tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post7385483358333436273..comments2024-03-28T20:49:13.267-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Talking toy since 1965 / SUN 12-6-15 / Food service giant based in Houston / Big Easy lunch / Blowtube projectile / Fictional Potawatomi tribesman / Punk subgenre / Druggists implements / 2013 Spike Jonze dramedy / Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14871182798174855392015-12-14T14:35:27.154-05:002015-12-14T14:35:27.154-05:00Rondo@7:56 PM - It used to be the case that RWD ve...Rondo@7:56 PM - It used to be the case that RWD vehicles all used U-joints. But once CV joints had come into common use in FWD vehicles, where they are required for smooth steering, their obvious advantages of less vibration, and therefore less wear, resulted in their gradually replacing U-joints even in RWDs, first at the rear axle-half ends, and eventually in the driveshaft as well. The weakness of the CV joint is the difficulty of keeping it lubricated and free of contamination. They are typically enclosed in a rubber boot, but once the boot cracks, the joint begins to deteriorate. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77245125744446897862015-12-14T12:13:49.567-05:002015-12-14T12:13:49.567-05:00Since when is being a "commonly known thing&q...Since when is being a "commonly known thing" a requirement for NYT crossword fill? <br /><br />And besides, after oil filters, air filters and wiper blades, the CV joint is probably the most commonly replaced part on most modern cars. I would guess that makes it more "commonly known" than, oh, say, PIA mater. I, for one, was grateful for some fresh fill that derives from the normal range of human experience, rather than academic or showbiz arcana.<br /><br />I thought the theme was on the weak side but still fun, the cluing terrific, and the difficulty just right for a Sunday puzzle. More like this, please!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86396908724604122882015-12-14T08:54:29.687-05:002015-12-14T08:54:29.687-05:00@Bay Gelldawg - Rams are known for BUTTING their e...@Bay Gelldawg - Rams are known for BUTTING their enemies with their heads.Aries (not the constructor)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4436835210055889332015-12-13T21:45:03.271-05:002015-12-13T21:45:03.271-05:00I had a hard time sounding out the presumed drawls...I had a hard time sounding out the presumed drawls, not discovering what sounds I should be incorporating into the theme answers.<br /><br />Was it a southern drawl? western plains? Appalachian? Some kind of generic drawl? Hell if I knew, and I still don't know<br /><br />Consequently, I messed up the long themers and several crossers, ending in a big DNF.<br /><br />I may just be an idiot with an excuse. leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78850785338400158972015-12-13T20:26:02.166-05:002015-12-13T20:26:02.166-05:00I was hoping to find an explanation here for 1 acr...I was hoping to find an explanation here for 1 across.<br /><br />I just don't get how "Butter?" = Ram.<br /><br />Would someone please explain?Bay Gelldawgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79320885297005554232015-12-13T19:56:40.901-05:002015-12-13T19:56:40.901-05:00@PVX, aren't they UJOINTS for RWD?@PVX, aren't they UJOINTS for RWD?rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29099037638513049302015-12-13T17:55:53.910-05:002015-12-13T17:55:53.910-05:00I would point out that CV joints are not only in F...I would point out that CV joints are not only in FWD cars. If you have a rear wheel drive car with independent suspension then you have 2 CV joints per side in the rear. You also have them in a RWD driveshaft. AnonymousPVXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09816877873700026508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77521540939454190302015-12-13T17:07:25.527-05:002015-12-13T17:07:25.527-05:00@Mike D and @anon 5:48: This is the kind of nonsen...@Mike D and @anon 5:48: This is the kind of nonsense up with which I shall not put. A perfect sphere would require a surface with no hills or mountains or valleys or trenches--and of course, un-flattened poles. Barring such minor irregularities, what other geometrical shape would you assign to Earth? Should we call it a cube? Bah. BTW, I didn't even try PLANET because that looked too obvious.<br /><br />And the PRIAM comment: strange that it includes "well-readness (is that a word? So what if it isn't?)" Okay, so what if the constructor assumes a long I? You can't nitpick one mistake and then turn around and "so-what" another. We English speakers are accustomed to assigning the long I to that name; none of my profs ever considered that a big deal. Why do you? Could it be because you DNF?spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79309016526021805742015-12-13T14:18:17.473-05:002015-12-13T14:18:17.473-05:00Finished this puz in an ORDERLY fashion with only ...Finished this puz in an ORDERLY fashion with only DaLe and Igor as write-overs. The silly drawling reminded me of Scott Bakula on NCIS: New Orleans. <br /><br />Finally a SVEN to go with all of the previous OLEs. You’ll get that for sure if youre from MN.