tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1254186022420325822..comments2024-03-28T04:40:27.172-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Gird, Certain kitchen knife, Eisner's successor at Disney, Spanish wavesRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6160800892009262612013-04-11T21:38:25.292-04:002013-04-11T21:38:25.292-04:00Loved the theme, probably because I got it at POTA...Loved the theme, probably because I got it at POTATO/POCKETS. Watch a lot of baseball so HOTCORNER was a gimmie. Knew TINO, remember well when he played for the Mariners, and the disappointment when he went east to the d*** Yankees. <br /><br />As has been mentioned there was a lot of crummy stuff here. ENSTEEL, unbelievable. However, it was balanced by some pretty good stuff too. OPENERA (my first entry), OPHELIA, and DECARLO (not clued as Yvonne of the Munsters), sparkled.Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22805506460165168842013-04-11T18:13:04.363-04:002013-04-11T18:13:04.363-04:00Goodness I love the Bard. Look SO forward to whome...Goodness I love the Bard. Look SO forward to whomever they are when the theme is appropriate.<br /><br />And I love the word Cromulent too. It cannot be used enough. Too bad TD couldn't work in embiggens.<br />Lover of the Arcanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54670437257974640422013-04-11T16:18:07.615-04:002013-04-11T16:18:07.615-04:00Phew, apparently a HOT theme got some commenters H...Phew, apparently a HOT theme got some commenters Hot under the collar! I finished with a couple of errors, but not because there's anything wrong with the puzzle. The buRNS I so often see at the beach never became TERNS, and when I finally gave up on Exo I for some reason settled on EnT. Favorite answer was the last one to go in, ELNINOS for "Current events". PRENAME took a while, too.<br /><br />The PARER in a cake somebody mentioned earlier was a knife left in a cake by a bakery employee at Walmart - luckily it was discovered by a parent before it did any harm to anyone at the child's birthday party.<br /><br />@treedweller: Nice writeup. There was an item in the news today about a hermit who has been living in the Maine woods for 26 years, with no human contact whatsoever in all that time (really - you can google it!) A relation of yours, maybe?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69225487382638517622013-04-11T11:45:44.991-04:002013-04-11T11:45:44.991-04:00I do not compete because I abhor time pressure tha...I do not compete because I abhor time pressure that is completely unnecessary. Besides which, I don't love doing this enough to fly 2500 miles for it, so I'll be here schlubbing away.<br /><br />Some weird, tricky fill nearly did me in: last square was the natick at SL?VOVITZ/?GER. I swear, I put in an "I" because that's the easiest letter to morph into another without erasing--and believe me, that is the ONLY reason I finished correctly.<br /><br />Ensteel? ENSTEEL?? Yikes, that isn't even a word. Where do you people get this stuff? See, this would never have appeared in yesterday's puzzle; that's what I'm talking about. Barfsville.<br /><br />OK theme, OK execution. Nice nine-sandwich in the middle there. With clues like "chili" and "spicy pretzel dip" it's not too hard to imagine a HOT theme--even if you don't know the baseball term. Medium. Would have been easy-medium if I'd ever heard of that brandy or that exec.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83489335945611233132013-03-10T20:18:25.703-04:002013-03-10T20:18:25.703-04:00A couple of earlier MetaRexian posts--including on...<br /><br />A couple of earlier MetaRexian posts--including one on this thread--have been based on the assumption--not sure how I made it--that the irascible, highly articulate, and politically scarlet poster Evil Doug and the very fine constructor Doug Peterson are one and the same person. I have been informed by a reliable source that they are in fact two completely different people. <br /><br />My regrets! <br /><br />I will continue to enjoy ED's posts and Doug Peterson's puzzles, but without conflating their creators.<br />MetaRexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01697113550216241303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59748471335886648812013-03-09T00:47:29.128-05:002013-03-09T00:47:29.128-05:00Sorry, but this theme is terrible.
