tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3398901898652769668..comments2024-03-29T03:22:09.826-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Onetime snake venom antidote — SATURDAY, Dec. 26 2009 — Gracklelike bird / 1999 Oscar nominee for both direction screenwriting / Apres-midi precederRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71289838696874490182022-06-21T08:36:29.049-04:002022-06-21T08:36:29.049-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Ryan Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10168366168214902872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7096833371831069212010-01-31T13:35:00.934-05:002010-01-31T13:35:00.934-05:00Unfortnately another too-challenging-and-thus-bori...Unfortnately another too-challenging-and-thus-boring Saturday for me... Got through about 50% and then was like, "eh, I've got better things to do..." The NE fell first for me, no prob. Wanted COVERACT instead of LIVEJAZZ, and FERRAL instead of INHEAT (except for the fact that it's FERAL with one R), etc. etc. etc.MikeinSTLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46480627198613339562010-01-31T00:30:50.737-05:002010-01-31T00:30:50.737-05:00Startled by some of the coments. Bao Dai was for m...Startled by some of the coments. Bao Dai was for me a SUPER-Gimme, and should be for anyone who lived through the Vietnam War era. He was the last emperor of Vietnam, and chose to run for the presidency of Vietnam in the election held after Dien Bien Phu and the French withdrawal. He was defeated when Ngo Dien Diem got more votes than there were eligible voters ... and the resultant legitimacy problems of the South Vietnamese government were central to the political quagmire that Vietnam became. The story of the rigged election was retold in the media about twice a month through the entire Vietnam war ... it was pretty hard for members of my generation not to know who Bao Dai was!Dalenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90043998905723088762010-01-30T15:27:01.690-05:002010-01-30T15:27:01.690-05:00From syndication - I made many of the same mistake...From syndication - I made many of the same mistakes as rp. I had he LIKE instead of I'M LIKE. I had dim sum before HOT POT and didn't know how to spell SHYAMALAN, but knew who he is. I had ON A mAd PAcE for a while. Got EVA MARIE right away. EIEIO took a little too long, as did I DIG. But ended with an error. Never heard of EMO and guessed at AMERICAN WE, giving me EwO. Had no idea what letter went into that cross - figured it had to be an 'h', an 'm' or a 'w'. Rats.Singernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3984290771693206562009-12-29T10:45:24.959-05:002009-12-29T10:45:24.959-05:00Amiable dispatch and this enter helped me alot in ...Amiable dispatch and this enter helped me alot in my college assignement. Gratefulness you on your information.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76568028121746275262009-12-27T03:54:21.519-05:002009-12-27T03:54:21.519-05:00Actually, AMFM is pretty good, I just didn't g...Actually, AMFM is pretty good, I just didn't get it.<br /><br />And WINDJAMMER makes a great image.liquid el layhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00955796642605260715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6280845600356553892009-12-27T03:37:30.065-05:002009-12-27T03:37:30.065-05:00I assumed that WINECOOLER was rustic exotica for t...I assumed that WINECOOLER was rustic exotica for the NYT reader, and thereby obscure, though obvious to everyone else.<br /><br />I had a bad showing with this puzzle. But there were reasons.<br /><br />M Night SHYA.... I had seen before, obviously, but I had never bothered to get the last name right! Maybe it's my fault, maybe I'm supposed to know that name.. I had considered ANOMIE but rejected it because I was sure M NIGHT had his name spelled SHYALIHAN. So I was spelling DALAI, DAHLI.. which I'm sure is a perfectly fine spelling... but the words of empathy would not come. Weren't possible. I'm sure this is all my fault...<br /><br />But LETON is no good for "Pretend", I considered it, rejected it, and so there was no LIVE JAZZ to be found. No ZEST. No JAPERY, whatever that is. This is somehow not my fault, even though others got it just fine.<br /><br />The true atrocity is BARBRAWL. I had BOOSTERS for "Shots after shots?" and it was hard to move of of it. Eventually saw TWIT.. knew something was amiss... but never would have accepted BARBRAWLS. Clue it as "Slugs after slugs?" and I'm fine. Brawls are fistfights, bring in gunshots, and that's something else altogether.<br /><br />Tough, with wobbly cluing.<br /><br />AMFM for "Satellite precurser"? I guess, but I no like. Wanted an early Plymouth model, or an early space shot. I get it, it's a radio- I'm too TROG, what I had in for "Schmo"(TWIT) for a while.liquid el layhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00955796642605260715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8349118081730490422009-12-27T02:57:00.426-05:002009-12-27T02:57:00.426-05:00@Artlvr
