tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1970240680558193951..comments2024-03-29T00:28:40.417-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Wild banana / SUN 4-15-12 / Italian holiday / Small-runway aircraft briefly / Saverin who co-founded Facebook / Rafael to friends / Shalom * hebrew greeting / Palais Garnier star / Some buggy drivers / Silence indicator / Implement with spatula-like bladeRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28254379592433304252012-07-07T06:09:23.467-04:002012-07-07T06:09:23.467-04:00Such complainers, some of you. Type 1: expert so...Such complainers, some of you. Type 1: expert solver who doesn't like the fill or the cluing. Type 2: I don't understand the theme.<br /><br />My download always has its correctly shaded squares, or circles, and it includes the instructions and the title. I solve on paper with pen. I write softly where I'm not sure. I circle my naticks to check on Rex's blog. I do all the Sunday puzzles at my leisure.<br /><br />Today's puzzle was definitely tough. At 50 minutes, I put in coniFErs and FElis. Oh, okay, 'iron' rebus. Finally, I can draw the ship. Where is this mysterious reflection of a ship? (r u type2) I use the reflection to get a few more letters in 'ship of dreams'. Another 50 minutes of 'slogging' and I'm done.<br /><br />Always enjoy the solve. Always impressed with the construction. Always read the blog and the comments. My only complaint is the complainers. Not really, I just wanted to comment about the complainers.sofa kingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27691175920200688952012-05-29T13:18:31.961-04:002012-05-29T13:18:31.961-04:00Torturous.Torturous.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17103362760757940922012-04-29T17:39:58.348-04:002012-04-29T17:39:58.348-04:00@Dirigonzo, you are so right, and fun is what I ha...@Dirigonzo, you are so right, and fun is what I had with (my) puzzle today!Lola505https://www.blogger.com/profile/09249427833942985450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65325290121569481622012-04-29T16:55:59.087-04:002012-04-29T16:55:59.087-04:00@Lola505 - any puzzle you enjoy (and some you don&...@Lola505 - any puzzle you enjoy (and some you don't) is worthy of a comment no matter when you solve it, and now that email updates are back many will read what you have to say. Having FUN is what it's all about (for me, at least).Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62124871767743559192012-04-29T15:51:25.803-04:002012-04-29T15:51:25.803-04:00Wasn't going to post about Sunday puzzles anym...Wasn't going to post about Sunday puzzles anymore since @Dirigonzo pointed out to me I'm truly last to the party, receiving this puzzle a week later than the rest of you, even those in syndiland. At the risk of "talking to myself", however, post I must.<br /><br />I am not a "Titanic" fan myself either (didn't Celine build an entire career on "My Heart Will Go On", ad mortem?), but I must compliment your amazing puzzle's construction, Kevin Der! I LOVED this one, from the [very fresh] rectangular grid to the four smokestacks to the iron-symbol (3 lines, only!) hull. It probably was originally published on or nearer the anniversary of the ship's sinking, even more àpropos.<br /><br />I truly had FUN with this one, and it was not a struggle to solve.Lola505https://www.blogger.com/profile/09249427833942985450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22857085228029309232012-04-23T14:15:12.170-04:002012-04-23T14:15:12.170-04:00As @Connie in Seattle pointed out, yesterday (Sund...As @Connie in Seattle pointed out, yesterday (Sunday) was 72 and the mountain was out, so I was on the golf course. My comments a day late.<br /><br />@Masked and Anonymous the third, I will have to try your Brussel Sprout recipe. Sounds good.<br /><br />Boooorrred with Titanic stuff. Didn't see the movie, either. Solved the puzzle this morning quickly because my wife, an interior designer, put me on to POUFFE, thus I caught on to the Fe rebus right away. Confirmed with SANTAFe. Love O"Keeffe's work.<br /><br />One favorite expression from the disaster: "That's like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic after the collision."<br /><br />@Spacecraft, got the DSOS/SUFI cross only because of the fascinating Robert Maxwell death. He had been (bogusly) awarded the DSO.<br /><br />To paraphrase Sgt. Schultz, I see no ship. I see no reflection. I know nothing. I think I've failed that IQ test.<br /><br />Capcha: statura. Posture of a Roman goddess?Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60637684441925674022012-04-23T01:07:32.467-04:002012-04-23T01:07:32.467-04:00My paper has only the week-day puzzles, so I usual...My paper has only the week-day puzzles, so I usually miss Sunday. Today I picked up a different one so I could spend the rest of the day, and the evening on this colossus. It was an impressive slog. I liked it, and I hated it too. Of course I DNF, but I came close. Got the theme when I read the clue at 29A and the rebus at Santa Fe. Could not see DAFE or POUFFE, POUFFE??.