tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2163006974946907147..comments2024-03-19T05:57:42.282-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Psychologist Alfred / SAT 2-9-13 / Film hero chasing motorcycle gang / Cuban-born baseball hall-of-famer Jose / Number of Planeten / Target of thrown bricks in early comicsRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24999841559834602522022-02-27T15:39:26.337-05:002022-02-27T15:39:26.337-05:00The Germans didn't unilaterally "off Plut...The Germans didn't unilaterally "off Pluto", any more than the USA did. The clue was to direct us to an answer in German.<br />Pluto was demoted by the only body with recognized authority to do so: the International Astronomical Union.Prunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224476641730508311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7766275652531730732013-03-25T10:02:36.193-04:002013-03-25T10:02:36.193-04:00If you'da told me the only thing preventing me...If you'da told me the only thing preventing me from completing a Saturday was a "baseball hall of famer" clue with only two of the six letters to fill, I'da said you was on Dock Ellis Dee. It wasn't too difficult to guess MENDEZ from _E_DEZ, but I'm not accustomed to guessing hall of famers' names.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28245716927218815882013-03-16T15:34:42.079-04:002013-03-16T15:34:42.079-04:00Clearly not my puzzle. Starting at the bottom with...Clearly not my puzzle. Starting at the bottom with KRAZYKAT, I worked my way through the SE and then.... A word here and there. Either my brain was more unplugged than usual, or there was just too much out of my ballpark. So out of it I couldn't even recall BINET, let alone MADMAX who I can't recall ever hearing about.<br />Ah well, it will keep me from feeling smug about yesterday's single letter mishap.<br /><br />Thanks to all for the word on the shingles vaccine. Didn't know there is one. I certainly had chicken pox, in fact, tho it's supposed to be impossible, I feel sure I had it twice. Neighbor had shingles, and made quite clear it's more awful than one can imagine. And, on that cheery note, adios.DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29839672633850982862013-02-11T09:42:04.696-05:002013-02-11T09:42:04.696-05:00I'm writing this on Monday, so I won't say...I'm writing this on Monday, so I won't say much - just that instead of either TS ELIOT or Ionesco, I had Thurber -- thinking maybe the "What have you done with Dr. Milmoss?" cartoon had been turned into a book. Then I wrote that last 'r' sloppily, and crossed it with neun. Finally came right, but it took some doing.<br /><br />AdlEr before BINET, too.jberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02169065390875378077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34679216948037096662013-02-10T14:57:32.193-05:002013-02-10T14:57:32.193-05:00Next day, but had to add my hatred anyway. Since ...Next day, but had to add my hatred anyway. Since I never saw Mad Max, and never heard of Deana Carter nor Hot pockets, I had no chance at all. I had several incorrect but logical answers that held me back as well. The clue for shoelace was clever enough, but I had too many wrong answers in that section, TS Eliot never crossing my mind, the clue for I'm lost a poor one for me. (And I finished Friday smoothly. Different strokes!) OISKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808675378318214461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45907832039637363412013-02-10T12:54:58.245-05:002013-02-10T12:54:58.245-05:00The problem with Ellsworth is that there are so ma...The problem with Ellsworth is that there are so many solvers in South Dakota that it makes the puzzle too easy for too many. A better clue for "Ellsworth" is:<br />"_____ Bunker, Vietnam Hawk." Everyone will want the answer to be "Archie," and wonder why there aren't enough spaces..Robert A. Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04227512466375280592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41336820164546184012013-02-09T22:28:46.964-05:002013-02-09T22:28:46.964-05:00Westport pics posted - from JenCT and yours truly....Westport pics posted - from JenCT and yours truly. A few puzzle spouses, and the winner of the tournament. A good time was had by all!<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/112433649548050080810/Westport2013?authuser=0&feat=directlink" rel="nofollow">Tita's Westport pics</a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/109174004331920997701/20130202?