tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post7658547107498161308..comments2024-03-28T11:28:57.772-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: 1943 Churchill conference site / FRI 3-4-16 / Worker on London's Savile Row / Shoshone relatives / Harmless slithererRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88791603871085957802016-04-09T06:45:04.200-04:002016-04-09T06:45:04.200-04:002 awards for LOREN for that film - Golden Globes2 awards for LOREN for that film - Golden Globescrabbynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68868776712660314132016-04-08T20:52:20.307-04:002016-04-08T20:52:20.307-04:00The puzzle. Oh. So. Close. That's great for ...The puzzle. Oh. So. Close. That's great for a Friday. Just a few blank squares at the end. <br /><br />So - tho I haven't read the comments yet, I'll just say I enjoyed this.<br /><br />And, I'm seriously considering the Minn Tourney in June. Sounds like @Rondo and @Teedmn are as well. Anyone else.?<br /><br />Lady DiDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69010971105679395492016-04-08T16:42:03.967-04:002016-04-08T16:42:03.967-04:00Just a quick twofer as opposed to a TWO STEP, for ...Just a quick twofer as opposed to a TWO STEP, for yesterday's puzzle as well as today's. I had no time to attempt yesterday's until the evening, and I struggled with it until CARD SHARP/DEFLATEGATE appeared, having already thought FLAT was involved (GOT A FLAT). ENHARMONIC and FANGIRL were unknowns which only came from crosses. Otherwise, I thought it was a good, creative puzzle.<br /><br />Today's was pretty easy as the long downs just came to me, sort of like an analog of perfect pitch, or some such. Couldn't believe that Bill Russell didn't also win 6 MVPs. Robbery. <br /><br />Strange back and forth about perfect pitch today. Some people have it-most don't. If that isn't a gift, I don't know what is. Good clue. <br /><br />As a former cub scout, AKELA was a gimme as were ROCA (mystified why that caused problems), and EDOM. Liked it.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24731991415345358602016-04-08T16:06:32.261-04:002016-04-08T16:06:32.261-04:00Sorry @Anon 12:13 five weeks ago, but this puz was...Sorry @Anon 12:13 five weeks ago, but this puz was about as easy as a Friday can get. So your use of THE word “execrable” fails to impress. Not a hint of a write-over for me, in part due to some restraint in order to check some crosses.<br /><br />I’ve been on both of those train systems. MARTA in Atlanta saved me at least fifty bucks that would have gone on a one-way cab ride.<br /><br />I’ve also been on Savile Row in London. Couldn’t afford those TAILORs’ items on my salary. Especially when THE pound was worth TWO bucks.<br /><br />Apparently, all-time yeah bay Sophia LOREN had a hard time remaining clothed in THE TITLEROLE of THE movie as clued. Yeah baby!!<br /><br />This was a nice easy Fri-puz, exactly when I needed one. $10M worth of work out the door before noon. On a hectic day like today this puz was a GIFT. And thank you Ms. LOREN.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66158587039863263332016-04-08T15:02:56.001-04:002016-04-08T15:02:56.001-04:00I could be a CHEERLEADER for this puzzle, and like...I could be a CHEERLEADER for this puzzle, and liked that entry and its clue the most. ONETWOPUNCH was good, too.<br /><br />Two potential Naticks (for me) were the AKELA/BELA and ADANA/EDOM crossings, but they became apparent in due time.<br /><br />A friendly FRIDAY.<br /><br />leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72675944144895897912016-04-08T12:24:08.452-04:002016-04-08T12:24:08.452-04:00Yes, easy with "Natickal" pockets in thr...Yes, easy with "Natickal" pockets in three corners. I'm ashamed to say I can't name you a single banjoist. Not one. I guess LUGOSI (Mon-Tue) or BARTOK (Wed-Thu) weren't good enough for today. But I did guess BELA because "a Cub Scout follows AKELA" (he's a wolf), and it sounded more believable than BELU (there's that verb "put" again, same in present and past tenses, in the clue for RERAN/RERUN). I didn't know either ADANA or EDOM; the D was a guess just because it "looked right." And IBO??? Wha??? Ya got me. For the candy, I picked out the vowel that sounded like...I dunno, candy. Three guesses, all correct: a ONETWO(THREE)PUNCH!<br /><br />Speaking of, just what is and is not allowed re duplication in a grid? The two TWO's seem a clear violation, unless there really is no rule, in which case anything goes. I wish somebody would clear that up. Again today no babes, though plenty of CHEERLEADERS qualify. There was this green-skinned girl in a STTOS episode called MARTA, but her time on screen was all too brief. Garth (that's LORD Garth to you!) sent her to the unbreathable outdoors. Meanie.<br /><br />Lots of nice, long, REAL WORDS (!) for a change made this a TOLERABLE solve. Liked the Papa and subway mini-themes. But IBO?? Yikes! B.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58246931147550516322016-04-08T11:58:21.576-04:002016-04-08T11:58:21.576-04:00BED SET
It took TWOSTEPs to feed her, like a ONET...BED SET<br /><br />It took TWOSTEPs to feed her, like a ONETWOPUNCH,<br />I SLEPT with THE CHEERLEADER, now I OWE her lunch.<br /><br />--- KAROL ABDUL-JABBAR<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49259417861040189262016-03-07T18:56:08.809-05:002016-03-07T18:56:08.809-05:00PDF is not a misdirection; it is wrong. A PDF is ...PDF is not a misdirection; it is wrong. A PDF is a document which might contain images. It is never an image.<br /><br />I also thought that the clue for DREI was wrong, because I've never seen DREI as a noun, but I stand corrected. E.G., "Die Drei von der Tankstelle" is a movie, "the three from the gas station."paulsfohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07721639286466422944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9856278111709562962016-03-05T12:03:13.300-05:002016-03-05T12:03:13.300-05:00@Anonymous9:51 - I'm sorry you don't under...@Anonymous9:51 - I'm sorry you don't understand, but I'm not your confessor so you'll just have to figure it out. Also, I don't think <i>ad hominem</i> means what you think it means. Specifically, I never said anything about your observation, just amazement that you chose to make it.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44738487825166719362016-03-05T09:51:31.771-05:002016-03-05T09:51:31.771-05:00@z
What does my comment say about me?
