tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post8519286651621218004..comments2024-03-28T22:14:27.877-05:00Comments on L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Thursday, March 24th, 2016 Mel RosenZhouqin (C.C.) Burnikelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12750267554729853785noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-62787010877974709212016-03-25T00:08:30.744-05:002016-03-25T00:08:30.744-05:00Thanks to everyone for the terrific natal annivers...Thanks to everyone for the terrific natal anniversary wishes. Much appreciated. Yes, I'm playing tennis three mornings a week, cycling the other days.<br />As for the puzzle, I was a little stymied at first but got into it quickly and finished in 21 minutes, not bad for a 74-year-old geezer.<br /><br />And isn't it refreshing to not have a single annoying anonymous interloper today? Yes.<br /><br />Thanks again. Best to all.Rainmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06511366260609189046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-31358451425311838372016-03-24T23:01:43.122-05:002016-03-24T23:01:43.122-05:00For those that enjoy Garry Shandling's (and Ri...For those that enjoy Garry Shandling's (and Ricky Gervais's) humo(u)r and have the time... <br /><br />Here's <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrg89rvtZ1k" rel="nofollow">Gervais' interview with Shandling: Part 1,</a> <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hivVLgnDedE" rel="nofollow">Part 2,</a> <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v07YLdHXyz0" rel="nofollow">Part 3, </a> <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wAncD3GyYwM" rel="nofollow">Part 4, </a> and <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6VFYYkxl2XE" rel="nofollow">Part 5.</a> [each "part" is a separate link].<br /><br />For flu induced Barry G. it may even be funnier :-) Get well soon...<br /><br />Cheers, -TAnonymous Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459563526290288425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-37508134245867545612016-03-24T22:29:16.241-05:002016-03-24T22:29:16.241-05:00Good evening, folks. Thank you, Mel Rosen, for a ...Good evening, folks. Thank you, Mel Rosen, for a fine puzzle. Thank you, Steve, for a fine review.<br /><br />Got through this easily, for the most part. Got ALI BABA right off the bat.<br /><br />Theme eluded me for a while, but then I caught on. Very good.<br /><br />My last theme was SUNDAY DRIVER. I could not get Billy SUNDAY initially. Then, I remembered.<br /><br />NOBLE, DIEU, ALIENEE, BEI, and NES were all tough. They were all clustered together making it worse. Finally got them and the puzzle.<br /><br />See you tomorrow.<br /><br />Happy birthday, Rainman.<br /><br />Abejo<br /><br />( )<br />Abejohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10318111258011554517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-46999788430864338332016-03-24T21:31:13.935-05:002016-03-24T21:31:13.935-05:00I forgot - RIP Garry Shandling. Tawnya - Tom Pett...I forgot - RIP <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FzX2Z09GmfU" rel="nofollow">Garry Shandling</a>. Tawnya - Tom Petty is in it ;-). -TAnonymous Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459563526290288425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-2299276474106701932016-03-24T21:16:15.581-05:002016-03-24T21:16:15.581-05:00Hi All!
HBD Rainman!
I thought I was going to ge...Hi All!<br /><br />HBD Rainman!<br /><br />I thought I was going to get a win w/ 1 & 44a off the BAT. I struggled w/ the names but finally got them all. But with 24d == NatLE, sticking w/ CLAnK @49d, SIS @32a, and being AT SEA on 5a xing 6 & 8d that, after a long struggle, I TITT. DNF.<br /><br />Thanks Mel for the diversion but you win. Steve - thanks for finishing the NC, Central, and SW. And the Adam ANT video. Here's their <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z7fV-wB2z8" rel="nofollow">Strip clip</a> (Tawnya beat me to Goodie Two Shoes).<br /><br />ALBERT HALL was 1st Theme'er and that helped breakup all the other corners. SUNDAY was a total WAG as was BLUE but both fit the ?clue.<br /><br />ESPs - too many to mention but not enough to finish :-)<br /><br />Sadly I gave up on LEINEE when the A appeared in SUND<b>A</b>Y. I should have known it was a dreaded a-word :-)<br /><br /><b>Fav:</b> If I'd got 'em all it would be the DOWSEr getting the LOOT after his CON; SEE YA! <i>But</i>, since I didn't, I'll settle on the iClue-Cleo. <br /><br />Runner up: UNO'S pizza.<br /><br />TTP - nice follow-thru on the G+ / (B) profile instructions. <br /><br />Misty - don't fret on thinkin' it's Friday -- my girls do too as they get Good Friday off. Only daddy has to work :-(<br /><br />Tawnya - You know of<a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EHV0zs0kVGg" rel="nofollow"> DDDunn?!?* </a> Awesome. +1 on you. All good choices. I think we'd get along musically. Well, maybe... I'd take RUSH's catalog to my isle.<br /><br />Cheers, -T<br />*Dunn's one reason (Geddy is another) I wanted to learn the bass when I grow up - I'm just not grown up yet :-)Anonymous Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459563526290288425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-78933493037942026122016-03-24T18:39:39.455-05:002016-03-24T18:39:39.455-05:00Darn! I thought it was Friday. I've been sendi...Darn! I thought it was Friday. I've been sending early Easter greetings to everybody and wishing them a happy weekend coming up. Guess this week was just a little too busy for my own good. Thanks for letting me know, everybody.Mistyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17570695193695039956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-22703333148424422782016-03-24T17:29:38.461-05:002016-03-24T17:29:38.461-05:00Tawnya, great song links.
