tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3141746654781835220..comments2024-03-28T08:50:03.524-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Singer/songwriter Scialfa / SAT 9-17-11 / Cause for some spatial relationshipsRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46722030579766671492011-10-24T22:20:18.818-04:002011-10-24T22:20:18.818-04:00Coming to this doubly late. I'm in syndication...Coming to this doubly late. I'm in syndication-land, and I'm only now just getting around to this puzzle.<br /><br />My entry into the puzzle was 23A's RONDO, which eventually begat EDGER which begat EASE which begat INSECTS.<br /><br />Now, there has been little conversation about the cluing for insects, so perhaps people don't remember the <a href="http://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2009/08/shield-border-wednesday-aug-12-2009.html" rel="nofollow">controversy</a> that arose when an identical clue was used for BIRD SEED. Today's puzzle creator, Peter A. Collins, was the co-creator of that puzzle. I liked the fact that he subtly acknowledged the error and put it right. Perhaps he even reads this blog.<br /><br />It's interesting to note that ATLAS is not the only Titan to get an ocean named after him (or her). Depending on what time in geological history one is considering, the answer to "Titan after whom one of the oceans is named" might well be TETHYS. The Tethys Ocean began to exist between Laurasia and Gondwana roughly 250 million years ago. Another Titan-named ocean is the "ancestor" of the Atlantic Ocean, named the Iapetus Ocean because it lay in a roughly equivalent relation to the continents of Lauria and Baltica that the Atlantic Ocean does today between North America and Europe. I just ordered Peter McCarthy's <i>Here Be Dragons</i>, a book from Oxford University Press on biogeography, so I've been thinking about things like this recently.<br /><br />Overall, the puzzle was somewhat on the easy side, but I still enjoyed it.Nullifidianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15207390447020990907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72365555602152074062011-10-23T04:34:13.407-04:002011-10-23T04:34:13.407-04:00Spacecraft here. Hilarious sub-blog! Y'know, I...Spacecraft here. Hilarious sub-blog! Y'know, I think there WAS an alien abduction right out of a Volkswagen Jetta; isn't that what the Hills were in? Anyway, if they went with Bernie, the investment teams surely paid a steep price!<br /> Yesterday three S's lined up; today three N's (CNNNEWS). I find this trendddisturbing.<br /> A CASTE as a division of a HIVE. That's a bit on the stretchy side, methinks. Could not find ROTI anywhere; it simply had to stay there because of crosses. Other Google attempts were successful, and needed to get a jump start on this toughie. But after PATTI, FAITS, APIA and WANG, I negotiated the rest.<br /><br />towboset: Please bring me all the Derek movies there are in your truck.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74087929857481307722011-10-22T17:53:28.140-04:002011-10-22T17:53:28.140-04:00Today's edition of RPDTNYTCWP on this date 5 y...Today's edition of RPDTNYTCWP on this date 5 years ago will consist of a single quote which nicely illustrates how Rex (and software) has evolved:<br />"*The solving time has an asterisk because I solved this puzzle under atypical circumstances. For the first time since I began RPDTNYTCP, I completed the puzzle the evening before its stated release date, during hours when Rex is normally sleeping or reading comics in bed. Rex is a morning person - his brain is freshest from about 6am to noon, then it's serviceable from noon to about 5pm, and then it wants only food and Battlestar Galactica (or similar amusement) until 9 or 10pm, when it starts to Power Down. This is all to say that I solve slower at night. The other mitigating factor was that, again, for the first time since I began This Here Blog, I solved the puzzle On Screen, with the Across Lite application. I type much faster than I write, but I learned (the hard way) that I solve Much faster with pen or pencil than with mouse and keyboard. There's less immediate control over the puzzle's surface with on-screen solving. I mean look at the soul-less, perfectly regular fill on my puzzle - where's the personality? The evidence of struggle? The scribbled exclamations and epithets and EUPHEMISMS (actually, I tend to prefer profanity)? I had to add marginalia after-the-fact, and it just wasn't the same, so I don't think I'll be doing it again. I kept having to toggle between Across and Down clues, and the cursor often didn't seem to be, or go, where I thought it should. So my lack of pleasure in this solving experience was largely self-inflicted. Live and learn."Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39107358533118540582011-10-22T15:08:43.125-04:002011-10-22T15:08:43.125-04:00Hilarious post @Jeffrey.
