tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4835314057303535138..comments2024-03-28T12:07:05.624-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Waldorf-Astoria muralist / FRI 6-8-12 / Singer Lovich / Iceland star 1942 / Five 1950s million-selling doo-wop group / Class Notes subject / Norman with legendary swing / Edibles food shop on Facts of Life / Southeast Asian soarer / Coastal plungerRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72931563427829333922022-01-13T19:10:39.560-05:002022-01-13T19:10:39.560-05:00Think clock face. Think clock face. Bladehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14861218236665588031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38969643515000037072015-06-23T00:55:49.033-04:002015-06-23T00:55:49.033-04:00I hated this puzzle. But after some reflection I r...I hated this puzzle. But after some reflection I recalled the joy it brings my family when we spot a Traction Engine aka Road Locomotive hauling its goods through our fair streets. HatcreekRedneckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18370474004404952508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61946393618662377582015-06-23T00:53:11.684-04:002015-06-23T00:53:11.684-04:00I hated this puzzle. But then I though about all o...I hated this puzzle. But then I though about all of the Traction Engines I run into on the way to market and taking my kiddies to school. HatcreekRedneckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18370474004404952508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73320800109457243802012-10-02T23:54:02.138-04:002012-10-02T23:54:02.138-04:00The word tractor comes from "traction motor.&...The word tractor comes from "traction motor." As far as I know traction motor was only ever used to refer to the kind of tractor used on a farm. "Traction engine" is an incredible stretch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18283074536591392582012-07-16T00:28:10.915-04:002012-07-16T00:28:10.915-04:00nice post..keep updating. we are GMAT in chennai ...nice post..keep updating. we are <a href="http://www.scoregetter.org/gmat.php" rel="nofollow">GMAT in chennai </a> and <a href="http://www.scoregetter.org/gmat.php" rel="nofollow"> gmat coaching training classes in chennai</a> .scoregetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02175612177520178470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63321039680042577022012-07-15T15:49:17.993-04:002012-07-15T15:49:17.993-04:00Got it, but it was not fun, and certainly there wa...Got it, but it was not fun, and certainly there was no satisfaction to it. Puzzles can be difficult without being "Hunh? What the heck is that supposed to be?"Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16754623887560084667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7539159658089286632012-07-13T21:54:21.633-04:002012-07-13T21:54:21.633-04:00Afterthought: Anita O'Day whose video of &quo...Afterthought: Anita O'Day whose video of "peanut Vendor" appears in @Rex's write-up, DINAHSHORE, and Peggy Lee were contemporaries in American pop music. Yesterday I devoted a post on my blog to a Peggy Lee song that had a profound effect on me as a pre-teen in 1958; today the other two show up in Rexworld - syndication synchronicity?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48229310014165266802012-07-13T21:27:47.924-04:002012-07-13T21:27:47.924-04:00Tough one. Got through it,but there were many unsa...Tough one. Got through it,but there were many unsatisfying moments: ATTA (baby?), TRACTIONENGINE (as opposed to that old slippery engine that just won't do any work?), IIII. On the last, though, I must thank anon 7:42 for a wonderfully enlightening post.<br /><br />Proudest moment: sussing out HENIE just from the movie title and year. I didn't have ANY of those letters.<br /><br />Tell you what...just give me more lively 10's (liked all 4 in this one; the gimme LORDNELSON got me started). You include 15's TOLITTLEPURPOSE, IMHO.<br /><br />Almost had a mistake in my finished grid, as I didn't know whether to have SLITS or SLaTS; the across never did make sense till I read the blogs. Just guessed "I" and quit.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11916772336310354052012-07-13T20:59:11.737-04:002012-07-13T20:59:11.737-04:00@Mighty Nisden - thanks for thinking of your old s...@Mighty Nisden - thanks for thinking of your old syndi-compatriots and sending us the heads up on Lollapuzzoola.<br /><br />@connie - the laser surgery they do these days is truly miraculous! Speedy recovery from yours. Hope the severe weather out there doesn't affect you, @SiS and all the other Seattleites (see yesterday's comments) too harshly.