tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3292393432728239566..comments2024-03-28T18:52:07.432-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Collins on Op-Ed page / MON 8-30-10 / Video game maker owns Seattle Mariners / Actress/director May / 1960s world chess champion Mikhail *Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59750990864786484932021-01-22T05:36:44.510-05:002021-01-22T05:36:44.510-05:00Carlsen and mikhail tal are best ever chess player...Carlsen and mikhail tal are best ever chess player born on earth. They cannot be compared with others.<br /><br />Chess Opening Moveshttps://gyanguru818384404.wordpress.com/2021/01/05/chess-opening-moves/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6740231144677989202010-10-04T23:06:26.834-04:002010-10-04T23:06:26.834-04:00I missed that all the theme answers were two words...I missed that all the theme answers were two words, EACH of which is a "hand." Other than that, my only comment about this puzzle is that the Daily Illini (where I pick up the NYT puzzle in syndication) made one of its far-too-common layout mistakes and only printed the Across clues and about a third of the Down clues, and I still managed to finish the puzzle with a bit of guesswork.sificlighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11868514448817399728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19367099599793828072010-10-04T21:35:00.309-04:002010-10-04T21:35:00.309-04:00@ Dirigonzo:
A Boone & Crockett the...@ Dirigonzo:<br /> <br /> A Boone & Crockett theme'd be alright by me. I think a Thursday or Friday puzzle might be able to incorporate most of these bits from Davy Crockett's resume (found on the memorial stone at his birthplace, now a state park in TN):<br /><br />"Pioneer<br /> Patriot<br /> Soldier<br /> Trapper<br /> Explorer<br /> State Legislator<br /> Congressman<br /> Martyred at the Alamo"<br /><br />Mucho macho even after the mythical. Best known for: "Be sure you're right, then go ahead." Hah! My puzzles almost never end up that pristine.NotalwaysrightBillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58052340829026476682010-10-04T17:10:27.351-04:002010-10-04T17:10:27.351-04:00Writing in from syndication-land....
I fell into ...Writing in from syndication-land....<br /><br />I fell into the ANDREW/ARTIST trap, but unlike most here, I got out of it by knowing who Mikhail TAL was. For those like myself who are chess players, we know Tal as the most brilliant attacking player since Paul Morphy. You can check out some of his games online. I like this one:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1140914" rel="nofollow">Mikhail Tal vs. Johann Hjartarson</a><br /><br />Overall, this was challenging for me on a few points. One of them was the fact that I am completely indifferent to tennis. I grant that there might not be many other ILIEs around, but surely ROD could have been clued without reference to tennis.<br /><br />The theme may be weak, but it kept me occupied while listening to the audiobook of Patrick O'Brian's <i>Master and Commander</i>, so I have no objection.Nullifidianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15207390447020990907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30520675001391635052010-10-04T15:32:55.029-04:002010-10-04T15:32:55.029-04:00@CoffeeLvr - Finished this (syndicated) puzzle in ...@CoffeeLvr - Finished this (syndicated) puzzle in my local afternoon paper and turned the page to do the "Cryptoquote" which, when solved, read "All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse and a good wife. - Daniel Boone". Gotta love those frontier philosophers!Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13053199019097358772010-10-04T14:41:57.185-04:002010-10-04T14:41:57.185-04:00Didn't know Jiffy had become jus Jif. Gotta ge...Didn't know Jiffy had become jus Jif. Gotta get out to the grocery store more. Oh, well, a peanut butter flashcard by any other name will stick to your palate (or in your throat) just as tackily, I suppose. First post; been reading for a few weeks, though, and I like it fine. Favorite sonnet line: "Simple truth miscalled simplicity."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77763616144495197372010-10-04T12:20:23.258-04:002010-10-04T12:20:23.258-04:00Since I live in syndication-land I never thinks it...Since I live in syndication-land I never thinks it's worth posting five weeks on, but today I cannot resist.<br /><br />How appropriate that the 44D answer is GIANTS on the morning after their victory that earned them the NL West! Made this lifelong Giants' fan's day as I worked the puzzle during my hall duty.