tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post5893261021280692730..comments2024-03-28T11:09:59.073-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Fermion boson / SAT 8-14-10 / Hirsute sitcom relative / Cousin of custard apple / Hypersonic plane engine / Be More Chill novelist VizziniRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26741694991205110152010-09-18T21:11:27.336-04:002010-09-18T21:11:27.336-04:00Bowie albums for me go: 1) Lodger 2) Hunky Dory 3)...Bowie albums for me go: 1) Lodger 2) Hunky Dory 3) Scary Monsters. Couldn't get past RUNAMOK and got stumperooed.mennoknighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13263185202295046387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83167130794998712892010-08-22T13:27:19.470-04:002010-08-22T13:27:19.470-04:00Did this puzzle on train to Montreal so am late po...Did this puzzle on train to Montreal so am late posting this comment, but had to. <br /><br />My Dad loved that phrase "Moons Over My Hammy" and would go to Denny's just to get a chuckle. He would crack up every time it was uttered. Every single time! His sense of humor got him through 11 years of very difficult cancer treatment. I was so proud of the way he handled his illness. Never a complaint or a why me. Truly inspirational to all. He passed away last November and he is greatly missed. <br /><br />Peace Pop and enjoy your "Moons Over My Hammy" wherever you are!GenJoneserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09444004085542476774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90680251262244203202010-08-15T11:11:12.371-04:002010-08-15T11:11:12.371-04:00.
i know its a matter of personal preference but ....<br /><br />i know its a matter of personal preference but i wonder if BRENDAN has ever experienced BOWIE FROM BERLIN ? <br /><br />if he does he may change his order of merit<br /><br />anyway be well<br /><br />frankDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79239403308808586442010-08-14T22:08:36.101-04:002010-08-14T22:08:36.101-04:00Solved Fri/Sat this week to warm up for Lolla III,...Solved Fri/Sat this week to warm up for Lolla III, where I had much fun though I probably didn't come as close to the Local finals as I did last year. I knew of both 24D:TARANTO and Otranto (though I couldn't locate them on the map) because Quine mentions them in <i>Quiddities</i> as Italian words with unexpected pronunciations: both are accented on the first syllable. "Taranto" seems to be also related to "Tarantella", of which the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIACXDEcIvs" rel="nofollow">last movement of Mendelssohn's "Italian" symphony</a> is sometimes cited as a famous example. With this kind of dance music available, why bother to argue which Bowie album is #1?... That song is way more interesting than most of today's pop fare, but it still doesn't hold a Zippo lighter to the real stuff.<br /><br />NDENoam D. Elkiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47086229358835238722010-08-14T20:50:10.040-04:002010-08-14T20:50:10.040-04:00I found this one harder than yesterday's with ...I found this one harder than yesterday's with NW being the stickiest, although AMOK was a problem in the SE for while. When I finally realized it was the movie Munich I got it. But, even with FARO, ITALIANO, and MORPHEUS in place I was staring for a long time. (Also, I never heard of the STRATTON movie).jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67022087393242120772010-08-14T18:25:08.795-04:002010-08-14T18:25:08.795-04:00This 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 6:56, 6:58, 1.00, 54%, Medium<br />Tue 9:52, 8:50, 1.12, 87%, Challenging<br />Wed 9:28, 11:45, 0.81, 9%, Easy<br />Thu 28:24, 19:18, 1.47, 97%, Challenging<br />Fri 27:05, 26:32, 1.02, 60%, Medium<br />Sat 30:16, 30:56, 0.98, 44%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:51, 3:43, 0.98, 42%, Medium<br />Tue 5:05, 4:33, 1.12, 85%, Challenging<br />Wed 4:57, 5:46, 0.88, 16%, Easy<br />Thu 14:42, 9:15, 1.59, 97%, Challenging<br />Fri 13:50, 12:55, 1.07, 69%, Medium-Challenging<br />Sat 17:21, 17:42, 0.98, 47%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87758012265482453812010-08-14T18:24:12.996-04:002010-08-14T18:24:12.996-04:00FISTFULL would have been a nice answer for "p...FISTFULL would have been a nice answer for "pound" of fleshAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41538837497776295072010-08-14T18:00:38.365-04:002010-08-14T18:00:38.365-04:00@Anon 12:15 - Yes I have had SOURSOP right off the...@Anon 12:15 - Yes I have had SOURSOP right off the tree and as 2Ponies stated, there are soursops and sweetsops, you probably had the latter as soursops are quite acidic. The sweetsop is also called the sugar apple.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84309317323475425442010-08-14T17:15:02.531-04:002010-08-14T17:15:02.531-04:00Following up on Glitch's "more practical&...Following up on Glitch's "more practical" advice: Even if you use the HTML A tag to embed a hot link, you should copy-and-paste the URL into the HREF attribute (that's what's between the quotes Glitch mentions): I find it excruciatingly tedious to type in a lengthy URL manually--I always make mistakes and therefore always copy and paste it. What I mean to say is do not take the discussion as a blanket prohibition of copy-and-paste (cut-and-paste is a misnomer)--just use it wisely!Ulrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15234877004087381822010-08-14T17:01:34.803-04:002010-08-14T17:01:34.803-04:00@CoffeeLvr
