tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6079946885973377887..comments2024-03-28T20:26:11.908-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Golf Channel analyst Nick / THU 1-21-16 / Chocolate treat since 1932 / PC task-switching shortcut / Ford aircraft of 1920s-30s / Outburst accompanying facepalm / It's below C V B N MRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90595574661535981202016-02-25T23:25:43.290-05:002016-02-25T23:25:43.290-05:00One more reason not to speed solve - you actually ...One more reason not to speed solve - you actually get to enjoy a puzzle even when it's relatively easy. I say relatively because I also still solve the two puzzles in the Monterey Herald, and have plenty of EPEE, OLGA, OREO, OSLO, AYE, ETC, ETC. Makes this puz look like that cube by Mr. Rubik, whose first name I always forget.<br /><br />This puzzle was a walk down memory lane for me. I briefly worked at a jewelry store (Bennett Brothers) on the 8th floor of a building near 42nd and Fifth Ave in NYC. From our windows we could look down on the stairs of the public library, and we often saw (and heard) the Hare KRISHNAs dancing and singing in their orange outfits. <br /><br />Then along came the DIVE bar, Dirty Frank's, at 13th and Pine in Philadelphia. Think a low-down version of Cheers. Free peanuts - the shells all ended up on the floor. Along with the cigarette butts. <br /><br />At a museum in London I noticed a sign for concessions. Good, a SNACK bar, I thought, only to discover (after asking the dumb American question as to its locale) that this is the Brit term for senior discounts. Put that in your bonnet, which, of course is part of your car. And not a T Top. <br /><br />When I saw C V B N M - I was reminded of a story my Grandma used to tell me as a kid. A guy walks into a breakfast joint and asks:<br /><br />"F U NE X?"<br />"S, V F X."<br />"F U NE M?" <br />"S, V F M."<br />"F U NE T?"<br />"S, V F T."<br />"OK, I F X N M N T."<br /><br />Guess it helped that I was about five years old.<br /><br />So, another drunken day at the Crossword Bar. <br /><br />No Anne Klein today. I think she has a thing for Rondo. ;-)<br /><br />Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for Crosswords<br />Diana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59041429399822185522016-02-25T20:09:23.640-05:002016-02-25T20:09:23.640-05:00Yeah, IGUESS I was late to the party.
@spacecraf...Yeah, IGUESS I was late to the party. <br /><br />@spacecraft called out the DIVE BAR usage before I got here. <br /><br />Anyhow, glad to share a moderated wave length with someone now and then.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26030454233182564182016-02-25T18:37:46.952-05:002016-02-25T18:37:46.952-05:00One line down each side would be side lines; two t...One line down each side would be side lines; two turns them into side bars. <br /><br />Side lines could make for a fun theme ...straylinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536180563789923012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52533954806786912172016-02-25T17:12:46.028-05:002016-02-25T17:12:46.028-05:00Late to the party, but the BAR is still OPEN I hop...Late to the party, but the BAR is still OPEN I hope.<br /><br />Yes, it became easy after getting the revealer, but not so easy before that.<br /><br />The one themer that I'm skeptical about is DIVE BAR. I've been to a few bars in my day; some of them were dives and some were just bars, but I don't think I ever heard of or patronized a "dive bar."<br /><br />Not being up on the nuances of construction, I don't get what the "2 versus 3 columns" fuss was about. The whole structure seemed pretty solid to me.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36421378902847586162016-02-25T13:46:18.405-05:002016-02-25T13:46:18.405-05:00Not so sure about “easier than easy”, but not toug...Not so sure about “easier than easy”, but not tough, IGUESS. Thursday is gimmick day for all of you who like that sort of thing, so this is what you SETTLE for. So I went bar-hopping early today. <br /><br />Approaching record temps in MN on Saturday. Thank you ELNINO.<br /><br />Saw yeah baby potential rising when KRIS___ showed up, but then disappointment after reading the clue.<br /><br />Gambling can be fun, but it leaves a LOTTO be desired.<br /><br />“I'm a man, but I can change, If I have to, IGUESS.” <br />Now really, NOBODY else thought of Red Green’s Man’s Prayer?!? C’mon people.<br /><br />So this puz wasn’t AAARATED, deal with your precious gimmicks. SHALLI go on?<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52120249308205604952016-02-25T12:59:42.919-05:002016-02-25T12:59:42.919-05:00Hmm. I see the two sidemost columns containing al...Hmm. I see the two sidemost columns containing all 12 (XII) themers which require BAR to complete theme, hence SIDE BARS. No problem here.<br /><br />Apparently everyone had a Thursday-best time. Well, just enjoy it and stop complaining. Too often the commentariat just seems to want to find SOMETHING to complain about: too easy, too hard, wrong day, not enough "?" clues, too many "?" clues, bloody natick, things I don't know, things that are gimmes, no ABBR indicated, ABBR unnecessary, POCs, cultural references that are either old or new, rappers, Simpsons, proper names, French, Spanish words that should have a tilde, etc. <br /><br />I enjoyed solving today's puzzle, easy as it was, and I will remember the theme for what it was. Plus there was little in the fill to complain about, although I know @Spacey will red-flag ACTI, but he gets a pass for that because his comments are invariably entertaining.