tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post9164071541241495108..comments2024-03-29T06:56:53.823-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Guitarist Segovia / FRI 6-29-12 / Callas contemporary / Ethan Frome's sickly wife / Werther's love in Goethe novel / Literally man of forest / 1970s-80s band whose debut album was soundtrack to Richard Pryor filmRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51157530615143093942012-08-04T10:07:12.573-04:002012-08-04T10:07:12.573-04:00Surprised Rex chose Rose Royce as TWOD. From his c...Surprised Rex chose Rose Royce as TWOD. From his comments, he appears to be almost my age, and although I did not know Car Wash was apparently a Richard Pryor film, and I did not know it was (apparently) their debut, I knew they did the soundtrack for it. At least, if you were between 10 and 30 during the 70s, Royce Royce should at least be a recognizable name. I would think it would be within his range of familiarity. My TWOD would have been "sibilant," which although I'd like to think I have a pretty good vocabulary, I will have to go Google. Seems I'm the only one.<br />High-hat = snobbish was another toughie. Was really trying to figure out what sort of cymbal it could be.<br />A little surprised that RP and others thought SCUM was SmUt (or worse) at first - this being a Friday, I immediately assumed "film" referred to thin layer, not movie. <br />Also suprised a little that people had trouble with Andres Segovia - he is one of the best known guitarists (mostly classical, IIRR - hardly obscure).<br />Is @Ablaza Callbox Mentals impersonating ACME, or is that really her?<br />Finally surprised that everyone seems to be complaining about the SW - that was the first corner I got, SE was last for me.<br />Overall, thought this was pretty easy for a Friday - finished it in one day without having to put it aside and come back to it later!<br />Oh, and who's Callas? I was guessing comedian Charlie Callas (or is that Calas?). I still don't get SCOTTO - guess I'll have to Google that too now ...Anonyratnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81647367619581578582012-08-04T00:25:21.252-04:002012-08-04T00:25:21.252-04:00First thought: Beautiful pattern. Then, seeing P...First thought: Beautiful pattern. Then, seeing Patrick Berry's name attached let me know I was in for an enjoyable solve.<br /><br />Hand up for trying to make Sasquatch fit, but with HOUND in place and no suitable replacement involving an A I quickly let it drop. Hound also kept me from misspelling ORANGaTAN (hey, <i>there's</i> that A), and I guarantee I'll forget there's a U there the next time I have to spell it.<br /><br />yes, SEX crossing SEX was good, but the perfect symmetry of SEX/DREAM was better.<br /><br />And speaking of symmetry, let's go back to that grid, and read around the edges (or, the "frame" as Gorski put it yesterday), pairing each word with its opposite number:<br /><br />BAD TASTE TO THE MAX<br />HIPPO PANTS<br />ONE STORY HOME HELP<br />ESSEX BARDS<br /><br />Four solid matches.<br /><br />I own a ROSE ROYCE record or two, but only because I married into them. With just the first E in place, I considered briefly THE EAGLES, which would have made another terrific symmetrical cross. But I felt confident that their first album was NOT a movie soundtrack.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47132949041191839942012-08-03T23:25:53.609-04:002012-08-03T23:25:53.609-04:00DNF, Fatal Error Dep't. The F.E.? CARUSO. Just...DNF, Fatal Error Dep't. The F.E.? CARUSO. Just couldn't get going. The NE fell OK, and the fours around the center square, but I just couldn't put a finger on any of the SW downs, even after HOUND, ENTER and the gimme ANDRES. The SE still looks like a virgin snowbank.<br /><br />I might have made some headway with Googles, but the Casanova's love thing threw me off; I was looking for somebody's name, but the closest thing I could find to his "love" was Henriette, and that didn't fit. Just an epic fail. Not Patrick's fault, really, I just flat was not on the same page.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23126675090452238162012-08-03T19:04:25.029-04:002012-08-03T19:04:25.029-04:00captcha is Wikedgi - that seems somehow strangely ...captcha is Wikedgi - that seems somehow strangely topical.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61380298859436667602012-08-03T19:00:14.563-04:002012-08-03T19:00:14.563-04:00My first run through produced a (correct, it turns...My first run through produced a (correct, it turns out) long down answer in each section of the grid so I was able to build on those crosses to complete most of the puzzle. Finished with two blank squares because I didn't know SC_OTTO or TA_E. and the band was no help. <br /><br />Does this settle the Obama birthplace issue now that it's been in the puzzle, I wonder?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71848007834651609482012-08-03T16:50:31.028-04:002012-08-03T16:50:31.028-04:00BLAM is a SCUMmy answer.
