tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4172925386742910301..comments2024-03-29T05:08:37.783-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Facial recognition aid / TUE 9-21-10 / Goodnight girl of old song / River that drains more than 20% of France / Pioneering anti-AIDS drugRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79922331998972204522010-10-26T16:25:58.684-04:002010-10-26T16:25:58.684-04:00My small-town daily got everything about the puzzl...My small-town daily got everything about the puzzle right except the creator, which it listed as Bernice Gordon, so I thought maybe Wil was going to give us a BG week. But no, it was just a mistake.<br /><br />ACME, I'm sorry this puzzle left you bummed out, but I hope you never get to the point of not writing in - I look forward to your comments more than any others. (I was growing kind of fond of Bob's anonymous posts, also, as I too have a natural inclination to go on way too long after my point has been made.) (See what I mean?)Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67990644601366648202010-10-26T15:11:13.139-04:002010-10-26T15:11:13.139-04:00Syndicated puzzler. Fairly enjoyable TuePuz, with ...Syndicated puzzler. Fairly enjoyable TuePuz, with a few nits and a couple of own-fault writeovers, like initially wanting PERSIANS for IRANIANS due to the fame of Shamus-i-Tabrizi. Don't much like SETAT for attack. Agree with @Joel about seeing ButterFLIED Shrimp more often than ButterFLY Shrimp on Chinese menus. The use of BREASTOFCHICKEN, instead of Chicken Breast shows the Germanic-analytic /Latinate-synthetic tussle still at play in the English language, with the centuries-old struggle occuring in one of the traditional arenas too: eating (or raaaather dining) brings out the OOLALA instead of the matter-of-fact.<br /><br />@Shrub5: Quityerbitchin about Biblical clues. We all have our individual areas of strength and weakness. Rex just admitted to being somewhat geography-terms challenged, and I found myself pretty well at sea amidst all the talk about the New York Dolls and the Chiffons et al (although I was better versed in the Little Eva/Carol King arena). My favorite puzzles play to my strengths just enough to allow me to discover something new to me (I'll look up whatever IPO means after I'm done here). Sometimes I go kicking and screaming, but it's still a matter of attitude, after all.<br /><br />It's voting season, so I guess we can't help seeing a nominal amount of political talk here, like @Jim's anti-FOX screed (don't get me goin' about NPR, the two-bit whore-hearted pendejo-lipped dumpster-divin' cur . . . .). And I suppose sadists will naturally react to someone who keeps praying for someone to come tie him up and force him to become an Aqua Bhuddhist. So I think the professor's advice on acquiring Teflon skin online is well taken.NotalwaysrightBillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4210552377469539252010-10-26T14:16:19.402-04:002010-10-26T14:16:19.402-04:00@Jesser - you may have thought you were whizzing i...@Jesser - you may have thought you were whizzing into the Pacific and Atlantic from your perch on the Continental Divide but it was actually the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48038493073502981562010-10-26T10:33:02.165-04:002010-10-26T10:33:02.165-04:00I know my comment from syndication land is late bu...I know my comment from syndication land is late but I thought it would have been even better to see the strokes in order of the medley (for individual medley: butter, back, breast, free (crawl), at least when I swam). Was thinking of a different Met, so that threw me in SE corner. Liked back issues and BMOC, which I've always wanted whenever I see that clue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19578414365738343102010-09-29T08:31:39.189-04:002010-09-29T08:31:39.189-04:00I really like your post you done a great jobs . Th...I really like your post you done a great jobs . Thanks for sharing valuable information.lace fronthttp://www.gastonlace.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26889847592468427562010-09-22T16:44:53.094-04:002010-09-22T16:44:53.094-04:00C'mon, guys. This was a typical Wed. But wha...C'mon, guys. This was a typical Wed. But what is really great is when Rex talks dirty. Anybody with a BA from a first rate liberal arts college or who is married to a Greek knows perihelion has Greek roots. 3 and out....