tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1964341002603108823..comments2024-03-28T13:27:40.171-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Popeye villain who sailed black barnacle / THU 11-17-16 / Work not of buffa style / Longtime home of Tappet Brothers / Video game featuring archaeologist heroine / Tree frog with distinctive call / One of eggs used in this 1986 film is now exhibited in Smithsonian / Insect with multi-queen coloniesRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10106817213480250802016-12-22T17:01:22.752-05:002016-12-22T17:01:22.752-05:00Sweet puzzle. One of those that look impossible a...Sweet puzzle. One of those that look impossible at first, but hacking away in random places (STIHL, RARE GAS) and hewing at others (SIRES, SLR, TORTS, SWAT AT), I got a flow going. PYRAMID SCHEME (confirmed by DES) was the catalyst for more progress up top. Eventually, ALBOM came to me, and I moved to the bottom, reasoning that the opera type must be SERIA because "buffa" (is this because opera buffs are serious about opera? Oh, never mind).<br /><br />Like all good crossword puzzles, several words intertwined to give up TUT, TIDY, MUSIC, CUES, and YELL OUT. Fun. <br /><br />I like Timothy Polin and Joe Krozel, so this was a treat.<br /><br />rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21359987671198024032016-12-22T14:22:28.237-05:002016-12-22T14:22:28.237-05:00TIDY theme and PYRAMIDSCHEME revealer. YELLsOUT, &...TIDY theme and PYRAMIDSCHEME revealer. YELLsOUT, "Look at me! It's all right in front of you!"<br /><br />PHARAOHANT needed some unearthing, but, overall, an easy and fun Egyptian tour (de force).leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79359868636250550152016-12-22T13:50:16.113-05:002016-12-22T13:50:16.113-05:00This was one of those solves that began slowly and...This was one of those solves that began slowly and then one after another the answers fell.<br /><br />1A was my first gimmee - then, very little.<br /><br />Of course, putting ALBuM in gave me the DNF. I've read several of his books and columns. My very bad. <br /><br />I do like opera - at least some. But was buffaloed by buffa, so uPERASERIA made as much sense at mashed potatoes. <br /><br />Then, for my finale, I tried to make a coherent little statement out of the FULL answers for 5, 29, etc. Try it - you might like it!<br /><br />Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for CrosswordsDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70561631786034425972016-12-22T13:10:43.663-05:002016-12-22T13:10:43.663-05:00That went quick. OFL’s 1a theory proved out here. ...That went quick. OFL’s 1a theory proved out here. I’ve got an ALBOM book on the nightstand right now, so gimme right away. Seemed like the fastest Thurs-puz ever, maybe due to so many black squares. Not even room enough for a yeah baby.<br /><br />Yes, I did take TORTS as a one-L. We all did.<br /><br />PEEPER would have fit Leah from yesterday’s story. AMAN,A PEEPER, then TWOHEARTS as one.<br /><br />Better than a rebus. Gotta go to the Electric Fetus so I can buy the gift of MUSIC.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38982537877254285832016-12-22T13:06:03.412-05:002016-12-22T13:06:03.412-05:00Very enjoyable, continuing a really good puzzle we...<br />Very enjoyable, continuing a really good puzzle week. Looked at the five empty spaces at the bottom, said " Huh?", and went on with life. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65786198359093458992016-12-22T13:03:21.929-05:002016-12-22T13:03:21.929-05:00Here's another one that at first read-through ...Here's another one that at first read-through had me thinking, no way in hell am I gonna get this. I knew good ol' Harold RAMIS. That was it. But then, well, how else would you go after a fly? You'd SWATAT it. Ecch, talk about your ugly partials. But that put W in the second place of 6-down, so TWOHEARTS seemed obvious. Not familiar with that song or believing that U2 would USE that old-time lyric, I still wrote it in.<br /><br />Speaking of USE, what a gigantic stretch of a clue: "Walk all over!" Okay, I get it, it's like the late Sam Kinison's signature line, "Wild thing, you USED me!" But boy, that was really bending over backwards to clue the word. That clue belongs farther along in the week, IMO.<br /><br />So then we come to "Leave in a bad way," starting with STRA_. Stray, of course. No? No. Because I unearthed another gimme, STIHL. There is no way anything is going to begin YH--. So, back to 22-across to run the alphabet and come up with STRAP. As in financially. More and more, this is feeling like at least a Friday, if not Saturday.