tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1356925480133829272..comments2024-03-29T09:37:45.612-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers / TUE 4-17-12 / Word repeated before Baby in hip-hop title / Asian gambling mecca / River separating Germany PolandRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6576321870089129472012-05-22T15:52:12.949-04:002012-05-22T15:52:12.949-04:00@Swims like a fish, you and I ascribe to the same ...@Swims like a fish, you and I ascribe to the same code of ethics where Googling to solve a puzzle is concerned. IMHO, any square unfilled by your own knowledge or the crosses when you're done is an error. I include asking others in the vicinity for their opinion to be "cheating", as well. It's just you and the puzzle, and we'll see who wins. <br /><br />@Dirigonzo, I only found one arrow too, pointing to the NE corner. Dunno about the sushi re: hallucinations -- too many hours of Parasitology in college was a raw fish turn-off.Lola505https://www.blogger.com/profile/09249427833942985450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42515686010246508562012-05-22T15:36:38.272-04:002012-05-22T15:36:38.272-04:00PLATo produced my only writeover; never heard of P...PLATo produced my only writeover; never heard of PLATH but ASHY seemed like the only plausible for the volcanic fallout.<br /><br />I've held the puzzle at different angles, turned it upside down and even tried changing my focus like you do with those "magic picture" books and I still see only the one arrow. Does eating too much SUSHI make you hallucinate, I wonder?<br /><br />If YOUAREHERE, where am I?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16596290526722485592012-05-22T14:04:44.966-04:002012-05-22T14:04:44.966-04:00My Syndiland puzzles puzzles never show accompanyi...My Syndiland puzzles puzzles never show accompanying notes. Usually not a concern, but mildly annoying at first when so many clues referred to one. But the puzzle turned out to be a breeze. Even the unknown sports figure just fell into place. It wasn't until I parsed the circles that the arrow showed up! Still only see one, tho.DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67409640980930678792012-05-22T13:48:55.548-04:002012-05-22T13:48:55.548-04:00A rare Tuesday post from me. Thought this was nea...A rare Tuesday post from me. Thought this was neat, clean, fun and easy and my puzzle was error/correction-free!<br /><br />I'm happy to report my newspaper DID publish the "Note" on this, as well as the last puzzle which had one, so things have improved here in that respect.<br /><br />I left Macao/u to be revealed by the crosses, since I've seen both spellings.<br /><br />Oh! Shout out to Abe Vigoda (from Sunday). LOVE your work, especially on "Barney Miller".Lola505https://www.blogger.com/profile/09249427833942985450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83950973779885211702012-05-22T12:58:03.840-04:002012-05-22T12:58:03.840-04:00Weird that the "only two Googles" for so...Weird that the "only two Googles" for some (ARTROONEY and SULU) were my two "gimmiest" gimmes. I guess certain brains are complementary.<br /><br />This was a lot of fun today, and the fill was, IMO, superior. The partial IMET comes closest to the "Oh, no!" factor, but after all, since Mr. Vargas switched to Sanka, I'll "have a heart."Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12113451371098360362012-04-18T11:37:27.667-04:002012-04-18T11:37:27.667-04:00@kristi ... Click or hover over the notepad-like i...@kristi ... Click or hover over the notepad-like icon to the right of the date above the puzzle.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18634674291116844762012-04-18T06:28:31.755-04:002012-04-18T06:28:31.755-04:00Stupis question, but I never saw the Note that wen...Stupis question, but I never saw the Note that went this puzzle. I use across light. Where can I find it?kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08231419621496462707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75955468825366502722012-04-18T01:40:12.693-04:002012-04-18T01:40:12.693-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 8/1/2009 post 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 6:37, 6:49, 0.97, 39%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 8:34, 8:52, 0.97, 46%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:38, 3:40, 0.99, 49%, Medium<br />Tue 4:27, 4:35, 0.97, 46%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70486190952264610262012-04-17T18:09:31.700-04:002012-04-17T18:09:31.700-04:00Ah back from my golf trip. Work is just no fun som...Ah back from my golf trip. Work is just no fun sometimes especially after a vacation.