tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3338953982020389849..comments2024-03-28T13:41:34.612-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Foul-smelling swamp plant / MON 10-29-18 / Britcom of 1990s informally / Allahu Muislim cry / when doubled dolphinfish Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4281774964618465382018-12-03T19:38:14.515-05:002018-12-03T19:38:14.515-05:00Isn't that just like the Times? Black and whi...Isn't that just like the Times? Black and white and read all over.<br /><br />Sorry - couldn't resist, and I didn't see it elsewhere in the comments. It's probably there...<br /><br />Yes...I did the puzzle.<br /><br />Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for Crosswords<br />Congrats BS - whoever you really are (ha ha)Diana, LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12686591065551889942018-12-03T19:36:02.925-05:002018-12-03T19:36:02.925-05:00I enjoyed this one. Just right for a Monday memory...I enjoyed this one. Just right for a Monday memory-solve.<br /><br />Intentional or not, 20 down has a hidden black and white animal: Repeatedly scolds = BADGERSstraylinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536180563789923012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54562643576651708832018-12-03T16:47:46.105-05:002018-12-03T16:47:46.105-05:00A colleague queried me today as to how many consec...A colleague queried me today as to how many consecutive days this verse thing has gone on. According to my count it’s been 1386 days and approximately 1500 separate verses. So, presuming I make it two more weeks, it will be 1400 days, or 200 weeks of providing this daily dose of ditty, drivel and doggerel. Or gibberish, nonsense and twaddle, if you prefer.BS2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23357241509394830982018-12-03T15:00:39.324-05:002018-12-03T15:00:39.324-05:00I was hoping for something near the end to be red ...I was hoping for something near the end to be red (or read?) all over. But no, just B/W critters.<br /><br />I have a photo taken of me in that famous ZEBRACROSSING on Abbey Road. And I was wearing a white linen SUIT like the one John Lennon had on. Gotta plan ahead. Suggestions of what to wear if I go to Winslow, AZ, and find the corner?<br /><br />There used to be a band around here called Tina and the BSIDES. Fun.<br /><br />LENA today, no Ole nor Sven. Susan will be yeah baby for a DEY.<br /><br />OK puz, nothing to RANT about.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13472771560280434362018-12-03T14:55:12.497-05:002018-12-03T14:55:12.497-05:00More or less a workmanlike Monday puzzle. Easy, b...More or less a workmanlike Monday puzzle. Easy, but cute. For 19A I started to write in PENGUIN, but saw it wouldn't work, and then remembered the even cuter PUFFIN. In my mind I always "see" a PUFFIN with several little fish hanging from its beak. Never heard of PANDA EXPRESS, but easy enough to get. <br /><br />Out here on the West (wet) coast we have tons of SKUNK CABBAGE, a faint whiff of which smells somewhat of marijuana to me. A full blast however is very SKUNKLIKE. <br /><br />A couple days ago we had a reference to the Lethe - today; STYX. Can't wait to see Acheron, Phlegethon, and COCYTUS. I'm all over it/them. I do wonder though, are there rivers in Heaven, however you believe that to be.<br /><br />I also can't wait for the next Republican rally cry: Trumpu AKBAR.rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47345560224771465522018-12-03T12:02:25.995-05:002018-12-03T12:02:25.995-05:00Warning: diatribe delivery imminent.
