tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post7054790802102268388..comments2024-03-28T04:40:27.172-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Tiny hollow cylinder / MON 4-2-12 / Virginia site of two Civil War battles / 2009 British singing sensation Susan / Big series name in auto racingRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62907919851207169172012-05-07T20:25:08.781-04:002012-05-07T20:25:08.781-04:00@SIS Oh YES, Thanks for reminding me of that elec...@SIS Oh YES, Thanks for reminding me of that electric moment. Ichiro is a real class act. Remember in the beginning how base runners would test his arm? It's a real PEG from RF to third base, but he caught more than a few unsuspecting runners. They rarely try anymore.<br /><br />@Loren....still laughing, 5 weeks later.<br /><br />@Red....the blogger must have swallowed your pix post.<br /><br />Good week everyone!Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70479803051487129252012-05-07T20:15:38.818-04:002012-05-07T20:15:38.818-04:00Mondays are, by definition, a piece of cake, right...Mondays are, by definition, a piece of cake, right? Yet Rex describes it as medium / normal / average?<br />I agree with @Tobias, a sports theme, and from a woman, no less, seems like a double whammy.<br /><br />Like @retired chemist, my only correction was emT for EMS, but no other hang-ups for me. Easy-breezy Monday.<br /><br />Speaking of breezy, we're having sustained winds of 50+ mph today! Better put rocks in my pockets.Lola505https://www.blogger.com/profile/09249427833942985450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88884477277725688782012-05-07T20:08:48.599-04:002012-05-07T20:08:48.599-04:00@all you LETHE stumpees: where d'you think we ...@all you LETHE stumpees: where d'you think we get the word LETHAL from?<br /><br />And @all you sport haters: I don't think you hate sport, per se, but rather the ridiculous lengths to which it has been taken by modern avarice. It pays too few players WAY the hell too much money to overextend, grossly, their natural talents. But when it is enjoyed as good physical exercise in friendly (are you listening, Saints?) competition, there is much good in it. IMO, the IOC made a grievous--perhaps fatal--error when they relaxed the time-honored ban of professional participation. The Cold War was a terrible excuse. The committee quaked in their boots when faced with the notion of cracking down on Soviet Bloc nations who blatantly subsidized their athletes. Shame on them.<br /><br />There. Rant is over. I feel better. Please don't hate sport itself; hate what the Jerry McGuires of the world have made it.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26074699597975316222012-05-07T20:03:27.986-04:002012-05-07T20:03:27.986-04:00Yeah! I thought for sure @Rex would say this was E...Yeah! I thought for sure @Rex would say this was EASY peasy but no! ! It was for me! I'm shocked he said it was medium. However, I didn't see the theme at all. <br />Loved it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15963039146811916582012-05-07T15:49:48.924-04:002012-05-07T15:49:48.924-04:00@Red, your fabulous photos kinda look like Horsesh...@Red, your fabulous photos kinda look like Horseshoe Bay??<br /><br />@Diri, my only writeover was Styx for "River through Hades," briefly asking myself if it had an "e" on the end. I, too, got LETHE from crosses. Had not known that one. Will probably see you there.<br /><br />Capcha: thorwal whistral. One of the singers in the group ABBA.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41204493713550844442012-05-07T15:38:46.322-04:002012-05-07T15:38:46.322-04:00Lynn Lempel, you hit this one out of the ballpark!...Lynn Lempel, you hit this one out of the ballpark!