tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3612764240322711548..comments2024-03-28T08:24:32.790-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Object of Teddy Roosevelt's busting / TUE 1-26-10 / What bronzers simulate / Jill's portrayer Charlie's AngelsRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21731317742619099742010-01-29T17:51:51.979-05:002010-01-29T17:51:51.979-05:00You should see Lars and the Real Girl. Fun movie....You should see Lars and the Real Girl. Fun movie.maggiejiggsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21179614308746792782010-01-27T04:25:44.812-05:002010-01-27T04:25:44.812-05:00Do you think ESALEN took its name from the Esselen...Do you think ESALEN took its name from the Esselens mentioned in TWOTD?<br /><br />@Bob Kerfuffle<br />Thanks for saving me hours trying to create an avatar. AND for remembering one of my stories!<br />Adolf was also on the short list for the airline...<br /><br />@Tinbeni<br />I know for a FACT that it was Princeton that joke took place at!<br />;)andrea adolf michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76717180782355177202010-01-26T23:50:09.379-05:002010-01-26T23:50:09.379-05:00@ Meg, "phrasal verb"! Wow! I've bee...@ Meg, "phrasal verb"! Wow! I've been looking for a special name for this construction before I knew it existed. Thank you!<br /><br />Such an erudite group!foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60865637725787180212010-01-26T22:40:11.464-05:002010-01-26T22:40:11.464-05:00@Elaine
I'm only impressed that I am still ali...@Elaine<br />I'm only impressed that I am still alive 40 yrs after H.S.<br />How much crap from then, and college, I forgot I always attribute to the Scotch.<br />As to John Donne, dead poets, who were not published during their lifetime, are the first to go.<br />Is that the Shakespeare syndrome?<br />Oh well, time to kill some more brain cells. <br />Cheers!!!<br /><br />@Anonymouse 10:09 your view as the non-lead dog is apparent.Tinbenihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14661395078047234853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44522754351085633582010-01-26T22:23:47.388-05:002010-01-26T22:23:47.388-05:00This 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 7:18, 6:55, 1.06, 70%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 7:21, 8:45, 0.84, 12%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:49, 3:40, 1.04, 70%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 3:48, 4:28, 0.85, 15%, Easy<br /><br />Today's median solve times are 10 and 15 seconds faster than the previous best Tuesday times. The numbers are almost identical to yesterday.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39176634424237308632010-01-26T22:09:15.650-05:002010-01-26T22:09:15.650-05:00@Elaine, Dude, what IS your problem?@Elaine, Dude, what IS your problem?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-92175002009713786792010-01-26T21:26:50.505-05:002010-01-26T21:26:50.505-05:00@Doc John ... I was sorry to hear that your avatar...@Doc John ... I was sorry to hear that your avatar died. I remember him from "Bonanza." I never watched "Trapper John." He was a good looking man, but you, most definitely are, too! Thanks for sharing that great photo of you. I'm thinking you don't wear that outfit while riding all those roller coasters!johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46467685311836368432010-01-26T21:24:35.775-05:002010-01-26T21:24:35.775-05:00I feel like I woke up on the back of a very ill-te...I feel like I woke up on the back of a very ill-tempered mule and got throwed-- (something like being thrown, but more violent.)<br /><br />@Tinbeni<br />You want to impress ME with a mere 40-yrs-ago-lit-class in HS? ha, ha, ha! I GRADuated before your lit class. <br /><br />and @lit.doc<br />it should be beneath YOU to try and torment me with Metallica, since you gotta know I have no clue what that really is-- (band? heavy metal, given its name? or just a bondage fetish group?) And you've had your fun, per the poor anony-person....<br /><br />@dk<br />Did you mix me up with someone who commented on your dollies? No matter how disturbing I think it is, I swear I have been quite, quite silent on that matter. Least said, soonest mended. Or so I hear.<br /><br />Well, all of youse can have yer fun, and I will be waiting when you recover from the hang-overs...<br />Dear, dear!