tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2056071613226033924..comments2024-03-18T20:52:26.803-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: National discount store chain / MON 8-1-11 / College near Phildelphia / British novelist who wrote London Fields / Pictures inked on body in slangRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55769141495267614412011-09-06T15:31:59.121-04:002011-09-06T15:31:59.121-04:00@Anon 4:12: You're completely right! I mixed u...@Anon 4:12: You're completely right! I mixed up the overplayed wedding song ("Celebration" by Kool & the Gang) with Rare Earth's "I Just Want to Celebrate."<br /><br />Good catch, five weeks later. Sorry, Rare Earth.Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34163461287349740852011-09-06T10:44:47.745-04:002011-09-06T10:44:47.745-04:00In late from syndication-land:
I solved this late...In late from syndication-land:<br /><br />I solved this late last night while listening to an audiobook of M.R. James' <a href="http://librivox.org/ghost-stories-of-an-antiquary-by-m-r-james/" rel="nofollow"><i>Ghost Stories of an Antiquary</i></a>, so I preferred to go to sleep rather than write up my results.<br /><br />I'm glad to see that RP made the same mistake I did in writing in tape for TIVO. It makes me feel less careless. The real answer wasn't hard to infer, though, as 66A could have only been SOD.<br /><br />Other than that, my one other write-over was SUR for sud in 28D's "Spanish 'south'". I was thinking of <i>Sudamérica</i>.<br /><br />There was a Natick for me in the NW that slowed down my time: I know nothing of either baseball or the Indianapolis 500. UNSER, SHEA, and HANK were all relatively new to me as clued. I got enough crosses to infer SHEA, which I've at least heard mentioned, and that saved me in that corner. I would have been more comfortable with clues like "'Our' in Oesterreich", "____ butter" and "'King of the Hill' lead character", respectively.<br /><br />After that, though, it was plain sailing. I got every long theme clue with only a few letters each time, as well as the long downs. The stacked ten-letter clues impressed me, and I was doubly pleased when I figured out the theme. I liked the RARE/EARTH crossing, which appealed to me as a science nerd.Nullifidianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15207390447020990907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82950879357507909602011-09-06T04:12:45.966-04:002011-09-06T04:12:45.966-04:00Bravo.
I stared at the theme answers for quite a ...Bravo.<br /><br />I stared at the theme answers for quite a while before realizing what "IN PROGRESS" referred to. Noticed the symmetry of each starred ART before I realized that in each successive starred answer the constructor had MOVED A PART.<br /><br />IONOSPHERE/<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ou7f-ir1yI" rel="nofollow">ICONOCLAST</a> - A puzzle built around those two words alone would have gotten a thumbs up from me.<br /><br />Wrinkled hand up for Tape before TIVO.<br /><br />In case you were wondering, Hammerin' HANK hit 16 of his 755 career home runs at SHEA. Nice cross (and nearly symmetrical with the fantastic RARE/EARTH cross). <br /><br />A little bothered by the unstarred ART in EARTH...but I suspect Fagliano & Shortz both spent hours searching for alternatives. In the end this hardly mattered. <br /><br />@ Stan 5:15 PM - HAD to be referring to the Kool & The Gang song, which I hope I never hear again. No such complaints about the above posted RARE EARTH song.<br /><br />If everything else about this puzzle weren't brilliant enough, the WORK IN PROGRESS theme coincided with Labor Day in syndication.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83162504673924437872011-09-05T16:04:34.725-04:002011-09-05T16:04:34.725-04:00Lovely puzzle that was on the medium-challenging s...Lovely puzzle that was on the medium-challenging side (for a Monday) for me due to MARTIN AMIS and SWARTHMORE. I didn't see the theme until I came here - not even the ART part, I'm afraid. Which is what makes this blog such a treat. Thanks, Rex.Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675331024091722316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47722779297222881112011-09-05T13:26:42.759-04:002011-09-05T13:26:42.759-04:00Wonderful puzzle! Very smART and clever. I also ...Wonderful puzzle! Very smART and clever. I also got the ART pART of the theme but did not notice the "PROGRESS" pART until I read Rex's blog.<br /><br />Here in Canadian syndyland I got the revised version of Rex's comments so did not understand at first what the other commentators were talking about.Pippinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11426009549015900422011-09-05T11:17:55.984-04:002011-09-05T11:17:55.984-04:00From syndiland, where this puzzle appeared on Labo...From syndiland, where this puzzle appeared on Labor Day so the theme seems especially appropriate; a clear case of "syndication sychronicity" I'd say.<br /><br />Do you suppose @Rex was chagrined to have the theme pointed out to him by the early commenters? Still, he deserves a PAT for a great write-up (as revised) and for hosting this fantastic blog.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6213878800370629572011-08-02T15:23:53.317-04:002011-08-02T15:23:53.317-04:00@ACME - The Patrick Blindauer marching ants appear...@ACME - The Patrick Blindauer marching ants appeared 10/23/08.Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7358366324903501012011-08-02T14:26:00.034-04:002011-08-02T14:26:00.034-04:00BTW, don't forget Patrick Blindauer had a puzz...BTW, don't forget Patrick Blindauer had a puzzle that did same this march with the word ANT. <br />(I can't find it on Jim Horne's database, but it was a Tues about two years ago, I think)<br />And I'm still ever so slightly bothered by the inclusion of the word eARTh. Threw off perfect balance for me. <br />But wonderful puzzle, theme, execution, nonetheless.andrea cartla michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48636167006066614762011-08-02T07:52:37.323-04:002011-08-02T07:52:37.323-04:00@retired_chemist:
The initial write-up missed the ...@retired_chemist:<br />The initial write-up missed the "progress" of Art. It was revised about 8 a.m. to what you now see.Wallynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27331146286726322572011-08-02T01:04:04.699-04:002011-08-02T01:04:04.699-04:00This 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 6:50, 6:51, 1.00, 51%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:31, 3:40, 0.96, 34%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-823095704316609422011-08-01T23:36:41.567-04:002011-08-01T23:36:41.567-04:00@ Anon 10:49 - what's that supposed to mean? R...@ Anon 10:49 - what's that supposed to mean? Rex clearly pointed out the theme in his writeup. Whom should he acknowledge and why?retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82069310701640351272011-08-01T22:49:05.066-04:002011-08-01T22:49:05.066-04:00It would have been nice for Rex to acknowledge oth...It would have been nice for Rex to acknowledge others' help in today's theme, don't ya think?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87746046337166092542011-08-01T22:43:36.361-04:002011-08-01T22:43:36.361-04:00@Michael - as an old f - (that's fuddyduddy), ...@Michael - as an old f - (that's fuddyduddy), I still have a problem calling musicians "artists."Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89640244537072195402011-08-01T19:40:37.176-04:002011-08-01T19:40:37.176-04:00@Anonymous, 7:04 PM - Bit of inelegance here: plur...@Anonymous, 7:04 PM - Bit of inelegance here: plurals of Greek letters - Alpha, Beta, Gamma, . . . . Omicron, Pi, RHO, . . .Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38354317396171615832011-08-01T19:04:47.350-04:002011-08-01T19:04:47.350-04:00Help me with "rhos" for 54 down...Help me with "rhos" for 54 down...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44322473321899032192011-08-01T18:30:45.490-04:002011-08-01T18:30:45.490-04:00I agree that this is a fine puzzle, but I really h...I agree that this is a fine puzzle, but I really have to question the equating of art with work. And yes, I know about works of art. Perhaps I am missing something. It wasn't until I finished the puzzle that I saw the moving "arts" and understood "progress." But I still wondered what art had to do with work.michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66691683288314716442011-08-01T18:01:40.185-04:002011-08-01T18:01:40.185-04:00Very fast Monday for me also, although I didn'...Very fast Monday for me also, although I didn't catch onto the theme until I read the blog.<br /><br />I highly recommend the show ICONOCLASTs on the Sundance Channel - good stuff.<br /><br />I've seen DOLLARTREEs in CT.<br /><br />Fun Monday.JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41182020408317717602011-08-01T17:22:56.184-04:002011-08-01T17:22:56.184-04:00smooooth, fine puzzle. I timed myself today and g...smooooth, fine puzzle. I timed myself today and got it in about 4:35 (using a pen), which is right around my normal Monday time. Still, this felt much tougher than a normal Monday (which is great!) and the reason my time was similar must be that the 10 letter clues simply filled the puzzle so quickly, and the confidence I had from the crosses was very high.<br /><br />What a great theme - wish I'd seen it while I was solving!Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15061040532903767385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14709217576767453672011-08-01T17:15:23.357-04:002011-08-01T17:15:23.357-04:00Oh, here is an actual conversation that happened a...Oh, here is an actual conversation that happened at my friend's wedding (my friend being the groom).<br /><br />Groom (to wedding band): "Do you know that song 'Celebrate'?"<br /><br />Wedding band: "Yes!"<br /><br />Groom: "Good, now *don't* play it."Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29535512911030103372011-08-01T16:51:13.966-04:002011-08-01T16:51:13.966-04:00Midday 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 />Mon 6:45, 6:51, 0.98, 49%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:32, 3:40, 0.97, 36%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6083022988178510102011-08-01T14:14:02.561-04:002011-08-01T14:14:02.561-04:00This one seemed to go down smooth with the coffee ...This one seemed to go down smooth with the coffee shop crowd this morning. Newbies are not looking for easy clues and answers, its crosswordese that screws them up and this had very little.Everyone seemed to know SWARTHMORE and MARTINAMIS and we had nice discussions of both.<br />Watched a few interviews with Martin and was really impressed, I cannot wait to read his work.Thanks for the book recommendations.Tobias Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14828873893205954337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45291084057223629752011-08-01T14:12:55.648-04:002011-08-01T14:12:55.648-04:00Chef Bea here using my daughter's google accou...Chef Bea here using my daughter's google account.<br /><br />Great puzzle. Did it here in Ct with puzzle daughter. Neither one of us got the progress part but found the puzzle easy. No time to read the posts.<br /><br />Still working on yesterday's.jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09446900244876232042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65224911963336872152011-08-01T13:39:03.853-04:002011-08-01T13:39:03.853-04:00Nice puzzle.
@lindsay
Also Skids, '66, when i...Nice puzzle.<br /><br />@lindsay<br />Also Skids, '66, when it was a "girls'" school. Skidmore is more known for ART than Swarthmore. <br /><br />Whenever I see Pat Boone, I try to picture him at Columbia U, where he graduated Magna and where I took one semester of Library Science.<br />The Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine seems more like it.<br /><br />Had HopTo before HASTE.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57982731228003799662011-08-01T13:22:13.010-04:002011-08-01T13:22:13.010-04:00Easy, Easy, Easy and even as an "alien" ...Easy, Easy, Easy and even as an "alien" had no problem with Swarthmore, not sure why it could be considered challenging.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18298029982514641202011-08-01T13:19:09.208-04:002011-08-01T13:19:09.208-04:00Tape before TIVO. Saw the ARTs but not the stately...Tape before TIVO. Saw the ARTs but not the stately progression until I came here.<br /><br />Cluing seemed just right. I think Kerfuffle is a shout out to Bob. And I'm in there too, tee hee.<br /><br />Week off to a good start. To be culminated by brain freeze at LOLLAPUZZOLA on Saturday.Sparkynoreply@blogger.com