tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post8477898730233973240..comments2024-03-28T10:27:32.306-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Finnish-based telecom / MON 1-25-16 / Barrier outside popular nightclub / shish kebab holdersRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88760286072514210572016-02-29T22:05:43.716-05:002016-02-29T22:05:43.716-05:00Rainy - I wrote a continuation of the gerundicatio...Rainy - I wrote a continuation of the gerundicational discussion - hope it shows up in tomorrow's posts!<br /><br />D,LIWDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70738514836571418452016-02-29T20:29:15.682-05:002016-02-29T20:29:15.682-05:00@leftcoast - Thanks, I'm humbled. Sometime sin...@leftcoast - Thanks, I'm humbled. Sometime since the anniversary party the number of verses crossed the 400 mark (multiples some days). If I get there, day 500 will be somewhere around July 4; verse 500 will be sometime around Memorial Day (Indy 500?). OK then,a bonus:<br /><br />KARMA<br /><br />The STRESS HERE is ONUS, for AVID, EASY lovin’,<br />after our BEST OPUS, MAMA says ONES in the OVEN.<br /><br />--- LEONARD BOONE<br />BS2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53492805275652884882016-02-29T19:37:21.062-05:002016-02-29T19:37:21.062-05:00Whoops, my yesterday post didn't appear. I thi...Whoops, my yesterday post didn't appear. I thing it might have been my phone. It was about POPCORN (poopers) PAUPERS. Probably a good thing!<br /><br />Cute Monday from Mr. Livengood:) Fun to read the comments. @Diana LIW- Hilarious about Lambo! My FUNNYBONES had a BALL:)<br /><br />One write over. Denero for DINERO. Like I've never seen that before. Musta been thinking of Robert.<br /><br /><br /><br />Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51336426354233264352016-02-29T17:49:50.390-05:002016-02-29T17:49:50.390-05:00The answer to my question is: Burma Shave, Year II...The answer to my question is: Burma Shave, Year II.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28586141464065581792016-02-29T13:47:22.173-05:002016-02-29T13:47:22.173-05:00The puzzle was EASY, certainly not an ATTILA, fun,...The puzzle was EASY, certainly not an ATTILA, fun, though not the BEST, and essentially dreck-free. That is a statement of my liking it.<br /><br />Notice, @Lady Di, that in the previous sentence, I would not say "that is a statement of me liking it". Sounds like "me likey". Yikes.<br /><br />My comment to @LMS was only semi-serious as I know she knows what the rules are, and besides, I always read and like her comments. I think I understand the difference between speaking language and writing language, and that the English language is evolving, but that doesn't mean that some things don't bug me (eg why is a painting in the style of Rubens not "Rubensesque"?) such as turning nouns into verbs (I couriered that document to him), and the gerund/possessive thing. I think it is the way it sounds when one doesn't apply that particular "rule". I could say I applaud that you "freedom" the language, but I'd rather say that I applaud your freedoming of the language.<br /><br />If I were to run into you on Robson Street in Vancouver, you'd likely see me window-shopping, but I'd hope that my window-shopping is all I ever do. Btw, your commenting on something I said pleases me. rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78564964962304681482016-02-29T12:43:28.116-05:002016-02-29T12:43:28.116-05:00Monday easy-medium; needed crosses for Revlon'...Monday easy-medium; needed crosses for Revlon's ALLMAY. <br /><br />And if A+++ is best, what's A++++?<br /><br />No STRESS here.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28248594621996320932016-02-29T12:31:32.838-05:002016-02-29T12:31:32.838-05:00Those items ALMAY be CHEWTOYs as far as I’m concer...Those items ALMAY be CHEWTOYs as far as I’m concerned. Any dog I EVER had would CHEW any of them until there’d be nothing LEFT. Had the STICK-and-BALL and was hoping for something relating to those types of sports. Write-over on Monday? Yes, ROamS at ROVES.<br /><br />Let’s all head down to THE THE DINERO DINER. Nuff said about all that.<br /><br />So we have a BOB and a TED, but no Carol or Alice. Probably too old a movie for OFL anyway.<br /><br />Debby BOONE could have qualified as a yeah baby. IRIS Dement, maybe not these days.<br /><br />If a Jamaican misses a beat is it a SKAfLAW?<br /><br />Even with all the names and things this is an acceptable Mon-puz. EASY but not the BEST.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15561262123459678992016-02-29T11:52:49.210-05:002016-02-29T11:52:49.210-05:00IRIS MATES EASY
