tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post527650137122340371..comments2024-01-25T10:14:06.567-08:00Comments on L.A. Crossword Confidential: 05.04 WedOrangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-2984119531977655222011-05-04T18:04:28.937-07:002011-05-04T18:04:28.937-07:00Are the LA Times puzzles getting a bit tougher? I...Are the LA Times puzzles getting a bit tougher? I haven't been as confounded, regardless of the day, as I was with this one.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-45162707270299844042011-05-04T16:17:44.238-07:002011-05-04T16:17:44.238-07:00When I got to "CATSKILLS," I actually di...When I got to "CATSKILLS," I actually did laugh aloud. In addition to many of the favorite elements already mentioned in this puzzle, I really liked the "AABA" "ABEE" cross, as well.brainylagirlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-26530551479509054422011-05-04T15:31:13.756-07:002011-05-04T15:31:13.756-07:00According to M_W.com:
intransitive verb
1
: to wo...According to M_W.com:<br /><br />intransitive verb<br />1<br />: to work hard : drudge<br />2<br />: to be in continuous agitation : churn, swirl<br /><br />Examples of MOIL<br /><br /> 1. miners moiling all day in the sunless recesses of the earth<br /> 2. the angry mob moiled around the courthouse<br />...<br />First Known Use: 15th century<br /><br />Is this just turning toil into moil for alliterative purposes - 15th century it's first use, when was it's last? - can "archaic" ever be used in crossword cluing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-359972484612632822011-05-04T14:47:05.692-07:002011-05-04T14:47:05.692-07:00Moil is a word. And it has been for a long, long t...Moil is a word. And it has been for a long, long time. Get over it.Robert W. Servicenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-3109895793581437092011-05-04T14:31:46.519-07:002011-05-04T14:31:46.519-07:00Gamy? Moil? This meat is really plucky, and such...Gamy? Moil? This meat is really plucky, and such moil....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-79269774265076695822011-05-04T14:23:55.045-07:002011-05-04T14:23:55.045-07:00I found the endgame on this one challenging, but i...I found the endgame on this one challenging, but in sort of annoying ways. I won't repeat everyone else's kvetches, except to say that the work of a moil sound like MOIL to me.<br /><br />My own caveats:<br /><br />-COB is not a material, corn is a material<br />-All highways have numbers, not just RTEs<br />-I've always seen it as "That's for me to know.." and not "It's..."<br /><br />The clue for DIVINING ROD was interesting. That's a very tricky type of pun, one you don't see often. I for one liked "In and out organ" for EAR and the Robert Frost rhyme scheme.<br /><br />I dunno, Joon and PG...I've heard of Larry Mize and I don't follow golf at all.John Wolfendenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759716236594908137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-89398701074437830332011-05-04T13:31:42.056-07:002011-05-04T13:31:42.056-07:00@Catechist
Books as in the accounting books of a ...@Catechist<br /><br />Books as in the accounting books of a business. Checking if they are accurate can be called balancing.badams52noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-38183992352193782292011-05-04T11:47:43.974-07:002011-05-04T11:47:43.974-07:00Flaming DNF very early this morning. The same tOI...Flaming DNF very early this morning. The same tOIL crossing UtP, and just like PG, I figured it was some obscure collegiate sports uniform reference. I still find MOIL equally obscure, but it is a word. I must remember it; very tricky since it is so close to another word with the same meaning.<br /><br />Now, what did I like? I love cats, and SELF CLEANING is very funny. I think the best things about the theme are the pictures you found, PG! DIVINING ROD is very good (and useful with all those I's); did not know DEVON, but gettable from the crosses. I was proud of myself for (eventually) recalling the backup band for Sergio Mendez. All these years after hearing the songs on the radio, and I still thought it was BRAzIL, but the S was already firmly in place.