tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4699104791703334147..comments2024-03-28T05:42:22.644-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Terminal Bliss actress Chandler / WED 8-3-11 / Tevye's good / Tackle-to-mast rope on ships / Teleflora competitor / Toledo tidbitRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47844063511933085452011-09-08T01:28:37.576-04:002011-09-08T01:28:37.576-04:00@Z Thank you SO much for taking the time to explai...@Z Thank you SO much for taking the time to explain that. It's been driving me bonkers for a long time. And thanks @SanFranMan (who probably will never see this) for providing that info daily.<br /><br />@Anonymous 12:15, I thought you were commenting on the wrong day and had to scroll back to the puzzle. Never even saw AETNA or SLEET. <br /><br />@Dirigonzo - Yo! And to answer yesterday's question - hell, yes, I cheat when I'm stumped! I'm no masochist! And bless you for sharing that killer captcha. <br /><br />Mine is...<br /><br />reways: A ridiculous word never uttered by human lips that constructors are dying to get their hands on.Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675331024091722316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20535239289306176842011-09-08T00:15:11.472-04:002011-09-08T00:15:11.472-04:00Travelers and Aetna merged long ago so Aetna is no...Travelers and Aetna merged long ago so Aetna is not a Travelers alternative since they are the same company now, unless they mean the old Little Aetna that was a CIGNA company but I doubt it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53536372806839564132011-09-07T17:14:21.309-04:002011-09-07T17:14:21.309-04:00@Deb - SanFranMan may correct me, but here is what...@Deb - SanFranMan may correct me, but here is what I understand the numbers to mean...<br /><br />The first number is this week's median solve time for that day- the middle solve time for the group.<br /><br />The second number is the average for day of week for as long as SFM has been doing the tracking<br /><br />The decimal number is the ratio of the first number to the second. So if the ratio is bigger than 1.0 today is harder than average, less than 1.0 and today is easier than average.<br /><br />The next number is the percentile ranking - the percentage of puzzles on that day of the week that are easier than today's puzzle,<br /><br />From these numbers SFM gives the rating. He does this for all solvers and then for just the select fastest.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56292200616190752012011-09-07T14:57:08.289-04:002011-09-07T14:57:08.289-04:00From syndiland, there have been over 80 comments f...From syndiland, there have been over 80 comments from the prime-timers and at least one other syndi-solver (Hi, @Deb!)and not one person succumbed to the temptation to make a T-@Rex joke, so I won't either - unless I just did. (But he did tear into it (RENT it?) pretty good, didn't he?)<br /><br />Same mistake, same obliviousness to the theme as many others.<br /><br />Now I'm off to solve ACME's puzzle rather than remain teed-off at this one.<br /><br />Captcha is too good to remain secret: gnompud.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39689104105455686042011-09-07T14:51:34.846-04:002011-09-07T14:51:34.846-04:00Didn't notice the T-clues/T-answers until I ca...Didn't notice the T-clues/T-answers until I came here. I'm going against the grain with a thumbs up. Should have run on a T-fer Tuesday though.<br /><br />@ Anonymous 7:40 AM - I always think of Savoy Brown when I see that clue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50317297269284654012011-09-07T14:03:33.919-04:002011-09-07T14:03:33.919-04:00Popping back in to say ALL RIGHT, acme! Enjoyed y...Popping back in to say ALL RIGHT, acme! Enjoyed your tribute puzzle, and laughed out loud at 27 down. <br /><br />captcha=fleon: Asian refrigerant chemicalDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675331024091722316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17156231376480395852011-09-07T13:22:29.194-04:002011-09-07T13:22:29.194-04:00I finished this one thinking "Damn, there are...I finished this one thinking "Damn, there are a lot of Ts in this puzzle!" but never noticed that every clue and answer included one. (Hand up for RENDS/DOV.) I wonder if Rex's write-up would have been completely different if TEA PARTY had been thrown in there somewhere. <br /><br />@sanfranman59 - Since I happen to be posting right after you (though five weeks later), I'm hoping you might see this and explain the difficulty ratings. There seem to be three times and a percentage, but I have no clue what any of them refer to. Help?Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675331024091722316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49930269175197663122011-08-04T01:17:18.222-04:002011-08-04T01:17:18.222-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 7/30/2009 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 (this week's median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Mon 6:50, 6:51, 1.00, 51%, Medium<br />Tue 8:37, 8:55, 0.97, 45%, Medium<br />Wed 9:51, 11:52, 0.83, 16%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:31, 3:40, 0.96, 34%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 4:31, 4:35, 0.99, 50%, Medium<br />Wed 5:09, 5:51, 0.88, 21%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11528436617603295242011-08-04T00:58:05.625-04:002011-08-04T00:58:05.625-04:00I mean, I know Tevye would know TOV in MAZEL TOV, ...I mean, I know Tevye would know TOV in MAZEL TOV, I just meant if the editor/writer were looking for a random Hebrew name (that started with T) they might have chosen a less confusing one than Tevye, under the Jew does not equal Israeli clause! (Not to be confused with the Santa Clause!)<br /><br />And better to have clued RENTS as "Leases" or something and not one person would have made the mistake.<br />It's not that DOV = Bear is the tipoff, it's that DOV in teh context of a shtetl Jew from Poland/Russia doesn't register as wrong.<br />I'm not explaining this well, but I know what I mean.<br /><br />@Foodie, mac and others who did the engagement puzzle, thanks! I think Patrick liked it and was going to slip it into Rebecca's travel bag today :)<br />They are a very well-matched couple! <br />@litdoc<br />Yes, all the naughty words clued straight was a wink to Mr. Blindauer's sometimes raunchy sense of humor...acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57848711083193951952011-08-04T00:05:09.721-04:002011-08-04T00:05:09.721-04:00@Sfingi: Yes, I happened to see that USA Today puz...@Sfingi: Yes, I happened to see that USA Today puzzle. "42A:___ fide (authentic)" and "47D: Bona fide" (both 4 letters) in the same puzzle? Ouch. [Yes, 42A is BONA; 47D happens to be REAL.]<br /><br />NDENoam D. Elkiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63898783384032977452011-08-04T00:01:35.723-04:002011-08-04T00:01:35.723-04:00Didn't have the chance to solve this one, thou...Didn't have the chance to solve this one, though it might have been more fun for me than for Rex — an accumulation of ETTA/ET_TU/ATTA [SW corner] can be comical even if the components are slag. Yes, the puzzle theme could have been used to choose between 36A:TOV and "Dov", which makes this a point in the puzzle's favor. I wouldn't have noticed because I already know that in Hebrew "Dov" (דוב) = Bear (as in the animal, also used as a masculine name), while "Tov" (טוב) = good, as in "mazal tov", also "Shanah Tovah" (happy new year, literally "a good year", using the feminine form "Tovah" טובה to match the feminine "Shanah" שנה).<br /><br />In case you're wondering: in modern Hebrew "mazal tov" (usually pronounced "mazel tov" in Yiddish) does translate literally into "good luck", but its usage is closer to the familiar "congratulations". The reason is apparently that "mazal" מזל is used in an older sense "a sign of the zodiac" (retained in modern Hebrew but less common), so "mazal tov" means a propitious sign, later transferred to an event attributable in folk belief to such a sign.<br /><br />NDENoam D. Elkiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78910095517338024252011-08-03T23:21:18.853-04:002011-08-03T23:21:18.853-04:00My stars! The Lion version of Across Lite has a s...My stars! The Lion version of Across Lite has a stand up Mr. Happy Pencil in the icon. The horror. The horror*.<br /><br />*see Marlon Brando Apocalypse Now soliloquy (in the cave) for a cinematic reference.<br /><br />80 comments for a not so great puzzle. Thank fully many were congrats for foodie.dkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52931757651582917092011-08-03T22:43:57.589-04:002011-08-03T22:43:57.589-04:00@Anon 10:18 - Not in Ohio, but I hear they're ...@Anon 10:18 - Not in Ohio, but I hear they're pretty popular in Toledo Spain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56501615979380191302011-08-03T22:18:13.433-04:002011-08-03T22:18:13.433-04:00Am confused about "tapa." Is there a tap...Am confused about "tapa." Is there a tapas craze in Ohio?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-388740180960558952011-08-03T21:09:05.378-04:002011-08-03T21:09:05.378-04:00@CoolPapaD, thanks ;) I had heard of T-Pain before...@CoolPapaD, thanks ;) I had heard of T-Pain before. But I didn't know his full name until I googled him. I also liked the names of his kids, Lyriq and Muzik.<br /><br />At some point, I started watching the "Real World" (in its early days) with my teenage kids and it was a blast. It was also a whole different world, to me. It made me realize that I didn't want to become one of those people who only know what's expected of their age group. And how can I mentor young people if I'm clueless about their lives? Only problem is how much there's to know!foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70260667853236736252011-08-03T20:53:11.289-04:002011-08-03T20:53:11.289-04:00Smoke Gets in Your Eyes was one of my father's...Smoke Gets in Your Eyes was one of my father's favorites, BITD (Back in the Day).