tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3302822759615294446..comments2024-03-28T12:21:54.935-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Gunderson on Simpsons / MON 5-19-14 / Frozen structure that facilitates animal migration / Former Senate minority whip Jon / Cylindrical alternative to French fries / Extremely cool in slangRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71152166298845183072014-06-23T18:04:41.848-04:002014-06-23T18:04:41.848-04:00I liked it - only the OFFTHEHOOK/KESEY cross was a...I liked it - only the OFFTHEHOOK/KESEY cross was a total guess as "slang" can pretty arbitrary. Mini-theme involving getting out of bed, with STIR, AWOKE and RISE, all probably happening at DAWNS. It's hard to sleep in with that dang RAVEN outside the window.<br /><br />@Z - your comment makes me think I need to start opening my junk-mail on the off-chance an ACME puzzle may be in the offing - I would hate to miss one of those!<br /><br />'BYE!Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11355041413883679682014-06-23T13:57:54.414-04:002014-06-23T13:57:54.414-04:00Beyond stumbling over the spelling of COLOSSEUM, I...Beyond stumbling over the spelling of COLOSSEUM, I nailed this one, but then I still treasure my rotary phone. You have no idea how it amazes and amuses the younger crowd! Must confess I did have to get one of those modern things so I can call those people who insist you push a bunch of buttons before they'll talk to you,and that only after "a voice" has announced somebody may be listening in. If they can hire someone to listen in, why don't they just answer the phone? Bah humbug!DMGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33630743712073007762014-06-23T11:08:12.197-04:002014-06-23T11:08:12.197-04:00ICK NYAH ORSK: OHWOW, AWFUL! So no, the fill is no...ICK NYAH ORSK: OHWOW, AWFUL! So no, the fill is not without its blemishes, but there is a lot to like. SYMBIOSIS, even though using three S's, is a word you don't stumble across every day. I also liked the other nines.<br /><br />OFFTHEHOOK, while certainly "in the language," is certainly NOT "extremely cool" in any language I've ever heard. To me it's "relieved of responsibility."<br /><br />Unusual to find a near-natick on a Monday: SA_O/_IL. Sorry, but you're gonna get me every time with "Simpsons" references; the humor there never did appeal to me and I never got into it. I was just lucky that I thought I dimly recalled "SAGO" as some kind of tree, so I went with it.<br /><br />INSUM, an OK Monday. BYE, see ya tomorrow.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10503718785914769502014-05-19T22:35:04.970-04:002014-05-19T22:35:04.970-04:00It's always nice, in that "I'm glad I...It's always nice, in that "I'm glad I'm not an idiot" way, when @sanfranman59's numbers confirm my 8:00 am take on the puzzle's difficulty. Now, can I prove I'm not a robot?Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50027453107007337262014-05-19T22:11:31.807-04:002014-05-19T22:11:31.807-04:00This 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 7:57, 6:04, 1.31, 100%, Challenging (2nd highest ratio of 229 Mondays)<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 4:59, 3:57, 1.26, 99%, Challenging (3rd highest ratio of 229 Mondays)<br /><br />An Easy-Medium Tuesday puzzle.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75918703338299665592014-05-19T21:37:36.379-04:002014-05-19T21:37:36.379-04:00@Answer Man - Thanks! I don't know why I was t...@Answer Man - Thanks! I don't know why I was thinking today was a 6 PM day.Scarabnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78644005777171514992014-05-19T20:40:36.730-04:002014-05-19T20:40:36.730-04:00@Scarab- Try again after 10 pm eastern.@Scarab- Try again after 10 pm eastern.The Answer Mannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25182564318065574012014-05-19T20:29:04.350-04:002014-05-19T20:29:04.350-04:00Magmic is still showing this one instead of Tuesda...Magmic is still showing this one instead of Tuesday. Is it just me?Scarabnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33404993261833111442014-05-19T20:09:33.287-04:002014-05-19T20:09:33.287-04:00I think that New Mexico's teams are the lobos,...I think that New Mexico's teams are the lobos, and I am a big college basketball fan, so that was no problem for me. "Off the hook" was, though; have never heard that phrase used to mean anything other than "no longer required to do something." Unusually tough Monday for me, but still enjoyed it. Nice puzzle. (Like many others, had erasures at ORSK and TZU)<br />I did not get to comment over the weekend, but I loved the Saturday puzzle.OISKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808675378318214461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68222708538423663232014-05-19T19:24:20.651-04:002014-05-19T19:24:20.651-04:00I'll join others in giving the fill high marks...I'll join others in giving the fill high marks. SYMBIOSIS & DAPPER DAN were my favorites.