tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4111876953037895551..comments2024-03-29T01:22:33.864-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Milkman made famous by Zero Mostel / SUN 5-8-16 / Tricky start to tennis rally / 1982 coming-of-age movie / French suffix that's anagram of 4-Down / Second-largest moon of Uranus / Venetian dignitaries of old / Long-jawed fishesRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57549746604596171002023-06-08T02:06:09.508-04:002023-06-08T02:06:09.508-04:00I very much enjoyed the puzzle theme: it took a li...I very much enjoyed the puzzle theme: it took a little puzzling, and still provided enjoyment for most of the answers -- except that DOGGY WATER BAG is pure green paint. I especially liked WATERWAYS and GOLDWATER.<br /><br />What killed my completion -- and some of the joy -- and the end is the Natick that got so many others. Not only are both OSLIN and DOREN new to me, and "WILE" is simply obsolete in its root form, but ... I filled in HOT WATER LINES for the cross, as HOTLINES are far more common than HOT WIRES in my wheelhouse. As a result, the three other entries were simply in accessible. Is there, perhaps, a Natick Heights for such occurrences?Prunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224476641730508311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32361492608909678612017-08-29T16:58:14.952-04:002017-08-29T16:58:14.952-04:00Order a Sparkling White Smiles Custom Teeth Whiten...Order a <a href="http://teeth-whitening.syntaxlinks.com/r/SparklingWhiteSmiles" rel="nofollow"><b>Sparkling White Smiles</b></a> <b>Custom Teeth Whitening System</b> online and <b>SAVE BIG</b>!<br />* Up to 10 shades whiter in days!<br />* Professional Results Are Guaranteed.<br />* As good as your dentist, for a fraction of the cost.<br />* Same as dentists use.Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07287821785570247118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53581023096567018202016-07-17T12:31:47.271-04:002016-07-17T12:31:47.271-04:00While doing the puzzle (July 17) I too thought of ...While doing the puzzle (July 17) I too thought of HHO when my hubby said "Goin'to put the bush hog on now" Love that you did too!TartanCalfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07327973704932779927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11319946972702235652016-07-17T12:29:15.229-04:002016-07-17T12:29:15.229-04:00While doing the puzzle (July 17) I too thought of ...While doing the puzzle (July 17) I too thought of HHO when my hubby said "Goin'to put the bush hog on now" Love that you did too!TartanCalfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07327973704932779927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9140415802866125292016-05-17T03:05:56.455-04:002016-05-17T03:05:56.455-04:00What a piece of cake. Seriously, this was no more ...What a piece of cake. Seriously, this was no more challenging than any other Sunday NYT puzzle. The only difference for me is that I was able to correctly guess all the tough spots. The theme came to me quickly and 'aawaayyy we go!'.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05964501472593587070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2187159778096632472016-05-17T03:00:58.140-04:002016-05-17T03:00:58.140-04:00Got the theme early. Had to make a few guesses but...Got the theme early. Had to make a few guesses but fortunately they all struck gold. No mistakes. Hardly would classify this as medium/challenging. At least on a relative basis, that is.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05964501472593587070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55055366779072914702016-05-16T00:55:19.180-04:002016-05-16T00:55:19.180-04:00I believe I was moderated right out of the comment...I believe I was moderated right out of the commentary, unless I made a silly mistake and failed to click on PUBLISH, which I've done before. Anyway, the gist was a waxingly eloquent paean to the puzzle which I liked, and a comment about OFL not coming clean about what his real world standing is in the pantheon of crossword solvers--somewhere around 59 I think. Shame.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49663428043574643812016-05-16T00:45:28.443-04:002016-05-16T00:45:28.443-04:00One small, late complaint: I have been to many den...One small, late complaint: I have been to many dentists over the years, and not one ever requested that I BITE. The request always was to "bite down."<br /><br />I stuck with "open." [Sigh]leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36037734804256534972016-05-15T22:50:13.055-04:002016-05-15T22:50:13.055-04:00Took me a while to catch on, in part because HHO i...Took me a while to catch on, in part because HHO is not a formula for water. It IS a bogus, but commonly used, notation for a 2:1 mixture of oxyhydrogen gas. <br /><br />The legitimate structural formula for water is HOH. So even when I got the trick, it felt forced, rather than clever.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50989377353573632082016-05-15T21:09:13.142-04:002016-05-15T21:09:13.142-04:00Findied all but the very center....... had HOT[wat...Findied all but the very center....... had HOT[water] but WIRES lost me, and all those crosses were unknown to me.