tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6311156901667275998..comments2024-03-28T04:40:27.172-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Three-time Grammy winner Steve / MON 9-14-15 / Google smartphone released in 2014 / WTF with Maron popular podcast / Where Buddhists worship / S on dinner tableRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66677955568783308852015-10-19T16:22:25.629-04:002015-10-19T16:22:25.629-04:00What @Spacecraft said about "Thieves"/ST...What @Spacecraft said about "Thieves"/STEALS. Required write-overs in the mid-E, after entering SnEAkS. So it was a medium-challenging Monday for me.leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43224972707437693792015-10-19T11:33:02.421-04:002015-10-19T11:33:02.421-04:00Wait. what day is it? MONDAY?? With fill like Nige...Wait. what day is it? MONDAY?? With fill like Niger's weatern neighbor and that guy in the middle EARLE (who? Ne-vah heard of him!) and that very aptly-named WTF guy Maron? Oh, I KNEW OFL would eat this up, chock-full as it is of all that techie stuff, like 30-down. But really, using "Thieves" as a VERB? On a MONDAY?? Who says that? "OHGOD, I've been thieved!" Give me a break. Yeah, I'll take a KITKAT.<br /><br />Not my cuppa. I did it, thanks to crosses, but a Monday it's definitely NOT. I got one nice visual: Tommy Lee Jones, when hearing his quarry was surely dead, saying: "Good. That'll make him easier to catch!" Gotta love the dedication on those USMARSHALS. It's obvious OFL loves ZB; for me it's a C at BEST.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61580192903882119242015-10-19T11:32:44.452-04:002015-10-19T11:32:44.452-04:00CNET DRIVES CASE
Suppose LEOTOLSTOY had used an A...CNET DRIVES CASE<br /><br />Suppose LEOTOLSTOY had used an ANDROIDONE,<br />Would his BEST work be a NOTE about KIEV SNOW, and then done?<br /><br />--- RADAR REY, RCA<br />BS2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31684667601458582222015-10-19T11:08:41.918-04:002015-10-19T11:08:41.918-04:00I noticed the different symmetry thing only when d...I noticed the different symmetry thing only when down at the HALLMARKCARDS rack, but had already guessed the CROWN theme. Not always my FORTE if the theme is not obvious.<br /><br />Did we need further cluing after “Klum”? HEIDI’s a yeah baby, no doubt she’ll RANK right up there. Lana Del REY is an enigmatic musical yeah baby, lots of talent there, depends which direction she takes it.<br /><br />Speaking of musicians, Steve EARLE is likely underappreciated by casual music fans. This guy is loaded with talent, has been for years, but he’s had his demons like so many great artists. His son Justin Townes EARLE is good in his own right.<br /><br />Went to the ESPN Zone Restaurant pro shop near Staples Center as they were transitioning out of that name to their AEG franchise and were mainly selling L.A.KINGS merch. I CONNed the kid at the counter into selling me an ESPN Zone staff shirt (to match my CHI and N.Y. Zone shirts). He pocketed the cash.<br /><br />Have to admit this was pretty good for a Mon-puz.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8353304979383709932015-10-19T10:39:34.682-04:002015-10-19T10:39:34.682-04:00LOSANGELESKINGS CONN ERATO
OHGOD IDE float ONAIR ...LOSANGELESKINGS CONN ERATO<br /><br />OHGOD IDE float ONAIR if SVELTE HEIDI gave me her one BEST EXAM,<br />YKNOW THATSALIE and a PUTON if EYE don’t say, “IDOTOO, ma’am.”<br /><br />--- MARC “MRCOOL” ADANO<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71580624168881887842015-09-15T07:31:25.999-04:002015-09-15T07:31:25.999-04:00I'm very glad to see the WSJ competing with th...I'm very glad to see the WSJ competing with the Times with a daily puzzle! Here's my day 1 comparison of the two: <br /><br />WSJ--Nice concept for the first day, with lots of thematic density...but my inner Rex tells me that the add-a-word theme isn't all that fresh and that the phrases include some non-sparkly AKA dull stuff (e.g., RATE BASE)...routine-looking grid...there's some low point value crosswordese (STET, ARES), but nothing egregious. <br /><br />NYT--Pretty, wide-open grid w/ cool long downs...the left-right symmetry makes the theme feel fresh to me...GMA and -IDE are pretty nasty ese, but hey, it's hard to do a thematic grid grid this wide-open w/o a bit of dreck. <br /><br />9-14-15 winner--NYTMetaRexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86680251669666156142015-09-15T03:18:40.628-04:002015-09-15T03:18:40.628-04:00I normally do the LAT (it's in my