tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1658495238830938769..comments2024-03-28T12:49:16.793-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Clear libation popular in England / WED 3-12-14 / England's Fergie, formally / Nickname for $2 Canadian coin / Clear libation popular in Japan / Fifth-century pope called Great / Fizzy dinner quaff / Old-timey agreementsRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27559393071362909652018-01-08T06:11:23.143-05:002018-01-08T06:11:23.143-05:00Your article was really nice but somehow I'm s...Your article was really nice but somehow I'm still lost xDJessicahttp://partykrakow.co.uk/hen-weekends-krakow/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11232538659344852872014-04-16T23:37:51.179-04:002014-04-16T23:37:51.179-04:00@Diri, lovin' your newly-minted cinqoonie. Cou...@Diri, lovin' your newly-minted cinqoonie. Could even double as a drink - a Tanqueray Cinqcoonie sounds like a great nightcap.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45381464946668517142014-04-16T21:17:39.593-04:002014-04-16T21:17:39.593-04:00BTW, nice to see all our TOOONIE spending AMIGOS s...BTW, nice to see all our TOOONIE spending AMIGOS showing up today; hi to Red V, Rainy, Waxy, et.al.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84603309315241626122014-04-16T21:14:52.513-04:002014-04-16T21:14:52.513-04:00Jeff Chen, this wedpuz is out of the ballpark clev...Jeff Chen, this wedpuz is out of the ballpark clever. Loved the theme. I don't drink VODKA, MEAD or CIDER. Very little POP (maybe a Coke or Pepsi per year), but I make up for it in the WINE department - mainly Washington and Chilean reds and New Zealand sav blancs. As for GIN, give me a Beefeater martini up with extra olives. <br />Looks like I'm buying @Spacy a drink - I only have a full house.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35250915382915084102014-04-16T20:20:27.422-04:002014-04-16T20:20:27.422-04:00@waxy - cinqoonie? (It would have instant xword cr...@waxy - cinqoonie? (It would have instant xword cred due to the u-less q.)Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83991733126981768272014-04-16T19:44:44.087-04:002014-04-16T19:44:44.087-04:00Hm. Just read Rex's comments about gin, and I ...Hm. Just read Rex's comments about gin, and I beg to differ. Speaking as an Englishman I know that gin is widely regarded as the English spirit, just as much as Vodka is Russia's.straylinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536180563789923012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90971421578491484852014-04-16T19:24:40.440-04:002014-04-16T19:24:40.440-04:00Smooth as silk. An amusing theme, well executed.Smooth as silk. An amusing theme, well executed.straylinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536180563789923012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67953348555723455992014-04-16T19:00:32.733-04:002014-04-16T19:00:32.733-04:00Gin and Tonic (G&T) is certainly the English d...Gin and Tonic (G&T) is certainly the English drink of choice, at least among people of a certain age. Just learnt of a recent medical emergency involving a 94 year old aunt of mine there - once things were resolved at the local hospital and she returned to the seniors' residence where she lives, the first thing she did was to down a G&T. Her daughter seriously believes a small daily dose of gin is actually contributing to her Mom's longevity. Who's to argue?<br /><br />IMHO, Toonies and twonies are interchangeable. Wondering just what to call the $5 coin when it appears in the near future.<br /><br /> Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29139113522793974082014-04-16T15:00:08.374-04:002014-04-16T15:00:08.374-04:00Nice puzzle. Easy puzzle. Clever theme, great re...Nice puzzle. Easy puzzle. Clever theme, great revealer. Nice longer answers (several). Amazing how the conversation can revolve around the various interpretations of "tan". <br /><br />"The cluing is a disaster"-@Rex. How? GIN is as English as tan TEA, or QEII. Words fail me.<br /><br />The puzzle works on all levels, except on the level of difficulty, but that doesn't bother me.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31591689065145090372014-04-16T14:34:09.835-04:002014-04-16T14:34:09.835-04:00After I finished the puzzle with only a single let...After I finished the puzzle with only a single letter write-over (CaVE to COVE) I spent a few minutes examining the grid in search of things I might complain about if I were so inclined, and I came up empty handed.<br /><br />A local distillery uses Maine potatoes to make a premium (i.e. "high-priced") vodka, some of which they turn into gin with the addition of botanicals (non of which makes gin any less quintessentially English).