tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2974149946085233753..comments2024-03-28T13:46:36.605-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Soul singer Adams / TUE 11-24-15 / 3-D image in medical diagnoses / It's thing 1981 hit by Whispers / 1978 Cheech & Chong comedyRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31656101498005339052015-12-29T14:52:46.121-05:002015-12-29T14:52:46.121-05:00A pleasant and fast Tuesday which nonetheless resu...A pleasant and fast Tuesday which nonetheless resulted in a DNF at the OLETA/POTOK cross. I don't mind that, since I knew neither individual and the A that I chose gave two possibly real names.<br /><br />Anyhoo, I must go and retrieve my laundry as the SPIN CYCLE has just been completed.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69575343938619262022015-12-29T12:17:38.109-05:002015-12-29T12:17:38.109-05:00One of the pleasures in solving these puzzles is t...One of the pleasures in solving these puzzles is the memories they evoke. "When I was a lad I served a term" as chorus member for our high school production of HMSPINAFORE. It contained a song with the following lyric:<br /><br />"Goodness me, what was that?<br />Could it be, it was the cat?<br />It WAS, it WAS, the cat!<br />Imagine that: it was the cat!"<br /><br />Well, a couple of buddies and I agreed we would employ the current slang word for police and sing "It FUZZ, it FUZZ..." We were no doubt influenced to do this after a few TOKEs went UPINSMOKE. The director, our music teacher, called us in afterward. "You know, you guys could have gotten away with it if you hadn't turned to each other breaking out shit-eatin' grins. That'll cost you zeroes for participation." But we argued that after all, we DID sing in time and in tune, and we'd never do it again. He relented pending our last promise. Ah man, those were some fine OLDTIMES.<br /><br />I gottA LOVE a puzz that gives me that moment, has one of my favorite directors as a centerpiece, and sports the word SLURPS. Yeah, the fill gets tired here and there, but it's a small price to pay. A-.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-847039987128081802015-12-29T11:03:20.161-05:002015-12-29T11:03:20.161-05:00Yeah it was easy except the NW Natick. Had no idea...Yeah it was easy except the NW Natick. Had no idea of the gimmick until the revealer. Was hoping for something funnier after the TOKE/UPINSMOKE cross followed by KEVINSPACEY, but alas, this puz was Too-staid.<br /><br />At least there was comedic yeah baby Tina FEY (that’s the way to clue that word) and one time musical LASS yeah baby FIONA. And ANNIE when she gets her gunnin’ on.<br /><br />@leftcoastTAM – pretty sure yesterday’s “revolutionary” HIFI referred to the record going round and round.<br /><br />Never heard of a PETSCAN, sounds like something at the vet’s.<br /><br />If this is the type of puz in the Tuesday ARSENAL, the future is as PALE as the MN SNOW I just finished shoveling.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1529309638248192252015-12-29T10:48:26.626-05:002015-12-29T10:48:26.626-05:00SPINCYCLE ROAST
Back in the OLDTIMES it all went ...SPINCYCLE ROAST<br /><br />Back in the OLDTIMES it all went UPINSMOKE,<br />‘twas the RESIN SANS STEMs when we took ANEW TOKE.<br /><br />--- KEVINSPACEY<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80138476071007069672015-12-29T08:39:44.376-05:002015-12-29T08:39:44.376-05:00Check out the hilarious West Wing episode (first s...Check out the hilarious West Wing episode (first season, I think) when the characters continually confuse Pinafore and Penzance. "It's about duty." "They're ALL about duty!"art mugalianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13959336249873654598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83860520287701092222015-12-02T18:53:41.987-05:002015-12-02T18:53:41.987-05:00Every once in a while, I solve a puzzle and clip i...Every once in a while, I solve a puzzle and clip it, intending to look at Rex's corresponding blog entry. But life overtakes, and I don't get to the blog for a week or two, and I miss the discussion. That's what happened here.<br /><br />I can't believe this one got in! The quality is fine, but the sexual overtones and references were off the charts. (Don't get me wrong; I love that, but I'm not used to seeing it all in a NYT puzzle.)