tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post7252434177297860944..comments2024-03-28T14:27:07.588-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Month in which Creation began by tradition / SAT 1-3-15 / Classic Harlem ballroom / Its last model was 1941 Skylark / Rosetta Stone figure / Dean's East of Eden role / Just for Men target / Rebellion colonial uprising / Liquor with slogan west of expected / Return of Doctor X star / Poet Howard who wrote Primer of Daily RoundRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29170923052824015862015-02-08T01:18:10.942-05:002015-02-08T01:18:10.942-05:00What is it about cats that they delight in making ...What is it about cats that they delight in making their owners wait while they decide in or out?<br />Are cats really Machiavellian aliens? Lol! Love my calico and try to mind her as a mere minion!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23780555833805034802015-02-07T18:17:11.520-05:002015-02-07T18:17:11.520-05:00@Numinous - From 5 weeks later, wish you and you w...@Numinous - From 5 weeks later, wish you and you wife well, hope things are continuing to progress!<br /><br />Confidently first wrote in apolo (yeah, spelled wrong)but put SAVOY in the margin. ORLY is where Lindberg landed. <br /><br />There is much to recommend in this puzzle; delicious (MOZZARELLA STICK), old (HUPMOBILE), tentative (HOLDONASEC), sexy (BOGART), Grandma's delight (TOYSTORES), and a reminder of a great movie(TRASK). Jo VanFleet was incredible in the latter. All these and more are well covered by the real time commenters. So, it is sad to see the disgusting annonymice polluting what is otherwise a fine blog.Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07156872089175084024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72419086382909208042015-02-07T13:28:20.654-05:002015-02-07T13:28:20.654-05:00I agree with most of Spacecraft's and Rondo...I agree with most of Spacecraft's and Rondo's comments and certainly didn't find this "easy."<br />When I have 3 look-ups I'm not too happy with myself. But Saturday's are hard so I'll give it a break. Nemerov is not in my circle of friends. And I don't care. He doesn't know me either.<br /><br />Ron Diego La Mesa, CAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8084527613382024892015-02-07T12:20:57.490-05:002015-02-07T12:20:57.490-05:00Agree with @spacy re: not easy.Not 8 minutes,close...Agree with @spacy re: not easy.Not 8 minutes,closer to 58 maybe, if I timed.<br /><br />HELI is not the first thing I think of with ski, but have seen the videos of skiers being dropped off by copters where there are no lifts- very extreme sport.<br /><br />TARE a gimme having tested road-building materials; our TARE was usually the weight of a bucket.<br />I believe a VALS is in 3/4 (not triple) time.<br /><br />TONYDANZA is a real MOZZARELLASTICK IMHO, but he made a living at it. <br /><br />For some reason wanted SKolVODKA so that gummed up that area for a bit. And RoMeO, and OLEaN slowed things as well.<br /><br />Never considered RHODA award-worthy.<br /><br />All in allenjoyed the challenge, but I wouldn't call this puz great.<br /><br />Hoho 9013 = 4rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76100735068386506942015-02-07T11:42:05.763-05:002015-02-07T11:42:05.763-05:00EASY??? You have GOT to be kidding! Even with the ...EASY??? You have GOT to be kidding! Even with the double-long gimme start of TONYDANZA and MOZZARELLASTICK, this one was tough all the way. The clues bordered on the sadistic. Where to start? "One doing 40+?" I'm supposed to divine that the number refers to hours per week? "Start to ski?" HELI?? Tell me there's such a contraption as a HELIski?? Maybe in an Acme Mfg. Co. package addressed to Wile. E. Coyote.<br /><br />Then there were the two naticks. Was it BETA/BACONS or mETA/mACONS? I went with the B. Whew. Now to that WORLD famous poet NEM_ROV. You've heard of him. Both of you. Now what TAR_ is discounted at a deli? Alphabet run. The least improbable letter I can come up with is E. What, they weigh the sheet of wax paper before the meat gets PILED on? THAT TARE? Ridiculous. But other tries are even more ridiculous, so with extreme DOUBT I wrote in E.<br /><br />The grid was a mess. Silly me, I thought "month" in the 7d clue referred to, you know, a month in English. But no. It turns out to be ELUL. And yet you call this easy. As for 58a, that was solid, gelid and rigid before finally becoming REDID (yuk). I was grateful for the TRASK gimme down there--not Caleb because of the actor's last name in the clue. James: Caleb :: Dean: TRASK.<br /><br />I considered this a slog, with not much more than those two opening gimmes to enjoy. I managed to get it done, with luck, so I can't give it less than a C. spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11228616080212946042015-01-08T09:51:22.233-05:002015-01-08T09:51:22.233-05:00Just got to this one yesterday and found it pretty...Just got to this one yesterday and found it pretty easy except for the SE corner because I kept trying to make CALEB work instead of TRASK. Did not know TARE or SKYYVODKA (not a drinking man) but got it and then checked to see I was correct.pfbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91553194719907248322015-01-03T22:09:29.445-05:002015-01-03T22:09:29.445-05:00@Numi: she sounds great, and so do you. Onward!
