tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post8864585680462945999..comments2024-03-28T20:49:13.267-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Sunday, Apr. 8. 2007 - Byron WaldenRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6391928788808429282007-07-08T10:04:00.000-04:002007-07-08T10:04:00.000-04:00LOL.I took one last crack at this yesterday (July ...LOL.I took one last crack at this yesterday (July 7th) and ran to Google with utter frustration. Without total relief there, I turned to your page for the last bits. Ugh. When I think of "clever" puzzles I think of puzzles with clever clues for common answers. But this one! I've never seen a puzzle that required so much obscure knowledge. If I hadn't had so many good experiences with crossword puzzles in the past, I think this one might have turned me off to Sunday puzzles completely. Harumph!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74110992627561131582007-06-17T18:43:00.000-04:002007-06-17T18:43:00.000-04:00Hey, folks!We proudly completeed the April 8th puz...Hey, folks!<BR/><BR/>We proudly completeed the April 8th puzzle on Sunday, June 17th at 6:45 pm!<BR/><BR/>WE DID IT!<BR/><BR/>Do we get some sort of prize for dogged persistence?<BR/><BR/>thanks for the help with that darned Rio Grande thing...<BR/><BR/>A fun site!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8038360436376919042007-04-22T08:48:00.000-04:002007-04-22T08:48:00.000-04:00WOW, thought I would never get through this, IN OT...WOW, thought I would never get through this, IN OTHER WORDS, this was rough. Thanks, for all your help, I couldn't have done it without you all, but I wasn't about to give up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52851717997044146762007-04-19T22:23:00.000-04:002007-04-19T22:23:00.000-04:00Hi --I'm in Canada, so I'm only a couple of weeks ...Hi --<BR/><BR/>I'm in Canada, so I'm only a couple of weeks late! And I have a question that has nothing to do with the puzzle.<BR/><BR/>I happen to live on a street called DeKay, and the only reference to that name I've ever run across is in the cemetery one street over - there's a family plot of a number of DeKay's.<BR/><BR/>I'd just like to know if Coleman would consider giving me any history of the name (nationality, pronunciation, etc.). I'd be ever so grateful!<BR/><BR/>The puzzle, by the way, was not my most favourite. I too solved the anagrams through the back door(much easier) and cross-references are really not my thing (especially when the numbers are printed in a tiny font in light gray); Bairds is simply not accurate - a cardinal sin in puzzle creation. But I have to admit, I too liked all the B's!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35149596069780908942007-04-18T18:56:00.000-04:002007-04-18T18:56:00.000-04:00interesting blog...found, of course, by accident, ...interesting blog...found, of course, by accident, as I was researching the answers on Google (I can hear the purists screaming, but did you realize how much you can learn - for example, when researching the 'Neptune's closest moon' clue, I learned Jupiter has 60! moons). I do have to admit that as soon as I started reading the blog, I saw that you guys were giving away WAAAY too much details for someone still working on it. So - I quickly exited and came back when I was done.<BR/>And by the way, this was in no way the hardest Sunday NYT I've ever come acrossAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24856806562522808772007-04-17T23:41:00.000-04:002007-04-17T23:41:00.000-04:00Truly hated this one. First time I gave up on a S...Truly hated this one. First time I gave up on a Sunday puzzle in years. Nine days later I threw in the towel.terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18320170883706242103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20299399661230838932007-04-16T19:22:00.000-04:002007-04-16T19:22:00.000-04:00Ooooooh! I was about to type a question when I fig...Ooooooh! I was about to type a question when I figured out my answer—wow, this threw me off. Three out of the four anagrammed clues had the anagram at the end (AVENGERS, FBI AGENTS and ADMIRERS), but BLESSING was at the beginning of the clue. I've been staring at the puzzle trying to figure out how in the aitch-e-double-hockey-sticks DISGUISE turned into B SINGLES. Doh.