tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3789134957278712937..comments2024-03-28T20:26:11.908-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Deep-sea explorer William / SAT 9-27-14 / Name in 2000 headlines / One-man Broadway hit of 1989 / Who said I have wonderful psychiatrist that I see maybe once year because I don't need it It all comes out onstageRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74333386963462936162014-11-02T01:57:34.502-04:002014-11-02T01:57:34.502-04:00Way too late in the day to be read by anyone, but ...Way too late in the day to be read by anyone, but at least I'll be on printed record.<br /><br />I finished it--after putting it down, going out for the day and coming back to it while watching my favorite movie, North by Northwest, for the NTH time.<br /><br />Broke through in the center with ICALLEMASISEEEM--fortunately a very descriptive clue--and the recently late, great JOANRIVERS swept me into the top. Wouldn't you know, the (North by)NW was the last to fall, after a gigantic AHA! moment at parsing 1a. Weird...of course!<br /><br />In "Amok Time," T'Pau says, "The air is the air. What can be done?" I say, the fill is the fill. What can be done to accommodate all those 15s? Not a lot. EENIE?? Ickie. And though SENESCENCE is a fine word, it IS a ten-letter word that uses only four letters of the alphabet--three of them uber-common. Seeing it there, it looks like a gigantic crutch.<br /><br />Not forgetting that it WAS a toughie and that I DID finish, IDSAY it's a B.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55628731367537894562014-11-01T18:14:09.651-04:002014-11-01T18:14:09.651-04:00Found it to be quite the challenge, however finish...Found it to be quite the challenge, however finished w/o help. Looooong time asolvin'; spent foerver in the stacks across the middle. Even the IBEFOREE took some time. But no GROANSAT this puz, might even be on the Saturday TOPTENLIST.<br /><br />Unreadable captchas for me so no play on the day.rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20244014274604600512014-11-01T15:54:05.680-04:002014-11-01T15:54:05.680-04:00Just to demonstrate that everyone's experience...Just to demonstrate that everyone's experience is unique, my first entry, without crosses was IBEFOREE, because the clue was prescriptive, to me anyway. From there the top 2/3 of the puzzle went swiftly, but I bogged down in the S, particularly the SW. Running the alphabet to get TAWS, and cringing at WE CARE, OREN just came from crosses.<br /><br />OK, enough about me. I'd say MED-CHALL is about right, and I liked most of the clues, and most of the fill, and really liked the 4-stack. That kind of construction is always impressive. Good finish to the week.<br /><br />5109 No dice with these cards.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42186623491850542722014-11-01T15:34:25.437-04:002014-11-01T15:34:25.437-04:00I like quad stacks and was just a teensy disappoin...I like quad stacks and was just a teensy disappointed this one did not have more. I also liked this puzzle. Never thought I would see a troll under this particular bridge. Also, trolls should remember, some of these clues are probably Will's, not the constructors. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49553784405360859162014-11-01T14:58:01.539-04:002014-11-01T14:58:01.539-04:00Struggled mightily,but managed all but the NW. My ...Struggled mightily,but managed all but the NW. My 1D guess was "maybe",so the navy folk were "ens"! Knew it didn't reall fitted the clue, but wanted 1A to be "malaprops" or,some such. That was stymied by the also wrong Roué. At any rate, I enjoyed the struggle. Surprised to learn this use of ABBA, thought puzzles had taught me it was a singing group, and didn't know FLUKEs are edible. So live and learn!<br /><br />167 @RD, your draw beats me again!DMGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48059885073969159502014-11-01T14:54:02.895-04:002014-11-01T14:54:02.895-04:00WEIRD does not break the spelling rule because the...WEIRD does not break the spelling rule because the rule states, "I before E EXCEPT after C." If a person uses the complete rule, it works!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50441414978462381282014-11-01T13:57:46.610-04:002014-11-01T13:57:46.610-04:00Count me in as liking the long stacks, but......Fo...Count me in as liking the long stacks, but......For me this was a real challenge and my hat is off to anyone considering it easy/medium or even med/chal. If it weren't for my reference library I would have been doomed to the Hall of Shamefulmess. I'm liberal so I count this as A FWH (Finished with help).