tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1633965846760890876..comments2024-03-29T08:04:33.499-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: MONDAY, Jul. 23, 2007 - Randall J. HartmanRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67859126586038012862007-09-03T14:11:00.000-04:002007-09-03T14:11:00.000-04:00Sorry, I forgot to write my comments. I thought "B...Sorry, I forgot to write my comments. I thought "Ball catcher" was just a bad clue. Neither the umpire nor the backstop catch the ball, unless you're counting the times the umpire asks the pitcher to throw him the ball. A backstop does just what it says-stops the ball.<BR/><BR/>I enjoyed this puzzle for a Monday. I thought it was a decent theme for Mon. For a 6wl'er, it was nice to have a correct holiday reference. I've been thrown off before when puzzle has clues or themes related to holidays.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56322104496962514312007-09-03T12:49:00.000-04:002007-09-03T12:49:00.000-04:006 weeks on, it's Labo(u)r Day and, incredibly, a c...6 weeks on, it's Labo(u)r Day and, incredibly, a clue appears that's date-appropriate for us syndicatees: 3D. Jerry Lewis telethon time (LABORDAY).<BR/><BR/>Did Randall J. Hartman actually plant this clue knowing the puzzle would appear again on Sept 3rd or is this just a coincidence. Some of my Jung friends believe strongly in synchronicity so maybe this is all part of a larger framework. Who knows?<BR/><BR/>One quibble: the clue is cute but shouldn't 28A. Ball catcher behind a catcher (BACKSTOP) more accurately be Ball catcher behind an umpire?Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16023705534469113022007-08-01T11:52:00.000-04:002007-08-01T11:52:00.000-04:00I believe "pin money" refers to some extra money o...I believe "pin money" refers to some extra money one (female) pinned to the inside of one's clothing incase things went badly on a date. At least, that was the meaning in the fifties.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2581857579580042912007-07-23T21:07:00.000-04:002007-07-23T21:07:00.000-04:00what about betch -- v.i. to kvetch existentially ...what about betch -- v.i. to kvetch existentially ?fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59616602747726000412007-07-23T20:54:00.000-04:002007-07-23T20:54:00.000-04:00I said it elsewhere..."I'm so glad to see Opie bac...I said it elsewhere..."I'm so glad to see Opie back in his rightful place (52A: Mayberry lad). I take personal issues with the idiot clued last week as Opie." In one of his limericks on Diary of a Crossword Fiend, Lee Glickstein provided a link to a video clip showing what an asshole the guy is.<BR/><BR/>I enjoy Enya's music. You're all entitled to your opinions...even if they're wrong ; )Linda Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15816794362786044423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75091436899407030632007-07-23T19:35:00.000-04:002007-07-23T19:35:00.000-04:00well, batch, botch, and butch show up in the cruci...well, <I>batch, botch, and butch</I> show up in the cruciverb database, but no <I>bitch</I>. just yet...<BR/><BR/>;-)<BR/><BR/>JanieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63656326444901758172007-07-23T19:14:00.000-04:002007-07-23T19:14:00.000-04:00Jeez, when did you all get so funny? Why do I even...Jeez, when did you all get so funny? Why do I even bother doing a commentary? You're upstaging me. STOP it!<BR/><BR/>rp<BR/><BR/>PS I love all Enya-related humor. At the end of the year, as part of the 2007 Rex Parker Crossword Awards, I'm going to have to have a category of "Best Wrong Fill for an Enya-related Clue." I gotta write these down. So far I got SEWAGE, TEDIUM, and BORING, so we're off to a good start.Rex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86598845179598160292007-07-23T17:39:00.000-04:002007-07-23T17:39:00.000-04:00Yeah that southwest started funky when I decided, ...Yeah that southwest started funky when I decided, for no good reason, that sleeveless shirts was tube tops, making "street" urban (which doesn't fit), and enya boring (which does).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70510463448300119292007-07-23T16:48:00.000-04:002007-07-23T16:48:00.000-04:00That's gave me a good laugh. Ultimately, the most ...That's gave me a good laugh. <BR/>Ultimately, the most appropriate Enya description would be INANER, as you'll recall from the commentary some time last week.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2654194115660678222007-07-23T16:33:00.000-04:002007-07-23T16:33:00.000-04:00Fergus, I had all but the first letter in the Enya...Fergus, I had all but the first letter in the Enya genre clue -- and I really don't know why, but my first thought was SEWAGE.... heehee.... definitely wouldn't pass the "breakfast table test".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26300225868821496632007-07-23T15:47:00.000-04:002007-07-23T15:47:00.000-04:00Responding to Sarah's comment, I don't think I've ...Responding to Sarah's comment, I don't think I've ever seen 'that' word in a NYT puzzle, and I've been doing it off and on since 1980. Must be just over the borderline of propriety. Bart and Marge Simpson once had a very illuminating discussion on this very topic and its appropriate usage.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22121639465469481682007-07-23T13:09:00.000-04:002007-07-23T13:09:00.000-04:00Was delighted (momentarily) to think that 59A "ken...Was delighted (momentarily) to think that 59A "kennel club classification" might actually be the term for a female canine.