tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post9110024312588790049..comments2024-03-29T08:45:20.722-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: MONDAY, Jul. 21, 2008 - Gilbert H. Ludwig (FURBYS OR YO-YOS, ONCE / 1975 TITLE ROLE FOR LYNN REDGRAVE)Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43145001503552373492008-08-26T22:37:00.000-04:002008-08-26T22:37:00.000-04:00TALL TALE in this case probably refers to a sailor...TALL TALE in this case probably refers to a sailor's "yarn" in the sense of story and not literally a piece of yarn. A whopper, in other words.embienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01991001167394653649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90471927440969438932008-07-24T22:55:00.000-04:002008-07-24T22:55:00.000-04:00Only problem with TALL TALE is that it should be T...Only problem with TALL TALE is that it should be TELL TALE. That's got to be a (rare) Will Shortz error. A tall tale is a lie; a tell-tale is a piece of yarn or fabric on the sail that indicates proper sail trim: <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tell-tale" REL="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tell-tale</A>.<BR/><BR/>Unless there is some other sailing application to TALL TALE that I'm unaware of.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89113673583078027302008-07-22T04:00:00.000-04:002008-07-22T04:00:00.000-04:00ps Re: puzzleLoved the construction and theme, wis...ps Re: puzzle<BR/>Loved the construction and theme, wish I had thought of it, (tho with movies at least of this century!)<BR/><BR/>it did have sort of a musty factor to it...like it's finally ok to have "hooker" in a puzzle, 30 years later and be considered cutting edge ofr it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91119449463299348812008-07-22T03:57:00.000-04:002008-07-22T03:57:00.000-04:00it's like that old Jewish joke...WHy do men die be...it's like that old Jewish joke...<BR/>WHy do men die before their wives?<BR/>Bec they want to.<BR/><BR/><BR/>(Hmmm, maybe something got lost in the Yiddish translation...Ulrich?)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31973746137627390442008-07-22T02:50:00.000-04:002008-07-22T02:50:00.000-04:00Great puzzle, or perhaps I'm just chuffed to have ...Great puzzle, or perhaps I'm just chuffed to have finished this in a few minutes... was quite surprised to see the word HOOKER in the crossword though!<BR/><BR/>I also liked that the middle reads "A MAN SLATES THE MERRY WIDOW", whatever that means!Darylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04496381028501467886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52254482377007716102008-07-21T23:50:00.000-04:002008-07-21T23:50:00.000-04:00I usually don't post this late on the East Coast, ...I usually don't post this late on the East Coast, but since Rex is on NZ time, I figured I could still add my two cents (or, the 2-cent coin that they used to have in NZ; do they even have 1-cent coins anymore?).<BR/><BR/>For Rex:<BR/>Well, yes, "The Gay Divorcee" might be respectable, but the broadway musical on which it was based was "The Gay Divorce" and, as per IMDB.com, the censors were having none of that and made them change it.<BR/><BR/>For Ulrich and others:<BR/>As a reminder, it is a well-known statistical fact that single women (whether never married, widowed, or divorced) live longer than married women as compared to men, who do better if they are married. Now, I wonder why that is? :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6734627253927821972008-07-21T22:28:00.000-04:002008-07-21T22:28:00.000-04:00@mac: As I understand it, Maultaschen are a kind ...@mac: As I understand it, Maultaschen are a kind of dumpling, akin to ravioli, pierogi, won ton, kreplach, etc. Hamantashen, on the other hand, are baked pastries. The dough is leavened either with yeast or with baking powder. Maybe the "taschen" part of the names refers to the pocket-like form.miriam bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506593846362044050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48326670740135506092008-07-21T20:45:00.001-04:002008-07-21T20:45:00.001-04:00@ulrich:You are right, in Dutch a animal mouth is ...@ulrich:<BR/>You are right, in Dutch a animal mouth is a bek, a human one mond, again with the exception of the horse.<BR/><BR/>Also, this hamantashen is probably related to a Maultaschen, don't you think?<BR/><BR/>I think the nicest explanation of the name Essen has Ash trees as its origin.