<br /><br />Ron Diego 665= 8 ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47599984772066575202014-11-01T13:35:42.456-04:002014-11-01T13:35:42.456-04:00Just because you get an A doesn't mean you'...Just because you get an A doesn't mean you've easily passed. I had a lot of classes I had to study very hard for to get an A!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17515987323400161292014-11-01T11:29:12.979-04:002014-11-01T11:29:12.979-04:00Got all except for that evil NW. Abba? Beebe? Yeo?...Got all except for that evil NW. Abba? Beebe? Yeo? Dang it! Torbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01813931192681953872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29932011909439905962014-09-28T08:44:14.796-04:002014-09-28T08:44:14.796-04:00AZPETE
I can tell you with certainty that GWB got...AZPETE<br /><br />I can tell you with certainty that GWB got neither any As nor any Bs at Harvard Business School.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40569239132227642014-09-28T05:52:30.834-04:002014-09-28T05:52:30.834-04:00Yes, welcome back, and thanks for the TENRECYes, welcome back, and thanks for the TENRECLeapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78189630691645206862014-09-28T04:42:53.318-04:002014-09-28T04:42:53.318-04:00Welcome back @Casco KidWelcome back @Casco KidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47498457039803911922014-09-28T02:12:15.144-04:002014-09-28T02:12:15.144-04:001;51. Clean line score from a MA-S SatPuz no less....1;51. Clean line score from a MA-S SatPuz no less. Barany influence? <br /><br />I spent 50 minutes in the SW. laos for EIRE started the fun. rope for TBAR. cognaC for ARABIC. coEN for OREN. WECARE came and went a dozen times. SNARE was a sad solution. I didn't want to keep it, but did. TAWS, OREN and PACA are totally new. <br /><br />We saw a TENREC in Madagascar. Extremely funny looking rain forest rodent and excellent crossword material.<br /><br />Ok. Jet lag. What to do? SunPuz!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07107804787389636647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67947120629791579222014-09-27T22:21:32.742-04:002014-09-27T22:21:32.742-04:00I haven't finished it yet; but, I have to say,...I haven't finished it yet; but, I have to say, this is 2014. Do you think you can find a way to start saying 'nation' instead of 'tribe'? Also, the treaty was with the Lenape. Delaware was Mr. Thomas West, aka Baron de la Warr. <br /><br />Sheesh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87750135954642070062014-09-27T22:21:09.652-04:002014-09-27T22:21:09.652-04:00AZPETE
I can tell you unequivocally that GWB had...AZPETE <br /><br />I can tell you unequivocally that GWB had zero Bs at HBS.Fred Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91333305915282164942014-09-27T20:22:21.356-04:002014-09-27T20:22:21.356-04:00The C is referring to his undergrad cum at Yale. ...The C is referring to his undergrad cum at Yale. Wonder how many As he got at HBS since you need a B average to graduate. AZPETEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07011706117458656055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82187071068771822942014-09-27T20:02:19.094-04:002014-09-27T20:02:19.094-04:00I never used to do Saturday puzzles, and 15er stac...I never used to do Saturday puzzles, and 15er stacks used to scare me away. I'm a big girl now - so ventured forth with aplomb! I got most of it, with an occasional Google to keep things moving.<br /><br />What I am enjoying - unexpectedly - is the post-"dust-up" comments today! I think we're all bonding, folks!<br /><br />And, yes - I use my real name.Arlenehttp://www.listeningclosely.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78492203457677544562014-09-27T19:18:34.574-04:002014-09-27T19:18:34.574-04:00Clues were slipperier than SEALSKIN making for a g...Clues were slipperier than SEALSKIN making for a great Saturday puzzle. Got ECIGARETTE off the terminal -TTE, having recently tried them. Severe trachiitis/esophagitis ensued. Ergo, not highly recommended from moi. <br /><br />BREAKERONENINER was a gimme. When we moved to the "country" we listened to plenty of cowboy music in our SPARE TIME, before we finally got Sirius. Loved C.w.Mccall's Wonderfully rebellious "Convoy." <br /><br />Rubber Ducky out!