I don't ...@z<br />What does my comment say about me?<br />I don't understand your ad hominem attack on me. I was merely pointing out that using a lower case g for God is provactive, needlessly so, in my opinion.<br />My identity has nothing to do with that belief or the comment.<br />Further, I fail to see how signing a post with a single letter counts as providing an identity. But I'm game.<br />(signed) eAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50450112521439046422016-03-05T08:43:42.052-05:002016-03-05T08:43:42.052-05:00@Aketi from last night, in re "two-toned 1957...@Aketi from last night, in re "two-toned 1957 Chevy Bel Air:"<br /><br />Funny, just last week I was across the road from the entry gate to our community, getting gasoline for my car. Beside me at the pump was an elderly guy filling his 1956 Bel Air convertible. It was completely restored, inside and out, mint condition, coulda been right off the showroom. <br /><br />The owner said that this was the same model as the new vehicle that he and his bride drove on their cross-country honeymoon 60 years ago. When he located it, it needed lots of work, which he had done. He said that rechroming the accent trim pieces alone cost more than he paid for the Chevy in '56. <br /><br />But it was obviously worth it to him, and --like you-- it was nostalgic for me.Wm. C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49667573626415267092016-03-04T21:22:51.820-05:002016-03-04T21:22:51.820-05:00I hope I'm not the only one who know that &quo...I hope I'm not the only one who know that "No Gentlemen Date Accusing Abigail."Alysiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05852273461889866415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86885369515243729182016-03-04T21:04:06.236-05:002016-03-04T21:04:06.236-05:00Two Fridays in a row with zero wrong squares, a st...Two Fridays in a row with zero wrong squares, a streak! This week, it took me less than an hour (last week, closer to three).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58494624158216383422016-03-04T21:00:17.298-05:002016-03-04T21:00:17.298-05:00@Nancy, you know very well that I do not have anyw...@Nancy, you know very well that I do not have anywhere near perfect pitch and definitely would never expose anyone to my singing, but I can now recognize the A SHARP an octave above the ASHARp just above middle C because one of my clients was an opera singer. When I weighed her baby on my electronic weighing scale she said that the batteries emitted a barely whine that was exactly that note. I has never noticed it before but now every time I turn on my sake I hear that whine. I am confident that I would be able to pass a test that played that note, nothing like the repetitive irritating nois to have it forever engrained on your brain. Aketihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07059835429995060000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6504833908138260482016-03-04T20:53:30.588-05:002016-03-04T20:53:30.588-05:00@Mohair Sam, great point about IBO/IGBO. I emjoye...@Mohair Sam, great point about IBO/IGBO. I emjoyed Things Fall Apart which had relevance beyond Nigeria. Aketihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07059835429995060000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45244121764705174452016-03-04T19:58:00.136-05:002016-03-04T19:58:00.136-05:00@Oisk, you might like Bela Fleck. Give him a minut...@Oisk, you might like Bela Fleck. Give him a minute or two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQfaNzrQz4M<br />John Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09950142966675472047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34371838170236970312016-03-04T18:49:43.529-05:002016-03-04T18:49:43.529-05:00I thought maybe there was an old-time USAIR. Not s...I thought maybe there was an old-time USAIR. Not so: they were Allegheny, so a major goof there. I'd like to see "Alleghany" clued in an xword as this: "Across the Blue Mountain to the ________). You who know your folk music or love Robin and Linda Williams will appreciate that. One of the best songs ever written, IMO. <br /><br />And I know BELA Fleck because I know Django's music, and therefore all the current musicians who try to do what Django could do. Not that Fleck talks about this, but you can take it as given that any Fleck fan is also a Django fan, and it is amusing to tease you all about this, because half of you will know Django's last name, and half won't. But isn't that why we love crosswords? A good puzzle will have stuff people like me have no clue about, along with stuff that, for instance, fans of public transit will know at once. Like SEPTA and MARTA, and, coming soon, SMART.old timernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44781592436112381872016-03-04T18:12:59.971-05:002016-03-04T18:12:59.971-05:00@Nick Danger - PPP are clue/answer pairs involving...