<br /><br />I will close with noting that the clue for 25A, "Expand one's belly," is what will happen if you do 22A (UPSIZE) at the drive-thru speaker.CoffeeLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16473192190412844538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-8436070490041026192011-05-04T11:11:05.227-07:002011-05-04T11:11:05.227-07:00Fun theme today, nice originality. The cluing was...Fun theme today, nice originality. The cluing was different and took new approaches to old answers. In one EAR and out the other is something I heard a lot growing up, I took it to mean I was efficient at processing and disposing information, my parents disagreed.<br /><br />re: umps being called "men in blue", totally true, in fact, I would address them as "blue" but, iirc, MLB umpires have wore maroon jackets, black jackets, black shirts, etc.Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14900988170432327664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-78681314189091900792011-05-04T11:10:46.760-07:002011-05-04T11:10:46.760-07:00i agree with PG on MIZE. i'm a huge sports fan...i agree with PG on MIZE. i'm a huge sports fan but i've only ever seen this guy's name in crosswords. he's not even the most famous sports MIZE; that would be johnny "the big cat" MIZE of the baseball hall of fame.<br /><br />however, the fix is not <i>quite</i> as trivial as PG implies. you could, and probably should, change MIZE/MON to SIZE/SON, but then you'd also want to change UPSIZE/NEZ to UPSIDE/NED. i think that produces a better grid overall, but it removes a Z, which some constructors are loath to give up.<br /><br />overall, nice puzzle--cool theme and great long fill. but the plethora of abbrs (including some awkward ones like CANC and MOL and PSY), along with some fairly oblique cluing for a wednesday, made this one a bit less smooth than i would have liked.Joonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07825085755390339668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-77082858421779848462011-05-04T11:01:06.161-07:002011-05-04T11:01:06.161-07:00And MOIL (MOIL?)
The only other time I heard that ...And MOIL (MOIL?)<br />The only other time I heard that word was in an episode of Seinfeld where Jerry was the godfather at a bris.<br />-But it turns out that the spelling is slightly different.<br />Kramer: (about the Bris) Hey, we're not talking about a manicure. Imagine, this is gonna be his first memory of his parents, just standing there while some stranger cuts off a piece of his manhood and then serves a catered lunch!Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15655683586957057058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-73682756763556239602011-05-04T10:53:44.415-07:002011-05-04T10:53:44.415-07:00Different. Very good. Also learned a new word: M...Different. Very good. Also learned a new word: MOIL.<br />Good day for puzs. Only theme entries missing here:<br />. yakking up hairballs<br />. lapsitting<br />. pickyeating<br />Come to think of it, there's probably a few hundred more...<br /><br />Good day's work, Mr. Gagliardo.Masked and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-18074588334167504872011-05-04T10:04:02.838-07:002011-05-04T10:04:02.838-07:00I tracked down the "cheezburger" crosswo...I tracked down the "cheezburger" crossword puzzle that's in the first picture. It's the <a href="http://picayune.uclick.com/comics/tmlad/2007/tmlad070908.pdf" rel="nofollow">September 8, 2007</a> LA Times puzzle by Frederick J. Healy. And that cat must be high on catnip, because I don't see any Z's in the grid.Doug Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04235359276440866774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-31053278239410862412011-05-04T09:53:34.288-07:002011-05-04T09:53:34.288-07:00Good puzzle overall; I like cats so this was fun. ...Good puzzle overall; I like cats so this was fun. BALANCING was a little confusing -- I've heard of balancing checkbooks but I don't see how that leads to "Checking, as books." I agree that MOIL was mean -- I had TOIL and just figured UTP was some abbreviation I wasn't familiar with.<br /><br />On the plus side, I actually liked the EAR clue that PG complained about. DIVINING ROD was fun because I could see it almost certainly had to be that from crosses, but I had no idea how that was a "water shower" until I figured out I was thinking of the wrong "shower". Tricky tricky.<br /><br />And yes, the COMB OVER was amusing.