Don't worry about being a late pos...@CoffeeLvr<br /><br />Don't worry about being a late poster. It actually saves time.<br /><br />I find the longer I wait, the more likely the mundane topics will have been beaten to death and I can bring up something new, or not ;-)<br /><br />.../Glitch<br /><br />PS: @Clark --- that's why some older (and simpler) techniques have stopped working.<br /><br />.../GGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40363550577565939602010-08-14T16:47:15.116-04:002010-08-14T16:47:15.116-04:00@coffeeLvr Welcome. Always glad to have new peopl...@coffeeLvr Welcome. Always glad to have new people joining us.chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9551208058806238492010-08-14T16:09:27.721-04:002010-08-14T16:09:27.721-04:00Hello, contributors to this site. I had a L O N G...Hello, contributors to this site. I had a L O N G morning. First did the NY Times syndicated puzzle in my KC Star, & had a good performance (for me) on a Saturday (no errors, 9 Googles).<br />This inspired me to finally create my Blogspot identity, and sign up for NYT puzzle on line, and well, it was MTEVEREST from there. Of course, I was using AcrossLite for the 1st time, plus this is a much harder puzzle than 5 weeks ago. Now if I can just get my printer functioning, I can skip the online solve tomorrow. <br />I have been lurking here, and learning so much, for quite a while, so I decided to join you. My posts will always seem quite late, due to the Central Time disadvantage coupled with my retirement schedule.CoffeeLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16473192190412844538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72440843106807451072010-08-14T16:07:06.775-04:002010-08-14T16:07:06.775-04:00@Glitch, @LateNight, et al --
I have heard that i...@Glitch, @LateNight, et al --<br /><br />I have heard that in the last few days Google has tweaked Blogger, making changes that are supposed to catch more spam postings. This is being discussed on other blogs, where people are trying to figure out exactly what is making their comments disappear. That's all I know, or more than I know, even.<br /><br />(Double post. I meant to post today not yesterday.)Clarknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60678447710743746242010-08-14T15:20:22.134-04:002010-08-14T15:20:22.134-04:00got hunkydory, Itt,enormous,okie dennys,doritos, c...got hunkydory, Itt,enormous,okie dennys,doritos, creche and etched w/out crosses but also messiest,nino, scoopjet?run amok best of. STill don't know espials? Oye?soursop? custard apple at least sounds tasty-anyway I always took "Peskiest" as mildly annoying.Mostly liked the puzzle but i had a History prof who used to test on obscure parts of armor and i Felt it was unfair-still think sosyndyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16814698406887041710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28238882502949699602010-08-14T15:07:34.099-04:002010-08-14T15:07:34.099-04:00@Late Night (and any others)
Re: "Live Link ...@Late Night (and any others)<br /><br />Re: "Live Link Issue"<br /><br />I've posted some info and a "how to" in yesterday (Friday's) blog.<br /><br />Take it as more practical than authoritative ;)<br /><br />.../GlitchGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29719957081870935752010-08-14T15:02:02.206-04:002010-08-14T15:02:02.206-04:00@Tinbeni: You crack me up! I had forgotten that Re...@Tinbeni: You crack me up! I had forgotten that Rex said he was at a Starbuck's. It would have taken me about ten seconds to get him out of there. No double Venti Mocha Pumpkin Latte's from a barrista for me. I'm a 7-11, Dunkin Donuts guy. Give me someone who can make the quintessential Johnnie Walker Black scotch mist with the obligatory crushed ice. Hold the zest. If I want a lemonade, I'll ask for it.<br /><br />Here's where the term SCRAM came from. I have to thank a fellow blogger on WordPlay for jogging my memory. As an ex-submariner in the nuclear navy, I knew about this. I just couldn't relate it to jet propulsion:<br /><br />" Scram has an interesting etymology. When nuclear reactors were first developed in the '40s under military auspices, the nuclear reaction rate was held in check by control rods of neutron-absorbent material inserted in the gut of the reactor pile; the positioning of these rods determined the reaction rate, and therefore the heat generated. The rods were suspended in a vertical position from an overhead frame by ropes and pulleys. In the event that the rods had to be re-inserted quickly to prevent the reactor from "running away" and therefore going critical -- or exploding, the ropes were cut by an axe, thus allowing the rods to fall into the reactor. The person who performed this action was the Safety Control Rod Axe Man. The military was fond of acronyms, and so the reactor operation manuals contained note of this person as the SCRAM, and the act of shutting down a reactor in an emergency was referred to as scramming. Eventually, I suppose, it made its way over to scramjet as an offshoot development of the ramjet engine. English is wonderful."