tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6914305798062261905..comments2024-03-28T20:26:11.908-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Surfer wannabe / WED 12-21-11 / Bygone Toyota sedan / Texas/Louisiana border river / William Tell's canton / Musical with Mungojerrie JennyanydotsRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87621989780673045462017-08-11T11:36:08.620-04:002017-08-11T11:36:08.620-04:00Thanks to the anonymous explainer of do-re-mi. Nev...Thanks to the anonymous explainer of do-re-mi. Never heard that one! "Dough for me"? Hmm.<br /><br />I'm much more the "typical solver" that Will speaks to. I look up Rex's blog when I want to know more about a puzzle, but usually I get more from the comments than from Rex. Rex could be just as informative and interesting -- more so -- with less snark and more understanding of the larger world of crosswords.paleolithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00869723067229032824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3300195602370775582012-01-26T01:02:05.776-05:002012-01-26T01:02:05.776-05:00I got naticked in a couple of spots, but the only ...I got naticked in a couple of spots, but the only thing that really annoyed me about this puzzle was that it should have run during Christmastime.<br /><br />Then I came here, clicked the "syndicated puzzle" tab, saw the <i>original</i> date and felt stupid. Has it really been less than five weeks since Christmas?<br /><br />The internet is a place where anybody can talk trash about anybody...and 'anybody' is likely to be standing right behind them the whole time. In the past few weeks I have seen two highly respected brewers and one highly respected puzzle editor chime in to internet discussions to defend their work against elitist criticism. Highly entertaining in all three cases.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30514323486030562392012-01-25T20:25:09.580-05:002012-01-25T20:25:09.580-05:00Wow - kind of glad I'm in syndiland. Did recog...Wow - kind of glad I'm in syndiland. Did recognize the hook right away but still took me a little bit to get through. Missed HODAD, DSO, DINERO (which I kicked myself for since it was dancing back there in my mind).<br /><br />As far as repeats go, sometimes I like, sometimes not. Have been doing the NYT regularly for about 7 years and consider myself an "OK" solver. I'm too concerned about other aspects of life to get my panties in a bunch over an occasional repeated theme.<br /><br />Great to see Will some to the blog to defend. Nothing like a little holiday brawl to get your appetite up.eastsacgirlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63549308195966890552012-01-25T20:24:38.154-05:002012-01-25T20:24:38.154-05:00Spacecraft here. I am as quick as anyone with crit...Spacecraft here. I am as quick as anyone with criticism (rant) over bad fill (viz. ENCLS, DOTO, ONENO); at the same time I acknowledge the awesomeness of even being able to build a symmetrical grid with ANY kind of fill, let alone themes. In the same vein, before we take either Rex or Will to task, might we ask what kind of job WE'd do instead?<br /> Yeah, I thought so. This may have been an old theme, but the L-less film titles are precious. Some good fill, too, with BOYCOTT and EATDIRT. That last almost had me naticked in the east, as I'd forgotten CRESSIDA--a very forgettable car. I had written CRESSONA, which I finally remembered is not a car but a small town in the coal country of Pennsylvania. Never heard of ORAN. Maybe it's the west half of Orange County.<br /><br />auggra: the blue pill Charlie Brown takes when he thinks he's gonna get lucky with Lucy after finally kicking that football soooo far.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75273672755074860822012-01-25T15:48:14.518-05:002012-01-25T15:48:14.518-05:00"I am going to my room and play with my legos..."I am going to my room and play with my legos, when I come out everyone better be filled with the goddamn holiday spirit..." @Tobias Duncan's comment gave me a laugh out loud moment - I love those. The theme answers all made me smile, too, which makes it a pretty good puzzle in my eyes, even though I didn't know SCRI(m)HO so DNF.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79998933094365374062012-01-25T14:42:54.602-05:002012-01-25T14:42:54.602-05:00From one of the many in syndication country (and C...From one of the many in syndication country (and Canada, btw), let me state the bleeding obvious. Both Will and Rex do a fine job, neither of which I could imagine attempting. They have a common passion but differing perspectives. Their efforts contribute daily to my enjoyment, today more so than others because of the accusation and the retort.<br /><br />Too many contributors to the blog believe that their fellows, and by extension, they themselves, are "smart" or "intellectual" and have attained a certain status from their daily opinions. Total BS, of course. Sometimes I can't believe that we are talking about a crossword puzzle. Today's entry was a decent example of the constructor's skill, and it was funny. Crosswordese? Obscure words? Abbreviations? Who cares. There was care and attention evident and a fresh look at a previously used theme. <br /><br />Finally, Rex, though I admire so much of what you do, you are becoming a curmudgeon, high standards be damned. Nevertheless, I will contribute to the blog monetarily because, on balnce, I'd rather see it continue than not.