tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3398450623099734746..comments2024-03-28T14:37:12.109-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: WEDNESDAY, Nov. 28, 2007 - Ray FontenotRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68731540336908654692008-01-09T18:46:00.000-05:002008-01-09T18:46:00.000-05:006 weeks out here and my little local paper had the...6 weeks out here and my little local paper had the diagonal clue listed as: DIAGONAL 1 "What you might do eventually to make up for lost time?" Saw it last and even with that help, I found this one to be tough. Gave me a churning stomach there for awhile. Thought " Made rhapsodic" = sent was well explained here. Neat cluing. thanks...<BR/><BR/>- - RobertAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62616764889328995382008-01-09T14:32:00.000-05:002008-01-09T14:32:00.000-05:00Calady says: If you live six weeks out you don't g...Calady says: If you live six weeks out you don't get notepads or applets-whatever they are, so appreciated Rex's exposure of the "hidden" diagonal theme. Maybe I would have seen if I were neater?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58241262744916638462007-11-29T14:29:00.000-05:002007-11-29T14:29:00.000-05:00Re: your Latin skills, "res" is actually the accus...Re: your Latin skills, "res" is actually the accusative plural of the nominative singular "res" - perhaps you're not giving yourself enough credit.Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12486766430744918441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25164196300880819222007-11-29T00:55:00.000-05:002007-11-29T00:55:00.000-05:00(Which is not to say you should ditch Rex and come...(Which is not to say you should ditch Rex and come straight to my blog—just don't lose sight of the fact that this is <I>his</I> baby, and I am not his babymama.)Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9488512679617347802007-11-29T00:50:00.000-05:002007-11-29T00:50:00.000-05:00Technically, nobody should be coming here for my c...Technically, nobody should be coming <I>here</I> for my commentary about puzzles. This is Rex's house, and I have my own crossword blog. I feel like I should be clearing the plates and doing the dishes after Rex prepares such lovely meals. (Though sometimes the meals give a touch of indigestion.)<BR/><BR/>My only problem with Nirvana Unplugged is that in my iTunes library (on my Mac—I'm not one of the iPod people), Nirvana's followed alphabetically by Old Town School of Folk Music, so Bill's favorite song ends and suddenly a kiddie song called "Good Morning" issues from the speakers. It's quite jarring. I've really gotta axe the kid songs. (After Old Town comes Pearl Jam.)Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61490489165742945462007-11-28T22:36:00.000-05:002007-11-28T22:36:00.000-05:00The Zuider Zee in mentioned in a pretty song calle...The Zuider Zee in mentioned in a pretty song called "The Dutchman" that's been recorded by, among others, Steve Goodman and the duo of Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy (all of whom are no longer with us, I realize sadly).<BR/><BR/>My problem with the Nirvana Unplugged CD is the fact that I almost always play "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" to the exclusion of the other (excellent) songs. Don't get me started on this!<BR/><BR/>I thought this puzzle was a hoot. C'mon, how can you not love a puzzle with TERSE in it? And having a diagonal clue was a gas.<BR/><BR/>That said, I don't remember ever seeing WAACS before, although I'm familiar with WACS and WAVES.<BR/><BR/>And for the record, I'm not crazy about Rex/Orange spats, but I'm a pacifistic wimp.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58963816800725470122007-11-28T22:08:00.000-05:002007-11-28T22:08:00.000-05:00rex, orange! Please stop arguing. It is upsetting ...rex, orange! Please stop arguing. It is upsetting the kids!Alex S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07543077687426776863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21472103075313221532007-11-28T21:31:00.000-05:002007-11-28T21:31:00.000-05:00Orange, we call presents that are half or more for...Orange, we call presents that are half or more for ourselves "monkey gifts". It's a long story.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56544636259158674192007-11-28T20:56:00.000-05:002007-11-28T20:56:00.000-05:00No, Doc John, you were not alone. I was Waving ins...No, Doc John, you were not alone. I was Waving instead of Waacing for awhile, until corgi and sneeze came along to blow the Waves out. But that reminded me that I liked the cluing for O'Hare.