tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post8103261754766009830..comments2024-01-25T10:14:06.567-08:00Comments on L.A. Crossword Confidential: T U E S D A Y December 21, 2010 Steve SalitanOrangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-19702669125811350672010-12-22T10:43:52.635-08:002010-12-22T10:43:52.635-08:00With all respect to the constructor, Ick. Kinda ...With all respect to the constructor, Ick. Kinda surprised Rich N. liked this one.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15157423920972400589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-85539041450861037782010-12-22T05:24:26.898-08:002010-12-22T05:24:26.898-08:00And the Altai Mountains of Mongolia? If, say, &quo...And the Altai Mountains of Mongolia? If, say, "smelt" is more exciting than "smell", why clue it as [Refine, as ore]. Or [Animation frame] for cel, yup, super exciting. IGA.<br /><br />Would, say, laconic instead of Laconia have made this boring? <br /><br />I would _love it_ if I could find pants that weren't too big for me.SethGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13753036404140901368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-10153640414640568302010-12-22T03:37:01.011-08:002010-12-22T03:37:01.011-08:00So you learned something! Is that so bad?
I can ...So you learned something! Is that so bad? <br /><br />I can see people not knowing IGA in certain parts of the country, but GELID is a perfectly cromulent word. <br /><br />And critiquing is fine, but calling for rewrites on an already published puzzle is a waste of time and an insult to both the editor and the constructor. Some of you are obviously WAY too big for your britches.NSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-80233545112161177032010-12-22T00:12:28.545-08:002010-12-22T00:12:28.545-08:00Oy, the GELID (new word for me) and IGA (never hea...Oy, the GELID (new word for me) and IGA (never heard that one)cross left me up the creek without a paddle.<br /><br />Funky puzzle.Wanda Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10851828971760090257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-23439078424298099762010-12-21T22:49:41.556-08:002010-12-21T22:49:41.556-08:00@SethG
Changing "gelid/altai/iga/cel/smelt to...@SethG<br />Changing "gelid/altai/iga/cel/smelt to something like solid/adlai/isa/cod/smell" would make this puzzle boring. Trading exciting words for run-of-the-mill words is NOT what I want to see.<br />Forget about trying to make a good challenging puzzle "more Tuesdayish"!JOHNSNEVERHOMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447455788629988277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-57664503058722811772010-12-21T19:57:12.108-08:002010-12-21T19:57:12.108-08:00@LarryS: That's just it. A mental alphabet ru...@LarryS: That's just it. A mental alphabet run is OK in my book, but typing 'em all in to see what fits, isn't -- and that's what I <i>did</i> have to do for that C. I should have been clearer.<br /><br />@grayvlad: <i>Hardness</i> is one characteristic you can use to help identify a mineral sample (along with colour, crystal shape, and a few more). One way to measure hardness is with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohs_scale_of_mineral_hardness" rel="nofollow">MOHS scale</a>. The way it works is that if mineral A can scratch mineral B, it's harder than B. (Non-mineral example: a carpentry nail can scratch a fingernail, but not vice versa.) The scale itself goes from 1 (soft) to 10 (hard), using ten specific minerals as reference points: talc=1, gypsum=2, calcite=3 ... corundum=9, and diamond=10. Fingernail has hardness 2.5, meaning that it scratches gypsum, but calcite scratches it. Not sure about the carpentry nail; elemental iron is 4, but nails aren't iron, they're steel, and different steels vary in hardness.Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-1756901502369552932010-12-21T19:39:03.639-08:002010-12-21T19:39:03.639-08:00OK puzzle, where the theme and just 3 or 4 words w...OK puzzle, where the theme and just 3 or 4 words were good. <br /><br />Cake sprinkles? No, don't think so. Percale sheets? No way. I thought Pratesi (just found a complete set in just the right color at Home Goods. Pure Egyptian cotton, very hight thread count).machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-41483884735466448142010-12-21T19:11:48.943-08:002010-12-21T19:11:48.943-08:00As far as Laconia - I've been Franconia, NH p...As far as Laconia - I've been Franconia, NH pop. 1036 although there's also a Franconia County, I think.