tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post6283197928136362423..comments2024-03-29T08:35:40.450-05:00Comments on L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Saturday, November 4, 2017, C.C. BurnikelZhouqin (C.C.) Burnikelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12750267554729853785noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-30074341199886818902017-11-05T02:30:11.332-06:002017-11-05T02:30:11.332-06:00For my friends who object to my use of the word &q...For my friends who object to my use of the word "cheating" in connection with Xwds, I suggest you read less for the <i>literal</i> usage and more for <i>context</i>.<br /><br />We frequently mention <i>cheating</i> in this corner to describe the looking up of answers. If in doubt, just check back a couple days' worth. It's a fair use of our common language when self-reporting, although nobody thinks it ranks as an actual infraction. It is not a criminal act, neither a misdemeanor nor felony.<br /><br />I can lighten up, therefore I am.Ol' Man Keith https://www.blogger.com/profile/02073553138045178596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-54783977492390722212017-11-05T02:14:08.991-06:002017-11-05T02:14:08.991-06:00A study in the arcane, and not all of it accurate:...A study in the arcane, and not all of it accurate: Dinner rolls are not free. TANSTAAFL.<br /><br />What <i>is</i> this horse shit about male model?<br /><br />Enough of BRO! Enough of ODS!<br /><br />A typically lame puzzle from C.C.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-7478441291811524192017-11-05T01:23:27.505-06:002017-11-05T01:23:27.505-06:00Wow! My worst Saturday in ages. :-(
Not just a ...Wow! My worst Saturday in ages. :-(<br /><br />Not just a DNF, more a Barely Did 25% (counting generously). <br /><br />I suppose it is good to be reminded just how much one has to be humble about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-84044471774636572932017-11-04T22:25:42.101-05:002017-11-04T22:25:42.101-05:00Weren't those HILL BILLIES cute on Jumble, Wil...Weren't those HILL BILLIES cute on Jumble, Wilbur? They made me smile. Mistyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17570695193695039956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-12137074100530615742017-11-04T21:59:57.428-05:002017-11-04T21:59:57.428-05:00Btw. Marines in general are called "Grunts&qu...Btw. Marines in general are called "Grunts". In the Corps it's the Infantry.<br /><br />Dye is the well known Golf architect but I knew Ernie Els had built an excellent course. <br /><br />And of course I like CC puzzles 'cuz she'll throw in some baseball gimmes. Except ballparks. I can't keep the advertisers straight. <br /><br />Ok. HILLBILLIES was the jumble answer. <br /><br />WCWilbur Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08905123297841127198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-37337410968442660152017-11-04T21:55:09.842-05:002017-11-04T21:55:09.842-05:00WC, got the goat Jumble. Sometimes when I have a ...WC, got the goat Jumble. Sometimes when I have a cw brain freeze, I change to the Jumble, and vice-versa, to get the solve. Wonder which neuron transmitters are arcing doing which puzzle (are they located in the same area of the brain?) TX Msnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-22179051254163850102017-11-04T21:43:37.755-05:002017-11-04T21:43:37.755-05:00I'm with Picard exactly. Except I don't do...I'm with Picard exactly. Except I don't do the Google"cheats" because I know my mind. It'll always want to cheat. <br /><br />Now take today: I saw CC which equals doable even on a Saturday. I futzed around and finally was Mistyfied by the NW(The CSO was cool). So...<br /><br />I grabbed the Jumble and joined the hillbillies*. That didn't take long and I finally got to Wilde and Star follower which I originally thought might be Star-LETS. Then with the G I tried MAGS. <br /><br />Then I got up and left McDonald's and white driving to the Airport WIT and MAGI dawned on Marblehead. However...<br /><br />Despite everything, I don't get how the MALE MODEL "Fits perfectly". Maybe CC can explain in her write-up tomorrow.<br /><br />WC<br /><br />* Misty will explain Wilbur Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08905123297841127198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-7580258561960701312017-11-04T21:36:45.617-05:002017-11-04T21:36:45.617-05:00Anon-T @ 2:53, happy that DW has a great sense of ...Anon-T @ 2:53, happy that DW has a great sense of humor! Comes in handy every day, maybe? "Immigrant Song" (Led Zeppelin) at age 5?! Well, that 'splains your taste in music now. :-) Yeah, as a child I thought it was funny to change the speed to 78 rpm while Daddy listened to his classical music, but he didn't. <br /><br />Snorkle is my feeble portmanteau of "snort" and "chuckle". Thank you much for the Carol Burnett clip - she was/is the greatest comedian ever. Tim Conway also was no slouch in those days. <br /><br />No more links to "rat's nests" from you IT guys, please - yikes!