I could not ...Warning: diatribe delivery imminent.<br /><br />I could not comment yesterday, because ONCE YET AGAIN, the (insert string of symbols) person whose job it is to align the syndication link FELL ASLEEP, and it was a Sunday--AND a month-jumper. Thus I had to put the date in the search. However, some internal (infernal?) glitch insisted on returning me to the current date. Not that I had that much to say; the whole thing was 62-down*; but I still resent not even having the chance to say it. This guy has fumbled so often he's like the Raiders. Time to cut him from the squad.<br /><br />And now for today's 33-down. The grid was CLEAN???? ACADS, a totally absurd abbrev.? GAI, a syllable plucked out of the middle of a foreign dish? KOD not KOED or KAYOED? AAHS/AAS together? And those S-crutches: ASSESS ESSEN POSSE? Couldn't we at least TOSS one of those? I've surely seen worse, but you can hardly call this grid "clean."<br /><br />For the good part, I learned what a PUFFIN is, though I was expecting a much-better-known PENGUIN Press for the publisher and not for a laborious nickname for a Tuxedo, which is easier and more fun to say. Danny DeVito wore a PENGUINSUIT in the Batman movie. I agree that having to repeat the B/W phrase in each themed clue seems laborious (is there a second theme here?), but no biggie to me. It was easy to solve and did contain some longer fill UPTURN, along with a stage crowded with DOD contestants. First impressions count: LENA Horne wins it today. By way of an apology for being so TESTY, I give this one a par.<br /><br />*MEH spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83638926216027265162018-12-03T11:52:45.117-05:002018-12-03T11:52:45.117-05:00No qualms about this one. It was fine for a Monday...No qualms about this one. It was fine for a Monday. Yes a clever reveal would have elevated it a bit, but that's being picky. I got held up a little in the NE corner, but the rest was smooth sailing.thefogmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870509029973778266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11080725744498526112018-12-03T10:17:49.842-05:002018-12-03T10:17:49.842-05:00ASSESS REMAKE
Oh YES, it’ silk STOCKINGs and lip...ASSESS REMAKE <br /><br />Oh YES, it’ silk STOCKINGs and lipstick GLOSSY – <br />ELEMENTS that take an INEPT COUGAR far,<br />unless she RELIES on a SOBER POSSE<br />who are ABEL to GRAB guys at a DISCO BAR.<br /><br />--- ALICE OSTER<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59392621754108540492018-10-29T23:58:45.485-04:002018-10-29T23:58:45.485-04:00@Joel - Oh, I get it. Trademark protection is one ...@Joel - Oh, I get it. Trademark protection is one of the few areas that will turn a tight community like craft brewers into a room of middle schoolers. I understand the legal basis and the rationales for aggressively defending trademarks. I also know the meaning of pyrrhic victory. I’ve owned hundreds, maybe even more than a thousand, of 175 gram discs in my life. The last time one was a frisbee was 1983. Multiple that by hundreds of thousands of players in the US alone and then make a compelling case that protecting their trademark was worth it. Granted, flying discs are one small element of Wham-O’s product line. But that’s a lot of cash flow that went to my buddies in Wixom, MI instead. BTW, I don’t use Band-Aids or Kleenexes either. Both strike me as inferior products that are as or more expensive than better brands. Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22546209494399035412018-10-29T22:29:22.924-04:002018-10-29T22:29:22.924-04:00Gee, @Hungry Mother -- You're the last person ...Gee, @Hungry Mother -- You're the last person I would think of as needing a pacemaker, you seem to be such an incredible jock and dedicated runners have to be in such good shape. I really hope you won't need it and that this is a false alarm.. <br /><br />It does make me think, though, of the famous words of Mark Twain. Castigated by his friends for never exercising, Twain responded vociferously: "You're wrong. I get plenty of exercise!"<br /><br />"We've known you for years," they said. "You <i>don't</i> exercise! Exactly what exercise do you claim to do?"<br /><br />Said Twain: "I get exercise serving as pallbearer at the funerals of all of my friends who exercise." <br /><br />I hope this little Mark Twain joke will cheer you up, @Hungry Mother, and I wish you the best of luck tomorrow.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16737377749030219974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87093946636112585842018-10-29T20:23:40.830-04:002018-10-29T20:23:40.830-04:00This was puzzle #1 at the Pleasantville tournament...This was puzzle #1 at the Pleasantville tournament on 10/19; I have to admit, PUFFIN BOOTS looked so plausible at first, and I never thought to actually read the clue (oops) the lesson, if any: watch your crossingsGRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10366091377966649482018-10-29T17:59:22.244-04:002018-10-29T17:59:22.244-04:00@roo monster: maybe, they’re giving me a stress te...@roo monster: maybe, they’re giving me a stress test in the morning to decide whether I need a pacemaker.Hungry Motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13465905817770134952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3349884558897420462018-10-29T17:26:07.725-04:002018-10-29T17:26:07.725-04:00@Hungry Mother
