tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post9118657637780058417..comments2024-03-29T08:45:20.722-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Coloratura Christiane ___ Pierre - SATURDAY, Apr 18 2009- B Walden (Early advocate of bloodletting / Its symbol is globe composed of jigsaw puzzle)Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54286850551966385352009-05-23T23:02:09.543-04:002009-05-23T23:02:09.543-04:00Another 5 week later attempter. This is the type ...Another 5 week later attempter. This is the type of puzzle that leaves me cold. There is almost nothing with which I am familiar. When that happens I feel nothing but frustration -- no ahhhs, just aw s__t. No pleasure and no feeling of learning anything.boardbtrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87855324737576659962009-05-23T17:49:22.061-04:002009-05-23T17:49:22.061-04:00@Okie Lady - you're OK - your local paper like mos...@Okie Lady - you're OK - your local paper like most (other than the NYT itself) publishes the crossword 5 weeks later in syndication. In fact, probably the majority of hardcopy solvers worked on this puzzle today. And you are correct - 'twas a toughie.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34925333561407567852009-05-23T14:55:26.816-04:002009-05-23T14:55:26.816-04:00This puzzle didn't publish in my local newpaper un...This puzzle didn't publish in my local newpaper until May 23 so I'm way behind everyone else. I have to admit, I used the internet to look up some of the answers but still ended up here looking for help. This was a hard one for me but the internet sure helps.<br /><br />Okie LadyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81780607691582547652009-04-19T16:03:00.000-04:002009-04-19T16:03:00.000-04:00FRAN was the hurricane that flooded a third of Nor...FRAN was the hurricane that flooded a third of North Carolina. If I recall correctly, the NYT had a front page picture of pigs stranded on the slanted roof of a barn, looking very unhappy.<br /><br />POHL/DIOMEDE a Natick? I didn't notice.<br /><br />Frederik POHL is one of the really big big names in science fiction, with an active career spanning 70 years, and he is still writing. I thought the clue was a complete gimme. I've read several of his short stories, and about five or six of his novels, including the Heechee series. I have not read the clue's novel (the third in a series) but I see it often enough when I'm looking through the science fiction section of a bookstore.<br /><br />And then with WIKIPEDIA filled in (interesting that it was a Saturday, of course, a gimme for almost all of us by definition!), I was looking at --O--D-, and instantly got the Little DIOMEDE Island. It's famous for being about one mile from Big DIOMEDE Island, because LDI is US, BDI is Russian, and so it has been part of Cold War trivia (like Quemoy and Matsu) most of my life.<br /><br />One of the things I like about Saturday is that is when the trivia that I know without even thinking finally shows up in the crosswords. Ant-Man, Iron Man, Wasp, or Thor? C'mon, they're all AVENGERs! That's supposed to be difficult? For difficulty, try the Falcon or Starfox.<br /><br />I mean, I don't know half the Monday level TV, movie, or music clues, except for what I've slowly picked up from crosswords. But it seems any science fiction writer other than Asimov is Thursday level at best. The TV, movie, music clues, meanwhile, are just as obscure to me on Saturday as Monday.william e embanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71292429537619654772009-04-19T13:08:00.000-04:002009-04-19T13:08:00.000-04:00New to the NY Times Puzzles. Never have done a Sat...New to the NY Times Puzzles. Never have done a Saturday puzzle before. It was way too hard for me! I couldn't even finish it using Google. So, it's good to read comments like "brutal" from you all. Makes me feel better!Banjo Grrlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07609715696901426339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32108668842081537922009-04-19T11:00:00.000-04:002009-04-19T11:00:00.000-04:00unbowed, its unbowed after bruised bloodied beaten...unbowed, its unbowed after bruised bloodied beaten, yet unbowed<br /><br />frankDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33574246606161573412009-04-19T09:01:00.000-04:002009-04-19T09:01:00.000-04:00Just finished the Saturday puzzle this morning, si...Just finished the Saturday puzzle this morning, since I was on a plane with the Sat Herald Tribune which gave me the Sunday one. This one was tough for me, but let's blame the jet lag.<br /><br />I had jeeps for jeans far too long, pronto for presto, and "scarlett onagers", among other things.... I put in "teens" at 58A across early on, but it sounded a little silly and I erased it agait on. Had to wait for the downs to put it back in. I seem to be alone, but I love that camel cheese name Caravane! No interest in trying it, though. There where an unusual number of ats, ins, ons and ups in this puzzle, I thought. <br /><br />Anyway, I can unpack my bag instead of puzzling, I'm all set!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28220262741717546172009-04-19T01:28:00.000-04:002009-04-19T01:28:00.000-04:00@fifink et al, : I add EARNESTLY to all those thin...@fifink et al, : I add EARNESTLY to all those things that aren't GENUINELY.<br /><br />@badoud: yes yes ROVER! <br /><br />Goes with GRR, which is the sound a dog makes play-mawling a squeaky toy, or a sleeve, or a Friday or Saturday NYT, and is the sound of pleased I'm-giving-up-but-it's-been-fun-anyway response at what I would agree is a fair puzzle. <br /><br />I was a day behind--did Fri. and Sat. today, since a snow storm stopped delivery yesterday. What a wollop. The puzzles, I mean. I gave up finally in the SW today, probably could have kept at it, but was so pleased with what I got on my own--TOPSY, GROUNDSQUIRRELS, WESTERNUS (I live there, thought it might be INTHE WEST, which with JEANS and GROUNDSQUIRRELS made like a western theme...) and that neighborhood in Paris (so much for the theme), I thought I was an invincible AVENGER, STOPGAPping my way through one entry after another, and ESPERANTO! PRESTO! They SETTLEDUP as SCARLETTANGERS, with no WIKIPEDIA in view. ....alas it was not to be. <br /><br />Loved TITFORTAT when I saw it all here. Now, that's a good puzzle, for me--bailing and appreciating it anyway. And I *knew* ALGAE. Wrote it in, even, and then out, for SCARE. I don't mind.Friedahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03013108632033350814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60803153376638552432009-04-18T23:06:00.000-04:002009-04-18T23:06:00.000-04:00Am I the only one who was dead certain that "Is fa...Am I the only one who was dead certain that "Is far from a homebody" was ROVER? Then I struggled to the end trying to figure out WTH is ARSORTS.