tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1761533212397753156..comments2024-03-29T01:22:33.864-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: 1972 #1 hit for Sammy Davis Jr / TUE 8-23-11 / Cousin of Muhammad / Pupil coverer / British boob tube / Frozen dessert franchiseRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5702643051757771312011-09-27T19:40:54.084-04:002011-09-27T19:40:54.084-04:00Anyone who has seen "Groundhog Day" has ...Anyone who has seen "Groundhog Day" has pretty well worked out the difference between an OBOE and an English horn by the third reel.<br /> Usain Bolt has been in the news for more than just sprinting. He's alleged to have used steroids, and has had some prizes taken away. The mothuh is still bitchin' fast, though.<br /> I agree that to "persuade" is to have successfully completed an URGE-filled campaign. The two are not synonymous.<br /> Enjoyed the LOLA vid; not the strictly bubblegum Davis song.<br /> Fill such as INF (we've recently had a glut of these keys of classical works; let's give 'em a break), BSIX crossing DXI (there just has to be a better way to do the east box) and the partials IMEAN and ABIT won't land this effort in my faves pile, despite the marvelous OOMPH.<br /> Oh gosh--the YETI's not real?? Shucks, I was gonna ask Santa for one. One of his reindeer--the one appearing just yesterday--is actually my captcha for today: COMET. Yeah, a real word. Who'd'a thunk?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38054123864184326122011-09-27T17:33:53.838-04:002011-09-27T17:33:53.838-04:00I liked the puzzle right from the git-go (I rememb...I liked the puzzle right from the git-go (I remembered SPRINTERUSAIN from the earlier puzzle and discussion on this very blog) but after reading @Jonathan's very insightful and illuminating explanation of the theme answers, I positively love it! Comments like that are much more helpful and interesting than picking nits, I think.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35247926518808406872011-09-27T14:50:25.729-04:002011-09-27T14:50:25.729-04:00@Matthew G. - The Yeti is real. And it's quit...@Matthew G. - The Yeti is real. And it's <a href="http://beerohbeer.cloudywithsunnyspells.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/img_1082.jpg" rel="nofollow">quite good</a>.<br /><br />Shout out to Tuesday at 65a. <br /><br />Shout out to <a href="http://support4bryanstow.com/News-Updates" rel="nofollow">Bryan</a> at 52d.<br /><br />URGE = <i>attempt</i> to persuade.<br /><br />@Evil: Sure, maybe...if you don't count that one band from Liverpool as part of the British Invasion. <br /><br />CAMP was a staple of "The <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsJdqkPs9WE" rel="nofollow"> Sonny</a> & Cher Show." by the way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2348265191815163712011-09-27T13:03:36.481-04:002011-09-27T13:03:36.481-04:00From Syndiland - sorry, but I have to correct the ...From Syndiland - sorry, but I have to correct the misimpression that an English horn was played in "I Got You Babe".<br /><br />That was indeed an oboe, played by a "doubler" (non-oboist) who filled in at the last minute.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-407064000216919092011-09-27T10:28:10.620-04:002011-09-27T10:28:10.620-04:00From the syndicate - must live in a parallel unive...From the syndicate - must live in a parallel universe from those solvers who seem not to have heard of one of the most famous athletes in the world, the sprinter Usain Bolt. Interesting NYT Crossword-linked synchronicity in that, according to Google, Usain's middle name is St Leo, an answer in yesterday's grid.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13105544445315527332011-08-25T03:12:28.285-04:002011-08-25T03:12:28.285-04:00Puzzlegirl! Yay! I love her comments about Puzzle ...Puzzlegirl! Yay! I love her comments about Puzzle Family!<br />Have a great trip and don't forget to hydrate. BTW, I thought, hmm, "sprinter in the USA"?! Nah! Need sleep.+wordphanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05693465770426693314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86382685547151907432011-08-24T00:38:51.771-04:002011-08-24T00:38:51.771-04:00Not my fave type puzzle either, but I've tried...Not my fave type puzzle either, but I've tried to make a few and they are hard to make smooth and this one was...<br />I just had one rejected yesterday bec two of my MOLES were plural and two were singular!<br />Tickled that there are at least two more BOLT definitions...<br />love how language works, but how terribly confounding for fer-ners.<br /><br />Highlight of my limited Karaoke experience is singing "I got You Babe" with my pal Ben Fong-Torres.<br />(And I love that someone on the blog pointed out that OBOE is wrong!!!)<br /><br />And I love that Rex isn't even gone one day and the blog devolves into political discussions, earthquakes and recipe exchanges!<br />Come back soon, fearless leader!<br /><br />Oh to be at the Minnesota State Fair! Something is terribly wrong that @Rex is in my own hometown and I'm not!andrea cobra michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4849551002505457952011-08-23T22:28:52.237-04:002011-08-23T22:28:52.237-04:00@Sam is right.
