tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2402028366413826606..comments2024-03-29T03:22:09.826-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Upstate New York city where Mark Twain was born / WED 3-16-16 / 1970 #1 Jackson 5 song / Title hero of Longfellow poem / Online site for business reviews / Fish said to be named for Mediterranean island / Martini's partner in winemakingRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3578011733688561152016-04-20T16:14:08.348-04:002016-04-20T16:14:08.348-04:00Who's buried in Grant's tomb? Let's a...Who's buried in Grant's tomb? Let's all Google it.<br /><br />Got the majority of the puzzle thru long answers, thus avoiding the "ese" fill. So it had to be an easy puzzle. <br /><br />@Spacey - I also get those EZ puzzles in the Pac Grove paper in the winter - I do them and it helps me appreciate even a simple puzzle like this one. <br /><br />Had the revealer early on - knew immediately the cook was "DRUNKEN," and thot of the Galloping Gourmet. Then filled in the themers at a galloping speed. <br /><br />Had a goo laugh at Teedmn's dad's t-shirt. Could wear that to the gym.<br /><br />Except I always wear my Bloomsday t-shirts at the gym. Bloomsday (Spokane's annual 12-K) is May 1st - I'll be (walking) in it for the 15th time. Last year I was #28,772 out of 43,028. 2 hours and 15 minutes - about my average crossword time. This year should have more finishers, as it's the 40th anniversary. Not too late to enter, and the Spokane Falls are gorgeous this year!<br /><br />Diana, Lady-in-Waiting to see what Thursday bringsDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61520523317505032122016-04-20T15:08:25.564-04:002016-04-20T15:08:25.564-04:00NYT repaired the Elmira clue for the syndicate upd...NYT repaired the Elmira clue for the syndicate updating "born" to "buried". Nice of them to think of us - rarely happens.<br /><br />DRUNKENCOOK. Really? Hard to imagine an UGLIER reveal. The only solace is that it reminded me of a great Fawlty Towers episode (weren't they all?) featuring Kurt, the drunken cook. Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85538752918960471412016-04-20T14:30:24.036-04:002016-04-20T14:30:24.036-04:00I breezed through this with no idea of a connectio...I breezed through this with no idea of a connection in the themers except they were food, and then get DRUNKENCOOK? Not even a funny JOKE. Then realized that there was a pile of three letter answers, must be more than 20 of them. DOH, no wonder so easy. That’s just too many 3s.<br /><br />Yeah baby ANGELA Bassett brightened things up in the middle.<br /><br />Maybe the rest of the day I will contemplate my NAVAL. First I suppose, I should get FRIED, or maybe PICKLED or STEWED. Any ONE ELSE wanna get INON it. Synderellas?<br /><br />I think that when 30% of the answers are 3s, IT’S (apostrophized correctly) more annoying than that many in PPP mode. Maybe I’ll follow MJ’s advice and BEATIT. Again I ask, Synderellas?<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78436670754397605292016-04-20T13:20:24.215-04:002016-04-20T13:20:24.215-04:00@LadyDi:
Thanks, I watched it, and remembered tha...@LadyDi:<br /><br />Thanks, I watched it, and remembered that I heard it some time ago. It made sense to me then as it does now.<br /><br />I think our brains have a tremendous capacity, and I'm not worried that my brain will literally be cluttered up or filled up and will run out of space.<br /><br />But trivia is still trivia, sometimes useful, often not--useful in solving crosswords, but not an asset in understanding the world.<br /><br />That's where Foer's memory training or "mindfulness" comes in. I think it can be very helpful, not only in our learning about and understanding the world, but also ourselves.<br /><br />I have to admit I fall short in applying his lessons.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85275159106271415602016-04-20T12:44:30.473-04:002016-04-20T12:44:30.473-04:00IT’S ONE PER
PAGETURNER said to PAULREVERE,
