tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1976350561410105883..comments2024-03-28T06:24:16.730-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: SUNDAY, Nov. 11, 2007 - Alan ArbesfeldRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3186337808102066702007-11-18T19:41:00.000-05:002007-11-18T19:41:00.000-05:00For some inexplicable reason I never looked at the...For some inexplicable reason I never looked at the theme, and therefore the puzzle was much harder to me than it should have been. I never even realized it 'til I checked here, mystified as to the connection of the "?"'d clues.<BR/><BR/> Don't drink and do crosswords folks! :-)impjbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03311105934112373190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37020821089264325882007-11-18T18:07:00.000-05:002007-11-18T18:07:00.000-05:00I'm in Oregon where we get the Sunday puzzle one w...I'm in Oregon where we get the Sunday puzzle one week later, also. This is the first Sunday puzzle I've been able to complete without Google; however, it took almost two hours. Yuban is the favorite brew-at-home coffee here. Starbucks is the favorite when buying it away from home.<BR/><BR/>Rex's site has allowed me to become a much better solver. I read it every day and enjoy it almost as much as completing the NYT puzzle!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68476863074917852942007-11-18T17:01:00.000-05:002007-11-18T17:01:00.000-05:00When I think Cugat, I think Abbe Lane-used to be b...When I think Cugat, I think Abbe Lane-used to be big, big! They played my college prom in 1951. Charo was his later in life squeeze. Gads, I've been around a long time! Suspect this why I often have an easy time with things that stump you youngsters-but get stuck all the time on modern music "stuff". Wish I weren't six weeks out, so someone would actually read this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91680171335395564012007-11-18T14:06:00.000-05:002007-11-18T14:06:00.000-05:00Enjoy reading all your comments. I just started d...Enjoy reading all your comments. I just started doing the NYTCP and now I don't want to do any otherkashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01261217811960817000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6261614726999899322007-11-12T17:33:00.000-05:002007-11-12T17:33:00.000-05:00I don't know about the rest of the country but Yub...I don't know about the rest of the country but Yuban is sold in Las Vegas and I can't start my day or my crossword without it! LoriAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91031099954459078502007-11-12T14:19:00.000-05:002007-11-12T14:19:00.000-05:00One of the fascinating things about crosswords is ...One of the fascinating things about crosswords is what is easy for some and hard for others... Surprised so many had trouble with URI - it comes up a lot as "Swiss canton" or "Tell's canton" - it's the only canton I can name, so in it goes. I hated APPLIER, too. Can't think of an instance where I'd use it rather than applicator. Never heard of an OTARY, and neither did my dictionary. <BR/><BR/>OLAF/OLAV... have the same problem with ERIN/EIRE and CZAR/TSAR (Has anyone ever seen it spelled TSAR except in crosswords?)<BR/><BR/>Love the site, enjoy reading comments... where else can we rant about whether walking on water is a "how" or a "where">>>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30379817851405156142007-11-12T10:57:00.000-05:002007-11-12T10:57:00.000-05:00Thanks Rex, I do!Thanks Rex, I do!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25057136925715117172007-11-12T08:29:00.000-05:002007-11-12T08:29:00.000-05:00anoaI deleted your comment the first time you made...anoa<BR/><BR/>I deleted your comment the first time you made it because I thought you'd be embarrassed that you a. didn't know the definition of "whiny," and b. couldn't spell it. <BR/><BR/>But if you insist, I'll let it stand.<BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29060407360377734812007-11-12T02:33:00.000-05:002007-11-12T02:33:00.000-05:00*about*aboutUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03345623954861334689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1287090618756308882007-11-12T02:32:00.000-05:002007-11-12T02:32:00.000-05:00I didn't realize that above the word "eaves" (that...I didn't realize that above the word "eaves" (that it only can be plural), but then I looked it up and there it was.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03345623954861334689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60282621462912035682007-11-12T01:44:00.000-05:002007-11-12T01:44:00.000-05:00Steve -- its late, but I believe oeuf is french fo...Steve -- its late, but I believe oeuf is french for egg which is cued by the french like spelling of omelet(te). Also, IMOO 23D is a bit of a stretch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82014152879579112062007-11-12T00:23:00.000-05:002007-11-12T00:23:00.000-05:00Did no one else have trouble with 23D & 51A? I ra...Did no one else have trouble with 23D & 51A? I ran into this early on and got caught up for a while thinking it was a multiletter puzzle (I wanted APPLICATOR for 23D) before I got the theme. I've never seen OEUF before, or at least don't remember it. Even now I don't know what it is. Looks like the sound one makes when punched in the gut - oeuf! <BR/><BR/>I was surprised Rex didn't comment on 88D "Unable to pass the bar" THIRSTY - I thought that was great.