tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1514809656673514607..comments2024-03-28T16:43:37.613-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Composer known as Red Priest / FRI 6-24-11 / Old Go from flat to fluffy sloganeer / Rapid descent on skis / Beatles song complaining titleRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90293894773332818112011-07-30T18:00:32.455-04:002011-07-30T18:00:32.455-04:00I blew through this easily but the i-tunes spot ga...I blew through this easily but the i-tunes spot gave me trouble since I started with "put an end too" and was clueless about "Winer". Really bothered me till "high profile" hit me out of the blue. I guess thats what sex twice in one night will do (who could complain about that).novemberyankee68https://www.blogger.com/profile/14141803613714391218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35975568821851822942011-07-29T21:03:10.827-04:002011-07-29T21:03:10.827-04:00AWACS = Airborne Warning and Control System; I kno...AWACS = Airborne Warning and Control System; I know this but unfortunately it evaded my Radar. I don't do ITUNES so that website never occurred to me. Other than that, loved the puz.<br /><br />Bourbon is a pretty good substitute for CHILLPILL; I believe I'll have some now.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89222652622504699502011-07-29T13:15:37.122-04:002011-07-29T13:15:37.122-04:00Got "I'M SO TIRED" right off the bat...Got "I'M SO TIRED" right off the bat. Because I saw the Beatles clue and wasn't going to put the pen to the paper until I figured that one out.<br /><br />Worked my way around the grid counter-clockwise from there rather effortlessly, then stalled out completely in...what would that be, Lake Michigan? 20a, 6d, 21d, 31a. Was uneasy about UNRATED (the obvious answer was UNHATTED but it didn't fit), but at least that was correct. I had DocT at 31a and SpoTS at 21d and the only items I could think of that cost less than a cup of coffee were sTampS. I mean, I haven't bought sTampS in years--so long ago I bought mine at the <i>post office</i>, well before all these sTampS PLUS stores started popping up everywhere. (there's an idea for a kid with a Harvard degree. You'll never make any money constructing crosswords; why not open up a chain of stores that specialize in items our struggling postal service has trouble moving)<br /><br />Waved the white flag at that point. Good puzzle. But I'll take my numbered gatefold White Album with the poster and the four glossy photographs over the ITUNES PLUS version any day.<br /><br />@(the banker never wears a) mac 3:58 PM<br /><i>We're so sorry</i> -- no such song, merely a line from "Uncle Albert/Admiral Hallsey". Paul McCartney solo tune.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13745561156768893042011-07-29T11:28:56.623-04:002011-07-29T11:28:56.623-04:00Loved this puzzle! I wanted ACT NATURAL (which wo...Loved this puzzle! I wanted ACT NATURAL (which wouldn't fit), then ACT NORMAL. Ended with a a hole at the W in AWACS/WINER, and LADEN/NES, but the rest of the puzzle came together much, much easier than Fridays normally do for me.<br /><br />For those of you who have never heard the term CHILL PILL... huh?!?!?! (That was one of my first entries!)Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675331024091722316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85913193124792153942011-06-26T00:37:23.615-04:002011-06-26T00:37:23.615-04:00I wish Ulrich had been here today to fix the misun...I wish Ulrich had been here today to fix the misunderstanding about "Niebelungen," but Rex did a good job of doing so (or did I miss Ulrich?)<br /><br />I loved this puzzle, and had no idea the constructor was so young until reading the blog. Great day, I agree with Rex wholeheartedly!! Except that one quibble...the "where" didn't bother me with "iTunes Plus".<br /><br />I do like agreeing with our venerable host.<br /><br />And @Andrea, thank you for your amusing (playful) indignance(?) above. Sometimes I think I read this only for your commentary, though I do have a soft spot for Rex's. <br /><br />CHILL PILL was the best answer in the puzzle. Oh, and I'M SO TIRED. Hell, there were a LOT of good answers!<br /><br />More, please!