tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4825785821545277278..comments2024-03-29T05:08:37.783-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Tahitian-style wraparound skirt / WED 1-12-11 / Provisional Mormon state / Milton Berle's longtime sponsor / Lake Michigan explorer JeanRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40214610935681562332011-02-17T10:53:05.801-05:002011-02-17T10:53:05.801-05:00(syndication) Liked the puzzle and ‘mini’ (half?) ...(syndication) Liked the puzzle and ‘mini’ (half?) rebus. Elf as a year-end-helper was cute and unlocked that section since I did not know BOFF in re Broadway nor DEF as slang. Was the puzzle half modern (DEF, Cyndi Lauper, Los Lonely Boys, etc) and half ‘oldie-type’ (as noted by A-C-M)? To the ‘oldie’ half add TELLERS in a cage. I think they let them roam free these days (free-standing teller desks); if anyone actually goes into a bank these days. I listen to WWDTM every week and love Paula Poundstone, but am sure I would have loved the show even more if I had listened when A_C_M was on. Enjoyed all 3 video clips today; thanks Rex.lodsfnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31192466081673254802011-02-16T19:57:48.586-05:002011-02-16T19:57:48.586-05:00Had REpaintS down the middle of the grid and that ...Had REpaintS down the middle of the grid and that made the whole center section pretty tough until HALFANDHALF straightened things out. All of the words that were new to others were new to me too, so I learned a lot from this one.<br /><br />I did not know that @NarB did stand-up, too!Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37126842635940682662011-02-16T11:12:26.929-05:002011-02-16T11:12:26.929-05:00Syndi-late, enjoyed the Cyndi Lauper vid.
Fastest...Syndi-late, enjoyed the Cyndi Lauper vid.<br /><br />Fastest Wednespuz in a month of Wednes's.<br /><br />Sticking point for a bit where I tried to double (thought: I don't know, maybe there's a reciprocal thing going on here) LAVA somehow for the PAREO answer (c'mon, ya gotta LOVE A LAVALAVA). And, besides, my sister spent two years in Samoa on a Mormon mission. So there was that . . . . <br /><br />BOFF thy neighbor as thyself. Or I suppose a "Prank cigar . . . " is just a prank cigar (at the diametrically opposite north end) and you can BANG instead. Hey, that's AXIALLY pretty Milton Berlesque.<br /><br />BEATOUT the PRENUPS.<br /><br />captcha:<br />grones:<br />Berle, Poundstone, pound sandNotalwaysrightBillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24000999436184834572011-01-12T22:01:20.301-05:002011-01-12T22:01:20.301-05:00This 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 7:32, 6:55, 1.09, 83%, Challenging<br />Tue 8:16, 8:54, 0.93, 37%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 10:36, 11:44, 0.90, 30%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:50, 3:41, 1.04, 69%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 4:27, 4:34, 0.97, 48%, Medium<br />Wed 5:31, 5:47, 0.96, 41%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87807687726108745692011-01-12T21:16:52.350-05:002011-01-12T21:16:52.350-05:00@tangell: no, he did not.@tangell: no, he did not.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50354822513522620182011-01-12T21:00:23.757-05:002011-01-12T21:00:23.757-05:00Didn't Herr Hitler spell his name "Adolph...Didn't Herr Hitler spell his name "Adolph"/tangellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16571401814514532756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73829661441984562672011-01-12T20:20:31.111-05:002011-01-12T20:20:31.111-05:00Just returned on a trial run through the Bahamas o...Just returned on a trial run through the Bahamas on the newest enormous but gorgeous ship of the company that made LADY and the Tramp famous. It was on the chilly side, so not many PAREOs on or bikini BRAs on display. I liked this puzzle--the symmetry of the rebus entries, the obscure stuff like NICOLET and TOLUENE in my grasp, and the fun answers of 1/2 BAKED and BETTER 1/2. I finished in the BOFF/DEF crossing where I guessed at the last F.PlantieBeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960277851368508036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46541175208416098462011-01-12T19:42:06.302-05:002011-01-12T19:42:06.302-05:00Matthew G.: Stand Alone does have a forum on their...Matthew G.: Stand Alone does have a forum on their website where you can voice your concern -- you're probably more likely to have your voice heard there than here. They are very responsive. A few months ago, I posted there about a problem with rebus input in the iPad version of their app. They acknowledged it and fixed it quite soon after.Jauntynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3948094637304715702011-01-12T18:57:03.006-05:002011-01-12T18:57:03.006-05:00Refreshing & fun to have a rebus on a Wednesda...Refreshing & fun to have a rebus on a Wednesday. Maybe another tomorrow?Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17025994484782527098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16448483224284291582011-01-12T18:00:24.750-05:002011-01-12T18:00:24.750-05:00I can't believe I caught on to the rebus almos...I can't believe I caught on to the rebus almost immediately. I started at the bottom and knew damned well it was OTHER 1/2, as in How the Other Half Lives. Then I saw BETTER 1/2. Well.<br />I filled in the !/2 s at the other corners and wondered it there were a couple in the middle. <br />Like @Seth - I use SAWN as the past tense of SAW, and wondered if it was SAWN in 1/2 S. <br /><br />When I got to the Mormons, they have been kicked out of at leas 2 states - NY and IA - but, again, like @Seth, I remembered the DESERET news. <br /><br />There were several words I wanted to check by Googling, but didn't, since I'm getting more sure of myself: TOLUENE, LOS, NEH, HAI NICOLET. But I had a Booboo - BOFo <br />rather than BOFF. Wondered if DEo was somewhat anti-clerical. But, DEF? What does it mean? Whatever.<br /><br />@Andrea - I think Paula is very funny; but, why isn't there room for the both of you? I must have heard you without saying boy, they've got to get rid of her. I listen to NPR more than TV. Sounds mean to me, what they did.<br /><br />Spent an hour shoveling. We finally got ours. More than Syracuse, which is too far West for Nor'Easters. Was a snow day for the kiddies.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43246829569905617652011-01-12T16:00:57.886-05:002011-01-12T16:00:57.886-05:00I HATE rebus puzzles.
