tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2375314946866027528..comments2024-03-28T05:49:03.945-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48386482385283932532012-09-07T01:53:26.697-04:002012-09-07T01:53:26.697-04:00My thought exactly!My thought exactly!Daniel's Blog. How original of a titlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16726869352509222246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70930249075702533432012-09-04T16:58:01.698-04:002012-09-04T16:58:01.698-04:00I guess this was right in my wheelhouse, (rarely h...I guess this was right in my wheelhouse, (rarely happens)because I breezed through it. COE was prominent in Eugene 'Track town USA', when I lived there. Remember many interviews of Tina Turna when her autobiography 'I TINA' came out. She wrote about being a victim of spousal abuse, and how hard it is to break away. Jamie MOYER pitched several years for the Mariners, so i knew him immediately. Seattle also gave up on him because they said he was 'too old'. I guess he showed them! About ANAL, I believe it stems from psychobabble 'anal-retentive' referring to early potty training of children. It has taken on a different meaning lately.<br /><br />I see another 'Ginger' in the real time commenters. <br /><br />I've missed this forum, had a fine vacation, but came home with a bug and a dead computor. @SIS while I was gone King Felix pitched a perfect game!! An even greater feat with a tieam that's languishing in the cellar.Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4461898022900066342012-09-04T16:25:21.881-04:002012-09-04T16:25:21.881-04:00Shout out to my dogs, who are known collectively a...Shout out to my dogs, who are known collectively and affectionately as the "Brat Pack", at 58a although they are more "dingaling" the RINGADING (which I never heard before, btw).<br /><br />"Kept" (42d) was HeldONTO before UNO told me otherwise (EHUD was no help whatsoever; SCRIMS was new to me.<br /><br />IMONA, ITINA, IALIIFT (my captcha, really).Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8492299328580059612012-09-04T15:34:46.374-04:002012-09-04T15:34:46.374-04:00Enjoyed the puzzle once I realized I had misread t...Enjoyed the puzzle once I realized I had misread the 10D clue as "photographs". When the answer insisted on being VICTROLA, I went back, reread the clue and smiled. I have happy memories of being allowed to wind up my Grandmother's standing RCA Victor and gingerly place the needle on the disc, struggling to avoid scratches. <br /><br />Ended up with a Natick at the crossing of CYT? with ?HUD, but successfully guessed "e", so a no-write over day!DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42243674884630906642012-09-04T14:27:29.263-04:002012-09-04T14:27:29.263-04:00As a diehard Phillies fan, I latched onto the grea...As a diehard Phillies fan, I latched onto the great Jamie MOYER right away. Like @Tita, I wondered about the severity of COLLISIONS vis-a-vis the DENT, NICK, SCRATCH and DING. CARCRASH? Well, maybe car-shopping cart crash.<br /><br />FLUS does not upset me; the strains from year to year are so distinct that last season's vaccine is probably worthless!<br /><br />VICTROLA and ANACIN in the same grid with MOYER--and yet a fan of rap and hiphop. Fearless Leader, you are one strange dude. And you, of all people, with cheater squares! They never did bother me, but even if they did, these would be excused for framing the piece de resistance of this grid.<br /><br />So when are you gonna CHURNOUT another one?Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44333806648346541422012-08-01T09:31:52.575-04:002012-08-01T09:31:52.575-04:00Liked the theme lots. Didn't like having it p...Liked the theme lots. Didn't like having it pointed out that dings and scratches are too mild for a full-out CARCRASH... Made it a tiny bit less fun.<br /><br />Hate FLUS,love CHICKENSCRATCH - my favorite answer.<br />We too say "Hope you can read my chicken scratch". I find that the electronic signature pads in use at retail stores do a great job of converting my elegant signature into it.<br /><br />@Milford - well said!Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53318581512058033852012-08-01T01:50:45.339-04:002012-08-01T01:50:45.339-04:00This 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 6:28, 6:49, 0.95, 28%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 9:12, 8:57, 1.03, 64%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:41, 3:41, 1.00, 54%, Medium<br />Tue 4:59, 4:38, 1.08, 75%, Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22815507592593938542012-07-31T23:24:28.182-04:002012-07-31T23:24:28.182-04:00Thought this was a bit true and funny. I loved Rex...Thought this was a bit true and funny. I loved Rex's response. But I got into trouble spinning off of it. O well. It will be forgotten by tomorrow.Ginger Amelia perrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49462087288232906462012-07-31T22:09:17.545-04:002012-07-31T22:09:17.545-04:00@Milford