<br /><br />arsort -- Sort an array in reverse order and maintain index association (PHP).<br /><br />Great, that doesn't help at all. . . .badaudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17642754400502271047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45441866747027877012009-04-18T22:26:00.000-04:002009-04-18T22:26:00.000-04:00This was the hardest puzzle of the year for me. I ...This was the hardest puzzle of the year for me. I had to resort to google, and more than once and more than twice and more than three times -- you get the picture.<br /><br /> Not feeling too sharp tonight (no <br />Rex reference intended)michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34916067528866605342009-04-18T22:20:00.000-04:002009-04-18T22:20:00.000-04:00To me, part of the fun of solving crossword puzzle...To me, part of the fun of solving crossword puzzles is coming across something I do not know. It's the joy of learning--and being able to remember it for next time! The cool thing about the NYT puzzle is that thing I did not know will come back at me sometime in the future in another puzzle, and then I will have my AHA moment! Hopefully, anyway....Lisa in Kingstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15793732995251623365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35216751915452917842009-04-18T22:06:00.000-04:002009-04-18T22:06:00.000-04:00@Hazel-
I also don't think about these puzzles in...@Hazel-<br /><br />I also don't think about these puzzles in terms of fair or unfair but enjoyment level.<br /><br />I do a lot of puzzles that I simply have to slog my way through - some early week and some difficult but if I rate them at all its strictly on a fun level.<br /><br />@Anon 7:18-<br /><br />We all of us run into puzzles we can't completely solve and are not hesitant about saying so.<br /><br />I went back through the posts and saw at leat five people who had terminal problems with this one.<br /><br />To quote Glitch, "not sure how you missed that," Mr Anonymous 7:18edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4236436053710321382009-04-18T20:35:00.000-04:002009-04-18T20:35:00.000-04:00@ anon 7:18- ditto@ anon 7:18- dittoDoc Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84556846976884909972009-04-18T20:27:00.000-04:002009-04-18T20:27:00.000-04:00@anon 7:18 guess you didnt read my post either. ...@anon 7:18 guess you didnt read my post either. I didn't finnish and had to come here. It happens a lot!!!!!!!chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12745309668811780482009-04-18T20:01:00.000-04:002009-04-18T20:01:00.000-04:00@Anon 7:18
What are you talking about? Read my fi...@Anon 7:18<br /><br />What are you talking about? Read my first post today.George NYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11844466463123158982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68638835435830100132009-04-18T19:46:00.000-04:002009-04-18T19:46:00.000-04:00Odd to me that people had so much trouble with Fre...Odd to me that people had so much trouble with Frederik Pohl -- if there's a 20th-century science-fiction pantheon, he's certainly in it.<br /><br />On the other hand, that was one of the *only* words I found easy here. Managed to finish only with much staring and virtually every false start that Puzzle-Girl and others mentioned. Plus I had much help from my wife (she knew DIOMEDE, recognized TOPSY, explained why RAGE meant 'Fashion' and suggested ESPERANTO ("It's the only word that ends in RANTO"). So I guess I didn't really do this puzzle. But I would definitely weigh in on the 'Tough but Fair' side.<br /><br />Great write-up, PG (plus I was hoping for an Usher video when I saw USHERIN).Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27797949903286565382009-04-18T19:33:00.000-04:002009-04-18T19:33:00.000-04:00@Anon 7:18
The goal of many on this blog is to en...@Anon 7:18<br /><br />The goal of many on this blog is to encourage solvers to "keep going" and eventually fill in every square --- it's part of the learning experience.<br /><br />If you read the posts in more detail, you'll find many of us fess up in resorting to Google, this blog, and other sources to get that last square filled in (and correctly!).<br /><br />We all have blanks from time to time, freely admit it, and share the whys.<br /><br />Not sure how you missed that.<br /><br />.../GlitchGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38807342912466194902009-04-18T19:18:00.000-04:002009-04-18T19:18:00.000-04:00This site would be more believable if every once i...This site would be more believable if every once in a while you admitted that you didn't finish a puzzle. Even the best puzzler solvers have blanks occasionally. Come on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62013745556759726942009-04-18T18:06:00.000-04:002009-04-18T18:06:00.000-04:00@Vega - I'm not calling it fair - or unfair either...@Vega - I'm not calling it fair - or unfair either. <br /><br />Fair is an objective term that in my opinion is being applied subjectively to this/any puzzle. One person's Natick is another's Macon is another's Diomede. <br /><br />A puzzle is what it is. Hard or not so much. Fun or not so much. To me, they're all "fair" game. For me, this puzzle was hard and not fun. I've found lots of hard puzzles to be fun - but this just didn't happen to be one of them.hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04627015904603641109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89423592369471299412009-04-18T17:20:00.000-04:002009-04-18T17:20:00.000-04:00Brutal. That's all I have to say.
