tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post421401128865275713..comments2024-03-28T20:49:13.267-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Hebrew letter before nun / WED 5-22-13 / 1972 Slade song Take Me Back / Cohort of Athos / Firth of Clyde port / Arabian Nights menace / Sicko documentarian / Winter's Bone heroine DollyRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15666133973239017602013-06-26T19:21:25.358-04:002013-06-26T19:21:25.358-04:00@SiS - I can see that captcha going in a couple of...@SiS - I can see that captcha going in a couple of directions so thanks for choosing the high road.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6614736329721523512013-06-26T18:21:31.826-04:002013-06-26T18:21:31.826-04:00MEk/kITOSIS (I am not a Jewish biologist). PREs/sE...MEk/kITOSIS (I am not a Jewish biologist). PREs/sESTA (I am also not up on my cracker brands).<br /><br />@Diri, lol. And the words are only one letter different.<br /><br />@DMG, the only reason I have to watch tennis is Maria.<br /><br />Capcha (no kidding): into assemea. Since I know no one likes breathing problems...Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4657682475126729512013-06-26T17:49:51.696-04:002013-06-26T17:49:51.696-04:00@Waxy - I guess one could say it's a good day ...@Waxy - I guess one could say it's a good day to be homophonic and a bad day to be homophobic. Thank you and @Ginger for the welcome back.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41045736659533208822013-06-26T16:47:30.439-04:002013-06-26T16:47:30.439-04:00@DMG - Of course I'm watching the tennis, but ...@DMG - Of course I'm watching the tennis, but 4:00 AM comes in the middle of the night, so I set the DVR, and watch during the day. Sounds like I'm going to be disappointed by some of the outcomes. Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40843228708368834492013-06-26T16:40:33.230-04:002013-06-26T16:40:33.230-04:00@Diri - Good to have you back. Syncity just isn&#...@Diri - Good to have you back. Syncity just isn't the same without you.<br /><br />Rex rated this one as easy, and many of the commenters agreed, however, it (mostly) played harder than that for me. I DNF because of the MEb/bITOSIS cross. To divide is to split in two, bi, right? Wrong. And the ME_, could have been anything. Also had a problem at 23-A, but guessed right on that one.<br /><br />So...the theme was so/so? Not to me. I got a kick out of it. Also got kix out of all the xxex. XEROXE is brilliant, IMHO. And, it crosses 2 theme answers!<br /><br /> Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37688533009532932342013-06-26T16:34:46.154-04:002013-06-26T16:34:46.154-04:00@Diri - welcome back to Syncity. Had the same PREs...@Diri - welcome back to Syncity. Had the same PREs/sESTA problem as you and a number of others. <br /><br />IMHO a very creative effort on the part of rookie constructor Kevin Christian. Thought the six homophonic phrases involving an X and then CKS were extremely cool as well as the bonus X's in XEROXES, etc. Fun puz.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72624051640252109002013-06-26T16:28:02.991-04:002013-06-26T16:28:02.991-04:00Did this one while watching Federer come a-cropper...Did this one while watching Federer come a-cropper at Wimbleton, but even with half my attention it was easy for Wednesday. My only problem was thinking of the credits thing being that long list that ROLls at the end of a film, so couldn't parse the cracker brand. Once again, a one square DNF. Maybe I could get the prize for consistency?<br /><br />@Ginger: Roger, Maria, and a host of others out so early! Strange things are happening. I'm going to have to learn a bunch of new names!DNGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79511617920716825222013-06-26T16:10:21.544-04:002013-06-26T16:10:21.544-04:00Well, after a few days of travelling I'm back ...Well, after a few days of travelling I'm back to puzzling as my chief after-work diversion (it's too early for bourbon) and this was a good one to ease back in with - except for PREs/sESTA which made me one square short of a complete grid. I note that RUMBA was in the Friday puzzle to which Spacecraft refers, so I guess that's a "bleedover" of sorts? Anyway, I DARTED through the grid, and I'm glad to be back (referring to both home and Syncity.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63862383585128601032013-06-26T14:12:50.614-04:002013-06-26T14:12:50.614-04:00@rain forest: @anon 3:34 beat us both; I just adde...@rain forest: @anon 3:34 beat us both; I just added a clue.<br /><br />Something I forgot to add earlier: I know the Knapp gem of last Friday is cool, but do we have to land on it forever when we hit "syndicated?" Please let's get back on track; I'm tired of fishing around in that right-hand column!spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76259812491829646512013-06-26T13:38:39.786-04:002013-06-26T13:38:39.786-04:00I dunno. I just read the clues and did it with no...I dunno. I just read the clues and did it with now write-overs, enjoyed the theme, though very easy once the first entry was encountered, winced at AXER (if you want to dance with her just go AXER),TTOP, AROO, and the RRN, but there have been MUCH worse. You beat me to it on the tux tucks, @Spacecraft (folds in a dinner jacket so it will LIEFLAT). How about "branches in Hell's river"--Styx sticks. Some puzzles "sparkle" and are great. Some don't and are just fine. Some do a puzzle in 3 minutes; some take longer. So?rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39729050315902012312013-06-26T12:02:52.485-04:002013-06-26T12:02:52.485-04:00So, REXWRECKS another rookie! Don't take it to...So, REXWRECKS another rookie! Don't take it to heart, Kev; he's just...tired. But: there are a few things you might do to improve your follow-up submission:<br /><br />-->If you're gonna do a theme, try one that doesn't cave in after the first get. Once we saw the X-homonyms it was all over.