tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1389688080191562407..comments2024-03-19T00:21:49.519-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Ancient Spartan magistrate — THURSDAY, Aug. 27 2009 — Japanese butler in Auntie Mame / Metallic shade in SheffieldRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31047749123256074792013-02-16T07:52:38.452-05:002013-02-16T07:52:38.452-05:00I was surprised to see the answer had the letters ...I was surprised to see the answer had the letters of an upright pyramid circled in the same pattern. Is this a typo? Or do these letters form an anogram or cryptogram?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29168164628438439522009-10-01T18:11:40.203-04:002009-10-01T18:11:40.203-04:00@Naomi, woofer is a good guess. I already had ****...@Naomi, woofer is a good guess. I already had ****mp when I read the clue, so it was obviously some kind of amp, and PREAMP was the only thing that worked. I also started with "ette" instead of "enne". I had one other write-over: "flub" for SLIP. That is an unusually low number of write-overs for Thursday.Singernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69475853401487099372009-10-01T16:06:33.590-04:002009-10-01T16:06:33.590-04:00Also from syndication land:
On a first run throug...Also from syndication land:<br /><br />On a first run through had 'woofer" for 46a, and "ette" for 67a - those were my only write overs - and I'm really surprised that no one who's old school mentioned "woofer"!Naominoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22594986855897716952009-10-01T13:11:07.758-04:002009-10-01T13:11:07.758-04:00Comment from syndication land:
I actually liked th...Comment from syndication land:<br />I actually liked this puzzle. Thursday is gimmick day, so even though it was really easy, it was a Thursday puzzle. I was confused by the "row" clues for a while - okay put them on the back burner and watch some of them come from crosses, and I usually ignore themes anyway. I was stuck on the SW, so decided to look at the circles. I wrote out the letter pyramid, and by then had most of the letters. The PATTERN was immediately evident and I was able to fill in the remaining circles and answer the "row" clues (had two circles and three "row" clues unfilled. That blew open the SW and all was well. The "row" clues reference the word pyramid - I thought that was obvious once I wrote it out. Whole thing took about 5 or 6 minutes - pretty darn short for a Thursday, but a satisfying "aha" moment when I got the double theme.Singernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38362622444404646852009-08-27T23:47:44.825-04:002009-08-27T23:47:44.825-04:00OK,count me among the nerds who wait for the next ...OK,count me among the nerds who wait for the next day's puzzle at 10 PM...Thursday was suprisingly easy...did it in pencil expecting the worst, which was entirely unnecessary, as I finished it in about 5 minutes....made my day when Rex rated it medium-challenging...that almost never happens to me...but Friday is here and I've filled in about 5 answers in the SE, beyond that, I'm completely lostRobinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00404995201196513974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17279243352984072112009-08-27T22:43:49.671-04:002009-08-27T22:43:49.671-04:00I mean we've had the most fabulous summer in M...I mean we've had the most fabulous summer in Michigan this year (not Andrea and me : ) Long day...foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45154181371052361462009-08-27T22:41:02.594-04:002009-08-27T22:41:02.594-04:00Rex, you watch Project Runway? How cool is that! ...Rex, you watch Project Runway? How cool is that! I'd have thought the overlap between my TV menu and yours was minimal (e.g. the Daily Show). But I keep discovering these hidden facets of yours! <br /><br />@ Philly, how long are you in Michigan? If you're coming anywhere near Ann Arbor, please let me know! I'd love to meet you. You'd be my second Rexite in person, Andrea being the first. We've had the most fabulous summer. <br /><br />@edith b, thank you!!!!foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19591036513989103802009-08-27T22:28:48.424-04:002009-08-27T22:28:48.424-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=35115061&postID=3588389571383499624&isPopup=true" rel="nofollow">7/30/2009 post</a> 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 6:18, 6:58, 0.90, 26%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 8:22, 8:31, 0.98, 50%, Medium<br />Wed 10:46, 12:27, 0.86, 16%, Easy<br />Thu 13:55, 18:23, 0.76, 6%, Easy (very)<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:25, 3:42, 0.92, 29%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 4:13, 4:23, 0.96, 46%, Medium<br />Wed 5:11, 6:04, 0.86, 18%, Easy<br />Thu 7:02, 8:55, 0.79, 13%, Easy<br /><br />Pretty easy week so far. I'm expecting to do lots of cheating on Friday and Saturday.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75321661171656124682009-08-27T22:05:54.358-04:002009-08-27T22:05:54.358-04:00@william said...
