tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6256500492723767015..comments2024-03-29T03:22:09.826-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Edmonton six / TUE 3-31-15 / Broadway compose Jule / California county east of Sonoma / Picasso's "Lady With ___" / Singer Bareilles / Source of the line "The Lord is thy keeper" / California county east of SonomaRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50701785031465512532015-05-05T12:54:44.910-04:002015-05-05T12:54:44.910-04:00This puz was not too staid for Tuesday. Lots bette...This puz was not too staid for Tuesday. Lots better than some of what we’ve had in recent memory. Minimal use of 3s and a smattering of longish fill. Pretty decent theme. Not bad at all.<br /><br />One time I crawled up on the balance beam, just to see. It’s tough to walk on it, much less perform what those gymnasts do on a 4” wide and 4’ high slab of hardwood. UNREAL!<br /><br />Being a golfer, it might have been nice to see AUGUSTA clued as “Masters’ home” for a bit of a misdirect.<br /><br />ALI – if not the best fighter of all time, certainly the most compelling to watch (and on free TV, not for $100 like last weekend). So sad about the consequences of all of ALI’s title fights.<br /><br />In my world SAE stands for Society of Automotive Engineers, the group who monitor stuff like the viscosity of the oil that goes in your car. It’s on every jug (used to be can) of oil you buy. But that might be even too obscure for Saturday.<br /><br />PuzzleGirl had it – just about right.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11423876096351256142015-05-05T12:36:01.661-04:002015-05-05T12:36:01.661-04:00@Spacey – I don’t think there are winners or loser...@Spacey – I don’t think there are winners or losers, just a bunch of fun along the way. Your post yesterday was incredibly good.BS2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86240310896685553452015-05-05T11:36:44.137-04:002015-05-05T11:36:44.137-04:00@BS: The duel is over. You win. On to today's ...@BS: The duel is over. You win. On to today's offeRINGS. I like the theme, tied up perfectly with a nice grid-spanning revealer. Pretty clean fill, too, though I think that CIA/NIH/SHH side could have been cleaned up without too much trouble.<br /><br />As to SAE vs. SASE, the second S, as we know, stands for "stamped," without which I doubt we'd get too many returns. I'm guessing that over time, the "stamped" part came to be understood, so now it's just SAE. Just...don't forget to put the postage on if you want to get it back.<br /><br />I like the long downs, especially LARYNGITIS crossing HIGH HO(A)RSE. Let's give Cee a Bee plus.<br /><br />Hey, I'm starting to get numbers again. 116; that should be a B+.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14648725293428270462015-05-05T09:19:28.920-04:002015-05-05T09:19:28.920-04:00PROM PSALMS
I was LITUP with IRE, ‘cause I was fe...PROM PSALMS<br /><br />I was LITUP with IRE, ‘cause I was feeling too CHASTE,<br />with my OWN hormones ASTIR and no time to waste.<br />I SAID, “YOOHOO HONEY, let’s PLAY if you would.”<br />SARA SAID, “You know I can’t RESIST your MANHOOD,<br />NOWWHAT would you ALLOW that causes no PAINE?”<br />I SAID, “I’m ASSORT of AFAN of IRONS and chain.”<br />SARA SETIN with MIRTH to prepare that SEAMY gear,<br />it’s UNREAL to HAUL ashes after you ASSUAGE all your fear!<br /><br />--- REUBEN TORTELLINI<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7669220907643031592015-04-03T02:21:25.066-04:002015-04-03T02:21:25.066-04:00No reply on the IPA? Crying in my no-name beer!No reply on the IPA? Crying in my no-name beer!+wordphanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05693465770426693314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25041596473722787702015-04-01T02:21:49.297-04:002015-04-01T02:21:49.297-04:00U RIAH? How's your mother?
