tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4879088133904330492..comments2024-03-28T18:12:10.683-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: FIctional airline on Lost / WED 6-23-10 / Time-consuming task for musketeer / Armpit anatomically / Morlocks victims H.G. Wells storyRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84615899587866999812010-07-28T14:48:36.767-04:002010-07-28T14:48:36.767-04:00ICESAW vs. ICEAXE- really?! Not so hard if you th...ICESAW vs. ICEAXE- really?! Not so hard if you think about it. One is used for ice climbing (axe)- the other is used to cut holes in ice (saw). I wouldn't want to be on a frozen lake hacking into it with an axe. Still mooing and reload were my first two answers. I was stuck after trying to use ERA instead of EST for 4D. ELOI is very obsure and I was annoyed with all the "Lost" references too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72972017231795586802010-07-28T11:35:41.108-04:002010-07-28T11:35:41.108-04:00SynCity Quibbling: If a steak is indeed STILL MOOI...SynCity Quibbling: If a steak is indeed STILL MOOING (1A), BLUE would probably have been a more accurate answer than RARE. (A "blue" steak is very red and cold in the center, while a "rare" steak is red and cool in the center.) Also, in keeping with the flame mini-theme, too bad HOME OF THE FLAMES (Calgary) couldn't have been included in the puzzle perhaps instead of HOME OF THE STARS (Dallas).Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80313392028535461832010-06-24T00:34:03.732-04:002010-06-24T00:34:03.732-04:00@Rex, at the risk of being accused a sycophant, TH...@Rex, at the risk of being accused a sycophant, THANK YOU!!!!fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63070552607141742452010-06-23T23:30:58.615-04:002010-06-23T23:30:58.615-04:00Finally got to it, after a bad tooth day.
It turn...Finally got to it, after a bad tooth day.<br /><br />It turned out to be easy to fill in. No Googling, etc.<br /><br />Didn't figure out the theme until all done. Thought the letters under the line were included in some sort of mixing up. <br /><br />Like that name Boisvert. Never heard it before. Greenwoods?<br /><br />I suppose the STARS are some sort of sports team?<br /><br />Also, never heard of OCEANIC air lines, ALI Larter, IRVIN Kershner.<br /><br />Had Main instead of LIRR. Thought I was at U Penn instead of NYC, I guess.<br /><br />Mini-theme: Old flames.<br />EXES to ASHES and Dost Thou to Dust.<br /><br />Now that I know how Thomas ALVA Edison treated Tesla, I cringe at the name ALVA. <br /><br />Took STENOgraphy >45 years ago. Took first computer course >40 years ago at a technical school. Not given in colleges yet.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72298715597902696682010-06-23T22:39:11.647-04:002010-06-23T22:39:11.647-04:00This little flame war (to which everyone appears t...This little flame war (to which everyone appears to have brought safety matches, thankfully) is over. Thank you.<br /><br />RPRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48953457506357818642010-06-23T22:36:30.563-04:002010-06-23T22:36:30.563-04:00@Masked Anon:
Point number 1: The word is "y...@Masked Anon:<br /><br />Point number 1: The word is "you're," not "your."<br /><br />Point number 2: We all have the ability to watch a show "one time" and pass judgement. It's called "having an opinion." (which you certainly do!)<br /><br />Point number 3: The issue of finding alternate definitions really leads to the question of "is it correct just because google or Merriam Webster (not the most respected of dictionaries, IMO) shows us that it is used in such a way?" Just because people say irrespective all the time doesn't mean it should be validated as a word, and CERTAINLY not ever appear in a crossword!<br /><br />Point number 4: If you are SO annoyed, disgusted, irritated, nauseated, etc. by how the people on this blog converse and banter, then why do you read the comments? Stick to Rex's blog and find your own bandwagon! :-p<br /><br />(not trying to be a total ass, just playfully bantering!)The Big Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00383322329027962325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77817503609971433312010-06-23T22:30:59.336-04:002010-06-23T22:30:59.336-04:00@Andrea: Agreed that spoiler alerts could easily b...@Andrea: Agreed that spoiler alerts could easily be taken too far, but there's a certain amount of what seems reasonable (to me, anyway) restraint to consider on such things.<br /><br />The last episode of "Lost" was only a month ago. And we're talking about the last episode, where everything's explained. It carries much more weight than any of the other episodes in that regard. <br /><br />Especially in the era of DVRs, DVDs, Hulu, etc., it's not uncommon for a lot of people to lag behind the broadcast schedule. I'd suggest that things that are recent, and that give away the ending of said recent things, should be candidate for restraint. Especially if its not really cogent to the topic of the crossword puzzle. I had done a good job of avoiding anything that would tell me the ending of "Lost"; the last place I expected to accidentally stumble across it was a crossword blog four weeks after the show was done.Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76585669316650641992010-06-23T22:26:05.105-04:002010-06-23T22:26:05.105-04:00Anon 9:15
Your over your head here.
