tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2608179446606101307..comments2024-03-29T11:24:03.304-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Wood-cleaving tool / FRI 7-15-11 / Luff you lubber speaker of literature / Wyndham alternative familiarly / Fokker foe / Talent agent SwiftyRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30194255534306209742011-08-20T17:40:27.049-04:002011-08-20T17:40:27.049-04:00This was a real FOKKER at first. Had brain freeze ...This was a real FOKKER at first. Had brain freeze from all those 15's, but they melted after sitting overnight. <br /><br />We get Western TANAGERS in our yard -- a female flew into our big glass door yesterday.<br /><br />I was looking for RINGAROUNDAROSie, which is how I know it. Settled for ROSE which gave me Simon LEES (why not?).<br /><br />Surprised David didn't come up the Dead's "Throwing Stones" as a reference, with the lyric "Ashes, ashes, all fall down."<br /><br />And @Rex missed a good musical take on CHALKDUST from Phish:<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrSCt46w1U8Cary in Bouldernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7298328349650405942011-08-20T14:10:38.556-04:002011-08-20T14:10:38.556-04:00Hated it! Really sucked. And it is ring around T...Hated it! Really sucked. And it is ring around THE rosy. This must have been one of those puzzled approved while Wil was away playing ping pong.MikeInStlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61424049492248118892011-08-19T23:18:58.256-04:002011-08-19T23:18:58.256-04:00I agree with Evil Doug, the "dispense with co...I agree with Evil Doug, the "dispense with courtesy" clue can mean either "distribute politely" (my original take) or "don't bother being courteous." This was a bit of a tough slog for me, gettable but only after Googles. Do you know anyone who went to ELON University? Do you know both of them? Sure, I've heard of that famous Marleyite, EEK-A-MOUSE.<br /> Not.<br /> There's much to unlove about this one, and it doesn't even achieve pangram status. Though I must say, it's the first one I know of that misses by the letter W. Let's see, where...perhaps at 34a; we could have WIG and LAWAR ("Watts riot"). Ah, nevermind: that's where the Z is. Oh well.<br /><br />captcha=baractut: what you get when you cross a modern-day president with an ancient boy-kingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52811497788091408242011-08-19T21:36:31.836-04:002011-08-19T21:36:31.836-04:00In syndiland, completed the center section and bot...In syndiland, completed the center section and bottom stacks by myself (and felt oh, so clever), needed help from a friend to complete the top portion of the grid and had lots of "aha" moments along the way. Today is the first day of my summer "staycation" and this puzzle was an excellent addition to the day.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75053983555882627472011-08-19T17:31:55.531-04:002011-08-19T17:31:55.531-04:00Anonymous 12:09, to dispense with something is to ...Anonymous 12:09, to dispense with something is to get rid of it. To dispense something is to sell it. The clue was "dispense with".Singernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70432616010892344672011-08-19T17:17:31.079-04:002011-08-19T17:17:31.079-04:00So i discovered a band just YESTERDAY...The Weepie...So i discovered a band just YESTERDAY...The Weepies....a folksy/alternative duo...pleasing stuff....I downloaded 3 of their albums less than 2 hours ago and am listening to them in their entirety for the first time as I do the puzzle and read the blog. <br />Imagine my surprise, especially after reading the blog about (and linking to) The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon...and then listening to this song...for the FIRST TIME...<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTCG7k6XK7U<br /><br />and hearing the lyrics "Ring Around Rosy game always end the same way...we all fall down..."<br /><br />INCONCEIVABLE!!!Lurking, Just Behind Younoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10415794508508244982011-08-19T15:11:17.191-04:002011-08-19T15:11:17.191-04:00Dispensed with the possibility of RINGAROUNDtheROS...Dispensed with the possibility of RINGAROUNDtheROSie immediately, since it wouldn't fit. Also wanted Dances With Wolves even though I knew the years was way off. <br /><br />But there's always a bright side. For me, it was coming here to learn that Rex's solving experience was exactly the same as mine (nuttin' on top until CHALKDUST gave me a toe-hold), and that Alek Colo Magic is only a year younger than I. (Actually, that's not a bright spot at all, considering she looks at least 10 years younger. Hmph.)Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675331024091722316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59060747649819401382011-08-19T14:59:43.787-04:002011-08-19T14:59:43.787-04:00Suspected from the clues:
RING AROUND A ROSY (I&#...Suspected from the clues:<br /><br />RING AROUND A ROSY (I'm in the THE ROSIE camp but that wouldn't fit now would it)<br />ALOT ON ONE'S PLATE<br /><br />knew: EEKA Mouse, TIE and TAJ<br /><br />From the K in EEKA got CHALK DUST<br /><br />From the S at the end of the family name got DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.<br /><br />In the end it came down to the damn bird. Were they managers, voyagers or foragers? Foragers made the most sense. Turns out there's something called a TANAGER, so I lose.<br /><br /><br />captcha = nqrxsk<br /><br /><br />um....<br /><br /><br /><br />____Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74722750568440456652011-07-19T12:35:36.701-04:002011-07-19T12:35:36.701-04:00OISK-- http://www.damninteresting.com/the-baader-m...OISK-- http://www.damninteresting.com/the-baader-meinhof-phenomenon/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65138808109611624792011-07-16T12:09:50.581-04:002011-07-16T12:09:50.581-04:00Dispense - to give out
Courtesy - to be nice
Disre...Dispense - to give out<br />Courtesy - to be nice<br />Disrespectful - to be not niceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82058945626211171772011-07-16T11:56:39.086-04:002011-07-16T11:56:39.086-04:00Rex, check your spelling of Frederiksberg. It is ...Rex, check your spelling of Frederiksberg. It is indeed in Denmark.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54838915603283915482011-07-16T00:32:31.019-04:002011-07-16T00:32:31.019-04:00In case anyone sees this, according to well-known ...In case anyone sees this, according to well-known English Language historian David Crystal, "Ring Around the Rosy" has no basis in the black plague. The phrase appears several centuries after the last plague epidemic. Any connection to such is a myth.<br /><br />Portland Ore.cody.riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05883012611419987246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86595397810175024052011-07-15T23:42:50.737-04:002011-07-15T23:42:50.737-04:00If you happened to throw down "Take No Prison...If you happened to throw down "Take No Prisoners" at 1A, as I did, you were as screwed as I was. But, really, the intention was correct. <br /><br />Sterling Silver Stuff would have been a more accurate answer for 18A, even tho it didn't fit, but I got it anyway. We princesses know our sterling silvers. <br /><br />Agree with Medium-Challenging for sure.PKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28148055810545114872011-07-15T21:53:06.304-04:002011-07-15T21:53:06.304-04:00The thing I really like about this blog is that I ...The thing I really like about this blog is that I love history and this blog gives me a sense of what the Christians must have endured against the lions or the defeated gladiators when Nero turned thumbs down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81128439493267722112011-07-15T21:08:04.871-04:002011-07-15T21:08:04.871-04:00Oops - that link was broken:
Scarlet TanagerOops - that link was broken:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/scarlet_tanager/id/" rel="nofollow"> Scarlet Tanager </a>JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28647441252534636062011-07-15T21:03:57.353-04:002011-07-15T21:03:57.353-04:00Gave up before finishing; was a struggle for me.
...Gave up before finishing; was a struggle for me.<br /><br />I happen to like Kathy Griffin a lot.<br /><br />SCARLET TANAGERS have actually shown up in my yard - both the male & female came to my birdbath one day: <a href="www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/scarlet_tanager/id/" rel="nofollow"> Scarlet Tanager </a>JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81852268560204809952011-07-15T20:59:40.686-04:002011-07-15T20:59:40.686-04:00@ACME
Per your experiment:
MEMORY@ACME<br /><br />Per your experiment:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/health/15memory.html?_r=1&ref=memory" rel="nofollow">MEMORY</a>JC66https://www.blogger.com/profile/05324615675333287919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53942812711516430712011-07-15T19:14:26.822-04:002011-07-15T19:14:26.822-04:00As usual, impressed by the differences in the comm...As usual, impressed by the differences in the common knowledge of different solvers. For me, EEKA MOUSE was a gimme - not that I am a big reggae fan, but how could anyone forget that name, once heard? I couldn't remember TORVALD, but was embarrassed not to. On the other hand, though I have heard of EDDIE money, I couldn't think of what that answer meant until I got here.<br /><br /><br />I do admire the occasional quad stacks - but I guess the point about repetition is that it's not as much of an achievement when you do it the second time.<br /><br />SCARLET TANAGERS are beautiful; so are summer tanagers. But I've never heard one called a firebird, either. Still, it's clear enough once you think of it.<br /><br />Hardest part for me was that I really wanted ABC at 47A, so much that I figured ARGYLE must be wrong - but when I got RASPS I had to surrender.