<br /><br />My capcha has 8 digits plus two more in the address photo and the best hand I can get is two stinkin' pairs?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4269294605734766432014-04-16T14:03:04.838-04:002014-04-16T14:03:04.838-04:00Filled in MILK at 1A and then just walked through ...Filled in MILK at 1A and then just walked through this one. Only pause was spelling RISOTTO with two S's instead of two T's, but that easily fixed itself. Easy puzzles like this always leave me waiting for the other shoe to drop, the later week doozie where I sometimes fail to even get a toe-hold. So, fingers crossed, I await tomorrow's offering.<br /><br />A bow to @Spacecraft's cards. I have a couple of lousy pairs, tho I could elevate it to four 3’s if the rules allow factoring in the accompanying address???<br />DMGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66911504480048510992014-04-16T11:59:41.858-04:002014-04-16T11:59:41.858-04:00It was fun; comments were funner.
The loonie ca...It was fun; comments were funner. <br /><br />The loonie came first, and is so-called because there is a loon on it (the bird, not Harper). The toonie came later, and there was much discussion as to what to call it. I really thought "dubloonie" was brilliant and should have won out. But I guess that extra syllable...Red Valerianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04638265039015470938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81707935240729319302014-04-16T11:55:47.722-04:002014-04-16T11:55:47.722-04:00Seldom has my experience--and opinion--been so clo...Seldom has my experience--and opinion--been so closely congruent with that of OFL. In fact, I wasn't entirely sure I had the NE corner right till checking here (I did). I think Jeff associated GIN with England via James Bond. As for me, all I know about the stuff comes from "The Sting:"<br /><br />"Always use gin with a mark, kid. They can't tell you cut it."<br /><br />I'm with @Anoa Bob: just gimme a beer. Not sure that DRINKSALLAROUND specifies the offer to buy; it's a close cousin of the old joke--"When I drink, everybody drinks!" And upon being presented with the bill, "When I pay, everybody pays!"<br /><br />Couple of awkward partials here; ASAN is the ugliest. Overused crutches IBAR and ESAU further tarnish the "tan" star, and super E-concentrates EPEE and EENIE don't help either. Still, on balance, passable.<br /><br />TIMETOGO.<br /><br />We must be using wild cards: five 6's!spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55083194797679526612014-03-27T16:43:25.492-04:002014-03-27T16:43:25.492-04:00 this is THE easiest puzzle from NYT I have ... this is THE easiest puzzle from NYT I have ever done. less than 5 minutes not even tryingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31416251114550460482014-03-13T09:17:07.401-04:002014-03-13T09:17:07.401-04:00Numinous, I looove "For goodness ____," ...Numinous, I looove "For goodness ____," as it is completely non-beverage-related!<br /><br />DeeJayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16709717979265507047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33396374236735714382014-03-12T22:02:35.107-04:002014-03-12T22:02:35.107-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 8/1/2009 post for an explanation and my 10/15/2012 post for an explanation of a tweak I've made to my method. 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 5:58, 6:18, 0.95, 22%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 7:35, 8:16, 0.92, 21%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 8:14, 10:14, 0.80, 8%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:54, 4:00, 0.98, 32%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 4:55, 5:11, 0.95, 29%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 5:15, 6:14, 0.84, 9%, Easysanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57487194403568998932014-03-12T17:50:15.557-04:002014-03-12T17:50:15.557-04:00@mac -- Here's background on the Dutch and GIN...@mac -- Here's background on the Dutch and GIN.<br /><br />The Dutch physician Franciscus Sylvius is often credited with the invention of gin in the mid 17th century,[5][6] although the existence of genever is confirmed in Massinger's play The Duke of Milan (1623), when Dr. Sylvius would have been but nine years of age. It is further claimed that British soldiers who provided support in Antwerp against the Spanish in 1585, during the Eighty Years' War, were already drinking genever for its calming effects before battle, from which the term Dutch Courage is believed to have originated.[7] The earliest known written reference to genever appears in the 13th century encyclopaedic work Der Naturen Bloeme (Bruges), and the earliest printed genever recipe from 16th century work Een Constelijck Distileerboec (Antwerp).