These elitist...Anon 9:15<br />Your over your head here.<br /><br />These elitist puzzle solvers are only interested in their "pop-culture" or their definitions.<br /><br />They have the ability to see a show ONE TIME to pass judgement, or as dk said "Lost just sucks."<br /><br />They find alternate definitions, then argue the clue/answer is still wrong.<br /><br />If Rex said: "A clue jumped." <br />They would respond "How high?"<br /><br />At least Rex gives a honest opinion.<br />They live to jump on the latest bandwagon.Masked Anonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7821016639251002952010-06-23T22:25:12.435-04:002010-06-23T22:25:12.435-04:00This 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 6:41, 6:55, 0.97, 45%, Medium<br />Tue 7:58, 8:48, 0.91, 23%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 9:40, 11:47, 0.82, 10%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:36, 3:41, 0.98, 43%, Medium<br />Tue 4:08, 4:30, 0.92, 23%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 4:55, 5:47, 0.85, 12%, Easysanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8793031542529745352010-06-23T22:01:40.427-04:002010-06-23T22:01:40.427-04:00@Andrea Spoiler Michaels - I can't stop eating...@Andrea Spoiler Michaels - I can't stop eating meat! Especially because "moo" is cow for "eat me rare!" YUM! :-)) (that is my double chin from eating too much meat!) :-pThe Big Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00383322329027962325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69739831510869215312010-06-23T21:52:39.849-04:002010-06-23T21:52:39.849-04:00Loved the theme. Doing the xword every day has re...Loved the theme. Doing the xword every day has really fostered a love of puns, and the literalness of "sign" on the "dotted line" made me very happy.<br /><br />I don't know if he won an Oscar or not, but my first instinct at the "On the Waterfront" clue (after seeing that Brando and Kazan didn't fit) was BUDDSCHULBERG. Does this mean I know too much about old movies? Luckily EVAMARIESAINT was next when all the crosses failed.<br /><br />And I saw the clue about "Putting out an ___" and the word "Police" and penciled in "APB". Realized after reading more carefully that this was pretty stupid...Citizen Dainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09789010705241919403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87192246282085595382010-06-23T21:15:09.237-04:002010-06-23T21:15:09.237-04:00It is true that you have to be passingly familiar ...It is true that you have to be passingly familiar with one of the most hyped television shows of the last decade, but the airline name, OCEANIC, is not, in the context of the show, a "lame bit of trivia." Sorry, but it's not. It's a very prominent piece of information, discussed and mentioned constantly, including in the moniker given the first set of survivors, "The Oceanic Six."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49710667070352617122010-06-23T21:09:21.240-04:002010-06-23T21:09:21.240-04:00Oh skit! Estimate. Doh! Sorry about that.Oh skit! Estimate. Doh! Sorry about that.Sparkynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2880106495304124322010-06-23T21:06:35.299-04:002010-06-23T21:06:35.299-04:00ps @greene
Recently saw "On the Waterfront&qu...ps @greene<br />Recently saw "On the Waterfront" and realized I had only seen the famous scenes and never the whole film from beginning to end...but I've got to mildly disagree with you today! I found the score really loud and overbearing and intrusive! There wasn't a moment of calm in the whole film and always overwhelmingly telling you what to feel. I like Leonard Bernstein, but ick on this one...the music was almost like one of those late night commercials that are 30X louder than the film you are watching.andrea not lost michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85480200162795171702010-06-23T21:04:07.882-04:002010-06-23T21:04:07.882-04:00Relax, folks. Knowing what you know from this thr...Relax, folks. Knowing what you know from this thread about Lost will not detract from your potential enjoyment of it in the future. What made the show great was the mythology and the characters, neither of which has been spoiled for you in this exchange. Did I like the ending? No. But I'll be damned if I didn't enjoy the ride for most of the run. Sorry for my Engrish. To stay on topic, easy puzzle. Insultingly easy for a Wed. Way to give the amateurs (like I) false hope, you crafty constructor you.Inn Dawnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18302903390636859792010-06-23T21:01:29.831-04:002010-06-23T21:01:29.831-04:00Found it easy but DNF. Brain went dead with "...Found it easy but DNF. Brain went dead with "Still mooing." Knew axilla from reading Lolita years and years ago. Still don't know EST as ballpark fig. All I know are RBI, MVP, and a couple of others. I'll Google it up. Be good, but not too good.Sparkynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25969570652329910292010-06-23T21:00:57.950-04:002010-06-23T21:00:57.950-04:00Fie on the Masked bully denigrating @dk! He's...Fie on the Masked bully denigrating @dk! He's only (occasionally) sycophantic to ME and I highly encourage that!:)<br /><br />@retired chemist<br />I love the word CALIBRATE, am a fellow LIBRA and never noticed if was in the word, but sort of goes nicely with the whole balance thing, no? I am forever trying to name companies some variation of CALIBRATE and succeeded with one medical group now named CALIBRA and we also tied it into the CALI of California.