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPW6KbZ9qu2FQ&feat=email#" rel="nofollow">JenCT's Westport pics</a><br /><br />I also updated the <a href="http://crucimetrics.blogspot.com/p/epic-wrong-answer-hall-of-fame.html" rel="nofollow">Epic Wrong Answer Hall of Fame</a> with today's gems.Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50886942162284274902013-02-09T21:43:07.341-05:002013-02-09T21:43:07.341-05:00@JenCT - I just watched the Hot Pocket clip. That...@JenCT - I just watched the Hot Pocket clip. That was hilarious, laughing to the point of tears. Thanks!chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11683499273463358472013-02-09T20:47:30.187-05:002013-02-09T20:47:30.187-05:00The hardware store has to be open during a blizzar...The hardware store has to be open during a blizzard (the plow guys break a lot of stuff) so this morning I busted through the drifts and made it to work. Later in the day I called the convenience store where I usually stop for the paper to see if the NYT had come in, and would they save one for me. The young man I spoke with delivered the paper to me when his shift ended - this is why I love living in Maine.<br /><br />As to the puzzle, I had some serious missteps early in the solving process, among them having waitresses being productive at the counter where the BARTENDERS work - I like my answer better since a counter and a bar are distinctly different things. But eventually the crosses set me straight and GEEYATHINK seemed appropriate to finish the grid.<br /><br />I was sure SHTETL was wrong and expected to learn where my error was when I came here, but it was right - I love it when that happens!<br /><br />The snow has stopped falling but the wind continues unabated so drifting will ensue. Tomorrow the snow-clearing begins in earnest, and Spring is only 39 days away!<br /><br />Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8825449251371236742013-02-09T20:42:50.360-05:002013-02-09T20:42:50.360-05:00@jenct
Thanks for the HOTPOCKET video! Between th...@jenct<br />Thanks for the HOTPOCKET video! Between that and @rex's Flight of the Conchord video, my life is complete! Tho now I'm paranoid what I've missed allthe days that i forgot to click on the videos that are posted!!!<br />Even the Biz MARKIE one sort of made me laugh...Achtmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67415959130573468282013-02-09T18:55:10.746-05:002013-02-09T18:55:10.746-05:00You can censor my comments all you want, but you c...You can censor my comments all you want, but you cannot censor the fact that 32A, 33A, and 34A are, taken together, way over the top.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51442350574951559032013-02-09T18:04:05.366-05:002013-02-09T18:04:05.366-05:00This 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 5:58, 6:08, 0.97, 36%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 8:03, 8:30, 0.95, 31%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 8:23, 11:33, 0.73, 2%, Easy (4th lowest ratio of 163 Wednesdays)<br />Thu 16:41, 17:05, 0.98, 42%, Medium<br />Fri 23:18, 21:07, 1.10, 75%, Medium-Challenging<br />Sat 26:25, 24:55, 1.06, 73%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:34, 3:39, 0.98, 32%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 4:48, 4:57, 0.97, 36%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 5:11, 6:29, 0.80, 6%, Easy (9th lowest ratio of 163 Wednesdays)<br />Thu 9:43, 9:43, 1.00, 48%, Medium<br />Fri 13:44, 12:14, 1.12, 72%, Medium-Challenging<br />Sat 13:51, 14:36, 0.95, 39%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78208183461660933502013-02-09T17:23:48.594-05:002013-02-09T17:23:48.594-05:00Had to overnight this one and I'm glad that I ...Had to overnight this one and I'm glad that I did instead of caving in. Too many write-overs to list, but we finished which I don't get to say with many Saturday puzzle, so yeah, I loved it! Got a real chuckle with ON POT, I sometimes think that this whole island is on it.