<br /><br />Oh...by this time, the grid looking more or less like a face to me, I assumed (you know what that does) that the five isolated squares--starting with the M of MEGAWATTS, was MOUTH. N-no.<br /><br />One more glitch, quickly corrected, was caLLOUT for YELLOUT. There is no way I'd do either proclaiming this puzzle "easy-"anything. It was hard all the way. Take 4-down. Just the clue! "Buffa?" Wha??? Has to be inside info. If you're not in the 1% who love OPERA, there is no way you're going to know this. In fact, I'll wager there are some who DO love it who don't know OPERASERIA,which for me went in entirely on crosses.<br /><br />Looking at the completed (somehow!) grid, I finally noticed the theme, one of whose answers provides us with a premier DOD: TOMBRAIDER Angelina Jolie. Triumph factor equal to the march in AIDA. Should have appeared tomorrow, at least. Birdie.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33505185753568848652016-12-22T11:50:25.370-05:002016-12-22T11:50:25.370-05:00ALIENS TORTS
The LITHUANIAn RASTAMAN was CAGEDUP ...ALIENS TORTS<br /><br />The LITHUANIAn RASTAMAN was CAGEDUP with me<br />and other LAWBREAKERS like PYRAMIDSCHEMErs and LOOTERS.<br />With his LASTGASPs he would TWICE YELLOUT his PLEA,<br />“I’m no TOMBRAIDER, just a PEEPER of the SEAHAG’s hooters.”<br />AMEN<br /><br />--- BERYL ALBOM<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26359617301874510792016-11-22T14:39:26.370-05:002016-11-22T14:39:26.370-05:00Thank you to Casseopeia for the "cant" a...Thank you to Casseopeia for the "cant" answer. I still think that the usage is quite arcane and a bit of a stretch. But I get that it's fair, if not gaming.Curleegirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05556851926736060130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90313698180555067552016-11-17T22:45:05.869-05:002016-11-17T22:45:05.869-05:00What @kitshef said.
DNF for me...TOM BRAnDER was ...What @kitshef said.<br /><br />DNF for me...TOM BRAnDER was my video game. Lol...never parsed it into that thing that I most certainly have heard of. (Hi, @JM)<br /><br />@NCA Pres...thanks for putting into words what I felt, with your Christmas Story analogy. But then, TABLELAMP would fit right in, no?? I'm quite sure the constructor's had a fishnet stocking-clad leg lamp in mind...<br /><br />@jberg...thank you!!!! You tied it all together...Rex's moth comment was funny, then you brought it round to the theme-worthy Sphinx moth. I discovered a just-emerged one one summer. They are stunning creatures. Mine looked like a stealth bomber, and was harder to find.<br /><br />@malsdemare...perfect!!! I approve!<br /><br />Lastly, love the PEEPERS...it's spectacular how, one night in very early spring, the air is suddenly alive with their peeping, after a long, lifeless winter We have wetlands very nearby, and it's one of the early signs of spring that I just love.<br /><br />Thanks for an evocative puzzle.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83963110976902741592016-11-17T21:34:58.615-05:002016-11-17T21:34:58.615-05:00Yes me as well on ToetAG and redtAG
RASTAfAr for d...Yes me as well on ToetAG and redtAG<br />RASTAfAr for dreaded guy, kinda rastafarian..ish.<br />Love the car guys but didn't recognize tappet spelling. Maybe tappit would have rung a bell.<br /><br />Fun puzzle. Liked it even though in the end the 'b' in beryl was a guessPhilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07988007506745985696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19889658748843540772016-11-17T20:14:56.210-05:002016-11-17T20:14:56.210-05:00The S's! Omg. So many S's. I actually thou...The S's! Omg. So many S's. I actually thought the S's going around the black squares in the center were part of the theme for a second. Lazy constructing. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12742433048526441194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48839028374209415182016-11-17T20:14:38.365-05:002016-11-17T20:14:38.365-05:00@Z Thanks for noticing that Puzzazz properly match...