tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3540482918653977406..comments2024-03-18T22:08:40.448-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Whitesmith's medium / SUN 3-22-15 / Martin's wife on 1990s sitcom Martin / Facilities overseen by CDC / Captain America portrayer Chris / 2007 film featuring Raphael Leonardo Donatello Michelangelo / Old-fashioned fraternity activity / Down Under marsupialRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82770236106041570112023-01-21T00:30:41.801-05:002023-01-21T00:30:41.801-05:00This is why I do Sunday puzzles: a twist, somethin...This is why I do Sunday puzzles: a twist, something that uses the larger format to do things one cannot fit into a 15^2 grid. This descriptive puzzle title tipped me off <i>just</i> enough to keep my mind flexible in useful spots. I got the theme from the NE. Thereafter, the other five sections kept me wondering "how is he going to do it <i>this</i> time?" Remember Harry Anderson's ("Night Court") rope trick? There is enough variety in the linguistic combinations that I can easily forgive the clunkers needed to fill out the theme.<br /><br />Yes, for better or for worse, "YouTube" is a verb. I don't like it any more than Rex, but I have to bow to those who will continue to use this insanely grafted language for decades after I'm gone.<br /><br />The reveal is symmetric, the theme is symmetric, and the non-theme fill has only a normal amount of crosswordese. This one was worth the NYT subscription price.Prunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224476641730508311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66873611800946126372015-04-20T02:07:42.182-04:002015-04-20T02:07:42.182-04:00
I correctly completed the left center section lon...<br />I correctly completed the left center section long before I understood how to read it. Did this happen to anyone else?<br /><br />Note to Z: If you ever order hot water at a restaurant, you will probably find out what coffee-flavored water tastes like.<br /><br />from KAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4253974317070810942015-04-04T05:52:30.437-04:002015-04-04T05:52:30.437-04:00Why was this puzzle rated Medium, when far more ch...Why was this puzzle rated Medium, when far more challenging (for me at least) puzzles are rated Easy/Medium?Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05964501472593587070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89443254508657440372015-03-31T12:33:57.366-04:002015-03-31T12:33:57.366-04:00What racism? I'm tired of everything being cal...What racism? I'm tired of everything being called racist. Guess that's trendy now....??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59668735305085818152015-03-30T00:49:13.957-04:002015-03-30T00:49:13.957-04:00Bloop!Bloop!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65745309301889871492015-03-30T00:40:41.382-04:002015-03-30T00:40:41.382-04:00Why come on here to kvetch about kvetching! Most f...Why come on here to kvetch about kvetching! Most followers of Rex enjoy his comments; the good, the bad and the meh!<br />If he annoys you, find another blog! Sheesh!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61950988810627486822015-03-29T21:05:41.164-04:002015-03-29T21:05:41.164-04:00I enjoyed this puzzle. Didn't have a prob wit...I enjoyed this puzzle. Didn't have a prob with Peachpie. Georgia is the Peach State and as a NW native, it was an easy guess; don't like the word "huger"-- just sounds awkward even though it's correct. Was bothered by the "ghetto blaster" clue and the answer "GAT" even though I I'm familiar with the reintroduction of the word GAT in rap music. Nonetheless, thought it was all Ill advised to get at the answer GAT in this way. Thanks Rex for calling this out.<br /><br />And @The Joker: HA! Thanks for the Yo Mama jokes.Donnanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13417021435559197032015-03-29T20:26:41.795-04:002015-03-29T20:26:41.795-04:00I found the clue for 38-Across confusing because o...I found the clue for 38-Across confusing because of "24-Across answers" which I suspected should have read "24 across answers." After completing the puzzle I am sure it should have read <br /> "24 across answers ..."LorettaPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02976757337788867707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36051512946041065482015-03-29T18:31:33.983-04:002015-03-29T18:31:33.983-04:00Guessed the gimmick from the title and immediately...Guessed the gimmick from the title and immediately confirmed in NE. Breezed through most of it but CLIMBING THE WALLS didn't come until the very late in the game. Agree with you about GAT. