tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2804476211885803098..comments2024-03-28T15:13:08.509-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Score marking to play higher or lower than written / SAT 9-12-20 / Slangy sedative / Mesoamerican language family with about half a million speakers / Onetime airer of Music City Tonight / Dolohov one of Death Eaters in Harry Potter books / Early movie mogul Marcus Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80071097181424544722020-10-24T20:21:35.061-04:002020-10-24T20:21:35.061-04:00ZENER crossing ZAPOTECAN is a Natick moment if the...ZENER crossing ZAPOTECAN is a Natick moment if there ever was one...and my SNOCONES also are W-less...<br /><br />Also anybody think that "ASS" for behind and "TRANK" are a little edgy for the NYT? I do...but alas I am old, so...Dave Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03047489293175114097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81813640140538250322020-10-17T18:22:47.580-04:002020-10-17T18:22:47.580-04:00Lots and lots of this puzzle was a (32 Down) UNFAI...Lots and lots of this puzzle was a (32 Down) UNFAIR TRICK for me. Guess I lost track of my (26 D) ZENER cards. <br /><br />Some easy, and some I just didn't know - made it not fun.<br /><br />Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for CROSSWORDS, CROSSWORDS folks, not trivia contestsDiana, LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73783570509182007282020-10-17T15:59:31.903-04:002020-10-17T15:59:31.903-04:00It just won’t do to say, “it’s a Saturday puzzle, ...It just won’t do to say, “it’s a Saturday puzzle, it’s supposed to be tough”. I think Mr. McCarty, Shortz and associates, have pulled a FAST ONE.<br /><br />After a filling in the SE corner with little trouble, ran into patches of vagueness and obscurity, particularly in the NW, but not only there.<br /><br />At least one clue/entry with up-front, down-home clarity: ASS clued by “rear”. <br /><br />Tsk-tsk, NYT.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />leftcoasternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84437496397337043682020-10-17T15:52:29.862-04:002020-10-17T15:52:29.862-04:00Took about a half hour to finish correctly due to ...Took about a half hour to finish correctly due to at first having OcTAVA (who the heck was GOEcHE, duh), GETatIT, and 'into' where NOSY was really digging.Didn't even hesitate with the 26 square Z. Not one comment about the word FIVE appearing in a clue and answer ON THE SAME LINE!?!?! Thought that was a nono. Be careful these days cluing WHITES. <br />DANA Perino garners a yeah baby in my book.<br />Tough but fair Sat-puz even if not a FASTONE. rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66876130088058173952020-10-17T13:25:12.867-04:002020-10-17T13:25:12.867-04:00SHOEHORNING SCAMARTISTS
On WOMENS' SILLETTOS ...SHOEHORNING SCAMARTISTS<br /><br />On WOMENS' SILLETTOS and SANTAHATS<br />those FAB FIVE HOSTS rely,<br />to GET IT ON like WHITE lab RATS;<br />IT's FAST how time 'DRAGS' BYE.<br /><br />--- DANA REDBONEBurma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53210222657653173522020-10-17T11:13:49.886-04:002020-10-17T11:13:49.886-04:00DNF. And I’m pretty sure I’m not alone. NW corner ...DNF. And I’m pretty sure I’m not alone. NW corner was my downfall. Clue for 7A was a bit too clever. Just mean. Designed to defeat, not delight solvers. Tough is fine but it’s got to be fair too. This was just cruel.thefogmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870509029973778266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75880470172517965262020-10-17T03:01:37.451-04:002020-10-17T03:01:37.451-04:00Haha it was a DNF, I had CRANK.Haha it was a DNF, I had CRANK.sdcheezhdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05457420125517948430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12681003661326718642020-10-17T02:59:50.250-04:002020-10-17T02:59:50.250-04:00The NW was definitely the hardest but 1974 was my ...The NW was definitely the hardest but 1974 was my peak year for listening to Top 40 so that helped. I thought I'd get a DNF for the Z on ZENER/ZAPOCECAN but guessed right. Go Bananas first was the only wrong guess and yeah it's Snocones which fit but it didn't ask for a plural.sdcheezhdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05457420125517948430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35474788886445031462020-09-15T15:38:37.010-04:002020-09-15T15:38:37.010-04:00Yeah, that NW corner is maybe the most difficult c...Yeah, that NW corner is maybe the most difficult corner I have ever seen in my decades of NY Times puzzles. I cheat by looking things up about 5 times a year - I cheated twice in that corner and still almost could not solve it. (I really wanted SCALAWAGS for the pirate lowly sorts, but that was not the hang-up in that corner, as STEPPARENTS set me right on that rather quickly.)<br /><br />Not having a '?' on the clue for "Flash setting" is not only wrong, it was just needlessly cruel.LenFuegonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4778209636912742582020-09-13T14:59:25.886-04:002020-09-13T14:59:25.886-04:00Surprised no one else had an issue with 27D, TRANK...Surprised no one else had an issue with 27D, TRANK.<br /><br />Because of the epic Natick situation happening with both 26A+D, I had _RANK and thought, ‘Duh, DRANK!’ which makes sense if you’ve listened to Hip-Hop in the last 15 years. Unlike TRANK, that’s actually commonly used slang. Have never, ever heard anyone say TRANK.BFGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02195939426022543475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45813402194915662412020-09-13T12:05:48.416-04:002020-09-13T12:05:48.416-04:00In perhaps the nerdiest backstory ever, I got WEIR...In perhaps the nerdiest backstory ever, I got WEIR because the starter town of Threshold from the D&D basic set has one on its lake and I must have re-read that manual over and over again a hundred times when I was a kid, absorbing all of the maps and other pieces.<br /><br />This was a tough one, but nothing new to the conversation, NW was probably half the time on the grid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63922001213615392892020-09-13T09:43:33.543-04:002020-09-13T09:43:33.543-04:00@bocamp. Thank you -that means a lot to me on both...@bocamp. Thank you -that means a lot to me on both counts. RPCV Cameroonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16242642587495679770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91238028106354707052020-09-13T08:08:48.508-04:002020-09-13T08:08:48.508-04:00Really interesting article re: the edibility of &q...Really interesting article re: the edibility of <a href="http://www.eattheweeds.com/maclura-pomifera-the-edible-inedible-2/" rel="nofollow">"osage" orange seeds.</a> The article (along with reader comments) also attest to the utility of the "osage orange tree" itself, including the robustness of its wood. <br /><br />Three paragraphs (see below) from the article are salient, especially as relating to the "sometimes-wrongness" of "everybody" including Wikipedia. NOTE: in fairness to Wikipedia and other media, it looks like this article was written in 2009, so there is likely better information on the subject in 2020. <br /><br />For example, here is a great YouTube video on the subject (from 2015). <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40U8F8ZD9f0" rel="nofollow">How to eat an Osage Orange - Weird Fruit Explorer Ep. 119</a> .<br /><br /><br />**************<br /><br />"Sometimes everybody is almost wrong."<br /><br />"If you Google “Osage Orange” or “Maclura pomifera” (mak-LOOR-uh pom-EE-fer-uh) (in 2009) you’ll get some 50,000 hits.* Approximately 49,997 of those sites will tell you the Osage Orange is not edible. Two of three remaining sites, here and the one below, will say it is edible. The third one reports we say it is edible but we must be wrong."<br /><br />"In all fairness, not all of the fruit is edible. Only the seeds are. In fact, the Osage Orange is closely related to the Mulberries, which we do eat, and the Paper Mulberry which also has an edible fruit. But, 99.999999% of the Internet sites say it is not edible. Why? Two reasons. Somebody a long time ago said the fruit was not edible, and the Internet is mostly cut and paste wrong. I have truly become disgusted with sites like Wikipedia regarding the inaccurate information about plant edibility."<br /><br />*****************<br /><br />NOTE: The reader's comment section following this article is absolutely skookum. So much good info on the osage orange tree itself, as well as its fruit. The author has also attached an addendum, updating the original 2009 article, stating the number of search hits increased from 50,000 in 2009 to 1.5 million in Sept. of 2014.<br /> <br />**************<br /><br />Going to finish watching the above mentioned video now<br /><br />Cheers from smoky Vancouver (from the forest fires in Washington state); prayers going out to all those on the west coast who are affected. God Bless! 🙏<br /><br />Peace 🕊 <br />bocamphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02524629632075020985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54653230916819404692020-09-13T00:38:28.458-04:002020-09-13T00:38:28.458-04:00Was it just me or was the NW corner impossible? I...Was it just me or was the NW corner impossible? I have never heard of Redbone and the crosses were impossible too, for me. "Nosy" is "really digging"? OK, but I am used to "digging" meaning liking so I was stuck on "into." "Osage" for "___ Orange"? I went back and forth between navel and agent, osage never even entered my mind. I have never read a comic book in my life so I did not get the "flash" reference; that's my bad. And I knew it had to be something "rats" but since I had literally no crosses, I couldn't figure it out. The rest of the puzzle was done in 5 minutes, but that corner was impossible for me. <br /><br />97-day streak down the drain. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.Nancy from Chicagonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16911456168289339682020-09-12T22:28:29.759-04:002020-09-12T22:28:29.759-04:00@ RPCV Cameroon 8:31 PM - Bless you for your servi...@ RPCV Cameroon 8:31 PM - Bless you for your service in the Peace Corps. I admire you and all who care for those most in need, at home and abroad. And, your thoughtful reminder about Hansen's disease and hurtful labelling will not go unnoticed. 