I had no idea a...Brutal. That's all I have to say.<br /><br />I had no idea about POHL or DIOMEDE and had Pahl/Diamede, which I thought for sure for sure was a Natick violation. Then I come here and all of you seem to have heard of not just one but both, and you're all calling this puzzle "fair." Once upon a time, many moons ago, I thought I was smart.<br /><br />-VegaVegahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01893157908004486201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32343041622050465882009-04-18T17:02:00.000-04:002009-04-18T17:02:00.000-04:00another toughie for me!! Hope tomorrow is easier a...another toughie for me!! Hope tomorrow is easier and more fun.chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14705655506531695262009-04-18T16:58:00.000-04:002009-04-18T16:58:00.000-04:00A handful of neons got me started but old fashione...A handful of neons got me started but old fashioned hard work got me to the finish line in classic Dream-on-it Style<br /><br />I had read an article about Shatner and Esperanto and knew Frederick Pohl's books from my youth so the sc-fi part of the puzzle fell at once.<br /><br />SETTLEDUP led me into the SE where the shortest answer ISU broke open the whole corner and a guess in the Midlands ONTHETAKE got me GENUINELY and WESTERNUS which led me into the NW where SPURN and HOUSE got me FISHBOWLS and FIGTREES and helped me make up my mind about ELIZA or TOPSY all of which produced GROUNDSQUIRRELS and I moved into Baja California and got the SW corner through ALGAE and TEENS as I finally decided the bird clue was a repeat from last month on a Saturday as I worked both ends against the middle.<br /><br />I went to bed with most of the NE and Upper Midlands left to solve. In the morning I corrected my mistakes LOVER at 16A and DELGADO became BELTRAN (Thanks Hubby!)and the rest was simply hard work.<br /><br />TURNSONTO got me the long down and that broke the back of this puzzle as it was my last entry.<br /><br />Byron Walden usually takes me forever to work my way through but since speed is not my long suit, in the long run it simply does not matter to me.edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84855887724400736282009-04-18T16:37:00.000-04:002009-04-18T16:37:00.000-04:00SINCERELY
FEELINGLY
GENUINELY
all nine letters.
So...SINCERELY<br />FEELINGLY<br />GENUINELY<br />all nine letters.<br />So what did I put?<br />IN EARNEST<br /><br />sheesh!fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85590810049647495912009-04-18T16:05:00.000-04:002009-04-18T16:05:00.000-04:00@Bob Kerfuffle: I was thinking Barbie or Ken dolls...@Bob Kerfuffle: I was thinking Barbie or Ken dolls. <br /><br />3 and out. <br /><br />Happy weekend everybody.johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88334442577922503552009-04-18T15:45:00.000-04:002009-04-18T15:45:00.000-04:00Here's a little morality tale:
IN TOO DEEP yet ab...Here's a little morality tale:<br /><br />IN TOO DEEP yet above GROUND, I went around the circuit one too many times, so I guiltily pulled out the old Bible. Quick flip to Matthew and found right away 21 which featured GENTILE, and hastily wrote over my earlier GENUINELY considered work. Naturally, I'd picked some other chapter's verse 21. But with that 'assurance' the puzzle had become completely corrupted. <br /><br />Tarnished by the failure of persistence; doubly tormented by the error of cheating. I'm sure Jesus would be proud.<br /><br />---<br /><br />Other errors were OUTLAWS instead of AVENGER, guessing at PHNOM Penh before Addis ABABA, and the ridiculous ONE-PERSON family.fergusnoreply@blogger.com