<br /><br />@mac - have a great vacation, aren't you glad that you didn't choose a staycation?chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40948002267115909692013-02-09T17:12:43.700-05:002013-02-09T17:12:43.700-05:00MetaRex is closer to my wavelength than Rex today....MetaRex is closer to my wavelength than Rex today. Found this an impossible puzzle. All my gimmes were wrong. Knew Ionescu's "Rhinoceros", but not Eliot's "The Hippopotamus". Absurd. Like Ionesco's Theater of the Absurd. Puzzle might as well have been a "Wasteland". So much out of my wheelhouse -- Mad Max "who cares", Biz Markie "so what", Margaret Cho "I don't know -- is she funny?", Jose Mendez "whatevuh", one irons "golf tees me off", grande "ain't grand, I don't drink coffee", hotpockets, "that's something to eat, or something a teenage boy has riding the bus?". Gee ya think? Ya think "gee ya think" is worthwhile crosswordese? <br /><br />What I liked, I liked because I guess I know this stuff: Krazy Kat; acht meaning eight for planeten minus Pluto. Didn't get shtetl at first, but once I got it, I thought, oh wow, kewl, kewl clue kewl answer. Merlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58032543900593135042013-02-09T16:32:05.523-05:002013-02-09T16:32:05.523-05:00ACHt! And here I thought Planeten was a rapper or...ACHt! And here I thought Planeten was a rapper or comicbook hero.<br /><br />I should not have l<br />@acme & @loren - KRAZY KAT stories...<br /><br />@Carola - gesundheit!<br /><br />@ED - lol to the Concorde backing up.<br /><br />Yes - clue for AIRDRIED was great. All my laundry is.<br /><br />Among many many errors, hEyYATHINK, which made nag yAT. That was the least of my DNF problems.<br /><br />I worked SW from the bottom up, so had fakENAME. CODpiece is a much better wrong answer.<br />@ED, are you nominating @Carola to the wrong answer Hall of Fame?<br />Methinks retroJETS AND CODpiece belong there. Will add those along with photos of Westport.<br /><br />I shoulda held out before googling, cause this is a chockfull of raelly great words.<br /><br />Shoveling this fine powdery stuff with gusty winds made me SORE. Priority was getting a path to the hot tub. Once the wind dies down, it'll be red wine and snow angels tonight!Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37618515024739471152013-02-09T16:30:03.230-05:002013-02-09T16:30:03.230-05:00I enjoyed this puzzle, too. Much easier than yeste...I enjoyed this puzzle, too. Much easier than yesterday's (which I'm still trying to finish).<br />At first I was trying to figure out what "nine" was in German when I remembered that there are officially only eight planets. "Eight" in German is ACHT- easily remembered (for me) because the German word for "roller coaster" is "achterbahn" (or, literally, "figure-eight road"). I've probably made this point before.<br />Laugh all you will at that quaint description but early coasters really only did figure-8s. And, really, is "roller coaster" that much more descriptive? Somehow, "freewheeling gravity powered train ride" just doesn't cut it, though, so you've gotta call it something!<br />Have I mentioned my dislike for Capcha? Feh!Doc Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47090367346183969352013-02-09T16:04:36.422-05:002013-02-09T16:04:36.422-05:00Tough one for me...
@mac: I'm jealous!!!
Lo...Tough one for me...<br /><br />@mac: I'm jealous!!!<br /><br />Love the cat theme.<br /><br />We got 2 feet of snow here in Northern CT, but we didn't lose power.<br /><br />I love Jim Gaffigan, who does a hilarious HOT POCKET routine: <a href="http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mQSRB_feUJ8&feature=related" rel="nofollow">Jim Gaffigan</a>JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14863466418448733242013-02-09T15:45:00.615-05:002013-02-09T15:45:00.615-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52324161797696711972013-02-09T15:36:36.317-05:002013-02-09T15:36:36.317-05:00@evil doug -
RetroJet Service sounds pretty nice ...@evil doug - <br />RetroJet Service sounds pretty nice after some of my recent airline travel experiences!<br /><br />@Gill I.P.-<br />Yes! :)!Carolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971759975067250908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39940748172446196762013-02-09T14:51:26.469-05:002013-02-09T14:51:26.469-05:00I wanted PILEON at 16A, fell in love with it, woul...I wanted PILEON at 16A, fell in love with it, wouldn't let it go, and it held me up badly. Kinda funny because it's the opposite of UNPILED, and yet the two opposites work.<br /><br />Puzzle was top notch. I felt confident all the way through that the crosses would give me what I didn't know -- and they did.Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53013186047668521332013-02-09T14:32:38.613-05:002013-02-09T14:32:38.613-05:00Rex,
Cat's Meow is only mid-century to someon...Rex,<br /><br />Cat's Meow is only mid-century to someone born after the midpoint. More like 1st quarter century?<br /><br />It is astounding how many rap stars I've never once heard of.DigitalDanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11620300502981292088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65727683814616147132013-02-09T14:03:11.612-05:002013-02-09T14:03:11.612-05:00p.s.
