tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post179554061775392195..comments2024-03-28T16:43:37.613-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Diarist who documented Great Plague of London / SUN 1-24-21 / Blueberries for kid-lit classic / Only Stratego piece with letter on it / Maker of X6 and Z4 Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24974069037995194972021-05-02T13:56:18.473-04:002021-05-02T13:56:18.473-04:00Love those Derry girls.Love those Derry girls.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68952669018929890562021-02-07T18:01:45.665-05:002021-02-07T18:01:45.665-05:00Candy everywhere. Figured out those I didn't k...Candy everywhere. Figured out those I didn't know.<br /><br />YEP. YES BABYRUTH G.<br /><br />Sweet puz. WELL . . .rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7853014573554648712021-02-07T17:37:43.852-05:002021-02-07T17:37:43.852-05:00Yeah, yeah - easy. Can't get enuf of those Ki...Yeah, yeah - easy. Can't get enuf of those Kit Kat Bars. Good way to spend Super Sunday.<br /><br />Diana, LIWDiana, LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58191025078946647362021-02-07T16:05:19.230-05:002021-02-07T16:05:19.230-05:00RACY BUMRAP
WELL YES, NOWANDLATER madame ERIN SNI...RACY BUMRAP<br /><br />WELL YES, NOWANDLATER madame ERIN SNICKERS<br />that APRIL was her COYEST PROTEGE,<br />but ALOTOF AMATEUR ACTS without her knickers<br />and now she SLEEPs with MARKs for her PAYDAY.<br /><br />--- ARLO "BAM BAM" RIGBY<br /><br />tomorrow completes 6 years, at least once every day, year 7 starts TuesdayBurma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30105238732944616552021-02-07T12:29:43.230-05:002021-02-07T12:29:43.230-05:00A junk puzzle for junk food. Perfect! If I tried t...A junk puzzle for junk food. Perfect! If I tried to list all the crap in this one I'd miss the kickoff. Hey, is there really honest-to-God a candy named NOWANDLATER??? Must be one of those where the taste comes back on you--in a not-good way. Double-bogey.spacecrafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09125304293611865503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88053091509873766382021-01-25T20:36:32.846-05:002021-01-25T20:36:32.846-05:00@Oliver Pollock Daniel the fad diet thing rubbed m...@Oliver Pollock Daniel the fad diet thing rubbed me the wrong way too! I bet the candy-loving constructor of this puzzle hates those diets because they discourage eating garbage candy lolAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19239322625234454452021-01-25T00:14:42.949-05:002021-01-25T00:14:42.949-05:00Nobody's posted for a couple of hours -- Tomor...Nobody's posted for a couple of hours -- Tomorrow starts our new semester, and I'm teaching my first course since 2018, and my first-ever entirely-online-course, so the day was spent in nervous preparation. I've gone to many concerts, webinars, and conferences via Zoom, so I know all about breakout groups, whiteboards, and the like -- except I don't know how to start them, as I've never been inside the control room as a host. Tomorrow will tell.<br /><br />I did enjoy figuring out the theme answers, although I'd never hear of either WHSOPPERS or SPREE as candy; but what with ngo, pack up, and mules, plus having to take off my glasses and squint to read the number (Hi, @chefwen), this one was tough for me. (I'm schedlued for cataract surgery April 27 and May 25, which should help with the number reading). <br /><br />Plus I read the clue for 48D as "get hip" rather than got hip--so I put in WISEn, and wondered what NISC golf might be.<br /><br />@pattywack, "chuckles" is in the clue, so you can't put it in the answer.<br /><br />@Nancy, have you done the puzzles in the New Yorker? They're far more entertaining, on average, than those in the Times, and they're free. So are AVC and The Injubator, although you have to pay for them.jberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02169065390875378077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2893213673199481952021-01-24T22:41:57.810-05:002021-01-24T22:41:57.810-05:00"Dropping the f-bomb" is not swearing. T..."Dropping the f-bomb" is not swearing. The editor should have caught that.Joe in Newfoundlandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69099689457126858242021-01-24T21:28:05.170-05:002021-01-24T21:28:05.170-05:00No, No, NO....@Nancy.....Never take up a new hobby...No, No, NO....@Nancy.....Never take up a new hobby....These are neologisms that are part of main stream "NEW"..... Remember "Bitchin" and "Hang Ten" and and and.....Well...The Beatles and their HAIR???? I'm not advocating anything drastically changing...just some refreshing words that are now mainstreaming. Why not? Aren't you tired of the ALEE, ASEA, ERATO, SMEE......all being clued the same way? At least constructors are finding clever ways to clue an (ugh) OREO. My point is that new ( and in the vernacular) words can be clever and fun - especially if you know how to clue them. They hit a little bit of everybody's WOW button...and why not? I would think Will would want to bring a smile to a little bit of every person of color, age and gender. So far, I don't see that. <br />Bring back Liz....!GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57700076279406852072021-01-24T21:07:14.148-05:002021-01-24T21:07:14.148-05:00For those wondering if they've seen this theme...For those wondering if they've seen this theme before, I did some searching in the XWordInfo database. The only one I found using the candy that's in today's puzzle was <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=11/19/1995&g=121&d=A" rel="nofollow">this Cathy Millhauser grid from 19 Nov 1995</a>. I allowed my subscription to the Cruciverb database to lapse, so I can't check puzzles from other sources.