tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post7741207329025751484..comments2024-03-19T07:32:25.792-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Onetime Toronado informally / SAT 6-21-14 / Cigar with clipped ends / Xenophobe's bane / Game in which top trumps are called matadors / Strategic port raided by Sir Francis Drake in 1587 / Sierra Nevada evergreen / Kramer vs. Kramer novelist Corman / Onetime capital of Mughal empire / Onetime resident of White House with cleft palate / Handy talentRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51351715747864651162015-01-08T04:59:10.921-05:002015-01-08T04:59:10.921-05:00Handy remains among the most influential of Americ...Handy remains among the most influential of American songwriters. Though he was one ... <a href="http://wikohandy.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">wikohandy.blogspot.com</a><br />Wiko Handyhttp://wikohandy.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55859527213150118562014-07-26T20:21:00.295-04:002014-07-26T20:21:00.295-04:00TOLEDAN huh? Thought El Greco painted in Italy so ...TOLEDAN huh? Thought El Greco painted in Italy so that didn't happen even with TOL in place. SANCTA & KAYAK (in the travel planning sense) not in my bailiwick of expertise. And I held on to SKATERS at 16A for much too long. Else quite a straight-forward Saturday puzzle. <br /><br />@rain - when I taught, 79 was good for a BMINUS, at best. Grade inflation must have set in. <br /><br />423 = 9. Do I win?Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2961067410664111292014-07-26T18:47:30.422-04:002014-07-26T18:47:30.422-04:00@rain forest: If your home is one you rent, the LE...@rain forest: If your home is one you rent, the LEASE is several pages governing your home. Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17696862885466670382014-07-26T18:46:40.241-04:002014-07-26T18:46:40.241-04:00@rainy - I'm thinking the pages of your LEASE ...@rainy - I'm thinking the pages of your LEASE contain the terms for renting your home? Convoluted maybe, but it's all I got.<br /><br />107 - can that possibly be good enough today?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62703840907480737092014-07-26T18:03:25.419-04:002014-07-26T18:03:25.419-04:00In order, SEAN, CABOOSE, CASTS, OLDS,BLUES, ANTHRA...In order, SEAN, CABOOSE, CASTS, OLDS,BLUES, ANTHRACITE. Yes, CABOOSE was a shot in the dark which worked, but those first answers really helped to finish the puzzle.<br /><br />E-learning is simply buying your Masters Degree, I suggest. American C-pluses are richer than in Canada where 79 will get you a B. Honestly obtained, though.<br /><br />Overall, this was challenging for me, but I eventually got it. Didn't enjoy it as much as yesterday's though.<br /><br />LEASE = home pages??? Was this ever explained?rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9184574911060163362014-07-26T16:29:14.388-04:002014-07-26T16:29:14.388-04:00As usual, too any names I don't know kept me f... As usual, too any names I don't know kept me from a successful finish. When changing deodaR to REDFIR gave me almost all the East, I thought I was off and running, but it was not to be. Too many stumbles in the West including wanting the Russian thing to be a location, and El Greco to be a TOLEDoAN, which doesn't fit. Where did that second O go? Dropping it changes the whole sense of the name. Sadly, I seem to be getting worse, not better at these late week posers, so, on to Monday!<br /><br />168. No comment!DMGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30982295312796602812014-07-26T12:31:18.528-04:002014-07-26T12:31:18.528-04:00Had to bow out of this one; got the bottom half, b...Had to bow out of this one; got the bottom half, but then ran into a brick wall. I know what a xenophobe is; he fears foreignERS. Or outsiders, which takes care of SHED--but is unfortunately one square short. OUTLANDERS, though legit, just simply never occurred. And I just couldn't break into the north anywhere else. Oh well.<br /><br />1217; the hot streak is followed, as usual, by a slump. Trouble is, the slumps last MUCH longer--AND, there are more of them. :(spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42261202180473557752014-06-22T21:18:22.272-04:002014-06-22T21:18:22.272-04:00I think KAYAK is mis-clued. It is an aggregator of...I think KAYAK is mis-clued. It is an aggregator of information only. You can go there to see if Orbitz or Expedia has the better offer but you can't purchase a ticket from KAYAK. <br />Cheeriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919455386774076690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48869626422719352992014-06-22T18:48:56.310-04:002014-06-22T18:48:56.310-04:00@Leapfinger: It's simple, my Gramma said boil ...