tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post1908761413248552700..comments2024-01-25T10:14:06.567-08:00Comments on L.A. Crossword Confidential: 08.11 ThuOrangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-87744346981422664242011-08-12T19:29:41.288-07:002011-08-12T19:29:41.288-07:00I thought that 'de trop' was pronounced &#...I thought that 'de trop' was pronounced 'du trow'? It is french, no? That would not rhyme in the cole porter song. Someone let me know if they find this out. Thanks.Drew Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18334418383023067918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-9220522721227485282011-08-12T03:56:37.141-07:002011-08-12T03:56:37.141-07:00If anyone's still reading, there was a line in...If anyone's still reading, there was a line in the Cole Porter "You're the Top": ...as the French would say, de Trop, but if baby I'm the bottom, you're the top!<br /><br />That's how I heard it.vivelavidarockahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01680807182942008849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-48701272439892977622011-08-11T21:52:42.800-07:002011-08-11T21:52:42.800-07:00When I see Ocarina, I always think of the Macarena...When I see Ocarina, I always think of the Macarena<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmKhEGiNshA" rel="nofollow">Hoping you're all asleep zzzz</a>CrazyCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00245025301434920905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-73773436856169169872011-08-11T19:28:20.547-07:002011-08-11T19:28:20.547-07:00My opinion on some of the clues:
6a boo-boo: I t...My opinion on some of the clues:<br /><br />6a boo-boo: I think of a boo-boo as a small injury, and flub means to screw something up. Didn't realize flub could be a noun, like a screw up. And a boo-boo could be a screw up, as in "I made a serious boo-boo".<br /><br />30a Head of Quebec = tete. I actually got this one, but though the clue was not great. The word 'of' implies it is FROM Quebec. A tete is not from Quebec, but is how most people say head there. If the clue was 'Quebec head' I would not have had a problem with this.<br /><br />36a Crew member: Oar? Crew members are people on a boat. An oar is not a person. It is a tool. Dumb clue in my opinion.<br /><br />Liked Kontiki, and got that quickly, though didn't know the date off hand.<br /><br />48a One of the guys: Male Got this after a while though thought the clue was not too good.<br /><br />I liked 'static', 'gemini', and 'ocarina' I used to play that game.... that is the only time I've heard of that instrument.... does it exist outside of hyrule (zelda land)?<br /><br />57a Base runner: awol. I thought awol means absent without leave. I've seen it as a noun in a lot of crosswords though. I guess it can be a noun?<br /><br />4d One playing the field, e.g. = athlete. I know an athlete plays on a field, but they really play their opponent. They do not against the field. Not sure I understand the logic here.<br /><br />6d Bouquet greenery = fern. I always see ferns when I walk through marshy areas. Do people put these in bouquets? I really don't know because I'm not really into this.<br /><br />18d Recover from a knockout: cometo It seems like it should be awaken from a knock out. I don't think you are necessarily 'recovering' from a knockout.<br /><br />24d I also had _eni_. Thought a p and s would go, but it didn't fit with the cali valley thing.... which is usually napa or simi.<br /><br />31d Holliday friend. Not too many problems with this, but shouldn't be Holliday's friend? Like, if I was a friend of George, you would say, you are George's friend, not George friend.<br /><br />Loved De trop. Learned this word from a word building book when I was young. First time I used it since.<br /><br />47d Like biased writing: italic. Italic is slanted. Is it biased? Not sure about the use there.<br /><br />Loved the matchstick game Nim. Learned this game years ago. I know a strategy t never lose depending on who goes first and the number of matchsticks.