tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6349258926745654545..comments2024-03-28T07:35:42.427-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Start of thought by British journalist Miles Kington / WED 12-19-12 / Calculus familiarly / Conquistador's booty / Poet whose work inspired Cats / Onetime Dodge / JAG spinoff with Mark Harmon / Flower-shaped decoration / Falstaff's princely friend / Bamboo muncherRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26229192483750315302013-01-24T03:15:19.800-05:002013-01-24T03:15:19.800-05:00@ syndy 12:35 AM - "Eats, shoots, and leaves....@ syndy 12:35 AM - "Eats, shoots, and leaves." Sounds like a bad (or perhaps good, depending on your perspective) date.Anonyratnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66713642696012745592013-01-23T17:28:52.886-05:002013-01-23T17:28:52.886-05:00TIS indeed a shame but count me among the math maj...TIS indeed a shame but count me among the math majors who didn't manage to derive TARTAR from CALCULUS. And I'll take tomatoes in my fruit salad any day over "edible" flowers, even ROSETTE-shaped ones. Fun Wednesday puzzle.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43564840462399367882013-01-23T17:04:20.726-05:002013-01-23T17:04:20.726-05:00So, it's a quote. Not my favorite, but a nice...So, it's a quote. Not my favorite, but a nice change nevertheless. And yes, the fill pays the price. But, when I see ESAI Morales in a puzzle, it brings up memories of a very fine looking man, so that's OK be me ;-)<br /><br />Been battling the flu, hope the rest of you are staying well.Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10532892157733135742013-01-23T16:22:16.937-05:002013-01-23T16:22:16.937-05:00Not a big fan of quote puzzles because they usuall...Not a big fan of quote puzzles because they usually rely on some awful pun, but found this one ok. Got it except for, what else, the sports related clue. Not knowing the French for nothing, I assumed that, like most negatives I know, it would start with an "n". This left me with -UNIONS for the varsity thing. Must some team name I decided, and put in a G which worked phonetically for the down. Came here to be gob-smacked by JUNIORS. Stumbled briefly over ECG vs EKG, but I guess both are common usage. <br /><br />Like @Spacecraft, I seem to have a fairly clear Captcha on the first try. Now to try it!DMGRandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52326230898324044482013-01-23T15:15:46.995-05:002013-01-23T15:15:46.995-05:00I entered EMILIO Estevez and ESAI Morales with no ...I entered EMILIO Estevez and ESAI Morales with no crosses which is surprising since I couldn't say who either of them is. On the other hand I confidently wrote in vAL for Falstaff's princely friend, which left me wondering who DRWVO might be. I did not understand the Calculus/TARTAR connection before arriving here - and I was married to a dental hygienist.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57862070940952143082013-01-23T11:36:46.396-05:002013-01-23T11:36:46.396-05:00A quote puzzle: ITSOK, I guess, if it's really...A quote puzzle: ITSOK, I guess, if it's really pithy, or perhaps a joke, with the last long across as the punch line, if it's exceptionally funny. Otherwise, meh. And today's saying is--well, let's just say deficient in the pith category. That's reason one for my displeasure.<br /><br />Reason two is the overall unevenness of the fill. You have Monday-level gimmes next to Fridayish obscurities. Who the hell is RIEN? JINN? AKELA? (To be fair, AFTER that last one was in on crosses, I seem to recall--ever so dimly--some oath about "A Cub Scout follows AKELA." But who or what he (?) is remains a mystery.<br /><br />Reason three is the substitutions of ROE for (the MUCH more common) dOE and KEBAB for (the MUCH more common) KaBoB. I mean, I corrected them, but the whole thing felt strained, and the payoff just wasn't worth it. Medium, and thumbs down.<br /><br />What's this--a clean, legible captcha? Thank you, whoever you are! See, I don't only complain.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39731944973547075932012-12-23T08:04:29.449-05:002012-12-23T08:04:29.449-05:00I've thought that often. I can't even typ...I've thought that often. I can't even type gibberish that fast.<br />I also wish the Magmic folks would let me know how many other submissions have been made so I would have a better sense of where I stand relative to the rest of the puzzler worldJerry Shereshewskynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44501008150602470602012-12-20T18:24:13.575-05:002012-12-20T18:24:13.575-05:00compound adjective