<br />-->Keep your love for Scrabbliness, but lose fill STINKERS like REE and MEM (too obscure) or SAV, PKG and OME (too contrived) or TTOP (too overused) or ANY Roman numeral, EVER!<br />-->Avoid entries such as LIEFLAT, which...well, does.<br /><br />I kept looking for [Downward adjustments to a monkey suit?] TUXTUCKS. Next time. --Hey, how about [Guillotine operator's call?] NEXTNECKS!<br /><br />English is such fun.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36264358710146736262013-05-23T20:28:54.925-04:002013-05-23T20:28:54.925-04:00Soo late...
Had to say that I liked MOSSY and MYST...Soo late...<br />Had to say that I liked MOSSY and MYST.<br />If I were to give my garden a name, it would be "Gnomes in the Moss". (I embrace the many varieties of moss who are so happy in my shady garden.)<br /><br />And MYST just conjures up almost a Pavlovian reaction - that calm and soothing game weaned me away from an addiction to Wolfenstein.<br />Now my only computer game addiction is the NYT and Rexville.<br />Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72004737233728710742013-05-23T00:38:54.619-04:002013-05-23T00:38:54.619-04:00This 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 7:18, 6:14, 1.17, 96%, Challenging (8th highest ratio of 179 Mondays)<br />Tue 9:09, 8:09, 1.12, 77%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 8:47, 10:00, 0.88, 24%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 4:21, 3:46, 1.16, 94%, Challenging<br />Tue 5:23, 4:49, 1.12, 77%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 5:10, 5:45, 0.90, 25%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49943296119287085022013-05-22T20:36:17.062-04:002013-05-22T20:36:17.062-04:00@mitzie - there are MDCLXX people who have bothere...@mitzie - there are MDCLXX people who have bothered to become members of this blog. That's a few more than 37. Who knows how many others visit often. Nevertheless, I am sure you are correct that the number of people who solve the puzzle in ignorance of Rex far exceeds the members of this little community. Too bad for them, they are missing a lot of fun.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82300026339126942952013-05-22T19:26:52.578-04:002013-05-22T19:26:52.578-04:00@Mitzie
There must be a new constructor almost ev...@Mitzie<br /><br />There must be a new constructor almost every day then, no?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4779711826050906972013-05-22T19:04:25.815-04:002013-05-22T19:04:25.815-04:00FearlessKim here: thanks, @Anka Ccny Mochas, for F...FearlessKim here: thanks, @Anka Ccny Mochas, for FAX FACTS! I wonder how many of these the constructor thought of, but didn't use!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65766512507851615072013-05-22T17:53:41.674-04:002013-05-22T17:53:41.674-04:00@ nero - MCC(I, V, or X) is not a mid-century date...@ nero - MCC(I, V, or X) is not a mid-century date.<br /><br />ULNAR was definitely not ULNAL to anyone whose dislocated finger was set back in place by a loquacious doctor: "Now we deaden the ULNAR nerve...." I speak from experience here.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-715845149321923922013-05-22T17:49:48.385-04:002013-05-22T17:49:48.385-04:00I agree with @Gareth re: the "done many times...I agree with @Gareth re: the "done many times before" -- or not done, I guess. <br /><br />I'd also like to say that even if it *had* been done before, that's OK, too. Who says you can't repeat a theme? New solvers are born every day! <br /><br />I think any notion that a repeated theme (or a "tired" theme) is somehow "less-than" is kind of amateurish and pompous. Just because you've seen it (or *feel* like you've seen it, which in itself is pretty self-absorbed) doesn't mean that millions of other solvers haven't.<br /><br />Sometimes I think we have to remember that the editor isn't catering just to the 37 people who participate in this blog.<br /><br />Also, I say every first-time constructor gets a big pass on crappy fill, as long as it's fair crap. Mitzienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68965344113863376882013-05-22T16:56:09.901-04:002013-05-22T16:56:09.901-04:00Very clever. Caught the theme immediately on the f...Very clever. Caught the theme immediately on the first one, which was REX WRECKS. <br /><br />Wanderlust reminded me of the folksong, "Vom Wasser haben wirs gelernt." It was told to me, that millers, after forever watching the water flow by and around the millstone, develop a yearning to travel and find out where the water goes. Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44626172838683142462013-05-22T16:46:36.542-04:002013-05-22T16:46:36.542-04:00Fun! Great use of Xs ever!