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />DrewDrew Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18334418383023067918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-40679480977445335362011-08-11T19:01:16.478-07:002011-08-11T19:01:16.478-07:00What annoys me time and again in puzzles is when t...What annoys me time and again in puzzles is when there's a clue where I know the answer, but don't know what spelling they are looking for. Like today, Tsarina. <br /><br />Now, I've seen three different spellings for a Russian ruler, tsar, tzar, and czar. All correct. Though, I'd like to think that it comes from "Ceasar" as do King and Kaiser, Czar would probably be the most correct. <br /><br />But, I'm not Russian so I could be wrong.Gerrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-19465286359439089002011-08-11T17:01:49.306-07:002011-08-11T17:01:49.306-07:00Realized I put Fredo and not FRODO 'cause I ha...Realized I put Fredo and not FRODO 'cause I had the Godfather II in mind, Michael Corleone:<br />"I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart!"CPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-71036167418825509252011-08-11T14:25:27.827-07:002011-08-11T14:25:27.827-07:00Actually, I waffle between Otis and Sam Cooke, Oti...Actually, I waffle between Otis and Sam Cooke, Otis's favorite singer.<br /><br />And I meant to mention that I found the theme kinda meh, just kinda sat there, sorry Clive.Rojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05098831940691963743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-62826832586606999792011-08-11T14:23:15.633-07:002011-08-11T14:23:15.633-07:00Well, this puzzle took one look at me and immediat...Well, this puzzle took one look at me and immediately fell to its knees, weeping and begging for mercy. None was given. (in other words, a nice ego-boost after struggling with DNFs on sat and sun, and unusual difficulties with mon and tue)<br /><br />Almost all of it seemed to be geared towards my strengths.<br /><br />OTIS? Just my favorite singer of all time, check! (and thanks PG for the Otis tune)<br /><br />GEMINI? Why yes I am, thanks very much, check!<br /><br />OCARINA of time? Yep, I am a nerd, check!<br /><br />FRODO? Nerd again, check!<br /><br />DOLE and KANS? Do I obsessively follow national politics? Yes I do, check! <br /><br />I did, lest I boast too much, have two brief mis-steps, quRAN, instead of KORAN (but FRODO quickly steered me to the correct answer) and scaB instead of FLUB, but LAO steered me off that about as quickly.Rojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05098831940691963743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-3304973416338033222011-08-11T13:57:14.375-07:002011-08-11T13:57:14.375-07:00Zipped right through this one, seemed easy for a T...Zipped right through this one, seemed easy for a Thursday, but alas , fell one square short. Downfall was the common O in TROP and FRODO, guessed an E instead, coz I never heard of deTROP or FRODO. I guess now I know.<br /><br />STILTON is oh so tasty, but can only eat a bit at a time.<br /><br />Oh yes...."I'm ready for my close up Mr. DEMILLE!!!!"CPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-41950129595235969932011-08-11T12:54:39.081-07:002011-08-11T12:54:39.081-07:00Didn't know ALTAI, but I knew all the crosses....Didn't know ALTAI, but I knew all the crosses. I read KONTIKI as a kid, and always want to squeeze it into any space for a Thor Heyerdahl raft; I have learned that the short answer is either Ra II or Ra I (which is so wrong, since it was just Ra til it had to be replaced.)<br /><br />Very smooth, USS is the closest thing to crap fill, but that is not much.<br /><br />Liked PER SE, GEMINI, FRODO, GALL.CoffeeLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16473192190412844538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-14889168926035355772011-08-11T12:49:40.759-07:002011-08-11T12:49:40.759-07:00Coming off a Facebook Scrabble binge and not doing...Coming off a Facebook Scrabble binge and not doing the crossword for several months, this was a pleasant welcome back. Nicely punned theme clues, and I thought "Base runner" for AWOL was a ribtickler.<br /><br />Having tried STILTON several times, I can't say I understand why it's a protected cheese. It's useful if you want to clear out a room, but beyond that...<br /><br />Loved revrev's comment, although I suppose that answer would be considered problematic since not all puzzlers are men. Is that denim in your pants or are you just happy to see me?John Wolfendenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759716236594908137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-69088947171039981762011-08-11T10:02:04.314-07:002011-08-11T10:02:04.314-07:00@Steve
It was Colorado, though I've heard peo...@Steve<br /><br />It was Colorado, though I've heard people claim it to be a British story and many other places as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_12093995" rel="nofollow">ILVTOFU</a>badams52noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-49962965451102054192011-08-11T09:51:49.049-07:002011-08-11T09:51:49.049-07:00LOL @revrev - Comment of the Day!