<br /><br />Avg Joe Thanks for the Pachelbel and the scrod joke!<br /><br />@SethG - Yeah, we're not babies.CrazyCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00245025301434920905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-22280041615511942782010-12-21T18:06:09.517-08:002010-12-21T18:06:09.517-08:00Why are comments about the (lack of) editing not f...Why are comments about the (lack of) editing not fair?<br /><br />In the bottom center, for example, you could change gelid/altai/iga/cel/smelt to something like solid/adlai/isa/cod/smell. Is that both better and more Tuesday~ish? I think so. Objectively so? Not necessarily, but for sure a fair topic for discussion.<br /><br />Neither LACONIA nor CEIL is in an area that's all that hard to change in isolation. They're in there by choice; neither is forced into that area by constraints of the theme or anything I would consider flashy enough to make them worth keeping. <br /><br />In summary, I know you are but what am I?SethGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13753036404140901368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-77874425403777953682010-12-21T17:37:15.173-08:002010-12-21T17:37:15.173-08:00@Anon344 -
1. I've been to SF 4x, but don'...@Anon344 - <br />1. I've been to SF 4x, but don't, ergo, call myself same.<br /><br />2. Nowadays, SPRINKLES come in many shapes, including the aforenamed guitars and books, for obvious occasions. For religious events, they come in the shape of crosses, but no one will eat them.<br /><br />3. The grammatical tense of "stood in bed," is in the rhymo-pasto, when used in the sense of "should a stood in." <br />I also like "I been done it," since it covers a situation not covered in common English; that is, "I got it done, if you haven't noticed, so don't bug me." This can be said to bosses, parents and teachers. <br /><br />As the song says,<br />"Oh that I were what I would be, then would I be what I am not, here am I where I must be, go where I would, I cannot."Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-58872590271429442672010-12-21T17:14:54.976-08:002010-12-21T17:14:54.976-08:00I have to add to anon 3:44's comment. Can'...I have to add to anon 3:44's comment. Can't help it.... I'm made that way<br /><br />A traveling salesman has hailed a cab at Logan, and on the way into Boston inquires about a renowned local restaurant specialty. He asks the cabbie: "Hey buddy. Do you know where I can get scrod?"<br /><br />The cab driver, after a pause, says: "You know what, I've been asked that question a thousand times. But I've never been asked in the pluplurative subjunctive."Avg Joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-5717185500262249942010-12-21T16:57:54.037-08:002010-12-21T16:57:54.037-08:00@Avg Joe
Thanks for the Pachelbel moment.@Avg Joe<br />Thanks for the Pachelbel moment.JOHNSNEVERHOMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447455788629988277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-34107287150636483392010-12-21T15:57:12.272-08:002010-12-21T15:57:12.272-08:00Had no problem with Cake sprinkles,
Answer I didn&...Had no problem with Cake sprinkles,<br />Answer I didn't like were mohs? What is it?grayvladhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16597895744132010852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-53258685146238619572010-12-21T15:49:44.711-08:002010-12-21T15:49:44.711-08:00Unless you're an editor, you don't get to ...Unless you're an editor, you don't get to call for rewrites. Seems like this was just fine for at least one editor. <br /><br />Suck it up, ya babies!Natick Schmaticknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-33660193048246741062010-12-21T15:44:27.902-08:002010-12-21T15:44:27.902-08:00@SF: Don't recommend eating guitars and books...@SF: Don't recommend eating guitars and books straight from the jar. Much better on cakes.<br /><br />And, shoulda "stood' in bed - another dangerous pastime, or is 'stood' a pluperfect subjunctive?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-3353680212245175592010-12-21T15:17:41.459-08:002010-12-21T15:17:41.459-08:00Too many strange unknown words for a Tuesday.
