tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3504318925728311000..comments2024-03-29T01:22:33.864-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: WEDNESDAY, May 2, 2007 - Richard SilvestriRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9260783791557134202007-06-13T23:34:00.000-04:002007-06-13T23:34:00.000-04:006WL also in San DiegoSecond day in a row I got hun...6WL also in San Diego<BR/>Second day in a row I got hung up. This time it was SW. Breezed through the top 2/3rds and then, before I got the theme, I put in BOTHEREDBUNNY. Unfortunately, this me took a while to undo. Knew SILAGE, did not know FICHU but got it throught the crosses. <BR/><BR/>Saw the Simpson episode where meh came up last night. Homer is trying to get the kids excited about going to Blocko World and their response is meh. Bart says something like "you heard us, meh, thats m-e-h!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18521458661582828422007-06-13T22:23:00.000-04:002007-06-13T22:23:00.000-04:00Six Weeks On -Fichu, eh? (or huh? for you not from...Six Weeks On -<BR/><BR/>Fichu, eh? (or huh? for you not from Dudley Do-Right's home). Funny but the first entry I made was for 40D but it was "stole". Must be my age showing...<BR/><BR/>Also, had 66A, Battery component, as "post" for the longest time.<BR/><BR/>And anytime I hear a reference to 32D, "bingo" in this context, I can't help but think of Bill Murray KOing the obnoxious insurance salesman in "Groundhog Day" with one punch after being bingoed. Skua'se me!Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77661914227873505072007-06-13T21:26:00.000-04:002007-06-13T21:26:00.000-04:00From 6WL in San Diego:I saw a neat riddle in Parad...From 6WL in San Diego:<BR/>I saw a neat riddle in Parade this Sunday (6/10) that would be a great clue to 32 down. "Word that sounds great to the person who says it, but terrible to anyone who hears it uttered."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67755525894725543722007-06-13T13:17:00.000-04:002007-06-13T13:17:00.000-04:00From six weeks in the future:Okay. SILAGE and FIC...From six weeks in the future:<BR/><BR/>Okay. SILAGE and FICHU. At least I don't know how to pronounce them and hope I never will.<BR/><BR/>"The Riddle = What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening?<BR/>(morning, noon, evening = metaphors for stages in one's life, i.e. "three legs" = walking with cane ... or so I think)" ---<BR/><BR/>In some Emo Phillips routine, he poses this riddle to a would be slayer to save his life. The WBS provides the above answer, to which Emo says "No, you fool. it's a donkey: it starts out on four legs, then I rip two of them off, then I glue one back on at night!"<BR/><BR/>Back to then.....Karmasartrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05507606225448127579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81745320918637985012007-05-04T18:31:00.000-04:002007-05-04T18:31:00.000-04:00Hi Rex:Pass me the whip, please, I wish to flog a ...Hi Rex:<BR/><BR/>Pass me the whip, please, I wish to flog a dead horse...<BR/><BR/>No problems w/theme -- IMHO I have seen many that are inferior to this.<BR/><BR/>Also thought you might be being a little too harsh in your condemnation of the crosswordese...I could rebut each instance you cite but...nah.<BR/><BR/>FICHU or whatever it was does indeed suck, and I hear ya on that one...<BR/><BR/>Pen Girl :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79422235522790571382007-05-03T10:33:00.000-04:002007-05-03T10:33:00.000-04:00Orange, thanks for the pic of Thurston Howell. Cut...Orange, thanks for the pic of Thurston Howell. Cute. Our Jr. High School band teacher had us wear orange ascots with white shirts (the school colors were orange and black--fight back!). <BR/>I meant that I don't think fichu is all that obscure and I don't really get this massive uprising against such a nice, precise little word (not really the same as a stole--my first impulse--or a shawl, and more specific than scarf). <BR/>Also (Ultra Vi), personally I rather like seeing SCAB in these puzzles once in awhile. I agree that it's ugly, but call a scab a scab, I say. What I mean is that I'm glad the Reagan (and subsequent) years were not successful in washing this word from the language.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56880506839699761802007-05-02T19:38:00.000-04:002007-05-02T19:38:00.000-04:00Fichu, Fichu, Fichu = Bleck!My word for it was "sh...Fichu, Fichu, Fichu = Bleck!<BR/><BR/>My word for it was "shawl" which messed up a bunch of other things.<BR/><BR/>I rarely complain....but I really didn't like this theme.<BR/><BR/>With all due respect to Richard (and I've never constructed). Hope tomorrow is better!<BR/><BR/>Thanks, as always, Rex.