tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4283761599797645995..comments2024-03-28T11:06:22.915-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Feudal laborer / THU 7-19-12 / The Cavaliers' sch. / Dior design of the 1950s / Zeno's home / Thor Heyerdahl craftRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73363338833186026462012-08-24T22:21:47.565-04:002012-08-24T22:21:47.565-04:00Solved the puzzle, didn't get the cryptic part...Solved the puzzle, didn't get the cryptic part until reading the blog, although I was pretty sure I was missing something. I should have caught on that the letters were not jumbled. Maybe if I had tried a bit harder to list the possible anagrams (by hand) I would have noticed it. Should have had more pulpy orange juice (Mom used to tell me that the pulpy bits were the vitamins!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53012229784575906952012-08-24T20:05:34.886-04:002012-08-24T20:05:34.886-04:00@Anony 5:12 P.M. - I'm a very "visual&quo...@Anony 5:12 P.M. - I'm a very "visual" kind of solver, and your explanation actually helped a lot - thanks for posting!Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42760498705020176172012-08-24T17:12:32.430-04:002012-08-24T17:12:32.430-04:00I hope this gets read as I am a "syndicated&q...I hope this gets read as I am a "syndicated" player of this game, so my comments are obviously "late".<br /> I see 2 main negative comments that keep cropping up.<br /> The first is that not all are "real" words. The only ones I see that are even questionable are RETINAE(plural of retina), ALEFS(plural of alef [or aleph], both a Hebrew letter & a programming language), & MINTIER(more minty).<br /> The second is that people didn't all seem to see that the "remaining" letters stayed in order.Let me try a slightly different graphic explanation.<br /> Say that (X)=X in, & VW_YZ= the space where X goes, then:<br />A(RET)E = RET in A___E<br />EAG(L)E = L in EAG_E<br />S(CO)URING = CO in S__URING<br />PLA(T)TE = T in PLA_TE<br />G(LAND)S = LAND in G____S<br />SPECT(RE)S = RE in SPECT__S<br />ALE(F)S = F in ALE_S<br />TI(M)ER = M in TI_ER.<br />Did that make things clearer, or muddier? Oh well, thanks for allowing me the attempt<br />(s)AN OFTEN READER & SOLVER BUT AN ALMOST NEVER COMMENTERAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57894006647687256172012-08-24T00:48:49.862-04:002012-08-24T00:48:49.862-04:00Really had fun with this one. Got it pretty quick ...Really had fun with this one. Got it pretty quick with LANDINGS & MINTIER. Knew IN was in the clues and the other letters weren't totally random. Thought I was going to have to pull out my Jumble prowess but really didn't need it. Was happy to see it ranked challenging. *pats self on back*Eastsacgirlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25501034260807847022012-08-23T20:59:57.096-04:002012-08-23T20:59:57.096-04:00Aw, rats. I was waiting for the clue ADAVIDAGADDA ...Aw, rats. I was waiting for the clue ADAVIDAGADDA but I never saw it. Why does this puzzle seem to DEPRESS so many? ITSTRUE, it could be a little more PULPY, but for me it was a fine Thursday. A little--but not too much--thinking about the themers; maybe a couple of cross-letters to kick things off, and there you go. Besides, the wife is NUTSO about Patsy CLINE, so dis this grid at your peril.<br /><br />My and the blogger's WOTD coincide today; ENDUE is brand-new to me. I don't like it. Favorite clue: "Casey at the bat, once"<br /><br />Rare triple letters! Did I SEEEM? IGUESSSO.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1632594300302374482012-08-23T18:01:02.205-04:002012-08-23T18:01:02.205-04:00Really, really hard for me but I'm in the mino...Really, really hard for me but I'm in the minor leagues. Got it but took hours of staring at it.swnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58083871858539022332012-08-23T16:38:16.905-04:002012-08-23T16:38:16.905-04:00I managed to bollix up the whole grid early on wit...I managed to bollix up the whole grid early on with DEPlEte in the NW, LesSEN in the middle and (very briefly)GErmAns in the SW, so I had to sort all of that out while at the same time trying to understand the theme, which I could see but couldn't quite put in motion to help me solve. In the end I joined ACME's OWS (One Wrong Square) club which put me in the excellent company of @DMGrandma et al!<br /><br />I confess that I sometimes blog about this blog on my own blog - that way I can get stuff off me chest and no one else has to read it (and usually no one does).<br /><br />@Spacecraft - thanks for setting me straight on Shelley yesterday; I clearly need to read more, and more carefully!Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5523150136589145352012-08-23T16:10:48.379-04:002012-08-23T16:10:48.379-04:00I admire those who sussed out the gimmick behind t...I admire those who sussed out the gimmick behind this puzzle, I never caught on beyond understanding the need to add "in" to some letter arrangement that supposedly spelled another word. Found it uninspiring going, threw in the towel and came here to,find out what was wrong with MINTIER which I parsed MIN TIER. Finally had to consult the dictionary to dicover it means "more minty!" Duh! Anyway, all else aside, I finished with only the AUGeR error. One square again! and tomorrow is Friday!<br /><br />Just cycled through something like 7 Captcha thingies to find one I think I can read. Why does it have to be this hard?DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53314168223968428672012-08-23T14:37:14.015-04:002012-08-23T14:37:14.015-04:00Not sussing out the theme yet correctly completing...Not sussing out the theme yet correctly completing the puzzle made me feel kinda smart. Waiting until I read Sarah@8:22 to have the theme explained made me feel kinda stupid. Reading so many sanctimonious posts about a variety of topics made me feel kinda angry. <br /><br />Honestly, sometimes I wonder why I read the blog. rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73259064921597822652012-08-23T14:15:22.620-04:002012-08-23T14:15:22.620-04:00Really enjoyable Thursday puzzle and even better c...Really enjoyable Thursday puzzle and even better comments.<br /><br />4D clue had me thinking RAft, thus a rebus, but finally figured out that it was RA I.<br /><br />Dropped in DORIC, ENERO, PETRI and STATUE, but continued to wrestle with the NW until I got 17A on crosses. Snapped to the theme with COINSUR...<br /><br />@SiS lol award of the day to @Slow Hand 11:48.<br /><br />Go Mariners!Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69097967679853659052012-08-23T10:38:37.566-04:002012-08-23T10:38:37.566-04:00Excellent analysis Alan.
When you write, "Ev...Excellent analysis Alan.<br /><br />When you write, "Even if I'm doing a book about feudal laborers, ESNE wouldn't cut the muster", isn't the phrase "cut the mustard"? Googled the phrase and couldn't track down a clear answer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75177459281485924192012-08-23T09:57:39.463-04:002012-08-23T09:57:39.463-04:00Quite frankly all the negative comments have me as...Quite frankly all the negative comments have me asking, WHY? This puzzle was clever and should have been rated EASY or maybe EASY-MEDIUM. As far as "retiring the word esne.....sometimes it's necessary to use an old and well used word in order to complete the fill. Also, in a very difficult puzzle it helps the solver. Didn't care for the writeup one iota. Just saying...<br />Ron Diego Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57981047956969441042012-07-20T15:22:28.344-04:002012-07-20T15:22:28.344-04:00Grrrr! This is an example of an "impossible&q...Grrrr! This is an example of an "impossible" - level puzzle! The author has a British sounding name, which is bad news, as the popular puzzles there are those "acrostic" puzzles which I can't even be in the same room with. HOWEVER, i was so proud I got 1 measly clue, and I'm wrong! but it sounded so right. Backscratchers activity? I put QUIDPROQUO. Doesn't that make sense? And fit? Grrrr!BlogSpotRemover (!) or (?)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02223208453641127129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71026068865188699102012-07-20T01:18:33.403-04:002012-07-20T01:18:33.403-04:00disregard- figured it out
thanksdisregard- figured it out<br />thanksmaxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25112789084728088522012-07-20T01:11:02.788-04:002012-07-20T01:11:02.788-04:00regardless of any criticism of this puzzle (believ...regardless of any criticism of this puzzle (believe me, i had plenty), is anyone having trouble doing the crossword online on nytimes.com? the box that usually has the crossword on the "Crosswords & Games" page is just missing. it could potentially be a problem with my java, but i was just wondering if anyone is having the same problems.<br />thanksmaxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68324919727317664292012-07-20T00:45:05.082-04:002012-07-20T00:45:05.082-04:00Greetings from Auckland. For better or worse, I...Greetings from Auckland. For better or worse, I'm back to blogging in four days. Right now, I'm Starving, so ... see you.<br /><br />RPRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28466725182455054612012-07-19T22:14:56.426-04:002012-07-19T22:14:56.426-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 8/1/2009 post 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 (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Mon 6:10, 6:49, 0.90, 13%, Easy<br />Tue 7:35, 8:57, 0.85, 10%, Easy<br />Wed 11:01, 11:46, 0.94, 38%, Easy-Medium<br />Thu 18:21, 18:53, 0.97, 50%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:37, 3:41, 0.98, 45%, Medium<br />Tue 4:29, 4:38, 0.97, 47%, Medium<br />Wed 5:36, 5:53, 0.95, 41%, Medium<br />Thu 9:27, 9:21, 1.01, 58%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54623293555506123412012-07-19T21:16:47.399-04:002012-07-19T21:16:47.399-04:00@Deb - Aaaaaa-men!