<br /><br />Loved this on and was reminded of one of my favorite comics. Had a picture of a man pushing a stroller with a shirt that read I'M WITH STUPID and the arrow pointing down.Mighty Nisdenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00604834076817509735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67293402394127205562012-04-17T18:08:55.818-04:002012-04-17T18:08:55.818-04:00@swimslikeafish...cheating? Sure. But outside of...@swimslikeafish...cheating? Sure. But outside of ACPT, who cares! I call it a DNF if I have to google. Learning something useful or cool is part of why I like to do puzzles.<br /><br />@loren - loved your foodie tour de force from yesterday!<br /><br />@Jen - I stand corrected! <br /><br />@jackj - equating Sushi to bait - funnny! I'm mostly grateful for fire when it comes to meat...but if I'm with someone who knows their sushi, I will partake. Just don't ask me to make a whole meal of it.Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88062782899478081162012-04-17T17:20:57.023-04:002012-04-17T17:20:57.023-04:00Good to enjoy today’s puzzle. Thanks, Milo Beckma...Good to enjoy today’s puzzle. Thanks, Milo Beckman. It’s always hard for me to get the theme.<br /><br /> Thanks, Loren, for explaining this morning how the circles related to the “arrow” theme.<br />Had a problem with URBS, ENAMI, and PLATH, but I was able ultimately get them with the crosses.<br /><br />Great puzzle, lots of fun. Looking forward to next Monday and Tuesday.oren musehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05818257641013560184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2998075839267819212012-04-17T17:14:18.464-04:002012-04-17T17:14:18.464-04:00Oh, and I just noticed that my bag of frozen brocc...Oh, and I just noticed that my bag of frozen broccoli in cheese sauce (which I just put into the microwave) has THIS SIDE UP with an arrow.<br /><br />I don't use the microwave all that much. Not really.JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81005444121049758842012-04-17T17:05:22.464-04:002012-04-17T17:05:22.464-04:00Liked it Easy.
Nigiri sushi (your usual) and mak...Liked it Easy. <br /><br />Nigiri sushi (your usual) and makisushi (roll)in Japan, as others have pointed out, may be eaten either way. Chirashi (scattered) sushi (several pieces on a single large bed of rice on a special plate) pretty much needs chopsticks.<br /><br />Faced with 34A _OCKS for "Pair of_____" I came up with a couple of definitely non-Gray Lady answers before SOCKS. Actually wrote ROCKS, then rethought.<br /><br />Thanks, Mr. Beckman.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36292371080878930692012-04-17T16:59:25.089-04:002012-04-17T16:59:25.089-04:00@Tita (and others): who's to say that THIS SI...@Tita (and others): who's to say that THIS SIDE UP refers to a box? My microwave popcorn bag has THIS SIDE UP printed on one side.<br /><br />Best Tuesday puzzle in a long time.<br /><br />I knew ART ROONEY right away.JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25625367271559536862012-04-17T16:34:37.535-04:002012-04-17T16:34:37.535-04:00Not to be overly picky, but Sulu wasn't the or...Not to be overly picky, but Sulu wasn't the original helmsman on Star Trek...they made some weird pilot with Peter Duryea playing Jose Tyler as helmsman. That's the episode where Christopher Pike played the captain and Majel Barrett played Number One.<br /><br />Otherwise the puzz was fine by me, if only a little pointed.AnnieDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10344302828359075478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82597259192928419582012-04-17T16:32:29.560-04:002012-04-17T16:32:29.560-04:00@mac - I love cream cheese, just not on sushi.
