tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3573703945726223720..comments2024-03-28T17:24:22.634-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Patroness of Québec / SAT 6-29-13 / Rocker with the 1973 #1 hit "Frankenstein" / Arrangement of atoms in a crystal structure / Muscle that rotates a part outward / Member of an ancient people known for warfare with chariots / Speed Stick brand / Sedimentary rocks resembling cemented fish roeRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14620687170577501182022-11-19T04:54:17.810-05:002022-11-19T04:54:17.810-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Himanshu Goyalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01802520402178871074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48130208047045566772018-03-27T05:00:52.890-04:002018-03-27T05:00:52.890-04:00It is a perfect metaphor that half of us saw butte...It is a perfect metaphor that half of us saw butterflies by looking at the light squares and the others saw giving the finger but looking at the negative space (literally!)<br />See more:<br /><a href="http://12g.info/hat-xi-hoi-nhay-mui-lien-tuc-la-benh-gi/" rel="nofollow"> hắt xì hơi liên tục</a><br /><a href="http://mfamily.com.vn/tus-hay-nhung-cau-noi-hay-ve-cuoc-song-y-nghia-tren-facebook/" rel="nofollow">Tus hay – những câu nói hay về cuộc sống</a><br /><a href="http://baihoc.net/tong-hop-day-du-nhat-nhung-stt-buon-nhat-ve-tinh-yeu-da-diet-tan-nat-coi-long.html" rel="nofollow"> stt buồn</a><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09954900641259083489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5158092136324662292013-08-04T07:23:40.817-04:002013-08-04T07:23:40.817-04:00Fingers? I thought I was looking at four boobs. ...Fingers? I thought I was looking at four boobs. But I'll admit, when I finished the puzzle I felt like I had been given the finger.<br /><br />Yeah, I breezed through this in record Saturday time, but with so few clues to solve that's a bit like taking credit for pitching a no-hitter in a rain shortened five-inning game.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63341011139985129012013-08-03T14:41:55.900-04:002013-08-03T14:41:55.900-04:00As others have commented, a Krozel puzzle is usual...As others have commented, a Krozel puzzle is usually a brilliant tour-de-force. While I get that he picks up all kinds of brownie points in the constructor world for his victory of form over content, those of us left filling in the resulting grid have to contend with dreck like OUTSKIP, ACTSMAD, DRYGAS, EVERTOR, HAVOCS, RETEAM, etc.<br /><br />I think SOSO sums up this puzzle very well. Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69825924646684796452013-08-03T14:36:04.308-04:002013-08-03T14:36:04.308-04:00As a butterfly person, I kept fruitlessly (flitles...As a butterfly person, I kept fruitlessly (flitlessly?) expecting some reference to the shape to turn up. What I got was a bunch of oddities. Outliers of the language, as it were. But, somehow they fit together into an easy enough solve.<br /><br />I agree with "@spacecraft about the car sign thing. Can't hang a sign "over" (as opposed to "on") a car unless it is stationary under the sign, in which case I'd assume the driver's skill wouldn't be of interest. My own nit-to-pick was REGS. Shouldn't the clue have indicated an abbreviation? That lack slowed me down looking for another "whole" word. Pinto pony reminded me of a long ago vacation at Lake Tahoe. But alas, I rode the wrong pony, and had to exchange him for a PAINT, my only write-over.DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60600072511513579502013-08-03T14:25:28.219-04:002013-08-03T14:25:28.219-04:00@Spacecraft - Brilliant. From now on this constru...@Spacecraft - Brilliant. From now on this constructor shall be known as Joe "The Finger" Krozel. Makes sense, because his efforts metaphorically give the finger to traditional crossword "experts" and their stodgy word counts, black square counts, and various "rules". <br /><br />Not only is this puzzle, as @sanfranMan59 described it, an outlier, Mr. Krozel is, himself, an outlier. If I have to put up with HAVOCS, RETEAM, and DETERGE, in order to be entertained by his unique and fanciful grids, so be it. I think my conclusions STAND TO REASON.