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21222396464750933532021-01-24T20:49:57.786-05:002021-01-24T20:49:57.786-05:00This got a big “meh” from me…
One thing did bothe...This got a big “meh” from me…<br /><br />One thing did bother me: “up” was part of two answers 1D, the already topped off TANKUP” and 42D SOPUP, and was also used in the clue for 30A “Depletes, with ‘up.’”<br /><br />I’ve been under the impression that if a word is used in a grid, it should never show up in the clues. But here it is, twice, in the grid. Isn’t this the kind of thing an editor is supposed to catch? Especially when one of the “up” answers crosses the offending clue…Smirkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10432210650523123413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44051396146614029832021-01-24T20:22:20.674-05:002021-01-24T20:22:20.674-05:00@bocamp - I just finished Croce’s Freestyle #582. ...@bocamp - I just finished Croce’s Freestyle #582. I was slightly easier than #580 but still in Saturday Stumper territory. jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46655879739893596102021-01-24T20:07:01.321-05:002021-01-24T20:07:01.321-05:00I like @LMS. I love dark chocolate. I dislike SS...I like @LMS. I love dark chocolate. I dislike SS Johnnie. I hate Tom Brady.BobLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08168955233693064189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14931453671775194682021-01-24T19:57:15.729-05:002021-01-24T19:57:15.729-05:00@Malsdemare 5:50 - I wondered if any Illini would ...@Malsdemare 5:50 - I wondered if any Illini would recognize their territory. Actually, I'm a Badger, but the stretch between Madison and the border is a barren wasteland, as far as suitable names go. Yes, Leroy Mansfield would be an excellent addition to the cast :)Carolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971759975067250908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91880100813760543412021-01-24T19:57:10.172-05:002021-01-24T19:57:10.172-05:00@GILL -- FREEGAN??? (Something to do with vegan,...@GILL -- FREEGAN??? (Something to do with vegan, maybe? But I'm just guessing.) YEET??? A BUENO ONDA??? What <i>are</i> you talking about, @GILL?<br /><br />Diversity of personnel at the Times puzzle department and among the ranks of constructors is certainly a good thing on its own. But if it leads to neologisms and slanguage known to only a few, such as those mysterious words @GILL cites above, I may have to take up a new hobby. This is <i>exactly</i> what I'm afraid of -- that the celebration of as many cultural differences as can be included -- no matter how obscure they may be to most people -- will become the main focus of the puzzle.<br /><br />And some of the comments in the piece that @sanfranman linked to were troubling. "I've never had a crossword that was about me or that celebrated me," complained one female interviewee. Well, guess what, -- I never have either! Nor do I ever go to a puzzle expecting it to be "about me". Do any of you?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16737377749030219974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13909244448676896922021-01-24T19:24:18.884-05:002021-01-24T19:24:18.884-05:00Agree with @Gill I. 5:00 PM. Every day I am confro...Agree with @Gill I. 5:00 PM. Every day I am confronted with evidence of my vast ignorance, and expect that as a by-product of solving I'll learn a smattering of new things, including people and expressions from cultures I'm not familiar with, or for that matter about sports or candy. Let's have a mix of the new with the old. <br /><br />Increased inclusivity doesn't necessarily entail a "deluge" or "propaganda" or "force-feeding", does it? I'd like to think that the values Nancy espouses could and would still be honored, because people really don't come to crosswords to get their "woke" jollies, but for other reasons. I'd like to think that gradual inclusion of new things, in the hands of skillful editors who themselves love puzzles, could comfortably fit within the ambit of Nancy's "Does it intrigue the solver and create a feeling of curiosity?" <br /><br />As an aside, I view with dismay the constant flinging of reductionist terms like "virtue signaling", "woke", etc. (I don't say this is characteristic of Nancy -- I can't recall her using such terms elsewhere.) For example, 11:13 AM, where the commenter proudly declares that he/she is not going to virtue signal not eating candy. (How virtuous not to do so!) I'm sure this was a response to something