tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post5973658487891557614..comments2024-03-28T08:02:17.004-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Scottish castle for British royals / MON 7-12-10 / Upright inscribed stone tablets / Flower also known as cranesbill / Sir Geraint's wife in ArthurianRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47671225042629161872010-08-18T20:22:01.631-04:002010-08-18T20:22:01.631-04:00Agree with comments by Rex-- KIOWA/LEADY, TANTALUM...Agree with comments by Rex-- KIOWA/LEADY, TANTALUM, BIMODAL, weak theme--ugh. Perhaps Will was on vacation and Tim Parker was guest editor?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1910697361134709782010-07-13T22:27:34.728-04:002010-07-13T22:27:34.728-04:00One of the benefits of being older is to know with...One of the benefits of being older is to know with absolute clarity the difference between "Gunsmoke" (grittier, more adult) and "Bonanza" (more family-friendly, softer). It's like not knowing that there is a difference between the Beatles and Rolling Stones.luisa massimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90423411629368639842010-07-13T12:13:50.168-04:002010-07-13T12:13:50.168-04:00Everyone is bitching but I did this in four minute...Everyone is bitching but I did this in four minutes flat which is a record for me as I have just started timing my solutions. I have been doing NYT puzzles since 1980 but never realized how serious RexOFiles take this stuff until I found this site. I really appreciate all the comments and love the site. Tnks, Roy in ItalyRoy & Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01665508179247372638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82359907532708772462010-07-13T00:32:52.838-04:002010-07-13T00:32:52.838-04:00@Martin, "steely" is OK, but I wouldn...@Martin, "steely" is OK, but I wouldn't be too happy with "silvery" or "coppery" as precedents. As ugly as LEADY.HudsonHawkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16119485923243014649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72792442008740817312010-07-12T22:20:10.246-04:002010-07-12T22:20:10.246-04:00@Clark, I'm impressed that you know that Ann A...@Clark, I'm impressed that you know that Ann Arbor is called A-squared by its inhabitants :). It really is amazing to see that stadium filling in and out, given that it can handle almost the entire population of AA.<br /><br />@Freddie, you know what they say, the opposite of Love is Indifference. No one is indifferent today. Good to cause a stir :)<br /><br />I'm doing this from the plane. It always gives me such a kick to post from weird places. I'm on my way to SF, where our Lady of the Mondays resides.foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64024016583773506142010-07-12T21:27:30.254-04:002010-07-12T21:27:30.254-04:00@Martin - Wow.
@Fkink - beware. I know someone wh...@Martin - Wow.<br /><br />@Fkink - beware. I know someone whose trailer burnt totally because he used bales for insulation. Melted his collection of little brass cannon. Make sure the bales are 80% dry (cured). They call it spontaneous combustion but it's caused when the moisture can't escape and molds grow and produce heat. Best to dry inside and wait a couple months, like tobacco.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25856218263402399732010-07-12T21:24:12.587-04:002010-07-12T21:24:12.587-04:00@ Glitch agreed with someone??@ Glitch agreed with someone??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88199168604288035262010-07-12T20:22:51.758-04:002010-07-12T20:22:51.758-04:00Dudes and Dudettes, bales are used for everything ...Dudes and Dudettes, bales are used for everything from fodder to insulation around the foundation of an old farmhouse. Any bale worth its saltine is baled with wire. The end. <br />Joan Deere ;)<br /><br />p.s.Even thinking of making one large adobe brick!fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33702573437097458912010-07-12T20:22:46.555-04:002010-07-12T20:22:46.555-04:00@CaseAce
Damn Krazy
@Glitch
Thanks for the citati...@CaseAce<br />Damn Krazy<br /><br />@Glitch<br />Thanks for the citations!<br />WOw, a Fri and a Sat 10 and 15 yrs ago respectively, that says it all!acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57700967146404077602010-07-12T20:11:53.943-04:002010-07-12T20:11:53.943-04:00@Anon 7:24: when I went on hayrides as a kid, thos...@Anon 7:24: when I went on hayrides as a kid, those hay bales were bound with twine. Probably wouldn't want people sitting on wire. Don't know if they still use it today. Haven't been on a hayride for close to 25 years. I don't have any desire to change that in the next 25.<br /><br />@CaseAce: dk is dk. I believe he's away for a bit, but he posts pretty much daily under that moniker.Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1783592471730156122010-07-12T20:07:55.420-04:002010-07-12T20:07:55.420-04:00Despite the umbrage taken over it's inclusion,...Despite the umbrage taken over it's inclusion, Leady did not debut today.