<BR/><BR/>I know I usually post later in the day....not sure if anyone reads it anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20568878427693137882007-05-02T15:55:00.000-04:002007-05-02T15:55:00.000-04:00Wendy,I had a similar experience in Law School on ...Wendy,<BR/><BR/>I had a similar experience in Law School on Ash Wednesday. The woman sitting next to me had ashes on her forehead and I made the motion that she should wipe off the smudege on her forehead. She wiped it off and then realized that she made a mistake as it is supposed to come off naturally. After class she yelled at me for telling her to remove the ashes. She thought I was playing with her. I explained that I'm Jewish and did not realize it was Ash Wednesday. She did not believe me and pointed out that a third of the class had ashes on their forehead too and what did I make of it. I did not notice and was just oblivious to my surroundings. It took her a long time to come around.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87936481122188460002007-05-02T15:52:00.000-04:002007-05-02T15:52:00.000-04:00Rex,I rather enjoyed your mighty rant. This puzzle...Rex,<BR/><BR/>I rather enjoyed your mighty rant. <BR/><BR/>This puzzle was eminently gettable but full of unattractive little pockets: SCAB. HATE. SMITE. Alimentary CANAL. BALLOONS (depending on what exactly is ballooning...). OBESE. FANNY...again, depending. <BR/><BR/>OK: NERD OGLED NUNS in FICHU.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17809048254376254502007-05-02T15:00:00.000-04:002007-05-02T15:00:00.000-04:00Alex, now I don't feel so bad ... some years ago I...Alex, now I don't feel so bad ... some years ago I moved to an area that apparently had a higher percentage of practicing Catholics than I was used to (that would be Akron), so when my boss arrived in the office after lunch - and a stopover at church - during the first Ash Wednesday I worked there, I told him he had a smudge on his forehead. To use that old hackneyed expression, "was my face red" when I was informed that this was not dirt but an age-old religious practice, followed by seeing numerous others with the same smudge as the day wore on. The perils of a heathen upbringing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48355210519540748282007-05-02T14:54:00.000-04:002007-05-02T14:54:00.000-04:00I had FountainHEADS in at 20A - Heads, you win/goo...I had FountainHEADS in at 20A - Heads, you win/good luck and all that jazz. Took HotCross Bunny to give me my "hah" moment and put in pen-ny. <BR/><BR/>In general, the puzzle stumped me for the first quick read of the acrosses, but the downs came more easily. (Even fichu - I'm a big reader of historical fiction, and many a female character has worn one.<BR/><BR/>-Mary RoseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44456192285386233202007-05-02T14:31:00.000-04:002007-05-02T14:31:00.000-04:00mmpo, you think the ascot's as (un)familiar as the...mmpo, you think the ascot's as (un)familiar as the FICHU? <A HREF="http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/warner_brothers/gilligan_s_island___the_complete_first_season/_group_photos/jim_backus3.jpg" REL="nofollow">Thurston Howell</A> begs to differ.Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69274846739687965322007-05-02T13:56:00.000-04:002007-05-02T13:56:00.000-04:00Ash Wednesday, let's see...I'm sure it must have s...Ash Wednesday, let's see...I'm sure it must have something to do with getting ready for baseball season...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44279898489814170362007-05-02T13:14:00.000-04:002007-05-02T13:14:00.000-04:00I don't specifically recall ever having a book of ...I don't specifically recall ever having a book of Mother Goose rhymes but I probably did at some point. Either way, that particular song is unfamiliar to me.<BR/><BR/>Reading the Wiki page on hot cross buns I see they have a religious history so I'm going to blame my ignorance on my atheism. I have a good theoretical education on religion but not much familiarity with the specific rituals (I just learned a few years ago that there is actual ash involved with Ash Wednesday).Alex S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07543077687426776863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56152058561900120592007-05-02T12:09:00.000-04:002007-05-02T12:09:00.000-04:00Is Alexander (in the Fanny and Alexander poster) w...Is Alexander (in the Fanny and Alexander poster) wearing a fichu? Coincidence?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77474639247490772212007-05-02T12:04:00.000-04:002007-05-02T12:04:00.000-04:00I fell asleep doing this puzzle when I was held up...I fell asleep doing this puzzle when I was held up by the silage/fichu crossing (obscure to this non-aggie male who doesn't know a fichu from a shawl) and had never heard of hot-cross buns (but now I have a song-thanks!). <BR/>For some reason I liked the 'neighbor of an Arkie' clue, and, like Linda, the NUNS cluing as well.Campesitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01852123189179333049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44344753795539864282007-05-02T11:35:00.000-04:002007-05-02T11:35:00.000-04:00Ooh, I was far kinder than Rex, and even amused by...Ooh, I was far kinder than Rex, and even amused by the cluing of NUNS as (creatures of habit?).