tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post5510007157263649790..comments2024-03-28T04:40:27.172-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: THURSDAY, Jan. 29, 2009 - Barry Silk (Influential Greek physician / Products once pitched by U2 and Eminem)Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87633229220107201622009-01-30T15:35:00.000-05:002009-01-30T15:35:00.000-05:00You missed one more plug for Apple in the puzzle: ...You missed one more plug for Apple in the puzzle: 10A: Macs.<BR/><BR/>It's just me, but I would have enjoyed <BR/><BR/>10A: Apple offerings<BR/>15A: Apple offering<BR/>43A: Apple offeringsThe Cunctatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00011732580647430145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23057882909741857332009-01-30T15:18:00.000-05:002009-01-30T15:18:00.000-05:00Thanks for filling me in on 50-down. I was working...Thanks for filling me in on 50-down. I was working on this with some friends (we're nerdy college students) and, having lived in Latvia, I was embarassed not to have come up with that. I was trying to answer the question with the Latvian equivalent of 'Rīga Resident', a word which has nine letters. (In latvian they're not 'Letts' speaking of Rīga in particular as I assumed, they're 'Rīdznieki' and don't people just say 'Latvians' anyway?)<BR/>I've been thinking about that one all day. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58998148413908838322009-01-30T10:56:00.000-05:002009-01-30T10:56:00.000-05:00Wow, this was 90% medium and then 10% challenging,...Wow, this was 90% medium and then 10% challenging, trying to fill in that GYRO and BANISH--DECREE area. It did not help that I also completely blanked on IPHONE, and read "Best in mental combat" as an adjective of the ---EST variety, not as a verb. I knew it was wrong because of the Beethoven IN- cross, but it gave me TEE, and maybe, just maybe, there's an Italian word S-- used in music? And I blanked for the longest time on the BAR of the -EGA-----ESSION variety. Since I already had LAW, I turned off all LEGAL thinking here. And since I wanted IONA for the county, I kept thinking nEGAtive thoughts. My eventual breakthrough was realizing "separate the wheat from the chaff" was meant literally, not as the usual metaphor. Sneaky.<BR/><BR/>Regarding Elmore Leonard. He's 100% perfect in plotting, dialogue, inventiveness, and sheer genius. Absolutely topnotch, amazing. Unfortunately, he's 0% lousy in actual writing ability, with lifeless sentences barely above the Dick and Jane level. I find reading him extremely frustrating as a result, with all the excitement that should be happening dissipating away. Aaargh!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71939496398132227352009-01-30T02:19:00.000-05:002009-01-30T02:19:00.000-05:00This Catholic had a blast with this puzzle; we kno...This Catholic had a blast with this puzzle; we know who has the Pope's back, front and red shoes. 36-down!! Fie!! Wanted "aahs" but came back in from left field. Any "Greek physician" is usually ancient along with philosophers and sorcerers. <BR/>I'm off to Jekyll Island where I can find the NYTimes in a rack at the only convenience store on the island. Sweet for such a tiny island.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4950836318124212302009-01-30T01:55:00.000-05:002009-01-30T01:55:00.000-05:00@GreeneEven tho you haven't written in today, I wa...@Greene<BR/>Even tho you haven't written in today, I wanted to share with you that at one point I had UNITOF-MEASURE so the George who directed "Miracle on 34th St" was AAATON<BR/>and I honestly couldn't figure out which of the A's was/were wrong!<BR/><BR/>@Rex<BR/>Yes, thanks for the symphony INF while I read thru the comments, it soothed any potential rants from me<BR/><BR/>@allan<BR/>you're new so I guess I should explain what a malapop is...<BR/>It's a term I coined when you write in an answer that turns out to be wrong but then it appears in a totally different context later on in the puzzle...<BR/>So if it's just the same definition two times and you put it in wrong the first time, that's not really one...<BR/>It's when it's out of nowhere, totally wrong when you put it in, but the right answer in a totally different context later on.<BR/>Does that make sense?<BR/><BR/>A while back I was trying to name stuff left and right for different phenomena...but today I defer to Rex and his "Ulrich's Law" which I love!<BR/><BR/>@edith<BR/>Thanks for the shout out, but I don't know what to name that...except to say I also did the PROCESSION/LETT thing<BR/><BR/>4A OUTWIT was begging for a "Survivor" clue... which is my unit of (guilty) pleasure.<BR/><BR/>@Bob Kerfuffle<BR/>Baron = Captain of industry = Donald Trump's latest baby's name.<BR/>Poor kid. (And of course, I mean "poor" metaphorically)<BR/><BR/>@Orange<BR/>All the I-business in this crossword reminds me of formerly getting stuck with the Q in Scrabble. <BR/>QI has become a godsend bec you are no longer stuck with the Q (or an extra I)...so now it's like some constructors can now throw an I in front of almost any word so s/he doesn't get stuck in a corner and it's bound to be an Apple product.<BR/><BR/>Fascinating to me how many folks comment not on IZE, ONER, EEKS, ENGR, SSNS, IOLA, LOMA and all the stuff I feel I would never get away with!