<br /><br />I thought the theme execution, on the other hand, was subpar, to put it mildly. Two of the themers, PHONE IT IN & OFF THE HOOK (as in "You got a busy signal because I left the receiver OFF THE HOOK") were free-standing phone related phrases.<br /><br />Two of the other themers, RING A BELL & DIAL IT DOWN, only had one word, and the third themer, WHATS THE HANG UP, had two words, and all of these are in otherwise phone-unrelated phrases.<br /><br />Also DIAL & RING are at the beginning of their phrases while HANG UP is at the end of its phrase.<br /><br />So, unless I'm missing something, there seems to be a lot of looseness, almost disjointedness to the theme execution to me.Anoa Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16185183023273883700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58315951034649729072014-05-19T18:52:11.738-04:002014-05-19T18:52:11.738-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Leapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38737706521716031952014-05-19T17:26:19.922-04:002014-05-19T17:26:19.922-04:00@anonymous 4:44:
Thanx for the inspiration!...
ww...@anonymous 4:44:<br />Thanx for the inspiration!...<br /><br />www.xwordinfo.com/Solve?id=3608&id2=634<br /><br />M&AM and Alsonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17538356603813786632014-05-19T16:44:32.831-04:002014-05-19T16:44:32.831-04:00@M&A
Favourite potential clue: Sleeping pig s...@M&A<br /><br />Favourite potential clue: Sleeping pig sounds = ZZZZOINKS!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20253539971001277572014-05-19T15:09:04.760-04:002014-05-19T15:09:04.760-04:00In our local paper we have a crossword puzzle ever...In our local paper we have a crossword puzzle every day by Thomas Joseph. They are very easy. Todays was really fun. You all might like it. I don't know hoe to imbed but here is the link<br /><br />http://comicskingdom.com/joseph-interactive-crossword/2014-05-19chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49472524216139066402014-05-19T14:50:32.865-04:002014-05-19T14:50:32.865-04:00@Numinous - Get well soon, we're all pulling f...@Numinous - Get well soon, we're all pulling for you.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67543226143726105812014-05-19T14:36:46.325-04:002014-05-19T14:36:46.325-04:00Challenging for a Monday, no question. I saw that ...Challenging for a Monday, no question. I saw that long 40-A and confidently wrote in WHATSKEEPINGYOU, thinking that was going to give me a lot of help with the crosses in that vicinity. It worked in part, but proved untenable for most of the crosses. Never heard of ORSK but never heard of ICEBMIDGE either, so figured it had to be correct. Thought for a while the theme might be sleep, because of the clues for 33-A, 51-A, 69-A, and even 65-A. Had some trouble replacing my initial IRS at 40-A with CPA -- the work of a CPA is of course taxing but I was thinking of "taxing" as a gerund instead of as an adjective.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22706320270955683272014-05-19T14:16:23.162-04:002014-05-19T14:16:23.162-04:00@Numinous: sincere getwell wishes. I recommend ho...@Numinous: sincere getwell wishes. I recommend homemade darkchocolate chip oatmeal cookies. After a multiple-month regimen of those before the big physical exam, my doc asked, "wow, have you been workin out?"<br /><br />@muse: r.alph is right. Just output a .puz file to your computer, any old way you can. Not necessary to use Across-Fright to do it, it's just the way el cheapo del M and Ao does it. So, Then follow my later steps, startin with pay Jeff Chen $20 bucks. <br />Let the chant begin... Muse runtpuz... Muse runtpuz...<br /><br />@63: primo writeup. Puz enjoyment looks good on U.<br /><br />fave moo-cow MonPuz clue: "Pig sounds" = OINKS.<br /><br />fave word: RARED. Luv it. Cousin of BARNED.<br />honrable mention to: NYAH. Sorta like Putin Breath startin to say no, then seein the light.<br /><br />fave weeject: KYL. Too bad it's someone's name. Otherwise, could have some great desperate-double-??