<BR/><BR/>PS, never in 100 years would I have figured out the anagram thing without reading this blog. I was thinking, "well, MARRIEDS admire each other, but DISARMER? eh, it's a stretch." Now I get it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54548044982628670682007-04-16T15:23:00.000-04:002007-04-16T15:23:00.000-04:00I just this minute finally decided to tackle this ...I just this minute finally decided to tackle this puzzle, and it was, indeed, a bear. I had already heard about some of the more difficult fill and I STILL struggled a good deal. I too am not fond of the cross-referenced clues. That said, I actually thought this one was Clever. The difficulty level was as hard as any Sunday I've done since I started blogging, I think. Some easy stuff, but lots of Friday-level stuff. <BR/><BR/>RPRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54287140323726220592007-04-16T14:50:00.000-04:002007-04-16T14:50:00.000-04:00I HATED this puzzle, and I love anagrams! I disli...I HATED this puzzle, and I love anagrams! I dislike puzzles with even one or two clues that cross reference each other, so one where the friggin' theme depended on not one, but TWO cross-references per clue was particulary irritating. <BR/><BR/>Cross-referenced clues are bad enough on the weekday puzzles, but on Sunday's much larger grid it was just incredibly cumbersome and IRE- (cause of an explosion) inducing.<BR/><BR/>And I love anagrams! <BR/><BR/>Sheesh.<BR/><BR/>D in CODebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675331024091722316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82361327602291702122007-04-15T22:06:00.000-04:002007-04-15T22:06:00.000-04:00After reading all the comments, I am feeling prett...After reading all the comments, I am feeling pretty smug. 3 cups of tea in the AM and a couple of coffee in the afternoon, but I got it finished, and only googled Neptune for NAIAD, and some other answers to check; CARNELIAN, MOLOCH, and BELK, for instance. Figured ONCE out, but AITCH and the anagram thingie went over my head. (Anagrams are not my favorite mental exercise.)<BR/><BR/>All in all, I enjoyed this puzzle. Well.....I guess I enjoy them all once they are solved, but I usually panic when filling the second cup with only 5 or 6 short words in the grid. <BR/><BR/>Oops, I just discovered AMERANTH in my grid. (turns down smugness a notch or two)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-475044503788735802007-04-15T20:30:00.000-04:002007-04-15T20:30:00.000-04:00Okay, I'm still not done! Too obscure and way out...Okay, I'm still not done! Too obscure and way out there for me. Thanks for the help...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9860903799557471262007-04-15T20:24:00.000-04:002007-04-15T20:24:00.000-04:00One week later here and I agree that this puzzle ...One week later here and I agree that this puzzle was difficult and not very much fun. I figured out the anagram theme after I finished it. This is the first time since I swore off dictionaries and googleing that I've had to go back to google. Way too many very obscure answers for me to do this without help (e.g. naiad, moloch, ecus, nimes, ares, saone, bairds, isaac, ft smith, threebody, gwenn, et. al). Also, way to many forced words (taverner ?). Hats off to those who completed this on their own. I did like the "once" answer. I had the v from lever and my san diego spanish kicked and gave me eleven.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9756962336740204962007-04-14T23:52:00.000-04:002007-04-14T23:52:00.000-04:00Glad to see that others thought this puzzle was pa...Glad to see that others thought this puzzle was particularly irritating. Had to use the internet to find the answers to some clues and then I discovered your site. Yea! The "once across the Rio Grande" was both confusing yet wonderfully clever once one realizes it's the Spanish word for 11. Same goes for "It begins here." This puzzle seemed to be more technically difficult, however, than most of them, and not that satisfying, in my opinion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44117707497962190202007-04-14T07:30:00.000-04:002007-04-14T07:30:00.000-04:00Hi all, I just came across this blog a little whil...Hi all, I just came across this blog a little while ago, and I love it.<BR/><BR/>Regarding this puzzle, just wanted to say that I'm Mexican and couldn't figure out ELEVEN until I read it here!!! I was so sure it was UNA VEZ that I never looked back... big mistake!!<BR/><BR/>All the best.