<br /><br />In addition to ASSES, LASS, and ASSAI, there's ARSEnal (ARSE ANAL?), ASkew (not ASSkew, but close), BOCA (Spanish for mouth, because "let's not confine ourselves to one orifice"), and ANNIE (phonetically similar to ANI) over PAINE (similar to PENIS.) We've got togas, we've got KEVIN SPACEY (whose sexuality is always speculated on in the tabloids), and "spin cycle" could easily be "penis cycle," as it is in stevENSPIelberg. I didn't find it VILE, but I kept on looking for the G to go with SPOT (65A.) Don't eat the PALE SNOW.<br /><br />Just saying............................Paul Winstonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29346543755171061362015-11-25T11:17:04.808-05:002015-11-25T11:17:04.808-05:00I'm putting my money into @Bonds. Sound stuff,...I'm putting my money into @Bonds. Sound stuff, but if you're going to run the Pubs' roster, it'll be a while till you get to Dem others. Consider intercalating 4:1, maybe. You have some of the best materiel on tap.<br /><br />@AliasZ perhaps they could run that menstrual cycle on a monthly basis. NOHS knows no noes; we're probably due for a reASSESsment.<br /><br />Phillipe POTOK: Watch this space<br /><br />Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54831681996838606922015-11-24T23:31:03.056-05:002015-11-24T23:31:03.056-05:00@old timer...you've not visited the Thomas Pai...@old timer...you've not visited the Thomas Paine Cottage in New Rochelle?! He was given land that was taken from a Tory, as a reward for his patriotic services, as per a map I have and wiki. I used to walk past it every day on my way to school. <br />It's off Paine Ave., and just south of Paine Lake, where I used to ice skate.<br />Now you know!Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72142951646207102642015-11-24T23:12:16.583-05:002015-11-24T23:12:16.583-05:00I'm with @carola on American Beauty. Self-indu...I'm with @carola on American Beauty. Self-indulgent tripe about those with no reason to complain doing so.<br /><br />The P in PETSCAN stands for positron, the antimatter analog to the electron. Basically you get injected with a radioactive isotope, which decays, emitting a positron. When the positron encounters an electron they mutually annihilate, producing gamma rays. The scanner detects the gamma rays. I mention all this as I think there is a general perception that antimatter is the stuff of science fiction, rather than something that is real and helping save lives.<br /><br />This was my first ever non-Monday solve using only downs. One overwrite - NayS before NOES, quickly corrected thanks to Senor Spielbergo.kitshefnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32069318488802655162015-11-24T19:42:33.390-05:002015-11-24T19:42:33.390-05:00@Anoa Bob. Thank you for sharing that information...@Anoa Bob. Thank you for sharing that information. Wow...Makes me feel bad and somewhat mad. Does anyone wait over three years to be paid for their work without going to Small Claims?<br />I guess it's the prestige of having your hard work appear in the New York Times? What power.....<br />GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58134665444415985052015-11-24T19:13:31.443-05:002015-11-24T19:13:31.443-05:00POTOK was a given for me. Wasn't familiar with...POTOK was a given for me. Wasn't familiar with MASH NOTE, but nothing else fit.<br />@Rex: Your dad was a radiologist?! You're not as bad as I thought you were (says this small town radiologist).smalltowndocnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16666604049885803762015-11-24T18:54:40.765-05:002015-11-24T18:54:40.765-05:00First DNF in three weeks, and it comes on Tuesday!...First DNF in three weeks, and it comes on Tuesday! At least I was not alone in this. Oleta? What really rankles is that I had it correctly finished. But Oleta? Could it be that I misspelled Potok? Patok? (I have read "The Chosen" more than once) I had a student with the last name "Patek," and thought of that first. But finally, I decided foolishly that Oleta is impossible. DNF. Happy to see a G and S reference though. Oh, "It's a love thing"??? No, it's vile....