tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4864166468314045825..comments2024-03-28T12:14:34.190-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Late Soviet diplomat Dobrynin / THU 12-9-10 / Kantian concern / Hillbillies put-down / Literally way of gods / 1975 Southern rock hitRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14439430129904076042011-01-14T01:30:46.870-05:002011-01-14T01:30:46.870-05:00@Jay- I'm a fellow Spokanite here also. You...@Jay- I'm a fellow Spokanite here also. You're definitely not the only who posts from syndication-land. <br /><br />Got stuck on "welcome mat" for "screen door". Worked out of it quickly enough and overall really liked the puzzle today.<br />TerryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66810566156220039812011-01-13T20:50:32.234-05:002011-01-13T20:50:32.234-05:00@clansman I solve the Oregonian daily and NYT synd...@clansman I solve the Oregonian daily and NYT syndicated too! I live in Portland. The only thing that irks me is that occasionally they print the NYT in the middle of the page, instead of a corner! I don't care which corner, but it must be in a corner! I called once and for 6 months (I counted) they always got it right.Randy Chongnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1976295278784356432011-01-13T20:46:40.845-05:002011-01-13T20:46:40.845-05:00Last Anonymous -- see Noam, just seven comments ab...Last Anonymous -- see Noam, just seven comments above yours.Randy Chongnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85960124118362304772011-01-13T20:10:24.034-05:002011-01-13T20:10:24.034-05:002 shorts: anonymous @ 1:19pm. Yes I had BOOBS 1st....2 shorts: anonymous @ 1:19pm. Yes I had BOOBS 1st.<br />re: left handed. I learned early in life to tilt my paper to the opposite side & use a slight backhand so I'm not hooked over the whole puzzle with my hand. I was lucky in that my education started just after they stopped forcing "us" to write right-handed(think mid 1950's).clansman9448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51504379228059888282011-01-13T19:59:41.817-05:002011-01-13T19:59:41.817-05:00Tough one today. I think a combo of the multiple S...Tough one today. I think a combo of the multiple SMOKE/FIRE crosses, the other long compound words & the couple of "split" clues added up to make my life difficult. Actually not complaining, though. Liked the puzzle overall.<br /> I solve all my puzzles on paper. The only one on my computer(offline)is in Hoyle Word Games & I don't like it, so I stick with both the Oregonian's Daily & NYT Syndicated. <br /> I am left-handed & it doesn't seem to be a problem as I am constantly using the pen as a pointer between clue & answer, moving back & forth. Usually do the local in under 10 minutes, but NYT has gone from 10 minutes to over an hour, to Cheat, to Give Up Anyway.<br /> Before anyone even tries to get me involved in the WHITETRASH discussion, please note that my username is clansman9448 with a "c", as in bagpipes & tartan kilts. I am sad to admit, unfortunately, that the "k" spelling came from the same ethnic/historic roots as my own.clansman9448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30310701271360518972011-01-13T13:19:19.289-05:002011-01-13T13:19:19.289-05:00Am really the only one who, not remember which com...Am really the only one who, not remember which company Verizon bought, had 'boobs' instead of 'bombs'?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11553984006156822762011-01-13T10:49:28.641-05:002011-01-13T10:49:28.641-05:00Just a note to say love the blog & always lear...Just a note to say love the blog & always learn from it. Did see your 'reminder' a few days (+ 5 weeks ago) and will re-visit Pay Pal.<br />Sometimes wish that on blogs, like Facebook, one could 'hide' certain bloggers...with really only one anon/john in mind. Mostly everything/ everyone else is great.<br />Thanks again for the blog.<br />Laura O.lodsfnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29548920646338016022010-12-10T05:36:14.122-05:002010-12-10T05:36:14.122-05:00Crossing Freebird and White Trash: inspired! Heck...Crossing Freebird and White Trash: inspired! Heck, the whole puzzle was inspired. Just awesome. (And for the record, while I am probably about as far from a hillbilly as it is possible to be as a Bostonian-Angeleno mix, I loved Freebird in high school, and it still gives me goosebumps when I hear the opening bars).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78271924903251583692010-12-10T03:14:03.398-05:002010-12-10T03:14:03.398-05:00I checked out USC's contribution to Fleetwood...I checked out USC's contribution to Fleetwood Mac's TUSK, a blast from the past, while I was finishing this one. NASDAQ: inspired!