tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2196885885244779427..comments2024-03-29T01:22:33.864-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: First woman to sit in British House of Commons / MON 8-20-12 / Help for newbies / Parisian girlfriends / Caustic alkalisRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-221364405305154942012-09-24T17:16:18.624-04:002012-09-24T17:16:18.624-04:00I made more than my ususal number of Monday mistak...I made more than my ususal number of Monday mistakes, starting from the git-go with bLocks at 1a, and I wanted my BARNcat (that ignorant slut) to be my nocturnal rodent hunter. When I got to 44d, Stop working, as a car battery, I knew it was GODEAD but I refused to wrire it in until all of the crosses produced that dreadful phrase. (In a case fo synchronicity, when I got in the van to drive vets to the VA Medical Center this morning, I discovered that the battery was dead - happily I had jumper cables in my truck and I was able to get it started- but at no time did I say, oh gee, the battery has GO(NE)DEAD).<br /><br />GTO may be getting stale but it still makes me smile every time I see it in the grid.<br /><br />@Spacecraft - what you said about UOMO.<br /><br />I wish @Tobias hadn't deleted his post - the replies to it make me want to see what happened.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50926708863042720212012-09-24T16:47:24.410-04:002012-09-24T16:47:24.410-04:00A smooth Monday. Like others, I was perplexed by ...A smooth Monday. Like others, I was perplexed by UOMO, but nothing else fit the crosses, so I left it. Sometimes puzzles have words like that.<br /><br />Nance Astor was one of a bevy of American heiresses who went to England in search of a titled husband as their nouveau riche families tried to add class to their status. In those days money was considered crass if you actually worked for it!DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21113370487908857692012-09-24T12:04:56.067-04:002012-09-24T12:04:56.067-04:00I did this OK with usual Monday ease...but was sor...I did this OK with usual Monday ease...but was sorely bothered by the impossibility at square 15. Across, it must be H for HOMO, but down, it has to be U for SUPERB. So I'm left with either SHPERB or UOMO. I was sure it was a constructional mistake, as I gave neither of those a chance of being right. Having to fill in something, I picked the longer word--but I was positive that there was something I was missing.<br /><br />Come on! UOMO? Really? Gad, how would anyone even PRONOUNCE such a ridiculous conglomeration of letters? And this is a MONDAY???<br /><br />The rest of it is pretty interesting and fairly well done, save the oft-mentioned plurality goof in the clue for 11d.<br /><br />Here's my favotite Winston quote (re UOMO): This is the kind of nonsense up with which I shall not put!Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64010334997024528122012-09-24T11:16:57.450-04:002012-09-24T11:16:57.450-04:00Good start to the week, fun, easy, workout. The pr...Good start to the week, fun, easy, workout. The processes of constructing, and editing is fascinating. Thanks for stopping by (5 weeks ago), Robert C. <br /><br />Lady NANCY ASTOR was born in Virginia, so she was not only the first woman in parliament, she was an American.<br /><br />I miss @Sanfranman and his statistical analysis. I hope he's merely on vacation, and that we'll see him back soon.<br /><br />@SIS should be a good game tonight!Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65616220165848484212012-08-23T15:52:43.446-04:002012-08-23T15:52:43.446-04:00I did not like ROAD SIGNS because the cluing is si...I did not like ROAD SIGNS because the cluing is singular (A, B, -or- C).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39866494705723260122012-08-21T01:12:58.301-04:002012-08-21T01:12:58.301-04:00Excited to see a Momus song!Excited to see a Momus song!Alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07064893477629124444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49121416969764570962012-08-20T23:50:35.479-04:002012-08-20T23:50:35.479-04:00@tita
interesting Freudian slip there @tita!
