tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6202429868853929027..comments2024-03-28T17:08:03.319-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Collection of 10 directives written by Vladimir Lenin / FRI 9-3-21 / Old automaker with the models Firedome, Fireflite and Firesweep / Citato in the work quoted Lat / Longtime mint brand that doesn't contain any mint / Conspicuously unfamiliar party guest informally / One punch kung fu technique / Words before Yes I cried yes I cried in Return of the MackRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88424773420775576992023-06-29T11:33:01.729-04:002023-06-29T11:33:01.729-04:00Here in June 2023, working my way backward through...Here in June 2023, working my way backward through Friday puzzles online, and thought you-all (YALL) might be interested to know that the HELLCAT clue has been changed in the meantime. It now reads, "WW II fighter plane." So y'all had an impact in the Shortz office. Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16251377627980840623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83435340492316722432021-10-09T04:03:17.074-04:002021-10-09T04:03:17.074-04:00WWII aircraft carriers typically "carried&quo...WWII aircraft carriers typically "carried" 4 squadrons of aircraft at the beginning of the war. A bombing squadron,(VB), a scouting squadron,(VS), a fighter squadron,(VF), and torpedo squadron,(VT). The dive bombers and scout planes were Dauntless SBD's, and the torpedo planes were TBD Devastators (known for their sacrifices at the Battle of Midway). The fighter planes were the F4F Wildcat. When my uncle flew off the Enterprise (CV6) in 1944, the dive bombers were still SBD's but the torpedo planes (which he flew in VT10) was the TBF Avenger, which replaced the scout squadron SBD's as having longer "legs", and the fighter squadron flew the Grumman F6F HELLCAT. Watched a Smithsonian Channel program the other day which credited the Hellcat as the plane that shot down more "Zeros" or "Zekes", (the Japanese A6M fighter) than any other US plane.<br /><br />This clue stumped me, and absolutely ruined this puzzle experience.<br /><br />Brendan Emmett Quigly and Pablo Pasco, if your goal is to make a crossword impossible, you succeeded.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17792133327936842987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6600593981594714132021-10-08T21:42:41.007-04:002021-10-08T21:42:41.007-04:00BTW we are 5 weeks later in syndication during Mon...BTW we are 5 weeks later in syndication during Mon-Sat and 2 weeks on Sundayrondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87455042253291900792021-10-08T21:40:12.690-04:002021-10-08T21:40:12.690-04:00@Stilshy73 - by all accounts the clue was wrong. H...@Stilshy73 - by all accounts the clue was wrong. HELLCAT was a carrier aircraft, not an aircraft carrier. Major faux pas by Shortz & Co. at the NYT.rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32005419869392470952021-10-08T20:13:46.328-04:002021-10-08T20:13:46.328-04:00My newspaper prints the nyt puzzle a month later s...My newspaper prints the nyt puzzle a month later so I just finished this one on 10/8. I ask my husband some of the clues that seem in his wheelhouse. He was adamant that Hellcat couldn’t be the answer and continued to search on line for anything else starting with an H. When I finally finished, he said he’d like to know what that crossword guy said about it since it was an error!Stilshy73https://www.blogger.com/profile/11066149218709847583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8108631024938955442021-10-08T19:38:36.494-04:002021-10-08T19:38:36.494-04:00With the TINIEST bit of help from TIM, I got most ...With the TINIEST bit of help from TIM, I got most of this. Props on a Friday for me. <br /><br />Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for CrossWORDS, always hung up by namesDiana, LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6387244227498338942021-10-08T18:46:39.405-04:002021-10-08T18:46:39.405-04:00Clues and answers of the day --