<br /><br />I finished with one error, though - didn't know Swifty LAZAR, so I guessed LAMAR, and couldn't figure out how MIGS meant sharp turns; maybe they could make sharp turns (but then, not as sharp as those SPADs).jberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02169065390875378077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56487475213189534792011-07-15T18:35:31.328-04:002011-07-15T18:35:31.328-04:00Agree, FROE is a perfectly good word (and great to...Agree, FROE is a perfectly good word (and great tool) that I'm surprised doesn't see more puzzle action. Why Rex picks on it is beyond me.<br /><br />All in all not a bad puzzle IMO. Had to Google some obscure stuff up top (TORVALD? Now THAT'S a fugly name. And crossing it with some obscure Jamaican rastaman half-named EEKA is a bit over the top) but got the bottom and center areas without too much difficulty.deerfencernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85032788884046381152011-07-15T17:40:29.578-04:002011-07-15T17:40:29.578-04:00Posting very late because I kept thinking I'd ...Posting very late because I kept thinking I'd get back to the puzzle and figure out what was supposed to go where I had entered TANA/ALEK/RNASE.<br /><br />But I must must must stand up for FROE. Very useful for building bark canoes, or framing* up a house. Not that I've done either one, mind you, but I'm familiar with the concepts. <br /><br />* a couple hundred years agoLindsaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16982231316483033322011-07-15T17:28:58.225-04:002011-07-15T17:28:58.225-04:00I still get a small thrill from figuring out 15s w...I still get a small thrill from figuring out 15s without many crosses. I admit, my first thought at ALOTONONESPLATE was "Seen it." But I still liked getting it, especially since it broke open the bottom stack. I could not get past the idea taht firebirds must be cars (though now I realize they'd be capitalized).<br /><br />In the top, I was pretty sure it was STERLING something, pretty sure it was some version of Ring Around the Rosy, and pretty sure it was Little Big Man, until I finally remembered that title and it didn't fit. I even tried BEbusinesslike for 1A. But I didn't know INGRES, ELON, TORVALD or LEYS; tried adze for FROE; thought Fredriksberg might be in South Africa where the Boers live[d?]; and so finally had to google the museum and the author to finish. I didn't like STERLINGSILVERS, but as soon as @David L asked about golds, I realized there are yellow, white and red golds, so why not multiple silvers?<br /><br />I wouldn't say I loved it, but I'm surprised how many hated it. Recycled or not, eight 15s is impressive and that apparently means more to me than Rex et al.<br /><br />And the constructor's comment should remind us these duplications are almost always in the hands of the editor, who may or may not notice them but surely has his reasons for ignoring them if he does.<br /><br />I say, Go Team Constructors.<br /><br />Now I think I'll take a nap. It's early, but bed is respectful, I hear.treedwellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12634227778469664442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48230352534550377332011-07-15T17:26:15.619-04:002011-07-15T17:26:15.619-04:00Bad bad bad...Bad bad bad...Davy Jonesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36105665038638810982011-07-15T17:23:14.913-04:002011-07-15T17:23:14.913-04:00@anon 4:20
thank you! wow, that was synchronicitou...@anon 4:20<br />thank you! wow, that was synchronicitous!acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51032282054001328422011-07-15T16:20:11.722-04:002011-07-15T16:20:11.722-04:00@alibi chalkdust michaels - There is an article in...@alibi chalkdust michaels - There is an article in the NYT today with regard to how using the Internet affects one's memory.<br />http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/health/15memory.html?hpwAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56179081228298281452011-07-15T16:06:51.145-04:002011-07-15T16:06:51.145-04:00Midday 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 />Fri 26:16, 25:54, 1.01, 56%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Fri 14:14, 12:49, 1.11, 73%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />@Lewis ... that was one of the few answers I confidently entered in this grid.<br /><br />I'm definitely in the "the ROSie" camp, although, as Anon@12:34am points out, Google turns up the Arlo Guthrie song with "A-ROSY". FWIW, here are the number of Google results for each variation:<br /><br />RING AROUND the ROSie = 501,000<br />RING AROUND the ROSY = 179,000<br />RING AROUND A ROSY = 132,000<br />RING AROUND A ROSie = 63,200<br /><br />Sorry ... I'm a stats guy, dontcha know?<br /><br />Did anyone else really want Little Big Man for A MAN CALLED HORSE? I just saw it on TV recently and thought maybe the title started with "The" to make it a 15. It actually came out the same year, but involved the Cheyenne, rather than the Sioux.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.com