Pig Latin in a NYT CW? ...BLAM is a SCUMmy answer. <br /><br />Pig Latin in a NYT CW? Really? BADTASTE.<br /><br />Casanova clue was cool.<br /><br />Porn before Smut before SCUM. nemO before LILO.<br /><br />This Berry puzzle played like a Saturday for me. Overall, I liked it almost TOTHEMAX.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29656126869437812922012-08-03T14:41:49.886-04:002012-08-03T14:41:49.886-04:00Struggled for a bit, but finally got it all except...Struggled for a bit, but finally got it all except the Y in TAYE. Probably should have guessed it, but never heard of the band and was vacillating between DESEX and DEhEX. And SEXTET could have been SEpTET for all I know. <br /><br />Had a slowdown in the SW where I remembered the wife in The Good Earth started with an O, but then briefly confused it with Oomo (wrong book!), but it worked itself out when I pieced out ORANGUTAN.<br /><br />Surprised so many latched onto Caruso.He was famously present at 1906 SF earthquake, while Callas was a contemporary of Jackie O, and Ari' s "former" love. How soon we forget.DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54300361094450859782012-08-03T14:33:25.172-04:002012-08-03T14:33:25.172-04:00...oh oh oh ... and tacTless for 1A Inelegance?
B......oh oh oh ... and tacTless for 1A Inelegance?<br /><br />Both those fails killed me in the NW and SW... lol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46325658450925657072012-08-03T14:26:46.408-04:002012-08-03T14:26:46.408-04:00Trying to graduate from easier puzzles and just be...Trying to graduate from easier puzzles and just beginning to tackle NYT cross. This my second.<br /><br />This was a DNF for me but didn't anyone else try sasquaTch for "man of the forest"?<br /><br />Looking forward to the next one!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36849854697077523832012-06-30T00:13:12.010-04:002012-06-30T00:13:12.010-04:00@Acme, Bob K and Tita - So interesting! I'd n...@Acme, Bob K and Tita - So interesting! I'd never thought about this....when I was an exchange student in high school, my German "sister" was named Frederika - and called Ika.Carolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971759975067250908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72358920226721230462012-06-29T23:58:50.595-04:002012-06-29T23:58:50.595-04:00@mac - I'm with ya, bro.
I got Oahu. Perio...@mac - I'm with ya, bro. <br /><br />I got Oahu. Period. Enjoyed Rex's posting of Harold and his Purple Crayon. <br /><br />Maybe medium-challenging to see if I can prove I'm not a robot.pknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65337571129406632622012-06-29T22:18:33.298-04:002012-06-29T22:18:33.298-04:00Oh, and LOVED the grid, especially after those ado...Oh, and LOVED the grid, especially after those adorable pentominoes on Wednesday.Cheeriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919455386774076690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71574582201503788732012-06-29T22:16:25.902-04:002012-06-29T22:16:25.902-04:00Awesome, elegant, smooth, !!! etc., etc.
My fave...Awesome, elegant, smooth, !!! etc., etc. <br /><br />My faves for words: Caledonia, orangutang, sibilant.<br /><br />But tough! Scotto? meh. Hippo = Set? Ok - need at at least a B.A. in something for that.Cheeriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919455386774076690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12612837724427123792012-06-29T22:11:08.356-04:002012-06-29T22:11:08.356-04:00For once I found this easier than most people. An ...For once I found this easier than most people. An enjoyable, not-particuarly-difficult Friday for me.michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4217687321504296872012-06-29T20:40:27.719-04:002012-06-29T20:40:27.719-04:00@Acme & Bob K...
