Jump to content

Rex Parker: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Undid revision 1187023142 by Umimmak (talk) - yeah, does seem undue if that's the main reason to add
ce
(10 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American crossword blogger and professor (born 1969)}}
{{Short description|American crossword blogger (born 1969)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
Line 6: Line 6:
| alt =
| alt =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_name = Michael David Sharp<!--https://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/ venmo-->
| birth_name = Michael David Sharp<ref name="self"/>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|11|26}}<!--https://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2019/11/squire-in-wind-in-willows-tue-11-26-19.html, https://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2023/10/1781-mozart-opera-seria-sat-10-21-23.html-->
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|11|26}}<ref name="self">{{cite web|url=https://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2019/11/squire-in-wind-in-willows-tue-11-26-19.html|title=Tuesday, November 26, 2019|date=2019-11-26|last=Parker|first=Rex|website=Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle|access-date=2024-01-13|quote=If you are reading this, I am fifty ... it's my birthday. ... Or use Venmo: @MichaelDavidSharp}}</ref>
| birth_place =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_date =
Line 18: Line 18:
}}
}}


'''Michael David Sharp''' (born November 26, 1969), known by the pseudonym '''Rex Parker''', is an American professor and blogger known for his blog, ''Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle'', about the [[The New York Times crossword puzzle|''New York Times'' crossword puzzle]]. Begun in 2006, it has become the country's best known crossword blog. Outside of crosswords, Sharp teaches English at [[Binghamton University]] in New York.
'''Michael David Sharp''' (born November 26, 1969), known by the pseudonym '''Rex Parker''', is an American blogger known for writing about the [[The New York Times crossword puzzle|''New York Times'' crossword puzzle]] on his blog, ''Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle''. Outside of crosswords, Sharp teaches English at [[Binghamton University]] in New York.


==Early life, education, and career==
==Early life, education, and career==


Sharp grew up in [[Fresno, California]]<!--https://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2023/04/longtime-mazda-catchphrase-thu-4-20-23.html-->. He went to [[Pomona College]] as an undergraduate and earned his [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] in English from the [[University of Michigan]] in 1999.<ref name="BUP2015">{{cite news|url=https://www.bupipedream.com/ac/47732/michael-sharp-a-man-of-comics-classics-and-crosswords/|title=Michael Sharp: a man of comics, classics and crosswords|last=Pinkus|first=Odeya|date=2015-02-10|newspaper=[[Pipe Dream (newspaper)|Pipe Dream]]|access-date=2023-11-21}}</ref> He became interested in crossword puzzles in his senior year of college in 1990.<ref name="CHI2021"/> While in graduate school, he often solved crosswords in free newspapers found in cafés.<ref name="PSB2008"/><ref name="BUP2012">{{cite news|url=https://www.bupipedream.com/news/8302/professor-moonlights-crossword-master/|title=Professor moonlights as crossword master|last=Fiore|first=Anthony|date=2012-02-24|newspaper=[[Pipe Dream (newspaper)|Pipe Dream]]|access-date=2023-11-21}}</ref>
Sharp grew up in [[Fresno, California]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2023/04/longtime-mazda-catchphrase-thu-4-20-23.html|title=Thursday, April 20, 2023|last=Parker|first=Rex|date=2023-04-20|website=Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle|access-date=2024-01-13}}</ref> He went to [[Pomona College]] as an undergraduate and earned his [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] in English from the [[University of Michigan]] in 1999.<ref name="BUP2015">{{cite news|url=https://www.bupipedream.com/ac/47732/michael-sharp-a-man-of-comics-classics-and-crosswords/|title=Michael Sharp: a man of comics, classics and crosswords|last=Pinkus|first=Odeya|date=2015-02-10|newspaper=[[Pipe Dream (newspaper)|Pipe Dream]]|access-date=2023-11-21}}</ref> He became interested in crossword puzzles in his senior year of college in 1990.<ref name="CHI2021"/> While in graduate school, he often solved crosswords in free newspapers found in cafés.<ref name="PSB2008"/><ref name="BUP2012">{{cite news|url=https://www.bupipedream.com/news/8302/professor-moonlights-crossword-master/|title=Professor moonlights as crossword master|last=Fiore|first=Anthony|date=2012-02-24|newspaper=[[Pipe Dream (newspaper)|Pipe Dream]]|access-date=2023-11-21}}</ref>