<br /><br />As for the '97 movie. It was like the puzzle, too long, and too much junk fill, but impressive nevertheless. the special affects were pretty good, did you know they filmed the water scenes off Baja? <br /><br />I'd much rather talk about Top Gun. Interesting info about the MIGs from @evil. Also, Art Scholl, a renowned stunt pilot, was killed doing a flat spin during the filming. The movie was dedicated to him.Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37929009384042242762012-04-23T00:18:14.178-04:002012-04-23T00:18:14.178-04:00@diri: (hitting my head with the heel of my hand) ...@diri: (hitting my head with the heel of my hand) OK, now I see it. You have to start in the middle and...well, anyway. I do see it. Looks more like a [loaded] oil tanker than a cruise ship, but yeah. And TYVM for the other kind remarks. On, as you said, to Monday! -30-Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22231947264169012602012-04-22T22:01:32.931-04:002012-04-22T22:01:32.931-04:00@Spacecraft - a rare second appearance, indeed. A...@Spacecraft - a rare second appearance, indeed. And just incase you might make a third, let me say that I agree wholeheartedly about luckIEST. Maybe we can call that clue the "yuckIEST"? And I admit to a lucky guess at 16, so fair enough complaint as far as I am concerned.<br /><br />I'd try to explain the reflection thing but I know I could do no better than what has already been offered, so I guess you either get it or you don't. <br /><br />I was in the service (a long time ago) but never heard the phrase "get over" in any way other than "get over it". But I see what you mean about the movie.<br /><br />@DMG - Yes, on to Monday!Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18184599786176769642012-04-22T20:40:22.716-04:002012-04-22T20:40:22.716-04:00A rare second appearance for me. Like the movie, o...A rare second appearance for me. Like the movie, or hate it--but if you take your significant other to this movie, and you don't "get over," (as we used to say in the Service) that night...well, you ain't NEVER gettin' over. And I STILL, even after all the explanations, am totally lost in this reflection thing.<br /><br />Just one instance of the brutal cluing: "suffix for 'luck'." IEST? That's the default suffix for every regular superlative of every English adjective in the deck! What's so special about "luck?" How can you clue IEST that way?<br /><br />NO ONE else naticked at 16? Amazing.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26622667980103261182012-04-22T19:26:31.985-04:002012-04-22T19:26:31.985-04:00Unlike @Spacecraft, this Syndi got the blurb, read...Unlike @Spacecraft, this Syndi got the blurb, read it and said something like "You've got to be kidding!" In general, I agree with those who found this puzzle to be reaching for more than I cared to struggle over. Didn't care to see the movie, but I suppose that would have helped. As it was DCTF. Monday, anyone?DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87089464025655730832012-04-22T18:17:57.858-04:002012-04-22T18:17:57.858-04:00Oops, I meant "rebuses", but I think I&#...Oops, I meant "rebuses", but I think I'll just go with rebi.connie in seattlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4201332592108864712012-04-22T18:14:03.664-04:002012-04-22T18:14:03.664-04:00A shout out to fellow Seattle Times solvers - pret...A shout out to fellow Seattle Times solvers - pretty cool that we got two rebusus (rebi?) today, no? Now go out and enjoy that sunshine!!connie in seattlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19546836087470639732012-04-22T15:01:25.866-04:002012-04-22T15:01:25.866-04:00I had most of the theme answers and "special ...I had most of the theme answers and "special squares" filled in when I found myself "dead in the water", so to speak. As an act of desperation I went in search of the "reflection" and circled those letters in hopes of filling in a blank or two. I, mistakenly as it turned out, put a circle in box 77 and when I figured out where I had gone wrong I noticed that the erroneous circle looked like an "O" which was the correct letter to complete OTO/POUFFE! It wasn't the end of my struggles but it did inspire me to keep going.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22679207359146465262012-04-22T13:36:26.582-04:002012-04-22T13:36:26.582-04:00In syndi there was no blurb, so just four pairs of...In syndi there was no blurb, so just four pairs of darkened squares--whose letters I tried every which way to make sense of. I finally gave up and concluded that they simply represented the four smokestacks. After reading Rex's explanation, I just went: "HUH?" Reflection? I still don't understand.<br /><br />Not that the constructor--or Mr. Shortz--would ever WANT me to understand more than five clues in the whole mess! Wow! Our old friend from yesterday DESADE must have written these! Mean and nasty at every turn; FAR too many to even begin listing. Yeah, I managed to finish--with one naticked mistake, at 16. No clue either across or down on that one; I guessed DmOS/mUFI. Thought maybe the latter was an alternate spelling of "mufti," which fits the clue perfectly.<br /><br />You guys need to unscrew your meanness valve a quarter turn or so. Geez!Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1026795160722668942012-04-21T08:23:03.137-04:002012-04-21T08:23:03.137-04:00The only thing I loved about this puzzle was learn...The only thing I loved about this puzzle was learning the verb form of "quail" which was the answer for the clue "cower",124D.