If the NANNY EVER FEELS your FUNN...IRIS MATES EASY<br /><br />If the NANNY EVER FEELS your FUNNYBONE<br />in the SAFETY of the MASKEDBALL that’s so cool,<br />then she ALSO has THENERVE to set the TONE,<br />it’s not HERESY to ASK if she’ll SLEEP with such a TOOL.<br />Like you.<br /><br />--- ANDRE ALMAY NOKIA-KARMA<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84574536421001540202016-02-29T11:21:16.070-05:002016-02-29T11:21:16.070-05:00Synchronicity: Just last night I re-enjoyed a show...Synchronicity: Just last night I re-enjoyed a showing of "WEST Side Story," featuring LEONARD Bernstein's brilliant score. BEST musical ever, IMHO.<br /><br />Back when we had a dog, his favorite CHEWTOY was my hand. He never clamped down too hard (though he certainly could have; his jaws packed a 200-psi punch). Just instinct, I guess. The other thing he did with his mouth was lick; hence the name Licks. Actually, the kids named him on the way home from the shelter. That tongue was going nonstop the whole way, so they named him "Sixty Licks," later shortened.<br /><br />THENERVE! Crossing two THEs like that! Down, it's not only acceptable, it's necessary to fit the clue. But across? No-o-o. Not only is this second THE totally gratuitous, it's--well, the SECOND one, a clear violation. HERE comes the hankie (another CHEWTOY!).<br /><br />Not much better is the DINER/DINERO cross, though I like the clue-twinning of "Money, in Mexico."<br /><br />For the yeah-baby feature I nominate Fran Drescher, "The NANNY." She is what Huxley would call "pneumatic."<br /><br />And finally, I join @Ms. Waiting in the defendation of speechification freedomination. Today's puz rates an A-, with a full grade off for the flag, so B-. Sorry, Ian, had to do it.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39169253223813727442016-02-27T23:57:10.948-05:002016-02-27T23:57:10.948-05:00Hey @Rainy. On Sat you posted to LMS about her us...Hey @Rainy. On Sat you posted to LMS about her use of me vs. my regarding a gerund. Were you jesting or serious? <br /><br />I ask because, as a teacher of writing, writing style always depends on the context. In the context of a blog, LMS is fine - since the gerund is a tricky grey area of grammar. (Or is that gray area?) I read her post as "It is just I (or me), doing as I do." Blogs are, by nature, a way of writing as we speak, not as an academician wants to edit a thesis final draft. <br /><br />See the wonderful grammar/style guide, "Woe is I." I have dozens of grammar and style guides. They ALL differ on some point or other. Why? English is a living language, and changes with the times and with the context it is in. (See how I can end a sentence with a preposition?) One of my favorite Churchill quotes - "That is something up with which I shall not put."<br /><br />It is I, simply saying... ;-)<br /><br />Lady Di, Defender of Speech Freedoming<br /><br />PS - OTOH, I do understand having some forms of speech that simply grate on one's nerves - perhaps this was one of yours. Eh?Diana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5339179703388294212016-01-25T22:03:40.346-05:002016-01-25T22:03:40.346-05:00@Nancy... re your comment yesterday in response to...@Nancy... re your comment yesterday in response to my post, members of the Tumblr website can "repost" from other blogs. I thought it was a clever clue, but then again I'm easily amused, so perhaps it was lame.<br /><br />F.O.G.F.O.G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14324805402319056492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26367827290335442752016-01-25T21:14:32.175-05:002016-01-25T21:14:32.175-05:00Quick note to @puzzle hoarder. MINYAN made its Ne...Quick note to @puzzle hoarder. MINYAN made its <i>New York Times</i> debut in Sunday's puzzle by @Francis Heaney and @Brendan Emmett Quigley. <br /><br />@Jim Horne established, and @Jeff Chen maintains, an incredible database of answer words for the entire history of the <i>NYT</i> puzzle, both under the editorship of @Will Shortz and -- in an effort spearheaded by @David Steinberg -- all the years before. The URL of that site is xwordinfo.com ... and I urge anyone who is serious about crossword puzzles to check it out.George Baranyhttp://www.chem.umn.edu/groups/baranygp/puzzles/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6923048569462416082016-01-25T20:33:13.213-05:002016-01-25T20:33:13.213-05:00@Chuck Mc - I am not an expert but I read the clue...