tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2684556714124152857..comments2024-03-28T18:52:07.432-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: White rapper with two #1 hits / SUN 7-7-13 / Neighbor of Dagwood in funnies / Mythical con man / John Belushi catchprase / God wounded by Diomedes in Iliad / Oldest desert in world / Siouan speaker / Old German duchy nameRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25523871628462683532022-04-23T19:49:46.320-04:002022-04-23T19:49:46.320-04:00I'm also annoyed at the single-answer Natick i...I'm also annoyed at the single-answer Natick in "MACKL_MORE". I guessed correctly, but felt a little dishonored. Overall, I very much enjoyed the puzzle: the slightly hidden theme, once cracked, gave extra hints to the rest of the solving -- a Sunday-worthy feature. The grid has a lot of lovely non-sopophoric fill.<br /><br />I did come here to perhaps get some insight on how Fillmore fits the clue. He was, indeed, elected: when we vote for a V.P., this <i>is</i> a vote for that person to assume the Presidency, as happens all too often. Ford is the only US President who was *not* elected into that line of succession. Can someone explain how the clue is accurate?<br /><br />Especially with all of the other cluing possibilities, I'm bemused at this choice.Prunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224476641730508311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79963940041398439892013-07-15T00:48:05.984-04:002013-07-15T00:48:05.984-04:00Boy did I struggle with the NW corner. Of course ...Boy did I struggle with the NW corner. Of course I put it Ford, but that didn't work with LITUP, so struggled some 'more'. Stubborn me just kept playing with it and AHA, the gimmick finally showed up. <br /><br />Wondered about both BULL and TORO. Too much great fill to LIST, but my hat's off to Joel Fagliano. Took me most of the evening, but it was worth the effort. <br /><br />@BedfordBob - Welcome to Syndiland, I'll look for your posts. We're a diverse group here, and glad to have you join the party.Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33539385882662216102013-07-14T20:41:45.210-04:002013-07-14T20:41:45.210-04:00@Dirigonzo, glad you liked the comedy routine! I t...@Dirigonzo, glad you liked the comedy routine! I thought my post would be too late for anyone to see it. <br /><br />I think Hari Kondabolu is quite funny. I loved the end where he joked about how he's used to religious intolerance but anyone who can't understand a "basic grammar joke" has nothing in common with him. I thought crossword solvers, lovers of wordplay, would appreciate that joke if nothing else. :-)Syndi Solvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72483313937606514222013-07-14T20:32:37.812-04:002013-07-14T20:32:37.812-04:00@Syndi Solver - I enjoyed your link (but I also en...@Syndi Solver - I enjoyed your link (but I also enjoy white chocolate as a guilty pleasure). As to the clue, to me "white rapper" = Eminem so that's what I wrote in until he showed up elsewhere in the grid. Then I just had to let the crosses and the theme, plus a good guess, fill in MACKLEMORE.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35636674181980151062013-07-14T19:32:21.913-04:002013-07-14T19:32:21.913-04:00I enjoyed the puzzle but agree on the unchecked sq...I enjoyed the puzzle but agree on the unchecked squares issue for MACKLE/MORE. Actually, I think I'm even less familiar with SWARTH/MORE college than the rapper. Hey, don't judge! I'm on the west coast, majored in engineering, and know nothing about liberal arts colleges. :-) <br /><br />Anyway, the name sounded a bit familiar, but somehow I thought it was spelled Swathmore (no R). So that took a long time. Luckily the unchecked letter was the H, not the R.<br /><br />I even wondered a bit about young solvers who might not know "That's Amore" (THATSA/MORE). For me it was so obvious I actually was looking for it as one of the MORE answers. But it's a combo of English and Italian. If you've never heard the song would the A be confusing? Just curious.<br /><br />I agree with others that once the trick was revealed (at MOUNTRUSH/MORE for me) then plugging MORE into all the clues with --- helped a lot. But some of the clues were pretty hard. So that evened it and it did not feel too easy for me.<br /><br />My favorite writeover today was Embalm before ENTOMB for 51 D. (Treat like a pharaoh?) I don't know if that was an intentional misdirection but that's where my mind went.<br /><br />I liked the reveal phrase a lot! Do recent advertisements still use is? Seems like I haven't heard it for a long time.<br /><br />Kudos to Joel Fagliano for another great puzzle!