-like clues for it. ("___ Byl", etc.)<br /><br />M&A<br />Masked and Anonymo3Usnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86606272262987613202014-05-19T13:41:47.561-04:002014-05-19T13:41:47.561-04:00Excellent but tough Monday! Agree with Rex's w...Excellent but tough Monday! Agree with Rex's write-up word for word.<br /><br />@Numinous: so sorry! Get better soon.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1566564702604704532014-05-19T13:37:00.210-04:002014-05-19T13:37:00.210-04:00@Leapy, transmogrification is one of my useful abi...<br />@Leapy, transmogrification is one of my useful abilities. Sorry to hear about your cousin in Budapest. If you find yourself in NYC, you should try <a href="http://andrescafeny.com/" rel="nofollow">Andre's Café</a> for some down-home sounds and tastes.<br /><br />@Clark, I agree that LOBO was a bit of a low blow for a Monday, however it is a fairly common name for the gray or timber wolf of the western U.S.<br />AliasZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477396362209386037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18672894172845728092014-05-19T13:19:59.202-04:002014-05-19T13:19:59.202-04:00What made this puzz more challenging (for a Monda...What made this puzz more challenging (for a Monday) was the disconnect between some of the clues and the fill, e.g., a40' a52a24 to name a few. The cross of d4 and a14 heeled me up; likewise d41and a49. But it was fun anyway and I managed to avoid a DNF With only a.couple of erasures and one good guess ( Gunderson.)LaneBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6091741085435301912014-05-19T13:19:24.869-04:002014-05-19T13:19:24.869-04:00@Numinous: As someone who has suffered from lifel...@Numinous: As someone who has suffered from lifelong severe asthma and persistent respiratory infections, I can definitely sympathize. It's so hard during the worst times of not being able to breathe. Sounds like you are relaxed, though, which is the most important thing. Get well and make sure they give you foods which don't cause inflammation or mucus overproduction. (Dairy is particularly bad in that regard.)Benkonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60282165885919669122014-05-19T12:54:02.930-04:002014-05-19T12:54:02.930-04:00Didn't know LOBO and am a terrible speller so ...Didn't know LOBO and am a terrible speller so the second vowel of COLOSSEUM was not evident to me. DNF on a monday. Oh, the humiliation!<br /><br />So LOBO is the Spanish and Portuguese word for wolf. Why is this not somehow hinted at in the clue? That seems very late week (not just Tues or Wed).Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17459992224851404501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66260457527144266782014-05-19T12:32:10.504-04:002014-05-19T12:32:10.504-04:00Five K's, three on the East Coast. This could...Five K's, three on the East Coast. This could have been a Special K puzzle.<br /><br />Sending healing thoughts your way, Numinous.<br /><br />I had ICh for ICK, thinking "what an awful word to put in a puzzle with that clue" -- it's just so ugly. Could be a Natick to one who doesn't know the senator, and was for me.Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81285623658448190522014-05-19T12:29:28.987-04:002014-05-19T12:29:28.987-04:00Everyone see the google logo today????Everyone see the google logo today????chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91362921957425992492014-05-19T12:22:28.413-04:002014-05-19T12:22:28.413-04:00@AliasZ
Well, well, well. So AliasZ hides low. A ...@AliasZ<br /><br />Well, well, well. So AliasZ hides low. A most satisfying reunion. Had feared you decorporealized, and am mightily pleased to find you merely transmogrified.<br /><br />I'll make a concerted attempt on the avatar front, but you may recall it required the best efforts of an entire cadre to see me through my initial attempt. It took me ages to clear the cows after they had all come home. Turns out my problem was I'd been clicking on the thumbnail instead of the photo proper. I'm still such a newbie in many respects.<br /><br />Sadly, my cousin passed away in Budapest just about a year ago, so I haven't taken the No. 7 local lately. There's a little Roumanian/Israeli-owned food shop with a fabulous selection & extremely low prices on Queens Blvd near 46th St. that I've missed mightily. Among other things.<br /><br />CsokolomLeapfingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243620614139990887noreply@blogger.com