tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post8418142076222849671..comments2024-03-28T18:52:07.432-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: ACCA Awards for 2007Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36768681721438917632008-01-06T12:57:00.000-05:002008-01-06T12:57:00.000-05:00A little behind in my blog reading but wanted to s...A little behind in my blog reading but wanted to say thanks for all the work you and Orange did on this. Nicely done.<BR/><BR/>As I said at her blog, I agree with some (but not all) of your awards...much like the Academy Awards...but it was fun. Look forward to next year.<BR/><BR/>And how nice that Kratsman mentioned Madness ; )Linda Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15816794362786044423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21316881362939845662008-01-05T16:04:00.000-05:002008-01-05T16:04:00.000-05:00Amy & Rex:Glad you liked XPDNC - its an honor sinc...Amy & Rex:<BR/><BR/>Glad you liked XPDNC - its an honor since you had so many gems to pick from. I should mention that it was inspired by a Cox-Rathvon puzzle. As usual, Will's guidance in theme entry selection and cluing (Advantageousness, for XPDNC, e.g.) elevated the puzzle to this level. <BR/><BR/>It is always interesting to see which puzzles excite solvers (and the comments on your blogs helps us constructors), compared to what fellow-constructors may find impressive. In that vein, if I may, I would like to point to three puzzles that blew me away (since I am mostly a 21x weekend solver, my bias is toward themed puzzles). All of them are constructed by marquee names already on your list!<BR/><BR/>1) Byron Walden: "In Other Words", April 8, 2007, NYT. Amazing feat of multiple instances of two intersecting anagrams, further defined by a theme answer which contains a third anagram! Elegant!<BR/><BR/>2) Patric Berry: "Process of Elimination", September 9, 2007, NYT. Nine terrific theme answers with a specific letter composition, followed by a meta-theme, or a puzzle-within-a-puzzle. A construction coup.<BR/><BR/>3) Merl Reagle: "Come on Down", November 18, 2007, PI. Nine 21-letter answers cascading down, with another 21-letter phrase crossing these nine answers, explaining the theme and the unclued 21-letter down answers! Brilliant.<BR/><BR/>I can see why deciding between any of these constructors is a difficult exercise. Luckily for the rest of us, we enjoy all of them and don't have to decide!<BR/><BR/>Keep up the great work - via your insightful blogging, you have definitely built up the momentum started by Wordplay. And your blog's readers, via their comments, provide direct feedback to lurking constructors!<BR/><BR/>AshishAVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07795340199306866533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31145381467943641232008-01-05T11:11:00.000-05:002008-01-05T11:11:00.000-05:00Rex & Orange,Your blogs celebrate puzzle construct...Rex & Orange,<BR/><BR/>Your blogs celebrate puzzle constructors every day, and this excellent write-up is a natural year-end capper. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for your contributions to the puzzle community.<BR/><BR/>MarkCampesitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01852123189179333049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91271148923830168482008-01-05T05:25:00.000-05:002008-01-05T05:25:00.000-05:00You both did an outstanding job on this. I couldn...You both did an outstanding job on this. I couldn't agree more with your choices. I've been wowed over and over this year with the creativity of many of the constructors. The enjoyment I get from the puzzles is enhanced by reading both of your blogs and the comments from the solving community. Keep up the great work!Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00056091007479583949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61492595551532210052008-01-05T00:56:00.000-05:002008-01-05T00:56:00.000-05:00The best thing about ACCA is, it's a palindrome. ...The best thing about ACCA is, it's a palindrome. Of course. <BR/><BR/>Fabulous idea and execution.Michael5000https://www.blogger.com/profile/10148584819327475239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44634879359768983692008-01-04T22:24:00.000-05:002008-01-04T22:24:00.000-05:00Rexy and Orangey,How delightful it was to see this...Rexy and Orangey,<BR/><BR/>How delightful it was to see this amazing writeup. You both have done so much for this community; it's a real pleasure reading through both your blogs each day. Keep it up, and thanks for the wonderful praise!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8976053842456726432008-01-04T19:58:00.000-05:002008-01-04T19:58:00.000-05:00Hi Rex (and Orange),I have been reading your blog ...Hi Rex (and Orange),<BR/><BR/>I have been reading your blog since last February and on a daily basis since June. I stumbled upon it when I (drum-roll please . . . . ) googled a NYT Crossword Clue. <BR/><BR/>I just wanted to say thank you to both of you for what you do every day and I do get so much more enjoyment from the puzzle with the commentary.<BR/><BR/>I got hooked on the NYT puzzles from hanging out with my grandparents on Sunday mornings and now they are getting too old (they say) to do them anymore (they stick to USA Today). Although it will never replace my grandmas laugh when we uncovered one of the "long clues" in the Sunday puzzle, you certainly bring a lot of laughter and insight into my day.<BR/><BR/>Happy New Year!<BR/><BR/>And Stay Warm! (I am in CT and it is VERYY CHILLYY, but probably warmer than where Rex is!!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48238019137381525522008-01-04T17:40:00.000-05:002008-01-04T17:40:00.000-05:00Rex and Amy---I want to congratulate you for comin...Rex and Amy---I want to congratulate you for coming up with an excellent list of awards and presenting them in such a dignified manner. If you recall, there was an attempt at such a thing on the New York Times Forum a few years ago (the awards were called YUMMIES), and it was booed out of existence. <BR/><BR/>People talk about us being in the "golden age" of crosswords, and rightly so in my opinion. Shortz, Gordon, Norris, et al, have helped to bring crosswords out of dictionary arcana into the language we speak and hear. I love it. <BR/><BR/>And I give much credit to the two of you (and the other bloggers, notably Madness) for helping to create a community of solvers. If I've read one 'I-just-stumbled-onto-this-blog-and-it-really-makes-the-puzzle-more-fun' comment, I've read hundreds of 'em. A huge Congratulations! to the two of you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50060930812394272062008-01-04T16:24:00.000-05:002008-01-04T16:24:00.000-05:00My grandfather's favorite joke at restaurants when...My grandfather's favorite joke at restaurants when I was young and embarraseable:<BR/><BR/>GF: "I'll take the Honeymoon Salad"<BR/><BR/>Waitress: "What's that?"<BR/><BR/>GF: "Lettuce alone without dressing"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81496867221823461422008-01-04T14:44:00.000-05:002008-01-04T14:44:00.000-05:00Thank you guys...I wasn't here for most of the yea...Thank you guys...I wasn't here for most of the year, but would not want to see many harder than the Wrath of Khan. I do believe the best constructors are getting more clever. I know I could not do their job and appreciate their efforts, one and all. And thanks to you both, too.<BR/><BR/>As for 2008, we should talk about raising some money for the prizes. I am sure I can and when you consider how little they earn for each published puzzle, a small stipend would be a nice honor.<BR/><BR/>I am now going to tackle a few of your favorites.PhillySolverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06896753042626337920noreply@blogger.com