tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6623469966508457478..comments2024-03-28T14:57:33.856-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: FRIDAY, May 2, 2008 - Barry C. Silk (1972 top 10 hit that's seven minutes long)Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4569930898778849822008-06-17T03:25:00.000-04:002008-06-17T03:25:00.000-04:00My roommate and I are so aggravated after slogging...My roommate and I are so aggravated after slogging through this crossword puzzle. If we hadn't found your blog, we would have driven to Mr. Shortz's house and banged on the door, demanding an explanation for these ridiculous clues and even more ridiculous answers. Eeler??! Unled?! CanI? This is not a question of hard or easy; it is a matter of puzzle integrity! Okay, so we almost wet ourselves laughing at some of these answers. Not because they were clever, but because Shortz was just making up words to fit his goofy clues. It is called a crossWORD puzzle, after all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18647915468151627652008-06-14T14:10:00.000-04:002008-06-14T14:10:00.000-04:00@ pete m: Isn't "Sam Gamgee" one of the characters...@ pete m: Isn't "Sam Gamgee" one of the characters in "Bored of the Rings" by the Harvard Lampoon? I can't find my copy, so I can't say for sure.<BR/><BR/>Oops, just found my copy. It's Spam Gangree – along with the other memorable characters: Frito and Dildo Bugger; Moxie and Pepsi; and the wizard, Goodgulf.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19225029491605308302008-06-13T23:47:00.000-04:002008-06-13T23:47:00.000-04:006weekslater:Wanted JOHN DALY (the host/moderator) ...6weekslater:<BR/>Wanted JOHN DALY (the host/moderator) for 14d <B>"What's My Line" participant</B>. The notable PANELISTs were Arlene Francis, Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf and Henry Morgan??? (a humorist).<BR/><BR/>The show can be seen in it's full black and white glory late, late night on GSN.<BR/><BR/>Never did get GUNMAN, since ON END never meant <B>Without a break</B> to me. Oh well.embienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01991001167394653649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56556926018524663682008-06-13T20:36:00.000-04:002008-06-13T20:36:00.000-04:00For 33A "Couple seen in a restaurant", I got stuck...For 33A "Couple seen in a restaurant", I got stuck on 'Hooters' ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42028058605212969372008-06-13T18:32:00.000-04:002008-06-13T18:32:00.000-04:00Other Sams just as good Yosemite SamYou probably ...Other Sams just as good<BR/> Yosemite Sam<BR/><BR/>You probably all ready know were SKEE comes from... Think Lil John rapUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18318233882177519736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91806640093179177452008-06-13T15:48:00.000-04:002008-06-13T15:48:00.000-04:00Thanks for clarifying torpedo=gunman, Norm. Just...Thanks for clarifying torpedo=gunman, Norm. Just couldn't put that togetherkashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01261217811960817000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44245630145395799552008-06-13T14:13:00.000-04:002008-06-13T14:13:00.000-04:00I agree with Rex - medium, on the easy end of medi...I agree with Rex - medium, on the easy end of medium. <BR/><BR/>55A was Solti for too long - CHI, not CLE. Oh well, all these AL Central cities are indistiguishable....<BR/><BR/>Had OWEN for 49D like many, and the W luckily being right was the key to the SE, as it gave me 51A, DRAW A LINE.<BR/><BR/>@ Miriam B - I top didn't like ERODES and EROSE in the same puzzle. I'd guess the PP of erodere in Latin is erosus, and that is the tie - any of you who are philologists, whether professional or amateur, feel free to clue me in.<BR/><BR/>42A was either QUITO or SUCRE (Ecuadorean currency) and IMIDE (44D) was the deciding cross.<BR/><BR/>@Rex - AMIDE, IMIDE yes, OMIDE no as far as I know.<BR/><BR/>@Puzzle Girl - AGAPE was my hardest to give up error for the day - which made 13D and 14D tougher than they should have been.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80573015620307949342008-05-03T16:45:00.000-04:002008-05-03T16:45:00.000-04:00Sorry I didn't get back but left for the afternoon...Sorry I didn't get back but left for the afternoon and evening to attend a Springsteen concert. He was great, as usual, and ended the concert with "Kitty's Back", my fave of all his songs.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for all the comments on my avatar. It is indeed Pernell Roberts. As for being a Cartwright, I'll certainly settle for being Adam but growing up I really wanted to be Hoss!