<br /><br />Note: I DID put "DER" for Niebelungen at first...was fooled though fluent in German AND opera. The -en ending usually indicates a plural, though in some older usages, it also is attached to genitive masculine constructions. DES is definitely correct, but I think I've said "Der Ring der Niebelungen" my entire life until now. Yes, the dwarf is singular. Just a grammatical habit.<br /><br />Portland, Ore.cody.riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05883012611419987246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52894727102315407852011-06-25T16:09:43.621-04:002011-06-25T16:09:43.621-04:00Has no one pointed out that Piels Beer commercials...Has no one pointed out that Piels Beer commercials made Bob & Ray famous? http://tinyurl.com/5wq6bd4<br /><br />LeeLee Glicksteinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39461385167248701892011-06-24T22:50:28.784-04:002011-06-24T22:50:28.784-04:00I'd give you everything I got for a little pea...I'd give you everything I got for a little peace of mind...fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34681596097309032102011-06-24T22:48:15.552-04:002011-06-24T22:48:15.552-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73465630809005483622011-06-24T20:26:51.209-04:002011-06-24T20:26:51.209-04:00Never heard of Itunesplus, Winer, thought AWACS wa...Never heard of Itunesplus, Winer, thought AWACS was wrong when I wrote it, never heard of Chillpill, never heard of "I'm so tired" and did not like "Mic" after "open." Finished correctly anyway, but not happily, although I did get a smile (I live in Weiner's Congressional district) from "sexts...OISKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808675378318214461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9027936776340869792011-06-24T19:51:38.082-04:002011-06-24T19:51:38.082-04:00I also really liked the arrow clue, but hoped it w...I also really liked the arrow clue, but hoped it would be "You are here." "This side up" is also good. This is my first "AWACS" so I was totally mystified by that one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55764299021387265182011-06-24T18:59:54.505-04:002011-06-24T18:59:54.505-04:00Great puzzle even though I was not even close to f...Great puzzle even though I was not even close to finishing it. Had the SW done without any help. With a bit of googling got also the SE corner.<br />Then I got stuck. But I have no complaints. All the words were gettable.jpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20751272127183059332011-06-24T18:18:15.798-04:002011-06-24T18:18:15.798-04:00AWACS/WINER, laden/LADED: I belong to a big club....AWACS/WINER, laden/LADED: I belong to a big club.<br /><br />Nice puzzle by the young man.Chip Hiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944056030047563287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91292162853190603932011-06-24T17:32:57.975-04:002011-06-24T17:32:57.975-04:00Hand up for Mary.
SCHUSS/TRESSES was the first en...Hand up for Mary.<br /><br />SCHUSS/TRESSES was the first entry into the puzzle, which ruled out tacobell. Went with dollarPLUS which slowed me down quite a bit. SEXTS and ASEXUAL eventually showed me the error of my ways and got me from the NE to the NW.<br />Two niggles in the corner. The Apple Store is a "where" I can drive to, which is not true of the iTunes store or the iTunes Plus feature. And to SCHUSS is to ski without turning. There are two likely outcomes to schussing, rapidity or wiping-out. <br /><br />The other big slow down for me was takeone for ONEEACH. I've never see the latter.<br /><br />"Great" - pretty damn close but let's leave Milo something to aspire to. Besides, AFTA?Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55167651889905746192011-06-24T17:05:55.574-04:002011-06-24T17:05:55.574-04:00Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/...Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/2009 post for an explanation of my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Fri 20:39, 25:48, 0.80, 17%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Fri 11:35, 12:42, 0.91, 36%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27296182880884813892011-06-24T16:42:35.839-04:002011-06-24T16:42:35.839-04:00...agree w/RP about the ITUNESPLUS distinction;