What a fabulous thing to lear...@Acme & Bob K...<br />What a fabulous thing to learn today - Danke sehr, Liebchens!<br />I had never realized that, and while I can find a few exceptions, there are many more complying names...<br /><br />My mother is Cristina - Tina<br />Our favorite restaurant just outside Frankfurt - Zepchen - Little Joe[seph].<br /><br />And as you say, Bob, a niece here in SC - Tory - short for Victoria.<br /><br />Thanks!Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76398474687006125842012-06-29T19:57:04.129-04:002012-06-29T19:57:04.129-04:00@ACME - Of course, globalization marches on, so no...@ACME - Of course, globalization marches on, so now in America we have Ving Rhames (from Irving) and Topher Grace (from Christopher) and I'm sure others I don't know of.<br /><br />I have learned from your post many derivations I had never thought of! Thanks!Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76772729941926543832012-06-29T19:17:30.274-04:002012-06-29T19:17:30.274-04:00Most ONIONs don't weigh that much.Most ONIONs don't weigh that much.'Light' has more than one meaningnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24366760226043320702012-06-29T19:07:34.976-04:002012-06-29T19:07:34.976-04:00@bob kerfuffle
Isn't it funny to come here and...@bob kerfuffle<br />Isn't it funny to come here and learn something different from something we assumed all our lives?!<br />In Europe everyone does the second half of the name as the nickname, which seems counter-intuitive to me...<br />So William is Liam, Alexander is Xander, which becomes Sasha... Andrea is Drea, <br />Nicholas is Claus (which is why St Nick = Santa Claus, etc.). So many KLauses there but we have Nick.<br />So perhaps your Lieselotte was named for a Liesel Charlotte and that maybe becomes Lotte.<br /><br />In italy, they seem to go one step more Giuseppe might go to Beppe, like a cockney rhyming slang. That's why so many Linas in Italy or Ninas in Spain bec it is little like Angelina, Carolina, Antonina, or Georgina...Acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66536176054587868442012-06-29T18:31:06.795-04:002012-06-29T18:31:06.795-04:00Wait a minute, Rex! You were thinking "more ...Wait a minute, Rex! You were thinking "more figuratively" even though the clue said "literally"? ; )<br /><br />ORANGUTAN was one of very precious few gimmes for me.Joe The Jugglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08623445472297705053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81121471947032567262012-06-29T18:16:05.467-04:002012-06-29T18:16:05.467-04:00Lotte Lenya( Weill's wife) sang "The Alab...Lotte Lenya( Weill's wife) sang "The Alabama Song" but it was written by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill.<br /><br />The English text was made by Brecht’s close collaborator, Elisabeth Hauptmann, on the author’s behalfMr. Mojo Risin'noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19643181911409016672012-06-29T17:19:28.220-04:002012-06-29T17:19:28.220-04:00@jberg - Wrong direction. Definitely a windmill.@jberg - Wrong direction. Definitely a windmill.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25306471801179632472012-06-29T17:18:40.403-04:002012-06-29T17:18:40.403-04:00Since I had a cousin born in Germany named Lieselo...Since I had a cousin born in Germany named Lieselotte, whom everyone called Lotte, I had always assumed that the latter was a standard diminutive of the former.<br /><br />@Tobias Duncan - If you are interested in discussion of the Sunday challenge from Will Shortz on NPR, take a look at "Blaine's Puzzle Blog".Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40537333790150788242012-06-29T16:50:16.310-04:002012-06-29T16:50:16.310-04:00Oh, forgot to mention the beautiful GRID!!!!!Oh, forgot to mention the beautiful GRID!!!!!notsofastnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82507567631608216322012-06-29T16:48:05.902-04:002012-06-29T16:48:05.902-04:00PB gets an "A" for this one. I'm not...PB gets an "A" for this one. I'm not a googler so had fun working this out. Loved "onion" and "amscray". Also impressed with "continent" !!!notsofastnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60359641052555125542012-06-29T16:47:50.854-04:002012-06-29T16:47:50.854-04:00Total crash and burn - sw also. Lots of either/ors...Total crash and burn - sw also. Lots of either/ors throughout the puzzle making firm toeholds hard to come by for me. Beautiful puzzle, regardless.hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04627015904603641109noreply@blogger.com