tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post718568928206009830..comments2024-03-29T03:22:09.826-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Disney bigwig Bob / TUE 3-8-16 / Cuckoo from Yiddish / Rebellious Turner / Virgin island that's 60% national park / Marry cutie on qt / Like Beatles in 1960s lingoRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89581511167755086292016-04-12T20:55:47.140-04:002016-04-12T20:55:47.140-04:00Finished this w/o help. More tomorrow. BZ day.
...Finished this w/o help. More tomorrow. BZ day.<br /><br />Diana,LIWDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30776736172382075962016-04-12T18:49:06.423-04:002016-04-12T18:49:06.423-04:00That's why he put the quote marks around the w...That's why he put the quote marks around the word.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35119962359733423462016-04-12T15:33:46.953-04:002016-04-12T15:33:46.953-04:00I really wonder about the (real or faux) sensitivi...I really wonder about the (real or faux) sensitivity of some people who are affronted by a playful puzzle theme where the answers are in FUR COATs. The same thing happens when the word "gun" appears in a puzzle. Does anyone really think that certain answers in a crossword puzzle portend the decline of our Western society where we eat steak, wear leather jackets, and kill rats in traps? I'd suggest that any PC Vegan PETA members cease doing any crosswords immediately, or at least spare the rest of us their sanctimonious comments.<br /><br />Anyway, IA is just fine. In the last three years I have caught 11 raccoons IN A TRAP, a humane one, and relocated them to a lovely forested area near a river. I've done this in an attempt to prevent them from annually tearing up my lawn. I'm not a fuss ass about this lawn, but it does make an unholy mess when these critters ravage it. <br /><br />Other than that, this was a lovely, easy, puzzle that held more interest for me than most Tuesdays do.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68964659090216601822016-04-12T13:58:05.513-04:002016-04-12T13:58:05.513-04:00Solid Steinberg--except for the odd use of the wor...Solid Steinberg--except for the odd use of the word "worn" in the revealer clue, IMO.<br /><br />So a FUSEBOX "wore" a fox FURCOAT, and OTTOPREMINGER "wore" an otter, etc.? In what sense did these theme entries "wear" a FURCOAT?<br /><br />OK, I know, the coats were somehow "wrapped" around them. But the idea still strikes me as odd<br /><br />leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45204664349696539862016-04-12T13:43:00.681-04:002016-04-12T13:43:00.681-04:00Almost got “trapped” at 1a, but that seemed to obv...Almost got “trapped” at 1a, but that seemed to obvious, so I check the crosses for potential Ps, THEN it came to me and it was a cruise to the finish. Didn’t realize it was a DS puz until done. But now I’m not surprised.<br /><br />I can respect anybody’s position on the FURCOAT deal, but then what about a leather coat, or shoes, gloves, etc. (and don’t tell me that’s just the leftovers from making burger). Where to draw the line? And synthetics use petrochemicals – better or worse? Should we all just be SUITED in cotton (or silk at night)? There’s no winning that argument, so don’t start it.<br /><br />As long as we’re playing this word game, how about NATasha fatALE for a fictional yeah baby. Can’t bring myself to use MAME or MAMIE.<br /><br />I see ASSUAGE and get hungry for a bratwurst. Need new bifocals.<br /><br />I used to be a bit afraid of a DS puz, but now look forward to them. Always better than PAR.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88029084378468366952016-04-12T11:16:34.362-04:002016-04-12T11:16:34.362-04:00Hand up for the byline shudder--especially after y...Hand up for the byline shudder--especially after yesterday's debacle. And like OFL, I abandoned the NW (for me, again!) and started as far away as I could, in the SE. It actually wasn't too tough; about right for a Tuesday. Thus the foundering ship is righted. Starting there helped with the themers; it was easy to see what was going on. I plunked down OTTOPREMINGER as a straight gimme, though OTTER is not what I'd first think of as a FUR.<br /><br />BTW, I'm glad that so little fuss was made over the subject. I feared the PETA contingent would get all out of joint; perhaps (I thought) M. Steinberg should have included a disclaimer note: "No animal was harmed in the construction of this puzzle." Similarly, no one seemed unduly offended by SWM; I was, but only because it's bad fill. Hey, maybe the Age of Taking Offense is drawing to an END? We can hope.<br /><br />Seven stacks on a Tuesday is pretty ambitious, but after all, youth owns ambition. This one's not up there with the greats, but surely belongs solidly in the second tier. The main problem here is too many threes; perforce there's going to be some dreck in there. SWM next to OHHI is rough but difficult to avoid because of the theme entries. AHH gives us a most improbable second double-H entry. These are relatively minor quibbles, though. Good puz. B+.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52365219241464633972016-04-12T09:07:24.720-04:002016-04-12T09:07:24.720-04:00MESHUGA TOUR