<br /><br />carac----missing the "as"Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13195458656221202202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71699473619735415092010-01-26T20:39:34.723-05:002010-01-26T20:39:34.723-05:00Please read my Meditation XVII. But if you have r...Please read my <a href="http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Meditation_XVII" rel="nofollow">Meditation XVII.</a> But if you have recently imbibed in alcohol, fugettaboutit.John Donnenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53202829890859123922010-01-26T19:37:16.056-05:002010-01-26T19:37:16.056-05:00Very nice puzzle after the last few days. Rex was...Very nice puzzle after the last few days. Rex was rignt about this one being a palate cleanser. Nothing like a Paula Gamache or an ACME puzzle for what ails you.<br /><br />I guess we are officially back on track from the foolishness of the last few days. When it comes right down to it, I don't much care for all those bells and whistles. I like plain vanilla puzzles.edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48953488327547991012010-01-26T19:24:33.445-05:002010-01-26T19:24:33.445-05:00@Lit Doc - I wasn't implying that you, and mos...@Lit Doc - I wasn't implying that you, and most everyone here, didn't know of John Donne. The comment was based on the fact that quite some time ago, before you became a regular poster, Will clued DONNE the author of the "poem" referenced here. This inspired in Rex a spirited reply that it wasn't a poem, but was quite explicitely prose. Rex's response was spirited, and accurate, enough to warrant a correction in the Times.LetsRevisit...,noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46587077391870818722010-01-26T19:16:10.285-05:002010-01-26T19:16:10.285-05:00Yes :-D
3 and O-U-T spells out.Yes :-D<br /><br />3 and O-U-T spells out.Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15273995851348600192010-01-26T18:34:11.767-05:002010-01-26T18:34:11.767-05:00@Stan,
As was posted yesterday (@R_C?), "....@Stan, <br /><br />As was posted yesterday (@R_C?), "...imprecision, even when well-intentioned, never makes it through THIS august group!" ;-)<br /><br />[If it wasn't R_C I'll hear it!]<br /><br />.../GlitchGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80638877683621536162010-01-26T17:48:25.416-05:002010-01-26T17:48:25.416-05:00@lit doc and @elaine, I have to listen to the Meta...@lit doc and @elaine, I have to listen to the Metallica Version whenever the lads plug ipods into the car radio.<br /><br />And, @lit doc sometimes a pencil is just... happy.<br /><br />@Doc John, I was sad when Parnell Roberts left Bonanza. I never saw Trapper John MD, but reading his (Roberts) obit I wish I had. Cannot comment on your appearance as the Farrah "Poster" post is right next to the "Leave your comment" box, strangely I am humming the Jaws theme.<br /><br />@elaine, at Kinkos I printed out an extra copy for the little girl who said "Mommy what are paper dolls?" I think the mom wanted them as well, what is it with these potion masters?<br /><br />whoops, over the linedkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48567292737556019792010-01-26T17:30:34.169-05:002010-01-26T17:30:34.169-05:00@fikink, wow! Thanks for pointing me in that direc...@fikink, wow! Thanks for pointing me in that direction.<br /><br />@LetsRevisit..., yes, we do all know that.lit.dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06729199575329286046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43419093834339495812010-01-26T16:56:31.196-05:002010-01-26T16:56:31.196-05:00PACE OFF is an example (in ESL terminology) of a &...PACE OFF is an example (in ESL terminology) of a "phrasal verb", which is really more like an idiom. Looking up PACE and OFF will not give a non-native a very clear idea of what the expression means. <br /><br />KEEP DOWN, KEEP BACK and KEEP OPEN you could probably guess, but try CHECK OUT, CHECK INTO, CHECK UP etc. There are dictionaries written just for phrasal verbs and they are liberally sprinkled throughout our language.Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17964374453128401532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74124341630562159482010-01-26T16:56:09.349-05:002010-01-26T16:56:09.349-05:00@Lit.doc., Steve J. & Clark
