tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1164365098698142993..comments2024-03-29T09:57:04.522-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Popsicle in Fifty Shades of Grey / SUN 10-28-12 / Psychologist Jean / Prime minister of 1945 / 1978-79 CBS detective drama / Softly exhale cheap sentiment / Hoarders airerRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61610835571941863932012-11-05T14:21:38.959-05:002012-11-05T14:21:38.959-05:00I went time-traveling last week and @chefbea offer...I went time-traveling last week and @chefbea offered to email the puzzles to me so I could solve with the real-timers. Trouble is, I finished yesterday's (last Sunday) this morning, then read all 104 posts, so now it's lunchtime Monday 11/5, the storm has passed and the wreckage (the "a" is a schwa) remains. And nobody remains on this blog I betcha but maybe some are slower even than I.<br /><br />I didn't start the puzzle until last night, busy all day. It took me a while, but I liked it except for some of the dumb fill like as has been noted. But overall it made me work and I was proud that I didn't have to resort to Google. <br /><br />For the longest time I had codeWORD instead of SAFEWORD (I won't even read reviews of Shades of Grey, a bad choice it seems). That really messed up the SW. I got Evan-PICONE right away, and eventually ONEB, but stuck what to do with cO_PS for "wet bars". I got SOAPS before SAFEWORD. I had wanted ATTLEE, but didn't remember he had 2 T's. I recognized SCHWAS as a real thing, probably a diacritical mark, but didn't remember exactly what it was until I looked it up after. My mother was a school teacher and mentioned them but it didn't sink in at the time.<br /><br />However, my History degree from an expensive and prestigious institution whose name I will not sully by identifying, allowed me to calculate Queen Eliz I's coronation century. Just the century, mind you. I knew she died somewhere around the turn of the 17th century, when her successors got beheaded and whatnot. And reigned for a good while which puts her smack dab in the middle somewhere in the 16th Cent. Who says a college education isn't useful? And thanks to years of puzzling, I'm a dab hand at Roman arithmetic. <br /><br />So Mrs. @Rex is a Kiwi? Sweet! So they can watch "Outrageous Fortune" and she can translate, and he can then figure out the relationship of the Hamlet-themed episode titles to the actual content of the episodes. Which I sure couldn't. But then, I didn't have a translator. <br /><br />Now let's see if I'm a robot. Ellen Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00473445503706985149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89828890458476529332012-11-05T00:55:57.743-05:002012-11-05T00:55:57.743-05:00Saw the constructor names and immediately, at 1A w...Saw the constructor names and immediately, at 1A we have a paean to Rex's wife's heritage, followed by the awful KIL at 1D (WTF?) leading into the paradigm theme answer LATHELADYLATHE, which uses a word, like "courier" which should only be a noun. So, started off not impressed. There are some nice clue/answer entries, but overall a less than usual Sunday, of course IMHO. Some have commented on how Rex will criticize other constructors who have examples of lazy fill, and there is much here of the same ilk, but I think that to produce a "sparkling" Sunday puzzle is an awesome challenge, which Rex and Caleb are not yet up to. Nevertheless, I did enjoy this one, except for WRITHENEWYORK. Never heard of Rye, NY. I guess you have to live in Binghamton to appreciate that one.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52137291486575019102012-11-04T14:51:06.783-05:002012-11-04T14:51:06.783-05:00Typical for the NY Times to replace Clint with Cas...Typical for the NY Times to replace Clint with Castro.Alexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32854489167543289642012-11-04T14:10:24.926-05:002012-11-04T14:10:24.926-05:00WPP and I finished with OWS: AtA/PAtUA, but still ...WPP and I finished with OWS: AtA/PAtUA, but still had lots of laughs figuring out the theme puns. Like many others we caught THE trick early on and the theme was a big help in the solve. Our last answer in, SCHWAS, started out as "twinAS" which morphed into "Shorta" before the crosses finally produced the correct answer, which I had to write in below the grid because the boxes were pretty much just a black blob by then.<br /><br />There seemed to be an uncommon number of "?" clues, a total 0f 21 including the 9 theme answers. Rex must like puns more than he lets on in his commentary - or maybe that was all Caleb and/or Will. I love puns, but thought "Killed a hero?" was pretty questionable, and SCABS seems a pretty harsh was to describe the replacement refs.