tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1858927558686492320..comments2024-03-28T06:11:29.690-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Legendary firefighter Red / TUE 2-12-13 / Singer 1975 #1 hit Before Next Teardrop Falls / Focus of phrenologist / Office computer linkup for short / What blind man mistakes for snake in fableRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41993080122458037492013-03-19T21:43:12.495-04:002013-03-19T21:43:12.495-04:00Well, it's official - I'm too old to do th...Well, it's official - I'm too old to do the NYT Puzzle anymore. DNF'ed Friday and today with one wrong square each - had PREs instead of PREZ Friday, and BOYs instead of BOYZ today. Evidently someone neglected to forward me the memo that Z has now replaced S in the "English" language. But I get it now. I just pried the S key off my keyboard, threw it in the trash, and replaced it with the Z key. Unfortunately that will not help me with the puzzle though, zince I ztill zolve it on paper.Anonyratnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2646286014798771172013-03-19T19:19:42.481-04:002013-03-19T19:19:42.481-04:00No wonder I didn't get the theme. BOYZNTHEBONN...No wonder I didn't get the theme. BOYZNTHEBONNET, ELEPHANTBOOT and FREDDYBUMPER don't work in any dialect. Although that first one might make a good band name.straylinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536180563789923012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51614616573189845592013-03-19T17:19:57.165-04:002013-03-19T17:19:57.165-04:00Well, this Tuesday CW taught me a few things: HYPH...Well, this Tuesday CW taught me a few things: HYPHENED is a word, and LYS is an alternative spelling to LiS, as in fleur de.<br /><br />Liked the CRIBS/BOYZNTHEHOOD crossing.<br /><br />No ospreys yet.<br /><br />my capcha: sucpar. and, yes, I suck at making par.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69984038621104818542013-03-19T17:11:54.550-04:002013-03-19T17:11:54.550-04:00Yesterday's was far easierYesterday's was far easierAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4297312662450075782013-03-19T14:39:18.212-04:002013-03-19T14:39:18.212-04:00Just one error for me. I had aTESTand never change...Just one error for me. I had aTESTand never changed it. The only other slow spot In this sea of unfamiliar names was starting with fEncES, but getting Shrek's alter ego solved that. I also join those who thought the theme was double letters. Got to learn to pay more attention!DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56731414470378398932013-03-19T11:49:57.091-04:002013-03-19T11:49:57.091-04:00So, we say "hyphenated" but not "el...So, we say "hyphenated" but not "elephant's trunk?" I mean, without the 's ELEPHANTTRUNK looks a lot like green paint to me. Also, there should have been some kind of revealer entry, like CARPARTS or something. Even AUTOZONE.<br /><br />That said, anybody who can put BOYZNTHEHOOD in a grid and make it work is OK by me. Not a lot of dreck fill, and pretty easy for a Tuesday. Of all the ways to clue NOVA, that one got me (I don't like fish). Luckily it filled in on crosses.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29946185643487516892013-02-13T12:08:12.766-05:002013-02-13T12:08:12.766-05:00Yes, Nova Scotia salmon a k a lox.Yes, Nova Scotia salmon a k a lox.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70884513728543289382013-02-12T23:26:01.017-05:002013-02-12T23:26:01.017-05:00@John V - I copy and paste the fancy letters from ...@John V - I copy and paste the fancy letters from Word, Pages or the internet. My mother was born in Copenhagen and my father was stationed at the US Embassy there while in the Air Force. I've been there 5 times to visit the grandparents. Love the city and the people.<br /><br />Every once in a while we have smørrebrød. Lots of fish (curry herring being one of my favorites), Akvavit, Tuborg and singing. Great times.Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55559500042958383182013-02-12T22:07:46.602-05:002013-02-12T22:07:46.602-05:00This 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 6:43, 6:08, 1.10, 86%, Challenging<br />Tue 7:07, 8:28, 0.84, 8%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:59, 3:40, 1.09, 84%, Challenging<br />Tue 4:25, 4:54, 0.90, 13%, Easysanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47952337820404841342013-02-12T20:51:29.669-05:002013-02-12T20:51:29.669-05:00@Melodious funk -- But the problem is not that the...@Melodious funk -- But the problem is <i>not</i> that the word in question here, HYPHENED, is a neologism (I personally love it when neologisms become part of the language). It's actually an oldish word: according to the OED it goes back to at least 1814. The problem is that it's a word that <i>nobody actually uses</i>.<br /><br />Going through the dictionary and pulling up any old word you find there, regardless of usage patterns, is a surefire way to generate some awful fill.Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15336260911834780345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31263567481634483562013-02-12T19:54:58.810-05:002013-02-12T19:54:58.810-05:00I agree with Barb, who disliked it. @MaryandPaul ...I agree with Barb, who disliked it. @MaryandPaul - Who the heck is Freddy Fender? And why is he crossed with another pop star I never heard of "Trent" D'arby. And why are you surprised that someone never heard of Fender or Yarrow, (although I knew Yarrow)? I was surprised that Rex never heard of Eddie Cantor, and thought that Thais was obscure. Never heard of Boyznthehood - as a film, - but heard of the expression, so I got it from "Geez." I don't like it much. We all have our preferences, and my own excludes most pop culture. I loved Mr. Schoenholz's Sunday puzzle, though, so I have no problem with him. Like many others, did not notice the theme until after I completed the puzzle. OISKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808675378318214461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70991155426621469742013-02-12T19:53:05.341-05:002013-02-12T19:53:05.341-05:00Right, anonymous. Grammar nazis are verdreht, a dy...Right, anonymous. Grammar nazis are verdreht, a dying breed. Woe is I, says the famous book. I love neologisms, and they turn up in the puzzles once in a while, drives the nazis crazy. Tickles me.Melodious funknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34051997260987635592013-02-12T19:15:46.406-05:002013-02-12T19:15:46.406-05:00"And if everyone says it that way, they think..."And if everyone says it that way, they think it's correct. Grrr."