tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post8381836397201506398..comments2024-03-28T02:54:55.174-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Great Plains tunneler / THU 8-20-15 / Siblinig duo in Lady Be Good 1924 / 1970s TV series set at 165 Eaton Place / German boy's name meaning wealthy / Edgar Bergen's dummy of old radio / Like breeds Kerry Hill English Leicester / Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59002299324157651482015-09-24T19:11:57.391-04:002015-09-24T19:11:57.391-04:00SHEL Silverstein is also a cartoonist. Playboy use...SHEL Silverstein is also a cartoonist. Playboy used to feature some of his work, including my all-time favorite: Two guys taking their shoes off in a nudist colony locker room; one's saying to the other:<br /><br />"I KNOW you never get one, but what do you do if you DO get one?"<br /><br />Priceless.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65729149493427470642015-09-24T13:36:54.810-04:002015-09-24T13:36:54.810-04:00This one has to be an EASY one for a Thurs. I skip...This one has to be an EASY one for a Thurs. I skipped around, put in what I knew was correct and then AHAed at clairvoyant. The rest tumbled like domino tiles. I'll rate this an S, as in Superb. Really enjoyed the long ones.<br /><br />Also, reading/scanning through the comments I noticed a certain debate going on with OFL. AMEN to the Yay-sayers.<br /><br />Ron Diego, La Mesa, CA<br /> (Where everyday is payday.........pay taxes, pay cable, pay credit cards, etc. etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86239151655317249652015-09-24T12:51:30.612-04:002015-09-24T12:51:30.612-04:00Wow, who knew? The good ol' electron, that we ...Wow, who knew? The good ol' electron, that we all know and love, is actually one of the LEPTONs! The rest of them are so unstable they all become electrons anyway, so there you have it. The electron IS, essentially, the LEPTON. A rose by any other name....spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82374142673344574202015-09-24T12:45:53.175-04:002015-09-24T12:45:53.175-04:00I knew PRAIRIEDOG was going to be correct and wond...I knew PRAIRIEDOG was going to be correct and wondered about the AIR trick and finally figured it out somewhere down below. What an irritation until I got on the SCENT.<br /><br />I believe SHEL Silverstein also wrote all of the songs for Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. Saw them in concert in the 1970s.<br /><br />I would have clued DOA as the creepy Bloodrock song. Radio 89.3 The Current plays it every Halloween on the Morning Show, stream it if you care to.<br /><br />This puz wasn’t terrible, though I general dislike the multi-letter squares. And no yeah babies.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89225256139575587872015-09-24T12:41:05.949-04:002015-09-24T12:41:05.949-04:00Hmm...this science junkie has heard of quarks (inc...Hmm...this science junkie has heard of quarks (including "UPSTAIRS" and "DOWNSTAIRS" varieties). Mesons and Higgs bosons, but never LEPTONs. I'm gonna Google that sucker immediately I get off here.<br /><br />Got the rebus right away with 4-down. I can still hear Scotty bemoaning the strain being put on his warp engines: "Me BAIRNS, me poor BAIRNS!" This led to IMPAIRED, and the game was AFOOT--loved that this word crossed PAIROFSOCKS. This was a fun theme; it's a shame it all had to fall so easily. Shoulda been a Wednesday rebus.<br /><br />Fill paid the price, to be sure. Even a couple of the longer entries--UPHOLDER and EVENER--seem rather forced, but at least we have a cool payoff. Too bad we couldn't have included a recent George Clooney film...you know the one. And where's that lovable AIREDALE? B-. spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9177298755319923982015-09-24T12:26:17.751-04:002015-09-24T12:26:17.751-04:00Funny that PAIROFSOCKS crosses AFOOT, only one?