“NEVE...IT’S ONE PER<br /><br />PAGETURNER said to PAULREVERE,<br />“NEVER SMACK me ORR ELSE I’ll YELP,<br />and there’s just ONE WAY your ROD EFFS, my dear,<br />NEVER BEATIT, ILLBETHERE to help.”<br /><br />OXO – ELMIRA FAUCET - OXO<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68369235381983480532016-04-20T12:34:08.593-04:002016-04-20T12:34:08.593-04:00By the time this puzzle appeared in the Kansas Cit...By the time this puzzle appeared in the Kansas City Star (the syndicated version of the puzzle)on April 20, someone, somewhere had changed the clue to "Upstate New York city where Mark Twain was buried." So the error did not occur in my version; somebody must be paying attention to Rex and friends.<br />JAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36740499832541918212016-04-20T12:30:02.117-04:002016-04-20T12:30:02.117-04:00Played more like a Monday, possibly a Tuesday in t...Played more like a Monday, possibly a Tuesday in the NW, but no head-slapping DOHs here.<br /><br />Cute, simple theme. DRUNKENCOOK drew a smile, but little else to distinguish it from any other unusually easy day.<br /><br />I except more of a bite tomorrow.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7878206639823809572016-04-20T11:34:10.144-04:002016-04-20T11:34:10.144-04:00Okay. In my paper (not The Sun, in which the NYT p...Okay. In my paper (not The Sun, in which the NYT puzzle appears and which is delivered along with my paper), the Review-Journal, there's a variety page containing two daily 15x15 crosswords. These are "nothing" puzzles, cranked out by who-knows-who (or what), so simple that after the first day I just ignored them. THIS, folks, is one of those. Oh, excuse me, there is one difference: it has a "theme." Louisiana Purchase.*<br /><br />And aren't all our old friends here? JAI ORR UTA ATRA ERE IOTA...a virtual list of the hackneyed. I guess EKE got a pass because it was just here yesterday. But that is not enough: we have to deal with weirdities like AON and OXO. And NEB, as clued without the (var.).<br /><br />Sorry, guys, but ol' Will fell asleep this time. No way this is NYT material. Maybe on a desperate Monday, but that's it. F.<br /><br />*Big Dealspacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90370880292284012942016-04-19T20:06:14.047-04:002016-04-19T20:06:14.047-04:00Leftcoast
https://www.ted.com/talks/joshua_foer_f...Leftcoast<br /><br />https://www.ted.com/talks/joshua_foer_feats_of_memory_anyone_can_do?language=en<br /><br />Really - watch it!<br /><br />D,LIWDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88230151956043021302016-03-18T09:58:40.464-04:002016-03-18T09:58:40.464-04:00As a native of Elmira I know that Mark Twain was n...As a native of Elmira I know that Mark Twain was not only buried in Woodlawn Cemetery but that ewrote some of his best works in his little study on East Hill overlooking the Chemung Valley the study now sits on the Elmira College campus. HiElmira connection began with his marriage to Olivia Langdon daughter of a wealthy Elmira family they were not terribly thrilled with him as a son-in-lawCarolnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29436944624543174492016-03-18T09:45:34.603-04:002016-03-18T09:45:34.603-04:00I too was surprised at the Elmira error as a nativ...I too was surprised at the Elmira error as a native of Elmira I know he was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery schools took field trips there he wrote his best novels in a little study on East Hill now move to the Elmira College campus his Elmira connection began when he married Olivia Langdon daughter of a wealthy Elmira familyCarolnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29717168131153838882016-03-17T06:24:46.150-04:002016-03-17T06:24:46.150-04:00Interesting information on Mark Twain. I remember...Interesting information on Mark Twain. I remembered the Elmira connection, but failed to check where he died when I double checked that he was born in Missouri. I was just so surprised at the original error, I couldn't keep from making one of my own.AmandaPuphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11746822227407310280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15277701774535831402016-03-16T21:57:44.250-04:002016-03-16T21:57:44.250-04:00SE relatively messy, otherwise rather tame and ea...SE relatively messy, otherwise rather tame and easy as stated many timesxyzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08287781952915413013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85957228191676300612016-03-16T19:00:12.959-04:002016-03-16T19:00:12.959-04:00Record time for this one so yeah, easy. Usually th...Record time for this one so yeah, easy. Usually the puzzles Rex finds easy I find difficult and vice versa but today was an exception.