tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post5589953048365520420..comments2024-03-28T18:52:07.432-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Comedian/rapper Williams / FRI 12-14-12 / Political adviser Nofziger / Relative of John Bull / Rascal in slang / Sea novel by James Fenimore Cooper / Cubic crystals with perfect cleavageRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57523980789355511452013-01-20T02:19:17.656-05:002013-01-20T02:19:17.656-05:00okay the clue for 25a is wrong! Katt Williams is n...okay the clue for 25a is wrong! Katt Williams is not a rapper, he is a comedian and an actor. It really bugs me that other posters whine about rappers being included in the NYT puzzle yet have no problem with rock, opera or jazz singers being included. Open your mind people. Music is wonderful in all its forms.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42668318448815062682013-01-18T18:17:23.766-05:002013-01-18T18:17:23.766-05:00I cry UNCLE. Took a couple of passes through, try...I cry UNCLE. Took a couple of passes through, trying for a toe hold, without much luck. Then hit Google, trying to wedge that foot in. Put the puzzle down and then came back to it with moderate success. Came here for the last little bit. That said, I found it interesting and challenging (obviously). Love BEATLEMANIA, INDOORPOOL, EVALONGORIA, and all the stacked 10s and 11s. Impressive.<br /><br />It's been 5 weeks since that awful day in Conn. My heart aches for the families. I'm appalled (but not surprised) at the reaction of the testosterone fueled gun lobby who are so afraid that their ....oops. what I really want to say is unprintable,<br /><br />Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82277485902710498182013-01-18T17:55:44.422-05:002013-01-18T17:55:44.422-05:00I filled in the NW section with nary a write-over;...I filled in the NW section with nary a write-over; in the NE "Go away!" was a problem until BEATLEMANIA and SAMUELALITO let me go ONIN and the crosses produced THEBIGSHORT. In the SE, on the strength of the INDOORPOOL feature and the C from TLC, I wrote in schoolgyms - by the time I got that little mistake straightened out the whole section was an almost illegible mess. In the end I didn't know the publisher KNOPF or the slang/Yiddish GANEF and I had run out of lucky guesses so it was all for naught. I enjoyed the challenge, though, and feel like I am in pretty good company of other DNFers.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86746403340001939902013-01-18T16:58:40.610-05:002013-01-18T16:58:40.610-05:00Major DNF today. Totally Gamached. There was too ...Major DNF today. Totally Gamached. There was too much that I just didn't know: filibuster target, rapper, director, singer, book, cosmetic ad person, LA house, and on and on. I did get the NW, with some effort, and had ELKHOUND coming out of that section, but pretty well screeched to a halt. Does anyone really say "face reality"? In any case, I guess that's what I did.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3188098304507538282013-01-18T15:06:36.404-05:002013-01-18T15:06:36.404-05:00STARSTRUCK, I STANDASIDE in awe and FACEREALITY. T...STARSTRUCK, I STANDASIDE in awe and FACEREALITY. The matchless Ms. GAMACHE is the TOPPS, the most DEFT EVAH... Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13842987210607143752013-01-18T14:46:39.292-05:002013-01-18T14:46:39.292-05:00Join those who found wild guesses somehow fell int...Join those who found wild guesses somehow fell into place. How else would I get EVALONGORIA off just the "v"? But, in the end, I had a lot of empty spaces. DEsiSist for DEMISE. Too many names I just didn't know, and figured the relative of the one I did know, JOHNBULL, would have to also be English. And unable to complete 30D from what I had, I put in iCemachiNe, which I guess if it leaked could have pool?! <br />I was hoping my brain would check-in today, but I guess it's still sleeping off yesterday's flubs.DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48749741809227002222013-01-18T12:36:32.412-05:002013-01-18T12:36:32.412-05:00Rare Friday DEMISE. DNF due to the SWRare Friday DEMISE. DNF due to the SWrondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34340807037907005322013-01-18T10:45:09.601-05:002013-01-18T10:45:09.601-05:00DNF, second day in a row :(. First entry turned ou...DNF, second day in a row :(. First entry turned out to be a mistake: EVER--as in the number featured in "High Society." But that was corrected by the long acrosses in the SW. So too did the NW fall when STARSTRUCK finally entered my brain. But the NE? Too much I didn't know. Despite getting BEATLEMANIA off nothing at all, I couldn't get going. Michael Lewis...who? And the filibuster thing, I just forgot. The only EAMES I know is Goren's partner on L&O:CI. When I see the word "rapper" my mind goes blank. I neither know nor care to know anything at all about rap or hiphop. Just not my thing. I'd just as soon not see any of them in a crossword--or anywhere else.