tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3948988160994016470..comments2024-03-19T00:21:49.519-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Inuit knife / SAT 1-25-14 / Modern Gallantry pen name / Spread the Happy sloganeer / 2012 Pro Bowl player Chris / Valley of Amazement novelist 2013 / Megadyne fractionsRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59163451264522399962014-03-21T22:23:36.376-04:002014-03-21T22:23:36.376-04:00Not only CDC's concern, but EBOLA fit so well ...Not only CDC's concern, but EBOLA fit so well with TESTBAN, RAINOUT and NUTELLA, and for so long!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21579087104233282422014-03-03T14:08:57.304-05:002014-03-03T14:08:57.304-05:00I was surprised by the comments about the NW corne...I was surprised by the comments about the NW corner being easy. As a non-foodie from the hinterlands, that was the only part that stumped me. ROCCO and ZAGAT RATED?<br /><br />Like many others I went for LOOS and MAJOR for the two Johns, though I was quick to abandon MAJOR. I immediately assumed that 1-A was not a human body (perhaps a body of water?), to my great detriment.<br /><br />AMY TAN and TACITUS might have been easier if I were a bit more literate, but I only got them after I had googled DiSpirito to get myself unstuck.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71550017990893793332014-03-01T23:40:26.179-05:002014-03-01T23:40:26.179-05:00A jumbled day left me late to the party, but I fel...A jumbled day left me late to the party, but I felt so good at finally working this one out, that I just had to see what everyone had to say. Wanted both "vampires" and "good book" neither of which were the right length, ZOMBIES finally just appeared, and the rest worked itself out somehow, despite so many names I thought I didn't know.<br /><br />@Ron Diego. Part of my day's wanderings took me along the coast in the area of the seal pool where the ocean was roaring its best! If you have a chance, check it out tomorrow (Sunday) early before it quiets down. I've lived in SD County for something like 40 years, and have never seen the like. But then, the beach where I live isn't south facing, which makes a real difference. Sorry for the long post, but that ocean is so spectacular!DMGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73936622041709254612014-03-01T19:15:29.355-05:002014-03-01T19:15:29.355-05:00Au contraire, @Dugglesmack, it is I who is late to...Au contraire, @Dugglesmack, it is I who is late to the Syndygala. SOSUEME.<br /><br />Really enjoyed this clean satpuz, James. There definitely was stuff I didn't know, but sticking with it, this was doable. And I did it.<br /><br />I, too, threw down loos. That and EbOLI were my only writeovers. Lotsa good clues.<br /><br />@Waxy, your five nines beats my boat of nines over deuces. Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6903636723008401532014-03-01T17:50:23.789-05:002014-03-01T17:50:23.789-05:00@dugglesmack - many of us are chronically late to ...@dugglesmack - many of us are chronically late to the party but gather here to chime in on the day's offering. @Spacecraft led off for the syndi-crowd, as he often does, so he and all the subsequent commenters solved the puzzle at the same time you did. Welcome to the party - as is the case with many things, "better late than never!". Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36713947154337398682014-03-01T16:31:00.234-05:002014-03-01T16:31:00.234-05:00A nice alternative to the Negroni (since you recie...A nice alternative to the Negroni (since you recieved a bottle of bourbon): substitute bourbon for the gin. It becomes a Boulevardier, and quite tasty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34093817770620350142014-03-01T16:30:02.193-05:002014-03-01T16:30:02.193-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jacob Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01210679426242869986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59949298593561159362014-03-01T14:42:01.925-05:002014-03-01T14:42:01.925-05:00@space - with you on the ZAGAT comments. Made the ...@space - with you on the ZAGAT comments. Made the NW all but impossible as NUTELLA did below. Also count me in the RANDB camp at 50D for far too long. Despite these challenges, found the NE and entire central section of the puzzle easier than most Saturdays.<br /><br />Many clever clues, perhaps the best being that for YODEL. Would have thought the CDC would be more concerned about EBOLA than ECOLI but guess that's a STERILE debate that I won't GETINTO, MUTISM being my word of the day.