tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1626488970701237254..comments2024-03-29T05:08:37.783-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Cube-hopping character in 1980s arcade game / TUE 3-8-11 / Soaks as flax / Our planet to Berliner / Old TWA hiree / Kid-lit elephantRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32711254447689541862011-04-12T23:23:42.386-04:002011-04-12T23:23:42.386-04:00@Gil. . .
Thought everyone is. No? Want I should ...@Gil. . .<br /><br />Thought everyone is. No? Want I should to do dour now instead?<br /><br />captcha: "idavitiv":<br />____ if idaknowd ihadtaNotalwaysrightBillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54851320124024778832011-04-12T20:13:09.905-04:002011-04-12T20:13:09.905-04:00@notalwaysrightBill
Are you a closet stand-up?@notalwaysrightBill<br />Are you a closet stand-up?GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56273045898850957612011-04-12T17:14:14.921-04:002011-04-12T17:14:14.921-04:00Right-handed syndi-late paper solver and EXACERBAT...Right-handed syndi-late paper solver and EXACERBATEr.<br /><br />Thanks @ACME for bringing to my conscious mind the reason why I've loved saying EXACERBATE my entire life. I, for one, miss you coming here and kicking the walls down.<br /><br />However, I'm still trying to discover a euphemism that fits on either one side of a QWERKY keyboard OR the other. BEAT the MEAT doesn't, nor POUND the PUD, FLOG the FROG, MOB the MUPPET, not even CUFF the CARROT--none of my favorites anyway. Perhaps one of the female EXACERBATions will, though DIDDLE definitely doesn't. Afraid that DRAGSTERS are on their own here.<br /><br />Seems sort of Kiplingesque:<br /><br />"For there is neither east nor west<br />Nor border nor breed nor birth<br />When ya really want to SQUEEZE ONE OFF (RUB ONE OUT for da ladies)<br />And there ain't no willing partner right handy." Close enough.<br /><br />Puzzle in no wise a waste of time: why, just check out them CASSAVAS!NotalwaysrightBillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74129322589958976152011-04-12T16:22:15.274-04:002011-04-12T16:22:15.274-04:00It was nice, even 5 weeks after the fact, to see @...It was nice, even 5 weeks after the fact, to see @acme back.<br /><br />Any puzzle that prompts Rex to post an Adele video is OK with me.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72990255577763882722011-04-12T15:16:24.628-04:002011-04-12T15:16:24.628-04:00Like Tim, I also do this with a pen and as I am in...Like Tim, I also do this with a pen and as I am in Western Canada, I am hours behind most of you. I am new to this game and love the comments. Laughed out loud at Masked and Anonymous - loopy and poopy indeed!<br />Am always thrilled to finish as I am also in the MTW class and still struggle with anything later in the week, but I keep trying.Pippinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9528261142810863992011-04-12T13:21:08.049-04:002011-04-12T13:21:08.049-04:00I always do the NYT crossword with a pen, so I did...I always do the NYT crossword with a pen, so I didn't know what was going on with the theme until **well** into the solve, after the east was filled and WEST finally appeared.<br /><br />Generally agree with the negative comments -- especially since I'm still struggling to complete end of week puzzles. I need Monday and Tuesday to have some zing!! QBERT was a nice throw back (mentioned it to my son, even) and it's interesting that any three syllable phrase ending with BATE in it seems mildly dirty these days.timhttp://timwarner.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85304703204992237142011-03-14T19:00:55.758-04:002011-03-14T19:00:55.758-04:00thanks - I don't think I would ever have made ...thanks - I don't think I would ever have made that connection. I guess a clue like "gnaw on" is more my speed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90588072975420652392011-03-14T15:56:52.835-04:002011-03-14T15:56:52.835-04:00@Anonymous, 11:11 AM - Because if something EATS A...@Anonymous, 11:11 AM - Because if something EATS AT you, like a mortgage you can no longer afford or an unhappy personal relationship, it troubles you no end.Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-92131084756314805942011-03-14T11:11:22.869-04:002011-03-14T11:11:22.869-04:00I'm not smart like you guys. why is "eat...I'm not smart like you guys. why is "eatat" the answer to "trouble no end" ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81429805375240627772011-03-09T01:46:31.170-05:002011-03-09T01:46:31.170-05:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 7/30/2009 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 6:55, 6:55, 1.00, 53%, Medium<br />Tue 7:15, 8:55, 0.81, 4%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:32, 3:41, 0.96, 34%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 3:42, 4:34, 0.81, 2%, Easysanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68417460798745555352011-03-08T23:38:03.207-05:002011-03-08T23:38:03.207-05:00You could've selected Kool Moe Dee's Wild ...You could've selected Kool Moe Dee's Wild Wild West, but Kurtis Blow can never be called a poor choice. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14442333781593848982011-03-08T22:50:37.479-05:002011-03-08T22:50:37.479-05:00@Victor - that's what I'm talking about. F...@Victor - that's what I'm talking about. Fascinating.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91224465241379699522011-03-08T21:53:32.118-05:002011-03-08T21:53:32.118-05:00The clue is "... half of the keyboard..."...The clue is "... half of the keyboard..." not half of the letter keys. Hands and fingers are NOT mentioned.<br /><br />The keyboard on this laptop includes a numeric kepad, and is 15" wide.<br /><br />The 7.5" runs through the K key.<br /><br />The keyboard for my desktop is proportionally about the same.<br /><br />Not counting the keypad (but why not), the split runs through the U.<br /><br />The fact that only the LPO and maybe UJNM are in the east half doesn't change anything except for making the "B" key argument moot.Stop being sillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50704335231527446142011-03-08T21:24:03.626-05:002011-03-08T21:24:03.626-05:00It's not like the constructor decided on stand...It's not like the constructor decided on standard finger configurations. The B is typed with the left hand.<br /><br />See <a href="http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_images/ergonomic_adjustable_keyboard_large.jpg" rel="nofollow">here</a>, for example.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82107847349734135592011-03-08T20:49:50.311-05:002011-03-08T20:49:50.311-05:00After finishing this, my first thought was "m...After finishing this, my first thought was "maybe more fun for the constructor than for the solver." But I was unprepared for the venom on this site. No more or less interesting to me than the average Tuesday. I was wondering what had happened to all the vowels except for "a" and "e."michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21982581112642138332011-03-08T20:35:57.676-05:002011-03-08T20:35:57.676-05:00If we go by the way a keyboard is constructed inst...If we go by the way a keyboard is constructed instead of which hand formally types the letter, the b should have been thrown out. It's a bit unfair that the creator was able to use 5/7 of the bottom row's letters.<br />But that would leave out BBQS, QBERT, BRAZ and others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18442536964537118242011-03-08T18:14:27.685-05:002011-03-08T18:14:27.685-05:00It was a cute feat to me, which I didn't disco...It was a cute feat to me, which I didn't discover until the reveal (thought there were a lot of a's and e's, but I do the puzzle in the paper), but it was incredibly easy. No stops whatsoever.<br /><br />Laughed at the stewardess clue; would have been even funnier with Pan Am in it.<br /><br />Bottom line: it's only Tuesday, and they didn't mess up my Thursday.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7428994963358641832011-03-08T17:57:21.318-05:002011-03-08T17:57:21.318-05:00Thanks @JaxinLA. I've liked Zerbe since I saw...Thanks @JaxinLA. I've liked Zerbe since I saw him destroyed in a TV Mission Impossible and I realized those MI Squad people are horrible. Zerbe great in a puzzle. He'd aid in a pnangram.Sparkynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65803125010799754232011-03-08T17:46:51.153-05:002011-03-08T17:46:51.153-05:00muddah flocker!
