tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2633254234596864617..comments2024-03-29T11:24:03.304-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Ceremonial military outfit / THU 10-4-12 / Character with tagline Booyakasha / Image on ET poster / WW II general nicknamed bombs away / Director of Witches 1990 / Mobutu Seko African despot / Feature of Mike Wazowski in Monsters Inc / Kato Kaelin portrayer on SNLRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41805237069589317632022-01-01T15:38:14.447-05:002022-01-01T15:38:14.447-05:00The puzzle theme is stellar: hard, but fair (mostl...The puzzle theme is stellar: hard, but fair (mostly). I took this is the moon (which is used as a full word) eclipsing the sun (which is always subsumed in other words, save for the combinatorial "sundae", which I'll grant for the purposes of the theme).<br /><br />For me, Curtis LeMay is a perfectly valid puzzle entry -- perhaps due to my age. Besides being a general, he was a major vice-presidential candidate in the year the analysts feared would give far too much electoral power to George Wallace.<br /><br />My complaint is in the SW, as with many. "ALIG" I could get from the crosses, but had to look up here. MR MIYAGI is well within *my* ambit, but I've been a fan since his recurring role on M*A*S*H. However, the multi-Natick with him, _OEG, and "__AZ" (presuming that everyone got LIGHT ROUE METS AUTH ZEST), simply excludes too many solvers, with no real intellectual benefit once the answers are revealed.Prunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224476641730508311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26097384932528165422012-11-11T00:23:47.653-05:002012-11-11T00:23:47.653-05:00Too tough for a Thursday. All the movies I've ...Too tough for a Thursday. All the movies I've seen about vampires show they can be killed with a wooden stake through the heart. Not IMMORTAL in my book.Thursday/Sunday Fanaticnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37908636705209789152012-11-08T20:24:05.033-05:002012-11-08T20:24:05.033-05:00WOW I loved this puzzle. Took me all day, but the...WOW I loved this puzzle. Took me all day, but the AHA (S) was worth it. @Spacecraft, my evolution in persuit of the various suns was almost identical to yours. I did google ROEG, in the SW, but I did remembered MRMIYAGI of the Karate Kid. <br /><br />Color is in the eye of the beholder, and it is definitely not finite. I spent much of my working life helping folks choose colors in decorating their homes. 'JADE' from yesterday, FERN or even CHOCOLATE can be colors, and yet the sense of them is subjective. <br /><br />Great concept, tough and mind twisting. Thanks Bill Thompson, I really enjoyed solving this gem.Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46359926254524470142012-11-08T17:43:19.072-05:002012-11-08T17:43:19.072-05:00@spacecraft Fawn IS a colour. Just read any PD J...@spacecraft Fawn IS a colour. Just read any PD James book, and it's there. I guess Crayola can call their colours anything they want to, so Fern is OK. There is a colour called Sage, and Moss. I hear that soon there will be a shade of blue called Obama. Enough colouring.<br />Puzzle was excellent, for so many reasons described above by better describers than I. Only because I had heard of Jason Mraz did I get MrMiyaga who started off as a doctor. It is a great feeling when you actually sense that elusive "aha" moment in a rebus puzzle, as I did with "dress uniform" and "moon shot". Lotsa fun.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49498212573384797852012-11-08T17:15:40.509-05:002012-11-08T17:15:40.509-05:00I knew MRMIYAGI but I did not know the singer so I...I knew MRMIYAGI but I did not know the singer so I finished with one blank square and I'm happy to settle for that. The eclipse(s) appeared early in my margin but it took a while to figure out where and how they appeared; the LIGHT finally came on with the nonsensical DRES IFORM in place.<br /><br />69a accurately refers to the fact that FERN has been a Crayola color since 1998, so the clue seems fair enough to me.