tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3674259452302380800..comments2024-03-28T08:24:32.790-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Athenian colonnade / MON 4-11-16 / Unfiltered unpasteurized brew / Poetic paeans / Hairy Halloween rentals / Double-decker checkerRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38219866692711738962016-05-16T23:46:07.096-04:002016-05-16T23:46:07.096-04:00@Spacecraft, @Z - Look at the last across answer n...@Spacecraft, @Z - Look at the last across answer number, 69 in this case. Find the closest square root to that number (8), multiply by the last across starting number (9), and add 5. That gives 77. Done.<br /><br />Har.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65136315429306630752016-05-16T22:54:12.499-04:002016-05-16T22:54:12.499-04:00@spacecraft - Why does starting with the last acro...@spacecraft - Why does starting with the last across number work? There are not 69 across answers so what is that "69" actually counting? It's not counting down clues (look at 23A, for example). Is it counting only the non-double duty numbers? Then why can't I start at 63 (last down number) and do the same thing?Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71483525793327232472016-05-16T16:43:30.370-04:002016-05-16T16:43:30.370-04:00Altho any puz I finish gets called easy, this one ...Altho any puz I finish gets called easy, this one was SLIGHTLY harder than the usual Mon, IMHO. Took some going to get a firm toehold. But it finished easily.<br /><br />Loved GO POOF. Will try to use it in conversation today. And biddle is now firmly in my vocab. <br /><br />I, too, thought the ski bags could have pockets. <br /><br />Fill rarely bothers me. What is an ENCHILADA or an Oreo or a cannoli without the fill? (Even easy, easy fill like "put C A T in 32A" has its place. Maybe.) (See one of 77 in puz)<br /><br />BTW, @Rainy, I think my 11:54 post was aimed at a Monday a couple weeks ago. You mentioned several Synders in a post. Sometimes the deLorean's GPS gets confused. That woman yells out TURN RIGHT, NOW! and I obey she who must be. <br /><br />Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for DirectionDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68432944026880113002016-05-16T15:13:10.056-04:002016-05-16T15:13:10.056-04:00This was a solid Monday. I left the CARGO/RHOMB cr...This was a solid Monday. I left the CARGO/RHOMB crossing till last.<br /><br />CLUE (21D) was an apres-puz distraction. Forgetting that clues are not numbered in full sequences, I wondered how in the world can there be more clues (132) than answers (77)?!<br /><br />Must blame on chronic Monday morning fuzziness.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89966545442547398522016-05-16T14:20:08.920-04:002016-05-16T14:20:08.920-04:00Liked having a bunch of longish answers in a Mon-p...Liked having a bunch of longish answers in a Mon-puz, but there was just something about it that seemed flat. Haven’t a CLUE why, maybe cuz the three letter answers number in the teens?<br /><br />Hafta give TV star KATHIE Lee the yeah baby for today. Sure not UGLY, but the bits and pieces of her shows I’ve seen over the years . . . well, makes me glad I’ve been ABLE to hold a job and don’t need to watch that stuff. Unless she’d go without a BRA. <br /><br />Have seen the RODIN Thinker in Philly. Also in K.C. Probably nearly missed others without knowing it.<br /><br />Used to be pretty good on the POOLTABLE. Haven’t played much in recent years. Need the right partner.<br /><br />NUDIE Cohn was famous for making those rhinestone studded cowboy suits for C & W performers (think Porter Wagoner, et al.) which became known as “NUDIE suits”. Had nuthin’ to do with nekkedness.<br /><br />This puz may not have been exactly fun, but neither was it a CHORE.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11938915205362326982016-05-16T14:01:13.267-04:002016-05-16T14:01:13.267-04:00Straightforward Monday puzzle, which is fine by me...Straightforward Monday puzzle, which is fine by me. Nice longer answers, and a few semi-tricky clues.<br /><br />So this is a debut puzzle by Mr. Toth. However, CC is also mentioned. Does this mean that the idea was Toth's and that CC helped/modified, or what? Does this matter? Maybe I should come up with an idea, and get hold of Patrick Blindauer to just sort of make it work. Naw, I have no motivation to even come up with a xword idea.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46875472433043742172016-05-16T12:15:53.760-04:002016-05-16T12:15:53.760-04:00
NUDIE CRU
AW,GEE CANTI get into her PANTS?
