tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3088063250787743984..comments2024-03-28T07:24:00.582-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Stephen War of 1812 naval hero / THU 8-27-15 / Land bordering Francia / Birthplace of Paddington bear / Educational institution near Plano informally / A Team character played by Mr TRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15809650755704955202015-10-07T07:44:11.508-04:002015-10-07T07:44:11.508-04:00"A HIGHLY UNUSUAL property(?) for which we ca... <br /><br />"A HIGHLY UNUSUAL property(?) for which we can't think of a single other common example(?)." There are 25 possible initial combinations, and 7 were given as examples. But exemplars can be found for all 25, some obviously more obscure than others, but arguably there are at least another seven as common as B.A. Baracrus, and I'm sure others can come up with better examples. <br /><br />1.B.A. BARACRUS ("A-Team" character played by Mr. T)<br />2.C.B. Radio (Box with handles?)<br />3.D.C United (Washington MLS Team), also DC Comics<br />E.D. Hirsch. (Author of "Cultural Literacy"), also E.D. Drug<br />F.E Warren (Wyoming Air Force Base). (also F.E. Moran (Illinois Fire Protection Company) and F.E. Exam (Test for Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and other specialists[Fundamentals of Engineering test])<br />G.F. Handel (Composer of Music for the Royal Fireworks)<br />4.H.G. WELLS ("The Invisible Man" author)<br />I.H. Mississippi (Moline, IL Credit Union)<br />J.I. Packer (Theologian Emeritus of the Anglican Church in North America)<br />K.J. Choi (Asia's most successful Golfer [Korean])<br />L.K. Bennet (designer shoes company) also L. K. Comstock (large transit electrical contractor)<br />M.L. King (Famous Assassinated Civil Rights Pastor) also M.L. Carr (Coach during Boston Celtic's worst season)<br />N.M. State (Las Cruces University, informally)<br />O.N. Hirsch (Highly rated Fremont, CA Elementary School)<br />5.P.O. BOXES (Some return addresses)<br />Q.P. Jewelers (Famous British Gemstone Purveyor)<br />R.Q. Construction (Carlsbad, CA Builders)<br />S.R. Crown Hall (Chicago National Historical Landmark designed by Mies van der Rohe) <br />6. T.S. ELIOT ("Four Quartets" poet)<br />7. U.T. DALLAS (Educational institution near Plano, informally)<br />V.U. Meter (Loudness monitoring device)<br />W.V. University (Mountaineers Football team school) also W.V. Grant (Dallas Televangelist)<br />X.W. Fairmont (1970s Ford Australia luxury version of the Falcon)<br />Y.X. Games (Flash-based computer programs that includes Asteroids and Space Invaders)<br />Z.Y. Fu (Chinese Tycoon who gave Columbia University $26 million in 1997)<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76394609189502316422015-10-02T17:18:48.647-04:002015-10-02T17:18:48.647-04:00I, too, had to work it as themeless. When I saw th...I, too, had to work it as themeless. When I saw the theme answer, I immediately thought of the following:<br />- FE Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming<br />- J.I. Packer is a well-known author in some circles<br />- How about the SR-71 spy plane? <br />- Also, ML King appears on many street signs that bear his name<br /><br />So I'm a bit disappointed that this was published with "all seven examples that I could think of." He must not get around much.<br /><br />BTW, I loved the A Team, but I had no idea Mr. T's character's name. I, too, thought it was Mr. T.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7374957811619761122015-10-01T21:08:03.977-04:002015-10-01T21:08:03.977-04:00I didn't read the gimmick until I completed th...I didn't read the gimmick until I completed the puzzle, but I quickly thought of M L King and J I Case, the former agriculture equipment company (now Case International). D_Johnsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79050624993540776072015-10-01T13:52:54.888-04:002015-10-01T13:52:54.888-04:00An Easy & enjoyable Thurs. puzz. I couldn'...An Easy & enjoyable Thurs. puzz. I couldn't understand the gimmick until reading the comments. Kinda clever but not needed to solve the puzzle. Had Free and Fri wrong but soon wrote over That. Hey, I'll take an easy Thursday every once in a while.<br /><br />Ron Diego, La Mesa, CA (Notice the LM fits in with today's gimmick.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73918128328006407082015-10-01T12:15:21.767-04:002015-10-01T12:15:21.767-04:00I must admit I never noticed the descending patter...I must admit I never noticed the descending pattern of the initials; of course my paper not being the NYT, there was no message to look for it. I will contribute another, though fictitious, possibility: S.R. Haddon, the gazillionaire in Sagan's "Contact" who deciphered the plans for--and then financed the building of--the interstellar transporter.<br /><br />I agree this one was easyish for a THU, despite NWA and BOHO being WOEs. [LOL, @M&A, let's hear it for "U-all!"] The single blemish on my finished grid was my misspelling of BARACaS. Ah, Fearless One, you missed a joyful time if you missed the original "A-Team" series. The heavily-chained, super-tough B.A. ("Bad Attitude!") was nonetheless deathly afraid of flying--possibly because most of the time the pilot was a character called "Howling-mad" Murdock, whom the boys occasionally had to break out of the insane asylum for a gig. Fun times.