tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2587862060626781202..comments2024-03-28T08:24:32.790-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Dickens character who says Something Will Turn Up / WED 8-11-10 / Nattily dressed ad figure / Sayers bon vivant sleuth / Wisecracking dummy old radioRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48896641113557703132010-09-15T19:13:50.606-04:002010-09-15T19:13:50.606-04:00This puzzle laid bare my ignorance of all things l...This puzzle laid bare my ignorance of all things literary as I needed all of the crosses for the MICAWBER and WIMSEY answers; well, almost all - I was able to infer LORD when the rest of his name was in place and that opened up the southwest for me, which was the last section to fall. Other than that this seemed pretty easy to me, except for what everybody else said. And I thought FLEA adjacent to LEA was strange.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9004247558778952782010-09-15T12:59:54.499-04:002010-09-15T12:59:54.499-04:00First @sparkydog77 ABSCAM was huge when the story ...First @sparkydog77 ABSCAM was huge when the story broke and was (to my knowledge) the beginning of "-scam" as a suffix for scandal. Now it's either whatever-gate or whatever-scam.<br /><br />Re MICAWBER, there is a delightful children's book by John Lithgow with a squirrel as the title character. If memory serves, they even dress up this squirrel with a monocle on the final page.<br /><br />And on the clue for MRPEANUT, how have I associated "nattily" with "shabby" -- its precise opposite? I can only think it was listen to vaguely snarky comments by my Okie relatives when I was very little. I came to see nattily as a pejorative.timhttp://timwarner.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79614366473449404882010-08-15T05:12:33.255-04:002010-08-15T05:12:33.255-04:00I enjoyed this puzzle very much but I wanted to ad...I enjoyed this puzzle very much but I wanted to add two things here:<br /><br />1} If you ever get a chance to read DAVID COPPERFIELD and experience Wilkins McCawber as a character, you will quickly take him to heart as he is certainly one of the most memorable of Dicken's creations, and that's saying something with his proliferation of great characters throughout all of his books. The early 20th Century actor, W.C. Fields, based a lot of his "schtick" on this character, always seen with an UNLIT CIGAR and speaking very DRYLY and with BRITISH APLOMB out of the side of his mouth. In the '70's, there was a brief run of commercials for a snack food (I think Dorito's or Frito's) where tag lines from this character were often used: "C'mon, my boy. We've eaten them all." But I'm certain that's not even close. LOL<br /><br />2) What in the hell is ABSCAM and why should we be expected to know of a quirky, bizarre little-known FBI operation? That one really left me boffo. I'm certain that it must have an amusing history tied to it if there is a "nonexistent sheik." LOL Sounds like the climax of "Noises Off!"Sparkydog77https://www.blogger.com/profile/17738788521763620197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87072996899547723812010-08-11T23:42:28.768-04:002010-08-11T23:42:28.768-04:00DNF - could not figure out CARIB/MICAWBER intersec...DNF - could not figure out CARIB/MICAWBER intersection though in hindsight B was the most reasonable choice. I was slow to parse OPART so thought I had a mistake. <br /><br />We had a MRPEANUT (piggy) bank as kids -- I remember putting coins through a slot in his top hat. There was some tricky way to get it open to retrieve the coins that only our parents could do in private...<br /><br />I've been a bleacherITE quite a few times but that term is not very commonly heard in my experience.<br /><br />Overall, an enjoyable, creative puzzle.shrub5https://www.blogger.com/profile/09466867716773759568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53008086451762414092010-08-11T22:18:43.238-04:002010-08-11T22:18:43.238-04:00Don't know if anyone else complained that Mr. ...Don't know if anyone else complained that Mr. Micawber said "Something is BOUND to turn up."Leilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432158981260636910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33953378300879406972010-08-11T22:03:54.860-04:002010-08-11T22:03:54.860-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 7/30/2009 post for an explanation. In a nutshell, the higher the ratio, the higher this week's median solve time is relative to the average for the corresponding day of the week.<br /><br />All solvers (this week's median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Mon 6:56, 6:58, 1.00, 54%, Medium<br />Tue 9:52, 8:50, 1.12, 87%, Challenging<br />Wed 9:28, 11:45, 0.81, 9%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:51, 3:43, 0.98, 42%, Medium<br />Tue 5:05, 4:33, 1.12, 85%, Challenging<br />Wed 4:57, 5:46, 0.88, 16%, Easy<br /><br />These median solve times rank as the 5th fastest Wednesday of 58 for the All Solvers group and the 9th fastest for the Top 100.