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90251666723880711232012-01-25T10:53:41.475-05:002012-01-25T10:53:41.475-05:00It always amuses (disgusts?) me when I read the li...It always amuses (disgusts?) me when I read the line, "I've never heard of that word before). Well, duh, unless you are the personification of the Encyclopedia Brittanica so what? Crossword puzzles are not only fun and amusing but can be informative and educational as well. Put your do-re-mi and mortise and tenon in your pipe and smoke it. I have spoken!San Diego Sagenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81393370213552334752011-12-23T08:14:17.353-05:002011-12-23T08:14:17.353-05:00As far back as the late 1950s, all I knew was &quo...As far back as the late 1950s, all I knew was "tiger."Danchallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12461596028979618714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61992800800792371942011-12-23T07:52:44.908-05:002011-12-23T07:52:44.908-05:00@anon 11:23 = Ah, the halcyon days of our youth, w...@anon 11:23 = Ah, the halcyon days of our youth, where racist rhymes were learned by one and all. In school yards today the "n" has become a "t" and a "g" has been dropped. Making a tiger holler and pay may offend the folks at PETA enough to start another anti-fur campaign, but few others.PC Znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23156280193335565642011-12-22T23:23:24.665-05:002011-12-22T23:23:24.665-05:00EENIE meany miney moe,
Catch a n****r by the toe.....EENIE meany miney moe,<br />Catch a n****r by the toe...<br /><br />Why is this appropriate in any modern puzzle?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42179350999913530232011-12-22T22:38:45.991-05:002011-12-22T22:38:45.991-05:00Looks like I'm late to the party... whew. As s...Looks like I'm late to the party... whew. As someone who solves and criticizes bad puzzles (though my targets are far more worthy of ridicule than NYT puzzles), I feel a sort of kinship with Rex, but I very much agree that it's just about impossible to turn out completely fresh and innovative material every day of the year. I didn't find today's theme particularly thrilling, but I had no memory of the same theme running a few years ago.<br /><br />As for the fill, I think there are two factors at play. First of all, filling a grid is tough to do and it's very hard to apply rigorous standards to every corner of the fill. I sympathize with this to an extent; I find it difficult to do the best job I possibly can with cluing. But I do wish more diligence was applied to this craft; there are frequent instances (not necessarily in the NYT) when I find what seems to be a markedly better fill for a certain corner in short order. "Good enough" isn't always "good".<br /><br />But I wonder if weak fill isn't intrinsic to the rules of the American crossword. Symmetry, no unchecked letters, no two-letter words... these restrictions place great strain on the constructor. Inveterate solvers like me, Rex, and Amy tire of crosswordese and other middling fill more quickly than the typical one-puzzle-a-day-if-that solver. It's easy to get bored with the results of the exigencies of American-style puzzlemaking if you solve a whole bunch of puzzles. Honestly, it's the reason I'm probably slashing my solving regimen a great deal in the new year (you heard it here first).<br /><br />Ultimately, I think the criticism is a good thing; hopefully it serves to make puzzles better. But there is a line; there's no place for personal attacks. We're here to have fun and talk about the craft.Tyler Hinmanhttp://www.tylerhinman.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49481950375674287422011-12-22T21:22:43.926-05:002011-12-22T21:22:43.926-05:00People look for different things when they solve p...People look for different things when they solve puzzles. Some people are just passing the time; some are looking for a mental workout; some are looking for reasons to feel smart, or with-it, or holier-than-thou; and some are just looking for fun. I think Will made a key point that he's working for an audience that he identifies and serves as best he can, most of whom I bet never have even read a crossword blog (let alone vote in any poll).<br /> So as others have said, it's not surprising that for any given puzzle, a number of well-informed people don't like it. I'm not sure that it is correct to conclude that the puzzle isn't "hitting the mark" just because the mark isn't defined for the elite solvers most likely to vote in Amy's poll. It just means that a lot of NYT puzzles aren't for that set of solvers. And I am not persuaded that every--or even most--NYT puzzle should be written for those tastes. (There's a whole lot in the popular culture that I might prefer to be written for my own tastes, but I've never believed that it should be.)<br /> I enjoy reading Rex for his writing, and his strongly negative opinions are perfectly valid. But there's a difference between "I don't like this for the following reasons" and "Will Shortz is ... to blame," and I'm for more sympathetic to the former than to the latter.Danchallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12461596028979618714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18824361148935427642011-12-22T11:31:53.036-05:002011-12-22T11:31:53.036-05:00I came back just for you, mexgirl.