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05599029535626859517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10109900008345456612007-07-23T12:53:00.000-04:002007-07-23T12:53:00.000-04:00Ron Howard has apparently petitioned puzzlers to k...Ron Howard has apparently petitioned puzzlers to keep his youthful legend alive.<BR/><BR/>Nice to finally learn this Enya's genre. I wanted to insert TEDIUM.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31481207864095502972007-07-23T11:50:00.000-04:002007-07-23T11:50:00.000-04:00The Opie comment brings up a point I've always won...The Opie comment brings up a point I've always wondered about: How do the puzzle-makers coordinate those "running" clue-answers? Does Shortz commission a group of, say, four puzzle-makers to do puzzles for Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat and tell them to make sure they have "Opie" somewhere in the puzzle?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79354835963585426172007-07-23T09:20:00.000-04:002007-07-23T09:20:00.000-04:00I thought for sure someone would comment on OPIE f...I thought for sure someone would comment on OPIE finally showing up with the proper clue<BR/>(Mayberry lad) after Thursday, July 19th ET ALAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7309129909816982742007-07-23T08:38:00.000-04:002007-07-23T08:38:00.000-04:00Uh.... make that EXchange. It was a trip though!Pe...Uh.... make that EXchange. It was a trip though!<BR/><BR/>PennyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54258438223804757062007-07-23T08:34:00.000-04:002007-07-23T08:34:00.000-04:00Last night I solved DOWN (timed applet) and this m...Last night I solved DOWN (timed applet) and this morning ACROSS so I could print it out. Two different experiences. (The 8D gimme ALOE would have kept you from getting tangled in the nets also 9D NETS) The fun for me (not the theme since I totally missed it) was catching the few non-standard answers. EGGon RIPS off<BR/>DET not TEC (The Martin/Alex interchange about this on the forum is priceless). So often a Monday is more rote than right but this one actually made me pay attention.<BR/><BR/>So good to hear you on Faux pa. <BR/>Such a stupid useless clue.<BR/><BR/>PennyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73168169196273683002007-07-23T06:52:00.000-04:002007-07-23T06:52:00.000-04:00ENESCO is correct here, because the clue is George...ENESCO is correct here, because the clue is Georges, not George.<BR/><BR/>LiffeyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78570684048369568652007-07-23T06:31:00.000-04:002007-07-23T06:31:00.000-04:00Enesco threw me off also. He's Enescu in Romania....Enesco threw me off also. He's Enescu in Romania. My wife and I visited his home while on vacation in Sinaia in Transyvania. Many Romanian names end in "U". <BR/><BR/>I totally missed the SPOT thing. You guys are brilliant.<BR/><BR/>JDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51008224660570412822007-07-23T02:29:00.000-04:002007-07-23T02:29:00.000-04:00I also didn't realize it was a themed puzzled unti...I also didn't realize it was a themed puzzled until reading this. Personal best for me, I think. Unfortunately just as I started it I got called to dinner so my official time is 1:16:12.<BR/><BR/>Of the first 13 downs (that's how I'm starting every day now) it was 32 down before getting my third non-gimme (5D and 12D being the others). I don't think I ever even read the clues for most of the theme entries.Alex S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07543077687426776863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52646918091239220402007-07-23T00:51:00.000-04:002007-07-23T00:51:00.000-04:00I did the theme answers first (and correctly) so t...I did the theme answers first (and correctly) so the puzzle fell together quickly. It DID take me some time to recover from whooping cough though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4565187035415966992007-07-22T23:51:00.000-04:002007-07-22T23:51:00.000-04:00I didn't notice the theme until you folks mentione...I didn't notice the theme until you folks mentioned it. Huh.<BR/><BR/>I like it when you post your times. Do you meticulously keep records of them? I started doing so, and now I can't seem to stop. They live in a folder next to hundreds of backgammon results and error rates that I also obsessively track. Maybe I have a problem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86925217863955259532007-07-22T23:30:00.000-04:002007-07-22T23:30:00.000-04:00Can't remember how to do a link from this section....Can't remember how to do a link from this section. Anyway, according to:<BR/><BR/>http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blhelicoptor.htm<BR/><BR/>Igor Sikorsky is considered to be the "father" of helicopters not because he invented the first. He is called that because he invented the first successful helicopter, upon which future designs were based.Linda Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15816794362786044423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80025965133440589172007-07-22T22:49:00.000-04:002007-07-22T22:49:00.000-04:00I thought da Vinci did!I thought da Vinci did!DONALDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17398968047673788006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76147826486217781542007-07-22T22:40:00.000-04:002007-07-22T22:40:00.000-04:00Igor sikorsky invented the helicopter.Igor sikorsky invented the helicopter.blimeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12694589361845594874noreply@blogger.com