tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4663441296177775346..comments2024-03-28T13:00:19.785-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Stock pantomime character / SAT 3-30-13 / Orangish gem / Inti worshipers / Privateer who captained Blessed William / Wall St manipulators / Symbol of elasticity in economics / Mikado weapon / 1968 #2 hit with lyric my love for you is way out of lineRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32430235816991935132017-03-05T12:25:38.094-05:002017-03-05T12:25:38.094-05:00Back in the 1930's or so, my father wrote the ...Back in the 1930's or so, my father wrote the sequel to Pigeons on the Grass, Alas. It was Pigeons on the roof, aloof!Tarheelednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54496031951648098872013-05-05T10:09:46.046-04:002013-05-05T10:09:46.046-04:00Late to the CLAMBAR on this one as yardwork and Mr...Late to the CLAMBAR on this one as yardwork and Mrs. Waxy's nursing class reunion (no PROMKINGs present) took priority. Like @jackj et al, the lack of a capital em confused me concerning mayo - so offset THEAGINGPROCESS a bit by learning something new about Spanish months. Also expanded my own private Wisconsin beyond Milwaukee, Racine and Green Bay, adding KENOSHA from its crosses. Leery about MIRY - wanted Goo(e)y or oozy instead. Loved the clue for ONSAFARI; no so much the one for MIATA.<br /><br />Fun Saturday though, ending a very high quality week of puzzles - thanks Gareth and Will.<br /><br />Back to the yard.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24969791618938037452013-05-04T21:52:05.011-04:002013-05-04T21:52:05.011-04:00Argh, messed up the link. This time 2 copies of th...Argh, messed up the link. This time 2 copies of the protocol in the URL instead of forgetting to include it like yesterday. I've got some bad brain fog this evening. :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-CSb3Xe06s" rel="nofollow">"Brush Up Your Shakespeare"</a>Syndi Solvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25770812106915167452013-05-04T21:46:29.738-04:002013-05-04T21:46:29.738-04:00DNF for me today. But I am happy that I got most o...DNF for me today. But I am happy that I got most of it eventually. I had to cheat in the NE because all I had was AMORAL and a huge blank space.<br /><br />Hand up for hogWASH first and really not wanting it to be EYEWASH even though I was sure OAKLEY was correct.<br /><br />I was so happy to remember I HATE MEN from Kiss Me, Kate. But <a href="http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-CSb3Xe06s" rel="nofollow">"Brush Up Your Shakespeare"</a> is a lot more fun.<br /><br />@strayling, I know PIERROT from old movies and books. I remember a scene (maybe more) where someone complains about having to wear that outfit to a costume party. I had to look it up (years ago) because I had no idea what PIERROT was. That came in handy today!Syndi Solvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84970858992361893372013-05-04T20:14:59.515-04:002013-05-04T20:14:59.515-04:00The PIERROT clue is a nice example of definition v...The PIERROT clue is a nice example of definition vs. reality. I've been to many pantomimes and they don't feature those creepy clowns at all. <br /><br />There's always a Widow Twankey though.straylinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536180563789923012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48183897380640574172013-05-04T19:45:37.200-04:002013-05-04T19:45:37.200-04:00@Joe in Montreal - I think we can be certain that ...@Joe in Montreal - I think we can be certain that the constructor did not know when the puzzle would appear since that is entirely up to the editor, but it is still a stellar example of the phenomenom that I call "syndication synchronicity" - sometimes stuff like that just happens.<br /><br />@Spacecraft - you're welcome, and I'm glad the puzzle generated such a pleasant memory for you.<br /><br />Happy cinco de mayo to all! Don't forget to watch for shooting stars tonight!Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73922440049368312842013-05-04T17:34:02.992-04:002013-05-04T17:34:02.992-04:00Did Dr Bains know that in syndication this would a...Did Dr Bains know that in syndication this would appear on the 4th of May? That's the only reason I got 'important part of mayo'.Joe in Montrealnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88126639701514767612013-05-04T15:08:33.626-04:002013-05-04T15:08:33.626-04:00With some pauses here and there, I managed to get ...With some pauses here and there, I managed to get this one, though I had to come here to see if the L I guessed in LOW was right. I know what a SPIEL is, but "door to door"? Hardest for me was accepting MIRY as a real word, and having an aha moment when realizing TEAMUS? wasn't referring to something you drink. Paused, also over YOUNGGIRL as it sounded pretty risqué to me! But then, I blush at a lot of what you young whippersnappers call entertainment these days! Back to the crocheting!DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36216508545695394202013-05-04T13:40:42.551-04:002013-05-04T13:40:42.551-04:00I guess it was easy because I finished in less tha...I guess it was easy because I finished in less than 45 minutes... The NW was a laydown, but then it was stop and go after that. YOUNGGIRL, ah yes, good to have that gimme. I thought YOUNGGIRL crossing THEAGINGPROCESS was a nice touch, and overall, the puzzle was most enjoyable although I would never call a MIATA and a Mustang rivals. Different sorts of car.