IRENE, if MINUTESTEAK hours, THEN I ...MESHUGA TOUR<br /><br />IRENE, if MINUTESTEAK hours, THEN I hope<br />we’re not INATRAP and IMFINE with our date.<br />If our SEOULs are well-SUITED, we might ELOPE,<br />but what a TRAVAIL if you’re a STALEMATE.<br /><br />--- THANE NATALE<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59544120431437720492016-04-12T08:23:56.456-04:002016-04-12T08:23:56.456-04:00Just wondering - did anyone else cause him/herself...Just wondering - did anyone else cause him/herself problems by answering 30A ("____ shark" as "LAND" instead of "LOAN?"The Cranky Avengerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16162804087772536766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70764599914561153442016-04-11T15:01:53.714-04:002016-04-11T15:01:53.714-04:00Held out way too long on number"9"for 90...Held out way too long on number"9"for 90s fad.Better than usual Monday puzzle!teach44https://www.blogger.com/profile/15878432230213855984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41011806813044331422016-03-09T01:12:46.797-05:002016-03-09T01:12:46.797-05:00"What's snood?"
"Not much. What..."What's snood?"<br />"Not much. What's <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=snoods&rlz=1CASMAE_enUS635US635&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiy-KWu3rLLAhXDND4KHVxQB44Q_AUICCgC&biw=1248&bih=582#tbm=isch&tbs=rimg%3ACb5XudeuCyVXIjh0c8hxkWSNy3SWH4QsshGFfpLbM_1x1wB-T4sHLaXkNqAHmckFOH0kR93_14AkXyjOF7jOIk5Y-gVyoSCXRzyHGRZI3LEeYKpRtFAHorKhIJdJYfhCyyEYURg-VJhlGRl6UqEgl-ktsz_1HXAHxF9KQzFhw_1sJSoSCZPiwctpeQ2oEfQsvCfRkl4-KhIJAeZyQU4fSRERdK7G0au9U78qEgn3f_1gCRfKM4RFJ_1Qt5CYHOtioSCXuM4iTlj6BXES0_1kpC_1JSp8&q=hair%20snoods&imgrc=vle5164LJVeN3M%3A" rel="nofollow"> snood</a> with you?"<br /><br />Guess AORTA 'pologize to anyone who was expecting the Venous de Milo in the nood, and in general not try to squeeze off a comment when I'm pressed for time.<br /><br />@Chuck McG, not to worry: the LLSL is constructed of subunits with a high elastomer content. I've heard it's very adaptable.<br /><br />@McGILLIcuddy, I read your Mary FUR story aloud at the dinner TABLE. By the time we got to the 3 pups part, 100% of the audience was hiding its collective face in its hands; at the end, I could bearly choke out the ofFending words. You sure did good with your doing good!!<br /><br />AHH yes, the puzzle! I also was TRAPPED at first, and went one better with NAIFS for RUBES. Got sufficiently sorted out in the NW to have circles around FOX and SOX, so promptly assumed the theme was "Steinberg: The Seussical". Got sorted out enough to see our furry-coated friends, but obviously didn't immediately appreciate how well they were wrapped. <br /><br />Now that I do, I've come to the rather serpentine realization that a cottonmouth is not the same as MOUth_cotTON. Trying for better, I searched for my old MOUntaineering_piTON, and was surprised to find a MOUse_skeleTON in the back of the drawer. All this may just be a load of sheep, or quite POSSibly bunkUM, but we can't all embrue it with the SEx appeAL that David Steinberg does.<br /><br />Night, all.Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76091272717483308272016-03-08T20:05:47.214-05:002016-03-08T20:05:47.214-05:00To echo others (only that after "and")