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28140060507466576462010-08-11T21:52:44.112-04:002010-08-11T21:52:44.112-04:00@Sfingi ... very funny!@Sfingi ... very funny!johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86661012258816024702010-08-11T21:00:37.584-04:002010-08-11T21:00:37.584-04:00@Steven - yes, I consider the maker the manufactur...@Steven - yes, I consider the maker the manufacturer - GM, Nissan, etc.<br /><br />@Joho - I disagree. You would have to hold each monocle in each socket with no ear support. I'll bet that in this world, someone does it. Now, if you attach with a nose bridge, you have your lorgnette. <br /><br />Now, just for that <br /><a href="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/funny-pictures-cat-has-monocle.jpg" rel="nofollow">mon'oncle</a>Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47881724381235286202010-08-11T20:26:23.311-04:002010-08-11T20:26:23.311-04:00@joho Howdy doody did wear a bandannnna around hi...@joho Howdy doody did wear a bandannnna around his neck... however, no moniclechefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54467373488422373042010-08-11T19:56:39.843-04:002010-08-11T19:56:39.843-04:00@William E Emba - Beckett informs Dickens? That&#...@William E Emba - Beckett informs Dickens? That's a treatise I would love to read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22795854433671567512010-08-11T19:42:39.251-04:002010-08-11T19:42:39.251-04:00@Sfingi ... I think if you're wearing two mono...@Sfingi ... I think if you're wearing two monocles they're called glasses.<br /><br />I've had the weirdest image of Howdy Doody sporting a monocle and his bandana ever since doing this puzzle this morning. CHARLIEMCCARTHY wouldn't wear either but I think he had something to do with it.johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35612754820246800612010-08-11T18:55:54.612-04:002010-08-11T18:55:54.612-04:00@Sfingi: INFINITI is to Nissan as Cadillac is to G...@Sfingi: INFINITI is to Nissan as Cadillac is to General Motors. If you don't consider Cadillac to be the maker of its cars, but rather GM, then you're correct about INFINITI. Otherwise, it works (and fits with the custom used within the auto biz regarding who is considered to make a certain car).Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91539901789070546782010-08-11T18:01:38.628-04:002010-08-11T18:01:38.628-04:00As a child, I got such a thrill out of seeing MRPE...As a child, I got such a thrill out of seeing MRPEANUT during the tennis tournaments at Forest Hills.<br /><br />@Tobias: don't worry - some days, I feel like my brain just got up & left me...<br /><br />Didn't know ATLAS tires at all.JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84014153527895176992010-08-11T17:40:15.223-04:002010-08-11T17:40:15.223-04:00For the record: both OED2 and W3I give BANDANNA, w...For the record: both OED2 and W3I give BANDANNA, with "bandana" as a variant (and the original "bandanno").<br /><br />Oddly, the OED2 only lists 18th/19th century usages that seem to favor the "bandana" spelling.william e embanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36238586232471735492010-08-11T17:39:59.288-04:002010-08-11T17:39:59.288-04:00Liked he puzzle, thought it creative and unusual. ...Liked he puzzle, thought it creative and unusual. For bandanna I wanted some var. of balaclava. Stumbeled over twittery and needed a lot of crosses for Mr. Micawber and Charlie (just realize I filled in Infinity) McCarthy, but I love Lord Peter Wimsey and wish I hadn't read all of the books already. <br /><br />@foodie: Also know and like Melrose Plant, and how about P.D. James' Adam Dalgliesh?machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82266662900429330712010-08-11T17:16:45.650-04:002010-08-11T17:16:45.650-04:00I have recently purchased Adam Ross MR PEANUT, whi...I have recently purchased Adam Ross MR PEANUT, which is garnering geek heaven style reviews. So 14A was more of a gimme than usual.<br /><br />I did not remember WILKINS, nor does it ring any bells after the fact, with or without a monocle. But Mister MICAWBER was certainly memorable, he almost stole the show at times, and so it was half-a-gimme. As for Dickens being boring--well, I personally found Dickens much more fascinating after I got into Beckett.<br /><br />The Dorothy Sayers/LORD PETER WIMSEY novels and stories are remarkable. Twisted, macabre, practically insane plots and motives at times, yet all somehow quite cheerio.<br /><br />So with all the theme gimmes, I did this puzzle in an average Monday time. I was slowed down by BANDANNNNA too.