tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1801389882765850039..comments2024-03-28T08:55:37.290-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: 1968 AL MVP Cy Young winner / MON 5-21-12 / Large fishing hooks / Muscular actor with mohawk / Chinese-American virtuoso cellist / Beef jerky brand / Suspect in cop lingo / Biblical water-to-winer localeRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8401365682818413692021-02-15T15:28:20.904-05:002021-02-15T15:28:20.904-05:00Fun solve, except for the errors. First, there...Fun solve, except for the errors. First, there's the misspelling of "Mojave", leaving a Natick at "THE JE_P" + "OLA" ... EOLA?<br /><br />Then there are the mis-clued "ETCH" (etching and carving are mutually exclusive methods) and "PERP" (a perp is someone who *did* do the deed, not a mere suspect). <br /><br />Finally, my main peeve about the NYT puzzle: local references are not clued as such when the locale includes NYC. "Ronzoni", in this case.Prunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224476641730508311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52126615084077036682012-06-25T22:21:46.922-04:002012-06-25T22:21:46.922-04:00@Spacecraft - I was just doing "The Stroll&qu...@Spacecraft - I was just doing "The Stroll" (by myself, sadly) in my kitchen a couple of nights ago. I love that song! <br /><br />@Anoa Bob wrote, "I thought 24D JUDD crossing 27A AUTEUR was tough for a Monday...", and I agree. And not just because I ended up with lENNY (McClain) and (Apatow) JUlD. Surely there's a Monday clue that would have eliminated the ambiguity at that cross?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30001511898504427312012-06-25T20:26:34.504-04:002012-06-25T20:26:34.504-04:00It was Gibson who said, "You [the batter] can...It was Gibson who said, "You [the batter] can have the rest of the strike zone--but the outside two inches belong to ME." i.e.: If you stand close enough to reach out there, you're gonna get hurt.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71884766113410019812012-06-25T19:36:10.215-04:002012-06-25T19:36:10.215-04:00Easiest. Puzzle. Ever. Only write over was STop f...Easiest. Puzzle. Ever. Only write over was STop for STAY. I love Mondays!!!!Texas Solvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50640419746404035512012-06-25T18:40:13.360-04:002012-06-25T18:40:13.360-04:00My mom loves the answers, and we use them on the p...My mom loves the answers, and we use them on the puzzles when they appear in the Akron Beacon JournalAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76251129259341754632012-06-25T15:46:23.200-04:002012-06-25T15:46:23.200-04:00@SIS a moment of synchronicity; Ann Meyers Drysdal...@SIS a moment of synchronicity; Ann Meyers Drysdale was interviewed on the Tim McCarver show last night. She talked about Bob Gibson and of course her late husband, Don. She and McCarver agreed that neither would be allowed to pitch today. As you know, they were famous (infamous?) for throwing AT the batter. I remember DD being interviewed by Vin Scully and saying 'The batters box is MINE'. Hence the liberal use of the 'brush back' pitch.<br /><br />Since I already had THE HELP, I knew it had to be MOHAVE. Thus the mis-spelling was confirmed. GAR<br /><br />ARTEUR is new to me...surprised to learn a new word on Monday, but the crosses were fair.<br /><br />captcha WOCWKC: whacky week to comeGingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51770024386624773652012-06-25T14:42:14.907-04:002012-06-25T14:42:14.907-04:00From Syndication Land
I just wanted to respond to...From Syndication Land<br /><br />I just wanted to respond to Solving in Seattle. Yes we do hear you. Rex has thousands of readers, and I'm sure a lot of them are syndicated solvers like us. <br /><br />As for the word "prat"...I'm sure it is well known to all the Harry Potter fans. The characters frequently use it as a derogatory sort of name-calling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67571043241266073702012-06-25T14:33:56.451-04:002012-06-25T14:33:56.451-04:00As a native Californian who has crossed it many ti...As a native Californian who has crossed it many times,I always pause when Mojave comes up in a puzzle. Same with Navajo. Both are "j" words that (east coast?) crossword constructors insist on spelling with an "h"- so one learns to live with i<br /><br />Glad to see @DJStone echo my thoughts that a really empty hallway has no sound source, and, thus, no echo. <br /><br />Also agree with @NMRo I that AUTEUR would have been a good choice for word of the day. It certainly isn't a part of my working vocabulary, so I was a little surprised when I filled it in. Then, ten minutes later, I find an article in today's WSJ about Aaron Sorkin that begins "most Hollywood auteurs..." Maybe now I'll remember it!