tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2380736322325855083..comments2024-03-29T01:22:33.864-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Classic letter puzzle parsed differently / THU 3-1-18 / Chewed stimulant in mideast / Karakum Asian desert / Tee shot goof / Blue area on Risk board Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34314759112886392662018-04-09T19:42:24.657-04:002018-04-09T19:42:24.657-04:00Many many years ago our Sunday paper in the Midwe...Many many years ago our Sunday paper in the Midwest used to publish a puzzle that contained perhaps 6 or 8 answers of the wining/ dining type. Now that I think about it, those letters must have been unchecked because I don't think that the puzzles were clever enough to work in both directions. I believe that one mailed them in in hopes of winning a prize only to read the next week's explanation as to why one answer was supposedly just slightly better than the other in each case. Therefore it was basically a guessing game, or a T/F test. For six such words, one's chances of being correct were 1 in 64, for eight, 1 in 256, etc. Obviously this puzzle reminds me of that, but is slightly more impressive with the rebus and all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62976293423492151202018-04-05T17:04:50.697-04:002018-04-05T17:04:50.697-04:00Took a long time to get to FIGHTINGWORDS, which le...Took a long time to get to FIGHTINGWORDS, which led to the other key rebus words.<br /><br />Then the revealer clue, "...when parsed differently...", confused things. Okay, did I really have to see that the three "...or..." clues completed the W OR D gimmick? <br /><br />Maybe so, but managed to fill in all the squares correctly without recognizing the full extent of the trickery. <br /><br />So, technically solved it, but the payoff was less than satisfying.<br /><br /> leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24167254320183049172018-04-05T16:45:46.117-04:002018-04-05T16:45:46.117-04:00I’ve liked ENHALO ever since someone pointed out t...I’ve liked ENHALO ever since someone pointed out that it looks like the Hawaiian word Mahalo, which means thanks. <br /><br />DOORDIE looks like he could be Gordie Howe’s twin brother. <br /><br />I’d like to PUTINAWORD for Rachel Maddow’s Debut NYT Puzzle tomorrow.Wooody2004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63712121301924556692018-04-05T15:48:15.810-04:002018-04-05T15:48:15.810-04:00And I thot DOOR DIE was a classic DOOK, too,
D,LI...And I thot DOOR DIE was a classic DOOK, too,<br /><br />D,LIWDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12837188329841060352018-04-05T15:40:43.282-04:002018-04-05T15:40:43.282-04:00I was lost, but then was found. And then was lost...I was lost, but then was found. And then was lost. And then was rebussed. Not expecting that...so dnf. But not by much. Rats.<br /><br />Lady DiDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52100852720717425092018-04-05T12:43:41.261-04:002018-04-05T12:43:41.261-04:00Even with the rebus-iness this had to be better th...Even with the rebus-iness this had to be better than yesterday, and I would SELDOM say that. A number of SQUAREs had me writing-over like trIM before SKIM, dOdO for YOYO, kAT for QAT, PeEd for PES. Someone above stole my exact thought, ”If I ever see ENHALO again, it will be too soon.”<br /><br />The New Riders told me PANAMA’S back in town.<br /><br />DOORDIE is a dook.<br /><br />I’d give IRENE the benefit of the doubt, but feel more comfortable with any of the TARAs, Catherine ZETA Jones, or Susan ANTON as yeah baby.<br /><br />ANYHOO, I didn’t think this puz was ICKY.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53885216105632133342018-04-05T11:38:31.144-04:002018-04-05T11:38:31.144-04:00Just as some constructors are obviously among the ...Just as some constructors are obviously among the favored few of OFL, it is just as plain that Mr. Polin is not. I have never seen such a negative spin put to a puzzle that--at last this week--had some teeth in it. Atrocious fill? OK, I'll give you ENHALO and ONA. And UNTUNE. Hardly the worst I've seen.<br /><br />The light of day hit me at W/DINING. As usual, I gravitated southward first and finished up in the NW, thinking, OMG, is he really using ANYHOO? Yeah, he is. Perfect revealer clue to describe what was happening. Never would I call it easy-medium; more medium-challenging. Good puzz with a satisfying solving experience. DOD is the first IRENE to appear on my search: Fame's Cara. The standard this Masters week is going to be high; still this one earns a birdie.<br />spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67788035228047522892018-04-05T10:44:54.055-04:002018-04-05T10:44:54.055-04:00REGRESS? NOTI.
