tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post769121158500273866..comments2024-03-28T14:47:10.991-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Hebrew month when Hanukkah starts / 10-1-13 / 1943 penny material / Blue-skinned race in Avatar / Caffeine-laden nuts / Pitchers hitless games in baseball slangRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42280455977429172362022-06-05T18:43:39.775-04:002022-06-05T18:43:39.775-04:00The clue for "NONO" held me up for a bri...The clue for "NONO" held me up for a brief time: a game that is simply no-hit doesn't qualify; it also has to have no runs. There are several cases of one or more pitchers allowing no hits and <i>losing</i> the game, because a combination of not-hit bases allowed the other team to score. A walk, hit batsman, dropped 3rd strike, or a simple error can get a batter to first, from whence a variety of non-hit advances are available.<br /><br />These days, we have the game-shortening tactic of placing a gratis runner on 2nd base in extra innings. With this rule change, a pitcher can now throw a <i>perfect</i> game and lose on a pair of sacrifice flies.Prunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224476641730508311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27560805395356770202013-11-06T19:21:32.775-05:002013-11-06T19:21:32.775-05:00I wonder if the lag between NYT and syndi-land is ...I wonder if the lag between NYT and syndi-land is predictable enough for compilers to play those games.straylinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536180563789923012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63973603204581830602013-11-05T20:55:20.136-05:002013-11-05T20:55:20.136-05:00@strayling - it's Guy Fawkes night in the UK, ...@strayling - it's Guy Fawkes night in the UK, but it's election day in the US and I saw a post elsewhere that interpreted V for VOTE. Either way it's another eerie case of syndication synchronicity.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2743826930256689242013-11-05T20:20:44.309-05:002013-11-05T20:20:44.309-05:00Tough Tuesday, Joel.
Wanted noway before IWONT app...Tough Tuesday, Joel.<br />Wanted noway before IWONT appeared on crosses.<br />Liked TORPEDO crossing the British sailors.<br />How about VIRGIN crossing EVIL, IHOPE and NONOS. Which one is it?<br />Wasn't it Oscar Levant who said virginity was its own punishment? Maybe it was chastity and maybe it was Churchill.<br /><br />@Longtime listener, First time caller, 10:05. You said a colonoscopy was more fun than this puzzle. To paraphrase Bum Phillips, either you know something about colonoscopies that I don't, or I know something about cwpuzzes that you don't.<br /><br />Capcha: earskets. What a hobbyist uses to makes ears? Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51407632428223028562013-11-05T19:19:00.558-05:002013-11-05T19:19:00.558-05:00Nice (coincidental?) "V" for Guy Fawkes ...Nice (coincidental?) "V" for Guy Fawkes Night.straylinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536180563789923012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90650224917783675062013-11-05T16:57:14.419-05:002013-11-05T16:57:14.419-05:00I thought I might have to settle for a "NICEt...I thought I might have to settle for a "NICEtry" but eventually I figured out KISLEV and all the squares under it to get a "NICEJOB".Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72603274642414656242013-11-05T15:59:18.950-05:002013-11-05T15:59:18.950-05:00@DMG Need to add that you click on the old, Unupd...@DMG Need to add that you click on the old, Unupdated. Link to the old puzzle and scroll to the bottom of the comments before you can hit the "newer post."<br /><br />Often guest bloggers don't know how to update for us syndy solvers. The blog tool that Rex uses is. Not perfect or easy. My peeve is that it notes the time but not date each comment.SyndicateBobnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29684031751251212002013-11-05T15:50:35.732-05:002013-11-05T15:50:35.732-05:00There's a 'flyway' near here and I lov...There's a 'flyway' near here and I love watching geese heading north or south overhead. They are amazingly noisy (when they're low enough to hear). The 'V' formation allows them to draft on oneanother, with the leaders frequently changing places. I think many of them 'winter' here, too, as I see often them in January and February. Even then, they fly around in circles, but always in formation.<br /><br />Joel's geese fly high in the grid, and my inner 14 year old imagines all the 'Os' in the lower half to be their 'leavings'.<br /><br />@DMG thanks for the Tilden Tip. I googled him and, as you mentioned, his Championships are mighty impressive. Interesting premise comparing players of different eras. I'd love to see matches between Johnny Mac, Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, all at their prime. Throw in Rafa, Lacoste, Tilden, Stan Smith and I'm sure a few others; fun to contemplate.<br /><br />Anyway, Liked this one more than most of the commentators, or OFL did. Checked out XWordInfo, and unless I'm wrong, it appears Joel is a Sr. at Rex's Alma Mater.Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7972044834301964842013-11-05T14:34:47.581-05:002013-11-05T14:34:47.581-05:00Figured I must have really messed up the NE becaus...Figured I must have really messed up the NE because HIVE couldn't be right, but turns out it was. On the other hand, I made the C mistake. So an almost finish after all! Liked all the V,'s. Such sights are rare where I live, but I remember once, years ago when something made me look up from gardening to see an enormous V winging silently overhead. Can stIll recall the thrill.<br /><br />@spacecraft. My mother would have said she guessed you got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning. But I sympathize with you.Hunting for the syndi post can be frustrating. My trick is to save today's post. To get tomorrow's simply hit the "newer post" option, and there it is. A word of warning, this does not work for Sunday, where the puzzle presented doesn't match the one in my paper. But cycling past the unwanted Sunday will bring the wanted Monday. I find this much easier than sifting all over Rex's blog or wondering which key word will bring t he desired puzzle.<br /><br />@Ginger: If, like me, you were surprised by Lacoste's stats, you should look up Tilden. I'm reading Bill Bryson's "One Summer", and his description (pg 91ff) makes you wish for a game between Tilden and Federer when both were at their peak. As an aside, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good smiley read!!!DMGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76130016477712855432013-11-05T10:40:45.390-05:002013-11-05T10:40:45.390-05:00OK, first of all, rant alert!
