tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6946214510114582868..comments2024-03-28T04:40:27.172-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Birthplace of cuneiform writing / SUN 12-12-10 / Actress de Ravin Roswell Lost / Soul singer James 1990 #1 hit I Don't Have Heart / Lorelei's localeRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7007019499428758812010-12-20T22:08:07.620-05:002010-12-20T22:08:07.620-05:00A note about HINGED VICTORY -- it's cute, but ...A note about HINGED VICTORY -- it's cute, but really, the doors on "Let's Make a Deal" are not hinged, they're sliding doors. Maybe "Successful choice when playing 'Mystery Date'?" would have been a more accurate clue.Alejandronoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72068090377073219432010-12-20T15:41:10.816-05:002010-12-20T15:41:10.816-05:00Syndicated paper solver, solved yesterday, comment...Syndicated paper solver, solved yesterday, commenting today.<br /><br />Still undecided how much to make of crosses and co-occurence--are these really all that contrived or are they more like Rorschach test coincidentals that anyone can read any amount of "meaning" into?<br /><br />That said, I think my semiotics teacher would have loved HINGEDVICTORY: I believe he would have found that "The turnstile effect of myth--now you see it, now you don't" now has a perfectly apt word to describe much of today's attitudinal landscape. For those who can distinguish a successful campaign to implement a policy goal ("regime change") from a war, W's "Mission Accomplished" made good sense. For those bent on effacing reason from public discourse, it was just another easily swung bit of laughingstock. We still have troops stationed in Germany and Japan: how ridiculous do VE Day and VJ Day appear in that light?<br /><br />Lorelei was the maiden after whom the rock was named and who now, along with the other Rhinenymphs, sings sirenic songs to lure sailors to their deaths. Not sure why, but rock, maiden and nymphs were good material for Nitzchean, Wagnerian and Hitlerian playing-at-God, HINGEDVICTORY at work.<br /><br />Pretty easy Sunday, didn't help my HASTEMANAGEMENT any.NotalwaysrightBillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58303832101254937152010-12-19T13:36:46.682-05:002010-12-19T13:36:46.682-05:00The answer at 75a made me nostalgic as the town in...The answer at 75a made me nostalgic as the town in which I was born and raised used to bill itself as "The BROILER Capital of the World" (really!) It was a dubious honor though, as the poultry processing plants that were the basis of the claim discharged their effluent directly into the bay which kind of limited the appeal of the waterfront for recreational use, as you might imagine. Still raising, transporting and processing chickens provided a livlihood for a lot of people in the area, and there was an annual BROILER Day celebration complete with a parade and all the chicken you could eat.<br /><br />As to the rest of the puzzle, discovering the w is h gimmick helped me a lot but when I finished I stared at AMALE at 107d for a long time, convinced it was wrong, only it wasn't. So finished with no errors (but lots of write-overs) and that's always fun.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6496067667091952652010-12-13T01:01:34.375-05:002010-12-13T01:01:34.375-05:00I found this a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle -- not ...I found this a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle -- not as tricky as some, but tricky can be tiring. And tricky enough (the title and the 'first lady' clue both got me).<br /><br />Also liked:<br /><br />Finding out that both JEKYLL and MR HYDE have six letters with the fourth letter being Y. <br /><br />Looking up the entire cast of Roswell on IMDB.<br /><br />Watching the theatrical trailer to I Was A MALE War Bride.<br /><br />Thanks, Karen!Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46193298083070123322010-12-13T00:07:29.208-05:002010-12-13T00:07:29.208-05:00@Citizen Dain, HINGED VICTORY was my favorite too....@Citizen Dain, HINGED VICTORY was my favorite too.<br /><br />@mmorgan, FIL is 90 and didn't have too much trouble with this either. Maybe we should introduce the two of them. ;)fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59224685873934783492010-12-13T00:01:28.180-05:002010-12-13T00:01:28.180-05:00Everyone's done with this one... but I just wa...Everyone's done with this one... but I just wanted to note that my 90-year-old mother thought it was easy!mmorganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18375430572178263265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55031027122134695292010-12-12T23:45:20.461-05:002010-12-12T23:45:20.461-05:00Matzoh (plural matzohs) is an acceptable spelling ...Matzoh (plural matzohs) is an acceptable spelling for the food, but NOT for the "Manishewitz product" (9-D). Manishewitz calls its unleavened bread "matzo" (plural matzos).Buffalohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00654841047726850443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19416906887809433502010-12-12T23:03:58.018-05:002010-12-12T23:03:58.018-05:00HINGED VICTORY was brilliant. I laughed out loud....HINGED VICTORY was brilliant. I laughed out loud. My favorite clue/answer of the week.Citizen Dainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09789010705241919403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25528836284664290332010-12-12T22:20:55.854-05:002010-12-12T22:20:55.854-05:00@NATE: it's anonymice.;-)@NATE: it's anonymice.;-)machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75875187518252559532010-12-12T22:14:37.431-05:002010-12-12T22:14:37.431-05:00How many ANONYMOUSes are there?
