tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post5332701879158980663..comments2024-03-29T10:57:51.387-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: WEDNESDAY, Dec. 5, 2007 - Allan E. ParrishRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72043386452910046982008-01-16T22:35:00.000-05:002008-01-16T22:35:00.000-05:00There is, perhaps, a benefit of being six weeks la...There is, perhaps, a benefit of being six weeks late: with the U.S. economy being, well, what it is now in mid-January, "stagflation" has been mentioned in the news many times over the past few days. Probably would have taken a lot longer to figure out the clue if I hadn't just heard the word in the last few days.<BR/><BR/>Relatively new to the Blog; wonderful!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7263457381069042192008-01-16T20:57:00.000-05:002008-01-16T20:57:00.000-05:006 weeks on and a surprise that no bloggers back th...6 weeks on and a surprise that no bloggers back then commented on the very strong Canadian sub-theme to this puzzle: COREY HART (born in Montreal), TRUDEAU (our only charismatic leader), UNCLE BUCK (John Candy was a Canuck) and ESSO (lives on in Canada, no EXXON here). Methinks Allan E. Parrish may be a closet Canuck.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3421598221831987132008-01-16T12:05:00.000-05:002008-01-16T12:05:00.000-05:00I got HINDQUARTER and UNCLEBUCK first of the theme...I got HINDQUARTER and UNCLEBUCK first of the theme answers, and then spent a few minutes trying in vain to find money-related answers to the other theme clues. Oh well.vasihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04519775076796916010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89167196957083705132008-01-16T09:17:00.000-05:002008-01-16T09:17:00.000-05:00After the fact, I googled the plural for isthmus, ...After the fact, I googled the plural for isthmus, and these choices came up: isthmuses or isthmi. Both sound ridiculous. 'wtf' were the first words out of my mouth this morning, but I enjoyed the puzzle anyway. Interestingly enough, I seem to make the same mistakes as you do Rex, but it takes me about 10 times as long to figure it all out. I don't mind because I enjoy doing the puzzle and don't want to finish too early because once I finish, I have to get ready for work and who doesn't want to prolong that?nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01364393837270870166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2362824252593048972007-12-06T06:48:00.000-05:002007-12-06T06:48:00.000-05:00Ditto profphil - my trainer says DELTS all the tim...Ditto profphil - my trainer says DELTS all the time.wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06899889818724088564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54713857450574922932007-12-06T01:03:00.000-05:002007-12-06T01:03:00.000-05:00DS Delts as a term may not work for Drs but they a...DS <BR/><BR/>Delts as a term may not work for Drs but they are used in the gym.profphilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04008408525905415670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6838066224879296412007-12-06T00:38:00.000-05:002007-12-06T00:38:00.000-05:00For what it's worth, the elephant seal female will...For what it's worth, the elephant seal female will mate within weeks of giving birth (from around now through February), then implant the embryo for three months in a sort of suspended animation, and then gestate the pup for an additional seven months or so, thus renewing the annual cycle.<BR/><BR/>Anyone wanting to learn more about STAGFLATION and macroeconomics in general could look to some of Paul Krugman's writings. Before he became a NYT columnist he was one of the most clear-sighted and comprehensible of academic economists.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49016923993921008992007-12-06T00:36:00.000-05:002007-12-06T00:36:00.000-05:00I'm not sure I've ever heard DELTS referred to as ...I'm not sure I've ever heard DELTS referred to as DELTOIDS. :-) A Google search of "weight training" +delts yields 30K+ hits.PuzzleGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09017772879976436923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43220321762064115712007-12-06T00:04:00.000-05:002007-12-06T00:04:00.000-05:00While it is true that physicians do not think of a...While it is true that physicians do not think of a biopsy as a lab test, most commercial laboratories (e.g., LabCorp) do read biopsies and provide reports. Still, when I am sending in a biopsy sample, I am not doing a lab test.<BR/><BR/>Also, DELT as an abbreviation or shortening of Deltoid (the shoulder muscle), is just not realistic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69764437322646282152007-12-05T22:20:00.000-05:002007-12-05T22:20:00.000-05:00I was stumped by the 80s clues and quite a bit of ...I was stumped by the 80s clues and quite a bit of the other names .. must have had a a stag-nating brain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53023441375255614292007-12-05T20:26:00.000-05:002007-12-05T20:26:00.000-05:00Alex -- You are describing me about six months ago...Alex -- You are describing me about six months ago, although I still rely on my wife (or sister last Saturday) from time to time I find I'm doing it less. Still its nice to have her there. I now often google post solving just to try to lock in new info. You might try getting a book of old NYT puzzles (there are lots of them), I've found the more I do the better it gets.