Will somebody pleas...OK, first of all, rant alert!<br /><br />Will somebody please, PLEASE!! get the syndi-dates right? And DON'T tell me to "just scroll down the right-hand column till you find it." It is very often, as in month-changeover dates, not that simple. Then I have to backtrack to the original search site and try to put in a clue that doesn't appear often in puzzles, to qualify it. Sometimes it takes me 15-20 minutes just to get to the right blog. I'M TIRED of it! I DON'T WANT TO HUNT ANY MORE! I WANT THE CORRECT PUZZLE TO BE THERE WHEN I HIT "SYNDICATED!" IS THAT TOO DAMN MUCH TO ASK???<br /><br />[All-clear siren sounds]<br /><br />Now. Today's puzzle is chock-full of great words. But who wrote the clues? As already mentioned, IWONT does not mean "Not gonna happen." It just means I'm not gonna be the one who makes it happen. COPTO means "admit" or "confess;" not "Acknowledge as true." I can agree it happened--but I didn't do it! And of all the things that might fill the blank of "____ mind," HIVE would be one of the last. What an un-Tuesday way to clue that!<br /><br />The natick didn't bother me that much; Hebrew is LOADed with Ks--not that I knew the month, but I felt pretty confident with the K.<br /><br />So, the puzzle itself: NICEJOB. The cluing? Well, full marks for "Thing often of interest" for DEBT, but otherwise, not so much.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33174685062051400382013-10-02T11:39:04.086-04:002013-10-02T11:39:04.086-04:00Of course "geese migration" beats "...Of course "geese migration" beats "goose migration" on Google. For "geese migration", use Geegle.Noam V. Elkiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72268370118057457392013-10-02T00:06:54.767-04:002013-10-02T00:06:54.767-04:00This 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 6:45, 6:07, 1.10, 87%, Challenging<br />Tue 9:17, 8:15, 1.13, 78%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 4:12, 3:50, 1.10, 85%, Challenging<br />Tue 5:21, 5:10, 1.04, 60%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81298367759898060142013-10-01T20:05:00.386-04:002013-10-01T20:05:00.386-04:00Massive DNF - for a Tuesday, that is...
HaVE, beca...Massive DNF - for a Tuesday, that is...<br />HaVE, because I figured a doctor would direct you to be LaVING something - as in Latin root for wash...<br />Dunno Avator, or Tennesse teams, and just gave up 'cause I must get back to work.<br /><br />Annoyed that I didn't see the "V"s - I even said to myself - "there's lots of "V"s in this puzzle"...<br />But found hte revealer late, and thought it meant the black squares.<br /><br />Also had LOVERSLeap for forever, because there is a Lover's Leap Stae Park nearby, where an Indian princess Lillinonah and her lover leapt to her deaths.<br /><br />Had I noticed the Vs, woulda liked it better. And probably woulda F'd.<br /><br />Hand up for COLAS for that particular PoC.<br /><br />Cool, @jberg - flapping bird for sure! And, headed south, as @dph said!<br /><br />Thanks, Mr, Fagliano - one of those puzzles that I appreciated so much more after reading the 1000 points of light in this blog and comments.Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70981088243286341472013-10-01T19:33:20.346-04:002013-10-01T19:33:20.346-04:00Ender is a great Sci Fi series of novels. I just f...Ender is a great Sci Fi series of novels. I just find it hard to reconcile the concepts of recognizing "The Other" in the books and the author's stance towards other people. His works exceed him, apparently.<br /><br />Another great HIVE MIND Sci Fi book is <b>Starship Trooper</b>. Citizenship only through military service, sex, and violence. Ahhh, nothing like post WWII juvenile fiction for exploring the what ifs of insane ideas.<br /><br />@Lindsay - You win the prize for best wrong answer of the day. My first thought was Titans, but I regret that TITS never occurred to me, even though it does fit the clue. Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86441619681399543922013-10-01T17:04:20.978-04:002013-10-01T17:04:20.978-04:00@Keldy23: I thought the same thing, hive mentality...@Keldy23: I thought the same thing, hive mentality sounds more familiar.