tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4835317584348767844..comments2024-03-29T01:22:33.864-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Dance partner for Fred / TUE 5-18-10 / TV husband of Phyllis / TV boss of Mary Richards / Hip-hopper's headgear / Little MunsterRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34511023734360791992010-06-22T13:51:48.707-04:002010-06-22T13:51:48.707-04:00Appreciated the reunion story and photo. Thanks fo...Appreciated the reunion story and photo. Thanks for sharing that! Now to solve grandma's puzzle....timhttp://timwarner.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70066280309913133182010-05-19T22:03:20.295-04:002010-05-19T22:03:20.295-04:00I too loved your Grandma's puzzle. Thanks for...I too loved your Grandma's puzzle. Thanks for sharing.CrazyCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00245025301434920905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90559248786251303562010-05-19T21:20:17.686-04:002010-05-19T21:20:17.686-04:00Aw, i really liked your Grandma's puzzle...! ...Aw, i really liked your Grandma's puzzle...! and the pix and write up.<br /><br />14D i first put "expols" rather than "excons" oh well same difference :-)<br /><br />happy birthday Inez!Patricia Parryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12403024824979848995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77557412787100431722010-05-18T23:42:30.949-04:002010-05-18T23:42:30.949-04:00This 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 6:39, 6:55, 0.96, 44%, Medium<br />Tue 8:17, 8:52, 0.93, 35%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:34, 3:41, 0.97, 48%, Medium<br />Tue 4:15, 4:31, 0.94, 38%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76371354490883787672010-05-18T23:24:49.550-04:002010-05-18T23:24:49.550-04:00@Sfingi, I don't know what you're talking ...@Sfingi, I don't know what you're talking about. Just hit "Print" — visible word, right at top of the puzzle on This Page. Or go to the link I provide to Amy's and get the .pdf. Simple. There's no joining anything. Yeesh.<br /><br />And you're welcome.<br /><br />rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22448347344068300502010-05-18T23:11:33.824-04:002010-05-18T23:11:33.824-04:00@VaBeacher - My mother, likewise was an amazing se...@VaBeacher - My mother, likewise was an amazing seamstress, baker, clublady, churchlady, genealogist, etc. Now she thinks she's 22 and remembers every song, poem, hymn, saying, she ever learned. She sings and laughs, even in her sleep. It's all so strange.<br /><br />@Rex - The Inez puzzle came up, but they wanted me to join something before I could print it. Yeesh.<br /><br />My cousins once lived in Spirit Lake and Coeur d'Alene on their slow trek across the continent. I had no idea it was so green.<br /><br />@Ulrich - I think my squirrels are becoming dependent on me. Instead of hunting for seeds, etc. they wait for me to drive away and go after what I left. One of them came to my car door as I came home. They're going to get fat and get caught by the feral cats.<br />As far as pronunciation, we have the situation that, though the base of the language is Germanic, after 1066, as many words are French or some sort of romance language, which comes with its own rules. Then there's the 11% that is Greek, (introduced by intellectuals) with another set of rules. If you can get the kids to recognize the 3 main sources, they can learn the 3 sets of rules. <br /><br />And the Bible was translated by a committee. <br /><br />Up late for elections - school and library bills passed!<br />I love pinenuts right out of the bag.Sfinginoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16521518756294479872010-05-18T22:21:01.865-04:002010-05-18T22:21:01.865-04:00Thanks for the travelogue and bonus puzzle Rex. Id...Thanks for the travelogue and bonus puzzle Rex. Idaho is a gorgeous state and home to one of my fondest memories, namely X-country skiing in Lolo Pass area 35 (yikes!) years ago in deep pristine powder with friends. Some punks in Texas stole my ski poles off the roof of the VW Bug we were traveling in and I did the whole challenging 2-3 hour ski mitout poles. Fond memories.<br /><br />Puzzle was ok but some dubious fill for sure.deerfencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05185773504451380520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39838362180711728742010-05-18T22:02:51.162-04:002010-05-18T22:02:51.162-04:00@Ulrich: That's a good thing. But try to give ...@Ulrich: That's a good thing. But try to give them human-sounding names.Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21530726143436478782010-05-18T21:34:38.004-04:002010-05-18T21:34:38.004-04:00@Stan: Are you saying that pets are not dependent ...