tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1757728834270735689..comments2024-03-29T07:28:12.459-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Heraldic hue / SAT 10-5-19 / Egyptian sky god / Short yardage play briefly / Game with ball called quaffle / Vague expression of empathy / Hagia Sophia was built in it / Disney president who oversaw the Pixar acquisitionRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66969145983717348022019-11-09T18:53:45.936-05:002019-11-09T18:53:45.936-05:00Having completed it with a cheat, can't QUArre...Having completed it with a cheat, can't QUArrel with this Saturday <br /><br />The Q's were helpful, but stuck with QUAndriES instead of QUAGMIRESs, which let to an inkfest in trying to come up with that one. <br /><br /><br />[Sh]IT HAPPENS.leftcoasternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85461548257792708522019-11-09T16:50:20.840-05:002019-11-09T16:50:20.840-05:00Whilst I answered the EMPIRE question correctly, t...Whilst I answered the EMPIRE question correctly, the two longs up top didn't want to show up for me. Oh well. (Also changed sheet to SQUIRE) <br /><br />Diana, LIWDiana, LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59930333099725469532019-11-09T16:10:03.622-05:002019-11-09T16:10:03.622-05:00Nice puzzle, easier than most Saturdays, but also ...Nice puzzle, easier than most Saturdays, but also more fun than most Saturdays. I liked the oblique string of Q's, with a J inserted for flavour. QB SNEAK was a faourite, along with LIAR, ISN'T, ACRONYM. IDIOcracy can mean two things, but of course only one comes immediately to mind here. I could say more but I'd likely be preaching to the QUIRE.<br /><br />I'm guessing that "shaved ice" is some sort of treat involving SYRUP, but I don't think I've ever had/seen one. Sheltered life.<br /><br />Lots of good things in this puzzle, and I liked them all.rainforestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33821117524382704112019-11-09T13:15:47.048-05:002019-11-09T13:15:47.048-05:00The only QUAGMIRE here was 'sheet' as part...The only QUAGMIRE here was 'sheet' as part of a ream instead of QUIRE. Inkfest there. SARA, MILA, SALMA, TORI - pick your yeah baby from that group.<br /><br />And let's continue to watch the #17 U of MN Gophers beat up on #4 Penn State. Seems the Nittany Lions had already WRITTENIN a victory. Not so fast there! Who's looking INEPT now?rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71476443568836517242019-11-09T13:03:33.828-05:002019-11-09T13:03:33.828-05:00also a shout out to @BURMA
RISK ISN'T CHIC
I...also a shout out to @BURMA<br /><br />RISK ISN'T CHIC<br /><br />ITHAPPENS THAT SOON the JURY <br />had SHAMED the LIAR<br />AZURE lawyer CLOSES with fury <br />and SPEAKs to the QUIRE.<br /><br />--- SARA TORI & SALMA NOLA MESONSBURMA Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72189142078017048962019-11-09T11:13:23.588-05:002019-11-09T11:13:23.588-05:00Thanx, @M&A, for the shout-out. And yeah, that...Thanx, @M&A, for the shout-out. And yeah, that clue was weird. But: it's Saturday: ITHAPPENS. Had no idea about the Roosevelt, but DOD and gimme MILA got me going. In more ways than one. Didn't have that much trouble with the north, but I got stuck in the south for a while. With ***ANTI---- in place I was thinking Atlantic-something-or-other. It also took a few minutes to correct isITSO, which I had WRITTENIN prematurely.<br /><br />I don't understand how much "sizzle" OFC expects from a string of 4-letter entries. Tough to create that much excitement in so short a word, but I'll try a few: RISK SILO JURY. The Q line really works in this one; so easy to go cheap to get that, but not here. Kudos to Mr. Charlson for pulling that off.<br /><br />Solving this felt like more of a triumph than my time (Only a rough estimate, don't get excited) would suggest. I would call it about medium for a Saturday. Very well done, and now I must go sizzle some bacon for breakfast. Close between birdie and eagle: a beagle? spacecrafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09125304293611865503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61612259569981568592019-10-05T20:25:32.564-04:002019-10-05T20:25:32.564-04:00Perfect tense and others, remembering High school ...Perfect tense and others, remembering High school English class . . .grayladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02916325047067628169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70104572324909220422019-10-05T19:26:58.025-04:002019-10-05T19:26:58.025-04:00Loved it. My paper arrived very late once again -...Loved it. My paper arrived very late once again -- not until after I left the house. But at least it came. Spent the day not knowing. If I'd missed this puzzle, it would have been a real loss. Lots of thinking required and I was very engrossed. Avoided reading the blog this a.m. Running out -- read y'all later or tomorrow.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16737377749030219974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62755126659402226812019-10-05T16:19:53.873-04:002019-10-05T16:19:53.873-04:00@jberg. Yes...the only way to travel...stay over ...