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78912165440038385512015-03-29T17:03:00.298-04:002015-03-29T17:03:00.298-04:00The construction here is quite a feat. When the th...The construction here is quite a feat. When the themers can run from the edge all the way to the middle NOTEVENALITTLE TASMANIANDEVIL could make me say something bad about this one, and you know I’m not a big Sunday puz fan anyway. Even when I figured out the trick, I had a hard time bending those answers. All 24 of ‘em – that’s a lot.<br /><br />This type of construction is so much better than multiple letters in one square, IMHO. Maybe OFL needs a DIGESTIVEAID to ease the upset. Thumbs up from me.<br /><br />190 - low, but a number!rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23416884596542798052015-03-29T16:37:15.556-04:002015-03-29T16:37:15.556-04:00TOSELF
E
T
O
N
During the PANTYRAID
TANYA was UNA...TOSELF<br />E<br />T<br />O<br />N<br /><br />During the PANTYRAID<br />TANYA was UNAFRAID.<br />NOTEVENALITTLE ASKANCE<br />she pulled her DRESSUP and perchance,<br />“MEFIRST”, was all she said.<br /><br />--- GINA LONGI<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86918920340718698222015-03-29T09:53:53.225-04:002015-03-29T09:53:53.225-04:00The list of things that our resident curmudgeon do...The list of things that our resident curmudgeon doesn't like is growing longer by the day. I'm beginning to wonder if there's anything he DOES like. Strange, though, that in all his yammering about ethnic slurrage, he doesn't even mention YOMAMA. To me, that's offensive.<br /><br />I liked it. The cleverness needed to come up with combinations that work here is frightening. BOY these kids are smart!<br /><br />TANYA SEXTS me ATTEN; by eleven, after a couple of STRONGDRINKS, we SHAREONE(S)BED. Later, she HASASMOKE.<br /><br />Okay, Spacey, wake up; the dream's over. *sigh* She IS a hottie.<br /><br />Anyway, there (SEXTS) is where I started, go figure, and I so wanted NOTAX but wasn't sure how the rebus worked, if any. A bit more puttering around there, and I saw it: NORTH, NOTETOSELF, etc. And there's TETON! [Guess what that's named after!]<br /><br />Shortly I ME(E)TUP with RAPTURE; I can still hear Debbie Harry--another hottie--singing "He's done with bars, he's done with cars, and now he only eats guitars." Good stuff!<br /><br />Ah, but then we come a cropper. I can buy TVDAD, NCAA and NFLTEAM...hell, I'll even go for NSYNC and TMNT. But LONGI? I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO THAT! And AANDE? AAAAUGH! Now you've got me CLIMBING THE WALLS!<br /><br />I enjoyed this solve so much that I hate to give out less than an A, but clearly those last two drag it down a letter. B. I say again, "LONG" and "SHORT" vowels, along with initials accompanying the written-out "AND," ought to be piled on the SCRAPHEAP.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43215471685071232262015-03-28T18:57:53.526-04:002015-03-28T18:57:53.526-04:00Really dislike flavoured coffee. Absolutely loved...Really dislike flavoured coffee. Absolutely loved this puzzle: for the construction feat, for the excellent range of cluing, for the lack of weak stuff, for the enjoyment factor. Like others, I say why not use YOUTUBE as a verb. Google, courier, and others I can't think of right now are "verbized", and more will come. Wheelbarrow is used as a verb, for Pete's sake.<br /><br />GAT didn't bother me, nor TVDAD. Sometimes, too much time and space is used to ferret out the 2 or 3 things to complain about, rather than celebrating the beauty before us.<br /><br />Great stuff today.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17474057964262089982015-03-24T10:23:52.594-04:002015-03-24T10:23:52.594-04:00I'm often stunned at the cleverness of constru...I'm often stunned at the cleverness of constructs. I cannot imagine how this puzzle was developed. How many erasures? How does Jeremy's brain work?<br />To get one group of 5 "climbing" words/phrases by using a 6th word boggles the mind... then do it 5 more times!!<br />Wow!Mr. Cheesenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17182977805575221462015-03-23T17:09:12.051-04:002015-03-23T17:09:12.051-04:00Other than the very inappropriate clue for GAT, do...Other than the very inappropriate clue for GAT, doesn't this puzzle seem just a little... like the description of a date rape?<br /><br />Between the cluing and the answers, the puzzle includes, EYE, DRESS UP, MEET UP, SICKO, Perv, LEGAL ID, SEXTS, "That's close enough!", One getting hammered, STRONG DRINKS, Cupful before sleep, OBEY, SHARE ONE'S BED, Strips bare, DENUDES, Sleep (with), Drill (into), RIDE, and ASSAULT. This is all along with PANTY RAIDS, OVARY, TETON and WARTS and with a reference to Bill Cosby and fraternity activity.