tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2218043424326265631..comments2024-03-28T22:04:17.970-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Michael who sang Im lumberjack Im OK / SAT 4-14-12 / Moliere contemporary / Singer in Odyssey / 400 Pennsylvania Nascar event / Locale in much-studied 1934 photo / Equivalent of ibidem / 1980s-90s Ford model / 1970s-80s NBA nicknameRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72575768055961948842020-03-15T10:17:17.918-04:002020-03-15T10:17:17.918-04:00So I came here nearly 6 years later to say that I ...So I came here nearly 6 years later to say that I liked this puzzle, but the biggest flaw is this: the singular of PHALANGES is not PHALANGE but rather PHALANX. I only learn this relatively recently when I fractured one of mine. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84483238624404266552012-05-19T20:27:41.012-04:002012-05-19T20:27:41.012-04:00@Diri, welcome back from... ahem, nevermind. I rem...@Diri, welcome back from... ahem, nevermind. I remember roller rinks. Me thinks @Spacecraft may be too young. <br /><br />Great day on the course today - 70 degrees, no wind, and I took $10 off my business partner. Another day in paradise.<br /><br />Capcha: noregit demicati. Latin for "spit in the senator's soup."Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11205327847337023452012-05-19T18:31:39.193-04:002012-05-19T18:31:39.193-04:00I'm taking a break from the prime-time puzzle ...I'm taking a break from the prime-time puzzle (which is currently kicking my FASCES) to see how my syndi compatriots fared today.<br /><br />@Spacecraft, I seem to recall many years ago we used to head out to the rollerRINK on Saturday night to do some roller skating, so I give it a pass on that basis, although I think they call them rollerdromes now (if anybody still goes). <br /><br />@DMGrandma - I'll thank you never to speak of my wormhole again!<br /><br />See you tomorrow in syndi time.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3499849167516751282012-05-19T16:37:37.222-04:002012-05-19T16:37:37.222-04:00I have one gripe, and it's a biggie: To compar...I have one gripe, and it's a biggie: To compare SPADES to bridge is like comparing the AEROSTAR to the Lincoln Navigator. How DARE you, Mark? Cousin of bridge, indeed. Not even a friend of a friend of a casual acquaintance.<br /><br />The puzzle itself required--for me--much thought. It all came in, but none of it easily. Many places I threw something in there (well, it COULD be that--or a dozen other things) and it worked out all right. Cluing was Saturday level, no question.<br /><br />A nit to pick was ICERINKS. Isn't that redundant? What's a rink not made of ice? Jett? No, wait; even HE was made of ice.<br /><br />Got my Marions mixed up and tried craNE--till I remembered:: no, that's Norman Bates' shower victim.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8227326267920572752012-05-19T16:16:58.851-04:002012-05-19T16:16:58.851-04:00Easy - Medium? Not for me! I thought this was HA...Easy - Medium? Not for me! I thought this was HARD -- not many write-overs, but still there was lots of stuff I've never heard of: Theodore Rex, Cox, Fasces (WHAT?), Ugarte, Alicarte, but I did love Aunt Clara on "Bewitched", so that sweetened up the whole experience. Took me a long time to finish, what with interruptions for laundry loads, but I made it through. Whew!Lola505https://www.blogger.com/profile/09249427833942985450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35034775492786509072012-05-19T15:24:31.269-04:002012-05-19T15:24:31.269-04:00Seems I was ona different planet from most solvers...Seems I was ona different planet from most solvers. Everything flowed except the SW. Have never heard of the game SPADES, knew MRMOTO was wrong, but couldn't correct it, remembered FASCES only after I saw the answer here, and am embarrassed that I missed THEODOREREX after so enjoying the Morris interview, but I didn't recall COX, which would have helped.. I guess some days are just like this!<br />How does @Dirigonzo move from way out here in Syndiland back (forward) to the future? Must have a wormhole!<br />Now for the anti-robot words! Have paged through several variations looking for one I think I might be able to read! Will give it one try. See you, or not!DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22362702365584836222012-05-19T15:21:36.358-04:002012-05-19T15:21:36.358-04:00Is it possible to 'almost' finish? Of cou...Is it possible to 'almost' finish? Of course not. Insisting on pass kept me off, as did entering the Ford model in 34-D instead of 33....and since I had the wrong Ford, ranchero, in the wrong spot, the SW took way longer than it should have. I feel pretty good that I was able to sort out the whole sordid mess, and on paper yet!<br /><br />Shout out to OFL at 36-A<br /><br />@stephen - Demure with the 'e' has a different meaning that DEMUR, interesting contrast.<br /><br />Good Saturday workout, even though DNF, good deal Mr Diehl, Thanks<br /><br />captcha itytec yadrti = ya dirty? rat?Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43226063575136495242012-05-19T13:35:47.040-04:002012-05-19T13:35:47.040-04:00skipped reading the comments this morning in Syndi...skipped reading the comments this morning in Syndieville cause I'm off to enjoy this PacNW beautiful day on the golf course.<br /><br />I hurried thru this CW cheating like crazy with smoke coming out of the Google machine. Still, had some problems in the NW - last to fall.<br /><br />liked the Lorre clue. When I lived in San Diego years ago there was a Pacific Beach bar that continually played Casablanca. Patrons would speak along with all the lines, sorta like the "Sound of Music" midnight sing-alongs.<br /><br />Had pass for 53D until it became clear TIPO was the answer. Cheap. Better clue would have been "Former Mass. Speaker 'Neill."<br /><br />Now off to yell FORE.<br /><br />Capcha: otoryl lesgua. Prehistoric flying gecko.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56989777931585735222012-05-03T05:28:55.051-04:002012-05-03T05:28:55.051-04:00Very smooth sailing through the top half. I confes...Very smooth sailing through the top half. I confess: for SW, needed a trip to IMDB.com to look up the Lorre character name. I already knew Mr. Moto wouldn't work because the AA clue had to be STEP FOUR, FIVE OR NINE(the only three out of 12 that fit). Just couldn't remember the name of Lorre's character in "Casablanca."<br /><br />By the way, was surprised Rex found the AA clue "wicked abitrary." I thought it was really clever. The possible answers were obvious, but you had to figure out which of the three it was. <br /><br />Anyway, it was SE that killed me. I was felled by my certainty in the answer PASS the hat. TIP O' didn't even occur to me (now THAT one seems wicked arbitrary to me]. So, with my mistake etched in stone, I stared and stared...put it down for a day, then stared some more. To make it all the more pathetic, right off the bat, I'd figured STEEDS, BRONTES, RITALIN and ELM something, but the stupid PASS made them all seem wrong. I lost patience, came here, got ABCS and TIP O', and the rest was obvious. GRRRRRR. <br /><br />Incidentally, I agree with @Stephen that USABLE is, at the very least, an inelegant answer to the clue "helpful." I got the answer pretty quickly through the crosses, but it irked me too.Sharon NYCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59753526007481320372012-04-23T08:20:50.401-04:002012-04-23T08:20:50.401-04:00I don't often attempt a Saturday, but decided ...I don't often attempt a Saturday, but decided to bang my way through this one. Glad I did. Good fill, good fun.<br /><br />The NE took a week to fall. Got PETROL and SESSION (both cute). But demurred on DEMURS (thought it needed an E on the end). Never heard of RACINE; wifey had to clue me in. SEEABOVE didn't come until I finally put in DEMUR. BRUISERS was nowhere until the very end. One thing that held me back was USEABLE... I saw that it fit in the grid, but refused to put it in because does not fit the clue (helpful). Microsoft Word rises to the level of being USEABLE, but it is so often unpredictable and annoying that it is often a paradigm of UNhelpfulness. The two words are talking about different properties!Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16911901473993027184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73493123413959442792012-04-14T20:45:44.440-04:002012-04-14T20:45:44.440-04:00@zach Um, write really small???
Oh, wait, if you...@zach Um, write really small???<br /><br />Oh, wait, if you mean in Across Lite, hit the insert button.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21880647159351056412012-04-14T20:26:15.197-04:002012-04-14T20:26:15.197-04:00How do I put more than one letter in a box on the ...How do I put more than one letter in a box on the NYT puzzle? Anyone?zachnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80356928794928309252012-04-14T20:09:27.624-04:002012-04-14T20:09:27.624-04:00Sorry I haven't commented. No time for the puz...Sorry I haven't commented. No time for the puzzle or to read anything. Too busy at the Azalea festival. See you tomorrowchefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79671878758444859632012-04-14T19:51:29.681-04:002012-04-14T19:51:29.681-04:00I instantly put in UPDRAFTS at 1a just because it ...I instantly put in UPDRAFTS at 1a just because it fit (and I like that MM image) and that pretty much gave me the whole NW section. AEROSTAR (33d) was just in the puzzle a few days ago in syndicationland, where I solve every day but Saturday, so that gave me a leg up in the SW. The NE resisted mightily but I finally prevailed there, too. But the BAgPHONE that the Secret Service agents always carry to keep the president in touch with other world leaders in time of crisis (at least in TV movies) kept me from bringing this one all the way home. Rats.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56033320480371639772012-04-14T19:46:00.459-04:002012-04-14T19:46:00.459-04:00If you haven't had Portuguese wines you have a...If you haven't had Portuguese wines you have a REAL treat coming.