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52147274847238689482008-07-21T20:45:00.000-04:002008-07-21T20:45:00.000-04:00I never took German, and am completely illiterate ...I never took German, and am completely illiterate in foreign languages - other than what I've learned from xword puzzles. (I did take French & Spanish in school but I retained very little). But I do know that when I speak my version of German to my standard poodle, Willie, (who was namewd after my favorite baseball player), he listens & obeys. Ex: Sittenze Downenze Dogenze or Givenze Pawenze, or Rollenze Overenze. No fooling it works - try it with your dog! He also sits by my side when I do the puzzle at home, waiting to offer me help if I need it. On a Thursday puzzle the clue might be "Its over your head" and then he would have an opportunity to contribute!!!alanrichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06395356843823270129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20610065410764503002008-07-21T20:23:00.000-04:002008-07-21T20:23:00.000-04:00@steve I: It took a while to research your questio...@steve I: It took a while to research your question as to why a city would be called "eat". I did this not only to answer your question, but also to respond to a question half of America must be asking since Essen, if we trust xword puzzles, is the most famous city in Germany.<BR/><BR/>So here goes: The general impression in Germany is that the name refers to the fact that <I>Essen</I> does not only mean "to eat", but is also the plural of <I>Esse</I>--"chimney". Given Essen's significance as the "Pittsburgh of Germany", that isn't so far-fetched. But this convenient legend is not true. Through two millenia, the name underwent the following changes: Astnidum, Astanidum, Asbidi, Asnid, Assinde, Asnida, Assindia, Essendia, Esnede, Essende, Essend, Essen. Another interesting thing: Nobody seems to know what the word initially meant! This gives you an idea of what the American cities miss by not being that old!Ulrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34493536924270983042008-07-21T20:01:00.000-04:002008-07-21T20:01:00.000-04:00@fergus your are right. when the waiter makes the ...@fergus your are right. when the waiter makes the caesar salad at your table, he beats an egg to put on the salad along with the anchovies, oil, vinegar etcchefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-418689392070530032008-07-21T19:47:00.000-04:002008-07-21T19:47:00.000-04:00Those model names on your Nissan are the original ...Those model names on your Nissan are the original Japanese names. The car probably spent the first few years of its life in Japan and then shipped out to the used car markets overseas (as is done w/ most cars in Japan). Silly use of English is rampant in Japan, much of it hilarious!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492013684823860135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83227415234691462092008-07-21T19:34:00.000-04:002008-07-21T19:34:00.000-04:00... and CAESAR is also a salad with another sort o...... and CAESAR is also a salad with another sort of dressing, the creaminess of which ought to come from a raw egg, I believe. Developed in Tijuana, not Rome, apparently.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84690016849320157232008-07-21T19:22:00.000-04:002008-07-21T19:22:00.000-04:00CAESAR, it seems, was not an emperor. He was dicta...CAESAR, it seems, was not an emperor. He was dictator for life of the Roman Republic. His successor, Augustus, was the first emperor of the Roman Empire.Pythiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06121774603671545699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32419601231139202362008-07-21T18:31:00.000-04:002008-07-21T18:31:00.000-04:00Glad you're having fun down under. It's a great pl...Glad you're having fun down under. It's a great place. If you have time, do a little trout fishing...great fun on a fly.<BR/><BR/>CAPER/CABAL (like Jae, above) gave me a little trouble but I remembered two of the movie titles for some reason and it all fell in. <BR/><BR/>BTW, when I was a kid, I had a big crush on EVA MARIE Saint. Sigh.<BR/><BR/>Best of luck with the house/lot hunting. I don't envy your flight back though...ugh. Drink heavily.The Asian Badgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15099126490170266724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79858253901752287832008-07-21T18:13:00.000-04:002008-07-21T18:13:00.000-04:00From "Six Months in a Leaky Boat," by Split Enz:"A...From "Six Months in a Leaky Boat," by Split Enz:<BR/><BR/>"<A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aotearoa" REL="nofollow">Aotearoa</A> / Rugged individual / Glisten like a pearl / At the bottom of the world"<BR/><BR/>OK, that does it. Tomorrow's write-up will feature some Finn Brothers music.<BR/><BR/>Off to second breakfast.<BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44973184873033670052008-07-21T18:04:00.000-04:002008-07-21T18:04:00.000-04:00@wade,Yes, Crowded House is Kiwi. Neil Finn is a F...