tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post8248909737565250212..comments2024-03-28T20:49:13.267-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Dare colloquially / SAT 7-18-15 / Title heroine of an 1884 Helen Hunt Jackson novel / Hassan Arabian Nights figure / Tokyo-based carrierRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39322375027665294492015-08-23T02:01:26.385-04:002015-08-23T02:01:26.385-04:00I got to this one pretty late today, So I guess I&...I got to this one pretty late today, So I guess I'll write comments to myself.<br /><br />I liked the puzzle, especially after figuring out that it was ONETHIRTY and not twoTHIRTY, as well as getting to the SHETLANDISLANDS early on. I was slowed down in the SW, but after getting the spelling of ALADDIN right, then changing SurreAl to STELLAR, that quadrant fell. The last letter to go in was the P in STROPHE, and quickly enough the SPARE marks for bowling became surprisingly obvious.<br /><br />Like another poster, I had a Midwestern grandmother of German heritage who used the word DAST, as in "You dast not do that...." and I, a small boy at the time, knew she meant it. So I had no trouble filling that word in, though with some long-buried, mixed emotions.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5709311883649474662015-08-22T18:22:04.893-04:002015-08-22T18:22:04.893-04:00Hey Spacecraft, are you a spacecraft worker?. I a...Hey Spacecraft, are you a spacecraft worker?. I am, a spaacecraft tester no less. I directed and conducted mamy tests, but not a one testing. ughLongbeachleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10945278798020339134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18720903026292667372015-08-22T13:59:04.026-04:002015-08-22T13:59:04.026-04:00Spacecraft has a point there. Testings is an awkwa...Spacecraft has a point there. Testings is an awkward word. Something like the wine tastings went very well sounds OK.<br /><br />This was an Easy/Med. for me and I did have to look up Salamanca after I wrote it in. It's north of Madrid. Living in San Diego, Ramona was a gimme. Also had oldhens before oldbats. Sorry, Nancy, I don't see anything wrong with old hens or old bats. How about old fogey or old f..t? What are we supposed to say......."Aged Nasties?'<br /><br />Anyway, Like the puzz very much and thanks Joe K. <br /><br />Ron Diego, La Mesa CA (Where all divorced women receive spousal support for their bras).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21391456818999155562015-08-22T12:07:58.265-04:002015-08-22T12:07:58.265-04:00Yes, I could guess OFL's "laffabling"...Yes, I could guess OFL's "laffabling" answer. Of course, it had to be TESTINGS. They are tests, people. TESTINGS??? OHGOD, spellcheck won't even underline it!! Could this abomination possibly be a WORD?? Nah. Can't be. I'm dreaming. I'm in the twilight zone. I'll wake up in a minute and find that the actual grid contained TEST RUNS--which is what it contained for the longest time here. There's no such thing as "TESTINGS." If there is, then I declare the English language to be nonsensical.<br /><br />DAST was fine with me; I've heard it before. "You don't DAST!" That word, curiously, IS redlined. As is "redlined." Go figure.<br /><br />This was medium-challenging: right side medium, left side, oh brother! I've tossed so many weeDS onto the compost pile that I inked that one in without a hint that it might be wrong. Those two mistakes (see above for the other) cost many minutes. I eventually found my way to the solution--but guys, I have to throw the yellow on 23 across. If it were me constructing this, I'd rub that out and redo. I would never let such a dog's breakfast see the light of day.<br /><br />The two rather obscure entries at 18- and 21-across--right above you-know-what--didn't help. Not outlyingly obscure, but I didn't know them. Filled them in by inference. Also had a nose-wrinkle with the THE of THEMAGI. C+ (the rest of it was pretty good and clever; the flag drops a letter automatically).spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69976552769715631892015-07-19T11:52:17.785-04:002015-07-19T11:52:17.785-04:00Shockingly easy, and very fun. Probably helped to ...Shockingly easy, and very fun. Probably helped to get SHETLANDISLANDS FROM _H_____________, even with the bad error on cluing. John o'Groats wouldn't fit, and it turns out wouldn't have been right anyway. As far as I can tell, the correct answer would be Dunnet Head.<br /><br />@LMS - kicked is better.<br /><br />Loved OLDBATS, which I have never heard as an insult and which my grandmother routinely used to describe herself, as in "Keeping the house at 80 degrees is one of the privileges of being an old bat". <br /><br />kitshefnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66268011743887919082015-07-19T09:53:00.563-04:002015-07-19T09:53:00.563-04:00@Aketi, not all of us started out as SKs. I,for on...