F...To echo others (only that after "and")<br />Funny, I'm over 3 times David Steinberg's age and have been liking his puzzles. Easy or difficult, I can eventually get where he's going with his oft devious clues and mix of solid "stuff."<br /><br />@Martel Moopsbane 12:13 PM: FUSEBOX in a car? Works for me!<br /><br />Cheers Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14124431793780560248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67506173460526338112016-03-08T19:32:35.436-05:002016-03-08T19:32:35.436-05:00Mark McPherson to Waldo Lydecker in Laura :"A...Mark McPherson to Waldo Lydecker in Laura :"A dame got a fox fur out of me once". Is that the reason for the Laura poster Rex?Hedy La Knishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01395194534876085419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76237098420671098912016-03-08T15:43:33.324-05:002016-03-08T15:43:33.324-05:00NW was annoyingly hard, I hate when puzzles start ...NW was annoyingly hard, I hate when puzzles start that way. The rest was cupcakes and milk. I could barely muster interest to go back to NW and finish, but I did, just to do it. AAH is not how you spell aah, except in weak puzzles, ugh.xyzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08287781952915413013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44045708774356361102016-03-08T15:29:58.616-05:002016-03-08T15:29:58.616-05:00@ young gun...Mame is a classic musical, and Antie...@ young gun...Mame is a classic musical, and Antie Mame was both a novel and a movie. I don't think that is obscure. I actually love one song from the musical, not "Mame," which was done by several big stars, but "You're my best girl." <br /><br />This was a lovely, smooth Tuesday with no Natiks. So much easier, and better than yesterday's puzzle, after with I was completely "Dapped out." I love David's cluing.<br /><br />OISKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808675378318214461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20389423618567057652016-03-08T14:57:16.044-05:002016-03-08T14:57:16.044-05:00'Is autonym an autonym?' is an iambic tetr...'Is <i>autonym</i> an autonym?' is an iambic tetrameter query.Anna Paestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72498909167582284882016-03-08T14:43:17.156-05:002016-03-08T14:43:17.156-05:00Did Tony Parker of the USA Today Crossword get fir...Did Tony Parker of the USA Today Crossword get fired over the plagiarism flap? I noticed his name is not on the byline of today's USA Today puzzle. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04829649300756101930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74947372103627062382016-03-08T14:24:06.723-05:002016-03-08T14:24:06.723-05:00Hey, there's snoods, and then there's snoo...Hey, there's snoods, and then there's <a href="https://www.google.com/doodles/international-womens-day-2016" rel="nofollow">snoods</a>. 'Course,it hadn't snood here all winter. Not like in BYTEuminous country.<br /><br />This would've been a good grid to work in Hermione (Gingold or Granger). Anyone else here find the I Ching vanilla?<br /><br />That's all fur now.<br /><br />FAB job, David! One of the GRATER Tuesdays.<br /><br />Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38156927124227966912016-03-08T14:16:48.585-05:002016-03-08T14:16:48.585-05:00Being a huge fan of the band Meshuggah helped me i...Being a huge fan of the band Meshuggah helped me in the north west :). Man I love them.Music Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03813263551995292402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30318213753863674832016-03-08T13:32:06.442-05:002016-03-08T13:32:06.442-05:00I would have finished in record time were it not f...I would have finished in record time were it not for the fact tha my brain went on pause and I missed that I had entered oSSUAGE and oHH. <br /><br />@GILL I, I loved your story about FUR (aka Mary) and her COAT. My father grew up in the depression in an area where they still depended on hunting and fishing to augment their diet. Trout and venison were a regular part of his diet. My grandmother apparently beat my Dad when when she found, not an OTTER but a seal pup, in the bathtub. Even though the seal pup was kicked out of the house he managed to rescue any number of odd creatures. When we were kids, he taught us all how the catch squirrels and chipmunks IN A box TRAP, but always made us let them go. <br /><br />The same grandmother gave my sister and I two of her FOX stoles for our dress up play. They came complete with glass eyes and the paws were fully intact with the original claws. The body wrapped around the back of our neck and was fastened together in the front with a snap sewn into the FUR so that the back legs and paws dangled down in front on one side of our neck and the head and front legs danglling down the other In retrospect it seems really macabre to wear a dead animal around your neck, but at the time my sister and I thought we were quite elegant, . When we were older, my brother actually bought a Candian Red FOX. Charlie the FOX was untamable even though my brother bought him as a kit. As son as he was a year old escaped to his freedom in the forest behind our house, and my brother reports that people