<BR/><BR/>I'll post this again in Saturday's comment section where people might actually see it!Doc Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68487606795735791642008-05-03T13:36:00.000-04:002008-05-03T13:36:00.000-04:00Noah - "diamond" is often a crosswordese misdirect...Noah - "diamond" is often a crosswordese misdirection to "baseball". And since baseball has data for everything that happens on the "diamond", including stolen bases or "steals", a single STEAL can be construed as a "Diamond datum". It's especially cruel as "carat" is also five letters.Bill Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13741876820211768387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57695263767924743852008-05-03T11:56:00.000-04:002008-05-03T11:56:00.000-04:00Could someone please explain STEAL?Could someone please explain STEAL?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00633554704036535897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21888081631792435152008-05-03T07:36:00.000-04:002008-05-03T07:36:00.000-04:00Had a mighty battle with this as an occasional NYT...Had a mighty battle with this as an occasional NYT solver. Unfortunate initial guess at Decathlon for 1A, not having seen the significance of 'missions'. Time to remember that in a good clue, every word is there for a reason! So blew the top left corner, though ANEMO and REMITS had at least come into the frame by the end. For more 'horny' Strauss, check out the Rosenkavalier prelude - poor sound but good band & conductor at ...<BR/><BR/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLiWWrSFRkoxwd_fiendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01290578300623523697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40637195079840462862008-05-03T01:00:00.000-04:002008-05-03T01:00:00.000-04:00Super, joe arf -- I love those kinds of connection...Super, joe arf -- I love those kinds of connections! I didn't think of a catkiin as the flower itself, more as a kind of pod resulting from fertilization? I'll do some more reading on catkins. Thanks....<BR/><BR/>∑;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85859909348830226302008-05-02T23:51:00.000-04:002008-05-02T23:51:00.000-04:00If you're interested in a tie-in between "anemo" a...If you're interested in a tie-in between "anemo" and "alder". Catkins [the clue that given us for alders] are wind-pollinated or "anemophilous" flowersJoearfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06515211506180582758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15975332369473074722008-05-02T23:20:00.000-04:002008-05-02T23:20:00.000-04:00Hi Mac -- Extra spring cleaning tonight, as the re...Hi Mac -- Extra spring cleaning tonight, as the refrigerator conked out yesterday. Had a new one delivered today, but most of the food stuff had to be chucked out. Terrible shame that most I saw were too tall by 2 inches or more! Write me at ArtLvr911 at aol dot com<BR/><BR/>∑;(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30327807695760905022008-05-02T22:54:00.000-04:002008-05-02T22:54:00.000-04:00Where is everybody? It's Friday Night!Where is everybody? It's Friday Night!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71293453277264534252008-05-02T21:20:00.000-04:002008-05-02T21:20:00.000-04:00liked this puzzle; didn't love it. i agree with re...liked this puzzle; didn't love it. i agree with rex that CHEEZWHIZ, as great as it is, was defanged by TZE and SZELL. i mean, who cares about TZE and SZELL? not me.<BR/><BR/>pete m (way back in comment 1): ENTERED isn't the same as [Became a participant]; ENTEREDIN is. you can ENTER a building, but not a partnership or a project. that's how i see it, anyway.<BR/><BR/>i'll join the chorus of general dissent against the PAVER clue. but i liked ATE, SHAKERS, IWANTYOU, and USEDCAR (i also had HYUNDAI off the A)... but i admit there was a missing ", perhaps" in that clue.Joonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07825085755390339668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77527129424703193542008-05-02T21:17:00.000-04:002008-05-02T21:17:00.000-04:00Stuck in my head as a result of this puzzle: (Than...Stuck in my head as a result of this puzzle: (Thanks, Skee-Lo)<BR/>----------------<BR/>"I wish I was a little bit taller.<BR/>I wish I was a baller.*<BR/>I wish...something something rabbit in a hat..<BR/>..something something Impala."**<BR/><BR/>Why is even that much still swimming around in my head?!? Any idea, Rex? I'm stumped.<BR/>It was catchy, though.<BR/><BR/>* (basket, not melon)<BR/>** (paw-la?)Howard Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00766792795622192271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41128466326892440102008-05-02T20:30:00.000-04:002008-05-02T20:30:00.000-04:00@anon 4:15 - I have a picture of a peg-legged witc...