tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4465680393450284439..comments2024-03-19T00:21:49.519-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Gradually slowing in music / MON 6-7-10 / Sicilian erupter / Lure for Simple Simon / Recipe guideline for hot dish / Many northern IraqiRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48433420521584205542010-07-12T12:49:52.543-04:002010-07-12T12:49:52.543-04:00Although I'm in syndication land and few will ...Although I'm in syndication land and few will see this, I can't resist telling my favorite OUZO story. My wife to be and I were in a fancy restaurant sharing a table with a couple we had just met. I was clear the guy was a fussy, overbearing sort. He and his date ordered OUZO neat. It was delivered on the rocks and of course milky white. He demanded a replacement and the waitress took the offending drinks away and returned with two glasses without ice--but still milky white! A second tantrum produced the desired result.I Before Enoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50012239346783724802010-06-08T15:26:23.081-04:002010-06-08T15:26:23.081-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71531442335861879592010-06-08T01:14:04.873-04:002010-06-08T01:14:04.873-04:00Coming in very late with nothing to add, but:
Puz...Coming in very late with nothing to add, but:<br /><br />Puzzle succeeds in both conception and execution. Theme is (on one hand) no big deal but (on the other) really something new (as explained by @Rex and @Andrea).<br /><br />Fill/clues are solid and at times really funny (e.g., clue for PROMISE).<br /><br />My wife said "Hey, this is a good one" -- I agree.Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36857947250833686602010-06-08T00:41:45.972-04:002010-06-08T00:41:45.972-04:00@Andrea, it's wonderful to hear how much you l...@Andrea, it's wonderful to hear how much you loved this puzzle theme. And I had not thought about your point that OK WITH ME is much more literally accurate than OK BY ME! Of course! This is why people value (or dread) the opinions of the true professionals. You and Rex pick up on key features that I don't notice until you shine the light on them. I figure I'll never be a wiz at puzzle solving but I'm really enjoying acquiring this deeper level of appreciation.<br /><br />@mac, I understand your point about pastis and sangrias. They are part of a whole atmosphere, and seem a bit off in the wrong setting. Prosecco, on the other hand, works everywhere : )foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29257280588184269322010-06-07T23:46:56.832-04:002010-06-07T23:46:56.832-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=35115061&postID=3588389571383499624&isPopup=true" rel="nofollow">7/30/2009 post</a> 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 (this week's median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Mon 7:08, 6:55, 1.03, 69%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:49, 3:41, 1.03, 69%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62504178198994847232010-06-07T21:52:24.388-04:002010-06-07T21:52:24.388-04:00OARS is plural because gondolas is plural. I don&#...OARS is plural because gondolas is plural. I don't understand why this is confusing.a guynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25122614083847973762010-06-07T19:00:18.686-04:002010-06-07T19:00:18.686-04:00Nice, elegant and thorough Monday puzzle. Give me ...Nice, elegant and thorough Monday puzzle. Give me a little extra bite any time. Don't take that literally.<br /><br />@dk: if you are talking about the Greens cookbook I have, try the lentil salad. The only problem is that you will have to locate a bottle of champagne vinegar. It's worth it, though.<br /><br />@foodie: I was fascinated with pastis in france, mainly because it turned milky when water was added. Brought a bottle home to England, where we were living at the time, and never realy wanted to drink it. I don't even like sangria outside of Spain.<br /><br />I was given "The Yearling" in a Dutch translation when I was nine years old, and I loved the book! To me, living in coastal Holland, those gun-toting people living in the woods were like aliens!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31996198387659148782010-06-07T18:52:15.581-04:002010-06-07T18:52:15.581-04:00@Sparky
re: OARS
I think you are correct.
