tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6985457077952764272..comments2024-03-29T08:57:48.742-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Designer Marc / TUE 5-28-13 / Growing Pains co-star Alan / Roman encyclopedist who died after Vesuvius / Big name in power tools / G in EGBDF / Biblical book once combined with Nehemiah / Like apparel donned in deck halls / Nahuatl speaker / Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55657732475249900922013-07-02T22:07:32.047-04:002013-07-02T22:07:32.047-04:00The things we learn doing puzzles. I've enjoy...The things we learn doing puzzles. I've enjoyed hearing KIRI te Kanawa many times, but today I learned she's part MAORI. Never watched the Simpsons, or Growing Pains either, but knew LISA probably from cws and THICK from late night shows. As to the Charlies, I'll take Rose any day! <br /><br />The theme answers were chuckle inducing. I'm impressed how Dan seamlessly wove them in. <br /><br />Now, time for a BREWSKI and a little KIRI as accompianment!Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72628101203257862952013-07-02T18:01:34.643-04:002013-07-02T18:01:34.643-04:00@spacecraft, I'm also glad the syndicated butt...@spacecraft, I'm also glad the syndicated button is working again. It makes things easier. When the button's not working then I go to the "Blog Archive" menu -- column going down the right side of the page. The number 0528 is printed above today's syndicated puzzle so I go to the link for May 28, 2013. It takes longer but it works.<br /><br />RE: ABA (reference to the "Avenue Q" musical), the only reason I knew that answer today is because I missed it in a previous puzzle. :-)Syndi Solvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4547223757968555362013-07-02T17:52:44.876-04:002013-07-02T17:52:44.876-04:00Wow, it's strange to find out there was such a...Wow, it's strange to find out there was such a brouhaha over this puzzle back when it was published. It seemed so uncontroversial to me. <br /><br />This was a bit harder than most Tuesdays. When I was solving it I thought, hmmm, this feels more like a Wednesday. And I noticed a couple of crosses where someone might get stuck. But saying that MAORI is too hard or obscure? Perhaps that person is brand new to NY Times puzzles? I just can't figure out Sarah's rant otherwise.<br /><br />I had lots of fun with this puzzle in spite of not knowing anything about the TV show Growing Pains. I had to get THICKE (familiar after the fact, wasn't there a "Thicke of the Night" show?) and SEAVER (completely unknown, but it looked like a real name) from the crosses. Luckily, they were gettable for me. (although I sometimes mix up the bakeware company, Ekco, with the artist/designer)<br /><br />All theme entries were cute by my favorite was ORIGINAL SINGE. (Rex's Recycling Binge is not bad, either!) I also loved "I BLEW IT" and BREWSKI. So, kudos to Dan Feyer!<br /><br />I do agree with one minor criticism about using schlimazel in the clue for 51 Down. A couple of online dictionaries seem to support the INEPT meaning for schlimazel. But I think my Yiddish speaking friends would say that a schlimazel is mostly unlucky. It's the schlemeil who is INEPT or clumsy.Syndi Solvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74954332383633836032013-07-02T14:32:37.753-04:002013-07-02T14:32:37.753-04:00@Sarah, you sure stirred up a hornets nest. Good f...@Sarah, you sure stirred up a hornets nest. Good for you!<br /><br />@Rex, very clever "Recycling Binge."<br /><br />Natick for me at EChO/THIChE, otherwise really enjoyed this "Tursday" first puzzle of Mr. Feyer.<br /><br />Loved seeing Kurt Goedel (1:20) show up. Reminded me of one of my favorite reads: "Goedel Escher Bach" by Douglas Hofstadter.<br /><br />And check out the Escherian Stairwell at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. Four minutes well spent watching this one.<br /> <br />https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4146234873383&set=vb.1809138075&type=2&theater<br /><br />capcha: sonaeco 0. What the guy with the earphones said to the sub captain?Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10638374553717931932013-07-02T14:16:34.773-04:002013-07-02T14:16:34.773-04:00OK, I know that PLato was a Greek, not Roman, phil...OK, I know that PLato was a Greek, not Roman, philosopher who lived around 400BC and he was no where near Vesuvius when it erupted in 79AD, but I didn't let those historical facts deter me from writing him in at 30a. The crosses straightened most of the mess out except for SOONYa Allen. OWS and that's "That's all SHE wrote".Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40956069217605015282013-07-02T13:50:53.993-04:002013-07-02T13:50:53.993-04:00Enjoyed this one. Only hang up was thinking the Ro...Enjoyed this one. Only hang up was thinking the Rose in sports was Pete. Then decided they just meant swapping out Sheen for him and went on. Sometimes a "wrong" can make a "right". Also, even after it filled from the crosses, it took me forever to parse ABA! I need help!<br /><br />See the Captchas are back to numbers. At least this one is readable! ........Well, I thought they were, but I failed!DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35271676381555612312013-07-02T11:34:29.474-04:002013-07-02T11:34:29.474-04:00Yay! At last! I clicked on "Syndicated" ...Yay! At last! I clicked on "Syndicated" and whaddya know: it's here!! WTG, those responsible. Now let's see if we can keep it going.