<br /><br />I checked the pendulum clock on my wall (it hasn't run for years) and sure enough "IIII" is opposite "X".<br /><br />DNF because I left box 50 blank, but I didn't know until I came here that I also had an error with rENE at 52d. Other than that, I loved thge puzzle for all of its "AHA" moments. SLUICEGATE and LORDNELSON were the last long answers in, just as I toasted the sunset.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47853649732685118592012-07-13T20:35:03.797-04:002012-07-13T20:35:03.797-04:00@Connie, good to hear your eye will be fine. T-sto...@Connie, good to hear your eye will be fine. T-storms in Seattle have been epic last few days. Dogs are all huddling.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80503814365131050922012-07-13T20:05:54.262-04:002012-07-13T20:05:54.262-04:00@ginger - thanks for the good luck wishes - needed...@ginger - thanks for the good luck wishes - needed them on Friday the <br />13th! It was a torn retina and he did laser surgery on the spot. Ouch. He did say, however, that it was not caused by too much puzzling!connie in seattlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12963089195185330592012-07-13T18:27:07.654-04:002012-07-13T18:27:07.654-04:00Hey syndi landers. As you may have forgotten I mov...Hey syndi landers. As you may have forgotten I moved to prime time a while ago. One thing that I didn't like was that when there is an announcement we would all get it too late. So, because I remember how sucky that was, here was what announced today.<br /><br /><br />[Hey, everybody! PuzzleGirl here checking in with a quick announcement. You all know about Lollapuzzoola, right? It's a really fun annual tournament held in New York. This year it will take place on August 4 (that's a Saturday in August). If you can't make it to the tournament, you might be interested in the "compete from home" division. You can find all the info you need at the Lollapuzzoola 5 website, including how to register, some details on prizes, and the list of really unbelievably top-notch constructors who are contributing puzzles to this adventure. Go check it out right now!]Mighty Nisdenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00604834076817509735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59680543122297624142012-07-13T18:09:44.574-04:002012-07-13T18:09:44.574-04:00Interesting discussions on clocks faces. I would ...Interesting discussions on clocks faces. I would have sworn my 'grandfather' had a IV; it actually is IIII. What does that say about my powers of observation? Not much.<br /><br />@connie in Seattle - wish you luck with your eye!<br /><br />I had a rosy glow when the northwest and southwest corner went in easy, then reality hit me in the center section. Could not gain TRACTION, and eventually had to check in here to fill it in. My hat's off to you all who seem able to ace Fridays and Saturdays. However, I am getting closer, thank you. And I mean that, THANK YOUGingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59545761653182082982012-07-13T15:07:59.383-04:002012-07-13T15:07:59.383-04:00I was solving this puzzle during a horrific thunde...I was solving this puzzle during a horrific thunder storm. Unfortunately, I was also dog-sitting a German Shepherd who is terrified by loud noises. His owner gives him beer & valium on the 4th of July (just a little - PETA don't call). Having neither at hand, I turned on my hair dryer and aimed it at him (after he tried to jump in bed with me) and he melted into a puddle and fell asleep. Yay me!! Just a tip for you dog owners out there.<br />Oh, the puzzle. I threw down "close but no cigar" at 31A and felt quite clever. Not.<br />My husband is in a band with IIII other guys, all on heart medication. I call them the "Five Statins".<br />Going to the MD this afternoon to see if I have a torn retina. Probably from doing too many NYT puzzles. <br />Right now, off to check my clocks.connie in seattlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29788622403692230202012-07-13T13:58:09.962-04:002012-07-13T13:58:09.962-04:00This one tripped me up. Had HAUL and couldn't...This one tripped me up. Had HAUL and couldn't see an alternative even though I knew 13D was that little boy's name that I couldn't remember, and would never have gotten IIII! Other miss was SiTINS. Guess I don't know ICH from ACH. Still don't understand the use of HALL, but there it is.<br /><br />@SIS; I started with TOLITTLE...., but then realized it would have to be TOoLITTLE...which sent me in the right direction, which I got off the U in TUNING, the first word I had entered.