<br /><br />A lot of good longer answers -- UPSIZE, AGONIZE, MANGLED, UNAIRED, and BONDAGE.Kurisuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132568197501054206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-46499519611259730142011-05-04T09:32:34.480-07:002011-05-04T09:32:34.480-07:00Gamy-Showing an unyielding spirit; plucky: a gamy ...Gamy-Showing an unyielding spirit; plucky: a gamy little mare that loved to runMerriam-Websternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-7512026406765100542011-05-04T09:30:10.999-07:002011-05-04T09:30:10.999-07:00Gamy for plucky??? Game seems right to me, but in ...Gamy for plucky??? Game seems right to me, but in my world "gamy" always meant wild meat that tasted too wild, or food that has started to go a little bad. Never heard "gamy" with the y to mean plucky.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-75413666744830973962011-05-04T08:40:55.998-07:002011-05-04T08:40:55.998-07:00Loved the theme too even tho I'm a dog-owner :...Loved the theme too even tho I'm a dog-owner :) The Donald really should try a new age-appropriate hairstyle - I mean even Justin Bieber cut his shorter. Me too - I just chopped 5 inches off mine. C'mon Donald, get a spring do!!Julienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-84660429534908799002011-05-04T08:32:47.196-07:002011-05-04T08:32:47.196-07:00I was off one letter in MOIL but it was the L, for...I was off one letter in MOIL but it was the L, for some reason thought it was MOIE. UNCA and UNCLEnch connected which was an interesting intersection. Cute theme and I also knew Larry Mize right off the bat.*David*noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-37958827564877727622011-05-04T08:21:30.376-07:002011-05-04T08:21:30.376-07:00Another paw up for this enjoyable puzzle as well a...Another paw up for this enjoyable puzzle as well as the cute cat pix. Yep, kitties are pretty skillful.<br /><br />I put BUNGLED at 13D and tried to come up with a polite title ending in B. Well, SAHIB came to mind but couldn't get anything going around that!<br /><br />@PG: No, I didn't try LORD before PORT but did try POPS as in Boston Pops (figured maybe there was a lesser known Baltimore Pops). <br /><br />@Alexscott: BUTTE/ONUS ... LOL / groan.shrub5https://www.blogger.com/profile/09466867716773759568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-90513092999990633972011-05-04T08:16:49.615-07:002011-05-04T08:16:49.615-07:0022D - Umpires are usually called "Men in Blue...22D - Umpires are usually called "Men in Blue"kerrysnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-28675359059878106272011-05-04T08:08:42.198-07:002011-05-04T08:08:42.198-07:00"There are strange things done in the midnigh..."There are strange things done in the midnight sun By the men who moil for gold..." The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert ServicePalamedesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-59858867442472278402011-05-04T07:52:04.402-07:002011-05-04T07:52:04.402-07:00Foiled by MOIL. Had UTP for Black at home. Epic...Foiled by MOIL. Had UTP for Black at home. Epic fail for a Wednesday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-48711570439619792042011-05-04T07:43:20.614-07:002011-05-04T07:43:20.614-07:00Oh, I forgot to say I really enjoyed the cat photo...Oh, I forgot to say I really enjoyed the cat photos/captions. Mad skills. You has them. Thanks, PG.Alexscottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-86727393061058821792011-05-04T07:40:04.728-07:002011-05-04T07:40:04.728-07:00Yes, I really enjoyed the 1A/14A COMB OVER combo. ...Yes, I really enjoyed the 1A/14A COMB OVER combo. (This is just a great week to slam Trump.) Surprised you missed that, PG. If I were Beavis or Butthead, I would have sniggered at the stacking of BUTTE and ONUS. But I'm not, so I didn't (well, not much).<br /><br />Also, Larry Mize is not really obscure. I mean, I don't follow golf at all, and I've heard of him. I think if you follow sports in general (and no, Iowa wrestling doesn't count), these names just seep into your head by osmosis.<br /><br />Lucky I'd seen MOIL in a previous puzzle, or else I'd've left that one as UTP. I agree, though, that's just a mean crossword answer, because you know the answer has to be TOIL. Is moil crosswordese? If it's not, it should be.Alexscottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-41213009294483819682011-05-04T06:12:39.590-07:002011-05-04T06:12:39.590-07:00Oops. Island dish is not Anka in 23-Down (Crosswor...Oops. Island dish is not Anka in 23-Down (Crosswordese).Marinoreply@blogger.com