tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post8485257901713137630..comments2024-03-29T03:22:09.826-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: WEDNESDAY, Dec. 12, 2007 - Daniel KantorRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41481020320402873402007-12-13T00:19:00.000-05:002007-12-13T00:19:00.000-05:00Doris... thanks for the noel. Jae... Rex must have...Doris... thanks for the noel. Jae... Rex must have deleted it as Orange indicated. Just someone being unnecessarily snippy, or so it seemed to me.<BR/><BR/>BillNutt... I have to disagree about the BeeGee's disco period. The era may have been generally devoid of musicality, but I believe the BeeGees wrote the very best of that genre of music. Stayin' Alive! You can't hear it without wanting to dance or walk down the street swinging a can of paint.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11420462918001033452007-12-12T23:51:00.000-05:002007-12-12T23:51:00.000-05:00Bill Nutt, did you see the production in Chicago? ...Bill Nutt, did you see the production in Chicago? I saw Dustin Hoffman as Willy Loman in high school, although I could barely see him from the nosebleed seats.Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-165460256539192512007-12-12T23:50:00.000-05:002007-12-12T23:50:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15886767907882995612007-12-12T20:51:00.000-05:002007-12-12T20:51:00.000-05:00LEE J. COBB - great actor. Although when I saw DE...LEE J. COBB - great actor. Although when I saw DEATH OF A SALESMAN, I saw Dustin Hoffman.<BR/><BR/>I liked the juxtaposition of HITME and BLACKJACK. In fact, I liked quite a bit of this puzzle, including the "answer" and the multiple meanings of "deal."<BR/><BR/>I despise the BeeGees' disco phase, but Barry Gibb actually is a pretty good songwriter. Susanna Hoffs and Michael Sweet do an appealing cover of "Run to Me" on their recent UNDER THE COVERS album.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77974080348034292592007-12-12T20:04:00.000-05:002007-12-12T20:04:00.000-05:00LEEJ gets a fair amount of play in crosswords, clu...LEEJ gets a fair amount of play in crosswords, clued as [Actor Cobb]. That certainly helped cement his middle initial in my head.<BR/><BR/>A friend of mine still has dial-up service. And she lives in Chicago! She's not in a rural area the phone company can't deliver DSL to. Medieval!<BR/><BR/>As for the anonymous commenter Rikki responded to, bloggers sometimes do housecleaning to get rid of spam comments, sidelong nasty swipes, and other inappropriate stuff that would get in the way of readers' enjoyment.Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61042744436814700912007-12-12T19:29:00.000-05:002007-12-12T19:29:00.000-05:00I am also not a big fan of odd names of obscure pe...I am also not a big fan of odd names of obscure people but if the NYT wants to attract new solvers (and Emo Phillips would only get people in their forties)they need to be included.<BR/><BR/>The average age of the NYT solver is 55. If they wish to continue this beyond Willz tenure updated answers must be included and they must not be obvious or this is not the NYT puzzle.<BR/><BR/>One of the things I like is that I learn new references (even though my children give me a lot also).<BR/><BR/>I guess what I am saying is if you want all your answers to come from your teens to your forties do the Chicago Tribune puzzle, otherwise be prepared to learn something new. and learn it from the puzzle or from life. (Oh, harsh!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69055320914901147452007-12-12T19:20:00.000-05:002007-12-12T19:20:00.000-05:00I'm glad the puzzle-makers refer to comedian Phili...I'm glad the puzzle-makers refer to comedian Philips for EMO, who in his day was hysterical... not the music/style reference, which makes no sense to me, 'cause I'm not sure if that means Goth or Grunge or alternative... frankly they all look like Zac Efron wannabes.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30577489106121883052007-12-12T19:16:00.000-05:002007-12-12T19:16:00.000-05:00Either Brian Eno or Emo Philips seem to inhabit th...Either Brian Eno or Emo Philips seem to inhabit the puzzle at least once a week. My only problem is forgetting which goes with which. Today the cross made it easy.Alex S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07543077687426776863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79025093725932582612007-12-12T19:08:00.000-05:002007-12-12T19:08:00.000-05:00Very easy puzzle -- but then I like names. I'm not...Very easy puzzle -- but then I like names. I'm not enthusiastic about thema, but erkansas isn't a state as far as I know.