tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3192905860425087819..comments2024-03-28T16:10:40.182-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Drudgery in old usage / MON 2-10-20 / Big name in athletic shoes / Mississippi port city with Air Force BaseRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35610766843335051802020-05-09T11:51:02.127-04:002020-05-09T11:51:02.127-04:00I thought the theme was OK, but the fill had some ...I thought the theme was OK, but the fill had some clunkers. The poorest fill was all in the down answers, which made things hard for those of us who solve without using the grid or the down clues. I stalled in a few spots because I was slow to accept ETONIC (e-tonic, like an antivirus program?) and DCON as plausible fill, and I kept favoring CUBIT in lieu of CABIT. I remembered Will Shortz mentioning MOIL on the NPR puzzle a few years ago but still held off on that until every across was certain.<br /><br />I'd have gotten rid of MOIL by changing HAIR to HALT, and I'd have gotten rid of CABIT by changing BEST to BEEN, but that's a matter of personal taste.<br /><br />On the other hand, I thought UNGER and ALEC were fair. I'm nowhere near my 60s, but The Odd Couple is classic TV just like Happy Days or M*A*S*H, and I'm sure we can all name the main characters from those. It's a fun coincidence that the show's two stars, JACK (Klugman) and TONY (Randall), were placed opposite each other in this grid. I've never read Alec Waugh but have heard his name enough times for that to be straightforward once I realized it had to be four letters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23354446773577454672020-03-22T20:57:23.132-04:002020-03-22T20:57:23.132-04:00Way too rough for a Monday. Too many proper nouns ...Way too rough for a Monday. Too many proper nouns and vague clues. I only got aiWa and dcOn from the cross. 10a couple have been any size cup, coupled with never having heard of 16a or 10d and 19a possibly being lugs or tugs gave me a dnf in the upper right. Then I got stuck in that lower left corner that Rex pointed out. Other than those three corners it felt Monday quality. <br /><br />As Petsounds pointed out, though, a skirt which goes just below the knee is called a "skirt". A midi goes halfway from knee to ankle (or midthigh). Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8356984902053846242020-03-19T00:22:54.085-04:002020-03-19T00:22:54.085-04:00About 30 years ago I enjoyed reading a book by Ale...About 30 years ago I enjoyed reading a book by Alec Waugh I found in a used bookstore in Kent, Ohio: "Bangkok: The Story of a City". It is mostly about the ruling family, the Chakri Dynasty. Waugh wrote it because he was particularly fond of the city. I read it because I had recently fallen in love with a woman when I was visiting Bangkok (now my wife of 28 years). At the time, I did not know she was a member of the Thai royal family.muonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10080743782053624967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53434339906291671762020-03-16T20:40:50.502-04:002020-03-16T20:40:50.502-04:00Looked it up, it's Ungar in the play and movie...Looked it up, it's Ungar in the play and movie, it's Unger on the TV series. Leave it blank until you get the cross, I guess. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21273181274418803212020-03-16T19:52:38.371-04:002020-03-16T19:52:38.371-04:00OFL's Haight hate is just amazing and predicta...OFL's Haight hate is just amazing and predictable. <br />OTOH, anything by Mark Knopfler / Dire Straits is amazing in a really good way.<br />Hows about ANN-Margaret?<br /> <br />I haven't jumped ahead in time to read OFL's comments, but it would seem that there are other things to consider. This puz was not that terrible.rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8078368695799936542020-03-16T15:48:46.890-04:002020-03-16T15:48:46.890-04:00My five favorite moments from the blog last week i...My five favorite moments from the blog last week in Syndieland (in order of appearance):<br /><br />Discovering the SOFA KING famous! story and the Strong Language blog. Wednesday. Thanks @Teedmn.<br /><br />Watching Boston's Amanda video but imagining singing "Verandaed". Thursday. Thanks @Rex. <br /><br />Learning about Sue the T-Rex at Chicago's Field Museum. Friday. <br /><br />"That JCTS clue had my petticoats in a whirl. What on earth is a Boca Burger? I hope it's not made of Raton!" Saturday. Thanks @QuasiMojo. One more reason why this forum needs a thumbs up button.<br /><br />Reading the New Yorker profile of Donald Glover and the show "Atlanta". I will binge watch it soon during the Shutdown in Seattle. Saturday. Thanks @Teedmn.<br /><br /><br />Wooody2004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66402554351637712202020-03-16T15:17:07.081-04:002020-03-16T15:17:07.081-04:00Oh boy! A Bruce Haight puzzle. One of the few co...Oh boy! A Bruce Haight puzzle. One of the few constructors who make me want to read OFA just to see how much he trashes a puzzle, especially one I like.<br /><br />I liked the theme of re-purposing common phrases to apply to the making of movies. Rex always asks "why this theme?"; "why these terms?". Maybe I'm being simplistic, but, well, it is a theme, and pretty well done here.