tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3527441573041895728..comments2024-03-28T18:12:10.683-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Unit of currency in Harry Potter books / WED 9-4-13 / One of two acting brothers / Rapper with #1 hit Money Maker / Org with its HQ in Fort Meade / Noted groom of 10/20/1968 / Daytime host starting in 2012 / Fresh Tex Mex restaurant chain / King of gods in Egyptian mythRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80821816973334906592013-10-09T19:53:34.426-04:002013-10-09T19:53:34.426-04:00This puzzle was very interesting ... but STUPID!This puzzle was very interesting ... but STUPID!straylinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536180563789923012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4085120971099378682013-10-09T16:01:57.169-04:002013-10-09T16:01:57.169-04:00Had to check the paper to make sure it was Wednesd...Had to check the paper to make sure it was Wednesday, not Thursday.<br /><br />Joel moved @Diri's MAINE down to the mid-Atlantic region.<br /><br />Like Bevis & Butthead, had JugS before JARS. Omen before OATH. Then pLumS before SLOES.<br /><br />@Spacecraft should have thrown his referee's hanky and assessed 15 yards for a rapper crossing a punk rocker. <br /><br />KCAFFLECK was terrific in "Good Will Hunting," and the banter between him and his brother was like... real.<br /><br />Had to get the Arctic seabird totally on crosses and had the "Outlets for some small pumps" being tORTAS for awhile. Thought it was maybe a shoe store for little girls. Or a dessert that you pump cream filling into.<br /><br />Sydies, don't take any checks from @DMG.<br /><br />@Z, go Tigers.<br /><br />Capcha: asiburd. Another obscure Arctic seafowl?Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87372428097095174692013-10-09T15:16:05.717-04:002013-10-09T15:16:05.717-04:00Rex wrote, "Crossing that with the Lesser Aff...Rex wrote, "Crossing that with the Lesser Affleck seems kind of mean, but I guess the "K" is inferrable, although lord help you if you don't know that CATE Blanchett spells her name with a "C." " and therein lies the tale of my undoing. Caught the gimmick at KTCOURIC, loved the MAINE MANICACS pairing. NEWMOON reminds me that the Full (Hunter's) Moon is on the 18th and October's ANNUAL meteor shower is the Orionid which will peak on the 21st. Happy night-sky watching, syndilanders (and @Gil I.P., wherever you are)!Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33748427335870374292013-10-09T14:18:38.168-04:002013-10-09T14:18:38.168-04:00This was really hard to get into. Kept checking t...This was really hard to get into. Kept checking the date, wondering if it was printed on the wrong day. Possible rebus? Is it Thursday? Friday tough?<br /><br />Finally got a toe hold with NADAL (I'm a tennis nut, in fact I'm watching him as I type.) Somewhere I'd heard of LUDACRIS, REONASSIS gave me the gimmick and I was off to the (very slow) races.<br /><br />Lots of unknowns to me, but gettable with crosses. A real challenge, but with patience and perseverance I finally got it. <br /><br />Arte JOHNSON and Laugh-In brought back a lot of memories. And smiles!<br /><br />Thank U, Joel, I enjoyed it.Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60715517870426729412013-10-09T14:00:50.375-04:002013-10-09T14:00:50.375-04:00A rapper crossing a punk rock icon = DNF, followed...A rapper crossing a punk rock icon = DNF, followed by IDC (I don't care). I also couldn't remember the coin of wizardland, which crossed another unknown who I gather is also a musician of some sort. Didn't realize the Perseid shower is annual, so I guess I learned something. On to tomorrow.<br /><br />Captcha seems to be an accusation: ForgeR.DMGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22565357017181490162013-10-09T10:18:54.622-04:002013-10-09T10:18:54.622-04:00Well, I got through it, but it felt like a salmon&...Well, I got through it, but it felt like a salmon's journey. Obscurity, thy name is Fagliano! And this is, what, WEDENSDAY?? Sheeeesh! There are too many examples, so I'll take just one cubicle, the west: SKUAS ITSOK ACARE. One uber-obscure animal and two awkward partials.<br /><br />Very clearly, the clue for 7d should have included (var.). The only spelling I've ever seen is AMUN. AMON might be the king of the, um, Jamaican gods.<br /><br />If capitalized words were disallowed, this grid would be more than half blank!<br /><br />BFLAT does remind me of "Jumpin' Jack Flash," that cute caper flick with Whoopi Goldberg trying to figure out what "Sing with me and find the key" was supposed to mean. (Aha! moments are cool even when they're not mine.)<br /><br />I must be mellowing in my old age: I didn't even bitch about the rapper. Went in 100% on crosses.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29932854984822778902013-09-05T01:51:15.384-04:002013-09-05T01:51:15.384-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 8/1/2009 post for an explanation and my 10/15/2012 post for an explanation of a tweak I've made to my method. 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 6:06, 6:06, 1.00, 49%, Medium<br />Tue 7:37, 8:15, 0.92, 25%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 12:53, 9:44, 1.32, 97%, Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:44, 3:48, 0.98, 36%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 4:34, 5:01, 0.91, 15%, Easy<br />Wed 7:33, 5:36, 1.35, 98%, Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24569326564144858192013-09-04T22:11:57.139-04:002013-09-04T22:11:57.139-04:00I wasn't complaining about BAJA Fresh, just no...I wasn't complaining about BAJA Fresh, just noting the irony.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31806471623024976222013-09-04T21:53:48.310-04:002013-09-04T21:53:48.310-04:00Liked the theme, cuz I got'em all.