VI...Funny that PAIROFSOCKS crosses AFOOT, only one?<br />VITAL DIRGE<br />The SATYR was IMPAIRED, but into the TEMPLE he walks,<br />‘twas a SIN he wore only a PAIROFSOCKS.<br />He dreams of AMORE and HOISTS up a drink,<br />and ENTRUSTS his actions to EROS, I think.<br />He SATES his thirst to the last DROP,<br />an UPHOLDER of evil NOTNOW or ever he’ll stop.<br />---EDWIN PETHAIR <br />UPSTAIRS and DOWNSTAIRS and a pair of ASTAIRES, has anyone LEPTON that?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91684418650581833782015-09-24T11:18:57.730-04:002015-09-24T11:18:57.730-04:00Fun. Got the theme right away from Upton Sinclair....Fun. Got the theme right away from Upton Sinclair. Torbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01813931192681953872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47597910953001344692015-08-20T19:59:57.302-04:002015-08-20T19:59:57.302-04:00As I almost always solve in the evening, I don'...As I almost always solve in the evening, I don't notice the delay due to comment moderation. I love what it has done to the comments section. It felt like 40% of comments were either anonymous blasts or GN posts/counterposts. I have this hope that whoever is moderating is paying attention to how many get filtered out, and that some over time the blockees will lose interest and open commenting can be revived.<br /><br />Oh, the puzzle. Lots of fun, agree that CONAIR and SEAAIR were cheats, but when you have 17 themers that seems much more than acceptable to me. COMPRESSEDAIR is not a cheat as revealers are generally not also themers, so I say bonus points for making it so in this case.<br /><br />Only one overwrite, which is unheard of for a Thursday, and it's a completely shameful one. nEtrON before LEPTON. Somehow the 'u' fell out of my brain.<br /><br />I don't know if anyone keeps such stats, and this is the fist time I've looked at it, but by my count 45% of the white squares and 37% of the total squares are part of the theme. Both even higher than yesterday, which itself seemed very themer-dense to me. If anyone knows of a place where such things are tracked, I'd be interested to know where.kitshefnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58503605976998815952015-08-20T18:46:31.690-04:002015-08-20T18:46:31.690-04:00AliasZ said: "It is discouraging to see only...AliasZ said: "It is discouraging to see only 15 posts at 12:30 when I posted my comment, at which time the last one was posted around 9:00 AM. The flow of the blog is gone. Quick, witty replies are gone. The ability to avoid repetition is gone. But best of all, the trolls are gone." <br /><br />I'd say the "trolls" were never that bad. Never threatening, never mean for meanness sake. Just lonely and bored, but harmless and easily ignored. The loss of banter and flow on this board is a shame. Questions are repeated or never answered, replies are repeated, and rapid back and forth wittiness is gone. Criticism of Rex's posts is being selectively and somewhat randomly allowed. The sense of community is gone. <br /><br />IMHO, the trade-off is not worth it. I suspect others (and Rex) feel otherwise. It's his party, he can invite whomever he pleases, but I think the harm has outweighed the benefit. Jamie Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64368668536502375402015-08-20T18:39:50.235-04:002015-08-20T18:39:50.235-04:00re "common allergen": The PET HAIR itse...re "common allergen": The PET HAIR itself is not an allergen, but the hair can hold dust and dander. Pet dander can remain airborne for long periods of time as well. It can eventually find its way into your eyes or lungs.allergy doctornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49759518047752343482015-08-20T18:38:39.379-04:002015-08-20T18:38:39.379-04:00Hi, this is Hayley. I was reading your comments a...Hi, this is Hayley. I was reading your comments and I have to iterate, the question is not should I get the puzzles, it is should I keep doing the comic with the week delay or end the entire webcomic. The NYT is adamant and there is nothing I can do, and no, I cannot get them again even if I go back to school, apparently I should've never been allowed to have them at all. Please email me your thoughts on the question at hand. kakumei@verizon.net ThanksHayleyhttp://acrossanddown.