@Anon B: your posts br...Hilarious post @Jeffrey. <br /><br />@Anon B: your posts brighten my day, since they make me glad I'm not you.<br /><br />Liked the puzzle, probably partly because I finished!Red Valerianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04638265039015470938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66222639970081247902011-10-22T15:05:18.645-04:002011-10-22T15:05:18.645-04:00Patti Scialfa is Bruce Springsteen's wife, not...Patti Scialfa is Bruce Springsteen's wife, not Pete Seger's. Please show some respect for The Boss!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18838312979865103962011-10-22T12:37:55.652-04:002011-10-22T12:37:55.652-04:00Pretty easy for a Saturday I thought. Finished fa...Pretty easy for a Saturday I thought. Finished fairly quickly, but with:<br /><br />Two (2) wrong guesses, one (1) forgot to fill, and one (1) You Mean I've Been Spelling That Wrong For All These Years? Actually, I've just been spelling it VEE DOUBLE U.<br /><br />The autumn wind is a RAIDER. The summer breeze is a NUDIST. And I am outa here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91543386668271426462011-09-21T11:34:37.847-04:002011-09-21T11:34:37.847-04:00Wednesday's puzzle of next week prompted me to...Wednesday's puzzle of next week prompted me to scroll back and post.<br /><br />Finally, a Peter Collins puzzle I liked!Petenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49639698182609789042011-09-18T04:16:40.595-04:002011-09-18T04:16:40.595-04:00See?
EvilSee?<br /><br />Evilevil doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17593231055589228837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21129802980389883692011-09-18T03:53:07.522-04:002011-09-18T03:53:07.522-04:00@crosscan
You've been missed! You used to be ...@crosscan<br />You've been missed! You used to be my fave commenter, what a treat to see you sub!!!<br />Day late and (two) dollars short,<br />(as I bought the paper at the airport), traveling back from St Louis where I danced the hootchie kootchie!<br /><br />(Ironically didn't get aCme, but had been alerted it was in there! Tho there was another shout out of Alexandria, VA, where I was born, and why I'm named Andrea)<br /><br />Tried graMPas for "Grandfathers" which I guess is a little dumb...<br />and put in FERRULE which I thought was a math term.<br /><br />Anyway, liked your write=up, it had a nice riffing "is this thing on?" sort of vibe.<br /><br />Gal on the plane who was doing BEQ's SWA Spirit Mag puzzle asked me if I knew the constructor. When I said yes, she asked how uptight he was or not! Bec she had B--- for "buns", was tempted to write-in BUTT but could not believe how risque that would be!!!!!<br />(If she only knew!)<br />She also missed the theme, even tho there were SIX school names<br />that started phrases (BROWN, DUKE, HOWARD, RICE, and a couple others) AND the puzzle was entitled "SCHOOL OPENINGS". oh well!<br /><br />On a brighter note, American now includes bylines AND what day of the week it was...AND Delta was running a NY Times puzzle with a tiny tiny tiny byline running up the side.<br />NOW the task is to get residuals for this...still shameful not to.<br />What do these airline mags pay to run the puzzle?<br /><br />Anyway, Patrick is hitched to his beloved, a little rain fell for goodluck at the winery with a view to rival Napa.<br />Wedding was fabulous...seemed to be 90% bridal cousins, but the puzzle folk represented!<br />Highlights include getting to do the twist with PuzzleGirl, boogeying (sp?) with Peter Gordon, spending tons of time with Tony O and his wife, Martha (who also braved the arch with me).<br /><br />In other wife news, @Rex's wife continues to be probably the most down-to-earth, charming people with an adorable accent you are ever likely to meet.<br /><br />Didn't even come close to getting @Rex up on the dancefloor but the minister almost got him to drink some mead...and we had a spirited discussion of pangrams! No fisticuffs ensued.<br /><br />Happy to be home.aulani carla michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1499963088883946382011-09-18T00:59:25.812-04:002011-09-18T00:59:25.812-04:00Whoa! Wow! Over a puzzle?Whoa! Wow! Over a puzzle?juststevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18278596350134422478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39590062463892956362011-09-17T22:39:59.335-04:002011-09-17T22:39:59.335-04:00@Crosscan:
Thanks again for brightening up my day....@Crosscan:<br />Thanks again for brightening up my day...and thanks for stopping by this evening!skua76https://www.blogger.com/profile/15450051465313263422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86836307062089803052011-09-17T22:03:17.808-04:002011-09-17T22:03:17.808-04:00@ ANON B (aka Nate), You know buddy, you just don&...@ ANON B (aka Nate), You know buddy, you just don't seem to be in sync here. I have tried to avoid being mean but your voice is nails on the chalkboard. Please do yourself a favor and find some people you like and agree with. The web is a big place. @ Leslie got to the point real well and probably said what lots of folks were thinking. Adios amigo. You left once before you changed your name.Squeeknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7119068982555154092011-09-17T20:37:30.328-04:002011-09-17T20:37:30.328-04:00This will not come as a revelation to most here, b...This will not come as a revelation to most here, but, FWIW, there does exist a NYT crossword blog the mission of which is primarily informational:<br /><br />http://wordplay.blogs.nytimes.com/<br /><br />@anonB, maybe borrow a sock from Orange. It should fit just fine.lit.dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12797499814096426772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55055759236893737512011-09-17T20:34:50.918-04:002011-09-17T20:34:50.918-04:00Thanks for all your comments, positive or negative...Thanks for all your comments, positive or negative. We are just trying to have a little fun as we share our common enjoyment of the New York Times crossword puzzle. I glad many of you liked it, and respect those who were expecting something else. Rex will be back soon enough. <br /><br />Thanks, Rex for the opportunity to take centre stage. Thanks to @Orange for loaning me out from my usual recurring gig on the www.crosswordfiend.com site.<br /><br />Mostly, thanks to Peter Collins and Will Shortz for brightening our Saturday. <br /><br />JeffreyJeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01699404861773455504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59141637620434399362011-09-17T20:03:37.223-04:002011-09-17T20:03:37.223-04:00@anonB...shame on you
reming= to ming again@anonB...shame on you<br /><br />reming= to ming againchefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36154531142837889962011-09-17T19:10:38.196-04:002011-09-17T19:10:38.196-04:00Leslie:
That did seem harsh and unreasonable.
...Leslie:<br /><br />That did seem harsh and unreasonable. <br /><br />To some, Rex offers a serious critique of the puzzle, with insight into both the solving and constructing experience. His humor comes as a byproduct of that.<br /><br />This guy, today, obviously had a comic agenda from the beginning and some of us found it strained and, worse, distracting from that analysis we love so much in Rex.<br /><br />Simply because a guy (he's probably a guy) was frustrated because he felt had by a yukk-ster filling in, well, I don't blame him. I actually finished the puzzle today, so my reading was more of a victory lap. For someone who didn't finish it, I bet it was quite maddening.<br /><br /><br />Anon B: <br /><br />You can't be 'kicked out', at least not to my knowledge. Dissent, especially when it is well-phrased and thoughtful and/or funny is always appreciated, at least by me.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18391847471384798773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66132986210441793932011-09-17T18:59:55.670-04:002011-09-17T18:59:55.670-04:00@Leslie
I hardly ever comment anymore. I
