tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post8082607718828892088..comments2024-03-29T01:22:33.864-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: WEDNESDAY, Apr. 8, 2009 - J Weissbrot (Tailless Old World mammal / Venetian who explored for England 15th century / Rebelling Turner)Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23438070743773551852009-04-10T00:58:00.000-04:002009-04-10T00:58:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Friedahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03013108632033350814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24574573226636948982009-04-09T13:02:00.000-04:002009-04-09T13:02:00.000-04:00I wasn't going to comment for a while, but man..DE...I wasn't going to comment for a while, but man..<BR/><BR/>DEEPPURPLE x Hef? PUKEFEST!<BR/><BR/>I was so pleased to see the "Hush" clue, I mean, Herman's Hermits, right?<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y6TpPz3YuQ" REL="nofollow"><BR/>Herman's Hermits</A> <BR/><BR/>Great stuff.<BR/><BR/>Yes, DEEPPURPLE looks cool in the grid.. but it's not worth the association.<BR/><BR/>I actually know a person named Loris, too. Father did it as a kind of joke. Poor woman. She's lived with it 70 years. We call her Lori.<BR/><BR/>Last square the X that made SAW a SAX, and NEWT NEXT. <BR/><BR/>Still want to hear the Cajun version of the Nocturne.liquid el layhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00955796642605260715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36596107753798799982009-04-09T01:27:00.000-04:002009-04-09T01:27:00.000-04:00Sorry, but I forgot to wish all who observe the ho...Sorry, but I forgot to wish all who observe the holiday a zissen pesach (happy passover).<BR/><BR/>Somewhere around page 15 of the Haggadah in use tonight was the first line of this <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu3_otaHydc" REL="nofollow">song</A>.allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13781898738812454336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4355225104634762642009-04-09T00:41:00.000-04:002009-04-09T00:41:00.000-04:00There is a paucity of planets in the evening sky, ...There is a paucity of planets in the evening sky, so Saturn is THE ONE for lookin' right now. Uranus is near superior conjunction (behind the sun), as it Neptune and ex-planet Pluto. The rest are all morning objects save Mercury, soon to make an evening appearance.<BR/>-DeanDeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15919196990921140049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86417758365661320432009-04-08T20:59:00.000-04:002009-04-08T20:59:00.000-04:00Hey, I knew LORIS--somewhere I remember reading ab...Hey, I knew LORIS--somewhere I remember reading about the "slow LORIS". That picture's very cute, Rex. As a mathematician, I like ZERO crossing PRO. :)<BR/><BR/>Still, it took me For Ever to come up with ALDA, whom I got to meet and chat with a few years ago, after seening him in QED, the quasquiman play about Richard Feynman, and SEMI, another sort of mathy word!Badirnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83482351914359604502009-04-08T20:47:00.000-04:002009-04-08T20:47:00.000-04:00I have a dirty mind.The LUNGCAPACITY clue just led...I have a dirty mind.<BR/><BR/>The LUNGCAPACITY clue just led to associations of Michael Phelps in Speedos.elitzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027160939927000716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78063484213405472262009-04-08T17:49:00.000-04:002009-04-08T17:49:00.000-04:00@Kurt - Nice additions. how could I miss ERAS?@jim...@Kurt - Nice additions. how could I miss ERAS?<BR/><BR/>@jimmyd, allan, flagger, etal - thanks<BR/><BR/>@opus2 - I was only 6, but I went to several games at Jarry Park that year with my father or brothers. Still remember getting an autograph from Rusty Staub.<BR/><BR/>@hazel - I went to one of the very last games in 2004. Very sad. Maybe 3000 people in a stadium of 50,000+ seats. Quiet as a mouse.Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01699404861773455504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30562763121895652232009-04-08T17:45:00.000-04:002009-04-08T17:45:00.000-04:00@ Bob K -- Thanks for the Lorax pic: big eyes!@ mi...@ Bob K -- Thanks for the Lorax pic: big eyes!<BR/><BR/>@ miriam b -- Very cute, "under guard"... sort of like Big Brother. <BR/><BR/>∑;(ArtLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03869528391374878601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25564274105064728242009-04-08T17:22:00.000-04:002009-04-08T17:22:00.000-04:00Pretty bland day to go with the puzzle. Think I'l...Pretty bland day to go with the puzzle. Think I'll try the Onion. Maybe that one will be more entertaining.