tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3273794271466031031..comments2024-03-28T07:54:35.055-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: SATURDAY, May 19, 2007 - Byron WaldenRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63925022035391780532007-07-05T20:14:00.000-04:002007-07-05T20:14:00.000-04:00It's the following Thursday. I am falling behinder...It's the following Thursday. I am falling behinder and behinder.<BR/><BR/>The best clue/answer combo here was 8d STATE THE OBVIOUS. Hanne gave me ALL FEMALE, and I had to google ADRIAN I. I did know what a "lighter" was, and was familiar with "beard" as a verb. I thought the clue for STOGY should have been "Foul smoke, (for some) <BR/><BR/>GOT REAL was cute, gave me JUGS, but I can't fathom JUMBO CD.<BR/><BR/>And the doctor said, "Give him JUG band music, seems to make him feel just fine." <BR/>-John Sebastian<BR/><BR/>The door goes together tomorrow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30988134274360371882007-07-01T03:01:00.000-04:002007-07-01T03:01:00.000-04:00Later that same night and a little drunk -- The re...Later that same night and a little drunk -- The reason I got DYSPNEA (which I've never heard of) is because the clue said breathing trouble -- Trouble has to be DYS or DIS something! Anyway, good night :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16740942350665084082007-06-30T22:44:00.000-04:002007-06-30T22:44:00.000-04:006wlI had much the same experience as all of you. ...6wl<BR/>I had much the same experience as all of you. Held on to BSA for too long. Had EARS for JUGS for a while. Got EGYPT off the ED I put in for 50A (debated between DOLED AND METED) and the Y in STAYS (which of course was wrong). Finally figured out GOTREAL and changed BSA to USO. Guessed DELTA like Rex thought he should of and changed SLAPS to CLAPS to get JUMBOCD. SW took a loooong time given how fast the rest of the puzzle went. Did not have to google but it was painful. Agree with the iffy spellings of STOGY and FORBAD and would add ENROL. Always thought it had two Ls. Also, I got BARGE by thinking that Saturday often goes for 3rd and 4th level meanings and somehow remembered that a Ligher was one. I liked this puzzle, tough but doable!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70862200990746830042007-06-30T14:36:00.000-04:002007-06-30T14:36:00.000-04:00I still don't get lighter = barge, 6 weeks later!I still don't get lighter = barge, 6 weeks later!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57149064476746152782007-05-21T00:12:00.000-04:002007-05-21T00:12:00.000-04:00SW corner - got EGYPT, METED across, ODESSA going ...SW corner - got EGYPT, METED across, ODESSA going down - and nothing else. No time. No finish. No soup for me.<BR/>Never heard of JUMBOCD, Lighter = Barge = ?!?, and the rest exactly as you described. The rest of the puzzle was a fun challenge. That one corner was just the La Byron Tar Pits for me.<BR/>Anyone else who got toasted there, you're far from alone :).Howard Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00766792795622192271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36941889609987262132007-05-20T07:51:00.000-04:002007-05-20T07:51:00.000-04:00I almost resorted to Googling this morning when I ...I <I>almost</I> resorted to Googling this morning when I did Byron's puzzle—that southwestern quadrant was a killer. The puzzle took me 10:30 to finish, putting it in the upper echelon of killer Saturday puzzles. Rex, I shared many of your reactions to particular clues and entries, but overall liked it more than you did (but I would have been grumbling, too, if I ended up Googling). Oh, except DYSPNEA was a gimme because I do copyediting for <A HREF="http://www.chestnet.org/education/online/pccu/index.php" REL="nofollow">this</A>.Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36544686104038550992007-05-19T22:41:00.000-04:002007-05-19T22:41:00.000-04:00Tough, tough.I did like all the music, though, eve...Tough, tough.<BR/><BR/>I did like all the music, though, even the OUT-OF-TUNE STRING.<BR/><BR/>Good thing JUGS wasn't clued otherwise, with ALL-FEMALE sitting there so prettily on top...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28005249074533998522007-05-19T20:12:00.000-04:002007-05-19T20:12:00.000-04:00Well, of course BYRON knows what a golden slam is....Well, of course BYRON knows what a golden slam is. He's the one that put it in the damn puzzle.barrywephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04025848655112601237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89056000114177929822007-05-19T19:47:00.000-04:002007-05-19T19:47:00.000-04:00Karen-I too considered entering ESTER (an organic ...Karen-<BR/><BR/>I too considered entering ESTER (an organic compound!) for the Mizraim clue.<BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70987961331694948662007-05-19T19:45:00.000-04:002007-05-19T19:45:00.000-04:00"Homey" and "My man" are both, arguably, idiomatic..."Homey" and "My man" are both, arguably, idiomatic expressions of affection for someone one is close to, more common (I'm guessing) among black speakers than white, although there's so much crossover now, who knows?<BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77864511227326962552007-05-19T19:44:00.000-04:002007-05-19T19:44:00.000-04:00For 'Beard' I keep thinking of the expression 'to ...For 'Beard' I keep thinking of the expression 'to beard the dragon'. If you google the phrase, it seems to show a lot of bad fiction and game dialogue.<BR/><BR/>kitt, read it as 'my man!'<BR/><BR/>I really wanted 'sobered' in the SW corner, and thought Mizraim was a woman's name, like Ester. Which is misspelled.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53015349098079142842007-05-19T19:21:00.000-04:002007-05-19T19:21:00.000-04:00Well, got the entire top half of the puzzle done v...Well, got the entire top half of the puzzle done very quickly! Started feeling confident (for a Saturday) -- even a little bit cocky. But of all that was wiped away in the dang South. <BR/><BR/>Like others here I ran into serious trouble in the bottom corners. hmmm jugs? Wanted "uke" and wanted it bad. To be honest I've never heard of "jugs" as an instrument. And still don't like it : )<BR/><BR/>Like you, Rex, I wanted "in shape" for 39D... I had actually seriously considered "useable" and should have used my useable gut reaction.... But no....so struggled on.....never in a million years would I have gotten "barge" and while I had "delta" and figured 38D was some kind of "CD" -- couldn't get it. <BR/><BR/>Like Norrin and others had "Dyapnea" for 45D and "sira" for 54 A.<BR/><BR/>Having said that I really liked the puzzle. Loved "onebc" "RonReagan" "marsbar" and "yuksup".<BR/><BR/>Here's the thing. I still don't get 18A "myman" for "Homey!" what am I missing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1718573776226021322007-05-19T15:34:00.000-04:002007-05-19T15:34:00.000-04:00i felt the same way- i had to google the ymca one ...i felt the same way- i had to google the ymca one and i woould have never gotten "barge" had i not saw your answersediehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15990124649580076316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60112961164885163772007-05-19T14:32:00.000-04:002007-05-19T14:32:00.000-04:00Gotcha on the FIEND/devotee relationship now. How ...Gotcha on the FIEND/devotee relationship now. How obtuse can I be. Seeing no enlightenment on DEFY/beard, I resorted to looking it up ;) and damned if it doesn't say: to face or oppose courageously or brazenly, as if grasping by the beard. Learn something new every day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42749362333547709572007-05-19T13:54:00.000-04:002007-05-19T13:54:00.000-04:00Thanks for the "Golden Slam" definition, Byron. So...Thanks for the "Golden Slam" definition, Byron. Sometimes I forget to do simple things like look up the damned real answer. My own made-up answers can be so intoxicating...<BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89885353133900723392007-05-19T13:47:00.000-04:002007-05-19T13:47:00.000-04:00Graf's Golden Slam refers to achieving the Grand S...Graf's Golden Slam refers to achieving the Grand Slam (Australian, French, Wimbledon, U.S) plus the gold medal in the Olympics, all in the calendar year. I imagine it will be a good while before that achievement is duplicated. <BR/><BR/>"Quarter to Three" is probably best known as the song that Bruce Springsteen used (uses?) to close his concerts. I saw him in 1984 in Murfreesboro, TN. He puts on such a high-energy, high-emotion show. "Quarter to Three" is the perfect finish, because it's so upbeat that every quite literally leaves dancing. <BR/><BR/>My dictionary gives precedence to STOGY over STOGIE, although Google and the NYTimes go the other way. <BR/><BR/>ByronAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45118979770290889432007-05-19T13:29:00.000-04:002007-05-19T13:29:00.000-04:00Hi Rex, I just starting doing NYTs puzzles and jus...Hi Rex, I just starting doing NYTs puzzles and just discovered your blog. I'm pleasantly surprised I can get through Thursdays pretty well, Fridays soso, and Saturdays with a fair amount of googling. Thanks for your awesome analyses. Looking forward to tomorrow's Sunday puzzle...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29399451430270033752007-05-19T13:23:00.000-04:002007-05-19T13:23:00.000-04:00"Diary of a Crossword FIEND" - works for me.Forgot..."Diary of a Crossword FIEND" - works for me.<BR/><BR/>Forgot to mention that ONE BC answer [Time for a fresh start?] - LOVED it.