tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6484238606931448614..comments2024-03-28T15:13:08.509-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Mansard alternative / FRI 2-1-13 / Laughable Lyrics poet / Q-Tip specialty / Three-time Newhart Emmy nominee / Time-traveling 1980s film character / Ecosystem-replicating facility / Barbie greeting / Fizzy drink measure / Piece of gladiatorial combat gearRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79348911077453420352013-03-09T02:02:16.111-05:002013-03-09T02:02:16.111-05:00@waxy and @Diri - Thanks for the get well wishes. ...@waxy and @Diri - Thanks for the get well wishes. Waxy, your captcha says all you want to know about norovirus (and all you don't!) <br /><br />SynCity - sounds good to me!Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21681484730714720702013-03-08T21:17:51.294-05:002013-03-08T21:17:51.294-05:00@Diri, I'm in synch with SynCity.
And all the...@Diri, I'm in synch with SynCity.<br /><br />And all the very best, @Ginger.<br /><br />Captcha = sheeit. I'll say no more...Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64460803213922113652013-03-08T21:15:17.374-05:002013-03-08T21:15:17.374-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75073209163683180322013-03-08T20:04:44.993-05:002013-03-08T20:04:44.993-05:00I just finished a puzzle in one of Will Shortz'...I just finished a puzzle in one of Will Shortz' xword collection books and time-travelled back to 2009 to see what Rexville had to say about it. Our very own @Waxy in Montreal had left a comment, identifying himself as being from SyndCity. It seems to me that if we were to shorten that just a bit more to SynCity we might have a very apt name for our little corner of Rexville. Thoughts, anyone? (I'll use it even if no one else does.)<br /><br />@Ginger - Norovirus is nasty. I hope youy have a speedy recovery.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90116211065854153162013-03-08T18:41:17.729-05:002013-03-08T18:41:17.729-05:00I have no excuses for taking an embarrassingly lon...I have no excuses for taking an embarrassingly long time to complete this puzzle, other than I have no idea who RACHELMADDOW is and couldn't for the longest time remember Michael J. Fox's character. Had "eelodrama" forever because I was resolved that ID EST was correct. Because I thought the puzzle was just great, I soldiered on and finally completed it. Time zone as a tag, eh? Hmmm...rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52674879969967002342013-03-08T17:00:51.103-05:002013-03-08T17:00:51.103-05:00Struggled more than I should have, my excuse, a bo...Struggled more than I should have, my excuse, a bout of norovirus. Same write overs as others have mentioned, Cnote, BOtch, and ArOcK. I wrote a question mark in the margin by MST. Thanks Rex, and all who explained it. MARTYMCFLY came slowly, even though I've seen it several times. Wanted BIOlab, but of course it wouldn't fit. The articulate RACHELMADDOW elevated things a bunch, though I was surprised she's been on MSNBC that long. <br /><br />Stay well, everyone!Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17460189428450149412013-03-08T16:23:05.786-05:002013-03-08T16:23:05.786-05:00Yeah, agree that the MST clue is a real BONER!Yeah, agree that the MST clue is a real BONER!Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83979420950693759082013-03-08T16:20:05.539-05:002013-03-08T16:20:05.539-05:00Despite also starting in the NW corner with slowDA...Despite also starting in the NW corner with slowDANCE & POLARBEAR and not knowing a RACHELMADDOW from a Newton Minow, got a real RUSH from this puzzle which certainly OUTPACEd those we've seen in THErecentPAST. Deserves ANOAK LEAVEs cluster, IMHO.<br /><br />Count me in the camp of those who loved TOMPOSTON as a "Man in the Street" on the Steve Allen show along with Louis Nye and Don Knotts. Classic comedy and all done in absolutely realtime, lest we forget.<br /><br /> Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64592150838802417572013-03-08T16:08:39.511-05:002013-03-08T16:08:39.511-05:00Grammar got me! I stuck with ITisi, which even mad...Grammar got me! I stuck with ITisi, which even made me misspell FRiNEMY. Combine that with never having heard of the time-traveller, and the SW was clearly my Waterloo. Elsewhere, changing Oscar from slOUCH (think Odd Couple) to GROUCH gave me RANDR, and helped me do the rest. Did come here to see what was wrong with MST!! DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76207941291456596622013-03-08T15:49:51.208-05:002013-03-08T15:49:51.208-05:00I had a fun romp through most of the grid but had ...I had a fun romp through most of the grid but had to struggle in the SE. I thought "Works on a plot" might be gardenS which fit in very nicely with the SLUG crossing at the end. Finally Oscar thew GROUCH disabused me of that idea and I was able to sort the rest out. For a while I wondered if the Q-tip pecialty would be "ear" or "wax" and I was relieved to see it was neither. I'm especially grateful to the prime-timers' discussion of MST because I totally did not understand the clue or the answer - now I semi-understand it.