Eres muy amabl...I came back just for you, mexgirl.<br /><br />Eres muy amable,<br /><br />Evilevil doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17593231055589228837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54407132838901714252011-12-22T11:03:31.654-05:002011-12-22T11:03:31.654-05:00I know I'm chipping in too late in the discuss...I know I'm chipping in too late in the discussion and no one will probably read this, but here are my bullets:<br /><br />•As millions out there, I do the NYT puzzle every day, so my eternal thanks to Will for keeping it as fine as it should always be.<br /><br />•I've come to Rex for help and laughs since he started his blog. My eternal thanks to him for his insights and his sense of humor.<br /><br />•Some puzzles are really crappy sometimes.<br /><br />•Rex is very crabby most of the time.<br /><br />•Some of his daily commenters feel a lot like some kind of fraternity for the über intellectual.<br /><br />•I wouldn't read the comments if it wasn't for ACME and Evil Doug. (and there are, of course, many other people I love to read, but I'm sure I won't remember their names now).<br /><br />•For those who wonder about j'accuse, Rex likes to give us funny substitutions from time to time, that's all.<br /><br />I might not have said anything relevant, but in the end, I hope both parts can read all of the criticism in a way that betters them.<br />(And Rex, I would love to see you try to yoga Will into submission :^D)<br /><br />May this new year be a wonderful one for all of you!<br /><br />mexgirl.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12827499840959595550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14836086696604481232011-12-22T03:44:27.289-05:002011-12-22T03:44:27.289-05:00@pk
Lit the candles with friends and they too aske...@pk<br />Lit the candles with friends and they too asked if they should light from inside or out...like i would know?! But still happy to help when I can... But today no Jewish refs...<br />Unless the TINSTAR had six points!<br />Let's see DENIRO? ONEILL? Italian and Irish...<br />INGA, HESSE? Certainly not... NOSE? Better not be!<br />HO HO HO DAD!<br /><br />@sethg <br />LOVE "Awfill"!!!! I think we need More Blog jargon...<br />Not less! ;)Ante Cressida Mho-chaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6292765208655191712011-12-22T01:10:36.156-05:002011-12-22T01:10:36.156-05:00So, I posted early and never thought about it agai...So, I posted early and never thought about it again. I am Not going to read 128 posts just because everyone got all giddy that Will posted. <br /><br />Yes, Ms. ACME, you are my go-to Jew (doesn't that have a nice ring to it?) Happy Hannukah to you and yo mama! Funny that you should say that shammas sounds a bit Irish....we had Irish friends over tonight, and I pointed out the menorah, and they just loved it and helped light our second night's candle! I'm sure they are Catholic, but they loved participating in this lovely ritual. Am still not sure what is up with my mama that she wants to explore this, but that's okay, it's all lovely and holy and spiritual and peaceful and joyful. Which is what I wish for all of the denizens of Rexville, much as we quibble about the crosswords.pknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39299679794236291512011-12-21T23:08:08.208-05:002011-12-21T23:08:08.208-05:00Rex told me (as one fan of his FB page) to come he...Rex told me (as one fan of his FB page) to come here to say ""hi" to Will...so, Hi, Will.<br /><br />Now that that's out of the way, on to the important (to ME) stuff: @Matthew G et al, I am so, so, so surprised you all weren't familiar with mortise and tenon joints. I'm no carpenter, but for me the two words go together as surely as do mortar and pestle, rod and reel, Abbott and Costello or coffee and cigarettes (though I'm enjoying a cup of brew right now sans cigarette due to an ultimatum from my son whom I'm staying with over Christmas).<br /><br />@Tita - ha! re the link between Ikea and tenon's apparent current-day obscurity. As for scrim, I've been a sometime seamstress for forty years and only ran across the term once in a book on curtain making written and published in the UK.