<br /><br />Now to puzzle the meaning of the Captcha: nstudda. Instead of what?DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27152279790909248822012-06-25T14:27:09.793-04:002012-06-25T14:27:09.793-04:00Finished and wasn't at all confident I was rig...Finished and wasn't at all confident I was right, but the letters PRAT seemed to force themselves into the last across. I've lived almost 72 years and have NEVER heard of that word. Only when I saw the completed grid on this site did I know it was right. Then someone mentioned pratfall, and I went: oh, so THAT's what that means. Live and learn.<br /><br />What are the odds that OHBROTHER would appear twice in a row? Did Will do that on purpose? Weird.<br /><br />Agree that MOHAVE should have been clued as (var.). And I was a bit surprised that the central expression was deemed OK to print. How Midwestern of me! Otherwise, a pretty clean puzzle.<br /><br />I was a bit disappointed that OFL didn't include a video of the STROLL from the old American Bandstand show. OMG, those were the days!Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52298101380157250232012-06-25T14:11:44.986-04:002012-06-25T14:11:44.986-04:00@DJ Stone, this is precisely what @Rain Forrest wa...@DJ Stone, this is precisely what @Rain Forrest was talking about - If we Syndies comment does anyone else hear us, or are we just an echo in the halls of Rexville. Do we actually really exist or do we not exist in the (five weeks ago) past?Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50098933629320720972012-06-25T14:06:14.388-04:002012-06-25T14:06:14.388-04:00Super easy puzzle, but I have a problem with the c...Super easy puzzle, but I have a problem with the clue for 60A.<br /><br />If the hallway is empty, how would there be any sound that would cause an echo? For that matter (and this is a bit of paraphrasing), even if the hallway did make a sound, but being empty so there's no one there to hear it, did it really make a sound?DJ Stonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89078991931931372452012-06-25T13:52:31.166-04:002012-06-25T13:52:31.166-04:00As someone born and raised in Southern California,...As someone born and raised in Southern California, I've got to weigh in on the MOjHAVE desert spelling and the baseball discussion.<br /><br />It's spelled with a "J," not an "H." @Steve J (2:18am) said it all. At the very least, there should have been a (var.) in the clue. Otherwise, this would have been a 100% clean puzzle. So, a 99% thumbs up to Ian.<br /><br />As for the best hitting pitcher in baseball, I've got to throw Don Drysdale's name in the hat. He was also often sent in to pinch hit.<br /><br />And, in keeping with baseball and the "Oh" theme, it would have been nice to see Dave Niehaus honored with a "My OH my" answer. Simply one of the greatest announcers.<br /><br />Mr. Livengood must have a plumbing problem at his house with two clues relating to drain cleaners.<br /><br />Liked seeing Yo-Yo Ma in the puzzle. His treatment of Bach's cello suites will knock you on your PRAT.<br /><br />Capcha: Saskip. What a Canadian prairie province kid does on her way home from school.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82815982482858834512012-06-25T13:23:30.947-04:002012-06-25T13:23:30.947-04:00Mohave, Mojave: same desert. Quite dry.
Excelle...Mohave, Mojave: same desert. Quite dry.<br /><br />Excellent Monday. Had "The Help" in before the clue for the desert, so no problem there, and no ire raised. Solving on paper, not timing, never Googling, just having fun.<br /><br />When Germans sneeze, do they say "achoo"? Achtung? Or just "ach"?<br /><br />OK, only syndi-cats read this, so just a grateful word to @SIS, @Dirigonzo, @DiGrandma, @Spacecraft, et al (not sure who you all are) because I at least know you have a good chance of reading this. I have to remind myself that the REAL blog commenters won't read my frequent disagreements about Rexstuff. So I'll demur.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60825290564791637282012-06-25T11:33:12.378-04:002012-06-25T11:33:12.378-04:00I thought it was a good puzzle and I liked it.