Sharp joined the English department of [[Binghamton University]] in 1999.<ref name="BU2012"/> He has taught classes on medieval literature, crime fiction, and comic books.<ref name="BUP2015"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pomona.edu/news/2010/10/20-crosswords-magazine.aspx|title=From the Magazine: Puzzling Future|last=Saul|first=John B.|date=2010-08-20|publisher=[[Pomona College]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128163612/https://www.pomona.edu/news/2010/10/20-crosswords-magazine.aspx|archive-date=2010-11-28}}</ref> He occasionally taught at [[Elmira Correctional Facility]].<ref name="NYT2010"/>
Sharp joined the English department of [[Binghamton University]] in 1999.<ref name="BU2012"/> He has taught classes on medieval literature, crime fiction, and comic books.<ref name="BUP2015"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pomona.edu/news/2010/10/20-crosswords-magazine.aspx|title=From the Magazine: Puzzling Future|last=Saul|first=John B.|date=2010-08-20|publisher=[[Pomona College]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128163612/https://www.pomona.edu/news/2010/10/20-crosswords-magazine.aspx|archive-date=2010-11-28}}</ref> He used to teach occasionally at [[Elmira Correctional Facility]].<ref name="NYT2010"/>


==Blogging==
==Blogging==


Sharp began writing about the daily [[The New York Times crossword puzzle|''New York Times'' crossword puzzle]] as practice for a possible website for a comics course.<ref name="BUP2012"/><ref name="NYT2009">{{cite news|url=http://wordplay.blogs.nytimes.com/interview/rex-parker/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214052545/wordplay.blogs.nytimes.com/interview/rex-parker/|archive-date=2009-02-14|title=Rex Parker Interview|last=Horne|first=Jim|date=2009-02-04|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2023-11-21}}</ref> He writes under a pseudonym—Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld—that uses a nickname invented during a family trip to Hawaii; his real-life identity was outed in 2007.<ref name="BUP2012"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2008/07/rex_parkers_crossword_blog_for.html|title=Rex Parker's Crossword Blog for Experts, Cheaters|date=2008-07-29|website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|access-date=2023-11-20}}</ref> Five weeks after its debut on September 25, 2006, the blog received hundreds of views when the first puzzles he had written about were reprinted in national syndication.<ref name="CHI2021"/><ref name="PSB2008">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-parker/135520944/|title=BU educator's work puzzles growing legion of enthusiasts|last=Ebbeling|first=Vanessa|date=2008-11-30|page=1A|newspaper=[[Press & Sun-Bulletin]]|postscript=;}} {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-parker/135521422/|title=Puzzles (continued)|page=11A|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Two years later, there were more than 10,000 daily readers, more than 20,000 by 2012, and 50,000 by 2021.<ref name="CHI2021"/><ref name="PSB2008"/><ref name="BU2012">{{cite news|url=https://discovere.binghamton.edu/faculty-spotlights/sharp-4575.html|title=Professor's blog helps crossword fans fill in the blanks|last=Coker|first=Rachel|date=2012-04-08|publisher=[[Binghamton University]]|access-date=2023-11-20}}</ref> It has long been the most widely known crossword blog, ahead of sites such as ''Diary of a Crossword Fiend''.<ref name="CHI2021"/><ref name="NYS2007">{{cite news|url=http://www.nysun.com/new-york/blogs-answer-question-crossword-puzzles/54730/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921085503/http://www.nysun.com/new-york/blogs-answer-question-crossword-puzzles/54730/|archive-date=2008-09-21|title=Blogs Answer, Question Crossword Puzzles|last=Stevenson|first=M. George|date=2007-05-18|website=[[The New York Sun]]}}</ref> Some readers regularly participate in the comment section, part of the online crossword community.<ref name="PSB2008"/><ref name="CHI2008">{{cite news|url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/king-of-crossworld/|title='King of CrossWorld'|last=Hermes|first=J.J.|date=2008-02-22|newspaper=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]|archive-url=https://archive.is/Mfmv1|archive-date=2023-10-20|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
Sharp began writing about the daily [[The New York Times crossword puzzle|''New York Times'' crossword puzzle]] as practice for a possible website for a comics course.<ref name="BUP2012"/><ref name="NYT2009">{{cite news|url=http://wordplay.blogs.nytimes.com/interview/rex-parker/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214052545/wordplay.blogs.nytimes.com/interview/rex-parker/|archive-date=2009-02-14|title=Rex Parker Interview|last=Horne|first=Jim|date=2009-02-04|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2023-11-21}}</ref> He writes under a pseudonym—Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld—that was originally a nickname invented during a family trip to Hawaii; his real-life identity was outed in 2007.<ref name="BUP2012"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2008/07/rex_parkers_crossword_blog_for.html|title=Rex Parker's Crossword Blog for Experts, Cheaters|date=2008-07-29|website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|access-date=2023-11-20}}</ref> Five weeks after its inception on September 25, 2006, the blog received hundreds of views when the first puzzles he had written about were reprinted in national syndication.<ref name="CHI2021"/><ref name="PSB2008">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-parker/135520944/|title=BU educator's work puzzles growing legion of enthusiasts|last=Ebbeling|first=Vanessa|date=2008-11-30|page=1A|newspaper=[[Press & Sun-Bulletin]]|postscript=;}} {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-parker/135521422/|title=Puzzles (continued)|newspaper=Press and Sun-Bulletin |date=November 30, 2008 |page=11A|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Two years later, there were more than 10,000 daily readers, more than 20,000 in 2012, and 50,000 in 2021.<ref name="CHI2021"/><ref name="PSB2008"/><ref name="BU2012">{{cite news|url=https://discovere.binghamton.edu/faculty-spotlights/sharp-4575.html|title=Professor's blog helps crossword fans fill in the blanks|last=Coker|first=Rachel|date=2012-04-08|publisher=[[Binghamton University]]|access-date=2023-11-20}}</ref> Some readers regularly participate in the blog's comment section, which forms a part of the online crossword community.<ref name="PSB2008"/><ref name="CHI2008">{{cite news|url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/king-of-crossworld/|title='King of CrossWorld'|last=Hermes|first=J.J.|date=2008-02-22|newspaper=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20231020094109/https://www.chronicle.com/article/king-of-crossworld/|archive-date=2023-10-20|url-access=subscription}}</ref>