"Filter fee...Clues and answers of the day -- <br /><br />"Filter feeder’s fodder": KRILL<br /><br />"___citato (in the work quoted: Lat.)”: OPERE <br /><br />SOLETITGO<br /><br />leftcoasternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73808540245092632002021-10-08T17:39:25.710-04:002021-10-08T17:39:25.710-04:00Yes, challenging.Yes, challenging.leftcoasternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69698581546504011062021-10-08T15:03:10.218-04:002021-10-08T15:03:10.218-04:00The east side filled itself in pretty much from PR...The east side filled itself in pretty much from PROAM down through yeah baby OONA Chaplin to CERTS. Then worked back west and eventually done. With not that many write-over squares, looks like 5 INALL. Only things I had in the west at first were HOLST and DESOTO and sneaky PETE, but they helped.<br />Would agree with anyone who thought this was challenging.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68264410561719204842021-10-08T14:48:35.315-04:002021-10-08T14:48:35.315-04:00MORE DOH
ILANA said, “YOULIEDTOME,
IT’s AFAR cry,...MORE DOH<br /><br />ILANA said, “YOULIEDTOME,<br />IT’s AFAR cry, ALL INALL.<br />IWANT ALL USERS TO pay SET FEEs,<br />I’m no SIDESHOW for Y’ALL.”<br /><br />--- PETE CHINO<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83323011584137774192021-10-08T13:43:44.852-04:002021-10-08T13:43:44.852-04:00Maybe OFL got a bad corndog at the fair. The botto...Maybe OFL got a bad corndog at the fair. The bottom half of the puzzle (for the most part) redeemed the puzzle and made it workable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53176430410434691332021-10-08T13:02:00.041-04:002021-10-08T13:02:00.041-04:00DNF. Couldn't get a single thing in the top fi...DNF. Couldn't get a single thing in the top five lines except ONTO. Sure, I remember O.J., and the darling of crossword constructors Judge Ito, but who remembers the schlemiel who was driving that car? He's ONLY famous for driving...etc.<br /><br />And I never heard of Return of the Mack. What, did somebody rent an 18-wheeler? Or did The Knife take an encore? Totally clueless there. Bottom 2/3 was entertaining, but then blank. Better luck (no game is purely 100% luck; you can maximize your chances at SLOTS by betting max) next time.spacecrafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09125304293611865503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70745008052388848982021-10-08T11:02:39.887-04:002021-10-08T11:02:39.887-04:00This one just makes it under the wire in the NYTXW...This one just makes it under the wire in the NYTXW’s word-count maximum (at 72) for a themeless. But I wasn’t bothered too much by the small stuff. Well, maybe some small stuff. Like CERTS. Do they still exist? And didn’t they once have spearmint CERTS? - which is a mint, and confradicts the clue…I used to love the cherry-flavoured ones. Anyhoo, aside from that little nit this one was fine. Nice and crunchy. Wish all the Fridays were this good.thefogmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870509029973778266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60826130789939207792021-09-17T10:59:18.967-04:002021-09-17T10:59:18.967-04:00I entered Myron, and figured Ilyna could easily be...I entered Myron, and figured Ilyna could easily be a name.Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09057593571875920565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23911370209228997092021-09-14T10:22:37.838-04:002021-09-14T10:22:37.838-04:00Not familiar with the song, I listened/watched the...Not familiar with the song, I listened/watched the insert with Return of the Mack. And it seems to me the clue was correct. The singer sings Yes pause I cried pause yes I cried.Dennis Merritthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03720134338416964780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78183432766911957032021-09-11T17:40:22.992-04:002021-09-11T17:40:22.992-04:00Yes!!!
