tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1144020959263541159..comments2024-03-29T06:32:07.322-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: WEDNESDAY, Dec. 10, 2008 - Joe Krozel (Globe circler of 1889-90 / Ingredient in a witches' brew / Kraut modifier / Mohawked actor 80s TV)Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83457559631649219772009-01-16T00:46:00.000-05:002009-01-16T00:46:00.000-05:00Had "eager" to please, and "attn" for memo start. ...Had "eager" to please, and "attn" for memo start. I've seen better.Charlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01390300490315841794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32812719649550410092009-01-14T17:50:00.000-05:002009-01-14T17:50:00.000-05:00Five weeks later. Just to inform you that you can ...Five weeks later. Just to inform you that you can see a nice picture of almost any bird, should it be unfamiliar to you, by googling the name of the bird and clicking on the Cornell Lab site that will come up. There are about 10,000 bird species in the world, and many, many are incredibly beautiful.<BR/><BR/>As a birder, I almost always get the clues involving bird names correct, unless a generic word such as seagull or ern is used, which is not the name of any specie of bird, and a term no birder would ever use.<BR/> ---Chris in LAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26231033360973051412009-01-14T17:03:00.000-05:002009-01-14T17:03:00.000-05:00@ matthewThere's a rhyme scheme?After rereading: W...@ matthew<BR/>There's a rhyme scheme?<BR/>After rereading: Well, sometimes.<BR/>Thanks to whoever posted the beautiful bird photos.<BR/>Count me as one who found the puzzle quite fun. Was surprised at Rex and others' negative response.Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15377668158107804376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67219446199035425372009-01-14T16:38:00.000-05:002009-01-14T16:38:00.000-05:00I agree with Rex. I am reminded of Samuel Johnson'...I agree with Rex. I am reminded of Samuel Johnson's observation about a dog walking on its hind legs: it's not that he can do it so well, but that he can do it at all. Just because you can do something doesn't mean that you have to do it.<BR/><BR/>When it fell into place (which it did quite quickly in the New England corner) I thought that all four squares might be exactly the same. No <B>that</B> would have been an accomplishment.<BR/><BR/>My final reaction was, "Well, that was interesting. Boring, but interesting."Old Alhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13305991496125087088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67544734001612473302009-01-14T13:18:00.000-05:002009-01-14T13:18:00.000-05:00From Wikipedia:The French (singular and plural) is...From Wikipedia:<BR/>The French (singular and plural) is hors d'œuvre; in English, the œ ligature is usually replaced by the 2-letter sequence "oe" with the plural often written as "hors d'oeuvres" ...<BR/>HTH.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11757170805697711598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51163872968652143952008-12-11T01:40:00.000-05:002008-12-11T01:40:00.000-05:00I wasn't entirely thrilled about this puzzle, but ...I wasn't entirely thrilled about this puzzle, but I've seen far worse.<BR/><BR/>I'm sort of disappointed that Krozel didn't take the low road and throw a Y into one of the squares. I remember being taught A, E, I O, U, and sometimes Y.Christopher Casúrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14960921523118571934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51477511502734743622008-12-11T00:35:00.000-05:002008-12-11T00:35:00.000-05:00Oh Andrea, if there is anything you are not lackin...Oh Andrea, if there is anything you are not lacking, it is color!Vegahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01893157908004486201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30696225427792139142008-12-10T23:52:00.000-05:002008-12-10T23:52:00.000-05:00chefbea, I insist that the plural is properly hors...chefbea, I insist that the plural is properly hors d'oeuvre, and that the "s" sneaked in there when we weren't looking.miriam bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506593846362044050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50234590865454521142008-12-10T22:45:00.000-05:002008-12-10T22:45:00.000-05:00@fergus and andrea: what a diverse group Rex has b...@fergus and andrea: what a diverse group Rex has brought together on this site. After meeting a couple of them in person, I can tell the rest of you that it only gets better! Get your reservations for Feb/March!