@Leapfinger: It's simple, my Gramma said boil them three times. They really do make a delicious breakfast with eggs. Sweetbreads are also good eating. In my book, 79 was a B minus. Or was I just an easy grader? This is Sunday evening, so I hope you'll see it.Fred Romagnolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11994837736408182418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21445208919734594242014-06-22T15:59:42.676-04:002014-06-22T15:59:42.676-04:00@Steve J, I can recommend you the Hotelscheap.org ...@Steve J, I can recommend you the Hotelscheap.org chain as well, I use them for NYC - <a href="http://new-york.hotelscheap.org/" rel="nofollow">Cheap hotels in NYC</a> and never had any complaints. LilKittiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17195936002001865901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42879428164746026852014-06-21T23:13:57.432-04:002014-06-21T23:13:57.432-04:00Oops - you need a link to the video. And she was a...Oops - you need a link to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/24/the-biggest-fight-at-the-obamacare-hearing-was-over-these-47-lines-of-code/" rel="nofollow">the video</a>. And she was a contractor, not an HHS employee.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72652180100113114672014-06-21T23:08:40.031-04:002014-06-21T23:08:40.031-04:00The most famous/infamous popular reference to SOUR...The most famous/infamous popular reference to SOURCE CODE relates to the <a href="http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/10/24/right-wing-media-pushes-misleading-attack-on-ac/196579" rel="nofollow">"no reasonable expectation of privacy"</a> statement in the source code for the ACA web site. Check the video out - hilarious if you understand what it was really doing there. This link explains it. Clearly neither the questioner nor the HHS administrator on the stand does.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9675516733724327502014-06-21T22:52:32.258-04:002014-06-21T22:52:32.258-04:00@ Z
well said!@ Z<br />well said!wreckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08797908615185213756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44486272317001887712014-06-21T22:05:13.163-04:002014-06-21T22:05:13.163-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58154154124596406592014-06-21T22:04:45.598-04:002014-06-21T22:04:45.598-04:00@Melodious Funk - Ah - you're right.
@Pete - ...@Melodious Funk - Ah - you're right.<br /><br />@Pete - Yes, the French do use "s" to make plurals. Sanctum is a Latin word used in English, not quite the same as being an actual English word, but close enough if you pluralize it with an "s." Pluralizing it with an "a" is so very Latiny, though (har). But enough nits. Your point is that the quad stacks caused the compromises. My contention is that, no, building crosswords leads to compromises. There are many compromises today. However, since they are spread out in different sections of the puzzle you (and Rex) can't blame them on a constructor's stunt. NAIADS appear far more often in puzzles then they ever appeared in Bullfinch's. Why do we get ORE IDA but not Green Giant in puzzles? Why ESSEN but rarely Dresden and almost never Berlin? RIS? Well, one person here likes the "organ meat."<br /><br />This isn't to say that a lot of people don't agree with you. They do. I'm just not one of them.<br />Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88692637401645196712014-06-21T22:00:39.274-04:002014-06-21T22:00:39.274-04:00@Pete 7:42pm
(lol) You were met with some resista...@Pete 7:42pm<br /><br />(lol) You were met with some resistance? OHMMmmm<br /><br />Namaste!It's Usually Menoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36984234669768681832014-06-21T21:36:47.128-04:002014-06-21T21:36:47.128-04:00@Z - I can't remember where I said (i.e I didn...@Z - I can't remember where I said (i.e I didn't) that SANCTA was better than SOHNE, or that ID EST was better that THES, but here goes: SANCTA is word in the English Language, SOHNE - not so much. Id Est is used all the time by everyone. See, I did it just above. Note I've not used THES. I'm not even convinced that the plural of The is THES<br /><br />I mentioned the first row of downs yesterday simply because they are what were dictated by the quad stacks, the were easily identifiable and all in a row. Just to point out what compromises in those entries were dictated by the quad stacks. Todays comparable set are much better, given the relaxation of the requirements that quad stacks imposes.Petenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25377384187661034382014-06-21T21:34:34.156-04:002014-06-21T21:34:34.156-04:00@M&A -- Bumps you right up from that CPLUS to ...@M&A -- Bumps you right up from that CPLUS to the ether. I can't argue with your reasoning -- an elegant and beauteous solution.Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2325304645808278312014-06-21T20:42:33.726-04:002014-06-21T20:42:33.726-04:00@mac. And I had Iberian! Talk about a solecism.