<br /><br />OISKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808675378318214461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46096034308561651872015-11-24T18:45:56.480-05:002015-11-24T18:45:56.480-05:00Yup kudos on the UP IN SMOKE/TOKE cross, but seein...Yup kudos on the UP IN SMOKE/TOKE cross, but seeing that almost identical puzzle with the themers in the identical spots must be embarrassing a little. And yes that NW corner naticked the hell out of me.Music Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03813263551995292402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6501739630574703982015-11-24T18:28:21.356-05:002015-11-24T18:28:21.356-05:00Like @The Rhino, this was my fastest Tuesday ever....Like @The Rhino, this was my fastest Tuesday ever. Potok was a gimme for me, so I never blinked at Oleta.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00908435585355038973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53054254006588810892015-11-24T18:00:13.576-05:002015-11-24T18:00:13.576-05:00Other than spelling POTOK with an eK and KEVIN wit...Other than spelling POTOK with an eK and KEVIN with an eN I had no problems. Those were both easy fixes. Didn't know OLETA and after reading her bio felt that I should have. Pretty impressive.<br /><br />I do the LAT puzzle every day so my feeling of déjà vu was understandable. <br /><br />Easier than Monday's puzzle for me.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16241069489263801242015-11-24T17:46:56.253-05:002015-11-24T17:46:56.253-05:00Agree with Nancy, so many proper names that this ...Agree with Nancy, so many proper names that this was just awful. The NW was terrible.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12988927312203207580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76197815692124067522015-11-24T17:10:46.855-05:002015-11-24T17:10:46.855-05:00
Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the waterco...<br />Restore our fortunes, O Lord, <br /> <br />like the watercourses of the Negev.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54654088228506849262015-11-24T14:02:42.486-05:002015-11-24T14:02:42.486-05:00SPIN CYCLE, RINSE CYCLE -- what's next? Busine...<br />SPIN CYCLE, RINSE CYCLE -- what's next? Business, life, lunar, menstrual, motor, solar, vicious, etc.<br /><br />"It's ___ Thing" could be ABOVE, A DOVE, A JOVE, A MOVE, A ROVE, A TOVE, A WOVE.<br />"Soul singer Adams" cold be OBETA, ODETA, OJETA, OMETA, ORETA, OTETA, OWETA. This could be the second worst Asmara. Which is the likeliest? Oh I missed it: A LOVE and OLETA.<br /><br />Yesterday: NOS. Today: NOES. Which is correct?<br />Chaim and Chomsky in the same puzzle must be a first.<br />"Set a trap" out-googled "LAY A TRAP" 590,000 to 93,900.<br />ASS and ASSES appear so often in NYT puzzles, we don't even blush anymore.<br /><br />For this gloomy Tuesday afternoon, eEnjoy this super-lovely <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR9u7r6lMyg" rel="nofollow">Allegro ASSAI</a> by Mozart.<br /><br />@George Barany, loved those snazzy puzzles. Thank you. Don't stop!<br /><br />And thanks Gary Cee for this easy but fun Tuesday puzzle.<br />AliasZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477396362209386037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2230230032070720912015-11-24T13:33:38.285-05:002015-11-24T13:33:38.285-05:00I'm surprised at y'all. I got POTOK with n...I'm surprised at y'all. I got POTOK with no thought at all. You saiy Chaim, I say POTOK, pure reflex. MASH NOTES was no problem either. For half a second I considered MoSH as in MoSHpits but in no context other than I know that term. What screwed me here was spelling NEGEV with an A. I had to go back and look carefully to realize my mystake. I had no idea that an OLETA existed anywhere on this planet and the only thing I know about soul music is Barry White which didn't fit.<br /><br />I enjoyed this T&A puzzle even though there were no Ts in it. Nary a one, my inner fourteen-year-old was bereft. The only titillation to be found anywhere was the lad and his LASS (nervous titter).<br /><br />@Tita: alas, tuna cans are no longer openable from both ends but my egg muffin, with its NOOKs and crannies, was delicious all the same. The silicone egg rings I got are rather larger than a tuna can so I imagine the egg cooks more quickly. <br /><br />Thsi puzzle flew by and nothing else gave me even a little pause. I'm going to have to delete my app and reinstall it to establish a new baseline. My recent times have all been low, well below average so I think I have to start again. Numinoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01263999193499725814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31399165204405684252015-11-24T13:07:23.172-05:002015-11-24T13:07:23.172-05:00Everything I know about HMS PINAFORE I learned fro...Everything I know about HMS PINAFORE I learned from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKXtv2_IaCY" rel="nofollow">this episode segment of The Simpsons</a>.