tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1833756119833297280..comments2024-03-28T18:52:07.432-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Sweet white wine from Bordeaux / WED 12-16-15 / Big brand of sports equipment / Aussie hoppers / Central Park's boathouseRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83535965273999092362016-01-20T17:21:57.480-05:002016-01-20T17:21:57.480-05:00I'm in the Tita camp.I'm in the Tita camp.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52619557197917625072016-01-20T14:15:06.189-05:002016-01-20T14:15:06.189-05:00The M-T-W puzzles seem out of order this week, but...The M-T-W puzzles seem out of order this week, but each has had some gimmick or obscure clue/answer that gives it a little kick.<br /><br />This one seems like more of a Monday, with its easy theme and familiar fill, except for SHALLOT and CABIT in the NE and LOEB in the SE.<br /><br />But I SHALLnOT CUSSAT or complain.<br /><br /> <br /><br />leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11971310434042001132016-01-20T14:13:14.339-05:002016-01-20T14:13:14.339-05:00Yeah, this was really easy. Until I didn't fi...Yeah, this was really easy. Until I didn't finish, and met a DEADEND. SEAHORSE, LETTERHEAD, VOIT, and bASH just wouldn't show up - felt brainDEAD. When my Kitty, Lambo, jumps up on the counter next to the stove I say, "N n n n n n no!" No no no? Never, ever, ever, ever. Thought there was a mini-theme of double letters.<br /><br />Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for CrosswordsDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87681012407255105062016-01-20T12:25:04.808-05:002016-01-20T12:25:04.808-05:00While not a total DEADEND, this puz leaned toward ...While not a total DEADEND, this puz leaned toward “meh” for me. Not much to get excited about. One write-over at JETskis, which are not allowed on my part of the St. Croix River. Only boats with outboard motors like the Johnson SEAHORSE. Old joke: How big is your Johnson?<br /><br />Montgomery Ward stereo equipment went under the name of AIRLINE. I had one of their console models. Probably as dead as the aforementioned Johnson SEAHORSE. But nobody ever asked how big my AIRLINE was.<br /><br />As a former musician (did I ever mention I played in a band that opened for Johnny Cash?), I have a nit, well, maybe it’s bigger than a nit: in a score “ff”, or fortissimo, means very loud (as the clue reads); “fff” is fortississimo, or very, very loud. So what the FFF? NONONO!The NYT xword editor(s) are mistaken (100% wrong) on that one. Or at least 50% short on the “very” issue.<br /><br />Two musical yeah babies today with the omnipresent ENYA and multi-talented former Catwoman EARTHA. Meow. An unanswerable question: Julie Newmar or EARTHA Kitt?<br /><br />Aren’t there LOYOLAs all over the country? Marymount comes to mind.<br /><br />Living on the MN/WI border some of our cheesehead friends used to call us WOODDUCKs. Never really knew why. <br /><br />ITOLDYOU enough for now, hope everyone got LADE.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56644823535749489762016-01-20T11:27:06.808-05:002016-01-20T11:27:06.808-05:00This'll be short if not sweet. I didn't li...This'll be short if not sweet. I didn't like it. OK theme and all, but the fill had no joy. Too tech-y, too ONED-y, too FFF-y, too EMS/ESME-y, etc. That EMS smacks of Maleska-ism. As for ONTHEMAKE, like OFL said: great entry with a ? clue. Was I supposed to know who LLOSA is/was? Was ANYONE? How come Ogden Nash never wrote about him or his one-l cousin? Meh. D+. spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78220007995116091632016-01-20T11:25:15.011-05:002016-01-20T11:25:15.011-05:00DOYA USER BEAVER
I EYEBALLed this SOVIET gal from...DOYA USER BEAVER<br /><br />I EYEBALLed this SOVIET gal from the EAST, and I was ONTHEMAKE,<br />but NONONO my AIM was bad, a DEADEND would be my FATE,<br />She was ENDOWed with LOTSA GOODFAT, but she’d BASH me when she spake,<br />she’d CUSSAT me and OPT to say, “ITOLDYOU don’t mention BODYWEIGHT.”<br /><br />--- EDDY LOEB<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53151355716636697132015-12-17T13:01:11.017-05:002015-12-17T13:01:11.017-05:00Ugh, I did not like this at all. I have no problem...Ugh, I did not like this at all. I have no problem with the theme, but the fill in general, specifically the southwest corner. I am a big fan of the Sports Authority, although I don't consider myself any kind of authority (lol), but I have never heard of "VOIT." So, crossing that with "LOYOLA" when the 1st two hits on Google are located in Baltimore and Chicago is kind of b.s, and then also crossing it with "LIENOR" and "NONONO" is just that. What the "FFF" is that about anyway?!<br /><br />I didn't know what "EMS" were (Printing Measures), so crossing it with "PXS" (Stores for G.I.s) was just a lucky guess.<br /><br />Finally, I used to be a goody-goody (I'm under 35) and I USED to say "CUSS" AT, but no more. I tell kids not to "swear." I don't know anyone that says cuss anymore, not even my (goody-goody) parents.<br /><br />Lastly, anyone who plays with an Xbox knows that "WII" is not really an comparable alternative. Maybe the PS4, but just because it's also a gaming system, it's like saying the Hardy Boys series is a good alternative to the 007 series. Kind of different. (I know to some that's nit-picky, and maybe not the best comparison, but it's all I got.)