tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post754555904460570733..comments2024-03-29T01:22:33.864-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Hip-hopper's headgear / MON 9-3-12 / Pyramid-shaped hotel in Vegas / Cookie trayful / Old jalopies / Big containers in tavernRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27611431739222976972021-12-19T17:19:39.797-05:002021-12-19T17:19:39.797-05:00I'm a reactionary on STOKE: my Oxford referenc...I'm a reactionary on STOKE: my Oxford references (see https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/stoke) all show that stoking a fire refers to adding fuel. The metaphorical uses are compatible with either that meaning, or simply riling up emotions, but the literal, oxidation-based meaning appears to require fuel.Prunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224476641730508311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67964050041298092952012-10-08T22:39:07.370-04:002012-10-08T22:39:07.370-04:00Late again, but here goes. @DMG You were right the...Late again, but here goes. @DMG You were right the first time. According to Wiki, DENE is a British word for dune, sand hill. I know I've seen it in other puzzles many times.<br /><br />@Petrovich1248 AD-IN is a situation that occurs after 'deuce' (40/40) in tennis. If the server wins the 'deuce' point it is said to be AD-IN, if the receiver wins, it is AD-OUT. It is a rather archaic term. I haven't heard it used in years. I also would like to welcome you to the Syndiland corner of Rexville.<br /><br />Ida Lupino was a feminist, before feminism became feminism. She directed several movies and many TV shows, all at a time when women were still cinematic objects. She also wrote many of her projects. Very interesting person.Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74233558302504815772012-10-08T20:36:47.882-04:002012-10-08T20:36:47.882-04:00Puzzle originally appeared on Labor Day and now it...Puzzle originally appeared on Labor Day and now it reappears on Columbus Day - Syndication synchronicity!<br /><br />Weekend puzzle partner undertook to do this on ther own and did remarkably well, considering that I was sitting next to her making unintelligible noises the whole time. Her only writeover was aHa/OHO, which made perfect sense if you hadn't already put in BEBOP. Ultimately she (we) ended with a Natick at the ELeL/LeXOR cross - but at least we knew it wasn't ELaL!<br /><br />@Petrovich 1248 - If I'm not mistaken, this is your first comment here in syndiland. Your thoughts on the puzzle are a welcome addition to the conversation here. I hope you'll come back often.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59063460559502621312012-10-08T14:52:37.214-04:002012-10-08T14:52:37.214-04:00I stand corrected. Depending on the dictionary yo...I stand corrected. Depending on the dictionary you consulr "dene" means either an ethnic group or a valley. Something new every day.DMGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86028618798249206252012-10-08T13:50:38.732-04:002012-10-08T13:50:38.732-04:00Happy Monday! A smooth solve with only a pause to...Happy Monday! A smooth solve with only a pause to replace aHa with OHO. Agree with those who found RATTLY hard on the ear. As as for "dene", I I thought puzzles had taught me that it is the British word for "dune"- shall have to look that up. Now for the Captcha!DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38942170818599301402012-10-08T13:20:20.831-04:002012-10-08T13:20:20.831-04:00BTW: STOKE means to "stir up." You use ...BTW: STOKE means to "stir up." You use a stoker, a long metal tool, to stoke the fire. You'd have a hard time adding wood or other fuel to a fire using a stoker. Also, when you "stoke up" an angry mob, you stir them or rile them up. David Bowmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14673241422745751614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21622115996212855552012-10-08T13:04:55.937-04:002012-10-08T13:04:55.937-04:0056A: ORTS is new to me. 29D: ADIN left me complet...56A: ORTS is new to me. 29D: ADIN left me completely perplexed. And the fact that the word describes a "situation after deuce" is even more confusing. This must be some obscure reference to a game with which I am not familiar. A comment on 60D: ALI: He was self-proclaimed "the greatest." He pretty much invented the obnoxious practice of athletes disavowing any semblance of humility. You never heard him say, "Thank you for the compliment. I just try to do my best." In fact, you would have never had the chance to say that. By the time you opened your mouth, he would have already let you know that, in his mind, he was "the greatest." 