tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post344943734318861033..comments2024-03-29T05:08:37.783-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Brightest star in Aquila / THU 6-5-14 / 1990s politico from Texas / Presenter of Borgias in brief / Creature in Rowling's Forbidden Forest / Canal with 36 locks / College named for Norwegian king / Subatomic particle with no electric chargeRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83525802646367635262014-07-10T21:29:50.236-04:002014-07-10T21:29:50.236-04:00For some reason, saw the late forties film version...For some reason, saw the late forties film version of Little Women (maybe at school) when I was about 10 - hated it but have never forgotten the girls' names. Until today, they featured largely in the Department of Useless Accumulated Knowledge but suddenly 60 years on - invaluable info in solving this puzzle. who knew?<br /><br />Rebus became apparent from BRIGHAM YOUNG / FOAMY with the deLIVERY of the theme at 34A arising from OLIVE OIL (which 19th century proper young ladies probably weren't aware of).<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /> Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2620541500594499792014-07-10T20:34:19.312-04:002014-07-10T20:34:19.312-04:00This was a clean, fun puzzle. I sniffed out the re...This was a clean, fun puzzle. I sniffed out the rebus with BRIGHAMYOUNG and got the theme at 34A with the "L."<br /><br />The SW was the only slight holdup.<br /><br />Maybe someday I'll read the book.<br /><br />I don't care how you bring 'em...<br /><br />1407 = 3. Outta here.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90973634930271278852014-07-10T18:49:48.089-04:002014-07-10T18:49:48.089-04:00Loved this puzzle. Brought back fond memories of r...Loved this puzzle. Brought back fond memories of reading the LMA book as a girl. It was a 2 Kleenex book!KariSeattlehttp://yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84614296916108653772014-07-10T18:25:24.650-04:002014-07-10T18:25:24.650-04:00I got the theme early but took too much time summo...I got the theme early but took too much time summoning up the names and assuming that they would be placed symmetrically, which AMY was not.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27181827642152860842014-07-10T16:03:00.271-04:002014-07-10T16:03:00.271-04:00accepted
1707 - loser againaccepted<br /><br />1707 - loser againronodonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36585646935226019652014-07-10T15:41:47.550-04:002014-07-10T15:41:47.550-04:00Easy if you know the names maybe - I did not. I ha...Easy if you know the names maybe - I did not. I had DIRTY(JO)KE filling all of the available squares so I though it was solid (the clue could be singular or plural) until PARK necessitated moving the K up a space and JO was the first one I had (that's true if you'll accept it as short for Joanne, @Rondo). So, that's all I have to say about that; members of the (MEG)ENERATION will understand.<br /><br />5960 and outta here.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30783656946212483952014-07-10T15:35:03.782-04:002014-07-10T15:35:03.782-04:00Once I got the rebus idea off OMEGA this one fell ...Once I got the rebus idea off OMEGA this one fell smoothly. Only pause came when when I had the initial V and knew that no Mission starts that way. California born and educated I've studied them in school and visited nearly all. Nope, no V. Then JO fell into place and all was revealed. Should have read the clue more carefully! I live about a half hour away for Mission VIEJO!<br /><br />1713. Think the dealer has it in for me!DMGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56298623755986728182014-07-10T14:53:00.605-04:002014-07-10T14:53:00.605-04:00BTW - Glen Canyon is 99% Utah, not AZ, otherwise I...BTW - Glen Canyon is 99% Utah, not AZ, otherwise I had it in a snap.<br /><br />487 - bingorondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55897749080853397232014-07-10T14:23:10.609-04:002014-07-10T14:23:10.609-04:00As part of the "me generation" who got a...As part of the "me generation" who got around alot, I think Ive "known" women by all of those 4 names (if Peg subs for Meg).<br /><br />407 - bustrondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6928686754036086622014-07-10T14:17:02.912-04:002014-07-10T14:17:02.912-04:00@Sylvia Fedyk - we Canadians always have to deal w...