<br /><br />Anyway, back to reality.laura Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07801382665829507000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13642122768170781572015-12-17T07:31:47.857-05:002015-12-17T07:31:47.857-05:00I cannot believe no one said anything ab AVENCE......I cannot believe no one said anything ab AVENCE...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-971192608462383912015-12-17T05:38:20.518-05:002015-12-17T05:38:20.518-05:00A day late but it's bugging me..."observe...A day late but it's bugging me..."observe closely" for "eyeball"? I dunno. I think of eyeballing something as giving it a quick glance in order to come up with an estimate. "Eyeballing this tree near the Loeb Boathouse, I'd say it's about 20 feet high." If I observed closely, I'd come up with a more precise estimate. (And yeah, "Loeb Boathouse" and "cab it"? We New Yorkers do think we're the center of the universe, don't we.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13847000882964072072015-12-16T22:49:59.732-05:002015-12-16T22:49:59.732-05:00Did anyone else notice that the one and only sport...Did anyone else notice that the one and only sports-related clue was a brand of sports equipment? Love it!sasseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16399904111407769761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78000660242983285492015-12-16T21:00:55.514-05:002015-12-16T21:00:55.514-05:00How much would a WOOD DUCK chuck, if a WOOD DUCK c...How much would a WOOD DUCK chuck, if a WOOD DUCK could chuck wood?Warren Howie Hughesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30224993365106869222015-12-16T20:47:14.443-05:002015-12-16T20:47:14.443-05:00Why can I never finish tues or wed but fri and sat...Why can I never finish tues or wed but fri and sat always make sense? It makes no sense. Music Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03813263551995292402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80436702884771534432015-12-16T18:24:54.971-05:002015-12-16T18:24:54.971-05:00I enjoyed this one, rich in theme and Paula's ...I enjoyed this one, rich in theme and Paula's puzzles are usually in my wheelhouse. VOIT had to come from crosses, though.<br /><br />machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42455963498873612152015-12-16T18:23:16.337-05:002015-12-16T18:23:16.337-05:00CABIT?? Never heard of it. FFF I say. NONONO. Came...CABIT?? Never heard of it. FFF I say. NONONO. Came here knowing @Rex would hate the theme - this is his least favorite kind. But I thought he's also take more time to crush the cruddy fill (WII, MIC, EMS, FFF, NEO, EDU). <br /><br />On the plus side, WOODDUCK in the same row as BEAVER delighted me. I wish we could have had SEAHORSE paired with another animal. bONObo might be workable (not by me, though).<br /><br />@Nancy has inspired me - gotta get me an avatar.kitshefnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28983104439442250892015-12-16T18:13:21.377-05:002015-12-16T18:13:21.377-05:00Three cheers for @Tita for raising both issues. I ...Three cheers for @Tita for raising both issues. I too favor a middle ground - frequent moderation or, even better, @Lewis the Wild West plus a ruthless takedown of offensive posts. Both require sub-moderators, and since I live a dozen time zones more or less away from the US, I would be willing to cover the night shift if OFL wants to try either variation on his moderation. <br /><br />Today's puzzle was fun, but I didn't like the chopped-up grid. There's just one square connecting the NW and SE corners to the rest of the puzzle. I thought that was a NO NO. NO?<br />John Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09950142966675472047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2699148019092280382015-12-16T14:43:07.328-05:002015-12-16T14:43:07.328-05:00As a South Carolinian and somewhat birder, I know ...As a South Carolinian and somewhat birder, I know of the WOODDUCK as the WOODDUCK. I was first WOWed by them at the local zoo some years ago, and if it referenced them as the Carolina Duck, it didn't stick with me. Just don't recall ever hearing this name at all.<br /><br />On a lighter subject, the pesky FLEA enjoyed a bit of fame at the hands of both Claude LeJeune (1528-1600) and the master Roland de Lassus(1532-1594). <br /><br /> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbL_iLhbmPY <br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyT6jyNbJLg<br /><br />But the French word for FLEA is 'puce', and I knew an old French carol called 'Une Jeune Pucelle'. A bit of research revealed that 'puce' derives from the Latin 'pulex', whereas 'pucelle' -meaning 'girl', 'maiden' - comes from the Latin 'puella'. So apparently the secular works about a flea - based on an amatory poem by the poet Baif - is a play on words, as such works often (always?) were.<br /><br />I didn't find a good video of the carol itself, but there is a good one of it's appearance in the 'Midnight Mass for Christmas' by Charpentier (1643-1704). This 'noel' is only one of ten on which the Mass was based. The entire work is present on YouTube - even if you only listen to Classical music at this time of year - well, 'old' music doesn't come more charming than this. <br /><br /> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIRFWCnb0ggbeatricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16162755764092888665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15900401677208196892015-12-16T14:17:30.866-05:002015-12-16T14:17:30.866-05:00P.S.