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60666230578968073542008-12-10T21:53:00.000-05:002008-12-10T21:53:00.000-05:00Negress Andrea, what a dulcet toneto come from one...Negress Andrea, <BR/><BR/>what a dulcet tone<BR/>to come from one<BR/>clipped blonde Jewessfergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61269678995723894772008-12-10T21:34:00.000-05:002008-12-10T21:34:00.000-05:00@miriamb I think Hors doeuvre is singular. Hors d...@miriamb I think Hors doeuvre is singular. Hors doeuvres is plural. I can make one hors doeuvre for a party or many hors doeuvres.chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53741563994003742252008-12-10T21:17:00.000-05:002008-12-10T21:17:00.000-05:00@SCOTUS AddictI thought you were male bec I "perce...@SCOTUS Addict<BR/>I thought you were male bec I "perceived" SCOTUS as a torutred version of SCOTT.<BR/><BR/>@edithb<BR/>How very "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"! :)<BR/><BR/>As a solver, I'm very aware of words proximity shouting out to/at me!<BR/><BR/>It's not lookng for a conspiracy reading into a puzzle or to consider proximity of words as synchronicty or tone poems or whatever, therein lies the joy!<BR/><BR/>(Emily Cureton has based a wonderful career on that!)<BR/><BR/>Most of the time I love it, some of the times I hate it, or at least find it ironic or blissfully unaware, like when NAZI crossed MEIR a few weeks back.<BR/><BR/>Switching hats, speaking as a constructor, (or as Jane Doh hilariously pointed out, occasional "guest") I'm super/hyper aware of words in the fill and what is next to what...<BR/>almost obsessively so.!<BR/>(just as Michael Blake or any of my co-conspirators/constructors!)<BR/><BR/>I still say entertainment HAS to trump constructive feats, but of course BOTH would be the best case scenario. Look at Ashish (insert long crazy last name here) or Kevin Der or Patrick Blindauer!<BR/><BR/>For the record, if any one wants to know MY preference in being addressed, I prefer "person lacking color" or, if push comes to shove, "negress".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60932439414388182782008-12-10T21:10:00.000-05:002008-12-10T21:10:00.000-05:00@Matthew: Interesting poem by FEDerico Garcia Lor...@Matthew: Interesting poem by FEDerico Garcia Lorca.<BR/><BR/>I'm aggrieved over the fact that HORSDOEUVRES is now apparently widely accepted as the plural form of "hors d'oeuvre." The term means literally "outside of the work" = extra stuff. I think of it as a mass phrase with no plural. Native Francophones please confirm.miriam bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506593846362044050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53535034263578888272008-12-10T20:47:00.000-05:002008-12-10T20:47:00.000-05:00This is not a chatroom. Three comments per day, pl...This is not a chatroom. Three comments per day, please, and keep your comments on the puzzle (mostly).<BR/><BR/>We all love SCOTUS, but enough.<BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51768646172987193432008-12-10T20:39:00.000-05:002008-12-10T20:39:00.000-05:00@SCOTUS -- I had you pegged as a male also (green ...@SCOTUS -- I had you pegged as a male also (green mantis too a long time ago).jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33801650244525907432008-12-10T20:25:00.000-05:002008-12-10T20:25:00.000-05:00Let us recognize that many of our notions of those...Let us recognize that many of our notions of those outside our cultural norm were set at a very youthful age, and that it's still possible that we harbor these received offending interpretations, no matter how quickly our wiser interpretations quickly shoot them down. Nearly every negative classification comes with some inherent reaction that only reason can assuage. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Let us also recognize that an overly accommodating reaction is equally at blame.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40922913556670661352008-12-10T20:01:00.000-05:002008-12-10T20:01:00.000-05:00I waited all day to do this puzzle. It looked fun...I waited all day to do this puzzle. It looked fun, but blah, was a disappointment. Count me in the the thumbs down group. <BR/><BR/>New words for me: ANTRE, BEEEATER, and BLY.PlantieBeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960277851368508036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8997805416563504212008-12-10T19:37:00.000-05:002008-12-10T19:37:00.000-05:00@SCOTUS Addict-When I was in college, I was told b...@SCOTUS Addict-<BR/><BR/>When I was in college, I was told by an instructor that my prose was "muscular" and he could not tell my gender by my writing.<BR/><BR/>I assumed the same thing about you because your writing style is also muscular. Today, when you asked for help with links, you listed your email address with a female name, so I could tell your gender from that and was surprised.<BR/><BR/>I deliberately picked a female name for my nom de crossword for the very reason indicated above.