tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post8531023524758292778..comments2024-03-28T14:40:23.987-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Comedic inspiration for Robin Williams / MON 3-8-10 / Musical group with its own 1977-81 show / Vampire slayer of film and TVRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86282726958004134322010-03-08T23:48:07.739-05:002010-03-08T23:48:07.739-05:00A factory is a building _or set of buildings_ with...A factory is a building _or set of buildings_ with facilities for manufacturing. How would an integrated steel mill, which includes both refinining and steelmaking steps, not be considered a factory?<br /><br />I've toured the Boeing's Everett factory, which I'd consider an airplane factory even if different parts of the process take place in different buildings on the same site (or not).<br /><br />I don't like the word surfeit, but not for any good reason.SethGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13753036404140901368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2565778410133917032010-03-08T23:32:01.489-05:002010-03-08T23:32:01.489-05:00@Arby - GREAT album - haven't heard it since c...@Arby - GREAT album - haven't heard it since college (~1986 or so). Wow - I love it when a simple comment totally sends me back!CoolPapaDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11542059534657415505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12602794025609642612010-03-08T23:28:47.501-05:002010-03-08T23:28:47.501-05:00@Edith - I only saw Inglorious Basterds at my neph...@Edith - I only saw Inglorious Basterds at my nephew's house. It was odd. Both violent and funny. My husband can't see Avatar because of his Meniere's. But I must say, when you get senior citizenish you don't pursue everything anymore. If it comes your way, OK. <br /><br />@Fergus - it's those noisy birds. Darn that spring. <br /><br />@Anon - agreed.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25890830702881000312010-03-08T23:26:34.878-05:002010-03-08T23:26:34.878-05:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=35115061&postID=3588389571383499624&isPopup=true" rel="nofollow">7/30/2009 post</a> 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 6:35, 6:55, 0.95, 39%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:36, 3:40, 0.98, 49%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85501217591135929802010-03-08T22:56:42.769-05:002010-03-08T22:56:42.769-05:00I haven't been able to skate or waltz through ...I haven't been able to skate or waltz through Monday puzzles recently. A function of increased difficulty, a diminution of my faculties, or some other factor?fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26735873603555456412010-03-08T22:50:54.462-05:002010-03-08T22:50:54.462-05:00Anon here again. John Henry: If steel factories d...Anon here again. John Henry: If steel factories don't bring iron ore into their factories and yet it is okay to clue it as raw material for steel factories, then the same clue is okay for almost any factory. How about "Raw material for a microwave oven factory" or "Raw material for a shipyard". <br /><br />The clue is wrong because it specifically says steel "factory". Small changes to the clue could make it correct, such as "Raw material used to make steel", but as it is it is wrong.<br /><br />(On the other hand, if steel factories do actually use iron ore then I stand corrected, but I don't think they do.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22352549583254934222010-03-08T21:52:01.699-05:002010-03-08T21:52:01.699-05:00"Buffy" is yet another TV program that I..."Buffy" is yet another TV program that I have never seen but I have some knowledge of its details. I guess reading the Entertaiment section of the NYT keeps me up to date on the trends in TV, movies and the like.<br /><br />This year, for instance, I didn't see any of the movies nominated for Oscars but I have a lot of information about them.<br /><br />It keeps me young to keep up on Pop Culture and I don't consider the time wasted as others seem to.<br /><br />When it comes right down to it, I do not consider any body of knowledge beneath me. My grand daughter is a fan of Rap Music and Hip Hop in general and although I don't share her interest, I refuse to look down on her for that interest.<br /><br />One of the things I like about BEQ's puzzles, for instance, is his interest in a Pop Culture different from my own.<br /><br />To me, it is ironic that BEQ's puzzles are as different from Will Shortz's as Eugene Maleska's were, yet I enjoyed all three.