tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3445957157416284629..comments2024-03-29T08:14:36.950-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Ninotchka setting / FRI 9-26-14 / Brewer of Schlitz nowadays / Fad dance of 1930s / Asian tourist magnet / Like Tik-Tok in Land of Oz / Philosopher who wrote superstition is religion of feeble minds / Banned items at WimbledonRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53234203488253406272014-10-31T16:33:34.773-04:002014-10-31T16:33:34.773-04:00thanks @Diri - and true!
http://www.imdb.com/titl...thanks @Diri - and true!<br /><br />http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0508112/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm<br /><br />510 - all trick, no treatrondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41375416002125685982014-10-31T16:16:40.000-04:002014-10-31T16:16:40.000-04:00I got my foothold at the bottom of the grid (with ...I got my foothold at the bottom of the grid (with a big assist from the Kingsmen's hit song) and so built the grid from the ground up, marveling along the way how each piece fit seamlessly into the next - marvelous architecture! The only casualties among my first guesses were GImlet/GIBSON and lottONIGHT giving way to BINGO.<br /><br />@rondo - great Halloween story - spooky!<br /><br />11212 - an efficient way to reach a tie?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61507227012410534692014-10-31T15:18:11.659-04:002014-10-31T15:18:11.659-04:00No need to gild the lily here. A fine puzzle, obv...No need to gild the lily here. A fine puzzle, obviously, with nary a squinting entry. The NW, NE, and SW went quickly, but getting BINGONIGHT and SLEEPERHIT took a little agonizing--yes *this* night; yes, a late-blooming movie. Once I got those the rest was pretty easy. And fun. And very well executed.<br /><br />@Spacey - I always wonder about partials. I think they are parts of a phrase, usually clued with a blank. To me, GET TO, is a synonym of "reach", ie, not a partial, and anyway, partials don't really bother me if they are in the language.<br /><br />10969 7, I believe, and maybe a winner.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3318418064130518332014-10-31T14:45:44.342-04:002014-10-31T14:45:44.342-04:00Ambev for 1 down. So proud, so wrong.Ambev for 1 down. So proud, so wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30501746645312096042014-10-31T14:04:37.857-04:002014-10-31T14:04:37.857-04:00Starting from my first "given", NTH, wit...Starting from my first "given", NTH, with much appreciated assistance from the "ing" partials, I managed to work out the unknowns and clever cluing to finish. This kind of puzzle is what makes solving fun and rewarding. My final letter was the M in OMAN. So many four letter possibilities, Iran, Iraq, Oran, Oman. Finally deduced the un-remembered Oz character must be ROBOTIC. Aha, starts with an O, and the cross then is COALMINE! Hey, I did it. On the other hand,<br /><br />3503 makes @Ron Diego's paltry 4 a winner. At least so far!DMGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13453504295854022702014-10-31T12:15:16.046-04:002014-10-31T12:15:16.046-04:00Easy, breezy puzzle and fun, fun, fun for a Friday...Easy, breezy puzzle and fun, fun, fun for a Friday change. You have to agree that Patrick Berry is the "BERRIES." Look that one up you young whippersnappers.<br />I was at first confused with 1D, thinking it was InBev which is the biggest brewer in the world, headquartered in Belgium. It's nice to know the U.S. still has many fine breweries.<br /><br />So bottoms up to everyone from Sunny San Diego.<br /><br />Ron Diego, La Mesa 229=4Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32355410578955164542014-10-31T11:58:34.061-04:002014-10-31T11:58:34.061-04:00I wondered if OFL was going to say something about...I wondered if OFL was going to say something about all the INGs--and he did, but despite those and the partial GETTO he declares this grid the "ideal." Is it? Let me quote Johnny Hooker: "You were right: it's not enough. Buut it's close!" [grinning broadly] Closer than most get, for sure.<br /><br />I finished this; I always do with PBs, but I didn't think I was going to. After my first run-through I had not the INGs, but the -STs. Looking at CEST, NEST and BUST. Finally took a STAB in the NE with SAAB, had to replace Nap with NOD, and was off.<br /><br />CompletING the center and bottom with the iconic LOUIELOUIE (that FBI story makes me laugh, as it did then--those yokels had no more idea than anybody else WHAT was being sung), I came to the NW. This gave me pause.<br /><br />23a seemed to want to be WISDOM, but I thought at first the quote didn't make sense. Then I realized he meant a "sadder but" type of WISDOM. And I resisted GETTO because, well, it's a Berry, what's a partial doing in here? But then another ING (E) came to the rescue and I polished 'er off with BINGONIGHT.