<BR/><BR/>@Crosscan: Really neat post, as usual.flaggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18044119123327065565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83388183734828262172009-04-08T16:23:00.000-04:002009-04-08T16:23:00.000-04:00NewbeeQuite Disappointing...a bit too forced, lack...Newbee<BR/><BR/>Quite Disappointing...a bit too forced, lacking the imagination and fluidity of recents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43945405908002679332009-04-08T16:20:00.001-04:002009-04-08T16:20:00.001-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04627015904603641109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1415027382921750502009-04-08T16:20:00.000-04:002009-04-08T16:20:00.000-04:00@Crosscan! Excellent post. I will say that I went...@Crosscan! Excellent post. I will say that I went to a Braves Expos game once in Montreal, and it was just sad. The echoes, the empty seats, the garish "field", everything. Well, the city was fantastic, but that stadium, not so much. Also, congratulations for your Crossword Cagers bracketology victory! You may be the best, but I wound up The 9th Greatest Bracketologist in the Tiny Universe of the Crossword Cagers!<BR/><BR/>I liked today's puzzle too. Definitely a fan of the Styron book, but looking forward to checking out the graphic recommendation.hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04627015904603641109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52522163094711261182009-04-08T15:46:00.000-04:002009-04-08T15:46:00.000-04:00I did find this one a little bland as I was able t...I did find this one a little bland as I was able to cut right through it. It lacked crunch but was certainly a professional job, LUNGCAPACITY and MAIDENVOYAGE attest to that.<BR/><BR/>I just wish the constructor had a little more zip on his fastball, continuing the baseball metaphor of the week and speaking as a transplanted Yankees fan.edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29397242622912049862009-04-08T15:11:00.000-04:002009-04-08T15:11:00.000-04:00A tad bit disappointing, really did feel like a Mo...A tad bit disappointing, really did feel like a Mon/Tues. Got the theme right away and was finished in no time at all. By Wednesday I am looking for something a little more crunchy.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61453799827791807392009-04-08T14:34:00.000-04:002009-04-08T14:34:00.000-04:00I'm with joho on this one, easy but a bit bland. ...I'm with joho on this one, easy but a bit bland. LORIS was new to me but CABOT rang a bell.jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-986123931021933252009-04-08T13:40:00.000-04:002009-04-08T13:40:00.000-04:00I have to admit that I had IKE instead of NAT unti...I have to admit that I had IKE instead of NAT until the downs made me realize it was wrong. Ike was a rebel in his way too.ileennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2190557443296328462009-04-08T13:37:00.000-04:002009-04-08T13:37:00.000-04:00@Artlvr: When one of my kids learned the Pledge o...@Artlvr: When one of my kids learned the Pledge of Allegiance, she created a wonderful Mondegreen. She thought the phrase was "one nation, under guard, inner visible." Sometimes I use that version when in a large group and thus undetectable.miriam bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506593846362044050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91548423196858300972009-04-08T13:31:00.000-04:002009-04-08T13:31:00.000-04:00Rex,As an English profesor I was surprised you did...Rex,<BR/>As an English profesor I was surprised you didn't mention The Confessions of Nat Turner by WIlliam Styron, one of the great books of all time in my opinion.<BR/><BR/>HudsonHawk - I saw Rock of Ages when it first opened on off Broadway. As someone who came of age in the 60s, I have to agree with the review - it was quite enjoyable in spite of all those 80s hits.desnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17065626207960273082009-04-08T13:14:00.000-04:002009-04-08T13:14:00.000-04:00@ArtLvr and Tony From Charm City - Here's the Lo...@ArtLvr and Tony From Charm City - Here's <A HREF="http://chokingplanet.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/lorax.jpg" REL="nofollow"> the Lorax.</A>Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45472309608450785872009-04-08T12:59:00.000-04:002009-04-08T12:59:00.000-04:00@SandyIt's a Galileo anniversary--400 years since ...