tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4186715348577099197..comments2024-03-29T01:22:33.864-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Traveler to Cathay / MON 10-22-12 / Frito-Lay product once sold in a 100% compostable bag / Slangy request for a high-five / Conqueror of the IncasRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62516024327186491462012-11-26T23:19:12.868-05:002012-11-26T23:19:12.868-05:00Justin Bieber performed at halftime in yesterday&#...Justin Bieber performed at halftime in yesterday's Grey Cup (our version of the Superbowl) held in Toronto (near his hometown of Stratford, ON) and was roundly booed for his efforts by many if not most of the 55,000 fans present. Evidently hardcore football fans don't get the Bieber's music (thought it was just me) though they cheered on folk legend (and fellow Canuck) Gordon Lightfoot who also performed.<br /><br /> Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11858024333683648952012-11-26T17:59:18.247-05:002012-11-26T17:59:18.247-05:00My solving role today was limited to that of spect...My solving role today was limited to that of spectator as WPP did the puzzle herself, with little difficulty I might add. She needed the downs to produce SCH at 1a and then asked, "who uses that?" so it was a teachable moment about the necessities of crosswordese. She knew UPTOP from just the U, spelled VISE correctly the first time (which I never do) and caught the Italian spelling of Roma to clue NAPOLI instead of NAPles, which is what I probably would have put in. Her completed grid is much neater and cleaner than anything I have ever produced.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14953427270495931192012-11-26T15:13:51.506-05:002012-11-26T15:13:51.506-05:00A good start to the week. Managed it all. Wouldn...A good start to the week. Managed it all. Wouldn't if I had had to come up with UPTOP, which I've never heard. The California slant of this puzzle was a help. Though I now live near PETCO Park, my home town is/was San Francisco, with SFO and the SAN Andreas fault. It's even where Mr Strauss made those LEVIs! Surprise of the day was Sr. Pizarro's first name. Don't recall the City ever mentioning that. <br /><br />Think, that for a change, I can read this Captcha, so I'm going to run before it morphs.DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76640480114000175282012-11-26T13:55:55.683-05:002012-11-26T13:55:55.683-05:00Nice easy Monday. Only writeovers were caused by ...Nice easy Monday. Only writeovers were caused by bad spelling; PIZzaRO and NAPles, easily fixed.<br /><br />@Spacecraft - LOL at Mr Case of Insurance fame.<br /><br />Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38496930327688902862012-11-26T12:35:50.094-05:002012-11-26T12:35:50.094-05:00I guess the Monday-to-Saturday cluing curve is rea...I guess the Monday-to-Saturday cluing curve is really wide. Too easy to too hard, sometimes. E.g.: "Bieber with..." The name alone is the gimmiest gimme that ever came down the pike. Surely there are less obvious JUSTINs; if all else fails, you can use "Mr. Case of insurance ad fame."<br /><br />The ratings of OFL and plenty others surprise me. All the clues were simplistic, straightforward and led directly to a unique and obvious answer. Easy-peasy.<br /><br />This is not to say that it wasn't a well-filled or cute-themed grid (which I totally did not notice was 16-wide till I came here; I don't count squares). A few groaners like SCH--really, the 1a kickoff ought to be better than that--and SLRS aside, this was fairly good. But can you imagine a poker player saying "I'll SITPAT?" NAH.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57937147222263545462012-11-26T10:29:02.997-05:002012-11-26T10:29:02.997-05:00I really liked the puzzle. I'd rate it as medi...I really liked the puzzle. I'd rate it as medium as I had to google the stadium. Had to keep changing the spelling of Pizarro but got it from crosses. The rest went down s-m-o-o-t-h.<br /><br />Great puzzle Mr. FaglianoNM Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14920756034993068695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27858204905916488442012-10-23T02:52:45.761-04:002012-10-23T02:52:45.761-04:00Nice! I really enjoyed reading your post. Thanks f...Nice! I really enjoyed reading your post. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work.Business Mobile Phone Dealshttp://www.rydalcommunications.