<br /><br />So many graceful references to the SPORT. Nobody mentioned TUG, as in McGraw; LAY down a bunt; KNEEL in the on deck circle (OK, a stretch); ASHes is the wood used for bats; Pete Rose BANned from BB while all Reds fans MOURNS for him - OK, enough already!<br /><br />Liked MAO and YAO in same puz, especially since YAO was the sole sports question in this baseball-themed CW, and he's a basketball player.<br /><br />IMPEI's addition to the Louvre is such a marvelous architectural juxtaposition.<br /><br />@Loren, the DAWGs are the Huskies of the UDub... and, you had me cracking up with your post. <br /><br />@Ginger, remember Ichiro's inside the park home run in the SF Allstar Game? Classic.<br /><br />Capcha: mloonate bernall. What the citizens of the Swiss capitol do at night.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62582244386789957702012-05-07T14:58:39.899-04:002012-05-07T14:58:39.899-04:00@Ginger - I meant to add, how do you think I feel ...@Ginger - I meant to add, how do you think I feel as a member of Red Sox Nation?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25650039248055236142012-05-07T14:53:42.479-04:002012-05-07T14:53:42.479-04:00"...because "confident and proud lesbian..."...because "confident and proud lesbians" was way, way too long." But the acronym, CAPL would ALMOST work, if only there were a lIGMA in the Greek alphabet.<br /><br />I needed only a few crosses to finish this little delight, including all of them to produce LETHE, which I know from nothin' (but maybe I should become familiar with it in case I wind up there someday).<br /><br />@Waxy - Sault STE Marie! Your PR rep is working overtime.<br /><br />@Ginger - @RV posted a link to the photos on yesterday's blog (I think, or maby Saturday's) <br /><br />captcha is workSM - I'm going to Hades for sure.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1925231603900863452012-05-07T14:17:10.204-04:002012-05-07T14:17:10.204-04:00@chefbea hope some of those beets are pickled!@chefbea hope some of those beets are pickled!Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54912288011261395052012-05-07T13:53:19.150-04:002012-05-07T13:53:19.150-04:00Hmm. Can't figure whether OFL likes this one o...Hmm. Can't figure whether OFL likes this one or not. I did. Lots of fresh fill--and the theme answers were so natural that I completely missed it till he pointed them out. Tougher cluing would have made this a really great solve; thanks, Lynn!Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68109501098164404952012-05-07T13:28:29.627-04:002012-05-07T13:28:29.627-04:00I just love this blog. It's like sitting down ...I just love this blog. It's like sitting down on a parkbench and surreptisiously listening to a group of senior citizens talk about this and that and this and that, Evil Doug included. Love ya, Doug, when you challenge the big dog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16287737946024440192012-05-07T12:55:28.780-04:002012-05-07T12:55:28.780-04:00@AnnieD - You described my fumbling with acrossnot...@AnnieD - You described my fumbling with acrossnotsolite exactly. BTW your sunset(rise) avatar is exquisitly sublime.<br /><br />@RV, @Diri mentioned osprey pics, which I'd love to see, but which I've been unable to locate. One of the Portland TV stations has a 'raptor cam' set up on an osprey nest. They also have one on a red tail hawk nest. KGW.com just type in 'raptorcam'<br /><br />Baseball season is only a few weeks old, and this BB nut is already in a state of MOURNing for the Mariners. It's too early to shout 'wait til next year', but it's getting close. <br /><br />I breezed through this puz, and didn't see the theme until I came here. Fun, quick solve, but reading @rex and comments made me appreciate it even more.Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81281063518571306892012-05-07T10:07:04.387-04:002012-05-07T10:07:04.387-04:00@JenCT: okay...