@Sandy<BR/>It's a Galileo anniversary--400 years since he discovered the earth orbits the sun. Big show in Philadelphia, featuring one of his actual telescopes. I believe I read the show is occasioned more by the loan of the telescope by the museum in Florence than an actual known anniversary date. The Italian museum is undergoing renovations, hence the once-only loan.George NYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11844466463123158982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38812203099160102282009-04-08T12:38:00.000-04:002009-04-08T12:38:00.000-04:00I enjoyed this one -- first puzzle this week that ...I enjoyed this one -- first puzzle this week that was not in the Boston tournament, and I happened to see the 69A:IRON clue first so knew what to expect. (Though I got the CURTAIN part of 31A before seeing the clue and wondered why "curtain call" wouldn't fit.) Quite an open grid for Wednesday, with nice long non-theme entries like 33D:TREASONOUS and 46D:RUDYARD. Not all the clues were standard -- I liked the routes to 29A:SKIM and 66A:ZERO (or should I have said, "as a mathematician, ..."), also 10D:CANYON; and the clue for 59D:GANG suggests a plural. Nice too to see the full 36D:CETERA.<BR/><BR/>For the NW, one can't spend much time at Harvard without running into the name 1A:CABOT, though I had no idea there was a Venetian by that name (origially "Giovanni Caboto" according to Wikipedia). Nor did I know 17A:LORIS, or (on the West side) the phrase used to clue 43A:TOO.<BR/><BR/>Yes, three SE's in 47A:HORSESENSE -- and if you remove them all you get the word HORN. This was used by Will Shortz as an NPR Sunday Puzzler some time ago (add an identical letter pair three times to "horn" to get a familiar two-word phrase). If you like this kind of thing the NPL <puzzlers.org> may be for you.<BR/><BR/>Moving from a nocturnal prosimian to <I>Harlem Nocturne</I> -- interesting, but I wonder about the title... "Hey, stop playing that Nocturne so loud, I'm trying to sleep here!"<BR/><BR/>NDE<BR/><BR/>P.S. Anther row string: IBN EMPRESS = prince.Noam D. Elkiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82616310736967808722009-04-08T12:22:00.000-04:002009-04-08T12:22:00.000-04:00I didn't know how to spell origami, got lung capac...I didn't know how to spell origami, got lung capacity off the clue, got iron early on, and still struggled. I just couldn't come up with expressions that began with iron.<BR/><BR/>@Crosscan: Great stuff, but how about these (all non-expo references):<BR/>1d. It's made by a 63a.<BR/>21d. Path that a Big Papi blast takes when leaving Yankee Stadium (see Rex, I can say nice things about the Sox)<BR/>24a. The _____ that Ruth built.<BR/>37a. Red Sox World Series Championships compared to Yankees World Series Championships (You didn't think I was going to be that nice did you?)<BR/><BR/>Hope that is taken in the good fun it was meant, and doesn't bring forth the venom that was detected in some of Rex' posts yesterday.<BR/><BR/>@ Joey, artlvr (in deference to Beavis and Butthead): Hee, Hee. You said Uranus.allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13781898738812454336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46377295446301776962009-04-08T11:31:00.000-04:002009-04-08T11:31:00.000-04:00Only miscue (is that a contraction of "missed clue...Only miscue (is that a contraction of "missed clue"?) was entering SLIM for 28A - Less than 1%, which although reasonable at the time, produced LABOOM for 29D - Big Bang. No matter how plausible that may have sounded to me in a vague French accent sort of way (and even enjoyable to say out loud - several times) the error was quickly corrected and I moved on. <BR/><BR/>Row and Column Strings<BR/>Column 4 - Is an "Origami Samson" kind of a straw man argument?<BR/>Column 22 - Is the line leading to the college party keg a "Thirst Conga"?<BR/>Row 23 - A retirement home is an "AARP House".<BR/>Column 12 - The start of Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street" is "Sax Solace" for me.Hooplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10377168531942850106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13900566644198578962009-04-08T11:05:00.000-04:002009-04-08T11:05:00.000-04:00In which decade was this puzzle constructed?ONCD i...In which decade was this puzzle constructed?<BR/><BR/>ONCD is hardly a modern way to put out in album!! Maybe in the 1980s!!Jim in Chicagonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59832194978439536522009-04-08T11:00:00.000-04:002009-04-08T11:00:00.000-04:00@crosscan - When I heard on the radio this morning...@crosscan - When I heard on the radio this morning that the Expos had their first game 40 years ago, I thought of you immediately. <BR/><BR/>Mudcat Grant was the starting pitcher, but Don Shaw was credited with the win.<BR/><BR/>I got down to Jarry Park for a couple games that first year, but alas not opening day. <BR/><BR/>And speaking of Alous, there's two stories that come to mind. First is that Rusty Staub came to the Expos in a trade that sent Jesus Alou to the Astros. <BR/><BR/>Second is one that I may have told here before. Duke Snyder was interviewing Expos manager Felipe Alou and asked about his playing stats. "Felipe, in 1966 you hit .327 with the Braves. Was that best in the National League that year?" "No", said Felipe, "that wasn't even best in my family." (His brother Matty hit .342 for the Pirates to win the batting championship).<BR/><BR/>Expos, on y va!Opus2noreply@blogger.com