Maybe...@tita<br />interesting Freudian slip there @tita!<br />Maybe you have mixed feeling about getting to the Apple Store!<br /><br />I know I've over posted today, but just wanted to remind folks this is only the second puzzle, I think, from this constructor who gave us the fabulous LISBONBONBON, BOTTOMTOMTOM.ack!me againnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37226181567033862062012-08-20T20:05:31.059-04:002012-08-20T20:05:31.059-04:00Rex, thanks for including your time in this week&#...Rex, thanks for including your time in this week's post! I'm a newbie at crosswords and have found it challenging to tell what's a "fast"/"tournament-worthy" performance (and to gauge the meanings of "easy"/"medium"/"challenging" on each day of the week). It would be great to see your time in future posts as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70839864595010681432012-08-20T18:57:33.510-04:002012-08-20T18:57:33.510-04:00@r.alph...handwriting with a stylus, erasing, plus...@r.alph...handwriting with a stylus, erasing, plus tagging and all the other cool stuff from crucimetrics, would make me ruin, not walk, to my nearest apple store.Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87403654931342025812012-08-20T18:11:17.317-04:002012-08-20T18:11:17.317-04:00The quip about Churchill I remember best is:
A wo...The quip about Churchill I remember best is:<br /><br />A woman (famous actress?) said to him at a cocktail party: With your brains and with my looks, we would have a wonderful child. His answer: But what if it would have my looks and your brains?machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60940181317697703072012-08-20T17:24:06.989-04:002012-08-20T17:24:06.989-04:00@ralphbunker
Thanks a lot! You could have mentio...@ralphbunker<br /><br /> Thanks a lot! You could have mentioned that in your post so<br />I wouldn't have spent a lot of time<br />trying to figure it out.ANON Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4128698839391080362012-08-20T17:23:35.536-04:002012-08-20T17:23:35.536-04:00@acme: the poison soup/tea one may be true (some v...@acme: the poison soup/tea one may be true (some versions differ as to the beverage).<br /><br />I like the "ugly" one cited by @paul even better. Alas, if Winston said it at all it was probably to another politician named Bessie Braddock, but even that is questionable. It's an old joke, used at least once by W.C. Fields and with several earlier citaions in the 19th century.<br /><br />In both cases one could say that if Churchill didn't say it, he should have.Mel Ottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10905150656499656402012-08-20T17:22:57.023-04:002012-08-20T17:22:57.023-04:00Winston Churchill to Lady Astor:
"NANCY, you...Winston Churchill to Lady Astor:<br /><br />"NANCY, you ignorant slut!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60642931353191653122012-08-20T16:41:59.527-04:002012-08-20T16:41:59.527-04:00@ANON B
It refers to a thread that Rob C, John V ...@ANON B<br /><br />It refers to a thread that Rob C, John V and I had last Tuesday:<br /><br />http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=35115061&postID=4403580453984262066&isPopup=truer.alphbunkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00657275501845781384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1270543984440987352012-08-20T16:31:45.766-04:002012-08-20T16:31:45.766-04:00@r.alphbunker
Please explain "no partials an...@r.alphbunker<br /> Please explain "no partials and only DRE had to be clued using<br />a FITB."ANON Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25108175980898020592012-08-20T14:52:09.420-04:002012-08-20T14:52:09.420-04:00Am enjoying the Lady Astor vs Churchill quips, kee...Am enjoying the Lady Astor vs Churchill quips, keep 'em coming...are they real? Seems so Groucho vs Margaret Dumont.<br />Tho super interesting (to me) that LADYANTEBELLUM is same number of letters...would have definitely made it fifty years more contemporary, but definitely a Tuesday.<br /><br />@Lewis<br />ha! Most things better left in cyberspace!<br /><br />@RobC<br />Always love background intentions, changes...My guess is LTS is slightly more known than FTS...and more open to a fun clue (people vs places) but I agree with you more Scrabbly!Acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45896900326377995022012-08-20T14:29:29.447-04:002012-08-20T14:29:29.447-04:00Thank you all for your kind words and opinions. I ...Thank you all for your kind words and opinions. I always enjoy the posts here - I think we strike a good balance between taking the puzzle seriously and recognizing that it's still a puzzle simply meant to be enjoyed.