@Z Thanks for noticing that Puzzazz properly matched the print edition. Whenever the NYT does a trick like this (and there have been much crazier tricks than this), Puzzazz replicates the print edition while the NYT's own app doesn't. We don't know why anyone uses anything else either :) Puzzazz is free and there's no charge to solve the NYT in Puzzazz, unlike most other apps (of course, you need an NYT subscription)<br /><br />@Teedmn Our analysis showed that, <i>on average</i> Thursday was a bit harder than Friday, but, of course, it varies from week to week. Just like you thought, our system rated this Thursday's puzzle Easy for a Thursday. See <a href="http://www.puzzazz.com/leaderboard/info/new-york-times-crosswords/2016/11/17" rel="nofollow">http://www.puzzazz.com/leaderboard/info/new-york-times-crosswords/2016/11/17</a>Roy Lebanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16120240595362341255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71005846047175941672016-11-17T19:41:03.405-05:002016-11-17T19:41:03.405-05:00The apostrophe (or lack of it) is too blame for al...The apostrophe (or lack of it) is too blame for all who CANT.JC66https://www.blogger.com/profile/05324615675333287919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57735424889429794592016-11-17T18:38:39.759-05:002016-11-17T18:38:39.759-05:00@kobryan -- When you're BEANed in baseball, th...@kobryan -- When you're BEANed in baseball, the pitcher hits you in the head with the pitch.<br /><br />@Malsdemare -- Brilliant! Barack might be a bit of a mouthful at the dog park, but Rocky rolls right off the tongue. Also, a sled dog has to be strong, and Rocky brings to mind the very strong Rocky Balboa. But mostly a lovely tribute to a President we're going to miss like crazy.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16737377749030219974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64765583757481146552016-11-17T18:31:43.010-05:002016-11-17T18:31:43.010-05:00@kobryon - BEAN, see the verb definition.
Also, ...@kobryon - <a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/bean" rel="nofollow">BEAN</a>, see the verb definition. <br /><br />Also, someone asked about <a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/cant" rel="nofollow">CANT</a>, although if someone answered, apologies for repeating the answer.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9800832707832754532016-11-17T18:21:20.677-05:002016-11-17T18:21:20.677-05:00On the easy side for me too, toughest corner was t...On the easy side for me too, toughest corner was the SW.<br /><br />Did not know ABBA as clued ( Dancing Queen, yes). <br /><br />Spelling PHARAOH is always tricky for me. <br /><br />Great looking grid, fun theme, passable fill, liked it a lot.jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65122885507302301962016-11-17T17:38:12.358-05:002016-11-17T17:38:12.358-05:00Sorry if I am missing something--can someone expla...Sorry if I am missing something--can someone explain 42 down, Hit on the head, BEAN? Beanie hats??kobryonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13678990955118582721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5848701391286015772016-11-17T16:21:03.995-05:002016-11-17T16:21:03.995-05:00It's all pretty much been said. But, Dr. Johns...It's all pretty much been said. But, Dr. Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language, a mammoth undertaking, is filled with his satiric wit, perhaps not a quality normally seen in later comprehensive and objective lexicons. Word people will find it wise and amusing. "Monsieur: a term of reproach for a Frenchman." "Oat: a grain in England given to horses, but in Scotland it appears to support the people." Read about his travels with Boswell before you visit Edinburgh, for example, and experience what he saw over 200 years ago. <br /><br />I'm not a fan of "grid art," such as it is. It seems a little desperate, but maybe I'm wrong. <br /><br />I admit to experiencing an ominous shudder writing in LITHUANIA. Is it or Estonia next on the list for annexation?Larry Gilstraphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15493069947477383208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73888626904064224742016-11-17T15:40:00.333-05:002016-11-17T15:40:00.333-05:00Generally a pleasant solve for me. Very amused th...Generally a pleasant solve for me. Very amused that OFL forgot that Passover comes out around Easter Time. Never heard of Albom, and so like a few others, was very tempted to have "Reap" instead of "Leap," but guessed right. Why the question mark on the clue "Get off the ground?"? That is what led me to doubt that "leap" was the answer. Stihl is just one more meaningless (to me) brand name, right under "strap" which was very oddly clued. <br /><br />I originally had gigawatts - guess I was thinking of very large power plants. Needed to get "Peeper" to change it. But I enjoyed the originality. Never saw or played "Tomb Raiders," but was amused to find it near the mummy. Loved the baseball themed puzzle Tuesday, but not the Batman yesterday.<br /><br />OISKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808675378318214461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13609264357120963292016-11-17T15:34:59.196-05:002016-11-17T15:34:59.196-05:00TUT and AMEN, but no ANKH.