pattern comment:
"if the fi...@william said...<br />pattern comment:<br /><br />"if the first row has "pattern" and we drop the last letter in each subsequent row, i expected the seventh row to be "p" (and not "a") since the dropped letter is from the end of the previous word"<br /><br />It's not always the last letter that's dropped.<br /><br />PATTERN - PATTER - PATER - ETC<br /><br /><br />@Rex Parker said...<br />"Never said PRATT was "the design school on 'Project Runway,'" just that the show helped me get it. Many of the contestants have studied at PRATT."<br /><br />IMHO, Rex's infrequent FU's are marginally more frequent than his inability to admit them.<br /><br />Happy Birthday CrossCan (Loved Puzzle Gir''s bon mot).JC66https://www.blogger.com/profile/05324615675333287919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8676095160134435992009-08-27T21:50:50.275-04:002009-08-27T21:50:50.275-04:00For a change I had a legitimate AHA moment with th...For a change I had a legitimate AHA moment with this puzzle. I had the same concerns as Foodie with this puzzle and, of course, she expressed them far better than I would have so, Foodie, I salute you. <br /><br />In the early days of going to baseball games with my husband, a pitcher threw an Eephus pitch which my husband explained to me. Every time I see reference to Eephus, I think of those early days with my husband.edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52527811709208940642009-08-27T21:30:21.507-04:002009-08-27T21:30:21.507-04:00I liked "Andromeda" -- no "Firefly&...I liked "Andromeda" -- no "Firefly" but watchable and amiably goofy.Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56834343470671305402009-08-27T19:34:23.187-04:002009-08-27T19:34:23.187-04:00Feel that PRATT should have been clued as "sc...Feel that PRATT should have been clued as "school from which @stan got his Library Science degree."<br /><br />Just kidding. It's very famous for art and industrial design...Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20238103335147405272009-08-27T18:55:44.591-04:002009-08-27T18:55:44.591-04:00It seems as if the only person to call them stereo...It seems as if the only person to call them stereotypical was just saying they're canonical. But to be honest, I really do not care.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81252962936778930212009-08-27T18:52:02.009-04:002009-08-27T18:52:02.009-04:00Glad that Rex didn't like it much. I thought ...Glad that Rex didn't like it much. I thought it worse than that.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8617236534731649512009-08-27T18:25:02.586-04:002009-08-27T18:25:02.586-04:00In defense of beads:
Various Native American grou...In defense of beads:<br /><br />Various Native American groups made their own beads from found materials (such as shell), so this was a common decorative item. Shells will eventually bleach out; quills will soften and spoil over time. Thus, the advent of a more durable material was welcomed.<br /><br />Let's not throw the decorative baby out with the "stereotype" bathwater. I think it is interesting that throughout history, there has been a personal and cultural impulse to embellish items that would be perfectly serviceable in plain form. Simply, we like making things interesting, pretty, or additionally meaningful. Is there any more warmth in a quilt I've made versus a factory blanket; possibly not--even certainly not--but which one is more likely to be treasured? to delight the eye? to enhance the warmth?<br /><br />Trade beads were embraced because they held their colors so well and were much more uniform in size; they were a part of artisans' work before Europeans introduced their glass products, so I think it's perhaps unfair to paint them as "stereotypical." Beads were a traditional embellishment, then and now.<br /><br />I am sure I could have said this more succinctly were I not so tired... but a visit to a museum might elevate beadwork in a viewer's estimation.Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13195458656221202202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40743061827340585202009-08-27T17:18:37.845-04:002009-08-27T17:18:37.845-04:00Shouldn't the clue for TNT be C6H2(CH3)(NO2)3?...Shouldn't the clue for TNT be C6H2(CH3)(NO2)3? Eventually picked up on the three nitrate groups, after quite a while.Scottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56463967878370558632009-08-27T17:12:17.389-04:002009-08-27T17:12:17.389-04:00very late. Just got home and did the puzzle which ...very late. Just got home and did the puzzle which I didn't understand until I wrote down all the circled letters and saw the pyramid.<br /><br />Time to start dinner. Will read all the comments later.chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86693708996186134052009-08-27T17:01:00.241-04:002009-08-27T17:01:00.241-04:00Happy Birthday Crosscan.