It’s...<br />NUDIE CRU<br /><br />AW,GEE CANTI get into her PANTS?<br /> It’s a CHORE for the SANE and ABLE,<br />UNTIL LEAH gives one the FOUL chance,<br />to sow OATS and TAMP on the POOLTABLE.<br /><br />--- SYD RHOMB<br />Sorry boys and girls, not feeling it today.<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66828550278103356022016-05-16T10:56:56.069-04:002016-05-16T10:56:56.069-04:00@Z: It works because the numbers in those two-way ...@Z: It works because the numbers in those two-way squares are doing double duty; 1-across and 1-down: two words, one number. One of those is accounted for by the number; the other has to be added to the total. You are intelligent; it's simpler than you're trying to make it.<br /><br />A semi-pleasant little Monday romp; I too was a bit confused by what might have POCKETS or not...none on those APESUITS, most likely, but you never know. Of course I'm put in mind of "Trading Places," in which said costume played a key role--a most painful one for poor Clarence.<br /><br />Don't know what a SKIBAG is; can't do anything requiring the least amount of ankle pressure. My foot would fold like an accordion. The BOWLINGLANE specifically does not have a POCKET. The arrangement of pins ON the lane creates the desired point of impact between two lead pins most likely to produce a strike: the "POCKET." Some lanes may have "grooves" which may or may not lead to the pocket. They shouldn't, but oftentimes they do.<br /><br />Is PITABREAD green paint? Isn't PITA enough for that idea? Let us now consider RAT, used quite a lot lately, and for some reason invariably clued as the "fink" variety. This is disturbing. We are encouraging the public to withhold vital information from law enforcement. Criminals are loving this. It's the Code of Honor among thieves: "A real stand-up guy won't RAT his friends out." Guys, if you don't mind, if you must use RAT in your grid, next time give a little shout-out to the rodent in your clue. Better yet, give him a rest. The frequency of use is approaching plague levels.<br /><br />That said, there's other good stuff to be found--though I spent three years in England and still never heard of "REALALE." To begin with, they drink at room temperature: ugh! Ice cold over here, buddy, or forget it. For the DOD, we must go to Damsel of the Day Gone By KATHIE Lee. Not exactly EROICA material, but cute enough in a wholesome blonde Dinah-Shore kind of way. Par.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35371492233257868682016-04-17T23:54:37.767-04:002016-04-17T23:54:37.767-04:00Thanks, @Rainy, for yesterday's shout out to S...Thanks, @Rainy, for yesterday's shout out to Syndielanders.<br /><br />D,LIWDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37180854484585153312016-04-11T23:31:00.009-04:002016-04-11T23:31:00.009-04:00@Jerry - Look at the top row. Notice there are 13 ...@Jerry - Look at the top row. Notice there are 13 down answers and only three across answers? Here's a trick that will save you counting all the clues: Start with the last across clue, #69 today, then count all the down clues that are also the beginning of an across clue (1, 6, 9, 21, 29, 24, 51, and 63 today). This will be the total clue count for the puzzle (or you can just check xwordinfo.com). I don't know why this works, but it does.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5654929273544862232016-04-11T22:49:41.984-04:002016-04-11T22:49:41.984-04:00@Dick Swart, enjoyed your bringing up "Isle o...@Dick Swart, enjoyed your bringing up "Isle of Capri", especially with your twist on the lyrics.<br /><br />Incidentally, it seems that a third nephew is planning to follow his older sibs to Williams.<br /><br /><br />ElleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22933413974964478632016-04-11T22:20:35.683-04:002016-04-11T22:20:35.683-04:00Jerry 12:51 There are 77 clues. Not all numbers ar...Jerry 12:51 There are 77 clues. Not all numbers are used for across and down clues. Looking at the highest number for each is far more than the actual number of clues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87876770383546887242016-04-11T20:46:08.737-04:002016-04-11T20:46:08.737-04:00Thanks Rex for confirming each little square's...Thanks Rex for confirming each little square's pocket. I almost had the same SLAnT on SLOPE, but 5d fixed it. I enjoyed Ron & Zhouquin's pzl which made me think of <a href="http://web.mit.edu/adorai/www/seuss-technical-writing.html" rel="nofollow">this MIT paper re: Packets & POCKETS</a>. Cheers, -TAnonymous Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459563526290288425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20201117902258612052016-04-11T19:56:35.969-04:002016-04-11T19:56:35.969-04:00@Z - I like what Ice Cube had to say.@Z - I like what Ice Cube had to say.jae - away from my own devicesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30299789988344990942016-04-11T19:49:50.882-04:002016-04-11T19:49:50.882-04:00Not easy. But no dnf. And learned that Evitas last...Not easy. But no dnf. And learned that Evitas last name must be peron. Who knew?Chronic dnferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05129538196003383400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36301763680078315962016-04-11T19:41:21.835-04:002016-04-11T19:41:21.835-04:00Jerry said...
