tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post1111942123750447960..comments2024-01-25T10:14:06.567-08:00Comments on L.A. Crossword Confidential: 01.01 SatOrangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-90867676456981031992011-01-01T22:31:00.911-08:002011-01-01T22:31:00.911-08:00I feel better reading the comments. NE was also my...I feel better reading the comments. NE was also my most difficult section. I spent about 20minutes on the rest and walked away. I watched Mystic Pizza came back for the NE. I had MAGGOTS before and reentered in in and then INSERTER came to me. PACHISI was in the dim recesses of my mind even though I really wanted Parcheesi and then I was done. I finished this one purely based on doing lots of puzzles versus knowledge. ANAT and CHG made no sense to me initially and still feel forced.*David*noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-24672995680046652732011-01-01T21:44:45.276-08:002011-01-01T21:44:45.276-08:00Like a lot of folks, I had a problem with that nor...Like a lot of folks, I had a problem with that nor' easter.<br />"Pachisi?" "Inserter?" "Chg?" Got everything else without any helpers. But that nor' easter?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-8358466632412272032011-01-01T21:29:01.182-08:002011-01-01T21:29:01.182-08:00I agree with those who said parts of this puzzle w...I agree with those who said parts of this puzzle were too obscure. CarolC, was it a deliberate pun when you said POU STO is Greek to you? It IS Greek, meaning "where I stand."Cleonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-1869705961297180842011-01-01T18:22:27.416-08:002011-01-01T18:22:27.416-08:00@Wolfenden - I also thought of Prufrock. Mr. Silk ...@Wolfenden - I also thought of Prufrock. Mr. Silk has lots of nice "big" words, but it's the other stuff, the stuff on which it is built, and the off-the-wall cluing which annoys me. Just sayin'<br /><br />@John - it takes a lot to turn my stomach since I'm kind of nerdy. I've cleaned squid in the past for baking, which I prefer to frying, but not since Hubster's family used to do the 7 fish. The old timers are dead now, so most of the younger ones only want to see haddock and shrimp. I really like the pasta ghi sard' and baccala' they used to make. <br /><br />Also, didn't notice Doug was pinch-hitting for Puzzle Girl.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-61163188199408247512011-01-01T18:17:33.996-08:002011-01-01T18:17:33.996-08:00Another sweet grid -- even prettier than the one f...Another sweet grid -- even prettier than the one from <a href="http://latcrossword.blogspot.com/2010/12/s-t-u-r-d-y-18-2010-james-sajdak.html" rel="nofollow">two weeks ago</a>.<br /><br />What everybody else said about the NE section, MAGGOTS, INSERTER, ETHERIZE, "Steal" -> LURK, <i>et cetera</i>.<br /><br />Editors (for print publications, anyway) are far more often deleters than INSERTERs, I think; they more often have to shorten an article to fit the available space, than to pad one out.<br /><br />QUEEQUEG came surprisingly easily. I couldn't have told you anything about him, or even which book he was from, but I knew he was a character in one of those old seafaring novels. That, plus QU_____G crosses, let me slot it right in.<br /><br />Oddly, I guessed ELEANOR (spelled thus) for the E.A.Poe clue, before I even saw the Turtles one. Not that horrible a mistake: Eleanora (the correct spelling) is the "title lost love" in a Poe <i>short story</i>. That messed me up for a while on the Turtles clue, even though I could recall the lyric in question, and even the tune fragment that goes with it. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turtles" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a> says that's the only song "to date" to rhyme "et cetera".)<br /><br />The Turtles' record label, which was pestering the band for another bubblegum hit, was White Whale Records. And ELENORE crosses QUEEQUEG -- how cool is that?!?Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-62919087474881868322011-01-01T18:13:33.286-08:002011-01-01T18:13:33.286-08:00@Avg Joe
Leeches suck!
