tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3245329685936624185..comments2024-03-28T10:16:38.830-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Oncle's spouse — WEDNESDAY, Sep. 16 2009 — Gold rush locale of 1898-99 / Croquet locale / Athenian marketplace / Land of Esau's descendantsRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8994664374333888632009-10-21T14:28:07.307-04:002009-10-21T14:28:07.307-04:001) Agree that this puzzle should have been a Monda...1) Agree that this puzzle should have been a Monday and that it was too easy, but it still was enjoyable for 3 or 4 minutes.<br /><br />2) Rex, thanks for the BDay puzzle - it gave me a bit more to do today than the NYT did. Learned a new slang phrase - I had "On the QT" for a long time. When I solved the puzzle, I had to Google the correct answer to find out if I was right.Singernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88354810522204694672009-09-17T04:24:57.707-04:002009-09-17T04:24:57.707-04:00@Rex@Caleb,
wonDERful! so unDERstated...like the ...@Rex@Caleb,<br />wonDERful! so unDERstated...like the birthDER boy himself!<br />not trying to panDER but it was a work of DERring-do...<br /><br />InDEResting that the final theme entry (is (spoilDER alert!) (is it a common phrase? I know not from sports, but then again this puzzle wasn't meant for a reaDER like me or my ilk but still gettable and fun fun fun) is split between difDERent letDERs than the othDER four. Was that your one reDERvation?<br /><br />bravo all around. Long live KevinDER the great!anDERanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42919675858650487502009-09-17T01:10:18.623-04:002009-09-17T01:10:18.623-04:00No annoyance here --
as you may have construed
i...No annoyance here --<br /><br /> as you may have construed<br />in this jovial latitude, <br /> no conveyance is imbued <br />without a jovial attitude.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33986174978141164502009-09-17T00:46:06.112-04:002009-09-17T00:46:06.112-04:00I'm not that old, I am a film buff, and althou...I'm not that old, I am a film buff, and although I haven't seen it, I easily remembered this movie title. I'll add myself to the group that liked the puzzle, and found the theme clever and different.JaneBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06871760676705677418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15713439684237018982009-09-17T00:43:20.817-04:002009-09-17T00:43:20.817-04:00@ fergus ... sorry to annoy you, but pleased to be...@ fergus ... sorry to annoy you, but pleased to be admired ... I'm afraid I'll have to take a rain check on the offer of a pint as I will be traversing the continent on Saturday to attend a family reunion on the shores of North Carolina. I'll look forward to your next visit to fog city.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65755963953980099262009-09-17T00:25:03.177-04:002009-09-17T00:25:03.177-04:00Something About Mary ...
http://www.youtube.com/w...Something About Mary ...<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t4g_1VoGw4<br /><br />RIP.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81923587729433603472009-09-16T23:58:48.310-04:002009-09-16T23:58:48.310-04:00SFman,
your restraint is both admirable and anno...SFman, <br /><br />your restraint is both admirable and annoying. Despite your recent exposure to Andrea and me, you remain terse and objective in filing your reports. <br /><br />While I can understand the on-line reservations, there are no real (tasteful) restrictions to offering any point of view. If I buy you a few pints in the Irish bar in the Richmond when my sweet little Cajun friend and I come up to SF this weekend, after a visit to the Legion of Honor, maybe I'll get you to reveal yourself more ?fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73810788272051981752009-09-16T22:21:12.012-04:002009-09-16T22:21:12.012-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=35115061&postID=3588389571383499624&isPopup=true" rel="nofollow">7/30/2009 post</a> 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 8:16, 7:00, 1.18, 92%, Challenging<br />Tue 8:11, 8:25, 0.97, 46%, Medium<br />Wed 8:39, 12:00, 0.72, 4%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 4:14, 3:43, 1.14, 83%, Challenging<br />Tue 4:20, 4:21, 0.99, 53%, Medium<br />Wed 4:21, 5:53, 0.74, 5%, Easy<br /><br />Predictably, this was the 3rd easiest puzzle for all solvers and the 4th easiest for the top 100 relative to the day of the week in the 15 weeks I've been tracking the solve times. Definitely more of a Monday/Tuesday puzzle, than a Wednesday.