21 Down??? What does it mean that th...Jerry said...<br />21 Down??? What does it mean that there are 77 clues in this puzzle? Aren't there 69 crosses plus 63 downs = 132 clues?<br /><br />There are only 40 Across clues although it starts at 1 and ends at 69. There are 37 Down clues even though it starts at 1 and ends at 63. 40+37 gets the count to 77.WhoisMarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03961327283420614707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46924997537368211342016-04-11T19:06:25.574-04:002016-04-11T19:06:25.574-04:00This was a fun little puzzle. My write overs were ... This was a fun little puzzle. My write overs were SWEAT/CARGO, SLANT/SLOPE, and SKIBIBS/SKIBAGS. The clue for king was very clever. My only real challenge was changing CLUB to CLUE. I'm not familiar with the terms REALALE and that ALAL had me seeing double. I'll have to try some on my next trip to England.<br /> No score for today. I've been playing with that Sunday puzzle. The downs were what made it especially easy. One thing I did look at today was the theme. Debut words seem to be the make or break issue for publication. As a single entry CARGOPANTS has only been seen three times. The individual words are much more common. BOWLINGLANE has only appeared once before. This is the sixth use of POOLTABLE. Oddly enough PITABREAD is making it's Shortz era debut. Mr. Shortz may have really liked this puzzle and that one debut was enough to make the grade. Whatever the reason it was an excellent choice.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />puzzle hoardernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58744065470418640032016-04-11T15:23:28.993-04:002016-04-11T15:23:28.993-04:00@Z Thank you for confirming. I saw the mirror symm...@Z Thank you for confirming. I saw the mirror symmetry (after reading Rex's review), but we just had one of those last week (with all the little top hats), so I didn't think it was anything unusual. I think it's one of those things, like associating certain constructors with certain types of puzzle, that you need more experience to start noticing.kitshefnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53547618874663478462016-04-11T14:44:21.411-04:002016-04-11T14:44:21.411-04:00I am not a fan of the crosswords with hardly any b...I am not a fan of the crosswords with hardly any black squares, leaving answers of at least 9 to 15 letters long, and no clue as to how many words make up the answer. It seems to me it is just a shortcut for those putting the puzzle together for the paper. Thankfully, this is not always the case, and I have at times completed the entire puzzle. Just an observation.Calliffyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02346544747700135411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5464766674111042392016-04-11T14:36:26.387-04:002016-04-11T14:36:26.387-04:00@carola: And some bras now have a pocket between &...@carola: And some bras now have a pocket between "the girls" that will accommodate a small pistol. Reminds me of the old Mickey Spillane style joke, "I opened the door and this blonde dame stuck two .38's in my face. She was holding a gun too!"<br /><br />@Chuck McGregor: Yeah, We submariners never worried about being seen, but we were damned near paranoid about being heard! I left New London in 1970, so I don't know if we were stationed there during a shared time period. Went back for a three day reunion about five years ago. You wouldn't recognize the place anymore. The most noticeable landmark of the base, its 150 foot tall escape training tank, is long gone. So is the tailor and dry cleaning store that was directly opposite the main gate. I really miss my boat! I'd go back in a heartbeat if I could.<br /><br />As to your second observation, yes, my mother's side of the family has long suffered from diarrhea of the maxillary orifice. I am also cursed with that affliction, so I definitely do not suffer from lalophobia. LOL! I'd be interested to hear what Rex had to say, should he opt to answer your letter. My e-mail addy is in my profile.