<br />Bomakanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15842123585935534652014-09-27T18:05:08.671-04:002014-09-27T18:05:08.671-04:00This 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 5:57, 6:03, 0.98, 42%, Medium<br />Tue 9:29, 7:50, 1.21, 90%, Challenging<br />Wed 12:32, 9:30, 1.32, 96%, Challenging (12th highest ratio of 247 Wednesdays)<br />Thu 19:34, 16:57, 1.15, 79%, Medium-Challenging<br />Fri 14:55, 19:38, 0.76, 13%, Easy<br />Sat 27:09, 25:57, 1.05, 68%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:56, 3:57, 1.00, 43%, Medium<br />Tue 6:25, 5:21, 1.20, 92%, Challenging<br />Wed 7:30, 6:12, 1.21, 90%, Challenging<br />Thu 12:36, 10:29, 1.20, 77%, Medium-Challenging<br />Fri 9:49, 12:34, 0.78, 14%, Easy<br />Sat 19:12, 17:42, 1.08, 68%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37239432302095255532014-09-27T17:22:00.029-04:002014-09-27T17:22:00.029-04:00@Generic Solver: I think the conversations here s...@Generic Solver: I think the conversations here skew East Coast and people who do the puzzle the instant it comes out. As a [northern] Californian [hi there, Whirred Whack/s!] and someone who likes to do the puzzle in the morning to wake up my brain, I find that most comments I might make have already been covered by the time I come here, and I usually chime in only when I have a very strong feeling (pro or con) about a puzzle -- especially when mine is a minority view. Given those constraints, I seldom expect a response. There are many people you can email on the side. I've had some nice "chats" of that ilk over the years.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10032302346488486116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69670878084581249912014-09-27T17:06:21.584-04:002014-09-27T17:06:21.584-04:00twimc, or who gives a darn: had a malignant melano...twimc, or who gives a darn: had a malignant melanoma removed Thurs. A great load off my back!Fred Romagnolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11994837736408182418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3674531931052359272014-09-27T17:02:26.801-04:002014-09-27T17:02:26.801-04:00@Anon 4:41: I, of course, should have made the sam...@Anon 4:41: I, of course, should have made the same connections in my mind; thanks for the refresher. Glad to see some anons who are serious and thoughtful and not name callers!Fred Romagnolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11994837736408182418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73669489756565872522014-09-27T16:41:30.479-04:002014-09-27T16:41:30.479-04:00@Fred Romagnolo,
Yes, I also first thought of Ali...@Fred Romagnolo,<br /><br />Yes, I also first thought of Alito. Then I remembered that Clinton was president for all of 2000 and GWB was not inaugurated until January 2001.<br /><br />It turns out Alito did not join the court until 2006.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77328305549058847252014-09-27T16:22:48.071-04:002014-09-27T16:22:48.071-04:00The comment made by @Whirred Whacks at 8:50am abou...The comment made by @Whirred Whacks at 8:50am about George Barany was not made by me, the person who has been using that WHIRRED WHACKS moniker for the past 2 months. I have no issue with George other than to say he has been supportive toward me in his comments in this forum, and I've also enjoyed going to his website.<br /><br />Since I'm not using my Google/Blogger account (by choice) to make comments here, I guess if someone else wants to the Name/URL function to post as WHIRRED WHACKS, I don't have a lot to complain about. Seems sort of silly though -- kind of like high school, don't you think.<br /><br />Challenging puzzle for me: triple and quad stacks are tough. I finally made it through but had to Google 4 or 5 items.<br /><br />It's a beautiful day in Northern California, and we're having a baby shower at our house for my daughter tomorrow (my first grandchild)!Whirred Whacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53108576279951189482014-09-27T16:12:17.690-04:002014-09-27T16:12:17.690-04:00@Z, I agree with you about the creepy -- it's ...@Z, I agree with you about the creepy -- it's almost like identity theft -- and about the 'voice' recognition: I wouldn't confuse you with SteveJ today as I once did, and more of the regulars become identifiable by voice every day. I also read 'em (hi, @dk) all, for the variety of perspectives and interesting nuggets that turn up. I know, I've probably been pegged as easily entertained.<br /><br />@FredRom, nice one about 'tradutore - traditore'! It seems to me that the numerical captchas appear on some kind of schedule, but you can click on that circling arrow to the right of the box till you get one you can interpret.<br /><br />Andiamo!Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.com