tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3544533559118034778..comments2024-03-28T20:15:26.332-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Rocker Hitchcock / THU 6-30-11 / Snack cake since 1961 / Whitman's dooryard bloomer / Intermediate at law / 1966 gold album Herb AlpertRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48103802832115181862011-08-05T04:09:07.813-04:002011-08-05T04:09:07.813-04:00Strange that RP should rate this one m-c; I found ...Strange that RP should rate this one m-c; I found it fairly easy. Once I had the YO of YOUAREELLE I saw the URL acronym, and was off and running. Filled in all the theme answers as well as the word ACRONYM at 50d, though I did have a bit of a tussle with CAGEYBEE (did not know ALANBALL at all, inferring the name from crosses).<br /> Hand up for loving the marvelous word ERSATZ--but EASEFUL has to be one of the ugliest words ever. Some nice fill (ULEE, NAH, and the inimitable Alistair SIM), but some ughs too (DLI, TMS). Tell ya, there oughta be a law against Roman numerology in crosswords. Bet your last buck if I ever make one, it won't have any.<br /> A qualified thumbs-up--and a thankyew to RP for the tape of one of my favorite CCR songs.<br /><br />captcha=abluti: Latin for "I wash my hands" (of the word EASEFUL!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86319274793930409612011-08-05T00:16:52.498-04:002011-08-05T00:16:52.498-04:00@East Sac Girl - I think lots of people doing this...@East Sac Girl - I think lots of people doing this puzzle including me confused EYDIE Gorme with that other 50's icon EDIE Adams.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86236056382987798032011-08-04T23:41:12.119-04:002011-08-04T23:41:12.119-04:00Got YOUAREELLE right away but the theme didn't...Got YOUAREELLE right away but the theme didn't click until CAGEYBEE. Needed a little help, but not much.<br /><br />MARSBARS again...... interesting. Had trouble with QED clue because I had SUZYQ wrong (had susie) and I kept wanted to spell Eydie as "Edie"<br /><br />Oh well, fun puzzle.East Sac Girlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45982415288686193942011-08-04T20:31:03.123-04:002011-08-04T20:31:03.123-04:00@Pippin, actually I enjoyed the puzzle too as I...@Pippin, actually I enjoyed the puzzle too as I'm pretty good identifying names. Thought it was a real tour de force on the part of David Poole to be able to squeeze just as many as he did into the grid. <br /><br />captcha=eutzpae, euro zone chutzpah?Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51218376887509877712011-08-04T20:28:34.008-04:002011-08-04T20:28:34.008-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48434400347973353162011-08-04T19:40:33.146-04:002011-08-04T19:40:33.146-04:00Have to agree with @Deb about everything except Al...Have to agree with @Deb about everything except Alan Ball (didn't know him). It was like going back in time - I even knew how to spell LARAINE from SNL.<br /><br />Did not know REESE or RENOIR and didn't like EASEFUL and SLEETY - (he sounds like one of the seven dwarfs - oh wait, that would be SNEEZY, which also happens with winter weather.<br /><br />Although I also agree with @Waxy in Montreal and @Dirigonzo that there were just too many names, I still enjoyed this puzzle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42577287383953485592011-08-04T18:28:07.695-04:002011-08-04T18:28:07.695-04:00@Waxy - Exactly!@Waxy - Exactly!Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86855887702793507662011-08-04T18:07:43.831-04:002011-08-04T18:07:43.831-04:00Auntie EM
NED Beatty
Christian DIOR
EYDIE Gorme
Sa...Auntie EM<br />NED Beatty<br />Christian DIOR<br />EYDIE Gorme<br />Sammy SOSA<br />Jean RENOIR<br />DEE DEE Myers<br />ADAM<br />ELLE Macpherson<br />EVO Morales<br />ALAN BALL<br />Helen MIRREN<br />LARAINE Newman<br />FATS Domino<br />Alastair SIM<br />ULEE Jackson<br />EDITH Head<br />Kyle REESE<br />Silas MARNER<br />ROBYN Hitchcock<br />LILA Wallace<br />Bruce LEE<br />REN<br />Martin LANDAU & SUZY-Q (honorable mentions)<br /><br />May have left a few out but I can't remember a NYT puzzle including so many (user)names. Good thing the world population is approaching 7 billion...Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68133650719105891902011-08-04T17:22:05.542-04:002011-08-04T17:22:05.542-04:00Last letter in was the "D" in BALD and t...Last letter in was the "D" in BALD and that provided the most enjoyable moment in the whole solve for me. I'm in Matthew G's camp on this one, and I came here expecting RP to really shred the puzzle in his write-up.