tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1312964056599829629..comments2024-03-29T05:08:37.783-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Group Theatre playwright of 1930s / THU 12-3-15 / Patriotic Clint Eastwood movie / Lyre player of mythology / Town whose exports are waxed / Medium for Biggie SmallsRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5408222468511572392016-01-07T21:18:10.540-05:002016-01-07T21:18:10.540-05:00Diana,LIW
Hey, leftcoast, I completely agree. Aft...Diana,LIW<br />Hey, leftcoast, I completely agree. After Wed. I have some solves (true solves) but many almosts - truly DNFs. <br />Thought this theme was splendid. However, the rest of this was a 15 x 15 Natick due to unknown names. Just not in my personal wheelhouse.<br />Diana, Lady in Waiting for CrosswordsDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40019731865386486302016-01-07T20:16:11.747-05:002016-01-07T20:16:11.747-05:00It annoys me when some "solvers" or &quo...<br /><br />It annoys me when some "solvers" or "finishers" don't acknowledge cheating in any of its forms:<br /><br />Peeking<br />Googling<br />Spellchecks<br />Human helpers<br />Any other human or non-human helpers of any sort outside what's there to work with in the published puzzle itself.<br /><br />And that's why I especially admire @Casco Kid for his exemplary up-front candor.<br />leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9925000115982406042016-01-07T19:22:20.375-05:002016-01-07T19:22:20.375-05:00I saw what the theme answers had to be (in everyda...I saw what the theme answers had to be (in everyday spelling), but I couldn't see the f#@%ing Roman numerals.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51890627659565465412016-01-07T15:20:35.790-05:002016-01-07T15:20:35.790-05:00Michael Hooning - I too didn't have the circle...Michael Hooning - I too didn't have the circles to guide me. Printed it from online syndicated, and the shaded squares didn't show as such.<br /> I still got all but cat woman. Dnf for that, or A+ for sussing the theme without a clue?LongBeachLeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3377240343232018512016-01-07T14:42:20.141-05:002016-01-07T14:42:20.141-05:00@teedMN - yes, that Ray LaMontagne album, for whi...@teedMN - yes, that Ray LaMontagne album, for which he won a Grammy. And "Beg, Steal or Borrow" was nominated for best song. rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72734683677144893962016-01-07T13:58:35.305-05:002016-01-07T13:58:35.305-05:00Oh, har, Rather, got it now.
Yeah, it's a well...Oh, har, Rather, got it now.<br />Yeah, it's a well made puz, but I rarely like a gimmick puz.rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59241222737616462472016-01-07T11:39:27.291-05:002016-01-07T11:39:27.291-05:00STRAP THEME
I was THRU, and RUNNINGONEMPTY
with ...STRAP THEME<br /><br />I was THRU, and RUNNINGONEMPTY <br />with CATWOMAN on DATENIGHT,<br />with her TRUEGRIT and an ORGY to tempt me, <br />she’d COAX me to FITIN at late night.<br /><br />--- JOSH LUTZ (did not use the word TIT)<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28948353833760636272016-01-07T11:27:54.034-05:002016-01-07T11:27:54.034-05:00When I opened this page and saw "easy" m...When I opened this page and saw "easy" my JAW dropped--even lower than when I looked at the completed (!!!!!) grid and thought "I've actually DONE this!" You cant--CAN'T call this easy, unless your name is Walter O'Brien.<br /><br />I started with the ONLY two entries I knew: EMIL and LUTZ. I knew it had to be LUTZ because of the clue for 13-down. And that was it, for half an hour, me staring at eight filled squares. I literally knew nothing else. It was either "I don't know that" or "that could be ANYthing."<br /><br />I finally thought, what if the "Cars" producer wasn't a person but a company: PIXAR--then the group could be INXS. Then I started with INCA and...LISTS? Nah, that can't be right; that'd give me three I's in a row on 52-across. IPASS. Which could work for 66-across, and maybe WISP...soon I had something ending in NEWS. Gee, if it weren't for that S in SEVEN I could have THEEVENINGNEWS. How do we get an S in there? AHA! CBS! OH *groan!* NOW I see: "Rather," as in Dan! Major headslap!<br /><br />Even after that epiphany, though, the going wasn't easy. The clues were Saturday-tough pretty much throughout. My distress call was "HELP!" before YELP, and I misidentified the whip-wielder as BATWOMAN instead of CATWOMAN. Both easily fixed.<br /><br />This puzzle belongs squarely in a Saturday slot, no earlier. It took TRUEGRIT to solve, which I did RUNNINGONEMPTY (great song!). I don't know when the Eastwood movie came out, but somehow I missed it entirely. Never heard of it till today. Maybe that's why it seemed so much harder to me. Anyway, a didn't-think-I-was-ever-going-to-solve-it-but-did puzzle has to get a high mark from me: A.