tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2231729870360318837..comments2024-03-28T06:44:48.044-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: TUESDAY, Jul. 28 2009 — Insect monster of Japanese film / Banjoist Scruggs / Cheech or Chong persona / Gitmo mil branchRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39458233802218560042009-09-02T19:14:36.011-04:002009-09-02T19:14:36.011-04:00I have to admit that I read the 20A clue as note i...I have to admit that I read the 20A clue as note in an E-major chord, giving three choices: E, G-sharp and B. This made the answer obvious even if you didn't know MOWGLI. I did know MOWGLI, so that is moot. In any case, G-sharp is unquestionably one of the notes in an E-major scale, and there are only four possible answers to the clue.<br /><br />I also started with Near in stead of NIGH, but and that was my only writeover.Singernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28110818641588461962009-07-29T18:14:21.367-04:002009-07-29T18:14:21.367-04:00@chefbea, that's hilarious... the two you thou...@chefbea, that's hilarious... the two you thought were the easiest were two that stumped me until the end. I've never heard of Osso Bucco, and I couldn't name a single Neil Diamond song.<br /><br />Sounds like others had the same problems as me in the southeast. Cheech and Chong were not "hippies," they were STONERs, which destroyed the corner. Also, I wrote in ONLINE because I haven't heard anyone use the term "the net" since 1996.<br /><br />@Joseph, your musical quibble is the most baseless thing I've ever heard. There's no such thing as a "Mowdli."Jessehttp://www.backoftheclass.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65864645057101828872009-07-29T10:05:18.080-04:002009-07-29T10:05:18.080-04:00@Clark, I really liked your description of this en...@Clark, I really liked your description of this encounter. Because I was struck by the same thing myself: the way the Dalai Lama looks you right in the eye and sustains it is incredibly powerful. It really stayed with me, as well. In many cultures, humans are taught not to stare, to avoid direct gaze. It can be seen as aggressive, unless it's in a sexual context. But whatever that is that he has mastered is truly remarkable. You feel a direct connection that lasts way beyond that moment. Thanks for describing it!foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10820883777624651692009-07-29T01:47:15.871-04:002009-07-29T01:47:15.871-04:00I once encountered the Dalai Lama. I was going to...I once encountered the Dalai Lama. I was going to hear him speak in Central Park. I had a pass to the area just in front of the stage where I was supposed to meet Semi-Puzzle Partner. I couldn't get there because of the press of the crowd. I decided to exit the Park, go up Fifth Avenue, reenter the Park and come back around again. I was upset that I was going to be late or miss it. Then I thought, how absurd to be upset on the way to hear the Dalai Lama. There was not a soul on Fifth Avenue (they were all in the Park) and there was no traffic. I was walking up the East Side of the Street. Then, as I was about to cross one of the side streets, a couple of limos came toward Fifth Avenue. I stood on the curb and there paasing directly in front of me was the Dalai Lama in the back seat of a limo. Our heads were no more than about 5 feet from each other. I gave him a big smile and bowed my head a little, he turned toward me and looked right into my eyes with that huge grin of his and bowed his head to me. That meeting felt as substantial as if I had shaken his hand and had a conversation with him.Clarknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44932350240732353272009-07-28T22:59:47.527-04:002009-07-28T22:59:47.527-04:00@Foodie: I thought Andrea meant he magically repai...@Foodie: I thought Andrea meant he magically repaired broken or stopped watches! I'm relieved to hear he just likes to tinker with them.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54514757688829603082009-07-28T22:59:18.132-04:002009-07-28T22:59:18.132-04:00@Joseph, Dont understand your reasoning why the cl...@Joseph, Dont understand your reasoning why the clue should have referenced A Major instead of E Major just because it comes first, big deal. I had MOW_LI and deduced it must be G Sharp because that seemed to fit best. I was right...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37510485534915199562009-07-28T22:58:07.980-04:002009-07-28T22:58:07.980-04:00I'm so glad to hear so many of you either have...I'm so glad to hear so many of you either have read or are interested in reading <i>The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.</i> I just finished it this afternoon and I'm still a little numb. Highly recommended!<br /><br />I think the disco clue refers to a disco(theque), not disco dancing. According to Wikipedia, Whisky a Go-Go first opened in Chicago in 1958 and has been called "the first real American discotheque." So, yeah, "a-go-go," 1960s, disco — works for me!PuzzleGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06835502266781516627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58434336098500379922009-07-28T22:23:12.218-04:002009-07-28T22:23:12.218-04:00@Andrea, you're right, the Dalai Lama is a hip...@Andrea, you're right, the Dalai Lama is a hippie! In fact, he might capture the very essence of it all, including some very cool and colorful flowing garb (I have some of that from my hippie days! It's been used by my kids' friends for costume parties!). But as you note, a hippie who loves to repair watches! Something Zen about that, may be... Actually, one of my favorite books of his is "The Universe in a Single Atom", where he talks about his interest in science, and its relation to reason and faith. <br /><br />Yes, the feedback from Tony Orbach is terrific. It's wonderful to see where the constructors get their inspiration!foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29156816735212888542009-07-28T22:06:29.718-04:002009-07-28T22:06:29.718-04:00@ Tony,
Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope to s...@ Tony, <br />Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope to see more from you soon. Tell Will we said so! Ha!Two Ponieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06896743444873087885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9447950680223531372009-07-28T21:41:51.411-04:002009-07-28T21:41:51.411-04:00I agree with Fergus. Thank you Tony!I agree with Fergus. Thank you Tony!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80642545935550055212009-07-28T21:35:31.332-04:002009-07-28T21:35:31.332-04:00Best constructor feedback ever.Best constructor feedback ever.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76106534164522133742009-07-28T21:19:22.809-04:002009-07-28T21:19:22.809-04:00www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wsCZ7Ft_Z8www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wsCZ7Ft_Z8Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76564676741614019122009-07-28T20:54:03.963-04:002009-07-28T20:54:03.963-04:00Cheech and Chong were two different types of drug ...Cheech and Chong were two different types of drug users, Cheech more of a Stoner type and Chong more of a HIPPIE and since I had NEAR ar 52A, giving me HEP*** going down, a wholly different idea. Very confusing to me.<br /><br />I liked MOWGLI and MOTHRA in the NW, a nice balance there.edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58415510089055856202009-07-28T20:25:04.955-04:002009-07-28T20:25:04.955-04:00It's so great to hear from you, Tony. This puz...It's so great to hear from you, Tony. This puzzle really is a gem. And I'm especially impressed that you give Andrea credit where credit is due. What a stand up guy you are!<br /><br />Can't wait to solve your next effort.johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77045011999383828102009-07-28T19:59:43.497-04:002009-07-28T19:59:43.497-04:00Wow! Thanks for all the kind words and interesting...Wow! Thanks for all the kind words and interesting threads regarding this puzzle - I didn't solve it but got my entertainment reading all these great comments!<br /><br />ACME may not remember (and maybe this is a subliminal reason for her liking it so much) but she came up with the INALLLIKELIHOOD phrase! I was showing this idea to a table of people and, I think at that point I had what would become 1, 3 and 5, and she said that out loud and unwittingly put me in search of a 5th shade of meaning to complete the cycle.<br /><br />HIPPIE - I submitted something like [Counter-culture type] - not as exciting as [Cheech or Chong], however diverting that may have been!<br />AGOGO - I'm hip enough (thanks for the extra support there, ACME!) But I'm to blame for the disco thing - I think there's enough overlap between newer (80s places/things with AGOGO) and old (60s places called DISCOS) that it was fair enough.<br />NIGH - What can I say? It's one of those words that could go either way and happens to start with same letter as another possibility - on your toes, solvers!<br /><br />Until we meet again - depending on Will's outlook...<br /><br />Best,<br />TonyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28687995480850534962009-07-28T19:52:36.366-04:002009-07-28T19:52:36.366-04:00Andrea -- I wasn't quite as enthusiastic when ...Andrea -- I wasn't quite as enthusiastic when I was sitting on my porch with the puzzle, but knowing your stated preferences I can see why you gushed. <br /><br />I liked the cross line at the middle, I AM I, DALAI. <br /><br />What does really define a true HIPPIE? I have lots of ideas from my formative youth in the 1960s. A definitive exemplar might be Arlo Guthrie? Joni Mitchell or Neil Young -- yet they're all too accomplished to be true to the IDEAL.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3706241282207957862009-07-28T19:51:28.586-04:002009-07-28T19:51:28.586-04:00@ PlantieBea and mac, I can't resist chiming i...@ PlantieBea and mac, I can't resist chiming in about Edgar Sawtelle. I still think about it. I was very touched. Would have loved to have been at the book discussion.Two Ponieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06896743444873087885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12576718122910911092009-07-28T19:31:56.293-04:002009-07-28T19:31:56.293-04:00@mac: Thanks for the book title. I did not remembe...@mac: Thanks for the book title. I did not remember the crossword references because the main theme of relationships, dogs/people is so strong. I actually read Edgar Sawtelle before it made the big time as an Oprah book. One of my sons was president of his National English Honor Society last year. They hosted a book discussion attended by the author David Wroblewski. It was one of their very best events.PlantieBeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960277851368508036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87364578831305970652009-07-28T19:27:28.083-04:002009-07-28T19:27:28.083-04:00ps one piece of synchronicity from yesterday...
