tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3992017807164892392..comments2024-03-28T08:50:03.524-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Director Taika / SUN 6-17-18 / Charlize Theron's role in 2015's "Mad Max" rebootRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87225132141529061512018-06-24T19:59:33.699-04:002018-06-24T19:59:33.699-04:00This was a helluva good Sunday puzzle, theme and a...This was a helluva good Sunday puzzle, theme and all, and I stuck with it because of that through most of afternoon. <br /><br />I was surprised by the HELSINKI clue/answer. I had no idea about the 300 islands, though I should have known better because I have distant, extended family there. Glad to finally have learned that fact!<br /><br />Otherwise, PPPs were obstacles to a clean finish.<br /><br />leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1420233903959739622018-06-24T19:53:53.554-04:002018-06-24T19:53:53.554-04:00Coming in a week late. Just read a Travis McGee n...Coming in a week late. Just read a Travis McGee novel by John MacDonald - <i>Nightmare in Pink</i>. Has the word Rollie in it, unironically.Joe in Newfoundlandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79348416570310310882018-06-24T19:36:25.616-04:002018-06-24T19:36:25.616-04:00To me, "ont" sounds highfalutin', li...To me, "ont" sounds highfalutin', like "coopon" instead of "kyupon" and "car-a-mel" instead of "carmel." People who want to prove they've had higher edge-a-cation and throw it in your face. As for me, I'm down home. My ant gave me a kyupon for carmel candy. Maybe I'm not saying it "right," but you like me better, admit it.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76413222585144706002018-06-24T16:54:47.837-04:002018-06-24T16:54:47.837-04:00I’m with you on the Natick, Diana.
Also, I thoug...I’m with you on the Natick, Diana. <br /><br />Also, I thought the clueing....what’s the nicest possible word for “very poor”.....hmmmm....how about “strained”?<br /><br />Always happy to get the solve, but this was minus much satisfaction, kinda like mowing the grass on a hot day....so glad when you’re done...I even feel like taking a shower. AnonymousPVXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10078186298428497941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53496306124974133792018-06-24T16:05:04.422-04:002018-06-24T16:05:04.422-04:00Yeah yeah easy until you throw a Natick into the m...Yeah yeah easy until you throw a Natick into the middle - BRIN and CLINE did me in, with a few others. Anyone can make an easy puzzle turn hard with a few unknown PPPs. <br /><br />Ant/ont seems to be a regionalism, @Rainy. Surprised it's not Ontie in Canada. We have a bookstore, Aunties, in Spokane - pronounced, most of the time, as "Onties." All of my aunts were ants, however. Like Bee. And Antie Em, who didn't blow away with the house in Kansas. Along with the rest of the Gale gang. <br /><br />Diana, LIWDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58690331166517926032018-06-24T14:22:19.632-04:002018-06-24T14:22:19.632-04:00Perfect Sunday puzzle with the general easiness of...Perfect Sunday puzzle with the general easiness of it compensated by several names I had to grind over. I must have heard of Sergey BRIN, because I "knew" it was an I. That helped.<br /><br />Reading the comments, I realized there was a guest blogger, so I read his post, and *that* should be the poster boy for this blog going forward. Way to go Ollie!<br /><br />Nice theme. Once I got the first one, I wondered whether there was a rebus afoot, or whether the last of the trios went up or down, but once again, Ollie to the rescue. Learned that WYNKEN and BLYNKEN have Y's in their names; Y, I don't know.<br /><br />Why does AUNT cry "Uncle!"? While I'm on that, how do you guys pronounce "aunt"? Growing up among a family of Romanian immigrants I had, like, 15 of them, and they were all pronounced "ants". Lately I've observed people pronouncing "ont". Why the hell is that? It seems very recent and sounds odd to my ear. I'm not going to change, but I'm just wondering about this - maybe too much. A little help here folks.<br />Was Andy Griffith wrong?rainforestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86345895944979316572018-06-24T13:52:45.387-04:002018-06-24T13:52:45.387-04:00OFL is Our Fearless Leader.OFL is Our Fearless Leader.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29344451160184043432018-06-24T12:13:50.329-04:002018-06-24T12:13:50.329-04:00Today's list of NHO's would be exhaustive ...Today's list of NHO's would be exhaustive to print. I despaired of even getting started after the first scan of the clue bank. And yet...though I know nothing of modern "music," and believe me, I mean the quote marks, I can figure out that TOK follows TIK. Whatever. That set up for: SNAPCRACKLE--and I went through the exact same thought progression as out guest blogger. Biggest problem of the whole puzzle was trying to figure out 13-down. Eventually crosses provided POPULAROPINION, but how that squared with "In view" was totally lost on me till coming here. Just a matter of parsing. The "in" view, as in the view held by the "in" crowd. "I'm in with the in crowd, I'm in with the in crowd baby..." That was one mean-ASS clue.