By Richard Nordquist, About.co... compound adjective<br /><br />By Richard Nordquist, About.com Guide<br /><br />"Four-leaf clovers are not mutant freaks." (Bart Simpson, The Simpsons)<br /><br />Definition:<br /><br />Two or more words (such as part-time or high-speed) that act as a single idea to modify a noun (a part-time employee, a high-speed chase).<br /><br />As a general rule, the words in a compound adjective are hyphenated when they come before a noun (a well-known actor) but not when they come after (The actor is well known).<br /><br />Also, compound adjectives formed with an adverb ending in -ly (such as rapidly changing) are usually not hyphenated.Richard Nordquist, About.com Guidenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68294713475008137012012-12-20T14:03:13.712-05:002012-12-20T14:03:13.712-05:00Mistake. Should have been in
12/20 puzzle.Mistake. Should have been in <br />12/20 puzzle.ANON Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37280491055530528862012-12-20T13:49:48.046-05:002012-12-20T13:49:48.046-05:001) Can someone explain in simple
English why &quo...1) Can someone explain in simple <br />English why "tic" is "starting"O"?<br />2) If I stopped 100 people on the street how many would know that<br />SAW is a series of films?ANON Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26506188734452769112012-12-20T00:36:47.243-05:002012-12-20T00:36:47.243-05:00This 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 6:06, 6:14, 0.98, 37%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 8:06, 8:44, 0.93, 25%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 10:27, 11:45, 0.89, 24%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:37, 3:39, 0.99, 39%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 4:54, 4:59, 0.98, 42%, Medium<br />Wed 5:39, 6:32, 0.86, 14%, Easysanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44148223516697597612012-12-19T23:06:34.171-05:002012-12-19T23:06:34.171-05:00@Ellen S. - I started to put in KABOB because that...@Ellen S. - I started to put in KABOB because that's how I pronounce it, but checked the crosses because it's one of those words with variations. I didn't go to Wiki, but I did use Google and there were different results for each word. The top results: The Free Online Dictionary said KABOB is cubes of marinated meat and Wiki said KEBAB is a skewered meal. Understandable and reasonable difference that I did not doubt. But, if they are in fact the same thing then the variation thing is getting annoying - see OLAF/OLAV. I would be annoyed if they changed the spelling of my name to Byrd.Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34304978738023487222012-12-19T21:21:10.991-05:002012-12-19T21:21:10.991-05:00I thought so! Thanks for verifying.I thought so! Thanks for verifying.Elle 54noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29960215436411507582012-12-19T21:11:18.965-05:002012-12-19T21:11:18.965-05:00I agree with all those who object to Dr Who. I ju...I agree with all those who object to Dr Who. I just wish they were as strict about The United States of America. What the hell all this USA crap you hear? At the Olympics, no less. USA! USA! my assAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82012661292920394272012-12-19T21:10:45.397-05:002012-12-19T21:10:45.397-05:00Do you think they do em on paper and then fill it ...Do you think they do em on paper and then fill it in?Elle54noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26061700323032619602012-12-19T19:42:53.429-05:002012-12-19T19:42:53.429-05:00Hand up for KaBoB; @retired_chemist, good point ab...Hand up for KaBoB; @retired_chemist, good point about transliteration. I can accept all the spellings of Gonif/Ganif, etc.... but still, it was a real fight to get the "correct" spelling of KEBAB. @Bird, if wikipedia is to be believed, they are all one, regardless of spelling. One sentence says, "shish kebab (Persian: 'sheesh kabob', meaning six kebob in reference to the chunks of food on the skewer)..." I see KEBAB, KABOB and KEBOB all in the same sentence all referRing to the same dish.<br /><br />@John V - your calculus/tooth rot comparison was funny enough that if the puzzle had been pure awful it would have been worth it. (But I enjoyed the puzzle as well.) <br /><br />@Steve Marcotte and @ZenMonkey, the proper method to address the title character of the long running BBC time travel television show is the formal Doctor Who... I believe the proper way to address him is simply "Doctor"; and the proper way to refer to him is as "the Doctor", to which some people reply, "Doctor who?" <br /><br />That's my 3.Ellen Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00473445503706985149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35507588724830148662012-12-19T18:38:40.741-05:002012-12-19T18:38:40.741-05:00One of Rex's best write-ups.