But this one I liked, only b...I HATE rebus puzzles.<br />But this one I liked, only because I was able to figure it out. (Yay, me.)Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01287297614087933765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91240579149284734492011-01-12T15:36:01.546-05:002011-01-12T15:36:01.546-05:00Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/...Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/2009 post for an explanation of my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Wed 10:41, 11:44, 0.91, 30%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 5:55, 5:47, 1.02, 60%, Medium<br /><br />A lifelong buddy of mine emailed me the exact same FU video yesterday. I guess it's going viral, huh?sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77724774590073225442011-01-12T15:06:13.324-05:002011-01-12T15:06:13.324-05:00Everyone's soup sounds yummy. Send me someEveryone's soup sounds yummy. Send me somechefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2618864375220496742011-01-12T15:03:31.493-05:002011-01-12T15:03:31.493-05:00@Andrea, I would love, love, love to see a puzzle ...@Andrea, I would love, love, love to see a puzzle with lots of double words! At one time, I had a list, which included cleave, but I can't find anything anymore - one that springs to mind: dust (table, vs. bundt cake).<br /><br />Agree with your assessment of Poundstone, she can crack me up with her tone of voice alone. And the show needs a female contributor.CoffeeLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16473192190412844538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2711620020859578812011-01-12T14:35:52.401-05:002011-01-12T14:35:52.401-05:00easy and fun rebus
easy week so fareasy and fun rebus<br /><br />easy week so farAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59576063052176800202011-01-12T14:30:23.983-05:002011-01-12T14:30:23.983-05:00@chaos1
Just for the record, I think Paula is one ...@chaos1<br />Just for the record, I think Paula is one of the funniest people alive, male or female. Have seen her hold audiences in thrall for hours with NO material, just casually asking questions! There is no one (in my book) funnier extemporaneously on stage... (as for WWDTM I'm too jealous and sad to listen, as it was a dream gig for me for only a few sessions before they had a falling out with the engineers at KQED and I was an accidental casualty of their switching from SF to LA...<br />If she is not funny on that show, my guess would be that it is too confining a format for her, bec she is amazing. We just have a funny history of her preceding or replacing me in Boston, SF, LA and on the radio (but not in rehab...yet!)<br /><br />Retired_chem<br />In the 50% space I put in, not HALF, but 1/2 OFF, even tho I knew the rebus already, so that was a tricky space for all sorts of different reasons, in an interesting way, I think.<br /><br />@JaxinLA<br />Who are you, Greene??! Loved the Donen history, knew his name and had meant to imdb to see all the things he directed. <br />Was sort of an oldie-type puzzle, as I'm sure some folks ARE reeling that folks haven't head of the TVA, Uncle Miltie's TEXACO and Stanley Donen or even the "Misty" composer.<br />(I see "Misty" and can only think of that crazed woman Jessica whatshername who was stalking Clint Eastwood in "Play Misty for Me" before that Michael Douglas/GlennClose rip-off.)<br /><br />@Odile<br />I'll bet there has been a puzzle about those double words: RAVEL, UNCANNY (?! really?), CLEAVE...<br />if not, I should get a'workin'.<br /><br />@Archaeoprof<br />ATARAXIA!!!! I would love to achieve that state!!!<br />INFELICITOUS!!!!<br />Love this crowd!!! :)<br /><br />@Van 55<br />My armchair analysis as to why PRENUP was hard for Rex to see is I'll bet he doesn't have one, didn't even consider one! I have never heard/read/seen someone so romantically solicitous of his wife, which is enviable! <br />(And if he wasn't before, he'd better be now that she has a blackbelt!)ataraxia carla michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67435158354429682342011-01-12T14:26:21.107-05:002011-01-12T14:26:21.107-05:00I also entered the DESERET/PASEO cross last, as a ...I also entered the DESERET/PASEO cross last, as a guess. I couldn't think of any other letter that would work, but was still a little surprised it was right.<br /><br />I caught the rebus almost immediately, which is rare for me even though I love the tricky ones (not that this was very tricky). I expected to storm through the whole thing, but ended up much lower in the rankings than usual. Mostly the non-theme NW slowed me down, along with the aforementioned cross and BOFF. I also spent several seconds trying to decide between ewe and ram for YAK.