@wade,<BR/><BR/>Yes, Crowded House is Kiwi. Neil Finn is a Fantastic songwriter. Split Enz was a mainstay of early early MTV. I learned my first Maori words from Neil and Tim Finn songs. Every day during my first semester in college, after my last morning class (Calc II), I would come home and put on Crowded House (self-titled album) and blast the first song: "Mean to Me," the lyrics to which begin:<BR/><BR/>"She came all the way from America / She had a blind date with destiny / And the sound of <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Awamutu" REL="nofollow">Te Awamutu</A> / Had a truly sacred ring / Now her parents are divorced / And her friend's committing suicide ..." <BR/><BR/>The lyrics may seem cryptic, but the song is Amazing. I saw Crowded House at the Pantages in Hollywood in 1989. T-shirt from that concert is currently the only concert T-shirt I own besides a Lucinda Williams shirt from three summers ago. <BR/><BR/>I swear this all has something to do with xwords.<BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91500669090180376642008-07-21T17:45:00.000-04:002008-07-21T17:45:00.000-04:00Lots of gut geschmacken goin' on here. @Seth G - ...Lots of gut geschmacken goin' on here. <BR/><BR/>@Seth G - My kind of food. I couldn't find a Scotch Egg in Scotland; didn't look for ostrich-on-a-stick in Africa; where's that Uffda stand?<BR/><BR/>Never been to Ao Tea Roa - hope Rex is enjoying his stay.Bill Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13741876820211768387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39312614088071182492008-07-21T17:33:00.000-04:002008-07-21T17:33:00.000-04:00@ulrich: Well, guess what? You're hilarious, too. ...@ulrich: Well, guess what? You're hilarious, too. I took German in Hochschule: Ich mochte etwas zu essen und trinken!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87309760073187302042008-07-21T17:31:00.000-04:002008-07-21T17:31:00.000-04:00@wade I beg to differ about ranch dressing being ...@wade I beg to differ about ranch dressing being cucumber soup. I just made cucumber soup last week. yummm. Ranch dressing has nary a cucumber in it. It is mainly buttermilk, mayo, sourcream and seasonings.<BR/><BR/>what would be good is to use some ranch dressing as a dip for all the crisps that Rex is going to bring back from NZchefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15635959749912877312008-07-21T17:02:00.000-04:002008-07-21T17:02:00.000-04:00A few years ago my wife and I decided to make cold...A few years ago my wife and I decided to make cold cucumber soup. It's hot here, we like cucumbers, we like soup, it sounded like just what the doctor ordered, so we made about five gallons of the stuff. You know what it turned out to be? A great big vat of ranch dressing. That's what cucumber soup is. Ranch dressing.<BR/><BR/>Is Crowded House from New Zealand? That was a good band. Neil Finn wrote a beautiful song with Richard Thompson called "Persuasion" that's one of my all-time favorite songs.RodeoToadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03374112725461339067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8857069294626100332008-07-21T16:47:00.000-04:002008-07-21T16:47:00.000-04:00@joho: I dont zink vat alan said iss so hilarious-...@joho: I dont zink vat alan said iss so hilarious--its ze truz. Ant if you dont belief me, ve heff vays to persvade you.Ulrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50881444095792655352008-07-21T16:45:00.000-04:002008-07-21T16:45:00.000-04:00@doc john: "BTW, hamantashan, those triangular tre...@doc john: "BTW, hamantashan, those triangular treats eaten typically on Purim (but now thankfully available the rest of the year), are based on Haman's famously tricornered hat."<BR/><BR/>Not available the rest of the year on Vancouver Island. Please ship some out. Prune, not poppy seed.<BR/><BR/>Oh no, now I'm talking about food on this site! You got me. Sigh. <BR/><BR/>Was there a puzzle today? Oh yeah; something about happily unmarried women. I will hide it from my wife.Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01699404861773455504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33509690382922033502008-07-21T16:35:00.000-04:002008-07-21T16:35:00.000-04:00@sethg scotch eggs yummm@doc john hamantashen yum...@sethg scotch eggs yummm<BR/><BR/>@doc john hamantashen yumm<BR/><BR/>@rex cant wait for the crispschefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65613430493753461562008-07-21T16:32:00.000-04:002008-07-21T16:32:00.000-04:00Even with the soldier I was thinking along about C...Even with the soldier I was thinking along about Community Supported Agriculture, for which I sort of a secondary evangelist. I assume most people know by now how a CSA works, so maybe the soldier was the delivery guy?<BR/><BR/>Speaking of the potato chip, I was searching in the local convenience store, and couldn't find an unflavored chip. Not that there was much variety, however -- just a bunch of combinations of cheesiness and ranch (what is ranch???); the temperature range went from icy cool to flaming hot, with nothing in between.<BR/><BR/>Thought Orly would have made a better parallel with HEATHROW, since CDG is too recent an addition, though I really don't know about the contemporary comparative importance of the Parisian airports.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.com