tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post6244250245791075934..comments2024-01-25T10:14:06.567-08:00Comments on L.A. Crossword Confidential: WEDNESDAY, January 27, 2010—Daniel A. FinanOrangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-78649881571428935742010-01-28T11:12:33.211-08:002010-01-28T11:12:33.211-08:00GAO does indeed stand for government accountabilit...GAO does indeed stand for government accountability office, but this has only been true since 2004. when it was first established in 1921, it was the general accounting office. that could be the source of the confusion.<br /><br />sfingi, i didn't mean to mislead with that onion article. (i assumed everybody knew about the onion.) perhaps i shouldn't have called it "sad."Joonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07825085755390339668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-42028419214903795732010-01-27T19:48:49.317-08:002010-01-27T19:48:49.317-08:00@Mac, you're correct. Katy Perry is affianced...@Mac, you're correct. Katy Perry is affianced to Russell Brand, who is a very off beat English actor/comedian. He was the "rocker boyfriend" in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", he was in "Penelope," Bedtime Stories (Adam Sandler's movie) and is in the latest version of "The Tempest." (post-production). He can be very randy and somewhat amusing on late night gab fests, playing both sides of the sexual aisle, not unlike Katy Perry. <br /><br />Jeff Bridges! Be still my heart! Have always enjoyed his performances. Have to see his newest, "Crazy Heart." The son's are "Dude-ites" and bow to "The Great Lebowski." Younger cousin's husband has "LEBOWSKI" on his license plate!<br /><br />I struggled with the NE corner,too, not knowing ZESTA, EGEST, EREWE-why does that remind me of EARWIG?<br /><br /> The three letter fills: PEC-MER-MAR-MSS-GES-ORT-LAA-EAU- sound like they should be sung in "The Sound Of Music!"<br /><br />@Shrubb5! SHRUBCLUB! Who knew? I'll join! Can we have VINEWINE at the meeting? If we drink Dandelion Wine, do we get GRASS GAS? <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irt9CcMMtbI" rel="nofollow">How To Make Dandelion Wine</a> <br /><br />"Dandelion Wine" was also a semi-autobiographical novel written by Ray Bradbury. :)ddbmcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-48412190588903311252010-01-27T17:42:11.613-08:002010-01-27T17:42:11.613-08:00@Sfingi: Katy Perry has a very visible British com...@Sfingi: Katy Perry has a very visible British comedian fiance.<br /><br />@Joon: very good links!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-27442578708124834342010-01-27T16:10:59.368-08:002010-01-27T16:10:59.368-08:00To Anon; When I was running around Juarez, Mexico,...To Anon; When I was running around Juarez, Mexico, as a young child,drinking beer, etc.if you were buying something, the merchant would ask you-" plata o oro-"silver or gold" which meant Peso"s[eight cents]or gold[an American dollar}If you said Plata, he would just giggle but if you said oro,he knew you were serious and the haggling would begin.HUTCHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14722150630533336199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-66244522616950179702010-01-27T15:33:12.205-08:002010-01-27T15:33:12.205-08:00@Sfingi 12:02 pm:
Joon's link to the story abo...@Sfingi 12:02 pm:<br />Joon's link to the story about the young man was from The Onion, a parody news site. It was fictional.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-72532707252276462792010-01-27T15:32:28.350-08:002010-01-27T15:32:28.350-08:00I'm surprised at the popularity of AI at this ...I'm surprised at the popularity of AI at this stage of its programming. People who think they can sing but they can't, those who know that they can't but sing anyway, some who probably could with some training, and a very few who can actually sing. <br /><br />Listeners can be in on the joke, laugh, boo, or applaud each performance. They can cring in embarassment for the singers who are awful but sincere, especially when they are ridiculed by judges. <br /><br />I guess it's entertainment. For other tastes, there are a thousand channels to pick from. Wonder what Zworykin and Farnsworth would think of their invention if they could see it in 2010.Parsannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-89924286666783593302010-01-27T15:23:29.967-08:002010-01-27T15:23:29.967-08:00Just not a good day for me.
