tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3032528352002032751..comments2024-03-28T20:49:13.267-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Old card game with forfeits / WED 9-29-10 / Implement in Millet painting / 1935 Marx Brothers romp / 1940 Crosby/Lamour/Hope film first travel seriesRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55864208389006986212010-11-04T06:57:11.111-04:002010-11-04T06:57:11.111-04:00@Wade, Thanks for all the LPS info. Very entertain...@Wade, Thanks for all the LPS info. Very entertaining. Stopped in Archer once years ago. Your statement about Sam Bottom: "How hard can it be to play an idiot?" tickled me & reminded me of a quote I read recently: <br /><br /> "The most difficult character in comedy is that of a fool, and he must be no simpleton who plays the part." -Cervantes, Don Quixote 1605<br /> <br /> But I prefer George Burns's quote about acting:<br /> "Acting is all about honesty. If you can fake that, you've got it made."<br /> -Kevin in TexasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76934274077799985712010-11-04T06:13:36.970-04:002010-11-04T06:13:36.970-04:00Greetings from la la-, I mean Syndication land. Sl...Greetings from la la-, I mean Syndication land. Slang OO words mini-theme with: MOOLA, HOOTCH & LOO (which isn't clued as such but is Brit-slang for the lavie... does that card game involve flushes?) <br /> @REX clearly saw the grid was expanded (as pointed out by NDE & COFFEE LVR) since he mentioned "100 theme squares" not 99, which made me see. I'm sure he thought it obvious. <br /> -Kevin in TexasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58830612978074137952010-11-03T19:48:54.844-04:002010-11-03T19:48:54.844-04:00There has been much discussion about Cybil's b...There has been much discussion about Cybil's bare chest but not a word about Pietro's ta-tas (50d); why, I wonder?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58087630264294349542010-11-03T12:38:00.187-04:002010-11-03T12:38:00.187-04:00@DoubleDouble - Guess you haven't you seen the...@DoubleDouble - Guess you haven't you seen the Dr. Seuss film sequel "TIM HORTON HEARS A WHO" as yet.<br /><br />BTW, great to see Rex championing Timmies today, rather than IHOP. Canada now, tomorrow the world, eh?Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9403737693756037212010-11-03T11:58:26.350-04:002010-11-03T11:58:26.350-04:00Syndicated version of this puzzle came out today. ...Syndicated version of this puzzle came out today. The one big puzzle I haven't figured out yet is the meaning behind the Tim Horton's sign that Rex posted above. Fast puzzle - fast service ? As a Timmie's addict (try living in a town with 50+ stores and not be) - it of course grabbed my attention.DoubleDoublenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66383161274145990442010-09-30T02:31:30.485-04:002010-09-30T02:31:30.485-04:00Kale is often used as slang for money in the dread...Kale is often used as slang for money in the dreadful USA trilogy by Dos Passos. Pretty obscure clue unless your over 90.ClifDCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34673173434752119102010-09-30T00:50:27.922-04:002010-09-30T00:50:27.922-04:00"Bah. I wish these movies had Something in co..."Bah. I wish these movies had Something in common, and that HORTON HEARS A WHO was not among them (more famous as book than film). Other than the above, I have no idea what to say about this one. The rest of the puzzle barely registers; there's just not a lot of room left to do anything."<br /><br />Other than this, I have no concerns. <br /><br />A WOW construction. Thanks Mr. Gersch.WTFnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16627140574619986682010-09-29T22:47:34.847-04:002010-09-29T22:47:34.847-04:00I don't have time to read 78 comments so someo...I don't have time to read 78 comments so someone may have pointed this out but generally clues for first name answers use first names and clues for last name answers use last names but Henry VIII is a first name (or title) and PARR is a last name.