<br /><br />I was annoyed by the severe compartmentalization of the grid. Those big "L" bars allow MINIMAL access to the corners. I thought for a moment I might not get into the SE because of those daggone rappers, till I remembered the very old NEWDEAL. The theme was made interesting after the fact by that undiscovered layer of difficulty, the sequential thing. Grid is SOLIDLY filled, for the most part. B.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45187197671895916712015-10-01T12:11:47.040-04:002015-10-01T12:11:47.040-04:00Initially, I liked it. Har. Didn’t cross my mind t...Initially, I liked it. Har. Didn’t cross my mind that the inits were in reverse sequence. And I never saw The A-team, so that was all by crosses.<br /><br />I suspect there are other UT locations, but they probably don’t fit the schematic.<br /><br />Do people still use CBRADIOs? Or HATPINS for that matter?<br /><br />TORI Amos, a musical yeah baby in a certain light. A developed taste required. Best in the STUDIO.<br /><br />MINIMAL trouble with this one, SOLIDLY completed. At least there were no circles to chase down, or across.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38790541320419866082015-10-01T11:48:09.890-04:002015-10-01T11:48:09.890-04:00UNO BAWLOUT
I wanted a MINIMAL NEWDEAL now THAT I...UNO BAWLOUT<br /><br />I wanted a MINIMAL NEWDEAL now THAT I was out ONBAIL, <br />but ASTERN ARBITER DECREES, “Pay your DEBT like the REST, back THEREAT the jail.”<br /><br />--- HAL FENNEL<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35019990158062824092015-10-01T11:35:53.727-04:002015-10-01T11:35:53.727-04:00Fun one! How about UT Infection (Urinary Tract In...Fun one! How about UT Infection (Urinary Tract Infection).Sharon from Calgarynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24188983910237744892015-10-01T11:32:56.225-04:002015-10-01T11:32:56.225-04:00Brutally simple. Filled it in w no issues. Oh wel...Brutally simple. Filled it in w no issues. Oh well, guess they can't all be challenging. Torbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01813931192681953872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88828981412401838462015-08-28T21:26:06.379-04:002015-08-28T21:26:06.379-04:00Hahaa...yes!Hahaa...yes!Beahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07886227825064266814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43105869642652037002015-08-28T17:33:34.684-04:002015-08-28T17:33:34.684-04:00K.J. Choi was the first example I thought of. M.L....K.J. Choi was the first example I thought of. M.L. Carr was next. How about a B.A. degree? No worse than U.T.Dallas IMHO. Does a V.U. meter qualify?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54724001802856648842015-08-28T01:11:06.135-04:002015-08-28T01:11:06.135-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Marymomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00395123812773947608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55050925444587794722015-08-28T00:28:09.005-04:002015-08-28T00:28:09.005-04:00My thoughts exactlyMy thoughts exactlyAmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10620346888576430028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73006105497682941452015-08-27T21:19:16.056-04:002015-08-27T21:19:16.056-04:00'@Anoa Bob - think FDR.'@Anoa Bob - think FDR.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53281371144067229002015-08-27T20:32:22.670-04:002015-08-27T20:32:22.670-04:00Note: today is Kelly Freas's birthday. He pain...Note: today is Kelly Freas's birthday. He painted @Rex's avatar: http://salmongutter.blogspot.com/2013/10/paperback-709-galactic-invaders-james-r.html<br /><br /><br />Since I can't put images in here I leave just this <a href="https://twitter.com/axlotl/status/637058109400346628>annoying link</a> to a twitter post, which no one will ever see, because tomorrow's puzzle is available in T-minus 1800<br /><br />1799<br />1798<br />1797<br />1796<br />1795<br />["And so forth: abbr."]cwfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02139294102199197879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40384031492218896652015-08-27T20:00:35.576-04:002015-08-27T20:00:35.576-04:00@Jete belle...You'll probably never see this b...@Jete belle...You'll probably never see this because whenever I post, everyone seems to be happily having a drink somewhere or they've gone to bed.<br />Anyway, I wanted to mention how much I enjoyed your poem post yesterday about the humped camel and his night of fevered passion. My absolute favorite Gnarly Head Zin took a splash on the computer (at least it didn't come out of my nose).... I was flabbergasted that you weren't the original author... (it does sound like something you would write!!!)