<br /><br />LEADY: 3 Appearances <br /><br />Monday, July 12, 2010 28D "Like many old water pipes" Freddie Cheng<br /> <br />Saturday, March 18, 2000 58A "Dull" Rich Norris<br /><br />Friday, November 03, 1995 47A "Like many old water pipes" David J. Kahn<br /><br />Granted, the latter are before most of your time. Old timer's advantage here. <br /><br />Other than than that, what @SteveJ wrote at 4:05, perhaps the first time I totally agree with him ;)<br /><br />.../GlitchGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41046309217215833312010-07-12T19:44:48.401-04:002010-07-12T19:44:48.401-04:00"Leady" usually means "like lead in..."Leady" usually means "like lead in color." <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=xfgvAAAAMAAJ&lpg=PA570&ots=OADBdOUycV&dq=harper's%20glacier%20water&pg=PA570#v=onepage&q&f=false" rel="nofollow">Here's a use</a> from 1892 that's cited in the OED. Practically ripped from the headlines.<br /><br />Actually, with "silvery," "coppery" and "steely" as models, "leady" isn't too weird.<br /><br />@Anon 7:24,<br />Papers are baled with twine.Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45924855771719247942010-07-12T19:31:21.440-04:002010-07-12T19:31:21.440-04:00Everyone seems to know DK and are wishing Him and/...Everyone seems to know DK and are wishing Him and/or Her a Happy B...Can someone PLEASE spell out this mystery person's name for this poster's elucidation?CaseAcenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41546197538494075982010-07-12T19:25:48.765-04:002010-07-12T19:25:48.765-04:00I don't think tantalum belongs in a Monday puz...I don't think tantalum belongs in a Monday puzzle. I'd be dubious about it on Saturday. I wondered why a depressed person was "sak" for a bit and like everyone else couldn't quite believe "leady."michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78124089483348283982010-07-12T19:24:23.781-04:002010-07-12T19:24:23.781-04:00Nobody objected to TWINE as defined as bale binder...Nobody objected to TWINE as defined as bale binder.<br /><br />My farm youth observation would call for wire to hold a hay bale together. Would any twine be strong enough to hold a cotton bale or some other bale together?<br /><br />Isn't this as important as the meaning of bimodal?<br /><br />anonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51518998903002298802010-07-12T19:00:40.763-04:002010-07-12T19:00:40.763-04:00Just ran into Jonathan Berman, Third place Rookie ...Just ran into Jonathan Berman, Third place Rookie of the 2010 ACPT. <br />We both thought they should have worked harder to get the lead-y out of this puzzle ;)andrea acHe michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41434653018964010182010-07-12T18:57:29.803-04:002010-07-12T18:57:29.803-04:00@Martin, tx for the Botany/Greek lesson and expla...@Martin, tx for the Botany/Greek lesson and explanation for the strange nickname for geraniums. There's usually someone in this group who is knowledgable in virtually any field these constructors can come up with.Rubehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773241241484881566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89008393185883872552010-07-12T18:39:44.939-04:002010-07-12T18:39:44.939-04:00To quote foodie, "I love this blog. I truly d...To quote foodie, "I love this blog. I truly do. Just read Rex then Andrea. Where else would you laugh out loud while getting a world class education in a unique art form?"<br /><br />I wanted to point out that rubber game came from bridge, but I saw that there were already 65 comments,and I knew someone in this brainy group would have covered it already.<br /><br />LEADY was so obtuse and unlikely that I almost tried to squeeze in "WEEDY"... as in, the "water pipe" had been used repeatedly to smoke marijuana... Luckily I thought better of it and got the puzzle right.Citizen Dainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09789010705241919403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54008210265691820862010-07-12T18:04:40.014-04:002010-07-12T18:04:40.014-04:00@Sfingi,
Geranos is Greek for "crane," ...@Sfingi,<br /><br /><i>Geranos</i> is Greek for "crane," and <i>pelargos</i> for "stork." The flowers commonly called "geraniums" are really pelargoniums. True geraniums are more delicate. Confusion reigns among the cranesbills and storksbills. But all members of the Geraniaceae have <a href="http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/okwild/images/storksbill2.jpg" rel="nofollow">seedpods that are bill-like</a>, so the confusion is understandable.Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74287951922338842922010-07-12T17:35:13.477-04:002010-07-12T17:35:13.477-04:00This is about the easiest puzzle I've ever don...This is about the easiest puzzle I've ever done. <br />I liked it. I love bargains. <br /><br />A RABBI walks into a bar with a talking dog named Posy. He wants to have the dog put down because the dog won't shut up. Yakety yak - TANTALUM this and KIOWA that. But do they really have death certificates for dogs?<br /><br />It had two mini-minis - blunder (GAFFE, ERR) and depressed (LOW, SAD).<br /><br />Never heard of CRANESBILL, but yet another name for geranium is pelargonium. <br /><br />BIMODAL refers also to a probability curve which, rather than being a bell, has 2 humps. The example I always use of natural phenomenon that would have produced a BIMODAL curve, would be the death rates 100 years ago. One hump would occur around 2 yrs., another around 50. Today it's not a bell either; it's skewed way to the right, around 78. With all of our unnatural corrections, our death curve is no longer "natural."<br /><br />I didn't like LEADY, but I cetainly got it. On my old house, the plumber (name based on the Greek for lead - plumbum, but who was no bum) showed me how the lead pipes get narrow as a pin, rather than rusty. <br />TANTALUM, 73, very stable, used in capacitors and in the AL extraction process. So not uncommon. I better get my head checked. But then, I love the story of aluminum so much, what can I say. <br /><br />Wanted CRT rather than FCC, so that's cute.