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24698388831317443202010-09-29T22:23:50.534-04:002010-09-29T22:23:50.534-04:00The ROAD TO SINGAPORE was filmed in 1940 by Paramo...The ROAD TO SINGAPORE was filmed in 1940 by Paramount (remember yesterday’s PEARAMOUNT?) Productions and Crosby and Hope became life-long golf buddies and close friends. The Imperial Japanese Army conquered Singapore two years later in what Churchill described as the "the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history". Churchill reportedly drank a fifth of HOOTCH every night. Crosby died at the age of 74 from a heart attack while playing golf in Spain. Hope died two months short of his 100th birthday at his home in southern California, drooling in his wheelchair. Churchill died at 90 at his home in London after consuming more HOOTCH in one week than Rex will ever slop down in Manhattans during his life. I guarantee each and every one of you that none of these great historic figures of the 20th century ever wasted their time doing the NY Times puzzle, much less quibbling over whether a word meant one thing or another….Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86477675806169949692010-09-29T22:05:46.362-04:002010-09-29T22:05:46.362-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 7/30/2009 post for an explanation. In a nutshell, the higher the ratio, the higher this week's median solve time is relative to the average for the corresponding day of the week.<br /><br />All solvers (this week's median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Mon 7:23, 6:58, 1.06, 76%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 10:16, 8:55, 1.15, 87%, Challenging<br />Wed 9:45, 11:39, 0.84, 17%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:59, 3:43, 1.07, 83%, Challenging<br />Tue 5:08, 4:36, 1.12, 85%, Challenging<br />Wed 4:54, 5:45, 0.85, 11%, Easy<br /><br />Like others, I had my fastest Wednesday solve time on record (by 30 seconds) and for the second time this week found myself in the top 100 (at #58). That's a personal best for me. I'm girding myself for a late-week comeuppance.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69134169554417615362010-09-29T21:34:03.235-04:002010-09-29T21:34:03.235-04:00hey rex, thanks for reminding me of OLUMS...bought...hey rex, thanks for reminding me of OLUMS...bought a bunch of stuff from them on time when I first started out at Vail Ballou. I remember buying a microwave {litton} when they first came out.<br />Loved this puzzle...great construction...plus I finished.your average blankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06362703669092144957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50337747353010218462010-09-29T20:18:37.595-04:002010-09-29T20:18:37.595-04:00@dk what is that recipe??? I'll make it at th...@dk what is that recipe??? I'll make it at the next partychefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43298304571665741732010-09-29T20:17:12.969-04:002010-09-29T20:17:12.969-04:00dk, Ha! How deep did you have to dig for that???
L...dk, Ha! How deep did you have to dig for that???<br />Lucky for you I am a graduate of <br />Le Cordon Bleu (really).Two Ponieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06896743444873087885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88788197858501548362010-09-29T19:54:08.425-04:002010-09-29T19:54:08.425-04:00@wade, you had me at Nekkid... sigh I could not pa...@wade, you had me at Nekkid... sigh I could not pay attention to the rest however<br /><br />@2ponies - here you go & bon appetite <br /><br />Ingrédients pour 4 flans<br />1/2 litre de lait de soja (ou plus)<br />3 cas de crème de soja<br />1 cac rase d’agar agar (2 gr)<br />1 brocolis<br />environ 50 gr d'amandes réduites en poudre<br />une poignée d'amandes effilées légèrement grillées<br />noix de muscade râpée<br />sel, poivredkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37885235204595273002010-09-29T19:51:57.694-04:002010-09-29T19:51:57.694-04:00@wade, you had me at Nekkid... sigh I could not pa...@wade, you had me at Nekkid... sigh I could not pay attention to the rest however<br /><br />@2ponies - here you go & bon appetite <br /><br />Ingrédients pour 4 flans<br />1/2 litre de lait de soja (ou plus)<br />3 cas de crème de soja<br />1 cac rase d’agar agar (2 gr)<br />1 brocolis<br />environ 50 gr d'amandes réduites en poudre<br />une poignée d'amandes effilées légèrement grillées<br />noix de muscade râpée<br />sel, poivredkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71208953227829494022010-09-29T19:38:54.880-04:002010-09-29T19:38:54.880-04:00Theme - movies.
Wanted Toms Mix in Cement.