I heard they call t...U RIAH? How's your mother?<br />I heard they call the wind Ma RIAH.<br /><br />What on MIRTH was that about?? 'Pun my word, that's a blow, ALLOW bllow for ALL who haven't had T'READ anything that sparked their E-IRE today. That was almost T'RIPE t'use, YETI managed. No PAINE, no gaine.<br /><br />To be CONT, you betcha.<br />Verbal Jim Nastnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54789143514400499712015-04-01T01:55:49.200-04:002015-04-01T01:55:49.200-04:00With all respect, @Lewis, I think that should be A...With all respect, @Lewis, I think that should be ALPHADO<b>PP</b>ELTO<b>TT</b>ER. Thanks to @r.alpha and @Wh2 for the additional links.<br /><br />I think the rationale of HIGH HORSE is illustrated by Cervantes' Don QuiHaute, which Don was HIGH on Rocinante, While Sancho Panza was Donkey Low on Dapple. <br /><br />Dapple's saddle possibly was missing a pommel. ;^)Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46827597436776184472015-03-31T22:59:54.001-04:002015-03-31T22:59:54.001-04:00@Lewis
I found 17 puzzles with no double-letters ...@Lewis<br /><br />I found 17 puzzles with no double-letters if I did not count double-vowels.<br /><br />If double-vowels counted then I found 2 with no double-letters.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=12/23/2008" rel="nofollow">Joe Krozel, Tue Dec 23, 2008</a>. Once you get the theme you will understand why.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.xwordinfo.com/PS?date=11/13/1993" rel="nofollow">Louis Sabin Saturday Nov 13, 1993</a>. Again once you get the theme you will see why. This is one of the last puzzles before Will Shortz took over on Nov 21, 1993. Mel Taub was the interim editor.<br />r.alphbunkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00657275501845781384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29764252329571913962015-03-31T22:12:48.908-04:002015-03-31T22:12:48.908-04:00@r.alph -- I'm only tracking the doubles M-SA,...@r.alph -- I'm only tracking the doubles M-SA, and I can see 23 happening in a 15 x 15. Still waiting and hoping for that zero to happen. Because I track the double letters, I've decided to call myself the resident ALPHADOPPELTOTER. Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52614155340874683152015-03-31T21:05:30.611-04:002015-03-31T21:05:30.611-04:00I'm with @Loren Muse Smith on the LASER thing....I'm with @Loren Muse Smith on the LASER thing. The clue says metaphor not simile. All of your searches for laser beam used as a simile tell us nothing about the frequency of its use as a metaphor.Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17459992224851404501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89354916763616624622015-03-31T20:03:57.053-04:002015-03-31T20:03:57.053-04:00@ Whirred Wacks.. I remember that E puzzle@ Whirred Wacks.. I remember that E puzzlechefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56578354809288390802015-03-31T19:19:01.937-04:002015-03-31T19:19:01.937-04:00Given the number of leveling tools that use laser ...Given the number of leveling tools that use laser beams as part of their function, it seems 26A could have been clued without using "metaphor" and saved it (metaphor) for the HIGH HORSE clue. <br /><br />But neither clue caused any delay in my solve so that ASSUAGES any angst I might have felt over possible imprecisions. Though the clue for SEAMY didn't RING[S] true for me. But obviously I have my mind on something else :-), since I think I was looking for StEAMY! Reconsidering, I see that "disreputable" is just fine for 49A.<br /><br />Thanks for the nice Tuesday puzzle, Gary Cee.Teedmnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12832353448839187816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61667515035568789212015-03-31T17:58:02.861-04:002015-03-31T17:58:02.861-04:00Super Tuesday! VERBAL GYMNASTICS - such a great t...Super Tuesday! VERBAL GYMNASTICS - such a great theme for a word puzzle. And I thought the phrases did a nice job of masking the apparatus. Beyond the theme, I liked "YOOHOO!" with its "NOW WHAT?!" response; the get-going pair ASTIR x IN GEAR; LARYNGITIS crossing its therapy, TEA (with HONEY); and REHEAT x EATS.Carolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971759975067250908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48057210230957283602015-03-31T16:17:15.345-04:002015-03-31T16:17:15.345-04:00Many thanks, Ralph! Interesting stuff!
