tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2652162375550246271..comments2024-03-18T22:08:40.448-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Specialty oven / SAT 3-5-11 / Channel between mainland England Isle Wight / Transient madness Horace / Rue Morgue murderer / Two bridges IndiaRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68393940914365317912011-04-10T15:39:07.078-04:002011-04-10T15:39:07.078-04:00ETA is not a stat(istic). The ETA is a single num...ETA is not a stat(istic). The ETA is a single number. A stat is a property of a set of numbers. Funny, my word verification is "unavg", a fitting clue for ETA.LongBeachLeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44933845212257321812011-04-10T13:43:02.035-04:002011-04-10T13:43:02.035-04:00Listened to far too many Yankee games on the radio...Listened to far too many Yankee games on the radio as a kid featuring the dulcet tones of Phil Rizzuto so originally crossed the erroneous ROILS with RAJAH, the way he pronounced MARIS' first name. Also, had a personal nattick for SAILEDAT & ASKS - don't ask why.<br /><br />Minor misdirection beef: How is APIA SAMOA a capital? Isn't it just APIA? Otherwise a great Saturday puzzle, even if I'm finishing on Sunday. Blame the Masters (and not the PGA).Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45702722736363701182011-04-09T17:45:04.340-04:002011-04-09T17:45:04.340-04:00Glad to see I'm not the only one who went for ...Glad to see I'm not the only one who went for LEARY as "figure in the high 60s." That slowed me up for a while.<br /><br />I'd never heard "MOILS" before, and was stuck there for a moment. I wasn't sure about SOLENT, and I thought it had to be ROILS... but it had to be MARIS, also. I couldn't persuade myself that the Yankees had another player named RARIS ...Marcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86939914847447341242011-04-09T14:34:43.384-04:002011-04-09T14:34:43.384-04:00DNF. I just knew the TV series featuring DNA test...DNF. I just knew the TV series featuring DNA tests had to be Maury.Leahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11860284788920783662011-03-07T12:58:06.139-05:002011-03-07T12:58:06.139-05:00According to Sanfranman, I see that this is the fi...According to Sanfranman, I see that this is the first time ever I would have been in the top 50! Yay me!Badirnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51906740509422178862011-03-06T18:09:28.291-05:002011-03-06T18:09:28.291-05:00Medium for me. Felt good to finish this one after...Medium for me. Felt good to finish this one after the Friday puzzle, which was a DNF. Couldn't get traction anywhere.nebraska dougnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50086847394032025412011-03-06T02:01:04.758-05:002011-03-06T02:01:04.758-05:00Defeated in the SE with EATERIES being the Subway ...Defeated in the SE with EATERIES being the Subway line, and being unable to accept the crossing of the TESTSfergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75363902654950732352011-03-05T20:22:22.140-05:002011-03-05T20:22:22.140-05:00Rex,
Do you get any comments on the older puzzles...Rex,<br /><br />Do you get any comments on the older puzzles from the One-a-Day calendar? Did see one last year. Today's is at Sep. 8, 2007.<br /><br />The original Time Traveller.Zardozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14833287273505432950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43138251892391717162011-03-05T19:11:31.702-05:002011-03-05T19:11:31.702-05:00Like yesterday, my knowledge of Canadiana helped. ...Like yesterday, my knowledge of Canadiana helped. Stared at this blankly for a while and then remembered the Ottawa Senators. Then things went quickly until the NE. Wrote in roils and thought too hard about five-letter Yankees. Wrote in Rolfe (as in Red Rolfe), but thought that even for Saturday this was too obscure (aside from knowing nothing about Red Rolfe's handedness). Finally remembered that moils was a word and finished,michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35426976216465040682011-03-05T19:03:12.807-05:002011-03-05T19:03:12.807-05:00@Vega and @Glitch - thanks for the encouragement. ...@Vega and @Glitch - thanks for the encouragement. I'm usually a Sun -> Thurs solver, but have been poking around on Fri and Sat lately, just to see what would happen. I've been surprised lately that they seem only just beyond reach now, rather than, when I started about a year ago, totally impossible for me.