Too much s...Liked the theme, cuz I got'em all.<br /><br />Too much sports.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36102217032060057622013-09-04T21:41:39.787-04:002013-09-04T21:41:39.787-04:00According to Wikipedia, Baja Fresh has stores in 2...According to Wikipedia, Baja Fresh has stores in 29 states. Doesn't that disqualify it for inclusion in a NYT crossword? We have them where I live, but I still thought the puzzle was unfair, crossing very unknown people with little known trivia. Worse, it was a DNF for me, and I didn't really care. Plus, it's not how I pronounce Ari. That shouldn't have made it into the puzzle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77448355561916388952013-09-04T19:32:23.774-04:002013-09-04T19:32:23.774-04:00Didn't enjoy this one much. Got off to a slow ...Didn't enjoy this one much. Got off to a slow start with GEICO for AFLAC, as I don't watch tv so I don't see the ads.<br /><br />Loved seeing HURON since I grew up in Ann Arbor and spent many happy afternoons canoeing down it. BAJA was a gimme since I have migrated west and love their grilled fish tacos. Really wanted Joey Ramone and have never heard of DDRAMONE. Did manage to pull KNUT from the dusty corners of my brain after a getting the __UT. Did not manage to connect the pump clue to a heart and thus could not make the SKUA/ AORTA cross.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04983081176623722693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86652753626117874312013-09-04T18:33:22.879-04:002013-09-04T18:33:22.879-04:00Never noticed BAJA Fresh. It may be Tex-Mex but AF...Never noticed BAJA Fresh. It may be Tex-Mex but AFAIK it is not in Texas. I checked Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin and found nothing.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31427392161982078192013-09-04T17:47:55.484-04:002013-09-04T17:47:55.484-04:00@sanfranman59 re: "I was a little surprised...@sanfranman59 re: "I was a little surprised that Rex rated it as Medium-Challenging."<br /><br />Not really surprising given where Rex comes from - an incredible speed-solver who loves proper names, especially entertainment related. 5/6 theme answers and 3/4 long downs fit in that category.David from CAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15148671053903485622013-09-04T17:35:02.310-04:002013-09-04T17:35:02.310-04:00@LMS,
How about:
DZ Dean (pitcher for the Chicag...@LMS,<br /><br />How about:<br /><br />DZ Dean (pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and St Louis Browns and Cardinals in the 30's and 40's). That's pretty obscure!<br /><br />JAMES AG (often in puzzles)<br /><br />CC Spacek? Ouch!<br /><br />IF THE TIGER? Double ouch!,<br /><br />LA FITZGERALD? Oi!<br /><br />MA WATSON<br /><br />Now you know why I'm not a constructor.<br /><br />And don't forget: Object are closer than they appear in the mirror. And I won't take no for an answer. Melodious ;noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56787515505599464162013-09-04T17:23:31.988-04:002013-09-04T17:23:31.988-04:00BTW - NFL Live finished their show today bragging ...BTW - NFL Live finished their show today bragging about making the NYTimes Xword. Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42292222911835869292013-09-04T17:21:03.087-04:002013-09-04T17:21:03.087-04:00@ACME - you bring a nice balance to the comments. ...@ACME - you bring a nice balance to the comments. You often point out things that I miss that increase my appreciation of puzzles. I see this as very different from saying everyone must only praise. My comments were more about the gestalt of the commentariat than any single one of the commenters here.<br /><br />@Yes_Me_Again - to be clear, I basically agree with you. However, I think the subset of Antarctica Bird-watchers is smaller than sport fans so I empathize with people being in the dark about SKUAS as much as those who cry foul over NADAL.<br /><br />Re ARI - I have heard it both ways but as far as the shipping magnate is concerned I believe the proper pronunciation is "Mr. Jackie Onassis."Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71892054403974185512013-09-04T16:38:47.770-04:002013-09-04T16:38:47.770-04:00Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 8/1/2...Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 8/1/2009 post for an explanation of my method and my 10/15/2012 post for an explanation of a tweak to my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Wed 12:53, 9:44, 1.32, 97%, Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Wed 7:33, 5:36, 1.35, 98%, Challenging<br /><br />@retired_chemist ... right you are. In fact, this one ranks near the top of the scale of the most challenging Wednesdays in my database. The current Top 100 ratio of 1.35 is the 5th highest of 192 and the All Solvers ratio of 1.32 is the 6th highest in that group. I was a little surprised that Rex rated it as Medium-Challenging.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61304865326270079012013-09-04T16:34:50.710-04:002013-09-04T16:34:50.710-04:00@Nancy, I had the same reaction. I could just bare...@Nancy, I had the same reaction. I could just barely think of the name of the river that runs through Ann Arbor, and that's where I went to school. How would anyone else know that?leah712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36478480370310281222013-09-04T16:28:21.857-04:002013-09-04T16:28:21.857-04:00About 18 crosses of names, and that is not countin...About 18 crosses of names, and that is not counting OHMS.<br /><br />Appears the NYT crossWORD puzzle is dead - long live the crossNAME puzzle. Thank you so much Mr Shortz.David from CAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31464139236404603952013-09-04T16:23:02.662-04:002013-09-04T16:23:02.662-04:00@loren
Fun suggestions, you should make a whole pu...@loren<br />Fun suggestions, you should make a whole puzzle out of those...are entirely letters like R U O K<br />"question to the fallen?"<br /><br />You would love a book I remember from childhood called <br />"C D B?" i think and there was a pic of a bee.Acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33660639376849192672013-09-04T16:19:01.273-04:002013-09-04T16:19:01.273-04:00@doc John
RUTHBUZZI would be terrific in a pZZle.....@doc John<br />RUTHBUZZI would be terrific in a pZZle...maybe another double ZZ one? i think we just had one.<br /><br />I too wondered about RE for ARI which I've assumed was closer to airy, too. But, as he was Greek, it prob was pronounced closer to RE, tho who would know now other than Jack-e Kenne-d?<br /><br />I think ME Rossum is even more obscure than KC Affleck, imo.<br />@Z 8:48, 10:10<br />Agree with wonderful statement, but two things, <br />It is possible to point out nice elements of puzzles without necessarily saying the puzzle was overall wonderful...<br />And if it was a dig, tho I'm not taking it TOO personally, one shouldn't mistake general enthusiasm for naivety nor cheapening the truly wonderful in this snarky world.<br /><br />And b) some of us know SKUA from Scrabble as it's an anagram for another seabird, AUKs! <br />(But who would waste an S on a four letter word!)<br /><br />And I think I may have already mentioned this week (forgive my delayed jetlag) impressing the hell out of my Swedish hosts while kayaking. <br />They spotted a sea eagle and I asked if it was an ERN, which is indeed the Swedish word for those birds... (tho spelled O-, with umlaut, R-N) they were shocked by my "Swedish" knowledge!<br />ha! You never know when Scrabble/crosswords are going to come in handy!Acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84303781948557027272013-09-04T15:25:47.188-04:002013-09-04T15:25:47.188-04:00Last week was awesome and we are paying for it thi...Last week was awesome and we are paying for it this week.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-375172827471918692013-09-04T14:59:32.280-04:002013-09-04T14:59:32.280-04:00Temporarily slowed down wanting PLUMS for 35D, but...Temporarily slowed down wanting PLUMS for 35D, but otherwise struck me as very easy. It probably helped that a good friends younger brother was the incarnation of Sal Putrid in Doonesbury.Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73740765004549385202013-09-04T13:54:38.340-04:002013-09-04T13:54:38.340-04:00Jugs are much better than JARS.
Heh, heh.Jugs are much better than JARS.<br />Heh, heh.Beevis & Buttheadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35533230333778273392013-09-04T13:42:05.468-04:002013-09-04T13:42:05.468-04:00Pretty difficult for a Tuesday.
Tried to put in Ru...Pretty difficult for a Tuesday.<br />Tried to put in Ruth Buzzi based on the R but that didn't last too long. Too bad- I'd love to see her in the puzzle. ACME, are you listening?<br />Also, I had I CARE but had to immediately nix that as the next answer over was A CARE.Doc Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.com