tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post531652510972543243..comments2024-03-19T05:57:42.282-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Archenemy of Mattel's He-Man / SUN 11-29-15 / Decepticon's foe in Transformers / Ill-fated seducer in Tess of D'urbervilles / Olshansky first soviet-born NFL player / Little visitor to Slumbrerland in old comics / QB Bobby curse on Detroit Lions / Male lead in Disney's frozenRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1002508577476489542015-12-12T09:05:05.422-05:002015-12-12T09:05:05.422-05:00I got help my son's gamer crew for autobot and...I got help my son's gamer crew for autobot and skeletor ESL??? I don't get even yet. I had ENG a much better answer n'est-ce pas? I threw rundown in there recklessly which was not a good bet, could've used wite-out. Finally, I had egomates because my spelling of capisce was kapeesh so cokes sauf cocas. Zener just popped out after the downs. Duh. Oops Doh. Age (71) helps (Bobby Layne etc-not ESOBESO-) and hurts with modern culture. Btw I have to drop and return several times to let my cerebellum work cuz my frontal cortex just ain't what it used to beWilbur Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08905123297841127198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5755077573089891822015-12-09T01:16:09.956-05:002015-12-09T01:16:09.956-05:00John Major ... British political party. John Major ... British political party. Matt Steinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13987064290944234543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16420976683938819682015-12-07T13:42:51.263-05:002015-12-07T13:42:51.263-05:00Wow. Kinda shocked at all the hating going on her...Wow. Kinda shocked at all the hating going on here.<br /><br />As others have noted, NARK is imported British slang for an informer. It is not the same as NARC, which is American slang for a narcotics agent. The word is completely legit, and was correctly clued.<br /><br />CAPEESH is the American vernacular spelling of the Italian word, and was once quite common. Since it was not clued as Italian, it seems perfectly legitimate to me.<br /><br />OJAI is a reasonably well-known west coast destination, is frequently enough encountered to be considered crosswordese, and in any case was easy to get from the crosses.<br /><br />KONG, as others have also noted, is, in fact, the complete name of the beast from Skull Island in the original (and classic) film.<br /><br />Etc., etc.<br /><br />I do think the cluing was not as strong, or as interesting, as it could have been.<br /><br />For instance: "You may leave when it's up" = LEASE? In fact, you MUST leave when it's up. You MAY leave earlier, if you sublet, or reach an agreement with the landlord.<br /><br />But on second look, many of the clues which I originally questioned were perfectly legit, and clever. "Ho hi" for instance, which had me completely baffled for some time.<br /><br />There was too much trivia in the grid for my taste, especially the cartoon characters, and not nearly enough wordplay. But it was a perfectly reasonable and quite competent Sunday puzzle. Just not sparkling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30919182652676621812015-12-06T23:25:17.979-05:002015-12-06T23:25:17.979-05:00@debbiew - not "case", LONG; you act REC...@debbiew - not "case", LONG; you act RECKLESSLY if you don't give HEAD LONG enough.pkrbkrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25097913472381394022015-12-06T22:02:15.891-05:002015-12-06T22:02:15.891-05:00@debbiew - ? The clue for RECKLESSLY is headlong,...@debbiew - ? The clue for RECKLESSLY is headlong, from the corners. Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54890996738956783342015-12-06T21:09:40.528-05:002015-12-06T21:09:40.528-05:00@debbiew -- Since you haven't included grid ...@debbiew -- Since you haven't included grid numbers, it's hard to tell what you are looking at, but the clue is HEAD + LONG, perfectly cluing RECKLESSLY.Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70484857880306374012015-12-06T20:58:39.851-05:002015-12-06T20:58:39.851-05:00I'm with Rex in part on this one, but I liked ...I'm with Rex in part on this one, but I liked the four four-letter words and how they combined into six long theme answers. <br /><br />I didn't like some of the fill (so what else is new?): COL? AUTBOT? ZENER? SKELETOR? And as for NARK (with a K this time), I've always been under the impression that the NARK was a DEA guy, not a rat/informer.<br /><br />Still I finished without error or cheat, but BEYONDTHETIMELIMIT.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82747294234200994632015-12-06T20:13:44.779-05:002015-12-06T20:13:44.779-05:00how is recklessly (adverb) equal to headcase (noun...how is recklessly (adverb) equal to headcase (noun)?<br /><br />ojai is where i grew up. it was just a town then.debbiewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73952959902938149782015-12-06T14:40:43.484-05:002015-12-06T14:40:43.484-05:00I thought this very tough even though I finished i...I thought this very tough even though I finished it. AGEMATES? Please note spellcheck just tried to put a blank or a hyphen in there. 53A clue was capitalized in my paper. I never thought I'd finish this, tough clueing and lots of misdirection, plus a lot of unknown proper names. Again, real tough for a Sunday. AnonymousPVXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09816877873700026508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59088846979712941672015-12-06T12:56:39.404-05:002015-12-06T12:56:39.404-05:00EVESBAYOU, SANITIZER!
