tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4045655473202565626..comments2024-03-28T17:46:15.668-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: SUNDAY, Jun. 22, 2008 - Pamela Amick Klawitter (LONG-ARMED SUMATRANS)Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54288469883276091092008-08-27T22:55:00.000-04:002008-08-27T22:55:00.000-04:008/26 As a newbie crossworder of little more than a...8/26 As a newbie crossworder of little more than a year, I always believed that the Sunday NYT cws were impossible; but take comfort that the more I work them, the easier they get. Still, I am in awe that anyone can do one in an hour, or while at the theater! My goal is to finish, rather than finish quickly (I know my limitations). The day I was able to complete an entire puzzle was happy indeed. Had no trouble with OP-ED or SELVEGE, but wanted CREASES to be DRESSES, SAMOA to be SASIA, COAT to be BOAT and OCELOT to be FERRET at first. I take issue with the errant Ss, (LYONS) and thought of TIME as Life's partner (but not TIME'S). I giggled when saw WHEELIE, AFROS and SLURP right away; but EDDA, SEPAL and EFT -- are you kidding me?<BR/><BR/>I've devised a system of scoring myself, and feel a sense of bliss after completing a particularly satisfying puzzle. RP helps to understand the themes which are usually Greek to me. The blog is interesting to see that other word lovers are out there, and it is fun to read what clues people relate to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49028329207619563982008-07-01T04:04:00.000-04:002008-07-01T04:04:00.000-04:00My favorite picture of my wife has her with an oce...My favorite picture of my wife has her with an ocelot sitting calmly on her lap. It was taken in the Darien, a province of Panama(the same one in which Balboa, in wild surmise, stood on a peak), which at the time, had no roads through it and was inhabited largely by nomadic Indian tribes and the descendants of escaped slaves. We were both Peace Corps Volunteers and met in Panama. <BR/><BR/>I am interested to learn that Dali kept an ocelot as a pet. I don't recall seeing an image of one in any of his works with which I am familiar.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37693744535603984382008-06-30T23:28:00.000-04:002008-06-30T23:28:00.000-04:00107D was clued as Drive! and not Drivel in the Dal...107D was clued as Drive! and not Drivel in the Dallas Morning News, making PAP a less than obvious answer. Boo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64856437418099167862008-06-30T12:00:00.000-04:002008-06-30T12:00:00.000-04:00Week and a day late and a dollar short. I got the...Week and a day late and a dollar short. I got the theme upon glancing at the puzzle. Don't know why, it just came to me so that helped. My last word was ocelot. Plebe was easy, having grown up hearing my dad's stories. Board-feet too. I guess that comes from somewhere, but it was easy. Things like 'selvage' were hard, but I didn't have any real trouble. Didn't do much jumping about this time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55250425556637216732008-06-30T08:09:00.000-04:002008-06-30T08:09:00.000-04:006-30 -- i can still blog to this site6-30 -- i can still blog to this sitekashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01597650746996249094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34173954924373314762008-06-29T21:58:00.000-04:002008-06-29T21:58:00.000-04:006-29Good idea -- because I'm always a week behind ...6-29<BR/><BR/>Good idea -- because I'm always a week behind but I like reading the blogskashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01597650746996249094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41333540950451123272008-06-29T20:36:00.001-04:002008-06-29T20:36:00.001-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08877038657361699565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73977549077867276542008-06-29T20:36:00.000-04:002008-06-29T20:36:00.000-04:00Okay, calady - how'd you DO that?Okay, calady - how'd you DO that?Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08877038657361699565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91088991158157240042008-06-29T20:24:00.000-04:002008-06-29T20:24:00.000-04:00Juliebee-thanks for the explanation, I would never...Juliebee-thanks for the explanation, I would never have figured the chain out on my own-and in fact, I'm truly impressed that anyone did. <BR/>Maybe we later posters should indicate the date if the set-up doesn't. I tried it on this one to see if it works.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16486865931521604372008-06-29T20:23:00.001-04:002008-06-29T20:23:00.001-04:00and a horse is a horse, of course, of course.and a horse is a horse, of course, of course.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08877038657361699565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22171454632915836642008-06-29T20:23:00.000-04:002008-06-29T20:23:00.000-04:00Of course, we COULD put the dates in ourselves, of...Of course, we COULD put the dates in ourselves, of course...<BR/><BR/>6/29/08Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08877038657361699565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16351183559698882962008-06-29T19:58:00.000-04:002008-06-29T19:58:00.000-04:00It would be nice if you could put the date in addi...It would be nice if you could put the date in addition to the time. That way we could tell who original bloggers are and the ones who later because of syndication.kashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01597650746996249094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61060516835620747092008-06-29T19:06:00.000-04:002008-06-29T19:06:00.000-04:00Thanks, AnnArtisan - it's nice to know I'm not all...Thanks, AnnArtisan - it's nice to know I'm not all alone in an empty hall, hahaha! It makes sense - the puzzle must be syndicated to more people than take the "live" option, and unless you subscribe to the puzzle online, we're bound to be doing it later. I thought about that when I saw how much fun I was missing, but decided to send Rex the money instead - this is where the real entertainment is!<BR/><BR/>@chrisvb - according to Wikipedia, it can be spelled either Lyon or Lyons in English. I get so used to adding an S to French words for no good reason that it didn't faze me, I guess.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08877038657361699565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90213259362837432212008-06-29T18:51:00.000-04:002008-06-29T18:51:00.000-04:00Like Calady I did the puzzle and wondered about th...Like Calady I did the puzzle and wondered about the theme. Finally, after much study, I discovered the connect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17294326928811101272008-06-29T18:13:00.000-04:002008-06-29T18:13:00.000-04:00I'm in! After lurking for months, I was finally mo...I'm in! After lurking for months, I was finally motivated enough to jump through the Google account hoops (a long boring story) so I could post on this site.