<br /><br />@Zeke: After the first 200 or so pages, <i>War and Peace</i> (at least in the Constance Garnett translation) turns into a thrilling page turner. And there's a bonus paean to calculus, woohoo!william e embanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49355530140332998302010-08-11T16:37:38.009-04:002010-08-11T16:37:38.009-04:00I don't know that I was suggesting that one re...I don't know that I was suggesting that one read Infinite Jest. It's just that Dickens is so god awful boring that even a three paragraph character synopsis seems like a longer read that a 1000 page novel, of which Infinite Jest is the only one I can (honestly) claim to have read all of. I do make dishonest claims about having read War and Peace, etc.Zekenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50066802218986143142010-08-11T16:07:51.476-04:002010-08-11T16:07:51.476-04:00I'm in the BANDANA camp, but what do I know, I...I'm in the BANDANA camp, but what do I know, I initially wrote in PiGMY.Cathyat40https://www.blogger.com/profile/09721579652995818221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44068635481236647422010-08-11T16:00:24.240-04:002010-08-11T16:00:24.240-04:00@Zeke - you way beat me and everyone else to it. Y...@Zeke - you way beat me and everyone else to it. Yes, MRPEANUT wears a hat, cane, gloves, spats, monocle. In German, tragen means both wear and carry, so maybe he "wears" these in that sense, and throw in a briefcase. As @MaskedAnon said, he "sported" the monocle.<br /><br />Also, I disagree that INFINITI is the automaker if Nissan makes INFINITI.<br /><br />Do not hate the rest, though.<br /><br />Mr. MICAWBER, as portrayed by W.C. Fields was a lot of fun. Glad he was fully clothed.<br /><br />LORDPETERWIMSEY is also portrayed - on PBS, by the late Ian Carmichael - so you needn't crack a book.<br /><br />So, where's the fellow on GQ magazine? Or, Lady Troubridge? George Arliss, 1929-30 Academy Award winner? Can you wear a monocle w/o being dapper? Can you wear 2 monocles? How about a lorgnette? There's enough material for another CW.<br /><br />Did not know MERCK. Never heard of bleacherITE. Hey, is that some sort of sports thing?Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33106957745098154422010-08-11T15:59:33.601-04:002010-08-11T15:59:33.601-04:00Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/...Midday report of relative difficulty (see my <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=35115061&postID=3588389571383499624&isPopup=true" rel="nofollow">7/30/2009 post</a> for an explanation of my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Wed 9:20, 11:44, 0.79, 9%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Wed 5:04, 5:46, 0.88, 21%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7706744827929307182010-08-11T15:51:24.687-04:002010-08-11T15:51:24.687-04:00In above mentioned film Fields as Micawber wore a ...In above mentioned film Fields as Micawber wore a monocle.Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05413410761326194289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66508058307967371222010-08-11T15:39:04.545-04:002010-08-11T15:39:04.545-04:00@Zeke et al - I'd never heard of Infinite Jest...@Zeke et al - I'd never heard of Infinite Jest, but after reading what you all had to say, and Googling a bit, it seems as though I have to read this! At > 1000 pages, I hope the print is at least bigger than Atlas Shrugged! <br /><br />Loved this puzzle - am with those who hated BANDANNA, but not much else to complain about!CoolPapaDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11542059534657415505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56130323113150827322010-08-11T15:38:53.150-04:002010-08-11T15:38:53.150-04:00Wow, so I really have loathed Genesis for all my l...Wow, so I really have loathed Genesis for all my life. <br /><br />How is "early-80s Genesis" the same as "early Genesis"? Did Rex fix, or did Pete M misread what he wrote and then call him out on it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28463324581153022582010-08-11T15:25:55.420-04:002010-08-11T15:25:55.420-04:00@Rex: You consider Abacab to be "early Genesi...@Rex: You consider Abacab to be "early Genesis"? I know it was the 80's, but the band's been around since the 60's. Early has to at least be before Peter Gabriel left.Pete Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00915253628212019131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82335775326552167362010-08-11T15:05:50.180-04:002010-08-11T15:05:50.180-04:00@ACM et al...Yep. MR PEANUT is indeed nattily dres...@ACM et al...Yep. MR PEANUT is indeed nattily dressed, sporting a very nice U smack dab in center of the nut area, thank you. QED. <br />BTW: Puz *not* so nattily dressed with U's, overall.<br /><br />Variant BANDANA spellings. Kids driving while texting. 44 with a shaved head. Billion gallon oil spills. Cats eating dogs. Dubya as a two-term president. It just all seems so wrong. Pardon me while I curl up in a ball.<br /><br />I've been readin' the wrong books. Theme whished right over my head. Just finished Girl with Dragon Tatoo book. No monocles.Masked and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com