tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1649019786700642132..comments2024-03-28T20:49:13.267-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: East Coast 7-Eleven competitor / WED 12-18-19 / Harry's foil in Harry Potter / Start of long-winded musing from author / Catchword in waste management / Article of equipment akin to wakeboard / Rapid breakup of frozen stream in springRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57201030389046095842020-01-22T16:27:23.268-05:002020-01-22T16:27:23.268-05:00Rex is wrong about no human ever writing such a co...Rex is wrong about no human ever writing such a convoluted sentence. Just pick up a daily newspaper and you will find a plethora of sentences badly in need of editing. Most major dailies don’t have real editors doing the editing anymore. That task is often left to the reporter, which saves money but results in poor, and often unreadable, copy.thefogmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870509029973778266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62553781851597288602020-01-22T15:50:39.846-05:002020-01-22T15:50:39.846-05:00I own many books on writing. Including one that s...I own many books on writing. Including one that states, "Avoid run-on sentences they are hard to read."<br /><br />Any quote in a crossword grid runs the run-on risk. <br /><br />But, for puzzling sake, this sentence can stand, and made the solve fairly easy. Of could have been if, but the SNL person had a clear sense of self. I guess. <br /><br />And remember. The passive voice should never be used.<br /><br />Diana, Waiting, still waitingDiana, LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70831156108891399832020-01-22T15:21:31.693-05:002020-01-22T15:21:31.693-05:00I too had a problem with the placement of the word...I too had a problem with the placement of the word WELL before I had the full quote/musing. But once I got it, it seemed to me that the quote was giving an example of its meaning. A bad sentence edited. And, a la @M&A, the word FORM is essentially edited out paving the way for FORMED to be rightfully there. Maybe that's a little bit of tortuous logic, but it seems OK to me.<br /><br />So this puzzle was a different sort of quote puzzle, and I admire the attempt to be different. It included many sprightly answers in the fill, as well. It isn't often that a puzzle attempts to try new things, and that basis alone, I liked it.rainforestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33452439066056376282020-01-22T15:16:47.014-05:002020-01-22T15:16:47.014-05:00I was amazed that so many thought this puzzle easy...I was amazed that so many thought this puzzle easy. I found it it harder than any Wednesday I can remember. Eventually gave up and just came here to see the answers<br /><br />AGREE TOTALLy with Rex that the quote was implausible. Since it made no sense I couldn't be sure I had the crosses right<br /><br />Agree with anonymous who said the clue for Polka dot was wrong as worded.Sharon AKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67014613159351304702020-01-22T14:41:39.584-05:002020-01-22T14:41:39.584-05:00Maybe this has been mentioned before, but the book...Maybe this has been mentioned before, but the book titled "On Writing Well" is by the late writer and editor William Zinsser. WRITING WELL, without the "On", seems to me close enough to Zinsser's title to clarify the apparent confusion in the theme.<br /><br />Granted, that may be a bit too much of a stretch, but it make enough sense to me.leftcoasternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67475438639257963442020-01-22T12:08:17.827-05:002020-01-22T12:08:17.827-05:00I was looking around for "the" author of...I was looking around for "the" author of this "quote," assuming someone had actually said this. No, it turned out to be generic. Then I had to ask myself: why? Am I missing something? The gray squares "EDIT" a bloated statement--wait for it--about "EDITING." That's IT?? Perhaps the whole damn thing could have been "EDITED" with a rejection slip.<br /><br />I am a member in good standing of the Not-The-Biggest-Fans-Of-Quote-Puzzles Club, in case you haven't surmised that. The bloat was so badly written that it made the puzzle fairly hard to solve, for the day. Medium leaning toward challenging; some triumph points attend. DOD is LEANN Rimes, with an honorable mention shoutout to Honor Blackman who played Pussy GALORE. (It's amazing what Fleming got away with naming his Bond girls:<br /><br />PLENTY O'TOOLE: I'm Plenty.<br />BOND: But of course you are.)<br /><br />One writeover when I polarized my PANDA bear--because the phrase PANDA bear is green paint. The creature is a PANDA, period. At least with "polar," you need the "bear." Playing the CRAB is more than I can bear, so: bogey. spacecrafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09125304293611865503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74037280569727403722020-01-22T10:27:32.290-05:002020-01-22T10:27:32.290-05:00DAME GALORE
