tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post5566227261877061931..comments2024-03-19T00:21:49.519-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Chess master Averbakh /SAT 12-18-10/ Intergenerational MTV reality show / Old Rory Calhoun TV western / Poule's counterpart / Shalom Meir Tower localeRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66623943897588273682011-01-24T17:06:07.598-05:002011-01-24T17:06:07.598-05:00Wayne Morris (who played the weakling Lt. Roget in...Wayne Morris (who played the weakling Lt. Roget in Kubrick's WWI saga, Paths of Glory) in contrast to that role was a paragon in WWII. He shot down 7 Jap planes and earned four (4) DFC's (compared to Sabu's single measley cross). <br /><br />His moniker posed a problem: his birth name Bert deWayne Morris: BDWM?alba66https://www.blogger.com/profile/06924931641742686311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25984434833152172882011-01-23T14:21:42.510-05:002011-01-23T14:21:42.510-05:00@Look Up Guy,
You forgot to add "camel"...@Look Up Guy,<br /><br />You forgot to add "camel" to your defs (Ship Of The Desert).UncleRancidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91290746524034112582011-01-22T20:34:28.752-05:002011-01-22T20:34:28.752-05:00If Sabu is only a Xword name to you, Rex, you MUST...If Sabu is only a Xword name to you, Rex, you MUST see him in "Thief of Baghdad" [1940], an incredible fantasy made before CGIAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64353317716368807692011-01-22T18:27:26.352-05:002011-01-22T18:27:26.352-05:00@Marc, en français la poule is the female chicken ...@Marc, en français la poule is the female chicken while le coq is the rooster.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22022123445772920582011-01-22T17:51:24.460-05:002011-01-22T17:51:24.460-05:00This was almost easy for a Saturday. With SHARONS...This was almost easy for a Saturday. With SHARONSTONE and MANBITESDOG, the NW fell into place almost immediately. The rest of the puzzle was a little more work, but it wasn't until the very end, when I was stuck with MARIE and had three squares left that I had to really scratch my head.<br /><br />I've seen PICNIC but not for a while, so MARIE was just a guess. (Of course that meant the MTV show was RATEMYMOM, but that sounded like a likely possibility.)<br /><br />Finally came up with MADGE and was all done.<br /><br />I had already reconciled myself to SOILURE, which I agree is a non-word, or should be. I still have no idea what Poule is, or why COQ is the opposite of it. But overall, a fun puzzle that made me work without driving me crazy.Marcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83223800823448278712011-01-22T17:37:11.108-05:002011-01-22T17:37:11.108-05:00Had PBJ from vertical crosses but no idea what it ...Had PBJ from vertical crosses but no idea what it meant because have never heard that abbreviation even though my kids thrived on peanut butter & jelly sandwiches for years. (Also, cuz the Peter Pan brand isn't sold up here in the geléed north.)<br /><br />Thought the juxtaposition of MEAT..., ALPHA MALE and DATE MY MOM was interesting. Of course, may just be my LIBIDO speaking.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38894253849087222662011-01-22T15:05:15.108-05:002011-01-22T15:05:15.108-05:00@NotalwaysrightBill
NTSB=National Transportation S...@NotalwaysrightBill<br />NTSB=National Transportation Safety Board. Every time there is an aviation accident, they are called.<br />Cheers.GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16972091080449108612011-01-22T14:55:32.207-05:002011-01-22T14:55:32.207-05:00Dark side of the moon solver.