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16659858335748179668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17765237432702204742010-08-31T11:36:57.444-04:002010-08-31T11:36:57.444-04:00I'm a long time viewer...first time sender. Ve...I'm a long time viewer...first time sender. Very much enjoy the comments and "sharing" the experience. I do the syndicated puzzle...so no comments on today's puzzle (I just finished the whole sheebang). I do have a question. As I am a 'pen/paper' type, I'm wondering what the time comparison is between paper and electronic.<br /><br />Rex sometimes does it on paper and comments that doing so 'adds' to his time.<br /><br />I'm not a speed merchant, but just wondering what some of you folks might think as to what the time differential is.<br /><br />I usually do M-W in 9-15 min...Th-FR in 18-25 and swear a lot on Sat.<br /><br /><br />RegardsFN7700https://www.blogger.com/profile/07686272185800858556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5880620760727011372010-08-30T22:54:22.044-04:002010-08-30T22:54:22.044-04:00I have it on good authority that Rex also spends l...I have it on good authority that Rex also spends little, if any, time suckling orphaned puppies, and the bastard justifies this!<br />Pity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41334867215598598292010-08-30T22:07:44.752-04:002010-08-30T22:07:44.752-04:00This 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 7:08, 6:58, 1.02, 63%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:54, 3:43, 1.05, 82%, Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88509554756830234612010-08-30T21:49:46.245-04:002010-08-30T21:49:46.245-04:00@anon 9:05
As Rex wrote, he doesn't get the r...@anon 9:05<br /><br />As Rex wrote, he doesn't get the rest of the paper ... only subscribes to the on line puzzle.<br /><br />Probably doesn't ready any daily paper, and can justify it.<br /><br />Pitty.<br /><br />P>G>and a lot of others herenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72152783039127476992010-08-30T21:05:49.654-04:002010-08-30T21:05:49.654-04:00I simply don't know what to make of the fact t...I simply don't know what to make of the fact that Rex doesn't know Gail Collins. So often, she makes life worth living. I know time is limited but Rex, you should read the rest of the paper sometime!<br /><br />Respectfully yours.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56047281448903228532010-08-30T21:03:39.792-04:002010-08-30T21:03:39.792-04:00You can read Gail Collins' articles on-line fo...You can read Gail Collins' articles on-line for free without killing a single tree. She tends toward the cynically humorous.Janie Starrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17559962463976047713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30315337173725521352010-08-30T20:55:36.713-04:002010-08-30T20:55:36.713-04:00Well, since some of you liked the NOT FOR ME story...Well, since some of you liked the NOT FOR ME story (which I literally couldn't remember if I had posted before or not), may I add to it?<br /><br />I got a funny note from sometime collaborator and literally one of my favorite people, Tony Orbach (I'm a huge "literally" misuser, by the way, but not in this case!) and I can't get him to post it, so I will....<br />He sent a French-themed puzzle<br />to Peter who responded "It's a non".<br />Ha! Now sethg can dormer ce soir.andrea nfm michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66510434727317768292010-08-30T20:44:49.073-04:002010-08-30T20:44:49.073-04:00From Wikipedia:
"Owned by Nintendo of Americ...From Wikipedia:<br /><br />"Owned by Nintendo of America, the Mariners are one of three Major League Baseball teams under corporate ownership; the other two are the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays."plumpyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11978479216011643645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78925621908622421752010-08-30T20:06:26.625-04:002010-08-30T20:06:26.625-04:00@rube The story about Bobby Fischer is false. He ...@rube The story about Bobby Fischer is false. He didn't graduate high school and certainly didn't apply to Columbia. And he never went to Harvard.