tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1023308699358736896..comments2024-03-29T03:22:09.826-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: WEDNESDAY, Jun. 11, Daniel Kantor (GRID GREAT GRIER)Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77992158880127785832008-06-12T01:21:00.000-04:002008-06-12T01:21:00.000-04:00Also crwths has an undefined consonant-to-vowel ra...Also crwths has an undefined consonant-to-vowel ratio, even if you count Y.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70401323883310236562008-06-12T01:20:00.000-04:002008-06-12T01:20:00.000-04:00Syzygy is the best hangman word. No true vowels an...Syzygy is the best hangman word. No true vowels and only one of the hegemonic RSTLN quintet, plus a Z. If/when they guess Y and see the evenly spaced triumvirate, their expression is one of shock and awe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88027451374254407042008-06-11T23:57:00.000-04:002008-06-11T23:57:00.000-04:00Checking in late here, and having trouble keeping ...Checking in late here, and having trouble keeping track of the trouts and Snerts... But I wanted to say to Rex that Beirut, when not being bombed, is totally beautiful. It has some of the best beaches in the world, and some amazing vegetation. The campus of the American University of Beirut (AUB) is lush and lovely, and you look out and there is the beautiful sea.. Near the center of campus, there is a fantastic banyan tree that rivals the ones you see in Hawaii. Kids love to swing from its hanging branches. Sadly, under that tree is a plaque in memory of a past president of AUB (Malcom Kerr) who was was murdered by terrorists... So, in the end, it is very sad, but the beauty makes it all the more poignant... <BR/>http://www.noeltaylor.com/Lebanon-06/2-01-AUB_banyan.jpgfoodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83143256466907828222008-06-11T22:38:00.000-04:002008-06-11T22:38:00.000-04:00Oh, the horror! Oh, the humani--Oh, the horror! Oh, the humani--Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46303445451718212782008-06-11T22:06:00.000-04:002008-06-11T22:06:00.000-04:00My first Wednesday finish as a NYT newcomer. I'm k...My first Wednesday finish as a NYT newcomer. I'm kind of discouraged Rex found it to be one of the easiest "in recent memory" but happy nonetheless!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69102511749696876972008-06-11T21:54:00.000-04:002008-06-11T21:54:00.000-04:00love this blog - fantastic! my eleven year old so...love this blog - fantastic! my eleven year old son and i just finished the crossword with your help - a memorable bonding experience, we'll be back tomorrow! thanks and bravo for your cleverness!harleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03529291842657066173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82733564452133693372008-06-11T21:34:00.000-04:002008-06-11T21:34:00.000-04:00Speaking of convergence/synchronicity- yesterday a...Speaking of convergence/synchronicity- yesterday at the airport I saw a guy wearing a t-shirt that looked just like the album cover of AJA (all black with just the red and white. I had that same t-shirt back when I was in college (Steely Dan fan that I am). Then AJA shows up in the puzzle today and to top it off, Rex puts a picture of the album cover in the blog (even though the word has shown up countless times without being featured so prominently).<BR/><BR/>The puzzle tripped me up some, though. I had "cadet" for PLEBE and "near" for NIGH and thus put in "AMX" for GTO (and thought the constructor was pretty cool at that point). Some others had the potential to trip up but I lucked out on the first try.Doc Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90308012653149890112008-06-11T20:36:00.000-04:002008-06-11T20:36:00.000-04:00I thought the theme was fine and like lie ability....I thought the theme was fine and like lie ability. But this puzzle had way too much crosswordese for my taste. Here's a list: plebe, kiln, taboo, cri, gto, rosey, ars, dees, ari, otoe, aeons, aida, lsd, snert, aja, oast, btus, ots, eero, icbm, yds, serta, eieio<BR/><BR/> I know that people will disagree with me about some of use and understand that a certain amount of crosswordese is necessary of make a puzzle work and admire the ability of constructors and so forth. But still...Michael Chibnikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04700426644898924644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60165912630833384622008-06-11T20:14:00.000-04:002008-06-11T20:14:00.000-04:00@leon never mind. I found the diagonal snert@leon never mind. I found the diagonal snertchefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45187637322313794542008-06-11T20:08:00.000-04:002008-06-11T20:08:00.000-04:00jannieb,If you're touring around San Francisco and...jannieb,<BR/><BR/>If you're touring around San Francisco and the Napa Valley, I'm sure there are quite a few Rexians who could offer helpful suggestions. <BR/><BR/>In a sort of northern California way, I can offer a bit of guidance in a ecasual, circumstantial way. Meaning something like if you're at the Ferry Plaza and don't know whether to go to Oakland or Marin for a good dinner, that would depend on a bunch of hoc considerations. I'm a pretty keen geographer of the region.