@Sylvia Fedyk - we Canadians always have to deal with the Americanised, ie, incorrect spelling of various words. After all, it IS the NYT. A cross I/we bear, and I hope, gracefully. <br /><br />Lots of language mis-usages puzzle me. The worst two are "hopefully" and "momentarily". I leave it as an exercise to discern what they mean and how they are always misused. <br /><br />Enjoyed the puzzle even though I haven't read, and don't intend to read, any Alcott. I thought there would be a Pam and an Emma in there. Anyway, they were easy to get in a very well-crafted puzzle.<br /><br />Hey! 5166. whatever @Spacey said.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-92044814399048500502014-07-10T12:37:48.036-04:002014-07-10T12:37:48.036-04:00Globe Theater! This always annoys me too. Change ...Globe Theater! This always annoys me too. Change things to American spellings only if they are not proper names. Took this Canadian longer to see because of the "ER" ending. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07448368616883175895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72021739983113003402014-07-10T12:06:24.134-04:002014-07-10T12:06:24.134-04:00Easy, Ron. She's the one who says "WHOA, ...Easy, Ron. She's the one who says "WHOA, man!"<br /><br />I picked up on the rebusiness in the NE, when I was trying to fit in GLOBETHEATER and to make sense of "Attendance is mandatory." Everything else worked if I could just put BETH into one square. "Well then, do it," I told myself, and that at once suggested LITTLEWOMEN as the KEY to the whole thing.<br /><br />So by the time I got to the SW's lead-in "Ribald humor," I knew that the JO of DIRTYJOKE had to go in one square, hence the plural.<br /><br />LIVERY applies to cars as well as their equine predecessors? Who knew that? I've not seen that word outside of oaters.<br /><br />As OFL says, everything else was pretty familiar, GLEN coming readily on crosses (that wasn't really a natick: what else could start _IVERY but L?). So after you "find the key and sing with me,"* this puzzle does seem on the easy side; but before? It looked tough to me. Guess I'll concur with "easy-medium."<br /><br />*from "Jumpin' Jack Flash." I'm a huge Whoopi fan; she's a gas, gas, gas. Who loves ya, Guinan!<br /><br />522. Sui vie?spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25679541796659325662014-07-10T11:27:13.163-04:002014-07-10T11:27:13.163-04:00Would love to know the derivation of the word &quo...Would love to know the derivation of the word "wo man." There is man and then there is woman. Think about it.<br />Easy puzzle. loved it.<br /><br />Ron Diego 8:25 AM PSTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80918122903375723012014-06-06T06:14:53.400-04:002014-06-06T06:14:53.400-04:00@Pedantic Kewpie
Thanks. I was thinking same, but...@Pedantic Kewpie<br /><br />Thanks. I was thinking same, but hesitated to hector. Besides, I wouldn't have put it nor packaged it as well.<br /><br />Just adding that some abbrevs can be both an initialism and an acronym. e.g., ARR-OWE-TEA-SEA and ROTSYAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56295177326027365822014-06-05T22:47:26.150-04:002014-06-05T22:47:26.150-04:00This was a fun puzzle and now I'm spending my ...This was a fun puzzle and now I'm spending my night learning all about Jackie Coogan. Fascinating.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22905040179296334672014-06-05T22:11:19.914-04:002014-06-05T22:11:19.914-04:00abbreviation
initialism
acronym
SOOOooooo
They a...<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abbreviation" rel="nofollow">abbreviation</a><br /><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/initialism" rel="nofollow">initialism</a><br /><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/acronym" rel="nofollow">acronym</a><br /><br />SOOOooooo<br /><br />They are all abbreviations, but initialisms are abbreviations only from the first letters that are said separately (i.e. RSVP) and acronyms are initialisms that are said as words (e.g. NORAD).The Pedantic Quasi Punditnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1989131214386119922014-06-05T22:03:45.042-04:002014-06-05T22:03:45.042-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 8/1/2009 post for an explanation and my 10/15/2012 post for an explanation of a tweak I've made to my method. 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 5:14, 6:04, 0.86, 3%, Easy (6th lowest ratio of 230 Mondays)<br />Tue 8:51, 8:46, 1.01, 56%, Medium<br />Wed 10:36, 9:54, 1.07, 71%, Medium-Challenging<br />Thu 12:13, 17:42, 0.69, 6%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:33, 3:56, 0.90, 5%, Easy (12th lowest ratio of 230 Mondays)<br />Tue 5:44, 5:24, 1.06, 66%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 7:02, 6:11, 1.14, 84%, Challenging<br />Thu 8:22, 10:43, 0.78, 13%, Easysanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13330862970704273942014-06-05T20:30:10.882-04:002014-06-05T20:30:10.882-04:00I'm betting that the use of gentling words as ...I'm betting that the use of gentling words as described by @Carola is preferentially found among women... of any size...