<br /><br />Hah! Capcha is dudurin: pee containing no uric acid.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4409855681111721712013-08-03T12:48:48.675-04:002013-08-03T12:48:48.675-04:00* Just Doesn't Look Right.* Just Doesn't Look Right.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65861826860202167462013-08-03T12:47:07.876-04:002013-08-03T12:47:07.876-04:00Pretty smooth, for a Saturday. I had a bit of trou...Pretty smooth, for a Saturday. I had a bit of trouble in the SE, thanks to the "obvious" HEARING aidS. Yes, some deaf people do have service animals--but are they actually called HEARING DOGS? Seems awkward, JDLR.*<br /><br />So, "Sign over [sic] a car." I'm trying to picture this. I've seen signs ON cars, but hovering OVER them? Not so much. I guess those triangular ad signs on top of cabs...anyway, to me the word "over" meant the car was parked, and since I had STUDENTA already in, I mused it might be STUDENT ARTIST. Took a few minutes to sort it out. One piece of good luck: IOLITES are also minerals, so when I finally had to change to --DOGS and --DRIVER, nothing but the first letter of 28d had to be written over.<br /><br />That whole SE section, as @Evan said, is full of yuckiness. I pretty much agree with his evaluation, except that I don't notice things like "low word count." The word count is what it is. I did have to change one other letter; EMTs should already have had CPR training, so TRAINEE was my bad. Easy-medium because of the SE. For a Krozel, the fill wasn't too bad; as has been said, a price must be paid for grids like this.<br /><br />Hand up for (or with?) the Finger.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88681171152960054282013-06-30T03:38:32.492-04:002013-06-30T03:38:32.492-04:00I just have to say I was annoyed that INTERPRETERS...I just have to say I was annoyed that INTERPRETERS wouldn't fit as the answer at 24A. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91970158345371897302013-06-29T21:39:46.749-04:002013-06-29T21:39:46.749-04:00If you think about it, puzzles with more black squ...If you think about it, puzzles with more black squares should in fact be finished faster. <br /><br />Really though, I don't understand the fuss. What's wrong with "hurling" or "hanging around" or "owing"? The complaints just don't make any sense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80225896925812746832013-06-29T20:18:02.046-04:002013-06-29T20:18:02.046-04:00@Evan -- The reason I think it's Letterman is ...@Evan -- The reason I think it's Letterman is that the Conan thing was more of an NBC fiasco than a feud. The Letterman thing was in the papers a lot from 92-94 (you may have been around 6 years old at the time) and continued making news in the 90s because of the ratings battle between CBS and NBC. To this day Dave and Craig still do LENO jokes/spoofs.jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38781768723628284602013-06-29T20:05:24.328-04:002013-06-29T20:05:24.328-04:00http://dirigonzo.blogspot.com/2012/03/evil-doug.ht...http://dirigonzo.blogspot.com/2012/03/evil-doug.htmlDirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37628791046358727272013-06-29T19:43:28.478-04:002013-06-29T19:43:28.478-04:00Ooh, looks like we got a stalker on the prowl. Be ...Ooh, looks like we got a stalker on the prowl. Be careful, ladies. Just because they seem like safe little creampuff admirers on the blog, they might be praying to their creepy shrines to you in their bedrooms. Read their personal blogs, do some serious research, and--whatever you do--don't agree to meet them without trusted people at your side, if at all....<br /><br />Dougevil doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17593231055589228837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50911756936001935402013-06-29T18:57:51.247-04:002013-06-29T18:57:51.247-04:00@sanfrandude: Thanx as always for yer amazin stati...@sanfrandude: Thanx as always for yer amazin statistics. I thought this SatPuz was a bit on the easy side -- I mean, shoot, I even finished it, without the usual "research". But never dreamt it would play out as That easy. Puz solvers are doggone smartie-skirts.