tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6225424508545126420..comments2024-03-29T10:57:51.387-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17, 2008 - John Farmer (Sherwood Forest minstrel / "Two cents plain" drink / One of the Gandhis)Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74174420860213642642009-01-21T17:17:00.000-05:002009-01-21T17:17:00.000-05:00> Never seen RAS Tafari written out. Two separa...> Never seen RAS Tafari written out. Two separate names ...<BR/><BR/>"Ras" is a title. Haile Selassie became "Negus" in 1928.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55409742147180679902009-01-21T13:47:00.000-05:002009-01-21T13:47:00.000-05:00From syndicateland:Never having heard of Aimee Man...From syndicateland:<BR/><BR/>Never having heard of Aimee Mann or John Conyers and having forgotten Rajiv Gandhi, had to resort to Wednesday googling for the first time in months to complete this grid. <BR/><BR/>Kudos to John Farmer for his enTrance and proJect misdirections. Jut mesmerized me for way too long.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18311792659889869852009-01-21T11:20:00.000-05:002009-01-21T11:20:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18203381530623776932008-12-18T04:37:00.000-05:002008-12-18T04:37:00.000-05:00Saying 'Til Tuesday is her former band would be ki...Saying 'Til Tuesday is her former band would be kinda silly. She was on every album. The band ended, she didn't leave it. Would you clue the Beatles as "McCartney's former band"?plumpyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11978479216011643645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87354168062567671282008-12-17T20:48:00.000-05:002008-12-17T20:48:00.000-05:00I only really appreciated this puzzle after coming...I only really appreciated this puzzle after coming to the blog and seeing that every good boy does fine was in the puzzle. I had thought just having egbdf was an odd theme, but now I'm impressed.<BR/><BR/> I'd recommend A Thousand Acres, but then I also like the very different Moo (perhaps because I teach at a state university in Iowa; Moo was based on the other major state university in Iowa).Michael Chibnikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04700426644898924644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3068400461514023692008-12-17T20:27:00.000-05:002008-12-17T20:27:00.000-05:00Good puzzle. I got the note theme as soon as I fi...Good puzzle. I got the note theme as soon as I filled in E, G, B...and was going to complain at how random it was that the notes were scattered through the puzzle, until I looked at the first words to see the familiar EVERY GOOD BOY...Very clever, but I wish the puzzle had included the spaces notes FACE too in the down answers.<BR/><BR/>I love the Jane Smiley novel "A Thousand Acres"; not a happy book, though. A tragedy--like Lear which is a quick read. I have an OA Boy Scout, but got hung up on MAO jacket and the ENTRANCE clue.PlantieBeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960277851368508036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18081447001498018332008-12-17T19:49:00.000-05:002008-12-17T19:49:00.000-05:00Nice Weds. puzzle. Just right.NW corner gave a li...Nice Weds. puzzle. Just right.<BR/>NW corner gave a little trouble.<BR/><BR/>Challenge to constructors, incl. ACMe.<BR/>How about All Cows Eat Grass. The bass notes.<BR/><BR/>Also, the mixed nuts made me think of the scientific explanation for why the large nut always floats to the top of the can. Also, what about the Brazilian (nut that is). That's a big isnt' it. I see it's called a "Brazil nut" without the modifier.<BR/>Google sez: "brazilian wax" = 829K, "Brazil nut" =925K <BR/><BR/>And I kept wanting to put in Alan Hale's name. A moment of silence. And I ate at his West Hollywood restaurant, The Lobster Barrel. Yummy, little buddy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45087398742661818192008-12-17T18:58:00.000-05:002008-12-17T18:58:00.000-05:00felt like a Monday to me too. there was a choppin...felt like a Monday to me too. there was a choppiness to the puzzle and I counted 34 3-letter wds. // seems high for a daily puzzle. I learned that at the ACPT last year, from a constructor who said he keeps 3-letter wds to a minimumAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35673403932634003002008-12-17T18:51:00.000-05:002008-12-17T18:51:00.000-05:00For Crossers:Each Grid Brings Daily FrustrationsFor Crossers:<BR/><BR/>Each Grid Brings Daily FrustrationsHungry Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08101748048713015724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13346093542878293652008-12-17T18:48:00.000-05:002008-12-17T18:48:00.000-05:00Each gender brings diverse funEach gender brings diverse funJeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01699404861773455504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25978960782013217722008-12-17T18:42:00.000-05:002008-12-17T18:42:00.000-05:00You know what? "Every good boy d___ f___" mnemonic...You know what? "Every good boy d___ f___" mnemonics marginalize girls. May I suggest a music-friendly replacement? <I>Every girl bring da funk.