I said about candy not being one of my personal interests. It's absurd: every statement now comes under immediate suspicion of being a political manifesto, with insincere motivations to boot. <br /><br />But in case anyone is wondering, I buy candy once a year, around Halloween. I choose the candies I like best, because why have it go to waste? My faves are Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Peppermint Patties, Mounds -- none of which are great fodder for a puzzle. I used to love Three Musketeers as a kid, but either the quality has gone downhill, or I just don't think they're all that good anymore. For whatever reason, never got into STARBURST or Skittles. If someone were to offer me a LIFESAVER, I might accept with a smile and a thanks, but probably more often I would politely decline. Truth be told, I think I'm more of a salty snack kind of guy anyway. There was recently some talk here about UTZ, and people named some really good chips in that convo. And some months back there was some encouragement to Rex, probably unheard by him, to try Tate's Cookies -- I very virtuously chimed in to agree with that assessment. <br />TTrimblenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83501161686119807092021-01-24T19:03:50.373-05:002021-01-24T19:03:50.373-05:00Bat your *eyes*? Sounds painful. Bat your eyelashe...Bat your *eyes*? Sounds painful. Bat your eyelashes? Sure. Ti OverNamedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17994955312061860794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26709872712848040172021-01-24T18:43:17.493-05:002021-01-24T18:43:17.493-05:00Nice to see somebody agrees with my farewell tweet...Nice to see somebody agrees with my farewell tweet: <br /><br />Multiculturalism is ‘not who America is.’Mike Pompeonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53298446341113853852021-01-24T18:39:26.885-05:002021-01-24T18:39:26.885-05:00I’m going to go and head and admit that I am famil...I’m going to go and head and admit that I am familiar with every single one of those candies. Made it an easier Sunday for me.Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03799449717400510690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45541716920503329212021-01-24T18:37:39.923-05:002021-01-24T18:37:39.923-05:00Voating yea to pass a motion or billVoating yea to pass a motion or billDouglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03799449717400510690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70659393484705569982021-01-24T17:50:22.827-05:002021-01-24T17:50:22.827-05:00@carola. Hmmm, you live in Illinois, methinks. H...@carola. Hmmm, you live in Illinois, methinks. How about leroy mansfield! Malsdemarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05375476737540476148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46077431529031903072021-01-24T17:44:15.248-05:002021-01-24T17:44:15.248-05:00@Pablo
Nor BOOLEAN!!@Pablo<br />Nor BOOLEAN!!Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06242868539621158336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46460103713804059842021-01-24T17:38:51.004-05:002021-01-24T17:38:51.004-05:00That’s not to say now that in me younger years, I ...That’s not to say now that in me younger years, I didn’t enjoy a boiled sweet. But then I heard tell of a fella from Ballynahinch, what was it his name was, now? I had it there a minute ago. Ach, it'll come to me. Anyway, this Ballynahinch lad, and as I say, his name escapes me - but he was mad keen on the boiled sweets. Sure he couldn't get enough of them! But in the end, well, didn't he choke to death on one? A pear drop, I think it was. Or a clove rock maybe? But either way, it's not how I'd want to go.Colmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29749034277042315222021-01-24T17:32:44.844-05:002021-01-24T17:32:44.844-05:00@Nancy
I doubt the puzzle would change character a...@Nancy<br />I doubt the puzzle would change character as completely as you envision with a broader range of constructors. I can't see that entertainment would be replaced by force-feeding, as you fear. All constructors, whatever their individual backgrounds, have fallen in love with wordplay in the various forms it takes in crosswords, and presumably want to imbue their own puzzles with the same sense of surprise and delight they discovered as solvers. People in the western world tend to inhabit the same broad cultural landscape, even though our differences cause us to view it through lenses of our own making. Yes, there would be some level of change with a more diverse range of constructors, but I don't see it completely transforming the puzzle. And here's to opening up the world to perspectives we haven't yet imagined.Barbara S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17634754070567731006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48128177672180649652021-01-24T17:31:46.473-05:002021-01-24T17:31:46.473-05:00JFe
@Nancy
Curious...Who are the “populations who...JFe<br />@Nancy<br /><br />Curious...Who are the “populations who feel neglected and overlooked get to force-feed their culture to others.”<br /><br />I am beyond intrigued!JeFnoreply@blogger.com