<BR/><BR/>I'm with Howard on the riddle of the Sphinx cluing. Thought it quite clever and very pleased that I knew it.<BR/><BR/>Rex, I loved your pasta theme. That takes the award for the best wrong theme ever, which WAY beats the award for best wrong answer.Linda Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15816794362786044423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53956676772737115582007-05-02T11:26:00.000-04:002007-05-02T11:26:00.000-04:00Oops, I failed to notice that at least one other p...Oops, I failed to notice that at least one other person knew the hot-crossed buns song. I didn't know the second verse.<BR/>At my house, my mother liked to buy the Pilsbury orange rolls. <BR/>The Pilsbury doughboy has a BASKETBALL FANNY. (I'll stop now.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70185486622786847892007-05-02T11:21:00.000-04:002007-05-02T11:21:00.000-04:00Does no one else know the little round about hot c...Does no one else know the little round about hot cross(ed) buns?<BR/>Hot crossed buns (mi re do)<BR/>Hot crossed buns (mi re do)<BR/>One a penny, two a penny (do do do do re re re re)<BR/>Hot crossed buns (mi re do)<BR/><BR/>Dip into the fountain and buy yourself some breakfast. <BR/><BR/>As for BASKETBALL FANNY, that could be part of a clue for the ubiquitous OBESE.<BR/><BR/>FICHU. Sheesh, what's the big deal? I don't think this is any less obscure than cravat or ascot.<BR/><BR/>I thought this puzzle was much easier than Monday's or Tuesday's puzzles, though on the bottom third, I did lose my momentum of instant recognition of every clue. Still, it took me about twice as long as Rex to finish--and playing against the clock made me jittery. If I do go to a tournament one day, it won't be to compete with the speedy solvers! <BR/><BR/>The usually SAGE NUNS OGLEd the OKIE's BASKETBALL FANNY. "OOH," gasped sister ETHEL. Then, quickly, "um, let's get some PASTA."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66762276924647277422007-05-02T10:40:00.000-04:002007-05-02T10:40:00.000-04:00Boy Rex, You were really in a pissy mood. Maybe y...Boy Rex,<BR/> You were really in a pissy mood. Maybe you need a good night's sleep before blogging. I thought the NY theme was perfectly fine and the theme entries mildly amusing. I thought it was a good Wednesday puzzle. That said, the SILAGE/FICHU crossing did bug me.barrywephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04025848655112601237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45954574751408116042007-05-02T10:18:00.000-04:002007-05-02T10:18:00.000-04:00Since no-one else has come out in defense of SKUA,...Since no-one else has come out in defense of SKUA, here goes. SKUA is an awesome word, and an awesome bird! Much more interesting than its hackneyed cousin ERN(I)E, and the old flightless standby crossword bird, emu (ugh). Skuas and jaegers are mean, lean scavenging machines. Pelagic pirates. I think of them as the bratty little brothers of the majestic albatross.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32736316980799393052007-05-02T09:28:00.000-04:002007-05-02T09:28:00.000-04:00Alex, you never had a book of Mother Goose nursery...Alex, you never had a book of Mother Goose nursery rhymes? There's a pointless, British-sounding <A HREF="http://www.apples4theteacher.com/mother-goose-nursery-rhymes/hot-cross-buns.html" REL="nofollow">"Hot-Cross Buns</A> nursery rhyme.<BR/><BR/>Yes, Rex, you're gonna fry. But you knew that already, right?Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60888812449061017652007-05-02T09:10:00.000-04:002007-05-02T09:10:00.000-04:00Great rant.Great rant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20201760814592940622007-05-02T09:06:00.000-04:002007-05-02T09:06:00.000-04:00SILAGE = SINUS + SLUDGE. Let us never speak of it ...SILAGE = SINUS + SLUDGE. Let us never speak of it again.<BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53019990436538059752007-05-02T09:05:00.000-04:002007-05-02T09:05:00.000-04:00"Viral video" = spreads like crazy, not crashes yo..."Viral video" = spreads like crazy, not crashes your computer.<BR/><BR/>And Scott, yes, sorry, for got to add that SILAGE is obscure ... to non-farming non-heartlanders. And it's not really obscure. It's just not common. Is there a word for something that's in-between?<BR/><BR/>Forgot to mention that TEST for [Battery part] made me stop short as well. Had to get three letters before I saw what the clue was getting at.<BR/><BR/>Orange, your My LAI Massacre comment made me laugh. Does that mean I'm going to hell?<BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.com