<br /><br />@Lady Di - thanks for noticing. rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66006144062000536092016-02-25T11:21:43.834-05:002016-02-25T11:21:43.834-05:00I agree with @Lobster11 that there aren't enou...I agree with @Lobster11 that there aren't enough different senses for BAR, and with OFL that one or three would make sense (good luck doing three!) but two is just...arbitrary. I think, tear it all out except the periphery and put some sparkle--and some teeth!--into the interior. And DIVE BAR?? No, no, no. It's a DIVE. Period. You could have used Dove Bar, with 1/4 cleansing cream. That might have caused you to get rid of Yet Another TTOP, along with that ridiculous ALTTAB. Here's a question even Wikipedia doesn't answer: what does the T in TTOP stand for? Never mind; I don't care. I only know I'm REALLY tired of seeing them in grids.<br /><br />Methinks Mr. Shortz hath LOOSED his standards. SHALLI flunk this one? Nah, let's SETTLE for a D-. Sorry, sir.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84959065764614618152016-02-25T11:20:24.431-05:002016-02-25T11:20:24.431-05:00Think Hazelden-Betty Ford security
RARE SIDE BARS...Think Hazelden-Betty Ford security<br /><br />RARE SIDE BARS SPIEL, ACT I<br /><br />Like an ANIMAL this lady SOAK was LOOSED, <br />so I TRACT her to the EDGE of town.<br />Any SORTA DIVE BAR’S where she juiced,<br />in the first OPENBAR she SETTLED down.<br /><br />I’d HANG with her, as SMOOTH as if we dated,<br />but IGUESS I had ALOT of TOOLs to fetch her.<br />AWNUTS, why’d this CAT have to be AAARATED?<br />SHALLI say I laid her on a STRETCHER?<br /><br />--- DIETER ENGEL-BERG<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41796907346553338742016-02-24T19:48:13.855-05:002016-02-24T19:48:13.855-05:00@Rainy from 2 daze ago. Hake. Red Herring. Sole...@Rainy from 2 daze ago. Hake. Red Herring. Sole. Laughed out loud - thot they'd all been used. Good ones.<br /><br />D,LIWDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8606963266438360592016-01-22T19:34:52.434-05:002016-01-22T19:34:52.434-05:00@LindaPRmaven 4:17 PM
Also there is this meanin...@LindaPRmaven 4:17 PM <br /><br />Also there is this meaning that exactly fits the clue "off-the-record discussions":<br /><br />SIDEBARS: discussions between the judge and attorneys at the bench off the record and outside the hearing of the jurors or spectators.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14124431793780560248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6411973559505043662016-01-22T16:17:19.951-05:002016-01-22T16:17:19.951-05:00For Anonymous -A newspaper of record is a major ne...For Anonymous -A newspaper of record is a major newspaper that has a large circulation and whose editorial and news-gathering functions are considered professional and typically authoritative. In other words, a trusted source because of the high standards under which the paper functions. Therefore, the paper has a higher level of accountability. The clue for SIDE BARS referred to "off the record" discussions. In journalism if reporter and source agree to go off the record, it means the source is supplying information not for publication but which may be useful to the reporter as background. So, for me, being a former journalist, "off the record" has this specific meaning. It does not seem to me to apply to the negotiating process as described by @ZLindaPRmavennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50349749408978897152016-01-21T23:55:03.005-05:002016-01-21T23:55:03.005-05:00@Z, venal and venial are 2 different words. VeneRe...@Z, venal and venial are 2 different words. VeneReally.<br /><br />All you <i>need</i> for SIDE BARS is <i>one</i> on each side. Give 'em two and next thing you know is they want three. Sheesh. Bleepin' ingrates.<br /><br />Rene Descartes was nursing his absinthe at his corner table in the neighbourhood BAR. <br />"Last call, Monsieur Descartes", said the barkeep. "Will you have another?"<br />"I think not", he answered. And disappeared.<br /><br />Hope the coming snow and ice does not the POWER BARLeapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-587737794904949342016-01-21T22:44:53.917-05:002016-01-21T22:44:53.917-05:00@Linda PRM
What's a 'paper of record'...@Linda PRM<br /><br />What's a 'paper of record'? And why, as such, does this warrant a different level of excusablity?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10108783681873434812016-01-21T20:07:28.001-05:002016-01-21T20:07:28.001-05:00I got the puzzle, easy enough, without ever actual...I got the puzzle, easy enough, without ever actually noticing the theme. Don' t know what that says about the puzzle or me.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08316379159031860155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42331209838054035752016-01-21T19:14:55.510-05:002016-01-21T19:14:55.510-05:00LindaPRmaven - In negotiations SIDE BARS are unoff...LindaPRmaven - In negotiations SIDE BARS are unofficial discussions negotiators might have to convey something that can't be said at the table. "We can't give you that, but if you ask for this instead I can sell it to my side." Why are these things called SIDE BARS you ask? I've no idea. Why can't some things be said at the table? Because people are funny.