tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2969419521289984436..comments2024-03-18T22:08:40.448-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Curved high-back bench - SUNDAY, Jun. 14 2009— One-named Brazilian soccer star / Suspected spy celebrated 1949 trial / Sexual Honesty compilerRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80407494865492915352009-06-16T20:52:52.534-04:002009-06-16T20:52:52.534-04:00Neat puzzle. I knew maotai, probably because my h...Neat puzzle. I knew maotai, probably because my husband likes to drink weird things. If you have it in your fridge I wouldn't advise opening it--the stench doesn't go away for a long time. Poor richard Nixon had to endure multiple toasts using maotai the first time he went to China. We can appreciate that, anyway.Aphid Laruehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041821842082372654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42156720946529849422009-06-16T00:32:25.920-04:002009-06-16T00:32:25.920-04:00You are absolutely right, Rex. The odd spelling m...You are absolutely right, Rex. The odd spelling made me back up a step but I understood (and admired) the result. To insist that an actual word needs to be present misses the point completely.edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59721387507127219682009-06-15T12:44:20.390-04:002009-06-15T12:44:20.390-04:00As a mathematician (actually, as some who got his ...As a mathematician (actually, as some who got his Ph.D. in Middle English literature ... never mind how irrelevant that is to my following point), I have to say that the insistence that the word in the theme answer be a word without the "D" strikes me as absurd and completely misses the point. What you see as a weakness is the Strength of the puzzle. Simply adding a letter to a word to get another word... BORING. Tired. Pedestrian. Been Done. Adding a "D" to words in a way that (In Every Case) necessitates respelling (and thorough reconceptualization of meaning) of those words ... novel. Interesting. At least to me (and, it seems, Ulrich). You don't have to like it, but asking BOULER to be a word feels like a bizarre request that misses what the puzzle is trying to do.<br /><br />rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59319740328310980092009-06-15T12:31:10.621-04:002009-06-15T12:31:10.621-04:00Ulrich, my point is that they're not real homo...Ulrich, my point is that they're not real homophones. When you remove the "D", the "word" that remains isn't, in most cases, an actual word. In a true homophone pair, both words must be real: "lichen" and "liken," for example.<br /><br />I suppose "bouler" could describe someone who plays Boules, if you wanted to stretch a point. And "wight" is archaic, but it at least exists if you happen to be an academic specialist in Middle English, as a couple of my friends are.Lilinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52966429493026525712009-06-15T11:16:35.335-04:002009-06-15T11:16:35.335-04:00rex, you made the same sci-fi association with NAR...rex, you made the same sci-fi association with NARTHEX <a href="http://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2008/05/thursday-may-29-2008-john-farmer-sci-fi.html" rel="nofollow">the last time it came up</a>, about a year ago. points for consistency.Joonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07825085755390339668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87445869601531336432009-06-15T10:03:37.871-04:002009-06-15T10:03:37.871-04:00@Purplekow
If you're still reading, I remembe...@Purplekow<br /><br />If you're still reading, I remember the show, and agree "gad" is a bit dated, but the usage was generally to describe someone to traveled about like a <br />"gadfly" --- flitting from place to place<br /><br />"She was a gad about (around) town" = socialite seen everywhere<br /><br />Gadabout Gaddis traveled to a different lake for each show.<br /><br />.../GlitchGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88187656949693063072009-06-15T02:19:02.573-04:002009-06-15T02:19:02.573-04:00Purplekow for the last time
Gadabout Gaddis appa...Purplekow for the last time<br /><br />Gadabout Gaddis apparently a nickname for someone who also went by the name the Flying Fisherman and who had a fishing show in the 1960s For anyone reading thisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40653365701848951062009-06-15T02:12:09.384-04:002009-06-15T02:12:09.384-04:00Purplekow here again
Proceeds here and there rat...Purplekow here again<br /><br />Proceeds here and there rather than precedes here and there. Well at least in now makes sense though except for some distant recollection of Gad About Gladys I believe it was, perhaps an old radio show??? Gads is still and oddity and Alana Davis a stranger to my worldAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2258018304836085692009-06-15T02:04:48.961-04:002009-06-15T02:04:48.961-04:00purplekow here