I liked this a ...LOL @revrev - Comment of the Day!<br /><br />I liked this a lot, had to dig around the memory banks a little. Didn't know OCARINA but that's what crosses are for. Had KITCHY before I looked at it again and corrected myself.<br /><br />ATHLETE came last, partly because I'd filled in RIGGTCROSS and partly because I refused to accept that EMOTE could be clued like it was - IMHO that's not a good clue.<br /><br />@PG - agree that there's no CWese in here, a very nice fill.<br /><br />Regarding TOFU, I read recently that a vegan lady here in California had her vanity plate recalled by the DMV because a number of people had misread "I (heart) TOFU" as something else and called to complain.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00485564817818402947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-91241069572391833662011-08-11T09:30:02.196-07:002011-08-11T09:30:02.196-07:00I dug today's puzzle, had a nice flow to the s...I dug today's puzzle, had a nice flow to the solve probably because there wasn't much difference in word length from the shortest to the longest answer (3-8 as opposed to 3-15 in most daily puzzles)<br /><br />I liked OCARINA, brought back good memories of playing Zelda. My wife took the name I gave my character for that game and turned it into my nickname. Now my nieces use it as well. Learning: be careful what you name your game characters.Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14900988170432327664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-61937631906785505802011-08-11T08:35:38.599-07:002011-08-11T08:35:38.599-07:00Smooth solve with minimal white-out. I liked 57A (...Smooth solve with minimal white-out. I liked 57A (Base Runner / AWOL), but got stumped on the KONTIKI/ALTAI cross.<br /><br />Have a great day!Marinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-788255596035143742011-08-11T08:30:39.585-07:002011-08-11T08:30:39.585-07:00True story....
24D) It's in your jeans
At one...True story....<br />24D) It's in your jeans<br /><br />At one point I had _ E N I _<br /><br />I'll admit I gave a childish laugh.revrevnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-54548902814076058842011-08-11T08:25:04.260-07:002011-08-11T08:25:04.260-07:00Agree with @PG about the puzzle theme. My biggest ...Agree with @PG about the puzzle theme. My biggest complaint is that to me the theme answers aren't literal. I would never call RIGHT CROSS, LEFT HOOK, or UPPER CUT PUNCH LINES. I would call them PUNCHes. A literal punch line to me would be people lining up to get some punch. So a person walking up to the back of the line might ask, "Is this the PUNCH LINE?"<br /><br />I was proud of myself (though it took 35 minutes) to get all of the answers except for the KONTIKI/ALTAI cross.<br /><br />The clue for head in French stumped me for a while in a good way.<br /><br />Liked HEAVE HO, and the clue for EARP (I misread it as holiday for a while).<br /><br />Didn't like DOGIT. Didn't think the clue matched well.<br /><br />Otherwise a good solvebadams52noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-62308675631532646682011-08-11T08:19:19.379-07:002011-08-11T08:19:19.379-07:00I liked it very much, theme was cute and puzzle wa...I liked it very much, theme was cute and puzzle was rock solid. Had a couple of problems at the beginning where I wanted SPOKE for PEDAL but then moved nicely through the grid. NIM was on the edge of my brain probably a CW 202word as far as frequency nowadays.*David*noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-46244315925094521502011-08-11T07:52:58.282-07:002011-08-11T07:52:58.282-07:00Once I cheated and looked at your solve I remember...Once I cheated and looked at your solve I remembered hearing De Trop once many years ago and asking what it meant. I was told "over the top". I guess it was in use once....probably in ancient times.VirginiaCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-30176898594368214352011-08-11T07:05:12.800-07:002011-08-11T07:05:12.800-07:00Not too bad. Most of it was pretty smooth except ...Not too bad. Most of it was pretty smooth except for the upper left corner. Had "wheel" for 1A and "evade" 3D and just could not make the durn thing work. Eventually got it. Like others, have no idea about "trop". Got it from the crosses. Nice puzzle, overall.Matthewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-42040967018192142062011-08-11T06:30:00.752-07:002011-08-11T06:30:00.752-07:00@PG - Agree that the puzzle was theme-thin, but 90...@PG - Agree that the puzzle was theme-thin, but 90%+ themes don't do anything for me, so I didn't care. I was much more impressed at the quality of the rest of the puzzle, and found it a nice smooth solve.Petenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-86695118642689729502011-08-11T06:03:25.106-07:002011-08-11T06:03:25.106-07:00DNF, HTG massively: NIM, FRODO, NEMO, OCARINA, EWA...DNF, HTG massively: NIM, FRODO, NEMO, OCARINA, EWAN, expressions like "dog it" and "base runner." "deep six" for merely TOSS - all lots of kid-stuff. Makes this one feel her age. <br />Also, French - TROP. Just didn't get it. <br /><br />Wanted "lAzeS" for starts fishing, and had Napa before SIMI, whOo before HOOT.<br /><br />Didn't like that TIS was supposed to start the carol that actually begins "Deck."<br /><br />And an OAR is a crew member? <br /><br />Wash out here.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.com