<br /><br />Gail Collins has a great sense of humor and often makes good points slyly. My favorite NYT columnist.michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86430132360893566162010-08-30T18:51:21.708-04:002010-08-30T18:51:21.708-04:00Thanks, @Steve J -- I hate it when people misuse &...Thanks, @Steve J -- I hate it when people misuse "literally", (also "very unique" since something is either one-of-a-kind or it's not). <br /><br />And thanks to @Ulrich too -- I was picturing the women tennis players using a two-handed grip but still didn't come up with the first or most notable... Anyway, have a ball at the tournament! My late cousin, Mary Ann McFarlane, was dean of the lines-people at the Virginia Slims games in Chicago for years, and was thrilled when her friend Sara Paretsky used her as a character in one of her female private eye mysteries, a rare case when an author eschewed the disclaimer that all names in a story were fictional!<br /><br />∑;)ArtLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03869528391374878601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26194974992120660162010-08-30T18:46:40.862-04:002010-08-30T18:46:40.862-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.ArtLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03869528391374878601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25367806342891955412010-08-30T18:30:58.501-04:002010-08-30T18:30:58.501-04:00@Big E - So glad Hannaford moved in to Upstate NY ...@Big E - So glad Hannaford moved in to Upstate NY from New England to teach that "This line is for fewer than 20 items." If you can count 'em, it's fewer. As the kid said, irregardless...<br />A spelling/pronunciation booboo I hear a lot these days is jewlery instead of jewelry. <br />INANER would be correct, as would more INANE, since 2-syllable words can go either way. There is an actual rule. 1 syllables must use -er, -est. 3+ syllable words must use more and most.<br /><br />As for cheap crosswordese, anything -ER or -RE is a bit of a groan (RETAGS, WOOER), but then, I've never created a CW.<br /><br />@P>G> - Yes;the question is will the corporations have to reveal how much they are spending and on whom and will they have to go by all the other rules an individual does.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73185059127050808622010-08-30T18:11:40.302-04:002010-08-30T18:11:40.302-04:00Alternate TAL clue:
Jazz Guitarist FarlowAlternate TAL clue:<br /><br /> Jazz Guitarist FarlowArbynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9064165944358841282010-08-30T17:24:56.576-04:002010-08-30T17:24:56.576-04:00I thought this was a fine Monday puzzle. Sped thr...I thought this was a fine Monday puzzle. Sped through it until I put in ANDREW instead of ARTIST. TSETSE fixed that. Loved SQUIRREL and SOFT SHOE. Hated INANER and TREAS. <br /><br />@ACM loved QUAYLE without the E and your NOT FOR ME story!CrazyCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00245025301434920905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76727323756861301482010-08-30T17:06:40.575-04:002010-08-30T17:06:40.575-04:00Meh--this one in general felt flat and uninspired ...Meh--this one in general felt flat and uninspired to me.<br /><br />@ John V: Agree Gail Collins is a consistently good read and IMO she's a far better writer than Maureen Dowd. On the manly side of the Op-Ed page I like Tom Friedman and Frank Rich.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88780905249310562652010-08-30T16:52:34.165-04:002010-08-30T16:52:34.165-04:00@Steve J - because irregardless, your literally (a...@Steve J - because irregardless, your literally (and figuratively) going to put your foot in your mouth at some point! :-p<br />(and another of my pet peeves is the misuse of fewer than and less than! Anyway... just felt like chiming in. That's my third post for the day, so happy puzzling all!)<br /><br />GregThe Big Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00383322329027962325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23862858049450182682010-08-30T16:50:35.324-04:002010-08-30T16:50:35.324-04:00@Artlvr: Both Laver and Nastase played at a time w...@Artlvr: Both Laver and Nastase played at a time when EVERYONE, at least every guy, had a one-handed backhand. The two-handed version, if I remember correctly, started on the women's side, with Chris Evert and contemporaries, and then spread to the men's side, which I still regret b/c I consider a well-executed one-handed backhand the most elegant stroke in tennis--see Federer or Justine Henin.<br /><br />@Big-E: Too bad...Ulrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32497366081275556442010-08-30T16:42:55.845-04:002010-08-30T16:42:55.845-04:00Also, I do know the difference between "you&#...Also, I do know the difference between "you're" and "your"; not that my last post would demonstrate that. Further proof that criticizing usage online is a dangerous thing, since you usually end up doing the same sort of thing. I'll literally stop now. :)Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.com