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11387687759558156003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56202973661208021502007-11-11T23:26:00.000-05:002007-11-11T23:26:00.000-05:00Snarky... was it anything to do with the fact that...Snarky... was it anything to do with the fact that Pippin was a hunchback? Hunchback>>>>Hunchback of Notre Dame>>>>>french writer whose name begins with V (Victor Hugo)>>>>>VoltaireAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53001347917901701982007-11-11T23:12:00.000-05:002007-11-11T23:12:00.000-05:00This was a good puzzle, and I was happy not to hav...This was a good puzzle, and I was happy not to have to tap into google or other sources. By the way, I have two shelves worth of reference books (dictionaries in 6 languages, music and literature dictionaries, an atlas etc.) I don't touch because of Google. <BR/>Dear Ulrich, when you want to put in an umlaut, add an e after the letter a, o and u.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79149526120913669762007-11-11T22:20:00.000-05:002007-11-11T22:20:00.000-05:00There, there, rex! Don't get all whinie!There, there, rex! Don't get all whinie!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28421049269932162792007-11-11T19:32:00.000-05:002007-11-11T19:32:00.000-05:00This went very smoothly (especially after yesterda...This went very smoothly (especially after yesterday) with the exception of the ROREM/URI/OTARY area. I finally guessed/pulled ROREM from somewhere and felt lucky when I was right. I also smiled at JUXTAPOSE and was looking for a plural for the EAVES clue.<BR/><BR/>Snarky--wiki says PIPIN is an acceptable alternate spelling.<BR/><BR/>Jersey Boys was incredible. I grew up with their music so it was a bit of an emotional experience for me. If you have a chance to see it do, expecially if you were in HS or college during the 60s.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3119562261981590482007-11-11T19:30:00.000-05:002007-11-11T19:30:00.000-05:00Anonymous, thanks a, well, ton. You thoroughly se...Anonymous, thanks a, well, ton. You thoroughly settled down a neuron that could have exceeded its seizure threshold. Like a good brain scratch. I so hated those violin lessons. My mother wouldn't let me quit. Finally, in 6th grade, the school music teacher ordered me to stop. She didn't want to incur the wrath of her junior high colleague.<BR/><BR/>Thanks also to Rikki. Why does Pippin free-associate to Voltaire? Was there a Voltaire play on B-way simultaneously? Did I see Pippin after French class? Google will reveal these secrets.<BR/><BR/>Charo is the real deal. In fact, she inspired me to take guitar lessons, after I was fired (not by HR) from violin. No largo for me though, more up-tempo down-beat bossa nova.Hungry Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08101748048713015724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35822664437824689122007-11-11T19:14:00.000-05:002007-11-11T19:14:00.000-05:00DK- don't you mean you watched the movie "Lennie"?...DK- don't you mean you watched the movie "Lennie"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88295533391811952182007-11-11T19:09:00.000-05:002007-11-11T19:09:00.000-05:00Wow... did I write all that? Can you tell I have t...Wow... did I write all that? Can you tell I have the afternoon off from all responsibilities?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3667484132782486982007-11-11T19:07:00.000-05:002007-11-11T19:07:00.000-05:00I don't have a problem with spic showing up with s...I don't have a problem with spic showing up with span... any more than I would if wop showed up clued with do, though even as I write the words, I feel an appropriate cringe at their "other" meanings. And while we're talking PC, I've been having a problem with clues that have to do with hanging. I know that they are going to relate in some way to pictures, but with all the barbaric violence going on in so many places in the world right now, when these clues appear, I get triggered and see horrific images that I have to shake out of my mind before I can think about the clue/answer. <BR/><BR/>That said, I loved the puzzle and, like Anoa and Wendy (I assume), I found it a relief and fun after yesterday. The things I didn't know (rorem, pindaric ...well that's all, no wonder it was easy) I got from crosses and I got to learn about Pindar after the fact.<BR/><BR/>Charles Atlas reminded me of Atlas Shrugged and Ayn Rand, my philosophical guru in my college days, who also appeared in a recent puzzle.