YES MAAM, it's RINKY-dink and CHE...DAME GALORE<br /><br />YES MAAM, it's RINKY-dink and CHEESY,<br />and it CAUSED a FOLKSY outrage:<br />LEANN's EYES say she's easy,<br />and it's TRUE she's a COED OFAGE.<br /><br />--- EUGENE MORSE<br /><br /><br />if you care, yesterday's is finally posted, connectivity issuesBurma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62045060405549161122020-01-22T09:02:01.225-05:002020-01-22T09:02:01.225-05:00Frantic Sloth -
In most marble statues, the colore...Frantic Sloth -<br />In most marble statues, the colored parts of the eyes are “indented” to cause a shadow, which makes them look darker (as expected).<br />If they are left the more “accurate” exdented, they just look white. Either way, something is wrong/unrealistic. I think that’s what the clue is getting at....WilsonCPUhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13979524409642122336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3261749919061279202019-12-20T03:21:38.246-05:002019-12-20T03:21:38.246-05:0021A clue should reference the detective who loved ...21A clue should reference the detective who loved the crossword.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02479126196086309189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24894728444686335362019-12-19T18:56:24.424-05:002019-12-19T18:56:24.424-05:00There's even a Wawa in DC.There's even a Wawa in DC. Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13144524127131507652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89239207797676195062019-12-18T22:59:30.669-05:002019-12-18T22:59:30.669-05:00Hey, Mahwah Wawa is MY joke! Along with Mahwah fat...Hey, Mahwah Wawa is MY joke! Along with Mahwah fatwa.Margaret in New Jerseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05220250919358918748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67436941109607509182019-12-18T21:54:58.009-05:002019-12-18T21:54:58.009-05:00bigsteve46
Besides the longest stretch of white sa...bigsteve46<br />Besides the longest stretch of white sand beaches in the country, the statue of liberty,the highest per capita income, Princeton University, and Cape May, arguably the best place for birding in the country, you're right. NJ has nothing to for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74579725146703985512019-12-18T21:46:56.067-05:002019-12-18T21:46:56.067-05:00Z,
Nope. Rex is beefing the construction. That the...Z,<br />Nope. Rex is beefing the construction. That the constructor uses editor/editing in the puzzle has obviously focused me. For once, Sharp's beef isn't with Shortz.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13971680199065626262019-12-18T21:19:58.104-05:002019-12-18T21:19:58.104-05:00I liked this one a lot. Practice with cryptograms...I liked this one a lot. Practice with cryptograms helps with quote/saying puzzles. Get a few crosses and words start to form.<br /><br />Regarding the Morse Code question about who uses it: I've heard that John McCain and the other POWs in Viet Nam communicated from cell to cell at night using Morse Code. Maybe some or all military learn it along the way? A little help here?Monty Boyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03924320449868956299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69978964415549251712019-12-18T19:54:02.962-05:002019-12-18T19:54:02.962-05:00There are tons of WAWAs in NJ and PA and they are ...There are tons of WAWAs in NJ and PA and they are a decent place to get a sandwich.