<br /><br />ENID showed up at the "other" puzzle, today. <br /><br />I've never seen SANYO or BALMORAL in a puzzle. Good for Freddie.<br /><br />Anxiety causing ULCER is an old theory. They now check you for a specific germ. My 2 ulcers, 30 years apart, were just structural. I expect the next at age 90. I hope I've caused a few. <br /><br />@Wade - Thanx for pronunciation of KIOWA.<br /><br />@Mac - did anyone paint their houses orange? Buy an orange vuvuzela?<br /><br />Love Toronto - the women dress like 5th Ave., and the subways are spotless.<br /><br />Somebody tell me the difference between American IDOL and America's got talent? Until recently, I actually thought they were the same thing.<br /><br />A POPPY can be a posey. When pluralized, just add S. If you put on airs, you could be posy (posier, posiest), but a plural would require changing Y to IE and adding the S. Either way, the O in posey is long because it is followed by one consonant. <br /><br />@Freddie - These guys are brutal, today. I'd rather do your puzzle than the one I did Sunday week, or last Saturday, which made me feel like an idiot. <br />It's like running for office, or singing at La Scala. They'll pick the flesh off you. But it means you're good enough to debut! And look at all the salon you've created!Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3711048800230556572010-07-12T16:56:32.624-04:002010-07-12T16:56:32.624-04:00Thank you for your kind words about Toronto, our f...Thank you for your kind words about Toronto, our fair city. Come back any time. We can point you to more great restaurants.Michael Ehlinghttp://whatgoodwecando.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14444320317218567562010-07-12T16:32:27.186-04:002010-07-12T16:32:27.186-04:00Just wanted to say that I'm glad you had a goo...Just wanted to say that I'm glad you had a good time here in Toronto - this city gets called many good things, but "beautiful" is rarely among them. I will follow your restaurant recommendation next chance I get - this is truly a great eating city.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12419367176890212842010-07-12T16:05:06.609-04:002010-07-12T16:05:06.609-04:00Happy birthday, dk.
Looking at this again with a...Happy birthday, dk. <br /><br />Looking at this again with a night of sleep between the puzzle and me, and a lot of people's comments, I see a little more to appreciate than I did last night. Stuff like BIMODAL (and, yes, it does mean exactly what is clued, in addition to other things) and BALMORAL are nice. I'd like to see GAFFE in puzzles more often than the overused ERR. <br /><br />The comments on editing do make me wonder how much the many issues that have been noted come down to editing as opposed to the original construction. That could potentially explain some of the clunkiness that exists. It could also explain how some un-Monday fill made it into a Monday puzzle. Short of Freddie or Will chiming in (and, given today's roasting, I'm guessing the odds of that are low), we'll never know. But it does give me something new to consider when I form an impression about a puzzle. <br /><br />Regarding whether this is a debut: I don't know if it is or not, but I've always found it odd when people suggest that a puzzle should be evaluated differently because it's a debut. This is the New York Times crossword, which is considered by most to be the top level of American crosswords. Would we expect people to not point out the poor pitching of a AAA prospect who gives up 8 runs in 2 innings in his Major League debut? Sure, we wouldn't say his career's over based on his first outing, but we wouldn't pretend he did anything but stink up the joint just because it was his first big-league game. <br /><br />As it was, I think Freddie had a rough outing, got hit hard, but he showed a promising curveball. A little more practice, and he should get an opportunity to get another start.Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17731256343201782742010-07-12T15:21:46.533-04:002010-07-12T15:21:46.533-04:00Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/...Midday report of relative difficulty (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 of my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Mon 7:25, 6:56, 1.07, 78%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 4:12, 3:42, 1.14, 93%, Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22612830113330082892010-07-12T14:57:11.660-04:002010-07-12T14:57:11.660-04:00I'm pretty certain I've seen every episode...I'm pretty certain I've seen every episode of "Bonanza" and every post-Chester "Gunsmoke" ever made. I used to watch "Bonanza" every afternoon at 4 with my grandpa ("Time for Cartwrights!") My favorite episode is the one where Little Joe gets in a fight with the bad guy and Hoss comes and whoops some ass. Actually that was every single episode of "Bonanza" ever made.<br /><br />"Kiowa" isn't pronounced like "Iowa" where I grew up--it's pronounced "Ki-away." Actually we also pronounced Iowa like that.<br /><br />"Wichita Lineman" may be the most haunting song ever written and is certainly the most haunting song ever written about a telephone repairman. REM does a beautiful version of it.Wadehttp://www.nutcrackerbuck.comnoreply@blogger.com