tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3142603756467836061..comments2024-03-28T11:17:22.917-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Mass exodus of expertise / MON 4-4-11 / Gaelic spirit whose wailing portends death / Trophy for great college gridder / Scented bag in drawerRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61911740294855828502019-04-24T17:51:38.066-04:002019-04-24T17:51:38.066-04:00I'm coming here 5 million years after the fact...I'm coming here 5 million years after the fact, but I just did this one today for practice (only really got into puzzles last year) and 26D: "Bear" that's not really a bear -- a PANDA actually IS a bear. A koala is a "bear" that's not really a bear. A RED PANDA is not a bear. But a PANDA is 100% a real bear.Abigailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01953171906824711575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31552849483538948152011-05-09T15:28:43.226-04:002011-05-09T15:28:43.226-04:00Only syndication solvers may remember that "s...Only syndication solvers may remember that "see thru" appeared in the grid in yesterday's puzzle and caused some consternation for a couple of prime-timers; today's appearance caused no notice. Fickle, I say.<br /><br />I can't be the only one who want the doodad at 13d to be a "thingey", can I?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25841242021125623072011-05-09T13:55:19.961-04:002011-05-09T13:55:19.961-04:00Thanks so much @JenCT for your link to Roz Chast&#...Thanks so much @JenCT for your link to Roz Chast's remarks at the 2011 American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. If I memorize this passage, fill will never be a challenge again.<br /><br />"I have to tell you that I was not the first choice for being the presenter. Alan Alda was, but he was on vacation, climbing an arête in the Ural Mountains. They tried to get Eero Saarinen, but he had fallen on his épée, and got a stoma. Luckily his amah had some aloe with her in an etui. Erle Stanley Gardner fell down an adit. And Esai Morales broke his ulna and his tibia while he was in China researching the Chen, Qin, Zhou, Ming, Song, Tang, Qing, Qi, Sui, and Yin dynasties for an epic opera in which he’s going to sing an aria.<br /><br />Even though I wasn’t the first choice, I’m not at all irate, because I get to stand up here and tell you a little bit about myself. I love Nature. Recently I was on safari and I saw an ecru and onyx oryx, although it may have been an eland or an okapi. I’m not sure. I don’t want to err, or I’d have to atone. I also saw an egret, an emu, and an erne who was building an aerie. The food was a little eerie. We had an olio of dal, agar, eel, and taro. An emir on the trip complained because the poi had been in the oast too long, and an imam cried because he missed his esnes. Afterwards, we traveled to the Aral Sea and took a proa to Etna. I wore a boa. The tsar upped the sartorial ante with his Eton collar. It was aces, but by the end, I couldn’t wait to get home, put some Edam on crackers, eat Oreos, and play Atari. Well, I think that’s enough sharing. Please forgive me for any mispronunciations. I’ve never really heard any of these words before. And now I’d like to announce the winners."Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79856115874117545192011-04-05T01:22:00.130-04:002011-04-05T01:22:00.130-04:00This 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 6:03, 6:54, 0.88, 8%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:27, 3:41, 0.94, 27%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />No need to apologize Oscawana.<br /><br />This one yielded an odd disparity between the two groups of solvers. But the difference between today's 27th percentile median Monday solve time in the Top 100 and the 8th percentile is about 9 seconds.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53042345613799786882011-04-04T23:55:59.315-04:002011-04-04T23:55:59.315-04:00I'm sorry this was one of the easiest Monday p...I'm sorry this was one of the easiest Monday puzzles in a long time.oscawana bubbehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03042894836593937007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80556769234872095352011-04-04T22:49:28.497-04:002011-04-04T22:49:28.497-04:00trying again
ArtLvr
∑;)trying again<br /><br />ArtLvr<br /><br />∑;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87332632288217928102011-04-04T22:47:07.818-04:002011-04-04T22:47:07.818-04:00Mondogram...
∑;)Mondogram...<br /><br />∑;)ArtLvrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58819162074483339802011-04-04T22:41:36.239-04:002011-04-04T22:41:36.239-04:00Mondgram?
