tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post702485531921571933..comments2024-03-28T13:17:40.062-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Google Wallet alternative / SUN 8-16-15 / Highest provincial capital in Italy / Strong sideless wagon / Two New Sciences author / Actress Diana nicknamed Blonde Bombshell / Luxury Hyundai / Relative of Contour plus / Household brand with lowercase first letter / Dad-blasted / MacMillan 1950s-'60s British PM / Hall shortest Harlem Globetrotter / Plants above timberline / Letter-shaped girder / Two Towers denizenRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18864819593022399262015-08-23T20:06:30.504-04:002015-08-23T20:06:30.504-04:00Started late in the day. Too many puzzles like thi...Started late in the day. Too many puzzles like this have cumbersome words that barely squeak by as English. "Unled?"......c'mon!Ray - O - Sunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04864005198472595370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63689561901441635822015-08-23T16:10:45.555-04:002015-08-23T16:10:45.555-04:00It's 8/23/15 here if SC…
Am I the only one a ...It's 8/23/15 here if SC…<br /><br />Am I the only one a bit alarmed that many have no idea of who Deep Throat / Mark Felt was and that he had a major part in causing a sitting President to resign? Really? <br /><br />Complaining about a throwback puzzle and no knowledge of this? <br /><br />Wow. Just wow.AnonymousPVXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09816877873700026508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31651323623417810922015-08-20T14:07:37.566-04:002015-08-20T14:07:37.566-04:00Am I the only one who found the spelling of WIENIE...Am I the only one who found the spelling of WIENIES objectionable? That was the point at which I decided the puzzle wasn't worth finishing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50579443455493473812015-08-19T22:22:04.365-04:002015-08-19T22:22:04.365-04:00Rex,
You're spot-on with all your comments ex...Rex,<br /><br />You're spot-on with all your comments except taking exception with Tom Seaver/New York Met. Tom Seaver--alive and well and living on Long Island's North Fork--is THE greatest Mets player of all time. Seaver, who led the Mets to their first World Series win and who is easily one of the greatest pitchers to ever throw a baseball, is the franchise. Your quibble is the equivalent of "Babe Ruth . . . New York Yankee? Never hoid of 'im."Margaux O'Nolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00695427068774038239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7495212224510015072015-08-18T14:54:35.321-04:002015-08-18T14:54:35.321-04:00I'm glad someone already commented on the bad ...I'm glad someone already commented on the bad crossing of MARc and cNUT. King Cnut was very influential in English etymology, and in all my studies therein I have never encountered his name UNLED with a cee. I agree wholeheartedly with Rex on the musty meh-ness overall.Tyler James Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03024488370553690685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89258772084463395542015-08-17T07:05:39.226-04:002015-08-17T07:05:39.226-04:00Any chance that the throwback nature of this puzzl...Any chance that the throwback nature of this puzzle was part of its theme? In that case, incredibly sophisticated and skilled. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20542143662785502162015-08-17T00:41:50.797-04:002015-08-17T00:41:50.797-04:00@Evil: thanks for yesterday; just got around to se...@Evil: thanks for yesterday; just got around to seeing it.Fred Romagnolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11994837736408182418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17498322196310912142015-08-16T23:56:22.207-04:002015-08-16T23:56:22.207-04:00I finished in record time for Sunday, continuing a...I finished in record time for Sunday, continuing a record streak into three days of what I hope are gimmes. I did not find it all that easy, but agree with LMS on her several positive comments. Some answers were almost automatic. A Mad Magazine satire of Mario Labonza run through my memory while it drug up Mario LANZA.<br /><br />Had a long list of chore that took priority over the puzzle, so a really late post today. bwalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11171297580941770571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12607525197173588292015-08-16T23:19:26.337-04:002015-08-16T23:19:26.337-04:00Had most of the themers and the revealer and could...Had most of the themers and the revealer and could not imagine what the theme was. Once it twigged, I was astounded at what a weak theme it was. This one cried out for 'witty' clues of the type that @Rex hates but I quite enjoy, where MARKFELT would be clued as "Textile of Mr. Twain" or some such nonsense.<br /><br />Medium for me, with a "near-dnf(?)" due to ENSOR/GSA. Not sure what to call it when you finish correctly, but your finish includes a guess.kitshefnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84917359727047745392015-08-16T22:06:01.705-04:002015-08-16T22:06:01.705-04:00okay puzzle but really the most useless theme ever...okay puzzle but really the most useless theme ever. There was no need to consult it in order to solve any of the theme answers, and there was nothing clever or humorous about the answers, and those are about the only possible redeeming qualities of a theme.<br /><br />paulsfohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07721639286466422944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89030316078927410142015-08-16T20:46:20.496-04:002015-08-16T20:46:20.496-04:00@Leapy and @LMS should collaborate on a puzzle.
