tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post5583945138668853327..comments2024-03-29T09:37:45.612-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: 2002 sequel starring Wesley Snipes / WED 1-30-13 / Hades river of forgetfulness / New York site of Mark Twain's grave / Cyberspace zine / Deny membership to skater Starbuck / Shul attendeesRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67401257689424462382013-03-06T20:42:15.102-05:002013-03-06T20:42:15.102-05:00@rain forest - "Minnehaha haha" - Ha-ha!...@rain forest - "Minnehaha haha" - Ha-ha! You and @Waxy should collaborate on a puzzle to expand on the theme (or maybe you both just need a vacation someplace sunny and hot - I know I do). Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41923292422058996992013-03-06T19:20:53.574-05:002013-03-06T19:20:53.574-05:00Wee chuckle on the shores of Gitche Gumee: Minneh...Wee chuckle on the shores of Gitche Gumee: Minnehaha haha.<br /><br />Liked this one. Funny, especially MAKEITSOSO. <br /><br />I recently bought a case of a wine from either Portugal or Spain called Avieda, and so I almost went for that, but realized that I couldn't make sense of 67A, so that part had to wait until other crosses solved the problem. <br /><br />Like almost everyone else, I am so impressed by Rex's passion and unremitting adherence to the task of doing a puzzle and then writing a zippy blog, often educating and amusing us along the way. I DO dislike the sense that his first instinct is to find something he can complain about, though. Maybe it IS a schtick...rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49223009837381350112013-03-06T17:41:43.051-05:002013-03-06T17:41:43.051-05:00Clever puzzle that made me chuckle, Will - thanks....Clever puzzle that made me chuckle, Will - thanks. Also at almost all of the "add-on" suggestions, especially @Waxy's re Yo Yo and Cate.<br /><br />My natick also came at JIJAB, but with the SAL cross. Had to google.<br /><br />Had to get Oviedo totally on crosses.<br /><br />Loved Tarus Bulba with Yul Brynner.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88233510641929058182013-03-06T17:12:17.544-05:002013-03-06T17:12:17.544-05:00@Diri, guilty as charged. That's what happens ...@Diri, guilty as charged. That's what happens 'bout this time of year up here in the great frozen north...Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29753741868228868622013-03-06T16:28:28.602-05:002013-03-06T16:28:28.602-05:00@Waxy - a little "cabin fever", maybe?@Waxy - a little "cabin fever", maybe?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26715124352734373532013-03-06T16:04:54.651-05:002013-03-06T16:04:54.651-05:00Looked in vain for the ultimate theme clue "T...Looked in vain for the ultimate theme clue "Told cellist Ma to stop fooling around?" as in NO MORE YO-YO, YO-YO.<br /><br />Really enjoyed this puzzle - we've had an ongoing identity debate in Quebec, the destination for many Algerian and Moroccan immigrants, so HIJAB has become an extremely familiar word. Only problem was lack of familiarity with OVIEDO its crosses resolved things. Also had my dances confused for a while with both LIMBO & SAMBA preceding MAMBO.<br /><br />Idle thought. If a certain Ms Blanchett wished to join in our discussions, could we say "WELCOME TO THE SYNDICATE, CATE"? <br /><br /> Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52508430292577863202013-03-06T14:35:08.997-05:002013-03-06T14:35:08.997-05:00I didn't know HIJAB and I so wanted the puzzle...I didn't know HIJAB and I so wanted the puzzle to be a pangram that I decided make it one by using a Z to start the word - I'm surprised no one else did the same. Other than that the puzzle was just so-so.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17847193954421397212013-03-06T13:54:42.954-05:002013-03-06T13:54:42.954-05:00Enjoyed this one. Had a bit of a slowdown in the H...Enjoyed this one. Had a bit of a slowdown in the HIJAB area, but OJO and OBI solved that corner. Only write over was to replace toLEDO, but even so I ended up with GOGaL. Guess I'm one of those who can't tell a snake from a dance! Ah well!DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54404301958700516792013-03-06T11:47:52.186-05:002013-03-06T11:47:52.186-05:00MY HIJAB natick wasn't at the H of LETHE (from...MY HIJAB natick wasn't at the H of LETHE (from which we get the word "lethal")--it was at the J of OJO. Yeah, I must be one of the last holdouts on the planet who doesn't know Spanish. What to put in there? Oh, let's make it a J; it's a common Arabic consonant and already has considerable accomaniment in this grid. Another lucky guess that rescued a near-fail on a puzzle that was everywhere else Monday-easy.