HOT needs to w...Sorry, but this theme is terrible.<br /><br />HOT needs to work both across and down, as does in 1A/1D - which was probably the original intention of the puzzle before the constructor bailed.<br /><br />Why? Definition of a corner: "A place or angle where two or more sides or edges meet." <br /><br />Without two HOT edges, you don't have a HOT corner; you have a HOT start or a HOT end. <br /><br />Solved it correctly despite my disbelief that Will gave this puzzle the go-ahead.<br />Joseph Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75814375732701957142013-03-08T20:38:49.573-05:002013-03-08T20:38:49.573-05:00manaslu trekking,offering magnificent views of th...<a href="www.nepalholidaystrek.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72&Itemid=148" rel="nofollow">manaslu trekking</a>,offering magnificent views of the mount, Manaslu, hinchuli, ganesh himal and exotic Tibetan Nepalese culture.Naba Thapahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01012063543408869888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76916704226701723882013-03-08T00:34:07.388-05:002013-03-08T00:34:07.388-05:00This 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 6:15, 6:10, 1.01, 60%, Medium<br />Tue 9:30, 8:23, 1.13, 79%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 9:43, 10:59, 0.88, 25%, Easy-Medium<br />Thu 17:31, 17:17, 1.01, 57%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:47, 3:41, 1.03, 67%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 5:33, 4:52, 1.14, 82%, Challenging<br />Wed 5:36, 6:22, 0.88, 18%, Easy<br />Thu 9:26, 9:56, 0.95, 34%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73623605602416252262013-03-07T23:29:31.007-05:002013-03-07T23:29:31.007-05:00@Anon 11:12 Many folk here are of the opinion that...@Anon 11:12 Many folk here are of the opinion that they shouldn't attach importance to anything someone says without their having attached their names to it.<br /><br />Some of these people swear they don't read posts by Anons, and actually don't read posts by Anons. Some people say they don't read Anonymous posts, but do, then call the person a moron. They call the person a moron for what they said, then backtrack and say they called the person a moron because they posted Anonymously.<br /><br />I read posts and determine the merit of the post by its content.Anon 11:29noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73783964653950517072013-03-07T23:14:19.325-05:002013-03-07T23:14:19.325-05:00@Laura - Encourage girls to walk all you want, but...@Laura - Encourage girls to walk all you want, but after I come I'm out the door before you get out of the bathroom.Elinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69008878425042344002013-03-07T23:12:59.902-05:002013-03-07T23:12:59.902-05:00i enjoyed this puzzle as i couldnt solve all at on...i enjoyed this puzzle as i couldnt solve all at once had to put it down and pick it up again as my unconscious had incubated some more answers. i guessed hot corners early on with little baseball knowledge and knew then the theme but had some difficulty with where the hot would be. finally it all came together. i dont understand the prejudice against anomice as ive heard the anonymous called. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90496144844101740802013-03-07T23:04:35.099-05:002013-03-07T23:04:35.099-05:00Eli's comin'
Eli's comin' (Eli'...Eli's comin'<br />Eli's comin' (Eli's a-comin')<br />Well you better hide your heart, your loving heart<br />Eli's a-comin' and the cards say... a broken heart<br /><br />Eli's comin', hide your heart, girl<br />Eli's comin', hide your heart, girl<br />Girl, Eli's a-comin', you better hide<br />Girl, Eli's a-comin', you better hide<br />Girl, Eli's a-comin', you better hide<br />Girl, Eli's comin', hide your heart, girl (hide it)<br />You better, better hide your heart<br />Eli's comin', better walk<br /><br /><br />1034Laura Nyronoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83437184108005044042013-03-07T21:50:26.991-05:002013-03-07T21:50:26.991-05:00I will certainly be in Brooklyn this weekend. I li...I will certainly be in Brooklyn this weekend. I live there! Didn't love this puzzle, but thought the theme was fine; I am a huge baseball fan, so "Hot corner" was a gimmee. Only clue I didn't like was the clue for "Eli". Who the heck are three dog night? There is a song about Eli coming?? Like many others, I didn't like, although I got, the Oreck-Skil cross. Didn't know "Iger" either. (never heard of hot pockets either, but my wife does all the shopping....) OISKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808675378318214461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25006738512076054412013-03-07T21:19:59.938-05:002013-03-07T21:19:59.938-05:00@mac who was the lucky prisoner?@mac who was the lucky prisoner?Elle54noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11478718889251497372013-03-07T21:17:40.108-05:002013-03-07T21:17:40.108-05:00I love baseball, but somehow never heard of hot c...I love baseball, but somehow never heard of hot corner. Ron Santo is my favorite hot cornerman. I also thought the placement of hot before the words and not in the actual corners was confusing.<br />Never got hot TICKET. I thought of score as to cut, or as creating music, but not as in land a ticket. Googled TAL.