tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3520146897698915498..comments2024-03-28T17:46:15.668-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Campaign election analyst Silver / 10-22-11 / Strip since 1961 that's printed in black white / Narrative set in Bronze Age / Role for YoungRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58221300823778641992011-11-27T10:29:17.182-05:002011-11-27T10:29:17.182-05:00@Anonymous 3:11, no spoilers here at the bottom of...@Anonymous 3:11, no spoilers here at the bottom of the page, just frustrated syndi solvers. Scroll up to @Red Valerian 2:59 and 11:25 for links to the metapuzzle.Jennifer in CAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13936498339401105362011-11-27T03:11:59.030-05:002011-11-27T03:11:59.030-05:00akpeds 11/26 in syndication outpost
I am just po...akpeds 11/26 in syndication outpost<br /><br />I am just posting without looking at the blog at all, (though it is tempting) because the Anchorage Daily News carried a different puzzle today, oh NO! After all the anticipation. I am going to try to get a blank copy of the actual puzzle and metapuzzle instructions by emailing them tomorrow.<br />I think the puzzle I did (and kept wondering, what is the trick? What is the "meta"?) was the same puzzle people were talking about yesterday, by Barry Silk, that some people found on their iPads Friday (10/21). Which I thank him for, but kind of wish I'd noticed his name on it before I did the whole puzzle looking for some kind of deeper meaning. <br />Anyway, real reason I'm posting is that I read yesterday that today is Rex's birthday. If so, happy happy birthday and thanks for your writeups for our "tribe".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-565447848088190202011-11-27T00:22:27.191-05:002011-11-27T00:22:27.191-05:00@Red Valerian, you're my hero. It's now 9:...@Red Valerian, you're my hero. It's now 9:15 on saturday night and I finally get to do the puzzle I've been waiting for all week! Which is pretty funny, because I rarely attempt Saturday puzzles. I've tried to avoid spoilers, so we'll see how it goes. I printed it out so I can work on it in bed, but I might try solving online in the future.<br /><br />Thanks again to everyone who for your help today.Jen in CAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7690848027300065382011-11-27T00:14:59.257-05:002011-11-27T00:14:59.257-05:00My thanks to the 5 weeks later Anonymous 10:18 am ...My thanks to the 5 weeks later Anonymous 10:18 am blogger for his post. I searched the XWord Info Calendar of Solutions for 2011 and 2010 and gave up on finding the Barry C. Silk puzzle the Fort Worth Star-Telegram labeled as a 1022 puzzle. I never would have found the solution without your comment. <br /><br />NowWhatNowWhatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5693629232931691362011-11-26T23:25:36.223-05:002011-11-26T23:25:36.223-05:00@Jen in CA, and others: you need Across Lite. I f...@Jen in CA, and others: you need Across Lite. I found a link to it at the NYT site. (Maybe this is why they didn't print the right puzzle in syndi-land--solving on-line was actually quite nice (and I like the sound of pen on paper), and now I want a subscription!)<br /><br />Anyhow, try this: <a href="www.litsoft.com/across/alite/download" rel="nofollow">Across Lite</a><br /><br />If that doesn't work, copy and paste: http://www.litsoft.com/across/alite/download/<br /><br />By the way, I did try to scan and save as a .pdf, but my new operating system and old printer/scanner out-witted me.<br /><br />Good luck!Red Valerianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04638265039015470938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26680858052598327652011-11-26T22:24:04.395-05:002011-11-26T22:24:04.395-05:00My computer apparently can't open .puz files. ...My computer apparently can't open .puz files. Would someone be able to scan and upload a .pdf file for us syndi solvers? We would greatly appreciate it :)Jen in CAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56175875612026923302011-11-26T21:40:29.819-05:002011-11-26T21:40:29.819-05:00this wasn't the puzzle we got in syndication. ...this wasn't the puzzle we got in syndication. too bad.Canadian losernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10440731051551038502011-11-26T18:59:05.171-05:002011-11-26T18:59:05.171-05:00I solve the M - F puzzles in syndication but since...I solve the M - F puzzles in syndication but since my local paper doesn't publish the Sat puz I have to buy the NYT and solve in real time, so I did the *correct* Saturday puzzle 5 weeks ago. It was well worth the wait to experience the full awesomeness of the meta puzzle clues. I never would have figured out the "circle" part if not for the comments today, but like others have said, if at first you don't succeed keep trying because it it definitely worth the "AHA" moment when you see it.<br /><br />As a reward for our hard work all week, let's enjoy a little RPDTNYTCP on this date 5 years ago:<br />- "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME<br />So this is what 37 feels like ... huh. Interesting."<br />- "Solving time: 30 flat"<br />- "A few preliminary notes: traffic to this site hit a record high yesterday as a surge of returning visitors coming back from Thanksgiving vacation (I assume) dovetailed with a tidal wave of solvers around the world trying to find the answer to a single clue from six weeks ago, the answer to which was POG. Seriously. 