<br /><br />If everyone says it that way, it is correct. Language evolves. The Grammar Nazis fight mostly already lost battles.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19272096534047100882013-02-12T17:35:48.457-05:002013-02-12T17:35:48.457-05:00Lets get serious about lox. In New York residentia...Lets get serious about lox. In New York residential circles amongst us Jewishers, we serve platters of lox (not Nova, too blah, need salt) each slice separated and twirled nest-like. On the platter will be lemon wedges, capers, thin-sliced red onion, maybe some greenery like cress or chive. On another platter are the warm bagels, and a large pot of softened or whipped cream cheese - unadulterated! And a pepper mill.<br /><br />Nova is reserved for thems with dietary restrictions.<br /><br />Don't forget the coffee.Melodious funknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54090871235349082742013-02-12T17:34:05.205-05:002013-02-12T17:34:05.205-05:00@Bird: right there with you on the Danish openface...@Bird: right there with you on the Danish openface, but we had it with herring in Aarhus and Copenhagen (don't know how to put in those fancy marks, let alone do a decent job pronouncing the Danish :)John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35332095176691765632013-02-12T17:25:07.963-05:002013-02-12T17:25:07.963-05:00@ Charley
Ntest is for Nucular!@ Charley<br /><br />Ntest is for Nucular!Georgie Wnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81314930679738921692013-02-12T16:55:14.505-05:002013-02-12T16:55:14.505-05:00HYPHENED might be an improvement for me. Always ha...HYPHENED might be an improvement for me. Always hated orientate.<br /><br />Second puzzle today where I didn't notice the theme. @Loren -clever.<br /><br />Never heard of D'Arby or rather, Sananda.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33008771499978711392013-02-12T16:30:03.994-05:002013-02-12T16:30:03.994-05:00Midday 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 />Tue 7:12, 8:28, 0.85, 8%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Tue 4:32, 4:54, 0.93, 19%, Easysanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18073157507183668922013-02-12T15:48:58.490-05:002013-02-12T15:48:58.490-05:00@Charley - I'm not Jewish, but my Danish genes...@Charley - I'm not Jewish, but my Danish genes love a good Nova open sandwich with capers and dill on Rugbrød. I'll wash it down with some Aalborg Akvavit. Skål!Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68022005775970899062013-02-12T15:43:22.696-05:002013-02-12T15:43:22.696-05:00We just performed an N-Test near China. Needless t...We just performed an N-Test near China. Needless to say, they are not happy.Kim Jong-unnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83961375950348637122013-02-12T14:44:45.365-05:002013-02-12T14:44:45.365-05:00You have to be from NYC & preferably Jewish to...You have to be from NYC & preferably Jewish to know Nova. It's in my genes. <br /><br />I've never heard of an Ntest. Atest. Htest, but not N. Charleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48530277822540915392013-02-12T14:30:43.055-05:002013-02-12T14:30:43.055-05:00@m&a -- not great but respectable u-count
Fel...@m&a -- not great but respectable u-count<br /><br />Felt workmanlike to me -- no great spark, certainly the theme included. But it felt good to solve. <br /><br />Nova is infinitely superior to regular lox. If you've never had it, it is worth going after.Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63094385343278759422013-02-12T13:54:41.347-05:002013-02-12T13:54:41.347-05:00Thanks Anoa Bob for the San Benito reference. I...Thanks Anoa Bob for the San Benito reference. I'm a native of this town and Freddy was our favorite son. He's buried here under an impressive monument.<br /><br />I never met him as I was living in NYC eating NOVA with a shmeer while he was growing up.<br /><br />Sat next to Red Adair on a flight once. He gave me a gold stick pin with his logo on it.<br /><br />Lots of TX in this puzzle. "Remember the Alamo"Oldactornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22683040881642544672013-02-12T13:45:04.299-05:002013-02-12T13:45:04.299-05:00This went down easy and I enjoyed the solve. Hand ...This went down easy and I enjoyed the solve. Hand up for HYPHENatED.<br /><br />Write-overs were AND before TOO and CAB before BUS.<br /><br />So it you’re young and agile, you’re not SPRY?<br /><br />TRI-city? I get it, but don't hear/see it much. not nearly as much as TRI-state.<br /><br />I love solving the Sunday puzzle with a cup of coffee and a <b>New York</b> bagel with NOVA lox schmeered with cream cheese, red onions & chives.<br /><br />@efrex – I would have entered OOHOOH (as in Horshack from Welcome Back Kotter) if not for some of the acrosses already filled in.Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15270178666509383162013-02-12T13:16:50.600-05:002013-02-12T13:16:50.600-05:00I often see the portrait of the late FREDDY FENDER...I often see the portrait of the late FREDDY FENDER (1937-2006) that is painted on the <a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR1DgoZAl2ySpmgIp63TbCbUFekIKI19CR_nK4r4mLek4jaMGZ6jA" rel="nofollow">water tower</a> in San Benito, TX (pop. 24,000). (I live in near-by Port Isabel.)<br /><br />He was born Baldemar Garza Huerta, and from a young age had success singing and playing Spanish/Tejano music locally and across the border to the south. When he decided to cross over to Norteño, i.e., American, music, he thought a more gringo-friendly name was in order. He choose FENDER in honor of the guitar brand and then went with the alliterative FREDDY for his first name.Anoa Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16185183023273883700noreply@blogger.com