<br /><br />One day... .Nighthawkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11898505137434147165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71738633490746057342011-03-05T18:27:31.532-05:002011-03-05T18:27:31.532-05:00This 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 8:26, 6:55, 1.22, 99%, Challenging<br />Tue 8:05, 8:56, 0.91, 27%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 9:40, 11:44, 0.82, 13%, Easy<br />Thu 20:20, 19:08, 1.06, 70%, Medium-Challenging<br />Fri 33:21, 26:15, 1.27, 91%, Challenging<br />Sat 34:18, 30:37, 1.12, 79%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 4:20, 3:41, 1.17, 98%, Challenging<br />Tue 4:20, 4:35, 0.95, 38%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 4:52, 5:47, 0.84, 13%, Easy<br />Thu 9:42, 9:13, 1.05, 69%, Medium-Challenging<br />Fri 16:40, 12:53, 1.29, 91%, Challenging<br />Sat 19:16, 17:25, 1.11, 79%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13154108703437069732011-03-05T18:26:50.266-05:002011-03-05T18:26:50.266-05:00@Anon 4:43p
I second @Vega --- you have to try ev...@Anon 4:43p<br /><br />I second @Vega --- you have to try every day.<br /><br />Early on, (and I have 40 years on Vega), I always made it a point to "fill in the grid", even if I took the answers from the answer grid. Adding the act of writing to reading helps one retain the information.<br /><br />On bad days, I still do.<br /><br />I often wonder how (or if) the "day skippers" ever move on to add another day.<br /><br />.../GlitchGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41396945167019632322011-03-05T17:24:07.461-05:002011-03-05T17:24:07.461-05:00Anon@4:43, don't stop! I started doing crosswo...Anon@4:43, don't stop! I started doing crosswords in...mid-2008, I think? And until maybe a month ago, I went into a panic (you think I kid) every Thursday evening knowing I'd be flattened by the next two days. Then, seemingly overnight, I now finish (almost 100% of all) Fridays and Saturdays, no problem. It's like that moment when you ride your bike and not only don't fall but know that you *got* it and won't ever fall again. Magic.<br /><br />...That said, I could not exaggerate how helpful crossword blogs are.Vegahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01893157908004486201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58164413984723489192011-03-05T16:51:38.607-05:002011-03-05T16:51:38.607-05:00Got the whole thing without help, but it took a wh...Got the whole thing without help, but it took a while. Nice puzzle! <br /><br />Created trouble for myself by reading "chums" instead of "churns" (in the dead tree version), writing Ottowan with that second o, and generally making very good use of my twist-erase. <br /><br />I stared at 27A for ages, had the string but though it would be some sort of ring, hoist ring? Had visions of oxen with rings in their noses...<br /><br />@jae: Sela Ward is on tv again? She'll be showing up in puzzles even more.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47051504548038265132011-03-05T16:43:24.921-05:002011-03-05T16:43:24.921-05:00I had some modest successes in some recent Fridays...I had some modest successes in some recent Fridays and Saturdays and even finished a few. So I started thinking I was getting better.<br />Today's puzzle as well as yesterday's puzzle gave me a harsh dose of reality and brought me back to earth. It is very disheartening that even with google I could not get any foothold.<br />And then to see Rex and some commenters rate this one as easy-medium.<br />Ah well! Maybe I will stick with my Sunday-Thursday schedule and leave Fridays and Saturdays to the pros.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58463122248993787402011-03-05T16:35:35.550-05:002011-03-05T16:35:35.550-05:00I'm stretching my legs in the kneehole under m...I'm stretching my legs in the kneehole under my computer. took me too long though finished correctly. Eluded me that Van Gogh painted anywhere in Paris. @GenJoneser, agree sitar has two bridges everywhere. Also not fond of the two tests. I've always assigned letter grades on a curve, and hardly ever a D plus; wouldn't know it was high 60's, but got D from crosses. Never heard of Alba, except Duke and Duchess of. For Senator supporter I tried something like "old DC-er" but didn't fit. Had to guess the Subway ad. I think I once read "Murder in the Rue Morgue," but managed to forget the killer. Orangs are far too nice.I skip M-Wnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8359168152478244102011-03-05T15:54:02.803-05:002011-03-05T15:54:02.803-05:00So frustrating. Had all but a couple answers fill...So frustrating. Had all but a couple answers filled in _ages_ before my record Saturday time but Could Not Finish. I have never, ever heard of a KNEE HOLE. Nor MOILS. Nor the SOLENT. Nor the STEN GUN (I tried STUN GUN).