<br /><br />Five 9's! Hoping none of my opponents are armed with an ULU or a STINGER... <br /><br />Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30392873036640000692014-03-01T14:11:48.580-05:002014-03-01T14:11:48.580-05:00For the longest time I felt I was marooned on an u...For the longest time I felt I was marooned on an uninhabited island, and throwing message bottles into the sea, with nary a response. I have been rescued thanks to yesterday's comments from @SolvinginSeattle, @Z, @SteveJ, @DMG and @Dirigonzo. And, I always like what Spacecraft has to say.<br /><br />Ron DiegoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27730052506429392782014-03-01T13:53:33.807-05:002014-03-01T13:53:33.807-05:00Always a late-comer here in San Diego but I'll...Always a late-comer here in San Diego but I'll throw another 2 cents in. To all of you "ulu" haters.....this word has been in crosswords from day ONE. So there, sue me. And to @AliasZ, I laughed so hard I wet my Depends! A big thanks to Mr .Mulhern for a good workout.<br /><br />Ron Diego 10:50 AM PST 3/1/14 Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78441196640881480952014-03-01T12:00:48.205-05:002014-03-01T12:00:48.205-05:00Oh yeah... and are we supposed to know that the Pr...Oh yeah... and are we supposed to know that the Pro Bowl is like the Grammies where the year represents when the players were selected as opposed to the year the game was played? Chris Snee was selected in 2012 for the 2013 Pro Bowl.dugglesmackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260757052492471234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9603627060636240942014-03-01T11:57:33.857-05:002014-03-01T11:57:33.857-05:00I'm a syndicated solver here so I'm late t...I'm a syndicated solver here so I'm late to the party, but I just thought I'd add my two cents.<br /><br />Even if I had snapped to the fact that it had something to do with Zagat, how the heck would I know that "20" is on the scale? Normally I would think ratings would be on a scale of 1-5 or 1-10... <br /><br />just sayin...dugglesmackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260757052492471234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31551967560009180442014-03-01T11:16:04.202-05:002014-03-01T11:16:04.202-05:00I finally got this filled in--even the NW, where (...I finally got this filled in--even the NW, where (at last!) I found a way for everything to work, after rejecting MOBILE and LOOS, and aha!ing YODEL instead of the stubborn mODEL. And there it stood, ZAGATRATED. Of al the WTF???s I've ever bumped into this one takes the prize. Well, you see, I'm not a restaurant-goer who cares about professional food critics. Give me good old-fashioned word-of-mouth every time. That, or, wherever the trucks are parked. There is no hope of any non-insider to get this; even if you know Zagat it's an awkward phrase. Flag on the field! Fifteen yards for ridiculous obscurity.<br /><br />The rest of it was tough ENOUGH to do. I feel as though if I hadn't been doing NYTXWs for a couple years now, I wouldn't have gotten many of these clues, but at last I think I've burrowed my way into the Shortzbrain, labyrinthine though it is.<br /><br />One nit: Surely the queen's weapons are her drone minions, who ARE equipped with STINGERs. She's a lover, not a fighter.<br /><br />9's full of 8's. The Queen Mary.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10703876154952697402014-02-08T20:21:04.902-05:002014-02-08T20:21:04.902-05:00@Anonymous 7:47 PM (D and A) "Like"@Anonymous 7:47 PM (D and A) "Like"Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85948042148235560582014-02-08T19:47:30.778-05:002014-02-08T19:47:30.778-05:002/8/14
Yea, that's right.
We just finished; no...2/8/14<br />Yea, that's right.<br />We just finished; no cheat.<br /><br />This was a terrific puzzle<br />And the comments were great, too.<br />This blog brings so much pleasure to our lives.<br />Crossword makers are grossly underpaid!!!!<br /><br />Love,<br />D and AAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24217577183117960782014-01-28T22:52:43.550-05:002014-01-28T22:52:43.550-05:00Did it, but thought it was one of the most difficu...Did it, but thought it was one of the most difficult puzzles I have tackled.<br /><br />Was going to forgo further comment, but must mention: @Chip Hilton, I did this in a ski house in Vermont, and on the table in front of me was a bottle of a brand I had never seen before: Barton and Guestier Chenin blanc.Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70960822693373735742014-01-27T10:38:03.101-05:002014-01-27T10:38:03.101-05:00Note to Rex re: Negronis.