still spot an ocaissional red fox among the typically gray foxes in that area. <br /><br />@Mickey Bell, believe it or not, I live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and still had a FUSE BOX that required glass fuses until the landlord finally decided to upgrade the system two years ago, Aketihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07059835429995060000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68613010565164250512016-03-08T13:31:36.311-05:002016-03-08T13:31:36.311-05:00Played very easy here. New speed record for a Tues...Played very easy here. New speed record for a Tuesday. Going golfing now. Chronic dnferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05129538196003383400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83043364732246256682016-03-08T13:28:24.848-05:002016-03-08T13:28:24.848-05:00After a long spell of "meh," it looks li...After a long spell of "meh," it looks like NYTC is coming back and reminding me why I enjoy this little hobby. <br /><br />While not a fan of fur (even if I were a Russian Tsaress I would forgo the fur in favor of a fancy fleece), my ailing mother-in-law was, and since she also lived on St. John for a while and declared it her favorite spot on earth (and she would know, having visited or lived in most corners of our little ball in space), I will forgive the un-PC inclusion here today. That's a run-on sentence with an inexcusable amount of alliteration, but today my memories are running on, so you will have to forgive me as well.Kimberlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02269065328203543183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31181633445581017962016-03-08T13:27:57.281-05:002016-03-08T13:27:57.281-05:00Besides her bangs and pink dresses Mamie (Eisenhow...Besides her bangs and pink dresses Mamie (Eisenhower) was known for her fur capes, coats and wraps. Just a small piece of trivia that DS may or may not have intended!:-)Vancouver Nanahttp://comcast.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30312411666743281762016-03-08T13:16:18.853-05:002016-03-08T13:16:18.853-05:00Total agreement with Lord Rex today. Thank heaven...Total agreement with Lord Rex today. Thank heaven for gimme PAX making FUSEBOX likely or our lights would have gone out in the NW for sure.<br /><br />Thanks for posting "Laura" up there Rex, a favorite here. My sons were arguing recently as to whether the old man (me) watched that or "The Third Man" more.<br /><br />@Lobster11 (8:17) - "David Steinberg . . . and I must just live on different planets." I remember seeing photographic evidence placing David in Philadelphia with the late, great Bernice Gordon on or about her 100th birthday. He is also aware of the work of the famous director OTTO PREMINGER. Solid evidence in my book as to which of the two of you is the Earthling.Mohair Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502840715719161565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80421535648503663482016-03-08T13:09:55.388-05:002016-03-08T13:09:55.388-05:00I was nearly IN A TRAP in the NW, having put down ...I was nearly IN A TRAP in the NW, having put down TRAPped at 1A and ASSETS at 3D reinforcing it but 4D got me sprung from that mess. And the AaH vs. AHH at 57D cost me a few extra dabs of black ink. Otherwise this RAN pretty smoothly. <br /><br />I thought the choice of different FURCOATs was an odd one for a puzzle theme but David did a great job of it. I fell for a rabbit fur coat at a sample sale in NYC one time but decided my status as a vegetarian/pescatarian would not support such a purchase. My friend, with no such qualms, came home with a shearling full-length coat. <br /><br />JUNIPER was a gimme - we have several on our property and every year the cedar waxwings hang around for a day or so on their way north, eating the berries and making sure a few new trees sprout up during the growing season.<br /><br />As @Lewis points out, the clue for YEN was very nice though I missed it during my solve.<br /><br />Nice Tuesday with a little crunch, thanks DS.Teedmnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12832353448839187816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77999389888543946932016-03-08T13:09:17.352-05:002016-03-08T13:09:17.352-05:00I had the same write-overs as @RooMonster. Regard...I had the same write-overs as @RooMonster. Regarding cringing at certain constructors per @Lobster11, David Klahn is my undoing. Or in crosswordese, Mr Klahn you are my bete noir!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04829649300756101930noreply@blogger.com