<br /><br />Eventually I got 'er done, finishing up in the SW with 100% crosses for that supreme NHO WAITITI. This guy sounds like a baby's pronunciation of a beach in Hawaii. But known??? By whom? NO ONE!<br /><br />Unexpectedly finished, so huge triumph points. I'd pick Charlize Theron for DOD if she wasn't gussied up for that role. Guess I'll second the motion for VANESSA. Birdie.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78306350823794044722018-06-24T11:03:27.297-04:002018-06-24T11:03:27.297-04:00Easy peasy, though that CLINE/BRIN cross could bee...Easy peasy, though that CLINE/BRIN cross could been another Y as far as I'm concerned, but I figured WYNKEN and BLYNKEN had used 'em up in that area. The one inkfest was the Open era/Mri/MIC spot. So, very isolated. Always check crosses for plurals like ULNAE and AURAE.<br /><br />@Ed H. - One might poke holes in a strip of leather (belt) with an AWL, thus Strip pokers = AWLS.<br /><br />ROLLIE might have been better clued as "Fingers closer".<br /><br /><br />I don't think IMALONE in calling VANESSA Hudgens yeah baby.<br /><br /><br />Decent enough, though some might say the themers skew OLD(IE).<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69123008110046022082018-06-24T10:30:57.878-04:002018-06-24T10:30:57.878-04:00OVERT TIDINGS
It's THE POPULAROPINION AND AMO...OVERT TIDINGS<br /><br />It's THE POPULAROPINION AND AMONGST us it SYNCS:<br />WAITITI AND MAMMARYGLANDs don't cause SHRINKYDINKS.<br /><br />--- AUNT VANESSA LYONBurma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8361066875560642392018-06-22T10:09:21.348-04:002018-06-22T10:09:21.348-04:00AWLS? I still don’t get it. AWLS? I still don’t get it. Ed H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02320469395318616772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44771663920403393362018-06-20T11:15:01.290-04:002018-06-20T11:15:01.290-04:00LAST MAN STANDING works even better if you read th...LAST MAN STANDING works even better if you read the last trio properly.Bill Feeneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14749914996804261832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6416872959760985092018-06-18T18:53:20.222-04:002018-06-18T18:53:20.222-04:00I'm glad I'm not the only one who's ne...I'm glad I'm not the only one who's never heard of "shrinkydink." That really held me up as I kept looking at it thinking "this can't be right." Every letter the dropped made me think that something must be wrong. Shrinkydink? WTH.Ray Yuenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06936297211245261885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83445990760211682372018-06-18T13:48:53.684-04:002018-06-18T13:48:53.684-04:00Good puzzle but added a couple minutes by finishin...Good puzzle but added a couple minutes by finishing in the New York Times app -- it didn't like the rebus answers being filled in (like POP in the P square) so I had to recheck everything. I got why that would have been considered incorrect once I reread the helper answer ('last one standing') Andohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05056779768985529290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28841914848103099742018-06-18T09:34:06.376-04:002018-06-18T09:34:06.376-04:00I see “OFL” referenced in this blog often. I don’...I see “OFL” referenced in this blog often. I don’t get it! Will someone enlighten me?M. Cheesenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36312659914821137142018-06-18T01:39:28.771-04:002018-06-18T01:39:28.771-04:00Your unwavering modesty and unmistakable humility ...Your unwavering modesty and unmistakable humility only add to your greatness. Single? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16717081044967062618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8674945426189792992018-06-17T22:21:51.440-04:002018-06-17T22:21:51.440-04:00Thanks @anonymous 2:07 pm That makes a lot of sen...Thanks @anonymous 2:07 pm That makes a lot of sense because my memory of that show was in black and white. If it had been 1969 that would have been in color by that time. Fran still creeps me out - in black /white or color.<br />RJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072471367166257542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83343939414809841352018-06-17T21:00:17.560-04:002018-06-17T21:00:17.560-04:00@Birchbark - The quad is beautiful as ever. The cl...