<br />Had trouble with Eisner follower too.Elle54noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19407313825549830082013-03-07T20:44:07.613-05:002013-03-07T20:44:07.613-05:00A parer or paring knife was found in a Walmart bir...A parer or paring knife was found in a Walmart birthday cake in Maine...machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58967853954371542532013-03-07T20:16:39.751-05:002013-03-07T20:16:39.751-05:00@treedweller - hyperbole is never acceptable. How ...@treedweller - hyperbole is never acceptable. How could you ever expect people who solve a crossword puzzle to be capable readers who can discern sarcasm?<br /><br />And now for something completely different... @Evan - The s&$* pile anonymouse didn't bother me but the alleged catholic anonymouse of the other day sure did. The argument today is a perfect example of why anonymice are and should be easily dismissed. Whatever we think of Evil or Evan, each of you own your comments. It is a balance between privacy and accountability that seems to work.<br /><br />Finally - What @Milford said - All you puzzlers have a Bell's in our honor. An Oberon if you like something smooth and a little citrusy and your literary reference to be Shakespearean, or a Two-Hearted Ale if you like it bitter with your literary reference more Hemingway.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36229685718304447072013-03-07T20:12:44.222-05:002013-03-07T20:12:44.222-05:00@ not a moron, @ chefbea - I know, I know. PARER i...@ not a moron, @ chefbea - I know, I know. PARER isn't what the knife is usually called. But it *IS* in the dictionary and thereby is legitimated.<br /><br />Please don't consider me the PARER of bad tidings.....retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9041445244810390492013-03-07T19:38:38.967-05:002013-03-07T19:38:38.967-05:00Greetings from Albany; new gig started today. I&#...Greetings from Albany; new gig started today. I'm delighted by the welcoming snow storm.<br /><br />Theme was pretty easy for me, even started at 6:00 p.m., on line, having driven up here leaving CT at 6:00 a.m. Some of the fill, harder, such as PRENAME|DECALRLO cross, ENSTEEL (sooooo ugly), ITISSO (not handsome). All in, easy for a Thursday.<br /><br />Sorry I will not be in Brooklyn. Folks, go hang out on Smith Street, south of Atlantic. Enjoy.John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59358651868737779282013-03-07T18:04:04.363-05:002013-03-07T18:04:04.363-05:00Midday 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 />Thu 17:29, 17:16, 1.01, 57%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Thu 9:37, 9:56, 0.97, 40%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />I couldn't believe it when Hot POCKETS popped up again this week. We need another neologism for such a coincidence ... kind of a cousin to a malapop.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50800487362534559262013-03-07T17:46:06.414-05:002013-03-07T17:46:06.414-05:00ok, ok, one more thing on etiquette in response to...ok, ok, one more <a href="http://www.valuecompetition.typepad.com/metarex/2013/03/etiquette-and-ideology.html" rel="nofollow">thing on etiquette</a> in response to overwhelming popular demand...<br /><br />MetaRexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01697113550216241303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62167964686031847362013-03-07T17:27:22.520-05:002013-03-07T17:27:22.520-05:00@lucky - think of rent as a rip or "tear"...@lucky - think of rent as a rip or "tear" in fabric, for instance. Hope that helps. <br /><br />Wow, Papa Rex leaves the kids alone for one day and there's a big argument! <br /><br />Puzzle was pretty easy, although like @treedweller I also put many corner answers in before getting the theme, even though they felt slightly awkward. (BTW, my brain always parses your name as "treed weller" :)<br /><br />Like @mac, I associate SLIVOVITZ with Yugoslavia, particularly a summer trip when I was 15. Ah the memories. <br /><br />ACPT-goers - Have a Michigan-brewed Bells beer at the bar for me (and another for @Z). Milfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04923019988243284636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55557299399890942952013-03-07T17:06:49.256-05:002013-03-07T17:06:49.256-05:00I'll just say that Evil and Evan are two of my...I'll just say that Evil and Evan are two of my very favorite posters and that Evil is an awesome constructor and leave it at that...<br /><br />Well, just one more thing...in spite of all appearances could E. and E. actually be the same person?...maybe it's a yin-yang show they're putting on for all of us...just consider...<br /><br />1) EV = EV<br /><br />2) A skipping one vowel = I;<br /><br />3) N skipping one consonant = L;<br /><br />Ergo,<br /><br />EVAN = EVIL <br /><br />For extra credit: Prove METAREX = ELLEN S<br /><br />[Hint: You won't be able to tell from our profile pics]<br /><br />MetaRexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01697113550216241303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47773238083801047752013-03-07T17:02:37.724-05:002013-03-07T17:02:37.724-05:00@not a moron I use my paring knife. Would never c...@not a moron I use my paring knife. Would never call it a parer.chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19213907782346936892013-03-07T16:58:41.092-05:002013-03-07T16:58:41.092-05:00@Lucky, think of "tearing" as ripping so...@Lucky, think of "tearing" as ripping something apart and "rent" as akin to the verb "to rend", i.e., tear apart. Anoa Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16185183023273883700noreply@blogger.com