tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6809289994608704447..comments2024-03-28T18:01:16.957-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: 1960 #1 Brenda Lee hit / TUE 6-11-13 / Six-sided randomizer / Czech Republic river / Pong purveyor / Got it in radio lingo / Watch with old slogan Modern Masters of Time / World capital whose name means victoriousRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46983489027361439942013-07-16T20:24:39.049-04:002013-07-16T20:24:39.049-04:00@strayling, Re: "a trap for people from both ...@strayling, Re: "a trap for people from both sides of the pond" -- clever observation!<br /><br />@Waxy, thanks for the Fawlty Towers memory. My Dad and I used to watch that show together back when I was in high school.<br /><br />@Solving in Seattle, thanks for the info on the Conan books. I had no idea they were published so long ago (author died in 1936 at age 30, how sad).<br /><br />Syndi Solvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90295076235967694672013-07-16T19:50:22.241-04:002013-07-16T19:50:22.241-04:00CLUNGTO NONOs CRABGRASE and SIGBANDS far too long ...CLUNGTO NONOs CRABGRASE and SIGBANDS far too long because EINE and SIS made sense. Eventually did WARMTO EINS and SIB and all was revealed. <br /><br />Strange puzzle partners today: XIN and INSIN, ONEDGE and ONEO.<br /><br />Eva BRAUN always reminds me of one of the best lines from the classic BritComm Fawlty Towers when a concussed Basil Fawlty responding to an order from a German customer for a prawn cocktail says "Oh, yes. one Eva Prawn...".Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19909884156333550292013-07-16T19:22:07.922-04:002013-07-16T19:22:07.922-04:00I had a different problem with ZED. At first I had...I had a different problem with ZED. At first I had IONISE, not remembering the US fondness for the letter in question, which gave me SED. <br /><br />Mr. Muller laid a trap for people from both sides of the pond.straylinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536180563789923012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29174323409566240952013-07-16T17:42:13.375-04:002013-07-16T17:42:13.375-04:00A good Tuesday outing. I did have to correct RErun...A good Tuesday outing. I did have to correct RErunto REAIR. Didn't catch the "bag" thing until the revealer, and then went back to find out what it meant. <br /><br />@Ginger: Enjoy your off time. Look forward to seeing you back by the USOpen which simply HAS to go better than Wimbleton did this year!DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25424532476263836892013-07-16T15:08:28.234-04:002013-07-16T15:08:28.234-04:00My first run through all the clues revealed lots I...My first run through all the clues revealed lots I "didn't have a clue" on, but as I worked my way through the grid picking off the crosses I knew or could infer I discovered it was do-able after all. @Spacecraft didn't say it, so I will: BAAED should be a NONO.<br /><br />Speaking of @sc, the song is By Patti Page, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbSEalRBHQc" rel="nofollow">here</a>.<br />(If the link actually works, thanks to @Tita for providing the tutorial on her blog.)<br /><br />@Ginger - safe travels; I look forward to seeing your posts again when you return.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55591860489066912422013-07-16T14:59:11.193-04:002013-07-16T14:59:11.193-04:00@spacecraft, it was sung by Patti Page.