<br /><br />@Spacecraft - I didn't take WHATTHE to be a partial; it's pretty common in these parts to say, "What the...?!" when something seems unbelievable. On- line everybody seems to use "WTF" for the same purpose. But that clue for MST - Seriously?!Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89931589564291134062013-03-08T14:45:28.633-05:002013-03-08T14:45:28.633-05:00Enjoyed this puzzle very much thanks to you, Mr. K...Enjoyed this puzzle very much thanks to you, Mr. Knapp - even though I had 2 blanks. I just never heard of the term "Frenemy." But now I know, so no prob. As much as I comment on Mr. Parker's sardonic remarks, I have to agree with today's write-up. And, his perseverance is commendable. <br />Ron Diegp. 3/8/13Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80563538899247569122013-03-08T11:47:46.446-05:002013-03-08T11:47:46.446-05:00Nice, pithy Friday. Not much trouble, after my slo...Nice, pithy Friday. Not much trouble, after my slowDANCE, which is how I remember the Stroll, became a LINEDANCE. OFL mentions ANOAK as something he "can take" but no comment about the much more awkward partial WHATTHE, or the [initial-AND-initial] format of RANDR, which makes no abbr. sense--or CSPOT? You hear C-note all the time, but not C-spot. Maybe C-spot is the place where a hundred-dollar-an-hour girl gets excited.<br /><br />Then there's ITSME, the most oft-repeated inanity of all time. Why do people say this? It's true 100% of the time! Anyway, as per Ensign Pulver, it should be "It is I." Oh well, I can't have it both ways. I object to entries that "people never actually say," so I guess I have to accept ITSME. No question they say THAT.<br /><br />GROUCH period over. That was one of the amusing misdirections I found today: with "Oscar, e.g." I was thinking award, or honor, or statue. Oh. Not THAT kind of Oscar. And speaking of Sesame Street, today's grid has been presented by the letter F: no fewer than eight of them. But despite earlier grumblings, I'll give it a better grade: B+. Woulda been an A without the RANDR.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42680412948604935962013-02-04T07:07:02.765-05:002013-02-04T07:07:02.765-05:00First time in ages that I've been able to comp...First time in ages that I've been able to complete a Friday without Google's help. Thanks for explaining "ID tag".Jack Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00505570161478589463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38809808605127626422013-02-03T09:37:15.876-05:002013-02-03T09:37:15.876-05:00You cannot pay tribute to Tom Poston without menti...You cannot pay tribute to Tom Poston without mentioning that he played the man who could answer any question but couldn't remember his name in the "Man on the Street" sketch on the Steve Allen show.P-Conoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22642015999460871542013-02-02T01:12:14.570-05:002013-02-02T01:12:14.570-05:00Okay, Rex, it's two hours later and once again...Okay, Rex, it's two hours later and once again you are late (with Saturday). Let's not take advantage of our good will....<br /><br />JFCJFCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89713083968913733532013-02-01T22:39:31.781-05:002013-02-01T22:39:31.781-05:00@Andrea: hope the St. Paul tournament will become ...@Andrea: hope the St. Paul tournament will become as successful as the Westport one!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-159440822975225302013-02-01T22:12:36.476-05:002013-02-01T22:12:36.476-05:00Late making a comment, but do want to add my voice...Late making a comment, but do want to add my voice to others who are in awe of Rex's day in and day out dedication to his creation. It's obviously his passion but even passion has its limits. No matter how nasty my comments might seem toward you, Rex, I never forget the great commitment and perseverance you exhibit on this blog. You are a husband, father and teacher, any one of which is enough of a challenge and which makes your energy to this endeavor remarkable. Your commentary is always appreciated as well....<br /><br />JFCJFCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22111956275757913682013-02-01T21:21:34.993-05:002013-02-01T21:21:34.993-05:00Did anyone notice Rush and Rachel M crossed? Hat ...Did anyone notice Rush and Rachel M crossed? Hat tip to left and right!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4995272999364902312013-02-01T21:04:01.802-05:002013-02-01T21:04:01.802-05:00@Rex- I have never thought about including you in ...@Rex- I have never thought about including you in the Epic Wrong Answer Hall of Fame, but your eELODRAMA story made me lol. <br /><br />Thought I WNF, but then I DF.