just testing again, ArtLvrMondgram?<br /><br />just testing again, ArtLvrArtLvrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69829199879034278622011-04-04T22:18:18.411-04:002011-04-04T22:18:18.411-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Tobias Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14828873893205954337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12411358986169674612011-04-04T21:39:47.365-04:002011-04-04T21:39:47.365-04:00@Anon7:53: My point exactly! I have nothing agai...@Anon7:53: My point exactly! I have nothing against PAs and ARNPs. They are a necessity in modern healthcare because there are simply not enough primary care physicians to go around. If you think the problem is severe now, wait about 10 years (or less) and it will reach crisis proportions.<br /><br />I am also off-topic and apologize. Please feel free to email me off-blog on this topic.Greenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10412634072650228847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84580760157147171122011-04-04T19:53:17.162-04:002011-04-04T19:53:17.162-04:00@Greene: I'm sure you read this. http://www....@Greene: I'm sure you read this. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/02/health/02resident.html?scp=1&sq=Dewar&st=cse<br /><br />Sorry, Rex, I know this is off-topic. Dr. Greene, I presume, I would love to have a PA or RPN to see, since my PCP has a two-month backlog. So if I have a fever, an infection, something that shouldn't be taken to the ER, what am I supposed to do?<br /><br />/off-topic and apologies everyoneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3679792096967878202011-04-04T18:58:06.192-04:002011-04-04T18:58:06.192-04:00This went well. Even saw the body parts. @TwpPon...This went well. Even saw the body parts. @TwpPonies, yes, what do you call a lima bean formally? Of course, phaseolus lunatus, I say that all the time. Also thought by nationality not needed for Hamlet and Ophelia. ARiBLE for 31A but PANDA fixed that. <br /><br /> @Rex: I pretty much solve by across first pass and then downs with the occasional check the other way to confirm a word. I don't recommended it for speed. <br /><br />@Greene: As a patient I agree. Now, one of my specialists is passing me along to a Physicians Assistant. Phooey. No one knows me! Thank you for caring about your patients.<br /><br />@CrazyCatLady. True, much VERVE and ELAN today.Sparkynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8031110309422510412011-04-04T16:56:18.353-04:002011-04-04T16:56:18.353-04:00Really liked this a lot except for DEBS at 1A. BA...Really liked this a lot except for DEBS at 1A. BANSHEE brought to mind that old Disney movie "Darby O'Gill and the Little People." I had nightmares about that BANSHEE.<br /><br />Still hoping to be able to do a HANDSTAND in Yoga before I turn 60.<br /><br />Great comments today!CrazyCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00245025301434920905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90381963218670294102011-04-04T16:37:18.212-04:002011-04-04T16:37:18.212-04:00@JenCT - Thanks for the clip, I hadn't seen it...@JenCT - Thanks for the clip, I hadn't seen it before, almost fell out of my chair laughing.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17856686358291348812011-04-04T16:04:17.493-04:002011-04-04T16:04:17.493-04:00Midday 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 />Mon 6:01, 6:54, 0.87, 6%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:28, 3:41, 0.94, 29%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78060920007603915832011-04-04T14:16:40.110-04:002011-04-04T14:16:40.110-04:00This one went down easy -- my first sub 5 min time...This one went down easy -- my first sub 5 min time (on a Monday, of course). Woohoo!madmenlostnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75538261557858297592011-04-04T14:15:56.540-04:002011-04-04T14:15:56.540-04:00I was surprised to see that Rex had rated this one...I was surprised to see that Rex had rated this one a medium. I zipped through it in my fastest time ever. Lots of fun fill, just as he pointed out.<br /><br />Fun fact: the coaster at <a href="http://www.cedarpoint.com/index.cfm" rel="nofollow">Cedar Point</a> known as Mantis was originally going to be called BANSHEE (due to its shriek) but the name was changed when they found out what <i>else</i> banshees did.Doc Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45035967128727364512011-04-04T13:44:30.880-04:002011-04-04T13:44:30.880-04:00In addition to DAB/TAD that several people comment...In addition to DAB/TAD that several people commented on, EARLYON and LONGRUN are also placed opposite each other.Dannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72957947568308894922011-04-04T13:04:45.632-04:002011-04-04T13:04:45.632-04:00@dk, @Tobias Duncan beat me to it: why don't y...@dk, @Tobias Duncan beat me to it: why don't you just print out the puzzle. That's what I do because I, just like you, can't get the NYT delivered to my door. I so prefer solving on paper, I can't imagine having to sit at the computer (something I do every day ALL day) to enjoy my puzzle.johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46163507579530498682011-04-04T12:54:10.367-04:002011-04-04T12:54:10.367-04:00You're right, Quilter1. Not only did Debs run...You're right, Quilter1. Not only did Debs run for President (five times, I think) but he had a truly fine campaign pin in 1920:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kansasheritage.org/pullman/debspin.gif" rel="nofollow">Convict #9653</a>Arundelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15171078182761035785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83605089516322651342011-04-04T12:33:03.387-04:002011-04-04T12:33:03.387-04:00@Sfingi: cute graffiti
If I'm not mistaken D...@Sfingi: cute graffiti <br /><br />If I'm not mistaken Debs once made a run for the White House. I wonder if the current attacks on unions doesn't have him spinning.quilter1https://www.blogger.com/profile/09569747169212018177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50232771411087539652011-04-04T12:14:38.949-04:002011-04-04T12:14:38.949-04:00@ dk Why don't you print them out?@ dk Why don't you print them out?Tobias Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14828873893205954337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73572126468789675262011-04-04T12:10:11.980-04:002011-04-04T12:10:11.980-04:00Wondered if Eugene V was going to trip many up! Sa...Wondered if Eugene V was going to trip many up! Saw the body parts except HAIR.Such a clean puzzle so elegant I vote for landgram as i can see the LANDSHARK delivering it!(never sat well with me that australia got to be a continent)syndyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16814698406887041710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3415636486624947412011-04-04T11:47:26.386-04:002011-04-04T11:47:26.386-04:00I'm with @Mac, I vote for geogram. Now some c...I'm with @Mac, I vote for geogram. Now some constructor can run with it.CoffeeLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16473192190412844538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53462342635067509362011-04-04T11:46:05.873-04:002011-04-04T11:46:05.873-04:00@Bob Kerfuffle, thanks for the chuckle. Count me ...@Bob Kerfuffle, thanks for the chuckle. Count me as one who did not see the body parts of the theme until coming here.<br /><br />@Greene, my physician family members often share your laments with me. <br /><br />EARLY ON from the ONSET, this puzzle TEEMS with clever words that in hindsight look too hard for Monday, but were not. It SWEEPS along to the FIN, and in the LONG RUN it ENDS too soon. (Mini-theme of time related words.)<br /><br />Thank you, Ms. Lempel.CoffeeLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16473192190412844538noreply@blogger.com