<br /><br />P.S. After the comments about white in the clue for Macklemore, and esp. the white chocolate comment by @JBURGS, I can't resist posting a link to this video by Hari Kondabolu - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-KSI5Z0I90" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-KSI5Z0I90</a>. His chocolate jokes are pretty near the start of the routine. If you like this comedian then check out the TV show Totally Biased.Syndi Solvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21158460588930183092013-07-14T17:20:11.327-04:002013-07-14T17:20:11.327-04:00Welcome, @Bedford Bob, fellow 73-year-old! I used ...Welcome, @Bedford Bob, fellow 73-year-old! I used to think the same way about DNF--that it meant literally did not finish, as in left one or more blank squares. This blog, however, tends to raise solving standards the longer you're with it. Now, I forbid myself from using Google and must have every square correctly filled, else I count it as DNF. But the beauty is, you can set your own standards. Hope to add you to the team of regulars.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21024682017788420782013-07-14T14:25:01.604-04:002013-07-14T14:25:01.604-04:00Hi @bedford bob! I too am in syndiland but rarely...Hi @bedford bob! I too am in syndiland but rarely post as my comments have almost always already been covered. I discovered this blog several years ago and check it every day after doing the puzzle. While solving, I often wonder "whoa, what will Rex say about that? What will Acme, M&A, Loren, Chef Bea have to say? Will Evil Doug show up?" Great fun & you'll learn a lot.Connie in seattlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62333412882476739172013-07-14T13:49:57.569-04:002013-07-14T13:49:57.569-04:00While doing yesterday's puzzle in prime-time I...While doing yesterday's puzzle in prime-time I confidently plunked "limosine" into the grid, not realizing until later that the answer was both misspelled and wrong, so I was glad today to be able to rectify (rexify?) the error by correctly spelling LIMOUSINE and having it be correct. (I think I can say with confidence that I am the only person in Rexville that will have any idea what what that comment means.)<br /><br />@BedfordBob - There are a number of us who comment regularly here in Syndiland. @Spacecraft is a daily regular as am I, and others chime in with varying degrees of frequency. I hope you'll become a regular here, too.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12999408686616359102013-07-14T13:18:36.283-04:002013-07-14T13:18:36.283-04:00Hi all. I do the syndicated version . Do other fol...Hi all. I do the syndicated version . Do other folks post here after this version is published?<br /><br />I have been doing the NYT puzzle for years but discovered this blog a few days ago. I love it!<br /><br />It took me a couple of hours to solve it. I didn't get the theme until late and then it went pretty fast. Only error was I put an A in for the rapper. I only count it a DNF if I give up. If I miss some letters I figure it is just a little mistake.<br /><br />Since I am 73 I have trouble with rappers but knew "That's Amore" in a flash.BedfordBobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08348600333498878554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1882872180841870802013-07-14T12:24:10.416-04:002013-07-14T12:24:10.416-04:00Well, two things are obvious: one, that Mr. Faglia...Well, two things are obvious: one, that Mr. Fagliano was UPTONOGOOD when cluing this puzzle; and two, as such it belongs in the Saturday paper, 21x21 or no.<br /><br />I will bet that 1,000 out of 1,000 solvers inked in FORD as a stone-cold "gimme." And that at least 998 of them also wrote in HERB for Dagwood's neighbor. This is a good clue for a Staurday puzzle ELMO; adding the word "kid" plunges it straight to Monday. Maybe for a Sunday outing, either the saint or the Muppet might have been fairer.<br /><br />Classical quotes notwithstanding, babies do not MEWL, but they often baWL. Animals MEWL. Obviously, Mr. F. has it in for pen-wielding solvers. All these are clearly steering toward a pat answer, and that answer is wrong. OK, Joel, you got me. My grid is a hardly-legible mess. But it's done, and no thanks to a double dose of my bane--rappers--done with no errors. Yes, square 134 was for me the purset natick that ever came down the pike, and I just happened to guess E.<br /><br />Almost every clue was Saturday-level, far too many to LIST (tick off?) here. (Yes, I've heard of ticking off items, but that's what I'm talking about: one naturally thinks of angering.) But--and BTW, did anyone notice that there are two BUTs in the grid? Yellow hankie?--one in particular might draw a flag: "Legend" for GIANT. There are real giants; they are victims of the disease gigantism, the most famous example being, excuse me--having been, Andre of pro wrestling fame.