JDS, retread the clue, it's plural.
@Ti...P.S.<br /><br />JDS, retread the clue, it's plural.<br /><br />@Tita, I heartily agree. I miss the conversations too, they were something I found unique among blogs, a rallying point for aficionados.<br /><br />@Aketi, my name has <i>never</i> been on a key chain, <i>ever</i>.<br /><br />@ Nancy, congratulations on your new avatar.Numinoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01263999193499725814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7440243430975357762015-12-16T13:53:59.074-05:002015-12-16T13:53:59.074-05:00It still amazes me how different folks have such d...It still amazes me how different folks have such different solving experiences. I cruised through this leaving big holes int the NE, plowed through the bottom, worked my way back to the top where the answers had become clear feeling that I was just dragging my a**, and finished. When the fat lady sang, she sang that I had finished this in less than half my Wednesday average. <br /><br />Our solving experiences seem to be based on what things we have experienced in our lives. It should seem obvious that we all have different experiences but somehow, to me, it's not. Children, when they learn something, want to share it with thier parents, relatives, and friends and will go on at great lengths about stuff that's new to them. I'm pretty sure every one of us has done that in the past. Often, we were indulged. The responses I usually got went something like, "Oh, everyone knows that." To this day, I still have the feeling that if I know something, probably everyone else does too. I occasionally wonder where it was along the evolutionary chain that we stopped being born with inate knowledge. I remember being somehow amazed that my daughters, at some point, had never heard of, for example, The Beatles. I think it's sad that every human has to attend the "School of Hard Knocks," and learn things from scratch, the hard way. <br /><br />SAUTERNES was the first wine I can recall drinking as a child maybe around first grade. My immature taste buds told me it was yucky. I've never tried it since. I prefer dry reds these days anyway. The exception might be Gewurtztraminer. <br /><br />I solve almost every puzzle as a themeless. Thursday's, I maybe try to figure out the theme and use it to help me solve especially with gimmicks like refuses. But mostly, I finish the puzzle and then look back to see what the big idea was. Sometimes I care and sometimes I don't. You dirty cheating SOB, @NCA Pres, hang your head in shame. I guess you've learned now that all puzzles will treat you pretty much the same way. At least the newspaper chavs will. There are a few others with a higher calling but you need a secret password to get to meet them. I'll stick with my sweetheart. I used to date the LAT but we broke up when I met the Grey Lady. I never had much to do with the pedestrians like TV Guide or USA Today but the one thing they all have in common is themes.<br /><br />Pax, y'all.Numinoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01263999193499725814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14947543880646736312015-12-16T13:38:19.185-05:002015-12-16T13:38:19.185-05:00Mallards aren't nearly as dull as black ducks,...Mallards aren't nearly as dull as black ducks, and Mallard-black duyck hybrids are what we get a lot these days. I am a big fan of the wood duck.Greater Fall River Committee for Peace & Justicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11005733734000219070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68376608619049792222015-12-16T13:31:05.012-05:002015-12-16T13:31:05.012-05:00People in cities all over the world say CAB IT. I...People in cities all over the world say CAB IT. It is not specific to New York City. Jamie Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86689334128445855672015-12-16T13:04:11.006-05:002015-12-16T13:04:11.006-05:00I much prefer Eartha to Enya, and Llosa to ELO. Wo...I much prefer Eartha to Enya, and Llosa to ELO. Wood ducks are native to our area but are being compromised by invasive mallards. I only knew about Tulane, which my cousin attended. Obviously the Jesuits were in New Orleans as well as Chicago!Laurence Hunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16512608792667325309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7336229262546537362015-12-16T13:03:54.788-05:002015-12-16T13:03:54.788-05:00I liked this puzzle. While @Rex has a point that m...I liked this puzzle. While @Rex has a point that many words can go in front of DEAD, I think the challenge is to find two of those words which make a known phrase, and this puzzle certainly succeeded at that. I had to laugh at @Rex's DEAD HORSE addendum. without the rest of the phrase, it is rather green paintish.