paper), but ...I normally do the LAT (it's in my paper), but someone over at the Corner mentioned that C.C. had a NYT. So, I went to the mini-mart and picked up a copy. $2.50 well spent. Thanks C.C.! Thanks too to Rex who confirmed all the letters were correct (S. central had me worried w/ ANANO/ERATO xing). Cheers, -TAnonymous Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459563526290288425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13135602669538719092015-09-15T03:18:39.273-04:002015-09-15T03:18:39.273-04:00I normally do the LAT (it's in my paper), but ...I normally do the LAT (it's in my paper), but someone over at the Corner mentioned that C.C. had a NYT. So, I went to the mini-mart and picked up a copy. $2.50 well spent. Thanks C.C.! Thanks too to Rex who confirmed all the letters were correct (S. central had me worried w/ ANANO/ERATO xing). Cheers, -TAnonymous Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459563526290288425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36617680649862971702015-09-14T20:46:07.050-04:002015-09-14T20:46:07.050-04:00Hey, C.C., I hope you are wearing your tiara and b...Hey, C.C., I hope you are wearing your tiara and basking in being queen for this Monday. Wonderfully original puzzle ...loved it!johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5371453930532859492015-09-14T17:17:50.873-04:002015-09-14T17:17:50.873-04:00Fun, easy solve for me. About 50% of my average Mo...Fun, easy solve for me. About 50% of my average Monday time, according to the app stats.<br /><br />Small nitpick with 25D -- a PAGODA is absolutely not a place where Buddhists worship. That's like saying a cemetery is a place where Christians go to pray. Buddhists worship in a temple, which usually doesn't -- but sometimes does -- include a pagoda among its buildings. All of the worshiping, though, goes on elsewhere in the temple.<br /><br />-SMrSarfanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63384490263932767332015-09-14T16:52:57.488-04:002015-09-14T16:52:57.488-04:00The LOS ANGELES KINGS are a big rival of my team, ...The LOS ANGELES KINGS are a big rival of my team, so I did not like that answer. :)Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258490572969237544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23247657640833527252015-09-14T16:13:12.401-04:002015-09-14T16:13:12.401-04:00Love those Monday puzzles when you're in Puzzl...Love those Monday puzzles when you're in Puzzle Kindergarten. Went on a bus tour in Europe, and a member of our group loved to complain. (He was really a nice guy, but his tape was stuck on "wah.") "My feet hurt." "My butt hurts." "I couldn't get a Budweiser at dinner last night." Whenever hubbie and I want to complain about something stupid, instead we say, "My butt hurts, I want a Budweiser." <br /><br />Had several smiles in the puzzle.<br /><br />I was in the HS band for 5 years (starting in 8th grade). Our band director was a brilliant guy named Nick Forte - pronounced like the Italians do. So Pete, I truly enjoyed your story and wondered if he was a relative. <br /><br />And Quilter, my Aunt Ellen was born on Ellis Island, so the family story goes. One day I checked out the Ellis Island website, and on the ship's manifest - there she was, two weeks old! Some kind EI official gave her her birthright citizenship. When I think of Grandma giving birth in st6eerage with a two-year-old and her little brother and sister in tow, well..."my butt hurts, wanna Bud"<br /><br />Forgive me if this has been beaten to death, but did anyone else notice in PB's puzzle on the 9th (which I solved yesterday) that pottery was spelled potery in the clues? Left me wondering if he meant poetry, but the same answer could be used. Maybe it was just in the Spokane (syndicated) edition, which is a week late on Sundays and 5 weeks late (I read all about Lalapuzzola today) during the week. So I'm occasionally buying a NYT on Mon/Tues to get a current puz and join the conversation.<br /><br />Diana, Lady in Waiting of PuzzlelandDiana, LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76804076771363199232015-09-14T15:45:28.830-04:002015-09-14T15:45:28.830-04:00NIT::: 10 D LINKS - there are no true Links Course...NIT::: 10 D LINKS - there are no true Links Courses in the USA, but who is counting?xyzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08287781952915413013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8832700605045739322015-09-14T15:09:12.742-04:002015-09-14T15:09:12.742-04:00@Pete - Wow. I am trying to imagine the incredible...