It would help if ...How many ANONYMOUSes are there?<br /><br />It would help if everyone took an individualized name.<br /><br />PS: I now realize I didn't under-<br />stand what ANON at 8:39 meant. He<br />talked about wiping W off the grid<br />for 8 years which I interpreted to mean the puzzle grid.NATEnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30837918354414753942010-12-12T21:51:19.257-05:002010-12-12T21:51:19.257-05:00Nate - That's too complimentary. Here is one ...Nate - That's too complimentary. Here is one response I received on Wordplay:<br /><br />You are working WAY too hard at this puzzle business. (It's Matt Gaffney who has the meta-puzzles.) Take two acetaminaphen tablets and call me in the morning!<br /><br />Anon at 8:39Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77677763384425143422010-12-12T21:41:10.452-05:002010-12-12T21:41:10.452-05:00ANON at 8:39
Thanks, I've got it now.
You g...ANON at 8:39<br /><br /> Thanks, I've got it now.<br />You guys are too deep for simple-minded me.NATEnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64287735934902398672010-12-12T20:39:38.406-05:002010-12-12T20:39:38.406-05:00Nate - I googled Nate and it came up No Idea. Her...Nate - I googled Nate and it came up No Idea. Here is what I (aka Anon at 9:49) wrote on Wordplay:<br /><br />Is there a sub or subconscious theme at play? Is it coincidental that “W” is the middle initial for George Bush, the 43rd Presdient, and that “H” is the middle initial for Barack Obama, the 44th President, so “W” is replaced by “H?” Is that The W is H?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3254228067374597332010-12-12T19:53:18.605-05:002010-12-12T19:53:18.605-05:00Late to the party.
A fun puzzle albeit on the ea...Late to the party. <br /><br />A fun puzzle albeit on the easy side. Liked that the w => H shift did not occur at a predictable place in each answer. The fill felt relatively fresh. <br /><br />Amused that I left OHIO (32A) to the crosses despite being born within a mile of the river.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75366985808374085842010-12-12T19:32:04.168-05:002010-12-12T19:32:04.168-05:00Huge disappointment -- far too easy, quick, and bo...Huge disappointment -- far too easy, quick, and boring. If I don't find myself tearing my hair out at some point, I feel I've wasted my time.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901979021657912395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49626829268028746642010-12-12T19:13:15.405-05:002010-12-12T19:13:15.405-05:00To ANON at9:49
I think I understand what ANON a...To ANON at9:49<br /><br /> I think I understand what ANON at 8:39 said but I have no idea<br />what your response at 9:49 means.<br />Please fill me in.NATEnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65533919706611282882010-12-12T18:01:47.373-05:002010-12-12T18:01:47.373-05:00Leaving out W from a grid is easy, working with H ...Leaving out W from a grid is easy, working with H tho is Hard and I think well done!<br /><br />Particularly Global Harming is topical and works on a few nice levels...<br /><br />W IS H is hard to see when it's not in the grid...as FISH was last year, which I remember loving (HAIRYTALE, etc)<br /><br />Perhaps WISH-full thinking would have been a slightly better title and made it slightly more clear.<br /><br />And CLEEN SHEEP, SILVER HARE is almost a mini-theme waiting to take over...andrea wishywashy michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4874224181616426092010-12-12T17:38:33.592-05:002010-12-12T17:38:33.592-05:00Breezy, easy but not very strong puzzle. And too b...Breezy, easy but not very strong puzzle. And too big, of course. I thought the siren was Lorelei, forgot the rock she sat on.<br /><br />Maybe Rasa became Lhasa when the Chinese became interested in Tibet;-).machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52134481962086109802010-12-12T17:19:01.591-05:002010-12-12T17:19:01.591-05:00LookupGuy:
Thanks. But they still call it RCA Vic...LookupGuy:<br /><br />Thanks. But they still call it RCA Victor Red Seal on some CD covers, or did earlier last decade. <br /><br />Brett Favre. I enjoyed your explanation, the reading of which makes Rex's 'not uncommon' comment...questionable, to say the least). And the piece de resistance, at the end, sent coffee down my TRACHEA. Bravo.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18391847471384798773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2479669960748461122010-12-12T16:35:04.322-05:002010-12-12T16:35:04.322-05:00@Jim
"It wasn't until 1968 when RCA chan...@Jim<br /><br />"It wasn't until 1968 when RCA changed logos, de-emphasizing the Victor name and "His Master's Voice" trademarks, that the label came to be known as "RCA Red Seal Records" [wiki]Look Up Guynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67762564151976553942010-12-12T15:20:34.240-05:002010-12-12T15:20:34.240-05:00How nice that when Brett has a little unexpected t...How nice that when Brett has a little unexpected time off, he puts it to such good use--elucidating the origins of a word featured in our Sunday crossword!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54874620547348090942010-12-12T14:47:07.924-05:002010-12-12T14:47:07.924-05:00Rex could have chosen MASHER as his WotD, it has a...Rex could have chosen MASHER as his WotD, it has a pretty interesting etymology:<br /><br /><i>This was a slang term in the US in the 1870s for an infatuation or crush (a magazine in 1877 defined it as “a deep but fleeting affection of the heart”). A mash could also be a dandy or the object of one’s affection (of either sex) or — as a verb — to make amorous advances to a member of the opposite sex.<br /><br />The word to “mash,” in the sense of causing love or attracting by a glance or fascinating look, came into ordinary slang from the American stage. Thus an actress was often fined for “mashing” or smiling at men in the audience. <br /><br />It was introduced by the well-known gypsy family of actors, among whom Romany was habitually spoken. The word “masher” or “mash” means in that tongue to allure, delude, or entice. It was doubtless much aided in its popularity by its quasi-identity with the English word. But there can be no doubt as to the gypsy origin of “mash” as used on the stage.<br /><br />A mash note (in its first appearances, mash letter) was an extension of the idea: a type of love letter. It is recorded first in 1880 and — as you have discovered — is still doing well. However, it refers mainly to an expression of attraction or desire from a stranger or acquaintance that is unlikely to be welcome.<br /></i><br />In other words, it's kind of like sending pictures of your penis to someone's cell phone.Brett Favrenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2756645594871020422010-12-12T14:45:15.232-05:002010-12-12T14:45:15.232-05:00Nothing too remarkable today.
Favorite clue - ??
F...Nothing too remarkable today.<br />Favorite clue - ??<br />Favorite answer - ??<br />Favorite comment - @Mel Ott's Ford EscortPuzzleNutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57672461335226556972010-12-12T14:34:24.529-05:002010-12-12T14:34:24.529-05:00@Ulrich, Thank you for confirming my impression th...@Ulrich, Thank you for confirming my impression that the Pauli Girl poster is incredibly misogynist. Ugh!fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55628680052360684432010-12-12T14:32:21.794-05:002010-12-12T14:32:21.794-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.com