We used to sing that song in Latin class ...@Artlvr<br /><br />We used to sing that song in Latin class at Northrop Collegiate School in Minneapolis in 8th grade circa 1971!!!!!!!<br />I KNEW I had seen the word Senectutem somewhere!!!!!!!!!<br />(of course it's where we get the word Senile from and Senior and Schnectedy!<br /><br />(That would probably be funny if I knew how to spell Schnectedy!)<br /><br />Anyway, my Latin is SO rusty I would have translated it this way:<br /><br />Gaudeamus igitur<br />Juvenes dum sumus<br />Post jucundum juventutem<br />Post molestam senectutem<br />Nos habebit humus.<br /><br />We are gaudy, therefore,<br />Kids are dumb.<br />After kids with juiceboxes<br />after they have raped the elderly<br />we have a bit of hummous.<br /><br />@CoolPapaD<br />Aha!andrea teaser michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9147724971030639532009-12-26T20:03:12.384-05:002009-12-26T20:03:12.384-05:00I was way too busy today with Christmas --I know i...I was way too busy today with Christmas --I know it's over but not for all my stepchildren and the grandchildren of the oldest --to do the puzzle. But I did try ... coming up empty in the NW. I was stmyied at this part of the puzzle, got all the rest. I so wanted wroughtiron for CLAYMATION. But, of course, it doesn't fit. Nor did I with this puzzle. <br /><br />When I try to go to sleep tonight I won't be counting sheep, but instead, DALAILAMAS ON A RAMPAGE. <br />Sure hope it works. (Thanks, Andrea!)johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91054407013098241952009-12-26T19:08:38.994-05:002009-12-26T19:08:38.994-05:00@Steve- Thanks for the explanation - now it all m...@Steve- Thanks for the explanation - now it all makes sense. My screen name was, in fact, borrowed from Cool Papa Bell; a month or two ago, there was a puzzle that referenced Rod Carew, and when I read about him to broaden my baseball horizons, I saw Cool Papa's name on a list of the 100 greatest ball palyers of all time, and decided to adopt his moniker (one of the veterans here told me that I should change my old screen name, and she knows a lot about names!).CoolPapaDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11542059534657415505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47294463104993132682009-12-26T18:37:23.203-05:002009-12-26T18:37:23.203-05:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=35115061&postID=3588389571383499624&isPopup=true" rel="nofollow">7/30/2009 post</a> 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 6:38, 6:56, 0.96, 43%, Medium<br />Tue 11:00, 8:44, 1.26, 95%, Challenging<br />Wed 13:46, 11:58, 1.15, 85%, Challenging<br />Thu 16:56, 18:56, 0.89, 23%, Easy-Medium<br />Fri 18:15, 25:44, 0.71, 4%, Easy<br />Sat 35:32, 30:21, 1.17, 88%, Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:35, 3:41, 0.97, 49%, Medium<br />Tue 5:31, 4:28, 1.23, 93%, Challenging<br />Wed 6:46, 5:52, 1.15, 84%, Challenging<br />Thu 8:58, 9:07, 0.98, 51%, Medium<br />Fri 9:52, 12:17, 0.80, 11%, Easy<br />Sat 20:27, 17:37, 1.16, 86%, Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51548614117706463402009-12-26T17:40:41.369-05:002009-12-26T17:40:41.369-05:00@CoolPapaD (Your nick always reminds me of Cool Pa...@CoolPapaD (Your nick always reminds me of Cool Papa Bell, who was truly one of the Negro League greats).<br /><br />In Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is believed to be the current reincarnation of a past spiritual leader of that branch of Buddhism. So, the succession of Dalai Lamas is a line (much like a royal line, except this line is through reincarnation rather than family, as in western royalty). And he is revered as holy (although, as best I recall, not divine). Therefore, the complete set of Dalai Lamas is a holy line.Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7124855332428313642009-12-26T17:25:16.199-05:002009-12-26T17:25:16.199-05:00I spent a lot of time on this puzzle. Finally put ...I spent a lot of time on this puzzle. Finally put it down and took my granddaughter to see "The Chipmunks" - a true act of love - put it down and came back and finished it. No googling, no help so quite proud of myself.You'd think by now I would get the car clues and not think trees when I see sequoias.I liked that he said cherubim and not cherubs. I liked japery and anomia and the clue senectitude as good vocab builders. The cigarette ads always said "More taste, less tar." Loved the clue for 36 down. All in all, a very difficult but satisfying solving experience.SueRohrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13511695558054356816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74682450072111499152009-12-26T17:08:58.083-05:002009-12-26T17:08:58.083-05:00p.s. Re OLD AGE from the youthful viewpoint:
Gaud...p.s. Re OLD AGE from the youthful viewpoint:<br /><br />Gaudeamus igitur<br />Juvenes dum sumus<br />Post jucundum juventutem<br />Post molestam senectutem<br />Nos habebit humus.<br /><br /> Let us rejoice therefore<br />While we are young.<br />After a pleasant youth<br />After a troublesome old age<br />The earth will have us.<br /><br />For the rest of the famous student drinking song:<br /> www.newfoundations.com/Gaudeamus.htmlArtLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03869528391374878601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2743901524318794332009-12-26T17:00:09.518-05:002009-12-26T17:00:09.518-05:00Loved this wonDERful puzzle. Made many of the miss...Loved this wonDERful puzzle. Made many of the missteps mentioned already - I wanted JIMI immediately, but couldn't make it fit at first.<br /><br />Guessed R at the ACRE crossing-almost made it an M to honor ACME- glad I didn't!<br /><br />Doesn't Abe live in an old folks home? I don't think I've ever seen a mom- was she just in the odd flasback-type episode?<br /><br />Don't get the Dalai Lama clue- anyone? <br /><br />Loved this, loved drug puz, loved IMSDave's, love this blog, and dammit - love all of you too!CoolPapaDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11542059534657415505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5580983432800864512009-12-26T16:22:11.953-05:002009-12-26T16:22:11.953-05:00Thanks to all of you who share your googling and s...Thanks to all of you who share your googling and solving times. I'm still in year one of The Addiction, and it's encouraging to hear about others' experiences.<br /><br />Threw in the towel with THE_IAC and a good SWAG for (HO)TPOT, having taken just under an entire pot of coffee (yes, that's a measure of time, kind of like "eons"). Good news is, that's the best I've ever done on a Saturday NYT (sound of onanistic patting on own head).<br /><br />@Ben re @A+, thank you for sticking up for JAPERY and ANOMIE. I got snagged on PARODY for a while, abetted by EVAMARIE and TONYDOW, but that's not Japery's fault. And I, too, thought the ACRE / THERIAC cross was out of bounds.<br /><br />@andrea inheat michaels, me too re 18A and 19A. Jammed on "But isn't Donald Uncle Scrooge's nephew??" for a good while, and also overread "[in] Media ___" and stuck with RES too long.lit.docnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14699614558274096652009-12-26T16:21:17.653-05:002009-12-26T16:21:17.653-05:00For once, playing video games pays off. Crusades-e...For once, playing video games pays off. Crusades-era ACRE plays prominently in Assassin's Creed, and I'm coincidentally currently playing its sequel (which does have a brief return to ACRE included). Got that off the lone A. Not that it helped me with much else down in that corner.Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31658519050402320692009-12-26T16:15:28.932-05:002009-12-26T16:15:28.932-05:00This one goes in the category of "Every now a...This one goes in the category of "Every now and then a blind pig finds a truffle." I did not know American Me, Claymation, Anomie, those damn Simpsons, or that weird concatenation of letters down the middle. I got the whole puzzle with no errors and no Googles. I was making a whole lotta "could that be?" guesses from the crosses, and got lucky. But this puzzle beat me seriously upside the head. More, more, more!!OldCarFuddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7993893286547678412009-12-26T15:56:24.483-05:002009-12-26T15:56:24.483-05:00I pretty much agree with Rex's take on the puz...I pretty much agree with Rex's take on the puzzle today. I made the same missteps, and more, such as pre-K. I did think it was cool to see Tony Dow in the puzzle as I'm a huge fan of Beav. That and The Brady Bunch are my guilty TV pleasures.