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86171393142322035662013-05-04T12:46:36.275-04:002013-05-04T12:46:36.275-04:00Thanks, @Diri, for the lyrics to the song that was...Thanks, @Diri, for the lyrics to the song that was playing when I first kissed my first true love. There was a mote of truth in it for me personally, too.<br /><br />Well, needless to say, the Puckett tune went right in for me--and like OFL, I branched out from there. I would never call a Saturday offering "easy"--cluing alone would preclude that--but I did get it done fairly handily, so I'll give it a medium.<br /><br />Working off the ____PTS of 1a, I was so sure it was RECEIPTS that I had the REC written down before I realized: uh, idiot, you need an extra square there. And since this was the last area to do for me and no rebuses (rebi?) had appeared so far, I knew I'd made a mistake. Naturally, I was thinking of IRS "agents." So, one writeover. I finally remembered that no, the Spanish do NOT capitalize their months; I'd taken the cluer to task in an earlier puzzle and had been sternly corrected on that. (If doing these puzzles weren't educational enough, reading these blogs is, many times, enlightening.)<br /><br />Thank you, Dr. B., for a sweet, sweet memory. Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55943505577665872242013-03-30T21:12:35.441-04:002013-03-30T21:12:35.441-04:00"With all the charms of a woman
You've ke..."With all the charms of a woman<br />You've kept the secret of your youth<br />You led me to believe<br />You're old enough<br />To give me Love<br />And now it hurts to know the truth"<br /><br />Honest officer - she told me she was 18.<br /><br />I wanted ZEdS, too.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8256437966646251392013-03-30T20:47:31.682-04:002013-03-30T20:47:31.682-04:00@ Evan - thanks for the thought. We will see if I ...@ Evan - thanks for the thought. We will see if I am consistently faster than I used to be. I think this Fri and Sat were just especially suited for me.<br /><br />The ACPT comes at a bad time of year for me but it is tempting.....retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90096113874745321112013-03-30T20:30:10.589-04:002013-03-30T20:30:10.589-04:00@Z (I Really wanted ZEdS at 29d) - bloggers evolve...@Z (I Really wanted ZEdS at 29d) - bloggers evolve, and so do song lyrics: "Young girl, get out of my mind<br /> My love for you is way out of line<br /> Better run girl,<br /> You're much too young girl<br /> <br />With all the charms of a woman<br /> You've kept the secret of your youth<br /> You led me to believe<br /> You're old enough<br /> To give me Love<br /> And now it hurts to know the truth, Oh,<br /> <br />Young girl get out of my mind<br /> my love for you is way outta line<br /> better run girl, your much too young girl<br /> <br />Beneath your perfume and make-up<br /> You're just a baby in disguise<br /> And though you know<br /> That it is wrong to be<br /> Alone with me<br /> That come on look is in your eyes, Oh,<br /> <br />Young girl get outta my mind<br /> My love for you is way outta line<br /> better run girl, Your much too young girl<br /> <br />So hurry home to your mama<br /> I'm sure she wonders where you are<br /> Get out of here<br /> Before I have the time<br /> To change my mind<br /> 'Cause I'm afraid we'll go too far, Oh,<br /> <br />Young girl get outta my mind<br /> my love for you is way outta line<br /> better run girl, your much too young girl." <br /><br />But at least he resisted the temptation or he'd be a registered sex offender.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52422093985983377492013-03-30T19:30:51.771-04:002013-03-30T19:30:51.771-04:00@Stevelb1 - Not really. Ah, the good old days when...@Stevelb1 - <a href="http://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2006/10/saturday-oct-28-2006-david-quarfoot.html" rel="nofollow">Not really.</a> Ah, the good old days when Rex took 40 minutes to do a Saturday and songs about lusting after underage girls could be top ten hits.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49761957780698534752013-03-30T19:00:26.860-04:002013-03-30T19:00:26.860-04:00As soon as I read "Important part of mayo&quo...As soon as I read "Important part of mayo" and plunked in CINCO I knew I was going to love it, and I did! My only slow down was in the NE corner but TEAMUSA finally showed up to get me home. Thanks, Gareth Bain, for a really fun Saturday puzzle.<br /><br />Clams are delicious steamed or fried, but I never eat them raw.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22023572392267172052013-03-30T18:14:08.462-04:002013-03-30T18:14:08.462-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 8/1/2009 post for an explanation and my 10/15/2012 post for an explanation of a tweak I've made to my method. 