<br /><br />@webwinger - were you a gardener, and had no chickens or ducks to tend said garden, you would consider slugs PESTs and then some.<br /><br />@jackj - what you said...except I had vErGE before LEDGE.<br /><br />My other BONER was ARCTICern.<br /><br />Only down note was the clue for UNFED...how about "Like a neglected parking meter?" instead.<br /><br />Puzzle-related story...One of the favorite things I learned was that the BIOsphere folks in Arizona, puzzled as to why trees limbs started falling as they grew tall, found that trees need "exercise"...with no wind in the Biosphere, the trees' branches were not strong enough to hold up their own weight.<br /><br />See ya'll tomorrow - I really hope you can make it, @Jen!<br /><br />And I hope the St. Paul contest is wonderful too.<br />Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28977206018530328922013-02-01T20:46:47.027-05:002013-02-01T20:46:47.027-05:00And don't forget those who don't live on E...And don't forget those who don't live on East Coast, there is the St Paul James Hill Minnesota Crossword Tournament tomorrow!!!!!acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8866367266607072112013-02-01T19:50:42.351-05:002013-02-01T19:50:42.351-05:00@evil: big Rush fans here; we just got tickets to...@evil: big Rush fans here; we just got tickets to see them at Mohegan Sun in May. (Lakeside Park is on the 24th of May...) I agree; the induction into the RaRHOF was long overdue...<br /><br />Will try to make it to Westport tomorrow...JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44931737815074855282013-02-01T19:45:46.320-05:002013-02-01T19:45:46.320-05:00What everyone else said.
Have a great time in Wes...What everyone else said.<br /><br />Have a great time in Westport tomorrow, those attending. Don't forget, we want pictures.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74301866629210961682013-02-01T19:17:22.128-05:002013-02-01T19:17:22.128-05:00Josh Knapp's puzzle was a mellow solve...my sc...Josh Knapp's puzzle was a mellow solve...my screw-ups were by my standards pretty minor and non-florid--had MARTIE FLYE instead of MARTY MCFLY, C-NOTE instead of C-SPOT, ARCTIC OWL instead of ARCTIC FOX. <br /><br />I like the image of RACHEL MADDOW PLAYING HOOKY. <br /><br />Looking forward to my first CWP tournament in Westport tomorrow and to meeting other Rexeans!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.valuecompetition.typepad.com/metarex/2013/02/maddow.html" rel="nofollow">Maddow</a>MetaRexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01697113550216241303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57637088017178518522013-02-01T18:52:31.728-05:002013-02-01T18:52:31.728-05:00Last night I wrote a comment after waiting up all ...Last night I wrote a comment after waiting up all night for Rex to post!<br />Now that I've read his, I'm going to copy exactly what I wrote last night, so i can show that sometimes we think eerily alike, despite comments implying the opposite!<br /><br />"Well, this one should make folks happy after yesterday’s ORDEAL; right amount of trickery and wonderful fill: RACHELMADDOW, PLAYINGHOOKY, DIMEADOZEN, FRENEMY, ARCTICFOX, SACKRACES…<br /><br /><br />What I loved was it was one of those puzzles you could HEAR:<br />“GDAY!”“IT’S ME!” “WHAT THE???!!!” “IMANAGE” “INAFEW” “CIAO!”<br /><br />Ironically I Botch(ed) BONER (learned FEMORAL) and had a tough time making my Cnote into a CSPOT. Ten spot, yes, C SPOT? I guess I’m not rich enough to get all slang about hundred dollar bills .<br />(Tho I did find TWO in one day in New Orleans in October…10 miles and six hours apart!!!! Most bizarre day of my life)<br /><br />Bleed over from yesterday…an OAK I wanted then, fell today!<br />OGLED over LEaR is sorta funny.<br /><br />I don’t get ID tag = MST? Is that for Idaho Mountain Standard Time??? <br /><br />For the first time I really understood why Will prefers there not be made mention of cancer and unpleasant things in the puzzle. UNFED neglected pets is going to bum me out the rest of the night.<br /><br />Anyway, hoping for positive experiences today compared to the GROUCHfest that was Thursday… it’s impractical to live in THEPAST.<br /><br />Oddest thing for me is that MELODRAMA has but one L. I guess MELLODRAMA would be an oxymoron!<br /><br />Arctic Crazy Melodramasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50400589690501200802013-02-01T18:40:53.356-05:002013-02-01T18:40:53.356-05:00Best puzzle all week, hands down. Strangely, it fe...Best puzzle all week, hands down. Strangely, it felt easy the whole way through (I never got too hung up anywhere), but I ended up with a medium-ish time. <br /><br />Ditto to all the positives pointed out elsewhere. This puzzle very nearly makes up for the dreck we saw earlier in the week.Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15336260911834780345noreply@blogger.com