<br /><br />(She says, climbing down from her soapbox. End of rant.)edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30844341588817105102010-03-08T21:13:58.982-05:002010-03-08T21:13:58.982-05:00@HansKrebs - I looked up the quacks Ernst Krebs I ...@HansKrebs - I looked up the quacks Ernst Krebs I and II and see they aren't Hans Krebs of the highly respected Krebs cycle. <br />My maternal grandfather, an eccentric collector - what we now call a hoarder - collected on the ridiculous end of the sublime to the ridiculous continuum, peach pits. These supposedly had laetrile in their centers. Only one person in my family had died of cancer, and that was 200 years ago, so he never had to worry. He also believed tobacco caused cancer, and he was right about that. But, we all die of heart attacks and apoplexy (stroke).<br /><br />@Fergus - funny. I never heard of a Rolex until a friend of mine found one in the '70s and tried to sell it at a pawn shop. The guy said he couldn't touch it. She asked "Y knot?" and he said it was worth about 8 Large.<br /><br />@Arby - great funny quote!<br /><br />@Mitchs - I remember when that Waits started, I thought "Whom R U kidding?" His parents are schoolteachers, totally WASP, from CA. When he dies, someone else's life will pass before his eyes (I stole that expression from Woody Allen). Part of what I can't stand is the mugging, the twitching and face-making. And the pieced porkpie hat. And the phony alcoholism. Creepy. <br />Which leads me to why I prefer Leno to Letterman and Conan (don't get me started). I can listen to them (and Waits), but just can't watch 'em. So, if they're on, I listen from a computer in another room.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64836163947696635912010-03-08T21:13:17.766-05:002010-03-08T21:13:17.766-05:00@Foodie
Consider it a welcome back gesture ;)
.....@Foodie<br /><br />Consider it a welcome back gesture ;)<br /><br />.../GlitchGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28215013679660575072010-03-08T21:08:29.212-05:002010-03-08T21:08:29.212-05:00@Sfingi wrote:
"Street through Times Square ...@Sfingi wrote:<br /><br />"Street through Times Square - couldn't figure out how to put 8th Ave., 59th St or even Central Park South or West in"<br /><br />Just as well as none of run through Times Square, and most not even close.Broadway Melvinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62055213647614484052010-03-08T20:59:50.895-05:002010-03-08T20:59:50.895-05:00@foodie: I don't know...Summers and winters a...@foodie: I don't know...Summers and winters are used as verbs in certain sets. For example, she summers in the Hamptons, and winters in Aspen.PlantieBeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960277851368508036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31424529489390998082010-03-08T20:54:22.759-05:002010-03-08T20:54:22.759-05:00I like that all the seasons were plural. But here&...I like that all the seasons were plural. But here's the glitch*: SPRINGS & FALLS as used refer to their non-season meaning, and are descriptive of the geographic location-- i.e. water bubbling up or falling down. WINTERS and SUMMERS have no other meaning and are used as family names. So, a small demerit for inconsistency (I know, I'm getting picky in my old age). <br /><br />*For some reason, it makes me happy to see @Glitch and @Kerfuffle commenting on the same topic...and agreeing.foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71192095081183539282010-03-08T20:04:16.331-05:002010-03-08T20:04:16.331-05:00Another laetrile quackery reference. Worth reading...<a href="http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Cancer/laetrile.html" rel="nofollow">Another laetrile quackery reference</a>. Worth reading if you are into this sort of stuff.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56175875360736470702010-03-08T19:49:57.768-05:002010-03-08T19:49:57.768-05:00@ Sfingi - no, I am the Krebs of the Krebs cycle, ...@ Sfingi - no, <i><b>I</b></i> am the Krebs of the Krebs cycle, and I am NOT thrilled with Ernst (no relation AFAIK).<br /><br />@ Ulrich - thx, ret_chem tells me he did not know that but enjoyed seeing the info. <br /><br />Amazing how I can communicate after dying in 1981.Hans Krebshttp://www.glengowan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71118851994606019152010-03-08T19:48:06.505-05:002010-03-08T19:48:06.505-05:00... a grimmer time reminder when I left my Rolex a...... a grimmer time reminder when I left my Rolex at the pawn shop and now sport a Timex.<br /><br />This was a puzzle that was fun to solve. If I had had another beer on this mercurial, capricious day, this could have been one to remind me yet again that I do know next to nothing.