Ever.One of Rex's best write-ups. <br /><br />Ever.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69069197152617758782012-12-19T18:07:58.396-05:002012-12-19T18:07:58.396-05:00Not reading anything on this blog
Not reading anyt...Not reading anything on this blog<br />Not reading anything on this blog<br />Not reading anything on this blog<br /><br />Because I left the damn puzzle at work! Another ridiculously long day in a two-week stretch of hell at work. Not surprised I forgot it. Glad to be relaxing at home for a bit though.<br /><br />Anyway, no snobby comments from me today. ;-)Qvartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82443284409658964242012-12-19T17:50:38.804-05:002012-12-19T17:50:38.804-05:00@John V But you can certainly use a tartar sauce ...@John V But you can certainly use a tartar sauce recipe from Chefbea!!chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6038596695660456692012-12-19T17:32:42.326-05:002012-12-19T17:32:42.326-05:00Nice enough puzzle. I’m not a big fan of quote the...Nice enough puzzle. I’m not a big fan of quote themes, but this one is okay.<br /><br />Today I learned the difference between KEBAB (the meat) and KABOB (the dish).<br /><br />Timely with NEO in the puzzle and the announcement that <b>The Matrix</b> has been selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry.<br /><br />SENIORS before JUNIORS (no pun intended). My anonymous person was J****OE until the crosses filled in the rest.<br /><br />@M&U – Hi!<br /><br />Happy Humpday!Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54387263818703726072012-12-19T16:59:33.250-05:002012-12-19T16:59:33.250-05:00Wikikwikki dialogue, continued...
Indignate crossw...Wikikwikki dialogue, continued...<br />Indignate crossword editor: ... then you got nothin'.<br />PO-ed French constructor: Yep. I got RIEN.<br />Steamed Crossword editor: That's not anything!<br />Enraged French cnstructor: You dimwit! RIEN goes in onze down!<br />Screaming crossword editor: Something has to go there, you toot-tete! You call yerself a cruciverbalist?!!<br />Beet red constructor: You couldn't edit yer way outta a wet paper baggette! RIEN is exactly what onze down needs!<br />Bordeaux red editor: You're the nothin'! Besides, you use way too many abbreviations and partials! And wh-what's with this pangram merde?! sputter. And nothin' ain't what I need! Hit the bricks, you rien-head! snort.<br />Beserk constructor: I'll leave, you rien-weenie! Right after I collaborate my fist with yer nez.<br />Le Monde editor (aside, to staff): Call the gendarmeries, rien ... er ... Renee.<br />Masked and Rienonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43438429932231922622012-12-19T16:41:35.211-05:002012-12-19T16:41:35.211-05:00What I learned here today: Do not use tartar sauc...What I learned here today: Do not use tartar sauce recipes given to you by your dentist. Ever.John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28267597125270700932012-12-19T16:30:45.135-05:002012-12-19T16:30:45.135-05:00Le Monde crossword editor: What have you got for o...Le Monde crossword editor: What have you got for onze down?<br />Desperate French constructor: I got RIEN.<br />Indignate French crossword editor: Then you got nothin'.<br /><br />Source: WikiKwikki.Masked and A or Unoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51435408997775654572012-12-19T16:29:05.651-05:002012-12-19T16:29:05.651-05:00@Steve Marcotte, THANK YOU. I can't believe it...@Steve Marcotte, THANK YOU. I can't believe it took so many comments before someone mentioned the DRWHO debacle. The madness must stop. There is no nor has ever been a show called "Dr. Who." Yes, I'm one of those geek pedants; I'd apologize except I'm not sorry. :-)<br /><br />Of course, there was an ESAI in the grid so that almost makes up for it.<br /><br />JoeyZenMonkeyhttp://newly-nerfed.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46669679216224305092012-12-19T16:12:01.169-05:002012-12-19T16:12:01.169-05:00@maskedandanonymous @ 3:25
What are you talking ...@maskedandanonymous @ 3:25<br /> What are you talking about. Rien is French for nothing and has been for centuries. I don't know anything about Wikikiwi nor should<br />I have to.ANON Bnoreply@blogger.com