Not mu...Theme - movies. <br />Wanted Toms Mix in Cement.<br />Not much of an Adam Sandler fan, in whose movies pissing figures as a hearty joke.<br />If only Mr. Gersh hadn't included that "star."<br /><br />Anyway, never heard of CWT or CWTS, LOO (except the jon), ESTO. ENL or ENLS, IONA College, Edward D. HOCH, TOPPS(the tobacky?). I don't care for pluralizing abbrevs. or crossing them.<br /><br />Had rAm before BAA<br />RAwER before RARER<br />tRacts before PREFAB.<br /><br />CIAOS is not a plural of CIAO, though CIAO CIAO is used.<br /><br />@CoffeLover - Pretty good at including many movies, otherwise.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27162118816224476722010-09-29T18:19:09.507-04:002010-09-29T18:19:09.507-04:00Was expecting something (OPERA/singAPORE - same la...Was expecting something (OPERA/singAPORE - same last letters). Then SHOW and thought something might be there with WHO but it didn't fit. Really wanted some connection. Alas!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52824177883147948542010-09-29T18:09:09.457-04:002010-09-29T18:09:09.457-04:00@Glitch...earlier you said you had a bridge for sa...@Glitch...earlier you said you had a bridge for sale...I'd be happy to buy it...as long as I can pay with kale!PIXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21665801210532378032010-09-29T17:46:29.488-04:002010-09-29T17:46:29.488-04:00Like Noam, I noticed that the puzzle was, in fact ...Like Noam, I noticed that the puzzle was, in fact 16x15. (You might put a note to that effect in your write-up, Rex.) I had a very fast time, too, but got hung up a bit in a few places. If you multiply my time by 15/16 to account for the grid size, then it ties my fourth fastest Wednesday ever.<br /><br />I lost time putting rAm in at 25-across. [sigh]<br /><br />Captcha: hainthe: "Ha" in the comments, I say!Badirnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7265725509058270252010-09-29T17:34:56.866-04:002010-09-29T17:34:56.866-04:00Nekkid Cybil aside, and regardless of where you gr...Nekkid Cybil aside, and regardless of where you grew up, The Last Picture Show is a great movie--bleak and arty and funny. The hellatiously sexy Ellen Burstyn is perfect in it, and the Ben Johnson's speech banning the boys from his pool hall, cafe and picture show for abusing the town idiot boy ("You didn't even have the decency to wash his face") is one of the most powerfully moral moments in film. That sentence looks stupid but it's all true. Crossword buffs will be happy to see Clu Gallagher in the flesh. In addition to Cybill Shepherd's first role (she was 17), it was the debut of Jeff Bridges and Timothy Bottoms both (I think), neither of which are very great in it, as Ulrich noted, but they do okay. Much better that Timothy Bottoms's brother Sam as the idiot boy. How hard can it be to play an idiot? Piece of cake for me. Randy Quaid is also in it. He's probably moved into your house by now, that crazy sumbitch. The guy who plays the highway patrolman who stops Jacy and Sonny on their elopement is an old family friend who got tapped by Bogdanovich when the director saw him in a local cafe and thought he looked perfect. He gave Rattler a bigger part in "Paper Moon" a few years later. I've told all these stories before about fifty times on this board, or every time the movie comes up. Wish the hell you'd learn to pay attention.Wadehttp://www.nutcrackerbuck.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23077757825718857122010-09-29T15:58:16.837-04:002010-09-29T15:58:16.837-04:00+1 fan of (The) LASTPICTURESHOW, book and movie.
...+1 fan of (The) LASTPICTURESHOW, book and movie. <br /><br />I also recommend "Hud", the movie, and _Horseman, Pass By_, McMurtry's first published novel, on which it was based.<br /><br />I have nothing to add about the puzzle.treedwellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12634227778469664442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27277698890046871142010-09-29T15:46:49.441-04:002010-09-29T15:46:49.441-04:00Since the question was whether people use kale to ...Since the question was whether people use kale to mean money instead of whether kale does mean money, it turns out that Pix's statement was entirely accurate. If Professor Google says it's true, it must in fact be true.a-patnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49282138752344741722010-09-29T15:38:36.364-04:002010-09-29T15:38:36.364-04:00Fastest Wednesday for me, too, and would have been...Fastest Wednesday for me, too, and would have been faster if I somehow hadn't created a new movie called ROADTOBANGALORE. Also got hung up on LASTPICTURESHOW. Not because I didn't know of the movie, because I did (though I've never seen it), but because I didn't notice that the "the" was in the clue, and so I thought it wouldn't fit. <br /><br />Never knew HORTONHEARSAWHO had been made into a movie. <br /><br />Regarding KALE: I'm guessing pretty much every noun in existence has been used as slang for money at some point. Certainly any noun for things that are green. Especially in old pulp fiction, people trying to be the match Chandler or Bukowski, etc.Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39172845759673316342010-09-29T15:22:37.142-04:002010-09-29T15:22:37.142-04:00Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/...Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/2009 post for an explanation of my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Wed 9:40, 11:39, 0.83, 12%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Wed 5:02, 5:45, 0.88, 18%, Easysanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71842089021454407432010-09-29T15:21:41.381-04:002010-09-29T15:21:41.381-04:00Only thing that bothered me was, as others have me...Only thing that bothered me was, as others have mentioned, KALE.<br /><br />Never heard of this before. And a reference that goes back to the 30s....no no no. No, thank you.<br /><br />Better clue: Lettuce or clams (or bananas)Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01287297614087933765noreply@blogger.com