This drink is heaven on...Note to Rex re: Negronis.<br /><br />This drink is heaven on earth and it is quite easy to have ONETOOMANY.<br /><br />Do be careful with your choice of sweet vermouth. Plonk Gallo, Stock, Tribuno) can ruin a Negroni. <br /><br />DeeJayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16709717979265507047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53619943511555973502014-01-25T23:09:04.321-05:002014-01-25T23:09:04.321-05:00Already finished Sunday's crossword. Waiting n...Already finished Sunday's crossword. Waiting now to see what you've said about it. I think this possibly qualifies me as a crossword addict.desihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01937968594570699276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62852882733335674952014-01-25T21:22:55.001-05:002014-01-25T21:22:55.001-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Brad Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12509084039477145159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38570851531402139642014-01-25T19:15:21.484-05:002014-01-25T19:15:21.484-05:00Savvy solver that I am, "Johns of Britain&quo...Savvy solver that I am, "Johns of Britain" could be either loos or lavs so I entered the l and the s and left the middle blank waiting for the crosswords to sort it out - I was GOBSmacked when IANS showed up! Finished in the NW where ZAGATRATED and TACITUS put up a fight but I finally prevailed. It's always good when I finish a Saturday puzzle before I've had ONE TOO MANY.<br />Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39463681130800113432014-01-25T18:02:12.269-05:002014-01-25T18:02:12.269-05:00This 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 no data<br />Tue 8:46, 8:15, 1.06, 67%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 10:46, 10:26, 1.03, 60%, Medium-Challenging<br />Thu 21:31, 19:03, 1.13, 73%, Medium-Challenging<br />Fri 18:37, 19:52, 0.94, 38%, Easy-Medium<br />Sat 28:13, 29:54, 0.98, 44%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon no data<br />Tue 5:37, 5:12, 1.08, 68%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 7:09, 6:12, 1.15, 85%, Challenging<br />Thu 14:12, 10:36, 1.34, 85%, Challenging<br />Fri 11:04, 11:32, 0.96, 41%, Medium<br />Sat 18:36, 18:32, 1.00, 53%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18000068824287719932014-01-25T17:46:46.640-05:002014-01-25T17:46:46.640-05:00@AliasZ. - To quote M&A - Har!
@jazzmanhgo - ...@AliasZ. - To quote M&A - Har!<br /><br />@jazzmanhgo - ZAGAT rates restaurants. The ZAGATSurvey was established by Tim and Nina Zagat in 1979 as a way to collect and correlate the ratings of restaurants by diners. For their first guide, covering New York City, the Zagats surveyed their friends. As of 2005, the Zagat Survey included 70 cities, with reviews based on the input of 250,000 individuals reporting over the years. In addition to restaurants, Zagat guides rate hotels, nightlife, shopping, zoos, music, movies, theaters, golf courses, and airlines. The guides are sold in book form, and formerly as a paid subscription on its web site.jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88737356714440939982014-01-25T17:41:24.449-05:002014-01-25T17:41:24.449-05:00@jazzmanchgo... Zagat rates restaurants@jazzmanchgo... Zagat rates restaurantschefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54019950284710024272014-01-25T17:08:21.540-05:002014-01-25T17:08:21.540-05:00Okay, guess I'll have to show my ignorance aga...Okay, guess I'll have to show my ignorance again -- what the hell does ZAGATRATED mean????jazzmanchgohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02568707898871466512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7722833685428104112014-01-25T16:53:57.066-05:002014-01-25T16:53:57.066-05:00Enjoyable Saturday which defeated me in the SE cor...Enjoyable Saturday which defeated me in the SE corner. I couldn't let go of BANDg for the winemaker Barton & Guestier, which really made sense as a label stable to me. <br /><br />Let me add to the kudos for AliasZ. A hoot.Chip Hiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944056030047563287noreply@blogger.com