The real...@Sparky<br />re: OARS<br />I think you are correct.<br />The real discussion should have been in the area of why plural. That guy only has an (as in ONE) oar.<br /><br />@Sfingi<br />Here is parts of the South, SUP and dine are the same tang.<br />Yawl is not a small two masted boat but an expression in Tarpon Springs "Yawl want some'ore OUZO?"Tinbenihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14661395078047234853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74724370111075206102010-06-07T18:24:14.056-04:002010-06-07T18:24:14.056-04:00Before I noticed a theme, I had COOlING TIME and P...Before I noticed a theme, I had COOlING TIME and POwORGAME. <br /><br />NEMO swam into both puzzles today.<br /><br />@Clark - tuna and cashews, mmm. Never tried it.<br /><br />In the prison, some genius had the sign PRINTED - "Inmate's must turn at this corner."<br /><br />@Chefwen - I take it OUZO doesn't resemble Sambuca? Usually love anything anise/licorice - finocchio - but not Dutch salty licorice.<br />To SUP and to dine are not actually the same, any more than supper and dinner are.<br /><br />Edifying discussion of gondolas.Sfinginoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82487755220721922082010-06-07T18:11:25.235-04:002010-06-07T18:11:25.235-04:00Testing, testing, fourth attempt to submit a comme...Testing, testing, fourth attempt to submit a comment this day on Rex's blogCaseAceFosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-92098328963814690482010-06-07T15:35:02.097-04:002010-06-07T15:35:02.097-04:00All this talk of hot dishes and mushroom soup is r...All this talk of hot dishes and mushroom soup is reminding me of a couple casseroles (one involving tuna and cashews, another, pork chops and green beans) I used to make long ago -- 5 minutes to prepare, into the oven, yum! It's the ultimate comfort food. What's wrong with you people?<br /><br />I did this puzzle between breaths, so to speak.<br />Semi-puzzle parter: C'mon we've gotta go.<br />Me: Just a sec.<br />It was fast and easy, but I don't remember a thing.<br /><br />[After many tries I finally got this comment to post.]Clarknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85928261775984930552010-06-07T15:29:34.115-04:002010-06-07T15:29:34.115-04:00I can understand how people come to think that a g...I can understand how people come to think that a gondola is propelled by a pole--since there is only one oar and it is handled by a gondoliere standing up, it looks in many photos like a pole. Incidentally, if I recall correctly, years ago we had a similar discussion when a clue erroneously implied that gondolas were propelled by poles.<br /><br />Wacky theme--quite endearing I thought.Ulrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76463694219114281432010-06-07T15:07:41.009-04:002010-06-07T15:07:41.009-04:00@ Greene, Look what you started!
I agree that Pec...@ Greene, Look what you started! <br />I agree that Peck is great in his role. Did not know that about the soundtrack for the pony movie.<br />@ CCLady, I read the Marley book so I know I will skip the movie.<br />If anyone would like a more uplifting pet tale try "The Art of Racing in the Rain."<br /><br />Speaking of pets and how we all "love" those crazy apostrophe errors I saw a sign this weekend<br />"Dog's must be kept on a leash".Two Ponieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06896743444873087885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63865692687368591372010-06-07T14:41:18.826-04:002010-06-07T14:41:18.826-04:00Never been to a Denny's and after reading toda...Never been to a Denny's and after reading today's comments, I think I'll keep it that way.<br /><br />Learned something about gondolas, and really hate OUZO, that stuff is nasty.<br /><br />Cute, fun, Monday puzzle! Only write over was SUP over eat.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37211906068810166672010-06-07T14:32:56.672-04:002010-06-07T14:32:56.672-04:00Enjoyed the puzzle except for OTT, OBI and ODE. I&...Enjoyed the puzzle except for OTT, OBI and ODE. I'm tired of those three. RAZORS next to PIT reminded me of Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum." Saved by the rats!<br /><br />Do women compete in IRONMAN Triathalons? Ironwoman, Ironlady, Irongal, Ironmaiden?<br /><br />I remember my first (and last) sip of OUZO. Whew! Thought I was a GONER.shrub5https://www.blogger.com/profile/09466867716773759568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16421521731293531702010-06-07T14:28:54.640-04:002010-06-07T14:28:54.640-04:00I thought this was a really fun puzzle for a Monda...I thought this was a really fun puzzle for a Monday and loved the theme. I was trying to be very speedy and I'm embarrassed to say I threw in TURK @39 D Many a Northern Iraqi. That eventually lead to POTER GAME and SMOKEK MEAT. I changed the K to a D and I don't want to mention what 39D then turned into. Finally realized it was KURD.<br /><br />@Greene "Now We Are Six" and "When We Were Very Young" are both wonderful collections of children's poetry by AA MILNE.<br />@Tinbeni and @Two Ponies - Dead pet movies are the worst. I still haven't been able to bring myself to watch "Marley and Me."