tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3046692326938479812..comments2024-03-28T10:42:53.701-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Some canapé picks / SUN 4-27-14 / Mop's commercial partner / Prankster's patsy / Catchy pop ditties / Hindu part of Indonesia / William who played Hopalong Cassidy / Houston pro informallyRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90349848153450706202014-05-04T16:55:52.755-04:002014-05-04T16:55:52.755-04:00Regarding those who are offended by the word sieg....Regarding those who are offended by the word sieg...I have an intelligent and talented friend who said to me not long ago, "I wish the Jews would stop whining about the Holocaust." Now that's offensive.IdahoConnienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30896948613723164122014-05-04T16:21:22.952-04:002014-05-04T16:21:22.952-04:00I caught on to the theme pretty early, only fell f...I caught on to the theme pretty early, only fell for a couple of misdirects (ShakeS, certainly, and a dEb had a ball at my country club), and anything ...LICKETYSPLIT always makes me smile. (I will omit any mention of ORAL tradition out of sensitivity to the sensibilities of others who may be offended by such things.)<br /><br />@spacy and @rainy must have used up all the 6s and 9s - I fold.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61191635403125908962014-05-04T15:22:34.230-04:002014-05-04T15:22:34.230-04:00Let's ban SIEG from all crosswords. Furthermor...Let's ban SIEG from all crosswords. Furthermore, let's ban it from use anywhere, including Deutschland. There are a few more words that should be banned, too. And some books.<br /> <br />The ecdysiast TOOKOFF her SHIRT and exposed her FRONTS, bared her BUTT, and ran RANLICKETYSPLIT into 97D bringing about SEISMS. It was the COOLEST, MAN. <br /><br />IKON was klunky.<br /><br />Uber all, it was a funpuz, John. Danke.<br /><br />Twos over eights. @Spacy takes the pot.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87343938576566815282014-05-04T13:34:00.575-04:002014-05-04T13:34:00.575-04:00This was a fun, theme-rich, relatively eseless Sun...This was a fun, theme-rich, relatively eseless Sunday. I got most of the themers right off, except, notably, leftTHE SCENE, and getting the Q took some time (nice crossing, that). PURVIEW was humbling as I had ...IEW and said to myself, "there's no word that ends in IEW". <br /><br />I have to say, though, that the surrounding entries seemed almost deliberately designed to help the stupid solver, ie, me. <br /><br />In the end, and it was pretty quick for a Sunday, I have to declare SIEG, and that doesn't bother me.<br /><br />Now I will MOVE ON to other things, and among them will not be other puzzles that @Rex directs me to.<br /><br />er, @Spacey, what's this obsession with 6's and 9's?<br />Whoops--9's full of 6's here. You win.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36172841739687757242014-05-04T11:50:27.369-04:002014-05-04T11:50:27.369-04:00Now and then a puzzle comes along that makes me wi...Now and then a puzzle comes along that makes me wish for an old, wimpy pencil--with an eraser, even--instead of this messy pen. My north central looks like a dog's breakfast. Naturally, catchy pop ditties are EARworms, right? Then when my demolitionist BLEWTHEscene, I was in a bit of trouble. After a while I found a CANDY JOINT, two aha! moments.<br /><br />Farther down, I never went to Pratt, so didn't know which degree one might get there: thus the very common MbAS, yielding bLEWTHECOOP. Hmm, that didn't sound right. Wasn't it FLEW? Oh, yeah, and we are now Masters of Fine Arts rather than Business Administration. So THAT's Pratt's.<br /><br />Down in the SE my tremors were, of course Shakes. Weren't everybody's? OSHA looked OK for 98a before reading the clue, but the rest of it, like the music at that store in McLean's ditty, "wouldn't play." So GHostly had to become GHASTLY, between continents had to be the old ASEA--and the Shakes morphed into SEISMS. All better.<br /><br />I liked it; especially those shorter, almost throw-away themers TOOKOFF, BEATIT, CUTOUT and MOVEDON. Don't know if QUITTHESCENE has many real-life references; BLEW seems more natural, but that was used already. All in all a fun do--even if the finished product looks like it was put together with DUCTTAPE.<br /><br />If there's such a thing as a super-full house, then I have one with four 9's and three 6's.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75795469963694726942014-05-04T10:41:01.892-04:002014-05-04T10:41:01.892-04:00I get the puzzle a week late so almost no one will...I get the puzzle a week late so almost no one will see this, but to all those who were offended by sieg I am offended. That means that you can't say any thing ever again in case you might offend me.