Good Tuesday puzzle! My only real ...@Sam is right.<br /><br />Good Tuesday puzzle! My only real problem was with the yogurt/B six crossing, that was a lucky guess. <br /><br />Who knew there was an oboe in a Sonny and Cher song! Or maybe a horn.<br /><br />Au pair is a common term around here. My youngest sister lived with us in CT for more than a year, and she had a slew of au pair friends, mostly from Scandinavia. <br /><br />Enjoy your trips, Rex and family and thursdayd! I still have to figure out how to stay in Europe longer...machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37790003819748888272011-08-23T22:20:43.152-04:002011-08-23T22:20:43.152-04:00This 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 6:23, 6:51, 0.93, 25%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 9:14, 8:54, 1.04, 64%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:23, 3:40, 0.92, 19%, Easy<br />Tue 4:59, 4:35, 1.09, 79%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22475746115071482752011-08-23T18:57:11.531-04:002011-08-23T18:57:11.531-04:00Speaking as an Englishman,
a) No, telly does not h...Speaking as an Englishman,<br />a) No, telly does not have the same connotation as boob tube - you might see a family gathered round the telly of a Saturday night.<br />b) In Britain, boob tube doesn't even mean that - it's what tube tops are called here.<br />I'm afraid it feels like a sloppy clue.Samnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67068025929618736442011-08-23T18:15:58.298-04:002011-08-23T18:15:58.298-04:00Re: VA Quake
I was in Charlottesville VA 30 miles ...Re: VA Quake<br />I was in Charlottesville VA 30 miles from the epicenter. Worst one I've ever been through and I've lived in the SF bay area for awhile.<br /><br />I did enjoy the puzzle. Like last time I got Mr. Bolt from crosses.skua76https://www.blogger.com/profile/15450051465313263422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17668196089900832552011-08-23T18:13:23.048-04:002011-08-23T18:13:23.048-04:00STOW and WELD held me up a bit
Re: VA Quake
Felt...STOW and WELD held me up a bit<br /><br />Re: VA Quake<br /><br />Felt in SE PA, knew what it was from living in CAxyzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08287781952915413013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30543419933354101772011-08-23T18:12:31.388-04:002011-08-23T18:12:31.388-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.xyzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08287781952915413013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11945878212994156002011-08-23T16:27:54.333-04:002011-08-23T16:27:54.333-04:00re Shi'a/Sunni - As more of an evangelical agn...re Shi'a/Sunni - As more of an evangelical agnostic, I've longed concluded that Marx was right about religion being the opium of the masses. The people in power use the religious impulse of the commoner to convince them to take sides in what are struggles over power. See Egyptian dynastic history, the Protestant reformation, the American Tea Party movement, or any other "religious" movement one might find in the history books.<br /><br />Here in SE Michigan Shi'a and Sunni seem to get along just fine.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67958524446137734122011-08-23T16:21:25.012-04:002011-08-23T16:21:25.012-04:00@ archaeoprof,
I understood it to be a theological...@ archaeoprof,<br />I understood it to be a theological division so I think you're correct.<br />As for @ foodie's always-thoughtful input, well, I'm certain she is more tolerant than I am. I'm just your average heathen atheist.Two Ponieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06896743444873087885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52126181549582884902011-08-23T16:14:09.130-04:002011-08-23T16:14:09.130-04:00Any one on the east coast feel the earth quake??? ...Any one on the east coast feel the earth quake??? We didn't but my friend in Raleigh, two hours away, did. Just waiting for Irene.chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81186847635422000862011-08-23T15:43:01.996-04:002011-08-23T15:43:01.996-04:00Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/...Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/2009 post for an explanation of my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Tue 9:07, 8:54, 1.02, 62%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Tue 5:06, 4:35, 1.11, 83%, Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50472200749424338192011-08-23T15:33:33.612-04:002011-08-23T15:33:33.612-04:00So-so puzzle.
