tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post5623570312400355272..comments2024-03-28T18:12:10.683-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: French WWI general Ferdinand / MON 3-23-15 / Old Russian autocrat / Hit TV drama starring Gary Sinise / Egyptian cobra / Boat with double-bladed paddle / 1977 hard-rock hit by Ted Nugent / Hajj destination / What bracketologist is caught up inRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78859093372532350232015-04-27T17:04:01.852-04:002015-04-27T17:04:01.852-04:00@leftcoastTAM - thank you and @Spacey and @teedMN ...@leftcoastTAM - thank you and @Spacey and @teedMN and the others who have acknowledged the effort. It has been +/- 90 poems in +/- 80 consecutive days as either @Burma Shave or @BS2. I wasn't keeping track at the beginning - who knew I could carry on so long? With the multiples, maybe I can get to a whole years worth within a year's time, but there will definitely be days between now and October where I won't be able to write, especially Sundays. So that's why 2 somedays. That and they're low-hanging fruit. We'll just have to see how long it goes.Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86371687266346856942015-04-27T15:56:52.918-04:002015-04-27T15:56:52.918-04:00@Burma Shave: Yours is the one regular post on thi...@Burma Shave: Yours is the one regular post on this blog that I can count on for a good chuckle. Thanks.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59664834660415239682015-04-27T14:00:40.346-04:002015-04-27T14:00:40.346-04:00DEMO GRIND
IBEAM as I STARE at your REAR, and IOU...DEMO GRIND<br /><br />IBEAM as I STARE at your REAR, and IOU my duty<br />to say, “No JOKE, no LAI, this FASHIONCRAZE shows your beauty.”<br />And I MADLY wish to the MAX that DENIM were NUDIE.<br /><br />--- CZAR IVAN MIR KAYAK OARS<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54595986060950938462015-04-27T13:58:51.148-04:002015-04-27T13:58:51.148-04:00Spellcasters, grammar nazis, nit-pickers, faux-wit...Spellcasters, grammar nazis, nit-pickers, faux-witty punsters. Just a little much. <br /><br />Monday-easy puzzle which was clean and theme-dense. Liked it. Perfect one to tackle after a 3-day golf trip with 11 close friends.<br /><br />4648 Noperain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37561800261503325972015-04-27T13:28:23.899-04:002015-04-27T13:28:23.899-04:00The CZAR spelling makes it more like Caesar, to wh...The CZAR spelling makes it more like Caesar, to which it is etymologically related. My Russian wife definitely pronounces it TSAR, with a lot of T (not CHAI) in it, so that’s what it sounds like. Now, take your pick, I just always fill in the --AR and go from there, knowing the options. BTW the Russian word for “tea” is CHAI, some other languages as well.<br /><br />The Motor City Madman’s song was my favorite entry today; remember it well. But what made him so right-wing? Off the scale.<br /><br />Crazy, easy Monday, but nothing to BICKEROVER. Liked it fine.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36030896713546201742015-04-27T11:32:58.406-04:002015-04-27T11:32:58.406-04:00Looks like we've been HEXEd by the spellcaster...Looks like we've been HEXEd by the spellcasters again. I'm not sayin' their clients are dumb, but kindly scroll up to the last two lines of Wimberly William's entry. 'Nuff said.<br /><br />On to saner (?) subjects. Or not. Is 5a supposed to be a revealer? Not sure the two MADs belong in the same grid. But you want sports MADNESS for real? Try Big Fight Week. I hear seats are going for $1,000 apiece--and that's only for the WEIGH-IN!! I will be SO glad when this is over.<br /><br />Ah yes, the puzzle. Amusing. Does USOFA mean we have become a nation of couch potatoes? Did Gen. FOCH have a daughter named Nina? If he's an "outlier," what about CHAI? New to me. Splish splash, Hedy Lamarr was takin' ABATH--and that's about the last time anybody called it a NUDIE. And finally, can't we give poor YMA a break? She's been singing her tonsils off lately in grids.<br /><br />I would GOGRAY--if I had any hair left. Th-thea-th-thea-th-that's all, folks.<br /><br />--Daffyspacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36987200428052382922015-03-24T06:35:34.523-04:002015-03-24T06:35:34.523-04:00@Zeke,
'Explain-explanation' is just foll...@Zeke,<br />'Explain-explanation' is just following the lead of 'pronounce-pronunciation'. In this case, I O U. Kind of.<br /><br />@Nancy<br />'...an age that lacks chivalry in spades'??!!<br />I say!<br /><br />Andiamo.<br /><br />Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29327376411982904992015-03-24T06:21:20.336-04:002015-03-24T06:21:20.336-04:00I'm surprised that nobody mentioned that GOG a...I'm surprised that nobody mentioned that GOG and MaGOG RAYs great armies in the final battle of Good vs Evil. That was quite a Revelation and should have been obvious given the current travails within Rex-blog.<br /><br />@Aketa, so you're going for the black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu? Wow. Good luck... I mean: Boa sorte, with your Brazilian whacks!