<BR/><BR/> Ralph Kiner's best years were with miserable Pittsburgh Pirate teams, but he is probably better known as a longtime Met announcer.Michael Chibnikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04700426644898924644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81107570578435315012007-12-12T17:39:00.000-05:002007-12-12T17:39:00.000-05:00Rikki: It's probably too late for you to read this...Rikki: It's probably too late for you to read this, but "noël," French for "Christmas," is also French for "Christmas carol." Used as kind of a generic for carols, whether they are French or not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67367828174126960032007-12-12T17:30:00.000-05:002007-12-12T17:30:00.000-05:00THEMA might be a valid clue for Discourse Topics, ...THEMA might be a valid clue for Discourse Topics, what with being plural and all, not so much for Discourse Topic as in the clue.<BR/><BR/>I too am not a big fan of odd names of obscure people playing a large part in a puzzle. So I admint that I just don't give a damn about actually solving it, not knowing which of Emo/Anson, Emu/Ansun (Which, having watched the You Tube clip you could have convinced me was his name) worked.<BR/><BR/>As I drift off tonight, I will not concern myself that I didn't know Emo Phillips. And I will take a solemn vow never to use the word snell. After this sentence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29805474141931095172007-12-12T16:41:00.000-05:002007-12-12T16:41:00.000-05:00that should be "could not" find the anon.that should be "could not" find the anon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54969102055638849672007-12-12T16:39:00.000-05:002007-12-12T16:39:00.000-05:00I also found this pretty easy for a Wednesday and ...I also found this pretty easy for a Wednesday and finished it in around a Tuesday time. I'm old enough to remember LEE J. and changed the Z to J when I checked the grid for the one(or two)error I always seem to make. <BR/><BR/>Interesting observations on the EAR and BEE answers, is there a written set of firm rules for constructing?<BR/><BR/>BTW could find the anon. comment that rikki refered to. Did I miss something?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46643481116540607742007-12-12T16:25:00.000-05:002007-12-12T16:25:00.000-05:00Another vile puzzle for one who likes PUZZLING (i....Another vile puzzle for one who likes PUZZLING (i.e. word play, English twists,etc) as opposed to gloating over "look how fast I could fill in all these names!".<BR/><BR/> ANSON crossing with both KINER and EMO. Plus GIBB and LEEJCOBB both crossing the indeterminent BAJILLION, plus CHAS and ELAYNE in the same quadrant. <BR/><BR/>Bah humbug! DIdn't even bother guessing letters, just went to Rex to see the answers. Just damn lazy construction to fill with names instead of real words. (IMHO of course :) )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49037594464589177482007-12-12T16:13:00.000-05:002007-12-12T16:13:00.000-05:00rob g.,Being a computer guy the "high-speed" clue ...rob g.,<BR/><BR/>Being a computer guy the "high-speed" clue for DSL makes me wince too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84856407261701208902007-12-12T16:06:00.000-05:002007-12-12T16:06:00.000-05:00Rex,Can we just skip over adding DSL to the Panthe...Rex,<BR/><BR/>Can we just skip over adding DSL to the Pantheon and instead just petition that it be removed from puzzles entirely? Yes, I get it, it's a nice three consonant fill, but calling DSL "fast" or "high-speed" (in another recent puzzle) just isn't really accurate anymore.<BR/><BR/>And before someone responds, yes, I do realize some people still have dial-up. That must be a bummer. Sort of like going to the bathroom outside. (Not including when you go to the bathroom outside by choice, which is also a bummer, but not in the sad sense.)Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01040821037447962050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69405125893925812632007-12-12T14:15:00.000-05:002007-12-12T14:15:00.000-05:00I also fell into the bazillion/gajillion trap. And...I also fell into the bazillion/gajillion trap. And having never heard of lee [anything] coob, both options looked equally odd.<BR/><BR/>No one one except me really dislike that The Donald is the Realty? Is realty used by itself even a real word. It just seems jarring to me. Isn't he he REAL ESTATE?