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57793055645775371702015-08-20T18:07:26.471-04:002015-08-20T18:07:26.471-04:00Hi @JFC ... I would honestly question the first la...Hi @JFC ... I would honestly question the first language of the person who told me they were allergic to PETHAIR. Maybe it's a regionalism and that's why I don't get it, but I don't think I've never heard anyone say that. Easy CHAIR was also lost on me even though it's common usage, so it's perfectly possible that I'm the odd one here. <br /><br />Everyone seemed to do well with it. My worst DNF for me that I can recall.weingolbhttp://www.facebook.com/weingolbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55898122573273746172015-08-20T17:50:27.919-04:002015-08-20T17:50:27.919-04:00@Roo monster...thanks for attempting to explain it...@Roo monster...thanks for attempting to explain it to me :-)chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14700044042937964212015-08-20T17:45:30.242-04:002015-08-20T17:45:30.242-04:00@Leapy, once again we LEPTON the same few things w...<br />@Leapy, once again we LEPTON the same few things with a three-hour difference. I left UPTON_SINCL[AIR]_Lewis for your Horatio Alger Hiss U-PHOLDER. I apologize for the duplication. You should try the Bartók bagatelles too.<br /><br />@Lewis, @Ralph, what is stunning to me is that you missed the best entry in a Michael Sharp puzzle: EYEING. Was this glue or a matter of habit? I couldn't tell.<br /><br />It is discouraging to see only 15 posts at 12:30 when I posted my comment, at which time the last one was posted around 9:00 AM. The flow of the blog is gone. Quick, witty replies are gone. The ability to avoid repetition is gone. But best of all, the trolls are gone.<br />AliasZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477396362209386037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81090416006468566162015-08-20T17:40:54.168-04:002015-08-20T17:40:54.168-04:00Yeah this weeks been rough on me being in myid 20s...Yeah this weeks been rough on me being in myid 20s. I really liked the theme and especially the reveal here though.<br /><br />Also, OTTO was a gimme for me. I've wanted to have a boy named OTTO for a while, still trying to convince my wife, so I've looked up the meaning and tried to use it to an advantage haha. Not working so well though.Music manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12461992972280438819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49336050163112867712015-08-20T17:31:34.352-04:002015-08-20T17:31:34.352-04:00Ralph, you're a longtime commenter, so I'l...Ralph, you're a longtime commenter, so I'll take your criticism seriously. That list you link to is gratuitous and completely out of context. I wouldn't complain about half the things you have in red. The fact that you (and Lewis) can't tell the difference between suboptimal fill used to hold good stuff together and suboptimal fill used as a matter of habit, at This stage in the game (i.e. after you've been solving and thinking about puzzles this long), is kind of stunning. <br /><br />RP<br /><br />P.S. my early puzzles were admittedly not great. I mean, OIE (!?). OIE was I thinking? Still, worst thing "I"'ve ever put in a grid (IAT) wasn't put there by me. Editorial override.Rex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71904735916654779252015-08-20T17:05:18.421-04:002015-08-20T17:05:18.421-04:00Amazingly, I got the rebus right away at PR[AIR]IE...Amazingly, I got the rebus right away at PR[AIR]IE DOG and finished many minutes under my average time. Though Thursdays are often my downfall, the record streak continues!<br />Woo hoo!!!<br /><br />Liked the puzzle. B[AIR]RNS reminds me of Scotty in the original Star Trek. I never much cared for Masterpiece on PBS, but had to sit through UPST[AIR]S DOWNST[AIR]s because we only had one TV and my parents insisted. I was too young to appreciate it; I much preferred I, Claudius.bwalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11171297580941770571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64079644040404107272015-08-20T16:05:56.192-04:002015-08-20T16:05:56.192-04:00@chefbea, in case no one's answered you yet, A...@chefbea, in case no one's answered you yet, ATT in football is throwing ATTempts by the QB, full stat is Completions/Attempts. One more thing ti cram into your brain!<br /><br />RooMonster RooMonsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14103892151115549684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51029254384791463012015-08-20T15:36:00.813-04:002015-08-20T15:36:00.813-04:00@wingolb you haven't heard of PET HAIR? Serio...@wingolb you haven't heard of PET HAIR? Seriously?!<br />ALMOST as strange as Rex never having heard of Yosemite Falls...JFCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34906751234885404712015-08-20T15:34:29.742-04:002015-08-20T15:34:29.742-04:00For me, PETHAIR was a DOOK. For me, PETHAIR was a DOOK. Jamie Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51685808043408566062015-08-20T15:29:25.253-04:002015-08-20T15:29:25.253-04:00I'd be an UPHOLDER of this ThursPuz.
