tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1317140272076990377..comments2024-03-29T10:17:28.532-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Title guy in HBO animated sitcom / SAT 9-4-10 / Hollywood acronym / Zeros in sports slang / Tekka-maki sushi source / Steam engine pioneerRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78069825124634525162010-10-13T13:29:47.869-04:002010-10-13T13:29:47.869-04:00Dial in is a kind of modem service. Call in is wh...Dial in is a kind of modem service. Call in is what you do to the office.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38318786342185553872010-10-12T22:45:19.581-04:002010-10-12T22:45:19.581-04:00Got the Friday puzzle done in one sitting; this on...Got the Friday puzzle done in one sitting; this one took me three days.<br /><br />"Biped" for "Abominable Snowman" was way too cute; really, Mark Diehl should be embarrassed. Playing with solvers is fine and good; toying with them is objectionable.<br /><br />Got "anesthesia" but was mystified by it. Don't like "number" used this way; has anyone ever used this in a spoken sentence? Very hard to say, with the syllable break at "numb-er," as opposed to "num-ber."<br /><br />Not bothered by "set of clubs" or "AliForeman" at all, although this corner was finished last.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13425284154754210042010-10-09T20:44:03.318-04:002010-10-09T20:44:03.318-04:00@ Clamor:
Maybe you got me or maybe ...@ Clamor:<br /> <br /> Maybe you got me or maybe not, not sure. Most of those seem perfectly androgenous; and of the rest, none seem to me to be especially (much less objectionably) skewed to the female side. I would have finished a puzzle with those clues and answers without a single wince or flinch, no "Ooh, cooties" reaction at all. Y'all gang up now, y'hear?NotalwaysrightBillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22823080426071964492010-10-09T18:55:14.039-04:002010-10-09T18:55:14.039-04:00oops. make that "word with test or smear.&quo...oops. make that "word with test or smear."<br /><br />and add:<br /><br />*teen fear: split endsClamornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22145563152923953902010-10-09T18:52:03.525-04:002010-10-09T18:52:03.525-04:00@notalwaysrightbill
Would a female-skewed puzzle ...@notalwaysrightbill<br /><br />Would a female-skewed puzzle be noticed as such? <br /><br />Let's see: <br />* complete paint job, for short; mani-pedi<br />* word with sweat or feeding: night<br />* razor brand: Venus<br />* many competetive executives need one: au pair<br />* evening wear: strapless bra<br />* word with test or drivel: Pap<br />* base choice: matte<br />* summer hose: sheer toe<br />* diet alternative: Spanx<br />* many volleyball players coordinate them: hair<br />ribbons <br />* game-changer: Title IX<br />* National Breast Health Mth: Oct.<br />* run stopper: clear polish<br /><br />Maybe!Clamornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27130903398150269912010-10-09T10:18:33.881-04:002010-10-09T10:18:33.881-04:00Syndicated puzzler. Agree with [whomever] about th...Syndicated puzzler. Agree with [whomever] about the interesting diversity of perspectives here, very ALIFOREMAN today. With Rex's general instinct to appreciate tightness and concision, and his tendency to question the appearance of tacked-on. With someone else about finding more to quibble about in clueing, usually, than answers. Have to ask the girls if they think that a purposely female-skewed puzzle would even be noticed to be so. Was happy to find that the clue to DONKING had nothing to do with "Crocodile Dundee" but still fit in well with ALIFOREMAN. TNotalwaysrightBillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40957647017562346102010-09-07T17:42:13.644-04:002010-09-07T17:42:13.644-04:0024-down "Got into port": The fortified w...24-down "Got into port": The fortified wine from Portugal should have been capitalized. Anyone else thrown off by this?David E.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33487306185259947092010-09-05T02:51:25.752-04:002010-09-05T02:51:25.752-04:00@chaos1
OOps, somehow I misread your charming anec...@chaos1<br />OOps, somehow I misread your charming anecdote and thought you were still in San Mateo. Feel free to write to me off blog and we can SF trip away. Don't want to use @rex's space for that...but sad to say, Julius' Castle did just close after about 100 years. :(acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9886872535662976762010-09-04T22:51:41.971-04:002010-09-04T22:51:41.971-04:00@ Andrea(WOTD) Michaels:
