tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4212047107887914995..comments2024-03-29T03:22:09.826-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Heraldic band / THU 9-30-10 / Destination for Near Eastern caravan / Zeno's locale / Sci-fi role starting 1966 / Low-cost home loan corpRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12163303540487883942010-11-04T20:09:20.407-04:002010-11-04T20:09:20.407-04:00Now I see that a person from MILAN is actually cal...Now I see that a person from MILAN is actually called a MILANIAN (UGH UGH and DOUBLE UGH). Hey, but that's the deal, so . . . .NotalwaysrightBillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36515175346185234392010-11-04T19:57:06.651-04:002010-11-04T19:57:06.651-04:00Syndicated puzzler. Sure glad I'm not good eno...Syndicated puzzler. Sure glad I'm not good enough to be as picayune as some. Still learnin' plenty from some of the small fill and so still havin' fun.<br /> REAMER and SUBMERSE both perfectly good answers for the given clues. What's the prob, Bob?<br /> Have a sneaking suspicion that MILANESE or LOSANGELINO wouldn't have gotten as poor a reception as LHASAN. Names are what they are.<br /> Thanks @[whomever] for the "Goldberg's Elephant . . . " mnemonic.<br /> Personal biggest quibble from this puzzle: 52D: MODEL for "Feature at an auto show, in two different ways": a pretty contorted stretch ifn ya ask me.<br /> Found the theme answers to be on infirm footings. None of the "Uh-uh"'s led to a solid "NO", but ended up being more like ominous warnings instead (IWOULDNTIFIWEREYOU).<br /> Better for me was the subtheme of STOIC SATYRFAUN REAMERS AGOGO TOAMAN.NotalwaysrightBillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47845202951986468332010-11-04T14:43:54.852-04:002010-11-04T14:43:54.852-04:00The discussion of this puzzle was the highlight of...The discussion of this puzzle was the highlight of my day....but that's not all that strange as I LOVE it here.<br /><br />@PurpleGuy - glad to see that you 're-considered'. I hope that I continue to see your avitar several weeks behind your comments out here in syndication-land. Continued best wishes for you and your mom.<br /><br />I also love the fact that RP keeps a tight leash on his blog and accepts very little bullshit...it is HIS after all and I love being his guest. His smackdowns never fail to amuse me.<br /><br />@Vic - this should be on the shortlist of nominees for post of the year. Thanks for your puzzle(s) and your post and amusing me.<br /><br />And I am not so secretly amused by the discussion of Reaming. I love it when WS lets stuff like that into his baby.<br /><br />OVELO - Cheerios from the ASIS table??Lurking, Just Behind You!noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55912157835266947202010-11-04T12:00:15.345-04:002010-11-04T12:00:15.345-04:00In case it wasn't noted, FNMA is the stock sym...In case it wasn't noted, FNMA is the stock symbol for Fannie Mae. I don't recall seeing answers in symbol form without a hint such as " . . . symbol" etc. Would anyone think a 4 letter answer to the clue, "Western Java Maker" could be SBUX (Starbucks)??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26894343468678522422010-10-02T23:48:26.665-04:002010-10-02T23:48:26.665-04:00AGOGO? Disco? Maybe if you think original discot...AGOGO? Disco? Maybe if you think original discoteque, Chicago 1950s. Not the later 70s disco.luisa massimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39644891267396320652010-09-30T22:04:05.738-04:002010-09-30T22:04:05.738-04:00This 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 7:23, 6:58, 1.06, 76%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 10:16, 8:55, 1.15, 87%, Challenging<br />Wed 9:45, 11:39, 0.84, 17%, Easy<br />Thu 17:57, 19:07, 0.94, 44%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:59, 3:43, 1.07, 83%, Challenging<br />Tue 5:08, 4:36, 1.12, 85%, Challenging<br />Wed 4:54, 5:45, 0.85, 11%, Easy<br />Thu 8:41, 9:10, 0.95, 49%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31986239052395477222010-09-30T21:01:02.662-04:002010-09-30T21:01:02.662-04:00@Anon709 - Bend over. I have a different kind of r...@Anon709 - Bend over. I have a different kind of reamer.<br />The West Coast and that other sun-infested place - FL will go first. I don't see too many NE or NY towns getting sucked into holes or washing off cliffs. <br />When I started in 6/09, I was greatly relieved that others made the same and similar errors. I learned what I needed to concentrate on. If you're a minute-man now - not just in your usual bedroom way, but the CW way - then get thee to a forum where solvers brag about their victories. We won't mind.<br /><br />@PurpleGuy - at the prison, we were reminded that the inmate pushing the broom is not invisible and is taking notes! Another group that feels invisible as they age is women. I tell my friends it doesn't matter what you look like any more, no one looks when you're over 60. The benefit is, you get an earful. <br /><br />Ciao ciao, bambino (or as they say in CWs - Ciaos.