<BR/><BR/>@Wade-<BR/><BR/>As a white woman married to a black man, I don't know whether I am serious or not about being offended by the proximity of TORTURED to NEGRO in the puzzle.<BR/><BR/>As a matter of principle, I don't believe in Political Correctness but my eye can't help what it sees at first glance and, if you are in my position, it does sort of leap out at you, doesn't it?edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79947096137948522542008-12-10T19:36:00.000-05:002008-12-10T19:36:00.000-05:00How peculiar. I cued up "The Paper Chase" last ni...How peculiar. I cued up "The Paper Chase" last night and one of the plot lines, so to speak, dealt with the contract liabilities of the deceased.<BR/><BR/>This was a movie, that despite being released in 1973, didn't seem all that dated.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74859366684022689692008-12-10T19:21:00.000-05:002008-12-10T19:21:00.000-05:00oops --- SCOTUS, aplogiesoops --- SCOTUS, aplogiesGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90369758514343663812008-12-10T19:19:00.000-05:002008-12-10T19:19:00.000-05:00Was out most of the day, so just catching up. Gene...Was out most of the day, so just catching up. Generally like to make my comments closer to the posts, hopefully they won't take as much scrolling to follow as I needed in order to catch up!<BR/><BR/>However, just deleted all my pithy comments and barbs in view of the SOTUS exchanges.<BR/><BR/>Welcome SOTUS --- you just saved several (including me) from having to defend our honor(s)!<BR/><BR/>Will save my deles for next time (it won't be long).Glitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12939180362350651462008-12-10T19:05:00.000-05:002008-12-10T19:05:00.000-05:00@SCOTUS Addict: you are right, I now remember Bugs...@SCOTUS Addict: you are right, I now remember Bugs Bunny using that expression. I am New Yorker'ish, so should have heard it here.<BR/>What an interesting job you have!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5753770620606811022008-12-10T18:50:00.000-05:002008-12-10T18:50:00.000-05:00@Wade, actually, yes, some of our cases involve tr...@Wade, actually, yes, some of our cases involve trying to re-construct the mental state of dead people. Two types that come to mind are disputed wills (aka "testamentary capacity") and equivocal death evaluations (ie, was the person suicidal when they died? This comes up when the family wants the life insurance $ and there is a suicide exclusion in the policy for example.)<BR/><BR/>@fikink, that was a great case, but not mine. Mine was Hamdan v. Rumsfeld. Hamdan was, until about ten days ago, a Guantanamo detainee who had been bin Laden's driver. He is now in his home country, Yemen, due to be released from prison there on 12/27 or so. I evaluated him for the Guantanamo (military commissions) case against him, but got really interested in his federal case, which involved separation of powers and Geneva Conventions issues raised in the commissions process, which he won at the SCOTUS. Sort of.<BR/><BR/>@Mac, call me anything but "late for dinner." Most people, patients too (not implying anything regarding your sanity, legal or otherwise, here) call me Emily. "Sheesh" IMHO is a New Yorker'ish expression. Or maybe Bugs Bunny, as in, "Sheesh! What a ma-roon!"Hungry Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08101748048713015724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75097524288730672462008-12-10T18:45:00.000-05:002008-12-10T18:45:00.000-05:00Veering crazily from the puzzle for a moment...and...Veering crazily from the puzzle for a moment...and to add another data point, I am, and refer to myself as, Indian-American, not just American. I actually don't think we hyphenated animals will go the way of the dinosaur, and I think that's not a bad thing. I respectfully disagree with our esteemed President-Elect on that one, though I get how it was a good rhetorical tool for him to use during his speeches.<BR/><BR/>I also refer to myself as a person of color. Rex, this is the second time this week that I've heard someone say they don't like that phrase, and I'd never heard that before. I'm just so very used to it that it doesn't even occur to me to "look" at it.<BR/><BR/>-VegaVegahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01893157908004486201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1796015641001663412008-12-10T18:41:00.000-05:002008-12-10T18:41:00.000-05:00@fergus: If you like vanity plates, you may like (...@fergus: If you like vanity plates, you may like (or already know about) <A HREF="http://horriblelicenseplates.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">this site.</A><BR/><BR/>@orange: I re-sent that e-mail at 2:45 (not to hurry you in any way; just to see if it got there this time)jeff in chicagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10492964479021891094noreply@blogger.com