<br />@questina, Time will curve, and you'll have another chance.<br /><br />Got a big kick out of @ret_chem's GRANDMA Moses also, and found @from the NYT's link for 'moreSO' really interesting, esp about the algorhythm for marching to a different drummer<br /><br />Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56848348271318317512014-06-05T20:13:22.413-04:002014-06-05T20:13:22.413-04:00@Fred Romagnolo: I'm so used to thinking of th...@Fred Romagnolo: I'm so used to thinking of the mission in SF as Mission Dolores, I didn't think of adding it to the list (plus the list was obviously not comprehensive). In fact, in my years of living in SF, I've only heard it referred to as Dolores. <br /><br />@Loren: So, RSVP is an abbreviation, not an acronym. However, ASAP can function as an acronym. I hadn't noticed "so" seeping further into the vernacular. Although I'm used to it in the Midwestern approach @Carola described. I left the Midwest many years ago, but I just can't shake some of those (passive-aggressive) patterns. Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48442214203791026912014-06-05T18:59:49.346-04:002014-06-05T18:59:49.346-04:00@Carola, that use of "so" is the elegant...@Carola, that use of "so" is the elegantly economical and tactful way to broach a subject, yes, as not to startle.<br />@ lms, "I mean" without a previous statement is very interesting, so post-post-modern- inviting the listener to infer a continuity with some unspoken, perhaps existential question. One that taps into a timeless conversation within the collective unconsciousness perhaps?<br />@mac, fiddlestick... exactly!<br />@ leapfinger, I missed the perfect opportunity while having a discussion of linearity and time this morning. Durn. I plumbed and forgot.Questiniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06225633428852696530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30840184588649590812014-06-05T17:28:42.109-04:002014-06-05T17:28:42.109-04:00P.S. -- As it turns out, your answers were better ...P.S. -- As it turns out, your answers were better than mine!Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77549500318512969852014-06-05T17:15:24.405-04:002014-06-05T17:15:24.405-04:00Well, here's my answer, but truly, yours (M&am...Well, here's my answer, but truly, yours (M&A, Benko, and R.alph) are just as good.<br /><br />Oh. Well. Now I'm very embarrassed, and I apologize. I will be more careful in the future! When I checked this morning, I had AMY, BETH, and JO each worth 9 points, and MEG 6. But now I rechecked and damned if AMY isn't only worth 8.<br /><br />I guess I need an editor! Again I'm sorry, but I hope the exercise gave your brain a good workout...Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85959158551812359262014-06-05T17:12:55.275-04:002014-06-05T17:12:55.275-04:00Since I live in the US, I would drive my beemer to...Since I live in the US, I would drive my beemer to the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=theatre+definition&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb#channel=sb&q=theatre+definition&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official" rel="nofollow">THEATER.</a> Since this is a crossword I think either spelling passes muster.<br /><br />@Questina - So, I'm a quasi-pundit? Cool. I always like a promotion. To my ear "so" is used more in the way @lms describes. Now I will be listening for the QP.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9940263745284675322014-06-05T17:06:21.329-04:002014-06-05T17:06:21.329-04:00@lewis: The only other thing I can think of is th...@lewis: The only other thing I can think of is that Amy, Beth, and Meg all have a three point tile, while Jo doesn't.Benkonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20986856742868727052014-06-05T17:05:01.618-04:002014-06-05T17:05:01.618-04:00@Lewis,
Three of the four entries could be linked...@Lewis,<br /><br />Three of the four entries could be linked to one another, in Scrabble:<br /><br />AMY<br />BETH<br />* G<br /><br />JO cannot.<br /><br />This assumes that all those other picky Scrabble rules may be suspended.<br /><br />All four entries can be Scrabble-linked to LITTLEWOMEN. JO is the only entry that cannot be linked to SCRABBLE. TMI?... Thought so.<br /><br />M&AWay Outlaw M and Anoreply@blogger.com