tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4840266938437204281..comments2024-03-29T07:32:14.587-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Early historian of ancient Rome / WED 3-22-17 / Fresh air's opposite / Kid's transport literally / Present location when visiting boondocks / Figure of underground economy / like n r phonetics / brief period in nuclear physics / big brand of kitchen knives Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9975338681814629092017-10-13T06:49:16.390-04:002017-10-13T06:49:16.390-04:00There's shocking news in the sports betting in...There's shocking news in the sports betting industry.<br /><br />It's been said that every bettor must watch this,<br /><br />Watch this now or stop betting on sports...<br /><br /><b><a href="http://sports.syntaxlinks.com/r/SportsCashSystem" rel="nofollow">Sports Cash System</a></b> - Advanced Sports Betting SoftwareBloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07287821785570247118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65373719261565512292017-04-26T18:22:53.086-04:002017-04-26T18:22:53.086-04:00The more I think about that theme, the better I li...The more I think about that theme, the better I like it.<br />Better move on to something else, of which there is much.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78415357669602309662017-04-26T18:01:20.491-04:002017-04-26T18:01:20.491-04:00I agree with you on the Red China answer. Since it...I agree with you on the Red China answer. Since it is still technically a treat it is misleading in a way. Brawl was a also a tough one. Took about 2 to 3 to look up to finish it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40865523170545310732017-04-26T17:15:55.500-04:002017-04-26T17:15:55.500-04:00@BS - too funny, and apt, today.
@Rondo - Never c...@BS - too funny, and apt, today.<br /><br />@Rondo - Never considered nINER, only MINERs are underground.<br /><br />Didn't get the theme - solved as a themeless, so the puzzle puzzled me. (I mean, I got the repetitions, but not the quad, penta, etc. <br /><br />Actually, did this puzzle in the Honda service waiting room with the TV blasting some dreadful morning show. So I feel particularly brilliant in solving it. <br /><br />I always taught my students that admitting an error was the first, and fastest, step toward enlightenment. Don't go blaming someone else if you have the wrong answer. <br /><br />Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for CrosswordsDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68551097290389555082017-04-26T15:07:28.604-04:002017-04-26T15:07:28.604-04:00I deliberately left it at _SEC until I sussed MINE...I deliberately left it at _SEC until I sussed MINER because ITRY to be somewhat resolute instead of rash. I don’t think much of the forty-nINER work was underground; hacking away and sluicing and/or panning seem to have been preferred methods. So, all of you nSEC people DNF! Thought this would be easy at first, until raVED for LOVED and the dreaded sudoku where KENKEN belonged and a misfire at the beginnings of SONANT; it took far too much time to be a long GON daddy. And for a while I was a real nowHERE man.<br /><br />Of course the RANTs made me think OFL.<br /><br />Somebody got tired of yeah baby Lucy LIU and went with that school? Huh. It seems half of the missus’ wardrobe is VERA Wang, and this designer fits the yeah baby bill as well.<br /><br />Can’t say I LOVED it, but I won’t RANT as some, that long GON line was kinda dumb, but what the heck. <br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50837852090807412562017-04-26T14:59:51.286-04:002017-04-26T14:59:51.286-04:00Resisted the silent TRI, QUAD, and PENTA for a whi...Resisted the silent TRI, QUAD, and PENTA for a while but then forced to assume them. <br /><br />The O in the SONANT/ANO cross was the last letter to go in. Its relation to con-sonant finally exposed it.<br /><br />In the NW, CUTCO and ENSLER were unknowns but crosses helped with those. In the SE, KENKEN another unknown. OUTHERE as clued was nice change of perspective.<br /><br />Back to the theme: The resulting strings of partials seemed "literally" strained.<br /><br />All the same (get it?), thought it was challenging, odd, and fun.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87723400707326526942017-04-26T14:42:47.418-04:002017-04-26T14:42:47.418-04:00If you bought CUTCO knives from your son's fri...If you bought CUTCO knives from your son's friend, then 4D was a gimme. Also as others have noted, they are excellent. <br /><br />nINER never occurred to me because 'underground'.<br /><br />The North provided resistance at first, using up valuable MSECs, but getting the first themer (aha!) was a boon in finishing with aplomb.<br /><br />I briefly was considering fitting 5 AGONs into 60A but of course, not enough squares. How about AMETER AMETER?? Nah.<br /><br />Liked it.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16445147742374369492017-04-26T13:30:01.843-04:002017-04-26T13:30:01.843-04:00MONO REA