<br /><br />[place spell-casting ad here]<br /><br />@joho: Your dark side is lookin mighty fine. <br />But, whatevah-U-do, stay away from "The ABC's of Death". In-law Cletus and I streamed that schlock movie on the Netflix, last night. Awful dark. Fewer redeeming features than my all-E's puz. Made yer skin crawl. Film, only in the pond-scum sense. Netflix did award us a special prize, for bein the first streamin household to watch the whole thing...<br /><br />[place final exam cheatsheets ad here]<br /><br />@Joe Kro: New target to shoot for: Most squares in a 15x15 that are half black and half white. ("fewest" record has already been tied, multiple times.) Also: most U's in a 15x15. I think Bob Klahn's got one at around 50. Child's play, for U to beat. Just do it, dude.M and A's Last Silver Detergenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55744515284237311672013-06-29T18:55:49.932-04:002013-06-29T18:55:49.932-04:00@ACM - "Agitato Coeurs Mennen" is perhap...@ACM - "Agitato Coeurs Mennen" is perhaps your most apt pseudonym ever as it perfectly describes the effect you have on many males here (and elsewhere, I assume), most certainly including me.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10092678172852374752013-06-29T18:26:51.743-04:002013-06-29T18:26:51.743-04:00It is a perfect metaphor that half of us saw butte...It is a perfect metaphor that half of us saw butterflies by looking at the light squares and the others saw giving the finger but looking at the negative space (literally!)<br /><br />Excellent critique, Evan... Joe K was very lucky @Rex was on vacation...as he probably would have spent three pages on the bottom SSRS alone!<br /><br />@Anoa<br />I have to totally concede with you on the plural thing here, which was borderline ridiculous...<br />He should have DETERGEd half of those.<br /><br />Put this on a Wednesday and 93% of the negative comments disappear (Yes, @dk I'm making up those figures as I assume you make up yours!) ;)<br /><br />It was fun to discuss this puzzle today over brunch with Dan Feyer AND Manny Nosowsky, along with some other West COast constructors!!!!<br />Picture to follow!Agitato Coeurs Mennennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18566673682230127902013-06-29T18:17:05.592-04:002013-06-29T18:17:05.592-04:00My first thought was "WOW, @JenCT is going to...My first thought was "WOW, @JenCT is going to love this one with a big 'ol Butterfly"<br /><br />I never thought what Elvis was doing was SNEERing, I just thought of it as a goofy grin.<br /><br />Hand up for Pinto, easily fixed. Agree with the vast majority on the easiness, can't remember the last time I did a Saturday Google free. Feels good!<br />chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18966380792201397032013-06-29T18:14:16.211-04:002013-06-29T18:14:16.211-04:00I put TRAINEE instead of TRAINER as well, even tho...I put TRAINEE instead of TRAINER as well, even though EVERTOE looked ridiculous.<br /><br />Anonymous at 9:33AM: I'm fairly certain that a good portion of training for EMTs occurs in the field. <br /><br />Yes, I wouldn't choose to have a trainee show up to save my life, but then, I didn't choose to have a wet-behind-the-ears hospital resident place a central venous line in me, but that happened. Residents practice on real patients all the time, and I imagine it's the same for EMTs. Joseph Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57288274487173913652013-06-29T18:11:35.095-04:002013-06-29T18:11:35.095-04:00This 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 5:42, 6:12, 0.92, 13%, Easy<br />Tue 9:21, 8:19, 1.13, 78%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 10:54, 9:44, 1.12, 78%, Medium-Challenging<br />Thu 13:25, 16:47, 0.80, 15%, Easy<br />Fri 21:08, 20:54, 1.01, 57%, Medium<br />Sat 13:29, 25:16, 0.53, 1%, (ridiculously) Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:27, 3:49, 0.91, 6%, Easy<br />Tue 5:39, 4:57, 1.14, 83%, Challenging<br />Wed 6:22, 5:38, 1.13, 81%, Challenging<br />Thu 8:25, 9:37, 0.87, 23%, Easy-Medium<br />Fri 12:45, 11:56, 1.07, 62%, Medium-Challenging<br />Sat 8:12, 15:08, 0.54, 1%, (ditto) Easy<br /><br />This one has stats that are so different than every other Saturday puzzle in my spreadsheet, that I'm tempted to exclude it from the calculations. The previous Saturday low in the All Solvers group was 17:12. So today's was almost 4 minutes below that. The previous low in the Top 100 group was 8:59. In statistical parlance, this puzzle is a perfect example of an outlier.