<br /><br />I thought the Bin Laden hunter clue was a trifle macabre given the gruesome conclusion of that hunt, but maybe that's just me.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71379593742048353212011-08-04T15:12:05.721-04:002011-08-04T15:12:05.721-04:00i had a good time with this one; thought it was pr...i had a good time with this one; thought it was pretty easy for a Thursday.<br /><br />Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme were regulars on the Steve Allen Show (someone else the young folk here have probably never heard of). Eydie's big song was 1963's "Blame It on the Bossa Nova." Ahhh, the dance of love. They are both alive and members of the Songwriters' Hall of Fame. So there.<br /><br />I knew Ms. Newman's name had a non-standard spelling, but it took a long time to give up on that O. That SUZYQ cake sounds like something that's just gotta be toxic. ENROL with one L? If you say so.<br /><br />Alan Ball is also the man behind HBO's "True Blood."<br /><br />Saw a restored version of Renoir's "Rules of the Game" a few years back as part of Roger Ebert's Cinema Interruptus at CU. Not my favorite flick, but I could appreciate the craft in it.<br /><br />BTW, that Robyn clipped symbolized everything that's wrong about recent pap music ... er, pop music.Cary in Bouldernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63144693302279369032011-08-04T14:51:08.937-04:002011-08-04T14:51:08.937-04:00Anon 3:17 am: Didn't one of the big three mak...Anon 3:17 am: Didn't one of the big three make a "Landau" model?.....<br /><br />Yes! I got that answer quickly, as I drove a 1975 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Landau for many years. Google Images to see it. It's a beautiful, sleek car.Mary in Bend, ORnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61347044911200267472011-08-04T14:34:50.780-04:002011-08-04T14:34:50.780-04:00I loved this one because with only one exception (...I loved this one because with only one exception (ROBYN) all of the names were very familiar to me. I recall seeing EYDIE Gorme and Steve Lawrence on various variety shows on TV when I was in grade school, LARAINE Newman on SNL when I was a teenager, DEE DEE Myers on TV press conferences and ELLE Macpherson on the cover of SI during my child-raising years, and ALAN BALL's fantastic HBO offerings (Six Feet Under and True Blood) as an empty-nester. This puzzle was like a pop-culture jaunt through all the days of my life. What could be better? <br /><br />captcha=doweeds: Do-rags for your chia petDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675331024091722316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15934474171297713552011-08-04T11:30:30.543-04:002011-08-04T11:30:30.543-04:00Robyn Hitchcock makes the NYT Crossword. Crossing...Robyn Hitchcock makes the NYT Crossword. Crossing an <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8237000/8237465.stm" rel="nofollow">insect</a> related theme answer to boot. It doesn't get any better than that. <br /><br />This puzzle felt very British to me, what with Hitchcock, Monty Python, tea, abbeys and the queen. Plus, Mars Bars always make me think of the Rolling Stones and peeling spuds remind me of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo3r44XKfa0" rel="nofollow"> Squeeze</a>. (albums, on the other hand, remind me of plans.)<br /><br />I wonder if anyone ever enjoyed a spot of tea with Mr. Ramone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19097282377099887352011-07-05T03:17:44.412-04:002011-07-05T03:17:44.412-04:00Didn't one of the big three make a "Landa...Didn't one of the big three make a "Landau" model?.....Chrysler? Or Buick? Maybe a long way back?<br />Seems like I remember owning one. Not old enough for it to have been horse drawn.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67915477407746715342011-07-03T19:29:43.058-04:002011-07-03T19:29:43.058-04:00Once I realized that "landau" was the co...Once I realized that "landau" was the correct answer, I was all but kicking myself for missing it.