<br /><br />Speaking of astronomical events, the Leonid meteor shower occurs this month; there should be about 20 meteors per hour when the Earth passes right through the debris trail spread along the orbit of the Comet Tempel in the early morning yours of the 17th. A penumbral lunar eclipse happens on the night of the full moon, also called the Frosty of Beaver moon, on the 28th.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60214255085356764102012-11-08T17:15:26.909-05:002012-11-08T17:15:26.909-05:00I liked it! Had managed to forget about Mraz from...I liked it! Had managed to forget about Mraz from last year, though when I saw the clip that @jae posted above, I realized I'd seen it before--almost certainly at the blog! Anyhow, I either guessed right, since I didn't know Roeg, or the information was somehow in my brain anyhow. Sort of like blindsight.<br /><br />Anyhow, fun, fun solve for me. And you don't seem "grumpy," @DMGrandma. If you didn't like it, well, you didn't like it!Red Valerianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04638265039015470938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58783425323401588242012-11-08T16:29:45.398-05:002012-11-08T16:29:45.398-05:00I'm with @dk, this was not "my cuppa"...I'm with @dk, this was not "my cuppa". Maybe if the note had appeared in my puzzle, I'd have figured out the circled spaces made a word. Kept expecting a reference to them would appear. It didn't, so no help there. Wondered why PAPER din't include the moon part, but never tumbled to the answers crossing the black squares. Then there were all those strange names. Got about three-fourths done and decided I really didn't care anymore. I'm with those who prefer the less gimmicky, figure out the real word puzzles. Didn't mean to be so grumpy, but there it is.DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31553081550944854712012-11-08T16:19:23.168-05:002012-11-08T16:19:23.168-05:00Wow!!
TBOND before TBILL
SNARE before HIHAT
DUCK ...Wow!!<br /><br />TBOND before TBILL<br />SNARE before HIHAT<br />DUCK AND UHOH before ohoh.<br /><br />Oh - and then there Anna Paquin's Oscar- winning performance in (The) Piano at the age of 11 (it seemed to fit better than Paper moon at the time).<br /><br />I don't really understand all of the grumbling with MrMiyagi and Mraz crossing. We saw both of those late last year...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25091425377696096142012-11-08T14:51:34.353-05:002012-11-08T14:51:34.353-05:00Like @5 weeks late, I frown on calling "FERN&...Like @5 weeks late, I frown on calling "FERN" a color--yet was willing to call FawN a color for a while there, thinking "STRAW" for the basket making stuff. Whatever happened to "green?"<br /><br />Had parsing woes at TVAD, but not at ALIG. No matter how you divide those four letters, I have NO IDEA what you're talking about. That was forced in on crosses and left there with a shrug.<br /><br />Moving up from the S/SW gimmes of IAMA (ugh!) and GEEK to get the marvelous entry MRMIYAGI, I saw "Actress Davis." I remember Bette, but happen to be a huge fan of GEENA. Loved her work in "Quick Change," a fun flick if you've never seen it--featuring a socko bit role by Tony Shaloub as a cab driver who only speaks ???-ian. "Bluftoni. BLUFTONI!!" I can hear the director telling him, "Just make up a word. Say anything. Just bluff, Tony!"<br /><br />Anyway, back to DERGROUND, so I was assuming the missing UN-. When I got to the north, there was IFORM, so that was reinforced. I had yet to figure out that I hadn't gone far enough. Then in the west, I couldn't grok 45a. The crosses wanted GOE--then I pulled back a few inches and the (sun)LIGHT came on! Now I understood why there was no room for MOON in the O'Neal film title ("Got two tens for a five?")<br /><br />Brilliantly executed IDEA there, (T)BILL! I agree with the m-c rating, but managed a correct solve sans help. What's not to like? OHOH, IDIO, ADIN. For the result,I gotta cut ya some slack. Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10938843824988160302012-11-08T12:51:57.266-05:002012-11-08T12:51:57.266-05:00Since I solve in syndication, I usually find it us...Since I solve in syndication, I usually find it useless to comment. But, having not noticed anyone commenting on what struck me this time, I thought I would submit something today.