TEST
BEST
BUST
BUNT (theme)
BUNK
...@JenCT: okay...<br /><br />TEST<br />BEST<br />BUST<br />BUNT (theme)<br />BUNK<br />BANK<br />SANK<br />RANK<br />(TH)ANK(S)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81749418138854669502012-04-04T07:55:59.750-04:002012-04-04T07:55:59.750-04:00(test)(test)JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21771150369888106962012-04-03T00:10:56.856-04:002012-04-03T00:10:56.856-04:00Also, April 2 was surrealist artist Max Ernst'...Also, April 2 was surrealist artist Max Ernst's birthday (64 Across).Snezanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56713422180028771122012-04-02T22:03:40.302-04:002012-04-02T22:03:40.302-04:00This 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 6:56, 6:50, 1.03, 61%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:39, 3:40, 1.00, 50%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87539034182223631862012-04-02T21:37:42.400-04:002012-04-02T21:37:42.400-04:00@AnnieD - i agree! It was at the Westport tournam...@AnnieD - i agree! It was at the Westport tournament that I tasted first hand how little appreciation for the 'art of the puzzle' I could have by zipping through it.<br />And I like your analogy - though for me, it's the 2CV - my favorite example of French automotive engineering!<br /><br />Only thing I can add at this late stage is that yesterday, while solving, I thought - what a downer...very somber puzzle: <br />less sharp, less bright, dulled, mourns, limp, Lethe, ban, ashes, unlit, dead singer, rob...<br /><br />But happily, came here, and learned how much fun it was too...<br /><br />ED - from one non-speed solver to another, there are many more ways than mere time to gauge skill/difficulty. Visit my blog, and please contribute other factors that have meaning to you...Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70607246919916928512012-04-02T20:52:03.847-04:002012-04-02T20:52:03.847-04:00Thanks @Jane. Unfortunately that is what I was doi...Thanks @Jane. Unfortunately that is what I was doing but i guess speed just ain't my thang. Maybe I'll try timing myself next time on paper and see if that helps.<br /><br />@Jen -CT, thanks for the suggestion. I have tried switching to no skip in the past and then I still get screwed up forgetting that I set it and expecting it to skip. Sigh. I really get messed up as the delete behaves nothing like I expect.<br /><br />I have tried filling in the puzz after I've already solved it and even that isn't as fast as the speedy Gonzales' in these parts.<br /><br />Yep, definitely a Le Car!AnnieDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10344302828359075478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40571853450772828072012-04-02T19:48:26.646-04:002012-04-02T19:48:26.646-04:00@loren muse smith - Heard the dog joke as Commente...@loren muse smith - Heard the dog joke as Commenter A - Gee, I wish I could do that.<br /><br />Commenter B - You can, but you have to pet him first.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56469468265603389862012-04-02T19:34:37.571-04:002012-04-02T19:34:37.571-04:00Only one song video should go in a puzzle that int...Only one song video should go in a puzzle that introduces the word "tubule." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeujZtBvMFY&feature=youtube_gdata_playerclarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05548320130897512554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36689048209019792822012-04-02T17:59:53.894-04:002012-04-02T17:59:53.894-04:00@solver -- apparently we grew up in the same town....@solver -- apparently we grew up in the same town.<br /><br />@AnnieD -- Here is a tip I got from Amy a while back for solving in AcrossLite. Do all the acrosses first using only the "Return/ Enter" key to move the cursor. Just skip the ones you don't know. When you hit the last across it automatically shifts to the first down clue. At that point survey what remains unfilled. I've gotten under 5 min. doing this which isn't bad for an aging dyslexic. Unfortunately, these days I'm solving Mon.& Tues. on an IPad (Wed.-Sun require paper and a Bic #2 .07) and hunt and peck on the Crossword App does not make for a speedy solve.jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19806224397930457672012-04-02T16:43:24.448-04:002012-04-02T16:43:24.448-04:00@Anon at 2:43 - Thx. I was wondering what ED mean...@Anon at 2:43 - Thx. I was wondering what ED meant by "50 Shades of Grey." I thought he was talking about tea.<br /><br />JFCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10534402184139571302012-04-02T16:41:50.698-04:002012-04-02T16:41:50.698-04:00@chefbea -- beets are one of my favorite foods, as...@chefbea -- beets are one of my favorite foods, as long as they're not canned. Have to be fresh...Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1072225520271043332012-04-02T15:58:44.698-04:002012-04-02T15:58:44.698-04:00Midday 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 />Mon 6:47, 6:50, 0.99, 52%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:50, 3:40, 1.05, 74%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />My two cents re middle school vs. junior high ... when I was about that age, our school system switched from K-6 elementary, 7-8 junior high, 9-12 high school to K-5 elementary, 6-8 middle school, 9-12 high school. So I've always thought of the difference between junior high and middle school in that way. I think my class got lucky and went from the oldest in my elementary school in 6th grade to the middle grade in middle school in 7th grade. So we weren't lowest on the totem pole again until 9th grade.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71239291306775461172012-04-02T15:50:09.678-04:002012-04-02T15:50:09.678-04:00@Mighty Nisden - Fore!@Mighty Nisden - Fore!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com