tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4718644728892124850..comments2024-03-28T06:19:05.812-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: South American tuber / THU 6-20-13 / Wolf in Kipling's Jungle Book / Enya's homeland / Rapper with 2002 hit Hot in Herre / Home of Cocoa Beach / Home to Andrew Wyeth's Christina's World informally / Scottish port on Firth of TayRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25945553568259686412013-07-25T20:13:06.855-04:002013-07-25T20:13:06.855-04:00@jack j: One certainly can go from POOR to RICH wi...@jack j: One certainly can go from POOR to RICH with an INSTANT WINNER--at least in my native state of PA, where that figure can be $1 million. Mayhap one measly million might not make YOU feel wealthy, but it'll do for openers!<br /><br />@CaliTina: XIN didn't bother me because of difficulty--it was a gimme for me as well--just that I don't like seeing "X" used in that way. XED, XES, XIN, XOUT seem to be using the letter as a verb. If you want to stretch a point, I guess it's not really WRONG; after all, "mark" really means to make a mark, just as "to X" really means to mark with an X. But it's just more deterioration of the language, X my words.<br /><br />@rain forest: I went up and down the bloglist for "MANDA" till I finally had the aha! moment: hilarious! Good for you! Reminds me of a local law firm, Peters and Associates. Their logo is, of course, a big, cute PANDA. Methinks I better join 'em if I can't beat 'em.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14580842596168783572013-07-25T18:22:44.924-04:002013-07-25T18:22:44.924-04:00@DMG. point well taken about the captchas. Perhaps...@DMG. point well taken about the captchas. Perhaps spells may be cast to make them inoperative?<br /><br />A pleasant climb down the word ladder using the easily-revealed reveal for support. But the rest of the puzzle - IFORONE didn't enjoy it nearly as much. PIMA/CARO, really? nagAT, bitAT, orATe and ATale all lumped together? And was there a special on mostly obscure words ending in A? (AKELA, OCA, FREYA, SACRA, LEICA, MOMA, NOTA, PIMA, LEA, FLORIDA)<br /><br />Can't wait for what OFL has billed as probably his final NYT puzzle tomorrow! Hopefully, something with special KIX.<br /> Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40751584148150321732013-07-25T17:02:25.752-04:002013-07-25T17:02:25.752-04:00That was fun. My experience was the diametric opp...That was fun. My experience was the diametric opposite of @Spacecraft's. I thought the puzzle was easy, but it took me a long time. I had no trouble in the NW or the SW, but there were two squares where I was so absolutely stupid for too long a time. I thought 20A HAD to be CARA, and I kept trying to figure out how ONTAP meant leading. I had entered EBOLI for the breakout, and the commuter's destination was completely ungettable. Only after I had finished everything did I ponder those two squares for a loooong time, and D'OH, it hit me. So obtuse sometimes. <br /><br />The word ladder was of some help in a couple of places, especially making the assumption that the same letter would not be changed in two consecutive words.<br /><br />I didn't like XIN mainly because one doesn't say "X-in the ballot square". Perhaps the clue could have been a partial, such as "put your___the ballot square". As always, doesn't matter.<br /><br />Loved MANDA's (note: @Spacecraft)reasons for Rex bowing out after tomorrow.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78768274181125320082013-07-25T15:47:49.015-04:002013-07-25T15:47:49.015-04:00I for one LOVE the comments from the Spell Casters...I for one LOVE the comments from the Spell Casters.VooDoo Fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71691214653625079192013-07-25T14:38:29.418-04:002013-07-25T14:38:29.418-04:00Rex so exactly, word for word, described my strugg...Rex so exactly, word for word, described my struggles in the NW it was almost scary. But get there we did, although weeks apart. The SW also caused me pause. With Xed and eAtaT, I had no chance of getting the Nissan make. Then I solved the word ladder for RILE and that somehow made it all work out. Alas, after all that I ended with a one square DNF. I've never hard the term Lit CRIT, and by that time was too befuddled to see the obvious NCR. So it goes...<br /><br />Someone needs to tell me again what these insane Captchas are suppose to guard against!DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27092296570538649792013-07-25T14:14:29.337-04:002013-07-25T14:14:29.337-04:00I loved today's puzzle. I love word ladders; I...I loved today's puzzle. I love word ladders; I use them with my students. Started out with leiS for UKES, and a heart for "Tin Man's need" 2d.