<br /><br />Nobody wrote a word about FERN. I'm a guy. FERN is not a color, it's a plant. And since there are many kinds of ferns with varying shades of green, exactly which shade is FERN?5 weeks latenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49207330284111902952012-11-08T12:44:20.904-05:002012-11-08T12:44:20.904-05:00This is one clever & terrific puzz, but I must...This is one clever & terrific puzz, but I must admit the SW corner did me in. I had Roeg, auth, zest and light and no MRM. Hats off to those who knew Mr Miyagi. Hope never to see his name again. Reminds me of that old Al Capp character Joe Sprfxxt?.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39272004816623040892012-10-06T17:54:23.648-04:002012-10-06T17:54:23.648-04:00@johnranta: "Idiographic" is indeed a wo...@johnranta: "Idiographic" is indeed a word (and not the same as "ideograph"). I know b/c your comment prompted me to look it up. Dictionary first; whine after. Just catching up...noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56036699119724188132012-10-05T23:07:12.992-04:002012-10-05T23:07:12.992-04:00It is not "idiographic". That's just...It is not "idiographic". That's just wrong. It's "ideo". Who cares how clever the rest of your puzzle is, if you have to misspell words? jrjohnrantahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18348548766177225135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71782309280927432502012-10-05T23:05:54.330-04:002012-10-05T23:05:54.330-04:00It is not "idiographic". That's just...It is not "idiographic". That's just wrong. It's "ideo". Who cares how clever the rest of your puzzle is, if you have to misspell words? jrjohnrantahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18348548766177225135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88521747399413685292012-10-05T08:07:10.606-04:002012-10-05T08:07:10.606-04:00@michael - right. I knew three of the six as well....@michael - right. I knew three of the six as well. But since two of the three I don't know were spread out, fair enough. I lucked out in that the SW had two that I knew. The issue is the pile-up, not the relative obscurity of any single clue. All six are well known enough.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32646995609977149382012-10-05T00:03:28.884-04:002012-10-05T00:03:28.884-04:00This 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 5:57, 6:47, 0.87, 5%, Easy (9th lowest median solve time of 169 Mondays)<br />Tue 9:14, 8:57, 1.03, 64%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 13:28, 11:51, 1.14, 82%, Challenging<br />Thu 22:23, 18:51, 1.18, 82%, Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:23, 3:41, 0.92, 16%, Easy<br />Tue 5:03, 4:40, 1.08, 76%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 6:45, 5:57, 1.13, 84%, Challenging<br />Thu 12:33, 9:23, 1.34, 90%, Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65725884800655910102012-10-04T23:38:01.564-04:002012-10-04T23:38:01.564-04:00@z All I can say is that I know Iggy Pop, Rimksy ...@z All I can say is that I know Iggy Pop, Rimksy Korsakov, and Alvin Ailey and I don't know Mr. Miyagi, Roeg, and Mraz.<br /><br /> I have no idea of the general knowledge of solvers of these six names.<br />michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79103238335136401142012-10-04T20:05:35.579-04:002012-10-04T20:05:35.579-04:00Let's be clear about the issue in the SW - it ...Let's be clear about the issue in the SW - it is not any of the individual names, all of which are at least as well known as yesterday's IGGY Pop or Tuesday's RIMSKY KORSAKOV or Monday's ALVIN AILEY. The issue is the pile up of them all in one smallish corner. Tossing in the METS clued by their team colors seems a bit much to me. Nevertheless, this is still a great Thursday.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45573706675848569072012-10-04T19:39:50.950-04:002012-10-04T19:39:50.950-04:00The theme is terrific, but I was one of the appare...The theme is terrific, but I was one of the apparently many done in by Mr, Miyagi, Roeg, and Mraz. I'm usually great on names, but not this time...michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18142882803965227282012-10-04T19:31:08.042-04:002012-10-04T19:31:08.042-04:00@Doc John
