tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4308533962106803626..comments2024-03-29T01:22:33.864-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Washington city in apple-growing country / TUE 8-6-13 / First lady between Bess Jackie / British royal name since 1917 / Woman's sleeveless undergarment informally / Rodeo wrestling targetRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36104854386224385232013-09-10T23:23:28.937-04:002013-09-10T23:23:28.937-04:00Thanks muchly @SiS for the advice. Driving to Sal...Thanks muchly @SiS for the advice. Driving to Salem to visit with some of my wife's family who live down there - an area I like a lot - as part of a couple of weeks of vacation on the left coast.<br /><br />Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78767522440108398482013-09-10T20:44:41.958-04:002013-09-10T20:44:41.958-04:00Wow! I came to Rexville late today and there is a ...Wow! I came to Rexville late today and there is a SPATE of stuff to talk about.<br /><br />Only writeovers were irOny before STORY, and jaNE before ANNE.<br /><br />Really nice Tuesday, Lynn.<br /><br />@Ginger, yes on the Yakima cherries. We travel to Walla Walla every Summer to play golf and sample wine. Always bring back wine, onions and cherries. Wasn't Gary Puckett from Union Gap?<br /><br />@Waxy, if you're driving from Vancouver (my fav city in the world) to Salem (why Salem?), skip Yakima. Good town to drive through to Walla Walla but not a destination. Visit La Conner WA for the tulips and Newberg OR for the pinot noir tasting. Both right off I5.<br /><br />@M&A, Gary Larsen used to live directly across the street from Bill Gates. In his second story bedroom window he had a cow's skull. Apparently, they never met. The story has it that Steve Jobs was being interviewed at a conference and was told that Gary Larsen and Bill Gates lived across the street from one another and Bill Gates did not know who his neighbor was. Job's reply was "who is Bill Gates?" <br /><br />@LMS, absolutely love the lobster story. Have one for you. I was summering on Mt. Desert Island while in college and my host, Karl, was invited to a party in Bar Harbor at the Dorrance's place. I walked in to the room with the food and saw a pile of lobster claws over a foot high. No sign of the tails. I asked Karl what would have happened to the tails. He said they would probably have thrown them away. As we left the party we swung by the alley in back of the house and, sure enough, there were mounds of lobster tails wrapped in newspaper in the garbage. Well, not wanting to see such a delicacy go to waste, I dived in and retrieved the tails, throwing them in the back of Karl's VW van, and off we went back to Northeast Harbor. We got on the jungle drums and told people to bring beer, wine, clams and corn, and proceeded to have the biggest lobster feast on the beach you could imagine. I just wish I had had a live one to send back to the ocean.<br /><br />Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91981808630851489662013-09-10T15:13:43.490-04:002013-09-10T15:13:43.490-04:00Am driving down from the Vancouver area to Salem, ...Am driving down from the Vancouver area to Salem, Oregon next week so all the extremely positive comments about Yakima suggest a worthwhile detour to be made en route.<br /><br />My bugbear (and I've blogged about it before) is "near-miss" which I think should be "near-hit".<br /><br />Fun puzzle but, as others have suggested, probably should have been flip-flopped with yesterday's.<br />Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8640816484525332512013-09-10T14:54:12.567-04:002013-09-10T14:54:12.567-04:00Reminds me of a Garry Shandling line about the mir...Reminds me of a Garry Shandling line about the mirror above his bed, "Objects in this mirror are larger than they appear".<br /><br />The fruit stands near YAKIMA have the most wonderful cherries in early July. Yum<br /><br />Quick, easy, fun puzzle. I like how 48-A, UNION Gap is a town directly adjacent to 46-A YAKIMA.<br /><br />@DMG Absolutely scintillating final yesterday. Hope you were able to watch it.Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54059881232156032302013-09-10T12:56:44.699-04:002013-09-10T12:56:44.699-04:00My favourite bugbear is the sign in the express la...My favourite bugbear is the sign in the express lane at a supermarket that reads "12 or less items". Only the QFC in Sequim, Wash. has the correct "12 or FEWER items". Obviously the meaning is clear, but it bugs me nonetheless.<br /><br />Nice puzzle. Yakima grows wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, btw. Also, like many cities in Wash. and Or., Yakima is not as well known as smaller cities in the Eastern states. Regionalism.