tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post5575574851026637306..comments2024-03-19T06:47:00.387-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Ukase issuer / THU 1-14-10 / Happy Motoring sloganeer / Hit 1970s-'90s band with mythological name / Jamaican fellowRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1149046054192396222010-01-15T10:14:09.943-05:002010-01-15T10:14:09.943-05:00@ Martin - fascinating stuff. Thanks again.
@ Ent...@ Martin - fascinating stuff. Thanks again.<br /><br />@ Entropy - but that <i>is</i> thermodynamic!retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28697854210072264112010-01-14T23:35:48.026-05:002010-01-14T23:35:48.026-05:00@fergus
I have nothing to do with thermodynamics.
...@fergus<br />I have nothing to do with thermodynamics.<br /><br />More of a tendency of nature to move from order to disorder.<br /><br />Like a blank puzzle grid.<br />Then I starts entering letters & after a few plus write-overs it is complete disorder!!! <br />OR MOI!!!Entropyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021233793082839038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27664598384921188482010-01-14T23:15:35.436-05:002010-01-14T23:15:35.436-05:00This 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 6:52, 6:54, 0.99, 53%, Medium<br />Tue 9:10, 8:47, 1.04, 66%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 9:53, 12:03, 0.82, 12%, Easy<br />Thu 18:58, 19:19, 0.98, 50%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:44, 3:40, 1.02, 63%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 4:52, 4:30, 1.08, 78%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 4:59, 5:55, 0.84, 14%, Easy<br />Thu 8:26, 9:19, 0.90, 23%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />For some reason, the top 100 solvers had an easier time with today's puzzle than all solvers.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31820017648594507952010-01-14T23:00:34.649-05:002010-01-14T23:00:34.649-05:00Begging pardon for a fourth post, but it's hop...Begging pardon for a fourth post, but it's hopefully less noxious than Nike spam.<br /><br />CoolPapaD,<br /><br />I have lots of interests that balance my professional life and keep me sane. Words are one. <br /><br />Like a lot of crossword folks, I'm a computer nerd. I work for IBM.Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59911055354651439622010-01-14T22:53:05.653-05:002010-01-14T22:53:05.653-05:00@ Martin - thanks for the fig/liver lesson - quite...@ Martin - thanks for the fig/liver lesson - quite interesting. Is language your vocation, or just a hobby?CoolPapaDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11542059534657415505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28954576082029831172010-01-14T22:18:38.847-05:002010-01-14T22:18:38.847-05:00@ sfingi, AMB is for AmbassADor. Keep trying all t...@ sfingi, AMB is for AmbassADor. Keep trying all the puzzles, they'll get easier for you bit by bit -- unless really Slangy and then who cares?<br /><br />∑;)ArtLvrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65077795460628299342010-01-14T22:12:00.284-05:002010-01-14T22:12:00.284-05:00@ Martin -- I'm enjoying your linguistic deriv...@ Martin -- I'm enjoying your linguistic derivations, though I have a feeling there was more you could have ADded...<br /><br />∑;)<br /><br />p.s. $10 Red Cross donations toward rescue and relief efforts can be made from mobile phones by texting HAITI to the number 90999, and the amount will be added to the phone bill... Most carriers waive texting fees, but not Sprint. <br /><br />I was teaching at the time of the news that JFK was shot, and the kids were stunned, the helplessness made worse because it was way over an hour before his death was confirmed. If any of you are teaching, you might ask the school to allow the brief notice above -- Even being able to help in a very small way will allow the students to get past the nightmares.ArtLvrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36315775741391619352010-01-14T22:00:25.614-05:002010-01-14T22:00:25.614-05:00There are some linguistic battles one wants to fig...There are some linguistic battles one wants to fight:<br /><br />LAY vs LIE - lost cause<br /><br /><br />Dis vs Un INTERESTED<br />apparently who cares?