<br /><br />As for the fill, it's fine. ETONIC is a shoe brand of which I've worn two pair: a pair of golf shoes, and a pair of sneakers. I had a jewel of a tape deck made by AIWA. I don't know if either of those brands are offered anymore, but I don't care. The rest of the fill was just dandy, especially MOIL. <br /><br />Overall, a nice Monday with a little more crunch than usual. Nice effort.rainforestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51119451645553254622020-03-16T14:45:58.181-04:002020-03-16T14:45:58.181-04:00On Rex's enemy list, Shortz is #1, Haight is #...On Rex's enemy list, Shortz is #1, Haight is #2. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32794612639828800832020-03-16T14:25:02.055-04:002020-03-16T14:25:02.055-04:00Love the wordplay of this theme. Also the added bi...Love the wordplay of this theme. Also the added bite of AIWA, HIHAT, ETONIC. Then include the good long down as bonuses, with COUNTINGNOSES instead of heads and looking on the BRIGHTSIDE instead of dissing this Monday gem by Bruce Haight.<br /><br /><br /><br />leftcoasternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49654932282200616132020-03-16T12:32:08.580-04:002020-03-16T12:32:08.580-04:00HEART ACRE
IT was WORTHASHOT to SETTLEASCORE,
a D...HEART ACRE<br /><br />IT was WORTHASHOT to SETTLEASCORE,<br />a DOUBLETAKE and you GET the perfecta.<br />On the BRIGHTSIDE IT’SOK to ask for ONE more,<br />but it ACHEd when I JABBED ALITTLEEXTRA.<br /><br />--- ALEC UNGER<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2454021286486161602020-03-16T12:12:01.122-04:002020-03-16T12:12:01.122-04:00Wow - I did this puzzle w/o even noticing BH was t...Wow - I did this puzzle w/o even noticing BH was the constructor. I used to ALWAYS have a tough time with his constructions. Guess I'm growing up. Or he's becoming more mainstream.<br /><br />Any SyndieCats planning on traveling in the near future. I still have plans, but they are looking pretty dismal. Any ray of hope will be appreciated.<br /><br />Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for the plane to take offDiana, LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80360871885861749112020-03-16T12:00:15.110-04:002020-03-16T12:00:15.110-04:00UHOH, it's the Haight of mediocrity again: Bru...UHOH, it's the Haight of mediocrity again: Bruce EKES out another one. Too bad I don't have a lot to say--I certainly have the time. Our clubhouse is closed (though, of course, our rents aren't reduced--despite some of the total is for amenities). Thank God I don't have a job. My heart goes out to residents here who do work and are now (most probably) laid off. Will they get evicted?<br /><br />Quote from "The Stand:" <br /><br />"Things fall apart; the center does not hold."<br /><br />I will omit mentioning what the speaker of that line does next.spacecrafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09125304293611865503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63310801233099734372020-02-13T11:37:03.988-05:002020-02-13T11:37:03.988-05:00Z, hockey enforcers are called Goons. Not exactly...Z, hockey enforcers are called Goons. Not exactly complimentary but I don’t see the world go trigger happy every time it’s used.Drooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17040034312918124010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51943218218672645262020-02-11T01:25:15.970-05:002020-02-11T01:25:15.970-05:00Rex, You are my hero. Thank you for that well need...Rex, You are my hero. Thank you for that well needed laugh after that annoying solve (I'm 29)Santinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04118845107739768209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6779166320865857172020-02-10T23:00:34.162-05:002020-02-10T23:00:34.162-05:00Gotta pipe in on the major argument of the day - b...Gotta pipe in on the major argument of the day - best song on the Dire Straits album Making Movies. It's Tunnel of Love. Romeo and Juliet, Skateaway and Hand in Hand are fighting for runner-up. But all four are magnificent.kitshefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10014225555838850414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50413223543285768182020-02-10T22:58:55.778-05:002020-02-10T22:58:55.778-05:00what's funny is that MOIL is a homophone for t...what's funny is that MOIL is a homophone for the guy that cuts off the best part of your putz. fits for this puzzle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7906341789007409962020-02-10T22:25:09.211-05:002020-02-10T22:25:09.211-05:00@La Donna È mobile 8:16 – yes you did that perfec...@La Donna È mobile 8:16 – yes you did that perfectly (shout-out to @RooMonster!). Also: if the person you are responding to has a lot of posts in the thread, you can add the time of the post next to the person's name (as I did here) to make it clear which post you are responding to.<br /><br />p.s. I was listening to a Carlo Bergonzi cd containing your namesake aria earlier.