tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6635466131467140542..comments2024-03-19T04:46:24.598-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: TUESDAY, Nov. 11, 2008 - Nancy Salomon and Larry Shearer (OP's forerunners / 1930s quints' name / Sadat's predecessor)Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55977962313393809462008-12-16T12:25:00.000-05:002008-12-16T12:25:00.000-05:00@PuzzleGirl - my paper said "Tennis player" also; ...@PuzzleGirl - my paper said "Tennis player" also; perhaps it's just that "Doubles player" would have been so much better as a clue. <BR/>@fergus - As a fellow pinko elitist, I would say that Yes, it _is_ "simply" that distinction. I've never served in the military, though my father did, and I frankly admire those who treat puttin their necks on the line as just another job description. Plus I think there's a large chunk of guilt hanging over from how the home folks treated the returning vets after Viet Nam. They were blamed as the instigators of the unpopular war, rather than as participants. Nowadays we've learned that lesson, as we seem to show with how we treat Iraq War vets despite that conflict's unpopularity, but those of us on the north side of 50 often still regret how the country (not me, thank God) reviled the returning soldiers back when.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4374971466723275522008-11-12T02:23:00.000-05:002008-11-12T02:23:00.000-05:00... and puzzle child, when he chimes in.... and puzzle child, when he chimes in.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67073633953193074882008-11-12T00:09:00.000-05:002008-11-12T00:09:00.000-05:00@puzzlehusbandSuper dig when you chime in...Love w...@puzzlehusband<BR/>Super dig when you chime in...<BR/>Love when we get Mrs. Rex's, Mrs Ulrich's or Orange's son's comments in the background...<BR/>total freshness, voices of reason!<BR/><BR/>I think there should be a puzzlespouse/significant other section daily!<BR/><BR/>@jane d'oh<BR/>Chiming in doesn't NECESSARILY = self-promotion...some of us are just enthusiastic with too much time on our hands! ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69889853296828635292008-11-11T23:19:00.000-05:002008-11-11T23:19:00.000-05:00@ulrich: We're confused now. Were there different ...@ulrich: We're confused now. Were there different versions of the clue? In our puzzle NETMAN was clued as "Tennis player."PuzzleGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06835502266781516627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71461343454081990202008-11-11T22:46:00.000-05:002008-11-11T22:46:00.000-05:00@PH: Why call Agassi or Roddick? They never play(e...@PH: Why call Agassi or Roddick? They never play(ed) doubles, so of course they never were netmen. I play doubles every week, and I <B>love</B> to be the netman, i.e. the guy standing close to the net and trying to slam the ball at the feet of the guy/girl on the other side, scaring the shit out of them. So, don't give me the same:-)Ulrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36758369716654873342008-11-11T22:45:00.000-05:002008-11-11T22:45:00.000-05:00I'm thinking it would be a lot of fun to drop in o...I'm thinking it would be a lot of fun to drop in on the PuzzleHousehold, even if there is no PuzzleDog.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20964533717732361892008-11-11T22:25:00.000-05:002008-11-11T22:25:00.000-05:00This is my first comment so I sought the advice of...This is my first comment so I sought the advice of PuzzleGirl on the protocol. She told me that I first need to say I love Rex and then tell you what I thought of the puzzle without repeating everything everybody else had already said. Maybe next time I should get here earlier.<BR/><BR/>Rex, I can't tell you I love you because it won't pass the breakfast test. Now, onto the puzzle.<BR/><BR/>How to say this delicately? ... I want the last hour of my life back. (No, I'm not very good at this.) Just a few comments because most of you have already covered it. I sat for many minutes with IGG- staring at me while looking over at 37A's clue Pop's _____ Pop. As Andrea pointed out, Pop music do not equal Iggy. At all. Ever. In any way, shape or form.<BR/><BR/>I called both Agassi and Roddick and neither of them has ever been referred to as a NETMAN. Well, actually, Agassi said Steffi called him that the other morning, but it was because he was skimming the pool.