<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38115073916260460272014-04-27T21:58:45.205-04:002014-04-27T21:58:45.205-04:00@Orange I beg to differ about HEIL being an unacc...@Orange I beg to differ about HEIL being an unacceptable word. <br /><br />Victory to me!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04983081176623722693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81814445236690282602014-04-27T21:42:53.563-04:002014-04-27T21:42:53.563-04:00Rex, please don't reveal things about your con...Rex, please don't reveal things about your contenders for puzzle of the week. I'd rather try those without knowing anything about them ahead of time. R. Dukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09734441437704459414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82924532847218495222014-04-27T20:45:55.036-04:002014-04-27T20:45:55.036-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 8/1/2009 post for an explanation and my 10/15/2012 post for an explanation of a tweak I've made to my method. 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 6:07, 6:04, 1.01, 59%, Medium<br />Tue 6:42, 8:16, 0.81, 4%, Easy (8th lowest ratio of 228 Tuesdays)<br />Wed 12:08, 10:13, 1.19, 88%, Challenging<br />Thu 16:25, 18:08, 0.90, 31%, Easy-Medium<br />Fri 19:45, 21:15, 0.93, 37%, Easy-Medium<br />Sat 22:17, 26:36, 0.84, 16%, Easy<br />Sun 25:14, 29:32, 0.85, 22%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:45, 3:58, 0.95, 19%, Easy<br />Tue 4:19, 5:07, 0.85, 4%, Easy (10th lowest ratio of 228 Tuesdays)<br />Wed 7:19, 6:14, 1.17, 88%, Challenging<br />Thu 9:28, 10:44, 0.88, 25%, Easy-Medium<br />Fri 11:06, 12:18, 0.90, 28%, Easy-Medium<br />Sat 15:27, 16:39, 0.93, 34%, Easy-Medium<br />Sun 18:10, 20:23, 0.89, 25%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5063519506068598962014-04-27T20:28:49.319-04:002014-04-27T20:28:49.319-04:00Crossword....OK (Hi Orange)
Comments....Bleh
@Ques...Crossword....OK (Hi Orange)<br />Comments....Bleh<br />@Questinia and @M&A...funnierthanhell.GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36287699800764207162014-04-27T19:48:36.121-04:002014-04-27T19:48:36.121-04:00William BOYD. Gimme of a lifetime here. First tw...William BOYD. Gimme of a lifetime here. First two-wheeler was a Hopalong Cassidy 20-incher: all black frame, white sidewall tires, with black and white streamers flowing from white handlebar grips. I never became a car nut because no Corvette or Porsche could steal my heart like that Hoppy Schwinn.Mohair Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502840715719161565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33963343979838169882014-04-27T19:07:46.155-04:002014-04-27T19:07:46.155-04:00@ Benko, Baloo has Buddha-nature.@ Benko, Baloo has Buddha-nature.Questiniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06225633428852696530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69793151351358781022014-04-27T19:05:36.776-04:002014-04-27T19:05:36.776-04:00@Anon5:16/5:52 - Clearer. Thanks.@Anon5:16/5:52 - Clearer. Thanks.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74930763346901398382014-04-27T18:29:07.560-04:002014-04-27T18:29:07.560-04:00I like this blog because it isn't a bunch of a...I like this blog because it isn't a bunch of angry people arguing over politics and hurling vituperative bits of spit at theirs screens. And um the puzzle stuff is fun too. There are regulars who seem like mini blogs in and of themselves (you know who you are, big thanks) and Rex, a semi benevolent puzzle blogging despot. When the occasionally offended or spoiling-for-a-fight people pop in, they just seem like those drivers who cut you off on the freeway, disconcerting but gone in a flashJDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17281717752118151421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2906580697879273672014-04-27T18:20:15.417-04:002014-04-27T18:20:15.417-04:00The vocal minority really pisses me off. Get a gr...The vocal minority really pisses me off. Get a grip people, move on. If you actually gave s shit about anybody but yourselves you would be across the ocean without electricity or the NYT.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66040715767123236362014-04-27T18:11:03.485-04:002014-04-27T18:11:03.485-04:00@anonymous 552: Conversely, why should people who...@anonymous 552: Conversely, why should people who aren't offended be discouraged from telling people "with delicate sensibilities" their own views? Isn't that free speech too?Benkonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29150596984697727412014-04-27T17:52:07.756-04:002014-04-27T17:52:07.756-04:00@z