I ...ps one piece of synchronicity from yesterday...<br />I was answering @glitch's question about how often OSAGE has appeared in the NYT (38, but only 5 in ref to Orange, different days of the week TU-Sat)...<br /> right after I hit send there was a commercial for "August Osage County" (the incredibly difficult to remember) play which is here in town. I predict "August ____ County" will one day become a clue since the play won the 2008 Tony AND a Pulitzer...<br /><br />@mee<br />I had NO idea there were so many responses on an 8 ball...I think I assumed somehow there were just six<br />(or 8!) NOW there's a theme waiting to happen, tho in my bones I think it HAS been done, but thanks for the great list!acme hippie michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13172598186717403802009-07-28T19:12:17.821-04:002009-07-28T19:12:17.821-04:00LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS PUZZLE!!!!!!!!
FIVE theme ...LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS PUZZLE!!!!!!!!<br /><br />FIVE theme answers ALL fifteen letters and not a strained even slightly one in the bunch???!!!!!!!<br /><br />This is like the perfect puzzle!!!!!<br />Theme answers with a Q! WIth a triple LLL! Perfect downward progression (digression?) <br />FUN phrases to say!!!!!!!!!!!<br />Crazy words like MOWGLI!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />Only quibbles are with definitions<br />(re @PIX on stat, but gotta love that there were THREE and all fun!)<br /><br />Disco off, but I suspect that was not the fault of the ever hip Tony who would certainly know it predated disco!<br /><br />AGOGO made a comeback in the early-mid 80s for the comedy club I started at here in SF which had been the illustrious Holy City Zoo, but became (choke)<br />HA-HA-A-GO-A-GO in an industrial-sized naming accident (not caused by me).<br /><br />And the whole NIGH/HIPPIE (count me in for NEAR/STONER) thing seemed again to be one of not- great clue editing, but separate from the puzzle itself which I feel is one of the best ever in its construction + theme.<br />LOVED it. SO much to like about it!<br />FIVE! all 15s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />(altho god forbid Five is the new three...)<br /><br />Bravo TOny-O you a-go-go!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />@Foodie<br />Everyone knows the Dalai (hello?) one-l Lama is a total hippie stoner...talk about little troublemakers! Great story! Did he fix your watch?<br /><br />@chefwen<br />I await your mahi mahi tacos!andreagogo michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72713369006042230012009-07-28T18:51:29.352-04:002009-07-28T18:51:29.352-04:00@Foodie: what a wonderful story about the Dalai La...@Foodie: what a wonderful story about the Dalai Lama. I have even more respect for him now.<br /><br />@PlantieBea: just in case PG can't come back to the blog, I think it is The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. I just put it on my list, too.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34921943723320312712009-07-28T17:40:06.707-04:002009-07-28T17:40:06.707-04:00Foodie...great Dalai Lama story. I think Crosswor...Foodie...great Dalai Lama story. I think Crosswords are bringing me enlightenment as I am certainly entering diminishing awareness.PhillySolverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06896753042626337920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22144472785313650982009-07-28T17:08:23.131-04:002009-07-28T17:08:23.131-04:00I too loved this puzzle!
And it made me laugh bec...I too loved this puzzle!<br /><br />And it made me laugh because it reminded me of a recent exercise that the whole biomedical research community went through because of the Stimulus Package given to the NIH. Everyone and his brother wrote a proposal, and the likelihood of funding went from seeming almost assured to "NOT LOOKING SO HOT" and then "AINT GONNA HAPPEN", as they are funding something like 1% of the proposals. The process certainly stimulated a lot of work that led to nothing... Some of us MOANed, WEPT or got MOODY, but we all need to tighten our BELT and move on with our lives... <br /><br />I love the DALAI lama. I met him and told him I work on emotions and he told me: "Ah the little troublemakers!". And then in a larger context I asked him a question that came from a large neuroscience audience about whether he believed in using drugs to treat negative emotions and mood disorders. He surprised me and many others, because he said: "If you can help people with their troublemakers, then why not? As long as you can do it without diminishing awareness". What a challenge!foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45806396600088207862009-07-28T16:55:26.769-04:002009-07-28T16:55:26.769-04:00Fun puzzle, but for the record: "STAT" d...Fun puzzle, but for the record: "STAT" does not mean ASAP or PDQ. If you are a doctor in a hospital and you get paged "stat" it means you should drop what you are doing ("sorry Mrs. Jones got to go, right now...I'll be back") and immediately go deal with whoever paged you (someone is dying in the next 5 minutes type situation). ASAP or PDQ mean something like: get it done without delay but does not mean you should tell the patient you are with "sorry, but got to go, NOW". "Stat" pages are always subject to abuse(the nurse is tired of waiting for you to answer your page), but that's what they are supposed to mean.PIXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11499153848923888672009-07-28T16:55:22.057-04:002009-07-28T16:55:22.057-04:00I really liked the creepy, plaintive song the woma...I really liked the creepy, plaintive song the woman sang to summon Mothra. My son had a Japanese monster phase when he was around six or seven, and since I had to have a favorite monster, Mothra was the one.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.com