I left the Bay area af...@ Andrea(WOTD) Michaels: <br /><br /> I left the Bay area after 9 wonderful years, in 1983. I will always miss my time in the most beautiful city I have ever been in. At least it was then. <br /><br /> I miss the Chateaubriand at the Blue Boar on Lombard and their counterpart Monroe's across the street. Likewise, Marakesh on O'Farell below L'Orangerie. Is Julius's Castle still there by Coit tower? And what would a trip to the city be without stopping at the Buena Vista for Irish coffee? I haven't even mentioned the wharf, with Scoma's and Alioto's.<br /><br />I do miss it so much, but I understand that it isn't the same place it was back then. Still, I envy you for being there. The beautiful and pristine pastel Victorian houses, the Presidio, Golden Gate Park, the Bridge, the Cliff House, on an on.<br /><br />At least I can say I was there once during a glorious time. Yes, I left my heart in San Francisco !Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850261376542582358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47803978451897466382010-09-04T22:03:22.123-04:002010-09-04T22:03:22.123-04:00@dk
well, now that you've shown up, it IS a pa...@dk<br />well, now that you've shown up, it IS a party! ("WASP for country club...love it!)<br /><br />@Hazel<br />as foodie says, no opening can of worms here either (but only bec they are sort of phallic all that wriggling and used for fishing and scaring girls and stuff?)<br />I just like to point it out from time to time that there are so many ways to clue things, but some puzzles really end up skewing male. I mean, I put in BAGELS right away too, but only bec I learned to do that from crosswords, that were VERY male!<br />(As a Jew, I can think of many more ways to have clued it)<br />Yes, many girls love sports.<br />Well, some girls love sports...and geography, and pissing contests, and male domination of the language, but not this gal!<br />Just want to point it out from time to time, as too many folks take it too for granted.<br /><br />As for being "beloved", um, I recently got a scathing scathing scathing off-blog chiding for telling my favorite little old lady Jewish joke, so yes, I tend to stereotype (which is not the same as being racist by the way, Ms scathing-off-blog-tut-tut-er)<br /><br />Anyway, I believe the correct term is "a gaggle of" golf clubs.<br /><br />@chaos1<br />If you are in Menlo Park, I hope you are planning on participating in, or at least breezing by, the Sept 11th tourney in Alameda.andrea xx michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36882644233380230072010-09-04T21:53:25.102-04:002010-09-04T21:53:25.102-04:00Acc. to cruciverb database, "number" has...Acc. to cruciverb database, "number" has also been used in this fashion (meaning "thing that numbs") in clues for:<br /><br />ETHER<br />GAS<br />NARCOTIC and<br />OPIATE<br /><br />with ETHER being by far the most common.<br /><br />RPRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62488858893232824662010-09-04T21:28:28.773-04:002010-09-04T21:28:28.773-04:00Another beach day; only beverage has been Coca-Col...Another beach day; only beverage has been Coca-Cola.<br /><br />My very first fill in this puzzle was 26 D, Number of folks? = ANESTHESIA. The fact that I put it in so quickly could argue for Rex's point that is "super old". I don't know other databases and only refer to Jim Horne's, which says this is only the second appearance of this clue/answer in the Shortz era. More to the point, I have used this as an example several times in trying to show non-crossword people what kind of fun we can have. <br /><br />I spent some time working around my original idea that 24 A, Lamented, could be REPINED. It fit that P from SWEEPEA so well!<br /><br />And, @PuzzleNut, as I started reading your 10:06 AM post, I said, "OMG! I also had DETER before DEBAR today!"Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88200027377413350602010-09-04T21:21:07.756-04:002010-09-04T21:21:07.756-04:00Mention heavy drinking and look who shows up.
C...Mention heavy drinking and look who shows up. <br /><br />Caddied at the club (WASP for country club) for a year and became very familiar with the course load known as ASETOFCLUBS. In the early sixties golf carts were not allowed so you carried or got a caddy. Carrying 2 bags for 18 usually earned you 30 - 50 bucks. Note: gas was 23 cents a gallon, cigarettes 18 cents a pack. Note 2: Club rules stated member's sons could not caddy once they reached the ripe old age of 14.<br /><br />I wanted someone v ALI for13d, eventually got it right. Big hang up was BLUEgil instead of FIN. <br /><br />I thought this one was more Thursday/Friday than Sat. That said I throughly enjoyed the fill.<br /><br />My only *** (3 Stars) for the week.<br /><br />I like it here Tom said nestingly.dkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83055375326688134532010-09-04T21:11:32.891-04:002010-09-04T21:11:32.891-04:00Hey Rex:
HeHeHeHeHe! As Tinbeni would say, Long L...Hey Rex:<br /><br />HeHeHeHeHe! As Tinbeni would say, Long Live Johnnie Walker, in any of his various color combinations! You rock professor!!!!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850261376542582358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21236356345132987472010-09-04T20:17:31.554-04:002010-09-04T20:17:31.554-04:00Nice to see I'm not the only one who's bee...Nice to see I'm not the only one who's been drinking (somewhat heavily) tonight ;)<br /><br />rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10618177448636605932010-09-04T20:15:48.564-04:002010-09-04T20:15:48.564-04:00EXCELLENT !!!!
