tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3453869249002520718..comments2024-03-28T04:40:27.172-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Record producer Talmy / SAT 11-12-11 / Musical great grave unmarked 150 years / Player of evil Blofeld / All-Star Dark of 1950s Giants / Relatives of arroyos / North Platte feederRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60096987199335330262023-06-18T18:09:36.834-04:002023-06-18T18:09:36.834-04:00Yes! Thank you — that really annoyed me. Even if t...Yes! Thank you — that really annoyed me. Even if they were thinking of Madison Square park instead, it’s still wrong!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41641713045037193332021-07-04T12:19:16.132-04:002021-07-04T12:19:16.132-04:00I got Naticked at 26, the IR_ / _NTA cross. I gue...I got Naticked at 26, the IR_ / _NTA cross. I guessed correctly, but that was faint consolation. The fill annoyed me, but the medium and long answers more than justified it for me.<br /><br />My personal solving error was after I got most of the NW, my eyes kept matching clue 5D 'Tyra Banks vis-a-vis "America's Next Top Model"' with the already-filled-in 6D answer, HER MAJESTY. Yeah, that seems to fit.Prunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224476641730508311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19583685305752564112011-12-18T01:55:07.191-05:002011-12-18T01:55:07.191-05:00Almost 11 pm in west coast syndi-land and I just f...Almost 11 pm in west coast syndi-land and I just finished my first Saturday puzzle. No googling, but lots of guessing. I'm pretty happy.Jen in CAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45758845783063290702011-12-17T14:31:46.281-05:002011-12-17T14:31:46.281-05:00Forgot about VONSY DOW. I had the similarly named...Forgot about VONSY DOW. I had the similarly named VONSY LOW in there, who of course is no relation to Tony. My only error.<br /><br />LODI has clearly come a long way since John Fogerty was stuck there.<br /><br />PALE ALE wouldn't work due to its being clued backwards. <br /><br />@Campesite 11:56 AM <br />Saw the DK's once. They weren't really my cup of tea but I still think of them whenever I hear the phrase "Governor Jerry Brown" and when I see BIAFRA in crossword puzzles. I had forgotten that Jello ran for mayor.<br /><br />When I saw the clue "495" I immediately went into Roman numeral mode, which gave me VD. My entire adult life I've practiced safe sex, and I end up getting VD from a crossword puzzle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40144542887956461132011-12-17T14:10:49.894-05:002011-12-17T14:10:49.894-05:00Well, this was a good old-fashioned DNF for the Sp...Well, this was a good old-fashioned DNF for the Spacecraft. How this was rated as anything below challenging is beyond me. Weirdly enough, the only section I could complete on my own was the NE! Save, that is, for the E in TINE. "Sticker on a plate" just simply would not lead my brain to that.<br /> Fatal error in the NW was MOZART; I just knew it had to be him--had it inked in--and so couldn't move after that.<br /> The downstairs was a total mystery to me, even though I had a string of letters down there with the iconic DUKEOFEARL, and the endcap of SSNS (c'mon: 3 plurals out of 4? Didn't even have to read the clue!). Nothing else would come, though, even after Googling the ultra-obscure SHEL (what's the matter with Silverstein?). "Place for some car fluid" is how you want to clue CUPHOLDER? That, my friend, is hitting below the fanbelt. But this was just one of several unfair clues.