@Birchbark - The quad is beautiful as ever. The class is far more diverse than even 5 years ago when the oldest graduated. Best part of the ceremony was President Gonzalez showing us his true colors under his academic robes. He was just a little excited about today’s World Cup upset. Best part of my day was two texts from the middle child on his way to Cameroon. With a lengthy layover in Newark, he first asked if the airport had any religious spaces where he might do yoga. I let him know that the only quiet spot I saw on the terminal map was for nursing mothers. A little while later I got, “Found a spot, just had to stop caring if several hundred people saw me.” Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35202215179566333082018-06-17T20:02:55.998-04:002018-06-17T20:02:55.998-04:00@Quasi, I was envisioning some of the terrible air...@Quasi, I was envisioning some of the terrible airports I landed in such as in Cusco and Kathmandu, and some rINKY DINK place in Costa Rica a bit north of the Osa Penisula after a hurricane. But I gotta admit that those upstate New York airports can be equally scary. We called the planes that flew out of Ithaca flying sewer pipes and in bad weather they were definitely not fun.<br /><br />Aketihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07059835429995060000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86244823574538172802018-06-17T19:17:06.395-04:002018-06-17T19:17:06.395-04:00“Last man standing” is a common idiom in the Ameri...“Last man standing” is a common idiom in the American vernacular. “Last one standing” was made up for this puzzle. FAIL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39674624915218262652018-06-17T19:13:09.366-04:002018-06-17T19:13:09.366-04:00Terrific review, Ollie. Come back any time!
@loren...Terrific review, Ollie. Come back any time!<br />@loren muse smith: Can I get an order of whatever you were on when you wrote today's wonderful comments? And supersize it, please. ;)newspaperguyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15329198124066157486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46875040716237268682018-06-17T18:51:06.623-04:002018-06-17T18:51:06.623-04:00Ollie gets props for standing in!
I finished in...Ollie gets props for standing in! <br /><br />I finished in record time. Thought this puzzle was too easy for a Sunday. I prefer to struggle and this one came and went like a gentle breeze, for me.<br /><br />Anyone upset with 105A clearly didn't understand the downs. (I had 105A before any of the other titled clues and then 23A was a breeze.)<br /><br />Clues that didn't come immediately were solved by fill that was not frustrating except 94D. NEVER heard that one before. That hung me up for a while.<br /><br />Last weeks puzzle sits waiting for a potential return but this weeks is going to be happily recycled.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7639044459775229762018-06-17T18:27:15.277-04:002018-06-17T18:27:15.277-04:00On the revealer, I think @Lewis had the right idea...On the revealer, I think @Lewis had the right idea -- i.e., that they tried to make it LAST MAN, but couldn't find a male trio to put in place pf P P & M; the constraints from symmetry are pretty tight. So the choice was to keep the less than perfect revealer or scrap the puzzle. I think they chose wisely.<br /><br />I had the same problem as @Aketi and a couple of others with the palindromic POP; I got that one right away, but it took me a long time to figure out what was going on with the others.<br /><br />Sadly, I put in mELD, and then didn't check the cross because it looked like it was done. So DNF.<br /><br />I don't et all the complaints about HELICES. I bet you people write indexes and apexes, too!jberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02169065390875378077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39803343321340150282018-06-17T18:20:46.492-04:002018-06-17T18:20:46.492-04:00I heard a well-crafted, heartbreaking story today ...I heard a well-crafted, heartbreaking story today on NPR. The reporter was Emily Jo Cureton, and wondered if she is <a href="http://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2008/09/rp-interview-1-emily-jo-cureton.html" rel="nofollow">that Emily Jo Cureton</a>. Turns out she is, and apparently paying too much attention to crossword puzzles isn't deleterious.<br /><br />Petenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11173913170182806502018-06-17T18:00:01.833-04:002018-06-17T18:00:01.833-04:00@Mohair -- What a lovely memory of Gilda RADNER. ...@Mohair -- What a lovely memory of Gilda RADNER. Thanks for sharing it. Although it does make the tragedy of her untimely death seem even sadder.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16737377749030219974noreply@blogger.com