<br /><br />A few entries bothered me: the plural of tuna is tuna. And TOASTEE? Really? Reminds me of the misuse of the -EE suffix as so wittily pointed out by the late, great Edwin Newman:<br />Q: Why couldn't they catch the escapee?<br />A: Because he was a fast runnee.<br /><br />Ed, ya left us too soon.<br /><br />So I managed to EKE out a solution...Geez, Joel, it must've hurt having to use that one!spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1152994774706141422013-07-10T05:55:47.378-04:002013-07-10T05:55:47.378-04:00This was the toughest Sunday of the year for me. J...This was the toughest Sunday of the year for me. Just finished it this morning.<br /><br />The "white rapper" part of 106d was genius, as EMINEM is the "white rapper" foremost in the mind of most US solvers. Just like many wanted FORD for 1D, many likely wanted EMINEM for 106D. I thought MEAN was kind of weird, had no issue with KTS off of "Gold units: Abbr.", and loved many clues.<br /><br />I love reading this blog and have never commented before. I have no problem with discussions of race--rather appreciate them most often--but I do find white people complaining about the presence of the adjective "white" (especially as its clearly there to mislead the solver) rather ridiculous, just as when I hear them complain about the n word (and many clearly don't even know the difference between the -a and -er endings), and just as when I hear anyone use variations of "it/he/she transcends race." Just wanted to get that out there. <br /><br />Also, IMHO, this puzzle should've been labelled medium-challenging.<br /><br />Looking forward to getting today's paper shortly and to a hopefully somewhat challenging Wednesday! And to reading all of your great comments later tonight!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16555629414915303842013-07-08T16:00:29.978-04:002013-07-08T16:00:29.978-04:00This one took a couple of passes, with hours of br...This one took a couple of passes, with hours of breaks between. Finally finished it on the train home last night, with some help from my boyfriend w/BALTIMORE & ENACT. The NE corner gave me the most trouble, but I'm so happy to have it be correct after learning I had one box wrong on Monday's puzzle.ileennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48255195827637408772013-07-08T12:20:36.388-04:002013-07-08T12:20:36.388-04:00On the Macklemore problem of whether the 134A cros...On the Macklemore problem of whether the 134A cross could be "amore" is simply a matter of knowing Irish name-spelling conventions. You'll find phone books with pages and pages of "Macklemores" and "Mcklemores", but you'll practically never find a "Macklamore" or a McKlamore." Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26516547582189739772013-07-08T08:05:45.278-04:002013-07-08T08:05:45.278-04:00Why do oldsters get so mad when they dont happen t...Why do oldsters get so mad when they dont happen to know a legit pop culture reference?why is Macklemore a flaw but not That's Amore? Pay attention and you'll know Macklemore just like I know DeanMartin!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86854421024994819162013-07-08T01:02:41.156-04:002013-07-08T01:02:41.156-04:00So much important information is there in your sit... So much important information is there in your site and my site is also having valuable information.<br /><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.logoego.com%22" rel="nofollow">buy cheap logo</a></strong><br /><strong><a href="http://www.logoego.com%22" rel="nofollow">logo store</a></strong><br />AR Mirzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295223475543331587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61845335402656312912013-07-08T00:50:10.220-04:002013-07-08T00:50:10.220-04:00Hey everybody - anything happen while I've bee...Hey everybody - anything happen while I've been gone?<br /><br />Loved this puzzle - so clever, and really fun to solve, as @Rex says, the gimmick helped the solve.<br /><br />Still reeling from being away for 2 weeks, but had to chime in after today's gem.<br /><br />Side story on 128A - I was spelling my last name out for some clerk who clearly did not relish her job. "d, APOSTROPHE, A,N,D..."<br />"Hold on a sec, she said, audibly annoyed... "How do ya spell APOSTROPHE?".<br /><br />Knew ALUMINUMORE from having visited Les Baux in Provence, the eponymous town where Bauxite was first discovered.<br /><br />@LMS- you watched GWTW again? WHen I was in Italy, watching a dubbed Mammie, you were watching it with your daughter...!<br /><br />@Jen - I was wondering how things were going - enjoy vacation, and best of luck with Justy...