True words!@Milford<br /><br />True words!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26194824233077505242012-07-31T22:03:14.087-04:002012-07-31T22:03:14.087-04:00Just wondering what exactly I stand to gain by bei...Just wondering what exactly I stand to gain by being a so-called sycophant? Some kind of magical point system kept by Rex based on our praises of him and his puzzles? <br />Sigh. Some people liked this puzzle. Some thought it was easy. This happens every day. It's OK.Milfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04923019988243284636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2343346184318736792012-07-31T21:29:29.329-04:002012-07-31T21:29:29.329-04:00@lms - "sycophit!" Love it. Does this ma...@lms - "sycophit!" Love it. Does this make me an LMS sycophant?Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23599510012971288012012-07-31T21:29:03.172-04:002012-07-31T21:29:03.172-04:00@Loren - On July 22 you said:
Thanks, @Z. I feel ...@Loren - On July 22 you said:<br /><br />Thanks, @Z. I feel like I was being called a BEQ groupie.<br /><br />Women?! ....<br /><br />JFCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45260858544954621172012-07-31T21:26:54.734-04:002012-07-31T21:26:54.734-04:00"Parade of sycophants"
Strongly disagre..."Parade of sycophants"<br /><br />Strongly disagree with this comment. Kinda snide and snarky.<br /><br /><br /> "This was a difficult puzzle"<br /><br />Agree with @LMS "Difficulty is so subjective"<br /><br />Difficult for you, maybe. Easy for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37742376108628767812012-07-31T21:24:51.350-04:002012-07-31T21:24:51.350-04:00@loren: LOL "I’m sycophit."
@Ginger : ...@loren: LOL "I’m sycophit."<br /><br />@Ginger : Huh???JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88535050191180442252012-07-31T20:44:54.204-04:002012-07-31T20:44:54.204-04:00@JFC - BEQ groupie? If I have to be someone's...@JFC - BEQ groupie? If I have to be someone's groupie, he's not a bad choice!<br /><br />@Ginger - I must have missed something. Who called Rex a sycophant?<br /><br />The SCRIMS/COE/MOYER crosses aside, I thought today's was Monday easy and even easier than yesterday's. And I usually have a harder time than most posters here.<br /><br />"Difficulty" is so subjective. . .Loren Muse Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05308030011870397977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36409127060740157572012-07-31T20:27:21.649-04:002012-07-31T20:27:21.649-04:00God. You guys. We are not calling Rex a sycophant ...God. You guys. We are not calling Rex a sycophant for God's sake. That doesn't even make sense. It's the suck ups who are loving the puzzle and finding it Tuesday easy. Not Rex. Jeeeeesh. PS no way it was Tuesday easy. PPS I liked the theme. PPS the unwitting references to Batman were unfortunate in timing.Ginger Amelia Perrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55812391276594486722012-07-31T20:24:15.692-04:002012-07-31T20:24:15.692-04:00Wow, as always I'm proud to call myself your B...Wow, as always I'm proud to call myself your BFF! Great puzzle Rex!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07413506079474832736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89969842739060918992012-07-31T18:12:32.221-04:002012-07-31T18:12:32.221-04:00@joho: I don't think it was fear of not likin...@joho: I don't think it was fear of not liking the puzzle so much. It was more of a "what do I do if this really sucks and I have to be polite to my host" moment. It's like being served this incredible dinner that you know took hours of preparation and thought, only to find out your allergic to every thing in it.<br />In my mind, this didn't happen because the hors doeuvres tasted better.GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73222310479306717822012-07-31T18:02:52.656-04:002012-07-31T18:02:52.656-04:00Loren - I think being a Rex sycophant might be a n...Loren - I think being a Rex sycophant might be a notch below being a BEQ groupie so I understand your angst. In my case I think it's an elevation so I'm happy....