Forgot my password and I hate bein...purplekow here<br /><br />Forgot my password and I hate being anonymous though I have posted here that way in the past.<br /><br />This puzzle was easier than most Sunday puzzles for me but after reading all the comments I still have no explanation for 1 D Precedes here and there GADS I guessed that Elana was too closed to Elena elsewhere in the puzzle so went with Alana Davis who is not someone I know. I know I will feel really stupid when the GADS answer explainedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30893613002487279532009-06-15T01:19:31.515-04:002009-06-15T01:19:31.515-04:00@ Noam D. Elkies: Thanks for the parity trick in t...@ Noam D. Elkies: Thanks for the parity trick in the KenKen -- I was all set for lots of guess-and-check tonight.<br /><br />Regarding the crossword, it took me a while to crack the theme, but after that it was relatively smooth sailing. Northern California gave me the most trouble, but somehow I escaped scot-free. (I'm not too happy with the clue for 71D, however. "Tithe" and TENTH are synonymous, and are similar enough words to have made me hesitant to fill it in.)<br /><br />Only two errors: I forgot to fill in the vowel in 1D, and I just threw in a random consonant (an L) in the middle of 101A.Not That Brendannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46492955426354562412009-06-14T23:40:02.087-04:002009-06-14T23:40:02.087-04:00Witty, intelligent puzzle (with tough moments as n...Witty, intelligent puzzle (with tough moments as noted by others).<br /><br />More BEQ!Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3543715824307780822009-06-14T21:56:24.968-04:002009-06-14T21:56:24.968-04:00@ Glitch re NARA - not quite what I said - NARA is...@ Glitch re NARA - not quite what I said - NARA is well known per se IMO, whether or nor your Japanese hosts want to take you there. But they will.<br /><br /><i>CA-ca</i> time again: the word <a href="http://tinyurl.com/4pg2g5" rel="nofollow"> "cack-handed"</a> in British parlance refers to lefties, and as well to clumsy people. Derived from.... you. guessed. it. Check the link for more insight into the details of the etymology.As a southpaw, I am offended, but I am getting over myself.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38234716180042280872009-06-14T21:20:37.066-04:002009-06-14T21:20:37.066-04:00Anonymous 1:16 and @ Amelia, I agree with Amelia&#...Anonymous 1:16 and @ Amelia, I agree with Amelia's explanation but I wanted to add a small nuance. In French, aperçevoir can mean both to perceive and to catch a glimpse of something. Hence the connotation of "apercu" as looking at an overview or summary. <br /><br />@Glitch, I saw a fountain in LA with your avatar on it! I half expected to bump into you. At least I knew it would be a He-Glitch. Never thanked you for tangentially satisfying my curiosity. So thank you! <br /><br />I wonder if there will ever be a fountain with a strawberry in the middle.foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6268938759084515242009-06-14T20:45:01.404-04:002009-06-14T20:45:01.404-04:00Being a regular churchgoer, NARTHEX was a gimme fo...Being a regular churchgoer, NARTHEX was a gimme for me.<br /><br />I liked the fact that this was a little different from the run-of-the-mill substitute-or-add-one-letter gimmick.<br /><br />@ Anonymous 1:16 -- APERCU is from the French "apercevoir," which means "perceive," and it means a short summary or outline.Ameliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15377159639018028534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50221599357005995242009-06-14T20:34:30.188-04:002009-06-14T20:34:30.188-04:00@Doug
Not up on my Chinese, I wasn't aware yo...@Doug<br /><br />Not up on my Chinese, I wasn't aware your alternatives to Mao "don't exist" so it wasn't that "easy" for me.<br /><br />I've seen "Moo Goo" on Chinese menus, and we have a Japanese "Nora" hanging so MooTai crossing Nora was equally probable in my mind. (The Osaka reference was citing @r_c on the latter)<br /><br />As you said, "Once again, one person's gimmee is another's impossibility".<br /><br />'nuf said, let's see what tomorow brings ;)<br /><br />.../GlitchGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66774611932213739862009-06-14T19:57:53.499-04:002009-06-14T19:57:53.499-04:00@71A: "Putts that might be conceded"...I...@71A: "Putts that might be conceded"...I was certain the answer was "Gimmes" (as in I'll concede the put so that you don't have to actually bother taping it in). We're not very strict about the rules when we play.PIXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42877420289242356812009-06-14T19:36:53.020-04:002009-06-14T19:36:53.020-04:00I groaned when I saw that this was a BEQ puzzle, I...I groaned when I saw that this was a BEQ puzzle, I'm usually not on his wave length, but I actually liked this one and enjoyed doing it. Had very little liqued paper usage and just a few googles, that KAKA guy was one of them, I have absolutley no knowledge of anything to do with soccer.<br /><br />Nanpilla, have a great trip, just thinking about it makes my butt ache.