<BR/>Talk about work...I think the OPEC clue was the only one I actually liked in the whole puzzle!<BR/><BR/>(oops, see what happens when the music ends!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21865831778750000102009-01-29T23:25:00.000-05:002009-01-29T23:25:00.000-05:00Foodie, at some point these academic topics will f...Foodie, at some point these academic topics will find their deserving standard. It might as well find its currency in a Hershey bar, though I prefer it to be one with almonds.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5116807448529155692009-01-29T22:13:00.000-05:002009-01-29T22:13:00.000-05:00It's late, even in Arizona, and y'all said it all....It's late, even in Arizona, and y'all said it all. Almost. <BR/><BR/>I wanted to thank Mr. Silk for using "data" correctly, to indicate a plural. So many people don't.<BR/><BR/>I also love his suggestion of a bar of chocolate as a UNIT OF PLEASURE. <BR/><BR/>@fergus, in the newly minted field of "neuroeconomics", this chocolate bar unit of pleasure concept would be king. <BR/><BR/>and i love my iphone. Rex,let us know what you think of it.foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44856633960440909512009-01-29T21:34:00.001-05:002009-01-29T21:34:00.001-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44620119085547815822009-01-29T21:34:00.000-05:002009-01-29T21:34:00.000-05:00NDE Nice young men who sell antiques do it...happy...NDE <BR/>Nice young men who sell antiques do it...<BR/><BR/>happy to hear you are a fanfikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6316868023999797432009-01-29T21:22:00.000-05:002009-01-29T21:22:00.000-05:00(from SethG)"I know that Galen was 2nd century fro...(from SethG)<BR/><BR/>"I know that Galen was 2nd century from a list of pick-up lines I once wrote."<BR/><BR/>This has to be the most enigmatic comment I've ever read on this blog. Yet it resonates, since I slyly used it once in 1991, and have a child to show for it.<BR/><BR/>--<BR/><BR/>PG's amusing UNIT OF PLEASURE is a sort of crucial Economics concept, though it's used more broadly than she likely meant. If anyone remembers micro-economic theory, it may be due to the mapping of Indifference Curves, which indicate a toss-up between alternative measures of pleasure, or Utility in the historic jargon.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66236401063603652972009-01-29T21:15:00.000-05:002009-01-29T21:15:00.000-05:00Ah, finally a case where it helps to know what key...Ah, finally a case where it helps to know what key something is in! Thanks for the first-movement clip.<BR/><BR/>Surprised that neither Rex nor anybody else seems to have quoted this yet:<BR/> <BR/>And that's why Birds do it, Bees do it,<BR/>Even educated fleas do it,<BR/>Let's do it, let's fall in love.<BR/>In Spain, the best upper sets do it,<BR/>Lithuanians and LETTS do it,<BR/>Let's do it, let's fall in love.<BR/><BR/>Don't remember if I've ever heard or seen "Lett" elsewhere.<BR/><BR/>NDEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13319487954333042202009-01-29T21:00:00.000-05:002009-01-29T21:00:00.000-05:00@orange-If you are referring to what I think you a...@orange-<BR/><BR/>If you are referring to what I think you are referring to, why, I stand here frankly blushing . . .edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69698594475629484052009-01-29T20:40:00.000-05:002009-01-29T20:40:00.000-05:00@johnson, I posted my Onion solution and blogged a...@johnson, I <A HREF="http://crosswordfiend.blogspot.com/2009/01/wednesday-128.html" REL="nofollow">posted my Onion solution</A> and blogged about the puzzle yesterday. Be careful if there are some Wednesday crosswords you haven't gotten to, as you may run into those answers, too.<BR/><BR/>@edith b, dangit! I missed an opportunity for mischief. I should've said that the shout-out to Rex was in the central Across answer in that Onion puzzle.Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38720619430163047972009-01-29T20:28:00.000-05:002009-01-29T20:28:00.000-05:00I've never done an Onion puzzle before and I've go...I've never done an Onion puzzle before and I've gotten all but one letter. How do I find the solution?<BR/><BR/>Congrats to Rex for the cameo in the puzzle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75950686135333561982009-01-29T19:55:00.000-05:002009-01-29T19:55:00.000-05:00A fine puzzle, even if I had two mistakes -- latt...A fine puzzle, even if I had two mistakes -- latt and another too ridiculous to mention. Barry Silk is becoming one of my favorite constructors, helped out here by good clues (by the constructor and/or Will S.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35402888413796786542009-01-29T19:47:00.000-05:002009-01-29T19:47:00.000-05:00The iPass has actually existed for years here in C...The iPass has actually existed for years here in Chicago. It's the EZ-Pass equivalent for the Chicago tollroads.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17576439281072381432009-01-29T19:35:00.000-05:002009-01-29T19:35:00.000-05:00I had the same error as rafael but it was not a Ke...I had the same error as rafael but it was not a Kenosha for me. I just forgot how to spell ZWEI (for some reason the S looked OK), which I've seen a number of times. Got to agree with Gnarbles on ENGR = Technician. I'm sure there are some MIT grads who would not be pleased. I parsed my wrong MNGR as maintenance engineer, which I believe is another way of saying custodian/janitor. <BR/><BR/>Like others I also had AUGER at first plus AVOID for 29d.