We're lost withou...TUT and AMEN, but no ANKH. <br /><br />We're lost without our center.So Sadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68620862747680755432016-11-17T15:20:11.659-05:002016-11-17T15:20:11.659-05:00@thfenn, you caught my attention with your 'kn...@thfenn, you caught my attention with your 'knees have sockets'. I must have just skimmed the clue, 'cause it's hips that have sockets. Knees are hinge joints with nary a socket in sight. The nearest thing to it is the sliding-place for the patella, and that's a groove.<br /><br />@Malsdemare, Barack/Rocky is cute, so I won't press my idea of having TWO SLEDDOGS named (a la Dr Doolittle) Push Me and Pull You. Enjoy your 29 x daily!<br /><br />@Roomie, you confused the heck out of me with your close about '@Leapy made puzz'. I get it now, but am hoping for that Roomie-made puzz. Let's have it!!<br /><br />@FredRom, welcome back.Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54339388282100006842016-11-17T15:12:57.967-05:002016-11-17T15:12:57.967-05:00@All - Don't people say "I'm STRAPped...@All - Don't people say "I'm STRAPped" anymore when they're trying to borrow a buck or two? Got 22A off the S, surprised so many didn't recognize the word as clued.Mohair Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502840715719161565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54682232687810550822016-11-17T14:29:13.196-05:002016-11-17T14:29:13.196-05:00@Lobster 11: my thinking on STRAP exactly. Good Pr...@Lobster 11: my thinking on STRAP exactly. Good Professor: thanks for your kindness! Tut not having been entombed in a pyramid, but in the Valley of the Kings, threw me for a bit. Won't swear to it, but I think Mozart's Ideomoneo (sp?) is probably the most performed OPERA SERIA nowadays. Fred Romagnolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11994837736408182418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8146530902608537682016-11-17T14:26:51.374-05:002016-11-17T14:26:51.374-05:00You solvers who entered RASPUTIN are either watchi...You solvers who entered RASPUTIN are either watching too much electioneering news or were led astray by <i>MUZHIK</i> in mid-grid.<br /><br />RASPUTIN would have been clued as 'Hard-to-kill guy'Prince Felix Youssupovnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59428715449796984172016-11-17T13:49:04.096-05:002016-11-17T13:49:04.096-05:00Not a grid-moth, @Rex. As the budding lepidopteris...Not a grid-moth, @Rex. As the budding lepidopterist notes, a moth's forewings are larger than its hindwings.<br /><br />The Egyptology theme really SOCKETS to me, to the extent of anticipating a little "Aida" (though not an OPERA SERIA). Thought it might be RASTAFAN with another single-rebus RASTAFariaN; the Triumpal March would be fitting, eh? Fun to keep finding PYRAMID-related entries, but I missed anything Maltese Falcon. If (as JoeKro says) no mummies were in PYRAMIDs, where did they come from?<br /><br />My King Tsk was that I also LEAPtat the LSAT/PSAT bait, but I enjoyed the resultant POOTERS (hi @lms)<br /><br />Also liked the SEAHAG's TEABAGS, and wondered if her brand was TETES LEAP's Little TEABAGS.<br /><br />Going off on another Random Roman Tangent:<br />RAREGAo, RAREGAS, RAREGAt, RAREGAmus, RAREGAtis, RAREGAnt. The latter being a PHARAOHANT, which PHARAOHbugged me as I'd never heard of it, but was interestingly transcrambled with the praying LAMA MANTIS.<br /><br />Interesting interplay: just heard yesterday on NPR about LITHUANIA's break from the Russian sphere, and how NATO took CARE of that at the LAST GASP. We live in BERYLous times. Rice Crispie bars aside, my ad<i>vice</i> is for more of the afore-mentioned MUSIC to soothe the CAGED-UP beast. Time for the Pretentious Music Promoters to <i>step up</i>!<br />[Here's the missing R for them as wants it.]<br /><br />Hope everyone here gets their [TWO] HEARTS' DES SIRES.Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.com