tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post5293336563280337692..comments2024-03-28T07:16:21.266-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Basilica feature — THURSDAY, Oct. 8 2009 — Caligula's predecessor as emperor / Russian playwright Andreyev / Dragon ruler of old WallachiaRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23788131614320888202009-11-13T02:55:50.293-05:002009-11-13T02:55:50.293-05:00It's November 12, and my local paper just had ...It's November 12, and my local paper just had this in as the "new york times" puzzle of the day. I'm not sure if they run in syndicate at different times, but I was searching for "caligula's predecessor" to get a section of the puzzle unstuck and this was the first hit.jeredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12528386127450345049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11332540137763243852009-11-12T22:13:13.082-05:002009-11-12T22:13:13.082-05:00I am really late from syndication land. I had a me...I am really late from syndication land. I had a meeting out of town and had to leave before I finished the puzzle. Did most of it while waiting for the proposal to be bound - in about 10 minutes did all but the NE. Came home to the NE and "easy" went way out the window. Had kiss, never heard of ROLO or ARPEL. Did eventually get EDUC althouth thought it was National Endowment of the Arts for too long. Eventually Googled ARPEL and ROLO, after which it came together, but not easy. Dang!!Singernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83939026563502427092009-11-12T20:23:21.850-05:002009-11-12T20:23:21.850-05:00Writing from syndication-land:
I just gave blood ...Writing from syndication-land:<br /><br />I just gave blood today and all the hanging around I did before and after gave me ample time to finish this puzzle.<br /><br />I found this one came down on the easier side for me. My two trouble spots were 44D: ACTONE and 37D: SORBATE. I knew potassium sulfide, more familiarly known as potash, was a food preservative, so I input that as soon as I got 37A: SINE. And that fell from just the I in TIBERIUS, which was today's gimme for me. Suetonius' <i>The Twelve Caesars</i> is one of my favorite works of nonfiction.<br /><br />ACT ONE was hard because I initially read the clue as "<i>Where</i> Romeo meets Juliet", not "<i>When</i>". With six letters and the O and N already filled in from ETON and LENI, I figured it was in fair "Verona" where we lay this crossword answer. I realized I was wrong when I tried to make "Verona" fit with LEONID Andreyev. That terminal -VL set alarms ringing.<br /><br />I liked the new innovation on a fairly standard theme, where both halves of each answer fit the theme. That was cleverly done. And there was good, solid fill all the way through with no clunkers or inaccuracies that I could see. First rate.Nullifidianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15207390447020990907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64720597402328352172009-11-12T13:48:46.357-05:002009-11-12T13:48:46.357-05:00Stop whatever you are doing and go out and buy/ren...Stop whatever you are doing and go out and buy/rent/Netflix Deadwood. Great show and Ian McShane is brilliant in it. One of the best anti-heroes ever on TV. <br /><br />I agree with previous commentor about the third season. Unfortunately the series fizzled out. David Milch wanted a fourth season but could not come to a contractual agreement with HBO and then became distracted by that horribly unwatchable surfing(?) show he did next. As a result, he tried to jam too much into Deadwood's third season (I.E. the whole theater storyline).bill komissaroffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17395085015417039303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34275200189059075332009-10-10T09:40:26.289-04:002009-10-10T09:40:26.289-04:00Martin: "But, Lord, I weary of this exchange ...Martin: "But, Lord, I weary of this exchange of wit. My poor head fairly bursts and I would fain lay my barbs down."slypetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537129206516720012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2697493799881336682009-10-10T01:41:10.648-04:002009-10-10T01:41:10.648-04:00XMAN,
If I understand, you accept senses 1 and 2 ...XMAN,<br /><br />If I understand, you accept senses 1 and 2 and reject 3:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torah" rel="nofollow">Torah</a><br /><br />Despite the use of sense 3 ("The congregants push to the aisles so as not to miss the chance to kiss both Torahs"), I'm sure the spirit of the Torah will survive.Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75593860581950740462009-10-09T01:02:27.805-04:002009-10-09T01:02:27.805-04:00@Rex..Get them scanned for a microchip@Rex..Get them scanned for a microchipRobinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02487254219795167621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4616352367609060892009-10-09T00:47:11.342-04:002009-10-09T00:47:11.342-04:00Rex: Omigod! But such a wonderful, mysterious wife...Rex: Omigod! But such a wonderful, mysterious wife!slypetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537129206516720012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11426837177140343302009-10-09T00:44:52.584-04:002009-10-09T00:44:52.584-04:00Anonymouse: Thou grow'st more subtle by the da...Anonymouse: Thou grow'st more subtle by the day.slypetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537129206516720012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53033091271351464182009-10-09T00:43:17.175-04:002009-10-09T00:43:17.175-04:00Martin: The opacity of your post is exceeded only ...Martin: The opacity of your post is exceeded only by your good looks. I get that they use more than one scroll, but it is still one Torah.slypetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537129206516720012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43568015719856279722009-10-09T00:31:11.562-04:002009-10-09T00:31:11.562-04:00SethG: The clue went something like "They'...SethG: The clue went something like "They're read at services." The USAGE is Torah in the singular, just as it is Bible: "They read the Torah in x, y, z venues." I may have stolen all the torah scrolls in metropolitan Boston, and intend to hold them for ransom, but I have not, in any sense, stolen the Torah (the Bible, the Koran, etc.). The distinction is in the spirit of the thing.slypetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537129206516720012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74979939437622901682009-10-08T23:02:12.770-04:002009-10-08T23:02:12.770-04:00@liquid el lay: that's why we come here. We al...@liquid el lay: that's why we come here. We all do.<br />From my Saturday morning dance/Pilates class I gathered that it's a position in dance.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72830059342488070852009-10-08T23:02:01.049-04:002009-10-08T23:02:01.049-04:00arabesque