🙏<br /><br />Peace 🕊bocamphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02524629632075020985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24915326597509999782020-09-12T22:26:35.658-04:002020-09-12T22:26:35.658-04:00Half hour on the NW. That's some grade A hors...Half hour on the NW. That's some grade A horse puckey. Even when I'd have an "AHA!" and get a word, it did nothing to help me. OSAGE orange?! INCISOR (as clued)?! REDBONE?! Give me a break. I must've filled in and erased PECLASS a dozen times. SMOGGY too. <br /><br />The rest was pretty easy.floatingboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01156775849446995168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70515105361705055172020-09-12T22:17:45.297-04:002020-09-12T22:17:45.297-04:00@ willzimjohn 6:37 PM – Welcome from another newco...@ willzimjohn 6:37 PM – Welcome from another newcomer. 😊 I've followed the blog from way back and have left occasional comments, but now I've got the time and energy to be more of a contributor. This was a very difficult puzzle for many, as can be seen from the comments. Keep the faith! 👍<br /><br />Peace 🕊bocamphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02524629632075020985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22826184737436346742020-09-12T20:31:13.711-04:002020-09-12T20:31:13.711-04:00When I was in the Peace Corps in Cameroon I saw pe...When I was in the Peace Corps in Cameroon I saw people with leprosy. And have visited Kalaupapa National Historic Park where people with the disease were exiled. But the term leper is one with heavy baggage and people with Hansen’s disease (the accepted medical term ) would really prefer that “leper” be relegated to the trash heap of history https://www.leprosy.org/dont-call-me-a-leper/<br />RPCV Cameroonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79260382048822997132020-09-12T18:46:12.557-04:002020-09-12T18:46:12.557-04:00Get Ottava here with this clunker.Get Ottava here with this clunker.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23585627114269757912020-09-12T18:37:07.592-04:002020-09-12T18:37:07.592-04:00My first time commenting here,though not a newcome...My first time commenting here,though not a newcomer to crosswords. I "did the math " early on and realized I was never going to finish this one. I needed Google to get a foothold in a couple of quadrants and to confirm a few guesses so as not to chase the proverbial wild goose. You can't win 'em all and I at least got a partial solving experience. willzimjohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16729456230043091509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72504123961397707042020-09-12T17:26:03.798-04:002020-09-12T17:26:03.798-04:00Odds 'n ends:
Had a neighbor, name of "W...Odds 'n ends:<br /><br />Had a neighbor, name of "Weir"; was told it meant, "small or low dam"; always remembered that one.<br /><br />"Five iron" evoked fond memories of golfing w/ Dad. He started me at a fairly young age at <a href="https://www.playglendoveer.com/" rel="nofollow">Glendoveer</a> in Portland (in the '50s it offered two 18 holes courses). The "five iron" was my go-to club, both for mid-range fairway shots, and short chips from the apron. <br /><br />As for the mob, I'm ashamed to admit that "The Sopranos" was one of my favorite series.<br /><br />Wanted "river rats" before "bilge rats" LOL<br /><br />"Santa hats" are a thing at our Christmas gift exchange. I keep my Xmas things up all year, so I'm surrounded them (all shapes and sizes). Ho HO HO 🎄<br /><br />Yay "women!" <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Women%27s_March" rel="nofollow">"2017 Women's March"</a> . My son and I would participate in what we then ('80s) called <a href="https://www.marchofdimes.ca/en-ca/aboutus/whoweare" rel="nofollow">The Mother's March of Dimes</a> .<br /><br />"PE class", lunch and choir were my favorite classes (not necessarily in that order) LOL<br /><br /><br />Peace 🕊<br /><br />bocamphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02524629632075020985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23428319146035025922020-09-12T17:23:05.219-04:002020-09-12T17:23:05.219-04:00Often critical of Rex but today's write-up mad...Often critical of Rex but today's write-up made me laugh. Well done, sir.Krytykalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13896493522496994234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68278925813294859382020-09-12T17:14:11.534-04:002020-09-12T17:14:11.534-04:00That’s how I remember them, hedge apples. The WPA ...That’s how I remember them, hedge apples. The WPA or CCC planted them in Kansas between fields to try to stop some of the soil erosion done by wind. Little did they know that the cattle would eat the apples and the hedges would start growing in the middle of the field.emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02158563048349811103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29629648193848410412020-09-12T17:08:47.178-04:002020-09-12T17:08:47.178-04:00YesYesemilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02158563048349811103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56665479858977314152020-09-12T17:06:25.143-04:002020-09-12T17:06:25.143-04:00Class of ‘71 here! This was hard for me, but Satur...Class of ‘71 here! This was hard for me, but Saturday’s are that way. Even the things I thought I could answer were wrong; raisin/ celery, online/dot com and HEWTO???emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02158563048349811103noreply@blogger.com