<BR/><BR/>Also like the fact that Rex's and O's lists of crosswordese have become gimmees for me, and I'm not nearly as bored and exasperated by them as I am happy to fill them in around the things I have yet to commit to memory, or just plain don't know and need to get from crosses. I admit to being annoyed when the same word shows up a few days in a row or in a week. Then, even I can drum up a bit of a snarl. But I hang onto to the occasional snoozer on Friday and Saturday as if it were a lifeboat floating like jetsam (or is it flotsam) in a sea of empty boxes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77246269561370695712007-11-28T20:55:00.000-05:002007-11-28T20:55:00.000-05:00Don't forget the WAAFS. Had ADJUSTABLE for ADAPT...Don't forget the WAAFS. Had ADJUSTABLE for <BR/>ADAPTABLE, before I realized that it didn't fit.<BR/>Love this site.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68171399238007849902007-11-28T20:47:00.000-05:002007-11-28T20:47:00.000-05:00Like many others, I didn't even notice the notepad...Like many others, I didn't even notice the notepad until Rex pointed it out. Thanks Rex!<BR/><BR/>Enjoyed the puzzle, although it was substantially easier than Tuesday's. Don't you find that long thematic puzzles in "natural" speech tend to go faster, once you "get" them - so the whole puzzle goes faster, if not smoother.<BR/><BR/>I am one voting against long, drawn-out Rex-Orange battles. I like both their comments too much to find anything significant in the disagreement over subtle differences.<BR/><BR/>Let's get back to the main reason we are all here - the NYT puzzles and the wonderful commentary from both Rex and Orange.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76424282901013774252007-11-28T20:29:00.000-05:002007-11-28T20:29:00.000-05:00John Lahr, the critic, is the son of Bert Lahr.Joh...John Lahr, the critic, is the son of Bert Lahr.<BR/><BR/>John Kerr is the actor from Tea & Sympathy who co-starred with Deborah Kerr (no relation).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74262082699959527392007-11-28T19:33:00.000-05:002007-11-28T19:33:00.000-05:00Was anyone else bothered by the appearance of AAH,...Was anyone else bothered by the appearance of AAH, OHME, and UHOH? I think one gutteral utterance is more than enough for a puzzle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51844767591548159592007-11-28T19:18:00.000-05:002007-11-28T19:18:00.000-05:00If musician Brian Eno directed his creativity at w...If musician Brian Eno directed his creativity at wine-making and produced wines under the "Brian Oeno" label, I must say I'd have to sample them.<BR/><BR/>Korova, I've already ordered the Nirvana DVD for my husband for Christmas. The best sort of present—one that's half for me, too!Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21042677345853496822007-11-28T18:39:00.000-05:002007-11-28T18:39:00.000-05:00Was I the only one to go with WAVES instead of WAA...Was I the only one to go with WAVES instead of WAACS?<BR/>Quickly wrote in GETAMAP instead of BUYAMAP.<BR/>Another non-pristine day :(<BR/>Also, didn't notice the diagonal until I read it here- thanks, Rex!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87242051685418430692007-11-28T18:06:00.000-05:002007-11-28T18:06:00.000-05:00This puzzle struck me as sort of drab. And I was ...This puzzle struck me as sort of drab. And I was slightly perturbed to have my nice string of pristine puzzles thrown off by having to over-write the K in KIAS. On second thought, though, it did have some color.<BR/><BR/>Minor annoyance of the day was the contrast between Garrulous and TERSE. Of course, these two are leaning towards opposite ends of the talkativeness spectrum, but since there are so many words in this category, I would have preferred a more apt match. LACONIC would have been the best choice for the answer, but since TERSE fit the space, the flip side in the Clue could have been more elaborately embroidered by the mere Wordy.<BR/><BR/>I was surprised by AHAB, figuring that answer was going to be OMOO. It's been so long since I read Omoo or Typee, I can't remember which it was, or whether either was a Mariner. There was a puzzle recently where QUEEQUEGG was in the running until HARPOONER appeared as the correct answer. Moby Dick could be the basis for a rich theme for constructors, I imagine.