<br /><br />I think I'll take my Labs out for a game of "Get on the stick!" now (even though they usually think FETCHing is beneath them, I still have fun throwing the sticks).Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13507726232308331312012-11-04T11:50:38.282-05:002012-11-04T11:50:38.282-05:00I thought for sure that OFL would recuse himself t...I thought for sure that OFL would recuse himself today. And well he should have. This is a grid with a ho-hum (no aha!) theme along with some horrendous fill. Right smack dab in the center we have AANDE. How many times have I told you: it is ludicrous to create an acronym with "AND" spelled out! No! Censored! Out! Out, damned spot!<br /><br />Add to this a few more no-nos: viz. NHLER, DLIX, KIL--and we have a grid that, produced by anyone else, OFL would pan mercilessly. I am disappointed. These are two of the finest minds in the free world, and I am sure they are capable of better.<br /><br />A couple of usages new to me: I never knew "CHEESE" was somehow equated with "cheap sentiment." That's a real "huh?" Plus, HONEYS as a verb?? Oh, maybe in, like, a frat initiation, where they "honey" the pledge and turn him loose in a forest. I dunno.<br /><br />I did like one themie: WAITANDSEETHE. Very descriptive.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39839625856587124532012-11-02T14:42:25.812-04:002012-11-02T14:42:25.812-04:00perhaps in the future you won't be so critical...perhaps in the future you won't be so critical of mediocre theme constructs. maybe if the title were "what the...phuch" it would have had some sense of unity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75376022284594265232012-11-01T09:08:51.754-04:002012-11-01T09:08:51.754-04:00I utterly LOVE the picture of the S&M Grocery ...I utterly LOVE the picture of the S&M Grocery sign. I presume that you didn't just grab that off the web, but know that it's right across the river from your fine institution, and only a mile from the house in which I grew up. (Readers from afar, the place is real and has been there forever!) I've been waiting 40 years for it to finally go viral and get the fame it deserves!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62634188577185740262012-10-31T00:00:53.271-04:002012-10-31T00:00:53.271-04:00101A= Rye, NY. I don't think that is fair also...101A= Rye, NY. I don't think that is fair also. The puzzle is done nationwide and probably overseas as well. Re 106A; I don't think that should be clued that way. Mr. Maleska just rolled over.johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16259664144002215775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18147464650945755672012-10-29T14:40:43.203-04:002012-10-29T14:40:43.203-04:00I liked the puzzle just fine, but my wife pointed ...I liked the puzzle just fine, but my wife pointed out that a well-known crossword critic <a href="http://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2011/10/tv-oilman-turned-private-eye-tue-10-25.html" rel="nofollow">once wrote:</a><br /><br /><i>Puzzle also features one of the least clever and most annoying clues of all time (___ Kong). The only time I ever want to see that clue is if the answer is DONKEY. The whole "Is it KING or is it HONG?" gimmick is bush league.</i><br /><br />There did seem to be an awful lot of stuff in here that Rex Parker would usually give people hell for. This Michael Sharp guy got off easy for some reason...<br />Mike H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70051416625838982462012-10-29T14:05:34.778-04:002012-10-29T14:05:34.778-04:00this puzzle was garbage. if you take out the &quo...this puzzle was garbage. if you take out the "the"s, the answers make no sense. garbage. if you are going to be critical of other junky puzzles, try to be a bit more even handed than the NYT's reporting of Israel. did i mention that i thought that this puzzle was trash?oldbizmarknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8966577992411750122012-10-29T13:27:22.567-04:002012-10-29T13:27:22.567-04:00Not having read any of the 50 Shades of Grey serie...Not having read any of the 50 Shades of Grey series, I had to google that clue and was a little surprised to see the answer. Between bra size, areola, stud, party bus . . . really, I wondered if your college-age sons wrote this puzzle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16672632886149394862012-10-29T08:05:14.859-04:002012-10-29T08:05:14.859-04:00Attempt 3-- JFC, am surprised by your tone.