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12813772564355439442016-01-07T10:27:09.552-05:002016-01-07T10:27:09.552-05:00Put me in the category of did not like it at all. ...Put me in the category of did not like it at all. Got the bit at DA(X)(TEN)IGHT since I worked it east to west. There’s no rhyme nor reason as to how many of the non RRN letters go into any one square, so I see that as a real shortcoming. Maybe Thursday puzzles are preposterous after all? Let’s see what @spacey has to say.<br /><br />hELP for YELP and LeanS for LISTS seem to be my only write-overs, so not terribly tough, but frustrating in those shaded squares.<br /><br />LADYDI is the apparent royal yeah baby of the day. And anyone in a CATWOMAN suit. ORGY comes to mind.<br /><br />And what? CBSEVENINGNEW isn’t informative anymore? Did not like this puz and many of the clues. Maybe next time IPASS?<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43575737235237264872015-12-04T19:33:12.372-05:002015-12-04T19:33:12.372-05:00For some reason i couldn't think of CA(TWO)MAN...For some reason i couldn't think of CA(TWO)MAN and instead had CA(NINE)MAN in there, not that he exists. when I finally figured it out, I found this immensely funny. <br /><br />also it took me a while to get the theme because I thought the IV in FLAGSO(FOUR)FATHERS was a play on words for forefathers, and that stumped me for a bit.<br /><br />overall a fun clever theme!Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03580584846821370852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79618468278558870072015-12-04T09:53:27.515-05:002015-12-04T09:53:27.515-05:00FLAGSOIVFATHERS is what gave me the theme on this ...<b>FLAGSOIVFATHERS</b> is what gave me the theme on this one. Saw the clue and guessed the title but obviously it didn't fit. Worked a few of the downs but not enough to get it. <b> OFFICE</b> in fact screwed me up majorly because it confirmed the first letter of something that didn't want to fit. Ultimately, the circles in <b> LIEN</b> & <b> IVS</b> preceded by <b> OVA </b> that broke it open.<br /><br />I really liked the theme. Interesting idea and great way to meld the downs with the acrosses.crackblindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13088682009537848311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79221103039829001782015-12-03T23:57:35.971-05:002015-12-03T23:57:35.971-05:00kitshef 8:42 PM
Just had the thought it could b...kitshef 8:42 PM <br /><br />Just had the thought it could be the second part of that tale that was a ?? to you. Well, fishing was inbred in the culture of the community so talking fish stuff was common among and a bond between young and old. So the joke got bonus laughter for that; "hitting home" as it were.<br /><br />Probably over-explained and further confused. I know I am!<br /><br />CheersAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14124431793780560248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28232805664460191562015-12-03T23:48:36.490-05:002015-12-03T23:48:36.490-05:00Great one on The Donald, Lewis; I will always thin...Great one on The Donald, Lewis; I will always think of it when I see that caricature of a face he has. The Democrats idea of a dream candidate for the Republican nomination !;Andrew Heinegghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18101651673327984167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60534013428000162892015-12-03T23:20:22.464-05:002015-12-03T23:20:22.464-05:00@kitshef "Holy Mackerel!" is an interjec...@kitshef "Holy Mackerel!" is an interjection just like "Wow!" to express surprise. "Its a tuna" is the surprise discovery that warranted the interjection. Tuna could have been any fish but mackerel to make the tale work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61655516723196871542015-12-03T22:48:17.146-05:002015-12-03T22:48:17.146-05:00DNF because CANINEMANDNF because CANINEMANAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2429630929765249662015-12-03T22:35:23.839-05:002015-12-03T22:35:23.839-05:00@kitshef 8:42 PM
Interjection ism this case a ph...@kitshef 8:42 PM<br /><br />Interjection ism this case a phrase used to exclaim hence, "Holy mackerel" was interjected as a exclamation of surprise at (one would presume) catching a tuna. The pun is using a common "fish phrase" to exclaim about another fish, mackerel not being literally meant. Midwestern version; "Holy cow! It's a bull!" Really don't know any "Holy" mackerels or cows or moleys or s**ts or.... <br /><br />Like I said, some of us (meaning me) are easily amused :>) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14124431793780560248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24931198893617558912015-12-03T21:48:03.226-05:002015-12-03T21:48:03.226-05:00The food safety subject is toxicology The food safety subject is toxicology Paul snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21252986724932813512015-12-03T20:42:47.264-05:002015-12-03T20:42:47.264-05:00Loved it loved it loved it.