<br /><br />We’ve got a PIA and a DANA, but not clued as yeah babies. Dr. Frankenstein, not exactly to then yeah baby Teri as INGA: “What knockers!”<br /><br />SNL fans want Vanessa to wear BAYERMINIMUM. <br /><br />TOOL is in DEPALMA, HER hand, mon AMI.<br /><br />Great character name from GOLDENEYE: Xenia Onatopp<br />MINIMUM humor derived; puz was OK I GUESS.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59045514751842568352015-12-13T13:55:06.647-05:002015-12-13T13:55:06.647-05:00SEENSAY BAYERMINIMUM
I GUESS it’s ETHICAL and wit...SEENSAY BAYERMINIMUM<br /><br />I GUESS it’s ETHICAL and within the SPHERE,<br />ISLET HER polish my POLEVAULT shoes ALLYEAR<br />for LUCK, that LIL DOLL let ONLY me do HER,<br />so I IMPLORE, don’t SPEAKTO my PRETTYSHOER.<br /><br />--- TONTO DEPALMA<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51564407398023619972015-12-13T13:00:45.160-05:002015-12-13T13:00:45.160-05:00Hand up for cOARSE and the WOE-ness of CVJOINT, bu...Hand up for cOARSE and the WOE-ness of CVJOINT, but otherwise a Berry nice experience. Dayum, as his drawlers or @M&A might say, he's good. A.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33424744880113712232015-12-13T12:55:03.995-05:002015-12-13T12:55:03.995-05:00This is a fun piece of fluff that I found easy. C...This is a fun piece of fluff that I found easy. CV JOINT, SYSCO, and SEE N SAY, were gimmes, and I liked the imagined drawl sound. Not really a drawl, but with FEAR OF HYATTS, you get the idea pretty quickly. <br /><br />Interesting, or maybe just weird, that many CATs is a clowder. With the cats I've had, clawder would be closer to the truth. <br /><br />Nice to have a big Sunday puzzle I could just rip through.<br /><br />PS Didn't post yesterday, but that was another easy one for me.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40681139718147667692015-12-07T17:48:46.975-05:002015-12-07T17:48:46.975-05:00Solved it without help, but still hated it. "...Solved it without help, but still hated it. "PRIAM REAL ESTATE" especially. The name "Priam" in "The Iliad," referring to the king of Troy, is pronounced PREE-am, not PRY-am in English, so the answer doesn't even work. So much for smarty-pants Patrick Berry, who never misses an opportunity to show off his supposed erudition and well-readness (is that a word? So what if it isn't). He apparently doesn't know how the king of Troy's name is supposed to be pronounced. This puzzle was for the bu-words (birds).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74163383381956454252015-12-06T23:42:36.443-05:002015-12-06T23:42:36.443-05:00@Z - Thanks so much for the Eco documents. I'...@Z - Thanks so much for the Eco documents. I'm a bit sleepy now, will read tomorrow. NB: I seem to remember Giuliani, directly after 9/11, warning that any retribution against NY Muslims would be punished by law. Maruchkanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32514575410014378162015-12-06T21:43:07.415-05:002015-12-06T21:43:07.415-05:00I know I'm late to the game, but the earth is ...I know I'm late to the game, but the earth is most definitely not a SPHERE. A rare wrong answer in a NYT crossword.Mike Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69955908001669471422015-12-06T18:19:55.384-05:002015-12-06T18:19:55.384-05:00@Maruchka, @Numinous. Muchas thank youse....I'...@Maruchka, @Numinous. Muchas thank youse....I'm probably the only person on this blog that doesn't really care for jazz. My husband loves it though. When I get control of the music, I'll stare at the CHOPS of Jonas Kaufmann or Adele. GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14168471969280232792015-12-06T18:16:28.121-05:002015-12-06T18:16:28.121-05:00@Maruchka - Based on Umberto Eco's definition,...@Maruchka - Based on <a href="http://www.pegc.us/archive/Articles/eco_ur-fascism.pdf" rel="nofollow">Umberto Eco's definition</a>, without question. (<a href="http://www.thephora.net/forum/archive/index.php/t-91353.html" rel="nofollow">Here are the same concepts in more list-like form</a>)Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52024760960305561612015-12-06T17:15:59.413-05:002015-12-06T17:15:59.413-05:00@jberg (10:54) -- That's the funniest "ho...