<br /><br />Sorry that I missed yesterday: a spritely puzzle and a busy blog. I do like it when Earnest answers Satire.<br /><br />A special Hello to LD/JHNY and I'll quite understand if nobody responds to this.Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54180633062884446822015-03-23T23:13:09.731-04:002015-03-23T23:13:09.731-04:00@Zeke: I'm really glad I came back to this sit...@Zeke: I'm really glad I came back to this site before turning in for the night. That was so nice of you! Extremely chivalrous in an age that lacks chivalry in spades. Thank you. As is probably apparent to everyone, I'm a real babe in the woods when it comes to posting on the Internet. (I've only even had a computer since 12/08.) I have no idea what makes people angry or why. My recent hideous experience with hostility and bullying came as a result not of my discussing politics or religion or even the easiness of early week puzzles; it came from -- are you ready for this? -- soup. As in whether soup is a first course or a side dish. I kid you not. Possibly my naivete in how to post in a way that doesn't upset anyone (read completely colorless and innocuous) means I shouldn't post at all. But I was really, really touched by the way so many people came to my defense and that makes me want to hang around for a while. Which Law is it that Bad drives out Good or some such? It's not Murphy's. Is it Gresham's? It's too bad that it happens. because so many people on this site are extremely nice. You would appear to be one of them and I am grateful. Thanks, Zeke.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16737377749030219974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22860436770749844722015-03-23T22:38:33.137-04:002015-03-23T22:38:33.137-04:00@Nancy - In reality I offered that as an explanati...@Nancy - In reality I offered that as an explanation (and will someone please explain why explain is spelled the way it is, and explanation is missing the ever so important 'i'?) to forestall trolls from jumping ugly on you. They have, in the past, picked on people for saying they don't do early puzzles because they're too simple. Not to worry though, Dr. Akubu assured me that not only can he get your errant spouse back for you, he can protect you from trolls, for the very reasonable price of $500US. We've grown so close over the past few days I felt you were worth it.Zekenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44922912393700006872015-03-23T22:30:44.611-04:002015-03-23T22:30:44.611-04:00@Teedmn...lol...I must be going to the wrong woman...@Teedmn...lol...I must be going to the wrong woman...<br />Mine is obviously more mercenary...she says "The time to start is now - before anyone notices...".<br /><br />Like you, my cheapness and laziness will prevail - I would be the one with the 3" roots. <br />Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33779095842291087462015-03-23T21:33:30.500-04:002015-03-23T21:33:30.500-04:00Congratulations to @Michael Dewey for a theme-dens...Congratulations to @Michael Dewey for a theme-dense Monday puzzle that elicited numerous responses from this blog's commentariat, quite a bit of which was unrelated to his puzzle.<br /><br />Earlier inquiries touched upon TSAR vs. CZAR. First of all, great news, even non-subscribers can access xwordinfo.com (c/o @Jim Horne and @Jeff Chen) this week, in honor of the ACPT. TSAR appears 698 times in their database, including 217 times during the @Will Shortz era. CZAR, only 117 total, 64 of which are from the Shortz era. <br /><br />I suspect the reason for these relative frequencies rests in T and S being far more crossword-friendly letters than C and Z, rather than any great etymological insight. Supporting this hypothesis, a google n-gram shows that TSAR didn't even start until the late 1800's, and has at best a 2-fold advantage since 1930 or so.George Baranyhttp://www.chem.umn.edu/groups/baranygp/puzzles/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72810388072843570372015-03-23T21:05:08.354-04:002015-03-23T21:05:08.354-04:00Anyone watching Dancing with the Stars??? They jus...Anyone watching Dancing with the Stars??? They just did a dance to .....My Sharonna!!!!!chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73091980225169147982015-03-23T18:15:03.003-04:002015-03-23T18:15:03.003-04:00Looks like the only one with a six pack left is Vl...Looks like the only one with a six pack left is Vladimir Putin, albeit probably photo-shopped.<br /><br />@Tita, I was having the GO GRAY discussion with the woman who cuts my hair. She said, "Don't do it"! because quitting is harder than starting. And in an article in the NY Times, a woman writing on the subject said when she asked people their estimates of her age, coloring her hair only gained her around 3 years off the actual. But then I may be rationalizing because I'm too lazy and cheap to color my hair (I'm in Lewis's 50-50-50 range) so you may want to ignore my take on the subject.<br /><br />Nice Monday puzzle, Mr. Dewey. I didn't tear up once, not even from the CATSCRATCHFEVER.Teedmnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12832353448839187816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-197194791330967032015-03-23T18:09:22.130-04:002015-03-23T18:09:22.130-04:00@Anonymous M and A Psychiatry Annex