<br />Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73911729456381009272013-07-08T00:45:34.587-04:002013-07-08T00:45:34.587-04:00I had a hard time with this. Didn't figure out...I had a hard time with this. Didn't figure out the theme until I tried MACKLEMORE and wondered why it didn't end. Also had Ford in 1D and could not figure out that corner. Once I came here and realized what the theme was, it wasn't bad. I didn't know ONAGER. <br /><br />I drive an AVEO and love it. Sad to see it referred to as "former." I didn't know they'd stopped making them.<br /><br />Off to Wikipedia to figure out how on earth FILLMORE was acceptable for that clue. Copy Editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18152273437083075422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15451609296462674612013-07-07T23:50:35.351-04:002013-07-07T23:50:35.351-04:00I keep waiting for a constructor to clue SAXE with...I keep waiting for a constructor to clue SAXE with a Saturday-suitable "Victor of Fontenoy", referring to Marshal Saxe, the greatest French soldier before Napoleon and the victor of the Battle of Fontenoy (1745), the decisive engagement of the War of the Austrian Succession. Get out your history books!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60922943015177320352013-07-07T23:01:36.870-04:002013-07-07T23:01:36.870-04:00After getting destroyed by MAS's de Sade-ian t...After getting destroyed by MAS's de Sade-ian torture chamber on Saturday, I had a great time going through this like a knife through goose liver pâté.<br /><br />18:22 of smiles, happy head nods, and appreciation for a constructor with a sense of humor. By 125D, Joel is saying, "Yeah, I know it's good fun!" <br /><br />Someone yesterday pointed out the distinction between a puzzle you may solve by use of intellect/deductive reasoning v. one you may solve only if you happen to have memorized certain obscure facts or arcane bits of information. Put another way: Saturday v. Today. The distinction in *enjoyment level* clearly tips in favor of the former.August Westnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52804201173775500412013-07-07T21:58:47.177-04:002013-07-07T21:58:47.177-04:00@Jen CT - good luck with the new dog!@Jen CT - good luck with the new dog!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09567874862630285191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80724768206508699762013-07-07T21:31:53.520-04:002013-07-07T21:31:53.520-04:00late to the party - dog show today. Did the puzzle...late to the party - dog show today. Did the puzzle last night - medium-challenging.<br /><br />Hand up for several potentially correct downs, absent knowing the theme. FORD, of course. ALUMINA (aluminum oxide) @ 10D, which strictly is incorrect but it's very close to being Bauxite. EMINEM @ 106D until I got 93A. So, spent a long time flailing with this mess.<br /><br />Agree MACKLEMORE is a particularly distressing unchecked square, because if you're not into rap you probably never heard on him. I hadn't. But the problematic E seemed like the right spelling of the name, so I was OK. Those who used A have my sympathy. That was a bum rap.<br /><br />Overall this was a very fun puzzle. Good cluing, little dreck. I said 125D about the 2/3 mark, since that's when I figured out how the theme worked.<br /><br />Thanks, Mr. Fagliano.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46553009930861640342013-07-07T20:54:20.687-04:002013-07-07T20:54:20.687-04:00Late as usual. Did it while watching my beloved Re...Late as usual. Did it while watching my beloved Red Sox playing the Angels. Losing right now but it's early.<br />Loved the puzzle! Thought it was brilliant. Great cluing and great fun for a Sunday. Delawarenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57867333804473833782013-07-07T20:06:26.964-04:002013-07-07T20:06:26.964-04:00@lms - Frankly, my dear . . . I'm flattered th...@lms - Frankly, my dear . . . I'm flattered that you remember my schtick.<br /><br />;>))Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42706718177557675012013-07-07T20:05:52.044-04:002013-07-07T20:05:52.044-04:00@JenCT - Congratulations on the newest member of y...@JenCT - Congratulations on the newest member of your family. If you run into Ellen J. at NEADS while you're training, give her a big Aloha from me. Good Luck!<br /><br />isapita - sounds very edible.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29626354029541909682013-07-07T20:02:46.636-04:002013-07-07T20:02:46.636-04:00An all-day sucker for me moving through this one a...An all-day sucker for me moving through this one at a glacial pace notwithstanding a bunch of Googling (ONAGER, MACKLEMORE, EMINEM--need to bone up on my rappers--LOUVRE and AVEO). I found the cluing difficult and at times maddening. Finally figured out the hyphen/NOSE connection and d94-Ed a lot. Often felt like a BIGDUMMY,too and had better SHUT UP now lest I become a TROLL. And is the singular of magi MAGE? Always thought it to be magus. <br />Remarkably clever puzzle!LaneBnoreply@blogger.com