<BR/><BR/>Norbert is not obese. His would-be paramour is. Not that I have seen this movie. <BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84629390914751081042007-05-19T12:59:00.000-04:002007-05-19T12:59:00.000-04:00IIICAP'NLike you, Rex, I tore through this puzzle,...III<BR/>CAP'N<BR/><BR/>Like you, Rex, I tore through this puzzle, then was left dangling with big chunks of tear-your-hair-out emptiness. IN SHAPE came and went a few times, as did STAYS. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the first letter in 55A (Lighter) should be. Wavered between JUGS and BUGS for 38A (acoustic instruments)...BUMPO CD? Fortunately, I didn't ever seriously consider that 38D might end with SD. Meanwhile, over in the southeast, I went back and forth between DYAPNEA and DYSPNEA, but by the time I'd found my way to JUMBO CD (38D), I'd settled on DYAPNEA (same reasoning as Norrin2) and ended up going to bed with one wrong letter and no "Thank you for playing" message. This had no effect on my dreams, as far as I can tell. :)<BR/>So, in the end...close, but no stogy. Oh, and of course, I had the same reaction to STOGY and FORBAD--and for awhile thought this must be one of those puzzles that dropped letters at the end of words, although there was very little sign of that. You know how it goes...<BR/>Once again, I'm glad there is Rex--and glad there are all you other folks who enjoy going on about what would otherwise be a solitary (but still enjoyable) experience!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44305314195775100112007-05-19T11:57:00.000-04:002007-05-19T11:57:00.000-04:00Robert, it's .57 (or more precisely, .5714285). B...Robert, it's .57 (or more precisely, .5714285). But who wants to be that precise ; )Linda Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15816794362786044423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77622421987715097212007-05-19T11:49:00.000-04:002007-05-19T11:49:00.000-04:00I agree the SW was rough. Knew BARGE, but original...I agree the SW was rough. Knew BARGE, but originally had STAYS. Then, when I got OBEYS, had COMBOCD. <BR/><BR/>Also agree with Wendy on DEFY and FIEND.JC66https://www.blogger.com/profile/05324615675333287919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7332332644585455772007-05-19T11:08:00.000-04:002007-05-19T11:08:00.000-04:00Heavy music puzzle:Gary U.S. BondsLena HorneELOSup...Heavy music puzzle:<BR/>Gary U.S. Bonds<BR/>Lena Horne<BR/>ELO<BR/>Supremes<BR/>Go-Go's<BR/>Debussy<BR/>Reba<BR/>Arias<BR/>Jugs<BR/>But Evie Tornquist struck me as Out Of Tune.Campesitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01852123189179333049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25877110473154648552007-05-19T10:49:00.000-04:002007-05-19T10:49:00.000-04:00Well as your friend M. Murphy says, Good times. H...Well as your friend M. Murphy says, Good times. Hard as this puzzle was, I enjoyed it as I didn't yesterday's. Reading your post today was, appropriately, like reading a Russian novel, Rex. Your pain was palpable. ;) <BR/><BR/>I too had missteps out the wazoo and found the SW to be as parched as you did, except I had EGYPT as well as ODESSA. (Come to think of it, that was a good placement for EGYPT, no?) They included: <BR/><BR/>Brownie for MARS BAR<BR/>Girl group for ALL FEMALE<BR/>Russia for ODESSA<BR/>Although I called for a moratorium on it, Obese for NERDY<BR/>Ms America for MS OLYMPIA<BR/>Like Robert, Dyapnea for DYSPNEA<BR/>Was trying for something-LIAR for SYMBOLIST<BR/><BR/>Thought SYMBOLIST was odd; to me that's the art movement that my fave Odilon Redon led, but I suppose I can see what BW was getting at. What am I missing with DEFY for Beard? I don't get it. And FIEND for Devotee? Hmmm. <BR/><BR/>But so many nifty answers, especially RON REAGAN, SQUIRTS, YUKFEST, ONE BC, MY MAN, GLEN, CAP'N, and if we have to endure The Pantheon's own SNL, nice to see Mr. Bill as the catalyst for it. (That's how I knew Girl group was wrong, wrong, wrong.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4768817207879342852007-05-19T10:46:00.000-04:002007-05-19T10:46:00.000-04:00ARIAS actually fooled me. Nah, too easy I thought....ARIAS actually fooled me. Nah, too easy I thought.barrywephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04025848655112601237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62280110646356011362007-05-19T10:35:00.000-04:002007-05-19T10:35:00.000-04:00I, likewise, had a helluva time with the SW sectio...I, likewise, had a helluva time with the SW section. I could have sworn after getting "meted," "obeys" and "delta" that the institutional investment was "ibmbond." Alas, not to be! Also, for the longest time I had "obese" insted of "nerdy" for the Eddie Murphy clue. Wasn't Norbit a fat guy? All in all, not a backbreaker like last Saturday, but it helps to be old, ala Gary U.S. Bonds. I remember it well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com