Sharp's reviews are characterized by humor and strong opinions.<ref name="NYT2010">{{cite news|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/wordplay.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/16/strauss/|title=Some Strauss Compositions|last=Horne|first=Jim|date=2010-08-16|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2023-11-21}}</ref><ref name="BG2021">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-parker/135522725/|title=My secret pandemic crushes|first=Renée|last=Loth|date=2021-08-27|page=A9|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He usually solves the ''Times'' puzzle in the late evening and writes posts in the morning before going to work.<ref name="NYT2009"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-parker/135522600/|title=Shortz turned arcane puzzle into teasing, popular pastime|first=Shelley|last=Fralic|date=2008-03-07|page=H6|newspaper=[[Vancouver Sun]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Reviews expresse his likes or dislikes of elements such as a puzzle's theme, clues, fill, and fairness.<ref name="CHI2021">{{cite news|url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/whats-a-9-letter-word-for-king-of-crossworld/|title=What's a 9-Letter Word for 'King of CrossWorld'?|last=Hansen|first=Claire|date=2018-08-08|newspaper=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508015200/https://www.chronicle.com/article/whats-a-9-letter-word-for-king-of-crossworld/|archive-date=2021-05-08}}</ref><ref name="BUP2012"/> Posts also include the puzzle's solution, a difficulty rating, an explanation of the theme, a "word of the day", and pictures and music.<ref name="BUP2012"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/17628/20110512/crossword-buffs-have-an-online-meeting-place-thanks-to-binghamton-prof|title=Crossword buffs have an online meeting place, thanks to Binghamton prof.|date=2011-05-12|publisher=[[North Country Public Radio]]|access-date=2023-11-20}}</ref> In 2008, he invented the crossword term "natick" (after [[Natick, Massachusetts]]) for an "unguessable" square crossed in both directions by proper nouns considered obscure.<ref name="CHI2021"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.natickreport.com/2021/03/natick-infamous-in-crossword-puzzle-circles/|title=Natick infamous in crossword puzzle circles|last=Brown|first=Bob|date=2021-03-13|website=Natick Report|access-date=2023-11-21}}</ref> He has sometimes criticized the ''Times'' puzzle on issues of gender and racial representation.<ref name="BG2021"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Raphel|first=Adrienne|author-link=Adrienne Raphel|title=Thinking Inside the Box: Adventures with Crosswords and the Puzzling People Who Can't Live Without Them|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|year=2020|page=108|isbn=9780525522102}}</ref> Crossword editor [[Will Shortz]] has said he has "mixed feelings" about the blog, and the ''Times''{{`s}} "Wordplay" column has called it "decidedly divisive" for its occasionally caustic tone.<ref name="CHI2021"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/wordplay.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/sic-et-non/|title=Wednesday: Sic et Non|last=Horne|first=Jim|date=2010-12-21|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2023-11-21}}</ref> Sharp has framed the blog as an effort to treat an ephemeral product as a creative work worthy of criticism.<ref name="NYT2009"/><ref name="CHI2008"/>
Sharp usually solves the ''Times'' puzzle in the late evening and writes posts in the morning before going to work.<ref name="NYT2009"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-parker/135522600/|title=Shortz turned arcane puzzle into teasing, popular pastime|first=Shelley|last=Fralic|date=2008-03-07|page=H6|newspaper=[[Vancouver Sun]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> His reviews are known for use of humor and strong opinions.<ref name="NYT2010">{{cite news|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/wordplay.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/16/strauss/|title=Some Strauss Compositions|last=Horne|first=Jim|date=2010-08-16|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2023-11-21}}</ref><ref name="BG2021">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-parker/135522725/|title=My secret pandemic crushes|first=Renée|last=Loth|date=2021-08-27|page=A9|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He generally expresses his likes or dislikes of elements such as a puzzle's theme, clues, fill, and fairness.<ref name="CHI2021">{{cite news|url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/whats-a-9-letter-word-for-king-of-crossworld/|title=What's a 9-Letter Word for 'King of CrossWorld'?|last=Hansen|first=Claire|date=2018-08-08|newspaper=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508015200/https://www.chronicle.com/article/whats-a-9-letter-word-for-king-of-crossworld/|archive-date=2021-05-08}}</ref><ref name="BUP2012"/> Posts additionally include the puzzle's solution, a difficulty rating, an explanation of the theme (Sunday–Thursday), a "word of the day", and topical pictures and music.<ref name="BUP2012"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/17628/20110512/crossword-buffs-have-an-online-meeting-place-thanks-to-binghamton-prof|title=Crossword buffs have an online meeting place, thanks to Binghamton prof.|date=2011-05-12|publisher=[[North Country Public Radio]]|access-date=2023-11-20}}</ref> In 2008, he invented on his blog the crossword term "natick" (after [[Natick, Massachusetts]]) for an "unguessable" square crossed in both directions by proper nouns considered obscure.<ref name="CHI2021"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.natickreport.com/2021/03/natick-infamous-in-crossword-puzzle-circles/|title=Natick infamous in crossword puzzle circles|last=Brown|first=Bob|date=2021-03-13|website=Natick Report|access-date=2023-11-21}}</ref> He has sometimes criticized the ''Times'' puzzle on issues of gender and racial representation.<ref name="BG2021"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Raphel|first=Adrienne|author-link=Adrienne Raphel|title=Thinking Inside the Box: Adventures with Crosswords and the Puzzling People Who Can't Live Without Them|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|year=2020|page=108|isbn=9780525522102}}</ref> Crossword editor [[Will Shortz]] has said he has "mixed feelings" about the blog, and the ''Times''{{`s}} "Wordplay" column has called it "decidedly divisive" for its occasionally caustic tone.<ref name="CHI2021"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/wordplay.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/sic-et-non/|title=Wednesday: Sic et Non|last=Horne|first=Jim|date=2010-12-21|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2023-11-21}}</ref> Sharp has framed the blog as an effort to treat an ephemeral product as a creative work worthy of criticism.<ref name="NYT2009"/><ref name="CHI2008"/>