<br /><br />Would have been faster but I got hung up on The SE corner. I wanted DRUNKENChef which through everything off for a couple of minutes. Other than that, piece of cake.lghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18102379714011955420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55313868426473906662016-03-16T18:03:16.568-04:002016-03-16T18:03:16.568-04:00Actually, more grist for the board.Actually, more grist for the board.aging sopranohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01085649464857246925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44733702225019843382016-03-16T17:45:07.352-04:002016-03-16T17:45:07.352-04:00@Z thanks for the link. Of course, that leaves ope...@Z thanks for the link. Of course, that leaves open the possibility that the original Mark Twain, Isaiah Sellers, was born in Elmira. (note: he wasn't)kitshefnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6185194386325211312016-03-16T17:06:43.643-04:002016-03-16T17:06:43.643-04:00@SandySlover - thanks, that comment was actually h...@SandySlover - thanks, that comment was actually helpful. I'd like to think I knew that at one time and just forgot it, but that might no be true.<br /><br />@pwoodfin - l like the quote, but by "conversation" I was referring to oral discourse. My feeling is that EBULLIENT is not a word that is likely to come up in a casual chat with a friend....hence my comment about not rolling easily off the tongue.jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37986476343484224402016-03-16T16:04:42.114-04:002016-03-16T16:04:42.114-04:00Thanks for catching the factual error about Mark T...Thanks for catching the factual error about Mark Twain and Elmira. Like you I saw the words "up-state New York city," and "Mark Twain," and wrote in "Elmira." I have been driving through and around Elmira for decades, and yet as I thought about it, I was pretty sure the connection was not to his birth. As for the ease of this puzzle -- I think yesterdays was easier. And you are so right about the theme revealer -- produced a definite groan from me.<br />Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15381872404054459617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68530398408627438132016-03-16T14:32:02.638-04:002016-03-16T14:32:02.638-04:00@aging soprano - my mom will still use the still-w...@aging soprano - my mom will still use the still-warm water from the hot water bottle to wash with in the morning! Portugal being a temperate country, central heating was scarce, but 49 degrees on an early February morning feels pretty damn cold...<br />Sure, they had hot running water, but - different times.<br /><br />Regardless of the factual error, Mark Twain wasn't born anywhere. Samuel Clemens was.<br /><br />Thanksgiving EVE - not a thing.<br />"I'll be flying home on Thanksgiving Eve, mom." Said no one, ever.<br /><br />@Gill - I'll have to try that place! Maybe I can apply for a head chef there, as I occasionally fit the description.<br /><br />@Martel...thanks for the flashback to the Galloping Gourmet!<br />And thanks for calling me out yesterday.<br />I was caught up in a frenzy of self-admiration for coming up with the so-clever "the puzzle was sublime" line that I choked on what sublimation actually is.<br />P.S. you've got the best nom de blogue!<br /><br />Puzzle was a little sloppy, yes (I say "I'm fried" when I'm exhausted from overwork), but not a stinker.<br /><br />Thanks Mr. Kahn.<br />Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66609120582077055622016-03-16T14:26:01.458-04:002016-03-16T14:26:01.458-04:00M&A Play-By-Play Analysis: SE Corner.