<br /><br />@Z – must disagree about "Making Movies", "Skateaway" was always my favorite. Immediate earworm whenever I hear it.Joe Dipintohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07922691457886440325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42017931707303092892020-02-10T21:59:05.602-05:002020-02-10T21:59:05.602-05:00Never heard of etonic shoes .. I don’t think they...Never heard of etonic shoes .. I don’t think they are a “big name”. Also I hate answers that are sounds - aws as an example. Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13026626942669726202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51538141204971714382020-02-10T20:47:21.371-05:002020-02-10T20:47:21.371-05:00I do the puzzle with my 14 yr old most days. And o...I do the puzzle with my 14 yr old most days. And once we finished he said “I hate to be cliched but this was the most ‘OK Boomer’ puzzle ever.” And I got to say he’s pretty right. Weak sauce. Kate E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14211351684708181083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91164013893144704832020-02-10T20:31:57.783-05:002020-02-10T20:31:57.783-05:00I liked this puzzle more than most. Check the symm...I liked this puzzle more than most. Check the symmetrical word placements:<br />UNO ONE<br />FAIR FERN <br />BEST THUG<br />PEON ACRE<br />HAIR AREA<br />UHHO ACHE<br />SIGMA PASTA<br />IT'S OK MONET<br />WORTH A SHOT DOUBLETAKE<br />SETTLE A SCORE A LITTLE EXTRA<br />KEG OUT<br />DCON EKES<br />ALEC BCUP<br />HEART USAIN<br />ICE AX SKIER<br />CHI SHO<br />BILOXI E-TONIC<br />JACK TONY<br /><br />A nice triple juxtaposition:<br />HARSH MARSHY HEART<br /><br />A GREAT wee-un: FEZ which always reminds me of ...the one with the FEZ he turns and he says ... . Alas, no LSD, no TRIP.<br /><br />MOIL to Sam Mcgee to Service. Which reminds me of:<br />There's a race of men that don't fit in,<br /> A race that can't stay still;<br />So they break the hearts of kith and kin,<br /> And they roam the world at will.<br />They range the field and they rove the flood,<br /> And they climb the mountain's crest;<br />Theirs is the curse of the gypsy blood,<br /> And they don't know how to rest.<br /><br />Good rap version done by Peter Stampfel.<br /><br />COUNTING NOSES common idiom for counting people or votes. Especially votes on a board or committee.<br />albatross shellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04076278220407657633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82911515070422832812020-02-10T20:28:57.396-05:002020-02-10T20:28:57.396-05:00This was puzzle #1 (of 3 preliminaries) at the Wes...This was puzzle #1 (of 3 preliminaries) at the Westport tournament<br /><br />A few people solved it wicked fast, even under 3 minutes (!)<br /><br />I didn't much notice THUG, and don't recall anyone else commenting (this was over a week ago), and it could easily have been changed to THEN/ENO/NETS unless ENO was already in the grid of course<br /><br />MOIL does seem kind of rough for a Monday; again, I didn't notice it at the time<br /><br />I kind of remembered ETONIC from bowling, um, years ago (hanging head in shame?), and ETONICS certainly wouldn't have fit.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48705500705333958172020-02-10T20:19:07.968-05:002020-02-10T20:19:07.968-05:00@JoeDiPinto leave the gun, take the cannolis@JoeDiPinto leave the gun, take the cannolisCamilitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17828952049318428219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1561807485758129432020-02-10T20:16:45.719-05:002020-02-10T20:16:45.719-05:00@roomonster thank you, did I do that right? I'...@roomonster thank you, did I do that right? I'm not offended at all and appreciate the tip.God forbid I post any more gibberish beside my usual gibberish.Camilitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17828952049318428219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52250898650168759682020-02-10T19:14:21.872-05:002020-02-10T19:14:21.872-05:00Wikipedia has the play's character being Felix...Wikipedia has the play's character being Felix Ungar and the TV show's character being Felix Unger.<br /><br />Ungar is the German word for Hungarian, so anyone really named Unger probably had an ancestor named Ungar who changed the spelling of the name.<br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10350381408024667922020-02-10T18:33:16.573-05:002020-02-10T18:33:16.573-05:00@La Donna E mobile
Just a quick courtesy post to l...@La Donna E mobile<br />Just a quick courtesy post to let you know about your posts. You're new here, so you probably don't know this. Absolutely no harm is meant.<br /><br />When you post a response to someone else's post, it doesn't go directly under that post when you are using the computer. It does on a phone, but when you see it in the computer, it's just another post with no relevance to anything else. That's why people here use the @ symbol and reference the person they're responding to. Like I did at the beginning of the post. So your 5:08 reply to Joe Dipinto 2:45 isn't under his comment on the computer. It looks like a non-sequiter and gibberish.<br /><br />No offense meant, just wanted you to get your responses to go where they were intended. ☺️<br /><br />RooMonster @Guy<br />RooMonsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14103892151115549684noreply@blogger.com