<br /><br />What a slog; what a horrible, horrible rebus. DOGGIE[WATER]BAG? WTHIT?<br /><br />I thought I got it with [WATER]MAIN and MAIN-COURSE, but that theme didn't hold out.<br /><br />CHANGE-YOUR-[WATER] and [WATER]-WAY made no sense other than to stick [WATER] in the middle of a phrase, just like "salt of the earth".<br /><br />didn't finish, didn't careAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24209483101572898502016-05-15T18:29:27.238-04:002016-05-15T18:29:27.238-04:00It's been quite a few years since I attempted ...It's been quite a few years since I attempted to drive a manual shift car. That's how this puzzle felt - got a little ways...stalled out. Repeat. All morning.<br /><br />Knew there had a be a darn rebus somewhere, but where? With those "wacky" answers, my brain just couldn't suss them out. Came to Rex for the answer to "whaz goin' on?" Even then...<br /><br />So good for you, @Spacey! and BTW, bibble is in my OED. But I never heard it. Showed it to Mr. Waiting, and he just laughed and said "made up words!" Still trying to picture a doggy water bag. Thought for sure BS would do something with the second largest moon of Uranus. Talkin' about it just the other day, weren't ya? Nae. Asyla? Worst of the "A"list words. <br /><br />But my kitty is purring today, so I'm smiling.<br /><br />Off to shop for din din, then I'll bibble a little wine.<br /><br />Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for CrosswordsDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43864814317149770412016-05-15T14:58:11.837-04:002016-05-15T14:58:11.837-04:00Completely unenjoyable and a complete waste of tim...Completely unenjoyable and a complete waste of time and effort. If I never see another puzzle of this type it'll be too soon. AnonymousPVXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10078186298428497941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86942555335851695202016-05-15T13:32:35.112-04:002016-05-15T13:32:35.112-04:00Hey, I liked this one, and didn't find it a sl...Hey, I liked this one, and didn't find it a slog although I think medium-challenging is accurate. Got the trick at the first themers crossing, and I might have chuckled. Well, chuckling is not my forte, but you get the idea.<br /><br />I certainly don't remember the previous puzzle referred to, and I really don't care if this one is similar. Because I knew K.T.OSLIN, and TROY, I didn't have the possible natick problems that others did. And of course Steve KROFT was a gimme. Have always loved that show.<br /><br />The theme was well-executed (chuckle worthy), and I thought the fill was in general of high calibre. In a Sunday puzzle, you're gonna get some -ese, but it certainly didn't dominate this one. <br /><br />Didn't much like @Rex's write-up, surprise, and I'm wondering if he is STILL the 9th greatest ---- Where did he finish in the recent ACPT? Or doesn't that count.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57164744455748292252016-05-15T13:22:21.031-04:002016-05-15T13:22:21.031-04:00BTW - I'll be attendng the St. Paul tourney. S...BTW - I'll be attendng the St. Paul tourney. Seems as though we'll be having a bit of a get-together on both Sat and then Sun following. I expect @teedMN will be ready for a drink SUN PM after competition.Probably soon time to think in more detail, at least for Sat.rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39591088424236477052016-05-15T13:16:07.904-04:002016-05-15T13:16:07.904-04:00Huh. So many folks having trouble with this one an...Huh. So many folks having trouble with this one and I “breezed” right through it. GROWTHHORMONE and FISHHOOKS gave it up almost simultaneously. Only ink spots were in REwRiteS. OSLIN a gimme. Van DOREN shoulda been Mamie, but the DOGGYBAG gave it away. Actually surprised how fast I DIDIT.<br /><br />OONA Chaplin is hands down the yeah baby today, WITHHONORS.<br /><br />Sometimes Dad used to have some HIGHOCTANE aviation fuel around for a coupla his “toys” that used airplane engines. Every now and then we’d fill up the push mowers with this HIGHOCTANE fuel, especially if the grass grew long. Those poor little Briggs & Strattons didn’t know what hit ‘em. They just screamed through the yard. Wish he'd had that fuel around when I got old enough to drive.<br /><br />Well, there was some junk mixed in, but as fast as I got done I AINT complainin’ much.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32007609529912078572016-05-15T11:59:16.214-04:002016-05-15T11:59:16.214-04:00SAD HOSER DRANK ANEW
