tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post3987746919556290687..comments2024-03-28T15:13:08.509-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Student of morality / SUN 4-29-12 / Gherman cosmonaut / Ancient Balkan region / 2009 Hilary Swank biopic / Child-care author LeShan / 1984 superpwower / Botanical beards /Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56943363013401677182012-05-15T07:18:14.579-04:002012-05-15T07:18:14.579-04:00Just wanted to agree with @Tita's comments - I...Just wanted to agree with @Tita's comments - I do read followup posts also; it's just hard to remember puzzles & comments from so far back!JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75745525056691571102012-05-14T23:27:36.931-04:002012-05-14T23:27:36.931-04:00@Tita, IKWYM! I can't post from my phone, eit...@Tita, IKWYM! I can't post from my phone, either -- the auto-spell thing NEVER guesses right what I'm trying to type -- heck, it still hasn't learned to recognize MY name! <br /><br />Thanks for being there too.Lola505https://www.blogger.com/profile/09249427833942985450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28524335752561333962012-05-14T23:00:14.038-04:002012-05-14T23:00:14.038-04:00*pass...not pitas...see what I mean?*pass...not pitas...see what I mean?Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34886492926694820632012-05-14T22:58:58.335-04:002012-05-14T22:58:58.335-04:00@lola...we prime_timers DO read syndilanders...and...@lola...we prime_timers DO read syndilanders...and enjoy the comments...<br />In my particular case, I get the notifications on my smartphone...it is agonizing to try to respond from such a device...and impossible to be eloquent. <br />Between trying to remember what has between said in the comments threads, remembering a puzzle from weeks ago, and grappling with auto_correct, I usually read, but rarely can muster the wherewithal to comment. <br /><br />But we are out here, and are listening!<br /><br />Oh...and then there is trying to pitas the robot test from my phone..mercy!Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29783763133447958152012-05-13T19:01:23.052-04:002012-05-13T19:01:23.052-04:00Meant ... just made me mad enough to post though.Meant ... just made me mad enough to post though.Lola505https://www.blogger.com/profile/09249427833942985450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64047566024213105162012-05-13T18:59:42.985-04:002012-05-13T18:59:42.985-04:00@Dirigonzo, thanks. I hadn't read all the pos...@Dirigonzo, thanks. I hadn't read all the posts, although I did Google Tracy Gray and got no hits on NYT Crossword constructor.<br /><br />You are kind to read and reply -- I still think, especially compared to other, more creative and eloquent posters, mine are hardly worth reading, particularly a week after the after-fact. This one made me just made enough to post though.Lola505https://www.blogger.com/profile/09249427833942985450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14761053713284954492012-05-13T17:44:30.724-04:002012-05-13T17:44:30.724-04:00@Lola505 "Wonder if the crafter is a male or ...@Lola505 "Wonder if the crafter is a male or female "Tracy" [Gray]?" @jackj's comment at 10:23 indicates Tracy is indeed female.<br /><br />Reading your comments a week later helps me understand what it must be like for all the prime-timers who see our syndi comments a week (or 5) later.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45399226595542399382012-05-13T17:30:59.295-04:002012-05-13T17:30:59.295-04:00I did NOT like this puzzle! Wonder if the crafter...I did NOT like this puzzle! Wonder if the crafter is a male or female "Tracy" [Gray]? I can usually get on the same wavelength as a woman's cluing, but not so with this puzzle. It was a struggle from start to finish for me.<br /><br />Saw the fraction theme early on, but still don't think it was valid.<br /> <br />So, here I am, a week late (compared to the rest of the syndi-landers) and although I finished, a dollar short, so to speak.<br /> <br />Anytime I'm anxious to move on to the SUDOKU (which I don't enjoy, but do because I think "it must be good for my brain"), it's a bad sign.Lola505https://www.blogger.com/profile/09249427833942985450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18999837814115525602012-05-07T11:44:49.641-04:002012-05-07T11:44:49.641-04:00Even though I teach math, I wasn't really both...Even though I teach math, I wasn't really bothered by the theme inconsistency at first. I attributed it to the fact, mentioned several times above, that English has those alternate words for twoths and fourths, My opinion is that these words originated long before the rest of the terminology for fractions because the concepts occur so naturally. Very young children understand breaking something in half.<br />Upon reflection, I agree that Rex is technically correct. I challenge anyone who thinks that he is just picking nits to try for themselves to explain the theme in words.