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35673039110358243372012-10-22T22:03:08.454-04:002012-10-22T22:03:08.454-04:00This 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 6:45, 6:47, 1.00, 56%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:52, 3:41, 1.05, 80%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26159682846836156652012-10-22T21:15:58.229-04:002012-10-22T21:15:58.229-04:00@dk 7:32 I suspect the disease(s) that conquered t...@dk 7:32 I suspect the disease(s) that conquered the Incas was/were brought to them by Pizarro and his <br />troops.ksquarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181873595483296089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59773134371952406222012-10-22T18:55:49.323-04:002012-10-22T18:55:49.323-04:00@Sparky - Thank God, you scared me yesterday.@Sparky - Thank God, you scared me yesterday.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76732447068481001042012-10-22T18:17:18.778-04:002012-10-22T18:17:18.778-04:00Took longer than expected. Solved in MD's wai...Took longer than expected. Solved in MD's waiting room so that was a plus. Nice puzzle. I am calmer today. Does anybody ever use the word AVIATES? <br /><br />Nice tip @Z. That might be helpful for links which are hard to watch in the dinky box.<br /><br />Off we go, aviating into the wild blue yonder. <br /><br /> Sparkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11149915526159432838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81820162863879573422012-10-22T18:09:43.122-04:002012-10-22T18:09:43.122-04:00I should also say that overall I really like this ...I should also say that overall I really like this puzzle. Solid Monday offering, good theme. Not sure that Francisco Pizarro is worth extending the grid, but I do like the different feel the stretched grid has. Many more 6, 7, 8 letter answers than your typical Monday. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02355645271180365122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70199175004428445392012-10-22T18:05:51.928-04:002012-10-22T18:05:51.928-04:00I also often wonder what constructors value in tho...I also often wonder what constructors value in those corners that could be filled so many different ways. Typically, when I'm filling those corners, I try to use only real words, avoiding names and acronyms. Then I try to have as much sparkle as possible (especially in the answer that breaks out of that section), avoiding crosswordese as much as possible.<br /><br />Sometimes lousy short fill is okay too justify snappy longer answers, but those OOXTEPLERNON corners drive me crazy and are actually what started me trying to construct grids.<br /><br />In this case not only is OUTMODE out of the language, UVA (and even TANNER) should, in my opinion, be last resort type fill. There are surely better options. For example:<br /><br />ALAMODE<br />DILATES<br />OPENER <br /><br />What do you all value in those corners?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02355645271180365122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60984448594243282202012-10-22T17:51:44.652-04:002012-10-22T17:51:44.652-04:00@John V ... don't you know, @Andrea ALWAYS put...@John V ... don't you know, @Andrea ALWAYS puts the sizzle in the pizzle!johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12676753837833527202012-10-22T17:10:06.564-04:002012-10-22T17:10:06.564-04:00@John V and Anonymous - You're welcome. I thin...@John V and Anonymous - You're welcome. I think I happened upon that once long ago when I was still a lurker.<br /><br />Baseball Stadium Names- Coors Field, Turner Field, Rogers Centre, Chase Field, Safeco Field, Busch Stadium, Citizens Bank Park, Progressive Field, Citi Field, AT&T Park, Miller Park, Comerica Park, Wrigley Field, Minute Maid Park (née Enron Field), US Cellular Field, Target Field, PNC Park, Tropicana Field.<br /><br />Comerica bought the naming rights to Detroit's new stadium for 30 years for $66 million then promptly moved it's headquarters to Dallas TX. Sigh. Then again, last long enough and people will not notice the corporate ties.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44224601989788588452012-10-22T17:06:15.298-04:002012-10-22T17:06:15.298-04:00Z@7:15AM-
