tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post5820186446993286300..comments2024-03-28T06:44:48.044-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: MON 7-16-12Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51693968077296086372012-08-20T21:17:39.323-04:002012-08-20T21:17:39.323-04:00@Waxy - You've done a yeoman's job of fill...@Waxy - You've done a yeoman's job of filling in with a worthy rant. Maybe the decline in the quality of the programming on AANDE is an apt metaphor for "dumbing down" of American (note: NOT Canadian) pop culture? Surely their programming reflects what is popular with their viewers (and thus their advertisers). Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37375135990163803842012-08-20T20:40:12.848-04:002012-08-20T20:40:12.848-04:00In @Spacecraft's absence, I'll rant about ...In @Spacecraft's absence, I'll rant about AANDE - but not about its spelling in the grid. Instead I'd like to assail A&E for the oneway trip to mediocrity it has been on for the past few years. Once almost the equal of PBS in the production of quality programming including some of the best British mysteries, it now serves up a steady raft of inferior dreg. Nary a program worthy of a trophy, gold medal, blue ribbon or crown. (Here endeth the rant.)Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58105197058438943712012-08-20T15:09:05.595-04:002012-08-20T15:09:05.595-04:00Apparently I'm the first syndi-solver on the s...Apparently I'm the first syndi-solver on the scene. My first run through all of the clues produced a grid with just 3 blank squares, and the crosses took care of those quickly enough, without the need for any guessing. If the puzzle could be as cold as it is smooth, I would have brain-freeze.<br /><br />Men with a TROPHYWIFE have also never known TRUELOVE, I'm guessing.<br /><br />In re 22a, AANDE, the countdown to @Spacecraft's rant will begin in 3...2..1...Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77124047858297709042012-07-17T01:06:22.170-04:002012-07-17T01:06:22.170-04:00@mac Thanks! Yes, this cat is the Zen in question....@mac Thanks! Yes, this cat is the Zen in question. Her friend is Satori. Neither lives up to her name.ZenMonkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01351161309102608706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-914238784517770122012-07-17T00:08:15.326-04:002012-07-17T00:08:15.326-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 8/1/2009 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 />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Mon 6:10, 6:49, 0.90, 13%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:37, 3:41, 0.98, 45%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35487303586698736592012-07-16T22:23:39.761-04:002012-07-16T22:23:39.761-04:00Fastest time ever.
TROPHYWIFE made me think of tha...Fastest time ever.<br />TROPHYWIFE made me think of that Dos Equis commercial with "the most interesting guy".... When asked about his thoughts on trophy wives, he responds that they are for men who never win trophies.<br /><br />Fun write-up. We have flat cones called cake cones, pointy cones called sugar cones, big giant cones called waffle cones, and waffle bowls--just in case a simple paper cup won't suffice.Clueless in Texasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35311798700593932512012-07-16T21:58:50.883-04:002012-07-16T21:58:50.883-04:00Hey, nice to see you back, Joey!
Another catlover....Hey, nice to see you back, Joey!<br />Another catlover.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46580565822903267192012-07-16T20:25:03.138-04:002012-07-16T20:25:03.138-04:00(Um, "ZenMonkey" = Joey Haban. Forgot to...(Um, "ZenMonkey" = Joey Haban. Forgot to sign my post.)ZenMonkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01351161309102608706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55246024639720964762012-07-16T20:24:00.592-04:002012-07-16T20:24:00.592-04:00What a nice "classic" Monday. A simple t...What a nice "classic" Monday. A simple theme minus trickery and fun to breeze through.<br /><br />Like others, I wanted PANEL in BLUERIBBONJURY, but JURY isn't totally obscure nor difficult to figure out.<br /><br />I'd like to thank Mr. Hartman for including my stepmother at 17A.ZenMonkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01351161309102608706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3196013112283993922012-07-16T19:42:51.291-04:002012-07-16T19:42:51.291-04:00"Blue Ribbon" reminds me of Carl telling..."Blue Ribbon" reminds me of Carl telling Lennie (Homer Simpson's pals) about a committee that the Mayor was organizing to avoid a problem, and said it was "blue ribbon" And Lennie replied knowingly, "Wow, that's the best kind!"<br /><br />A buddy and I always do that riff whenever a politician suggests this ploy.Al Rodbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993709026872288071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6351156413804119992012-07-16T19:35:20.369-04:002012-07-16T19:35:20.369-04:00Meh puzzle. OK Monday, not memorable. Liz and Jenn...Meh puzzle. OK Monday, not memorable. Liz and Jenny as expected provided a fresh writeup, for which I thank them.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49825206267521204122012-07-16T17:39:25.343-04:002012-07-16T17:39:25.343-04:00Very interesting that you mentioned "Gone Gir...Very interesting that you mentioned "Gone Girl" because my favorite SirusXM DJ, Madison, also mentioned it today.