THEHUSTLER made his RUSH,HOU...SAD HOSER DRANK ANEW<br /><br />THEHUSTLER made his RUSH,HOURS<br />AFTER the JEWISHHOLIDAY FAST ended.<br />It AINT WITHHONORS that lush did WOW her,<br />on his SENSELESS INTRO that YAHOO depended.<br /><br />--- TEVYE NADAL<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54251632135761905502016-05-15T11:37:11.890-04:002016-05-15T11:37:11.890-04:00Nothing about this puzzle was anything but full-bo...Nothing about this puzzle was anything but full-bore challenging. There's no "medium-" to it. I struggled with almost every single line. Along with all the listed WOEs, what about "Bibbled?" Non-word! You can't use non-words in clues any more than you can put them in the grid! That's TABOO! So, penalty stroke there.<br /><br />I had the devil's own time trying to figure out the rebus; when it finally hit it seemed a tiny bit anticlimactic: all I had to realize was that the across answers were wacked out by the WATER. Still it was of little help in the line-by-line solve.<br /><br />I was also forever parsing ARIOT...another non-word? Oh, oh: A (space) RIOT. A regular riot, as the fellow in clue #114 would say. Wait a NSEC. The clue reads "Running rampant." They must mean ARIOT. It IS another non-word! That's two strokes. Uh-oh.<br /><br />Can't seem to find a decent DOD this time; never saw ANITA ODAY so she'll have to do. I knew tatamis were floorMATS; unfortunately I wrote in the place instead of the material. All was repaired in the end, though. The triumph factor is considerable, enough to negate at least one of those penalties. Having shrugged away ESTH and ASYLA, I'm going to award a par on this one. Sunday is definitely the new Saturday!spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32298154820143276342016-05-14T23:03:44.527-04:002016-05-14T23:03:44.527-04:00It's Sat evening about 8 pm in Lake Spobegone....It's Sat evening about 8 pm in Lake Spobegone. Just "cheater finished" the Sat. puzzle - too many PPPwoes for my brain to handle today.<br /><br />Wanted to post early to tell all Synders to listen to Prairie Home Companion today if you didn't yesterday. You could hear me bark like a dog and whine like a siren, along with a few thousand other Spokaners. Spokane has 3 NPR channels, so we get PHC on Sat and Sun - you might too. A very funny show today. Mr. Waiting isn't as big a fan as I am, and he thought it was outstanding. Garrison does a crossword in one of the skits - wonder if he'll be at the tourney in St. Paul????<br /><br />AND HEY! The Minn. Tourn. is just around the corner - 4 weeks away. Teedmn is COMPETING (brave lady), and I'll be cheering her on. Rondo says he's coming, and Kathy (Towering Kathy) sez she's thinking, thinking, thinking...<br /><br />So - what are you waiting for? I'm<br /><br />Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for St. PaulDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23999934781189073362016-05-14T14:32:16.226-04:002016-05-14T14:32:16.226-04:00I think "wile" is a legitimate answer ev...I think "wile" is a legitimate answer even though we are more used to seeing it as a plural. Webster-Miriam online dictionary gives it a definition of "guile" so it makes sense as an attribute. I remember the joke about a pound of feathers and a pound of gold which I learned as a youngster. So Troy was an easy answer for me. <br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65838399516103368122016-05-11T02:30:34.926-04:002016-05-11T02:30:34.926-04:00I think he's referring to 51-Across. There is ...I think he's referring to 51-Across. There is a weird thing in that answer where two different names fit, similar to the famous 1996 Election Day puzzle. I had to cheat and look it up, but it's pretty clever.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02381473011583593043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87806066379288084522016-05-10T13:06:57.405-04:002016-05-10T13:06:57.405-04:00I will completely echo Martin Abresch: OLEANNA/NEA...I will completely echo Martin Abresch: OLEANNA/NEALS? TROY/GEHRY? KROFT/ORONO? OSLIN/DOREN? Ugh, ugh, and ugh. I liked the theme okay, but the endless proper name crosses really sucked the fun out of it for me.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18080027831092093115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50291953523577954002016-05-10T12:55:35.983-04:002016-05-10T12:55:35.983-04:00"Make America great again"🇺🇸"Make America great again"🇺🇸Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03444560009477611411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20026302505871191232016-05-09T22:33:37.255-04:002016-05-09T22:33:37.255-04:00@sumlak - the formula is H2O (sorry, Blogger doesn...@sumlak - the formula is H2O (sorry, Blogger doesn't seem to accept the subscript tag), indicating two Hydrogen atoms and one Oxygen atom make up a water molecule.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57228554127527715272016-05-09T18:42:40.732-04:002016-05-09T18:42:40.732-04:00Could someone explain why water is HHO and not HOO...Could someone explain why water is HHO and not HOO?sumlakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10074654937741099625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12430243171428540822016-05-09T10:01:07.079-04:002016-05-09T10:01:07.079-04:00Rex: THANK YOU for the head's up about Erik...Rex: THANK YOU for the head's up about Erik's puzzle, for the subtle hunt to look for...something. It took me a while to find it, but once I did...Wow. That's cold right there. And brilliant.Sethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11705017160747312919noreply@blogger.com