<br /><br />I learned the term, as clued, a couple of months ago. It had something to do with the wedding of a couple of college sweethearts: Wills & Kate; or as they are now officially known: TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The bridegroom's grandparents, aka HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh rode in a landau after the wedding.Benjamin Michael Bledsoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050959042031107270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80187590519832245652011-07-01T02:04:44.558-04:002011-07-01T02:04:44.558-04:00This 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 7:18, 6:52, 1.06, 76%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 8:40, 8:55, 0.97, 49%, Medium<br />Wed 13:34, 11:53, 1.14, 84%, Challenging<br />Thu 17:35, 19:04, 0.92, 40%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:48, 3:40, 1.04, 67%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 4:28, 4:35, 0.97, 48%, Medium<br />Wed 6:27, 5:52, 1.10, 78%, Medium-Challenging<br />Thu 8:29, 9:13, 0.92, 42%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30689485333210635012011-07-01T00:13:49.858-04:002011-07-01T00:13:49.858-04:00Rex, I also will not join you on FB. I know you&#...Rex, I also will not join you on FB. I know you'll miss me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51264792013835871902011-07-01T00:03:34.668-04:002011-07-01T00:03:34.668-04:00Ok, Now I get why I didn't get the QED clue. ...Ok, Now I get why I didn't get the QED clue. Ms. Gorme was a singer 60 years ago; I have never heard of her; and while I could have worked an Edith, she pronounced her name funny.<br /><br /><br />Too lazy to look at grid, but was I supposed to figure out the queueEYDIE (the last five letters) were pronounced E.D.?<br /><br />Thanks anon above for helping me out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6567530775981392932011-06-30T22:21:00.647-04:002011-06-30T22:21:00.647-04:00For those too young to remember Eydie Gorme, she w...For those too young to remember Eydie Gorme, she was a young singer on the Steve Allen show in the fifties, along with Steve Lawrence whom she later married.<br />And for those who see a scatological connection to ISEEBEEM, that's only what an Eskimo produces. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />eydie <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />gorme, she was a young singer on the steve <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />aksquarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181873595483296089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17517051864887906742011-06-30T21:32:00.039-04:002011-06-30T21:32:00.039-04:00@acme: I had the same thoughts about ISEEBEEM.
@...@acme: I had the same thoughts about ISEEBEEM.<br /><br />@evildoug: I miss those Seinfeld episodes!<br /><br />That Robyn video is truly awful...<br /><br />Tried YODEL before SUZYQ.<br /><br />Loved BALD for Unlocked.<br /><br />Fun puzzle.JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68430253469140977892011-06-30T21:20:20.868-04:002011-06-30T21:20:20.868-04:00I normally don't like puzzles with lots of obs...I normally don't like puzzles with lots of obscure names, but this one really only had one natick for me (62D/69A). I liked the theme, and it helped with the solving. I <i>loved</i> "ISEEBEEM", the first theme word I got.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76931025247822620782011-06-30T20:33:27.250-04:002011-06-30T20:33:27.250-04:00@ cheerio - also prostate specific antigen, but no...@ cheerio - also prostate specific antigen, but not as clued.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73608998926627002312011-06-30T19:39:11.041-04:002011-06-30T19:39:11.041-04:00@Cheerio ... PSA = Public Service Announcement@Cheerio ... PSA = Public Service Announcementsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8930072397795500522011-06-30T19:07:43.414-04:002011-06-30T19:07:43.414-04:00Hard but I liked it. For some reason I got ISEEBEE...Hard but I liked it. For some reason I got ISEEBEEM out of the gate and then got YOUAREELLE and CAGEYBEE, but I got all mucked up around QUEUEEYDIE because I kept thinking Gorme's name was Nadine, which I realize now is because I was thinking of the writer Nadine Gordimer.<br /><br />I could not make Nadine sound like any letters and I had to get it on crosses.<br /><br />Loved seeing ERSATZ.<br /><br />This wasn't an easy puzzle to construct. Kudos, Poole!Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01267963957074212521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34201988836897626822011-06-30T18:47:59.219-04:002011-06-30T18:47:59.219-04:00The fact that there is an actor with the surname L...The fact that there is an actor with the surname Landau does nothing to make an unrelated non-proper noun with the same spelling more inferrable. If anything, it makes it less so, because it means there's another cluing option for that entry that I would expect to see if that were to be the answer.Matthew G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07957320012395569238noreply@blogger.com