tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6352948972946057397..comments2024-03-28T09:22:03.720-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Hawaiian thank you / TUE 12-4-12 / Bride in 1956 news / 1982 Jeff Bridges flick / Monogram in 50s politics / Subject of Euclidean treatise / Troubadour's repertoire / FedEx competitor / Burlesque co-star 2010Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32214344859958020732022-01-25T14:16:57.712-05:002022-01-25T14:16:57.712-05:00Medium here as well, so-so- on the fill.
One comp...Medium here as well, so-so- on the fill.<br /><br />One complaint about the cluing: "Dies Irae" is *not* a requiem. Rather, it is one section of the requiem mass. This is like cluing BIBLE as "Leviticus, e.g.".Prunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224476641730508311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58745549256380244032013-02-01T13:11:20.987-05:002013-02-01T13:11:20.987-05:00Just starting to get a feel of the NYT crossword! ...Just starting to get a feel of the NYT crossword! <br />Loved PG 13.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11199329078191837462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58419155594706964092013-01-08T22:02:05.905-05:002013-01-08T22:02:05.905-05:00@Spacecraft: I think @MaryRoseG is referring to Ke...@Spacecraft: I think @MaryRoseG is referring to Kenken, which is somewhat like Sudoku but does involve some math, and which also appears in the New York Times.Joshuanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5592724909633072002013-01-08T20:34:54.644-05:002013-01-08T20:34:54.644-05:00I can't believe that I forgot to mention that ...I can't believe that I forgot to mention that today is Elvis Presley's 78th birthday -if you're looking for an appropriate way to mark the occasion, go here: http://dirigonzo.blogspot.com/2013/01/happy-birthday-to-king-of-rock-n-roll.html and click on the link to a great birthday tribute to the King.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76238594480678793172013-01-08T18:44:10.736-05:002013-01-08T18:44:10.736-05:00Primp is what your daughter does. Pimp (up or out)...Primp is what your daughter does. Pimp (up or out) is what someone else's daughter does before going to the bar.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11836515278107072242013-01-08T16:50:41.392-05:002013-01-08T16:50:41.392-05:00Call me prim if you like but count me in the PRIMP...Call me prim if you like but count me in the PRIMP crowd. Also, I know some folks have had it with PIA but I'll accept her every time over OREOS, RTES, ARC, SSN, STA and probably several other perennials I've missed. At least we were spared SSTS today (I think). <br /><br />Despite the less than stellar fill, loved the PG-13 theme. And great observation, @Ginger, pointing out that it wasn't a PAN GRAM! Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52263975260780698292013-01-08T16:36:16.874-05:002013-01-08T16:36:16.874-05:00@DMG, as one who grew up on the (Canadian) Howdy D...@DMG, as one who grew up on the (Canadian) Howdy Doody TV show, I thought PEANUT GALLERY originated there as well. But kudos to you - your Mom was right. Goggle says "A peanut gallery was, in the days of vaudeville, a nickname for the cheapest (and ostensibly rowdiest) seats in the theater, the occupants of which were all too willing [in the view of the performer] to heckle the performer. The least expensive snack served at the theater would often be peanuts, which the patrons would sometimes throw at the performers on stage to show their disapproval. The phrases "no comments from the peanut gallery" or "quiet in the peanut gallery" are extensions of the name, meaning the great unwashed should defer to their betters.<br />In the late 1940s the Howdy Doody show adopted the name to represent its audience of 40 children."Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42284491748116922232013-01-08T15:59:34.605-05:002013-01-08T15:59:34.605-05:00@syndi-Anony 12:00pm HAH! I'm not quite sure w...@syndi-Anony 12:00pm HAH! I'm not quite sure where your comment belongs on the rude to erudite scale but it's pretty funny!<br /><br />Any puzzle with "Me and Bobby MCGEE" in the grid gets kudos from me.<br /><br />Didn't we just have MAHALO a few days ago?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47006234781593004112013-01-08T15:19:57.201-05:002013-01-08T15:19:57.201-05:00Not much to say about today's puzzle. It went...Not much to say about today's puzzle. It went smoothly, with my only write-over being HERA for LedA. Not too up on mythology, I guess.