AvgJoe, Whoosh ! Ri...Tawnya, great song links. <br /><br />AvgJoe, Whoosh ! Right over my head on that one.<br /><br />It was pouring rain earlier. Then it sleeted. Now we are getting a half dollar sized snowflakes. Beautiful. <br /><br />HG, you wondered what was under those togas, and CED delivered. <br /><br />I wonder what happened to Tuesday's birthday girl ? Hope your ortho visit went well yesterday.TTPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03978803962510303498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-14309315097291298262016-03-24T16:51:41.784-05:002016-03-24T16:51:41.784-05:00Hi Misty, around here it's Thursday. I've ...Hi Misty, around here it's Thursday. I've been a day ahead myself. <br /><br />Crunchy but well clued, a nice typical Thursday (hi again Mindy) puzzle. AnonymousPVXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10078186298428497941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-81963175368668955182016-03-24T16:31:30.695-05:002016-03-24T16:31:30.695-05:00Sorry, Misty, but still no speed run Friday.Sorry, Misty, but still no speed run Friday.Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09472446316589207365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-85069505126296920022016-03-24T15:39:55.973-05:002016-03-24T15:39:55.973-05:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAINMAN !!!
Steve: Good job on the...<b>HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAINMAN !!!</b><br /><br />Steve: Good job on the write-up and links. Very interesting stuff ...<br /><br />Every once in a "Blue Moon" you get a puzzle ... and you are on the Constructor's Wave-Length.<br />Today ... from the first clue ... to the first theme .... this Thursday offering almost seemed like a Monday-level puzzle.<br /><br />Mel: This was almost my <b>"New-Favorite-2016-Puzzle"</b> ... would have been had it had some Scotch in the grid. lol<br /><br />Fave theme (though they were ALL very good) was SUNDAY DRIVER since at this time of the year, with the numerous Snow-Birds in town, it seems like our roads are clogged with a plethora of Sunday Driver's.<br />"The Locals Cheer!:"<br />That's All Right! ...That's OK! ... <br />They will be heading back home (Up-North) Someday ...<br />... Soon!<br /><br />Looking forward to some overnight rain ... therefore NOT waiting for Sunset.<br />Cheers!Tinbenihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14661395078047234853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-86244745013179504202016-03-24T15:13:24.631-05:002016-03-24T15:13:24.631-05:00Tawnya, We had a lot of smoke here in SE Nebraska ...Tawnya, We had a lot of smoke here in SE Nebraska late yesterday afternoon from that same fire. It's not noticeable today since the wind has shifted to the north. It's burned more than 400,000 acres in OK and KS, and is not yet under control. Barber County SW of Wichita seems to be the focal point. <a href="http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Mile-wide-grass-fire-in-Comanche-County-373205531.html" rel="nofollow">Kansas Fire</a><br /><br />TTP, I was simply assuming that if 42 is the answer to all important questions in life, then it would only be appropriate that it take 4,042 holes to fill the Albert Hall. :-)Avg Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02301873113962640644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-87394522478126613512016-03-24T14:30:34.520-05:002016-03-24T14:30:34.520-05:00Bill G,
Would you agree that this one was at abo...Bill G,<br /> Would you agree that this one was at about the same level--toughness with rewards for sticking it--as yesterday's? I felt a degree of <i>deja vu</i> in that regard. Again, I found half of it quite easy, and then when it began to resist me, first in the NE corner, I began to think about... c h e a t i n g. <br />But No! By persisting past the first, second, and third waves of temptation, I prevailed. Ta-DAH!<br /> I liked the theme, which was clear right away when I cracked LITTLE ROCK. From then on it was a matter of my ol' brain zipping back and forth between what surnames belong and which common phrase will benefit. The only one that slowed me for a while was BLUE SKY in place of BLUEJAY.<br /> A lot of short fills were gimmes because they recycled popular crossword words, <i>viz.</i>, OLLA, AIT, GALA, ALE, ANAT, etc.<br /><br />Happy B'day, Rainman, and Happy Easter to everyone who partakes!<br /> Ol' Man Keith https://www.blogger.com/profile/02073553138045178596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-15208692367313351702016-03-24T14:26:09.123-05:002016-03-24T14:26:09.123-05:00Happy Thursday Everyone!