<br /><br />So, after tearing through the puzzle in what for me would have been a Thursday-like time, I finished with three incorrect squares, all in the top three rows of the grid. Ugh. I take full responsibility for not knowing SOLENT/MOILS, so I'd have been imperfect anyway, but KNEEHOLE, really?<br /><br />Everything below that row was beautiful, by the way, and totally on my wavelength. A great solve gone sour at the end.Matthew G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07957320012395569238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10677631394944544052011-03-05T15:27:33.409-05:002011-03-05T15:27:33.409-05:00Would have been a little easier if Across Lite had...Would have been a little easier if Across Lite hadn't made churns look so much like chums.....I got the answer from crosses but couldn't figure out why it was right.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59257604236117767192011-03-05T15:22:19.418-05:002011-03-05T15:22:19.418-05:00DNF. Had Mid and South West, that's about it....DNF. Had Mid and South West, that's about it. Knew Rue Morgue murderer was an ape but the NG did not suggest ORANG to me. Had ARTCLASS and took out the ART. I just had to put it aside and come here. Too late in the day.<br /><br />On the plus side, registered for ACPT, non competitor. Girls just wanna have fun. I am really looking forward to it and to meeting Rexites like the ones mentioned yesterday.Sparkynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63128929462876375072011-03-05T15:06:03.695-05:002011-03-05T15:06:03.695-05:00CLEAR AS MUD was my first fill, Dear Old Dad used ...CLEAR AS MUD was my first fill, Dear Old Dad used to say that to me while I was trying to explain why I did what I did. Sigh!<br /><br />Finished with a few holes remaining in the SE, so a DNF for me. I also did the oast/kiln before LEHR. <br /><br />I have never, ever, called anyone SWEET PEA and I didn't connect Subway to the sandwich place. How come their sandwiches NEVER end up looking like they do in their ads. I say rip off.<br /><br />capcha - oventsol, another specialty oven for ???chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63289247676152677912011-03-05T13:55:32.066-05:002011-03-05T13:55:32.066-05:00A pretty coincidental misdirection in the Saturday...A pretty coincidental misdirection in the Saturday Stumper...mitchsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24137009460114215342011-03-05T12:54:49.941-05:002011-03-05T12:54:49.941-05:00Here is a graphical analysis of how I did this wee...Here is a graphical analysis of how I did this week on the NYT puzzles:<br /><a href="http://www.mumde.net/CampusTest/xwordAnalysis/analysis.htm" rel="nofollow">My week</a>r.alphbunkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1641467638722193422011-03-05T12:42:16.222-05:002011-03-05T12:42:16.222-05:00Much easier today than yesterday.
Still tough enou...Much easier today than yesterday.<br />Still tough enough that I had to walk away and come back later.<br />I finished the puzzle but in my own way. My NE corner has a ball player named Ramis crossing Main Force and Roils. Worked for me! Ha!Two Ponieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06896743444873087885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11784126673392817612011-03-05T12:11:04.049-05:002011-03-05T12:11:04.049-05:00And I got SALIERI from the -ERI. And MONTMARTRE fr...And I got SALIERI from the -ERI. And MONTMARTRE from the xxxxMAxxxx--thanks, Amelie!<br /><br />I guessed xxxSTRING first, then took _forever_ to realize it was one word and not a type of string. Hay string? Hat? Ham? How could it be ham? Uh, oh... I'll excuse my not remembering BIER, again, but hamstring, not so much.SethGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13753036404140901368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3561806599658684642011-03-05T12:04:44.701-05:002011-03-05T12:04:44.701-05:00Talk about grade inflation. Back in my day, a gra...Talk about grade inflation. Back in my day, a grade in the high 60's was a D-, max.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com