@anon 4:15 - I have a picture of a peg-legged witch or something like that with the title "La Torbida" which was translated as "The Tough One". I assumed the masculine would have to be used for a male character. Perhaps the translation was incorrect, or the word is slang in Italian already.Bill Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13741876820211768387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77000341753773647692008-05-02T20:26:00.000-04:002008-05-02T20:26:00.000-04:00Of course I wanted to put in AY CARAMBA -- there w...Of course I wanted to put in AY CARAMBA -- there was a Mexican restaurant in Berkeley by that name -- but the only Purifications I could come up with were DETOX and possibly DESAL (for ocean water), but as everything else dropped into place it had to be DECON. Looked askance for a while because I had never heard that term for decontaminate despite having written a number of articles about environmental remediation. So it seemed too artificial, though I'm sure the term has some currency somewhere.<BR/><BR/>Also the Heads as OVERSEERS didn't seem like a good match. Isn't an overseer strictly middle-management? I did like the precise and limited way Charge and TUTELAGE fit together, though. And good misdirection on Record listings.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4699777342966708242008-05-02T20:07:00.000-04:002008-05-02T20:07:00.000-04:00Sam Spade would be number one on my Sam list, whic...Sam Spade would be number one on my Sam list, which is probably why I had little trouble with "Torpedo" which reminded me of "gunsel" and then "gunman." <BR/><BR/>Still waiting for a clear explanation of "paver," which seems to be a broken clue, even with the weak allusion to a "lot" which might be covered with paving stones. And am I the only one who boldly wrote in "TRACKS" for "record listings" and then put poor Kitty "Carlilse" through all sorts of contortions, trying to get her to fit with "What's My Line"? SHERBERT finally saved me from that, even though Layla did nothing to deter me. (Free Bird and InnaGaddadaVida being too long to play in this space - or on the radio for that matter).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34084789474767677072008-05-02T19:23:00.000-04:002008-05-02T19:23:00.000-04:00@mike -From now on, every time I catch a snide whi...@mike -<BR/><BR/>From now on, every time I catch a snide whiff about "pop culture", I will think of your 40s broadway actress and those rappers. Thank you for a truly spot on comment that made me grin.<BR/><BR/>@jubjub-<BR/><BR/>A line from a Joni Mitchell song<BR/>- "They paved Paradise and put up a parking lot" - brought PAVERS to mind for me - a parking lot.<BR/><BR/>@ docjohn -<BR/><BR/>This may be a D'oh moment, but is your avatar Pernell Roberts? Thanx to Wade and Rex.Bill from NJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10103923612595508277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56307330900798296312008-05-02T18:51:00.000-04:002008-05-02T18:51:00.000-04:00Today I made many of the mistakes described (Agape...Today I made many of the mistakes described (Agape, tubelage, tse) though I got shakers right off. But may be my most original error was in response to 2D: One of a lot of workers. I put "Valet" (for parking lot). It fit "Manhattan" and "remit" and therefore was very hard to shake... <BR/><BR/>As to the food aspects of today's puzzle, it makes the breadsticks of yesterday seem downright elegant...<BR/><BR/>I'm thinking I would like to see Wade get together with Ulrich at a real bar, and hear them discuss their ideas on romance and the right to kill one's wife if she cheats with an eeler (or a sloganeer).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35470144371504345002008-05-02T18:18:00.000-04:002008-05-02T18:18:00.000-04:00Nobody ought to have to do time for killing a wife...Nobody ought to have to do time for killing a wife who's cheating on him with an eeler. Or a sloganeer, for that matter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2135830729740266002008-05-02T17:14:00.000-04:002008-05-02T17:14:00.000-04:00@wade:Re: EELER (lifesaver for a constructor)There...@wade:<BR/>Re: EELER (lifesaver for a constructor)<BR/>There is a fabulous Imamura film called "The Eel" (1997)about a man who gets out of prison after killing his wife whom he had found in bed with another man (an EELER?) and then takes up with a pet eel.<BR/>Trust me, it's better than it sounds!<BR/>But I don't know if he would be considered an EELER, and heck, it was in Japanese!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49582107690181896352008-05-02T16:49:00.000-04:002008-05-02T16:49:00.000-04:00When I signed up on Google, it had me fill in my n...When I signed up on Google, it had me fill in my name and so on, and there's a little box where you can add a picture by linking either to a website or to a picture file on your hard drive (it asks which you prefer). Whatever picture you drop in there will become your avatar.Wendy Laubachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09364478932900665015noreply@blogger.com