<br />machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7297700181315480042013-10-01T15:51:51.392-04:002013-10-01T15:51:51.392-04:00Midday 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 and my 10/15/2012 post for an explanation of a tweak to my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Tue 9:14, 8:15, 1.12, 77%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Tue 5:29, 5:10, 1.06, 65%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27258807414295212702013-10-01T15:06:22.285-04:002013-10-01T15:06:22.285-04:00I for some reason have heard of HIVE mentality, bu...I for some reason have heard of HIVE mentality, but not HIVE mind, even though a Google search indicates it is considerably less common. I guess I'm the outlier there (but I was able to complete through the crosses). <br /><br />I'm in the cOLAS/cISLEV crew, but when that wasn't accepted I diverted to K and success.Keldy23noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83070192672266144822013-10-01T14:13:11.577-04:002013-10-01T14:13:11.577-04:00"HIVE mind" is a common expression, espe..."HIVE mind" is a common expression, especially to anyone who has ever read or thought about social media. Didn't even blink at that one. I wonder if there's a generation gap w/ that answer (Joel is in his early 20s).<br /><br />RPRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28493365413024201962013-10-01T14:03:32.623-04:002013-10-01T14:03:32.623-04:00Appreciate the construction, but solving experienc...Appreciate the construction, but solving experience was meh. Nothing jumped out, nothing exciting.<br /><br />After getting a few V’s I plunked in FORMATION at 50A and I still think it’s a better answer.<br /><br />Also had RETIRES at 67A and tried to get RAIDER to fit at 26A.<br />Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21115469936365135962013-10-01T13:43:29.898-04:002013-10-01T13:43:29.898-04:00Liking the puzzle even more after reading comments...Liking the puzzle even more after reading comments!<br /><br />When I first posted, I hadn't appreciated the individual V's as representing the wings of the flying GEESE in the large V-formation. And...<br /><br />@Notsofast - I hadn't appreciated the southerly MIGRATION. Thank you!Carolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971759975067250908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68334397510702926682013-10-01T13:37:52.754-04:002013-10-01T13:37:52.754-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Carolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971759975067250908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55516197524744060752013-10-01T13:23:59.599-04:002013-10-01T13:23:59.599-04:00@First Time Poster 11:06 -
You beat me to it. The...@First Time Poster 11:06 - <br />You beat me to it. The Ender series is a damn good yarn! Hive mind indeed . . . <br /><br />Great Tuesday puzzle. Reminds me of a Gorskey Sunday from a couple of years ago.<br /><br />~Daniel B<br /><br />DanielBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55638111288317134642013-10-01T13:16:50.395-04:002013-10-01T13:16:50.395-04:00Excellent Tuesday! I like it better now than last ...Excellent Tuesday! I like it better now than last Friday, when I had no time to look over the finished grid. <br /><br />The V formation went past me entirely unnoticed, as did "hive" mind. The crosses and fairly easy clues took care of it. <br /><br />I do remember looking at GEESE and wondering if goose wouldn't sound better.<br /><br />machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59991624423463847692013-10-01T12:34:12.644-04:002013-10-01T12:34:12.644-04:00I also had MIGRATIng, and agree with Quilter that ...I also had MIGRATIng, and agree with Quilter that migrating geese sounds better than goose migration. I would have preferred having "migrating" and the clue on that word.<br /><br />@doris -- calm, calm<br /><br />I loved the four long downs, learned HIVE MIND, somehow pulled KISLEV out of my Jewish youth. NICE JOB, Joel!<br /><br />@lms -- good point on AdE/PLEd.<br /><br />I didn't figure out the theme until I came here and now see that it is so obvious! I was looking for permutations of GEESE and didn't stop to look at the puzzle objectively. I do remember thinking "lots of Vs here", but didn't follow up.<br /><br />I like TASER adjacent to COP.<br /><br />The puzzle is symmetrical left and right, but not all four ways...<br /><br />Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88317290725220522952013-10-01T12:18:06.674-04:002013-10-01T12:18:06.674-04:00Astounding and Brilliant! What Rex and the rest o...Astounding and Brilliant! What Rex and the rest of you have missed is that there are no "v's" in the bottom, or "South" of the grid because the geese are "en route", i.e. migrating South for the winter. This is an All-Time Great puzzle. I'm in awe.Notsofastnoreply@blogger.com