The HOARY girl WENTTOFAR,
...EVESBAYOU, SANITIZER!<br /><br />The HOARY girl WENTTOFAR, <br />RECKLESSLY BEYONDTHETIMELIMIT,<br />HEAD LAYNE OVER the OPENBAR, <br />LONG AFTER the EMCEES LEASE TIT.<br /><br />--- IGOR KRISTOFF<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18502869059426101142015-12-06T11:56:00.524-05:002015-12-06T11:56:00.524-05:00No credible PISAN would use CAPEESH, nor NARK, for...No credible PISAN would use CAPEESH, nor NARK, for that matter. Those spellings that is. For all the decent down answers, some of those themers were not so. Not the worst Sunday ever, but trending to the boring side. Except for TIT.<br /><br />Ho hi = Hey, sailor.<br /><br />And not a yeah baby in sight. I’m going to start forgetting this puz right now, CAPEESH?<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88567804823844599602015-12-06T11:51:20.258-05:002015-12-06T11:51:20.258-05:00EVESBAYOU?? NOTAGOODBET that THAT was a box-office...EVESBAYOU?? NOTAGOODBET that THAT was a box-office smash! In fact I'd wager there are Samuel L. Jackson FANS who've never seen it! I never even saw an AD for the thing! Obscurity, thy name is...DIRAC? Maybe it'd help if we were AGEMATES (WHA???).<br /><br />As to the key (?) words, I could combine them all with either of two clues: "Tenis smash out of bounds" or "View of the O.J. Simpson car chase:" LONG OVERHEAD SHOT. I'm not a big fan of clues-as-entries, so there wasn't much of a payoff for me. I do concede the cornerstone placement and the sometimes-interesting interplay: the best ones were the two across the middle, WENTTOOFAR and RECKLESSLY.<br /><br />As to the fill, LETSDROP it. BASEDON overall experience, I award a C-.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1647272868503693572015-12-05T17:48:42.192-05:002015-12-05T17:48:42.192-05:00I very much enjoyed the inter-relationship among t...I very much enjoyed the inter-relationship among the corner words and the themers, with the possibility that each could be a clue for the other and vice versa. Fun. <br /><br />When people say, why these words, what is the point of these theme answers, I think one could say that about any crossword puzzle. The theme here was very clever, without a "point", but elegant in its execution, as pointed out by a few reasonable commenters. <br /><br />I'ts NOT A GOOD BET to be looking for some point in a pleasant half-hour puzzle. So, OFL, put a sock in it. Grind your teeth at your leisure, but maybe once in a while, JUST.STOP.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39542235107160964722015-12-04T14:06:41.318-05:002015-12-04T14:06:41.318-05:00Wasn't particularly enamored by the theme, but...Wasn't particularly enamored by the theme, but not hateful either. More disappointed in the laziness and liberty of some of it.<br />NARK, CAPEESH, DOWNEY (he's a jr), SARAN, AGEMATESchuchoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10549624141126544844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32074261685245078512015-12-02T15:25:43.879-05:002015-12-02T15:25:43.879-05:00jeezmom - I agree with you! The puzzle gives me a...jeezmom - I agree with you! The puzzle gives me at least an hour every Sunday when I am allowed to just sit and think without interruption.<br />Meg Greerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17936445520620485538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25411612926198120432015-12-01T18:37:25.421-05:002015-12-01T18:37:25.421-05:00Maybe you're getting jaded. Crossword puzzles...Maybe you're getting jaded. Crossword puzzles are a leisurely way to pass some time, and a means of mild entertainment. I don't think they're necessarily intended to improve your life or make your day. Crossword puzzles are challenging to construct, and it must be a downer for the constructor to see his efforts not only dismissed but totally trashed. I weep for him. jeezmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17738177402946558603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77436427516454180472015-11-29T23:40:08.415-05:002015-11-29T23:40:08.415-05:00This 88-year old lady has been enjoying the nyt pu...This 88-year old lady has been enjoying the nyt puzzles for many years. I almost always finish the puzzles correctly and do not mind when I don't know the person or location clued. I think we are supposed to get answers from inferences and crosses. I do admire all of you who construct puzzles. I think the puzzles today are far superior to those of earlier times. Friday's give me fits.