<br /><br />My two cents on the theme ... while it may not have been according to whatever the crossword constructor's equivalent of Hoyle, the Marquess of Queensberry and Robert's Rules, I found it clever and creative. Had she used numbers other than TWENTYTHREE and TWENTYONE, I don't think I'd have found it as interesting. I rather liked the series of TWs down the west coast.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59135120616348509852009-09-16T21:23:43.319-04:002009-09-16T21:23:43.319-04:00@fikink, you should never apologize for dk-like pu...@fikink, you should never apologize for dk-like pun-ish-ment.<br /><br />@andrea (fill in the blank) michaels, you sure do write alot.... I of course hang on every word. <br /><br />hi @anon from last night, yes it is true I am shameless<br /><br />now to take the Alice B. TOKE-less brownies out of the ovendkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78415103824834068192009-09-16T21:07:48.474-04:002009-09-16T21:07:48.474-04:00Oddly enough, I did an AARP puzzle during my prep ...Oddly enough, I did an AARP puzzle during my prep period today. It was by Merl Reagle and the only senior bias was a Clue that led to "On Golden Pond." <br /><br />I've had some disagreement about thematic issues with Andrea in the past, but today I'm concurring with her constructive criticism. If I had an encyclopedic knowledge of old shows and movies, this little subtraction problem might shimmer, but I did share her view of why it lacked luster.<br /><br />(I found an AARP magazine lying around, by the way; and even if one qualifies at 50, I ain't joining yet.)fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8045001523409612952009-09-16T21:03:26.532-04:002009-09-16T21:03:26.532-04:00Two for the Seesaw was one of those serious, adult...<b>Two for the Seesaw</b> was one of those serious, adult films made in the early 60s that, as Greene pointed out, was based on a serious, adult play. Of course, to todays audience its tropes are very dated and, truth be told, were dated even then. I saw it when it first came out and realized it dealt with ideas that had currency in the 30s updated. Like a lot of movies made in those days. Not a bad movie, but except for its stars, forgettable.<br /><br />I enjoyed doing the puzzle and liked its framework. Nice diversion on a Tuesday night.edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2866970463432947992009-09-16T20:48:42.337-04:002009-09-16T20:48:42.337-04:00But if there are 23 kids and only 21 swings then t...But if there are 23 kids and only 21 swings then the 2 kids left are forced to use the seesaw...Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00118005902431043287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11744740117847867972009-09-16T20:47:55.631-04:002009-09-16T20:47:55.631-04:00@Kevin der (you know what): Best wishes!
@Rex: Yo...@Kevin der (you know what): Best wishes!<br /><br />@Rex: Your German seems to be better than you claim it is (or is this Caleb's doing?). Plus, thanks for the shout-out for the person born Christa Päffgen in my hometown (I don't think I'm spoiling anything here).Ulrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5856501507473208042009-09-16T20:46:55.998-04:002009-09-16T20:46:55.998-04:00@Parsan - Yes I meant 400. I also meant good, not ...@Parsan - Yes I meant 400. I also meant good, not food. These are the senior moments.Sfinginoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5134763613482627062009-09-16T20:41:35.748-04:002009-09-16T20:41:35.748-04:00I am enjoying the quirkiness of this week, so far....I am enjoying the quirkiness of this week, so far. I also picture that little twinkle in her eye.... The unusual themes have been amusing. I am very entertained by the crosswordese +random theme pairing.sillygoosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03483946342170291849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58277453668160991482009-09-16T20:09:40.220-04:002009-09-16T20:09:40.220-04:00@Sfingi - Do you mean Truffaut's "400 Blo...@Sfingi - Do you mean Truffaut's "400 Blows"? A great movie!Parsannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57001129342314655062009-09-16T20:00:22.030-04:002009-09-16T20:00:22.030-04:00Minority view -- I loved it. An easy puzzle yes, ...Minority view -- I loved it. An easy puzzle yes, but I found TOKE, IN THE USA among others to be both original and clever. After all, for the Springsteen clue, how many of you were racking your minds to come up with cities in New Jersey that began with the letters INT? Maybe not a Wednesday, but enjoyable for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81874961271013764232009-09-16T19:51:11.510-04:002009-09-16T19:51:11.510-04:00@acme: "why not have it be THIRTYONEKIDS and ...