<br /><br />There you go. More useless information, but true.<br /><br />Ahh, java! The sun is over the yardarm now. Cognac and coffee? Nah! Scotch and steak!<br /><br />Agree with TwoPonies. Espials! Yuk!<br /><br />It had to be RARAAVIS no? Not!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850261376542582358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91338371719741918632010-08-14T14:42:38.840-04:002010-08-14T14:42:38.840-04:00Knowing too much and not enough at the same time w...Knowing too much and not enough at the same time was my downfall in filling in the last 3 squares: I new OTRANTO was a city on the heel of Italy b/c of the Walpole novel and since it fitted so well with the crosses I had at the time, I would not let it go. Had I known of TARANTO, I may have found a way to resolve the resulting mess, but I didn't, and given my background in Latin, it never occurred to me to consider DATA as a singular to be classified (I know, I know--no need to comment). Result: I gave up...Ulrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28471444594022090802010-08-14T14:20:13.082-04:002010-08-14T14:20:13.082-04:00@chemist dude: ORDS=city ORDinanceS, I think. Kin...@chemist dude: ORDS=city ORDinanceS, I think. Kinda made my engine light come on, too. Have a good one.Masked and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74083369744705523642010-08-14T14:11:44.969-04:002010-08-14T14:11:44.969-04:00Definitions of scramjet on the Web:
A scramjet (s...Definitions of scramjet on the Web:<br /><br />A scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) is a variation of a ramjet distinguished by supersonic combustion. ...<br />en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scramjet<br /><br />A jet engine capable of propelling an aircraft at hypersonic speeds; combustion of the fuel/air mixture occurs at supersonic speeds<br />en.wiktionary.org/wiki/scramjet<br /><br />P>G>Rara avis toonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64808471424455089642010-08-14T14:03:09.539-04:002010-08-14T14:03:09.539-04:00Many of the above writeovers. And a crucial google...Many of the above writeovers. And a crucial google. Had to, to remove REAGAN @ 13D which messed up the NE for a LONG time. <br /><br />Still do not get ORDS and never heard of SCRAMJET, so that crossing was my last square.<br /><br />MESSIEST for PESKIEST @ 61A, KENO for FARO, failure to commit to BEBE (NENE, NINO, NINA all work).<br /><br />A solid puzzle, more solid than my performance last night - and today.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5541731208343479462010-08-14T13:51:23.821-04:002010-08-14T13:51:23.821-04:00What about NED Beatty? He's not so obscure. ...What about NED Beatty? He's not so obscure. <br /><br />Every time I see "run amok" I think of an episode of "I Dream of Jeannie" where that phrase figures prominently. Too much TV? Probably so.Doc Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62959293993206051762010-08-14T13:40:16.347-04:002010-08-14T13:40:16.347-04:00I nearly gave up but finally beat the spread. Anot...I nearly gave up but finally beat the spread. Another day of wicked clues.<br />I've had a good week so I'm sure a big slice of humble pie is heading my way.<br />In Jamaica they have sour sop and sweet sop. I forget what a custard apple is. <br />I did not know those particles and having steam jet for a bit (what do I know about jet engines?) made 34D some kind of title. That was the peskiest part for too long.<br />Cohost started as costar.<br />Old score was medicare.<br />Loved the clue for Morpheus.<br />Ugliest word - espials. Yuck.<br />Anyone try our old xword pal rara avis first?<br />I hope we hear of all the East and West coast socializing that's going on.Two Ponieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06896743444873087885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48041613004672455662010-08-14T13:32:19.962-04:002010-08-14T13:32:19.962-04:00Hey now, don't you tell me you don't remem...Hey now, don't you tell me you don't remember me 'cause I sure as heckfire remember you.<br /><br /> Ned RyersonD_Blackwellhttp://www.dbwebdesign.com/crossword-puzzles/index.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28961632562185756522010-08-14T13:20:47.661-04:002010-08-14T13:20:47.661-04:00Thanks @Glitch for the clip. This is one of my fa...Thanks @Glitch for the clip. This is one of my favorite S&G songs, but it didn’t come to me (when I was doing the puzzle) as a 1967 song. I was listening to it in, oh, about 1972. Reruns.<br /><br />Could not come up with FIST BUMP. I got so frustrated I peeked. I hardly ever do that.Clarknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37444805265769960452010-08-14T13:10:57.651-04:002010-08-14T13:10:57.651-04:00Rex and @Chaos1
If I was meeting someone for drin...Rex and @Chaos1<br />If I was meeting someone for drinks before dinner it would NOT be at Starbucks.<br /><br />Yup, Run Amok. Never heard the term RUN RIOT. <br />New also was SOURSOP and SCRAMJET (is that a Super-Charged RAMJET?)/ So I do have a SE that looks like a Rorschach Ink Blot test.<br /><br />Got NED from the crosses, looked at the clue, said WTF! and put down this SAD STORY poured some REMY in my java.<br /><br />DNFTinbenihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14661395078047234853noreply@blogger.com