<BR/><BR/>Rikki -- ditto fergus on the waves, the seals were fighting but not mating, alas, can't we all just get along.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16441173694954572752007-12-05T20:04:00.000-05:002007-12-05T20:04:00.000-05:00I once had a "WIN" button touting the "Whip Inflat...I once had a "WIN" button touting the "Whip Inflation Now" thang. I wonder what it'd be worth if I still had it.Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39753719791303904122007-12-05T19:47:00.000-05:002007-12-05T19:47:00.000-05:00@rob g.: In addition to what marcie said, check th...@rob g.: In addition to what marcie said, check the children's section of your Blockbuster. I bet they have VHS tapes there. (Of course I could be wrong, but that's where the bulk of VHS lives at my local movie store.)PuzzleGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09017772879976436923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77885870719754549662007-12-05T19:26:00.000-05:002007-12-05T19:26:00.000-05:00tin foil hat on I was part of a government progr...tin foil hat on<BR/><BR/> I was part of a government program to teach children speed reading. This was during the Kennedy administration and Evelyn Wood was all the rage.<BR/><BR/>I got up to 2200 words/minute and did not like it because I am a reading fan. The speed reading analogy at the time was that speed reading is like speed driving, you don't have time for the distractions.<BR/><BR/>I like the distractions in reading.<BR/><BR/>The point: scanning is the basis of speed reading. You pick out the wheat among the chaff.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes the chaff is more interesting.<BR/><BR/>I had to unteach myself to enjoy reading again.<BR/> <BR/>tin foil hat offAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55378158804853729512007-12-05T19:13:00.000-05:002007-12-05T19:13:00.000-05:00grayfont - yep, Corey Hart was indeed a two-hit wo...grayfont - yep, Corey Hart was indeed a two-hit wonder. "Never Surrender" gets played only slightly less than "Sunglasses" on the generic commercial radio station's 80s request nights around here. He may have even had a third or fourth song actually hit the U.S. charts somewhere, but that's one for hardcore Billboard fans to look up - if so, even 80's trivia fanatics likely wouldn't know those songs anyway. I think he may have been a more popular artist in Canada.<BR/><BR/>And that's way more than anyone needs to know about that guy.<BR/><BR/>Oh yeah, STAGFLATION was a nasty one; heard of it, but couldn't quite wrap my head around it at first.Howard Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00766792795622192271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18843835550141696862007-12-05T19:07:00.000-05:002007-12-05T19:07:00.000-05:00Alex,As Jefferson Starship said "Do It You're own ...<B>Alex,</B><BR/><BR/>As Jefferson Starship said "Do It You're own WayeEaea".<BR/><BR/>I have stopped using Google pre but still use it post and spouse answers are fair game until you know everything your spouse knows.<BR/><BR/>It's entertainment, not a test.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13102016680928982202007-12-05T18:58:00.000-05:002007-12-05T18:58:00.000-05:00I took Speed-Read as SCANNED to mean "scanning the...I took Speed-Read as SCANNED to mean "scanning the headlines of a newspaper" to quickly read relevant points? I didn't take it to mean as using an optical scanner. Anyone else?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28788299659361199932007-12-05T18:25:00.000-05:002007-12-05T18:25:00.000-05:00I started off quickly filling in names (always a s...I started off quickly filling in names (always a strong point), but then slowed down and ended up with three mistakes (two inexcusable).<BR/><BR/>Like puzzle girl, my iowa residence leads to many robo-calls these days. Caller id is a wonderful invention.Michael Chibnikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04700426644898924644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53156335371128281172007-12-05T18:12:00.000-05:002007-12-05T18:12:00.000-05:00Thom Mcan used to have the foot xray device.The Oa...Thom Mcan used to have the foot xray device.<BR/><BR/>The Oak Room at the Plaza used to be a great place for a drink.<BR/><BR/>Stagflation used to be a common word.<BR/><BR/>"Somebody loan me a dime so I can call my old time used to be" could have been the theme.<BR/><BR/>Agree with Isthmi (wtf)<BR/><BR/>Let the good times (Thur, Fri, Sat.)roll.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17005150385275723002007-12-05T17:58:00.000-05:002007-12-05T17:58:00.000-05:00george... the biopsy/labtest pairing gave me pause...george... the biopsy/labtest pairing gave me pause also, mainly because in another popular puzzle (NYSun) just yesterday there was a clue/answer of invasive medical procedure/biopsy, so I was trying for something akin to surgery on the biopsy clue today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91793760329881223062007-12-05T16:59:00.000-05:002007-12-05T16:59:00.000-05:00Thinking about the Corey Hart clue has me ponderin...Thinking about the Corey Hart clue has me pondering at what point I consider a solve "spoiled." Intentionally avoiding the "cheat" word since, as rex so rightly says, we each define our own solving experience. It's not like doing the daily puzzle is a competition (for most of us).