Y...@Leapy and @LMS should collaborate on a puzzle.<br /><br />YASS!<br /><br />Questiniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06225633428852696530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63636804355143219492015-08-16T20:41:35.654-04:002015-08-16T20:41:35.654-04:00I LIKED this puzzle! So many fusspot comments!I LIKED this puzzle! So many fusspot comments!LongtimePuzzleFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08027854024039963476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48558313081692324322015-08-16T19:01:23.380-04:002015-08-16T19:01:23.380-04:00Loved it! Anytime there's not a reference to a...Loved it! Anytime there's not a reference to a rap star or Harry Potter I'm in heaven! Throw in clues about opera and classical music and I am a happy camper. BTW Maleska and Weng are not curse words but were admirable editors in their day.Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12935782850126995769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39108510240270069772015-08-16T18:50:25.146-04:002015-08-16T18:50:25.146-04:00Had most of my kids and their kids over for brunch...Had most of my kids and their kids over for brunch, then went off to a memorial for my wife's late hairdresser, so I came to the puzzle both late and drowsy. I got through it OK, and at the last minute changed AZERo/LA SORDo to the correct A, so that's all right. I did like the theme, and the non-verbiness of all the verbs. But it was a bit of a SLOG, as Sundays usually are for me.<br /><br />I took the Seaver MET answer as part of the theme, i.e. "in the past." And I saw HAROLD Macmillan's name in the paper a day or two ago (something to do with the desperate attempts of the Labour elite to keep our Jeremy Corbyn), so that was fine, too.<br /><br />Hardest part was the obscure cue for Rhea's alter ego at 63A.<br /><br />Now for some linguistic specualtion (@LMS, maybe you know more about this?) All these euphemisms, such as dag blasted, dad blasted, egads, gadzooks, zounds, are attempts to evade the prohibition on taking the name of the lord in vain. So maybe dad-blasted is a euphemism of a euphemism, for those who feel that G just cuts a little too close to the bone. Pure speculation, as I said -- does anyone know more?jberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02169065390875378077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38280986265522647512015-08-16T17:24:53.099-04:002015-08-16T17:24:53.099-04:00@Mr. And Mrs. Sam - I always read and enjoy your p...@Mr. And Mrs. Sam - I always read and enjoy your posts.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3083725729955358082015-08-16T16:57:02.282-04:002015-08-16T16:57:02.282-04:00Hands up for not seeing the theme until afterwards...Hands up for not seeing the theme until afterwards. I guess put me in the "meh" category - I finished 39 seconds faster than my average Sunday time according to the ipad app. I prefer a little more crunch/trickery.wreckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08797908615185213756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71775418670512732952015-08-16T16:45:44.441-04:002015-08-16T16:45:44.441-04:00@WmC My husbands son did some work for the Newmans...@WmC My husbands son did some work for the Newmans. Said they were very down to earth. And speaking of celebrities When I was working at food emporium I had to show Diana Ross where the ice cream waschefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80205047835982411542015-08-16T16:39:34.801-04:002015-08-16T16:39:34.801-04:00Theme was somewhat blah without a lot of zip and e...Theme was somewhat blah without a lot of zip and even fewer "ahas". <br /><br />Like someone else, I had "TAGGED" for "PEGGED" for 78A which gave me a DNF as I knew it must be "KIDDIELIT" but the darn "A" in tagged kept me stumped.<br /><br />Also had "SOBERLY" instead of "SUBTLY" for 107A - really ruined that part of the east for me<br /><br />I totally blanked on "HEARTLESS" for Very cold (132A) -not sure why, straightforward enough.... I had HE_R _ L _ _ _ and I just could not put it together.<br /><br />Was VERY happy to see The Franchise, Tom Seaver mentioned as a New York Met, my childhood sports hero. Like someone said, very traumatic when he was traded to The Reds - really the result of bad baseball business more than anything else.