S......agree w/RP about the ITUNESPLUS distinction;<br /><br />Since the puzzle has been ceded to a group of teenaged boys, maybe the NY Times should hire a teenaged crossword editor?Chucknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80311474973665120922011-06-24T15:58:51.039-04:002011-06-24T15:58:51.039-04:00Good puzzle, a little easy for a Friday, although ...Good puzzle, a little easy for a Friday, although I too had to guess (wrongly) at the awacs/Winer crossing.<br /><br />I wanted the Beatles' song "I'm so sorry", but realised it's "We're so sorry", and laden for laded, but those I fixed.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68459812352110712222011-06-24T15:13:44.372-04:002011-06-24T15:13:44.372-04:00Excellently constructed puzzle. Had trouble with ...Excellently constructed puzzle. Had trouble with "Itunesplus"---Open source user, here. :-)KarenSampsonHudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12072958906391798661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18905086426065942742011-06-24T15:07:03.370-04:002011-06-24T15:07:03.370-04:00dnf as i was able to fill the complete bottom half...dnf as i was able to fill the complete bottom half of the puzzle but not so much of the top. also the " " around bloody made me think it was a british curse. why the quotes???? had call an end to for 10 across so was flummoxed for much of the time. had novas before divas.bravo beckman!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77159844053374446722011-06-24T14:49:57.154-04:002011-06-24T14:49:57.154-04:00Rex was so right. That AWAC/Winer caused my downf...Rex was so right. That AWAC/Winer caused my downfall. And ITunesPlus took a long time. But, it' still sunny here in L'Acadie.mmespeerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09911319299751260193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90180011103875443982011-06-24T14:42:11.766-04:002011-06-24T14:42:11.766-04:00Fun week for me overall, looking forward to Sat. ...Fun week for me overall, looking forward to Sat. Had ALIAS for ALIBI at 50A which made for an embarrasing delay in the SE. <br /><br /> DLIT reminds me of my grades in College...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51726703662962061652011-06-24T14:12:00.027-04:002011-06-24T14:12:00.027-04:00Loved the puzzle, as others have said. I agree wi...Loved the puzzle, as others have said. I agree with Rex's comments. I download ITunes (yeah, I pay for them), but I've never heard of ITunes "Plus".Karennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89197818618934465632011-06-24T13:40:24.316-04:002011-06-24T13:40:24.316-04:00@31 flat nailed it: "Great!" Har. Your...@31 flat nailed it: "Great!" Har. Your review start probably scared that poor kid half to death. 'Course, he could be too busy sexting to pay us any mind.<br /><br />Don't see many themeless offerings with 7+ U's. Thank you, Milo.<br /><br />Fave fill: CHILLPILL, HYUNDAI (15 years old, and the guy speaks Korean!). Oh, plus two helpins' of SEX (right on, 31). Cinnamon rolls = also very good.<br /><br />Fave clue: "Calf part". That's gotta be fun, cluing this kind of answer.<br /><br />Hardest section for M&A: SE. "Kind of twin", my ass.<br /><br />Thumbs way up. More, please. Don't furget to write.Masked and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23257503679574459122011-06-24T13:40:12.342-04:002011-06-24T13:40:12.342-04:00I, as a child, hurled insults at other unfortunate...I, as a child, hurled insults at other unfortunate family members before uttering" No offense." The offended would wince and groan at my lack of tact and kindness, as well as at my irritating ways. It was a handy little phrase, though.Hobbyistnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89433905235960896932011-06-24T13:39:48.661-04:002011-06-24T13:39:48.661-04:00@Andrea & I-Skip My bad. It sounded like And...@Andrea & I-Skip My bad. It sounded like Andrea and was posted when she usually posts so I lept to a wrong conclusion. Plus, it was late and I'd had a drink or two.jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62969378852593206712011-06-24T13:31:40.362-04:002011-06-24T13:31:40.362-04:00Orginally the price clues for "ITunesPlus&quo...Orginally the price clues for "ITunesPlus" got me going with "ValueMenus"... Maybe I eat too much fast food?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com