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42297328212911131702012-05-06T21:27:42.518-04:002012-05-06T21:27:42.518-04:00Nits beware: the pickers are out in force today! O...Nits beware: the pickers are out in force today! Okay, so the language of every theme example is not perfectly consistent. So what? The basic idea is maintained--and it's a clever one, IMO. Tell you one thing: I agree with the Rexrating on this one. Took me (off and on) most of the day to get through this. Misspelling of OSsEOID threw me off for a while there, and I had to get a lot of it by crosses.<br /><br />Gee, I had to work a little. Am I supposed to get mad at that?Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77211653626602748602012-05-06T17:41:52.332-04:002012-05-06T17:41:52.332-04:00I decided to try a different approach today, to se...I decided to try a different approach today, to see if I could eliminate all of the write-overs that usually mar my completed grid. So instead of writing in the first answers that came to mind, I waited for a cross or two to confirm things. My only mis-steps were misspelling UKeLELES ATTHESTART and Tsk for TUT. The resulting grid was pristine by my standards, and error-free due to a couple of lucky guesses. I thought the theme was ingenious and well executed - great fun!<br /><br />@DMG - Happy to hear that you enjoyed the full moon. It was a cloudless night here and I watched it rise behind the trees in my back yard - spectacular!<br /><br />@RV - Thank you (and others who commented) for the kind words late yesterday. I assure you I do not try to be a presence here (and certainly not an ecumenical one!); I just try to keep the lights on here so others will feel welcome to drop by and offer their own comments. It's great to see a growing group of "regulars" who help keep the party going. Great osprey photos, too!<br /><br />@Waxy - VAL-d'Or, Quebec! (43a)Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8247357094519266512012-05-06T16:27:35.784-04:002012-05-06T16:27:35.784-04:00This puzzle was like the one marathon I ran - caug...This puzzle was like the one marathon I ran - caught on to the theme from the NW and the title, Infractions, and took off at a sub-seven minute pace through the rest of the solve... except when I hit the NE at milepost 25. Could not for the life of me get "DRAW AND QUARTER." I kept looking for DRA...DONE to give me a fourth. DRAggedfourth???? Also had RIU instead of URI. <br /><br />I did finish the marathon, at a crawl, but I DNF this puzzle. What's funny is that I had no trouble with MEETONE/TWOWAY.<br /><br />Actually got all the rest of the theme answers first, then filled in the tough crosses. Nice Sunday solve Tracy!<br /><br />The RT "breakfast test" discussion between ED and Octavian was worth the price of admission alone, or SOITSEEMS to me.<br /><br />@Rain Forrest, good post today.<br /><br />@Red, loved your posted osprey nest photo. Absolutely beautiful raptor. They have some work to do on the nest. Amazing they're so comfortable close to civilization.<br /><br />Capcha: tonsafth untro: Olde English for "whats the difference between an ordinal and a fraction?"Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8945181940254329222012-05-06T15:34:29.568-04:002012-05-06T15:34:29.568-04:00The fact that I hate cross referenced clues made t...The fact that I hate cross referenced clues made this a slog for me. It also didn't help that I didn't get the fact that the numbers represented, to some extent, fractions, So after struggling awhile, I threw in the towel with about 2/3 done, and went on to other things.<br />Want to thank @Diri for a heads up on last night's moon. We live in an rural with no artificial lights allowe canyon, and it was spectacular! Great picture in this morning's paper pointing out it was the biggest full moon of the year.DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39164017507007741612012-05-06T14:53:06.546-04:002012-05-06T14:53:06.546-04:00Disagree with Rex re theme "inconsistency&quo...Disagree with Rex re theme "inconsistency". The fractions work perfectly. It's just that we have other ways of expressing 1/4 and 1/2, which were used in the puzzle. I was baffled initially at draw..., but when I got Saks Fifth Avenue, I actally went "aha", and filled in draw and quarter, then went looking for "-half". Whoever said we don't say "twoth", for whatever reason, nailed that one. It's not that Rex is grouchy (well, sometimes he is); he does have a penchant for picking nits, at times. I say this with the knowledge that without Rex and his first-rate sense of humour, we wouldn't have this excellent blog. Bless you, Rex.<br /><br />Also, the whole breakfast test thing is lame. When you write in draw and quarter, do you literally gag because you envision the process? Similarly, who experiences stress while solving a puzzle, or indeed, gets angry? These are your problems, not the constructors. <br /><br />I loved the theme and its execution, and much of the fill, but I do agree there were some very hard-to-get areas, which doesn't bother me particularly. "Casuist" was my last entry, and I had zero idea what that is. Also as a Canadian, Sununu was Greek to me.