I guess ...I'd be an UPHOLDER of this ThursPuz.<br /><br />I guess what I like about the NYTPuzs is they're like a box of chocolates. With more variety<br />that most other comparable chocolates-every-darn-day crosswords. Come to think of it, NYTPuz solvers are kinda like a box of something or other, too.<br /><br />Would a real shame, if Hayley couldn't do her current-puzzle cartoon thing, anymore. Seems like she<br />has a pretty good reason for getting dispensation to see them a week early -- probably a much better reason than yer average "student" would have. And her cartoons really enhance the whole NYTPuz Experience dealy. How'bout they give Hayley a job, doin these cartoons, as part of the xwordinfo enterprise, or somesuch? I know them dudes get to see these puzs in advance.<br /><br />fave weeject: MOO.<br /><br />fave fillins: NOTNOW. TRUDGE. SATYR. SPRY. PRAIRIEDOG.<br /><br />U-count: 5. Probably about average, for a 16x15 grid.<br /><br />oldest word: ONEBC. newest words: NOTNOW (implies in the future), or that AMORE album. middleagediest word: CONAIR. chocolatiest word: CLAIRVOYANT.<br /><br />M&A<br /><br />**gruntz**<br /><br />Masked and Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16027736429645378004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44241966181173976782015-08-20T14:59:57.342-04:002015-08-20T14:59:57.342-04:00I'm not a woodworker but I know what a DADO is...I'm not a woodworker but I know what a DADO is. It's not that uncommon.<br /><br />Clue for PAIROFSOCKS is one of the best in a long time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5874588848925759542015-08-20T14:43:26.263-04:002015-08-20T14:43:26.263-04:00@Mike D, I feel your pain. You aren't alone wi...@Mike D, I feel your pain. You aren't alone with the crickets. I'm sure there are lorn others to keep you company. Not exactly forlorn, certainly not lovelorn, but in some indefinable way, bloglorn...<br /><br />@Teedmn, the day will come when you'll roux that 'ATTAboy, OTTOman' throwaway line.<br /><br />@mathgent, re the verbification of SEXES: Quite some time ago, I read (while I was supposed to be studying) that there is in fact an occupation known as a chicken-sexer. These people assess newly-hatched chicks on a categorical variable and separate the girl chicks from the boy chicks. This is done because you don't want too many chickens to come home to rooster, so the boychicks have something done that I'm still somewhat vague on, but apparently it leaves them with their caps on. Or something like that. I hope this bit of random trivia helps you be more accepting of 31D as presented. At least you have less to complain of than the boychicks.<br /><br />@Alias, glad you enjoyed, and 'pologies for the ms-spelt words. The quartet of OCULI was an eye-opener.<br /><br />Domani.Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53113115947646287942015-08-20T14:34:51.939-04:002015-08-20T14:34:51.939-04:00Re Hayley Gold: New York Times and WS -- It's...Re Hayley Gold: New York Times and WS -- It's called "value added". And it's not costing you a nickel. What more could you possibly want? Why would you want to discourage her? @Hartley nailed it: Put this talented young self-starter on your staff and let her see any puzzle she likes. <br /><br />@Lewis -- Your meticulous research has led to what I'd call a TOUCHE moment. I found your post today to be a real eye-opener and a real surprise. Who woulda guessed?<br /><br />@jberg -- I had the same thought you did when writing in 7D. This cannot be right! SPRY is not a compliment! SPRY is patronizing and condescending.<br /><br />@Mike D. -- I share your "pain." I, too, was wandering in the blog wilderness this a.m., wondering where everyone was and would I ever get to see them again. And you're right: the malign influence of the trolls -- even though they can no longer post -- is still with us. It's a real shame. And, btw, thank you, Mike, for your nice comment yesterday.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16737377749030219974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65104327371437348402015-08-20T14:33:47.737-04:002015-08-20T14:33:47.737-04:00@teedmn -- attaboy/ottoman -- LOL!
@mathgent -- Af...@teedmn -- attaboy/ottoman -- LOL!<br />@mathgent -- After all these years, I still love the music from Gigi.<br />@willshortz -- Keep feeding Hayley early!Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.com