Sharp has competed in the [[American Crossword Puzzle Tournament]], placing as high as 31st in 2011.<ref name="BUP2012"/> He test solved puzzles for the ''Times'' for some time before 2009.<ref name="NYT2009"/> He has constructed several crosswords published in the ''Times'', ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', and the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' since 2010.<ref name="BU2012"/>
Sharp has competed in the [[American Crossword Puzzle Tournament]], placing as high as 31st in 2011.<ref name="BUP2012"/> He used to test solve puzzles for the ''Times'' for some time before 2009.<ref name="NYT2009"/> He has constructed several crosswords published in the ''Times'', ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', and the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' since 2010.<ref name="BU2012"/>


Sharp has written another blog, ''Pop Sensation'', cataloguing his vintage paperback novel collection, since March 2007.<ref name="BUP2015"/><ref name="BU2012"/>
Sharp writes another blog, ''Pop Sensation'', cataloguing his vintage paperback novel collection, begun in March 2007.<ref name="BUP2015"/><ref name="BU2012"/>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 22:25, 26 August 2024

Rex Parker
Born
Michael David Sharp[1]

(1969-11-26) November 26, 1969 (age 54)[1]
EducationPomona College (BA)
University of Michigan (MA, PhD)
Occupations
Known forRex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle
Websiterexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com

Michael David Sharp (born November 26, 1969), known by the pseudonym Rex Parker, is an American blogger known for writing about the New York Times crossword puzzle on his blog, Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle. Outside of crosswords, Sharp teaches English at Binghamton University in New York.