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45247681336764756212010-12-09T23:41:44.574-05:002010-12-09T23:41:44.574-05:00I live way out in Spokane, WA and always turn to R...I live way out in Spokane, WA and always turn to Rex when I give up on the puzzle. I also love everyone's comments. My problem is that our local paper publishes the NYT puzzle a month behind (!!) (I suppose it's cheaper for them), so I'm forced to look at the archives for my answers. Sadly, I don't leave my own comments, since who's gonna read comments relating to a puzzle from last month?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06286172971476510155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74999032184533726972010-12-09T23:08:38.159-05:002010-12-09T23:08:38.159-05:00I've kind of given up on evangelizing the Puzz...I've kind of given up on evangelizing the Puzzle to anyone, but this one could revive the practice.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70228760255324340892010-12-09T22:49:58.172-05:002010-12-09T22:49:58.172-05:003 comment limit.3 comment limit.Rex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19421234025870543372010-12-09T22:09:55.682-05:002010-12-09T22:09:55.682-05:00Impressive puzzle, even if one must stretch a bit ...Impressive puzzle, even if one must stretch a bit to get six 58D:SMOKE/71A:FIRE pairs. Not sure how easy it was because I solved it in bits and pieces in an airport. Turns out I had one mistake, BOOBS for 32D:BOMBS (figured OCI was some company I didn't recognize).<br /><br />Drafts? Feh. It clearly wasn't beer. So I put in FLOURS. Not. Nor GRAINS, which made less sense but fits ?RA??S. Eventually figured out what kind of Miller we were dealing with.<br /><br />All this back-and-forth re 34D:WHITE_TRASH, and nothing about this use of "Madam" in the clue for 32A:BAWD, or indeed the word itself? The related "bawdy" is one thing, but I'd have though "bawd" itself would be beyond the pale. Wrong again, though: it's appeared nine times, usually clued "Madam" but also "House keeper?" (E.C.Gorski '02) and "Shady lady" and "Floozy" (both Christopher Page, '97 and '94). Even PIMP has been seen once, on a Sunday 1D at that (E.C.Gorski again, 2000).<br /><br />Since nobody else here is channeling the other Will S.:<br /><br /><em>Romeo & Juliet</em> IV 1:<br /><br />NURSE: if you be he, sir, I desire some confidence<br />with you.<br /><br />BENVOLIO<br />She will indite him to some supper.<br /><br />MERCUTIO<br />A bawd, a bawd, a bawd! so ho!<br /><br />[NB not the modern slang usage of "ho"...]<br /><br /><em>Measure for Measure</em> II 1:<br /><br />ESCALUS [...]<br />Come you hither to me, Master tapster. What's your name, Master tapster?<br /><br />POMPEY Pompey.<br /><br />ESCALUS What else?<br /><br />POMPEY Bum, sir.<br /><br />ESCALUS. Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you; <br />so that in the beastliest sense you are Pompey the <br />Great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey, <br />howsoever you colour it in being a tapster, are you<br />not? [...]<br /><br /><br />NDE P.S. One of these days I want to hear somebody at the Symphony call out "play <em>Firebird!</em>" :-)Noam D. Elkiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85601667233865637672010-12-09T21:37:28.574-05:002010-12-09T21:37:28.574-05:00Here, here. The whole point is that... "whit...Here, here. The whole point is that... "white trash" doesn't belong in the NYT.<br /><br /><br />- W.T.M.D. from Northeast OhioAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56424940881487627672010-12-09T21:21:45.923-05:002010-12-09T21:21:45.923-05:00Rex’s comment reminds me of a scene from one of my...Rex’s comment reminds me of a scene from one of my favorite Clint Eastwood movies - Dirty Harry (1971):<br /><br />Gonzales (picked to replace Dirty Harry’s dead partner): There is one question, Inspector Callahan: Why do they call you "Dirty Harry"? <br /><br />De Georgio: Ah that's one thing about our Harry, doesn't play any favorites! Harry hates everybody: Limeys, Micks, Hebes, Fat Dagos, Niggers, Honkies, Chinks, you name it. <br /><br />Gonzales: How does he feel about Mexicans? <br /><br />De Georgio: Ask him. <br /><br />Harry Callahan: Especially Spics.<br /><br />Rex, I don’t think we are (at least I’m not) talking about systematic racial discrimination. It’s more about common decency.<br /><br />Dirty John….Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74958472815972442752010-12-09T20:43:07.588-05:002010-12-09T20:43:07.588-05:00Whites have never been the victims of systematic r...Whites have never been the victims of systematic racial oppression in this country. Ever. So, yeah, assailing whitey just doesn't land for me. It's silly to think spic and nigger are somehow equivalent to white trash or ANY other so-called slur against whites. Guilt has nothing to do with it.Rex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15418123437683430392010-12-09T20:40:04.959-05:002010-12-09T20:40:04.959-05:00With Kendall as far as being surprised at the incl...With Kendall as far as being surprised at the inclusion of WHITETRASH in the NYT's puzzle even though I have no personal problem with it.<br /><br />Methinks Will Shortz is indeed getting more liberal in his middle age--and like it.<br /><br />That said, there is definitely a double standard here amongst honky/haole slurs vs other races. Rex has yipped on several occasions when a very mild black or Asian stereotype has been invoked yet had nary a word to say today about WHITETRASH.<br /><br />I think it's called white guilt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29221027160286905042010-12-09T20:25:04.853-05:002010-12-09T20:25:04.853-05:00John, I'm confused. Who are you trying to anno...John, I'm confused. Who are you trying to annoy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71856287030012790642010-12-09T20:23:35.272-05:002010-12-09T20:23:35.272-05:00What a fabulous puzzle! Loved every part of it. Of...What a fabulous puzzle! Loved every part of it. Of course I wanted red wine from Chile, but the bass was not a problem. Olaf/v was a leave-open, had drafts before drama for a bit, but everything worked out easily.<br /><br />I was wondering about the Sierras issue, we discussed it some time ago. Bawd sounded very Dickensian to me, but no problem there.<br /><br />Mel Ott? I had Melot-, and figured it was some Italian or Spanish name.... The our good friend showed up!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70664070490468866422010-12-09T20:22:08.563-05:002010-12-09T20:22:08.563-05:00A witty and clever constructor once wrote about p...A witty and clever constructor once wrote about puzzles: For me, since theme is everything, I'd do a whole puzzle on Hillbillies if there were nine theme answers in a 15 x 15 grid!<br /><br />John the Troll....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21058246421175898912010-12-09T18:47:37.705-05:002010-12-09T18:47:37.705-05:00Got the theme before 'whitetrash' and had ...Got the theme before 'whitetrash' and had 'brush' in there for tooooo long (brushfire)Alex DiFabiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03522328326818050149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29015023787715281452010-12-09T18:37:33.125-05:002010-12-09T18:37:33.125-05:00wasn't it BOAT FIRE ????wasn't it BOAT FIRE ????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25320364997197147642010-12-09T18:17:52.650-05:002010-12-09T18:17:52.650-05:00@andrea firebird michaels, still here and thanks, ...@andrea firebird michaels, still here and thanks, that's a great suggestion. I believe I could put that together and then use it as one of my presentation handouts. I have until Jan 29, so lots of time.<br /><br />Congratulations to Sue M. on getting puzzles published. Cheers!<br /><br />What is going on? My captcha is lithe.quilter1https://www.blogger.com/profile/09569747169212018177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53131982996065209242010-12-09T17:48:21.331-05:002010-12-09T17:48:21.331-05:00This definitely took me longer than normal, but wa...This definitely took me longer than normal, but was also a lot of fun. I struggled greatly in getting MELOTT because I just really expected it to be a single last name, not an entire name. MEL-T- really should have been obvious, but it just wasn't. <br /><br />Not because it offends me in anyway at all, but I was sort of surprised to see WHITETRASH make it into a NYT puzzle. This is not to try and point at any one person who has commented about this showing up, just merely that I was surprised. Maybe the puzzles are very, very slowly becoming more liberal?<br /><br />Only other misstep was at HIMOM, and in general that whole SE corner. The cross of SMOKE/FIRE wasn't apparent to me, and had I not gotten OMANI I probably wouldn't have finished there.<br /><br />Overall fun and challenging. I'm glad I was able to finish it (with a 6 hour break between my two attempts).Kendallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04176353196193935474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20187943663841387062010-12-09T17:42:25.711-05:002010-12-09T17:42:25.711-05:00Or know how to hold down the shift key while hitti...Or know how to hold down the shift key while hitting tab.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com