<BR/><BR/>I liked the puzzle. Seemed to me just right for a Thurs.jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68678224688319300182009-01-29T19:32:00.000-05:002009-01-29T19:32:00.000-05:00@ Seth G -- thanks for the link to the New Yorker ...@ Seth G -- thanks for the link to the New Yorker online! Now I'm going to be more of a couch potato than ever...<BR/><BR/>@ Jeff in Chicago -- Hope you enjoy "Elms"! I've heard the Trib gave it a very good review!<BR/><BR/>∑;)ArtLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03869528391374878601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29168366437374260042009-01-29T19:18:00.000-05:002009-01-29T19:18:00.000-05:00I'm hopelessly late in posting and at this point c...I'm hopelessly late in posting and at this point can only add that I have little to add.<BR/><BR/>Except this: my girlfriend and I were traveling in the south of France a few years ago and we got to experience a mistral up close and personal--50 mph straight-line winds on a perfectly bright and sunny day on a drive into Marseilles. And a raging forest fire just north of the city and all the way up to Nîmes. The next day was sunny and calm.<BR/><BR/>There is also this: <BR/><BR/>Frédéric Mistral (September 8, 1830—March 25, 1914) was a French poet who led the 19th century revival of Occitan (Provençal) language and literature. He was a key figure in the literary félibrige movement.<BR/><BR/>He shared the Nobel Prize in literature in 1904 for his contributions in literature and philology. Mistral's father was a well-to-do farmer in the former French province of Provence. [Wikipedia]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46606730204312310042009-01-29T19:00:00.000-05:002009-01-29T19:00:00.000-05:00Liked the puzzle, the clues pertaining to "bar." ...Liked the puzzle, the clues pertaining to "bar." I did get the word "bar" early on so looked for the long clues to be related to a definition of it.<BR/><BR/>Was an easy solve once I knew the key word.<BR/><BR/>But had no idea "bar" was a unit of pressure. That was surprising.<BR/><BR/>KathyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30964874006172219362009-01-29T18:28:00.000-05:002009-01-29T18:28:00.000-05:00@evil doug-Elmore Leonard reminds me of Francis Fo...@evil doug-<BR/><BR/>Elmore Leonard reminds me of Francis Ford Coppola as his opening chapters are minor masterpieces. I think Leonard's early pieces, particularly his westerns, served as his training ground for his true interest - the fringe person on the edge of something that will change his life.<BR/><BR/>I've enjoyed his work, especially in the "Killshot" and "LaBrava" days.Bill from NJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10103923612595508277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39826376096318689592009-01-29T17:34:00.000-05:002009-01-29T17:34:00.000-05:00@Orange-Thank you, ma'am@Orange-<BR/><BR/>Thank you, ma'amedith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6718124480704904092009-01-29T17:21:00.000-05:002009-01-29T17:21:00.000-05:00Yeah, I'm not sure how "ancient" would have meant ...Yeah, I'm not sure how "ancient" would have meant Hippocrates rather than Galen, at least more than the existing clue does. I know that Galen was 2nd century from a list of pick-up lines I once wrote.<BR/><BR/>Yves/eave. Akin/asin. Oars/ore, ore/borer, ore/roe. Hardy Boys fans remember Iola as Chet Morton's sister and Joe's girlfriend.<BR/><BR/>Glad we didn't spend all day on "walked into a bar" <A HREF="http://contest.newyorker.com/CaptionContest.aspx?id=49" REL="nofollow">jokes</A>, even though I've got a great physics one...SethGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13753036404140901368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25921224174348936562009-01-29T17:19:00.000-05:002009-01-29T17:19:00.000-05:00I'm a little surprised at everyone's error with LE...I'm a little surprised at everyone's error with LETT; perhaps I remember that crosswordese so well because I always use to make mistakes and write LAPP in instead, and my father would always correct it to LETT when he took over the puzzle.Kurisuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132568197501054206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16832095566748503682009-01-29T16:54:00.000-05:002009-01-29T16:54:00.000-05:00Well, if you are going to make TWO mistakes it is ...Well, if you are going to make TWO mistakes it is nice to have experts make them too. I had 17A LEGAL PROCESSION as did Rex and I was satisfied it was right because C was a legit. musical key for 8D. If 8D had been "IN T" for example I would have KNOWN I had to change it.<BR/><BR/>I had LATT for 50A, as did Jon, and my distress at the error is somewhat assuaged by the fact that that a person with a serious awareness of Latvia could make the same mistake. <BR/><BR/>I was going to say that this was a very easy Thursday from my 13 min time (fast for me). Now I will say that it was an enjoyable Thursday with some twists from Mr. Silk that dinged me fair and square. He is rapidly becoming one of my favorite constructors.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.com