<br /><br />Campbell's Cream of Musroom Soup casseroles are so mid century.CrazyCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00245025301434920905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6831648254904966482010-06-07T14:07:42.762-04:002010-06-07T14:07:42.762-04:00What a fun Monday! Don't usually do them, but...What a fun Monday! Don't usually do them, but glad I did today's. Enjoyable theme, as well as clues/answers. I especially liked JUSTOUT, the 4-consonant-in-a-row ENZYMES, double-A'd AAMILNE, and GONERS crossed with ABYSS. :)<br />-LizAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1836826576195078482010-06-07T14:04:58.662-04:002010-06-07T14:04:58.662-04:00Well, what threw me off is that it's one oar. ...Well, what threw me off is that it's one oar. I'm often caught by hidden plurals. Enjoyed some missteps--lard for suet; dim(inuendo) for rit. That's why I use an erasable pen. A good Monday.Sparkynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71073920618196956382010-06-07T13:49:56.051-04:002010-06-07T13:49:56.051-04:00ohmygod, I thought this theme was brilliant!!!!!! ...ohmygod, I thought this theme was brilliant!!!!!! I'm surprised more are not up on rooftops, waving around their oars over it!<br /><br />To have TWO themes in one...and have it be subtly (sp?) (a word I don't know how to spell, much less be!) revealed so beautifully with the OKWITHME!! <br />(I get the OKBYME, but in addition to being only 6 letters and not reflective of the theme exactly, the OK WITH ME resonates and reflects even more so!)<br /><br />I LOVED this! I really felt it was fresh fresh fresh...<br />it is so hard to come up with something really fresh on a Monday and this totally perked me up and impressed and inspired me, as Lynn Lempel so often does!!!!!<br /><br />And, yes, I feel like strangling anyone who shrugs and says they didn't even notice the theme...<br /><br />Luckily @rex riff on Simple Simon and @foodie's exotic reminiscences (I have no idea how to spell that, and I'm sure others wouldn't mind strangling me for not bothering to look things up before I post) calmed me down about not everyone posting how brilliant this theme was!<br />:)<br /><br />@SteveJ<br />As someone who has grown up in Minnesota but was exempt from the whole hotdish, donchaknow, things-on-a-stick traditions, as transplanted NY Jews, I have a whole hotdish recipe book on my shelf waiting to be re-gifted if you find yourself out here.<br /><br />And if it's any consolation to the Denny-haters, I have a pal here who led and won the class action suit against Denny's and is super political and continues to lead the good fight (he also took on the gov't over Agent Orange) ...speaking of which, don't forget to vote tomorrow!andrea morethanokwithme michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30421989592131284912010-06-07T13:29:19.410-04:002010-06-07T13:29:19.410-04:00Apparently.Apparently.Rex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23648507499959208652010-06-07T13:29:09.850-04:002010-06-07T13:29:09.850-04:00Getting mail from people saying they are unable to...Getting mail from people saying they are unable to post comments. So I'm posting a comment. Is it working?Rex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31905051800248499432010-06-07T13:14:08.019-04:002010-06-07T13:14:08.019-04:00Yup,me too,OAR how silly!wiki says the gondola oar...Yup,me too,OAR how silly!wiki says the gondola oar is called a remo.must have been good if they sainted it!I kinda feel if i didn't notice the theme while solving there's not much point looking for it later-it doesn't matter any more!syndyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16814698406887041710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70161626606122604352010-06-07T12:29:00.088-04:002010-06-07T12:29:00.088-04:00I was thrown off for a moment too by "Recipe ...I was thrown off for a moment too by "Recipe guideline for a hot dish." As @dk alluded, "hot dish" is Minnesotan for "casserole" (I'm pretty sure the word "casserole is banned by law). Even though I haven't lived in Minnesota for close to better than 15 years now, and even though I hated the term even as a kid, it's so ingrained, that was my first thought. Along with cream of mushroom soup, which is the standard ingredient in all hot dishes.<br /><br />I'm guessing anyone who's spent significant time living in Minnesota had that thought process as well. <br /><br />I also had SUNI for second, looked at it, noticed it looked wrong, then realized the U went with KURD. (Curds are not found in hot dish; those are reserved for deep-frying and serving at the Minnesota State Fair. Yum.)<br /><br />Finished this in about average time for me for a Monday. I think hesitating for a moment on the theme revealer - I thought "it's OK *by* me" as well, and obviously that wouldn't fit) - slowed me down a bit. And it was reasonably enjoyable. For a Monday.Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76896298992272335842010-06-07T12:26:45.851-04:002010-06-07T12:26:45.851-04:00@Two Ponies: Totally with you on these "dead...@Two Ponies: Totally with you on these "dead pet" movies. <i>The Yearling</i> at least has a wonderful performance by Gregory Peck in his youthful prime to compensate for the deficiencies of the story. Of course, <i>The Red Pony</i> has that gorgeous Aaron Copland film score. Not sure what <i>Old Yeller</i> has, other than a rabid dog with a gunshot wound.Greenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10412634072650228847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39014713239690086852010-06-07T12:24:10.900-04:002010-06-07T12:24:10.900-04:00Hand up for POLE @ 48A, then smirking about how wr...Hand up for POLE @ 48A, then smirking about how wrong OARS was and googling to prove I was right after all. Not....<br /><br />Not an OUZO lover. Several of the academic administrators at my University used to gather late some afternoons for a bottle (or two) of wine. One was Turkish by birth. He broke out some raki after a couple of bottles of wine. This was not a good idea. At least I had the sense to have one taste and go home. Some of my colleagues were there for a couple of hours more....<br /><br />A nice puzzle. Harder (at least to judge by my time) than it felt.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.com