I think I'll just stick...@Avg Joe<br />Leeches suck!<br />I think I'll just stick with good old worms... they're so cute when they squirm on the hook.JOHNSNEVERHOMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447455788629988277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-1976889660159092722011-01-01T18:00:36.150-08:002011-01-01T18:00:36.150-08:00JNH, if you wanna talk about nasty bait, try leech...JNH, if you wanna talk about nasty bait, try leeches. They cling to you instantly when you're trying to get them on the hook. Of course they can't attach that quickly, but it sure feels like they can. They do work fairly well as an attractant, but they give you a sense of revulsion unmatched by any other bait.Avg Joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-41656878620916287392011-01-01T17:42:59.433-08:002011-01-01T17:42:59.433-08:003 poor/unfun/unfair IMO: Pachisi, anat, inserter,...3 poor/unfun/unfair IMO: Pachisi, anat, inserter, chg.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-54092878070877474502011-01-01T17:21:13.342-08:002011-01-01T17:21:13.342-08:00Here's a good website to describe the game of ...Here's a good website to describe the <a href="http://boardgames.lovetoknow.com/Parcheesi_Rules" rel="nofollow">game of PACHISI (also known as PARCHEESI).</a>JOHNSNEVERHOMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447455788629988277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-18532526455082263152011-01-01T17:09:45.535-08:002011-01-01T17:09:45.535-08:00Wow, a BRUTAL puzzle to start off "Oh-Eleven....Wow, a BRUTAL puzzle to start off "Oh-Eleven." I'm far from UNDER PAR on this one... took me hours to solve, but I was determined to slog through it without any help... however, I did screw-up in the NE corner because I clung to MINNOWS instead of MAGGOTS. <br /><br />You just don't see words like PACHISI, PIMIENTO, ETHERIZE, QUEEQUEG, or ULALUME in your run-of-the-mill puzzles, but then this was no ordinary construcor either. I always like Barry Silk puzzles because they stretch my feeble gray-matter.<br /><br />And then Doug does a mighty fine writeup to cap off my learning process. Forget the humble stuff though! You can construct puzzles, Rex can only destruct puzzles. Anyway, thank you for filling in for Puzzlegirl.<br /><br />And thank you @Sfingi for the cute MARMOSET photo. And yes, people do use MAGGOTS for bait... worse yet, think about squid bait. yech+<br /><br />Well, I hope y'all have a very pleasant 2011.JOHNSNEVERHOMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447455788629988277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-72225385803606488962011-01-01T16:35:12.166-08:002011-01-01T16:35:12.166-08:00Never knew that Parcheesi was really a Western var...Never knew that Parcheesi was really a Western variant of an Indian game. <br /><br />Don't think I've ever seen ETHERIZE before...nicely clued. The only place I've ever read it is in "The Love Song of Alfred B. Prufrock": "Let us go then, you and I, When the evening is spread out against the sky. Like a patient etherised upon a table."<br /><br />Sfingi: totally agree about INSERTER. A weak spot in an otherwise solid puzzle. Chuckled at "And a belly..." Sounds like something the cutups would laugh about in high school English.<br /><br />Not quite sure I get "Steal" for LURK. I assume Barry means the clue as in "stealing across the heath..." but lurking seems like more of a stationary activity. <br /><br />Liked seeing APNEA and FIBULA. "Like eagles" is a great clue for UNDER PAR. Nice and misleading.John Wolfendenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759716236594908137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-79513165085081328152011-01-01T16:28:09.045-08:002011-01-01T16:28:09.045-08:00Hi Doug, happy new year! To the rest of you as wel...Hi Doug, happy new year! To the rest of you as well.<br /><br />Very good puzzle, love it a little tougher at the LAT. I also wanted an r in Pachisi, and pou sto is going to be researched today. I only used little balls of white bread for bait, but I saw people using worms. That's as far as my fishing knowledge goes.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-70261732064034309812011-01-01T12:54:08.182-08:002011-01-01T12:54:08.182-08:00Tough one. Had 4 googles: Keenen and Evie, (natur...Tough one. Had 4 googles: Keenen and Evie, (naturally for a pop culture challenged guy), Marmoset and Pachisi. Should have gotten Marmoset, but the crosses in place wanted Formosan... not. Learned that Pachisi is "India's national board game", and, of course, the precourser of our Parcheesi.<br /><br />Re: maggots. When bass fishing, there is an often used artificial soft plastic lure that is referred to as a "grub". The body looks just like that of a maggot, sort of round and plump. All sorts of tails, legs and "skirts" are attached to catch the attention of the bass. Me? I put in MudwOrm at first.<br /><br />Was thinking chess board for F1, but Knight or Queen wouldn't fit.<br /><br />Just started doing Merl Reagle's Sunday puzzles recently. Very enjoyable, and doable. Highly recomnmended.Rubehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773241241484881566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-55750523973087390942011-01-01T12:31:46.894-08:002011-01-01T12:31:46.894-08:00I liked it. Tough but fair, and like others I had...I liked it. Tough but fair, and like others I had the most trouble with the NE. Once I figured out PIMENTO the rest began to fall.<br /><br />Regarding sequels -- my brother and his wife once had a Subaru which, for reasons that escape me, was called Randy. After many years Randy had to be replaced, with a descendant of the same make. The new car's name? <br /><br />Randy 2: Electric Subaru, natch.KJGoosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05035128999739297677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-21232612117684255002011-01-01T11:31:43.842-08:002011-01-01T11:31:43.842-08:00I thought Barry's puzzle was a little INHUMAN ...I thought Barry's puzzle was a little INHUMAN for New Year's morn. I had minnows before MAGGOTS. Yuck, just what I don't want to think about over brunch. I did like PIMENTO though. I now remember why I forgot the Turtles' song ELENORE. I used to play Parcheesi at summer camp. I guess it's the American version of PACHISI. I think I may have known that at some point.<br /><br />Happy 2011 everyone!<br /><br />Thanks Doug.CrazyCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00245025301434920905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-30093443301076457542011-01-01T10:24:47.349-08:002011-01-01T10:24:47.349-08:00Despite the odd QUEEQUEG here and MARMOSET there, ...Despite the odd QUEEQUEG here and MARMOSET there, I can't say I loved this one. I did like "It takes your breath away" for APNEA. But I agree: INSERTER wasn't great. I appreciate the Qs, and I'd appreciate the Zs more if one of them didn't come from UPSIZES and a suffix. And where's my Phillies?<br /><br />Oh well.Vegahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01893157908004486201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-13822535212668863142011-01-01T10:12:59.332-08:002011-01-01T10:12:59.332-08:00An additional computer reference is "F1 neigh...An additional computer reference is "F1 neighbor" - ESCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-67040692387420870672011-01-01T10:11:19.536-08:002011-01-01T10:11:19.536-08:00Sfingi, The afternoon service refers to a tea set....Sfingi, The afternoon service refers to a tea set.<br /><br />And yes, maggots are used as bait. Primarily for ice fishing. They most often call them wax worms, I assume to ease the Yech factor. But they are in fact maggots.Avg Joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-88575687430832499142011-01-01T10:01:47.456-08:002011-01-01T10:01:47.456-08:00DNF NE.