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12239507068117370462007-11-28T17:28:00.000-05:002007-11-28T17:28:00.000-05:00hi Orange - i do like the rex/orange spatsChef bea...hi Orange - i do like the rex/orange spats<BR/>Chef beaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35515093459238907112007-11-28T17:25:00.000-05:002007-11-28T17:25:00.000-05:00Aaron, I'm trying to find a generous way to say 'y...Aaron, <BR/><BR/>I'm trying to find a generous way to say 'you are high.' :)<BR/><BR/>I went out of my way to acknowledge Ms. Bowling's good humor and decency. Any hostility you sense, I assure you, is entirely ironic and self-mocking. <BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42761364520748245212007-11-28T16:39:00.000-05:002007-11-28T16:39:00.000-05:00This was a good theme, and diagonal answers always...This was a good theme, and diagonal answers always impress me.<BR/><BR/>Rex, you will not let up with Ms. Bowling! She takes your criticism like a champ, and still you rub it in. I fear the day of my own NYT debut.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03345623954861334689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40430229742388552832007-11-28T16:36:00.000-05:002007-11-28T16:36:00.000-05:00Lions, and tigers, and bears! Oh, me! That's why O...Lions, and tigers, and bears! Oh, me! <BR/>That's why OH MY is preferred.<BR/><BR/>Notes on a Cowardly Lion by John Lahr is a great read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79843688094493349792007-11-28T15:33:00.000-05:002007-11-28T15:33:00.000-05:00Loved this one, except the nagging feeling that t...Loved this one, except the nagging feeling that the theme clues weren't well 'connected'. Would have liked it better with something like:<BR/>Diag: Step 1 when late.<BR/>22A Step 2 (see notepad)<BR/>39A Step 3<BR/>55A Step 4<BR/><BR/>and if only there had been an answer ASK (3D almost works) the clue could have been "Woman's alternative to 22A, 39A, and 55A)".<BR/><BR/>Rex, perhaps the the WHOLE HOG / TROOPERS (Smokies) connection is you like your ham smoked?<BR/><BR/>rafaelthatmf: Welcome to the 1st church of Rex, you are not alone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6313934822195041642007-11-28T15:27:00.000-05:002007-11-28T15:27:00.000-05:00I was gyring and gimbling in New England for awhil...I was gyring and gimbling in New England for awhile, thinking geographically about the Kias, certain that sent was sang, and having jumpshot for killshot. Went all the way around and back to the NE, erased it all and started again, getting idle and lien and finally seeing the rest. I really liked the addition of the diagonal clue, though I had taketheelevator and thought I was so clever until getting to the theme answers and the southern fill and finding shortcut.<BR/><BR/>Thought the puzzle 'twas brillig and chortled in my joy at finishing it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47856380107484071112007-11-28T15:09:00.000-05:002007-11-28T15:09:00.000-05:00despite being able to write in "TAKE THE SHORT CUT...despite being able to write in "TAKE THE SHORT CUT" without even reading the clues or the notepad (just a lucky guess. . . quite proud of myself), i thought WAACS and CORGI was an unfair crossing for a wednesday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40044515836816228162007-11-28T14:37:00.000-05:002007-11-28T14:37:00.000-05:00Orange,Thanks for the explanation of "SENT." A ge...Orange,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the explanation of "SENT." A generational thing. And I'm glad to hear that I wasn't alone in questioning "OH ME." I too love Nirvana's performance of that song. The DVD of Nirvana "Unplugged" has just come out, by the way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82577537242230045042007-11-28T13:58:00.000-05:002007-11-28T13:58:00.000-05:00Like Jim in Chicago, I "got the map" from the getg...Like Jim in Chicago, I "got the map" from the getgo where I should have "gotten lost" instead. So although I saw the notepad before I even started solving, and had filled enough in to bag TAKE THE SHORT___, I didn't realize that 22/39/55A were all going to be related to one another, much less to the diagonal answer, because the latter two have question marks and the other doesn't. <BR/><BR/>And I had BOY something at 55 because I thought it was Oh Oh not UH OH. Well, I got there in the end, except for the NE, which suffered because of the wrong GET A MAP answer there. I forgot about the Kia models, know zippo about volleyball and couldn't figure out what adult beverage ended in A. <BR/><BR/>Overall, thought the puzzle TWAS brillig.wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06899889818724088564noreply@blogger.com