@Chuck Mc - I am not an expert but I read the clue as referring to the label printed over the plug-in jacks (plug in options) on the amp, one of which I'm assuming would read Mic. jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53960020273481710792016-01-25T20:11:50.290-05:002016-01-25T20:11:50.290-05:00@wm martin E-mail me and I will try to send you t...@wm martin E-mail me and I will try to send you the puzzlechefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55046681241499558582016-01-25T20:06:01.649-05:002016-01-25T20:06:01.649-05:00When my cat Lambo (soft as a lamb outside, the out...When my cat Lambo (soft as a lamb outside, the outrageous heart of Rambo on the inside) was a kitten, he became known as "the cat who ate a sofa." It wasn't an exaggeration. He discovered that you could pull parts of the sofa out from little holes. And that he could make these little holes. Every day, we would come downstairs and find "mountains of clouds" on the man-cave floor. Finally, the sofa was no longer a sofa. Four-pound kitten vs. 60-pound sofa. Kitten - 1, Sofa - gone. <br /><br />He loves to take his "mousie toys" to his food bowl, cover them in kibble bits, and gnaw on them until they become one with the universe. The Force is strong...<br /><br />Diana, Lady Chewin' on Crosswords in the PastDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79756768640891204652016-01-25T19:11:17.425-05:002016-01-25T19:11:17.425-05:00Easy puz no dnf. Yesterday too. Easy puz no dnf. Yesterday too. Chronic dnferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05129538196003383400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23082302776132479802016-01-25T19:01:41.641-05:002016-01-25T19:01:41.641-05:00@lms - I love your avatar, and thanks for that lin...@lms - I love your avatar, and thanks for that link. I feel so sad for those sweet pups!!!!<br /><br />Oh - OK - so everyone said what I did - your dogs eat everything too. Great stories, all.<br /><br />@Rex - your dog looks sooo tolerant. Very sweet.Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1948035029670969372016-01-25T18:45:17.816-05:002016-01-25T18:45:17.816-05:00I coulda constructed such a puzzle - woulda been e...I coulda constructed such a puzzle - woulda been easy-peasy - as long as I could use my sister's 2 black labs as the discerners of chew-toyiness.<br />Basically, every word in the grid could fulfill the theme.<br /><br />Did I tell you about the Huge wedge of Jarslberg? Or the jack-o-lantern? Or any package whatsoever that gets delivered to the front door?<br />Chewtoys all.<br />HERE comes trouble personified...er...canified.<br /><br />Maybe that's why I thought this theme was a bit arbitrary, as did Rex.<br /><br />But still brought many smiles. Thanks Mr. Livengood!<br />Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90678815115657191922016-01-25T17:52:19.206-05:002016-01-25T17:52:19.206-05:00Hi @Z 12:06 PM: Yield to the man with the star! I...Hi @Z 12:06 PM: Yield to the man with the star! I've no problem that, for the average person, MIC "plugs into" an amp is the perspective.<br /><br />I do see the same problem with something like "Used to tie up a boat" - ROPE. To a lot of people, yes, to many others it would be LINE. "The right rope for dock lines is plain old nylon." You buy rope that will be the (dock) line "used to tie up a boat." Rope is called anything but rope on a boat. One of the odd exceptions is that you store all those lines (halyards, sheets, et al) in a rope locker. Go figure. Rope is (not) OK like amp is (not) OK.<br /><br />However, I still can't figure out how "Plug-in in an amp" makes grammatical sense, let alone as a description for the thing, a MIC, technically or otherwise.<br /><br />Aw, Com'on Z - "I call that an Einstein?" Just trying to call a foul as I see it, as others oft do with arcade (or not) topics, complete with a spoiler alert as a deterrent!! Not angry at all, but I'll cop to being on the acerbic side. I have a friend, about 6'-4" 240 l. I let HIM do anger :>)<br /><br />Ah, anger. Instead of counting to ten, I simply recall this incident from many years ago --<br /><br />NYC cabbie story: At a stoplight, another cab pulled alongside the one I was in and the cabbie started SCA-REEEMING at mine about his driving, invectives, the whole works. Mine just looked at him and listened without a word the entire time. When the other guy finally sort of sputtered out my cabbie, in the nicest, almost motherly-like, calm voice (a native NY area accent to boot) says to him,<br /><br />"Hey Buddy....Clam down....You'll give yourself a heart attack."