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43927218542018173862009-06-14T19:10:31.794-04:002009-06-14T19:10:31.794-04:00Yes, the puzzle page looks different. So does the...Yes, the puzzle page looks different. So does the whole magazine, as explained in an introductory note about the new size, fonts, etc. As a mathematician, I didn't find the 7-by-7 KenKen too ornery: there's a neat parity trick (not to be confused with a party trick) that resolves the 7x6x2 vs 7x4x3 ambiguity. [The total number of odd digits in columns one and two is 8, so the 84x box must have an even number of them because the remaining boxes have even total parity. Likewise in columns 3 and 4.] But I'm still glad that these KenKens are additions to the expected cryptic, not replacements.<br /><br />@R_C: While most of the compounds reported on the Xenon wikipage indeed have only a single xenon atom, there are a handful of examples with two or even more, which I'm sure you'll appreciate better than I can. That "tetraxenogold(II)" seems particularly strange — which I suppose is apt given the meaning of ξένον...<br /><br />NDENoam D. Elkiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71037716543870248622009-06-14T18:45:45.129-04:002009-06-14T18:45:45.129-04:00@Glitch
You can also get the answer just by elimi...@Glitch<br /><br />You can also get the answer just by eliminating the alternative options: MeO, MiO, MoO, MuO don't exist. Easy!<br /><br />Osaka is in Japan, which isn't in China, so ... well, I won't blather on about geography. <br /><br />D.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05290892454158934009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37652619556447680762009-06-14T18:15:39.608-04:002009-06-14T18:15:39.608-04:00I'm a little bit ashamed that it took so long ...I'm a little bit ashamed that it took so long to find the G-SPOT. I guess I was fumbling around quite a bit with this puzzle, but nevertheless was enjoying it. Only real problem came from KOBE before switching over to N___. Also the correct spelling of KOOL-AID. My favorite was LEOPARD COLONY.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45970624196663450282009-06-14T16:48:16.427-04:002009-06-14T16:48:16.427-04:00@Doug
I think your first sentence contradicts the...@Doug<br /><br />I think your first sentence contradicts the second (in your last post).<br /><br />This crossing meets all the Natick criteria in Rex's sidebar post, unless more than 1/4 of the population are Chineese liquor importers, or, as @r_c asserts, have been to "hosted" in Osaka.<br /><br />And I bet the Venn intersection would be mighty sparse.<br /><br />BTY, Natick was coined upon a BEQ letter substitution puzzle. Maybe he's trying to make it a trademark?<br /><br />.../GlitchGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14720996955747898602009-06-14T16:32:01.670-04:002009-06-14T16:32:01.670-04:00If you take the first D off 23A, you get "app...If you take the first D off 23A, you get "appendix". Brilliant!George NYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11844466463123158982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81249510200039601052009-06-14T16:06:17.263-04:002009-06-14T16:06:17.263-04:00@Miriam B and Polly: thank you for the tip. I took...@Miriam B and Polly: thank you for the tip. I took a look at it and I think I prefer to go with Merl Reagle and Will Nediger.<br /><br />@Dan: that was a great bit of lyrics! <br /><br />@Fikink: glad I made you smile!<br /><br />My favorite theme answer and the one I had to sound out was Sidekick Energy also, just great.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73123369600493246342009-06-14T15:52:03.066-04:002009-06-14T15:52:03.066-04:00Disagree on any Maotai = Natick. Once again, one ...Disagree on any Maotai = Natick. Once again, one person's gimmee is another's impossibility. I actually import Chinese liquor into the US, and Maotai is my #1 competitor. Maotai, made from sorghum, is majority owned by the Chinese People's Liberation Army and is the biggest selling liquor in China. There's your useful OR interesting (pick one) factoid for the day. Don't run out and buy some--It's more than an acquired taste, verging on just gross.<br /><br />Didn't see this was a BEQ puzzle until the blog, but it's screaming out his name. Been doing his daily PUZ with much enjoyment!Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05290892454158934009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2983987560885845202009-06-14T15:51:46.314-04:002009-06-14T15:51:46.314-04:00@Clark
Kaka is indeed a nickname -- I think all B...@Clark<br /><br />Kaka is indeed a nickname -- I think all Brazilian soccer players have one-name nicknames because Brasilians tend to have very long names (Kaka's real name is Ricardo Izescon dos Santos Leite). Hence, "Ronaldo", "Ronaldinho", "Robinho", etc. It doesn't make much difference for its potential to cause tittering, but the emphasis is on the second syllable and it's not an uncommon cutesy nickname in Brazil for people named Ricardo.<br /><br />As for the puzzle, I loved it. Count me in the BEQ fan club -- there's always stuff in his puzzles that you don't see elsewhere (words and construction techniques) and they always feel fresh. This one is no exception. Favorite theme answer has to be SIDEKICK ENERGY. Brings to mind a hyperactive Robin...Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18213958108392539464noreply@blogger.com