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34231508975020779122015-11-29T22:01:28.580-05:002015-11-29T22:01:28.580-05:00Ironic side note to @Old Timer: A friend of mine r...Ironic side note to @Old Timer: A friend of mine rode with an over the road team on thier trip between Los Angeles and somewhere in Florida to write an article for one of the travel magazines. They were hauling frozen concentrated orange juice from California. On their return trip, they hauled frozen Florida concentrated orange juice to southern California. Who wants a mundane local product when they can get one from thousands of miles away for 40% more?Numinoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01263999193499725814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91164767405126471002015-11-29T21:25:00.621-05:002015-11-29T21:25:00.621-05:00Regarding "Ho hi", I'm presuming the...Regarding "Ho hi", I'm presuming the "Ho" in the clue is Don Ho, famous Hawaiian, who certainly said ALOHA many times in his life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69131497673792732952015-11-29T20:21:44.195-05:002015-11-29T20:21:44.195-05:00I know it's late and waaaay after the fact, bu...I know it's late and waaaay after the fact, but I just wanted to comment how much I was annoyed by CAPEESH, which is, first, a total aberration, and, second, a terrible way to keep people trying to learn Italian, to learn it correctly. <br />That's all. Mexgirlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16867292964731219222015-11-29T20:05:37.695-05:002015-11-29T20:05:37.695-05:00NARK Hmm, I don't remember, was there a hint i...<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/nark" rel="nofollow">NARK</a> Hmm, I don't remember, was there a hint in the clue that it was a British colloquialism?<br /><br />@Mike D - Perhaps @ANON B thinks clues that fool him are "bad." Then again, maybe not. It's hard to tell since he never actually said one way or the other whether he thought the Major clue was a good one.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40288659083916681972015-11-29T20:05:35.985-05:002015-11-29T20:05:35.985-05:00Yeah, I got the first words of the song wrong. But...Yeah, I got the first words of the song wrong. But I have a few lemon trees here in Northern California, and grew up with a 50-tree orchard in Brentwood (Los Angeles) where enough lemons grew to provide all my parents' friends with all they wanted. And, really, lemon trees aren't *all* that pretty. The little flowers are, though -- and it is so convenient to be able to grab a lemon when needed without having to go to the grocery store (we grow sage and thyme, etc. for basically the same reason)old timernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40211927443003127462015-11-29T19:20:42.949-05:002015-11-29T19:20:42.949-05:00@Old Timer @6:03: Check your Peter, Paul, and Mar...@Old Timer @6:03: Check your Peter, Paul, and Mary lyrics. They sang no such thing. The correct lyric is <br />"Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet<br />But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat." <br /><br />Hence the song title "Lemon Tree."Peter, Paul, and Marynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64094949586648437432015-11-29T19:17:45.050-05:002015-11-29T19:17:45.050-05:00@ ANON B @ 5:09: That is the point. Constructors...@ ANON B @ 5:09: That is the point. Constructors use the default capitalization at the beginning of clues all the time to intentionally create ambiguity. You don't know if it's a proper noun or not. That's the point. (A classic example might be "Mark on a golf course" with the answer OMEARA.) Your insinuation that this is a bad clue for this reason shows that you have very little experience doing crossword puzzles. Mike Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24451041043829209672015-11-29T18:03:57.347-05:002015-11-29T18:03:57.347-05:00A great, nay a superb commentary, M&A.
But I...A great, nay a superb commentary, M&A. <br /><br />But I really dropped in for a third time, just to say that I always think of lemon trees, and not so much orange trees, when I think of Ventura County (home of Ojai or "oh, hi!"). Lemon flower very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet, as Peter Paul and Mary sang.<br /><br />Oranges are grown, both navel and Valencia, but the lemon crop has always been *huge*, Chances are if you buy USA-produced lemons in the East or Midwest, your lemons were grown in Ventura County.old timernoreply@blogger.com