Thank you for reading my post twice. I was TRY...@z<br /><br />Thank you for reading my post twice. I was TRYING to say that there seems to be a culture of intolerance that exists in this blog community (and probably in most others) which does not allow for people with "delicate sensibilities".... i.e., "People with overly delicate sensibilities should not telling others what's acceptable," which was just posted at 5:40. To wit, why should be people with "delicate sensibilities" be discouraged from voicing their opinions - or, more to the point - as soon as anyone is discouraged from expressing his/her opinion, that is the beginning of True Censorship. <br /><br />Does this make any sense?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45481753187448362672014-04-27T17:50:01.271-04:002014-04-27T17:50:01.271-04:00As to Posey, we here in San Francisco (named after...As to Posey, we here in San Francisco (named after the man from ASSISI)know, and admire, Buster, never heard of Parker. My terrier, Buster, is the best ball player on Bernal Heights, one of the many hills in this town.Fred Romagnolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11994837736408182418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56075367094680318732014-04-27T17:40:39.915-04:002014-04-27T17:40:39.915-04:00YECCH - a regionalism? A variant? Does it equate...YECCH - a regionalism? A variant? Does it equate with YUCKIE? Does everybody accept it? Am I the only one to question it? I'm with the ones who say fuggedaboutit on SIEG. People with overly delicate sensibilities should not telling others what's acceptable.Fred Romagnolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11994837736408182418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52130530056509315402014-04-27T17:40:20.550-04:002014-04-27T17:40:20.550-04:00@anon5:16 - Huh? Read your post twice and have no ...@anon5:16 - Huh? Read your post twice and have no idea what your point is.<br /><br />I learned today that SIEG means "victory" in German and that a whole lot of smart people have a different understanding than I do of the difference between "painful" and "offensive." Implied threats of another kristallnacht - offensive. Being reminded that Man is capable of great evil towards his fellow men and women - painful.<br /><br />I'm in the camp that finds SIEG crossworthy (indeed, better than the tired alternatives suggested) and wonder if those on the other side really mean to argue that ignorance is bliss, or if I'm over thinking their objections.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24516523288573293442014-04-27T17:37:42.226-04:002014-04-27T17:37:42.226-04:00@Orange, thank you. I did ask for it. In my defens...@Orange, thank you. I did ask for it. In my defense, I was a few adult beverages in. Something happened to my filter as well as my punctuation. <br /><br />Diet would have been much, much better. Moly Shuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08469710317471610093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86360137948547814192014-04-27T17:16:25.630-04:002014-04-27T17:16:25.630-04:00@Evan
"Look at all those real words! But SI...@Evan<br /> "Look at all those real words! But SIEG!? No. No on foreign grounds, as well as no on Hitlerian grounds. Big fat no."......<br /><br />Folks, those who discourage people from reacting to the use of specific words (to be honest, this may pertain to ANY word, within reason) and argue that these "reactors" are in fact "censors", are nothing but the epitome of effective censorship themselves: that is, when a community makes it "uncool" or "unacceptable" for someone to voice his/her opinion, this community limits the open and honest exchange of ideas. <br /><br /><br />and argue this "censorship"<br />limits free speech are the very epitome <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46005861966671677112014-04-27T16:53:35.201-04:002014-04-27T16:53:35.201-04:00...... They were also known as "The Disast-S......... They were also known as "The Disast-Stros" for many years as well! wreckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08797908615185213756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55313929259574268592014-04-27T15:51:22.341-04:002014-04-27T15:51:22.341-04:00My Houston buddies have called them them "Th...My Houston buddies have called them them "The Stros" since at least the 70's.<br />Nice, puzzle - fairly easy for me.wreckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08797908615185213756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27634028018784417192014-04-27T15:17:11.823-04:002014-04-27T15:17:11.823-04:00@Questinia:
BALOO answered, "CRÜE!"@Questinia:<br />BALOO answered, "CRÜE!"Benkonoreply@blogger.com