tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6013640283320582023..comments2024-03-28T11:28:57.772-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: ("TREASURE ISLAND" ILLUSTRATOR, 1911 / TOWN AT THE EIGHTH MILE OF THE BOSTON MARATHON) - SUNDAY, Jul. 6, 2008 - Brendan Emmett QuigleyRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33277992482336835622020-06-11T02:56:02.937-04:002020-06-11T02:56:02.937-04:00Thank you so much for the post.Thank you so much for the post.Danielhttps://reviewcart.us/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60439768256109667622008-07-15T22:45:00.000-04:002008-07-15T22:45:00.000-04:00Do Si Do is a square dance maneuver whereby you go...Do Si Do is a square dance maneuver whereby you go around your partner back to back.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08759010141267824512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67608088877377681732008-07-13T14:42:00.000-04:002008-07-13T14:42:00.000-04:00Although I got DOSIDO immediately, because dos is ...Although I got DOSIDO immediately, because dos is French for back, I had always been told that do-si-do came from doe see doe (girl see girl), so the connection with the French was confusing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14898410145508771522008-07-13T14:28:00.000-04:002008-07-13T14:28:00.000-04:00Anonymous @ 4:52PMThank you for 'EGBDF'. I KNEW it...Anonymous @ 4:52PM<BR/>Thank you for 'EGBDF'. I KNEW it but somewhere along the line, it got pushed into my brain closet and I couldn't pull it out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40100279700918941112008-07-13T10:07:00.000-04:002008-07-13T10:07:00.000-04:00WikiWidow,AL = American League (baseball). A Tamp...WikiWidow,<BR/><BR/>AL = American League (baseball). A Tampa Bay Ray would be an American Leaguer (ALER).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82850206195327554362008-07-13T00:17:00.000-04:002008-07-13T00:17:00.000-04:00As one of those running a week behind, I get the S...As one of those running a week behind, I get the Sunday crossword the Saturday following, so please bear with...<BR/>67D: Ray, e.g., in brief = ALER ?<BR/>Which one assumes is an acronym, but what's it stand for? Googling came up with several options but none seem to fit.WikiWidowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16797768400045994866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77209864612157749862008-07-12T16:52:00.000-04:002008-07-12T16:52:00.000-04:00The answer egbdf took me back 70 years to my music...The answer egbdf took me back 70 years to my music lessons as a child when I was taught that the way to remember the lines on a musical staff was to think: Every Good Boy Deserves Fun!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82688312433399490162008-07-08T23:25:00.000-04:002008-07-08T23:25:00.000-04:00I came back from Mexico on Sunday and just got aro...I came back from Mexico on Sunday and just got around to this today (Tuesday). I thought a Sunday wouldn't be too taxing (I had done some of Oranges "hard" puzzles without problems while on my trip), but then saw the name of the dreaded constructor BEQ. It did take me longer than usual to finish the puzzle, but unlike many of you I really enjoyed the puzzle (perhaps partly because I eventually got all of it without googling. I knew both Natick and NC Wyeth, but couldn't tell you why...Michael Chibnikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04700426644898924644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59282604150760332882008-07-08T00:43:00.000-04:002008-07-08T00:43:00.000-04:00Natick and N.C. Wyeth filled in pretty easily, but...Natick and N.C. Wyeth filled in pretty easily, but Devo and Ivanov. Now's there's the pair that should not cross.<BR/><BR/>SueAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21325214226343360232008-07-07T17:26:00.000-04:002008-07-07T17:26:00.000-04:00Anonymous 1:22 Musical terminology. EGBDF are the...Anonymous 1:22 Musical terminology. EGBDF are the notes corresponding to the lines in the Trebble Clef, reading up from the bottom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67453360042158270232008-07-07T13:22:00.000-04:002008-07-07T13:22:00.000-04:00Could someone please explain to me what egbdf mean...Could someone please explain to me what egbdf means? I found this on your Blog, Rex, but have no idea what it means. What I have also not been able to solve is the National League East Player (96 across) which seems to heave been no problem for anyone else, but I am German and not sportive!<BR/><BR/>Overall, I found this puzzle quite difficult and it took a lot of Googling. That'ts when I discovered this wonderful blog with its lively comments which I really enjoyed.<BR/><BR/>If I may ask a personal question: what is a Steeple Jack? (Never heard of it.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50706657325612615972008-07-07T11:31:00.000-04:002008-07-07T11:31:00.000-04:00...Sinatra, "Come Fly with Me"....."weatherwise it......Sinatra, "Come Fly with Me"....."weatherwise it's such a lovely day..you just say the word and we'll beat the birds.......Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5936129606451820592008-07-07T07:53:00.000-04:002008-07-07T07:53:00.000-04:00@peter s.it's a very big world and someone is alwa...@peter s.<BR/><BR/>it's a very big world and someone is always around. I always check the comments the next day to catch a late tid bit or to perhaps help someone who just checked in late.Ladelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00822660581698301611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75232503717407322492008-07-07T07:28:00.000-04:002008-07-07T07:28:00.000-04:00Oh yeah... and who spells TE(E)-HEE with only thr...Oh yeah... and who spells TE(E)-HEE with only three E's?!? Especially then the "T" of "T-Shirt" gets two that it doesn't need, and EEE and ÉTÉ are just flaunting theirs.