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Posted by bizquig3000 on 2006-12-05 15:24:11 +0000

From the files of "unfinished crossword themes"

I was working on a theme this afternoon, but alas, I got stuck (unless one of you can help me out here). But instead of telling you what the theme is, perhaps you could start by telling me what these famous people have in common? Lee Iacocca Ada Lovelace Alex Olmedo Mo Udall Malcolm X

Posted by ConorClockwise on 2006-12-05 15:45:04 +0000
"L"

Posted by bizquig3000 on 2006-12-05 17:03:42 +0000
L would be part of it, yes, but I'm looking for something more specific.

Posted by G lib on 2006-12-05 18:42:11 +0000
Where's pchippy when you need him?

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-05 18:53:41 +0000
Iacocca has no "L". . . . The first three have a repeated letter in the last names, while Malcolm has two ells. I reject the notion that they are linked biographically.

Posted by tendiamonds on 2006-12-05 23:09:13 +0000
They all have names that start with a syllable that is a letter. Lee I-acocca A-da Lovelace L-ex Olemedo Mo U-dall Malcolm X

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-06 00:59:30 +0000
Lex O-lemedo Good one, 10D

Posted by tendiamonds on 2006-12-06 12:03:32 +0000
That's Ol-M-ed-O-...

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-06 12:12:47 +0000
You come to this country, you give up the right to have your name pronounced they way you like it. Don't play the race card on me, man. How does "Lex" become two syllables? It's short for Alex, apparently. That, I see: A-lex.

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-06 12:12:30 +0000
Oh, nevermind.

Posted by bizquig3000 on 2006-12-06 15:58:06 +0000
Nice guesses but you're still wrong. Should I tell you what I'm going for?

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-06 16:00:59 +0000
They all have Wikipedia entries?

Posted by buzzorhowl on 2006-12-06 17:01:59 +0000
They're all critically hyped bands that wouldn't be shit if their names were spelled differently.

Posted by pamsterdam on 2006-12-06 17:42:19 +0000
I've toyed with nicknames, professions, official titles, religions, and 80's television correlations. No dice yet. I don't want the answer, but can we get a hint?

Posted by bizquig3000 on 2006-12-07 13:21:15 +0000
We have a winner!

Posted by bizquig3000 on 2006-12-07 13:21:57 +0000
Hint: "Friends, Romans, Countrymen..."

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-07 13:33:02 +0000
They've all lent their ears.

Posted by pamsterdam on 2006-12-07 13:38:49 +0000
I'm enjoying this, but not sure I'm getting very far. I've been exploring possible links via the Italian language, being forced to resign a post through ill health, various familial shenanegans... Good hint. I ain't giving up yet.

Posted by Miriam on 2006-12-07 15:09:25 +0000
They were all assassinated?

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-07 15:25:12 +0000
I shot Lee Iacocca.

Posted by tendiamonds on 2006-12-07 16:28:25 +0000
All of their consonants (and also "I"s) are roman numerals.

Posted by tommy on 2006-12-07 16:29:11 +0000
Wow.

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-07 16:51:23 +0000
X Wow.

Posted by pamsterdam on 2006-12-07 17:04:28 +0000

Posted by bizquig3000 on 2006-12-07 17:55:32 +0000
... is correct. Now... anybody else fit that description?

Posted by Miriam on 2006-12-07 18:15:59 +0000
Politically, economically, or metaphorically?

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-07 18:44:03 +0000
XX Wow.

Posted by tommy on 2006-12-07 19:43:02 +0000
Vlade Divac

Posted by bizquig3000 on 2006-12-07 19:59:28 +0000
Nice!

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-07 22:19:59 +0000
LL Cool J

Posted by tendiamonds on 2006-12-07 23:06:58 +0000
Except that, no.

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-07 23:26:36 +0000
J is a vowel.

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-07 23:41:11 +0000
Well, there's Dave. Which reminds me, walking over the Dam bridge this morning, I noticed in a car a woman with a giant lizard on her lap. She wasn't driving, of course.

Posted by Miriam on 2006-12-07 23:45:24 +0000
Was the lizard doing something interesting? I've been trying to figure out someone famous named David that has a great, usable last name all day!

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-08 00:22:23 +0000
David Lee (Roth)

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-08 00:25:50 +0000
I have fond memories of the LL Lee museum. Didn't care for his friend, Max I. much.

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-08 00:45:47 +0000
My accountants.

Posted by buzzorhowl on 2006-12-08 01:41:12 +0000
I went to an Eagle Scout dinner once -- were you there? -- and thought that Max Silber was the shit.

Posted by WB Mason on 2006-12-08 12:28:37 +0000
nice

Posted by tommy on 2006-12-09 10:31:10 +0000
David Emma won the Hobey Baker Award (best collegiate hockey player in the country) when he played for BC. He was The Next Big Thing around these parts for a while. The Doug Flutie of hockey. He was only a mediocre pro, though... played a few years with the Bruins and the Devils, then went to the minors. This might be too obscure.

Posted by tommy on 2006-12-09 10:37:03 +0000
Holy Crap! Speaking of hockey, I can't believe I didn't think of Claude Lemieux (tip of the hat to Marna here). Claude Lemieux was my hero for being Cam Neely's nemesis. One of my favorite players ever. Won the Conn Smythe (best player in NHL playoffs) in 1995.

Posted by tommy on 2006-12-09 10:39:55 +0000
Lady Di? Does that count?

Posted by tgl on 2006-12-09 11:03:56 +0000
Top honors for Claude Lemieux. Marna will be receiving a copy of the Miriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary and a "rs.n" lapel pin.

Posted by bizquig3000 on 2006-12-11 15:37:12 +0000
Goddamn... great stuff here folks... keep 'em coming, if you can.

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