Fact that it prompts lo...Fun! Great use of Xs ever!<br />Fact that it prompts lots of folks (folx?) to come up with their own combos speaks to the fact (fax?) that the puzzle was fun and inspiring!<br />I thought this was wonderful and had it been run on a Monday (6 themes with totally tough letters!) I'd have been awestrux!<br /><br />For the gal who thinks $200 is too little, two swift kix to the shins. It's not the $200, it's the fact they are resold and repurposed ten different times without any reprint compensation that is the crucks (short for cruciverbalists) crux of the matter.<br /><br />Loved the debut...soldier on wordd, KEvin! I mean, Onward Christian soldier!Anka Ccny Mochasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86032922955792369992013-05-22T16:36:09.818-04:002013-05-22T16:36:09.818-04:00Midday 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 8:37, 10:00, 0.86, 19%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Wed 5:11, 5:45, 0.90, 25%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31556747992902064522013-05-22T16:30:41.623-04:002013-05-22T16:30:41.623-04:00Like the Stax Records reference. Would have been e...Like the Stax Records reference. Would have been even more appropriate if ETTA James had been a STAX artist. Still kind of a soulsy cross.Colbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01689267070985508341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-562477810312181832013-05-22T15:40:11.029-04:002013-05-22T15:40:11.029-04:00FearlessKim again: oh and hand up for PREs/PREZ, a...FearlessKim again: oh and hand up for PREs/PREZ, and here's my favorite blunder, from the San Francisco area: had fool, AROO, REXWRECKS etc. for the downs and ended up with 33A: farted. Really, dragonflies, really?! Oh, my bad... (Dragonflies: "What a DOLT!")Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84671500407287362032013-05-22T15:34:26.864-04:002013-05-22T15:34:26.864-04:00FearlessKim here: Mark me as one who enjoyed the p...FearlessKim here: Mark me as one who enjoyed the puzzle, and its aftermath (see below), and the comments, esp. @TDavis' just a short while ago: "I mean, I don't see Kevin Christian submitting a puzzle with a note: 'Here's my puzzle. You MUST run it on Wednesday or later!'" Agreed! A Monday-ish puzz with lots of theme and Scrabble value, and yes, lots of crosswordese, but let's please not savage the constructors. <br /><br />Fun with words: that's why i do puzzles, and that's why I come here. So I had some more fun running the alphabet to see how many X/CKS combos I could think of. these were all the ones I could come up with, and I'm sure at least a few are already in the puzz, or in your comments above. Fun coffee break! Now back to work!<br /><br />AXE ACTS<br />CHECKS CHEX<br />LYNX LINKS<br />MINX MINKS<br />PACKS PAX<br />PICKS PIX<br />POX POCKS<br />STYX STICKS<br />TEX TECHS<br />TACKS TAX<br />TUX TUCKS<br />TICKS TIX<br />WHACKS WAX<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85427572058960118052013-05-22T15:28:01.402-04:002013-05-22T15:28:01.402-04:00Actress Courtney readies to fire
COX COCKSActress Courtney readies to fire<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />COX COCKSNamelessnoreply@blogger.com