@Numi: she sounds great, and so do you. Onward!<br /><br />machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48240737480942353062015-01-03T19:15:40.415-05:002015-01-03T19:15:40.415-05:00Like Rex,I found this easy, but his "easy&quo...Like Rex,I found this easy, but his "easy" is a whole lot faster than my "easy." An exceptionally unpleasant set of comments today.<br /><br /> Never thought about wuss one way or the other -- I've heard it a lot from all sorts of people. I am always surprised about what sets some commenters off.michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61002417399855794592015-01-03T18:49:34.771-05:002015-01-03T18:49:34.771-05:00@ Numi,
Glad you got the message, dear boy.
It...@ Numi,<br />Glad you got the message, dear boy.<br /><br />It's been some years since my tour at the VA Spa, so I don't know the present guidelines, but if she can get a C-leg, she'll outwalk you with one foot tied behind her back. <br /><br />http://www.ottobockus.com/c-leg.htmlNumber One Fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52286426278632920822015-01-03T18:15:55.498-05:002015-01-03T18:15:55.498-05:00I was impressed with this puzzle in spite of Sam&#...I was impressed with this puzzle in spite of Sam's self criticism (see xwordinfo.com). If, indeed, as Rex says, he is 12 years old, more power to him. How many of us here could have remotely approached constructing a puzzle like this at that age? If, indeed, he is twelve, according to his own comments, he made this one when he was ten. Jeeze!!!<br /><br />Now, each puzzle should stand on its own in the paper, all of them equal blank grids to try the mettel of solvers. But with the addition of bylines, we get to know the constructors and to know what to expect from their work. This is an amazing piece of work for a novice and I happily ignore the fill some here regard as Iffy..<br /><br />Sadly, I DNFed on one google and a typo. I vaguely remembered Cal but had no idea of TRASK. I guess I wasn't patient enough to see if crosses would give it to me or, maybe, I needed that google to get the long downs. Everything else except the typo resolved throug the crosses even though I had a bunch of false starts by entering letters as part of answers I thought wold be possible. Hands up for GRIp before GRIT though I never entered that "p". <br /><br />@Number One Fan from yesterday:<br />I See Ole PeeDee River every day. Fortunately, it's mostly smooth waters and sections of rapids are rare. <br />It was an AKA but her attitude is amazing. She's adjusted mentally very well. She even laughed at my first joke: she has only one leg now so she only walks half as fast. If it weren't for humor, how could we ever survive?Numinoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01263999193499725814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50515013867597577072015-01-03T17:54:20.231-05:002015-01-03T17:54:20.231-05:00Didn't anyone else start right out with FRIART...Didn't anyone else start right out with FRIARTUCK as the apparent "gimme" for 16 across? Took me a while to change it to ALANADALE, although it had crossed my mind vaguely from the beginning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1862358923876467622015-01-03T17:14:25.076-05:002015-01-03T17:14:25.076-05:00Rex is a little like your weird Great Uncle Bob: ...Rex is a little like your weird Great Uncle Bob: you're kind of nostalgic for who he used to be, and he's kind of lovable despite his obsolescence and IDIOCY. The torch has been passed, but he doesn't know it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62581278788923452092015-01-03T17:12:10.742-05:002015-01-03T17:12:10.742-05:00Tony Danza went right in, fresh from the profile C...Tony Danza went right in, fresh from the profile CBS Sunday Morning did on him last week.<br /><br />This was super hard for me. I spent one hour, got most of it, but gave up with quite a few blank spaces. I was proud to get as much as I did.<br /><br /> I guess I am one of the "inverterate solvers" rex referred to. No idea about Alan adale or hupmobile. I don't know how this could be "so easy"! I have been doing SAMs puzzles and always finish, but not today.<br /><br />If I post, it is always early morning. I was surprised to read that the posts get somewhat mean as the day wears on.Susierahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83629164047382247092015-01-03T17:07:23.924-05:002015-01-03T17:07:23.924-05:00I had one of those cars, but when I was a teenager...I had one of those cars, but when I was a teenager I called it the HUMPMOBILE :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24008365406675724842015-01-03T16:54:15.649-05:002015-01-03T16:54:15.649-05:00Hand up here also for the Tutmobile, which I belie...Hand up here also for the Tutmobile, which I believe is sometimes called the Tsk-mobile.<br /><br />Big kick from the string of Anonymical comments, esp as I suspect there is only one schizoid Anonymer having multiple conversations with theirselves. But must thank the phase of Anonymer that gave the link to Ella (and Satchmo!) Stompin' at the Savoy. Ya earned yer keep with that.<br /><br />Seems that TARE is a wheelhouse thing. In the lab, we had to tare the scales when we weighed out reagents, but in the regular world, I think tare is noted more at salad bars and hot bars, than at delis.<br /><br />@Ms. Nancy, I would expect no less, but frankly, am more interested in hearing what would in fact 'turn a hair'.Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36251388478293807752015-01-03T16:45:01.407-05:002015-01-03T16:45:01.407-05:00@Nancy - Z always has the answer, Rex is indeed Ou...@Nancy - Z always has the answer, Rex is indeed Our Fearless Leader.<br /><br />Did he really like a Seth Rogan movie?Mohair Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502840715719161565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58207255312008723512015-01-03T16:44:11.393-05:002015-01-03T16:44:11.393-05:00Anonymous @ 1:46 AM,