IGA...Too many strange unknown words for a Tuesday. <br />IGA x ALTAI = Natick ergo DNF.<br />Agree with @John Wolfenden, HOKEY does not mean fake, it means silly, old-fashioned, simplistically sentimental. Hooey or hokum would have been closer (but no cigar). Rewrite!<br />@Eric, why does an alphabet run mean DNF? Unless that means entering letter after letter in the online version ... not that _moi_ would ever do that!Larry Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-31403655103135032082010-12-21T14:45:30.149-08:002010-12-21T14:45:30.149-08:00For Sfingi:
The Black Hills Motor Classic, common...For Sfingi:<br /><br />The Black Hills Motor Classic, commonly called the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, is held in Sturgis, South Dakota. The 71st Anniversary Sturgis Rally 2011, is August 8 - 14. Much warmer than June in New Hampshire.Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09472446316589207365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-36592575993285375352010-12-21T13:59:01.399-08:002010-12-21T13:59:01.399-08:00For Tinbeni on the solstice. And anyone else that ...For Tinbeni on the solstice. And anyone else that enjoys good piano. George Winston from his "December" album, Variations on the Canon.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAeahb6ysto&feature=relatedAvg Joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-48592398106958573892010-12-21T12:45:27.313-08:002010-12-21T12:45:27.313-08:00From dictionary.com:
ceil
–verb (used with obj...From dictionary.com:<br /><br />ceil <br /> <br />–verb (used with object) <br />1. to overlay (the ceiling of a building or room) with wood, plaster, etc. <br />2. to provide with a ceiling. <br />Use ceil in a Sentence<br />See images of ceil<br />Search ceil on the Web<br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Origin: <br />1400–50; late ME celen to cover, to panel < ? <br />Dictionary.com Unabridged <br />Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.<br /><br />It's a perfectly legitimate, non-archaic transitive verb. It came to me immediatly during my solve, most likely because I have seen it in puzzles before -- certainly it's not a word that I remember using.Van55https://www.blogger.com/profile/15904942044695917615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-66238749021997716832010-12-21T12:39:30.113-08:002010-12-21T12:39:30.113-08:00@Average Joe
A Pyrrhic Victory is one in which you...@Average Joe<br />A Pyrrhic Victory is one in which you win, but lose or use up so much in the process that you shoulda stood in bed. Based on a BCE war against Rome. "Another such victory, and I am undone."<br /><br />@Argyle - Great picture! But what's the Sturgis of the West? OSWOB<br /><br />@Anon1056 - I call acoustic guitars, "guitars," and chapter books, "books." I could go on. I'm old.<br />And, I have eaten them from the jar.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-64936499297414187132010-12-21T12:33:10.521-08:002010-12-21T12:33:10.521-08:00@Rube, File this under "You can't argue w...@Rube, File this under "You can't argue with a sick mind": I always try IRT as a first entry anytime the clue refers to a NY subway. Even though I've never been there or even ridden on any subway. The reason? Hair!<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsw8NVg4IiQ<br /><br />:-)Avg Joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-22136899324972968662010-12-21T12:25:19.135-08:002010-12-21T12:25:19.135-08:00Is CEIL really a transitive verb? I dunno. And HOK...Is CEIL really a transitive verb? I dunno. And HOKEY means trite or maudlin, not fake.<br /><br />All in all the hardest Tuesday I can remember.John Wolfendenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759716236594908137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-16274498863119291752010-12-21T12:11:49.378-08:002010-12-21T12:11:49.378-08:00Personally, I didn't like ACHIEST and CEIL. &...Personally, I didn't like ACHIEST and CEIL. "To ceil", a verb? Don't remember seeing GELID before, but it sounds legit. Percale and LACONIA were both lurking in the recess of the memory.<br /><br />I thought that ARCO and IRT were both arcana beyond Tuesday level. Having lived in NYC and currently living in Califoornia, they were both gimmes for me, but still...<br /><br />Laughed at another OREO this week. If anyone's interested, the OREO puzzle in the Sunday LAT is available on Merl Reagle's web site. Just Google for it.Rubehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773241241484881566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-34111277338944383852010-12-21T11:43:59.339-08:002010-12-21T11:43:59.339-08:00More than a passing resemblance to a train wreck. ...More than a passing resemblance to a train wreck. LACONIA = rewrite. CEIL = ditto. Nevermind the rest (which isn't great).<br /><br />Agree w/ PG about CAKE SPRINKLES.<br /><br />rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-45691132484955296002010-12-21T11:01:33.780-08:002010-12-21T11:01:33.780-08:00The Sturgis of the East. The next Laconia Motorycl...The Sturgis of the East. The next Laconia Motorycle Week will be June 11-19, 2011. The city will be much bigger at that time.Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09472446316589207365noreply@blogger.com