This TK...M&A Play-By-Play Analysis: SE Corner.<br /><br />This TKTS/ALTARS fill choice in the SE was fully justified, due to desperation.<br />M&A has spent numerous precious nanoseconds, tryin to improve on it,<br />with nothin to show for it, other than a slightly shinier pants seat.<br /><br />Main problemos:<br />1. Finale -COOK of DRUNKENCOOK turns out to be really crapulous. It nearly forces a<br />vowel after the K, in the 60-D ?K??. [-CHEF ender don't work much better, btw.]<br />2. This leads to either an E or S in the $ spot of the 60-D $K??.<br />3. An E in the $ spot leads to a vowel in the # spot of 59-D's #O??, which about has to be an E. That leads to EONS, which leads to nowhere, man, in gettin long (real) words for 67- and 70-A.<br />4. A 60-D SK?? start leads to a % vowel in 67-A's BE???%. This also leads to nowhere good.<br />5. So, having tried that $#% route, M&A concluded that U have to rip out some of 49-D and 50-D's stuff, which crosses 2 themers each.<br />6. That course led to no U in the &@ endin of 52-A's SHA&@, which had been SHAMU. Removin a U is a total $#%&@ SHAME, to say the least. So… not ok.<br />7. p.s.: M&A Did find one semi-decent fill solution, that involved usin TURNER for 50-D. But then you have yer violent clash with the very nice 27-D PAGETURNER, so … not very $#%&@!! ok, also.<br /><br />Real Good SE corner fill job, Mr. Kahn. TKTS to Ride.<br /><br />M&AMasked and Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16027736429645378004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73186255910929913112016-03-16T14:25:28.665-04:002016-03-16T14:25:28.665-04:00@Martel Moopsbane, my afternoon tea went up my nos...@Martel Moopsbane, my afternoon tea went up my nose. Not yet 5:00 pm so I can't start my DRUNKEN chicken yet. My mother loved Graham Kerr and Hamburger Helper. After a brief period in my son's early childhood when I felt compelled to make home cooked meals before I realized competitive motherhood was not my thing, I think Ernie Kovac's version of Chicken Molnar is about my speed, Aketihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07059835429995060000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77862829666353536522016-03-16T14:06:34.285-04:002016-03-16T14:06:34.285-04:00I too got confused with the Elmire one, as I had t...I too got confused with the Elmire one, as I had thought he was born in the south, but the city in upstate NY when I had the L immediately thought of Albany for some reason, and it fit with Lara going down... After finishing the puzzle wikipedia seemed not to have much on the pen name location, i felt it was a bad clue and a bad answer. Other than that, for a Wednesday too easy. Didn't care for the theme, i fact got the answer before the other clues.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06956650480399527813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68212811052739323032016-03-16T13:35:08.328-04:002016-03-16T13:35:08.328-04:00Wednesday easier than Monday for us this week. Mo...Wednesday easier than Monday for us this week. Most unusual. But we enjoyed.<br /><br />Today Will Shortz learned why ELMIRA should always be clued with reference to The ELMIRA Express, Ernie Davis. Ernie was a Syracuse grad, which is where David MUIR grew up. Those of us who lived in The 'Cuse when David premiered there as a local newsman were surprised to see this nervous newcomer lacking the square jaw, fatherly brow, or basso perfundo normally required, jump so quickly to ABC's national stage. Those of us who still picture him as the scrawny kid are left scratching our heads at the sexiest man alive thing.<br /><br />UTICA yesterday, ELMIRA today. Five'll get ya ten we'll see ITHACA tomorrow, probably clued as "Home to Albany State University."<br /><br />Cannot believe Gene Tierney was not the first MUIR that came to OFL's mind. He's losing his TCM creds. But all is forgiven when he reminds me of Tom Waits and I get to link (again) to "You're Innocent When You Dream" - thanks Rex.<br /><br />Mohair Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502840715719161565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78763658458490591762016-03-16T13:23:49.147-04:002016-03-16T13:23:49.147-04:00I thought FRIED referred to acid or pot only. In a...I thought FRIED referred to acid or pot only. In any case, all those adjectives sound out-of-date. But guess it'd be hard to work TURNT, LIT, CRUNK or similar into the NYT puzzle. (This ain't Buzzfeed.)Albynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75920981991704667982016-03-16T13:08:12.100-04:002016-03-16T13:08:12.100-04:00I did the Google search "recipe for drunken.....I did the Google search "recipe for drunken..." and the suggested endings were noodles, chicken, weenies, meatballs and pasta. Like @Rex, I wish David Kahn would have gone that direction rather than with the non-phrase DRUNKEN COOK. Other than that, it was a fun puzzle..<br /><br />Someone gave my Dad a tee shirt that read, "Damn, I'm GOOd" but after a couple of washings, the D came off so it read "Damn, I'm GOO" (perhaps the destruction had some help from my Mom? We'll never know.)<br /><br />I know some people who can't carry a tune so everything they hum is ATONAL. But it doesn't bother me - I figure if someone is happy enough to hum, who am I to complain?<br /><br />The born vs. buried problem was fixed before I printed out my copy so only the early comments let me know of the controversy. I guess I thought he was born in Hannibal, MO but definitely not in NY.Teedmnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12832353448839187816noreply@blogger.com