49D: I have a bone to pick here. Pixies are "pixielike," gnomes are "gnomelike," and elves are "elfin." By the same token, pixies are not "elfin." Seems obvious to me. As for 39A: TEPEE, the Utes are a tribe of the Great Basin. My old college textbook on North American Indians, by Merwyn S. Garbarino, states that all Great Basin tribes used a wickiup - not a TEPEE. On 14A: ELUL, I guess I need to memorize all the Hebrew month names. Or not.David Bowmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14673241422745751614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66526248850542916582012-10-08T10:47:48.525-04:002012-10-08T10:47:48.525-04:00An easy do, theme OK. Remarkably inconsistent with...An easy do, theme OK. Remarkably inconsistent with the fill. On one hand, clunkers like SSS and INHD--but take a look at the NE corner. All actual WORDS! A thing of beauty. Too bad they don't all work out like that. I'll give it thumbs-up for the shout-out to one of my favorite authors, ISAAC Asimov. If you have yet to read the Foundation trilogy, please do.<br /><br />And now to prove that I'm not one of his favorite subjects: a robot.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42156371963636621312012-09-04T03:52:48.974-04:002012-09-04T03:52:48.974-04:00PS Make that "I would ChanGE (not chanCe) LE...PS Make that "I would ChanGE (not chanCe) LEECH/LICE"<br /><br />And I sort of missed @Joho. 's clever, and lettercount appropriate suggestions of GAZILLION and CABOODLES as reveals.<br /><br />@Carola. Great observation about RAFT and someone else's about ETAL.<br />I suspect this puzzle will grow on folks in retrospect!Acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88260803782760759802012-09-04T03:39:40.664-04:002012-09-04T03:39:40.664-04:00I thought this was an almost perfect Monday...TONS...I thought this was an almost perfect Monday...TONS of fill, nice consistency with all the Ss, and Scrabbly.<br /><br />The words that preceded the HEAPS and SCORES were fun and intriguing...<br />BOX, JUNK, BEER ...i couldn't wait for the reveal thinking it would unify those words!<br /><br />Plus lots of CRISP clues , like Burned to a CRISP, Old jalopies, "Caught you redhanded!"... The puzzle had a rhythm.<br /><br />@syndy,<br />LOL...but I didn't know that's what the 500 stood for till just now!<br /><br />The only think I would chance is the LEECH/LICE crossing, icky images, depressing clues.<br /><br />(And fwiw, DENe IS good in Scrabble...<br />It means "a valley")<br /><br />Surprised that folks are putting down QUITEAFEW...the Q is fab; the puzz didn't even need a reveal, but there was a 9 letter phrase to match BOXSCORES...What's not to like?<br /><br />I appreciate the compliment @jackj, but I can't think of a better reveal...maybe $#i%LOADS, but that was taken with WORKLOADS. TONSANDTONS?<br /><br />I dunno, kind of hard, but I liked! KIOSK, the Japanese subtheme @rex mentioned, the fact that the quantities were presented with different meanings (particularly LOTS AND SCORES)<br /> I actually made lots of mistakes initially, PARKINGLane, WORKLists, etc. (maybe I need a car, to drink alcohol and a job to get these right off the bat, but I got LUXOR without blinking, damnit!)<br /><br />And if we are recommending films, LUXOR reminded me of this fantastic documentary ("The Queen of Versailles") whose protagonist is married to the man who built the Westgate timeshares in Vegas which is now bankrupt.<br /><br />Aloha Crisp Milesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37431063641912747242012-09-04T02:28:51.289-04:002012-09-04T02:28:51.289-04:00Rex, Dene is a group of native tribes and their la...Rex, Dene is a group of native tribes and their language in Northern Csnada, but of course it doesn't fit the clue!<br /><br />But given the 2 Es and the common D and N, it would make some good fill somedaydbleader61https://www.blogger.com/profile/10821463917415577147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90172547259462445062012-09-03T20:11:05.512-04:002012-09-03T20:11:05.512-04:00Had to be easy. Like @John in Philly under ten is...Had to be easy. Like @John in Philly under ten is greaat for me. Had aHa before OHO, Ity before IST. Agree with meh for the reveal. What bothers me, per my OCD, is that there are a bunch of clues I didn't even see. I do like my plodding all across, all downs way.<br /><br />Always look for the Union label...Happy Labor Day.Sparkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11149915526159432838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-894221269548081182012-09-03T15:31:18.058-04:002012-09-03T15:31:18.058-04:00I liked this puzzle because I finished it in under...I liked this puzzle because I finished it in under 10 minutes - my benchmark for a good Monday!! John in Phillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41795591167890824312012-09-03T15:26:22.972-04:002012-09-03T15:26:22.972-04:00What's so bad about RATTLY? It made me think o...What's so bad about RATTLY? It made me think of <a href="http://content.sixflags.com/newfor2013/fiestatexas/iron-rattler" rel="nofollow">this!