockey.
In the Lightning-v-Islander game today, after ONE second (Yeah, at 19:59 of the first period) there were 6 players (3 from each team) in the Penalty Box.
tears ... the Bolts lost 4 to 3
Cheers !!!
Hi Michele, it's probably trying to update to Java Version 7, Update 11. Anything before that is known to have security exposures.
Given everything I've read, I would remove or disable Java unless you absolutely know that you need it.
Search "disable Java ---' where --- equals mac, safari, chrome, internet explorer, firefox, or whatever.
I recall that JJM posted a pretty good link on it that showed how to disable or remove it for many browsers.
I'll poke around and see if I can find a good set of instructions.
Before I step away for a bit....
If you do need it or are just planning on keeping it, then by all means, yes, let it update to 7.11
Thanks TTP, I thought I had it disabled but now am not sure. It is hard to keep up with all these computer details.
Congrats CC on 5 years!
I got Chi Chi and Chow Chow and knew I was on to something. Then when I got Mccoy ( I know, its McCoy ) I thought this could be devious, even for a Monday. Very pleasant puzzle.
Tin Man! You forced me to post this
Hockey.
Some violence and language caution.
Michele,
The cybercrooks are really at it. They are even sending out fake updates. If you must have it, make sure the update is coming from Oracle.
PC Mag - Watch Out
Has good links to show you how to disable or remove it. Most home users would never have a need for Java.
Hi gang -
Thanks for all the kind words and good wishes.
Also my condolences to Spitzboov and Splynter. None of this is ever easy.
Gloria's mom was resting peacefully since Thursday evening, and passed quietly early Sunday morning.
Gloria and her mom have always been close, and since her dad died 23 years ago Gloria has been a care giver for mom in various degrees and capacities. This will be a difficult transition for her.
Everyone we've had to deal with has been really wonderful, and that has helped a lot.
I'll probably be out of touch until he latter part of the week.
Thanks again,
JzB
Have learned a lot today about ghee. Had only remembered it from Little Black Sambo,when the tigers turned into butter.It was spelled ghi, and referred to it as being called that in India. Do you think that book should have been banned?
Is it time for cats yet?
I had the dreaded every ten year medical test (upper and lower today). Scheduled for abd. sonogram on Thurs. So far so good.
Jazz and Gloria, I send my thoughts and prayers.
CC, congrats on creating this wonderful place for us all to meet, share, and learn from each other. I joined the conversation exactly one year ago.
Had lip before RIM..
Scar became SCAB
Learned Dim sum sauce was SOY.
I also thought of Vlad the IMPALEr, but clue sounded too mild for what he practiced.
I just learned/relearned that Ellis Island is actually in New Jersey on the History Ch.
HAVANA reminds me of a book I just read, "Waters of Grace." The author, Israel Sanchez, is married to my daughter's best friend. He was able to leave Cuba as a teen and really gave me a glimpse into living under Communism. Available on kindle thru Amazon for $1.99. My son wrote a review.
We had a neat human interest story in our newspaper about a husband and wife (retired teachers) who volunteer AM and afternoon PM to enrich and help children in our Rescue Mission to get to school and have activities until a parent is available after school. I was amazed at their time commitment.
I appreciated Joe Biden's evident joy with the goings-on today. He clearly wasn't taking it all for granted. And Al Roker seemed to be enjoying himself too. Also, I thought Beyoncé did a great job on the National Anthem. She didn't ham it up or warble around the notes but just sang it beautifully. To borrow a phrase from Craig Ferguson, "It's a great day for America everybody."
Thanks so much TTP. I just followed through with making sure it was disabled.
Jazzbumpa, glad you were able to stop by. Will be saying extra prayers for your wife during this time. I was born in Toledo, many, many moons ago!
Bill G @9:59
Amen.
JD, thank you for the great cat clip!!
Thanks for the heartwarming words, everyone. They meant so much to me.
My Blogger contact said this yesterday afternoon:
"Blogger Engineering is working on the problem - and the Blogger Support tech has this case on a short list, from this morning."
All very vague.
JD - loved the cat video!
C. C. - thanks for the Blogger update. We are grateful for all you do.
Bill G - I wasn't able to watch the inauguration, but your observations were heart warming. I'm particularly pleased to learn that a contemporary pop singer could do the Anthem without all the irritating surplus notes.
We recently watched The Artist via Netflix. I forgot who on the Corner recommended it - Lucinda, maybe? - but thank you anyway! It was an interesting change of pace.
CIN-CIN is half red half white Italian CINZANO Vermouth.
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