[8]<br />By the mid 17th century, numerous small Dutch and Flemish distillers (some 400 in Amsterdam alone by 1663) had popularized the re-distillation of malt spirit or malt wine with juniper, anise, caraway, coriander, etc.,[9] which were sold in pharmacies and used to treat such medical problems as kidney ailments, lumbago, stomach ailments, gallstones, and gout. Gin emerged in England in varying forms as of the early 17th century, and at the time of the Restoration, enjoyed a brief resurgence. When William of Orange, ruler of the Dutch Republic, occupied the British throne with his wife Mary in what has become known as the Glorious Revolution, gin became vastly more popular,[10] particularly in crude, inferior forms, where it was more likely to be flavoured with turpentine[11] as an alternative to juniper.jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69982223092816710602014-03-12T17:02:06.564-04:002014-03-12T17:02:06.564-04:00While my tea is certainly not what I'd call &q...While my tea is certainly not what I'd call "tan", it's chock full of tannins, so the answer came quickly by association (if not by accurate cluing) for me.<br /><br />I liked this puzzle. I found it relatively easy (for a Wednesday).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15339432172410182520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74956732977021524352014-03-12T16:53:05.897-04:002014-03-12T16:53:05.897-04:00@Andrew Morrison said,"I often note that Rex ...@Andrew Morrison said,"I often note that Rex rants most about cultural or historical knowledge to which he is not privy."<br />That indeed seems to be true, and in this case--gin has nothing to do with England; hell, even the POP and dinner comment--I'm actually kind of embarrassed for him.RnRGhost57https://www.blogger.com/profile/05350085528594221641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22526060390135905102014-03-12T16:51:01.932-04:002014-03-12T16:51:01.932-04:00Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 8/1/2...Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 8/1/2009 post for an explanation of my method and my 10/15/2012 post for an explanation of a tweak to my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Wed 8:12, 10:14, 0.80, 8%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Wed 5:28, 6:14, 0.88, 16%, Easysanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22278134674351402852014-03-12T16:08:33.912-04:002014-03-12T16:08:33.912-04:00The UP BOW symbol is similar to a V, however the a...The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_bow" rel="nofollow">UP BOW symbol</a> is similar to a V, however the angle is more acute than in the average capital V.<br /><br />The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_bow" rel="nofollow">down bow symbol</a> is similar to the Greek П but it is a little wider, and the horizontal line is thicker than the two uprights.<br /><br />I trust I will not be TSKED for sharing this irrelevant information, but I thought inquiring minds needed to know.<br /><br />I'll go now and have another stein of MEAD.AliasZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477396362209386037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80088447797079418172014-03-12T15:59:33.115-04:002014-03-12T15:59:33.115-04:00I'm guessing the more ridiculous the slam...ag...I'm guessing the more ridiculous the slam...against this great puzzle, for instance, and the more outrageous the claim...Gin not British?-- the more of us write responses...hence more traffic/engagement with the blog. I think actual criticism has flown out the window and has been replaced with pap to fuel the analytics. Plus slams are easier to write, anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14051380698180999482014-03-12T15:25:26.937-04:002014-03-12T15:25:26.937-04:00@Numinous - no need to apologize. I find the diffe...@Numinous - no need to apologize. I find the differing understandings of tan as interesting as the question of whether or not a nail is a tool. Crosswords should be used to teach Applied Epistemology, IMHO.<br />Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33772009295951050332014-03-12T15:18:41.867-04:002014-03-12T15:18:41.867-04:00🌕🌕🌕(3 Moons) Too easy - but fun. I like the edd...🌕🌕🌕(3 Moons) Too easy - but fun. I like the eddy of drinks swirling about<br /><br />Yesterday drugs, today alcohol. Hope we have sex or rock and roll tomorrow.<br /><br />@Z, hand up for ecru… tan for the jet set.<br />dkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26132678965527575082014-03-12T15:14:31.518-04:002014-03-12T15:14:31.518-04:00Sorry @Z, I had intended to mention fair skinned i...Sorry @Z, I had intended to mention fair skinned in that post.Numinoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01263999193499725814noreply@blogger.com