<br /><br />Gas pump jockeys in OREGON as wellxyzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08287781952915413013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10946717744951302122019-12-18T19:47:55.081-05:002019-12-18T19:47:55.081-05:00Wawa is the best convenience store anywhere. Wawa ...Wawa is the best convenience store anywhere. Wawa is Lenni Lenape for "wild goose". A southeastern Pennsylvania classic. wilschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14066075744420340333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11991727918556713552019-12-18T18:54:24.555-05:002019-12-18T18:54:24.555-05:00Do some people actually like pumping their own gas...Do some people actually like pumping their own gas? Why? As a lifetime NY resident, I always thought the New Jersey law on gas pumping quite refreshing - and a provider of a few jobs for the marginally employable - and, NJ gas was always cheaper, too (less so now than before, but still a little less). Not too much in NJ worthy of praise - but this civilized practice gives the Garden State something to be proud of!bigsteve46https://www.blogger.com/profile/15321397690945774558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22588822903610424022019-12-18T17:14:13.869-05:002019-12-18T17:14:13.869-05:00Right-ho. Way to ez 4 wednes. I like 2 suffer thru...Right-ho. Way to ez 4 wednes. I like 2 suffer thru these things.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702687978931741733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81615999233208007932019-12-18T16:44:48.426-05:002019-12-18T16:44:48.426-05:00@anon-11:02
Our much beloved former Governor, Chri...@anon-11:02<br />Our much beloved former Governor, Chris Christie, thought that pumping gas was too complicated a task for us, his citizens. <br /><br />If memory serves, it's been too complicated since gas was used in cars. checking the wiki... "In New Jersey self-service fuel filling is illegal. It was banned in 1949 after lobbying by service station owners."<br /><br />That and all those refineries owned by Big Gas.<br /><br />First, and only, Wawa I know is in Bryn Mawr. Along with a lot of girls who prefer girls. Don't know which is more disappointing.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27804848446083013442019-12-18T15:41:35.012-05:002019-12-18T15:41:35.012-05:00WaWa is my goto place for gas in in and around its...WaWa is my goto place for gas in in and around its home base near Media, PA, southern New Jersey where I can’t pump my own gas, Delaware where I live half of the year, and Florida where I live the other half. They also have great hoagies. The cult part is their breakfast crowd which is a sight to see. A WaWa parking lot seems like a traffic circle in Paris.Hungry Motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13465905817770134952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25633048812407278782019-12-18T15:24:24.267-05:002019-12-18T15:24:24.267-05:00I found this an elegant theme, beautifully done.
...I found this an elegant theme, beautifully done. <br /><br />I’ve never seen a WAWA IN New England, but perhaps there are no Cumberland Farms or Stewart’s further south on the coast.<br /><br />FORM/FORMED didn’t bother me in the least.<br /><br />The sun is shining on the ice in the trees so I’m not cranky like some people.Hartley70https://www.blogger.com/profile/00557118655188472450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11060940155455789412019-12-18T15:18:45.118-05:002019-12-18T15:18:45.118-05:00Love that trashin'!Love that trashin'!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37869598628230095942019-12-18T14:56:19.476-05:002019-12-18T14:56:19.476-05:00I got WAWA on the crosses and then looked to see w...I got WAWA on the crosses and then looked to see what the clue was. Knew them from summers at the Delaware shore. I don't like quotes, but I liked the theme here. Agree the FORM crossing was bad FORM.tea73https://www.blogger.com/profile/04949792626860120963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10218175909788423542019-12-18T14:52:05.164-05:002019-12-18T14:52:05.164-05:00@Teedmn, I guess I had watched too many movies of ...@Teedmn, I guess I had watched too many movies of newlyweds knitting socks for their soon-to-be baby. :) Thx for the advice! (I've received some of those scarves over the years. Usually long enough to climb a wall with. QuasiMojonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24940338820526888492019-12-18T14:26:51.778-05:002019-12-18T14:26:51.778-05:00To me, EGO was a total Natick. I had no idea wheth...To me, EGO was a total Natick. I had no idea whether it was EGO or EGi, and EDITING A DRAFT iF WRITING WELL ... was more plausible than the constructor's version!<br /><br />I have spent a fair amount of time in places that can have ICE jams in the Spring (often quite damaging ones) and have never heard one being called an ICE RUN. But at least that was gettable from the crosses.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com