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36603790777446752522012-05-05T23:10:10.075-04:002012-05-05T23:10:10.075-04:00The Hilary Swank biopic Amelia was about the femal...The Hilary Swank biopic Amelia was about the female pilot Amelia Earhart. She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She and her plane disappeared in the Pacific Ocean in 1937.Angelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39880187165262429082012-05-03T11:02:42.147-04:002012-05-03T11:02:42.147-04:00Put me down in the "nice theme, tough fill&qu...Put me down in the "nice theme, tough fill" category, although I did finish the grid correctly, guessing the ARVO/TITOV cross. Lots of short gunk throughout, but was able to suss out the interesting THANATOS and CASUIST. <br /><br />THRACE will always make me think of Forum (as @Pseudolus noted above)efrexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49463331644583681892012-05-01T02:23:26.906-04:002012-05-01T02:23:26.906-04:00Slam-dunks for me were Arvo (because I'm Eston...Slam-dunks for me were Arvo (because I'm Estonian and we revere him), Eda (because I'm a mother and have read everything this wise and wonderful woman wrote), and Isadora (because I am a dancer and, in addition, in 1969 had to write a report on her for a college assignment in my Dance History class). <br /><br />Didn't crack the theme, even with a couple of completed theme answers, until mid-way through, and then began to really like the puzzle.nurturinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02035395856164817422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15095871333881729282012-04-30T15:55:24.259-04:002012-04-30T15:55:24.259-04:00not much fun!!not much fun!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62829459753199577962012-04-30T14:23:48.619-04:002012-04-30T14:23:48.619-04:00EXP is expiration (or maybe expiry) date.
I'm...EXP is expiration (or maybe expiry) date.<br /><br />I'm not the greatest solver, so I work Sunday until I get all the themed answers, then quit while I'm "ahead."<br /><br />So, for my purposes, the puzzle was not very challenging and thus a letdown, with the themed answers really not clever at all beyond the fraction thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6470204694393560292012-04-30T13:18:07.446-04:002012-04-30T13:18:07.446-04:00I thought the theme was clever, and I enjoyed figu...I thought the theme was clever, and I enjoyed figuring out the theme answers. Didn't think they were inconsistent, at least not in a significant way. Wonder how hard it would have been to pick up the theme without the title clue.<br />@Arlene - I like the cryptics, too. I think they're still part of the regular rotation, along with the diagramless, which have come to be my fave.TimJimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47091396101163027192012-04-30T12:38:17.620-04:002012-04-30T12:38:17.620-04:00Am I the only one that doesn't get what "...Am I the only one that doesn't get what "EXP" is an abbreviation for?Arbynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34737267108269713802012-04-30T07:47:39.134-04:002012-04-30T07:47:39.134-04:00@Anon. 7:04 - TWP= Township@Anon. 7:04 - TWP= TownshipJenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37254368957715262572012-04-30T07:04:15.487-04:002012-04-30T07:04:15.487-04:0068-across = TWP. What is a TWP?
TWN (town) nakes m...68-across = TWP. What is a TWP?<br />TWN (town) nakes more sense. Then 70-down would be NIXE (water sprite) and 86-across would be STELE).<br />Just sayingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23502058443235841282012-04-29T22:35:38.264-04:002012-04-29T22:35:38.264-04:00"Drawn and quartered" historically invol..."Drawn and quartered" historically involved 4 horses, at least that'w what I was taught in Fourth grade (not sure why the teacher felt it was important for us to know, but I never forgot that lesson.)<br /><br />I enjoyed the theme, figured it out from SAKS ONE FIVE AVENUE. After that it was much easier knowing the number of letters in the lower line.<br /><br />However, I kept waiting for a more complex answer, such as TWO SIX to be reduced to "third"omnivorpalswordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68040710933942241752012-04-29T22:06:12.076-04:002012-04-29T22:06:12.076-04:00By the time we got the theme, husband and I had fi...By the time we got the theme, husband and I had filled in most of the theme answers and fill, so it was no help. Only when I realized the alignment of one over the number did I see the humor.<br /><br />Septal for "Like a nasal membrane" is wrong. Septum is a cartilaginous structure and not a membrane, says he, a teacher of Anatomy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com