<br /><br />I was uncomfortable throughout this leering puzzle, to be honest. I'm all for some blue clues and answers like those in AVX puzzles but too many of these felt... non-consensual, at least when stacked all into one puzzle.Dain Godingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27880541834691805822015-03-23T09:47:15.579-04:002015-03-23T09:47:15.579-04:00Back again as I finished last night (though likely...Back again as I finished last night (though likely no one is reading the blog for Sunday anymore :o)) NW finally fell - somehow did not fill in SAX for 30A until I came back to it. So with that "S" and 18A being obviously STRAINED, everything else in that corner fell into place nicely. Again, A LOT of fun.<br /><br />I take back what I said earlier - I DO have a couple of "really likes" that I finished late:<br /> <br />104D - POET (one seeking money for a meter?)<br />7D - LONGI (Hi-fi sound)<br /><br />So with those two, even better. One of the most fun Sundays I've ever had, Kudos to Mr. Newton.Hughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02534114117788875905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68548035641730383332015-03-23T09:45:42.857-04:002015-03-23T09:45:42.857-04:00Tearing up to have missed yesterday's blog spo...Tearing up to have missed yesterday's blog spotlights. Sniff.<br /><br />@Numinous - love the lyrics, oh lonesome minstrel you.<br /><br />Does anyone remember Lonesome George Gobel?<br /><br />Anyhoo, agree with @Rex overall, especially the flavored coffee analogy. Like the staircase and airshaft (?) grid. <br /><br />Love, Yo MaMa's a ViolaMaruchkanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51837696232370117042015-03-23T09:08:06.742-04:002015-03-23T09:08:06.742-04:00San Antonio StrollSan Antonio StrollTitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28126434581709220012015-03-23T08:15:44.591-04:002015-03-23T08:15:44.591-04:00@Tita,
If you're talking about Delta Dawn, I ...@Tita,<br /><br />If you're talking about Delta Dawn, I wouldn't boast. It could have used a second verse.Country-Western Fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65583108613176325812015-03-23T03:48:33.660-04:002015-03-23T03:48:33.660-04:00I'm West Coast so ignore the time posted - I m...I'm West Coast so ignore the time posted - I make it around 12:49 PDTFred Romagnolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11994837736408182418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21112187436550696202015-03-23T03:46:12.737-04:002015-03-23T03:46:12.737-04:00I can't quote Kant. But I still (at 83) cry a...I can't quote Kant. But I still (at 83) cry at movies. So does my son who is in his 40's. I never go to bed without checking the blog. Then I play a few games of solitaire. so here's off to the games!Fred Romagnolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11994837736408182418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68726759509179027942015-03-23T00:47:52.077-04:002015-03-23T00:47:52.077-04:001. Semi-Puzzle Partner, Barcelona Guy and I interc...1. Semi-Puzzle Partner, Barcelona Guy and I intercontinentally skyped this baby and we loved it.<br /><br />2. @paulsfo (3:13) I agree with you it's about adopting a persona. The anonymouse at 11:21 am said "Like really, the dog picture people aren't anonymous?" Dude, nobody cares what your real name is and where you live. Just pick a name and inhabit it for a while. Continuity of the self in different times . . . I'd better stop now or I'll start quoting Kant's third paralogism.<br /><br />3. @Rhino -- you're cracking me up. I mean that in the nicest possible way.Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17459992224851404501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75399913272497993832015-03-23T00:34:24.002-04:002015-03-23T00:34:24.002-04:00@Rhino - I cried when coffee snob Rex insulted all...@Rhino - I cried when coffee snob Rex insulted all of us who were gonna like this puzzle.<br />Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22212769089937921312015-03-22T23:39:10.458-04:002015-03-22T23:39:10.458-04:00I hate flavored coffees, but I love architectural ...I hate flavored coffees, but I love architectural puzzles!<br /><br />Way late, but still have to name-drop - next-door neighbor growing up got his first big break when TANYA Tucker sang his song - became a cross-over hit.<br /><br />I did go 'ick' at the Gat clue. <br /><br />Beyond that, clever, clever. It wasn't boring, and I needed the gimmick to finish. Great puzzle, Mr. Newton! Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56741522674892207242015-03-22T23:26:10.525-04:002015-03-22T23:26:10.525-04:00@Rhino
Don't be absurd.
As you can plainly se...@Rhino<br />Don't be absurd. <br />As you can plainly see, there's any number of night crawlers.<br /><br />@Wrecks<br />Apropos of your yesterday's comment: I don't care what they say, I think you have legs.<br /><br />Elle Finger.Ionescunoreply@blogger.com