@Nick Danger - PPP are clue/answer pairs involving Pop Culture, Product Names, or other Proper nouns. The math is simply the number of these types of answers divided the word count of the puzzle. So far it seems that anything in the 25% range is not going to generate much hate. At 33%+ there is a high likelihood that some subset of solvers are going to dislike the puzzle. Which subset will depend on lots of other factors. Also, early week (easier) puzzles seem less likely to generate hard feelings. <br /><br />@Anon2:43 - Wow. That you noticed this and found it worthy of commenting on says a whole hell of a lot about you. I can certainly understand why you'd want to remain anonymous. Now, who was it who said ""Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"...Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78368568830450695542016-03-04T17:54:26.895-05:002016-03-04T17:54:26.895-05:00tx Z and JiB for the singular clarification on tri...tx Z and JiB for the singular clarification on triceps......i guess iv'e used most muscle terminology incorrectly for quite a time (and frankly it still sounds wrong to me ;-))<br /><br />i'm still not im'press'ed but since i'm wrong i will accept your onetwopunchrobberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12747915835339738122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58434923792955967972016-03-04T15:28:41.820-05:002016-03-04T15:28:41.820-05:00Agree with just about all the criticisms already s...Agree with just about all the criticisms already stated, although I did finish correctly. Never heard of Bela Fleck, (would have preferred Bartok or Lagosi) or China Achebe, and wouldn't like that clue for IBO even if I had heard of him/her; is a boa constrictor "harmless,"? It is, to humans. So is a garter snake, but both of them are carnivores; try putting a garter snake near a goldfish bowl to see how harmless it is...<br /><br />Guessed right on ZAC and Adana, but knew Edom. Bela and Akela? Bela just seemed a more likely first name than any other choice I could think of. I don't like "train system" clues, because they could be just about any sequence of letters, but both were pretty easy from the crosses. I know LouisCK only from the crosswords, and have never heard an "Aerosmith hit." Almond Roca is just one more product clue that means nothing to me.<br /><br />Still, I was able to finish, which is satisfying after having failed miserably LAST Friday.<br /><br />Still, OISKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808675378318214461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-92214761405595670642016-03-04T15:28:01.630-05:002016-03-04T15:28:01.630-05:00@Z, please explain your rating system. Thanks. @Z, please explain your rating system. Thanks. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03273646378021454879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38554404813262697322016-03-04T15:18:45.665-05:002016-03-04T15:18:45.665-05:00@robber. The triceps is one muscle with three atta...@robber. The triceps is one muscle with three attachment points, or heads. In fact, the name is Latin for "three heads".So it's singular. And while I'm pontificating the biceps is also one muscle with two heads, so it's singular also. Tricep and bicep are just not.Jlbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18039070539781265484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60646777502768984862016-03-04T15:12:30.552-05:002016-03-04T15:12:30.552-05:00totally with Lobster11 on this one. I had a DNF d...totally with Lobster11 on this one. I had a DNF due to the ADANA/EDOM cross. Hate naticks like that cause DNFs. Guessed on the AKEL[A]/N[A]N cross and got that one but two many obscure proper names crossing hurt this puzzle.oldbizmarknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73621335365531961122016-03-04T15:03:49.595-05:002016-03-04T15:03:49.595-05:00I, too, loved the long answers. Beautifully const...I, too, loved the long answers. Beautifully constructed, mostly free of proper nouns. I'd love to watch a constructor figure out that three eleven letter words can stack so fluidly.<br /><br />Surprised at how many NBA stars I ran before getting to Kareem. For an all-time great, his style wasn't spectacular, more steady (in a spectacular way).<br /><br />No idea on IBO/ROCA and EDOM/ADANA. I went with AmANA thinking that Winnie might have paid a visit to Iowa.<br /><br />Nifty work, Evans Clinchy! Thanks.Chip Hiltonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81540895044792211222016-03-04T15:03:49.112-05:002016-03-04T15:03:49.112-05:00Dnf'd. Had ades for ales (careless). Also had ...Dnf'd. Had ades for ales (careless). Also had Aketa for akela. Never heard of belu. Neither does spell check and lastly agree with anonymous about the Adana/zac/edom thing. Had X-ray machine for a while. Left the pdfs periwig fates thing open. At least I've heard of pdf files. All in all a victory for moi. Chronic dnferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05129538196003383400noreply@blogger.com