<br /><br />Extremely ambitious scrabbliness gave this grid a desperate feel, as if the builder only left himself one way out of being INAJAM, letter-combo-wise. In the middle of all this I overthought the break between flights, figuring LAYOVER would be too obvious. Why, I bet our sly friend meant flights of stairs! So, without even checking across and already having the LA in place: LAnding! Now we have "Make my--" DAN? A fine sentiment, in my case: Dan is my grandson, whom I love to bits.<br /><br />Disappointed that the clue for 59a didn't read "Picard's order for some lukewarm Earl Grey?"Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12014481942302886842013-01-31T04:10:02.997-05:002013-01-31T04:10:02.997-05:00I third that. The clue made it sound like we were ...I third that. The clue made it sound like we were looking for a phrase spoken by a dictator, which threw me off for a while.Jack Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00505570161478589463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32543769186117269992013-01-30T22:02:55.028-05:002013-01-30T22:02:55.028-05:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 8/1/2009 post for an explanation and my 10/15/2012 post for an explanation of a tweak I've made to my method. 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 8:03, 6:12, 1.30, 99%, Challenging (2nd highest ratio of 163 Mondays)<br />Tue 8:44, 8:37, 1.01, 56%, Medium<br />Wed 9:24, 11:33, 0.81, 9%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 4:32, 3:39, 1.24, 99%, Challenging (3rd highest ratio of 163 Mondays)<br />Tue 5:00, 5:01, 1.00, 47%, Medium<br />Wed 5:40, 6:29, 0.87, 17%, Easysanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24139168375330305942013-01-30T21:05:17.330-05:002013-01-30T21:05:17.330-05:00@Loren
PIN TOTO...good one AND it matches in lengt...@Loren<br />PIN TOTO...good one AND it matches in length with @Rex's DON HOHO!!!<br /><br />@Lewis, yes to yours, too! CON DODO but you would need to make the CON a verb for consistency sake<br />(e.g." Dupe a dope?")<br /><br />That's what's the best about a good puzzle...makes you laugh AND inspires you to come up with your own additions to a fun theme!<br /><br />As for all these dictator questions, certainly this one is a benevolent dictator... more peppy cruise director than Idi Amin, I imagine!ACMESnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55658381710843919362013-01-30T19:25:29.535-05:002013-01-30T19:25:29.535-05:00First time I have laughed out loud in nyt puz in a...First time I have laughed out loud in nyt puz in a while with let my people gogo. Loved that! John in Phillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8595624781311226782013-01-30T18:37:16.448-05:002013-01-30T18:37:16.448-05:00Finally made it through without too much googling,...Finally made it through without too much googling,I.e. Gogol. Oviedo rather than Toledo, Twain gravesite. Not bad for an old eighty year old grinder.LaneBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34562624668997663072013-01-30T17:44:58.271-05:002013-01-30T17:44:58.271-05:00@dk - I was surprised at the benevolent dictator t...@dk - I was surprised at the benevolent dictator too...<br />Haha @acme - that Dick van Dyke episode is where I learned the word too!<br /><br />In my opinion, no "real" cheese spoils - it just turns bleu...<br /><br />@Cory - yes - look out for us - maybe @Rex will send us some official "31" badges to wear...<br /><br />Great puzzle. Also liked Oxford ties. Though I want to know to which Will I point out that TOILE is not by any stretch a sheer fabric. vOILE is very sheer. I've not seen many bridal veils or teddies made of TOILE. Harrumph. <br /><br />Thanks Will. Really fun puzzle.<br />Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36277683835459183892013-01-30T17:03:11.622-05:002013-01-30T17:03:11.622-05:00Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 8/1/2...Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 8/1/2009 post for an explanation of my method and my 10/15/2012 post for an explanation of a tweak to my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Wed 9:21, 11:33, 0.81, 8%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Wed 5:48, 6:29, 0.89, 20%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3812689611658827512013-01-30T16:19:08.186-05:002013-01-30T16:19:08.186-05:00I can't believe how many of you have never hea...I can't believe how many of you have never heard of OVIEDO. I mean they make the best "fabada" in the world....really people!<br />@LMS...ooh, you wascal you...GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34160676561250837182013-01-30T16:07:43.867-05:002013-01-30T16:07:43.867-05:00Never heard of JOJO Starbucks. Sports. Could have ...Never heard of JOJO Starbucks. Sports. Could have been coffee.<br /><br />Never heard of either OJAI or OVIEDO.<br />As far as OVIDEO, in the furture, every stupid cartoon will be on the internet. <br /><br />I would guess GOGOL's most well-known is Dead Souls. "Don't blame the mirror for ugliness."<br /><br />Easy puzzle for a Wednesday. Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66769478398831043512013-01-30T15:53:10.632-05:002013-01-30T15:53:10.632-05:00Go figure, I found this puzzle very very easy.Go figure, I found this puzzle very very easy.xyzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08287781952915413013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56051088008872460102013-01-30T13:57:55.082-05:002013-01-30T13:57:55.082-05:00Turned TV on a while ago and CSI was on. Gibs was ...Turned TV on a while ago and CSI was on. Gibs was asking someone if they recognized a Hijab that had been found!!! Never heard that word before and...twice in one day??? Small worldchefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8669536750318534572013-01-30T13:42:11.765-05:002013-01-30T13:42:11.765-05:00And as a child of 70's TV, I know Ojai, Califo...And as a child of 70's TV, I know Ojai, California as the town where Jamie Somers, aka the Bionic Woman, lived in her 'secret identity' as a teacher.MarkKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01586086192223009742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31860621164699616252013-01-30T13:11:39.711-05:002013-01-30T13:11:39.711-05:00WiNBIG at first. Found the solve easy and fun. A...WiNBIG at first. Found the solve easy and fun. Ah hah with MAKEITSOSO. Filled in the double endings first. Misread 36A as Director, same difference. Pharoah clue much better. <br /><br />I suppose EDAM turns rock hard in the fridge. Then you can grate it.<br /><br />I did this last night with Across Lite and it went pretty fast. Couldn't redo it with pen this AM in Rex's time. How does he do that?<br /><br />Have fun @Cory. Do say hi to the Rexites.Sparkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11149915526159432838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76823990928266196042013-01-30T13:03:45.022-05:002013-01-30T13:03:45.022-05:00Go easy on The Count - we rarely get visitors from...Go easy on The Count - we rarely get <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_von_Count" rel="nofollow">visitors from Sesame Street</a>.<br /><br />From Wikipedia:<br /><br />Chumash Indians were the early inhabitants of the valley. They called it Ojai, which derives from the Ventureño Chumash word ʼawhaý meaning "moon".[3] The area became part of the Rancho Ojai Mexican land grant made to Fernando Tico in 1837, and he established a cattle ranch. Tico sold it in 1853 without much success to prospectors searching for oil. By 1864, the area was settled.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53381779563843447032013-01-30T13:02:53.164-05:002013-01-30T13:02:53.164-05:00You are far too thoughtful. He's just a nit-pi...You are far too thoughtful. He's just a nit-picking negativist.Azberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03424201604785050143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79860151024835032122013-01-30T12:48:24.823-05:002013-01-30T12:48:24.823-05:00OJAI is pronounced OH HI! so nothing to do with or...OJAI is pronounced OH HI! so nothing to do with oranges.It's a pretty little town inland of Santa Barbara heading into the mountains.I think Ojai is a Chumash Indian name. I found the puzzle easy and overly cutesysyndyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16814698406887041710noreply@blogger.com