<BR/><BR/>SCHS is not the abbreviation for schools, although it might be the abbreviation for something somewhere. Along the same lines, I spent the better part of 20 minutes trying to figure out what brand of shorts I wore before the corduroy OPs. I got K, L, M, and N from the crosses, thankfully.<BR/><BR/>And just in case you think all I do is complain, I was amused by 64D: Org. for Raptors and Hawks. I had -BA and thought American Birding Association? International Birding Association? (Again, I'm not very good at this.) Also, I would never have finished this puzzle if it weren't for the 15-letter theme answers.<BR/><BR/>See you guys again on Monday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12215894036713703922008-11-11T21:52:00.000-05:002008-11-11T21:52:00.000-05:00Checking back through the posts today I'm noticing...Checking back through the posts today I'm noticing a reverence for military service that I don't quite share. Before I'm dismissed as a pinko, elitist apostate, I would like to say that I'm merely curious about what seems to me to be an automatic, emotional deference to heroes of war. Is it simply the distinction of putting one's life on the line that stirs the reaction? I know I'm exposing myself as naive in the political calculus, but I would still like to hear more about why the reverence is so widespread. I've thought a lot about this issue, but admittedly, with trouble finding an objective viewpoint.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43750506562350909942008-11-11T21:39:00.000-05:002008-11-11T21:39:00.000-05:00Thank you rafael, thank you Vets.Thank you rafael, thank you Vets.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38211206341202945522008-11-11T21:26:00.000-05:002008-11-11T21:26:00.000-05:00@foodie said: And an incomplete thought: "I wish t...@foodie said: And an incomplete thought: "I wish the constructors would tell us": I mean on this blog--what they had in mind... I hope that their spirits did not start heading south after reading Rex' comments, slip sliding away as they read the commentary here, and truly running downhill as the day progressed... <BR/><BR/>Interesting thought ... wonder how many constructors read this blog. Thinking that most do from time to time and particularly when they have a puzzle published (this blog and the others out there) and guessing most would rather not engage, especially when the hostility bar is raised to high from the get-go. Data points are interesting, and that's all.<BR/><BR/>Can't think of an instance (may have missed some) when Nancy Salomon chimed in on a blog. She's not a self-promoter. In any case, she needs not defend herself. She's one of the best in the business, known and appreciated for solid, yet subtle, nuanced work. Spends lots of time working with and mentoring newbies and is arguably among the real royalty of crosswords.<BR/><BR/>rafaelthatmf said: On this day along with my deep appreciation for all of those who have risked that last full measure comes a profound melancholy that we still need such brave people. <BR/>Fight War. Not Wars.<BR/><BR/>Thank you, well said.<BR/><BR/>--JDPythiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06121774603671545699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71519649992717032592008-11-11T20:22:00.000-05:002008-11-11T20:22:00.000-05:00I'm glad that I was not the only one not to see th...I'm glad that I was not the only one not to see the diagonal clues...I did wonder about a puzzle with only one theme answer, though.Michael Chibnikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04700426644898924644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81619126612068068282008-11-11T20:11:00.000-05:002008-11-11T20:11:00.000-05:00@andrea--And I probably couldn't construct a puzzl...@andrea--And I probably couldn't construct a puzzle at all if my life depended on it. Loved your podcast with Ryan and Brian. The proof was that I sat through 67 minutes of it! (I said to myself, did she really say "Dayenu"?) I have the strong feeling you'd be a lot of fun to meet; too bad you're in SF and I'm in NY!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66228390573995342332008-11-11T20:08:00.000-05:002008-11-11T20:08:00.000-05:00@janie, lookatthemoon, lookatthemoon, lookatthemoo...@janie, lookatthemoon, lookatthemoon, lookatthemoon, lookatthemoon, lookatthemoon!<BR/>I agree!fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87860118321690723082008-11-11T20:02:00.000-05:002008-11-11T20:02:00.000-05:00@edith b - I remember OPs (same vintage as "fags")...