</a>Doc Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52910194901126996752012-09-03T14:53:39.866-04:002012-09-03T14:53:39.866-04:00RATTLY is a legitimate word. In nursing, we use it...RATTLY is a legitimate word. In nursing, we use it to describe a person's breathing or lung sounds when they are in the end stages of CHF and are filling up with water.Miettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58343749142257326732012-09-03T13:38:49.378-04:002012-09-03T13:38:49.378-04:00@Z -- I agree with you about ELUL as I indicated i...@Z -- I agree with you about ELUL as I indicated in my initial post. It's LUXOR where we part ways on the 1/4 requirement. Plus, @Cheerio & Karnak, there's the Egypt thing...jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19222182820054559682012-09-03T12:53:46.136-04:002012-09-03T12:53:46.136-04:00Theres also that pyramid - Egypt connection.Theres also that pyramid - Egypt connection.Cheeriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919455386774076690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8246413856414015682012-09-03T12:37:48.225-04:002012-09-03T12:37:48.225-04:00One might have been able to intuit LUXOR, as oppos...One might have been able to intuit LUXOR, as opposed to LAXOR, from the city of LUXOR, once Thebes, the sight of the ruins of the Temples of Karnak and Luxor.<br /><br />You didn't think anyone in Vegas actually came up with a name on their own, rather than copying from something already famous, did you?Karnak the Magnificentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75869470541661705922012-09-03T12:23:41.471-04:002012-09-03T12:23:41.471-04:00"1/500th of indy 500" seriously that clu..."1/500th of indy 500" seriously that clue is RATTLY!syndyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16814698406887041710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89527128351835655582012-09-03T12:15:58.040-04:002012-09-03T12:15:58.040-04:00That would be "...less than 1/4th ... are fam...That would be "...less than 1/4th ... are familiar...Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45309996588355036792012-09-03T12:11:26.489-04:002012-09-03T12:11:26.489-04:00@jae - to quote the FAQ page - "NATICK PRINCI...@jae - to quote the FAQ page - "NATICK PRINCIPLE — 'If you include a proper noun in your grid that you cannot reasonably expect more than 1/4 of the solving public to have heard of, you must cross that noun with reasonably common words and phrases or very common names.'" <br /><br />I think it certainly plausible that less than 1/4th of Monday solvers are unfamiliar with LUXOR. ELUL may be "reasonably common" in some circles, but not in mine. I got the "U" using the Evan principle, being totally unfamiliar with both the Jewish Calendar and Casinos outside of Detroit except for their occasional appearances in xword puzzles.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37432985449539668582012-09-03T12:05:34.523-04:002012-09-03T12:05:34.523-04:00Hand up for RATTLE for the same reason as Rex. Li...Hand up for RATTLE for the same reason as Rex. Like JackJ, I thought the puzzle lacked spark for a Monday. <br /><br />@mac -- OPP for opposite<br /><br />Happy Labor Day! Don't work too hard.Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13061503892715472802012-09-03T11:53:50.654-04:002012-09-03T11:53:50.654-04:00@glimmerglass -- OCD works for me also. If I in a...@glimmerglass -- OCD works for me also. If I in any way purchased it, I need to do it. Thats one of the reasons I was glad to drop my subscription to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Their local puzzle sucked. The LA Times is a much better place to be.<br /><br />@Z -- I disagree on the Natick potential of LUXOR/ELUL. First, I don't recall seeing ELAL clued with any thing other than some sort of airline reference and second, unless the laxative industry has a hotel in Vegas I don't know about... jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29821766602801474242012-09-03T11:38:12.638-04:002012-09-03T11:38:12.638-04:00Easy-medium Monday, quite good. A couple of write-...Easy-medium Monday, quite good. A couple of write-overs: pedis for the very old perms, and the y in rattly. <br /><br />I don't understand 35D OPP for "Like an antonym", but it appeared through crosses. Also never heard of box scores.<br /><br />Happy Labor Day!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66081634587074690192012-09-03T11:32:29.014-04:002012-09-03T11:32:29.014-04:00@Mel Ott - I wondered about the UTES/TEPEE connect...@Mel Ott - I wondered about the UTES/TEPEE connection myself. A search of the internets suggests that they did use tepees at least part of the time in part of their range, so good enough for a crossword answer.Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.com