@acme: "why not have it be THIRTYONEKIDS and TWENTYNINESWINGS or TWENTYONEKIDS and NINETEENSWINGS?"<br /><br />Nice thought, but:<br /><br />THIRTYONEKIDS (13)<br />TWENTYNINESWINGS(16)<br />TWOFORTHESEESAW (15)<br /><br />or<br /><br />TWENTYONEKIDS (13)<br />NINETEENSWINGS (14)<br />TWOFORTHESEESAW (15)AVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07795340199306866533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36372886423974830512009-09-16T19:03:16.601-04:002009-09-16T19:03:16.601-04:00I judge puzzle as food if it avoids French or spor...I judge puzzle as food if it avoids French or sports. Don't care that it's easy. I prefer nostalgia to prepubescent showmen who call singers "artists." And, yes, I'm an old fartress.<br /><br />Dwight the dwarf dwindled in his dwelling. The rest are made up - dweebs, dworks - or actual surnames.<br /><br />I never much cared for what we used to call "bedroom comedies," especially since they never got to the bedroom. Where did they find these people? Even the European classics from which they sprang at least had some raunchy language.<br /><br />@Anonymous 4:05 - Why would you read the comments before you're done solving?<br /><br />37A Love palindromes.<br /><br />I agree with @JSkarf - Thought the Springsteen clue was good. <br />Agree with @Doug in Manchester. It's probably like teaching or nursing or (previously) girls schools. Once the guys get hold of it, they take over. Testosterone overdose.<br /><br />As I was working from top to bottom, I first had 21 stings (not swings), and thought we were going for The Hundred Blows, a true classic. <br /><br />I thought Religulous was humorous, interesting, and worth watching, but to me it seemed that the Jesus re-enactor kind of whooped him; but, a good sport, he left it in.<br /><br />I've been hoping that when I'm ready for a nursing home and haven't the brains to save enough pills or clean the gun or walk into the reservoir, that friends and family will revert to some of my Frisian ancestors and put me on the ol' floe. (P.S. In later years, the Christians pulled them back in.)<br /><br />If you want a real age-ey puzzle, try the AARP!Sfinginoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17603815021592431522009-09-16T18:49:17.067-04:002009-09-16T18:49:17.067-04:00@parsan forgot about jonathan winters. Thanks for...@parsan forgot about jonathan winters. Thanks for the reminderchefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44735707496857028372009-09-16T18:36:17.806-04:002009-09-16T18:36:17.806-04:00Two FOR THE SEESAW is not as obscure as it might s...Two FOR THE SEESAW is not as obscure as it might seem. I caught the end of it on TCM or some other station in the last two or three weeks. Filmed before color was a given, it had a gritty, realistic look unlike other movies of that era, such as the Doris Day pictures. I thought it held up quite well. I also agree with Sam about turning out puzzles week after week. As Jonathan Winters said after being complimented on his 50 year marriage, "You try it!"Parsannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72727557911024352872009-09-16T18:26:13.571-04:002009-09-16T18:26:13.571-04:00Thanks for the hints to today's Birthday puzzl...Thanks for the hints to today's Birthday puzzle.<br /><br />It will be a big help to those of us that didn't have time to do it during the day ;-)<br /><br />.../GlitchGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2997518287581224492009-09-16T17:56:22.439-04:002009-09-16T17:56:22.439-04:00Happy birthday, Kevin Der. Your birthday present p...Happy birthday, Kevin Der. Your birthday present puzzle was a good one, although my solving didn't do it justice. <br /><br />If NYT old timers week is wearing on any of you, go do this one and you will be rejuvenated.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2333013439992574082009-09-16T17:18:28.076-04:002009-09-16T17:18:28.076-04:00Would have been neat to see the IUD clue in Monday...Would have been neat to see the IUD clue in Monday's puzzle below the 'Margaret Sanger' clue. In short, this Wednesday puzzle made me feel like a frickin' genius.Supafly Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17162529944438863106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13442899306028060772009-09-16T17:13:17.962-04:002009-09-16T17:13:17.962-04:00I wholeheartedly disagree about INTHEUSA. I sat th...I wholeheartedly disagree about INTHEUSA. I sat there and tried to think of all the towns in New Jersey that I could, and when the answer finally presented itself I actually yelled with delight. I thought it was a clever clue.jskarfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10423812072872223621noreply@blogger.com