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50495402975842366402010-09-22T01:48:27.615-04:002010-09-22T01:48:27.615-04:00This 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 8:15, 6:58, 1.18, 97%, Challenging<br />Tue 9:55, 8:54, 1.11, 85%, Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 4:19, 3:43, 1.16, 97%, Challenging<br />Tue 5:03, 4:35, 1.10, 80%, Challenging<br /><br />Will seems to making up for last week's relatively easy puzzles.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83372752149842597472010-09-22T01:43:00.670-04:002010-09-22T01:43:00.670-04:00Is anybody else worried about Ret_Chem's dog a...Is anybody else worried about Ret_Chem's dog and/or why we haven't heard from him in the past few days? <br /> <br />Loved Bilbo/Babar crossing. Still confused about Taas/Tass? Didn't recognize 47A with either spelling.<br /><br />captcha "inosie" - guess that fitsRobinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00404995201196513974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22542827572190567542010-09-21T22:31:18.112-04:002010-09-21T22:31:18.112-04:00@CoffeLvr: Did your Dad mention that in Europe, It...@CoffeLvr: Did your Dad mention that in Europe, Italy in my experience, TWA was pronounced TeeWah?Rubehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773241241484881566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49672151657742784292010-09-21T21:31:04.374-04:002010-09-21T21:31:04.374-04:00@KooKooKaChoo Loved soccer son's take on NIP.
...@KooKooKaChoo Loved soccer son's take on <b>NIP</b>.<br /><br />@your average blank Really? She was Carole King's baby sitter?? Very cool piece of pop trivia. Thanks.<br /><br />Got hung up in the Great Lakes by 10D: SsH, making 15A: a curious EARns with 9D: being CnS (coins?).<br />60A: also caused a stumble with Inc, making 55 and 56 obscure for a while.<br /><br />Daughter was a swimmer. I agree, at meets, it's back, breast, fly, free - but CRAWL certainly works.<br />Wish TOUCH could have been including to add gloss to the theme. Here's Michael Phelps' famous one from the 2008 Olympics.<br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/swift3/MPhelps/MPhelpsvCavicWinningTouch-100mFly.jpg" rel="nofollow">Phelps v. Cavic -Butterfly</a>Nighthawkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11898505137434147165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85667154264775742752010-09-21T21:27:06.616-04:002010-09-21T21:27:06.616-04:00@WHH, don't recall Tight Wad Air, do recall Te...@WHH, don't recall Tight Wad Air, do recall Teeny Weeny Airlines, but not from Dad. He would not have deprecated his employer in front of the children.CoffeeLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16473192190412844538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52846635667720709882010-09-21T21:20:14.250-04:002010-09-21T21:20:14.250-04:00Ulrich, I would really appreciate WHH to WarrenEtc...Ulrich, I would really appreciate WHH to WarrenEtc. Thankyou, very muchWarren Howie Hughesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43468403191999818512010-09-21T21:11:18.081-04:002010-09-21T21:11:18.081-04:00I completely missed the meaning of the word PETS a...I completely missed the meaning of the word PETS and finished the puzzle first before figuring out what the theme was.<br /><br />As a reader of mystery novels, I recognized IDENTIKIT right away so no real problems except as indicated above.edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53979705251729315522010-09-21T21:08:17.847-04:002010-09-21T21:08:17.847-04:00Before I got the theme, I wanted BACKISSUES (Old N...Before I got the theme, I wanted BACKISSUES (Old New Yorkers) to be something with kniCKerbocker in it. Even after I got it, theme and clue, I just couldn't read it. KISSUE? as in "Kiss you, I don't even know you!" Finally saw the 2 words. <br /><br />@David - Had swIne before AvIAN, and then ASIAN. IDENTIKIT was easy for me as it's covered in pop-science magazines (Scientific American, Discovery) and on pop-science tv shows. <br /><br />Wanted labor PAinS - no I didn't, when I had 'em.<br /><br />Did not know OSSA.<br /><br />The rest of the CW seemed deja vu-ish. Don't know why.<br /><br />@David - agree that pluralizing can be cheap.<br />Too many Davids. I once told my son he could have no more friends named Kevin, and my sister could have no more friends named Debby. <br /><br />@Kookookachoo - He's picking up the word! I loved hearing my inmates say that they had a "beef" with someone decades after my dad used the expression in Old New York.<br /><br />@Rube - I preferred the Chiffons, also. <br /><br />@AnonBob - if you want to be loved for who you are - then who the hell are you?Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86796164688483115512010-09-21T20:37:47.618-04:002010-09-21T20:37:47.618-04:00I wanted the swimming strokes in the correct order...I wanted the swimming strokes in the correct order of an individual medley: butter, back, breast and freestyle (crawl). Btw, did the puzzle with a pair of 4th graders today. Helpful and curious partipants.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60324851358713920032010-09-21T20:26:52.876-04:002010-09-21T20:26:52.876-04:00@ dk, You should put together a book complete with...@ dk, You should put together a book complete with photos. I'd buy it.<br />@ Ulrich, I'm not sure I have seen the building you are talking about but Denver's new airport looks like a whole bunch of bras ... or a circus.Two Ponieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06896743444873087885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90079091339809116722010-09-21T18:16:54.470-04:002010-09-21T18:16:54.470-04:00@WarrenEtc: Your remark reminds me that the Saarin...@WarrenEtc: Your remark reminds me that the Saarinen terminal was known to pilots as the "Flying brassiere"...Ulrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13876827414812767212010-09-21T17:49:53.061-04:002010-09-21T17:49:53.061-04:00Missed/don't get the whole masturbation/Christ...Missed/don't get the whole masturbation/Christine thing.<br /><br />Find the puzzle to be fine Tuesday fare and my only problem was I got here early and the blog was late.<br /><br />** (2 Stars)<br /><br />Photographed The Dolls back in the day and saw them perform on Machinery Hill at the Minnesota State Fair three days after moving from Manhattan to St. Paul.dkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80110537675348278602010-09-21T17:28:07.309-04:002010-09-21T17:28:07.309-04:00Had DUMBO for BABAR and DILDO for BILBO before rex...Had DUMBO for BABAR and DILDO for BILBO before rex had Christine mastubating and Tobias was a Marxist....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29676516951144548362010-09-21T17:26:33.806-04:002010-09-21T17:26:33.806-04:00Didn't occur to me that "Pets" was a...Didn't occur to me that "Pets" was a verb!John Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07357699268976237292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11885350472574174202010-09-21T16:49:14.818-04:002010-09-21T16:49:14.818-04:00I thought it was a solid puzzle. Identi-Kit was wa...I thought it was a solid puzzle. Identi-Kit was way out of Tuesday difficulty range, but solvable through crosses.<br /><br />Great Dolls clip! Thanks, BBC2.Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12767167497600653552010-09-21T16:46:54.896-04:002010-09-21T16:46:54.896-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18245165628417529042010-09-21T16:39:18.537-04:002010-09-21T16:39:18.537-04:00Maybe y'all're using the wrong sources? NI...Maybe y'all're using the wrong sources? <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nip" rel="nofollow">NIP</a>. <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pet%5B3%5D" rel="nofollow">PET</a>. <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v466/n7306/full/nature09190.html" rel="nofollow">RNAS</a>. <a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,840919,00.html" rel="nofollow">BMOCS</a>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39543371218567299642010-09-21T16:18:17.264-04:002010-09-21T16:18:17.264-04:00Have a problem w/ pets for strokes. Pets require ...Have a problem w/ pets for strokes. Pets require a full hand but strokes only use fingers....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38930579070496015432010-09-21T16:17:23.944-04:002010-09-21T16:17:23.944-04:00Sure seemed like a lot of marginal stuff today. Ar...Sure seemed like a lot of marginal stuff today. Are acronyms now just normal nouns that can be pluralized at will by sticking an "s" on them? BMOCS? Last I noted the plural of man was men, giving BMOC. Now if the clue had been "Colleges VIP" then BMOCS (Big Man On Campusses" might have been OK. Ditto for "RNAS". Bah!<br /><br />Do we have to be smashed over the head with the clue for the reveal every day there is one? Why not have 39A be just "Pets" and leave a little "puzzling" for the solver to do?<br /><br />Nip for defeat??? In a quick check of an online dictionary nip has about five gajilllion definitions, any of which could have made a decent clue, and none of which have anything to do with a defeat - unless you defeat the the plant "just a tad" when you nip it in the bud?<br /><br />Well, at least maybe we've emerged from the proper-name hell that was Brown week and yesterday. Despite the complaints I enjoyed today and managed to finish at least.David in CAnoreply@blogger.com