I did just OK with this ...Happy Thursday Everyone!<br /><br />I did just OK with this puzzle today, WEES with all the proper names and French. I took Spanish in high school and after three years I know about as much as D-Otto (don't forget "Donde esta el bano?")<br /><br />The names I did know: <br />Adam Ant is still one of my favorite '80s guys. I still remember making my mother explain what <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o41A91X5pns" rel="nofollow">subtle innuendos</a> meant. I can't imagine she enjoyed that conversation.<br /><br />Here's a favorite from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UD0c58nNCQ" rel="nofollow">STEVIE</a> and Tom Petty. Written by Petty and backed up by the Heartbreakers and Donald "Duck" Dunn (of SNL and Blues Brothers and much more). Can't go wrong with a Tom Petty song! If I was stuck on an island and could only listen to one artist's complete catalog for the rest of my life it would be Tom Petty. Who would you pick?<br /><br />I've been watching Chris Rock forever it seems and he just hosted the Oscars so he's pretty fresh in the media. Years ago he did this little bit about gun control that still makes me laugh. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuX-nFmL0II%22" rel="nofollow">Enjoy!</a><br /><br />And although I'm sure I can think of a lot of people that played Royal Albert Hall, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeVHTDhAHrY" rel="nofollow">Eric Clapton</a> comes to mind first, of course!<br /><br />We woke up to the strong smell of smoke coming in our window last night - after a brief panic and check of the whole house, figured out it was coming from somewhere else. After checking the news this morning, learned there is a wild fire in KANSAS! The winds were strong enough to carry the smoke here and the Springfield, MO 911 was inundated with phone calls of people reporting a fire somewhere!<br /><br />Have a great day :)<br /><br />tawnyatawnyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07466346747643525821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-52999101139167296362016-03-24T14:18:55.197-05:002016-03-24T14:18:55.197-05:00Happy birthday, Rainman.
Ahh, so that's what ...Happy birthday, Rainman.<br /><br />Ahh, so that's what a DACTYL is. Not anatomical, but poetical.<br /><br />I guess one of AARON's fortes was sculpture.<br /><br />Another buddy of ETNA is the island Stromboli, just north of Sicily. It looks like the whole island is nothing but a volcanic cone. I like how it looks, very, um, volcanic!<br /><br />CARPENTER ANT is one of my favorite fills. It reminds me of a technical paper I wrote several years ago entitled <i>Thor the Ant</i>, the ant being a metaphor for tiny earthquake signals hidden beneath the tall "grass" of noise. The point I was making was that in order to find the ant you can't just look at the easy-to-see tips of the blades of grass. My boss(es) didn't get it at all; their only response was to ridicule me about "what kind of grass" I was smoking. <br /><br />Best wishes and happy Thursday to you all.Jaycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15906163232315177399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-24037027259410854442016-03-24T13:51:31.203-05:002016-03-24T13:51:31.203-05:00A great Friday puzzle, Mel, many thanks. I rarely ...A great Friday puzzle, Mel, many thanks. I rarely get a Friday these days without some cheating, but this one was a speed run for me even though I knew the name of only one of the pair in each theme clue. But my German helped with STADT and BEI, and once I got the middle OVER I even figured out that the 73 had to do with golf. So this was a wonderful way to end the week.<br /><br />Always love your expo, Steve, especially the Shakespeare quote. But feel silly that I didn't get your NEWT/"Tiny" joke.<br /><br />Loved your first limerick, Owen. Hope you get over your flu quickly, Barry G.<br /><br />Happy birthday, Ray.<br /><br />Have a great weekend coming up, everybody!<br /><br />Mistyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17570695193695039956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-68661783704244889592016-03-24T13:33:50.301-05:002016-03-24T13:33:50.301-05:00Dactyl all relate to finger. Pterodactyl's the...Dactyl all relate to finger. Pterodactyl's the "winged finger". The three syllables in the foot of verse relates to three lengths in one's finger, one long, two shorter. That's my research.Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09472446316589207365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-63637446346818913022016-03-24T13:01:11.619-05:002016-03-24T13:01:11.619-05:00Tough one, needed Google help in the center.