<br />I had no idea Homer's mom was MONA (got it thru crosses); I've never seen her.<br />@Andrea- great post!<br />Happy Boxing Day, everyone!Doc Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66863031235656857992009-12-26T15:03:49.206-05:002009-12-26T15:03:49.206-05:00Oh, Auntie Google and I had a merry time! It's...Oh, Auntie Google and I had a merry time! It's not her fault I made a mess of the heartland. Most interesting muff: JAR for MAR, because the jar, like the nick is a slang synonym for jail.<br /><br />Nothing in this puzzle made me smile. Not an aha moment to be had.slypetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537129206516720012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86469713805845069002009-12-26T14:34:06.870-05:002009-12-26T14:34:06.870-05:00Considering I almost finished save the SE minefiel...Considering I almost finished save the SE minefield, agree it was on the easier side. Good thing was that I spent a useful evening looking at family war records from WWI and WWII after being prompted by V-Mail. Found the certificate of my great grandfather who died in the Dunkirk trenches and amazingly read the daily war diary of his Canadian battalion on the sad day. No mention of a lowly private though. The Brits database every single war casualty and specific grave so using Google I could zoom in to a fuzzy head stone. Wow.<br /><br />Was thrown around mightily by not knowing the APU-like name, OLOAGE, THERIAC etc. but was glad to finish about 80%. From a constructor with the last name DER I was expecting a more exotic Chinese cuisine than HOTPOT.<br /><br />Liked the puzzle a lot, nice job.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10389790318218161090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46764459673148454662009-12-26T14:30:48.693-05:002009-12-26T14:30:48.693-05:00@treedweller - Perhaps you should have included a ...@treedweller - Perhaps you should have included a parental advisory with your link to the comic strip Curtis. You might make Ulrich blush! A character named Hoden indeed! Not proper!<br /><br />and @Really?, 12:58 PM - Good form on the blog dictates that we do not criticize others for the gaps in their knowledge. Even though you and I recognize MNIGHTHOWEVERTHEHELLITISSPELLED for The Sixth Sense and his other films, we are, I assure you, totally ignorant in other fields, possibly popular music, chemistry, foreign languages, sport, whatever, in which others are totally versed. That is why we say, "It was a neon for me" or "It was a WTF for me" (WTF - Was That Factual?), but we never suggest that others should know exactly what we know.Miss Primmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35664207385417613902009-12-26T13:56:47.490-05:002009-12-26T13:56:47.490-05:00All I've got to say is, "I love Saturday ...All I've got to say is, "I love Saturday NYT x-words!" And RP's write-up and all of the regular posters here are just more of the reason why. <br /><br />Any Sat. puzzle that takes me less than about an hour (today's was just over 70 mins.) just means less enjoyment -- the harder, the longer, the better.<br /><br />Today's answers, BAO, THERIAC and IVES notwithstanding, I have to keep reminding myself that the answers will usually be a) common words and b) familiar to me once I see them. <br /><br />Thanks to all. Happy New Year!Lonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937545154606534561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49439325655538630832009-12-26T13:25:41.331-05:002009-12-26T13:25:41.331-05:00Got "dojos", "wine cooler", &q...Got "dojos", "wine cooler", "joneses" right away. Very clever 8 down -- I was trying for something something Superman. It's a clever puzzle but a<br />hard one for me. Had to resort to the Google before checking in here. I agree with Rex about "let on". I tried "put on" at first. The saint in "Exodus" was my favorite. I like totally didn't see that.babslesleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10119319158486520942009-12-26T13:24:25.836-05:002009-12-26T13:24:25.836-05:00Worked this puzzle slow and steady from the bottom...Worked this puzzle slow and steady from the bottom up, starting with WINECOOLER. <br /><br />Now I'm going to watch some meaningless bowl games. Maybe next year Santa will bring us a national championship playoff.archaeoprofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956231727789223463noreply@blogger.com