<br /> Finally, I never heard the expression CONCRETEJUNGLE. I would never have got that if I stared at this puzzle for a hundred years. The surface of popularity is ASPHALT--alas, that yields only 13 letters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44362442563779441602011-11-13T12:07:45.325-05:002011-11-13T12:07:45.325-05:00Acme, reading some of your recent posts gives the ...Acme, reading some of your recent posts gives the impression you've become the self-appointed blog whip. Do we need to have our wrists slapped?Really anonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33870249735268377992011-11-13T11:37:47.793-05:002011-11-13T11:37:47.793-05:00There was a song called "Nothing Can Stop Me ...There was a song called "Nothing Can Stop Me Now" in the 1962 Broadway Hit "Stop the World,I Want to Get Off." Led to to no end of confusion for this pop-ignorant solver.DigitalDanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11620300502981292088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14946493104091495912011-11-13T03:19:24.771-05:002011-11-13T03:19:24.771-05:00My fastest Saturday ever I think, at around 35 min...My fastest Saturday ever I think, at around 35 minutes. Yes I know, not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I was fairly pleased seeing as was in the pub on my fourth Guinness and talking to people occasionally. <br /><br />The clue for CAPITAL BELTWAY could also have been "colossal disaster". It's been a mess for months, putting in HOT lanes, making a huge mess and eternal backups. Was funny to see it in the puzzle though.Eejitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23020989271254693772011-11-13T01:35:59.580-05:002011-11-13T01:35:59.580-05:00ps Shamik @9:41
a million hours later, but HA! Yo...ps Shamik @9:41<br />a million hours later, but HA! Your comment got me to watch the "Duke of Earl" video...<br />and yes, those poor go-go girls!!!<br />What was up with that????!!!amanas concrete michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84226521987561161752011-11-13T01:09:31.306-05:002011-11-13T01:09:31.306-05:00Make that "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly&...Make that "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"...<br />Jesus Christ in "The Greatest Story Ever Told"! "Hamsun"! "Shutter Island" (ok, no "!")<br />NOW do you realize who he is and how crossword-worthy?!acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48040126743864154432011-11-13T00:56:46.482-05:002011-11-13T00:56:46.482-05:00Upset that Max VON SYDOW isn't getting enough ...Upset that Max VON SYDOW isn't getting enough love here! <br />Last time I guest-blogged I even posted pictures of how he looks like the guy on the $20 bill!!!<br /><br />@dk<br />He's playing chess with DEATH!<br />It's THE most iconic image from a Bergman film.<br />He was nominated for an Oscar for "Pelle..."; he was the assassin in "Three days of the Condor"...<br />He's THE Exorcist, for godssake!<br />AND Ming the Merciless and the heartbreaking father in "The Iron Bell and the Butterfly" (or whatever it was called) film.<br />And the serious artist in "Hannah and her Sisters" furious they wanted to buy one of his pictures to match the couch.<br /><br />MAX VON SYDOW!!! <br />And it was the first time (of 10) that someone put his whole name and not just "Actor Max Von _____".<br /><br />C'mon people!<br /><br />OK, confession, I have been in love with his son for about 35 years...but still!<br /><br />And I was thrilled to see this highbrow actor combined with Tyra Banks, my other guilty pleasure, tho there were many other ideas that occurred to me before "CREATOR"!alegre creator michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67214721613840197152011-11-12T18:50:07.997-05:002011-11-12T18:50:07.997-05:00This 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 6:30, 6:50, 0.95, 30%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 8:12, 8:51, 0.93, 32%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 15:12, 11:50, 1.28, 94%, Challenging (8th highest median solve time of 123 Wednesdays)<br />Thu 22:02, 19:03, 1.16, 81%, Challenging<br />Fri 17:44, 25:21, 0.69, 8%, Easy (10th lowest median solve time of 125 Fridays)<br />Sat 23:33, 29:59, 0.79, 9%, Easy (10th lowest median solve time of 117 Saturdays)<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:28, 3:40, 0.95, 31%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 4:15, 4:34, 0.93, 31%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 7:36, 5:51, 1.30, 96%, Challenging (6th highest median solve time of 123 Wednesdays)<br />Thu 11:38, 9:18, 1.25, 8%, Challenging<br />Fri 9:09, 12:37, 0.73, 13%, Easy<br />Sat 13:12, 17:05, 0.77, 9%, Easy<br /><br />@JenCT ... thanks for the link to the description of that bizarre baseball play. I've been an avid baseball fan for more than 40 years now and have never seen or heard of anything even close to that happening. ALVIN was a gimme for me and was my first entry today. I have a soft spot in my heart for the Swamp Fox since he was the manager of my beloved Indians the first season I can remember following the game (1968). That was the only halfway decent season the team had until the mid-90s.