@Two Ponies & @Foodie: I sha...So-so puzzle. <br /><br />@Two Ponies & @Foodie: I share your value of tolerance, etc, but the historical evidence shows that the Sunni/Shia split was indeed about religious beliefs. The separation between political power and religious power, so familiar to us in America, was unknown at that time and place. Religion is a powerful force, for good or for evil.archaeoprofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956231727789223463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16229181615440020072011-08-23T15:27:15.622-04:002011-08-23T15:27:15.622-04:00@thursdaysd - Wow! Thanks for all the helpful ide...@thursdaysd - Wow! Thanks for all the helpful ideas. You are very kind to share. I'll check back with your blog to see how you are enjoying this next adventure. <br /><br />Kathy SAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47040157429364631822011-08-23T15:08:12.255-04:002011-08-23T15:08:12.255-04:00Forgot one BOLT - cloth is purchased from BOLTs. T...Forgot one BOLT - cloth is purchased from BOLTs. They should put that on the SATs so guys would flunk.<br /><br />The YETI invasion has been well covered. <br /><br />Never heard of the SPRINTER (unfair sports in theme).<br /><br />SLeet before SLUSH. <br /><br />Isn't LIGHTNING UNIT really LIGHTNIN' GUN IT?Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33732582851475648482011-08-23T13:56:10.262-04:002011-08-23T13:56:10.262-04:00@jberg - I took the "foreign" in the clu...@jberg - I took the "foreign" in the clue for 11D to refer to the AUPAIR, not to the word.<br /><br />@Jonathan - I agree with the others, very enlightening.<br /><br />@Anonymous 12:06 - glad you liked the blog. I took early retirement after 30 years which gave me the time to travel. WRT finances, I travel very budget level (the biz class tickets on my last trip were from FF miles), just one step up from hostels. For tips I'd recommend the Lonely Planet "Read This First" and Rough Guides "First-Time" series, plus Ed Hasbrouck's <a href="http://www.practicalnomad.com/" rel="nofollow">Practical Nomad</a> (fifth ed due soon) and Rick Steves" "Europe Through the Back Door".thursdaysdhttp://mytimetotravel.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51308060451962416452011-08-23T13:30:21.463-04:002011-08-23T13:30:21.463-04:00While the clues were bland, there was not a lot of...While the clues were bland, there was not a lot of garbage, and I enjoyed this. Would love to hear from the constructor if he indeed did what Jonathan claims -- reversed clues and answer...Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8888291327043802412011-08-23T13:05:26.834-04:002011-08-23T13:05:26.834-04:00Personally, I can't wait for the London Olympi...Personally, I can't wait for the London Olympics and the re-appearance of Usain Bolt!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82309551331080187192011-08-23T12:36:55.491-04:002011-08-23T12:36:55.491-04:00Like others had no clue there was a sprinter named...Like others had no clue there was a sprinter named Usain Bolt (ok, ok - I had the clue, but no sensible answer!) and also stumbled on the vitamin/bingo/frozen dessert intersection.<br /><br />Imagine my surprise when I searched for Usain Bolt and the top of the list was Rex's blog for 4/25/11.<br />In that case, Usain Bolt made Word of the Day and the (same!) clue for B-Six was singled out as favorite clue of the day.<br /><br />@Maybe next time ... sound advice!!Janetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28386102063615571122011-08-23T12:31:01.349-04:002011-08-23T12:31:01.349-04:00I assumed USAIN Bolt would be a WTF for most of th...I assumed USAIN Bolt would be a WTF for most of the non-sports folk, but at least it's gettable from the crosses - assuming that everyone has at least heard of LENA HORNE.Mel Ottnoreply@blogger.com