First in were AZIZ cr...Loved it loved it loved it.<br /><br />First in were AZIZ crossing ZZZ, and I though oh god it's going to be one of those 'how many 'z's can I cram in' puzzles. Instead, it was a the brilliance we got.<br /><br />RUNNINGONEMPTY went in easy, but could not get the cross until I figured out DATENIGHT/TOX, so --MoneX became --MIX.<br /><br />axel before LUTZ, puRE before MERE, Imout before IPASS - that qualifies as a very clean grid for me. I do wonder how e-solvers deal with puzzles like this one, especially for clues like 52A where you have to fit seven letters into three squares.<br /><br />Only things not to like were TOX, "Out! I said out!" (why the repeat?), and "That's not for me" That kind of clue/answer screams 'lazy construction'. <br /><br />Chuck McGregor - you lost me completely on the interjection tale. Can you explain?kitshefnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16220500867932659932015-12-03T20:14:38.673-05:002015-12-03T20:14:38.673-05:00Cute theme, but definitely not an easy puzzle for ...Cute theme, but definitely not an easy puzzle for me. 27+ min when I often come in under 15 for a Thursday.KevinDenelsbeckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15352119482423851245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-368288303774188232015-12-03T18:36:24.241-05:002015-12-03T18:36:24.241-05:00I had (correctly) RUNNINGIMPTY but (incorrectly) B...I had (correctly) RUNNINGIMPTY but (incorrectly) BARE for 15A, which left RAM[I]_ for 7 down. I confidently filled in RAMIS. That's RAM[ONE]S, for "D.J.'s play"... perfect!<br /><br />I was so disappointed to realize it wasn't so.okanaganerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03082227619755246335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8985296618399612112015-12-03T18:31:17.427-05:002015-12-03T18:31:17.427-05:00Missed it after five years of Latin! Well, I did i...Missed it after five years of Latin! Well, I did it after my meeting with the dentist.<br /><br />May I second the Rex recommendation of Aziz Ansari's series ... top writing skills Plus the casting of his actual parents in the segments involving the characters parents (and his co-writer's as well).<br /><br />Catch Ansari's two specials, also on Netflix!<br /><br />dick swarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15674856192774908651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86950996879341308552015-12-03T17:51:26.276-05:002015-12-03T17:51:26.276-05:00@Casco, I'm with you. I fought this like crazy...@Casco, I'm with you. I fought this like crazy only to just fail everywhere. I DID catch the roman numeral thing at DAXIGHT, but for some reason the brain did not compute the other themers well enough to help me get the fill. Damn, I knew RUNNINGoneMPTY, but even after cheating on the evening news, I just didn't see the trick. Bad, bad, bad, though not the fault of the constructor. Brain fart after brain fart, sheesh!Malsdemarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05375476737540476148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66752272238212316832015-12-03T16:58:57.236-05:002015-12-03T16:58:57.236-05:00Clever, smart puzzle, but not easy for me! For som...Clever, smart puzzle, but not easy for me! For some reason I had to stare hard to get SON of God...<br /><br />Great job!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78552423828632704172015-12-03T16:39:45.678-05:002015-12-03T16:39:45.678-05:00Earns its place among Thursday theme puzzles. Can...Earns its place among Thursday theme puzzles. Can't say I've seen its like before. Fill's unremarkable, but forgivably so. Though I will say, this may be the first time I've seen EGRESS outside of that P.T. Barnum anecdote.Albynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66149810849539470242015-12-03T16:17:02.299-05:002015-12-03T16:17:02.299-05:00I thought this was a Tony the Tiger puzzle: it'...I thought this was a Tony the Tiger puzzle: it's GREEAAAAAAAT! @NCA Pres beat me to the notiion that this should have been run during the week of "Never Before," <br /><br />I got everything but FLAGS O[F OUR] FATHERS which I had to google as I'd totally spaced out that Rowdy produced it. At least that gave the trick away. I had already sort of noticed that the grey squares might be RRNs but I hadn't figured out how they worked yet. RUNNING I MPTY was bothering me even though I knew it was right from finally sussing the downs. Then it hit me like the pavement jumped up and hit @Nancy's nose: RUNNING [ON E]MPTY. AHA! I once had a radio show for maybe six months, and once did a series of titles that amused me. Life in the Fast Lane/RUNNING [ON E]MPTY seemed like a good pair to me. <br /><br />I got the Dan Rather reference immediately but couldn't remember which network he was on. Like someone above, I was seeing VIII and not [VII] I. The one I had the most trouble with was CA[T WO]MAN. I'm not quite sure when I lost interest in comic books but it was a long time ago. I haven't paid any attention to the comic book movies past the first Batman. As a kid, I even thought the Adam West Batman show was stupid though I watched it most afternoons (there wasn't much else on for my age group then). <br /><br />@Rhino: Happy birthday. Mine was yesterday so, you me and OFL this week. Sagitarii rawk!Numinoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01263999193499725814noreply@blogger.com