<br />Btw, for you and @Sundance, Alex Boisvert is very much a man, does not use a nom de plume for his rather poetic French name (The NYT doesn't allow them).<br /><br />Re: spoiler alerts:<br />I think on a crossword blog you should only have to do spoiler alerts about the puzzle, but not even that, bec the whole point is to come here after you've finished it. It's not our fault if someone didn't watch "Lost" in real time, is it? I mean, should we have to issue an alert if we want to mention that EVAMARIESAINT's brother (in the film, in case folks are being REALLY literal today) dies in case someone hasn't seen<br />"On the Waterfront"?<br /><br />Spoiler alert: <br />*<br />*<br />*<br />*<br />Marlon Brando's character could have been a contender!<br /><br />And speaking of con-tender, please stop eating meat! Let them still moo for godssake!andrea spoiler michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44486011329403481132010-06-23T19:56:24.301-04:002010-06-23T19:56:24.301-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24168895128041605932010-06-23T19:54:37.365-04:002010-06-23T19:54:37.365-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7496461364018688382010-06-23T19:51:45.250-04:002010-06-23T19:51:45.250-04:00@ anon 6:39 -
Yes, there are other meanings to c...@ anon 6:39 - <br /><br />Yes, there are other meanings to <i>calibrate.</i> I accept the examples you offer. Unfortunately they fit the clue even more poorly than the definition I used. In fact, your post simply reinforced the case against the clue.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72993203510296978932010-06-23T18:58:30.065-04:002010-06-23T18:58:30.065-04:00Dear @masked anon, I prefer the practice of "...Dear @masked anon, I prefer the practice of "sycophancy" (raking up material for false charges). And, I thought I had cranky pants.<br /><br />Re ICESAW - there is a book (name escapes me) on ice, refrigeration of ships,etc. The ICESAW figured prominently as they would harvest ice from NE lakes (Walden Pond for one) and ship it south (in the empty holds of sugar cane transport ships). The primary use of the ice was ice cream (Dolly Madison) and keeping drinks cool (Mojitos). <br /><br />This book may shed some light on the ICESAW, at any rate it is a good read.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240908.And_a_Bottle_of_Rum_A_History_of_the_New_World_in_Ten_Cocktails" rel="nofollow">Shameless Plug</a>dkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55218607849938331502010-06-23T18:39:57.991-04:002010-06-23T18:39:57.991-04:00Some recent uses of "calibrate" in the N...Some recent uses of "calibrate" in the NYT:<br /><br />Doctors aided torture by helping to calibrate the levels of pain. Republicans preparing for the supreme court nomination said they would calibrate their fight to how liberal they perceived the choice to be. New insulin delivery devices would continually monitor glucose levels, calibrate insulin dosages, and then dispense the insulin. <br /><br />It means more than just determining the graduation of an instrument.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55361308853029990782010-06-23T18:15:01.313-04:002010-06-23T18:15:01.313-04:00I too have never seen an episode of Lost. The clu...I too have never seen an episode of <i>Lost</i>. The clue seemed utterly fair.<br /><br />"Still mooing" is <a href="http://chefforfeng.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/glossary-of-restaurant-lingo-and-terms" rel="nofollow">official restaurant slang</a>. The same glossary is in the book <i>The Customer is Always Wrong</i>. I have no idea who stole from whom.<br /><br />I have to agree with retired chemist. "Calibrate" means set the scale, not refine it. The OED agrees. Yes Merriam-Webster allows the alternate meaning.william e embanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69374343885344372752010-06-23T17:51:50.995-04:002010-06-23T17:51:50.995-04:00Or just don't be Spoilers at all.
Three and o...Or just don't be Spoilers at all.<br /><br />Three and out.JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57533133892433453462010-06-23T17:21:28.424-04:002010-06-23T17:21:28.424-04:00To all those who have not seen lost:
Neither have...To all those who have not seen lost:<br /><br />Neither have I! But I am sure that one day I will watch, forget all about this little exchange on today's blog, and still be able to enjoy the ending after umpteen hours of watching several seasons worth of episodes on DVD! :-)<br /><br />@Steve J - TOTALLY agree, however, that people need to use the term "Spoiler Alert" more.The Big Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00383322329027962325noreply@blogger.com