<br /><br />I misspelled SAUTERgne at first, had BAll for BASH, and detox for REHAB, all successfully fixed.<br /><br />I was camping out in North Dakota a few years ago and was surprised to flush a couple of birds out of the trees that looked like DUCKs as they flew away. "North Dakota, where the ducks roost in trees, hmm," I mused to myself. Later they flew back and I was able to observe them more closely and I realized the red and green colored birds were WOOD DUCKS, so named because they roost and nest in TREEs! Head slap for me; they are not uncommon in Minnesota.<br /><br />Thanks, PG, for a fun Wednesday.<br /><br />@Nancy, let me add my congratulations on your acquisition of an avatar. We will never confuse you with the 'driving' Nancy now :-)!Teedmnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12832353448839187816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12892983361902152902015-12-16T12:35:54.665-05:002015-12-16T12:35:54.665-05:00I had "JDl" and SAUTERNEl and couldn'...I had "JDl" and SAUTERNEl and couldn't find my mistake. I had a few extra minutes in my 3rd period math class I was teaching so I flashed my puzzle-in-progress on the screen and asked my students to help me find the mistake. Brock Lahr looked up Bordeaux wines on his iPad and told me it was SAUTERNES. What does the S even stand for in JDS? Juris Doctor..Specialias???<br /><br />@TheRhino, I consider myself a conservative Christian (who also happens to be an Ole: Um Ya Ya!) and I think your book looks interesting. I'd probably buy and read it before I burn it (ha ha).Geometricushttp://providenceacademy.org/our_community/faculty/faculty_directory/mr_benjamin_blackhawk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9169752233331235192015-12-16T12:29:02.316-05:002015-12-16T12:29:02.316-05:00thUmbsUp for CABIT. Sounds like some sorta hybrid...thUmbsUp for CABIT. Sounds like some sorta hybrid varmint.<br /><br />DEADly grid … PaulaG. has done gone total goth, on us. Seemed like a pretty routine solve, til M&A got to the SW. That's where the old JETBOAT went DEAD. Thanks mainly to VOIT & EARTHA, got er goin again, after many reflective nanoseconds, and limped home. No thanks to ANTH & LLOSA. But, hey -- with seven deadly themers, things get nice and cozy & desperate.<br /><br />fffave weeject: FFF. {Stuttering curse, that might be completed by a woodduck??}.<br /><br />fave weeject combo congeniality winner: WOW-WII.<br /><br />Odd to M&A bullets:<br />* GOODFAT. What we cinnamon roll regulars like to call Emergency Body Weight.<br />* They put caramel on SHALLOTs? Sold at Mr. GOODFAT body shops, perhaps?<br />* {Gamboling spots}. Totally misread this clue. While I'm here, tho: Ten bucks on the dandelions, to win.<br />* Evidently really wanted that X in the SE corner. har. That little area's closer musta given @Anoa Bob palpitations.<br />* THEO. This is gettin overly rough, when U drag the whole Van Gogh family into yer WedPuz. (For completion's sake … mom: LOYOLA. pop: LLOSA. sista: LOTSA. pet budgie: NONONO.)<br /><br />Thanx for the puz, Paula darlin. Plucked flea fled firetrap. (repeat, until the woodduck sings) har.<br /><br />Masked & Anonymo3Us<br /><br /><br />**gift gruntz**Masked and Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16027736429645378004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38936678645215914912015-12-16T12:22:17.149-05:002015-12-16T12:22:17.149-05:00@Donald --
Jet boats have no propellers. They ar...<br />@Donald --<br /><br />Jet boats have no propellers. They are "propelled" by impellers, which are within the water tunnel running fore to aft through the lower part of the vessel. <br /><br />If they had propellers (exposed in the vessel's rear), they could be dangerous to any rider who fell off. <br /><br /><br /><br />Wm. C.noreply@blogger.com