just us...@Leslie <br /><br />I hardly ever comment anymore. I<br />just use Rex's column when I<br />can't solve the puzzle, usually<br />Fridays and Saturdays.<br /> I spent quite a while trying to<br />understand his explanation of the<br />"theme" before giving up. I now<br />understand it. I wasn't expecting<br />cuteness. <br /> By the way (or as you cuties<br />say,BTW)I have sent my contribution to Rex but as far as I'm concerned he can kick me out.ANON Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14907135023660864582011-09-17T18:46:21.499-04:002011-09-17T18:46:21.499-04:00I won't get involved in the War of the Anons. ...I won't get involved in the War of the Anons. Instead, I'll just say: I loved my V...W...JETTA. Best trunk I ever had (it passed the 4 golfbag rule of acceptance). EXEMPTS really was well clued and the 15ers a good test. Thanks, P. Collins, for a perfect Saturday romp.Chip Hiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944056030047563287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80296210604207332402011-09-17T18:39:57.588-04:002011-09-17T18:39:57.588-04:00@two ponies I went to my library today to get a S...@two ponies I went to my library today to get a Stegner...zip, nada. But lotsa books with little stickers that proclaimed they were christian inspired. "Dick" Perry would love it here.M07Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52173481155512927072011-09-17T18:27:28.890-04:002011-09-17T18:27:28.890-04:00Anon B, why don't you just kick your own self ...Anon B, why don't you just kick your own self out and save others the trouble?? What a grouchy, joyless, meanspirited post.Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02037403649642754044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31999245424385671712011-09-17T18:24:58.659-04:002011-09-17T18:24:58.659-04:00@Anonymous at 6:14
I'm not having a bad enou...@Anonymous at 6:14<br /><br /> I'm not having a bad enough day<br />so you have to leave me a cryptic<br />non-message?<br /> Thanks a lot!ANON Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73898778915543493492011-09-17T18:15:50.098-04:002011-09-17T18:15:50.098-04:00Oh my! Jeffrey, a GREAT writeup! Almost as good as...Oh my! Jeffrey, a GREAT writeup! Almost as good as the puzzle, which was fun, completed without errors or googling, unlike yesterday's disaster. Last to fall was the east central, I first tried to write in prEMPTS for 41D, then noticed it didn't fit so it sat there for awhile confusing me. I knew there was a crosswordese word like ROWEL but it took me most of the crosses to find it. Thanks...<br /><br />captcha: stmarime -- patron saint of French sailors?skua76https://www.blogger.com/profile/15450051465313263422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66215899630971482962011-09-17T18:14:17.588-04:002011-09-17T18:14:17.588-04:00@anonb@anonbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88555569172237419462011-09-17T18:00:48.459-04:002011-09-17T18:00:48.459-04:00This 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 6:43, 6:51, 0.98, 47%, Medium<br />Tue 8:15, 8:54, 0.93, 32%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 9:44, 11:50, 0.82, 13%, Easy<br />Thu 20:38, 19:17, 1.07, 69%, Medium-Challenging<br />Fri 27:19, 25:49, 1.06, 63%, Medium-Challenging<br />Sat 27:29, 30:12, 0.91, 28%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:41, 3:40, 1.01, 53%, Medium<br />Tue 4:21, 4:35, 1.00, 56%, Medium<br />Wed 4:36, 5:50, 0.79, 6%, Easy (7th lowest median solve time of 115 Wednesdays)<br />Thu 10:32, 9:24, 1.12, 76%, Medium-Challenging<br />Fri 13:59, 12:46, 1.10, 72%, Medium-Challenging<br />Sat 15:55, 17:14, 0.92, 37%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35437683607901409062011-09-17T18:00:04.997-04:002011-09-17T18:00:04.997-04:00To Jeffrey:
You got me at the beginning with
the...To Jeffrey:<br /> You got me at the beginning with<br />the "Theme" which I couldn't<br />understand until the end when you said there was no theme.<br /> Then in the comments everyone seemed to think it was a great<br />write-up. I kept wondering if they were reading the same one as I did.<br />I will probably get kicked out as<br />a commenter for the following, but<br />I don't care:<br /> This was the worst writeup I have<br />ever read. If Jeffrey never comes back, it will be too soon.<br /> Oh. I forgot. What was that garbage about Aulani? Goodbye!ANON Bnoreply@blogger.com