ZMIOG = GIZMO
OPAYS = SOAPY
SOLMYT = MOSTLY
FIXNUL = INFLUX
CARTOON ANSWER:
FOR SOME WOOLLY MAMMOTHS, THE TAR AT LA BREA IN LOS ANGELES WAS A – – –
IAPTLFL = PITFALL
Happy Tuesday, Jumble friends! The La Brea Tar Pits might be a sticky situation, but I was able to come away from today’s puzzle feeling squeaky clean. In an ironic twist, David added a sudsational new clue word in SOAPY, but it wasn’t my Pride and Joy this morning. INFLUX took a few extra seconds to come into view so it’s my pick for the most difficult anagram of the day. All of the anagrams were brand new, but their clue word solutions were all used back in 2018. GIZMO popped up in a puzzle on 5/7 which made it the oldest while MOSTLY was last in play on 11/25.
Today’s cartoon featured a father and son duo that have stopped to take a look at an archeological excavation occurring within the La Brea Tar Pits in the heart of Los Angeles, California. The cartoon sentence informs us that the partially submerged skull we see depicted is that of a woolly mammoth and Jeff skillfully kept its tusks intact and added a few other bones as well.
The La Brea Tar Pits are naturally occurring asphalt deposits that have seeped up from the ground over the course of tens of thousands of years. The tar pits visible today are from human excavation and over 100 pits were excavated in the early 1900’s in search of large mammal bones. Normally, the asphalt appears in areas known as vents and it hardens into stubby mounds as it oozes out. The website for the La Brea Tar Pits describes their location as a “gateway back to the Ice Age” and I’m sure a few of our readers have had the opportunity to visit the site and its accompanying museum. Be sure to let us know your thoughts and opinions if you’ve been there!
For the second day in a row, our final solution was composed of just 7-letters. The layout was excellent, but there was no way to hide the answer within the limited amount of characters. The P&T nestled together brought PITFALL quickly into view for a swift finish. Have a terrific Tuesday, and I’ll see you right back here tomorrow!
Jumble Answers 
The TV Gizmo was mostly inoperative after suffering an influx of soapy water after being dropped into Mom’s mop bucket. One must always walk gingerly around a busy wife to avoid any pitfall. Good morning all! Really must avoid any coffee.after 6:00 P.M.
Good morning. Easy breezy today. Even the cartoon answer was a given. Maybe because there were only 7 letters. It’s answer was a lot better than yesterday’s. Until tomorrow stay well
Your puzzles are not as good as they use to be half of them don’t make sense.
I’d have to disagree. I think they’ve become more challenging and it’s refreshing to have to work a little bit more to come up with the answer.
I agree
I had a high school teacher who once told us that students sometimes wrote “Cannot be solved” on some questions, and requested that they write “Cannot be solved BY ME.” So when you say that the puzzles haven’t been making sense, it’s more accurate to say they haven’t been making sense TO YOU.
But keep in mind, if there’s one thing we all so need to be aware of, especially in light of the present day climate, it must be respecting everyone’s opinion. We’re all entitled to it. We all can’t agree, we all can’t be solving puzzles at the same level, we all can’t be expected to express ourselves the same way. BUT…we all have to learn to live and let live. 🙋🏻
Well said, Steve! I agree 💯!
Has anyone considered that today’s puzzle could have had an alternate solve? Those giant animal’s bones we’re found in the puts FIT PALL (an appropriate death)? Good morning Angela, Chuck, Paul, Betty, & anonymous others, have a bee-utiful day; don’t get stung by possibilities.
The INFLUX of SOAPY water lying on the basement floor was MOSTLY as a result of the new GIZMO her husband had installed on the washer.
Good Morning puzzle people, rainy day here on the Cape. The paper came earlier than usual, so I went to the puzzle section right away. I found this puzzle so easy, a Caveman could have done it. Have a great day all Steve S.
Morning, Steve! I’ve lived my entire life on the NH seacoast and have NEVER visited the Cape. Kind of odd, I know…..
Wishing you a sunshine filled day after the rain rolls out. 🙂
Thanks. Now comes the humditty as they would say up your way. SS
IKR. It’s been brutal over the past few weeks. It was cool enough last night that we slept with the windows open, but the top of Mt. Washington was in the mid 40’s so it won’t be long until fall!
Be careful not to offend the cavemen people like in the commercials. After all,they are just people too. Education wasn’t a priority back then, survival was the main course. All in fun. Got to read your post Mike,enjoyed it as usual. Take care.
Angela – WHERE ARE YOU???
Miss you
Tks, Jamu. I’m here, I’m just juggling a little more than usual. 🙋🏻
Paul. I was being ironic. Kinda like prehistoric animals and prehistoric man. I thought I was being witty, not offending the cave people. And Jamu your are right. The first words may have been “Not tonight honey, I have a headache”. SS
Posted similar to this and it’s now floating somewhere in space. Don’t know why that happened. Anyway,be careful what you say about cavemen,remember the commercials. After all they are people too. Education wasn’t a big thing back then,staying alive was their main concern. Got to read your entry Mike,loved it. I still have Gizmo in the original box from back when. Take care.
Thank you for the kind words, Paul. I hope the world is treating you well today. 🙂
With the days getting shorter,later sun rise,earlier sunset,fall is definitely on the way,so we must avoid the pitfall ,that the wooly mammoths suffered.
It’s about time to have some wood pellets delivered , I suppose. Love the fall, but NOT YET! 🙂
Hi all – The ‘X’ gave FLUX and then INFLUX, and putting LY at the end solved MOSTLY quickly. First thought PITSTOP for the answer, but the letters gave it.
I have heard that since La Brea means tar, the name could be written “The the tar tar pits.” Kind of like the fictional pretentious new restaurant, “La Maison de la Casa House.”
Great sentence, Jamu.
Have a great day everyone!
Excellent point on the -LY, Steve. It’s been some time since I posted about it and I’ll make a point to bring it up so new players/readers can take advantage.
La Maison de la casa House was hilarious! I’d try for a reservation but it’d probably be too fancy for me. I’ll stick to a simple supper at mitt hus instead. 🙂
Steve – love your response about Zasu, but honestly, do you REALLY like fried fish? I pull the crust off & eat it directly. I love whole grilled bass, flounder, & rainbow trout. I even chew down the tail bone & the gills. I went on the Colorado & hooked some Rainbows. They were delicious & beautiful! I saw how they got their name…..like looking at the sky at that colorful band.
Steve – the only tar tar pits I’m familiar with is the little bowl served with my fried fish at seafood restaurants. They ARE the pits!
Paul – as I’ve mentioned before; it is believed
( by anthropologists) that cave WOMEN developed language & cave MEN just used grunts & finger pointing; so I wouldn’t worry about offending them.
Jamu – 😂. I think I’ve been to that restaurant and been served those cups by their SAUCY waitress, ZaSu Pitts.