Howard Crossell here, Speaking of ...EXCELLENT !!!!<br /><br />Howard Crossell here, Speaking of Sporks: (That's what you use, when you don't have a full SET of flatware)<br /><br />In a very tightly played game, and despite a late rally by Jet City Gambler, Rex (The Hammer) Parker prevailed in his fifth and final at bat. Noting that he dismissed BING as a totally absurd source for definitive information, his last shot barely cleared the left field wall. Even so, he SET his feet. When the pitcher was SET, Rex delivered a truly Ruthian swat, and rounded the SET of bases. The team was all SET to welcome him at home plate. His wife called him in the club house, to let him know she was using their best China SET to welcome him home. Rex suspected a SET-UP because he's used to eating off paper plates.(Only Kidding Mrs. Parker). We wouldn't want a SETTO between you and hubby!<br /><br />Thanks for the usual numbers provided by our renowned statistician, sanfranman59.<br /><br />This has been Howard Crossell, Speaking Of Sporks!<br /><br />In late breaking news: @Hazel has a gender issue. Sources who wish to remain anonymous have confirmed that Hazel has taken umbrage with those who have tried to reduce Saturday's puzzle to a "Boy/Girl" thing. In her defense, Hazel has openly admitted, that she may have latent levels of testosterone. Speaking Of Sporks can neither confirm or deny this admission, and we have no definitive proof that steroids may be involved. She speaks of Toe Holds and Sumo. Obviously, that infers a close association and knowledge of wrassling? My sources on the street tell me that a NESTINGSITE is gym-speak for a venue where steroid users shoot up, and a Hot Potato is a loaded syringe?<br /><br />Hmmm? It seems to me that she has a GOODREASON to EXCUSE her actions, but our legal department has advised me against any commentary that may be construed as pejorative.<br /><br />In any event, should Hazel's physique benefit from an over abundance of certain hormones, I'm down with that! Rock on Hazel!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850261376542582358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71214979316467555982010-09-04T19:24:54.134-04:002010-09-04T19:24:54.134-04:00I thought this was quite a bit easier than Friday&...I thought this was quite a bit easier than Friday's (which I did not finish). "Elsie the cow" was certainly a nice start.<br /><br /> I'm bewildered by Rex's unhappiness with "set of clubs," which seems unobjectionable to me. Why is this worse than "nesting site"? <br /><br /> Is Kiawah Island a well-known golf resort?<br /><br />As a former chess player, I'd like to see the Elo rating system in a puzzle, but I guess there are more people who know about golf resorts than chess rating systems. But then why does Mikhail Tal (chessplayer) show up sometimes in the NYT puzzle? Why not Que ___?michael Chibniknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5839105850313448402010-09-04T18:28:37.254-04:002010-09-04T18:28:37.254-04:00@dis
Although flattered at your suggestion of usi...@dis<br /><br />Although flattered at your suggestion of using <a href="http://www.chesselo.com/" rel="nofollow">my chess rating system </a> to clue ELO, perhaps the new <a href="http://www.museumstuff.com/learn/topics/Elo_(dog" rel="nofollow"> dog breed </a> would be equally obscure.<br /><br />Channeled through P>G><br /><br />PS: @Jim 1:04<br /><br />I like your alternate clues for 31A (except maybe the last one). Good Saturday level stuff!Arpad Elohttp://www.chesselo.com/arpadelo.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21207573568676834862010-09-04T18:17:33.494-04:002010-09-04T18:17:33.494-04:00@hazel, no can of worms. I agree with @archeoprof ...@hazel, no can of worms. I agree with @archeoprof that your comment was thoughtful indeed. After I posted mine, I thought to myself that I was being too stereotyping. Of course, you're right that women can love sports, know a great deal about them and enjoy seeing clues related to them in a puzzle. And I imagine that some men might know a great deal about what might be considered, stereotypically, more feminine interests. <br /><br />I can't speak for Andrea, but I'm guessing that we were both trying to characterize a certain vibe in terms of preponderance of a type of clues or answers. But of course, reactions are in the mind of the beholder as much as in the stimulus itself. <br /><br />So, your comments are duly noted and greatly appreciated.<br /><br />And I too miss Edith B!foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23908350392613951912010-09-04T18:07:21.104-04:002010-09-04T18:07:21.104-04:00Slow medium for me. Found yesterday's puzzle ...Slow medium for me. Found yesterday's puzzle much easier, which puts me in the minority. Sometimes you just "get" a puzzle, that's how I felt yesterday. It never ceases to amaze me how so many of us have such different reactions to a puzzle.Nebraska Dougnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46424140889453396592010-09-04T18:05:07.811-04:002010-09-04T18:05:07.811-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 7/30/2009 post for an explanation. In a nutshell, the higher the ratio, the higher this week's median solve time is relative to the average for the corresponding day of the week.