<br /><br />At that moment the light changed. We moved on. If the other guy had any reaction to that I (unfortunately) did not see it. You know mine.<br /><br />Cheers<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14124431793780560248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17850099900330865732016-01-25T17:04:50.896-05:002016-01-25T17:04:50.896-05:00@Z, thanks for the Chaser link. It reinforces my f...@Z, thanks for the Chaser link. It reinforces my feeling that Smoke really did know what I was asking her to do.Teedmnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12832353448839187816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83506900946542179782016-01-25T15:28:02.489-05:002016-01-25T15:28:02.489-05:00To paraphrase a recent joke-of-the-day:
What woul...To paraphrase a recent joke-of-the-day:<br /><br />What would the average dog say about this puzzle?<br /><br />Nothing. Dogs can't talk.Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51684290946540168662016-01-25T15:18:34.735-05:002016-01-25T15:18:34.735-05:00@Anon 12:53, my sentiments exactly, as my beloved ...@Anon 12:53, my sentiments exactly, as my beloved 12 yr. old cockapoo, Honey, left us one month ago. When I first rescued her from the SPCA, she had a nasty habit of using pens, book spines and decorative pillows as 'chew toys' whenever I left the house. My vet said she had separation anxiety and should probably be crated when alone. Instead, I removed all writing implements and hardcover books from the coffee table and tossed her a 'large dog' sized MilkBone biscuit as I departed. Problem solved and Honey's freedom was assured. <br /><br /> @Hartley, great story. Rufus graduated summa cum laude, I see.<br /><br />I have been doggedly searching Petfinder.com for the last two days while snowed in here. If any of you knows of a young, smaller (mixed) breed, under 30 pounds, preferably with hair as opposed to fur, who needs a good home and will peacefully co-exist with Felix the cat, please give me a shout out here.<br /><br />I just paid a king's ransom to my neighbor's teen to shovel out the front and a crew of guys to do the back, including the car and alley, but it was worth every damned penny to be rid of the three and a half feet of snow blocking the back door! Now I am curious when and if the NYTimes delivery will recommence. Not to mention the US Mail. Five feet mountains of snow block in cars left parked out front on most streets here, since the plows had to put it somewhere. BF mess is not going away any time soon. For those of you in the same boat, my condolences!<br /><br />The best part of the snow has been the activity at my bird feeders. Yesterday, for the very first time, a male red bellied woodpecker showed up and spent some quality time sucking insects from my Bradford pear tree and pecking at the seed feeders on its branches. A most beautiful spectacle.<br /><br />Ludyjynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21483714120701254032016-01-25T15:04:41.145-05:002016-01-25T15:04:41.145-05:00Because of the snow here I didn't get the Sund...Because of the snow here I didn't get the Sunday Times delivered and am without the Sunday puzzle. Anyone have any ideas of how I might--legally--get a copy?<br /><br />ThanksWm Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13517294908910078413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9988716446150707842016-01-25T14:28:55.425-05:002016-01-25T14:28:55.425-05:00Lots of first names - Bob, Ted, Leonard, Andre, Ir...Lots of first names - Bob, Ted, Leonard, Andre, Iris, Attila, and maybe even Mic. All getable, directly or indirectly. <br /><br />Rex's dog looks similar to mine. Never heard of Entlebucher (@kozmikvoid) but I'm going to check it out. gifcanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12612467417938884430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22622602613335056102016-01-25T12:53:15.754-05:002016-01-25T12:53:15.754-05:00I think my time would have been faster if my eyes ...I think my time would have been faster if my eyes didn't keep misting up. My 12 year old wire fox terrier crossed the Rainbow Bridge a few days ago. The pup theme was bittersweet to say the least. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com