<br /><br />@Leapy: Mae said it best. "Is That A Pistol You Got In Your Pocket Big Boy, Or Are Ya Just Happy Ta See Me!"Chaos344https://www.blogger.com/profile/08901221000538028472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52771712915150269742016-04-11T13:30:42.810-04:002016-04-11T13:30:42.810-04:00I'm surprised no one picked up on the Pocket P...I'm surprised no one picked up on the Pocket Pool theme answer. Will Fnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43033226604511183382016-04-11T13:25:23.023-04:002016-04-11T13:25:23.023-04:00This puzzle was harder if you immediately filled i...This puzzle was harder if you immediately filled in CAPRI for 1 across.<br /><br />And since it is Monday and I had just received a vintage German pen with some flex to the nib, I thought I'd fill in the squares in cursive. I now know that cursive letters only seem to have mraning if they are in a context of other linked cursives ie handwriting. I looked at the squares I'd just filled in and couldn't read them.<br /><br />Twas on the Isle of Capri that i found you. But you were wearing cargo pants.Dick Swarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05916582540029654250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55151862364282896312016-04-11T13:12:12.437-04:002016-04-11T13:12:12.437-04:00This struck me as entertainingly non-Mondayish fro...This struck me as entertainingly non-Mondayish from the git-go. Like @Carola, a former denizen from the back of my closet fooled me into wanting HAREM PANTS. What with the elastics around the ankles, the whole dang construction was practically one giant POCKET. Or maybe a PANTSBAG.<br /><br />No surprise with doing the slant/SLOPE, and as always, impassed the LOWED/MOOED decision, Cowardy Custard that I am. Only other pause was at SKIBAGS: I knew it crossed WNBA, but was seriously wanting SKITAGS, for the lift tags that are twisted into zipper-pulls and stay on skijackets from one winter UNTIL the next.<br /><br />GO_POOF, GOP_OOF. Fun in more ways than won.<br />Count me as another who thinks the RODIN NUDIE pleasantly RUED.<br /><br />I liked the theme since I come from a culinary tradition of Stuffed POCKETS, and after the reveal was on the WATCH for more. I'm another who admits a CUP as an in-keeper and thinks an APESUIT may have a POCKET for APEpapers. AdMittyng I Rued not finding Thurber's POCKETa-POCKETa. Also betting that Montrealers of a certain age remember Maurice "The Rocket" Richard, big brother to Henri The POCKET Rocket and Claude The Vest-POCKET ROCKET. For those who pooh-poohed the theme, they might for once have to POCKET change.<br /><br />Nicely done, RT and CC! Time to see whether TRIG can calculate the SLOPE of a RHOMBicide.Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62597883532180982472016-04-11T13:11:25.120-04:002016-04-11T13:11:25.120-04:00Fun, easy puzzle. Took the wrong SLant like many o...Fun, easy puzzle. Took the wrong SLant like many of you. Knew REAL ALE either because I visited in England when the campaign had high visibility or through Inspector Morse. Anyone else remember a reference in the Morse series? Coming from Rochester NY - when I was growing up the highest per capita BOWLING city in the US, it's a long, cold, damp winter- 24A was a no brainer. Liked the many felicities cited by @Rex and others but so wanted marsupial to be worked in. LindaPRmavennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77806009854432814222016-04-11T13:10:39.341-04:002016-04-11T13:10:39.341-04:00My mARpO pants (worn by the Marx brothers, perhaps...My mARpO pants (worn by the Marx brothers, perhaps?) and having to TAlk/TAme/TAMP down my 29D because my lOwing bovines were MOOing too loudly cost me some precious time. And my 4D magically pOp(ped) OfF before it could GO POOF. But this was a fun puzzle and a bit of a bite for a Monday.<br /><br />Congrats, Ron Toth, on the debut, and thanks to you and CC.Teedmnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12832353448839187816noreply@blogger.com