<br />Never mind.... It brought lots of laughter and I enjoyed it ATON more than these puzzles..... GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79700487040715058522015-08-27T19:54:27.484-04:002015-08-27T19:54:27.484-04:00Ack, this played hard for me, possibly because I D...Ack, this played hard for me, possibly because I DID see the crummy note and read way too much into it, thinking, as Hartley70 said, that something 'scientific' was being referred to. So I kept looking for a trick. When I saw the reverse sequenced initials, I at least thought there must be some formal term for such things, one that @LMS would pull out of her bag of grammatical tricks, but instead we get @Rex's convoluted description and that's as good as it gets. Humph.<br /><br />After I went to college in '78, I pretty much remained ignorant of all ensuing network TV, with a few weird outliers. So while I knew Mr. T and his catch phrase, I thought he played on the A Team as Mr. T. Glad to see it wasn't just me. An example of my TV ignorance - on a visit home, I was listening to my Mom and brother talking and my brother says, "It's just like 'Who shot JR?,' " and when I asked "Who's JR?", you can imagine the look I got.<br /><br />This puzzle wasn't what I expected from Mr. Pahk but since it was the source for @Alias Z's and @M&A's great comments, it was worth it. <br /><br />Ps: off topic, new portmanteau - styched. Local college DJ was trying to say psyched and stoked and got tongue-tied. You heard it here first.<br /><br />Pps: also off topic, new crosswordese I expect to see coming soon to a puzzle near you - Tuj Lub is a Hmong game played on a court with spinning tops. Imagine the potential for partials - move over Jai Alai! I know this because the mayor of St. Paul wants to build a court for the local Tuj Lub league.Teedmnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12832353448839187816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35316037547286988412015-08-27T18:12:38.511-04:002015-08-27T18:12:38.511-04:00A total snoozer. Took 5 minutes while talking to m...A total snoozer. Took 5 minutes while talking to my partner. Adequate for a Tuesday puzzle. Maybe. Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13037189806699901610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14174221163638466442015-08-27T17:59:46.710-04:002015-08-27T17:59:46.710-04:00Really easy Thursday, but I enjoyed it. Fill was u...Really easy Thursday, but I enjoyed it. Fill was unremarkable, but I thought there was some pretty clever cluing and little in thew ay of total clunkers. "Ellison" instead of "H.G. Wells" tripped me up in the NW; needed the theme and "regents" to realize my mistake.Rabi Abonourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10650612051534860466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16411256410479538132015-08-27T17:40:04.626-04:002015-08-27T17:40:04.626-04:00As far as Mr. T esoterica goes, BA BARACUS is a he...As far as Mr. T esoterica goes, BA BARACUS is a heck of lot more well known than DC CAB, which has popped in the puzzle a few times (and happens to be another example fitting the theme pattern).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19255753214985365372015-08-27T16:48:02.894-04:002015-08-27T16:48:02.894-04:00Skateboarders most popular foot apparel company......Skateboarders most popular foot apparel company....DCSHOESEl Lobo Solitariohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17273844947232101523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91469133979108224432015-08-27T15:44:32.148-04:002015-08-27T15:44:32.148-04:00Not a bad puzzle, just...ummm...unremarkable.
Hea...Not a bad puzzle, just...ummm...unremarkable.<br /><br />Heard of Mr. T? Yes.<br />Heard of BABARACUS? No.<br />Exact same thought process as Rex, thought it was either one word or two, though figured that would make it too much of an outlier.<br /><br />Nit... Is SEAMILE a thing? NauticalMILE, Yes. Knot, yes. When I google sea mile, every single hit comes back as nautical mile...without even the usual polite nudge of "Did you mean...?". It did cross ASTERN, so there's that. Maybe back in DECATUR's or Errol Flynn's day it was a thing.<br /><br />I solved without the note. Got that there were words with inits. Opened the note, and did figure out the backwardness as the property, but that didn't register as cool.<br /><br />Thanks for a Thursday twist, Joon. It was nice to see you at Lolla.Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34684192198806478522015-08-27T15:40:11.958-04:002015-08-27T15:40:11.958-04:00Does Joon Pahk live in Hahvahd Yahd?Does Joon Pahk live in Hahvahd Yahd?Martel Moopsbanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77522450847671290612015-08-27T13:36:36.139-04:002015-08-27T13:36:36.139-04:00Mr. T in Rocky 3 is Clubber Lange i believeMr. T in Rocky 3 is Clubber Lange i believeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55772982997653776792015-08-27T13:24:09.870-04:002015-08-27T13:24:09.870-04:00Did not get the reverse initials bit so was tempte...Did not get the reverse initials bit so was tempted to think<br />A UN PACK could be wolves introduced to a country as part of some UN project.<br />I liked the puzzle which was not easy if you did not know that TV show. OTOH TSELIOT went in right away.Old timernoreply@blogger.com