<BR/><BR/>I'm at best an intermediate solver so I separate them into "clean" and "spoiled" categories. Where "spoiled" means that I used something other than my brain sitting at the computer to solve it completely.<BR/><BR/>I've been pleased to see over the last 14 months that Mondays and Tuesdays are always clean (and almost always under 10 minutes, not that I care about time). Wednesdays usually are, and Thursday to Sunday almost never are (though I recently had my first clean Sunday puzzle).<BR/><BR/>But I still flirt around the edges of that. For example, on a Sunday, I somehow still consider it clean to use Google to <I>confirm</I> I have the right answer (though this is a gamble since if it isn't confirmed the solve will almost certainly be spoiled. <BR/><BR/>The second semi-spoil that doesn't actually spoil it in my mind is that if it comes cleanly out of my wife's mind, then it is fair game. So last night, without even thinking, when I read the clue for COREY HART I shouted it out to her, she replied "COREY something" and I put in COREY without at all thinking the quality of the solve hampered.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, this post has no real point. Just the pondering of it and wondering if those goal posts will move as I get better (assuming I continue to improve).Alex S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07543077687426776863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61936604291779659252007-12-05T16:44:00.000-05:002007-12-05T16:44:00.000-05:00le capuer,Stick with it, it gets easier. I used to...<B>le capuer,</B><BR/><BR/>Stick with it, it gets easier. I used to work on a Friday or Saturday all week, now i'm under an hour.<BR/><BR/>The New York Sun also has a really good puzzle if you want more practice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37315604123293926242007-12-05T15:58:00.000-05:002007-12-05T15:58:00.000-05:00Great blog, Rex, I just discovered it. I'm a fairl...Great blog, Rex, I just discovered it. I'm a fairly new puzzler, started after seeing Worldplay, and these Wednesday puzzles always trip me up.<BR/><BR/>I too didn't know the theme for a while. I had "beer" at one point because of the "on tap" clue.<BR/><BR/>After about 25 minutes, I had the puzzle filled, but had "stagulation" and "afta," "codey hart" and "dna," "appa" and "mpc" (dumb one), "err" and "elenor," "arnez" and "aje."<BR/><BR/>It's always frustrating for me to not complete a Wednesday puzzle. Mondays and Tuesdays are gimmes, Thursdays are the fun challenge I can complete 95% of the time, and Fridays are the 50% monster I work on all weekend. Wednesdays are the wild card. I always know I'll be able to fill in the puzzle, and that it'll come down to whether two unknown clues cross at the wrong box.<BR/><BR/>Today that happened five times, which is my worst Wednesday showing all year.Le Capeurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10096473875134554067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38560138851679002782007-12-05T15:47:00.000-05:002007-12-05T15:47:00.000-05:00Not crazy about:Biopsy/Lab test (usually more comp...Not crazy about:<BR/>Biopsy/Lab test (usually more complicated than a simple test)<BR/><BR/>Unpaid debt/Arrear (anyone ever use this word)<BR/><BR/>Happy Motoring sloganeer/Esso (can a company name be a sloganeer?)<BR/><BR/>Ready to pour/on tap (If it's on tap, it doesn't pour!)<BR/><BR/>Messenger/RNA (Give me a break)<BR/><BR/>Panama and others/ Isthmi (WTF)<BR/><BR/>Maybe I'm just in a grumpy mood today...George NYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11844466463123158982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6861513148427240512007-12-05T15:15:00.000-05:002007-12-05T15:15:00.000-05:00Was the picture of the ROBO-caller in the write-up...Was the picture of the ROBO-caller in the write-up the one that Homer Simpson got a hold of, and put into service asking everyone in Springfield to donate a dollar?<BR/><BR/>This was a real Bounce-around day for me too. It is more satisfying somehow to have all the letters bleed across the grid. Also object to SCANNED clue, for the same Rex reason of possibly being contradictory.<BR/><BR/>STAGFLATION dates from the Nixon era when mainstream economists were baffled that unemployment could coexist with inflation. The orthodoxy of the Phillips Curve dictated that there was a trade-off between the two. Maybe some of you remember the Price Freezes instituted in 1971 and the laughable WIN (Whip Inflation Now) buttons that came out early in Ford's tenure? This was an interesting era in Economic History since the academic Keynesian hegemony was being challenged by the Friedman Monetarists and the rest of the "Rational Expectations" crew at the University of Chicago. In a nutshell, they undercut the notion of the effectiveness of federal fiscal and monetary stimuli in achieving macroeconomic aims. <BR/><BR/>Rikki -- the surf was astounding yesterday: at least three blocks from the beach the air was thick with salt spray; the wave crashes were tangible once you got close to the cliffs, and there was a festive crowd of onlookers at Steamer Lane, though only a few surfers were daring enough to be out there since the wave form was not so smooth. Very invigorating, nonetheless.<BR/><BR/>Every time that SOLEMN Oaths comes up I end up putting in SILENT. We'll see about that next time.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.com