All the proper name...Dark side of the moon solver.<br /><br />All the proper names ripped me to shreds. So now me and Lady Gaga are both MEATCASES except that you can't hold my meat purse.<br /><br />Still don't know how NTSB is a wreck checker, but it might be me from now on whenever I see Brad Wilber's name at the bottom of a fresh puzzle and my first response is "Not That SOILURE Bastard again!"<br /><br />And it's usually P B and J, WITH the AND. BAH!<br /><br />captcha:<br />"statfarp":<br />muffled anagram for "fartspat," which is what this puzzle gets from me today.<br /><br />Although I DO like the pattern that all the little black squares make: looks a little ancient Grecian maybe, almost JUNOESQUE. BAH!NotalwaysrightBillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35546177604708823742011-01-22T14:53:45.138-05:002011-01-22T14:53:45.138-05:00From syndication land
Comments like @Matthew G dr...From syndication land<br /><br />Comments like @Matthew G drive me crazy. If this was super easy then how come you couldn't finish it? When you can't finish a puzzle without help, then it is hard...no matter how much of it was easy!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7007970915654437362011-01-22T14:01:27.491-05:002011-01-22T14:01:27.491-05:00I love Brad Wilber puzzles. This was so much easie...I love Brad Wilber puzzles. This was so much easier than last Saturday's where I had to google constantly. Not so today.<br />@papero - I for one don't find it DEADLY boring by people who make narratives of the puzzles.<br />I'm in syndication so just about everything will have been covered when I chime in.<br />Someone else who comes to mind is @joho. She can be hilarious with her narratives; they are part of the Rex blog I enjoy.GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81519924539194840552011-01-06T09:01:05.754-05:002011-01-06T09:01:05.754-05:00Home sick and catching up on puzzles. Tibia?? Con...Home sick and catching up on puzzles. Tibia?? Connecting to the deltoid? In what species? Trying to cram Humerus in a 5 space block...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5080781457921225062010-12-25T23:10:47.074-05:002010-12-25T23:10:47.074-05:00Got it. Seminary. "Father" as in pries...Got it. Seminary. "Father" as in priest.oldjtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3990772089090607232010-12-25T13:40:01.482-05:002010-12-25T13:40:01.482-05:00I don't get "SEM." for "Father&...I don't get "SEM." for "Father's alma mater." Can someone please explain? Thanks.oldjthttp://evansjt39@frontier.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60363112479536041612010-12-19T16:28:41.932-05:002010-12-19T16:28:41.932-05:00Well, in the reverse direction from Rex, I got THE...Well, in the reverse direction from Rex, I got THE TEXAN off of TET/TEL AVIV/NIXON ERA. And the Peter Pan I kept thinking of was the bus line, wanting COM=Commuter, but didn't believe it. (I am a 100% Skippy PB only kind of guy.)<br /><br />I was slowed in the NW because I wanted ECHO-LOCATOR.<br /><br />I did not like the YURI Averbach clue at all: he's a chess <i>grandmaster</i>. (Yes, I know, the clue is using the "informal" sense of master here. It doesn't matter. Calling a grandmaster a mere master is insulting.)<br /><br />The hard part about finishing the NE (besides unable to think of anyone other than a BRIDE or GROOM for 13D) was trying to think of the French female for a Poule. I began to despair, then thought maybe "counterpart" was some food go-with, like coq-au-vin, so maybe there's a poule-au-vin non-foodie I had never heard of? Let's see, VIN, did that help any? No, no, no. Well, that was disappointing until I noticed COQ is also three letters, put it in, and finished in a flash. Haha, why did I ever think Poule was male?william e embanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47942407712654185272010-12-18T23:28:31.992-05:002010-12-18T23:28:31.992-05:00@HTG - yes, thanks! (Had To Google...)@HTG - yes, thanks! (Had To Google...)mmorganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18375430572178263265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41517754641074952102010-12-18T22:13:23.859-05:002010-12-18T22:13:23.859-05:00Had To Google