My Minnetonka Moccasins,...Happy Birthday Crosscan.<br /><br />My Minnetonka Moccasins, which are off of my feet only when sleeping, have the Thunderbird (not the car) design on them in beads. I've been wearing them most of my life. Get new ones every time I visit the MIL.<br /><br />Was trying to get the puzzle done before a friend showed up for dinner last night which proved to be not a problem. Probably my fastest Thursday ever. Thought it was a skosh easy but I enjoyed every minute of it. I loved the theme and thought it was incredibly clever. <br /><br />Only write-over was STEEL GREY over slate grey.<br /><br />@Orange - There's that RENE wench again, stealing your husband's name.<br /><br />Thanks for a super puzzle Mr. Bowman.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64656466856853472322009-08-27T16:53:51.440-04:002009-08-27T16:53:51.440-04:00"cable car from Chamonix up to the Aiguille d..."cable car from Chamonix up to the Aiguille du Midi, which is an impressive pinnacle of rock that tops out at 3842 m."<br /><br />@Clark: This is exactly what we did with our kids nine years ago. We got lucky with a beautiful, sunny June day. Even so, we brought ski parkas to wear at the top of the lookout because it was so chilly. We saw hikers and skiers. Glad we got to see alpine glaciers, too. Soon they'll be gone or at least much diminished.PlantieBeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960277851368508036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77384528453016329512009-08-27T16:43:44.914-04:002009-08-27T16:43:44.914-04:00well puppies aren't usually as big as their ow...well puppies aren't usually as big as their owners, but how many mice have dog pets? Or pets at all?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00329326645706288826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27775778644177794412009-08-27T16:42:39.946-04:002009-08-27T16:42:39.946-04:00Just got home...checked the Comments...YAY, glad t...Just got home...checked the Comments...YAY, glad to see PREAMP clue has been legitimized. JoHo, very gracious capitulation.<br /><br />LOL, though: I read about someone's receiving Mont Blanc as a gift! Really? Isn't that like stock in Brooklyn Bridge? until...duh...realized I wrote with such a fountain pen for many years. When *I* wrote in *MY* answer, it was The Mountain!!! <br />And now, if I have to write anything much by hand, I feel quite put upon.Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13195458656221202202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44260965371235902282009-08-27T16:33:53.138-04:002009-08-27T16:33:53.138-04:00I admit that I took the time to figure out what mo...I admit that I took the time to figure out what molecule was represented by C7H5N3O6. That particular notation says nothing about chemical structure so it's a bit like solving a jumble. More than six carbons but hardly any hydrogens, probably a benzene ring, let's make the extra carbon a methyl group, but I'll use up all the hydrogens making that a toluene. Whoa too many oxygens for an acid, but oh <i>three</i> nitrogens and enough oxygens for three nitro groups, haha trinitrotoluene, I should have just guessed that anyway. Just as you might enjoy combing through your knowledge banks for "goddess with a goat" or "pulp author named for a fruit?" I enjoy the puzzle within a puzzle of deducing the chemical structure.<br /><br />I jokingly popped ALLOFTHEM into 33D and the proximity of the correct letters actually helped with one cross.<br /><br />Yes, you can buy non-beaded moccasins, but the beads are stereotypical to me.Aviatrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1354064184164014602009-08-27T16:31:19.876-04:002009-08-27T16:31:19.876-04:00@Anne -- You most likely took the cable car from C...@Anne -- You most likely took the cable car from Chamonix up to the Aiguille du Midi, which is an impressive pinnacle of rock that tops out at 3842 m. The summit is at 4807 m., about 5 km. to the SSW, though it doesn't seem that far off because the whole thing is so massive. You can definitely see climbers on the mountain from there. What a beautiful spot.Clarknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41059727764382326282009-08-27T16:18:19.002-04:002009-08-27T16:18:19.002-04:00Never said PRATT was "the design school on &#...Never said PRATT was "the design school on 'Project Runway,'" just that the show helped me get it. Many of the contestants have studied at PRATT. <br /><br />rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56239783546888287792009-08-27T16:08:48.823-04:002009-08-27T16:08:48.823-04:00Perhaps you can allow a puppy to be as big as its ...Perhaps you can allow a puppy to be as big as its owner when the owner is A MOUSE!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com