@Ginger, h...@spacecraft, it was sung by Patti Page.<br />@Ginger, have a great vacation! I've been on short golf trips this month and have missed Rexville most days.<br />@Syndi Solver, as a kid I read all the Conan books by Robert E. Howard. What a great character. Then Arnold played him on the screen.<br /><br />I know it's over a month after the RealTimers have posted to the blog, but I just have to say that @Evil's response to @Sandy was one of the most sensitive and intelligent posts that I have read on this blog. @ED, most of the time you make us laugh. Some times you make us think.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53484560715704387582013-07-16T13:57:00.650-04:002013-07-16T13:57:00.650-04:00Very cute theme! Since I'm not a speed solver ...Very cute theme! Since I'm not a speed solver I almost always look for the theme while solving. I guessed gab at first but couldn't think of a reveal phrase to fit. Then I figured it out and skipped ahead to fill in MIXED BAGS. Luckily, it fit.<br /><br />I was a bit worried at 11 D that the answer would be PuRgaTory. I'm not even Christian but I still thought, "That's not the same thing as hell, is it?" Luckily, the answer was PERDITION. This brings back memories, believe it or not. One of the steep hiking trails that I used to frequent was called PERDITION Trail. No joke, that was the official name! <br /><br />The old-fashioned phrase used as a clue for IN SIN at 12 D is kind of stale for my taste ("Living ___") but that partial does look funny next to PERDITION. :-) So, I'll take it.<br /><br />I also liked BARBARIAN. It's funny that when someone says Conan that's the first thing I think of, not the talk show guy or any other famous Conans. And yet I've never even seen the movies. (or books - isn't it from a comic book?) Who knows why that sticks in my brain?<br /><br />I knew TAGALOG because I have a friend who's Filipino. But like several others I have no idea who ALANA Davis is. I'm off to look that up.<br /><br />Has anyone mentioned CRU yet? (at 6 D) I thought CRUciverbalists would like that word.<br /><br />Anyway, kudos to Pete Muller for a fun puzzle!Syndi Solvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71949663702837381442013-07-16T13:11:25.184-04:002013-07-16T13:11:25.184-04:00Must have been in my wheelhouse because I finished...Must have been in my wheelhouse because I finished pretty quick (for me) with no write-overs. Enjoyed the anagrams which I didn't get until the reveal. Good one Pete.<br /><br />Speaking of bags, I'm packing for a vacation. Will be gone for 3 weeks, and will miss you all, especially the Syndiland crew. See ya in August.Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45123398038011822172013-07-16T11:44:10.605-04:002013-07-16T11:44:10.605-04:00Easy-peasy for me. Didn't make the ZEe mistake...Easy-peasy for me. Didn't make the ZEe mistake only because I happened to fill in OED first. Oxford = Brit = ZED. I liked this one, as it evoked two great old ballads, the Brenda Lee* one and another from further back:<br /><br />"LET ME GO, let me go, let me go, lover" (can't recall the artist)<br /><br />*I do vividly recall the night in '60 I was driving along listening to WARM--"The Mighty 590"--when the DJ (alas, I have forgotten which one) made the following speech:<br /><br />"I love to turn records over and listen to the B side. Here's one I think you'll like, on the flip side of rocker Brenda Lee's big hit, 'That's All You Gotta Do.' She's trying her hand at ballads, and this is a pretty good one. It's called 'I'm Sorry.'"spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44392769260687686852013-06-12T10:16:04.516-04:002013-06-12T10:16:04.516-04:00Even though I didn't try to solve the crosswor...Even though I didn't try to solve the crosswords puzzles, but yet I was impressed by the simple layout of your blog knowing that it is worth being mentioned in "Blogs of Note".Naveed Ahmedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09641918532470075099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13482296705893936342013-06-12T04:02:06.965-04:002013-06-12T04:02:06.965-04:00@Evil: beautifully put, thank you for sensitivity ...@Evil: beautifully put, thank you for sensitivity and perspectiveAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08685055945711467813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2771228789787114822013-06-12T00:44:35.938-04:002013-06-12T00:44:35.938-04:00@Nameless:
I never said all those downs were obsc...@Nameless:<br /><br />I never said all those downs were obscure - I got them all with no problems; the point is that there is no word play in "know it/don't know it" proper noun entries. Does it really give you great pleasure to just be able to fill in a lot of names based on your knowledge from doing crosswords for N years? That certainly isn't what got me addicted to these things ~20 ish years ago when concentrated name fill like that was unheard of.David from CAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74375836439369226312013-06-11T23:42:49.321-04:002013-06-11T23:42:49.321-04:00@Milford, @JenCT...great pics - Tuxedo cats rule....@Milford, @JenCT...great pics - Tuxedo cats rule...! I have two - Marzipan is already my avatar...Venus is a little less gregarious, and prefers jigsaw puzzles.<br /><br />@Ellen S - you should be good to go...no need for unnatural acts with iPads or their keyboards...!Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64791636309413886742013-06-11T23:24:21.469-04:002013-06-11T23:24:21.469-04:00NOLA obscure? OBIE obscure? Where do you live? In ...NOLA obscure? OBIE obscure? Where do you live? In a cave? This is the New York Times. How much of the Greater New York population do you really think have never of either one?<br /><br />I second Ken's motionNamelessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66864812169344453242013-06-11T22:28:52.474-04:002013-06-11T22:28:52.474-04:00@JenCT - fantastic news about your potential new d...@JenCT - fantastic news about your potential new dog - thanks for keeping us posted!<br /><br />@JenCT and @Tita - I have one of those Oreo cats, but never heard the term tuxedo cat - love that name! Changed my avatar to match ;)Milfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04923019988243284636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23720062712293541462013-06-11T22:13:56.064-04:002013-06-11T22:13:56.064-04:00@Acme & @Tita: In honor of your comments, I&#...@Acme & @Tita: In honor of your comments, I've changed my avatar to my spoiled cat Oreo, who thinks it should always be nap time!<br /><br />I'm meeting my new potential dog on Friday! <br /><br />The puzzle? I ended up quitting before I was done...JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13346880695284153922013-06-11T20:43:04.726-04:002013-06-11T20:43:04.726-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.DBGeezerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10986114855503403614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39818419871542475252013-06-11T20:04:46.804-04:002013-06-11T20:04:46.804-04:00@Carola, thanks for the tip on reactivating my key...@Carola, thanks for the tip on reactivating my keyboard for AcrossLite. What I discovered is, if the external keyboard is powered off, the icon is "live" to activate the built-in keyboard. If I leave that one exposed, and THEN turn on the external one, then the external one works. As long as I stand on one foot patting my head while rubbing my stomach. (@Tita, please don't make me do that tonight!)Ellen Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00473445503706985149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51934990776233073972013-06-11T18:09:16.643-04:002013-06-11T18:09:16.643-04:00Loved this one! Never noticed the theme, but I gue...Loved this one! Never noticed the theme, but I guess I like easy clues.<br /><br />Didn't know what MLB or ONE O CAT was, but they're sports. They, like ALANA, simply appeared. I Google these after solving to try to keep up.<br /><br />Like Lane B - Had PuRgaTory before PERDITION, but chipped away at that. <br /><br />COREA is at least part Sicilian.<br />TAGALOG - accent on 2nd syllable - is known to me because of brother-in-laws wife. So no other hitches.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51536485937546171332013-06-11T17:34:20.003-04:002013-06-11T17:34:20.003-04:00If anyone thinks EDAM and STEED are obscure,
then ...If anyone thinks EDAM and STEED are obscure,<br />then they might as well not bother solving<br />any crossword puzzles (and I mean any).<br /><br />Ken<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18830718520351567152013-06-11T17:25:04.997-04:002013-06-11T17:25:04.997-04:00"of the population knows""of the population knows"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-92223347789777596722013-06-11T17:13:37.502-04:002013-06-11T17:13:37.502-04:00I use the word obscure very loosely here to repres...I use the word obscure very loosely here to represent anything that less than 30% of the population doesn't know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32132894885338319552013-06-11T17:12:14.872-04:002013-06-11T17:12:14.872-04:00ANDRE AGASSI is fairly well known, but he's no...ANDRE AGASSI is fairly well known, but he's no Obama or Lady Gaga. More fuel for the NOLA fire (see below)<br />COREA: Nola's obscure<br />TAGALOG: Nola's obscure, OBIE's obscure<br />ELBE: Not as common as you seem to think. Recent flood's a bonus, that's all it's got going for it. See LRON as well.<br />CRU: See obscurity LRON.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11233915144845682482013-06-11T16:46:09.603-04:002013-06-11T16:46:09.603-04:00@David from CA -
person's name: well-known na...@David from CA -<br /><br />person's name: well-known name and person<br />person's name: not as common, but gettable from crosses (that's how these things work)<br />actual English word: easy<br />language name: not quite as easy, but gettable from crosses<br />river name: well-known<br />partial wine designation: no problem<br />prophet's name: gettable<br />actual English phrase: easy<br /><br />I don't see any problemsNamelessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48753203103872431272013-06-11T16:42:45.689-04:002013-06-11T16:42:45.689-04:00Plenty of odpadky today, dem bad crossings
ELBE/...Plenty of odpadky today, dem bad crossings <br /><br />ELBE/CRU/LRON<br />EVA/UVA<br />RNS/LIANA/ERNST<br /><br />And most egregiously:<br />NOLA/ACCT/COREA/OBIE/TAGALOG + ANDRE slightly <br /><br />So lots of obscure fill. So what? <br />Here's what we get in return<br />- Unusual word forms + duplicate prefixes (RENAME, REAIR)<br />- Third-grade Partials(INSIN, ONEO)<br />- Variant word forms (AMEBA)<br />- Plural names EDS<br />- Foreign EINS<br />- Only seen in crosswords ZED and XIN<br />- Obscurities SEIKO, ZENO, ALANA, LAPIS (I think), EDAM, ERGOT, STEED......yikes!<br /><br />Five stinkballs for this one I'm afraid. Too much crap, not enough Tuesday stuff.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com