</I>Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5695899173701508602008-12-17T18:34:00.000-05:002008-12-17T18:34:00.000-05:00All day yesterday I had "We're off on the road to ...All day yesterday I had "We're off on the road to Morocco! Where is it? It's just south of Spain!" playing in my head. I hate that song. I felt as though I were being tortured by interrogators at Guantanamo.<BR/><BR/>Today Hedy LaMarr popped up in the puzzle.<BR/><BR/>Dismissed as coincidence.Hungry Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08101748048713015724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9872081325037489262008-12-17T17:50:00.000-05:002008-12-17T17:50:00.000-05:00Absolutly loved Horse Heaven and got excited when ...Absolutly loved Horse Heaven and got excited when Moo came out, only to be disappointed. Now I will try A Thousand Acres. Thanks for the recommendation.<BR/><BR/>ChefwenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51454605870207859832008-12-17T17:45:00.000-05:002008-12-17T17:45:00.000-05:00dk, mine had a Camaro, but I had no virtue to lose...dk, mine had a Camaro, but I had no virtue to lose at that stage anyway.<BR/><BR/>This felt like a Monday to me, but that just means I happened to be on the same wavelength (scale?) as Mr. Farmer. There's no guarantee that a certain constructor will open it up for you, but I do find a significant correlation with some and their puzzles' solving difficulty.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14285037466395509332008-12-17T16:50:00.000-05:002008-12-17T16:50:00.000-05:00I also didn't see the mnemonic until reading the o...I also didn't see the mnemonic until reading the opening lines of Orange's blog last night. Very clever and fun puzzle. SE made it part medium for me as I didn't know MANN (any tie to Manfred MANN?), and was iffy on the EMANATE (i?) and CONYERS spellings.jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68581573869590179392008-12-17T16:18:00.000-05:002008-12-17T16:18:00.000-05:00@Anonymouse 4.03: it's funny you wrote that; Amazo...@Anonymouse 4.03: it's funny you wrote that; Amazon recommends you read "King Lear" if you like "A Thousand Acres"......machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65628509426741146122008-12-17T16:03:00.000-05:002008-12-17T16:03:00.000-05:00When buying the papers & coffee this morning, ...When buying the papers & coffee this morning, the deli's radio was playing someone covering a Roy Orbison tune. My thinking was why? It's a classic, he's great, and you're not. You better be damned good to try to cover a classic.<BR/><BR/>So yes, "A Thousand Acres" was much better than "Moo". But why? Lear is a classic, Shakespear was great, and you're not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13217411900297435772008-12-17T15:42:00.000-05:002008-12-17T15:42:00.000-05:00@mac & @Catherine KAn AZO dye is an orange / r...@mac & @Catherine K<BR/><BR/>An AZO dye is an orange / red coloring agent, not to be confused with ANIL dyes which are in the blue group.<BR/><BR/>Both can frequently be found in art studios and NYT xword puzzles :-)Glitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14003070886283231442008-12-17T15:26:00.000-05:002008-12-17T15:26:00.000-05:00@macwe are the same peson today. I too had SHARP ...@mac<BR/>we are the same peson today. <BR/>I too had SHARP for SMART, surprised how much overlap there...<BR/>Fell into the ENZO/EZIO trap a while back...<BR/>but I knew AZO bec super common tiles to use in Scrabble (also ZOA)<BR/><BR/>:)<BR/>(Smiley)<BR/>Moo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83385820978702296672008-12-17T15:18:00.000-05:002008-12-17T15:18:00.000-05:00A wonderful Wednesday! I loved quite a few clues a...A wonderful Wednesday! I loved quite a few clues and answers but I also inserted an E in the nut, and for a while had "Sharp" for Natty. HAha. Just had x-rays at the dentist's this morning, but no bridge, thank goodness.