Here'...Many thanks, Ralph! Interesting stuff!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=2/13/1994&g=11&d=D" rel="nofollow"> Here's the link for the Feb 13, 1994 puzzle in XWord Info.</a> In addition to all the double-letters, the truly amazing feat of this puzzle is that <b>it uses only one vowel: the letter E . . . 138 times!</b> <br /><br />(M&A wouldn't be able to write his name!)<br /><br />Whirred Whackshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05637591146611998012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71247371167677853612015-03-31T15:45:33.474-04:002015-03-31T15:45:33.474-04:00@Whirred Whack, @Lewis
Searched all NYT puzzles o...@Whirred Whack, @Lewis<br /><br />Searched all NYT puzzles of the Shortzian era for double-letter occurrences. Here are the results<br /><br />Cathy Millhauser Sunday February 13, 1994 Eland 58 answers with at least one double letter<br /><br />Randolph Ross Sunday March 7, 1999, Golly Gee (38 answers with at least one double-letter) (Ignored double vowels, e.g. EE and OO)<br /><br />Alan Arbesfield Thursday, March 13, 2008 (23 answers with at least one double letter) (Ignored double vowels and Sunday puzzles.<br /><br />The Alan Arbesfield puzzle is a very nice Thursday that I think will be enjoyed by many posters here. Ironic given the response to his recent Sunday puzzle.<br /><br />I will be glad to run any other posted complex queries on NYT puzzles.r.alphbunkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00657275501845781384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41402992005305778902015-03-31T15:26:52.500-04:002015-03-31T15:26:52.500-04:00It seems NYT crossword solvers are more likely to ...It seems NYT crossword solvers are more likely to be wine sippers than beer guzzlers. Quelle surprise!Pass the merlotnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74123329365353684402015-03-31T15:17:56.898-04:002015-03-31T15:17:56.898-04:00Great factoid, Lewis! Great factoid, Lewis! Andrew Heinegghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18101651673327984167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12743748616511775062015-03-31T14:48:29.085-04:002015-03-31T14:48:29.085-04:00I have an All-Terrain GoCart (an ATG), so when I g...I have an All-Terrain GoCart (an ATG), so when I got to 38A I shouted "Yes!!! My kind of puzzle!"Richard Gerenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58476496903587108752015-03-31T13:34:19.610-04:002015-03-31T13:34:19.610-04:008 Down isnt right. You can be in gear and idling. ...8 Down isnt right. You can be in gear and idling. In fact it's highly recommended at stop lights. ( Especially on motorcycles).<br />Will has had problems realted to clutches and what they do before. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89093028870196244682015-03-31T13:21:31.897-04:002015-03-31T13:21:31.897-04:00Cross of IPA and TRIPE did me in, And I drink bee...Cross of IPA and TRIPE did me in, And I drink beer. DNF Tuesdays are always tough to accept.MikeMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78910519825123636042015-03-31T12:44:17.153-04:002015-03-31T12:44:17.153-04:00@r.alphbunker - I can't believe you did that f...@r.alphbunker - I can't believe you did that for real. My account, like most of what I post here, was pure fiction.<br /><br />My hat's off to you.Zekenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60132345173931434282015-03-31T12:15:15.336-04:002015-03-31T12:15:15.336-04:00p.s.
16 letter-boxes wide! Panoramic. And more fo...p.s.<br />16 letter-boxes wide! Panoramic. And more for yer moneybucks.<br /><br />@r.alph: har. Can not believe all U got was a rejection email, after all that extra work. The Shortzmeister coulda at least drawed up a snarky rejection cartoon...<br /><br />M&A<br /><br />** termite-oramic gruntz **M and Alsonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89761098950105578942015-03-31T12:11:19.009-04:002015-03-31T12:11:19.009-04:00@roo -- I just count the unseparated double letter...@roo -- I just count the unseparated double letters. As an alphadoppeltoter, I am a purist.Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59233082293380248572015-03-31T12:05:44.650-04:002015-03-31T12:05:44.650-04:00@old timer 16k isn't "plenty" in Goo...@old timer 16k isn't "plenty" in Googleville. "random bricks" gets 44k hits, and it's a random phrase I came up with to use as an example.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36027717955429921402015-03-31T12:04:11.859-04:002015-03-31T12:04:11.859-04:00D'oh!
Psalm 23: "The Lord is MY shepherd...D'oh!<br /><br />Psalm 23: "The Lord is MY shepherd . . . "<br /><br />Psalm 121: "The Lord is THY keeper . . ."<br /><br />So how do I explain that I kept reading the clue as "The Lord is THY SHEPHERD > > >"?????Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.com