<br /><br />Like the cluing for "ATHEISTIC" (29A). <br /><br />Do not like more than one abbreviation for a U.S. agency or Union or the like, this one had a couple.<br /><br />Don't mind the dated them too much; the couple of things I did not know (Lansa, Harold) I was able to get with the crosses. A bit more punch to the theme would have been nice, but I liked this well enough for a Sunday though a bit lacking in excitement.<br /><br />Have a great week all!<br /><br />Hughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02534114117788875905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1816515118405029182015-08-16T15:48:17.755-04:002015-08-16T15:48:17.755-04:00If AFFIANCED (I don't know what that is) is yo...If AFFIANCED (I don't know what that is) is your 1-A, you're in trouble. Bad cross with FAIT. I quit the puzzle halfway through, and scrawled <b>SO BORING</b> over my puzzle. Just couldn't really care. I felt like I accidentally picked up a half-rotting NYT Mag from the '90s.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71733527518944755352015-08-16T15:00:30.609-04:002015-08-16T15:00:30.609-04:00Well thanks @Grammar Nazi, Jr. Nice to see somebo...Well thanks @Grammar Nazi, Jr. Nice to see somebody is reading my posts.Mohair Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502840715719161565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11774268182690958852015-08-16T14:51:09.990-04:002015-08-16T14:51:09.990-04:00Everyone: Don't miss @Leapfinger's ( 11:36...Everyone: Don't miss @Leapfinger's ( 11:36) inspired idea for turning this yawn of a puzzle into an absolute gem. Had her unique "twist" been employed, this could have been one of the most challenging, original and sparkling puzzles of the year. @Leapy -- have you ever thought about becoming a constructor?Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16737377749030219974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67780041360044788292015-08-16T14:16:41.511-04:002015-08-16T14:16:41.511-04:00Don't know if someone has already posted it, b...Don't know if someone has already posted it, but today's Opinion section has an excellent article/memoir about how doing tough crosswords is an inspiration to novel writers:<br /><br />http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/15/puzzling-through-my-fiction/?ref=opinionold timernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9319614483393876192015-08-16T13:41:43.067-04:002015-08-16T13:41:43.067-04:00@Chefbea --
OT, but speaking of nice celebs livin...@Chefbea --<br /><br />OT, but speaking of nice celebs living in Connecticut --<br /><br />My wife grew up in Westport, down the street from Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. They were very nice people, very down-to-earth, sent their kids to public schools there, and we're big supporters of local charities and town events, including the local summer theater.<br /><br />My mother-in-law had a job at an upscale woman's wear boutique downtown, and Joanne would stop by there from time to time, sometimes with Paul in tow. Ther townspeople were very respectful of their privacy, gawking at them but only from afar.<br /><br />A highlight for my mother-in-law would be when Robert Redford visited, which was fairly often. Each day, Redford would take his morning constitutional by walking down the street and around the corner to pick up some newspapers. All the ladies would "coincidentally" all be out weeding their front-yard flower gardens as he went by; he'd always say hello and smile to each of them as he passed by.<br /><br />Wm. C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79968370978327862952015-08-16T13:09:04.149-04:002015-08-16T13:09:04.149-04:00Had LADE, ASES and STRS right, but didn't get ...Had LADE, ASES and STRS right, but didn't get my congratulations so I was sure the problem was in that corner. This kept me from fixing AcERA and I finally gave up and got my DNF.<br /><br />This left me feeling angry and impotent... so maybe I should start a blog? (It's a joke. I love what you do, Rex. Please don't 'moderate' me.)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17650498984297214113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46263282077724872812015-08-16T13:04:05.382-04:002015-08-16T13:04:05.382-04:00Tom Seaver made his name as a Met, and went into t...Tom Seaver made his name as a Met, and went into the HOF as a Met. <br />JamesBMachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15431170922534712361noreply@blogger.com