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23360291733132474922011-11-12T18:38:22.767-05:002011-11-12T18:38:22.767-05:00CONCRETE JUNGLE balancing CAPITAL BELTWAY really w...CONCRETE JUNGLE balancing CAPITAL BELTWAY really worked for me. Agree with all that DUKE OF EARL ruled the day.<br /><br />Enjoyed looking up SHEL Talmy (whose name I didn't recognize but who produced many of my favorite songs, ever. How did I miss this?)<br /><br />Max VON SYDOW: I haven't seen "Pelle the Conqueror" but "The Seventh Seal" and "Three Days of the Condor" are classics that deserve to be classics.<br /><br />Lots of good comments today, esp. @evil doug (8:31), @foodie (10:00). and campesite (11:56).Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89685504324347280252011-11-12T18:36:53.638-05:002011-11-12T18:36:53.638-05:00Timely alternative clue for 47D:
Spanish national ...Timely alternative clue for 47D:<br />Spanish national soccer team goalie Pepe _____ who gave up goal today in 1-0 loss to England in International friendly.<br /><br />Yeah, I guess that's a bit lengthy.Chip Hiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944056030047563287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73712404355064976262011-11-12T17:48:35.106-05:002011-11-12T17:48:35.106-05:00Great puzzle, but the NE did me in, and I HTG for ...Great puzzle, but the NE did me in, and I HTG for the first time in a long time (I googled the movie title to find VON SYDOW). Didn't know VON SYDOW or ALVIN or OSS or WADIS or ANODE. Not knowing one or two of those might have been survivable, but all of them in one corner ... nope. I agree with the Rex that the bottom half of the puzzle was pretty easy, but the top third was just brutal, so I rate this Challenging.<br /><br />Re: Joon. (Stop reading here if you don't want to know how last night went for him)........... Was very sad today to see that our champion didn't get a shot at being the champion of champions, but I watch Jeopardy a lot, and I can tell when a great player just has an unlucky game, and that was definitely Joon last night. Rough going early, and then his adversary got both of the second-round daily doubles -- not much you can do in the face of that. Great run, Joon -- I'm currently in the active contestant pool myself and eagerly awaiting my shot! I might write you for tips if I get the call...Matthew G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07957320012395569238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57377062604619684132011-11-12T17:44:41.222-05:002011-11-12T17:44:41.222-05:00@jackj: Alvin Dark
Interesting to read about ...@jackj: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvin_Dark" rel="nofollow"> Alvin Dark </a><br /><br />Interesting to read about that weird play of 1959; never heard of that.JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37305388863596937032011-11-12T17:23:55.120-05:002011-11-12T17:23:55.120-05:00You all should try the ADANA kebab. Delicious! Try...You all should try the ADANA kebab. Delicious! Try it in Turkey, of course.quilter1https://www.blogger.com/profile/09569747169212018177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71986686789378002722011-11-12T16:58:51.374-05:002011-11-12T16:58:51.374-05:00Not a lot of support for my campaign to clue ALVIN...Not a lot of support for my campaign to clue ALVIN Dark as a Boston Brave (which I understand and accept) but, my Boston Braves were pummeled every which way from Sunday and it's a natural response to try and give my erstwhile team a bit of credit if not some luster.<br /><br />Is my recollection correct that Alvin Dark is not a member of the Hall of Fame?jackjnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7003010993071847462011-11-12T16:43:58.576-05:002011-11-12T16:43:58.576-05:00@Gill I.P.: LOL! Nice way to put it!