<br /><br />The biggest roadblock was sussing "Post office" as "the office of the [Washington, e.g.] Post" and not our friends at the USPS. That's my nominee for Tough Clue of the Week.<br /><br />Oh, A. Can there be any other grade?<br /><br />Wow, only 8 captchas to the first legible one. Hey, maybe I can use that as MY number!spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16459708905950128682014-10-31T11:27:52.986-04:002014-10-31T11:27:52.986-04:00comrades - sorrycomrades - sorryrondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61283668174984190552014-10-31T10:44:42.884-04:002014-10-31T10:44:42.884-04:00A note to all of my syndi-land comraes - last nigh...A note to all of my syndi-land comraes - last night I had an amazing Baader-Meinhof moment regarding clues and answers from earlier this week. For the first time in AEONS, I didn't retire before the weeest of hour of ONEAM on a "school" night. I was up late and the Halloween marathon of Hitchcock Presents began - hard to resist, no? Just as the weeest of hours passed, an episde from c. 1956 came on - main star? Everett SLOANE!! But half-way through, the local sherriff shows up at the monestary, and who is it? Claude AKINS - recognized his voice before his face was shown. If this isn't Bader-Meinhof, I don't know what is - and on Halloween!<br /><br />As for today's puz, mostly zipped through it with a little slow down in the north-central and a write-over cReeeK for BROOK. Felt almost ROBOTIC. This puz was fun and the way I hope to see them.<br /><br />Those squiggly words keep me from playing - maybe I'll GETTO next time.rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91185003628507237552014-09-27T18:47:10.109-04:002014-09-27T18:47:10.109-04:00@atlantasolver - I only did $20 because I didn'...@atlantasolver - I only did $20 because I didn't do my usual $10 last year.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43670239441795046232014-09-27T17:52:28.236-04:002014-09-27T17:52:28.236-04:00I also sent in $100 -- the best value I can think ...I also sent in $100 -- the best value I can think of, as this site easily doubles the pleasure of every puzzle.Atlantasolvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71186951193829194932014-09-27T16:51:26.363-04:002014-09-27T16:51:26.363-04:00Happy anniversary rex and spouse!!! Today is our t...Happy anniversary rex and spouse!!! Today is our twenty eighthDonkosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29383822742790895282014-09-26T22:17:33.187-04:002014-09-26T22:17:33.187-04:00Agree, agree, agree. Solid clues and answers and ...Agree, agree, agree. Solid clues and answers and no crossing of B list pop figures with unknown rappers and no nonsense with miserable ? clues which lead to nonsense answers like aeiou If yesterday was one of the worst puzzles ever today's was excellent.anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04653839074645843721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24631684668210218952014-09-26T20:34:04.897-04:002014-09-26T20:34:04.897-04:00The shag is South Carolina's official state da...The shag is South Carolina's official state dance. My husband and I did the shag as teenagers in the '60s. Loved seeing it in the grid today.bookmarknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48336135423132928822014-09-26T20:33:08.385-04:002014-09-26T20:33:08.385-04:00A putz posting as AliassZ feels that's differe...A putz posting as AliassZ feels that's different than posting as anonymous? That's rich.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85167914003199375842014-09-26T19:51:25.037-04:002014-09-26T19:51:25.037-04:00Agree with all who said re: Barany and links: let ...Agree with all who said re: Barany and links: let a hundred flowers bloom. <br /><br />A fun book by the great rock critic Dave Marsh, Louie Louie: The History and Mythology of the World's Most Famous Rock 'n' Roll Song; Including the Full details of Its Torture and Persecution at the Hands of the Kingsmen, J. Edgar Hoover's FBI, and a Cast of Millions; and Introducing for the First Time Anywhere, the Actual Dirty Lyrics.RnRGhost57https://www.blogger.com/profile/05350085528594221641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40706632605252969362014-09-26T19:48:49.404-04:002014-09-26T19:48:49.404-04:00@anon 4:27 Bloviate, I knew I heard that before, ...@anon 4:27 Bloviate, I knew I heard that before, so I looked it up and saw it was a favorite of Warren G. Harding (maybe I heard it on Boardwalk Empire), which then leads to Agnew's "nattering nabobs of negativity". I suppose this shows that even in a pile of dung you might find a diamond.<br /><br />As Z stated, "Speech is free." But only in certain locales. The majority of Asia this is not true. Singapore has free speech if you go to a certain soapbox in the corner of one park near Chinatown, called 'speakers corner' where you can rant and rave all you want except no mention of religion or races.JTHurstnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19622598517352958352014-09-26T19:24:34.994-04:002014-09-26T19:24:34.994-04:00For anyone who remembers, or would like to remembe...For anyone who remembers, or would like to remember <a rel="nofollow">the Carolina SHAG</a>. Great fun for the AGILE.Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82999329232151286472014-09-26T18:33:55.659-04:002014-09-26T18:33:55.659-04:00Solving in beautiful St. Ignace, MI today ahead of...Solving in beautiful St. Ignace, MI today ahead of tomorrow's "Mighty Mac Bridge Race" (soon to be renamed "Z's Folly"). I absolutely flew through the east with SAAB, BOHR, OHARE, LASS, and LOUIE LOUIE all being "might as well be Monday" gimmes. Then a flat out stall. No clue on ------TERANTS, thought maybe hangING AROUND, and hobby HORSES didn't work. The only words I had in the west before taking the ferry to Mackinac Island were C'EST and INKS. Picked up the iPad after returning and got CARPENTER ANTS almost immediately. The only slow down was undoing coors before getting PABST. <br /><br />Looking at the completed grid, wowser. AGRA in the service of ARGONAUTS and AIRHORNS is well worth it. The man does set the bar. <br /><br />Speech is free. Listening is optional. Sometimes someone just wants to ask a question. Sometimes someone doesn't know how to create an account. Sometimes it is @MAS. So I read them all. If, on occasion, the only thought that occurs to me is "I hope s/he takes a long walk off a short pier," well, I never claimed to be perfect. Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18964863275741512732014-09-26T18:33:31.914-04:002014-09-26T18:33:31.914-04:00What the hell is the problem?
I don't know Ge...What the hell is the problem?<br /><br />I don't know George Barany. In fact I don't know anyone here. I very rarely follow links recommended by any poster nor those posted by Rex. But I'm wondering why these links bother anyone.<br /><br />Link away folks. And would those bothered by such please do what I do, don't click on the links. And please stop complaining.Mohair Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502840715719161565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78743418239388166212014-09-26T18:22:28.085-04:002014-09-26T18:22:28.085-04:00Why would anyone here complain about free crosswor...Why would anyone here complain about free crossword puzzles? machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5933505452526609582014-09-26T17:42:32.493-04:002014-09-26T17:42:32.493-04:00It seems that the folks here vary in their underst...It seems that the folks here vary in their understanding of the concept <a href="http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Don't_feed_the_Troll" rel="nofollow">"Don't Feed the Troll"</a>. I believe Rex has understood it from birth, but some others might find it a useful lesson.<br /><br />George Barany is the nicest guy I've never met. He's the sort that sends flowers to people he doesn't know if he hears of a death in the family. His exuberance may strike lesser mortals as evidence of a hidden agenda, but the notion that he spends all the hours when a normal person would sleep preparing crosswords for any reason other than bringing joy is absurd.Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62306627298635984132014-09-26T17:33:02.756-04:002014-09-26T17:33:02.756-04:00I came close to finishing a Friday, but--curses, f...I came close to finishing a Friday, but--curses, foiled again. This time because I simply would not give up on the idea that LOCKE was the answer to 26-D, I could not make any sense out of that area. So close, but out of reach. I know now how Tantalus felt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83321702580420875282014-09-26T16:58:18.801-04:002014-09-26T16:58:18.801-04:00Can't ask for better than the comments of 4:14...Can't ask for better than the comments of 4:14 and 4:15. Notice, if you will, the difference between 'decent' and 'descent'. Sssss....<br /><br />@Gilly, I think if you put the 3 of us together, we'd have a dangerous situation on our hands. We ought to tr it sometime.Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75592643820381188732014-09-26T16:52:22.164-04:002014-09-26T16:52:22.164-04:00I agree with @R.alphBunker's comments regardin...I agree with @R.alphBunker's comments regarding @George Barany. Several weeks ago, I followed the link in George's name to his website. There I discovered a delightful puzzle he had constructed for a baseball fan's birthday. Lots of fun! <br /><br />Interesting comment about using real names: I think this is one of the few sites where I don't use my real name. I think it has to do with Blogger's connection with Google and GMail. That said, using one's real name keeps things more civil (which I try to be anyway). [If anyone's curious, look up the book "A Whack on the Side of thr Head."]<br /><br />Whirred Whacksnoreply@blogger.com