tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3554245160900592315..comments2024-03-28T14:47:10.991-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Early capital of Alaska / WED 4-19-17 / 1917 dethronee / Salutation among Winnie Pooh friends / Log painted deceptively to look like cannon / Fly spurn thee ShelleyRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90798498945128073162017-05-25T17:17:22.285-04:002017-05-25T17:17:22.285-04:00A couple here really threw me. Especially INVECTIV...A couple here really threw me. Especially INVECTIVE. Had Landrt so I should have guessed land at. And RECTI instead of RECTo. The rest were in the middle. IMBUE and ARS stumped me. Could have been better.<br /><br />Mark Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20478920488804626362017-05-25T12:19:25.297-04:002017-05-25T12:19:25.297-04:00Not impressed with this one. A few nice entries di...Not impressed with this one. A few nice entries did not make up for the utterly terrible fill. ACENT, EREI, APR, AFATE, HALLO, UNAS, NCAR, SRS, PREV - all awful. SASE and EELS are borderline. <br />Then, a four-letter "word that follows" revealer? Weakest theme ever. (When's the last time anybody used the term "Mash Note"? 1949?)<br />And to make matters worse, I ended up with a DNF by putting in "cAKE" at 5-down. Seemed reasonable, but because I had absolutely no idea about the name of the obscure fairy-tale god, I didnt know it was wrong. <br />I'm going to forget this puzzle ever existed and get on with my life now. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13231860082303167587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79634768724060204772017-05-24T21:48:29.525-04:002017-05-24T21:48:29.525-04:00Once again, I'm so grateful for this blog. I d...Once again, I'm so grateful for this blog. I did NOT NOTICE the note in the centre of the puzzle. I didn't know the term "mash note", think it's not at all a musical term, but at least the clue was a musical thing. Anyway, liked the puzzle, found it fairly easy, actually completed it correctly for a change.wcutlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08615799228069705972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42771695659023573182017-05-24T21:26:04.307-04:002017-05-24T21:26:04.307-04:00@Diana--Ah, yes, permanent crowns. Been through th...@Diana--Ah, yes, permanent crowns. Been through this several times, including right down in front, lower and upper. Worth the time and effort and, I guess, the cost. leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91997482806934853692017-05-24T16:29:38.486-04:002017-05-24T16:29:38.486-04:00A few too many unknown PPPs kept me from a clean s...A few too many unknown PPPs kept me from a clean solve. JANUS and JAKE were fine with me. NCAR and AGLET did me in. Should have gotten NCAR. Darn. And thought I'd read all the Fitzgerald books. Apparently not.<br /><br />Being a Friend, I found the QUAKERGUN cannons hilarious. <br /><br />Feeling great today, but I'm still only going to MANGIA soft foods. Gerber's anyone?<br /><br />Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for permanent crownsDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43651247309765079752017-05-24T14:35:26.434-04:002017-05-24T14:35:26.434-04:00At a neighborhood gym. He was soon taught to swim,...At a neighborhood gym. He was soon taught to swim, And in no time at all he was scruna.fakt chekkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87275709588254579922017-05-24T14:33:18.727-04:002017-05-24T14:33:18.727-04:00Per the comments from Roo Monster and Anoa Bob, 54...Per the comments from Roo Monster and Anoa Bob, 54 A should indeed be “sawn.” SAWED is a past-tense verb, but the assistant is clearly not doing the sawing. The clue calls for the past participle used as an adjective. Many past participles are indeed formed with the addition of “ed,” but not, typically, verbs ending in “w,” i.e., the ball was “thrown,” not “throwed.”Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05185068601066087185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12663933758308090282017-05-24T14:04:05.440-04:002017-05-24T14:04:05.440-04:00A bit skeptical of "celebrity collaborations,...A bit skeptical of "celebrity collaborations," this one turned out to be JAKE with me.<br /><br />Not too hard, not to soft, but just about right--a Goldilocks puzzle.<br /><br />Hadn't thought of the NCAR-NASCAR overlap before, and wondered if that is just a coincidence. Probably so.<br /><br />Hadn't heard of Fitzgerald's CENT book, or of writer BARR. Don't think I've heard of DAYMARE either.<br /><br />PLAYAREA is something of a head-scratcher.<br /><br />Enjoyed it.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48629167086438836162017-05-24T12:55:05.676-04:002017-05-24T12:55:05.676-04:00First thought after reading comments: @Z - you...First thought after reading comments: @Z - you've plumbed new depths in your continual defense of Rex.<br />Second thought: I recall a limerick which began:<br />"A dashing romantic VICUNA<br /> Fell in love with a fifty-pound tuna"<br /><br />Anyone know the rest?