* But it's a perfectly okay answer as clued. <br /><br />@Chronic defer - That depends on what you mean by "issue." And if you insist on words being used only one way your non de blog will be apt.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />*First thing I learned as a negotiator was that I was negotiating with both the other side and my side. My side was always harder to deal with. Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90204505963026397542016-01-21T18:35:55.994-05:002016-01-21T18:35:55.994-05:00I agree with LindaPRmaven. Sidebars are not off th...I agree with LindaPRmaven. Sidebars are not off the record. Chronic dnferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05129538196003383400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-980363038338820712016-01-21T17:49:14.498-05:002016-01-21T17:49:14.498-05:00Was anyone else bothered by SIDE BARS being used t...Was anyone else bothered by SIDE BARS being used to describe "off-the-record discussions"? In journalism terms a sidebar is a smaller accompanying article on a topic related to the main article. I think this usage is inexcusable in a paper of record.LindaPRmavennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1615130853677279142016-01-21T16:28:03.830-05:002016-01-21T16:28:03.830-05:00ATMs don't issue bills they dispense them. Onl...ATMs don't issue bills they dispense them. Only the us treasury can issue billsChronic dnferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05129538196003383400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11684088062996736342016-01-21T15:38:32.570-05:002016-01-21T15:38:32.570-05:00Gee, Nancy -- You'd hoped to never once see a...Gee, Nancy -- You'd hoped to never once see a Twitter message "in the flesh"? You can't legitimately hold Rex responsible if you do your reading in your birthday suite.No. 1 Fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47633559973917524082016-01-21T15:25:55.099-05:002016-01-21T15:25:55.099-05:00Only hang up was ____ air, then I remembered DOH, ...Only hang up was ____ air, then I remembered DOH, NYT - Apple whoooooooore <br /><br />absurdly easy, WSJ puzzles far better latelyxyzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08287781952915413013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77321719543087095862016-01-21T15:04:33.582-05:002016-01-21T15:04:33.582-05:00I was zipping through this one, filling in the squ...I was zipping through this one, filling in the squares so effortlessly that I began to think that the gimmick for this was that there wasn't a gimmick today. When I got to 35-A I was alerted to the fact that there was a gimmick after all. But it didn't make much difference in how fast I worked through it. Sort of a pre-Monday difficulty level. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10435673338561638312016-01-21T14:21:21.977-05:002016-01-21T14:21:21.977-05:00Yes, easy for a Thursday.
But what's wrong w...Yes, easy for a Thursday. <br /><br />But what's wrong with an easier puzzle once in a while? <br /><br />I'm currently teaching a crossword course to a room full of brand-new solvers, and they certainly didn't think this was too easy. <br /><br />If we're going to bring new (and young) solvers into our hobby, we can't always shut the door behind us on the late weekdays.archaeoprofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956231727789223463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34664506369240468182016-01-21T13:42:15.591-05:002016-01-21T13:42:15.591-05:00The most fun today was reading @Nancy's chagri...The most fun today was reading @Nancy's chagrin at seeing a Twitter post :-). I was having fun while solving, and the 8D/18A cross took some thought but the theme was easy, I got it at POWER. I, too, wondered about the themers being only two deep rather than one or three and I also thought @Rex would cry foul that the bottom ones had the bar over them (at least, when I pictured the first two layers, I pictured the word BAR in the black BAR but I suppose, per the revealer, the themers only have to be on the side, which they are, so no problem, I GUESS.)<br /><br />I try to be a POWER keyboard user as much as possible, so the ALT-TAB keys are very popular with me. But I put in menu BAR before TOOL so I've got a bit of black ink in the NE and over at AW NUTS, which I started with "oh".<br /><br />Thanks for the record-setting Thursday, David Phillips.Teedmnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12832353448839187816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9391877161382938522016-01-21T13:29:58.027-05:002016-01-21T13:29:58.027-05:00Yes, way too easy for a Thursday. But I think Rex...Yes, way too easy for a Thursday. But I think Rex's dislike of the two column width of the theme answers was a bit strong. Three columns would have greatly increased the impressiveness of the design but two wide is, to me, far better than one.<br /><br />I had to dig deep to retrieve VENIAL from my elementary school catechism days. Maybe the only interesting answer in a very dull puzzleChip Hiltonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28200482523085924192016-01-21T13:07:03.481-05:002016-01-21T13:07:03.481-05:00Awful Thursday gimmick. Bad Monday fill. Annoyin...Awful Thursday gimmick. Bad Monday fill. Annoying and disappointing start to the day!dick swarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15674856192774908651noreply@blogger.com