<BR/><BR/>No, really. TE-HEE? C'mon. Onomatopoetically, it doesn't even make sense.Peter S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13530133935681282124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32316319694269444772008-07-07T07:17:00.000-04:002008-07-07T07:17:00.000-04:00Hey! My first time leaving a comment the day afte...Hey! My first time leaving a comment the day after the puzzle. Wonder if anyone's around....<BR/><BR/>Still, I though I could add one thing. The connection between WHACKS and "Ax" is more than just grotesque. Indeed, it's far more direct than the forestry or golfing options:<BR/><BR/><B>LIZZIE BORDEN TOOK AN AXE,<BR/>AND GAVE HER MOTHER FORTY WHACKS;<BR/>WHEN SHE SAW WHAT SHE HAD DONE,<BR/>SHE GAVE HER FATHER FORTY-ONE.</B><BR/><BR/>In fact, it's the only common and memorable use of the plural "WHACKS," to my mind. (Did "whack" even come up pluralized in the <I>Sopranos</I>?) Perfect pairing.Peter S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13530133935681282124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64705173181165240522008-07-07T00:54:00.000-04:002008-07-07T00:54:00.000-04:00Green Mantis, I love your "colloquial jacket" conc...Green Mantis, I love your "colloquial jacket" concept! Yes, one can indeed don a colloquial jacket when the mood strikes.Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90014695588836442042008-07-06T23:17:00.000-04:002008-07-06T23:17:00.000-04:00I agree with you Rex about keeping the comments ab...I agree with you Rex about keeping the comments about, at least tangentially, the day's puzzle. <BR/><BR/>You are, of course, exempt from this rule, because, as some seem to forget occasionally, IT IS REX'S BLOG!!! He is kind enough to let us in his house to play; we should play by the rules, of which there are few. <BR/><BR/>I stopped reading the "official" NYT crossword site because it seemed to simply be a chat room for a select few who rarely discussed the puzzle. Let's not go there.<BR/><BR/>CrosscanJeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01699404861773455504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81946403912395352262008-07-06T22:04:00.001-04:002008-07-06T22:04:00.001-04:00scriberpat, I have no idea why you are so (apparen...scriberpat, I have no idea why you are so (apparently) upset. You seem to have taken my comments in ways they were not intended (i.e. personally). <BR/><BR/>I hate grammar correcting, and don't like to see it on my site. I think it's in bad taste. If you like it, you don't have to explain yourself to me. To each his/her own. I'm just asking people not to make a habit of correcting other folks' grammar on my site.<BR/><BR/>If an issue of grammar is of puzzle-related interest (as I said, clearly, in my last message), then great, fair enough, let's talk about it; but unrelated grammar questions, like non-NYT puzzles, have no place in *this* comments section, only because that's not what this blog is about. I generally let people go on about food and recipes and god knows what else because, really, what's the harm? But sometimes I do wish my dear readers (and I say that w/o an ounce of sarcasm in my voice - many of you are quite dear to me, esp scriberpat) would keep in mind that in addition to caring about what *you* want out of my blog, I have to consider what 10K other people want. Your lives and your idiosyncrasies light up this blog in wonderful ways. I just want people to respect the center of gravity that is the puzzle. <BR/><BR/>Chat away, but know when to say when. Because being the off-topic police / cat herder is my Least favorite part of this gig. By a mile.<BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41627870347283648782008-07-06T22:04:00.000-04:002008-07-06T22:04:00.000-04:00I think the point is not that people don't welcome...I think the point is not that people don't welcome discussion about word forms, but that calling out errors in a particular person's speech is generally considered impolite.<BR/><BR/>God knows I held my tongue a million times with a certain ex-boyfriend. I preferred to simmer silently and lament his unbearable ignorance and profound unsuitability instead. <BR/><BR/>Just kidding (not at all), but it's an interesting issue. I mean, I don't want to speak or write in error, so I guess I might want correction, but that's only because I'm sort of a perfection freak. And correction only wins by the slimmest of margins over leaving me alone when I misspeak, because it just kind of feels weird to be corrected. Others, for whom perfect grammar and usage is not a reason for being, would probably not find much value in having their errors pointed out.<BR/><BR/>And still others might know perfectly well how to use proper, formal speech but may just have a more colloquial jacket on at a given moment.