I move to an apartment, I change ...muddah flocker!<br /><br />I move to an apartment, I change my NYT delivery, it never shows up -- then finally just to do the puzzle (aka my life) I go on line and what do I get.<br /><br />A * (1 star) wonder. <br /><br />Now I know (significant to .001) Tuesday is the most hated of all puzzles. But I spent at least a minute trying to figure out what half of qwerty is... to get WEST.<br /><br />A small aside: The Sonny Rollins Way Out West album is great.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong I am not AVERSE to EXACERBATion, but come on. Change BRAZ to RAZZ and I am in.<br /><br />Ok, in the words on Ana (Bambi's aunt) if you can't say anything nice... DRAGSTER was cool. Reminded me of Moon Mullins, model car kits and Testers (the champagne of tubed glue).<br /><br />I am reaching out to Andrea next to find out whats what.<br /><br />Rex, please note I was once a CA prof two.<br /><br />TADA 4 now.<br /><br />d(now living in a converted hospital and hope I am on the psych ward)kdkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80182115974129173192011-03-08T17:28:58.542-05:002011-03-08T17:28:58.542-05:00Come on, ANON B, have you not been listening to Re...Come on, ANON B, have you not been listening to Rex's music links? <br /><br />My second (adoptive) father worked for TWA. I remember announcing at four or five years of age that I wanted to be a STEWARDESS when I grew up. I was promptly informed that I did NOT, that they were just waitresses in the sky. As this was in the very late Fifties, I like to think I was being encouraged to have a "real" career even then. And I did, too.<br /><br />Hey, Rex, I took my canine girl to PetCo for a bath yesterday. (In contrast to my feline girl.) Now it is raining (beats snow and/or ice!) and I am challenged to keep her out of the mud.CoffeeLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16473192190412844538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23337761714692513032011-03-08T17:25:37.321-05:002011-03-08T17:25:37.321-05:00Pardon: February issue.Pardon: February issue.Victor in Rochesternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34623758525366309272011-03-08T17:21:22.603-05:002011-03-08T17:21:22.603-05:00Fascinating article in the January Scientific Amer...Fascinating article in the January Scientific American on language begins with the description of a society in which the language uses compass points for all spatial relationships, even indoors. Comparable to the way we speak of crosswords with compass points.<br /><br />The article starts:<br /><br />"I am standing next to a five-year old girl in pormpuraaw, a small Aboriginal community on the western edge of Cape York in northern Australia. When I ask her to point north, she points precisely and without hesitation. My compass says she is right. Later, back in a lecture hall at Stanford University, I make the same request of an audience of distinguished scholars—winners of science medals and genius prizes. Some of them have come to this very room to hear lectures for more than 40 years. I ask them to close their eyes (so they don’t cheat) and point north. Many refuse; they do not know the answer. Those who do point take a while to think about it and then aim in all possible directions. I have repeated this exercise at Harvard and Princeton and in Moscow, London and Beijing, always with the same results.<br /><br />A five-year-old in one culture can do something with ease that eminent scientists in other cultures struggle with. This is a big difference in cognitive ability. What could explain it? The surprising answer, it turns out, may be language."Victor in Rochesternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65908829447683542702011-03-08T17:08:05.140-05:002011-03-08T17:08:05.140-05:00@Two Ponies - Since Hector was a pup, that was a n...@Two Ponies - Since Hector was a pup, that was a new one for me and yes I did LOL. I'll have to remember that.<br /><br />capcha - motivei, what I will need for Fri & Sat.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26907125156948110222011-03-08T16:37:33.587-05:002011-03-08T16:37:33.587-05:00Cool theme. You ask where the joy is, but I immedi...Cool theme. You ask where the joy is, but I immediately found joy when I discovered that the theme answers were ALL the answers. Maybe this makes me easily amused, but so be it. <br />Anyone pointed out that there is an article on being left-handed in today's Science Times? Congruency rules.COIXT RECORDShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06471607923683058246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62177651816651737462011-03-08T16:34:27.519-05:002011-03-08T16:34:27.519-05:00I've been around since Hector was a pup. I hav...I've been around since Hector was a pup. I have used BFD in all its<br />verbal beauty, but not in its<br />initialized form.<br /> I still anticipate Rex's comments icluding his opinion<br />of the use of profanity even<br />in acronyms in this blog.ANON Bnoreply@blogger.com