I gre...Attempt 3-- JFC, am surprised by your tone. <br />I grew up 20 miles from Rye but I don't think that's a fair answer. And 50 shades rubs me the wrong way. So to speak. Finally-- your references to schlong as an answer crack me up. Ginger Amelia. Am I a robot? Good luck to those in Sandy's path. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56589361265481377392012-10-28T22:46:30.405-04:002012-10-28T22:46:30.405-04:00@JFC - Seems many found it at least mildly clever ...@JFC - Seems many found it at least mildly clever and/or amusing. Not sure what you mean by "bad taste in fill" since you cite no examples. Others mention KIL, the RRN, KAZ, NHLER, and UTHANT. Rex even manages to point out some of the drecky fill. I don't see a single comparison to Berry, Gorski, or Silk. Rather, it seems that most found this an enjoyable Sunday with many of the same compromises most Sundays suffer from, but constructed well enough that those compromises are more than compensated for by some fun theme answers and interesting fill. Feel free not to like the puzzle, but there's no need to be a priss about it.<br /><br />Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46519148460428014942012-10-28T22:39:08.884-04:002012-10-28T22:39:08.884-04:00Not that I've read the series, of course, but ...Not that I've read the series, of course, but the "Popsicle" safe word wasn't used until the third book in the "fifty shades" series, which is called "fifty shades freed" and not "fifty shades of grey". Or so I've heard...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19812884839571338472012-10-28T22:29:31.148-04:002012-10-28T22:29:31.148-04:00It's going to be hard to take Rex's critiq...It's going to be hard to take Rex's critiques seriously when he rails against the use of entries like "DAAE" and then....well, you know. Acknowledging that you hate it, Rex, doesn't make it less lazy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44855080181548385072012-10-28T22:08:24.286-04:002012-10-28T22:08:24.286-04:00@JFC
you need to remember 3 crucifacts:
1. the ...@JFC<br /><br />you need to remember 3 crucifacts:<br /><br />1. the fill is the thing, not theme<br /><br />2. do as i say, not as i do.<br /><br />3. statistically, you are now an outlier, so you do not count in the sample of opinions that matter.<br /><br />regarding the puzzle, i didnt have time to do it today - preparing for the storm - so i have no opinion. with the kids home from school the next 2 days, im sure i'll have an opinion by tmrw. hoping its easier now that i have the answers. <br /><br />regardless, rex is an excellent critic, and dont let anyone tell you otherwise.Numbers Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15073498950619150459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15689251058284953612012-10-28T21:18:38.509-04:002012-10-28T21:18:38.509-04:00@ paulsfo - Bad news. I've read all the comme...@ paulsfo - Bad news. I've read all the comments and ours seem misplaced. This is obviously the greatest puzzle since Patrick Berry's megapuzzle about Julius Caesar. Not sure how we could be so wrong. I'll have to re-examine my criteria for liking Sunday puzzles. No more will I consider a clever theme important. No longer will I consider bad taste in fill a flaw. No longer will I consider interesting or stimulating a prerequisite. No. In the future if it's a collaboration between Rex and Cakeb, that will be enough to like it....<br /><br />JFCJFCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29507467235504154382012-10-28T21:18:19.987-04:002012-10-28T21:18:19.987-04:00Loved the puzzle!! It was very timely. Got st...Loved the puzzle!! It was very timely. Got stuck on a few, but that's what's makes them great. Thanks for another interesting Sunday!!! Next week, a Hurricane Theme???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58741117252319352352012-10-28T20:13:03.970-04:002012-10-28T20:13:03.970-04:00Great puzzle! Great write-up! No wonder you'...Great puzzle! Great write-up! No wonder you're my BFF!!Rex's BFF Jennynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12905001628657663602012-10-28T20:02:00.489-04:002012-10-28T20:02:00.489-04:00I really liked it. While the theme was basic, the...I really liked it. While the theme was basic, the theme answers were all very clever. And if I needed another reason to never read 50 shades of grey, the fact that their SAFEWORD was popsicle puts it way over the top...<br /><br />Hate to admit it, but I never would have gotten AI WEIWEI.<br /><br />P.S. Anonymous above, I too had SCHLONG, and thought "this is a really great puzzle!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90454414888176788392012-10-28T19:38:43.896-04:002012-10-28T19:38:43.896-04:00Am I the only one who had SCHLONG instead of SCHLO...Am I the only one who had SCHLONG instead of SCHLOCK?? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11862659498666865182012-10-28T19:19:52.188-04:002012-10-28T19:19:52.188-04:00Gotta disagree with the clueing for 13A - PISCES. ...Gotta disagree with the clueing for 13A - PISCES. I'm a PISCES and I'm a callous oaf.Petenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65988770318573374722012-10-28T19:05:52.406-04:002012-10-28T19:05:52.406-04:00I loved this puzzle except for the awful SW. Afte...I loved this puzzle except for the awful SW. After I read the blog I knew why! Thanks for a great Sunday puzzle.John in Phillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88657354981312477662012-10-28T18:53:36.017-04:002012-10-28T18:53:36.017-04:00I loved it! An cant stop laughing at "Loathe...I loved it! An cant stop laughing at "Loathe Blow" and "Townie". More Rex puzzles!!!Liz Glasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10479315857003748511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86657925824533291992012-10-28T18:52:11.590-04:002012-10-28T18:52:11.590-04:00Enjoyed the puzz very much, Rex! Being a teacher, ...Enjoyed the puzz very much, Rex! Being a teacher, smiled to see Piaget in there!Fitzynoreply@blogger.com