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 5:52, 6:07, 0.96, 30%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 6:56, 8:20, 0.83, 5%, Easy (9th lowest ratio of 173 Tuesdays)<br />Wed 10:04, 10:22, 0.97, 43%, Medium<br />Thu 21:48, 16:58, 1.28, 88%, Challenging<br />Fri 17:50, 22:18, 0.80, 14%, Easy<br />Sat 20:28, 24:59, 0.82, 12%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:29, 3:41, 0.95, 18%, Easy<br />Tue 4:15, 4:54, 0.87, 9%, Easy<br />Wed 6:01, 6:08, 0.98, 44%, Medium<br />Thu 13:41, 9:56, 1.38, 88%, Challenging<br />Fri 10:25, 12:57, 0.80, 18%, Easy<br />Sat 12:50, 14:38, 0.88, 28%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4402132912352004302013-03-30T17:27:42.438-04:002013-03-30T17:27:42.438-04:00Today was yard work, puzzle, yard work, puzzle, ya...Today was yard work, puzzle, yard work, puzzle, yard work, puzzle. When I finished it, I felt pretty damn proud of myself. A pretty damn good Saturday. Now for some golf with the grandson followed by an adult beverage. Aaaaah.Notsofastnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35195794257662791252013-03-30T16:52:09.429-04:002013-03-30T16:52:09.429-04:00When I finally finished, I felt good.........until...When I finally finished, I felt good.........until I saw "Easy (maybe Easy-Medium)". I am WAY out of my league here.Stevlb1https://www.blogger.com/profile/03814855846710624128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84566833229211031032013-03-30T16:44:22.531-04:002013-03-30T16:44:22.531-04:00@retired_chemist:
If you're solving Saturdays...@retired_chemist:<br /><br />If you're solving Saturdays in 10 minutes or less, will we be seeing you at the ACPT one of these years?<br /><br />(I don't know if you've been to one previously -- all other factors to the side, I just think your speed is quite good enough to justify giving it a shot.)Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15440942981870183719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45597103706419714772013-03-30T16:37:25.888-04:002013-03-30T16:37:25.888-04:00A strong thumbs-up for Ellen S's link on linki...A strong thumbs-up for Ellen S's link on linking!...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blog.nicetechnology.com/how-to-put-a-link-in-a-blogger-comment.html" rel="nofollow">How to link</a><br /><br />W/o it, MR would still be lurking in his/its MetaLair...MetaRexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01697113550216241303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58491048821174254082013-03-30T16:29:29.893-04:002013-03-30T16:29:29.893-04:00Medium for me, but I'm still a bit delirious. ...Medium for me, but I'm still a bit delirious. Lots of gimmes, like KENOSHA, OAKLEY, PIERROT but I ended up getting my shellfish from the CLAM mAn and not noticing the errors, alas!jberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02169065390875378077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7208290611240231652013-03-30T16:04:45.343-04:002013-03-30T16:04:45.343-04:00Couldn't let go of SEUSS for STEIN -- just had...Couldn't let go of SEUSS for STEIN -- just had to be the doc, alas. Or of DEP for DEM (sad, not party color). This made the puzzle harder than it had to be. I chalk it up to THE AGING PROCESS.DigitalDanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11620300502981292088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15111506845707411162013-03-30T14:26:45.808-04:002013-03-30T14:26:45.808-04:00Young girl brought back some memories. I met my fu...Young girl brought back some memories. I met my future wife in 1968, when she was 15, and that song was popular. No problem with this puzzle, which I liked very much,largely because of what it lacked...hip-hop, rap, rock , computer slang, product names, comic book references...must be part of the aging process..OISKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808675378318214461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86340486450942231102013-03-30T14:19:42.263-04:002013-03-30T14:19:42.263-04:00@Tita, check with your art center for someone who ...@Tita, check with your art center for someone who might be able to duplicate the samovar handle. Also check woodworkers in the Yellow Pages and craft markets. My great aunt, who was not a trained artist, carved a leg for a love seat to match the others. You might also take the handle to a home improvement store or mill work dealer and see if they have anything similar you could use. Good luck.<br /><br />I thought people would complain more about MOW. Not an everyday word but totally legit.quilter1https://www.blogger.com/profile/09569747169212018177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72888882522814530912013-03-30T14:13:31.630-04:002013-03-30T14:13:31.630-04:00I’m so ashamed! Got off to a quick start in the NW...I’m so ashamed! Got off to a quick start in the NW with SCRIPTS and PIERROT (thought this was a name most people just knew), made decent progress marching through the grid (several gimmes among the shorter downs, including OAKLEY, no problem with INSTORE, KENOSHA, ONSAFARI, ORIGAMI, CLAMBAR). Then, THEN, at the FIRST signs of resistance (thinking, it’s Saturday, it’s OK…) ran to Google for INCAS, KIDD, and YOUNGGIRL (which song I weirdly had no memory of whatsoever despite being 19 when it came out). Ended up finishing with a very respectable time but couldn’t feel good about it. The horror!<br /><br />Two thumbs up for the puzzle anyway—really liked many of the answers and clues, though agree with Rex and others that THE AGING PROCESS was a bit humdrum as the centerpiece.<br />webwingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15089901257371442298noreply@blogger.com