<br /><br />Had to post-Google for ATTA and ESTEE. Glad there's a second ESTEE. <br /><br />Had reT before ALT. Thought Guttormsson wanted an old style "typist" who had to hit the return bar. <br /><br />I think it was in Julius Caesar wherein someone RENt their toga, which caused at least one kid to exclaim over how cheap the senators must be. <br /><br />@Mac - of course, the Germans use "gut" (pr. goot; in Dutch goed is hoot)and Mazel Tov is Hebrew. But the Dutch use both blanc und witt, nicht Wahr? And Okay. <br /><br />Sorry, but the USA Today was more exciting with US cities ending in TON.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10735801307741679282011-08-03T20:30:31.366-04:002011-08-03T20:30:31.366-04:00I really dug this puzzle, even though I didn't...I really dug this puzzle, even though I didn't notice all the clues started with T, nor did I realize that every answer had one. I think this was a terrific feat of construction, and I enjoyed the solving experience. <br /><br />Paul - thanks!<br /><br />Love the fact that Foodie either likes T-Pain, or at least had enough interest to Google him. How come my neuroscience professors were never this cool?!!CoolPapaDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11542059534657415505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61002055278084285392011-08-03T18:43:48.255-04:002011-08-03T18:43:48.255-04:00I got NATO but I never realised Turkey was part of...I got NATO but I never realised Turkey was part of it. Personally, they aren't exactly close to the Northern Atlantic.... ah well. Meh puzzle with meh fill.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25452255221788141272011-08-03T17:00:47.348-04:002011-08-03T17:00:47.348-04:00Rex: We can agree that 'rent' for the noun...Rex: We can agree that 'rent' for the noun 'tear' is rarely used in these days of twittering, but it is still, undeniably, in the language.<br /><br />Jeex!slypetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537129206516720012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69383430703839001762011-08-03T16:44:10.799-04:002011-08-03T16:44:10.799-04:00Never thought of the connection, but the Dutch &qu...Never thought of the connection, but the Dutch "tof" also means good, used with a person, as in "he's a good (tof) guy).machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20533267537754007742011-08-03T16:31:34.568-04:002011-08-03T16:31:34.568-04:00To expand upon WEB's comment that Tevye's ...To expand upon WEB's comment that Tevye's not knowing TOV being completely off the wall, IT WAS A FRIGGIN BROADWAY MUSICAL! You know, made up stuff.Serioiuslynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54412319053783400832011-08-03T16:22:55.893-04:002011-08-03T16:22:55.893-04:00I said it was interesting, not proof of anything. ...I said it was interesting, not proof of anything. But since you mention it, an awful lot of people are using a very specific phrase. Why is that not relevant?Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88163370363238077842011-08-03T16:20:42.284-04:002011-08-03T16:20:42.284-04:00The suggestion that Tevye did not know TOV, since ...The suggestion that Tevye did not know TOV, since it was Hebrew and not Yiddish, is completely off the wall. To start with, <i>it's his own name</i>! "Tevye" is a corrupted version of "Tuvya" or "Toviah", based on the Hebrew for "God is good". (I suspect this may even count as improper cluing!)<br /><br />Moreover, in addition to him knowing "mazel tov", he would certainly know "yom tov", the Hebrew word for holiday. Yes, it was corrupted into the Yiddish "yontif", but both are used. In addition, the prayers are all in Hebrew, and TOV in various forms is quite common.<br /><br />For what it's worth, "Dov", usually pronounced "duv", like the English "dove", is Hebrew for bear, by the way. Some names are given twice, Hebrew then Yiddish, and "Dov Ber" is common enough.<br /><br />I know I shouldn't smirk, but I never even had a chance to make the RENdS mistake.william e embanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56455937663360285422011-08-03T16:08:23.585-04:002011-08-03T16:08:23.585-04:00Come on.
Martin's comment about "rent in...Come on.<br /><br />Martin's comment about "rent in the side" shows up on first page of a search for ["rent in the side"], which tells you all you need to know about the phrase's "relevance." Can we agree that Google searches are an extremely inexact and unconvincing way of establishing the "in-the-language"-ness of words/phrases?<br /><br />rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3213401882039325512011-08-03T15:52:33.233-04:002011-08-03T15:52:33.233-04:00I must have glanced over it, but have seen no ment...I must have glanced over it, but have seen no mention of a certain mohawk-sporting, muscular fellow who's more partial to another Letter on his team, and whose trademarked phrase could well be employed today?fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.com