<br />@spacecraft - for me XIN was a gimme: you mark a paper ballot with a X, and the cereal is KIX. That was one of the few cereals I let my kids eat when they were little as it didn't have a ton of sugar. <br />@Rex - hope you have/had a great trip. I'm looking forward to your puzzle tomorrow.CaliTinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70875505256228488692013-07-25T13:44:04.116-04:002013-07-25T13:44:04.116-04:00I liked it, as I often do when I can make steady p...I liked it, as I often do when I can make steady progress, especially on a Thursday. As a pen and paper solver, didn't realize till I got here that I'd messed up one answer. Never having heard of AKELA, I had a LEY-AKELY crossing. <br /><br />After one of yesterday's clues equating WOMB and OVEN, I half-expected to see the W-word in the answer to 31A.Cary in Bouldernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41452578331969094712013-07-25T11:00:51.592-04:002013-07-25T11:00:51.592-04:00@Diri: consider my BVDs KNOTted. The problem with ...@Diri: consider my BVDs KNOTted. The problem with XIN is that any number of other letters would do in #47: KID/DIN, KIF/FIN, KIN/NIN, KIP/PIN, KIT/TIN. If it wasn't so easily fixable it'd be different.<br /><br />No, that's just a minor gripe. My diatribe today is, once again, about these inane ramblings about spellcasters that have somehow wedged their way in here. Why can't we stop this? It's AWFUL!<br /><br />This one didn't FEEL easy, though I finished it fairly quickly. I can depend on EG to crunch up the fill, and she did again. Yes, the ladder did help with the solve, especially in the north--which I also noted has all P-words vis-a-vis the south's Rs. The whole south, except maybe a couple of spots in the SW (hand up for the frown at NAGAT/BITAT), just sort of dropped in.<br /><br />It gets a little name-y, with PELOSI/ORBACH and MIDORI/NAMATH, but if we want crunch we must expect this. Loved OKEYDOKE next to one who might well say that, LILABNER. DBL might better be clued as a bridge bid, since it's only in that context that I've seen that abbr. In baseballese it's simply 2B.<br /><br />My WOTD: "Lit CRIT." Never heard that one, saved by crosses. Despite XIN (isn't that some Chinese dynasty?), IFORONE liked it.<br /><br />Captcha: flatisha...Beyonce's less-endowed sister?spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79983548455051058192013-07-25T10:21:21.143-04:002013-07-25T10:21:21.143-04:00@Dirigonzo 3:32 pm Same publishing dates here, al...@Dirigonzo 3:32 pm Same publishing dates here, although luckily we had the correct puz.<br /><br />Fun puzzle and I liked it. No real problems completing which may be because I do not watch the time. Only one writeover,at cara/caro nome - I guess depends on who is singing/being sung to. Fixed when ON TOP became apparent.<br /><br />Looking forward to tomorrow's puzzle.J.aussiegirlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41183017974441763642013-07-24T15:32:34.297-04:002013-07-24T15:32:34.297-04:00Of course I meant Wednesday, July 24 - now you can...Of course I meant Wednesday, July 24 - now you can see how thoroughly confused I am.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52548214094808134152013-07-24T15:26:55.859-04:002013-07-24T15:26:55.859-04:00As I write it is Wednesday, July 23 (I checked my ...As I write it is Wednesday, July 23 (I checked my syndiland calendar to be sure) and I thought the puzzle which I just completed was of about average difficulty for mid-week and the word-ladder seemed like a nice twist. Nothing struck me as particularly unusual until I came here and discovered that I had completed the Thursday puzzle which obviously had appeared in my paper in error. I wouldn't mind the mix-up too much except last time this happened the same puzzle appeared the next day so I got cheated out of a puzzle and I'll bet that happens again. I certainly they get their act together by Friday - I certainly wouldn't want to miss Rex/Michael's (last?) NYT puzzle.<br /><br />Write-overs today - or tomorrow, as the case may be - included ahead/ONTOP, leiS/UKE, and EbOLa/ECOLI. <br /><br />Now to wait and see if @spacecraft gets his BVDs INAKNOT over XIN.<br /><br />See you tomorrow, or maybe yesterday or possibly the day-after tomorrow (this is why I sometimes refer to SynCity as the TWI-light zone - the space-time continuum seems to have a little wrinkle from time to time. Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6086605248324070792013-07-01T04:45:04.671-04:002013-07-01T04:45:04.671-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45983591805540572362013-07-01T04:44:12.901-04:002013-07-01T04:44:12.901-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86325857363379361462013-07-01T04:43:25.943-04:002013-07-01T04:43:25.943-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50437238762731714522013-06-20T22:06:56.682-04:002013-06-20T22:06:56.682-04:00This 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 6:07, 6:12, 0.99, 43%, Medium<br />Tue 8:12, 8:16, 0.99, 48%, Medium<br />Wed 8:43, 9:44, 0.90, 28%, Easy-Medium<br />Thu 14:01, 17:11, 0.82, 18%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:42, 3:49, 0.97, 28%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 4:59, 4:55, 1.02, 55%, Medium<br />Wed 5:37, 5:38, 1.00, 48%, Medium<br />Thu 8:39, 9:49, 0.88, 25%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3801028080484537712013-06-20T20:58:26.432-04:002013-06-20T20:58:26.432-04:00Since coming to this site I am noticing a growing ...Since coming to this site I am noticing a growing discernment of puzzle construction etc... in me.<br />Before, I would "just do the puz". Now I have developed a "puzzle consciousness" including argot like natick and crunchy and a few other words that I would be able to identify given a multiple choice. Thank you all (I think!)Questiniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06225633428852696530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88060014676515630572013-06-20T20:56:45.521-04:002013-06-20T20:56:45.521-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Questiniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06225633428852696530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18021504679415445302013-06-20T20:45:33.609-04:002013-06-20T20:45:33.609-04:00Didn't get started on this one until late toda...Didn't get started on this one until late today, and you're right @chefwen, I couldn't resist putting in an appearance. I didn't know that my avatar was on the cover of Life. 'Course my 4th grade reading skills at the time precluded reading that mag... more likely "My Weekly Reader".<br /><br />Course I didn't know LLBS, Via Sacra, Orbach, COKIE or NELLY either. However, all gettable from crosses.<br /><br />Without looking it up, I'd bet that CARO nome has appeared at least a dozen times in the NYT puzzles over the years. <br /><br />Interesting that MIDORI means green -- Thx ACME.<br /><br />Disliking eat AT, I refused to put it in and waited for GALE to give me NAGAT.Rubehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773241241484881566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74221518387312180822013-06-20T19:57:26.620-04:002013-06-20T19:57:26.620-04:00OMG!! Just saw the YouTube of Rex solving a puzzle...OMG!! Just saw the YouTube of Rex solving a puzzle. Good tips, but Rex Parker isn't your real name? I'm crushed and betrayed. <br />Oh yeah, my name isn't Thoracic either. Neat video though.Thoracichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16330466807313325340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69117987981948280132013-06-20T18:21:22.627-04:002013-06-20T18:21:22.627-04:00Today is Bill in New Jersey's birthday. Hope y...Today is Bill in New Jersey's birthday. Hope you are reading this! Congratulations!<br />machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31155349157861167122013-06-20T17:35:44.886-04:002013-06-20T17:35:44.886-04:00Midday 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 />Thu 14:08, 17:11, 0.82, 18%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Thu 8:56, 9:49, 0.91, 29%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51351950126844275812013-06-20T17:30:38.340-04:002013-06-20T17:30:38.340-04:00@Bird - so are you the most interesting man in the...@Bird - so are you the most interesting man in the world?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09567874862630285191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10229963250908331052013-06-20T16:50:55.454-04:002013-06-20T16:50:55.454-04:00I, also, had tALc before GALE!
Did not need Goog...I, also, had tALc before GALE! <br /><br />Did not need Google on Thurs. Does this mean I'm finally getting smarter and getting off a long-lasting plateau? Only thing new to me was LLB.<br /><br />Yes, doable.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12020371737841763342013-06-20T16:20:40.533-04:002013-06-20T16:20:40.533-04:00I love Liz Gorski puzzles - always doable and stil...I love Liz Gorski puzzles - always doable and still interesting. Thanks for another great Puz. John in Phillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57297121951423103072013-06-20T16:13:28.095-04:002013-06-20T16:13:28.095-04:00@anonymous 3:59
POOR
POOL
POLL
POLE
ROLE
RIL...@anonymous 3:59<br /><br />POOR<br /><br />POO<b>L</b><br /><br />PO<b>L</b>L<br /><br />POL<b>E</b><br /><br /><b>R</b>OLE<br /><br />R<b>I</b>LE<br /><br />RI<b>C</b>E<br /><br />RIC<b>H</b><br /><br />TaDa - the word ladder has gone from POOR to RICH by changing one letter at a time.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.com