@Pete - Wow. I am trying to imagine the incredible mental strength it would take to live life as your uncle did. Thank you for sharing. <br /><br />AFA the crossword goes? Most solid Monday puzzle in months, at least as far as I remember. Good clues. Good answers. Solve time a bit faster than average. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08719622025913363195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60917105380725570972015-09-14T15:06:51.813-04:002015-09-14T15:06:51.813-04:00Am I the only one who thinks the symmetry is there...Am I the only one who thinks the symmetry is there to make the pattern of squares in the middle of the grid resemble a monarch wearing a crown (between 19- and 20-across)?George NYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11844466463123158982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4979695589967323922015-09-14T14:53:48.585-04:002015-09-14T14:53:48.585-04:00@Pete, thank you for your great story, it brought ...@Pete, thank you for your great story, it brought back memories of my Father in Law who's heroism was never brought to light until after he passed away and we found old journals that he had kept. They also explained why his personality and outlook on life was tainted. The guy went through hell and back and never let on.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12321146520140532842015-09-14T14:25:24.159-04:002015-09-14T14:25:24.159-04:00If there is anyone who has not previously been ann...If there is anyone who has not previously been annoyed in this forum by my favorite beer limerick -- which is on point for today's theme -- please raise thy hand and I shallpost.John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64480434341023979562015-09-14T14:16:01.272-04:002015-09-14T14:16:01.272-04:00@Numinous--
Speaking of pilots: my mother-in-law...@Numinous--<br /><br />Speaking of pilots: my mother-in-law taught basic training, then instrument flying in Alabama and Texas in WWII. <br /><br />She was apparently the toughest basic training instructor in Dotham, Alabama -- the trainees would hear of her reputation when first coming on base, her T-6 was called "The Washbucket," for her high washout rate. She knew that after washing out, the trainees were immediately assigned to infantry regiments about to embark for the ETO, but that didn't change her standards. <br /><br />In Texas where she taught instruments and fighter tactics, she also had the highest washout rate; these guys were already qualified pilots, but would "wash out" to bomber or transport aircraft. There, her belief that fighter pilots had to be the very best, since they were the main defense of bomber fleets under attack by the Germans.<br /><br />She met my father-in-law in Texas, where he was a newly-minted communications officer training for setting up the first communications on the shoreline in the first-wave assault on the Japanese homeland just before the war's end. As terrible as the A-bombings of Japan were, it's quite likely that they saved his life by pre-empting the need for the assault.<br /><br />@Old Timer -- The Red Sox have pretty young Ball Girls. A much better choice, IMO. ;-)Wm. C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61236284386699237112015-09-14T13:55:54.834-04:002015-09-14T13:55:54.834-04:00Here comes the KING(S), here comes the big number ...Here comes the KING(S), here comes the big number one...<br /><br />My husband's favorite beverage - he was even interested enough to look at the clue, when I showed him the BUDWEISER answer. He'll drink really hoppy beers when he goes to a brew pub or brews beer himself but at the local bar or home, it's heavy BUD.<br /><br />Usually I say 'big WHOOPie' but I hear it the other way too. And I agree with @LMS on the intensity of OH GOD vs. my GOD.<br /><br />Nice Monday, Ms. Burnikel. Love the grid layout.Teedmnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12832353448839187816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23736834280377030092015-09-14T13:45:01.697-04:002015-09-14T13:45:01.697-04:00For those of you who are old enough to receive AAR...For those of you who are old enough to receive AARP Magazine...there is a recipe in the current issue for Snap Beans with potatoes!!!!chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73433103110446105432015-09-14T12:43:17.088-04:002015-09-14T12:43:17.088-04:00H everyonei, I had a delightful e-mail exchange ea...H everyonei, I had a delightful e-mail exchange earlier this morning