Maybe because you run so much, your...@Hungry Mother<br />Maybe because you run so much, your pulse (heart) doesn't know what to do at rest. Har. Just a completely uninformed opinion. :-)<br /><br />@Barbara from YesterPuz<br />Throwing out all the good vibes your way. I'm glad we as a group can lift your spirits. Although, some of us can be insufferable. ( Including myself in that!) 😀<br /><br />RooMonsterRooMonsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14103892151115549684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37538184770073336592018-10-29T17:19:22.496-04:002018-10-29T17:19:22.496-04:00Liked all the black and white answers, especially ...Liked all the black and white answers, especially puffins.<br /><br />Also, Red Sox.pabloinnhnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31366575346063770512018-10-29T17:00:13.660-04:002018-10-29T17:00:13.660-04:00In the hospital for a low pulse, and this bit of f...In the hospital for a low pulse, and this bit of fun didn’t raise it. Hit 25 last night and freaked out the staff.Hungry Motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13465905817770134952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78285882944715821502018-10-29T15:36:30.205-04:002018-10-29T15:36:30.205-04:00I'm amazed at the number of people here who...I'm amazed at the number of people here who've been close enough to an Islamic Jihadist actually in the act of committing an atrocity to actually them say "Allahu Akbar". That they survived the atrocity is a miracle, thanks be to God. Oh, wait, I'm hearing someone say they only heard it on an episode of NCIS LA and once in that Claire Danes series. Still, must be true, no?<br /><br />Muslims say Allahu Akbar hundreds of times every day - in prayer, in casual conversation. You may as well be offended when someone says god bless you when someone sneezes, says amen to that when in agreement, you overhear someone saying grace.<br /><br />If you took "Muslim cry" to mean a cry when committing an atrocity, then shame on you for reading something into an innocent statement. On further review, maybe not, maybe that's the direct interpretation of the clue. In which case Will should be fired. Immediately.Petenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48278595249622605952018-10-29T15:19:19.470-04:002018-10-29T15:19:19.470-04:00There was a Gaffney meta similar to this. The answ...There was a Gaffney meta similar to this. The answer was Panda Express and it included Penguin Books. Also had drunkasaskunk, icestationzebra and orcanominees.Bretnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68313484478798808392018-10-29T14:33:59.397-04:002018-10-29T14:33:59.397-04:00@Kevin- as RP indicates regularly, "don't...@Kevin- as RP indicates regularly, "don't read the whole clue" - while I don't endorse his approach or attitude, on easy puzzles / puzzles where you're in sync with the constructor/editing team - it saves you a whole bunch of time NOT to read the actual clue, but just go ahead and type what fill makes you happy.<br /><br />What is the result? You can solve in record time. What is the corollary? You will not enjoy the process nor the puzzle nor the editing team's hard work.<br /><br />Grasshopper, choose wisely.<br /><br />PS (*&#@$%^%U)(* Captcha BSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25879986012877837312018-10-29T14:19:14.594-04:002018-10-29T14:19:14.594-04:00A question: how do people routinely finish with su...A question: how do people routinely finish with sub-4:00 times on Monday and Tuesday? I can get pretty much every answer without flinching on these days, and today I clocked in at 4:07. Rex says his 3:20 time is "on the slow side." <br />I don't see how you can get much faster, just given the time it takes to read the clues and enter the answers.<br /><br />Is there a particular technique to apply once you've hit the point at which you know all the answers and just need to get your time down? What do you do?Kevinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68878875991831419102018-10-29T14:16:20.740-04:002018-10-29T14:16:20.740-04:00I thought TNT is dynamite. Not like dynamite. I thought TNT is dynamite. Not like dynamite. Charleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34564020077403757022018-10-29T14:09:01.411-04:002018-10-29T14:09:01.411-04:00The solution to Rex's problem would be to chan...The solution to Rex's problem would be to change 38 across to: "Classic Scotch Brand, or hint to the theme clues at 19, 25, 54 and 62 across." BLACKANDWHITE would fit in the 13 squares of 38 Across, however we'd loose ZERBRACROSSING which is the most delightful answer of the bunch. or So I think the construction was adequate for the less picky solvers.<br /><br />Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06237769422347289261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89105859448641799552018-10-29T13:55:50.062-04:002018-10-29T13:55:50.062-04:00Flew through this one at 2:54, and never really ev...Flew through this one at 2:54, and never really even figured out the theme. Just inferred the long answers from the crosses.<br /><br />Light, airy, and breezy...perfect for a slow Monday morning back at work after a long weekend of fun.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43633672399048807352018-10-29T13:27:51.648-04:002018-10-29T13:27:51.648-04:00What else would you call "Alluha Akbar"?...What else would you call "Alluha Akbar"? Jihadists yell it as they maim and kill people. It's pretty straightforward. Let's be offended by the violence that accompanies the cry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85432302152452022052018-10-29T13:02:56.520-04:002018-10-29T13:02:56.520-04:00Rember the New Yorker puzzle is out today.Rember the New Yorker puzzle is out today.Certainly not Amelianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53854181946690565152018-10-29T12:30:25.327-04:002018-10-29T12:30:25.327-04:00I liked this light-hearted animal-rich puzzle, wit...I liked this light-hearted animal-rich puzzle, with the theme creatures joined by an ASP, a COUGAR, a BOA, a partial MAHI MAHI, and some NAGS (nice cross with ASTRIDE). Very easy, with the final PENGUIN requiring the needed touch of resistance.Carolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971759975067250908noreply@blogger.com