I agree pretty much wi...Just not a good day for me.<br />I agree pretty much with Rex and the others... this one was baddddd!<br />I wanted to BARF! Uh, excuse me, I mean EGEST my breakfast.<br />There wasn't anything I liked.<br />And I agree with Amy's husband...horrible Katy Perry clip!<br />Ay least we were treated by Orange to a Big Lebowski clip.<br /><br />Tomorrow I will be going to a very primitive location for a winter outing (to photograph massive ice formations) and so I won't have a computer hookup. I won't be back online till next Monday.<br />Y'all have a wonderful weekend!!!JOHNSNEVERHOMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447455788629988277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-87028236506125433252010-01-27T14:13:38.043-08:002010-01-27T14:13:38.043-08:00I'll take State Mottos for $1,000, Alex. This...I'll take State Mottos for $1,000, Alex. This State's Motto, Oro Y Plata, is the only one in Spanish. What is Montana?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03674416802758095699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-11096036958105350352010-01-27T14:01:22.087-08:002010-01-27T14:01:22.087-08:00That's exactly what we did, Rex—turned it on m...That's exactly what we did, Rex—turned it on mid-show, saw Avril snicker, saw one singer make it to Hollywood and introduce her kid to Simon, saw Katy snicker. That's all we watched. Might've been a total of 2.5 auditions, in the middle of the show.Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-51883454969611463342010-01-27T13:39:59.334-08:002010-01-27T13:39:59.334-08:00To be fair, Perry was way way more professional (a...To be fair, Perry was way way more professional (and intelligible) than Lavigne. Plus the distinction betw. them and regular judges isn't good. Kara has written many hit songs, Randy is a producer as well as a musician. And somehow Simon is arguably the most perceptive of all of them.<br /><br />Also, if you turned off show after two auditions, how could you have possibly seen both singers unless you (doubtful) happened to catch the very last Perry one and the very first Lavigne one — or vice versa, I forget the order?<br /><br />rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-15045996465718660312010-01-27T13:38:29.877-08:002010-01-27T13:38:29.877-08:00@Orange
Have never seen Idol or the Simpsons or ev...@Orange<br />Have never seen Idol or the Simpsons or even the Family Guy.<br />I know it is my 'loss' for not viewing these shows and watching the History, Natl.Geog., Discovery channels.<br />Saw the Bitch clip on the internet today from last night. The claws came out.<br /><br />@Sfinge<br />Continued ACLU membership when the local chapter took up a 1st Amendment case for a small business owner.<br />Guy owned a bait shop, had painted pictures of fish on his building (the nerve!). City of Clearwater sued/fined him over a local ord. prohibiting murals on buildings. He won his case.<br />I agree the ACLU shouldn't have taken that publishing case.<br /><br />@Chefwen<br />LMAO - Rexism?<br />Hmmm, isn't that what we have here on Monday and Friday?<br /><br />My Tinism is complete.Tinbenihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14661395078047234853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-65626093140062568392010-01-27T13:02:22.966-08:002010-01-27T13:02:22.966-08:00Husband and I caught the last few minutes of Avril...Husband and I caught the last few minutes of Avril Lavigne and the first few minutes of Katy Perry on "Idol." It's one thing for Simon and Randy, who are not singers but in the music business, to pass judgment on wannabe singers. But for Lavigne and Perry—singers who have made it, are successful, and have great connections—to snicker openly at singers with no industry connections...well, it's unseemly, to say the least. It's a bitchy (would use the same word if they were male) and arrogant thing to do. We turned off the show after about two auditions.Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-30411445136826357972010-01-27T12:59:17.832-08:002010-01-27T12:59:17.832-08:00Is there some law that I haven't heard of agai...Is there some law that I haven't heard of against actually giving sensible clues to the words? I am getting really tired of nearly every puzzlemaker using silly clues that you really have to be tuned into the author's odd sense of humor to appreciate. Can't we have crosswords that just give people a chance to flex their vocabulary, without having to decipher the author's sense of humor/puns as well? Not to speak ill of the departed, but must everyone try to emulate the late Dan Naddor? Just give us sensible clues; don't try to be too cute or make us guess at your puns. Vocabulary, folks, vocabulary. Leave the jokes for Leno or Letterman. Please.housemousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13137171147080803261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-83014231519996123572010-01-27T12:02:24.055-08:002010-01-27T12:02:24.055-08:00I guess guys either love or hate Lesbians. Hubster...I guess guys either love or hate Lesbians. Hubster's one of the former.<br /><br />Had to Google 3 partial sports clues: TAYE, SMU, LAA; and one other, EREWE, a Byron I just didn't know.<br /><br />Only write over, DREDGE over "remote." Wrong channel.<br /><br />Love anything with John Turturo - Sicilian. Laughed at how skinny he was in that movie. And Buscemi, half Sicilian. I just bought Interview. Hope it's good.<br /><br />My husband was in the ACLU but quit - not over the neo-Nazi thing in Skokie, over which they lost huge numbers of members, but over their defense of big publishers. He figured they should spend their funds on those who can't afford to represent themselves. This latest Supreme Court win should have some interesting results.<br /><br />@Joon - very sad, a young man like that. Makes you wish you could have brought him around.<br /><br />@Chefwen - Rexism LOL! On the other topic, I don't watch reality shows, and that's one reason.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-40152493654163424082010-01-27T11:51:34.032-08:002010-01-27T11:51:34.032-08:00@orange: super write-up; thanks; had no idea re EG...