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23986120072286304232010-09-30T20:29:29.826-04:002010-09-30T20:29:29.826-04:00@Rex and Vic, about half the hits, 7,340,000 in my...@Rex and Vic, about half the hits, 7,340,000 in my search, are found when you allow only French language.<br /><br />I grew up with that word, so I have no perspective on its familiarity with the West.<br /><br />@Purple Guy, <br /><br />I know it's hard to be purple<br />But it's worse to be blue...<br />This is the worst poem ever<br />Written just for you!foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64631836974962728412010-09-30T20:26:12.764-04:002010-09-30T20:26:12.764-04:00Judge Victor -- glad you didn't mind my basele...Judge Victor -- glad you didn't mind my baseless critique. Solving a puzzle is about one one-hundredth as relevant as creating one. Yet we solvers feel free to let our pipe-end, scant-considered aesthetics be known. Whenever I don't really like a puzzle that much, I usually take the side of the constructor.<br /><br />I was talking about Yeats yesterday, saying that I didn't much like the general thrust of his poems, yet I couldn't deny that he could put ideas into words incisively.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85541947938583950352010-09-30T20:15:10.267-04:002010-09-30T20:15:10.267-04:00I Love this blog-I've been hovering over it fo...I Love this blog-I've been hovering over it for a few months, intimidated by your knowledge!<br /><br />It really helps to hear that you all make the same mistakes I do and I have learned so much about solving.<br /><br />@anonymous 7:09-I don't see the discussions pointless at all. <br /><br />Thanks, Rex and All Here!Sharpie48noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88411664764015683502010-09-30T19:56:58.126-04:002010-09-30T19:56:58.126-04:00Victor, foodie and Two Ponies -- Right.Victor, foodie and Two Ponies -- Right.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77818296955706505452010-09-30T19:55:56.015-04:002010-09-30T19:55:56.015-04:00SERAI is a common French verb form (first person s...SERAI is a common French verb form (first person singular future indicative of "être") so that 14.5 million figure is a *little* inflated. There's a reason something with *that* combination of highly desirable letters appears so rarely in puzzles.Rex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62597845296216726422010-09-30T19:47:33.008-04:002010-09-30T19:47:33.008-04:00@ Vic, Thank you so much for dropping by. I love h...@ Vic, Thank you so much for dropping by. I love hearing from constructors. I have seen your name many times before and am a fan.<br /><br />@ Purple Guy, I was hoping you would pop back and see what a stir you caused. We all have our "crosses to bear". It's all relative to what you have endured so far in this life. This is a kind crowd for the most part. We went through foodie's father's illness, for example. There must be some sort of line drawn, however, because what we share is the puzzle. It might sound shallow to an outsider but keeping that as our focus allows some small glimpses into our personal lives without crossing that invisible line. I, for one, like that small distance. Sort of like fences making good neighbors.<br />Enjoy your mom while you have her. Mine has been gone for a long time. Also, if she is 102 you can't be a spring chicken yourself so take care of yourself as well.Two Ponieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06896743444873087885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87467375241975773272010-09-30T19:41:36.738-04:002010-09-30T19:41:36.738-04:00@ Victor - Right....@ Victor - Right....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58779669440495005462010-09-30T19:36:27.871-04:002010-09-30T19:36:27.871-04:00@Vic Fleming, greatest post by a constructor ever ...@Vic Fleming, greatest post by a constructor ever (except for ACME whom I compare to no one). <br /><br />But I think you forgot to thank @Noam D. Elkies. He said your puzzle wasn't more FU worthy than normal. Or is being FU worthy something we should all strive for?foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25689914518476676212010-09-30T19:29:04.901-04:002010-09-30T19:29:04.901-04:00(abbr.) DFTT (and I don't mean the judge!)(abbr.) DFTT (and I don't mean the judge!)The captain of your troll policenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54484484080657079832010-09-30T19:18:23.180-04:002010-09-30T19:18:23.180-04:00I meant that 14,500 to be 14,500,000 - as in Googl...I meant that 14,500 to be 14,500,000 - as in Google hits for "serai."<br /><br />VicUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05447399856953037322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32327908422251696482010-09-30T19:16:37.446-04:002010-09-30T19:16:37.446-04:00Thank you, nanpilla, for using a reamer!