<br /><br />Other than those random, unrelated observations, I kind of found this puzzle charming, mitigated by calling the SHIA-Sunni conflict a "feud". More of a slaughter, I'd say. Overall, medium here, with a bit of an oddball theme, but the NOTE in the centre kind of enlivened it a tad. <br /><br />HALLO was exactly how the Pooh characters greeted each other. Loved those books.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30407695260470148752017-05-24T11:58:01.172-04:002017-05-24T11:58:01.172-04:00Tough time getting started, probably due to the re...Tough time getting started, probably due to the reasons given by OFL. But then MONSTERMASH a gimme and things started to fall. Upon further review, nothing overwritten, but I know it consumed more time than a usual Weds-puz.<br /><br />I started my cocktail career at the former Spotted Horse BARR with WHISKEYSOURs, but don’t recall the cherries.<br /><br />Went to a DRAGSHOW at Club Aqua in Key West a few years back. Hilarious, but watch out for grabby hands if you want a photo with a performer. Also saw a DRAGSHOW in Vegas in 1987. Don’t remember the joint, but we were right up front thanks to the gals in our group. We guys chose Redd Foxx the next evening.<br /><br />As I’ve mentioned before, yeah baby GRETAGARBO was my grandmother’s cousin and never forgave grams for permanently moving to the USA.<br /><br />This puz not done with particular EASE, but then again, really no SWEAT. Hard to knock a puz when RON'S in it.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52488607386063828912017-05-24T11:42:28.708-04:002017-05-24T11:42:28.708-04:00@Mohair Sam: Well, not quite the LAST time. In tha...@Mohair Sam: Well, not quite the LAST time. In that excellent film "The Sting," Gondorff asks Hooker if he's having problems with Lonegan's hitmen. "Nah," replies Johnny, "Everything's JAKE." To which Henry replies, "You can't play your friends." <br /><br />Another really top-quality film is the Americanized version of the DRAGSHOw: "The Birdcage." I urge all who haven't seen it to do so. Too much good stuff to go into here.<br /><br />I found this medium-ish, maybe a tad toward challenging. I had the wrong woolly animal with alpacA, so inkfest there. Then I kept trying to make HASAfew work until finally giving way to the NIP. This East PLAYAREA was the hardest, and last one done for me.<br /><br />Interesting theme vis-à-vis constructor Ax; he must have enjoyed working on it. I agree about the compromised corners, and maybe EKEOUT IS better than EKE by itself...but not by much. My personal theory is that EKE cannot exist without OUT, so the whole thing should be a single word: EKEOUT. The rest of it is JAKE with me. Par.<br /><br />I take a moment to salute DOD KERRI Strug, who incredibly stuck a landing on a broken foot, exhibiting one of the most remarkable examples of courage I have ever seen. How she didn't pass out from the pain I don't know, but she even managed a triumphant smile. You earned the sash for sure, honey.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15526418293150160932017-05-24T10:13:26.437-04:002017-05-24T10:13:26.437-04:00RON’S ANECDOTAL NOTE
You see NORMARAE get SAWEDIN...RON’S ANECDOTAL NOTE<br /><br />You see NORMARAE get SAWEDINHALF<br />at so CILIA DRAGSHOW in a BARR up in Fargo,<br />while down in ABERDEEN we EKEOUT a laugh<br />as, with EASE, I NOTE, JAKE RHODE GRETGARBO.<br /><br />--- HENRI “LEROI” VICUNA-MANGIA<br />this stream of unconsciousness brought to you by QUAKERGUN OATSBurma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80272401443139705292017-04-22T19:15:02.811-04:002017-04-22T19:15:02.811-04:00Painful. Painful. Edac2dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05406242564285237476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17067376789161000792017-04-21T04:14:31.387-04:002017-04-21T04:14:31.387-04:00I kind of enjoyed the roughness--something differe...I kind of enjoyed the roughness--something different, anyway, a break from the staleness that I think comes with the editing. It feels good-natured. Geophanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01529145624829572006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53864881981101506152017-04-20T20:55:55.052-04:002017-04-20T20:55:55.052-04:00Tough Wednesday! The NW was brutal. Mangia was...Tough Wednesday! The NW was brutal. Mangia was an unknown. That's a Friday/Saturday clue/answer. Space Is Deephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03799838582935195126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54831311120326686832017-04-19T23:21:07.790-04:002017-04-19T23:21:07.790-04:00I admit I thought about Shia LeBouef at first and ...I admit I thought about Shia LeBouef at first and his war with Trump or those other dudes who are always trying to track him. He is one weird dude. It is true there has been wars between Shia and Sunni. Maybe we can't attribute everything to differences between the two. Likely ethnic differences play a huge part. That being said, there are more wars today of Muslims fighting Muslims than any other religion. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75185916458100321612017-04-19T23:19:04.925-04:002017-04-19T23:19:04.925-04:00That Tita person at 11:18 comment was best I'v...That Tita person at 11:18 comment was best I've read on this blog in a long time. Have some perspective people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60934873082009129102017-04-19T21:47:15.723-04:002017-04-19T21:47:15.723-04:00Gold in a pond? WTF