<br /><br />All solvers (this week's median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Mon 7:08, 6:58, 1.02, 63%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 7:09, 8:52, 0.81, 3%, Easy<br />Wed 11:51, 11:44, 1.01, 61%, Medium-Challenging<br />Thu 24:26, 19:16, 1.27, 89%, Challenging<br />Fri 27:42, 26:41, 1.04, 58%, Medium-Challenging<br />Sat 29:37, 30:53, 0.96, 40%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:54, 3:43, 1.05, 82%, Challenging<br />Tue 3:49, 4:34, 0.84, 6%, Easy<br />Wed 5:59, 5:46, 1.04, 69%, Medium-Challenging<br />Thu 11:48, 9:15, 1.28, 89%, Challenging<br />Fri 14:01, 13:00, 1.08, 72%, Medium-Challenging<br />Sat 14:33, 17:37, 0.83, 13%, Easy<br /><br />There's an unusually large discrepancy between the two groups of solvers on today's puzzle. It seems to have been an easier solve for the Top 100 group than for the All Solvers group.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65277205676080816122010-09-04T17:20:13.186-04:002010-09-04T17:20:13.186-04:00@Hazel: thank you for your thoughtful comment! Y...@Hazel: thank you for your thoughtful comment! Your observation also applies to claims that a puzzle skews "old" or "young." <br /><br />Puzzles are like golf courses in that way. They can be hard or easy, in different ways, depending on the player's skill level. <br /><br />But for puzzles you don't need a SETOFCLUBS...archaeoprofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956231727789223463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54198319105178942272010-09-04T16:37:46.648-04:002010-09-04T16:37:46.648-04:00I am fixing to open up another can of worms becaus...I am fixing to open up another can of worms because I am disagreeing with two of the most beloved people on this blog - ACME and FOODIE by addressing the issue of this being a "boy's puzzle."<br />I did the puzzle, read this/ese comment(s), did a bikeride, went to the butcher's and I still can't let it go. Sigh. Its just the downside of being me, I guess....<br /><br />I have no testosterone (well maybe I have some - don't we all?, I'm not really sure how that works, honestly), but I am NOT a boy, and I got BAGELS immediately! I mean immediately! and the other sports answers easily enough, once I had a few toeholds. I am a girl and I like sports, including sumo wrestling. So enough with the gender stereotypes!! They have irritated me all my life!! <br /><br />Also, as the wife of a birder, I’ve definitely heard NESTINGSITE "in the language" around our house, at least. Although that particular issue does not seem to be a hot potato anymore. <br /><br />My only nit with this fabulous (MUCH MUCH harder to me than yesterday's) puzzle is that I’ve never equated an EXCUSE with a GOOD REASON. Excuses have pejorative connotations in my mind, and while they may be reasons for having not done [fill in the blank], in my view they are generally excuses and not necessarily/automatically good reasons. <br /><br />That's my 2 cents! - come back @Edith B!!hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04627015904603641109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90067501949532061242010-09-04T16:27:26.796-04:002010-09-04T16:27:26.796-04:00Bing's numbers are Insane!
Here's Google:...Bing's numbers are Insane!<br /><br />Here's Google:<br /><br />In quot. marks:<br />["set of clubs"] 11.3 million (no idea what is up w/ the discrepancy w/ Bing) (and again, NO ONE is saying "SET OF CLUBS" is not *a* phrase)<br /><br />["set of tires"] 25.2 million<br /><br />["set of rules"] 141 million<br /><br />["bunch of things"] 22.2 million<br /><br />Would not be fond of Any of those phrases as grid fill, despite their being in common use. Come on, ["Trip to the store"] gets 63.7 million, we all know what it means and have probably used it, but in the grid??? I doubt it.Rex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9022240601480180242010-09-04T14:53:52.115-04:002010-09-04T14:53:52.115-04:00As an occasional duffer, I'd venture to say &q...As an occasional duffer, I'd venture to say "Set of clubs" is waaaaay more common than the other examples Rex cites. Golfers say "I got a new set of clubs" all the time.<br /><br />"Set of clubs" 218 million bing hits<br />"Set of dumbbells" 1.3 million bing hits<br />"Set of steak knives" 32 million hits (most of them Glengarry Glen Ross clips)<br />"Set of dishware" 858 K hits<br />"Bag of tortilla chips" 4.8 million hits<br /><br />However, "Bag of chips" clocks in at 60 million<br /><br />Interestingly, "set" is the word with the most number of definitions in the OED.Jet City Gamblernoreply@blogger.com