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49985331797620414782008-06-11T19:43:00.000-04:002008-06-11T19:43:00.000-04:00@leon where is snert diagonally? cant see it. may...@leon where is snert diagonally? cant see it. maybe i've had too much sage stuffed troutchefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23015647955474362002008-06-11T19:29:00.000-04:002008-06-11T19:29:00.000-04:00@leonNow THAT's what I'm talking about...totally W...@leon<BR/>Now THAT's what I'm talking about...totally Where's Waldo/Where's SNERT moment!<BR/>Good eye!!!!!!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47577129140430877762008-06-11T19:17:00.000-04:002008-06-11T19:17:00.000-04:00Nice puzzle Mr.Kantor.SNERT can also be found diag...Nice puzzle Mr.Kantor.<BR/><BR/>SNERT can also be found diagonally in the bottom middle section.Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07466240197659721721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74256811323793307362008-06-11T19:14:00.000-04:002008-06-11T19:14:00.000-04:00There are some phrases that show up in NYT crosswo...There are some phrases that show up in NYT crosswords which have all the vowels in order: HALF SERIOUSLY, GAME MISCONDUCT, LATE NIGHT HOUR, TAKE IT OUT, WANDERING SOUL, WATERING TROUGH.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14717097182233540502008-06-11T19:13:00.000-04:002008-06-11T19:13:00.000-04:00Lieability. HaHaHa. That makes me happy.Lieability. HaHaHa. That makes me happy.Chip Ahoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12597726289890879627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9309054436800841122008-06-11T18:52:00.001-04:002008-06-11T18:52:00.001-04:00"Right, like I'll ever stop drinking," he said fac..."Right, like I'll ever stop drinking," he said facetiously and abstemiously.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16459902055000152962008-06-11T18:52:00.000-04:002008-06-11T18:52:00.000-04:00@anonThere are two:ABSTENTIOUSLY and MARVEILLOUSLY...@anon<BR/>There are two:<BR/>ABSTENTIOUSLY and MARVEILLOUSLY (rare)<BR/> <BR/>HAREIOUSLY yours,<BR/>Sage TroutAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84044301843344836992008-06-11T18:50:00.000-04:002008-06-11T18:50:00.000-04:00@anon 6:40 - facetious(ly)?@anon 6:40 - facetious(ly)?imsdave1https://www.blogger.com/profile/05801936953212432824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39373685487382724692008-06-11T18:49:00.000-04:002008-06-11T18:49:00.000-04:00Evil Doug, only you have the power to save me from...Evil Doug, only you have the power to save me from chefbea1. I shall swear my everlasting soul to you, Evil Doug.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48198532454324110502008-06-11T18:40:00.000-04:002008-06-11T18:40:00.000-04:00On the theme of strange concentrations of vowels, ...On the theme of strange concentrations of vowels, can anyone name the English word with all 5 vowels in order (6 if you count"y")?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24353027710928626132008-06-11T18:37:00.001-04:002008-06-11T18:37:00.001-04:00In ink? Damn posers!Right, Rex?DougBallpoint, Ohio...In ink? Damn posers!<BR/>Right, Rex?<BR/><BR/>Doug<BR/>Ballpoint, OhioAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44485577595786060662008-06-11T18:37:00.000-04:002008-06-11T18:37:00.000-04:00I suspect newbie crossworders salt away their (our...I suspect newbie crossworders salt away their (our) crosswordese in batches of words that they (we) somehow remember and respond to together. New words would have to "hang on" something in a memory, even (or especially) something made up for the occasion. Many comments here have constructed such images for those who check in (chefbea's menus, stories from real life, even simple repetition of new words, like NABE a while back). Ernes in aeries on crags, likewise; or today, Otoes making oasts, reinforced by KILN in the grid on the same day...