re: the prepositio...@Lit.doc., Steve J. & Clark<br />re: the preposition ending thing.<br /><br />Reminds me of the joke about the guy from the South who walked up to group at Havard and asked;<br />"Can you tell me where the library is at?"<br />Well, one preppy turns to him and says;<br />"Here at Harvard we don't end a sentence with a preposition."<br />And he replied;<br />"Oh, excuse me. My mistake.<br /> Can you tell me where the library is at, Asshole?"Tinbenihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14661395078047234853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10437459164679989492010-01-26T16:39:15.988-05:002010-01-26T16:39:15.988-05:00@lit.doc - and here I thought you were referring ...@lit.doc - and here I thought you were referring to the artist Cam de Leon. I even emailed him this morning!fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90986749482741848602010-01-26T16:15:05.802-05:002010-01-26T16:15:05.802-05:00C'mon Lit Doc, we all know that the phrase &qu...C'mon Lit Doc, we all know that the phrase "for whom the bell tolls" was originally from a poem by John DonneLetsRevisitRex'sItwasn'tAPoemRantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59280726051910024992010-01-26T16:13:14.663-05:002010-01-26T16:13:14.663-05:00@Glitch: oops -- that's what I get for not fac...@Glitch: oops -- that's what I get for not fact-checking my own comments. It was something that I heard at the time, just completely wrong. Thanks for the info.Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58223137609543101782010-01-26T16:00:43.576-05:002010-01-26T16:00:43.576-05:00@Steve J, You posted re the preposition question w...@Steve J, You posted re the preposition question while I was keying same (though I think your memory of Churchill's words is more accurate).lit.dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06729199575329286046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43817948399452628172010-01-26T15:59:39.879-05:002010-01-26T15:59:39.879-05:00@Doc John, I agree with mac on both counts.
It&#...@Doc John, I agree with mac on both counts. <br /><br />It's weird that even the position of your hands is similar! You seem more approachable, though. <br /><br />@Clark and Steve J, yeah, the word preposition always gives me pause, because it sounds like it should come BEFORE the term it modifies, but of course it doesn't always do so. I really like that Churchill saying. For English, that rule is absurd.foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88856657416860887762010-01-26T15:56:26.065-05:002010-01-26T15:56:26.065-05:00@everyone who's actually puzzled about the Mr....@everyone who's actually puzzled about the Mr. Happy Pencil thing, just go the the NYT website, open up an old puzz, click on Reveal Complete Solution, and Mr. HP will smile for you. Then go read up on Freud and it'll make even more sense.<br /><br />@Elaine, I'm confused by one of your comments. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is by Metallica. What's the connection to this Donne fellow?<br /><br />@Clark, not ending with a preposition (ditto splitting an infinitive) is one of several not-really-a-rule rules floating around. The grammar-geek equivalents of urban legends. Famous quip by Churchill when corrected for ending with a prep., "That is one type of nonsense up with which I will not put".lit.dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06729199575329286046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19636313233117138382010-01-26T15:51:54.478-05:002010-01-26T15:51:54.478-05:00A nice, easy, and as @Mac said, elegant puzzle. M...A nice, easy, and as @Mac said, elegant puzzle. My only pause was at VAUNT, you don't see that too often and my only write over was ENGEL over engle. <br /><br />Thanks Paula G.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53419258392871415522010-01-26T15:47:48.521-05:002010-01-26T15:47:48.521-05:00Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/...Midday report of relative difficulty (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 of my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Tue 7:11, 8:44, 0.82, 11%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Tue 3:53, 4:28, 0.87, 17%, Easy<br /><br />This one's on course to be the easiest Tuesday puzzle for both groups of solvers since I began tracking online solve times last June. It seems that Will got his Monday and Tuesday puzzles backwards this week. He's almost always spot on, but perhaps not this time.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.com