Great admiration for Mr. Ax th...Gold in a pond? WTF<br />Great admiration for Mr. Ax the pianist but not Mr. Ax the cruciverbalist.<br />This whole celebrity crossword collaboration is strictly PT Barnum.<br />Theme entries were but inconsistent. MASHNOTE was the nonmusical outlier.<br />The usual Shortz-edited verbose, pedestrian clues made this an unpleasant solving<br />experience.<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52037173667070208042017-04-19T20:47:03.676-04:002017-04-19T20:47:03.676-04:00Instead of a DAYMARE,I had a roll-in-the-hay with ...Instead of a DAYMARE,I had a roll-in-the-hay with an "OldGrayMare" and believe you me, she ain't what she use to be!Warren Howie Hughesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18482473914616143072017-04-19T20:17:02.567-04:002017-04-19T20:17:02.567-04:00@Z
Sorry I'm late to the party. Squirrel!@Z<br /><br />Sorry I'm late to the party. Squirrel!<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26226032904233892652017-04-19T18:50:36.893-04:002017-04-19T18:50:36.893-04:00@Nancy 5:21 Odd that you describe your dreams as e...@Nancy 5:21 Odd that you describe your dreams as evolving. Now that you mention it, my earliest dreams always included a hitch, literally, in my stride. I just couldn't get into the groove. But recently, I'm flying, in the groove, soaring really, which makes the loss all the more poignant. <br /><br />So does anyone remember the college graduate dream? Only grads had it and it always involved somehow missing a class or an exam so that you weren't going to graduate. Well, after I finished my PhD, that dream regressed to high school. I figured I didn't dare get a post-doc or I'd be back to grade school. Dreams are too fun!!!Malsdemarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05375476737540476148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86258705456719798492017-04-19T17:21:40.847-04:002017-04-19T17:21:40.847-04:00From the Misery Loves Company Department: While @...From the Misery Loves Company Department: While @Malsdemare (11:14), @GILL (12:26) and @Andrew Heinegg (12:56) are all lamenting the sense of loss they experienced in having had to give up running, I can truly identify with each and every one of them -- even though my own sadness comes from having had to give up a <i>different</i> sport at what seems like much too early an age. Malsdemare, I <i>still</i> dream about tennis, and now, 7 full years after stopping, my dreams are finally of actually <i>playing</i> tennis, and playing it well. But during the year I stopped playing and for at least 3 years after that, my dreams were of not being able to get to the tennis court. There were thick brambles in a forest I couldn't get through...or there was a moat I couldn't get over...or there was a traffic jam that made me late for the court, and my partner had already left. As I say, these dreams went on for years. GILL, you nailed it when you said "Getting old can be so cruel." What's even crueler for me, though, is all the players I know who are older than I am -- some MUCH older -- and are still playing tennis and playing it remarkably well.<br /><br />While I can't speak about running, I have a tennis anecdote that you may be able to identify with: The wise person -- someone you deeply respect -- who comes to you and says sternly: "Nancy, you have to realize that tennis is <i>not</i> a matter of life and death." (Long pause). "It's much, MUCH more important than that!"Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16737377749030219974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3527958846660457602017-04-19T16:38:53.782-04:002017-04-19T16:38:53.782-04:00@Anon (3:11) - Nobody listens. Read @Z (8:38), la...@Anon (3:11) - Nobody listens. Read @Z (8:38), last paragraph. Kindly disregard his last sentence.<br /><br />Three and out.Mohair Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502840715719161565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41066420829370277072017-04-19T15:11:21.653-04:002017-04-19T15:11:21.653-04:00Granted, Anon 7:38's post could be interpreted...Granted, Anon 7:38's post could be interpreted as rude, he (or she) has a point. Rex is kind of like the sports announcer who never played the game criticizing an athlete who plays the game. Not a lot of credibility there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70075857216216018832017-04-19T14:58:35.235-04:002017-04-19T14:58:35.235-04:00@GILL I
Before it closed a number of years ago, I...@GILL I<br /><br />Before it closed a number of years ago, I used to go to the World Gym across from Lincoln Center regularly. From time to time, Nathan Lane would show up with his personal trainer. In order to make his workouts easy/nonexistent, he'd put on a spontaneous one man show for 45 minutes or so, keeping his trainer and the rest of us in the gym in stitches.JC66https://www.blogger.com/profile/05324615675333287919noreply@blogger.com