<br /><br />JFCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76827510887128561112012-07-31T17:52:11.927-04:002012-07-31T17:52:11.927-04:00Never been accused of being a sycophant here, so h...Never been accused of being a sycophant here, so here's my response from the dark side:<br /><br />'Amigo' has evolved into common English slang, so 'pal' works.<br /><br />Jamie Moyer has been in the (sports) news a lot the last couple of years. If you don't know sports? Bone up. It's a huge part of the crossword universe.<br /><br />A variation of a font <i>is</i> a font to most of us. Don't over-think this stuff. Scientists and mathematicians here---'anal', as it were---seem to get wrapped around that axle a lot.<br /><br />The fairly easy crosses make 'I'm on a..." apparent without breathing hard.<br /><br />Never heard of 'elhi' until I did crosswords. But it's real common here. Now you know.<br /><br />On difficulty in general: I've never created a puzzle, but I presume that Will decides what day of the week a crossword is assigned. Constructors: Am I wrong? Anyway, if so then your toughness gripe isn't with Michael.<br /><br />And on sycophancy: I don't think Michael's had enough puzzles published lately to establish a pattern of people here lining up in blind allegiance to him. Seems to me that almost all of the folks in this community whose puzzles get picked up are treated somewhat graciously and given the benefit of the doubt here---kind of a neighborhood courtesy---and Michael no more or less than the rest. But sometimes you can tell by the lack of any comments from posters, or 'damning with faint praise' compared to their normal posts, that the reaction is lukewarm. The longer you participate here, the more you're able to decipher the tone of various regulars.<br /><br />And if you read the reaction to his daily commentary, it's patently clear that exceedingly few people cow-tow to him---and often let him have it with both barrels. I speak from experience.... <br /><br />Evilevil doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17593231055589228837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67979120935542340962012-07-31T17:49:30.204-04:002012-07-31T17:49:30.204-04:00Sychophants, Shmicophants!
The puzzle was a fun Tu...Sychophants, Shmicophants!<br />The puzzle was a fun Tuesday solve for me- no apologies or explanations needed.<br /><br />Liked ANAL and CARCRASH crosssing.<br />Another way of saying rear-end COLLISIONS?<br /><br />U CAN'T TOUCH THIS was CHURNEDOUT well too...Sandy Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91182142898911325842012-07-31T17:25:35.490-04:002012-07-31T17:25:35.490-04:00The problem with the puzzle is that it isn't s...The problem with the puzzle is that it isn't square. 16 is too wide for a Tuesday. Everyone knows that.Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01699404861773455504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14241644156858650162012-07-31T17:01:54.468-04:002012-07-31T17:01:54.468-04:00@Chief Nitpicker - You're right about CYTE. I...@Chief Nitpicker - You're right about CYTE. It should have been CIDE. It's ickier that way.<br /><br />I don't agree with most of your nits, some are flat-out wrong, but at least you're affirmatively saying what you found problematic about the puzzle, and just not calling others names without making your case. Good on you.Major League Boot-lickernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40058497811190055512012-07-31T16:51:09.178-04:002012-07-31T16:51:09.178-04:00Puzzle faults . . .
DOCENT crossing CYTE crossing...Puzzle faults . . .<br /><br />DOCENT crossing CYTE crossing EHUD.<br />IMONA.<br />ELHI.<br />SANS SERIF is not a font. It is a variation of a font.<br />Potential Natick at COE/SCRIMS (but C is the only logical choice).<br />They don't use OARS on GONDOLAS.<br />PAL is not Spanish for friend.<br />MOYER may be tough for Tuesday.<br /><br />Anybody else care to chime in?Chief Nitpickernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70439794478130222422012-07-31T16:48:59.314-04:002012-07-31T16:48:59.314-04:00Felt easy to me, maybe because I'm so familiar...Felt easy to me, maybe because I'm so familiar with Rex's thought processes from reading his blog for so long. He's in a tough spot as a constructor. Because of his blog he has to practice what he preaches when he makes a puzzle. And you can feel the pressure he feels to do so -- even in his IMONA comment today. But, on the other hand, hopefully what we will continue to get from him what we got today: A polished gem.Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.com