How can you say the circles for ECLIPSE ...@Doc John<br />How can you say the circles for ECLIPSE were unneeded when you needed them, and I needed them???!!!<br />Without the word ECLIPSE I'd never have gotten the SE corner.<br />Plus it's more than an extra dollop...They are in order and mimic the arc of the Moon crossing over the Sun!!!<br /><br />I really think anyone who felt disappointed might take another look at the completed grid and see how the balanced missing MOONs blocked out the S-U-N and that there were four phrases with SUN and that they could be placed symmetrically!!!!!<br /><br />This is one of those puzzles that is not just "new school" and some weird gimmick and brilliant construction trumping icky puzzle!<br />The fill had HOOSEGOW (Thanks @oldActor for that cool Spanish explanation...again why I read this blog! That and for my edification about who LEMAY was...) and CHOCOLATE and HIHAT...lots to love.<br /><br />Granted, name pile up in SW that clearly did a lot of folks in, but not enough to shade the brilliance and fun of this puzzle!!!<br /><br />@dk<br />Seriously, look at the completed puzzle ( so your negative feelings do not skew your own results!) and let it sink in slowly what Bill Thompson did and I'll bet you and those who didn't originally get it or naysayers will end up loving it even begrudgingly!acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74344087854939979842012-10-04T19:30:19.291-04:002012-10-04T19:30:19.291-04:00@Bob Kerfuffle - How super that you got to see &qu...@Bob Kerfuffle - How super that you got to see "Lawrence" on the big screen! Some fascinating lore about the cinematographer, Freddie Young, and his work with David Lean <a href="http://www.cinematographers.nl/GreatDoPh/young.htm" rel="nofollow">here</a> (scroll down for "Lawrence").Carolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971759975067250908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74281375843690344832012-10-04T19:11:40.232-04:002012-10-04T19:11:40.232-04:00@Rl Squasher - Yep - tried to find me ein Berliner...@Rl Squasher - Yep - tried to find me ein Berliner. No luck. Schade.Loren Muse Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05308030011870397977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50504545707508444282012-10-04T18:47:02.564-04:002012-10-04T18:47:02.564-04:00@A Not so Famous Astronomer -- You said, "You...@A Not so Famous Astronomer -- You said, "You know the technical term for when the sun is directly in front of the moon, and it isn't an ECLIPSE. Those in the know call it daytime."<br /><br />Actually, if the sun were in front of the moon, as viewed from Earth, we would all be toast. But don't worry, it can't happen, because the diameter of the sun is more than twice the distance between Earth and the Moon.<br /><br />BTW, speaking of Nicholas ROEG, I just saw the newly digitized version of Lawrence of Arabia this afternoon. Fabulous movie, gorgeous visual quality, and I noticed Nicholas Roeg listed as a second unit cameraman or something (those credits go so fast!) <br />Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66798198294396663752012-10-04T17:14:47.488-04:002012-10-04T17:14:47.488-04:00This was maybe my favorite Thursday puzzle of the ...This was maybe my favorite Thursday puzzle of the year. I didn't find it medium. I found it hard as hell. I started down the wrong path by thinking the the four dashes (not the black square next to them) represented the "four locations".<br /><br />Anyway, it was a real poser. But I loved the challenge.<br /><br />Thanks Will and great work Bill.Kurthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15015697522634469827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6339574198662747632012-10-04T16:58:44.525-04:002012-10-04T16:58:44.525-04:00Started out with a bad taste due to the presence o...Started out with a bad taste due to the presence of random circles. Although the theme was interesting, I think that unless you can make the circles more uniform, they should be left out. In this case, they weren't really needed (but their presence did help me get the last S and E).<br />I also call a Natick at you know where. Two relatively unknown, hard to deduce names. Blecch. <br />Otherwise, I'll go along with what Rex and other commenters have said. Doc Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.com