<BR/><BR/>I know for a fact that I know more about AIDA from xwords than from anywhere else, a little jumble of images that seem to stick reliably together (and pleasantly enough that I might one day seek out the thing itself). Sports fill, though, almost always eludes me. Maybe if I remember it as "sports fill," not "trivia about sports figures and games about which I know nothing," I'll do better. OREL fits in that category I think, ditto "diamond data" and I believe I learned Mickey Mantel's # (seven) from a crossword. Maybe even TARA Lipinski? Brian somebody...oh but it's sketchy out there in sportsland. <BR/><BR/>Memory and creativity are amazing things--and what crosswords do with them is interesting too. At some level it seems to me the crosswords are "about" themselves, and how we play with them--which is one reason this blog is so great. <BR/><BR/>BTW: snow in Laramie, Wyo., today. 11th of June. Probably not the last.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60185668951760860892008-06-11T18:36:00.000-04:002008-06-11T18:36:00.000-04:00I suspect newbie crossworders salt away their (our...I suspect newbie crossworders salt away their (our) crosswordese in batches of words that they (we) somehow remember and respond to together. New words would have to "hang on" something in a memory, even (or especially) something made up for the occasion. Many comments here have constructed such images for those who check in (chefbea's menus, stories from real life, even simple repetition of new words, like NABE a while back). Ernes in aeries on crags, likewise; or today, Otoes making oasts, reinforced by KILN in the grid on the same day...<BR/><BR/>I know for a fact that I know more about AIDA from xwords than from anywhere else, a little jumble of images that seem to stick reliably together (and pleasantly enough that I might one day seek out the thing itself). Sports fill, though, almost always eludes me. Maybe if I remember it as "sports fill," not "trivia about sports figures and games about which I know nothing," I'll do better. OREL fits in that category I think, ditto "diamond data" and I believe I learned Mickey Mantel's # (seven) from a crossword. Maybe even TARA Lipinski? Brian somebody...oh but it's sketchy out there in sportsland. <BR/><BR/>Memory and creativity are amazing things--and what crosswords do with them is interesting too. At some level it seems to me the crosswords are "about" themselves, and how we play with them--which is one reason this blog is so great. <BR/><BR/>BTW: snow in Laramie, Wyo., today. 11th of June. Probably not the last.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90004935885469416052008-06-11T18:15:00.000-04:002008-06-11T18:15:00.000-04:00@archaeoprofYou weren't imagining it...according t...@archaeoprof<BR/>You weren't imagining it...according to the cruciverb database CINNAMON only used twice:<BR/>Robert Wolfe Sun Feb 3, 2002 (Sn?)<BR/>and by THE Brendan Emmett Quigley almost ten years ago in the NYT on Thurs, Nov 19, 1998.<BR/><BR/>Love that database!<BR/><BR/>I now feel compelled to check some of my entries against the database to make sure they are acceptable for a Monday.<BR/>Occasionally I will stumble upon something that hasn't been used before, but not bec it's inappropriate/unacceptable, it's simply never been used to my surprise.<BR/>e.g. I had MANDOLIN and was shocked it wasn't in there...<BR/>but, as with CINNAMON, prob more the odds are at 8 letters it's simply a longish entry so less likely to have come up.<BR/><BR/>@margaret<BR/>I too cannot see ICBM without thinking Bill Clinton/Wordplay which is where I learned the word.<BR/><BR/>I do think, as Joon pointed out, the perceived easiness of this puzzle has more to do with our getting acclimated to words like AJA (new to me this year) or OTOE with an E<BR/>than to not deserving to be a Wed.<BR/><BR/>The theme seemed Monday-esque, but with five themed entries and a nice pun, I think that's what bumps it to a Tues or Wed...tho I've never been totally clear about that!<BR/><BR/>And Artlvr pointed out a ton of "pleasing pairs" that seemed quite clever.<BR/><BR/>I'm not just saying this as a Monday constructor, nor is this addressed to Rex (as obviously I'm addicted to this blog and it's all about the subtleties of the puzzle),<BR/> but I do believe this new-ish emphasis on solving speed does cause a lot of solvers to miss a lot of the subtler touches of a puzzle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23379428400687138612008-06-11T18:09:00.000-04:002008-06-11T18:09:00.000-04:00@trout stuffed with sage who are you? that was m...@trout stuffed with sage who are you? that was my recipe!!!!chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.com