<br />TX Msnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-9404113399944312282017-11-04T20:12:50.238-05:002017-11-04T20:12:50.238-05:00"I love the sound of Whoosh as a deadline goe..."I love the sound of Whoosh as a deadline goes by or a joke goes over my head" (with apologies to Douglas Adams). I just got your DVD joke. LOL! -TAnonymous Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459563526290288425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-49057907582913433812017-11-04T18:55:55.458-05:002017-11-04T18:55:55.458-05:00Thanks for the more common meaning of an electroni...Thanks for the more common meaning of an electronic rats nest, Anonymous T. Routing a circuit board from a network ratsnest is a lot like solving a crossword: Perseverance, experience, creativity, art, science, engineering and luck.<br /><br />Each person is free to solve puzzles and grade themselves as they please. I only consider my solution to be FIR if I solve with no Googles or peeks at the solution. Learning new words is a goal. Learning patience and creative problem solving is another goal.<br /><br />That said, I like OMK's maxim: <br />Cheating is cheating, but some cheating is fairer than not cheating at all.<br /><br />Here is a cheat I will do if all else fails and it would otherwise be a DNF:<br />I will try to VERIFY a WAG answer with Google. If it fails, then I can go back to more creative thinking and/or WAGs.Picardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17401317669146538447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-42346111744155756442017-11-04T17:50:32.291-05:002017-11-04T17:50:32.291-05:00Hi Y'all! A very big challenge today, C.C. Tha...Hi Y'all! A very big challenge today, C.C. Thanks. Thanks, Splynter.<br /><br />The NW was the last to fill. Went top to bottom with little fill on the west side. Did better on the East. Finally got some fills on the bottom and worked back up.<br /><br />Never heard of INDIEGOGO or BLUE MOON.<br /><br />Tony, I have a son born in 1970. He's in his prime as a business man. He'd never have time for a CW because his two boys play sports which take up much of his time. Like driving to Houston over July 4 so his son could play baseball there. 1970's babies have big ideas & dreams, I think.<br /><br />We didn't have TV during the "Oh, Rob" era but I knew it. Don't think I ever saw a complete show, just clips.<br /><br />OMK, who do you think you are "cheating"? You aren't being graded. I'm with Lucina. Doing the CW is a private learning experience and constant learning process. It isn't a test for academic credit. <br /><br />I just saw the fattest squirrel I have ever seen with a big bushy tail. I'm wondering if that is a sign of a very cold winter coming.PKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14570575955563406341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-814717987715717822017-11-04T17:23:24.479-05:002017-11-04T17:23:24.479-05:00OMK et al:
In my opinion, looking up answers is no...OMK et al:<br />In my opinion, looking up answers is not cheating, but LEARNING and isn't that the goal here? Sometimes when researching something it leads to further exploration and deeper learning. A puzzle often encompasses many fields beyond my knowledge base and I'm intrigued to discover more about that. Research is how we learn and continue to build on our own lore which then strengthens each time we recall it. That's my HO anyway.<br /><br />AnonT:<br />From last night: thank you.<br />Lucinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16278649651081244724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-58292970434895225632017-11-04T17:07:11.565-05:002017-11-04T17:07:11.565-05:00I used to be thrown by "pop culture" det...I used to be thrown by "pop culture" details which, as <b>Jayce & Irish Miss</b> point out, are not readily available to everyone. Their admiration for <b>C.C.</b> is well placed, but this also points to a component in our solving menu that can be turned to good use.<br />When I am faced with a possible DNF because I'm just not up on my pop culture lore - or for that matter on any "lore" that's available to specialists but not to us unwashed masses - I'll first try to solve through WAGs and perps. But if all else fails I will not hesitate to cheat <i>in a responsible fashion</i>.<br />I'm sure others have been here before me. But isn't it worth spelling out? I mean, rather than quit the pzl altogether and go with a DNF, I will go to Fallback #1: giving myself permission to cheat in certain identifiable "fields," such as TV shows, or baseball greats, or you-name-it. <br />If you follow this formula, you need to be extra cautious about peeking at other answers. Don't let the slippage in a defined area give way to a slide or even an avalanche...<br /><br />OMK's maxim: <br />Cheating is cheating, but some cheating is fairer than not cheating at all.Ol' Man Keith https://www.blogger.com/profile/02073553138045178596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-59226271101440789152017-11-04T16:44:42.861-05:002017-11-04T16:44:42.861-05:00In 2017 we still watch the syndicated sitcoms fro...In 2017 we still watch the syndicated sitcoms from the 60's and 70's on TV. Alan loves them. I prefer them to a lot of modern TV fare.Yellowrockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590216912123103432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-39591164957002106422017-11-04T16:37:08.483-05:002017-11-04T16:37:08.483-05:00Ha -hah!