<br /><br />Since constructors only get paid for their puzzles in the month when it is published, 3 1/2 years seems like an insanely, unconscionably long lag time between acceptance & publication. Since you are only notified when your puzzle is coming out a week or two before its publication date, this means today's offering was in puzzle limbo for over three years! Would not this discourage top constructors, who may rely on puzzles for some income, from submitting their work to the NYT? Would not this tend to lower the overall quality of puzzles being submitted to the NYT?<br /><br />The theme TOKE (past tense of take, right?) a toll on fill quality, as evidenced out of the gate in the NW corner. Another indication is the high number of S's in the grid, 24 of them today, most in the service of <a href="http://anoabob.blogspot.com/2013/05/poc-doc.html" rel="nofollow">POCs</a>. That's about 15% of the total number of letters in the grid, or 2 1/2 times the frequency of the letter S in standard English text. I guess you could say the S's were working their ASSES off!Anoa Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16185183023273883700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27463757666694440542015-11-24T12:56:21.832-05:002015-11-24T12:56:21.832-05:00After entering Kevin Spacey, then Up in Smoke cros...After entering Kevin <i>Spacey</i>, then <i>Up in Smoke</i> crossed by <i>toke</i>, I thought we were venturing into new territory for the NYTimes xword puzzle.<br /><br />I was wrong.Petenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15997174237982374512015-11-24T12:38:58.361-05:002015-11-24T12:38:58.361-05:00p.s.
Alternate MASHNOTE:
OLETA A-LOVE NEGEV POT OK...p.s.<br />Alternate MASHNOTE:<br />OLETA A-LOVE NEGEV POT OK.<br /><br />TOTE on, OLETA.<br /><br />M&AMasked and Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16027736429645378004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61971628904802763252015-11-24T12:38:32.732-05:002015-11-24T12:38:32.732-05:00Haha, wow. POTOK/OLETA cross on a Tuesday? I was g...Haha, wow. POTOK/OLETA cross on a Tuesday? I was going to gripe about MASHNOTE, having never heard of it, and having tried MUSHNOTE in its stead, but OED attests it to as early as late 19th century, so that's that.<br /><br />TOKE/UPINSMOKE was great, of course, although I did not notice until the end, when I was searching for my error. I was quite convinced there was an error on their side, and had even started to pen a missive to NOAh Chomsky, when... oh. Oops. My bed.<br /><br />13 across clues were cluing proper nouns. 9 down clues. (I exclude the demonym Omani.) Yikes. Admittedly, some were easy, but that seems like a lot.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14715469136527360066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62398413061081766112015-11-24T12:33:46.470-05:002015-11-24T12:33:46.470-05:00I sure felt like one of the "asses" when...I sure felt like one of the "asses" when I couldn't understand what "ATIE is like kissing your sister" meant, and then realizing it was "a tie" not "atie." But I'm not a sports fan, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. <br /><br />Luckily I was able to get "MASH NOTE" from my abiding love of The Simpsons. WHOOP-DEE-DOO TARANTULA TOWN! WHOOP-DEE-DOO TO THE WORLD! TheoCratichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01533052233585115223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-92113029344105941682015-11-24T12:06:59.146-05:002015-11-24T12:06:59.146-05:00Easy for me too. Although, as many of you have po...Easy for me too. Although, as many of you have pointed out the NW corner was kinda tricky. Did not know OLETA and had to infer LOVE...tough corner for a Tues.<br /><br />Reasonably smooth grid, solid Tues. theme, plus one of Cheech and Chong's funniest movies, liked it.jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.com