If the POPE PUTINAWORD for that TO...REGRESS? NOTI.<br /><br />If the POPE PUTINAWORD for that TORY jackass,<br />FIGHTINGWORDS will be heard if you DROPIN to MASSE.<br /><br />--- CESAR LUIS “PAS” PASEO<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73668136112014389632018-03-04T11:36:43.342-05:002018-03-04T11:36:43.342-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Linda Gibsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971415497604865466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55418325603670574422018-03-03T10:42:48.525-05:002018-03-03T10:42:48.525-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.medookubguhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796561669690471181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31592219409969563852018-03-02T13:51:27.247-05:002018-03-02T13:51:27.247-05:00Astaire and Rogers film from the 50s, their last t...Astaire and Rogers film from the 50s, their last together I believe: The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle. Might have done better with a snappier title, but at least it helps a lot of us recognize a name otherwise unlikely to register.muskoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16624541937227897667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34279881045624348592018-03-01T22:57:16.799-05:002018-03-01T22:57:16.799-05:00Absolutely awesome, clever and well-done puzzle. K...Absolutely awesome, clever and well-done puzzle. Knew there had to be a rebus but took a while to find it... Wine or Dine was the part I got first and that helped with the other two. No way this is easy to medium Rex. You are a huge grouch. Maybe you are just jealous that you could not construct such an awesome puzzle yourself. Get over yourself. MGTopAgenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02064606815537908878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18424954468504029182018-03-01T22:29:06.324-05:002018-03-01T22:29:06.324-05:00My God, he's quoted me verbatim not once but t...My God, he's quoted me verbatim not once but twice today! As though I were Mark Twain or Oscar Wilde! <i>I think I love you, @Z!!</i>Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16737377749030219974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69827206273105498502018-03-01T22:05:15.839-05:002018-03-01T22:05:15.839-05:00Rachel Maddow just announced with great fanfare th...Rachel Maddow just announced with great fanfare that she's the celebrity constructor for tomorrow. Her excitement is just too cool. I do not know this woman but I don't think I could be more excited if I did. Her excitement was absolutely electric. Something to keep in mind when someone gets a puzzle published for the first time. Malsdemarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05375476737540476148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9516862527758517092018-03-01T22:02:36.726-05:002018-03-01T22:02:36.726-05:00@anon9:38 - Suggesting an Elvis Costello tune is o...@anon9:38 - Suggesting an <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=NvegxXzA8VE" rel="nofollow">Elvis Costello tune</a> is one way to get on my good side. Unlike accusing me of using one of my 7 German words incorrectly without any suggestion of support for such a claim. Doing that causes me fremdschämen.*<br /><br />Now to go do Rachel Maddow’s co-constructed puzzle. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />*Besides, using a verb as a noun as one steals a concept from a foreign language isn’t misuse. “Sometimes, when a thing becomes part of the <i>zeitgeist</i>, you just have to accept it and move on.”Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73442667717290380992018-03-01T21:43:43.550-05:002018-03-01T21:43:43.550-05:00Also what I gather from all the comments is that p...Also what I gather from all the comments is that people who got the theme after solving liked the puzzle a lot more (because then you forget about the terrible fill and just admire the idea), but those who got it while solving were not impressed (because the gimmick is not as strong as it sounds like and its pleasantness fades away quickly)semioticus (shelbyl)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16204028248874222567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56109279878921448172018-03-01T21:40:01.281-05:002018-03-01T21:40:01.281-05:00Once in a while NYT publishes puzzles that could h...Once in a while NYT publishes puzzles that could have been great because it has a very strong foundation, but is not worked on enough and just relies on that aha factor. The W or D idea is actually pretty cool. WRYLY/DRYLY is great. "WINING/DINING" doesn't make sense. PAW/PAD is weak. So there you go. A brilliant idea is thus wasted.<br /><br />On top of that, we also get a weak fill. CUPOFCOCOA was a tricky and cool answer. TORCHRELAY and DOORDIE were also to my liking. The rest was filled with long-time residents of Crosswordistan. QAT, NOTI, ORGS, ECLAT, HASAT, MASSE, PASEO and finally, a loud groan-inducing ENHALO. Twice in two weeks! ENHALO!<br /><br />I'm getting used to Mr. Polin's clues, so that was actually the better part of the puzzle but there weren't enough of them. Why? Because the fill was so bad there wasn't room for word play. <br /><br />It is just sad to see such a good idea hastily sacrificed.<br /><br /><b>GRADE:</b> B-, 3 stars.semioticus (shelbyl)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16204028248874222567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2445547524782246522018-03-01T21:38:09.902-05:002018-03-01T21:38:09.902-05:00https://youtu.be/NvegxXzA8VEhttps://youtu.be/NvegxXzA8VEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60315042783034052202018-03-01T21:24:10.400-05:002018-03-01T21:24:10.400-05:00I got "pas" for a completely wrong reaso...I got "pas" for a completely wrong reason. No mas means "no more" in Spanish. "Pas" means "not" in French...OISKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808675378318214461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68096369564536233362018-03-01T20:38:03.380-05:002018-03-01T20:38:03.380-05:00Yeah, this one was just a slog, and no fun. But he...Yeah, this one was just a slog, and no fun. But hearing Kirsty MacColl pretty much made up for it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82721960567535130202018-03-01T20:29:58.808-05:002018-03-01T20:29:58.808-05:00I agree with Rex totally today. I got the rebus ri...I agree with Rex totally today. I got the rebus right away and then it was obvious what the down answers were but it was just a big bleh for me. Not one of my favorites.Whatsernamenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82633055737060926572018-03-01T19:50:04.694-05:002018-03-01T19:50:04.694-05:00Meh. Strained theme and awkward fill. Rex was spot...Meh. Strained theme and awkward fill. Rex was spot on. Jesse Witthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17303843866820554058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87557438430573871082018-03-01T19:15:14.002-05:002018-03-01T19:15:14.002-05:00Z,
Please. Please. Stop misusing German words. Z,<br />Please. Please. Stop misusing German words. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5923176048955236222018-03-01T19:13:00.402-05:002018-03-01T19:13:00.402-05:00Rex,
Are you really humble bragging (on Twitter) a...Rex,<br />Are you really humble bragging (on Twitter) about having memorized a 12-line poem?<br />God knows you're needy, but sheesh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63582644685230200292018-03-01T19:03:57.484-05:002018-03-01T19:03:57.484-05:00Almost cancelled my subscription over this one. W...Almost cancelled my subscription over this one. What a crock!Alpha-Datahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05822923752426475212noreply@blogger.com