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13221730972599735202012-04-17T16:48:37.267-04:002012-04-17T16:48:37.267-04:00I am probably the last one to comment on this puzz...I am probably the last one to comment on this puzzle but after reading all the negativity, I feel I must. I thought it was a wonderful puzzle and I have been doing the Sunday ones for about 30 years, going back to Mr. Maleska. I got the theme fairly early by guessing 56D. My copy did not have any circles so the "fe"s had to found, which made it more interesting. The reflection was a BRIGHT idea. Dr. Fill would be "lost at sea". Did anyone notice the ship sailing direction? Kudos to Mr. Derjohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16259664144002215775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58740848045595827412012-04-17T03:25:41.991-04:002012-04-17T03:25:41.991-04:00...not to mention "Titanic" next to &quo......not to mention "Titanic" next to "At a halt" reading like a wireless message.nurturinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02035395856164817422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12436026265298793982012-04-17T03:21:40.750-04:002012-04-17T03:21:40.750-04:00Yes, LR! 'Iceberg' going down right next t...Yes, LR! 'Iceberg' going down right next to 'lifespan'! Mega bravos, Kevin!nurturinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02035395856164817422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21206594733875862932012-04-16T22:21:05.679-04:002012-04-16T22:21:05.679-04:00Short and simple...I hated this puzzle. I have not...Short and simple...I hated this puzzle. I have nothing more to say...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4276884656621012302012-04-16T16:22:07.144-04:002012-04-16T16:22:07.144-04:00It took longer to solve than it took for the ship ...It took longer to solve than it took for the ship to sink! Clever puzzle tho.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82931851405067650752012-04-16T03:32:50.076-04:002012-04-16T03:32:50.076-04:00Surprising that none of the 109 comments thus far ...Surprising that none of the 109 comments thus far has mentioned yet another small tidbit in the marvelous construction: the ICEBERG at 60D hitting the side of the ship. Wow!LRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47163868247242211072012-04-15T22:36:32.039-04:002012-04-15T22:36:32.039-04:00A slog, but I persevered. Agree with all the comme...A slog, but I persevered. Agree with all the comments about complexity and poor fill. No problem seeing the "reflection" except I was missing the first letter of the phrase since I had no idea about DA FE. Did I say it was a slog...a long slog, I actually considered quitting but...I persevered to come here hoping that Rex wouldn't say it was easy. Whew.<br /><br />I had no problem LOADING the puzzle with the latest Across Lite for Mac Lion, but I had to waste some paper to coax my printer to put out the entire puzzle without cutting off the sides (I always print the Sunday puzzle on 2 pages so I have large squares for rebuses or whatever.<br /><br />Never bothered to see the movie. Read "A Night to Remember" while growing up, that was enough.skua76https://www.blogger.com/profile/15450051465313263422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43479767497531681412012-04-15T21:35:52.991-04:002012-04-15T21:35:52.991-04:00Man, the sheer tonnage of what's wrong with th...Man, the sheer tonnage of what's wrong with this puzzle is what sinks it. Most of all, why is this puzzle about the movie, when today's date, April 15, is the 100th anniversary of the actual sinking? I liked the movie quite a lot, but the emphasis on James Cameron's film strikes me as totally misplaced.<br /><br />Seems like a lot of choices were made at the conceptual stage that should have been rethought completely or jettisoned. Many of the "ultra-clever" features of this "amazingly constructed" puzzle could not be found by many of the solvers on this list, so I can only imagine what the vast majority of solvers are going to think.<br /><br />One example - why the emphasis on iron, even in the title? How is "Grid Iron" an appropriate title for a puzzle about the Titanic? Just recently there have been revelations about the ship's iron rivets, but the ship was made of steel. All ocean liners at that time were made of steel, so what's the point of so much stress on the word iron?<br /><br />So many of the other problems have already been touched on, so I'll just leave it at that. An ambitious puzzle, yes, but one whose impact is (pardon the puns) too muddy and too far below the surface.C Varricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57549261374790257792012-04-15T20:47:25.145-04:002012-04-15T20:47:25.145-04:00clever enough I suppose. Pity a puzzle about the ...clever enough I suppose. Pity a puzzle about the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the ship got hijacked by a puzzle about a movie. When I figured it out and saw "Grid Iron" I thought of "Remember the Titans" and that left me wishing the puzzle-maker had had a classical education.Joe in Montrealnoreply@blogger.com