<BR/><BR/>Conclusion: when it doubt, simmer silently.green mantishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01823785147354157816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34697895481161263522008-07-06T20:44:00.000-04:002008-07-06T20:44:00.000-04:00I could be wrong about this but when I read the Co...I could be wrong about this but when I read the Comments section, what I see a lot of is comments having to do with why the Puzzle Constructor used a particular ending on a word; used "re" as a prefix or "er" as a suffix; questions about why the Constructor did what s/he did. if we're learning from this scrutinizing of the minutia, and we are learning from it, aren't we, why can't we have questions about what we as Commenters do with words, as well? Questions certainly are not meant to attack anyone's intelligence level -- I know Rex does not mean to do that when he writes his Blog, so why can't I ask a question about the use of "me" or "my" when another Commenter modifies a gerund? I didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings. I'm interested in learning as are also other Commenters, I believe. I like the comments about recipes and weddings and puppies as much as nobody/anybody but after all, the Rex blog is all about words so wouldn't you think grammar is a legitimate topic? I will check Ulrich's blogspot later as I really do appreciate someone taking my question seriously. It seems inconsistent to care so much about what a Constructor does with words but not care about what we Commenters do with them. My husband says to tell you he corrects me because he knows I enjoy words and welcome all comments but that people whom he doesn't know might not be interested in words that much. I think it an exaggeration to say that Nobody welcomes discussion about word forms. Especially since this Blog site is about word forms. Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84260854637208591412008-07-06T20:38:00.000-04:002008-07-06T20:38:00.000-04:00RE: do-si-doIt might be Creole French, but I think...RE: do-si-do<BR/><BR/>It might be Creole French, but I think it's more likely to be a natural variation of <I>dos a dos</I> given the oral heritage of square dancing.<BR/><BR/>But even so, I'm not sure the evolution of the spelling makes it any less "literal".Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08407036504242221989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40806116084435051172008-07-06T20:10:00.000-04:002008-07-06T20:10:00.000-04:00I know Rex is legitimately touchy about grammar pe...I know Rex is legitimately touchy about grammar pedantry, but I do think grammatical precision is an integral part of crossword-solving, and I find it most interesting and helpful when somebody illustrates a finer point. I can't recall any instance of anyone being condescending about grammar or usage at this site, though maybe there have been some borderline cases.<BR/><BR/>I sorta liked how "Mongoloid" thumbed its nose at political correctness just as the term was finding its way into common use.<BR/><BR/>Though a Chekhov fan, I didn't know IVANOV. His short stories are truly great, as well as his more famous plays.<BR/><BR/>VECTOR must be a military term, because it sort of conflicts with the mathematical concept, unless it managed to travel in a straight line, I guess.<BR/><BR/>Also, the OPEDS seem to conflict with the NYTimes' general practice. Aren't David Brooks, Maureen Dowd, etc. on the staff of the paper?<BR/><BR/>My teenspeak says was LIKE, which I thought was more close to current than GOES.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81697008385024444972008-07-06T19:57:00.000-04:002008-07-06T19:57:00.000-04:00I got Natick right away, good thing I have a racin...I got Natick right away, good thing I have a racing background. But I agree that crossing Natick with NC(?) Wyeth is rediculous. Not even a reasonable guess when its initials. I got Shes A Lady although I was looking for Why Why Why Delilah. For Some reason I was thinking Richards & Moon as members of the Stones. Undoing putting Stones where Keith was supposed to be, made this puzzle way more difficult in this area. This reminds me of when I used to go to my mother in law's house and work on the puzzle that she had many incorrct answers in. It's much harder to do a puzzle that has wrong answers in than one that is blank. The first long answer I got was Whacks Museaum - so I nderstood the clue early on; but substituting Stones for Keiths really turned this into a much more difficult puzzle for me.alanrichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06395356843823270129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18410148797027107022008-07-06T19:09:00.000-04:002008-07-06T19:09:00.000-04:00Since inquiring minds apparently want to know (in ...Since inquiring minds apparently want to know (in some cases, at least) our puppy is a lab/collie shelter rescue. Camera is at work, so no photos now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80359964901512582782008-07-06T19:07:00.000-04:002008-07-06T19:07:00.000-04:00What a coincidence! I and wife just got a puppy y...What a coincidence! I and wife just got a puppy yesterday, which (along with TV tennis) kept me from the puzzle last night and all day. I finally came in to solve it and was chipping away at it nicely, gradually eliminating the stuck places until I only lacked NATICK and CARROLL, couldn't decide between oohed and AAHED, plus hadn't figured out that "feeds" was a bad answer for OPEDS, so KLEPTO eluded me and I was baffled by what obscure COLO town ended in __LF (and why it was obscure to me if it was home to a military academy). <BR/><BR/>I gave up, tried to open a new tab for google, and somehow reloaded the puzzle tab--only to find myself working Monday's puzzle! A bit disorienting, which may have contributed to my (more-than-usually) less-than-stellar time. I guess it's a bit of applet karma coming to haunt me.<BR/><BR/>In spite of that, I liked the puzzle. I thought the theme answers were fun. I liked how I kept getting stuck, but managed to unravel every problem area except that NW corner. I especially liked WHIRLEDRECORDS--had to stare at it for some time even having WHIRLEDRE_OR_ (couldn't give up on the inexplicable "whirled/world report"). Plus, my name appeared in this one!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com