<br />As for @Charley's explanation for "peanut gallery", my mother used that expression long before Captain Kangeroo. I've always thought it referred to the cheap seats way upstairs. Maybe the third balcony, used by people who could only afford peanuts???<br />DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80765804524758995792013-01-08T15:12:28.326-05:002013-01-08T15:12:28.326-05:00What @Acme said, so called crosswordese is necessa...What @Acme said, so called crosswordese is necessary, and I find it helpful to break open an area that might be stumping me.<br /><br />Another 'PG' Pan Gram <br /><br />Lots of good stuff today. I was thinking that PEANUT GALLERY arose from the bleacher section in old ball parks. MINI DONUT and PEACH PIES whet my appetite. 'Chattering teeth' invokes a smile.<br /><br />Many mahalos, Ms Gorski!Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37667586366892872752013-01-08T12:00:16.230-05:002013-01-08T12:00:16.230-05:00Re one down "Gussies up, in modern slang"...Re one down "Gussies up, in modern slang", the word should be PRIMP. A pimp is someone who oversees prostitutes. I'm surprised that Rex didn't catch this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44713880675573918432013-01-08T11:20:44.470-05:002013-01-08T11:20:44.470-05:00@MaryRoseG: Sudoku has nothing to do with math. No...@MaryRoseG: Sudoku has nothing to do with math. Not a single mathematical operation need be performed; it's a logic puzzle. For proof, simply substitute ABCDEFGHI for the numbers. Same deal.<br /><br />@anon 8:15: Yeah, well, "Thief" was shot on location--guess where? Uh-huh, Monaco. How do you think they met? For that reason, I never did like the movie. I can still imagine Grace in the role of Eve Kendall in North by Northwest--not that Eva Marie Saint didn't do a teriffic job--but still...<br /><br />And now to deal with today's offering. The unstated PG-13 (!) theme does add a layer of cleverness, and I agree that a revealer would have brought it together--but how would you do that? Can't use numbers (maybe Roman, but we have one of those already), so: PGTHIRTEEN? HMM, 10 letters. PGBARMITZVAH? Drat, 12!<br /><br />Never heard of a MINIDONUT. Are they the holes? I did like the mini-themes, already noted, and most of the longer entries. It's a little heavy on hackneyed and bad fill, the UGLIEST of which is QANDA. HONE crossing PHONEIN is a bit inelegant.<br /><br />Easy as PEACHPIES for me; I'll give it one thumb up.<br /><br />Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19719015153739172602012-12-04T23:31:15.639-05:002012-12-04T23:31:15.639-05:00I'm still not convinced, thoughtful dissent by...I'm still not convinced, thoughtful dissent by anonymous at 11:44 and retired_chemist at 4:17 notwithstanding, that pimp is a synonym for gussy up. If a pimp were to hear that you said his car was gussied up, he'd come looking for you.lawprofnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52934940787464851412012-12-04T22:01:40.051-05:002012-12-04T22:01:40.051-05:00This 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 />Mon 6:27, 6:46, 0.95, 32%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 7:25, 8:57, 0.83, 7%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:52, 3:41, 1.05, 79%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 4:21, 4:41, 0.93, 33%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89323911454110999572012-12-04T21:12:37.300-05:002012-12-04T21:12:37.300-05:00Pia Zadora-- I was wondering that too! S HarrisPia Zadora-- I was wondering that too! S HarrisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15091908957903792802012-12-04T20:15:01.964-05:002012-12-04T20:15:01.964-05:00@Rex
In case you haven't seen it, I recommend...@Rex<br /><br />In case you haven't seen it, I recommend "To Catch a Thief"- also a Hitchcock classic with Grace Kelly and Cary Grant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89976298513482496042012-12-04T18:28:41.453-05:002012-12-04T18:28:41.453-05:00@acme & @Jeffrey ... I agree. It is so easy to...@acme & @Jeffrey ... I agree. It is so easy to criticize the tiniest thing and totally miss the whole wonderful experience!<br /><br />3 and out.johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28485993132915736912012-12-04T18:26:34.662-05:002012-12-04T18:26:34.662-05:00@Rex ... I too, love "Rear Window." Fasc...