with my friend and neighbor <a href="http://www.chem.umn.edu/groups/baranygp/puzzles/gbfriends/gbfriends.htm#zb" rel="nofollow">Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel</a> -- click on the link for her general backstory [the specific backstory for today's puzzle is also fascinating, but it's not one for me to tell]. <br /><br />THAT'S_FALSE has quite a bit of overlap with the actual THAT_IS_A_LIE. <br /><br />BATBOY made me think of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QGYIM-8y38" rel="nofollow">this scene</a>, from "The Natural" ... as well as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSGqK-nZkaU" rel="nofollow">this hilarious (faux) advertisement</a>. Enjoy!George Baranyhttp://www.chem.umn.edu/groups/baranygp/puzzles/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34146173947286705892015-09-14T12:40:47.841-04:002015-09-14T12:40:47.841-04:00@Pete - Thanks. Great stuff.@Pete - Thanks. Great stuff.Mohair Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502840715719161565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60238173151493498462015-09-14T11:52:48.788-04:002015-09-14T11:52:48.788-04:00This was an easy Monday puzzle with very enjoyable...<br />This was an easy Monday puzzle with very enjoyable theme that did not reveal itself until CROWN. Just as it should be, and exactly what we have learned to expect from CC. The grid looks like a short android dude with a big grin wearing headphones.<br /><br />The CROWN logo theme opened the floodgates of other possibilities, starting with the <a href="http://tinyurl.com/ojb9zze" rel="nofollow">Kansas City Royals</a>, then on to <a href="http://tinyurl.com/pogn7b7" rel="nofollow">Carlsberg beer</a>, <a href="http://tinyurl.com/oqb5nh7" rel="nofollow">Frigidaire</a>, <a href="http://tinyurl.com/qavzor9" rel="nofollow">Corona beer</a>, <a href="http://tinyurl.com/oy2t3j3" rel="nofollow">Chrysler Imperial</a>, and ending with <a href="http://tinyurl.com/pb53cbe" rel="nofollow">The Sultan of Swat</a>. I am sure, there are many more.<br /><br />There were also many great non-theme entries including LEO TOLSTOY, US MARSHALS, PAGODA and SVELTE, INTER alia. The Don Giovanni & Don Pasquale clue was great, only missing Don Carlos and Don Quichotte (Jules Massenet). Favorite clue: "Encrypt" for INTER. That one took a few seconds of thought, a welcome misdirection on Monday.<br /><br />Of all the CROWN-themed music of which I recently offered the coronation march "Crown Imperial" by William Walton, today I'll go with Beethoven's overture <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFUNb3d-Y1Y" rel="nofollow">King Stephen of Hungary</a>, whose <a href="http://tinyurl.com/p3lg3tg>crown is displayed</a> in the central domed hall of the Hungarian Parliament building.<br /><br />Happy Monday!<br />AliasZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477396362209386037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4509012054701913302015-09-14T11:50:58.252-04:002015-09-14T11:50:58.252-04:00Nice Monday puzzle, good theme.
Nice to have Rey...Nice Monday puzzle, good theme. <br /><br />Nice to have Rey in the puzzle. Our son had barely started to talk when a friend taught him that Budweiser was "the king of beers". A little odd to have the crown at the bottom rather than at the top.<br /><br />@Pete: thanks for your post, wonderful story.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49895720204697248922015-09-14T11:42:42.828-04:002015-09-14T11:42:42.828-04:00Today's slow time (for a Monday) left me sadde...Today's slow time (for a Monday) left me sadder BUDWEISER. Got BATBOY and the entire top right away. But did not know that HALLMARK would be followed by CARDS. Could not remember that Count TOLSTOY was LEO. So the SE was, for me, quite Hard.<br /><br />(If you do watch baseball, and especially if you go to the occasional game, you will see the BATBOY in the dugout. His job is to offer the player going on deck a choice of bats, and to run out and pick up the shards of the bats that break after hitting those 95 mph pitches. Not to be confused with the "ball boy" or as we call them at AT&T, "ball dudes". They are, in San Francisco, way to old to be called boys, and their job is to pick up balls that end up in the infield or behind the plate, because they weren't caught by a catcher or infielder. They sit in little chairs right in front of the fans with the seats closest to the field. Generally they look for a kid in the stands to toss the retrieved ball to.)old timernoreply@blogger.com