(I think it started to show up here...Had To Google<br /><br />(I think it started to show up here just a few days ago!)HTGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70090234116641225772010-12-18T21:44:24.833-05:002010-12-18T21:44:24.833-05:00mmorgan at 1:29 pm wrote:
"Started out by p...mmorgan at 1:29 pm wrote: <br /><br />"Started out by plopping down MANBITESDOG with no crosses and thought it would be easy, but HTG, HTG, HTG... Waaah.<br /><br />@Andrea / @Jae -- I think the point is that they are divisions of the DOD, not that the DOD is a division. Maybe.<br /><br />Had Pei (for LIN), Gay (for NAN), DELICASES (for, you know), etc.<br /><br />Beautiful puzzle, but I'm just a big blotch of HTG SOILURE."<br /><br />Perhaps HTG means Hard To Get?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39078109680673421642010-12-18T21:43:26.260-05:002010-12-18T21:43:26.260-05:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 7/30/2009 post 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 6:04, 6:55, 0.88, 8%, Easy<br />Tue 8:03, 8:55, 0.90, 24%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 12:37, 11:45, 1.07, 75%, Medium-Challenging<br />Thu 15:02, 18:57, 0.79, 19%, Easy<br />Fri 23:39, 26:16, 0.90, 33%, Easy-Medium<br />Sat 29:01, 30:35, 0.95, 35%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:19, 3:41, 0.90, 10%, Easy<br />Tue 4:00, 4:35, 0.87, 9%, Easy<br />Wed 5:57, 5:46, 1.03, 64%, Medium-Challenging<br />Thu 7:08, 9:08, 0.78, 20%, Easy-Medium<br />Fri 12:14, 12:52, 0.95, 48%, Medium<br />Sat 17:06, 17:26, 0.98, 47%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32882463271553320032010-12-18T21:36:20.701-05:002010-12-18T21:36:20.701-05:00Where are you seeing HTG?Where are you seeing HTG?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36369987977087001102010-12-18T21:30:15.568-05:002010-12-18T21:30:15.568-05:00What does HTG mean - anyone? ThanksWhat does HTG mean - anyone? ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91852466387195564302010-12-18T21:23:58.741-05:002010-12-18T21:23:58.741-05:00To ANONYMOUS:
I still need Rex when I can't...To ANONYMOUS:<br /><br /> I still need Rex when I can't<br />finish the puzzle. <br /> I am either flattered that you occasionally refer to me or amazed<br />at your memory.<br /> I scan the comments, but,except<br />for this message, I refuse to get involved.<br /> I am not the guy from DC.NATEnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39067363237719874912010-12-18T20:02:09.070-05:002010-12-18T20:02:09.070-05:00Papero - YEAH! Just saying, but over on Wordplay ...Papero - YEAH! Just saying, but over on Wordplay today someone referred to this Blog as "snarky." Don't know why. Don't care. I am surprised today's NIXON ERA did not evoke a comment from Jim. I guess by now Nate has GOT HELP. Once knew someone, Nate, in DC who was a neighbor of Walter Mondale and did not like NIXON. He was also homophobic. NIXON ended the draft and Obama ended Section 9.<br /><br />John the former Air Force JAG who unsuccessfully defended an airman from a Section 9 discharge....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59035642482454512282010-12-18T19:24:29.861-05:002010-12-18T19:24:29.861-05:00Mr. Wilber SOILUREd my day.
Honestly, I admired i...Mr. Wilber SOILUREd my day.<br /><br />Honestly, I admired it, but I didn't like it.johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30020082015157382942010-12-18T19:12:06.457-05:002010-12-18T19:12:06.457-05:00What Merl said, except for the part about Patrick ...What Merl said, except for the part about Patrick Merrell asking me to be a guest solver. Easy-Medium or not, it was certainly easier for me than other Wilbers have tended to be.SethGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13753036404140901368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40605579316341382912010-12-18T18:49:04.036-05:002010-12-18T18:49:04.036-05:00Am I am right in assuming that almost everyone imm...Am I am right in assuming that almost everyone immediately wrote in Yuri for the (obscure) chess master just like I did. Surprised no one commented on this. I guess you all got it from crosses...<br /><br /> I had to google sabu because I kept thinking bus line for Peter Pan.michaelnoreply@blogger.com