A...@mac - I love cream cheese, just not on sushi.<br /><br /><br />At Carolina when I was studying Japanese, Higuchi Sen Sei would throw Te Maki Zushi parties - where you would make your own sushi rolls in shiso (sp?) leaves. Mayonnaise was always among the choices. I tell you, sushi wrapped in a shiso leaf with mayo squirted in for good measure. . .so good you just want to turn around and slap someone.Loren Muse Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05308030011870397977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86087208251949087102012-04-17T16:23:22.102-04:002012-04-17T16:23:22.102-04:00@Loren: you don't like cream cheese, how do yo...@Loren: you don't like cream cheese, how do you feel about mayo? I've seen that popping up in otherwise perfectly fine Japanese restaurants the last couple of years.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54736243572655113442012-04-17T16:10:00.940-04:002012-04-17T16:10:00.940-04:00Midday 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):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Tue 8:30, 8:52, 0.96, 43%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Tue 4:41, 4:35, 1.02, 62%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25324239622016071302012-04-17T14:29:39.400-04:002012-04-17T14:29:39.400-04:00@AnoaBob, jae - When I was in Japan, I saw sushi e...@AnoaBob, jae - When I was in Japan, I saw sushi eaten both ways. <br /><br />@Gill I.P. - I'm with you on no cream cheese in sushi, but I'm afraid I've crossed over to the dark side as far as are concerned those surely-these-are-American-inventions rolls and their weird names like Dragon Roll. . .Love'em! (As long as there's no cream cheese)Loren Muse Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05308030011870397977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81256324371195430582012-04-17T14:19:15.547-04:002012-04-17T14:19:15.547-04:00@swimslikeafish- your question comes up periodical...@swimslikeafish- your question comes up periodically. I think the consensus on whether or not googling is cheating is, "whether you think it is or you think it isn't, you are right."Znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70276535830793037772012-04-17T14:08:54.421-04:002012-04-17T14:08:54.421-04:00Man, I thought SOMEBODY before me would post somet...Man, I thought SOMEBODY before me would post something derisive about the notion that "ICE ICE Baby" is hip-hop. That's like have the clue [Jewelry], and the answer turns out to be ZIRCONIUM.JHCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11234418633338932952012-04-17T13:58:11.336-04:002012-04-17T13:58:11.336-04:00Liked this one a lot, and then was pleased to see ...Liked this one a lot, and then was pleased to see @Rex liked it too. I guess I am learning what makes a puzzle "fresh." This is the first time in a long time I've been able to look at the puzzle early enough to make commenting seem worthwhile, so I want to ask something that's been bugging me for a while...I think of Googling as "cheating," i.e., it means I DTF. But a lot of Rexites seem to casually mention googling and then finishing. What do others think about this? When I cheat, I come here! Much more fun than googling.swimslikeafishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15561314104964203746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87221489129378818172012-04-17T13:39:12.367-04:002012-04-17T13:39:12.367-04:00Loved it. Tight theme and interesting fill.
@a...Loved it. Tight theme and interesting fill. <br /><br />@acme, I'm guessing the two 9-letter acrosses aren't theme answers because they contain circles. It would have been a tall order (as if it weren't already) to have them be theme answers, AND with the 'arrow' letters in the correct positions.Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01366620471331747531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39023850847145734392012-04-17T13:35:40.443-04:002012-04-17T13:35:40.443-04:00Great puzzle. Thanks Milo for nice finish to my lu...Great puzzle. Thanks Milo for nice finish to my lunch hour. Hand up for MACAO and ABRA.<br /><br />For 26A, there is not always an arrow on the sign because usually there are only 2 doors in an entryway. Not that I say the answer is invalid, only that another answer should have been used (onewaystreet doesn't fit though).<br /><br />@Tita – in total agreement with END vs. SIDE issue at 64A. THIS END UP is the proper usage.<br /><br />@Dan, @ACME – I don’t see any other arrows other than the one created by the circled squares (I have the print edition of the Times) and it points up towards the NE corner.<br /><br />@joho 8:05 – Rooney Mara is the granddaughter of the, deceased, NY Giants owner Wellington Mara. But he was not a founder of the Giants – his father Tim was.Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12363270944983382012-04-17T13:26:18.316-04:002012-04-17T13:26:18.316-04:00After reading the high praise for this puzzle, I w...After reading the high praise for this puzzle, I went back and looked REAL hard. I usually don't like notes for my to-do-list but in this case, and after finishing with a big huh, I thought it would have helped me like it better.<br />Today ya'll can wear a T that says IM WITH STUPID and point it at me.<br />I don't like the SUSHI filled with California ingredient i.e. avocado, cream cheese and essentially any filling that sounds like a taco. On the other hand, Sashimi is the food of Gods as far as I'm concerned. Chopsticks are needed for your wasabi stir....GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.com