<br /><br />On to the puzz. @anon 9:34: if you expected OFL to trash today's submission, then I'm afraid you don't know much about what makes a good grid. Of course the theme answers are "nonsensical," or to use his usual word, "wacky." But the root sayings--SPACE BAR, etc.--are not. That's the fun of it. But more importantly, look at the fill. A maximum of solid, fresh entries: HEPCAT, AZTEC crossing ZURICH, GARDENIA--and how can you not love BREWSKI and IBLEWIT? A minimum of dreck. Sadly, one of these, ABA, caused me to have a one-square DNF. I had no idea about the song--or the musical it was in--so I too put in AnA, then forgot to recheck the down clue. I decided it was someone I didn't know, and thought it was reasonable for someone to be known by first name + initial, as in ROn B. But this in no way prevents me from issuing kudos for one of the best-constructed puzzles I've seen.<br /><br />And now, with this ridiculous tiff about the MAORI: please, no MAS!spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83944144887713797882013-07-02T10:45:25.939-04:002013-07-02T10:45:25.939-04:00I found this puzzle to be challenging. I took me f...I found this puzzle to be challenging. I took me forever to finish but I finally did it. It is still a great puzzle. <br /><br />I have never watched "Growing Pains" or "The Simpsons" but still was able to get LISA, SEAVER and THICKE from crosses. <br /><br />I did not know MAORI until I started doing the NYT crossword puzzles. Now, I can put it in the puzzles almost immediately. You learn a ton of stuff from the puzzles and especially this blog.<br /><br />I still can't compete timewise with the rest but I am now usually able to complete M-W and 75% of T-S puzzles.NM Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14920756034993068695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62245747160585998042013-05-29T16:07:13.002-04:002013-05-29T16:07:13.002-04:00Loved it - finished in one subway ride 42nd-86th, ...Loved it - finished in one subway ride 42nd-86th, good time for a Tuesday for me.<br /><br />Breaking Bad is my favorite show - can't wait for it to come back this summer.ileennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19164780191838353862013-05-28T22:48:01.136-04:002013-05-28T22:48:01.136-04:00I got a slow-for-me time on this Tuesday puzzle, b...I got a slow-for-me time on this Tuesday puzzle, but I was also slightly drunk at the time. So there's that.<br /><br />Really liked the theme though, and no complaints about the fill. I initially went for ECcO, but I remembered Alan THICKE so I was quick to correct.<br /><br />Nice puzzle!Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15336260911834780345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19475934133372251932013-05-28T22:43:55.496-04:002013-05-28T22:43:55.496-04:00[tween wow] - Lisa Toon - i am sooo LOLing (theres...[tween wow] - Lisa Toon - i am sooo LOLing (theres a new 6letter verb for constructors michael doesnt like).<br /><br />sorry, all you false natick-callers, but todays real natick was HIE and a name of someone noone should ever know.<br /><br />but hey, what do i know - i own a stihl chainsaw but i wrote STIL (even tho i own a skil circular saw). guess i need to stop thinking about fairies and focus more on my woodcutting.i am not anonymous. just really shy.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87184616536198515542013-05-28T22:38:08.562-04:002013-05-28T22:38:08.562-04:00Whoops, not so smart after all - just noticed that...Whoops, not so smart after all - just noticed that the Avenue Q answer is ABA not ANA - well - add that to my brainpan for next time.Nigelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37958601806265726722013-05-28T22:33:36.083-04:002013-05-28T22:33:36.083-04:00Let's see - to solve the NYTimes Crossword Puz...Let's see - to solve the NYTimes Crossword Puzzle you need to know a little about art history, music (including classical - used broadly, popular, rock, every decade from 1920 on, musicians performers opera), science, anthropology, world history, too much American history (if you're Canadian, lol), movies - actors and animals, old and new, fashion, physics. popular culture, science, religion, television - so I fail to see how this puzzle failed. It was a lovely puzzle, finished it in 10 minutes which actually felt a little slow so maybe it had some Wednesday about it - but I had no naticks - everything was quite easy actually but somewhat entertaining - got the theme with CHARLIECHANGE. love EVILTWINGE and ORIGINALSINGE. I know nothing about the musical Avenue Q but still had no problem guessing ANA. Really liked ENGINE for V-8, didn't know Canyon trucks but put in GMC anywas. See, crossword puzzles are not always gimmes but you have to have a brain full of stuff to do them well. I think my brain still has room too, because even this 62 year old knows a few of the newer musicians around. This was a classic puzzle in my estimation.Nigelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56177761546008758562013-05-28T22:03:48.909-04:002013-05-28T22:03:48.909-04:00This 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 6:00, 6:12, 0.97, 33%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 8:36, 8:09, 1.05, 67%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:50, 3:49, 1.01, 50%, Medium<br />Tue 5:10, 4:52, 1.06, 66%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17758355780392811532013-05-28T21:26:45.479-04:002013-05-28T21:26:45.479-04:00Welcome, JMH.Welcome, JMH.