@Archeoprof...@Gill I.P.: LOL! Nice way to put it! <br /><br />@Archeoprof: ditto!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23944325709328491992011-11-12T16:29:00.774-05:002011-11-12T16:29:00.774-05:00What @Foodie said. ASSAD should have been clued &...What @Foodie said. ASSAD should have been clued "vicious Stalinist Arab tyrant" or "son of vicious Stalinist Arab tyrant." <br /><br />Otherwise the puzzle was a very good one.<br /><br />The Republicans have arrived, and it's like the circus has come to town. Busses and vans and signs everywhere. I'm secretly hoping someone will yell "You lie!" in the middle of the debate tonight.archaeoprofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956231727789223463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12518696055204742152011-11-12T15:59:22.843-05:002011-11-12T15:59:22.843-05:00Nice puzzle -- perhaps more of a Friday than a Sat...Nice puzzle -- perhaps more of a Friday than a Saturday.<br /><br />favorite answer (glad to see I am not alone) --Duke of Earl<br /><br />Assads -- world leaders. I suppose it depends on what you mean by "leader."michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3554593045471556152011-11-12T15:33:01.813-05:002011-11-12T15:33:01.813-05:00I've gotten over my funk, and looking back on ...I've gotten over my funk, and looking back on the puzzle, I can tell it's pretty cool...And very little junk fill. Impressive. <br /><br /><br />@ RI Squasher-- Yeah, putting down a guess is about balancing its power to inhibit vs. its power to inspire. One of my favorite outcomes is when what I put down is totally wrong, but it still really helps. Or when it's funny, a la Seth and the creative way of supporting a WIENER... <br /><br />So BRA showed up erroneously, for more than one person, in two different places to replace BOA and BUN? I like that :)foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7055905234419118162011-11-12T15:30:37.448-05:002011-11-12T15:30:37.448-05:00DNF. Did not start is more like it. Just did not...DNF. Did not start is more like it. Just did not click. I can see from the solve and the comments that it is a really nice puzzle. And I like Mr. Silk. <br /><br />Thanks @AnnieD for the NNE explanation. I was drawing little maps in the margin and didn't consider the true slant of Mnhattan Island. @Shamik. Same thought here re the dancers. I kept wanting them to at least switch to the left side. @Tita. Very sinsible. My Frixion is a pen but I have a pencil handy just in case.<br /><br />Ray Liotta was a guest on ER not a regular. Very moving episode shot in real time.<br /><br />Whew, a lot to say for someone who did bupkus. I am already working on Sunday.Sparkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11149915526159432838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50776928764223701312011-11-12T15:19:55.510-05:002011-11-12T15:19:55.510-05:00@RI Squasher: Even tho I use pencil/paper, tend to...@RI Squasher: Even tho I use pencil/paper, tend to check for a corroborating cross, before filling in anything but gimmes. For really long answers, or if I'm just gettin' desperate, I'll often just try stuff out. So I do a lotta the latter, on a SatPuz. Kinda like @Tita's light pencil idea; I occasionally do something like that with very small letters, especially at Nat-tick crossings.<br /><br />Fave clue today: the CUPHOLDER one. Makes yer mind take a double leap, since it's the cup where the fluid goes, and then the cup goes in the holder. So, sneaky good. Puz thUmbsUp, just for that clue. Always good to have a groaner riddle in there, somewhere.<br /><br />Runner-up clue: @Bob Kerfuffle's one for ANTA. Need a similar one for ADANA, to regain balance in the universe, tho. "Commercial olio?" Nah.Masked and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-292886811757674522011-11-12T14:37:13.658-05:002011-11-12T14:37:13.658-05:00Really liked CUPHOLDER. But I think of coffee as a...Really liked CUPHOLDER. But I think of coffee as a meeting fluid. As the meeting proceeds it is drawn into my body to keep it functioning.<br /><br />@RI Squasher<br />I need flow when I am solving. Too much time without writing anything down stalls my brain. Since I solve on a computer it is easy to erase. If a section around a word remains empty for a while, I erase the word. This strategy probably would not work as well if I was solving on paper.<br /><br />I learned long ago to take advantage of the delete key on the computer. Before word processors I dreaded writing. Now it is okay if my first draft is crap because I can easily edit it into an acceptable state.r.alphbunkernoreply@blogger.com