When Amy mentioned "a l...Anonymous @ 1:46 AM,<br /><br />When <a href="http://www.crosswordfiend.com/blog/2015/01/02/saturday-january-3-2015/" rel="nofollow">Amy mentioned "a little rough"</a>, it seems she meant "unpolished" in the sense of having too much crosswordese fill.<br /><br />This is not the same as "tough", as in difficult, although for what it's worth I did find it a difficult slog myself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51881353225875276422015-01-03T16:19:28.974-05:002015-01-03T16:19:28.974-05:00Nice sunny early afternoon sitting on my deck in N...Nice sunny early afternoon sitting on my deck in NorCal.<br /><br />Hard for me -- just under an hour. Solved from the bottom up. NE last to fall with SEVEN IRON. <br /><br />@r.alphbunker Thanks for your explanation of TARE (I got it from crosses).<br /><br /><a href="http://youtu.be/sdytZ_Z9wYY" rel="nofollow"> <b>For your enjoyment, this is a one-minute video of Howard Nemerov reading his "Primer of the Daily Round" </b> </a>Whirred Whackshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05637591146611998012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22323514916140338062015-01-03T15:49:19.392-05:002015-01-03T15:49:19.392-05:00@Nancy - OFL is short for Our Fearless Leader, AKA...@Nancy - OFL is short for Our Fearless Leader, AKA Rex Parker.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46356432117588286202015-01-03T15:33:15.897-05:002015-01-03T15:33:15.897-05:00Ugh. Did not like this one at all. Never heard of...Ugh. Did not like this one at all. Never heard of Nemerov, and although we use the word "Tare" in chemistry, never associated it with Deli, so a DNF for me. (I had Taro, but knew it made little sense) Didn't like the clue for Brain game, seven iron, never heard of Skyy vodka, although I got it by guessing "rely," an answer I didn't care for either. Never heard of a Hupmobile, but I HAVE heard of Botha, so I got it. Even though it is Saturday, if you are going to include "Nemerov," a better clue for "Tare" is called for. At least it is for me. Two DNF this week (Wed and Sat.) first time that has happened to me since the Blindauer week... Rear of a disco is a booty? Yeah, I get the slang, but I don't care much for it. OISKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808675378318214461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84311444802550819732015-01-03T15:19:32.213-05:002015-01-03T15:19:32.213-05:00@Chris, I think the hinge:RELY thing works, if you...@Chris, I think the hinge:RELY thing works, if you accept that it all hinges on the appropriate definition of 'hinge'. Now substitute 'rely' for 'hinge' in that sentence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60631131590914590092015-01-03T15:10:18.440-05:002015-01-03T15:10:18.440-05:00Hi, @Mohair Sam. I scrolled through the comments,...Hi, @Mohair Sam. I scrolled through the comments, but couldn't find anyone called OFL. Who is he/she please?<br /> To @Leapfinger. I'm a refined NORTHERN (not Southern) lady of fairly advanced years and (perhaps not quite) impeccable gentility who has been known to utter the words, "What a wuss!" without turning a hair. Nancynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35038814163730919132015-01-03T15:09:30.304-05:002015-01-03T15:09:30.304-05:00Thank you, Monsieur Applebees!Thank you, Monsieur Applebees!Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78424872189890741562015-01-03T15:05:16.496-05:002015-01-03T15:05:16.496-05:00Factoid: The first HAIKU written in English was by...Factoid: The first HAIKU written in English was by Ezra Pound, published in 1913.<br /><br />Quotoid: "A teacher is a person who never says anything once." -- Howard NEMEROVLewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55128291294439854382015-01-03T14:59:28.677-05:002015-01-03T14:59:28.677-05:00Real late again.
DNF( no googling ever)
Mistakes h...Real late again.<br />DNF( no googling ever)<br />Mistakes held me up- grip for GRIT, Oz's for OBS and says OK for SAYS ME.<br />So lower left took twice as long as remainder making my solve a medium.<br />TONY DANZA, MOZZARELLA STICKS and ALAN A DALE were gimmes.<br />Liked cluing for SEVEN IRON, FULL TIMER, and SAFETY BELT.<br />ATHEISTIC is a stretch even with ?.<br />Sam E puzzles are usually on my LIVE RADAR and this was no exception.<br />No crosswordEASE pour moi.<br />Thanks SE.<br /><br />Charles Flasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16588962898277593533noreply@blogger.com