<br /><br />@ Anoa Bob - I was simultaneously PO'd and entertained by your post - very funny<br />@ Z - thanks, point taken<br />@ LMS - she wasn't the one boasting <br />@ Ulrich - history buff here, great story on Adenauer<br />@ Masked and Anon - Us were all for u<br />@ r.alph - definitely had that in mind when putting this together<br />@ JFC - the change from SIFT to SILT - I guess we can say Will got the f out of there.<br />Rob Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51028617414361538082012-08-20T14:27:37.646-04:002012-08-20T14:27:37.646-04:00@r.alph - I would be willing to try that App. As l...@r.alph - I would be willing to try that App. As long as there is the option of waiting until I hit the "Check my answers" button and there is a link to this blog.<br /><br />@Tom Akin - Oh, of course. You have my vote; which Super PAC do you prefer I send my check to?<br /><br />Let's see if the third time is the charm for reading the captcha (I think it says "doofts" . . .Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66169031970319829052012-08-20T14:13:40.488-04:002012-08-20T14:13:40.488-04:00@JFC - Careful or your poetic license will be revo...@JFC - Careful or your poetic license will be revoked.the missing JFXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10251961788716357842012-08-20T14:13:18.007-04:002012-08-20T14:13:18.007-04:00Yes, Lady Astor and Churchill hated each other, bu...Yes, Lady Astor and Churchill hated each other, but she told him she would poison his tea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76355852599279092762012-08-20T14:02:27.027-04:002012-08-20T14:02:27.027-04:00@Rob C - Thre change from SIFT to SILT avoided mak...@Rob C - Thre change from SIFT to SILT avoided making the puzzle a pangram and Will probably wanted to avoid one of Rex's rants against pangrams.<br /><br />@Rex - Sometime I have the impression that you are very frustrated....<br /><br />JFCJFCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62986872201907667732012-08-20T13:49:26.981-04:002012-08-20T13:49:26.981-04:00@Rob C
No partials and only DRE had to be clued u...@Rob C<br /><br />No partials and only DRE had to be clued using a FITB.<br /><br />Good job!<br /><br />@dead tree solvers<br />Have any of you with iPads tried googling lately? In the latest iPads you now have the option of using your finger (or a capacitive stylus) to write your queries. If there was an iPad crossword puzzle app that let you write your answers using a stylus which could do OCR to check your answers would you consider using it instead of paper?<br />r.alphbunkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00657275501845781384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7456812915241303152012-08-20T13:48:24.100-04:002012-08-20T13:48:24.100-04:00@Bird - You know - as opposed to those times where...@Bird - You know - as opposed to those times where she's asking for it.Todd Akin - enlightened Mannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13457929363500864962012-08-20T13:37:03.300-04:002012-08-20T13:37:03.300-04:00I posted before I proofed . . .
Maybe there is a ...I posted before I proofed . . .<br /><br />Maybe there is a mete-theme puzzle that has a mini-theme in each corner.Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24742651986621793402012-08-20T13:35:07.400-04:002012-08-20T13:35:07.400-04:00Easy here. IMO not a bad puzzle from Mr. Cirillo (...Easy here. IMO not a bad puzzle from Mr. Cirillo (and thanks for stopping by). I slowed a bit at 10D because I wasn’t sure if Billy’s last name was ELLIOT or ELIOTT and for some reason HMOS did not come to mind the first time around. A few answers I didn’t know, but crosses were all easy.<br /><br />Enjoyed the mini-theme in the SE. Maybe there is a meta-theme puzzle that has 4 mini-themes in each corner. Anyone?<br /><br />@Chefbea – I agree. I circled that clue because is has “or” instead of “and”.<br /><br />Re Tom Akin – I saw the headline, thought “WTF!?” and read the 1st paragraph. Then I thought “What an ASS****” and turned the page. Maybe this is a dumb question, but what the hell is “legitimate rape”?<br /><br />TTFNBirdnoreply@blogger.com