/arrbesk/
• noun 1 Ballet a posture ...arabesque<br />/arrbesk/ <br /><br /> • noun 1 Ballet a posture in which one leg is extended horizontally backwards and the arms are outstretched. 2 an ornamental design consisting of intertwined flowing lines. 3 Music a passage with a highly ornamented melody. <br /><br /> — ORIGIN French, from Italian arabesco ‘in the Arabic style’.<br /><br /><br /> <br />from Compact Oxford English Dictionaryliquid el layhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00955796642605260715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40974417398650298522009-10-08T22:53:23.973-04:002009-10-08T22:53:23.973-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42324337785543602662009-10-08T22:38:28.354-04:002009-10-08T22:38:28.354-04:00@ mac,
I'm guessing now that arabesque is a ty...@ mac,<br />I'm guessing now that arabesque is a type of dance. Man, I like words.liquid el layhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00955796642605260715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73124851491646706882009-10-08T22:33:28.709-04:002009-10-08T22:33:28.709-04:00@ mac,
I like the curling nature of ESQUE, it see...@ mac,<br /><br />I like the curling nature of ESQUE, it seems SINuous and yes, somewhat exotic. It works with the twirling TUTU. When I see <br />"-esque" I think something like "it turns on (the object)". Also, I saw the word burlesque in the esque. It turns on it.liquid el layhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00955796642605260715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54752703117564342962009-10-08T22:29:29.619-04:002009-10-08T22:29:29.619-04:00@liquid el lay: were..... I should review.@liquid el lay: were..... I should review.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38610227981787336522009-10-08T22:10:57.883-04:002009-10-08T22:10:57.883-04:00@foodie: I just love that chain, Le Pain Quotidien...@foodie: I just love that chain, Le Pain Quotidien, and most of their food is not too caloric. People make mistakes about salads all the time. Have a steamed veg, much better for you.<br /><br />I think it is quite remarkable how right Rex has been about the rating most days. <br /><br />@liquid el lay: where you thinking tutu and arabesque?machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37034483730670249912009-10-08T21:55:43.363-04:002009-10-08T21:55:43.363-04:00@ NDE - agreed that a high at. no. is a necessary ...@ NDE - agreed that a high at. no. is a necessary but not a sufficient property for a good radiation shield. Pu would certainly have a lot of drawbacks....retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80737142693636292832009-10-08T21:53:59.977-04:002009-10-08T21:53:59.977-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13390705761220923192009-10-08T21:53:47.579-04:002009-10-08T21:53:47.579-04:00This 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 7:13, 6:59, 1.03, 64%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 10:40, 8:34, 1.25, 95%, Challenging<br />Wed 10:49, 11:46, 0.92, 32%, Easy-Medium<br />Thu 17:44, 18:51, 0.94, 36%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:45, 3:42, 1.01, 60%, Medium<br />Tue 4:58, 4:24, 1.13, 83%, Challenging<br />Wed 5:28, 5:48, 0.94, 35%, Easy-Medium<br />Thu 8:19, 9:08, 0.91, 22%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55094643568309056512009-10-08T21:33:40.223-04:002009-10-08T21:33:40.223-04:00Ouch, I goofed: I meant the Japanese Kobe/Osaka pa...Ouch, I goofed: I meant the Japanese Kobe/Osaka pairing was a feature, not a bug. Argh, I thought I proofread it. (At least the errors I <i>did</i> catch didn't get posted...) Sorry :-(<br /><br />@retired_chemist: I figured the same thing re high atomic number. Then again plutonium has an even higher at.no., and I hope nobody's using <i><b>that</b></i> as a radiation shield — PU!<br /><br />NDENoam D. Elkiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2710347398038901632009-10-08T21:32:36.066-04:002009-10-08T21:32:36.066-04:00Anyone bugged by sloppy scientific cluing? It hap...Anyone bugged by sloppy scientific cluing? It happens a lot.<br /><br />HALFLIFE is not a period, really- it's a rate. A convention for describing the inverse-rate-of-decay.<br /><br />A TSUNAMI, a SOUND, an EARTHQUAKE are types of waves; the SINE is a type of wave form. <br /><br />Or is this nattering over nits?<br /><br />Also, why clue RIPE so ugly?<br /><br />Good to see MOO, the (sound) wave of our old friend the MOOER.<br /><br />I think TUTU with its cluing, cross ESQUE is kind of exquisite.liquid el layhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00955796642605260715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68154419298673719792009-10-08T21:30:00.410-04:002009-10-08T21:30:00.410-04:00@joho and RP..thanks for enlightening me on RATTER...@joho and RP..thanks for enlightening me on RATTER...love to learn here/good luck w those strays RP<br />@ScottAtkinson: many thanks for excellent puzzle AND for visiting with us; it's great to read how the constructor goes about thingsCharles Boglenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44157385227009053632009-10-08T20:41:22.831-04:002009-10-08T20:41:22.831-04:00How's this for coincidence: my wife brought ho...How's this for coincidence: my wife brought home two stray dogs this evening. A basset hound and a RATTER (aka Jack Russell). I am really really hoping they aren't in my house tomorrow night. Four dogs = too much for even this dog lover. Also, Jack Russell, sweeeet as she is, wants to eat my chocolate lab's face. And by "eat" I mean not "lick" but "bite off and devour." If the JR were not laughably small it would be scary. The bassett is also a sweetie, but he pees, both offensively and defensively and ... well, he just pees. He's the only male of the pack. These dogs clearly were / are somebodies pets. Really hope we find the owners tomorrow.Rex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.com