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54328446205390003482013-06-29T18:07:12.098-04:002013-06-29T18:07:12.098-04:00I half-expected Evan to inaugurate the "Super...I half-expected Evan to inaugurate the "Super-Easy" difficulty rating today.<br /><br />This marked the first-ever Saturday I've completed without assistance — but it's a hollow win, despite the awkward fill. My time was that of an easy Wednesday; it just doesn't seem fair to set such an unbreakable record.<br /><br />That said, I actually enjoyed most of the weird fill. HAVOCS and DETERGE were terrible WTFs for me, with SNEERER and AD SITES close behind. The rest was a bit of an ego boost to come up with quickly despite not being in common usage.<br /><br />Not really sure how people could lay down CURLING, unless they only have the vaguest notion that it's a sport and don't know it's on ice. It was the first thing that popped into my head too, but each of "fast" and "field" in the clue were independently sufficient to preclude it immediately; having both made it a no-brainer.<br /><br />FWIW, I saw a four-leaf clover in the grid and expected an entry about luck that never came.<br /><br />Also, @Evan: the videos are auto-playing on my iOS device; any way you can turn that off?morganiqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11000576378552346657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29636427850205432522013-06-29T17:50:21.610-04:002013-06-29T17:50:21.610-04:00Came home from work a few minutes early and had th...Came home from work a few minutes early and had the puzzle done before my usual starting time - and before I had poured by first drink. Only serious mis-step was plunking in transfertItle for "Sign over a car" at 11d - apparentely I was the only one to fall for that particular bit of misdirection? In a bit of syndication synchronicity yesterday's syndicated puzzle was also a Joe Krozel production, that one featuring 12 grid-spanning entries, six in each direction, so I've had the pleasure of his construction wizardry two days in a row.<br /><br />Now, what to do with the rest of the evening?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21491569141524458102013-06-29T17:21:54.011-04:002013-06-29T17:21:54.011-04:00Like everyone else, I found this easy (without the...Like everyone else, I found this easy (without the usual qualified "for a Saturday") I realized this had to be some sort of stunt, but wasn't sure what it was. Now I see that it is the fewest words in a 15 X 15. I am wondering what the "rules" are for this. Symmetrical, no two letter words, no isolated squares, some fill on the borders (not all black squares). Anything else?michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26784974553258245442013-06-29T16:11:07.991-04:002013-06-29T16:11:07.991-04:00Finished today (Saturday surprise!), but having d...Finished today (Saturday surprise!), but having done so, still did not know what I had in OOLITE ( what you say entering a bright room?) , EVERTOR ( a. Muscle that is always gimpy?) , and AGITATO ( my mood after pondering bizarre clues and answers.) No complaints, particularly after yesterday' s humiliation..LaneBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76380703841113703532013-06-29T16:04:25.911-04:002013-06-29T16:04:25.911-04:00I had Pinto and cURLING but those minor blips coul...I had Pinto and cURLING but those minor blips could not make this saturday worthy.Oh and I spell REALIsE 'REALIZE' but I could not STAND TO REAZON!Still- HITTITE was cool and the new chinese ENTREE....PEEKING EVILEYE DUCK! HEARING DOGS are definitely a 'thing' syndyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16814698406887041710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35009513488959336232013-06-29T15:30:24.043-04:002013-06-29T15:30:24.043-04:00Medium here. What @Evan said about the spurious fi...Medium here. What @Evan said about the spurious fill. Done, no mistakes, meh. John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.com