@Stan: Are you saying that pets are not dependent on us? I always very conscientiously listed every dependent pet we had in every census I participated in.Ulrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80663475682748720052010-05-18T21:26:58.155-04:002010-05-18T21:26:58.155-04:00@Andrea: What you're doing (the Census) is *so...@Andrea: What you're doing (the Census) is *so important*! The less those quivering folks want to talk to you the more vital it is that they get counted. But remember not to enumerate PETS...Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5425948581981773962010-05-18T21:16:14.858-04:002010-05-18T21:16:14.858-04:00@citizen Dain did I miss something??? What perfum...@citizen Dain did I miss something??? What perfumery/tutu.chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3053785907939055632010-05-18T18:29:48.337-04:002010-05-18T18:29:48.337-04:00I was off by one letter on today's NYT puzzle ...I was off by one letter on today's NYT puzzle (the Perfumery/Tutu cross) and was not happy about it. But I dug into your Inez puzzle, completed it successfully, and it restored my spirits! Thanks Rex! You should create puzzles more often.Citizen Dainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09789010705241919403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11881661200676824352010-05-18T17:07:22.006-04:002010-05-18T17:07:22.006-04:00@Sfingi: the same rule exists in German (with exce...@Sfingi: the same rule exists in German (with exceptions involving, e.g., "h"), and the opposite is also true: If a vowel is followed by a single consonant, it's LONG--i.e. "Federer" should not be pronounced as if it were written "Fedderer". But since that's how Americans pronounce the name, I assume the opposite does not hold in English...Ulrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4112176370255202742010-05-18T16:52:31.037-04:002010-05-18T16:52:31.037-04:00Rex - I got a "security error" trying to...Rex - I got a "security error" trying to load your video.<br /><br />Fairly easy. There were an awful lot of E-R-S-T in the "middle east" of the puzzle, which caused me some doubts, especially since i had never heard of the STEVE or REEVE movies or the song, ERES tu. Turned out, this was part of the theme, which I hadn't figured out, though it's obvious now.<br /><br />Gotto get to the home to feed Mom!<br /><br />When I saw QB, I didn't think Quarterback, but Queen to Bishop. Not that chess isn't a little violent. <br /><br />@Steve - Re: OTTIS - There's a kinda rule in English (after all, it's English) that 2 consonants shortens the vowel they follow (taping - long, tapping-short, etc.). Perhaps the family had some reason way back for that pronunciation.Sfinginoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81998772485515064312010-05-18T16:39:00.968-04:002010-05-18T16:39:00.968-04:00Wonderful write up and pictures of the reunion. N...Wonderful write up and pictures of the reunion. Now I will remember every time I see a clue for Don Juan's mother - Rex Parker's grandma.<br /><br />Pretty much nothing else to say about the puzzle. I enjoyed it and it took me a while to get the theme. Hand up for BAR BRAWL instead of BAR FIGHT.CrazyCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00245025301434920905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64810922514718409802010-05-18T15:42:40.891-04:002010-05-18T15:42:40.891-04:00Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/...Midday report of relative difficulty (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 of my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Tue 8:05, 8:51, 0.91, 29%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Tue 4:20, 4:31, 0.96, 43%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81862585732764410762010-05-18T14:07:04.509-04:002010-05-18T14:07:04.509-04:00Loved the Inez puzzle, especially the "Hobo T...Loved the Inez puzzle, especially the "Hobo Transport" clue. That one gave me a good laugh.Fitznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87852905440571827292010-05-18T13:52:42.972-04:002010-05-18T13:52:42.972-04:00@Steve J - I was just remembering something I had ...@Steve J - I was just remembering something I had read, source unknown. Without wishing to argue or do much research, I find that the Wikipedia article says in part,<br /> "Style and criticism<br /><br />A primary concern of the translators was to produce a Bible that would be appropriate, dignified and resonant in public reading. Hence, in a period of rapid linguistic change, they avoided contemporary idioms, tending instead towards forms that were already slightly archaic, like verily and it came to pass."<br /><br />As I tried to suggest, I don't consider myself an expert on the subject.Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30418071884731869112010-05-18T13:52:04.024-04:002010-05-18T13:52:04.024-04:00What a lovely family event! I'm sure you are g...What a lovely family event! I'm sure you are going to treasure the memories of this celebration. Enjoyed the Inez puzzle too, and the pictures of Idaho. It is a beautiful state, with the big skies and the crisp mornings.<br /><br />I thought Peter Collins puzzle was thoughtful and competent, and I too find it impressive to have the letters of "results" not spread over the whole answer. Ha, Dorag came without crosses this time!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20947349438044074672010-05-18T13:23:50.624-04:002010-05-18T13:23:50.624-04:00@Bob Kerfuffle: I'm curious about your King Ja...@Bob Kerfuffle: I'm curious about your King James Bible anecdote. I wouldn't say those verb forms were out of date at the time; Shakespeare was contemporary to the crafting of the King James Version, and you'll notice a lot of -st and -th verb endings there as well (particularly since "thou" was still actively in the language at the time, which was the driver of the -st verb ending). <br /><br />However, determining "contemporary" language in the 16th and 17th centuries is quite a challenge. That was one of the most rapid periods of change in English language history (probably matched only by the move from Old English to Middle English between the Norman invasion and Chaucer). It was rapid enough that 1-2 generations after both Shakespeare and the KJV, a lot of the language was probably starting to sound archaic.Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82970006161205038462010-05-18T13:15:11.022-04:002010-05-18T13:15:11.022-04:00@Andrea OJ Michaels
The circles are in the Inez tr...@Andrea OJ Michaels<br />The circles are in the Inez tribute puzzle.<br /><br />Rex, Never realized you were such a Roman Numerals fan, well done!Tinbenihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14661395078047234853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-998559920452015692010-05-18T13:09:39.504-04:002010-05-18T13:09:39.504-04:00STAR CLUSTERS or ADULTRESSES and WANDERLUSTS work ...STAR CLUSTERS or ADULTRESSES and WANDERLUSTS work and are also symmetric, they just don't break RESULTS across the words of a phrase. I'm sure there are more. While the breakage is maybe more elegant, it's not necessarily more interesting.<br /><br />I'm waiting for the mixed blood or race or Mxyzptlk puzzles.SethGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13753036404140901368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23304254486477293862010-05-18T13:01:30.313-04:002010-05-18T13:01:30.313-04:00@Rex loved the Inez puzzle!!!
And I too love coun...@Rex loved the Inez puzzle!!!<br /><br />And I too love country western music<br /><br />baggie what no kitchen should be withoutchefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37543363804041798972010-05-18T12:27:01.411-04:002010-05-18T12:27:01.411-04:00Phenomenal write up. back to laugh out loud...and ...Phenomenal write up. back to laugh out loud...and fabulous grandma pics and stories!!!!!!!! Love today!!!!<br /><br />I gotta say, tho, I have a LOT more love for this puzzle than many today.<br /><br />I'm with @stan and @retired chemist that to pull off anagrams of SEVEN letters in solid phrases with contiguous letters is WILDLY difficult and thought the results were great and not tipped off<br />(I had no circles on my copy, or couldn't see them I was tired when I solved) so it was a great reveal to me...no idea what HORSERUSTLER and STEELTRUSSES had in common till later...I started with STEELTR..... and thought it would be STEELTRaps+ and thought it was heading towards an animal abuse theme!)<br /><br />I think the fact that he's had other MIXED puzzles is also positive, like, this is one of his signature styles...and I think that's great, bec it's hard to distinguish your own voice as a constructor, esp since before Will we didn't even get bylines!<br /><br />Anyway, off to finish up my job as a census taker. Boy, has it been an uphill battle post-9/11 and Bush! The fact that it's been taken every ten years since 1790 should give it some cred!!!!!!!<br />Tell that to the quivering folks whose doorbell I ring!<br /><br />So, yay Peter Collins! Welcome back big time Rex! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY Marguerita-drinking grandma!!!!!!!!!andrea oj michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90740448152914873072010-05-18T12:22:10.147-04:002010-05-18T12:22:10.147-04:00Thanks for the wonderful story about your trip hom...Thanks for the wonderful story about your trip home and your grandmother! Evidently 90 is the new 60, to look at her. I look forward to the puzzle in her honor. And thanks to her for your picking up the skill!jauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05533248520231931612noreply@blogger.com