May I add my own pet peeve - t...@Deb - Aaaaaa-men!<br /><br />May I add my own pet peeve - the commenters who "don't have time to read the comments," but just have to add their own insightful (and often duplicative) thoughts?GLRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47446629739923093702012-07-19T21:08:04.484-04:002012-07-19T21:08:04.484-04:00Andrew, thanks for the link to your Rows Garden pu...Andrew, thanks for the link to your Rows Garden puzzles. I've printed off #84 and look forward to digging in.Carolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971759975067250908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60946808970746458532012-07-19T20:48:48.173-04:002012-07-19T20:48:48.173-04:00Andrew's explanation...
cryptic-style word s...Andrew's explanation...<br /><br /> cryptic-style word structuring; ARETE can be explained as RET IN[side] AE, hence creating RETINAE, etc....<br /><br />seems pretty clear to me (disclaimer - I, too, came here thinking it was anagrams). That so many seemed to still not get it until Sarah (welcome!) explained makes me wonder if they actually read the blog. (Or it could just be that they "skim" in the same way I generally do. If I'm reading, say, a magazine article, I almost always skim past paragraph headings and people's names/titles, etc.)<br /><br />@Pete - I thought I was doing my best to trash the place, but then Rex came in and agreed with me and stole my fire. <br /><br />@Every-damned-body - Criticizing the puzzle is fine. Criticizing the critic's opinions is fine. Criticizing a guest critic him/herself is just plain fucking rude. (Yes, I said the F word. It has a power that "acceptable" alternates do not.)<br /><br />Gotta add @You-know-who-you-are: Criticizing and disagreeing with Rex day after day after bloody day is just tiresome. <br /><br />Btw, I snuck a bit of musical promotion into my own guest-blog and I don't feel one tiny bit of shame for it :PDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675331024091722316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71290858525096049662012-07-19T17:59:01.356-04:002012-07-19T17:59:01.356-04:00Andrew, loved your write-up, and also love the Row...Andrew, loved your write-up, and also love the Rows Garden puzzles. So far I have only completely finished one, but I enjoy the challenge.<br /><br />Finished today's NYT in 20 minutes, thinking "these anagrams are kind of easy, not too mixed up at all.". You and @Sarah Explained It All For Me.Geometricushttp://www.providenceacademy.org/our_community/faculty/faculty_directory/mr_benjamin_blackhawk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77056658164129438892012-07-19T17:20:18.512-04:002012-07-19T17:20:18.512-04:00Rex should have a BBQ and invite some of his close...Rex should have a BBQ and invite some of his closest friends. Us!Rex fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81891020366904317792012-07-19T17:00:40.092-04:002012-07-19T17:00:40.092-04:00P.P.S.S. CNN just did a thing on what listeners wo...P.P.S.S. CNN just did a thing on what listeners would rather do, than watch to another campaign tv ad. Personal fave: "I'd rather go on a 12-hour car ride to Canada on Mitt's roof." Har. Reminded me a lot of some of the clever comments in these parts. U guys are somethin' else. So are the NYT Puzs.<br /><br />Peace and love,And finally M and Anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66533506111473950182012-07-19T16:59:58.166-04:002012-07-19T16:59:58.166-04:00@R_C - How on earth could there be any question as...@R_C - How on earth could there be any question as to whether or not I was joshing? Dufus isn't enough of a clue? 102nd? Perpetuating the anagram myth?Dufusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33704158246892940072012-07-19T16:48:53.702-04:002012-07-19T16:48:53.702-04:00@ Z - I am a counterexample to your posit. I never...@ Z - I am a counterexample to your posit. I never got the theme on my own, yet I liked the puzzle, particularly so once I got the theme via the blogosphere.<br /><br />@ Dufus - I can't tell if you are joshing or if you really do not know that DOACF is actually Orange's blog.<br /><br />captcha 4 apabst - a good number for a hot afternoon, although Sam Adams would be better.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.com