@Aketi, not all of us started out as SKs. I,for one, suspect that from the gitgo tended to be more of a cougar-in-training. Chacun a son gout, eh?Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35253576968770091492015-07-19T08:38:36.876-04:002015-07-19T08:38:36.876-04:00So, simply put, gist what's the difference bet...So, simply put, gist what's the difference between a coprophage and a coprophagist? Whosoever can reasonably explain that wins the caecotrophy of the day.<br /><br />And wipe that grin off your face.There's better on the menunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16923278550945351112015-07-19T08:21:25.269-04:002015-07-19T08:21:25.269-04:00@hartley70 loved your comment but you don't ev...@hartley70 loved your comment but you don't ever have to leave SK behind if you don't want to. I have a friend whose Nana actually became one in her 90s. She was also a big hit with her great grandchildren when she taught them to make paper airplanes and launch them at her friends. Aketihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07059835429995060000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24631864330120009722015-07-19T08:10:09.240-04:002015-07-19T08:10:09.240-04:00Dasn't was a staple of my childhood. My grand...Dasn't was a staple of my childhood. My grandmother (daughter of German immigrants) always told me that I "dasn't do that." It didn't occur to me until today that there was a form without the "not"--dast. Thanks for the memories!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72306826689192978492015-07-18T21:13:06.953-04:002015-07-18T21:13:06.953-04:00@Ludyjynn, sorry, you're mistaken, I don't...@Ludyjynn, sorry, you're mistaken, I don't care how many articles you can find on Google. <br />Incidentally looked up Shetland on Wikipedia after I posted. 'Shetland, also called the Shetland Islands, is a subarctic archipelago of Scotland that lies north-east of the island of Great Britain and forms part of the United Kingdom.'<br />Then I thought I'd look up Britain: <br />Britain usually refers to either:<br /> United Kingdom, a sovereign state<br /> Great Britain, an island<br /><br />Put simply: Great Britain is the island (as opposed to Lesser Britain, which is what is nowadays known as Brittany); the British Isles is the group of islands that includes Ireland and the Isle of Man; the United Kingdom is the country.Coprophagistnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83253550773971717842015-07-18T21:01:24.063-04:002015-07-18T21:01:24.063-04:00@ Fred Romagnolo, Thanks and that JFC really is me...@ Fred Romagnolo, Thanks and that JFC really is me. I'll be back tomorrow. I've already done Sunday and am looking forward to Rex Parker and the return of Rex Porker. As for the guy who keeps stalking me and impersonating me, I've called the FBI....<br /><br />JFCJFCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81069952387755088502015-07-18T20:55:25.863-04:002015-07-18T20:55:25.863-04:00@Coprophagist, you are mistaken. A cursory Google...@Coprophagist, you are mistaken. A cursory Google disproves your argument.Ludyjynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3673731361477168412015-07-18T20:33:20.493-04:002015-07-18T20:33:20.493-04:00Did this on an LAX-JFK flight and my immediate pro...Did this on an LAX-JFK flight and my immediate problem was that one clue is simply wrong. Kept thinking 'bet Rexland is up in arms about this,' but, now I'm home, I see there is not one mention. <br />Great Britain is the island that contains most of England, Scotland and Wales. The Shetland Islands, as separate islands are simply not part of it.<br />From Wikipedia: 'Great Britain, also known as Britain /ˈbrɪ.tən/, is an island in the North Atlantic off the north-west coast of continental Europe. With an area of 209,331 km2 (80,823 sq mi), it is the largest island in Europe and the ninth-largest in the world...It is part of the British Isles archipelago along with over 1,000 smaller surrounding islands,[9] including the island of Ireland to its west.'<br />That spoiled my whole solving experience as it became clear somewhere over New Mexico that that had to be the answer — but it is wrong.Coprophagistnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45032209975973715632015-07-18T20:03:22.794-04:002015-07-18T20:03:22.794-04:00Lady Antebellum:
"It's a quarter after o...Lady Antebellum:<br /><br />"It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now.<br />Said I wouldn't call but I've lost all control and I need you now.<br />And I don't know how I can do without.<br />I just need you now."<br /><br />Sorry, but ONE THIRTY is the answer. Maybe tomorrow night/morning. F.O.G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14324805402319056492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86195964758364113182015-07-18T19:45:59.010-04:002015-07-18T19:45:59.010-04:00@Whirred Whacks - "Ruthiana."@Whirred Whacks - "Ruthiana."Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4298912572371341012015-07-18T19:29:12.764-04:002015-07-18T19:29:12.764-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10032302346488486116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35165484004411279212015-07-18T19:29:08.726-04:002015-07-18T19:29:08.726-04:00RECANTS/RASP/PESTINGS (no more obscure than RAST) ...RECANTS/RASP/PESTINGS (no more obscure than RAST) :)Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10032302346488486116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2603956974589037122015-07-18T19:23:49.029-04:002015-07-18T19:23:49.029-04:00@smalltowndoc: Wait for the furor when someone us...@smalltowndoc: Wait for the furor when someone uses it. Sheesh.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10032302346488486116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53391869167850662632015-07-18T18:29:14.977-04:002015-07-18T18:29:14.977-04:00Could easily Have done away with DAST (yuck) with ...Could easily Have done away with DAST (yuck) with RECANTS/RAST (the latter a common lab test for allergies).smalltowndocnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79843656894887372792015-07-18T17:27:33.347-04:002015-07-18T17:27:33.347-04:00Easiest Saturday ever for me (I *rarely* finish a ...Easiest Saturday ever for me (I *rarely* finish a Saturday) but quite enjoyable. Liked the clues for RINDS, SPARES, and THEMAGI (where I originally went on a 'groupies', 'paparazzi' tangent).<br /><br />OLDBATS is definitely pejorative though, as someone pointed out, if you called a particluar person an old bat because of their personality, then I guess it's not misogynistic. <br /><br />Anonymous at 9:59am said: "I thought that even mild curses weren't allowed in the crossword. I was shocked at 34 Down. I've never said that phrase in my life and it is offensive."<br /> I don't think that OHGOD *is* a curse. All you grammarites (even though I was an English major), isn't this an exclamation or an exhortation, or some such? Jesus said "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (as opposed to "You dast not forsake me", btw) and that wasn't a curse. paulsfohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07721639286466422944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44218255542363023142015-07-18T17:07:12.087-04:002015-07-18T17:07:12.087-04:00I can't remember a Saturday when the first thi...I can't remember a Saturday when the first thing I filled in was a 15-letter word. But I did it this time (Shetland Islands), which made this puzzle much easier for me than most Saturdays.Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29187492231455573632015-07-18T16:51:07.261-04:002015-07-18T16:51:07.261-04:00@r.alph: Wow, thanx. More times than I woulda tho...@r.alph: Wow, thanx. More times than I woulda thought. Weejects done got themselves some extra R.E.S.P., even from PB1!<br /><br />That 1 Jun 2012 FriPuz had 52 words and 46 black blocks. Darn close (3 sqs.) to turning it over! Joe Krozel, of course. har<br /><br />R.E.S.P. Find out what it means to me R.E.S.P. Take care, TCB<br />Oh (sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me) …<br />Whoa, babe (dast a little bit)<br />A little resp (dast a little bit)<br />Keep on tryin (dast a little bit)<br />And I ain't lyin (dast a little bit) …<br />(re, re, re, re) 'sp …<br /><br />M&A IIIMasked and Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16027736429645378004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36584296955604464962015-07-18T16:21:36.185-04:002015-07-18T16:21:36.185-04:00@Lydia - I was going for KICKED. I'll keep my...@Lydia - I was going for <i>KICKED</i>. I'll keep my day job!Loren Muse Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05308030011870397977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41531902786208180482015-07-18T16:21:21.560-04:002015-07-18T16:21:21.560-04:00@M&A
I like the way you think. This page revea...@M&A<br />I like the way you think. <a href="http://puzzlecrowd.com/solitaryTLWs.html" rel="nofollow">This page</a> reveals that it has been done only 20 times during the Shortz era by some very big names (e.g., Longo, Krozel, Nosowsky, Berry, Blindauer, Peterson, Collins).r.alphbunkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00657275501845781384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59064311982617869112015-07-18T15:58:07.645-04:002015-07-18T15:58:07.645-04:00WHERE was that last, repeated, redundant sentence ...WHERE was that last, repeated, redundant sentence hiding out while I was in the process of retyping it? Please ignore that sentence, everyone. Grrrr.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16737377749030219974noreply@blogger.com