@jberg. Yes...the only way to travel...stay over in someplace fun! But here's the rub. When going to Spain, I would stay a couple of days in NYC. No non stops so you'd change in either Chicago or Atlanta. AND...I promise you your flight is delayed or cancelled. You'd think by now the airlines can get it right with a crew change or back-up plane. NO and they don't give a caca. My good friend just took a United flight from NYC to SMF and she was stuck at O'Hare for 13 hours because of a weather issues, flight crew rest time and no available planes. They changed the ETD about 4 times so she didn't dare leave the airport. FUN...ain't it? GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61425938900647907022019-10-05T15:23:19.992-04:002019-10-05T15:23:19.992-04:00If u do it on the app, click “stats” it will show ...If u do it on the app, click “stats” it will show your fastest time ever for each day. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60084824808444069172019-10-05T14:58:12.397-04:002019-10-05T14:58:12.397-04:00Fun puzzle with lots of great answers--bravo. And ...Fun puzzle with lots of great answers--bravo. And Take No Prisoners is the title of my favorite live Lou Reed album, taped in 1978 at the Bottom Line. Anyone looking to document or explore Reed's hatred of rock critics need go no further than to hear Lou's long rambling speed-driven monologue during "Walk On the Wild Side." Some very funny shite.deerfencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05185773504451380520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84937201477524877672019-10-05T13:40:22.041-04:002019-10-05T13:40:22.041-04:00Joke actually told at a Massachusetts Linguist Con...Joke actually told at a Massachusetts Linguist Conference:<br /><br />Man relishing seafood jumps into a Boston cab “Quick driver, I want to get scrod”<br />Driver “30 years driving a cab, that’s the first time I’ve heard the Pluperfect Subjunctive of that verb!”<br /> <br />LTaffy-Kunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03800008887286600563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57551763317953104592019-10-05T12:50:40.968-04:002019-10-05T12:50:40.968-04:00@Lewis, glad you agree. I hope you compose one for...@Lewis, glad you agree. I hope you compose one for them! @Anoa Bob thanks for that list of religions. Hilarious and true.QuasiMojonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80053952406471976612019-10-05T12:39:47.094-04:002019-10-05T12:39:47.094-04:00Can kinda see what @RP meant about the cluin … onl...Can kinda see what @RP meant about the cluin … only two ?-clues in a whole SatPuz is a little tame.<br />TENSES clue was outer-space-crafty, tho.<br /><br />If U can't complete yer continuous string of Q's in a puzgrid, splatzin a J into the mix is a pretty cool plan B. Sorta like a QJ-SNEAK.<br /><br />Primo seed(?) entries: TAKENOPRISONERS. BYZANTINEEMPIRE. <br />Other good stuff: WRITTENIN. ANTIQUARK. QUAGMIRES. COMEQUICK. ACRONYM. QBSNEAK. CLOUDNINE. ATLEISURE.<br />QUIDDITCH was ok, altho I kept wantin to spell it QUIDDIDGE, or somesuch.<br />har to @RP lookin to them 4-letter words, for his ration of sizzle.<br /><br />staff weeject pick: [sigh]<br /><br />Thanx for the feisty 68-worder, Mr. Charlson.<br /><br />Masked & Anonym8Us<br /> Masked and Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16346263641338670679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77638561547227355872019-10-05T12:38:15.624-04:002019-10-05T12:38:15.624-04:00I don't really keep track but I'm pretty s...I don't really keep track but I'm pretty sure I smashed my Saturday record with today's puzzle. For some reason, the answers just kept falling into place. The proper nouns and crosswordese were all gimmes, and that gave me enough crosses for the long answers to fall into place with no resistance. I'm usually in the 20-min range on Saturdays but today was a 7:09 with hardly a blink. Sure was fun after I had to cheat three times yesterday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44561798313334224402019-10-05T12:35:48.817-04:002019-10-05T12:35:48.817-04:00I hadn't noticed the total absence of three-le...I hadn't noticed the total absence of three-letter words. A big plus, for me, now that it has been pointed out. And I liked more of the fill than many. As for that little parade of Qs enfilading its way up the grid: I'm divided. Part of me says, if you can't fit in all 5, then take them out (or all but one); but my other half says, if you can't get a good entry with Q, and you can with J, then go ahead -- and "peer group" is a pretty good clue for JURY.<br /><br />I was pretty proud of myself for getting ACRONYM off the A, but really that just means I've been doing too many crosswords.<br /><br />@Gill, of course you were working and had no choice -- but if you have plenty of time, the best way to handle a long flight is to put in a stopover. My parents had done a tour of Australia (also New Zealand); my mother enjoyed it, but she really suffered during the 13-hour flight. So when I got a chance to go to Australia myself, I built in 3 days in Honolulu each way. It was wonderful.jberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02169065390875378077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46660242170728478552019-10-05T12:31:29.291-04:002019-10-05T12:31:29.291-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05809650747720709371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44302813883887225932019-10-05T12:27:36.147-04:002019-10-05T12:27:36.147-04:00Rex wrote: I think the overriding problem with so ...Rex wrote: I think the overriding problem with so many NYTXW puzzles *generally* has more to do with the editorial voice (i.e. the cluing) than the quality of the grids.