<br /><br />Adverse contra Averse<br />I know someone does, ...fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67285348909618837862010-01-14T21:42:59.378-05:002010-01-14T21:42:59.378-05:00I had decided to do a Thurs. NYT because the LAT w...I had decided to do a Thurs. NYT because the LAT was so easy. Big mistake.<br /><br />I know most of you here think it was a lark, but it was one of the worst I've ever tried, and I'm going back to stopping at Wed. <br /><br />First, for the first time in a long time, I didn't get the theme, which made the words gibberish.<br />Second, I Googled lots - much young people stuff. For instance, never heard of STARDATE, Kelly Clarkson, Paris Hilton's quotes, a salty dog.<br />@RB - right word for that piece of..fluff.<br /><br />@David - TEXASTEA, STYX and RYANS hope are young for people born during the war. I'm older than a baby-boomer, but the way they're keeping people alive I have lots of time yet to miss out on more. <br /><br />Beyond that, didn't know EMU Bay, SOIE, RADIOBRAVO. Had "the" before HIS. Wanted "gnomes" for ARBORS. Wanted Sinatra. Wanted Amigos.<br /><br />Sports - Googled for 3 out of 4 and came up with U Washington for the Huskies. Is the University of Connecticut suddenly some big deal? By suddenly, I mean since 1966. What's a non-sportster to do?<br /><br />I think the first words in a recipe should be "In a bowl..." or "Mix together..." not ADDA.<br /><br />What figure is AMB an abrev. for at the UN? <br /><br />@Joho - Be careful. You know how Sonny Bono and one Kennedy bought the farm - in the same week. A dangerous white powder!<br /><br />Just not enough in my areas, or could it be that "Too many cooks spoil the broth."<br /><br />That's my rave and I'm sticking to it.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54998584242096427852010-01-14T21:24:41.067-05:002010-01-14T21:24:41.067-05:00Entropy,
Your tag amost demands that I respond --...Entropy,<br /><br />Your tag amost demands that I respond -- by the laws of thermodynamics.<br /><br />(first time I failed in a while, on the puzzlw btw.)<br /><br />You'll see anything fall apartfergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62115791052097969152010-01-14T21:13:01.092-05:002010-01-14T21:13:01.092-05:00@fergus, as I told you off-blog, you have my full ...@fergus, as I told you off-blog, you have my full support in fighting the misuse of "averse" and "adverse." But, again, it goes back to my futile crusade to reintroduce "niggardly" as a legitimate, totally PC word.<br />sheesh!fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13946121554321451302010-01-14T21:02:24.976-05:002010-01-14T21:02:24.976-05:00I am a day late and Martin is all on about fig tre...I am a day late and Martin is all on about fig trees. Weren't you alarmed about ADVERSE yesterday?fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83055572201479029852010-01-14T21:00:10.225-05:002010-01-14T21:00:10.225-05:00just met some new crossword bloggers - anna and er...just met some new crossword bloggers - anna and ernie. Welcome and you can e-mail me if you have any questions.chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91677472986448295682010-01-14T20:37:23.724-05:002010-01-14T20:37:23.724-05:00r_c,
Ficus and ficken are unrelated etymologicall...r_c,<br /><br /><i>Ficus</i> and <i>ficken</i> are unrelated etymologically, although both are fascinating on so many levels.<br /><br />Ficus was imported into Latin from the Greek word for fig, <i>sukon</i>, which is <a href="http://snurl.com/figsukon" rel="nofollow">pre-Indo-European</a> in origin. It had both the gastronomic and anatomical senses in Greek before it was a Latin calque.<br /><br /><a href="http://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/ficken" rel="nofollow"><i>Ficken</i></a> shares Indo-European affinity with a host of English words. Originally meaning "rub" in MHG, it was used in its current sense very early. English words like "fix" and "microfiche" (originally from the French for "nail") are among words that share an Indo-European root with <i>ficken</i> and its many derivatives.<br /><br />I guess convergent evolution of words is not surprising, at least when certain topics are the subjects.Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66243683333154266022010-01-14T20:32:43.081-05:002010-01-14T20:32:43.081-05:00New to the NYT puzzle.