And crossing them is downright rude!Yes!!!<br /><br />And crossing them is downright rude!Hosebagmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02284501006031179311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73986509589822075522021-09-05T07:01:01.440-04:002021-09-05T07:01:01.440-04:00Marion’s podcast is great. Wtfpod.com. Marion’s podcast is great. Wtfpod.com. Mickey Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238134281252764213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79902042295796755992021-09-04T12:17:36.129-04:002021-09-04T12:17:36.129-04:00@MetroGnome i guess my confusion stemmed from your...@MetroGnome i guess my confusion stemmed from your assertion that the lyrics prove he was talking about returning to his career as a literal pimp. but if the entire comment is just satire, something that you're saying one of these "virtue signaling purists" would say and not something you actually believe, i misunderstood & my reply was misplaced. <br /><br />personally i haven't seen many of those comments (in my admittedly and comparatively limited time here) - although i have seen the perhaps adjacent "i don't like this and i'm offended because things that appear in the crossword from outside my realm of knowledge are newfangled and beneath me" types. the "what has this world come to" pearl clutchers. thankfully a very very small margin tho. <br /><br />there was also that time recently rex said he couldn't stand to see any more clues related to the military (i believe this was about "fire power"), that was pretty funny. and i don't understand the outrage-lite over al cowlings either. (it's fine if you think the clue is obscure PPP and dislike it for that reason, but being personally offended about seeing the man's name i don't get.) there are certainly names i wouldn't relish seeing in a crossword, but with the number of PPP clues in a standard puzzle i think you'd be hard pressed to find and use only flawless examples (especially when taking into account historical figures). the cluing more than the answer would be the determining factor for me. stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14309261340110993880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70835741872360237632021-09-04T10:28:15.429-04:002021-09-04T10:28:15.429-04:00@Stephanie -- I understand that perfectly. I hav...@Stephanie -- I understand that perfectly. I have no problem with "Mack," "Mack Daddy," or any other vernacular term like that. But a lot of our virtue-signaling purists get their undies in a knot every time a word, phrase, or reference occurs that could even remotely be considered offensive. That ws my point -- where are the self-righteous finger-waggers when we [don't] need 'em?MetroGnomenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75573010099173379982021-09-04T09:59:06.123-04:002021-09-04T09:59:06.123-04:00A couple years back I took a ferry to the Isle of ...A couple years back I took a ferry to the Isle of Man. I vaguely expected to hear some kind of traditional Manx music, but, stepping ashore, I was pleasantly surprised to hear “Return of the Mack”.Robert Berardihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06014604363265412442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45653180398602066422021-09-04T04:59:45.019-04:002021-09-04T04:59:45.019-04:00World War II aircraft carrier that is seven letter...World War II aircraft carrier that is seven letters and starts with H? That would be the USS Hancock CV-19. Gah! Doh Aww?????? Maron? above Oona crossed by Ilasna??? Raitt? This is all just crap. It's a crossword, can we not leave out the gutteral utterances? I guess no one cares any longer.ALPAPilothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01883994074590571520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11116060457958048682021-09-04T00:33:51.683-04:002021-09-04T00:33:51.683-04:00I tend to not think of myself as that much older t...I tend to not think of myself as that much older than Rex, as we usually share cultural references (and it drives me nuts when he complains about the use of ones he doesn't know). But now I know I'm old, since Return of the Mack rang no bells, not when I read it, not when I listened to it, not when I read the Mark Morrison bio, not ever. OTOH, "actor John of Broadway's Carousel" jumped right into place. But the answer to the Mack clue still came together when I had enough crosses, and all in all it was a very good, pretty well challenging puzzle. I liked the Lenin answer and (especially) "show of hands", along with the appearance of rando, which came with not too much trouble. So maybe I'm not sooo old, or maybe the term is already as outdated as I am.Dave Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12186065163092602289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66568208504394113832021-09-03T23:09:07.177-04:002021-09-03T23:09:07.177-04:00@MetroGnome and "pimp" doesn't alway...@MetroGnome and "pimp" doesn't always mean a literal pimp. many men have fancied themselves "pimps" simply meaning they think of themselves as "alphas" that get a lot of women (or like to try). you really thought you got 'em but your attempt fell way short. rip. <br /><br />the mack daddy'll make ya JUMP JUMP, the daddy mack'll make ya JUMP JUMP, kriss kross will make ya...stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14309261340110993880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46357219973821053382021-09-03T23:02:35.109-04:002021-09-03T23:02:35.109-04:00think very tiny shrimp. i actually had ALGAE first...think very tiny shrimp. i actually had ALGAE first, as i happened to be watching an aquarium while i was solving and was thinking too small. stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14309261340110993880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54934425531208421412021-09-03T22:52:16.886-04:002021-09-03T22:52:16.886-04:00@Nancy exactly my thought process when filling in ...@Nancy exactly my thought process when filling in SLOTS and why i don't gamble either, or see the appeal. my partner's coworkers go down to the casinos all the time though, and once i got a free brandy new crockpot out of the deal, an unwanted casino gift of some kind. that's the kind of RANDO luck i'll take instead. stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14309261340110993880noreply@blogger.com