I rarely enjoy Barry Silks' puzzles....DNF NE. <br /><br />I rarely enjoy Barry Silks' puzzles. Too tangential for me. BRUTAL. <br />Sorry, I'm too stupid and not in the B.S. admiration society. <br />Too many abbrevs. at 9. <br />INSERTER dreadful.<br /><br />Did learn some things, of course. Thought a tamarin was a palm tree. <br /><br />E A Poe sure picked some ugly women's names, ULALUME, and Annabelle Lee just comes off as "and a belly."<br /><br />Shared some problems with Puzzle Girl - Pou STO way too French and didn't know how to spell KEENEN. <br /><br />@Carol - you might know it as Parcheesi, that game in the back of the attic with Chinese Checkers and with pieces that just look like pawns.<br /><br />Finally, what is this afternoon service - a sports thing or a religious rite?<br /><br />And, do people really use maggots as bait? I think they're cute, smooth, little bobbing white things, but most would say yecch.<br />Unless he means Gummy Maggots.<br /><br /><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Marmoset_copy.jpg" rel="nofollow">MyLittleMarmoset</a>Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-14068364508187539982011-01-01T10:01:31.658-08:002011-01-01T10:01:31.658-08:00Lots of interesting words and clues. Nice puzzle t...Lots of interesting words and clues. Nice puzzle to start off the year.<br /><br />Healthcare mini-theme? One of my earliest memories is being ETHERIZEd as a five-year old. Sort of traumatic. Welcomed BLUECROSS because their service and coverage has been outstanding. Three of their plans nicely fill the gap with Medicare here in California.<br /><br />QUEEQUEG is one of my all-time favorite movie characters. Liked the cross with GESTALT.<br /><br />Thank you Mr. Silk.Mokushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02812826223817274680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-61817967851887803042011-01-01T09:44:19.005-08:002011-01-01T09:44:19.005-08:00Wow, what a tough puzzle. I'm proud to say I g...Wow, what a tough puzzle. I'm proud to say I got it all without Googling but it took me over an hour! A fun way to start the year, though. First things first!Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03149073433734971620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-11085643785318195922011-01-01T09:26:24.943-08:002011-01-01T09:26:24.943-08:00Thanks for filling in, Doug.
As usual on a Saturd...Thanks for filling in, Doug.<br /><br />As usual on a Saturday, I couldn't finish without googling, but today was especially tough on me. PACHISI? Never heard of it. Pou STO was and is Greek to me. I should have remembered Chancellor Merkel's name, and now that I can link it to PG ANGELA I won't forget it! Then I figured I'd get here and find that everyone said it was a snap. At least I was spared that humiliation since there aren't many posts yet! <br /><br />Great job, Barry. Maybe one of these days I'll be good enough to solve on my own. Or as my captcha says I'll "derove" it.<br /><br />Happy New Year all!CarolCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-6548607542034333722011-01-01T07:18:20.161-08:002011-01-01T07:18:20.161-08:00The Wikipedia entry on Pachisi has a picture that ...The Wikipedia entry on Pachisi has a picture that can be enlarged to give a reasonable idea of what the pieces look like:<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachisi<br /><br />That NE corner really threw me too. I wanted Vast for HUGE, but finally accepted inhuman as the likely fill across, which gave me huge then eventually IM OVER IT. I've never heard of Pachisi, so wanting Parchisi (sic) left me feeling like it was finished, but wrong. Ulalume is also unfamiliar, so that only added to the lack of satisfaction. I actually did finish correctly, but gotta admit it's probably the least enjoyable Barry Silk puzzle I've ever done.<br /><br />Thanks Doug, and Happy New Year everyone.Avg Joenoreply@blogger.com