First time I completed a Th...New to the NYT puzzle.<br />First time I completed a Thursday.<br />I see progress in my catching the pun clues.<br />Had to laugh during the write-up.<br />Rex you had a hard time at REAM?<br />That is good, now stay out of prison.<br /><br />@Elaine - Check out the Hillbillies, the shows are still funny today. You seem to be a STAR here.Entropyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021233793082839038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29552978610124250482010-01-14T20:21:47.169-05:002010-01-14T20:21:47.169-05:00I had my AHA moment at R{AD}IOBRAVO when I realize...I had my AHA moment at R{AD}IOBRAVO when I realized this puzzle was about movies. I had COMMERCIALBREAK in place but couldn't see how it laced the puzzle together.<br /><br />I never watched "The Beverly Hillbillies" or anything like it in the 60s. I remember Bill from NJ saying once that he had a whole group of TV programs he "not watched" and I not watched shows of that type. I was too busy reading. I find it fascinating that a highly cultured man like William Paley created that whole genre of dumb downed programming.<br /><br />Caleb Madison is becoming one of my favorite constructors and my above commemts notwithwstanding, I enjoyed this puzzle alot.edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86469977205949300292010-01-14T19:48:17.828-05:002010-01-14T19:48:17.828-05:00The "A to M" parsing of 36D:ATOM actuall...The "A to M" parsing of 36D:ATOM actually goes back to the Maleska era, though I couldn't find an example more recent than July '99 on xwordinfo.<br /><br />My time was also slower than usual for a Thursday, but I know why: I put my answer to 1D in 1A as DICTATOR, which was a close enough match (with 6D:HIS changed to the equally plausible THE) that it took a while before I realized what I had done... 1A:THAT SHOT me back by a minute or so.<br /><br />NDE (in San Diego for the week)Noam D. Elkiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26172967569646511432010-01-14T18:45:20.797-05:002010-01-14T18:45:20.797-05:00@ Martin - thanks. Love to learn things. Is the Ge...@ Martin - thanks. Love to learn things. Is the German word <i>ficken</i> also derived from <i>ficus</i>?retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57398762739418012392010-01-14T18:30:05.853-05:002010-01-14T18:30:05.853-05:00Jee whiz, I was reporting on what I heard, not des...Jee whiz, I was reporting on what I heard, not describing my chair lift experience (cough, cough). I am a highly trained first responder and would never do anything that would impair my ability (Insert Yul Brenner from Westworld stating nothing will go wrong about here). That said when I was much younger I did consummate... never mind.<br /><br />@elaine, do you and Dave want to double date with Andrea (god knows what will go here) Michaels. A little bird told me there are discount rates to CA. <br /><br />Gotta patrol tomorrow and it will be sunny and 30+ degrees - who needs drugs.dkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18182686703799264212010-01-14T18:27:58.464-05:002010-01-14T18:27:58.464-05:00@Elaine - I'm with you. I was minus 3 when it...@Elaine - I'm with you. I was minus 3 when it came out! and just happened upon it a few years ago when I was trolling one of the Top 100 Novel lists looking for something to read - and it sounded interesting.hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04627015904603641109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57356620696186949462010-01-14T18:21:46.295-05:002010-01-14T18:21:46.295-05:00PS to r_c,
Here's another citation that is mo...PS to r_c,<br /><br />Here's another <a href="http://www.bartleby.com/81/6378.html" rel="nofollow">citation</a> that is more explicit:<br /><br /><i>“Giving me the fico with his thombe in his mouth”</i><br /><i>Wit's Miserie</i>, Thomas Lodge, 1596Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83969024680002724152010-01-14T18:17:54.200-05:002010-01-14T18:17:54.200-05:00@Shamik
Should I suspect you of being a whipper-sn...@Shamik<br />Should I suspect you of being a whipper-snapper?<br />I personally don't think of OLD as a pejorative term, just descriptive. I am "middle-aged" only if you know a lot of 120-year-olds. <br /><br />You'd have to write:<br />[Not missing any meals] elderly [WASP] female [with a history of mechanical breakdowns.] <br /> <br />But I do like to quote Picasso: Youth is not a matter of age. <br /><br />I give myself credit for intellectual curiosity, broad interests, creative pursuits. On the other hand, I don't think I could have built up this fund of general knowledge and experiences in only, say, 40 years...so I am comfortable with being this age. Occasionally I snivel: something hurts, somewhere, all the time. OH well! That way I get to the puzzles early !<br /><br />Thanks, Caleb Madison and Class. Some good info emerged from this puzzle experience!Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13195458656221202202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50939286557135538712010-01-14T18:15:43.001-05:002010-01-14T18:15:43.001-05:00Shucks--no takers for E-RUT? Definition to includ...Shucks--no takers for E-RUT? Definition to include, for instance, dk's perpetual state where Andrea is concerned?<br />Maybe it's too risque, but gee, this is usually a bawdy crowd.Ruthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32912971920705708932010-01-14T17:57:15.782-05:002010-01-14T17:57:15.782-05:00Caleb - you threw me for a loss today. Well done....Caleb - you threw me for a loss today. Well done.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88347976162092159222010-01-14T17:49:55.407-05:002010-01-14T17:49:55.407-05:00retired_chemist,
Yes, that's the scene. The ...retired_chemist,<br /><br />Yes, that's the scene. The biting of the thumb was really making the mano fico and biting the exposed thumbnail. English actors usually get this right. The meaning was obvious and might translate today to "bite me!" Over time this has morphed into other gestures, such as hooking the unencumbered thumbnail under the upper incisor and snapping it out in the direction of the target. But it started as the mano fico.Martinnoreply@blogger.com