<BR/><BR/>No one mentioned the Lyon vs Lyons problem. I have been to Lyon, and never saw it spelled as Lyons.Chrisvbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02413838643396646838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65907043400165735942008-06-29T18:00:00.000-04:002008-06-29T18:00:00.000-04:00@juliebee - You're not alone in the land of sixwee...@juliebee - You're not alone in the land of sixweeksback! I actually haven't checked out Rex's blog for several months, but back when I first stumbled upon it in December of '06, and for the several months I read it daily thereafter, there were usually at least a few sixweeksbacklanders who kept each other company - and Rex himself often made a reappearance. Looks like the readership has grown so much that he probably just doesn't have time for that anymore though. Lordy, there are 78 comments for this one puzzle alone! I think there used to be no more than maybe a dozen. <BR/><BR/>Anyhoo, the reason I popped back in today was that I was completely baffled by the theme. The first theme answers I got were "caseclosed" and "mastercard" and no amount of staring at them unlocked the secret for me. I'd like to think if I had given it a bit more time, I would have gotten it, but I was impatient today.<BR/><BR/>I disliked the "oped" answer also because it's just not used without "page." I didn't even take note of the fact that "opinion" was part of both clue and answer. (And yes, I'm one of those who always thinks the "op" stands for "opinion," even though I know I've heard the real definition before today.)Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675331024091722316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25612484797735236152008-06-29T17:26:00.000-04:002008-06-29T17:26:00.000-04:00@kimbo - The clue for 107 D is "drivel," not "driv...@kimbo - The clue for 107 D is "drivel," not "drive." That should clear up the answer for you.Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675331024091722316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57338357334425967192008-06-29T16:41:00.000-04:002008-06-29T16:41:00.000-04:00@calady - at first it seems like there's nothing i...@calady - at first it seems like there's nothing in common, but you can follow it like this:<BR/><BR/>food court; court case; case closed; closed circuit; circuit board. When you read it like this, you can see that the chain goes all the way through the puzzle...Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08877038657361699565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5741169753038915192008-06-29T16:20:00.000-04:002008-06-29T16:20:00.000-04:00Solved the entire puzzle, but still have no idea w...Solved the entire puzzle, but still have no idea what the "chain reaction" is-or how anyone got footboard out of food court-circuit board. If there is anyone out there still reading this who can explain, please do. I thought a chain was where one thing leads to another-apparently I'm wrong?<BR/>Clearly I'm missing something!<BR/>Speaking of Aussie videos, there was a great comedy a few years ago called, I think, "Mother and Son" about a poorish hard working son who cared for his crotchety mother who, of course, gave all her praise to the other wealthy son who ignored her. Really worth digging up if you know how!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91146518475123590752008-06-29T16:12:00.000-04:002008-06-29T16:12:00.000-04:00This blog is such a nice part of my day - I'm hour...This blog is such a nice part of my day - I'm hours (and usually six weeks) behind everyone else, so the conversation is always over by the time I get here, which makes me vaguely sad - like I'm just hearing the whisperings of a ghost party, but hey, I'll take what I can get.<BR/><BR/>I loved this puzzle - it took me FOREVER to understand the theme (I refer to them as "tricks" :-p) but once I got it, I was able to fill in the last half of the theme answers by working the chain rather than by the crosses, and that was such fun!<BR/><BR/>The NYT usually kicks my butt on Friday and Saturday, so I was especially pleased to get them all this week with no help - google, husband or otherwise. Sundays I can usually do with a bit of thought, but this one was fast for me - I won't bother you with the details, because it's certainly still terribly slow, but if I can do a late-week or Sunday puzzle in under an hour, I'm a happy gal!<BR/><BR/>Board foot is a term I'm very familiar with, so the only argument I have with the chain is the countertop trailhead so many also didn't like. Still - I thought it was a clever puzzle I could do - what else am I looking for in a puzzle?Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08877038657361699565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81399007110188965362008-06-29T16:11:00.000-04:002008-06-29T16:11:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08877038657361699565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33464356854843932502008-06-29T16:09:00.000-04:002008-06-29T16:09:00.000-04:00Thanks for your blog, Rex! It has saved my sanity...Thanks for your blog, Rex! It has saved my sanity on many frustrating Saturdays and Sundays! Could somebody please log on and explain the connection between clue and answer for 107 D - Drive and Pap?kimbohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16340894603495591555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47824637370470738042008-06-29T13:53:00.000-04:002008-06-29T13:53:00.000-04:00Bridge players have to be card counters. Did you ...Bridge players have to be card counters. Did you know their are three types of Bridge players. Those who can count and those who can't.kashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01597650746996249094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5765419587611528542008-06-26T16:48:00.000-04:002008-06-26T16:48:00.000-04:00What a crapy puzzle. Convoluted theme, odd ball c...What a crapy puzzle. Convoluted theme, odd ball clues. Only good thing: next time I see a puzzle by this one's author I can skip it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54507837425910067222008-06-25T00:31:00.000-04:002008-06-25T00:31:00.000-04:00Rex cager as in basketball player Chicago Bul...Rex <BR/> cager as in basketball player<BR/> Chicago Bull or Milwaukee Buck<BR/> perhaps that's what was meant below ? if so I apologize<BR/><BR/> CAGER, which is not an animal, but is clued as such (70D: Bull or Buck, e.g.). All these animals (and CAGER) are words that become familiar and unremarkable to you over time if you do enough crossword puzzles.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com