Since I evidently left everyone speechless, I...p.s.<br />Since I evidently left everyone speechless, I'll just add that it'd be a hoot to see old 31 do the snow shovelin', right *After* solvin' a pangram with the circles and with a healthy shot of RRNs and Nat-ticks. Sorta like a Roamin Candle plow effect.<br /><br />Y'all NE dudes take 'er easy, tho, on all that shovelin'. Good to do it in baby hunks, like 31 does. Per WC Fields, "Work fascinates me. I could watch it for hours.". No snow in these parts yet. Hallelujah. I'm&a bum.<br /><br />M and A alsonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82014444675598020032013-02-09T13:50:08.289-05:002013-02-09T13:50:08.289-05:00My solving experience was just like Rex's, rig...My solving experience was just like Rex's, right down to the snow-shoveling beforehand. Easiest Saturday in ages for me, but a blast to solve. I mean, come on -- TURBOJETS, ONEIRONS, GEEYATHINK, HOTPOCKETS, ROADKILL, AIRDRIED, KRAZYKAT, CATSMEOW, MAHJONGG, MADMAX and BACKTAXES all in the same puzzle? Seriously? Seriously awesome.<br /><br />What a glorious Friday/Saturday combo this week -- and perfectly linked by having yesterday's constructor's initials right there as today's 1D.<br /><br />Too perfect.Sir Hillarynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58420257545330746922013-02-09T12:47:02.293-05:002013-02-09T12:47:02.293-05:00@31...
Yes! U have primo taste in cartoonery. Ge...@31...<br />Yes! U have primo taste in cartoonery. George Herriman is my cofave-- along with Gary Larson. Both their strips retired, when they stopped doin' 'em. That Kat luuuved them brick concussions. When the Offisa Bull Pup put Ignatz mouse (the brick perp) in the hoosegow, old Kraz was "B-L-oo-oo-oo!". har. <br /><br />Speakin' of bloo-oo-oo, this puz has a heavy preponderance of no-u-u-u. Thank heavens for TURBOJETS, so that I can still give it the themelessthUmbsUp. One U. Lil' darlink.Masked and AnonymoUsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23575581349681725712013-02-09T12:40:24.080-05:002013-02-09T12:40:24.080-05:00OOOOH, I loved this puzzle. Some of these answers...OOOOH, I loved this puzzle. Some of these answers are KRAZY kool.<br />@Carola how about EAT+DYNE.<br />I had Dr. Seuss instead of TS EIOT. I was high on LSD instead of POT and my Puffs are cheese not REEESES I also didn't want to give up my Hulk for any LIAR.<br />Had to Google MARKIE DEANA and ACHT. Loved some silk threads clue for 36D. My husband gave me some chocolate silk PJ's when I was about 6 months pregnant. He said they made me look sexy. I said GEE YA THINK??? they make me look more like a hippopotamus....<br />HOT POCKETS are quite possibly the vilest microwaveble food on this planet and I was so surprised I got it with just the HO in place.<br />I'll take a month of these senor Wentz. Thanks for the fun.<br />@mac - ARUBA ARUBA!!!GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.com