<br /><br />(My little work gratification was translating a Baudelaire poem, which I can send if anyone is interested.)fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18743776024498361622010-03-08T19:25:03.255-05:002010-03-08T19:25:03.255-05:00We are here in NC. Getting settled. Am having cros...We are here in NC. Getting settled. Am having crossword puzzle withdrawl!! Did the puzzle today. but no time to read the blog or the comments. Maybe tomorrow. Tired!! T4Bchefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55540290601351328932010-03-08T19:22:46.767-05:002010-03-08T19:22:46.767-05:00I enjoyed the theme and got it from Winters (a gre...I enjoyed the theme and got it from Winters (a great funny guy).<br />Next Monday might have been more appropriate to coincide with the Equinox. As you might infer from my name astronomical holidays play an important role in my life.<br />If you are a fan of Jonathan Winters you might want to sample some of the work of Mitch Hedberg. Another creative genius with a unique take on the world. Unfortunately he took his own life at a young age.Moonchildnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65358229272252034162010-03-08T19:13:45.944-05:002010-03-08T19:13:45.944-05:00As falls Wichita, so falls Wichita Falls. (PMG Fa...As falls Wichita, so falls Wichita Falls. (PMG Fan here).<br /><br />I too was lured into thinking Chester's middle name began with B. <blush>Arbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00406685193787291315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28506132292054201762010-03-08T18:36:39.212-05:002010-03-08T18:36:39.212-05:00@Sfingi
"One should put his HAT on his LAP b...@Sfingi<br /><br /><i>"One should put his HAT on his LAP before ANA charges a FEE for the dance."</i><br /><br />Have you no respect for the law? YOU"RE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES OF THE GRID!!!!!!<br /><br />:-)<br /><br />Good one<br /><br /><b>makeding</b> - what Quasimodo does? Maybe the best one yet.xyzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08287781952915413013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59587319774616871622010-03-08T17:36:53.016-05:002010-03-08T17:36:53.016-05:00@ret.-chem.: You probably know this: Krebs is Germ...@ret.-chem.: You probably know this: <i>Krebs</i> is German for "cancer"--<i>nomen est omen</i>! I mean, what else would a guy with that name study?Ulrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17761384950517785232010-03-08T17:35:01.627-05:002010-03-08T17:35:01.627-05:00Late to the party today, because there is much exc...Late to the party today, because there is much excitement at the college where I teach. Our men's basketball team is playing in the conference championship tonight, and a win means a trip to the NCAA tournament, which would be a first.<br /><br />Fun puzzle, though.<br /><br />Go Wofford Terriers!archaeoprofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956231727789223463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24497367688242402512010-03-08T17:21:01.304-05:002010-03-08T17:21:01.304-05:00I know this was too easy for a Thursday puzzle, bu...I know this was too easy for a Thursday puzzle, but it would have been cute to run this one on March 4th, Vivaldi's birthday.<br /><br />Had a slow start but picked up steam shortly thereafter. Only write over, like a few others, was SURFEIT over SURplus.<br /><br />Good start to the week.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35559357281278216642010-03-08T17:03:06.090-05:002010-03-08T17:03:06.090-05:00Speaking of tapioca: I remembered a radio mystery...Speaking of tapioca: I remembered a radio mystery program in which the villain had contrived to poison his victim by improper handling of the cassava. The next time Mother made tapioca pudding for dessert, all of us kids just sat there, thinking about the radio program.....<br /><br />So few comments! Not much going on.Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13195458656221202202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78822346000233507102010-03-08T16:24:28.016-05:002010-03-08T16:24:28.016-05:00make that @mitchs et al
../gmake that @mitchs et al<br /><br />../gGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23270678607019922392010-03-08T16:23:13.310-05:002010-03-08T16:23:13.310-05:00@mitch
Here's another "filled in" g...@mitch<br /><br />Here's another "filled in" grid by Liz Gorsky with lots of numbers:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.xwordinfo.com/ShowPuzzle.aspx?date=12/31/2000" rel="nofollow"> Sunday 12/31/00 </a><br /><br />I seem to remember others, all from a while back.<br /><br />.../GlitchGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.com