I ...I thought it was a good puzzle and I liked it.<br /><br />I had a few naticks though. I did not know JUDD, DENNY or AUTEUR. I guessed. My word-of-the day would have been AUTEUR.<br /><br />I also do not like MOHAVE. It should be MoJave since it is referring to the desert in California. MOHAVE is correct when referring to the tribe who live along the Colorado River in Arizona. It took me a while to decide to change to "J" to "H" and get THE HELP.<br /><br />Still a good puzzle. Great for a Monday.NM Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14920756034993068695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36008026694778193062012-06-25T11:28:09.417-04:002012-06-25T11:28:09.417-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.NM Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14920756034993068695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48500290124106674372012-05-28T11:34:37.724-04:002012-05-28T11:34:37.724-04:00Nice picture of Mickey Lolich on the Dennis McLain...Nice picture of Mickey Lolich on the Dennis McLain post. Mickey is the Tigers pitcher who won three games in the 1968 series, including game 7 against Bob Gibson.Jack Pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49422202390682098012012-05-26T16:13:44.661-04:002012-05-26T16:13:44.661-04:00Hi, I am Denny McLain and I thank Rex for includin...Hi, I am Denny McLain and I thank Rex for including me in a recent crossword.<br />On behalf of all of our older alumni, who changed the nature of the game and changed pitching rules and the "art of pitching and I thank you on every alumnus's behalf.<br />thank you<br />DennyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04949755690525829726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78296417678234060042012-05-22T08:41:25.882-04:002012-05-22T08:41:25.882-04:00Ohhhhh. Serious brain crampage. More coffee, pleas...Ohhhhh. Serious brain crampage. More coffee, please. Thanks, JenCT.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00456806796651254926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88449756169844843442012-05-22T08:25:00.223-04:002012-05-22T08:25:00.223-04:00@Julie and Lisa: it's LET AT (two words).@Julie and Lisa: it's LET AT (two words).JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31219062015113117682012-05-22T08:21:51.320-04:002012-05-22T08:21:51.320-04:00Am I the only one (well, dictionary.com, too) that...Am I the only one (well, dictionary.com, too) that does not recognize 'letat" as a word? Now, I know l'etat, but that doesn't mean "allow to attack." I was messing around with "legit" instead of "legal" because of that....https://www.blogger.com/profile/00456806796651254926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47891583227494404462012-05-22T00:51:46.382-04:002012-05-22T00:51:46.382-04:00Wow, Jen - great name!!! I was still trying to co...Wow, Jen - great name!!! I was still trying to come up with something clever... ;)Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21560287391104986632012-05-21T23:32:32.529-04:002012-05-21T23:32:32.529-04:00@Martin: Agreed that MOHAVE is an accepted variant...@Martin: Agreed that MOHAVE is an accepted variant, and I'm not saying it's not an acceptable answer. My argument is that it should have been flagged as a variant, especially on a Monday. As you noted, the cluing referenced California, where the spelling is Mojave. And your Random House citation has the main entry under Mojave, with MOHAVE as a variant. I've no objection to its being in a puzzle, just that it wasn't marked as a variant that it is.Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20823750146420471362012-05-21T23:04:05.638-04:002012-05-21T23:04:05.638-04:00Lived in Temnessee, NC, Wisconsin, and now Georgia...Lived in Temnessee, NC, Wisconsin, and now Georgia. Have bought Ronzoni in each of those states.Cathelouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11546948747589294162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56586875482521335572012-05-21T22:38:21.041-04:002012-05-21T22:38:21.041-04:00@JenCT: beautiful bird and a great name!@JenCT: beautiful bird and a great name!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3187649602120697742012-05-21T22:04:46.884-04:002012-05-21T22:04:46.884-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 8/1/2009 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 6:32, 6:50, 0.96, 31%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:44, 3:40, 1.02, 63%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />For some reason, the number of online solvers was much lower than usual for a Monday (766 vs. 874 on average). I don't know if this means there were more DNFs than usual or if there were just fewer solvers, but it could help explain the discrepancy in the ratings in the two groups of solvers.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.com