<br /><br />Also, I like Paula Poundstone (standup and on the radio), though I'm sure I would enjoy hearing Acme on WWDTM. We should all remember "not funny to me" /= "not funny". As someone who frequently finds things funny that nobody else seems to (and vice versa), I get a little touchy about this.treedwellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12634227778469664442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35008414418652065502011-01-12T14:12:10.094-05:002011-01-12T14:12:10.094-05:00Oh, and that's not meant as a corresponding kn...Oh, and that's not meant as a corresponding knock on Andrea by any means. I've only been listening to WWDTM for about two or three years, so I never listened in her era.<br /><br />The thing with Paula Poundstone is that she needs other funny people around her to be funny. But once she has that, she does add quite a bit in her own right to the mix.Matthew G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07957320012395569238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58515483162028267562011-01-12T14:07:20.185-05:002011-01-12T14:07:20.185-05:00@SteveJ Different strokes for different folks, I g...@SteveJ Different strokes for different folks, I guess! One of the main things my wife and I hope for when they announce the panel on WWDTM is that Paula Poundstone is there. Her stand-up comedy is not very good, I agree, but in the give-and-take context of WWDTM her self-deprecating style is sidesplitting, IMHO!Matthew G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07957320012395569238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73744542150690623472011-01-12T13:31:37.920-05:002011-01-12T13:31:37.920-05:00First entry was KAN, then TEXACO. These gave me ½...First entry was KAN, then TEXACO. These gave me ½BAKED and ½TRUTH, and I was off and racing. I had to guess the L of NICOLET. I disagree that it was merely a choice of L or D: the band could have been Jo's or T.O.'s Lonely Boys for all I knew.<br /><br />DESERET was a gimme, but not because it sticks in my mind from knowing about the Mormons or US history or the occasional online reading from the <i>Deseret News</i>. No, it's because Orson Scott Card named his post-apocalypse Utah country Deseret in his <i>The Folk of the Fringe</i>, which I read so many years ago.william e embanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36253981695475047402011-01-12T13:03:13.383-05:002011-01-12T13:03:13.383-05:00Enjoyed the puzzle and the write-up with full agre...Enjoyed the puzzle and the write-up with full agreement. Loved the sign language video. Made me smile. I don't generally like a lot of swearing, but this tune is so #%^$%*%* catchy and this girl does a great job.Shamikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11635283729322415150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23822056182000281992011-01-12T12:32:43.411-05:002011-01-12T12:32:43.411-05:00I'm stunned at how many people were stumped by...I'm stunned at how many people were stumped by Deseret. It's fairly basic US history. But then, I'm stumped by anything from the world of pop culture. Knew pareo from flipping through Lands' End catalogues, but toluene was a mystery, albeit gettable from crosses.<br /><br />Snowing and then some here.Lindsaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27670845175271415132011-01-12T12:16:16.412-05:002011-01-12T12:16:16.412-05:00I always love getting a rebus -- you know, the wor...I always love getting a rebus -- you know, the words don't fit, the lightbulb goes off -- ahh!<br /><br />The FU video was fantastic!baltohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13825643532161873039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60779668876285597542011-01-12T12:09:22.051-05:002011-01-12T12:09:22.051-05:00Way too much snow outside ! Looks like I'll be...Way too much snow outside ! Looks like I'll be forced to stay inside and solve puzzles all day. Tsk, Tsk. <br /><br /> As to this puzzle, No Problem. Picked up the theme right away, and it was off to the races. Only hang-up was NICOLET crossing ERROLL and LOS, but I guessed right. DESERET I remembered, but PAREO was new. TRI-NITRO-TOLUENE is clued many ways in many puzzles, and yes, I know it's not normally hyphenated.<br /><br />@ Andrea WOTD Michaels: I agree with Steve J. You are waaay funnier than Paula Poundstone.<br /><br />@ Rex: You made my day with that YouTube clip ! I had heard the song before, but seeing that girl perform in ASL was hysterical. I'll bet she's a great dancer. I'm still laughing !Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850261376542582358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72534923015970947382011-01-12T12:07:11.262-05:002011-01-12T12:07:11.262-05:00@ChefBea: lentil.
I figured out the rebus insert w...@ChefBea: lentil.<br />I figured out the rebus insert with Across Lite: Edit - insert - multiple letters.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.com