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21131403636288378742013-09-10T11:40:44.647-04:002013-09-10T11:40:44.647-04:00@Melodious: You're right--but I wish that was ...@Melodious: You're right--but I wish that was MY biggest problem of the day! Deal with it. How about "This page has intentionally been left blank."<br /><br />No it hasn't; you have just intentionaly un-blanked it with that sentence!<br /><br />On to more erudite puzzles. Today's didn't seem to strike the same chord in me as in many others. I thought the theme was ho-hum, and the fill--outside of two very nifty long downs, its best feature--not all that moving. It was...okay. Weird clue: 43d. I'm trying to picture this person in tight jeans and thick-rimmed glasses. What, a fast-growing nerd?? A myopic Vinnie Barbarino??<br /><br />77 Sunset Strip:<br />You meet the highbrow and the HIPSTER,<br />The starlet and the phony TIPSTER [also recently appeared]<br />You meet most every kind of gal and guy--<br />Including a private eye!<br /><br />Yeah, I know: even back then, I needed a life.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61803101942246098622013-08-07T11:06:07.266-04:002013-08-07T11:06:07.266-04:00Is a spa really a "fitness facility"?? H...Is a spa really a "fitness facility"?? How could that be anything but gym!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20926048465497793512013-08-07T02:13:07.863-04:002013-08-07T02:13:07.863-04:00This 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 6:50, 6:09, 1.11, 87%, Challenging<br />Tue 7:23, 8:13, 0.90, 19%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 4:15, 3:47, 1.13, 89%, Challenging<br />Tue 4:42, 4:57, 0.95, 30%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81359970790498140432013-08-06T21:24:58.703-04:002013-08-06T21:24:58.703-04:00Camo CAMI is a thing.<a href="http://www.harrysarmysurplus.net/womens-woodland-sleeper-tank-top.html" rel="nofollow">Camo CAMI</a> is a thing. Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58812986895771106772013-08-06T16:28:13.642-04:002013-08-06T16:28:13.642-04:00Midday 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 />Tue 7:19, 8:13, 0.89, 20%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Tue 4:56, 4:58, 0.99, 46%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57686579187967308232013-08-06T15:34:55.143-04:002013-08-06T15:34:55.143-04:00Nicely done @Lindsay.
Easy puzzle, thankfully. S...Nicely done @Lindsay.<br /><br />Easy puzzle, thankfully. Still reeling after Saturday.gifcanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12612467417938884430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35312354443400823942013-08-06T15:04:07.257-04:002013-08-06T15:04:07.257-04:00@JohnV: hah! Good one. But of course the sign in t...@JohnV: hah! Good one. But of course the sign in the restroom should be, Things in the rest room seem smaller than they are.<br /><br />Not to put too fine a point on it. So to speak...Melodious Funknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41256861749241402772013-08-06T14:50:25.390-04:002013-08-06T14:50:25.390-04:00@m&a -- Oh my gosh -- I think you're right...@m&a -- Oh my gosh -- I think you're right about that! My goof! Maybe I'm the one needing Therapy!Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48988666553505739612013-08-06T14:50:18.351-04:002013-08-06T14:50:18.351-04:00PaulA Gamache. Day-um. Bad day.
:(PaulA Gamache. Day-um. Bad day.<br />:(Haplessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84242289045662583162013-08-06T14:46:47.055-04:002013-08-06T14:46:47.055-04:00@Lewis... Please try to keep those NC legislators ...@Lewis... Please try to keep those NC legislators in the real world. I thought I heard the Shortzmeister say once that Paul Gamauche handled the puz correspondence. Hell, I don't know. My one reject letter came from a NYT attorney. Said somethin about it'd be better, if I got Therapy. Is that Therapy dealy one of them there computer crossword developin software packages? If it's got the "maximize U's" setting, I want that.M and A Help Linenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2077838046952058012013-08-06T14:32:02.287-04:002013-08-06T14:32:02.287-04:00Lynn has the unenviable job of sending reject emai...Lynn has the unenviable job of sending reject emails to the puzzles Will doesn't accept. Glad to see the love she's getting today.<br /><br />I really liked the cluing, which I thought was Tuesday-perfect. Unsophisticated, precise, and clear. A fun solve.<br /><br />Grid gruel: DAK, ITA, DEA -- in other words, a very pleasant dearth of gruel.<br /><br />Interesting cross of HIPSTER and LOSER, and I like LOLA, ALOHA and YAKIMA all in the same neighborhood.<br /><br />Good one, John V!<br /><br />I know my state, NC, has been getting a deserved bad rap recently. Hopefully we've begun to turn that around with a huge rally of 5,000-8,000 in Asheville yesterday. The legislature has gone nuts.Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72643702048047889142013-08-06T13:54:36.395-04:002013-08-06T13:54:36.395-04:00@Mand A I'll be happy to make the cUp cakes u...@Mand A I'll be happy to make the cUp cakes unless U really want to.<br /><br />Now I have to go look at our 2 new Toyotaa and see what's written on the mirrorchefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17849674243168428352013-08-06T13:36:05.683-04:002013-08-06T13:36:05.683-04:00Things in restrooms are smaller than they seem, or...Things in restrooms are smaller than they seem, or so I'm told. John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46746744240012720552013-08-06T13:24:21.448-04:002013-08-06T13:24:21.448-04:00I liked the theme, but I never heard COP used as a...I liked the theme, but I never heard COP used as a synonym for “make off with”. COP (beg for) a plea, COP a squat (take a seat) and COP (sneak) a feel (which is the closest to “make off with”). I liked the long downs, but not the two UNs (19A and 59A) even if they are symmetrical and similar and UPs. ASS and SASS?<br /><br />SEALY before SERTA and RINSES before ERODES.<br /><br />@Norm C – I agree with you on STEINS<br />Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33296549177701187332013-08-06T13:21:22.554-04:002013-08-06T13:21:22.554-04:00Re side-view mirror: my husband crossed out "...Re side-view mirror: my husband crossed out "larger" and wrote in "cuter" once. He also rearranged the letters on a sign that read "keep out no trespassing" to " peek out no traipsing". He oddly isn't into puzzles.Questiniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06225633428852696530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45666700792166717962013-08-06T13:16:19.914-04:002013-08-06T13:16:19.914-04:00p.s. Man, the tail end of my last msg was pretty.....p.s. Man, the tail end of my last msg was pretty... hapless. Sorry. Will try to do better. At least you can tell yer grandchildren that you once saw some yakima try to use "the that" in a sentence. snort.<br /><br />thUmbswayUp to Jeff Chen, for savin my fave U-countin website from windin down. Let's celebrate, and make cupcakes.<br /><br />UNTIE/UNZIP symmetric bookends were primo, btw.<br /><br />M and A alsonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72524291531131947142013-08-06T13:08:41.138-04:002013-08-06T13:08:41.138-04:00@Melodius Funk - Not sure...I think we do say that...@Melodius Funk - Not sure...I think we do say that things are "in the mirror: "I saw myself in the mirror," the song "Man in the Mirror"....Carolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971759975067250908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77623143272251362842013-08-06T12:57:03.682-04:002013-08-06T12:57:03.682-04:00@ Melodious - the msg is clear despite being incor...@ Melodious - the msg is clear despite being incorrect. My wife wouldn't respond either, except with an eye-roll or, if she is feeling particualrly petulant, THE LOOK.<br /><br />While we're at it, how do you regard the signs reading "Do not put anything in Toilet" in public restrooms?retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17037383578973038512013-08-06T12:49:54.775-04:002013-08-06T12:49:54.775-04:00@Melodious Funk: You reminded me of the Farside ca...@Melodious Funk: You reminded me of the Farside cartoon, showing a gal lookin at an image in her side mirror, with that "larger than they appear" message. Image was a giant eyeball that filled the mirror. har.<br /><br />Speakin of eyeballs, luved that "Type who wears..." clue, at 43-down. First of all it was darn near as long as "War and Peace", so more for yer money and thUmbsUp for that. Second, I evolved more bogus answers for that thing than any entry in quite a spell. A few of 'em that I still remember:<br />HARLOTY<br />HASBEEN<br />HANSOLO<br />HANGDOG<br />HAMHEAD<br />HALFWIT<br />HAPPIER<br />But I digress. Still, really wanted HAUNTED there. It's the one that has that lovely letter whose cUp is always half fUll. Anyhoo, M&A erased the bah-jesus outta that column of the puz.<br /><br />Extremely well-endowed puz. Wonder if the double-L-meister ever considered LIFTTICKETS, to get the that adjectivity that 4-Oh so craved.<br /><br /><br />HAPLESS<br /><br /><br /><br />Masked and Anonymo3Usnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80229755605145853882013-08-06T12:31:29.375-04:002013-08-06T12:31:29.375-04:00Like most of the posters, I thought the Tuesday ed...Like most of the posters, I thought the Tuesday edition was cute, tight and a bit easier than yesterday's. Always happy to grind through these things without erasure , google help or interruption. Enjoyed the lms lobster story, too. A little bonus in today's blog.LaneBnoreply@blogger.com