<br />Very easy puzzle today- I think my fastest time ever at 3:48.Doc Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10822880261474652132012-07-16T17:08:06.114-04:002012-07-16T17:08:06.114-04:00Easy. Sailed through. Have a houseguest. Ruins ...Easy. Sailed through. Have a houseguest. Ruins computer time. Have a good week.Sparkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11149915526159432838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64865190280499358582012-07-16T17:07:02.582-04:002012-07-16T17:07:02.582-04:00Since I'm distracted by the bay, the winds, ti...Since I'm distracted by the bay, the winds, tides, company, and food during this mini-vacation, was happy for a breezy puzzle.<br /><br />Distractions caused dumb typos, which then caused odd guesses at the crosses...<br />Toward sunrise was aube for a while.Well, it means dawn in French, so...<br /><br />Didn't get into PRATT, so that was a gimme (only one that refused moi...)<br />Present was rIFe before GIFT.<br /><br />Thanks Mr. Hartman and twins.Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83886804358331126672012-07-16T16:17:13.364-04:002012-07-16T16:17:13.364-04:00Midday 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):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Mon 6:09, 6:49, 0.90, 13%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:40, 3:41, 1.00, 52%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48279470783303263992012-07-16T15:53:05.392-04:002012-07-16T15:53:05.392-04:00I'm not that impressed by the "symmetry&q...I'm not that impressed by the "symmetry" of the theme, given that the pairs of one-word, two-words can only be AABB, ABAB, or ABBA, each of which would qualify as symmetric.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27957972877544142842012-07-16T14:57:17.111-04:002012-07-16T14:57:17.111-04:00@John V - OREO clued as "Real estate aquired ...@John V - OREO clued as "Real estate aquired in foreclosure, abbr." would be a nice change of pace and might be good for later in the week. Rex would probably still rip it though.Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16830502903113769472012-07-16T14:53:45.594-04:002012-07-16T14:53:45.594-04:00@joho - arguably, RIBBON and MEDAL could stand on ...@joho - arguably, RIBBON and MEDAL could stand on their own as awards, but GOLD MEDAL and BLUE RIBBON stand out as "top" awards.<br /><br />Pretty straightforward puzzle, I thought. Another enjoyable writeup from the BFFs.GLRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41946111043359845802012-07-16T14:29:24.318-04:002012-07-16T14:29:24.318-04:00@Bird re OREO, finance folk know this as an acrony...@Bird re OREO, finance folk know this as an acronym meaning, "Other Real Estate Owned", typically real estate acquired in a foreclosure. Not entirely sure this would work as a clue for general audiences.John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78005400075399206872012-07-16T14:07:33.308-04:002012-07-16T14:07:33.308-04:00Near record time for me. 8 1/2 minutes. Question ...Near record time for me. 8 1/2 minutes. Question - how do people do the puzzle in 2 or 3 minutes on an iPad? for this puzzle I typed as fast as I could as still came up at 8 1/2 minutes.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74561058426871226342012-07-16T13:44:14.571-04:002012-07-16T13:44:14.571-04:00Nice easy puzzle today and a great write-up by the...Nice easy puzzle today and a great write-up by the dynamic duo BFF.<br /><br />Can't recall seeing OREO in the puzzle before. Refreshing. Now I need a glass of milk with a couple ice cubes.Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42997608417944201712012-07-16T13:26:59.577-04:002012-07-16T13:26:59.577-04:00Easy but solid Monday, and another fun write-up by...Easy but solid Monday, and another fun write-up by Rex's besties. <br /><br />Never heard of the blue ribbon jury, but I like the concept. I think in many cases members of the jury have a hard time really following the details. <br /><br />@John V: your plane and the Tour de France. How disgusting, one cyclist broke his collar bone. The peleton held back, though, for a frontrunner who needed a new wheel, very sportsmanlike!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21432092845487669372012-07-16T12:14:11.651-04:002012-07-16T12:14:11.651-04:00Made it to Charlotte, notwithstanding a nail in th...Made it to Charlotte, notwithstanding a nail in the front tire of the plane. Not making this up.<br /><br />Re: yesterday, posted this morning, after trying afresh this morning. I think, "Too clever by half" is what I want to say. DNF. East killed me.John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73600819377679912802012-07-16T11:47:03.611-04:002012-07-16T11:47:03.611-04:00Easy breezy. When the commenters here can't f...Easy breezy. When the commenters here can't find anything controversial in the puzzle, we are quite succinct and polite! And Liz and Jenny set a happy tone...Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49981200379341614892012-07-16T11:35:57.868-04:002012-07-16T11:35:57.868-04:00You're very observant Coop!You're very observant Coop!Liz Glasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10479315857003748511noreply@blogger.com