<br /><br />I popped for the subscription to the daily puzzle so I expect to be babbling here in prime time instead of syndiland. I resisted the move for five years because I really enjoy the tactile experience of solving with a Bic medium point pen on newsprint, but today - being right in the thick of things ("things" in this instance being an appearance by WS) - is a special treat. <br /><br />As for you, Rex, thanks, as always, for providing us this forum.<br /><br />Noxemi: Not your mother's facial cleanser!Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675331024091722316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71339166737761039952011-12-21T22:46:08.222-05:002011-12-21T22:46:08.222-05:00Wow. I haven't even finished the puzzle yet, b...Wow. I haven't even finished the puzzle yet, but had to read the posts when I heard that Will posted. And three more people posted since I started reading. Wow.<br /><br />To recap, Mommy and Daddy are fighting, I'm a "professional" solver (who knew) Evil is Evil but we love him anyway, Anonymous posters especially love to criticize Rex for being cranky and negative, Will is either a genius or no good at his job, Rex is either a genius or no good at his "job," and this winter solstice will have to be remembered in Rexville as the metaist of days of all time.<br /><br />I'll have to go finish the puzzle, now.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62372161084648056852011-12-21T22:42:15.999-05:002011-12-21T22:42:15.999-05:00Regarding Amy's blog, it appears that the rati...Regarding Amy's blog, it appears that the rating system is not blind. People know if they are rating a New York Times puzzle, a LA Times puzzle, etc. This alone would seem to me to invalidate the reliability of the results. Any statisticians want to weigh in on the one? Not to criticize Amy or anything. Just sayin'.nycscottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57104428167411370472011-12-21T22:11:00.523-05:002011-12-21T22:11:00.523-05:00@ARLENE, read me at 6:00 p.m. ... he's kidding...@ARLENE, read me at 6:00 p.m. ... he's kidding. Come here with your sense of humor in tact.johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50060299433459584782011-12-21T22:01:09.123-05:002011-12-21T22:01:09.123-05:00@r.alphbunker: I like your analogy to New Yorker ...@r.alphbunker: I like your analogy to New Yorker cartoons.<br /><br />@Anon. 7:02: I agree.<br /><br />@Tobias 11:34: LOL<br /><br />@Lewis: I agree with your entire post.<br /><br />@DigitalDan: how about EGAD?<br /><br />I gotta get here earlier - it's taking too long to read all the posts!!!<br /><br />Happy Holidays, everyone.JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76498299688744144952011-12-21T21:48:14.539-05:002011-12-21T21:48:14.539-05:00Please explain to me what's going on with 58A ...Please explain to me what's going on with 58A that is EENIE in the puzzle (and which makes perfect sense to me choosing up sides), but everyone is talking about "J'ACCUSE". Someone else asked, but I haven't seen an answer.<br />And it's interesting that I knew mortise and tenon, but not some other things that others found simple.ARLENEnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57930719697613146692011-12-21T21:16:01.304-05:002011-12-21T21:16:01.304-05:0011 squared comments above me. Ah, what a good ol&...11 squared comments above me. Ah, what a good ol' C(l)ASHOFTHETITANS does for business!<br /><br />And while dear @Mac said, "No Naticks", I'm going to agree with @Anon way back at 10:10 a.m. and gripe about the SCRIM/MHO crossing. Hopeless at that one point.Chip Hiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944056030047563287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50274213294332396062011-12-21T20:34:59.210-05:002011-12-21T20:34:59.210-05:00and so it goes on with the show! up, up!! and to y...and so it goes on with the show! up, up!! and to your posts!!!stix2metunesmiffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04098671672736862293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54534637060893896562011-12-21T20:18:20.120-05:002011-12-21T20:18:20.120-05:00So after all this back and forth we are left wigth...So after all this back and forth we are left wigth two basic thoughts. Either Will has been publishing a bunch of croppers lately or Rex is full of crankiness.<br /><br />And, so what?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com