@Rex ... I too, love "Rear Window." Fascinating story with James Stewart and Grace Kelly at their best. Raymond Burr is perfect and all the supporting actors, too. Plus Grace Kelly's clothes are exquisite ... every single outfit!johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91054707402595439242012-12-04T17:58:37.814-05:002012-12-04T17:58:37.814-05:00@Crosscan - That's what I always say. Then pe...@Crosscan - That's what I always say. Then people say, yeah but the strike out was with bases loaded, two outs in the bottom of the ninth when you're down by one run. That I get meaningless hits but strike out when the game's on the line. That I always do that.<br /><br />Damn, my hip's starting to hurt.Alex Rodrigueznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64610768743246555872012-12-04T17:40:00.635-05:002012-12-04T17:40:00.635-05:00By Jove, I think you got it! Brilliant! I was tr...By Jove, I think you got it! Brilliant! I was trying to figure this out. Thanks. Tonypcthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18333658086149394250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86077967039675097702012-12-04T17:11:06.311-05:002012-12-04T17:11:06.311-05:00Pam Grier, pray God, Peter Gent (ex-Dallas Cowboys...Pam Grier, pray God, Peter Gent (ex-Dallas Cowboys reserve wide receiver and author of the novel "North Dallas Forty," died 2011), Paulette Goddard, Peter Graves, Pangaea...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78556665042522788112012-12-04T16:59:25.905-05:002012-12-04T16:59:25.905-05:00@acme - You are not alone. In a puzzle with 70 wor...@acme - You are not alone. In a puzzle with 70 words, something has to be 70th best. <br /><br />If a baseball hitter goes 3 for 4 with 2 HRs, a double and a strikeout, he had a great day. Why focus on the strikeout. <br /><br />@jackj - Still love your story, although perhaps I zeroed in on the 70th word! Mea culpa!Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01699404861773455504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8962118097720944072012-12-04T16:41:06.018-05:002012-12-04T16:41:06.018-05:00Midday 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 />Tue 7:18, 8:57, 0.82, 5%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Tue 4:26, 4:41, 0.95, 39%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90334535782316570482012-12-04T16:26:05.494-05:002012-12-04T16:26:05.494-05:00@jackj
Fabulous story, no matter who was president...@jackj<br />Fabulous story, no matter who was president!!!<br />Poetic license, fading memory, great anecdote trumps one or two details!!!<br /><br />On a related note, @12:04...<br />Just as @rex said that maybe a little extra crosswordese is overlooked when there is sweetness in the overall theme!<br />(i of course wish he'd feel that way more often!) <br /><br />C'mon, once again it's the GLUE!!! If even La Liz has to use it, can't we all just accept and understand that constructors avoid as much of it as s/he can, and anything in there has been rewritten and attempted to be smoothed over as much as possible, but it remains as necessary. <br />If it's there, at this stage of the game, there was probably a reason in order to make the overarching theme work!<br />Very important to look at the "forest"!<br /><br />Crushing to have people still zero in on four or five less than ideal words when there are 70 that range from fine to fabulous in support of a theme.<br /><br />(Not saying puzzles should be immune from criticism, that makes things better all around...but again, better if it is literally "constructive"!<br />even tho I should know by now it's a losing proposition to respond to the naysayers, when folks start listing the gunk only... it does not elevate or enlighten.)Acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75259508743108654292012-12-04T16:17:12.245-05:002012-12-04T16:17:12.245-05:00@ Lawprof - PIMPS as a synonym for "gussy up&...@ Lawprof - PIMPS as a synonym for "gussy up" is accurate. It is a neologism, <i>cf.</i> the TV show "Pimp my Ride."<br /><br />Favorite related TV skit is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_zKCUG20xs" rel="nofollow">the Kramer technicolor dreamcoat skit</a>, in which he is truly pimped up and mistaken for one.<br /><br />Not much to comment on that hasn't been said. My EVICT was EJECT, UNE was LES, and DHL was UPS. All easily fixed.<br /><br />Easy-medium. Thanks, Ms. G. President Garfield too would like this one.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.com