@edith b - I remember OPs (same vintage as "fags") and yes, they did cross my mind. Then thought it had something to do with OPs, as in SPECIAL OPS. Speaking of which, I am expecting APS anytime now - or would it be APPS? I hear it all the time on the iPhone commercials.fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20244631744098015672008-11-11T20:00:00.000-05:002008-11-11T20:00:00.000-05:00just shows ta go ya -- there's something for every...just shows ta go ya -- there's something for everyone in puzzleland. many's the time rex'll gush over a puzzle and i'll simply go go "huh?" today it's the other way around. <BR/><BR/>no, the theme doesn't come out and announce itself. you wuz hopin' for circles? but it's in there, like the trajectory berger sings about in <I>hair</I>: <BR/><BR/>elevator going down<BR/>going down<BR/>going down<BR/><BR/>everybody going down<BR/>going down<BR/>going down<BR/><BR/>while the number of names that are part of the rest of the fill seems disproportionately high, the feat of the themed construction trumps, imoo. <BR/><BR/>bravi, constructors!<BR/><BR/>;-)janiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15129173620859824730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20146842043901701262008-11-11T19:46:00.000-05:002008-11-11T19:46:00.000-05:00erratum on my previous post: I sort of like it whe...erratum on my previous post: I sort of like it when the themE emerges.<BR/><BR/>And an incomplete thought: "I wish the constructors would tell us": I mean on this blog--what they had in mind... I hope that their spirits did not start heading south after reading Rex' comments, slip sliding away as they read the commentary here, and truly running downhill as the day progressed... <BR/><BR/>Having had a rotten day myself, I empathize.foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32839711803156525682008-11-11T18:55:00.000-05:002008-11-11T18:55:00.000-05:00Bad puzzle. Finished it in 8 minutes. My co-worker...Bad puzzle. Finished it in 8 minutes. My co-workers asked what the theme is, and I said I didn't have a bloody clue. Luckily for me I was to busy today to fish it out of the waste basket to figure it out. Add me on to the list of those trying to connect windy with heading and honey. Thanks for the blog Rex, am coming here on a daily basis now. I really enjoy reading it. <3Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85971061398801240062008-11-11T18:44:00.000-05:002008-11-11T18:44:00.000-05:00I dunno, I sort of find the three theme answers ev...I dunno, I sort of find the three theme answers evocative, may be because the are not so immediately obvious (even after one gets past the mystery of their existence). I sorta think the theme is visual, evoking different ways to go down in space, straight down (Due South), at an angle (running downhill) and meandering down (slip sliding). I guess a perfect rendition of the latter would have required a downward zigzag, which might be too much to ask... Anyhow, I sort of like it when the them emerges and when it takes a bit of time to figure out how things are tied together. I understand that it can simply be that it's loose. I wish the constructors would tell us.foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71975579537319798902008-11-11T18:29:00.000-05:002008-11-11T18:29:00.000-05:00psJUST had lunch with a nice triumvirate of constr...ps<BR/>JUST had lunch with a nice triumvirate of constructors: <BR/>THE Manny Nosowsky, Jeremy Horwitz, and Byron Walden.<BR/>Made up for ALL grumpiness!!!!!<BR/><BR/>Plus I was able to directly ASK Byron for help on the SW corner of Saturday's!<BR/>(Once he gave me MCCASKILL everything fell into place).<BR/><BR/>@Orange<BR/>I refrained from pinching Byron on the cheek, upper and lower...but sent your love. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14366004654989206502008-11-11T18:27:00.000-05:002008-11-11T18:27:00.000-05:00@edith bYes, I had KLAN and wondered who AIRO was,...@edith b<BR/>Yes, I had KLAN and wondered who AIRO was, thought I misspelled EERO, then tried maybe AARP for ARP...<BR/>oy!<BR/><BR/>@ulrich<BR/>No notepad on mine(or I didn't see it when I printed it out), so also spent many moments trying to figure out the connection between WINDY or maybe CITY, HONEY or MOON<BR/>with HEADING DUE SOUTH. <BR/><BR/>@stevel<BR/>Totally agree with your analysis of the theme entries being a touch off.<BR/>That said, I could never put something on the diagonal if I tried for a hundred years, so I do say bravo to that retroactively.<BR/><BR/>YOUI was freaky looking and I hope to steal it if ever in a rough corner.