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57425960106784818572013-05-28T20:47:08.959-04:002013-05-28T20:47:08.959-04:00lloved it. Easy. Know tons about Maori, Arp, shock...lloved it. Easy. Know tons about Maori, Arp, shocked people don't. Did not know seaver but figured it out. I'm not real fast but this stuff seemed like important parts of culture.<br />First time posting after long time reading,. Just couldn't take surrealist and Maori slander.JMHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17189700341267697945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21842149858142358212013-05-28T19:00:24.848-04:002013-05-28T19:00:24.848-04:00Fun. Hard. THICKE/ECKO Natick at C/K; inappropria...Fun. Hard. THICKE/ECKO Natick at C/K; inappropriate crossing for a Tuesday, IMHO. Pop culture and ECKO, as in WTF ECKO? Sorry. I'm just THICKE tonight; Tuesday travel day, so no chance to do the puzzle last night, taps at 9:30.John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7479849077906310862013-05-28T18:47:35.108-04:002013-05-28T18:47:35.108-04:00@Sarah - I'm thinking you're not a troll s...@Sarah - I'm thinking you're not a troll so here goes<br /><br />"It's quite obvious that even the top 100 solvers don't know this stuff" - not true, see SanFranMan's explanation of the scoring, but this generally means that it may have taken the top solvers a half of a second longer than an average Tues. to get each answer - so not exactly "don't know this stuff" territory<br /><br />Your comment that this puzzle was garbage and unfair, and your alleged comment that the puzzle was disgusting evoked a lot of negative comments because the posters on this blog typically appreciate the art of constructing and solving and have a lot of experience doing so. So to say what you said 1) doesn't ring true to most of us based on our experience and 2) reflects (whether intended or not) a disdain for the puzzles we enjoy. There are many times when a lot of us don't enjoy a puzzle and say so in no uncertain terms, but don't consider it garbage either.<br /><br />Anyway, welcome. Hope you post again-the more opinions the better in my view. And a little perspective and balance will go a long way. <br /><br />Also, a 3-post max is usually adhered to by each poster. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09567874862630285191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75086411469770380692013-05-28T18:25:34.044-04:002013-05-28T18:25:34.044-04:00I guess the only thing I thought was missing was a...I guess the only thing I thought was missing was a significance to -GE.<br /><br />General Electric?<br /><br />???Joe The Jugglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08623445472297705053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18272148361132318312013-05-28T18:14:39.327-04:002013-05-28T18:14:39.327-04:00Found out from the Colonial Cookbook that moose is...Found out from the Colonial Cookbook that moose is a Natick Indian word indicating the strips of bark they nibble off trees.<br /><br />No Naticks today for me. <br /><br />Also loved ORIGINAL SINGE.<br /><br />Took 2 clues to get the theme. Otherwise, Tuesday.<br /><br />ORACULAR spectacular. ORACULAR urchin. Oracular hammer. Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8317376305339354172013-05-28T18:12:16.805-04:002013-05-28T18:12:16.805-04:00Medium-challenging, not surprised.
Challenging fo...Medium-challenging, not surprised.<br /><br />Challenging for those top 100 solvers, also not surprised. <br /><br />It's quite obvious that even the top 100 solvers don't know this stuff, else it be just 50 gimmesSarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35377830906591238702013-05-28T18:10:44.847-04:002013-05-28T18:10:44.847-04:00hardest Tuesday in a long time, but finished after...hardest Tuesday in a long time, but finished after talking it out with my sister. Funny, I had a thing for Kirk Cameron, until he decided to hate gay people, so Growing Pains has mixed memories.... John in Phillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69640330847401946382013-05-28T18:01:37.570-04:002013-05-28T18:01:37.570-04:00Only difficulties I had were spelling SOON YI with...Only difficulties I had were spelling SOON YI with an E instead of an I PLeNY looked fine to me, and I did have to change my DoH to DUH. Other than those two little blips no problemo!chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13624457306592509722013-05-28T17:51:08.143-04:002013-05-28T17:51:08.143-04:00I don't think expressing an opinion strongly ...I don't think expressing an opinion strongly makes one a troll. Doing so anonymously, yes, but if just expressing it strongly is the criteria a whole lot of us need a bridge to hang out under. Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52065560805033997772013-05-28T17:43:15.308-04:002013-05-28T17:43:15.308-04:00Stuff I didn't happen to know:
KIRI
ECKO
SEAVE...Stuff I didn't happen to know:<br />KIRI<br />ECKO<br />SEAVER.<br />Stuff I knew, but wasn't quite sure how to spell:<br />SOONYI (but I can spell MIAFARROW)<br />TAICHI.<br /><br />Everything else was rock solid, here. 98.6% sure.<br />GE plug-ins. Hard theme not to like. Someone needs to get that one poor chick an adapter. Progress is our most important product.<br /><br />Wonder how long it took Dan to solve this one. I'll bet it'd take him longer, if Bob Klahn had rewrote all the clues. (See WaPo Puz, for proof)<br /><br />M&AMasked and Anonymo3Usnoreply@blogger.com