<br /><br />With a heavy heart, I resorted to Google, getting the NE. But then I ran into Ms. Lynne, as posted above, and gave up. Never heard of a MCMANSION. Also, I don't think "Percolate" is a very good definition for SEEPIN. "Osmose" would be much better. I was thinking either SEETHE or SEE RED, but could make neither work. "Stiff" for PRIM won't win any accuracy awards, either.<br /><br />I did want UMPED/UNCLESAM, but couldn't build on them.<br /><br />A "series of unfortunate" clues in the SE ruined this one for me, ALTHO any grid containing EVALONGORIA is an automatic thumbs-up with me.<br /><br />BRUTAL captchas today. Finally found the 7th one legible.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67374230312876354562012-12-16T02:51:43.541-05:002012-12-16T02:51:43.541-05:00Got sis, Beatlemania and Saki right away. Otherwi...Got sis, Beatlemania and Saki right away. Otherwise, did a lot of long staring and ruminating over clues until the answers finally started to pop into place...which for me makes for a FUN, if slow puzzle. A lot of the clueing was splendidly inventive. <br /><br />My one issue is with GANEF, which I ultimately came here for. Let me point out, I speak Hebrew and have command of the most common Yiddish words used here, goniff included. So here's the deal: In Hebrew, the word is indeed ganav,pronounced gahNAHV, with a distinct V. In Yiddish, that first A is read as an O, and the pronunciation becomes goniv--which is usually pronounced not with the hard O in go or no, but a cross between an O and "uh." The A is JUST NOT right, either as a literal or colloquial transliteration. The final F is technically wrong, but OK as it is a more or less accurate reflection of the colloquial pronounciation here. And, it flat out means thief. SharonNYCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77632553133491227852012-12-14T23:55:24.222-05:002012-12-14T23:55:24.222-05:00Another mineral that occurs in cubic crystals with...Another mineral that occurs in cubic crystals with perfect cleavage and has the same number of letters as Halite is Galena, an ore of lead.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71219728483892065422012-12-14T23:15:06.566-05:002012-12-14T23:15:06.566-05:00How sad. Terrible, it's hard to take in. My ...How sad. Terrible, it's hard to take in. My heart goes out to the people of Newtown. Glad you and yours okay Tita and JohnV.Sparkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11149915526159432838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27824267129464085992012-12-14T22:07:59.804-05:002012-12-14T22:07:59.804-05:00Busy and distracted by news reports all day. Puzzl...Busy and distracted by news reports all day. Puzzle was brutal, but I liked the grid once I completed it (with help from google to dislodge a couple corners). <br />Someday I will complete this type if puzzle. Milfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04923019988243284636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45249404894401296142012-12-14T22:05:39.802-05:002012-12-14T22:05:39.802-05:00BEATLEMANIA first entry. ALICIAKEYS easy after he...BEATLEMANIA first entry. ALICIAKEYS easy after her caterwauling at the Sandy Show. TLC third. DNF. Big hole around the Beatles. BTUS my only answer. Chipped away at the rest over the course of the day. EVALONGORIA sounds like an illness to me. Prefer Isabella Rossallini for cosmetic spokeswoman. Know John Bull but briefly thought of Britannia. <br /><br />When I call someone a gonif it's much nastier than a rascal.Sparkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11149915526159432838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55212055878850201492012-12-14T22:03:28.000-05:002012-12-14T22:03:28.000-05:00This 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 5:56, 6:16, 0.95, 22%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 8:13, 8:57, 0.92, 20%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 10:02, 11:45, 0.85, 15%, Easy<br />Thu 21:12, 17:03, 1.28, 88%, Challenging<br />Fri 26:35, 21:27, 1.24, 90%, Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:33, 3:39, 0.97, 30%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 4:50, 5:03, 0.96, 34%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 6:03, 6:32, 0.93, 29%, Easy-Medium<br />Thu 12:48, 9:23, 1.36, 88%, Challenging<br />Fri 14:26, 11:57, 1.21, 80%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47623684987188758952012-12-14T21:45:11.645-05:002012-12-14T21:45:11.645-05:00Thank you to all who sent encouragement this way. ...Thank you to all who sent encouragement this way. <br /><br />I’ll just keep on doing my thing and trying not to disturb the neighbors. <br /><br />Can’t let this day pass without offering deepest sympathy to all the good folk of Newtown who are suffering from the unspeakable evil inflicted on their town.jackjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02699305265544975575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53108608678212441492012-12-14T20:55:12.592-05:002012-12-14T20:55:12.592-05:00David Sedaris ("Six to Eight Black Men" ...David Sedaris ("Six to Eight Black Men" on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYdpte1W0vk" rel="nofollow">Youtube</a>) said blind people are legally allowed to hunt in Michigan and Texas, but said in Texas they must be accompanied