500+ unique visitors looking for one little three-letter word. I love the apparent randomness of it all: who knew that that clue would send hundreds to their computers?"<br />- "A Manny Nosowsky crossword for my birthday!? Oh, you shouldn't have. It's beautiful. And it fits! And look, it's full of some of my favorite words"<br />- "I just learned the term "crunchword puzzle" last night, actually, while reading Matt Gaffney's Gridlock (which is an informative and entertaining book on the world of crossword construction, by the way). I had done many crunchword puzzles before - I just didn't know that that's what you called them."<br />- " The correct OYSTER BED is not a phrase I can visualize. Do they sleep together? Are they farmed in beds?"<br />- Neither I nor my apple-loving wife (nearly wrote "wife-loving apple") knew what (the hell) this was. Until I looked it up just now, I was willing to be that the answer wasn't STAYMAN, but ST. AYMAN. Yet it is STAYMAN, a variety of Virginia apple, it seems. Sounds like something a hippie would say to his dog."<br />- The 13 comments included this from Rex in reply to @Howard B: "It sickens me that you are younger than I. Is that wrong? I was happily imagining you as an affable, 50-something man. Nobody is allowed to be younger than I!"<br /><br />HAPPY BIRTHDAY, REX! (Sorry to shout but it must be hard to hear from this far away in time.)Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90739420454785405842011-11-26T17:20:17.886-05:002011-11-26T17:20:17.886-05:00@Anonymous 5:09pm. Look two comments above yourse...@Anonymous 5:09pm. Look two comments above yourself (so to speak).<br /><br />Thanks, everybody--got it (access to the puzzle), got it (finished the puzzle--easy), got it (the second clue), and got it! (the first clue--finally, after a little snooping in the comments ;-)<br /><br />Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant... though perhaps the puzzle should have run in a different month...Red Valerianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04638265039015470938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10345991962093001532011-11-26T17:09:48.270-05:002011-11-26T17:09:48.270-05:00I am a syndicted puzzle user. This is supposed to ...I am a syndicted puzzle user. This is supposed to be for 10-22-2011. But it is not anything like the 10-22-2011 puzzle in my DMN the first clue is ten letters "Classic sports lineup".<br /><br />The first clue on this site is only 4 letters answer "USSR"<br /><br />What is going on?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21841965133629518382011-11-26T15:48:13.977-05:002011-11-26T15:48:13.977-05:00For syndisolvers looking for Rex's discussion ...For syndisolvers looking for Rex's discussion of the Barry C. Silk puzzle from 10/13/2007, it's at - http://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2007/10/saturday-oct-13-2007-barry-c-silk.html<br /><br />Thought I'd solved this puzzle before...Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34234707784391504622011-11-26T14:59:36.905-05:002011-11-26T14:59:36.905-05:00Just for other late folks like me (too afraid of s...Just for other late folks like me (too afraid of spoilers to look around), here's a link in @pauer's message just a few messages above. It worked for me (though I don't have time to do the puzzle right now).<br /><br />http://www.xwordinfo.com/special/Oct2211.puz<br /><br />Thanks @pauer. And thanks @Anonymous 2:25pm for mentioning @pauer's post.Red Valerianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04638265039015470938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43804978847408273382011-11-26T14:40:42.159-05:002011-11-26T14:40:42.159-05:00Another frustrated west coaster. Tried all the hi...Another frustrated west coaster. Tried all the hints I could find in the comments, but my IPad Safari could,t download the suggested xword site and I couldn,t find thus suggested free download on Wordplay. I wonder, Rex, if you could print the clues on Monday? They sound like fun. After something close to 60 years of doing NYT puzzles, I hate to miss out on this one!Delmartiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77442039916138211982011-11-26T14:25:43.518-05:002011-11-26T14:25:43.518-05:00From the hinterland ....west coast of Canada 5 wee...From the hinterland ....west coast of Canada 5 weeks later...on American Thanksgiving weekend I am thankful for..<br />-talented puzzle constructors like Patrick Berry<br />-@Rex for hosting this blog -and the many comment contributers -you have added much enjoyment to the puzzle experience<br />-@pauer for solving my dilemma when I found the wrong puzzle in today's paper <br /><br />Thank you for a fantastic week!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1827949670873213172011-11-26T14:01:35.251-05:002011-11-26T14:01:35.251-05:00@Anonymous 1:12pm or anybody else... syndi-solver ...