Ditto to what John V wrote @3:37PM; wha...Z@7:15AM-<br /><br />Ditto to what John V wrote @3:37PM; what a nice convenience!jackjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02699305265544975575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83949656690308679172012-10-22T16:08:47.003-04:002012-10-22T16:08:47.003-04:00Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 8/1/2...Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 8/1/2009 post for an explanation of my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Mon 6:40, 6:47, 0.98, 51%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:58, 3:41, 1.08, 85%, Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43249992492776804542012-10-22T15:40:38.730-04:002012-10-22T15:40:38.730-04:00The puzzle must be M-W if I can solve it w/o Googl...The puzzle must be M-W if I can solve it w/o Google.<br /><br />Was once told I look like an OOMPA LOOMPA (check out my atavar). <br /><br />My son got married this weekend in Conway, NH on a covered bridge. The clouds parted and the sun came out in force. (Rosaries on the clothesline?) The White Mts. were very orange. They don't believe in street signs in NH - no idea what town or direction one is. Son said, the message is if you're not from New England, you shouldn't be here.<br /><br />Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39586288739045381732012-10-22T15:37:53.214-04:002012-10-22T15:37:53.214-04:00@Z: Thanks for the tip on seeing the
comments on ...@Z: Thanks for the tip on seeing the<br />comments on the blog page. Never knew that!John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82110878857585137782012-10-22T15:32:25.009-04:002012-10-22T15:32:25.009-04:00Definitely a good Monday puzzle — an easy one for ...Definitely a good Monday puzzle — an easy one for me, as I completed just 19 seconds over my best-ever iPad time (I've said it before, but I really, really wish I could use my external keyboard on the Magmic app to benefit from improved typing speed).<br /><br />There were a few entries that I especially enjoyed. I'm always glad to see ITALO Calvino pop up, as he's one of my favorite authors; I enjoyed learning that my (newly adopted) hometown airport is the #2 busiest in CA, and that SUN CHIPS used to come in a biodegradable bag; and I liked TPED as a timely entry, with Halloween coming up and all. However, I also made the initial NAPles/NAPOLI mis-entry (OOMPA LOOMPA set me straight).<br /><br />I agree with Rex that OUTMODE seemed a little odd, but not so much that it seemed wrong — just nonstandard usage. I like the idea of COMMODE in the corner, because (a) that's a fun word for "toilet," and (b) it can go in with no other changes — you do get the over-used OVA, but I don't think UVA is any less tired.<br /><br />Otherwise, nice construction and fun theme+revealer. My only remaining complaint is that the Captchas here have become far more illegible in recent days.Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15336260911834780345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22830576509719476732012-10-22T15:19:25.505-04:002012-10-22T15:19:25.505-04:00@Acme: I admire your emphasizing the pizzle today....@Acme: I admire your emphasizing the pizzle today. Really I do :)John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18592387861780949742012-10-22T15:18:10.916-04:002012-10-22T15:18:10.916-04:00In 2001 SPINAL Tap played the Greek Theater, which...In 2001 SPINAL Tap played the Greek Theater, which is in . . . California.Harry Julius Shearernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50638363761788735772012-10-22T15:14:27.766-04:002012-10-22T15:14:27.766-04:00And didn't Marco Polo discover California?And didn't Marco Polo discover California?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82317038832766800042012-10-22T14:30:20.930-04:002012-10-22T14:30:20.930-04:00Great puzzle, tho more advanced fill and themewise...Great puzzle, tho more advanced fill and themewise for a typical Monday...loved it tho.<br /><br />@ chefwen<br />I'd add FRANCISCO. To your minitheme CA list, tho that highlights that you have both SFO and FRANCISCO in the pizzle, where that's the F!<br />Acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68958453448996851162012-10-22T14:10:26.862-04:002012-10-22T14:10:26.862-04:00OT, but I'm having a bitch of a time with yest...OT, but I'm having a bitch of a time with yesterday's puzzle. Have not/will not read @Rex until after the deadline, but just sharing. I've got maybe half, above the NW/SE diagonal; below that, pretty, pretty slim pickings.John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.com