<BR/><BR/>What's azo dye? Or is it AZO dye? Found another big hole in my general knowledge, I had never heard of the mnemonic.... Got the notes, and, like Andrea C., thought "that's it?". I think Greene has a great point, I don't think Ezio would be almost in the middle, in the top of the puzzle, if his not being able to read notes was not part of the theme. Mr. Farmer?<BR/><BR/>@Rex: Give Jane Smiley another chance; "A Thousand Acres" was a lot better than "Moo".machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16568086855270113802008-12-17T15:08:00.000-05:002008-12-17T15:08:00.000-05:00This puzzle has the extra twist in the clues/answe...This puzzle has the extra twist in the clues/answers that provides transcendence. Not just the notes but the mnemonic as well! I thought it perfect ‘til RP et al have informed that it is somehow upside-down (nada musically) and maybe not universally accurate – I still like the crap out of this puzzle. Good curveballs and some unknowns (had Alan O Dale ‘til I got here) and the standard fill somehow brought some zing – I likey. <BR/>I had no time for the Boy Scouts. The Boy Scouts called it earning Merit Badges; we called it hanging out. We went camping to get away from our parents and smoke stolen cigarettes; they went camping to hang out with adults and do good deeds. They always seemed just too – well – Boy Scouty. My uncle made Eagle Scout and that really sealed the deal for me. What a putz.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72611047666557421712008-12-17T15:02:00.000-05:002008-12-17T15:02:00.000-05:00@CatherineK--There's a town about 10 miles from ho...@CatherineK--There's a town about 10 miles from home called Congers. (Rockland County, NY) Who knew? Eels?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49974502342171389952008-12-17T14:55:00.000-05:002008-12-17T14:55:00.000-05:00For awhile I thought there was something theme-y a...For awhile I thought there was something theme-y about the fact that the long answers had two-in-a-row letters: EVERYSOOFTEN has two Os; GOODOLDDAYS has two os and two ds; FINEANDDANDY has two ds. And having never heard of ALANADALE, once I got it from crosses I thought it looked like an almost palindrome!<BR/><BR/>I was stumped in the SW corner. Never heard of Rajiv. Couldn't get JUT, even though I went through the different pronunciations of "Project", and the various meanings. I couldn't think of anything else that could project other that someone's voice.<BR/><BR/>Also, what is AZO dye? Never heard of it.<BR/><BR/>I laughed out loud when I read 9A "Caught congers". I said aloud, all alone in my room, "Those are eels!" Something I knew Only because of doing the NYT puzzles!<BR/><BR/>Awesome puzzle.Shanti11https://www.blogger.com/profile/03397942491057116387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16540093235911024862008-12-17T14:41:00.000-05:002008-12-17T14:41:00.000-05:00@johnGreat puzzle. When I first finished I though...@john<BR/>Great puzzle. When I first finished I thought, EGBDF, that's it? You got away with just five circled letters + NOTES for a whole theme????!!!! A<BR/>nd then noticed the first words and was super impressed.<BR/>(And it was the mnemonic I learned and only one I thought existed till I saw the Stoppard play)<BR/><BR/>I've always wanted to write a book on mnemonics for 5th graders called "How to Remember Shit"<BR/>(am I allowed to write that?)<BR/>but it's odd that every good boy has his own...<BR/><BR/>Saw Quincy Jones in conversation last night "from Bebop to Hiphop" who was super super inspiring. And one thing he kept saying <BR/>(to young musicians) was learn EVERY style of music, know what came before you...study it all;<BR/><BR/>"There are only twelve notes and there ain't gonna be a thirteenth any time soon!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69163267387011511692008-12-17T14:20:00.000-05:002008-12-17T14:20:00.000-05:00Quite enjoyable. Well done, John. I'm not one to n...Quite enjoyable. Well done, John. I'm not one to notice grids much, but this one jumped out. Those big blocks of letters in the NW and SE were intimidating at first, but things fell easily for me. The A in the middle of ALANADALE was my last letter. Considered O'DALE, but it felt too Irish. DAWS also just felt better than DOWS.<BR/><BR/>I learned "...Deserves Favor" whil taking piano lessons. And that Moody Blues album is a favorite of mine as well, Vega.<BR/><BR/>Deserves fruit? And fudge? I think those are better. Get your kid to practice with promises of treats. I like it! HA!<BR/><BR/>Oh...and I made it to Webelos before leaving the scouts. Never an official Boy Scout. Those Cub Scout days were fun, though...jeff in chicagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10492964479021891094noreply@blogger.com