AREYOUIN a mood for RANTRANTRANTRANT,
yo...MONO REA<br /><br />AREYOUIN a mood for RANTRANTRANTRANT,<br />you KNOW, those RERUNs we can’t STAVE off from Michael.<br />@Rex, EVOLVE a hobby NOLONGER so SONANT,<br />and do it STAT. Get SETTO UNIS CYLCECYCLECYCLE.<br /><br />--- EDDY ENSLER<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25712853349020250942017-04-26T10:59:30.187-04:002017-04-26T10:59:30.187-04:00Seems enough of us have personal experience with C...Seems enough of us have personal experience with CUTCO that it deserves the "big brand" clue; here's another. My daughter-in-law worked her way through college selling that cutlery. We agreed to let her practice her sales demo on us--and wound up buying a set. Twenty years later we are still using them, and they're as sharp as the day we got 'em. Never had to do a thing to them in all that time.<br /><br />So that entry was easy for me, but many others weren't. Couldn't get much of anything else in the north. Spotted the "Secret" misdirect and worked outward from the middle with AEROSOL, etc. until finally getting enough of the central gridspanner to realize what was up: a fine aha! moment. From then on things went considerably easier. To rate? How about challenging-->easy, or, I guess, medium.<br /><br />Yeah, there's some rough fill, but it's not too horrible. I kinda liked the puz. It helps that I never saw this theme before, but really, OFL, you're such a Debbie Downer. Liked the KENKEN lagniappe, though I don't do them; SUDOKU--which fits!--is my poison.<br /><br />DOD contestants fill the stage, with several ELLENs and GRAYs, but I can't resist the exotic Laila ALI. TKO, baby. Birdie.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76351134815400862982017-03-23T19:47:37.905-04:002017-03-23T19:47:37.905-04:00I own a set of Cutco knives! Still, I did not see ...I own a set of Cutco knives! Still, I did not see the answer without about five crosses! I've never thought of Cutco as a serious brand of kitchen knives!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86998315877580614392017-03-23T13:00:20.056-04:002017-03-23T13:00:20.056-04:00DNF. Tried every possibility I could for 1D cross...DNF. Tried every possibility I could for 1D crossing PBS and CBS. TBS escaped me, and since I had absolutely no idea on CARIOLE, I threw up my hands. Rather enjoyed the rest of it, however. jrstockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08118154839041478026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25476672801281920652017-03-23T03:51:44.010-04:002017-03-23T03:51:44.010-04:00Only read OFL's review and @lms comment. I adm...Only read OFL's review and @lms comment. I admire and enjoy Loren's consistently apt and humorous observations. I also believe Rex's reviews are over the top critical in far too many cases ... but, hey, it's his blog. Got to side with Rex on this one. A forgettable puzzle. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09399001444330348670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20995787582447949662017-03-23T02:33:05.659-04:002017-03-23T02:33:05.659-04:00This puzzle is why I support and adore Rex Parker....This puzzle is why I support and adore Rex Parker......+wordphanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05693465770426693314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14871811584555065572017-03-22T23:28:14.420-04:002017-03-22T23:28:14.420-04:00A nINER toils underground? The thought lingered in...A nINER toils underground? The thought lingered in my head for a nSEC. What do I know of physics, or whatever science is being referenced here? <br /><br />My dad was a MINER in the early 40's near Picher, OK. The government eventually put a fence around the whole town and declared it unfit for human habitation. He did have a few cancer issues later in life, but lived until he was 87 years of age. I suspect there are no plans to revive that industry and make Picher great again.Larry Gilstraphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15493069947477383208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73855748467285122782017-03-22T23:20:35.534-04:002017-03-22T23:20:35.534-04:00I completely agree with Rex about how tedious this...I completely agree with Rex about how tedious this puzzle was, and for me it was even more annoying that it took me a while to figure out the "logic" of the theme. But I'm afraid that "niner" (which I had for a millisec)doesn't work since the California Gold Rush was based on placer mining--panning for gold. They weren't working underground.bswein99https://www.blogger.com/profile/17695650849084225055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80376664252258458042017-03-22T23:06:54.231-04:002017-03-22T23:06:54.231-04:00I thought this was fun snd clever. And of course I...I thought this was fun snd clever. And of course I was thrilled to see KenKen in the puzzle. Because I love KenKen.BarbieBarbienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91476153769962573902017-03-22T23:02:04.182-04:002017-03-22T23:02:04.182-04:00If the U.S. and Ngo Dinh Diem had only listened to...If the U.S. and Ngo Dinh Diem had only listened to me, we would have won that war!Col. Edward Lansdalenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27805543204029430582017-03-22T22:36:50.055-04:002017-03-22T22:36:50.055-04:00hungry Mother said:
"Found this article: &quo...hungry Mother said:<br />"Found this article: "Nuclear-powered millisecond pulsars and the maximum spin frequency of neutron stars.""<br /><br />A millisecond is a very short period of time in astrophysics. But the clue was for a brief period of time in nuclear physics.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15339432172410182520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83717222752044332002017-03-22T21:30:56.289-04:002017-03-22T21:30:56.289-04:00I've seen the triCYCLE concept before but the ...I've seen the triCYCLE concept before but the other theme answers were new to me. Like ANACONDA, AEROSOL, etc. Had SHOvED before finally going with SHOOED and still wasn't sure CUTCO was a thing. MSEC should simply have been clued as 'brief period' without the nuclear physics reference.Punctuated equilibriumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81150865813855049512017-03-22T19:40:48.308-04:002017-03-22T19:40:48.308-04:00I had the same nINER/nSEC problem. As a scientist,...I had the same nINER/nSEC problem. As a scientist, I can say that in nuclear physics it's much more common to be dealing in nanoseconds rather than milliseconds. A millisecond isn't a "brief" period in nuclear physics... that's actually a fairly long time, comparatively.<br /><br />Both "M" and "N" work perfectly in that square, and "N" actually works better, IMO.ScreamingEaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15124780496690012708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83983131002329800292017-03-22T19:25:22.787-04:002017-03-22T19:25:22.787-04:00I kept TREAT in at 1A for way too long, because I ...I kept TREAT in at 1A for way too long, because I really wanted it to be correct.travishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10068393277095793532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11092821616463750902017-03-22T18:35:30.961-04:002017-03-22T18:35:30.961-04:00Easy-medium for me. Cute amusing theme (@lms et at...Easy-medium for me. Cute amusing theme (@lms et at. I also don't remember seeing it before) a couple of nice long downs, liked it. Plus, it made me briefly consider screw for 1a. <br /><br />No problems with MSEC, in fact I wrote in SEC and waited for the crosses on the MINER clue. nINER never occurred to me.<br />jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35444465907538050012017-03-22T18:35:00.711-04:002017-03-22T18:35:00.711-04:00Had pVs instead of OVA briefly thinking that photo...Had pVs instead of OVA briefly thinking that photovoltaic cells could be "Cells for new generations". In retrospect plural generation(s) should have told me otherwise. Also did not believe NARCOS would be correct for "D.E.A. agents, informally" though maybe "informally" is enough justification. Merriam Webster online doesn't offer a definition and the OED online dictionary defines it as "Narcotics; illegal drugs" and "A drug trafficker or dealer".<br /><br />Other than that I thought there was a lot of @Carola insta-fill for the themers. <br /><br />I've had a pair of CUTCO scissors for a loooong time. I don't remember where I got them but it sure wasn't from a teenage salesperson. Agree with other posters - they are high-quality merchandise.Bill L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08886581691063755810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-92229244443146479242017-03-22T17:20:37.531-04:002017-03-22T17:20:37.531-04:00I thought the same!I thought the same!Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12827499840959595550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69675409983266541022017-03-22T16:08:47.941-04:002017-03-22T16:08:47.941-04:00I'm over hear with @Rex in Curmudgeon Corner, ...I'm over hear with @Rex in Curmudgeon Corner, disgruntled on two counts: the theme was too easy, allowing insta-fill of too much grid real estate (once the three CYCLES and one RANT were in, in went the row of GONs); CYCLE and RANT are words on their own but GON isn't. I'm all for zaniness, but this for me didn't rise above dippy.<br /><br />CUTCO: could have sword I'd learned from a previous puzzle. Huh.<br />MINER: I erased nSEC, too unimaginative to think of nINER as a possibility.<br />RED CHINA: brought back memories of Quemoy and Matsu in the Nixon-Kennedy debates and a 14 year old's fears about going to war with China.Carolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971759975067250908noreply@blogger.com