Early life, education, and career

Sharp grew up in Fresno, California.[2] He went to Pomona College as an undergraduate and earned his PhD in English from the University of Michigan in 1999.[3] He became interested in crossword puzzles in his senior year of college in 1990.[4] While in graduate school, he often solved crosswords in free newspapers found in cafés.[5][6]

Sharp joined the English department of Binghamton University in 1999.[7] He has taught classes on medieval literature, crime fiction, and comic books.[3][8] He used to teach occasionally at Elmira Correctional Facility.[9]

Blogging

Sharp began writing about the daily New York Times crossword puzzle as practice for a possible website for a comics course.[6][10] He writes under a pseudonym—Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld—that was originally a nickname invented during a family trip to Hawaii; his real-life identity was outed in 2007.[6][11] Five weeks after its inception on September 25, 2006, the blog received hundreds of views when the first puzzles he had written about were reprinted in national syndication.[4][5] Two years later, there were more than 10,000 daily readers, more than 20,000 in 2012, and 50,000 in 2021.[4][5][7] Some readers regularly participate in the blog's comment section, which forms a part of the online crossword community.[5][12]

Sharp usually solves the Times puzzle in the late evening and writes posts in the morning before going to work.[10][13] His reviews are known for use of humor and strong opinions.[9][14] He generally expresses his likes or dislikes of elements such as a puzzle's theme, clues, fill, and fairness.[4][6] Posts additionally include the puzzle's solution, a difficulty rating, an explanation of the theme (Sunday–Thursday), a "word of the day", and topical pictures and music.[6][15] In 2008, he invented on his blog the crossword term "natick" (after Natick, Massachusetts) for an "unguessable" square crossed in both directions by proper nouns considered obscure.[4][16] He has sometimes criticized the Times puzzle on issues of gender and racial representation.[14][17] Crossword editor Will Shortz has said he has "mixed feelings" about the blog, and the Times's "Wordplay" column has called it "decidedly divisive" for its occasionally caustic tone.[4][18] Sharp has framed the blog as an effort to treat an ephemeral product as a creative work worthy of criticism.[10][12]

Sharp has competed in the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, placing as high as 31st in 2011.[6] He used to test solve puzzles for the Times for some time before 2009.[10] He has constructed several crosswords published in the Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times since 2010.[7]

Sharp writes another blog, Pop Sensation, cataloguing his vintage paperback novel collection, begun in March 2007.[3][7]

References

  1. ^ a b Parker, Rex (November 26, 2019). "Tuesday, November 26, 2019". Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle. Retrieved January 13, 2024. If you are reading this, I am fifty ... it's my birthday. ... Or use Venmo: @MichaelDavidSharp
  2. ^ Parker, Rex (April 20, 2023). "Thursday, April 20, 2023". Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Pinkus, Odeya (February 10, 2015). "Michael Sharp: a man of comics, classics and crosswords". Pipe Dream. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Hansen, Claire (August 8, 2018). "What's a 9-Letter Word for 'King of CrossWorld'?". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Ebbeling, Vanessa (November 30, 2008). "BU educator's work puzzles growing legion of enthusiasts". Press & Sun-Bulletin. p. 1A; "Puzzles (continued)". Press and Sun-Bulletin. November 30, 2008. p. 11A – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Fiore, Anthony (February 24, 2012). "Professor moonlights as crossword master". Pipe Dream. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d Coker, Rachel (April 8, 2012). "Professor's blog helps crossword fans fill in the blanks". Binghamton University. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  8. ^ Saul, John B. (August 20, 2010). "From the Magazine: Puzzling Future". Pomona College. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010.
  9. ^ a b Horne, Jim (August 16, 2010). "Some Strauss Compositions". The New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d Horne, Jim (February 4, 2009). "Rex Parker Interview". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 14, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  11. ^ "Rex Parker's Crossword Blog for Experts, Cheaters". Vulture. July 29, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Hermes, J.J. (February 22, 2008). "'King of CrossWorld'". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023.
  13. ^ Fralic, Shelley (March 7, 2008). "Shortz turned arcane puzzle into teasing, popular pastime". Vancouver Sun. p. H6 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b Loth, Renée (August 27, 2021). "My secret pandemic crushes". The Boston Globe. p. A9 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Crossword buffs have an online meeting place, thanks to Binghamton prof". North Country Public Radio. May 12, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  16. ^ Brown, Bob (March 13, 2021). "Natick infamous in crossword puzzle circles". Natick Report. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  17. ^ Raphel, Adrienne (2020). Thinking Inside the Box: Adventures with Crosswords and the Puzzling People Who Can't Live Without Them. Penguin Books. p. 108. ISBN 9780525522102.
  18. ^ Horne, Jim (December 21, 2010). "Wednesday: Sic et Non". The New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2023.

Further reading

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rex_Parker&oldid=1242460172"