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66550813607252773492012-04-14T18:23:13.636-04:002012-04-14T18:23:13.636-04:00This 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 6:16, 6:49, 0.92, 17%, Easy<br />Tue 8:59, 8:52, 1.01, 61%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 8:33, 11:49, 0.72, 2%, Easy (3rd lowest median solve time of 145 Wednesdays)<br />Thu 16:26, 18:56, 0.87, 24%, Easy-Medium<br />Fri 21:28, 25:00, 0.86, 24%, Easy-Medium<br />Sat 21:05, 29:30, 0.71, 12%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:19, 3:40, 0.91, 12%, Easy<br />Tue 4:36, 4:35, 1.00, 58%, Medium<br />Wed 4:33, 5:52, 0.78, 3%, Easy (5th lowest median solve time of 144 Wednesdays)<br />Thu 8:33, 9:18, 0.92, 40%, Medium<br />Fri 10:03, 12:22, 0.81, 22%, Easy-Medium<br />Sat 10:40, 16:45, 0.64, 3%, Easy (4th lowest median solve time of 137 Saturdays)sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10178331756685785522012-04-14T17:46:02.675-04:002012-04-14T17:46:02.675-04:00Easy Saturday for me. I did the top half at Tuesda...Easy Saturday for me. I did the top half at Tuesday speed, the rest at Thursday/Friday speed.<br /><br />First answer -- Cox.michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83935069492179856472012-04-14T17:22:40.967-04:002012-04-14T17:22:40.967-04:00I'm jealous of those who thought this easy! I...I'm jealous of those who thought this easy! I struggled for too long, trying different letters until I got the Happy Pencil.<br /><br />Then I stared at the grid, wondering <br />"Who is THE ODOREREX?"JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15345596138333783682012-04-14T16:30:11.760-04:002012-04-14T16:30:11.760-04:00For a long time while trying to figure out the SE ...For a long time while trying to figure out the SE corner I actually almost convinced myself there might have been a presidential biography called "The Odometer".Jonpaul Guinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01588508353689602304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56263022746697575242012-04-14T16:22:05.680-04:002012-04-14T16:22:05.680-04:00After I had "_MORE" at 26A, the answer h...After I had "_MORE" at 26A, the answer had to be AMORE, but...why is that a "Subject for Enrico Caruso"? Any more than, say, Richard Tucker? Is it simply the Italian connection? Am I just being dense today?lawprofnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81882584873856934262012-04-14T15:43:26.405-04:002012-04-14T15:43:26.405-04:00I knew it would be a good day when THEODORE REX w...I knew it would be a good day when THEODORE REX was a total gimme. @ Mel Ott- do yourself a favor and read Colonel Roosevelt (as well as The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt). A great trilogy, well-researched and vividly written. And no, he didn't like to be called Teddy.<br /><br />I am not thrilled with PHALANGE- I don't know anyone who doesn't use phalanx as the singular and phalanges as the plural. But, the dictionary says it's acceptable so I'll have to accept it.<br /><br />Just when I get used to orb or scepter as symbols of power, now I have to remember yet another one! Thanks, English language!<br /><br />Have I mentioned that I hate captcha?Doc Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80524940915332314182012-04-14T14:47:24.885-04:002012-04-14T14:47:24.885-04:00The NE fell quickly for me, then the SW. I wanted...The NE fell quickly for me, then the SW. I wanted WHIST for 31A, but it didn't fit, and I knew 31D was one of the STEPs (which helped my solve because it could only be step 4, 5, or 9). Googled three times; hoping to lessen that on Saturdays. Overall a bright solid solve and puzzle. Enjoyed it.Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65750260755125726152012-04-14T13:40:34.163-04:002012-04-14T13:40:34.163-04:00I had a totally different experience than most of ...I had a totally different experience than most of you: easy in the NW, NE and SE, impossible in the SW. Love riposted and coteries!<br /><br />My Saturday evening: home cooking and AZ - PSV! AZ is practically the home team, so happy with the half time result of 2 - 1. First score for them by Altidore!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1087696671764331002012-04-14T13:34:49.972-04:002012-04-14T13:34:49.972-04:00I remember Marion Lorne from Bewitched and Mr. Pee...I remember Marion Lorne from Bewitched and Mr. Peepers, but most especially as the doting mother in Strangers on a Train.quilter1https://www.blogger.com/profile/09569747169212018177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44978692939969006902012-04-14T13:30:56.744-04:002012-04-14T13:30:56.744-04:00You find fasces (sans axe) depicted on the seat of...You find fasces (sans axe) depicted on the seat of Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.. Surprised to see it in the puzzle, but it immediately came to mind.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com