...@mac. And I had Iberian! Talk about a solecism. <br /><br />And the name El Greco is indeed an intended one.Melodious Funkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12574217843722013277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44813014707988227472014-06-21T20:23:08.691-04:002014-06-21T20:23:08.691-04:00@Pete - How, exactly, are SANCTA and ID EST better...@Pete - How, exactly, are SANCTA and ID EST better than SOHNE and THES? Or do you want to ignore the foreign language issue and focus on just downs? Today for downs we got a partial - ASK AN..., a brand name doubling as an abbreviation - ORE IDA, whatever C PLUS is, an "E" noun, a Cross River - ISERE, and a Latin phrase - ID EST. Is ED MCBAIN any less obscure than ETTORE Bugatti? So you must have hated this puzzle just as much as yesterdays.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58699515229937562142014-06-21T20:08:10.452-04:002014-06-21T20:08:10.452-04:00Haphazard DNF, between flowers and River Days and ...Haphazard DNF, between flowers and River Days and futbol and dinner I never really got a chance to spend much time with the puzzle. Finished about 75% but only had SNEAD, OREIDA and ---LINCOLN in the NW when baseball time came around. A fine puzzle, but pretty tough for me.<br /><br />TOLEDAN was a gimme. @Melodius Funk, I think you are over thinking it. El Greco is just Spanish for "The Greek." Since Spanish and Italian are both romance languages, I'm going to guess there is a common Latin source word.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58220361491594801902014-06-21T19:44:29.778-04:002014-06-21T19:44:29.778-04:00@Lewis:
CASTS and SKAT. Cuz they were both messed...@Lewis:<br />CASTS and SKAT. Cuz they were both messed-up cats.<br />M&APPP(tm) - View from the Cheap Seatsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26375773616920517802014-06-21T19:42:09.135-04:002014-06-21T19:42:09.135-04:00@ANON B - The downs today were of much higher qual...@ANON B - The downs today were of much higher quality than yesterday. I just brought this up, as yesterday when I pointed out how bad the first row of downs were I was met with some resistance.Petenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27468756321614965992014-06-21T19:41:20.850-04:002014-06-21T19:41:20.850-04:00This 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 6:36, 6:04, 1.09, 83%, Challenging<br />Tue 7:54, 8:46, 0.90, 20%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 8:35, 9:40, 0.89, 25%, Easy-Medium<br />Thu 18:06, 17:32, 1.03, 60%, Medium<br />Fri 20:16, 21:06, 0.96, 43%, Medium<br />Sat 25:17, 25:21, 1.00, 51%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 4:26, 3:55, 1.13, 91%, Challenging<br />Tue 5:07, 5:21, 0.96, 34%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 5:46, 6:08, 0.94, 34%, Easy-Medium<br />Thu 11:23, 10:40, 1.07, 61%, Medium-Challenging<br />Fri 14:44, 13:26, 1.10, 67%, Medium-Challenging<br />Sat 19:12, 16:56, 1.13, 77%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19892552336700827722014-06-21T19:30:14.785-04:002014-06-21T19:30:14.785-04:00Nice challenge, nothing to nitpick about. Thanks B...Nice challenge, nothing to nitpick about. Thanks BW^2.JPMnoreply@blogger.com