I knew I'd have to pay the price for ...Ha -hah!<br />I <i>knew</i> I'd have to pay the price for the easy starters this week! And leave it to our own <b>C.C.</b> to supply the killer.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong. While this wasn't a legit <i>Ta-</i><b>DA!</b>, it wasn't a throw-in-the-towel day either. I managed well enough after resorting to OMK's Fallback Position #1 (something like DefCon 2), in which I allow myself to cheat on only those items that a devoted TV/film fan would know (like today's 9D & 42A). <br />I reason that such a concession just puts me in the same class as cruciverbalistas to my right and left. <br />(Yes, <i>Yes!</i> - I <i>know</i> that is still cheating, but what the hey--!)<br /><br />My fave fill was MESS TENTS, but I liked RANSOM WARE too. <br /><br />Happy weekend everybody. Remember to gain an hour tonight!Ol' Man Keith https://www.blogger.com/profile/02073553138045178596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-20678288680978173032017-11-04T16:09:34.934-05:002017-11-04T16:09:34.934-05:00"Stick a fork in it" is a term used by s..."Stick a fork in it" is a term used by stock analysts when describing companies that will either go out of business or get bought on the cheap by other countries. You can usually tell by researching which company's stock has the largest short percentage.<br /><br />One current 'dead company' still in business is Sears. Many restaurant chains are just treading water.<br />Big Easynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-5964633381602340282017-11-04T16:01:27.284-05:002017-11-04T16:01:27.284-05:00To those who wonder (and marvel) how our lovely la...To those who wonder (and marvel) how our lovely lady from China knows about Oh, Rob, I can tell you from personal experience that CC knows more about American pop culture than I do. And, believe me, her treasure trove of knowledge encompasses a wide range of subjects, far beyond TV trivia. (More than once, she has had to correct my English usage.) What amazes me more than her language skills and knowledge, is her proficient and proliferate puzzle production. Aren't we lucky, folks?Irish Misshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12527047622731333304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-74564746576038576432017-11-04T15:48:14.859-05:002017-11-04T15:48:14.859-05:00Thank you, AnonT and Jayce. It sounds as though my...Thank you, AnonT and Jayce. It sounds as though my Woohoo has become a trademark!Mistyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17570695193695039956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-20593866612450332142017-11-04T15:27:43.227-05:002017-11-04T15:27:43.227-05:00I enjoyed this puzzle, even though it had so many ...I enjoyed this puzzle, even though it had so many pop culture items in it. C.C. sure does have "the knack" for constructing crossword puzzles and this one is a fine construction. Hand up for entering MESS HALLS at first. I also put in DINNER MENU before the perps showed it was wrong. Interesting to see TRULY crossing DUSKY and trying to imagine somebody saying, "It truly is dusky tonight." This puzzle is also a good example of one in which, as C.C. has pointed out, the bottom part is heavy with the letter S: SHOTGLASS, AGTS, TOSS, SIRS, PLIES, and RATSNESTS.<br /><br />Picard, I envisioned the same thing you did when I filled RATS NESTS. And, like Irish Miss and Lucina, I thought of Misty at Woo-hoo.Jaycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15906163232315177399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-44887218950989268872017-11-04T15:20:32.431-05:002017-11-04T15:20:32.431-05:00yep I even discarded malemodel for rollmodel. Of c...yep I even discarded malemodel for rollmodel. Of course I didn't get REB because I fixated on the color. I also find that I can't spell sounds nor proper names. so close but no TADA.<br /><br />Off to the range...Driving not home on theAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04657212130232818015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-49937872531178336852017-11-04T15:18:30.636-05:002017-11-04T15:18:30.636-05:00Fun, doable puzzle for a Saturday morning. Thank y...Fun, doable puzzle for a Saturday morning. Thank you CC. Last to fall was the E in indiE. Geesh....