@orange: super write-up; thanks; had no idea re EGESTS<br /><br />@srub5: had same problem in NE; getting ZESTA and ERE WE<br /><br />@tinbeni: totally agree GYM very cleverly-clued<br /><br />@shiva: thanks for explaining HERBVERB; I needed it. Also, forgot CW 101 on ORT<br /><br />My favorite Coen Brothers movie is "O Brother Where Art Thou": terrific soundtrack too. At my kids' insistence, I watched "Big Lebowski" first time over the holidays. Like anything that develops a cult, the film will have people, like me, who nod off before the end. Agree Bridges, Goodman, Buscemi very good; was that P S Hoffman as aide to rich guy?<br /><br />Stopped at DFW airport recently. Zane Grey books clearly remain hot items..in Arizona he clearly rules<br /><br />ok here's a pet peeve: again we have ABAB. And not just in this puzzle. Other tired fill: EKE, ESTA, ACLU. I liked the theme; but the over-all execution felt second-rate (sort of like ZESTA and FANTA?)Charles Boglenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-26573290085665745772010-01-27T11:36:23.194-08:002010-01-27T11:36:23.194-08:00Couldn't remember the cracker name and put in ...Couldn't remember the cracker name and put in ZErTA, must have confused it with the mattress Serta, then got a really big laugh when 11D turned into REXISM. HAH!<br /><br />Personal opinion - I thought Katy Perry was kind of a little bitch last night on Idol, chomping on her gum and laughing hysterically at many of the singers, I do admit that they were pretty awful, but show some respect.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-83655667713499876042010-01-27T11:27:00.386-08:002010-01-27T11:27:00.386-08:00@CPA
I think GAO is actually Government Accountab...@CPA<br /><br />I think GAO is actually Government Accountability Office. Well, I know because I work there.<br /><br />Regardless, theme answers were easy when I picked it up but the NE corner was a mess for me too. Didn't know ZESTA for the crackers and had ERUPTS instead of EGESTS. <br /><br />Overall, didn't love the puzzle but didn't hate it either.Chicknfriedricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09675974746203901176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-58892750576499075972010-01-27T11:24:46.352-08:002010-01-27T11:24:46.352-08:00Not the best but an entertaining puzzle for me, de...Not the best but an entertaining puzzle for me, despite being NEATH my expectations. One complaint is that the printed clue for 65D in the LAT Calendar section does not have a blank. The crosses indicated BIZ, so I assumed a misprint, and was correct for once. I hate a misprint ERROR.JIMMIEnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-587085570816562712010-01-27T11:20:43.282-08:002010-01-27T11:20:43.282-08:00Zesta crackers are sold nationally, just not in ev...Zesta crackers are <a href="http://wheretobuy.keebler.com/search.aspx" rel="nofollow">sold</a> nationally, just not in every store/chain. <br /><br />If I were to micturate, say upon a rug, I will have egested. Speaking of, [Ed.'s pile] is much different than [Mr. Ed's pile]. EPEE. ASSESS. RENAL!SethGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13753036404140901368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-36729770202493577202010-01-27T10:48:25.694-08:002010-01-27T10:48:25.694-08:00@David Zesta crackers (which are saltines) are sol...@David Zesta crackers (which are saltines) are sold in the midwest like here in Cincinnatirynosgmawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10610503025153718754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-37674259068136838052010-01-27T10:41:37.263-08:002010-01-27T10:41:37.263-08:00Lit.doc.
I hate it when they tell me I booted a gr...Lit.doc.<br />I hate it when they tell me I booted a grounder.<br /><br />Lets end the football season before we get around to baseball speak and spring training.D. Jeternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-90943873811401214032010-01-27T10:30:31.173-08:002010-01-27T10:30:31.173-08:00I guess inexperience does occasionally pay off. I ...I guess inexperience does occasionally pay off. I enjoyed doing this puzzle, and thought the theme thingy was cute. Had the same experience with the NYT puzz today. I'm sure though that within a couple of years I'll learn to dislike this sort of puzz, but for now, :)<br /><br />Only real wart, for me, was "boot" = ERROR. All I can think is that to be given the boot is to be fired. For an error? I'm missing something, or that clue is reeeally a stretch.<br /><br />And the scattering-of-ashes scene in The Big Lebowski is worth the price of admission.lit.dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06729199575329286046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-75431139763120649202010-01-27T10:13:44.480-08:002010-01-27T10:13:44.480-08:00Theme revealed itself quickly.
OK, except for the...Theme revealed itself quickly. <br />OK, except for the HERB VERB.<br /><br />I'll admit it, I am a card carrying member of the ACLU, defend the Bill of Rights, get labeled too liberal.<br /><br />Liked the GYM clue, not much else.<br /><br />@Orange, nice write up, first time I turned off a clip. Probably an age thing.Tinbenihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14661395078047234853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-63376646478967771972010-01-27T09:46:52.609-08:002010-01-27T09:46:52.609-08:00I liked the write up better than the puzzle today....I liked the write up better than the puzzle today. Big Lebowski with JEFF Bridges was just meh for me when I saw it. My daughter's boyfriend loves it. I guess I will have to revisit it at some point. That Katy Perry song has always made me want to EGEST, although she was kind of cute on Idol last night. <br />California tidbit of the day. In 1924 a film crew came to Santa Catalina Island to do a film version of a ZANE GREY book "The Vanishing American." They brought 14 American bison for the film. When they were done they left the bison on the island. Now there is a herd of 150 roaming the interior of Catalina. There is also a hotel named after ZANE GREY.<br />Thanks Orange! Very funny write up for a so-so puzzle.CrazyCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00245025301434920905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626052240584383873.post-73351227666007764872010-01-27T09:41:19.978-08:002010-01-27T09:41:19.978-08:00@DataGeek
GAO = General Accounting Office@DataGeek<br />GAO = General Accounting OfficeCPAnoreply@blogger.com