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8501995620886538552007-12-12T14:04:00.000-05:002007-12-12T14:04:00.000-05:00I thought it was a nice puzzle for a Wednesday. I...I thought it was a nice puzzle for a Wednesday. If it weren't for my spazzing out and writing ORAGN for ORGAN I probably would have done it a bit faster. <BR/><BR/>I also made the same mistake that the would-be crossword champ did in "Word Play"- I thought I was done when i wasn't and shut off my timer (and came here). Had BAZILLION and couldn't remember LEE J COBB directly (had ID-E) so was going to get back to (what, the California section?) to fill in that last letter (and realize that it was BAJILLION) when I pronounced myself finished.<BR/><BR/>BTW, my spell checker flagged BAJILLION but not BAZILLION.<BR/><BR/>Speaking of the California section, did anyone else notice that a fill, BEE, was actually spelled out in one of the clues [36A. Bee Gees' surname]? I thought that it was a definite no-no to have any fill appear anywhere in the clues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49073417102037294262007-12-12T13:46:00.000-05:002007-12-12T13:46:00.000-05:00Urban H... thanks. I've never heard the word air f...Urban H... thanks. I've never heard the word air for song. I thought it referenced something like Silver Bells' "in the air there's a feeling of Christmas."Rikkihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10554251289879770640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79690009719880899002007-12-12T13:40:00.000-05:002007-12-12T13:40:00.000-05:00Ralph (not Al!) Kiner was a remarkabke player. Ove...Ralph (not Al!) Kiner was a remarkabke player. Over the decade he played, he averaged 37 homer per year--Aaron/Bonds-like numbers. For example, he led the major leagues in home runs for six straight seasons, well outpacig such contemporaries as Dimaggio and Mantle. Unfortunately, at age 32, his career was cut short in 1955 by a back injury.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47657838810545669152007-12-12T13:39:00.000-05:002007-12-12T13:39:00.000-05:00I never doubted that 'bazillion' was correct for 5...I never doubted that 'bazillion' was correct for 50A, even though 'Lee Z Cobb' sounded a little off. Guess I was thinking of 'gazillion.' Google, our helpful friend and arbiter, gives 448,000 hits for 'bajillion;' 207,000 for 'gazillion;'75,400 for 'bazillion; and 66,200 for 'gajillion' (which was never in the running). A plethora of slangy amounts!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11527278540379056312007-12-12T13:35:00.001-05:002007-12-12T13:35:00.001-05:00RALPH Kiner was the St. Louis slugger, not AL. Kin...RALPH Kiner was the St. Louis slugger, not AL. Kiner had a most unusual stance and stroke...<BR/>For some reason, I just ripped through this one like a hot knife thru butter. Loved all the clues, answers, got the unknown NALA from crosses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56803219168875354722007-12-12T13:35:00.000-05:002007-12-12T13:35:00.000-05:00... directionally dyslexic like Rex, I meant the S...... directionally dyslexic like Rex, I meant the SE as a rough place to start.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58066591362679566522007-12-12T13:28:00.000-05:002007-12-12T13:28:00.000-05:00Just saw that it was pointed out that the home run...Just saw that it was pointed out that the home run champ was Ralph Kiner. If anyone else was hooked on the board game All-Star Baseball, you'll recall that he had a really big 1 (the arc that corresponded to home run tendency).<BR/><BR/>As well as hardly anyone DIALing on the phone anymore, I don't think anybody literally hangs up either. I figure that both terms stick around since they bring extra meaning to certain types of telephone calls. <BR/><BR/>First glance at the clues made me jump to SPOTTER at 46A, but came to realize that starting in the SW is not that good an idea if the intent is to rip through the puzzle. Even if it pointed to the THEMA I got stuck wondering whether it might be A GOOD MEAL or even A GOOD SEAL.<BR/><BR/>33A Dander for IRE seemed like a stretch. Does the repetition of EAR, like that of the EYE last week, portend another duplication soon? I liked seeing Ewer in the Clue instead of its usual answer place.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4524076469215393122007-12-12T13:26:00.000-05:002007-12-12T13:26:00.000-05:00rikki,air as in a song.rikki,<BR/><BR/>air as in a song.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com