<br /><br />Splynter, great write up as usual. Sauvecito sounds so manly. Better than Elmers Glue, Dep, or Gorilla snot. (I'm not making that up.)<br /><br />Happy weekend, everybody.GarlicGalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11311111741227061537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-26264550979553784982017-11-04T15:08:08.560-05:002017-11-04T15:08:08.560-05:00Excepting confidential or higher information durin...Excepting confidential or higher information during my career, I wouldn't question how another person would know a given bit of information. Gary's statement seemed to express amazement at her knowledge base, to which many of us here are in continuous awe of, and I think that was his point...<br /><br />But, if inquiring minds really want to know, perhaps at least one consideration should be given to the fact that OH ROB has appeared in either clues or answers multiple times here since CC started hosting this forum. I'm sure avid younger solvers, many of whom may have never seen the DVD show, might note that it has appeared in many other crossword puzzle venues as well as here. <br /><br />Another consideration would be that syndication of old network programs keeps them on the TV long after their initial runs. As an example, I sometimes watch old westerns in the early morning hours. I never knew that Clint Walker starred in a series called Cheyenne, but enjoy watching it. Just knew him from The Dirty Dozen. Never saw Leave it to Beaver growing up, but now understand all of the humorous references to the two-faced Eddie Haskell thanks to syndication. <br /><br />D-O and Anon-T, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=cylinder+record+players&num=30&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi7mJSj2qXXAhUK04MKHUqpCvQQ_AUICygC&biw=1280&bih=580" rel="nofollow">We had a working one of these in the house</a>, but it didn't play any Zeppelin. TTPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03978803962510303498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-12081614083130766342017-11-04T14:53:57.272-05:002017-11-04T14:53:57.272-05:00DO - yes... That's why when I say "Lucina...DO - yes... That's why when I say "Lucina/IM/YR, et.all. on the blog said...." <br />She'll say, "Oh, is that one of your octogenarian friends?" <br />I try to point out that Steve, and others are only a few bucks older than we and Splynter is much younger... She shrugs me off w/ a "NAH - you're old - you're doing crosswo ... WAIT, I can't say that 'cuz that would make me... <i>'Oh -T!</i>', go enjoy your puzzles." We were both born in '70 (her in Feb, me in Jul so she's always the "older woman" :-))<br /><br />I hope no one takes offense at DW's dismissal; she's joking. And, her mom (Dear MIL) follows us too :-). Age is a mindset IMHO - everyone @the Corner is young at heart. On the internet no one can tell you're young/old/<a href="https://goo.gl/images/tydx6D" rel="nofollow">a dog.</a> [New Yorker]<br /><br />The 1st 45 I had was <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2hZ6OytDxo" rel="nofollow">Immigrant Song</a>, a BSIDE [Led Zeppelin] when I was 4 or 5 yro. I've seen 78 on my turntable dial but never had real wax to test it out -- It would make 33&1/3 sound like the Chipmunks though; that was always fun.<br /><br />TxMs - did you say <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3qqE_WmagjY" rel="nofollow">Snorkle?</a> [Tim Conway & Burnett w/ DVD laughing his butt off].<br /><br />Cheers, -TAnonymous Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459563526290288425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-32804260747574995512017-11-04T14:46:56.145-05:002017-11-04T14:46:56.145-05:00To misquote Robert Heinlein --
TANSTAAFD
There A...To misquote Robert Heinlein --<br /><br />TANSTAAFD<br /><br />There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Dinner roll.<br /><br />Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13270740184766230842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-16109973388095807442017-11-04T14:26:40.102-05:002017-11-04T14:26:40.102-05:00D-O, snorkle! lolD-O, snorkle! lolTX Msnoreply@blogger.com