<br /><br />It's obvious that just as Trump envies/hates Obama, Rex has the same feelings toward Will Shortz. And like Trump, his pathology is getting worse.Sgreennychttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17619500436971803424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25012443817294149322019-10-05T12:27:33.669-04:002019-10-05T12:27:33.669-04:00The (sh)IT HAPPENS thread reminds me of an essay t...The (sh)IT HAPPENS thread reminds me of an essay titled "World Religions Simplified". In a nutshell, it goes like this:<br /><br />Taoism: (sh)IT HAPPENS<br />Confucianism: Confucius say "(sh)IT HAPPENS<br />Zen Buddhism: What is the sound of one (sh)IT HAPPENing?<br />Hinduism: This (sh)IT has HAPPENed before<br />Catholicism: If (sh)IT HAPPENS, you deserve it<br />Protestantism: Let (sh)IT HAPPEN to someone else<br />Judaism: Why does (sh)IT always HAPPEN to us<br />New Age: Visualize no (sh)IT HAPPENing<br />Atheism: We ain't (sh)IT<br />Agnosticism: (sh)IT if I knowAnoa Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16185183023273883700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34078820658266453342019-10-05T12:18:30.585-04:002019-10-05T12:18:30.585-04:00This required a bit of effort to get going after p...This required a bit of effort to get going after plunking in MILA EVERS SALMA. I couldn't see BURMA for the Kwai train for the longest, and for "shaved ice ingredient" I just kept thinking "water"? Once SYRUP occurred to me the Kwai train got rolling and things progressed.<br /><br />I agree with Rex about the general NYT clue editing: either it's dull or it's excessively cutesy or it's weirdly off in some way. Very often it just doesn't "click" overall. I think today's is a really good puzzle but brighter cluing would have made it even more of a fun solving experience.<br /><br />@Teedmn – I find the Times's style of quoting a tweet verbatim and printing an image of it as well incredibly annoying. One or the other is fine, I don't need both.<br /><br />@Anon 11:19 -– The Gray Lady is a sobriquet for the NYTimes.<br /><br />Here's something to <a href="https://youtu.be/xW8uF9eRY1U" rel="nofollow">spice things up.</a>Joe Dipintohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07922691457886440325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62573059629991960662019-10-05T12:15:32.724-04:002019-10-05T12:15:32.724-04:00First time here. I enjoy your comments. I think th...First time here. I enjoy your comments. I think there only two tenses, present and past, in English. Future, present and past perfect, progressive, etc. are “aspects “ of those two tenses . ccreduxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05461753490124027984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28384357277351773052019-10-05T12:10:14.882-04:002019-10-05T12:10:14.882-04:00@Anonymous, the Times' nickname is the Gray La...@Anonymous, the Times' nickname is the Gray Lady. I think it harks back to a time when it was filled exclusively with newsprint, and, as late as around 1999, it refused to publish color photos. Just as, until relatively recently, it refused to use the word "gay" -- only "homosexual" was permitted. And, until relatively recently, no one in print could ever be described as "fired" from a job -- they were "dismissed." The Times still insists on using honorifics for all individuals, and "tweet" is technically banned, in favor of "Twitter message," though "tweet" increasingly works its way into print. Unfortunately the meticulous Times has fully succumbed to the plague of "run-up", which is appearing everywhere, in place of the more elegant and economical "prelude" -- as in the measles-like contagion of "... in the run-up to the election." davidmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82435900335486696152019-10-05T12:08:40.888-04:002019-10-05T12:08:40.888-04:00Ahhh...thanks, JC66...my bad.Ahhh...thanks, JC66...my bad.Bax'N'Nexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12191416323124153018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67152062428971074382019-10-05T11:49:44.363-04:002019-10-05T11:49:44.363-04:00@anon 11:19
I think it was @Rex's feeble atte...@anon 11:19<br /><br />I think it was @Rex's feeble attempt at humor because The New York Times is often referred to as "The Gray Lady."JC66https://www.blogger.com/profile/05324615675333287919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55547350012480887462019-10-05T11:41:30.422-04:002019-10-05T11:41:30.422-04:00Yawn. Rex slams Will Shortz once again. Thought t...Yawn. Rex slams Will Shortz once again. Thought this pretty easy for a Saturday. Got all but one letter. The g in IGER. Thought LOLO was ghe nickname for the kangaroo. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10844225131692863282noreply@blogger.com