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903269374515893263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84494830798005854492007-04-09T17:16:00.000-04:002007-04-09T17:16:00.000-04:00Hey, Queen(-for-a-day) Linda: You know how Rex ten...Hey, Queen(-for-a-day) Linda: You know how Rex tends to pepper the blog with retro cheesecake photos? And some of the guest bloggers have followed suit? How about some beefcake for those of us who aren't straight men or lesbians into retro cheesecake? Bring us the beefcake!Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76841790402687414832007-04-09T09:34:00.000-04:002007-04-09T09:34:00.000-04:00Bibi and Kiki? I'd rather be named Mamie.Bibi and Kiki? I'd rather be named Mamie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20180562398257958092007-04-08T22:24:00.000-04:002007-04-08T22:24:00.000-04:00Yep - somewhat more difficult than the usual Sunda...Yep - somewhat more difficult than the usual Sunday puzzle. Glad I started this out in pencil (many erasures...arg).<BR/><BR/>Even though I am terrible at scrabble and anagrams in general, I liked having these in today's puzzle - found them quite colorful among all that obscure fill. And I was amused by B SINGLES and B GIRLS and BIBI Andersson, not to mention LBJ, BE NICE, and ENTEBBE. Heck of a lot of "B's" in there, Byron.<BR/><BR/>Coleman, thanks for filling in the blanks! (ESTADOS and BIG D eluded me.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60775547663144173272007-04-08T20:56:00.000-04:002007-04-08T20:56:00.000-04:00Oh. Give me the dunce cap.Oh. Give me the dunce cap.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51995536853398403122007-04-08T19:13:00.000-04:002007-04-08T19:13:00.000-04:00It is supposed to be Algebra I , as in a course.It is supposed to be Algebra I , as in a course.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19389504266883808762007-04-08T19:10:00.001-04:002007-04-08T19:10:00.001-04:00I have to agree with many folks here -- First of a...I have to agree with many folks here -- First of all, I tend to not like puzzles where you have to go "all around the mulberry bush" with clues tied together. I know others do but for me they are just kind of a pain. And not that much fun. Even when I saw that such was the case I was willing to stick it out. <BR/><BR/>Then when I uncovered clues like "ceramist," "taverner," and oh my goodness "beerest"??!! I started to wonder about whether I should spend my whole Sunday am on it. Got 2/3 through and decided to move on. <BR/><BR/>I can tell it is clever construction and I'm glad others liked it. But, for me, too many words that are really not words people use.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, though, Coleman -- good write-up!<BR/><BR/>See you tomorrow, Linda.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24730484914009996282007-04-08T19:10:00.000-04:002007-04-08T19:10:00.000-04:00Well, AITCH EE EL EL! Many thanks, Donald. I was...Well, AITCH EE EL EL! Many thanks, Donald. I was about to GO MAD trying to figure that out! Guess I need to retake English I as well as ALGEBRA I.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7818343020933441412007-04-08T18:13:00.000-04:002007-04-08T18:13:00.000-04:00ColmanWhat's with all the old cheesecake?Colman<BR/><BR/>What's with all the old cheesecake?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42520645042717993672007-04-08T18:03:00.000-04:002007-04-08T18:03:00.000-04:00One word "aitch" defined as "combination of primar...One word "aitch" defined as "combination of primary vowel (a) with consonantal symbols intended to exemplify the former quality of the sound" -- the letter H. Also used as an adjective, "shaped like an H".<BR/><BR/>The clue "It begins here" might read -- It begins the word "here".DONALDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17398968047673788006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7540670606729359412007-04-08T17:53:00.000-04:002007-04-08T17:53:00.000-04:00Ok, thanks folks, I now get the answers "AN I" and...Ok, thanks folks, I now get the answers "AN I" and "ELEVEN". Wicked! So sorry to be dull, but can some kind soul explain to me how "A ITCH" answers the clue "it begins here" ???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7178414422665969172007-04-08T17:15:00.000-04:002007-04-08T17:15:00.000-04:00I HATE anagrams! Once I got the long answers I had...I HATE anagrams! Once I got the long answers I had to pull out the Scrabble tiles to figure out the crossed anagrams. I _thought_ 129A was a gimmee -- roof and flag? Must be RAISETHE. So that made the lower right corner a pain.ScottKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11490129451879399528noreply@blogger.com