<BR/><BR/>@Rex<BR/>Yay! I'm back to my feeling of "whoareyoume?"<BR/>Definitions felt off for me for CORNY, CHEAPO (?!!?) HITAT, HAWSE, YMCA, TEY (??!!) SCHS/COS, REINE without the "La", IGGY as related to POP (If punks even did this puzzle they would shred it over that alone!)<BR/>Come to think of it, almost the entire puzzle! TOtally left me grumpy.<BR/>But the diagonal thing is neat!<BR/><BR/>(AND totally not the constructors fault that it randomly appeared on Veteran's Day...tho Nancy is a Veteran constructor, to say the least! I salute her as well).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68680768350182014162008-11-11T18:08:00.000-05:002008-11-11T18:08:00.000-05:00@glitch: Exactly. I tried doing things online, but...@glitch: Exactly. I tried doing things online, but b/c of my non-existing typing skills, it takes me so long and is sooo devoid of fun, that I gave up. I work now strictly on the hardcopy. I'm telling myself it's a good preparation for the upcoming ACPT (Andrea: where's that name we have been promised?)--I already switched from caps to lower case, which should make a real contender: Watch out for me!Ulrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31551132703949341682008-11-11T18:07:00.000-05:002008-11-11T18:07:00.000-05:00I was very happy with this puzzle and think the c...I was very happy with this puzzle and think the construction was inspired. The oft mentioned diagonals were great. HEADINGDUESOUTH was fun and reminded me of North to Alaska by Johnny Horton.<BR/><BR/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSt0NEESrUA<BR/><BR/>KLMN had me going and created yet another DOH moment.<BR/><BR/>Never heard of a doubles partner being called a NETMAN... perhaps a variation of play the net, man.<BR/><BR/>As @joho has so thoughtfully pointed out before there is a reason why I struggle with the religious clues, and again today it took sometime to remember INRI.<BR/><BR/>My earlier post disappeared so perhaps we have a secret trash can.<BR/><BR/>Thank you Orange and Larry for 6 minutes and 2 seconds of fun.dkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14180348203219564962008-11-11T17:51:00.000-05:002008-11-11T17:51:00.000-05:00When I was a young girl (and a smoker), before I w...When I was a young girl (and a smoker), before I was in the habit of actually buying cigarettes by the pack, I used to refer to smoking OPs (other peoples).<BR/><BR/>We girls referred to this practice as "bumming a cigarette". I wonder if boys had the same practice?<BR/><BR/>That is how I read the clue for the longest time. Even after I had KLMN in place, I puzzled over what that was supposed to mean. Did others have the same first thought?edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27975063363948539192008-11-11T17:35:00.000-05:002008-11-11T17:35:00.000-05:00Big Steve sez:Didn't see diagnals until completed....Big Steve sez:<BR/><BR/>Didn't see diagnals until completed. Although I basically solved it diagonally SE-NW.<BR/><BR/>Also, the day got off to a bad start. I do the puzzle in the library. The photcopy had some dark marks obliterating the numbers associated with 1-43across . Uugghh.<BR/><BR/>I had Romulus or Remus, as "wolf".<BR/>It was funny seeing (twin)s, and terrible TWOs. My godchildren are twins.<BR/><BR/>And I kept thinking of Ocean Pacific corduroy shorts for OP.<BR/><BR/>I can't believe they let J-O connector as a clue, sounds a like a personal ad in the San Francisco Guardian.<BR/><BR/>Also, @ArtLvr, I'm from River Forest. Remember is OPRF .. Go Huskies ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56357014153302644222008-11-11T17:32:00.000-05:002008-11-11T17:32:00.000-05:00@ulrichI'm guessing when you say you do the puzzle...@ulrich<BR/><BR/>I'm guessing when you say you do the puzzle *on dead trees* you mean you print out the on line version to solve on paper. That might explain your *hidden by the clip* problem. <BR/><BR/>IMHO, I'd have to suggest you are a more reformed rather than orthodox (strict) *dead tree* solver. I consider myself the latter, solving on the dead tree stuff delivered daily to my doorstep (or within 50' or so, the more inclement the weather the further) where today the diagonal clues were listed (belatedly) at the end.<BR/><BR/>:-) ;-) :-)<BR/><BR/>.../Glitch<BR/><BR/>(tho I do print the online and solve on a clipboard on the days when the delivery guy sleeps in later than I do --- so I feel your pain.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com