Did ...Tough one, needed Google help in the center.<br /><br />Did not like 30A cause harm = do ill,<br />but I have to give kudos for finding a clue for the almost unparsable "doill."<br /><br />(re:38A) Yes Steve, <a href="http://rattlesnaketraining.com/process.php" rel="nofollow">they do make muzzles for snakes!</a><br /><br />Re HG, Togas: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4hWqIW--rQ" rel="nofollow">Aw nuts! I am never going to find out what's under those things...</a><br /><br /><a href="http://demandware.edgesuite.net/sits_pod26/dw/image/v2/AAWA_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-wilton-project-master/default/dwc5a1e647/images/project/WLPROJ-1536/romance-in-the-rain-cake.jpg?sw=1000&sh=1000&sm=fit" rel="nofollow">HBD Rainman!</a><br /><br />Hmm, I dunno,, that cake seems a little girly.<br /><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2727/4451837798_3c2d3d5fa3_b.jpg" rel="nofollow">But I am sure Rainman will find a way to improve it...</a>CrossEyedDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09745913007262424048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-36918803706336363242016-03-24T13:00:31.535-05:002016-03-24T13:00:31.535-05:00AvgJoe, thanks for that link to "A Day in the...<br />AvgJoe, thanks for that link to "A Day in the Life." I read the WIKI on it and then listened again. But you lost me on the 4042 comment. <br /><br />Also forgot to wish Rainman a HBD. <br /><br />It's pouring rain here. Over 2" since it started. Good day to spend inside after gardening all day again yesterday. <br /><br />Didn't know of dactyl in the poetic sense, but it perped in. I was off in left field as I leapt from three toed (like a sloth) to dinosaur (like a pterodactyl) so I moved on. BTW, what do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary? A thesaurus. TTPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03978803962510303498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-47663284431991446082016-03-24T12:05:01.147-05:002016-03-24T12:05:01.147-05:00Today's solve took longer than usual. I didn&...Today's solve took longer than usual. I didn't know all the names and had to wait for perps to figure out the theme. But I'll take a CSO at Toronto BLUE JAY!<br />Thanks Mel and Steve.<br />HBD to Rainman. FBS (feel better soon) to Barry.<br />Smiled at the poetry today OwenKL. (You must try a dactyl LOL!)<br /><br />I stalled at the SW corner because I had ON a PASS and SIRS before the detested KNTS. Hand up for SIS before SON which gave me a hot LIST before LOOT.<br /><br />Have a great day all. We got some freezing rain and ice but not as bad as some areas.CanadianEh!https://www.blogger.com/profile/05688358229402732332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-75336083975782096012016-03-24T11:54:28.181-05:002016-03-24T11:54:28.181-05:00Oops: Forgot to say, "Happy Birthday, Rainma...Oops: Forgot to say, "Happy Birthday, Rainman! 🎂 🎁 🎉 🎈Irish Misshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12527047622731333304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-72177819163508699402016-03-24T11:14:55.799-05:002016-03-24T11:14:55.799-05:00Although, KNT is listed as an abbreviation for kni...Although, KNT is listed as an abbreviation for knight, I cannot find any examples of its use. I was hoping to find a more accurate clue. As Steve said, KNT is not in the list of abbreviations used in the British honor system.<br />I agree that the answer DACTYL does not need 3 syllables, the foot of verse called a DACTYL does.<br />An example of dactylic meter is the first line of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem Evangeline, which is in dactylic hexameter:<br /> *THIS is the / FORest prim- / EVal. The / MURmuring / PINES and the / HEM locks,*<br />The first five feet of the line are dactyls; the sixth a trochee. Thanks to WIKI.Yellowrockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590216912123103432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-54982663576999037732016-03-24T10:48:26.718-05:002016-03-24T10:48:26.718-05:00Hola y Buenos dias!
