Upscale

[Bird Lives]

Since yesterday’s morning update, another nine solvers have come in from the cold.

1. bhamren
2. BarbaraK
3. Snood
4. THC
5. ReB
6. Mikey G
7. michaelm
8. wendy walker
9. Guffman

For those who are still sitting around on the couch, these might help.

Find the word hiding in each theme entry.

If the phrase you get is not at all familiar, do what you always do in that case — consult Doctor G.

LINES cannot be the answer since it is an entry in the grid. But the lines, identified by their initials in Step One, do form the place to write notes.

There’s an alternate spelling which Crosshare will tell you is incorrect. It isn’t. Crosshare cannot deal with ambiguity and so did not allow me to make two answers acceptable, Change your alternate to the more common spelling or PM me your answer.

[Dplass]

Since yesterday’s morning update, another nine solvers have come in from the cold.

1. bhamren
2. BarbaraK
3. Snood
4. THC
5. ReB
6. Mikey G
7. michaelm
8. wendy walker
9. Guffman

For those who are still sitting around on the couch, these might help.

Find the word hiding in each theme entry.

If the phrase you get is not at all familiar, do what you always do in that case — consult Doctor G.

LINES cannot be the answer since it is an entry in the grid. But the lines, identified by their initials in Step One, do form the place to write notes.

There’s an alternate spelling which Crosshare will tell you is incorrect. It isn’t. Crosshare cannot deal with ambiguity and so did not allow me to make two answers acceptable, Change your alternate to the more common spelling or PM me your answer.

Facepalm. I got the answer without seeing the metanism. The hints are very hintful, thank you!

[Eric Porter]

I also didn't see the correct mechanism until today's post by Bird Lives. I'm officially off the couch with an answer confirmed on Crosshare.

My original guess was correct, even though I was wrong about how to get it.

[DavyGravy]

Off the couch. Thank you for the puzzle Jay!

[DavyGravy]

How do access Crosshare and find out if my answer is right?

[ajk]

Got it after the first nudge, though I admit I clicked the rest of the nudges to be sure I wasn't missing something else. Really should have gotten it before the nudge, but was looking in the wrong part of the right area at first. Fun one, and a very worthy successor to last week.

[DrTom]

Managed even on vacation. Several words I never heard of, did NOT know that one hand clapping was that.

Some interesting fill Jay, thanks for a bit of fun.

[hcbirker]

Finally had a chance to do this one. Took me a minute, but I'm off the couch! Loved the clue for 70 A.

[minimuggle]

Off the couch with a major nudge.... Great puzzle...

[Abide]

How do access Crosshare and find out if my answer is right?

Solve via Crosshare (see link in Post #1)

You have to sign in with a Google account or register to post your answer. Then you can confirm "Correct" or "Incorrect", as well as read the comments.

[HeadinHome]

Enjoyed it! Just got time to do it last night… brought back good memories.

[Alvibu67]

Off the couch! Thanks, Jay!

[Schmeel]

Late to it, RH and all. Still catching up.
But now off the couch - thanks for the puzzle!

[Bird Lives]

Since Wednesday’s update, another twenty-four solvers have turned up, bringing the total to seventy. That’s two more than last week. I’ll post the solution tomorrow, so if you have an alternate version of the central part of the mechanism (see post #29), send it now.


47. Bbaack
48. Eric Porter
49. Johnny Luau
50. ajk
51. BrennerTJ
52. DrTom
53. Sharkicicles
54. hcbirker
55. DavyGravy
56. jbird
57. LB800
58. minimuggle
59. SeamusOL
60. Gmoney
61. HeadinHome
62. Darrell
63. Carolyn
64. AaronT
65. Schmeel
66. Dave Bromsey
67. Br1
68. Alvibu67
69. DebbieC
70. Laura M

[Bird Lives]

Two more Saturday solvers bring the final total to 72
71. Joe Pickett
72. Naptown Kid

The answer is STAFF.

Each of the long across entries has a hidden word.
WI-FI NETWORKS -- (WI-FI NETWORKS)

YADDO ESTATE -- (YADDO ESTATE)

BOYLES LAW -- (BOYLES LAW)

GOOGOO DOLLS -- (GOOGOO DOLLS)

FOREVER YOUNG -- (FOREVER YOUNG

Those words form a common mnemonic for the lines of the treble-clef staff — bottom to top: EVERY GOOD BOY DOES FINE. The placement of those entries in the grid mimics the placement of the corresponding lines of the staff.
,

.
Some people learned that those good boys deserve fudge or favor. I asked solvers to contribute their own alternative mnemonics. Mine, which I came up with quickly to provide an example was Elliot Gould Buys Dog Food (I’m sure there’s a better verb for the B-word)

MaineMarge: Emeril Gets Blotto During Feast
KayW: Easy Girls Binge Drink Furiously and
Eccentric Genius Buys Dandelion Farm

Some solvers pointed out that there is already a Web page https://www.acronymfinder.com/EGBDF.html with dozens of variants and noted their favorites, for instance Elvis Goes Belly Dancing Fridays

Thanks to all for the kind comments. Now back to practicing my scales.

[MaineMarge]

Thanks Jay for teaching some of us a new word:KOAN.
Amazing coincidence this week-
I am a member of the Cloud Appreciation Society, so every day I receive a photo of their cloud of the day, accompanied by meteorological explanation or snippet from literature.
Here was Thursday’s!!