I prefer choc...@Anonymous M and A Psychiatry Annex<br /><br />I prefer chocolate almond croissants to cinnamon rolls and rest just activates the part of my brain that gets myself into trouble. <br /><br />Off to MMA class. If I were to do anything via IV it would be beer, but since I'm training for my black belt test in June I've sworn off the stuff til June. After a more than usually vigorous double class of MMA and BJJ one night I sank myself into an Epsom Salt Lavender Foam bath I discovered that if you drink just the right amount of wine from you wine glass, it will float without sinking under the foam bubbles. Aketinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64245561496307549432015-03-23T17:22:57.914-04:002015-03-23T17:22:57.914-04:00@Zeke -- I've had Times Home Delivery for like...@Zeke -- I've had Times Home Delivery for like since forever (yes, I know, grammar nazi, I know.) My decision isn't whether to buy a paper; my decision is: will it be more educational and productive to actually READ something for a change,rather than do a crossword where my mind is wandering because it's so easy? (I saw Zeke's comment and felt I had to respond immediately; thus I haven't seen anyone else's comment since then. I'll go back now and take a look.)Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16737377749030219974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66359106037385796242015-03-23T17:14:08.011-04:002015-03-23T17:14:08.011-04:00@grammar nazi. Aaaargh. You're insult is wel...@grammar nazi. Aaaargh. You're insult is well-deserved and taken with shame. You have no idea how I hate seeing that particular mistake, now I've made it.<br /><br />Well their now, I feel better.Mohair Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502840715719161565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75623073880233362982015-03-23T17:05:18.892-04:002015-03-23T17:05:18.892-04:00Nina Foch Beautiful actress Fosh?Nina Foch Beautiful actress Fosh?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04073334085750095286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8732167855469959752015-03-23T16:48:00.069-04:002015-03-23T16:48:00.069-04:00Dear Will Shortz,
Is it TSAR or CZAR? Can we pick...Dear Will Shortz,<br /><br />Is it TSAR or CZAR? Can we pick one please?<br /><br />Best, Greg (posting anonymously because I'm too lazy to open an account.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47626744219250829552015-03-23T16:31:57.952-04:002015-03-23T16:31:57.952-04:00Well that was a good time! First the puzzle, then ...Well that was a good time! First the puzzle, then the write-up and comments.<br /><br />Very good Monday puzzle, plenty of theme and good words. Just a q and a w would have made it a pangram.<br /><br />Like @Tita, Maréchal Foch was known to me, also mostly because of the avenues and roads in France. <br /><br />machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59255204836482120462015-03-23T16:29:24.546-04:002015-03-23T16:29:24.546-04:00Now you're all just writing grammar nazi bait ...Now you're all just writing grammar nazi bait on purpose. Breath, indeed.grammar nazinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40089004953167310042015-03-23T16:25:19.100-04:002015-03-23T16:25:19.100-04:00@DFEA
Breathe please...take another breath...and ...@DFEA<br /><br />Breathe please...take another breath...and avoid grammar nazisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83508409763343999602015-03-23T16:19:04.728-04:002015-03-23T16:19:04.728-04:00My existence is composed of an endless foraging th...My existence is composed of an endless foraging through the fields of the internet in an attempt for recognition and love. I am a pariah, a nonperson in the observable world. My exclusive respite is found within the confines of the blogosphere. I aspire to be acknowledged in these small communities of staunch rapport. Here I am heard but not seen. I can hide my hideous soul from judgmental eyes. On occasion I can invoke a rejoinder from those that I antagonize. This is all I have. Take pity upon me. Be my friend or be my enemy. Just know that I breath. I’M SO LONELY.Destined For Eternal Anonymitynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36679020130104356932015-03-23T15:34:42.688-04:002015-03-23T15:34:42.688-04:00Taken in the spirit in which it was intended, whic...Taken in the spirit in which it was intended, which.grammar nazinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84973019335009738362015-03-23T15:03:40.615-04:002015-03-23T15:03:40.615-04:00Meant... We love 'im! Course, suppose you can ...Meant... We love 'im! Course, suppose you can Weove him if you truly wanted to...RooMonsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14103892151115549684noreply@blogger.com