by a sighted person, while in Michigan the blind person is allowed to hunt alone. He was wrong. The blind person in Michigan must also have a sighted companion over the age of 18. <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10366_41825_51108-197553--,00.html" rel="nofollow">Michigan Dept. Of Natural Resources</a> says so. That have been in place since at least 2006, when Texas decided to copy them. Ellen Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00473445503706985149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5509682313686859812012-12-14T20:31:56.725-05:002012-12-14T20:31:56.725-05:00Early morning meeting in Lansing so I didn't g...Early morning meeting in Lansing so I didn't get to the puzzle until late. Tried doing it with half an eye on the news, got 3/4ths done. My ignorance of Cooper and L'Oréal defeated me in the SW.<br /><br />I have rarely been embarrassed to be a Michigander, but my legislature passed a law last night allowing "highly trained" people to carry concealed weapons in schools. Combined with recent laws against women, unions, and democracy have made it an embarrassing day to be a Michigander. The tragedy in Newtown drives home the insanity of our gun laws.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84560859925884762512012-12-14T20:01:16.021-05:002012-12-14T20:01:16.021-05:00@ACME, bite your tongue! We'll be seeing "...@ACME, bite your tongue! We'll be seeing "ways of the East" sometime soon now.<br /><br />I found this one really tough, even though I wasn't fooled by the hint of a SIS to SSS word ladder. Oh, wait, that IS a word ladder. Anyway, I had a go at it around 8 AM and got almost nowhere - I think I had LAW for 21A and FLEER for 35A, and the rest was blank. I had to go out, and got back to it at 5PM, when it mostly fell intopolace,though still not easily. (For one thing, I was confusing the filibustered with the murdered mayor of SF, and so trying to fit SAMUEL ALIOTO into too few squares). I also resisted GANEF; I recognized the resemblance to goniff (which I know because Archie Goodwin, the fictional detective, sometimes used the word), but it seemed too unlike it. I finally yielded, though, and guessed the Natick at THE BIG SHORT/RITT correctly (well, not quite a Natick - Lewis writes about fiscal affairs, so that seemed a more likely title than THE BIG SHOOT, and RITT seemed a lot more likely than OITT).<br /><br />It was KAT-D what did me in. A clear case of how a little knowledge is a dangerous thing - I knew a halide was a halogen salt, which could certainly be a crystal, but I guess they wouldn't be firm enough to be perfect without a little oxygen added. Either way, I want a plural there.<br /><br />I'm with almost everyone - really tough puzzle, but that's what we want. I'm also with everyond on the horror in CT, of course.<br /><br />@jackj I missed whatever happened yesterday, but I do enjoy your posts.jberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02169065390875378077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38301101668240005502012-12-14T19:48:05.879-05:002012-12-14T19:48:05.879-05:00Didn't get to the puzzle until about noon and ...Didn't get to the puzzle until about noon and then of course the news dominated the day. Unspeakable. <br /><br />I did notice (and got without crosses) the best clue: 21A.<br /><br />machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13061121532143037682012-12-14T19:39:50.415-05:002012-12-14T19:39:50.415-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1813955538548041652012-12-14T19:39:21.028-05:002012-12-14T19:39:21.028-05:00A real struggle with this puzzle. NW especially, ...A real struggle with this puzzle. NW especially, as I had ToT as the answer for Homewrecker?.<br /><br />Major DNF, as I watched the local news anchor go pale when he passed on the news that it was not 2 children dead, but 14. Then watched in horror as the story unfolded from there on.<br /><br />Had a few frightened moments while trying to get word from inlaws with kids there. They are ok.<br /><br />Heroism from the teachers there. Prayers for those whose lives are devastated. Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17392643685218278972012-12-14T19:02:56.794-05:002012-12-14T19:02:56.794-05:00@SanFranMan and @ChefBea. Thank you, from Norwalk...@SanFranMan and @ChefBea. Thank you, from Norwalk, CT.John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35748823734109931792012-12-14T17:48:49.924-05:002012-12-14T17:48:49.924-05:00The Big Shortz had his own "SPIRAL" puzz...The Big Shortz had his own "SPIRAL" puzzle published last Sunday. It was a good one!<br /><br />Does he get paid $1000 for that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67063994508559179062012-12-14T17:45:12.785-05:002012-12-14T17:45:12.785-05:00@sanfranman
Beautifully stated.
@jackj
I'm wi...@sanfranman<br />Beautifully stated.<br /><br />@jackj<br />I'm with you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69307421655338432962012-12-14T16:50:40.535-05:002012-12-14T16:50:40.535-05:00I'm waiting for "The Big Shortz" to ...I'm waiting for "The Big Shortz" to be published.johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.com