Congrats,...Thank you, nanpilla, for using a reamer!<br />Congrats, protege01, for a great solving time!<br />Mrs. Pock, you do indeed need to know the girl from “Waterworld”!<br />Purple Guy, hardly a day goes by that I do not say to someone, “I care that Purple Guy exists!” Thanks for saying “This was a good puzzle.” My wife thought so, too. She loved SUBMERSE!<br />Falconer, thanks for saying you “Loved this puzzle!”<br />(Is there any irony in the fact that, this very day, I closed on a FNMA loan?!)<br />Joho, you are welcome! Thanks for thanking me!<br />Hazel, I plead guilty to being Super Easy, but not to being Super!<br />KooKoo, thanks for liking the puzzle. So glad you laughed!<br />Ulrich, thanks for the benefit of the doubt!<br />Joecab, I’m proud to have introduced you to SERAI In quotes, it gets 14,500 Google hits; it’s in 19 on-line dictionaries. In a database that I use, it appears to have been in at least 5 Times puzzles between 1993 & 2007 (and over 25 other puzzles in the same time frame). It’s a Thursday word!<br />Fergus, even in court folks don’t say I am odd and unfriendly. One or the other, but never both. (Few call me judicious, either.)<br />And thanks, everyone, for continuing to patronize Rex's excellent blog spot.<br />FYI, this puzzle was submitted in May 2009, accepted a month later.<br /><br />Vic FlemingUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05447399856953037322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60420866230402941782010-09-30T19:09:43.624-04:002010-09-30T19:09:43.624-04:001. I want to see the comment by Cigar that Rex del...1. I want to see the comment by Cigar that Rex deleted -- it's not fair Rex deletes the only good comment on his blog. 2. Square FOOT, ROOT, KNOT -- that's what erasers are for. 3. Why this endless -- dare I say pointless? -- commentary on possible answers -- it is what is is and deal with it. 4. If there is a God, the rain in the East will wash away the entire East Coast....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14804695411981063422010-09-30T18:52:25.296-04:002010-09-30T18:52:25.296-04:00@Purple Guy...none of my business but: when people...@Purple Guy...none of my business but: when people have to spend a lot of time taking care of the sick/dying/elderly there is a tendency for them to withdraw from everything else...which is understandable, but counter-productive...the reason is, the person you are caring for needs you to keep them involved in the world to whatever degree possible, because the alternative is that they lose all connections with the outside world and have only their inner world of pain and suffering ...cutting yourself from the puzzle/rex's blog means your mom loses one more connection to the world, however slim and tenuous...stay involved...<br /><br />this is meant to be helpful and i apologize if it comes across the wrong way...PIXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88323953351183100932010-09-30T18:45:59.769-04:002010-09-30T18:45:59.769-04:00Bob the purple, You did not come across as whinin...Bob the purple, You did not come across as whining or seeking attention, if you did I would have complained, as while I rarely whine I always seek attention. Tho, I often loose to Acme as she name drops. <br /><br />Oh yeah, tell your mom she is right. <br /><br />My mom (87) still believes Nixon is the victim of a hostile press and will not touch anything NYT. I do not have the heart to tell her the puzzle she does in syndication comes from the paper that shall not be named<br /><br />A toast to @Purple tonight, perhaps a glass of wine :);0. <br /><br />ur pal dk<br /><br />Watched Last Picture Show last night, IFIWEREYOU I would watch it to.dkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9087270425706724202010-09-30T18:43:06.667-04:002010-09-30T18:43:06.667-04:00Was Enola from Waterworld gay? May be a way to re...Was Enola from Waterworld gay? May be a way to remember!<br />OK, back to work on a new puzzle...acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17896163736734104712010-09-30T18:25:31.458-04:002010-09-30T18:25:31.458-04:00To all in Rexville-
I certainly did not mean to co...To all in Rexville-<br />I certainly did not mean to come acroos as whining, or seeking attention.<br />I apologize if it appeared as such.<br /><br />Yes, I will still be around. You can't get rid of me that easily. Just maybe not posting as often.<br /><br />You all literally brought tears to my eyes, and made me realize what a great place this site is. You all renew my faith in humanity.<br /><br />Ok, maybe I'm being sappy, but I mean every word of it. You all are THE BEST and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.<br /><br />Oh, by the way, mom was livid at my post and wants you all to know she loves the puzzles and this site.<br /><br />Many toasts will be had tonight !<br /><br />Shanti-<br /><br />Bob/PurpleGuyPurpleGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03831764248536980544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55009573379256846352010-09-30T18:14:50.006-04:002010-09-30T18:14:50.006-04:00@JaxInLA, thank you for explaining what Guinness h...@JaxInLA, thank you for explaining what Guinness had to do with TALLEST. I had it right, but kept spinning it around for a twenty mile drive. Alec Guinness? Stout?<br /><br />I have a yellow plastic REAMER, designed in two parts so the seeds are caught in a sort of sieve, and the juice flows through into a separate container. Son requested it recently; he didn't get it.<br /><br />Had rOOT, and SERAa (like Sanaa?), and poor Ms. Alexander was EfaKA. Nothing to do but laugh.<br /><br />@Sfingi, maybe this applies. At work I used to mutter, "This is really bad, but it's been worse, and it'll be worse again." Somehow found that comforting.<br /><br />Bob/Purple Guy, Shanti to you as well.CoffeeLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16473192190412844538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88006739646245900612010-09-30T17:56:43.623-04:002010-09-30T17:56:43.623-04:00On Thursdays, I expect something more creative; di...On Thursdays, I expect something more creative; disappointing puzzle.<br /><br />48A is very easy if you happen to remember the line from Inherit The Wind: "We shall hex the Pentateuch and slip you in neatly between Numbers and Deuteronomy!!" (Darrow beating up Bryan)PIXnoreply@blogger.com