@Anonymous 1:12pm or anybody else... syndi-solver here (duh), and I'm trying very hard not to have the puzzle spoiled for me. So, I just zipped down to the bottom of the comments section. I've downloaded and installed the Across Lite software, but I don't see how to get this puzzle from the NYT site. <br /><br />I'm sorry if this is just obvious (or if Rex has explained above). But it's quite a letdown to have assembled beside me a small stack of all five crosswords, then to open today's paper and see a Barry Silk. I mean, nothing at all wrong with Barry Silk! In fact, I liked the puzzle, though it was on the easy side for me for a Saturday.<br /><br />Aaaaaaaaaanyhow, help anybody?Red Valerianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04638265039015470938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14177377130819522552011-11-26T13:12:10.395-05:002011-11-26T13:12:10.395-05:00To Syndication Solvers, go to the NYT site and you...To Syndication Solvers, go to the NYT site and you can solve in Across Lite without being a subscriber.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20644740989684905042011-11-26T12:38:30.435-05:002011-11-26T12:38:30.435-05:00I realize this is a contest that ended five weeks ...I realize this is a contest that ended five weeks ago, but surely this could have been handled in such a way that we syndication solvers could have enjoyed the challenge as well. Like a simple disclaimer stating that the contest has ended.<br /><br />That said, omniart's comment above piqued my interest. No delivery of my local paper on Monday any more, so I didn't have Monday's clues to refer to. I went to XWORD INFO to see Monday's 1a clue, and of course the solution to the meta puzzle became quite apparent when I saw the full grid.<br /><br />Brilliantly constructed week. Perhaps my horrible short term memory will allow me to enjoy the entire set when it is published in a crossword book some time in the (not necessarily too distant) future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80325293051517699992011-11-26T12:26:50.897-05:002011-11-26T12:26:50.897-05:00San Diego paper carried Barry Silk's puzzle fr...San Diego paper carried Barry Silk's puzzle from 10/13/2007; I don't usually mind being a syndy solver but felt disappointed after enjoying Berry's terrific puzzles all week, but no finale. Checked bottom of blog to find more of you shut out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44473047251918703472011-11-26T12:18:46.800-05:002011-11-26T12:18:46.800-05:00Looks like Jim Horne still has the Across Lite fil...Looks like Jim Horne still has the Across Lite file posted.<br /><br />http://www.xwordinfo.com/special/Oct2211.puzpauerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04459037089749874180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71667146446496023802011-11-26T12:12:23.320-05:002011-11-26T12:12:23.320-05:00Is there any way to get the right puzzle without a...Is there any way to get the right puzzle without a subscription to the NYT Premium site?Jen in CAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55756576700592418932011-11-26T11:37:29.958-05:002011-11-26T11:37:29.958-05:00Hey, syndication land. Sorry you didn't get th...Hey, syndication land. Sorry you didn't get the final Berry puzzle today, even though the contest's over. Here's the PDF (subscription req): http://select.nytimes.com/premium/xword/2011/10/22/Oct2211.pdf and here's the Across Lite file (subscription req): http://select.nytimes.com/premium/xword/2011/10/22/Oct2211.puz<br /><br />And all of the answer grids from earlier in the week (in case you didn't save them) are available here (scroll down a bit and look on the right): http://www.nytimes.com/pages/crosswords/index.html<br /><br />Hope that helps.pauerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04459037089749874180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45205746113393703562011-11-26T11:20:15.345-05:002011-11-26T11:20:15.345-05:00Syndication Land gets hosed. I got halfway throug...Syndication Land gets hosed. I got halfway through the puzzle in this morning's paper and was trying to figure out how the solution in any way involved the previous five puzzles...finally checked the byline and it's by the wrong Barry (C. Silk).<br /><br />Too bummed to finish.<br /><br />(ironically, the grid pattern features two cross patterns).<br /><br />WHERE CAN I FIND THE REAL 10-22-11 PUZZLE??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57393610271660993472011-11-26T10:18:05.930-05:002011-11-26T10:18:05.930-05:00This will probably never be read as I get the cros...This will probably never be read as I get the crossword 5 weeks later. However, what a drag! and not fair! The puzzle in today's Des Moines Register, I finally found out, was a re-run of one from October 13, 2007!! After enjoying PB's puzzles all week, this was a real bummer!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76374703988760264832011-10-23T21:38:53.713-04:002011-10-23T21:38:53.713-04:00@Peter: your ovaltine comment was as elusive as th...@Peter: your ovaltine comment was as elusive as those circles at first. Just reread it. Good one!Detournoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81948633864490557072011-10-23T21:26:52.634-04:002011-10-23T21:26:52.634-04:00Like many others, got the answer and submitted, bu...Like many others, got the answer and submitted, but couldn't figure out the second clue (circles). Finally came here, and got it after reading about half the comments. Definitely a "Wow"!Genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17061491158278453862noreply@blogger.com