@jberg (10:54) -- That's the funniest "how-can-I-get-out-of being-sent-to-Vietnam?" story I've ever heard, while being sad and quite endearing in its complete naivete. (But I'm glad you got out of being drafted another way.) It reminds me of the day before my brother, 5 years younger than I am, with a bad back history inherited from our mother and with a note stating such from an orthopedist, was slated for an army medical examination to determine his draft status. He called me into his room. "I want you to sit on my legs while I do sit-ups," he told me. I said to him: "Come on, you know I can't do that. You could cripple yourself for life!" "GOD DAMN IT, NANCY!" he yelled, 'DO YOU WANT ME TO BE SHOT TO PIECES IN VIETNAM? JUST BLOODY WELL DO IT!!!" So, against my better judgment, I sat on his legs while he did 15 excruciating minutes of sit-ups. When he was finished, he could barely get up off the floor.<br /><br />Needless to say, he flunked his army physical. More effective than chocolate, @jberg.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16737377749030219974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68210037138806339082015-12-06T17:07:25.975-05:002015-12-06T17:07:25.975-05:00Wikipedia says that the first capital of Missouri ...Wikipedia says that the first capital of Missouri was St. Louis. St. Charles was second. Jim in Chicagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14205214265992079172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56349050365962735492015-12-06T16:36:34.450-05:002015-12-06T16:36:34.450-05:00I agree with @Rex that this was kind of a work-a-t...I agree with @Rex that this was kind of a work-a-thon, although PRIAM REAL ESTATE made the effort worthwhile for me.<br /><br />@'mericans, @Mohair Sam, et.al - I also thought of MONDO Cane, although I've never seen it: by reputation, it was way too EDGY for a Midwestern girl.<br /><br />@George Barany - Glad to see there's another volleyball fan here. I say, Go Badgers, but if they can't make it all the way, I'm all for the Gophers. Go Big Ten!Carolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971759975067250908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56673096833431040722015-12-06T16:34:02.395-05:002015-12-06T16:34:02.395-05:00@Paul Johnson: It's been done with the Boston...@Paul Johnson: It's been done with the Boston accent many times as well. Chillax, please. <br />Signed, born a Tarheel/grew up in Boston/moved to California/try to guess what I sound like ;)Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10032302346488486116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26543636064804955432015-12-06T15:59:19.857-05:002015-12-06T15:59:19.857-05:00@Chexkid - Yes, that was a typo in my comment. Si...@Chexkid - Yes, that was a typo in my comment. Since I do the puzzle on paper in ink, and I never attempt to erase, just literally write over, I can't always see what's there, but it is INGA. Also, I do the Sunday puzz on Saturday, while having lunch, while listening to "Ask Me Another" on WNYC. But I can only enter my comments Sunday morning, because I'm too old to stay up until Rex posts at midnight! And at 6 AM on Sunday, I wasn't too attentive.<br /><br />And, yes, @Wm. C. -- I bought more than my share of NECCO wafers at that factory store in Cambridge in the years when I lived in the Baker House dorm at MIT. And had a meal plan that only fed me on weekdays. So I would take extra dinner rolls during the week, wrap them in paper napkins, and save them for the weekend. In the days when college students didn't have TVs, or cars, or credit cards, .....Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73595094623091202842015-12-06T15:33:32.351-05:002015-12-06T15:33:32.351-05:00Have you seen the puzzle that attempted this with,...Have you seen the puzzle that attempted this with, say, a Boston accent? Adding R's where none exist and leaving them out where they belong? Maybe. Maybe not? Would it be offensive? If not, good idea for a theme. LBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13235301676117901791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86934678279847434232015-12-06T14:43:14.321-05:002015-12-06T14:43:14.321-05:00This puzzle was like perfect Sunday-morning pancak...This puzzle was like perfect Sunday-morning pancakes: light and fluffy, with some blueberries, raspberries -- entirely fitting for a Berry puzzle -- and other delicious morsels hiding inside.<br /><br />The <i>"Surely you can't be serious!" "I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"</i> theme was a delight to uncover. Thank you Patrick.AliasZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477396362209386037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16474995792671070872015-12-06T14:19:00.714-05:002015-12-06T14:19:00.714-05:00demit is right... this theme is not Southern accen...demit is right... this theme is not Southern accents. It's simply about creating drawls. A drawl is when you prolong vowel sounds. So writer > rioter, bare > bayer, lines > lions etc. weingolbhttps://medium.com/@weingolbnoreply@blogger.com