<BR/><BR/>I love the word juxtapose. Lah di dah in its alternate spelling was a gimme after la di da. Pol has been used lately, too. Loved ibmpc. Got Yuban from being over fifty. <BR/><BR/>Re: eaves... it's one of those words that is singular, though it looks plural. There wouldn't be one eave. <BR/><BR/>Hmm... I see that I didn't know uri or gog either, and had to assume that pei was correct as I look over the puzzle. <BR/><BR/>Re: the Cuchi Cuchi girl, I have loved her since I saw her on Johnny Carson with Cugat. She always claimed their marriage was one of convenience so that he could bring her to the states. She was the original one-named, larger-than-life, even larger-haired, bombshell and she has had an amazing career. She sings, plays fabulous guitar, dances, acts, and has more energy and shzaaaam that any performer I can think of. I'm always impressed with "one-and-onlies" and she is on my list. Check out her website:<BR/><BR/>http://www.charo.com/about.html<BR/><BR/>Re: Pippin... He was the hunchbacked son of Charlemagne (Kid Charlemagne?) in the Broadway musical from the early '70s, directed by Bob Fosse, who if I remember correctly, wrote the libretto, too. Motown music had something to do with it, maybe funded it, and the Supremes and the Jackson 5 covered some of the songs. I saw Ben Vereen in the broadway version (not as the hunchback, but as the Leading Player). Can't remember who played Pippin, but Jill Clayburg played Catherine. Haven't thought of this in years.<BR/><BR/>Lastly, GO O!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68460228665470274362007-11-11T18:36:00.000-05:002007-11-11T18:36:00.000-05:00I was really hoping for different weight units to ...I was really hoping for different weight units to come out too (even mass -- I wouldn't mind, they're close enough), but it became painfully obvious after NEWTON and PATTON that there would only be tonnage. Too bad.<BR/>At first I thought the same thing as kim (?) above about SPIC, but I agree that we can't completely disallow words that have legitimate meanings completely unrelated to their bigoted senses.<BR/>I also didn't like the cluing on EAVES.<BR/>I hate AARE.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03345623954861334689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36074618147246035122007-11-11T18:26:00.000-05:002007-11-11T18:26:00.000-05:00Well, I dreamt about my eaves last night and Otary...Well, I dreamt about my eaves last night and Otary was a clue a shot time ago. Saw alot of Merv in my youth (mother's favorite as well) so Charo and the aforementioned were gimmes as well as Odets.<BR/><BR/>Kim, Just had the movie Lenny from Netflix and he (Lenny Bruce) made the same point as ulrich about what/who gives power to words.<BR/><BR/>As always the commentary makes my day. And, I would say today Rex gives new meaning to "don't give me any lipton"<BR/><BR/>Well 65 here in sunny southern Minnesota and that's as good as it gets.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34057706974711127722007-11-11T18:12:00.000-05:002007-11-11T18:12:00.000-05:00Ah, Yiddish. Mel Brooks has begun a campaign to s...Ah, Yiddish. Mel Brooks has begun a campaign to save the word "schmuck." <BR/><BR/>"NEW YORK—Saying he could no longer stand idly by while a vital part of American culture is lost forever, activist and Broadway producer Mel Brooks has founded a private nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the word "schmuck.""<BR/><BR/>See:<BR/><BR/>http://www.theonion.com/content/news/mel_brooks_starts_nonprofitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59880063200543204842007-11-11T17:40:00.000-05:002007-11-11T17:40:00.000-05:00The musical direction you are thinking of is "larg...The musical direction you are thinking of is "largo."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26198598288690346192007-11-11T16:48:00.000-05:002007-11-11T16:48:00.000-05:00Does anyone else have "Pathological Certainty"? M...Does anyone else have "Pathological Certainty"? My husband says I have it and he suffers from it. So much easier to curb in social discourse, as one doesn't want to offend. Leads to moments of reflection and some cognitive flexibility. With only a paper partner I become convinced that I am right, dig in and fossilize. Sigh.<BR/><BR/>I also am hobbled by dys-spellia and over-reliance on spell check. <BR/><BR/>Thus, I am no stranger to self-sabotage. <BR/><BR/>Today's worst shot in the foot was "Pipin for Pepin." Who was "Pippin" on Broadway anyway? Was that later on? Voltaire or some such? Who is defending my right to say what I want without agreeing with me nowadays? Our current constitutional crisis had turned into a siege.<BR/><BR/>I was also pathologically certain that I remembered "lago" as a musical direction, a la "lente" or "forte" from my days enslaved in forced-violin lessons. This led to my also wanting something along the lines of aria.<BR/><BR/>As for the Charo/Cugat Conjugation, who was it that said, "It ain't the meat, it's the motion"? I had a certainly pathological fascination with Charo in my youth. Kitschee Kitschee!Hungry Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08101748048713015724noreply@blogger.com