Happy birthday, Rainman!
Tha...Hola y Buenos dias!<br /><br />Happy birthday, Rainman!<br /><br />Thank you, Mel Rosen, I really liked this name pairing theme mostly because I recognized all the names even if I don't know much about some of them. STEVIE Nicks lives here in AZ so she's in the news every now and then. I believe she opened a restaurant in Prescott.<br /><br />It took a while for DACTYL to EMERGE and it's in the same class as iamb, iambic pentameter, etc. in the writing of poetry, a poetic foot being a syllable.<br /><br />My near Natick was also at BEI/ALIENEE where I had all but the i which I suspected but looked up just to check.<br /><br />And thank you, Steve, especially for the British viewpoint when needed.<br /><br />Feel better, Barry.<br /><br />Have a blessed Maundy Thursday, everyone!<br />Have a <br />Lucinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16278649651081244724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-78341720846702357202016-03-24T10:44:26.471-05:002016-03-24T10:44:26.471-05:00As I understand it DACTYL is not a 3 syllable word...<br />As I understand it DACTYL is not a 3 syllable word, but means a 3 syllable word as defined in Wikipedia "<br /><br />"A dactyl (Greek: δάκτυλος, dáktylos, “finger”) is a foot in poetic meter. In quantitative verse, often used in Greek or Latin, a dactyl is a long syllable followed by two short syllables, as determined by syllable weight. In accentual verse, often used in English, it is a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables—the opposite is the anapaest (two unstressed followed by a stressed syllable)." The Poetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-73171438650399421262016-03-24T10:33:28.289-05:002016-03-24T10:33:28.289-05:00Dactyl can only be a two syllable word. You cannot...Dactyl can only be a two syllable word. You cannot have more syllables than vowel sounds. If you put your hand under your chin and say the word. The number of times your chin hits your hand is the syllable count in the word. SpitfireSpitfirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808834206795630394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5995532066584316410.post-62921677212580940132016-03-24T10:17:48.648-05:002016-03-24T10:17:48.648-05:00Musings
-TSKED did me in for two bad cells on this...Musings<br />-TSKED did me in for two bad cells on this puzzle with a fun/helpful theme<br />-My daughters’ stereotype of a <a href="https://i0.wp.com/s2.quickmeme.com/img/9f/9f3e01f09c800e7c569174a27fecfa3ac64cef97a91c569cdab0af21ee0290cd.jpg" rel="nofollow">SUNDAY DRIVER</a><br />-I wonder what’s under those TOGAS and kilts<br />-It seems A LIENEE and ALIENEE both work<br />-<a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=sweet+sixteen+2016+bracket&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8" rel="nofollow">This 2016 Sweet Sixteen NCAA BB bracket</a> shows the favorites mostly EMERGE to play for the championship<br />-Our school secretary has spent thousands of dollars to follow STEVIE Nicks <br />-<a href="http://s.allacronyms.com/235160hipster.png" rel="nofollow">Acronym with SEE YA</a><br />-Teaching second grade is definitely not in my AREA<br />-“So Dark The CON Of Man” is found on the Mona Lisa in the <i>Da Vinci Code</i><br />-<a href="https://popnado.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/downton-abbey-season-3-cricket-match.gif" rel="nofollow">They play it at Downton too!</a><br />-My 72-year-old golf buddy shot ONE OVER PAR and ONE UNDER his age on Tuesday on our Par 70 course<br />-Pawnbrokers are supposed to try hard to not buy hot LOOT<br />-<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2015/6/5/8735807/north-carolina-basketball-academic-scandal-ncaa-2015" rel="nofollow">EASY A scandal</a><br />-More <i>Da Vinci Code</i> - <a href="http://sophle-neveu.tumblr.com/image/132390703135" rel="nofollow">Dying Jacques Sauniere arrayed himself like Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man sketch</a> Steve referenced<br />-HBD Rainman!Husker Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09980336006827988210noreply@blogger.com