<br /><br />Captcha: sensedK, whoever he is.DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33184886465387995182012-07-13T13:36:10.305-04:002012-07-13T13:36:10.305-04:00@Anon 7:42am, thanks for your post on the Roman nu...@Anon 7:42am, thanks for your post on the Roman numerals on clocks. Fascinating! <br /><br />TRACTIONENGINES? Really?<br /><br />Did anyone else have TOLITTLEtoolatE and not let go?<br /><br />I still don't get "Long way to walk?" Can someone help me put the clue together with "HALL?"<br /><br />@Tita, hand up for REDs/sNODE.<br /><br />I still miss ERIN Burnett and Mark Haines on CNBC in the morning. It was a delightful way to begin the day.<br /><br />I took the LSAT twice. The first time was during my senior year of college, a Saturday morning, totally hung over, hardly able to see the paper. The second time was several years later after having taken a prep course. I was totally fresh, having lots of sleep and no beer the night before... and came within 5 points of having the same score as the first test. Go figure.<br /><br />Capcha: lexuryv. The new Lincoln sedan?Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4605794036329555322012-06-09T15:47:50.743-04:002012-06-09T15:47:50.743-04:00This 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 6:39, 6:49, 0.97, 45%, Medium<br />Tue 10:00, 8:54, 1.12, 82%, Challenging<br />Wed 10:44, 11:47, 0.91, 30%, Easy-Medium<br />Thu 17:12, 18:57, 0.91, 35%, Easy-Medium<br />Fri 21:10, 24:42, 0.86, 25%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:46, 3:40, 1.03, 66%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 5:05, 4:36, 1.10, 81%, Challenging<br />Wed 5:48, 5:53, 0.99, 50%, Medium<br />Thu 8:31, 9:21, 0.91, 38%, Easy-Medium<br />Fri 11:08, 12:14, 0.91, 35%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Better late than never?sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68086942584575015372012-06-09T14:42:05.291-04:002012-06-09T14:42:05.291-04:00"Class Notes" are at the end (usually) o..."Class Notes" are at the end (usually) of your alumni magazine or newsletter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15942041794724586802012-06-09T00:20:59.959-04:002012-06-09T00:20:59.959-04:00@Flying Disc - When one starts seeing obscure deta...@Flying Disc - When one starts seeing obscure details like which mold is the approved mold, the weight of the disc, that some discs have flight rings, that the Westland mold is preferred over the Web mold by elite players, that the Westland mold name refers to the small print in the raised ring with Discraft's original address and that the Web mold refers to the fact that the ring now has their website rather than the current Wixom address of Discraft, one should realize that one is dealing with an Ultimate obsessive personality. One should nod their head with feigned interest and then go on with one's life.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86483979568826019552012-06-08T21:59:29.531-04:002012-06-08T21:59:29.531-04:00Late but just to say NW a bummer.Late but just to say NW a bummer.John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37232705048563885352012-06-08T21:51:35.433-04:002012-06-08T21:51:35.433-04:00Lots of stuff I didn't know, but somehow I got...Lots of stuff I didn't know, but somehow I got this easily without google. The whole time I was doing the puzzle, I was convinced that I wouldn't finish.michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34961777279244577752012-06-08T21:32:38.705-04:002012-06-08T21:32:38.705-04:00"Can i just say that "traction engines&q..."Can i just say that "traction engines" is absolute garbage? there is no such phrase in the Emglish language"<br /><br />You can say it, but you can also check the dictionary before commenting. Better yet, since you're using a computer, check Google. There you'll find hundreds of pictures of those non-existent traction engines.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22797825642322534072012-06-08T21:21:12.194-04:002012-06-08T21:21:12.194-04:00Meh plus. Not great,and there are too many little ...Meh plus. Not great,and there are too many little irritations ( A TOE, IIII, EEN. But I liked the long fill. <br /><br />Finished with two errors - wanted ERIK @ 2D, AKODE WAS A WTF. HAD SIT-INS @ 23D, ICH for the Bach piece. SIT-INS was a shout-out to the sixties however, and not the fifties,so my bad.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63072283957126191792012-06-08T20:58:19.445-04:002012-06-08T20:58:19.445-04:00Who is Philip Pine Eagle? Native American perhaps?...Who is Philip Pine Eagle? Native American perhaps?Rob Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80976743887203842412012-06-08T20:54:53.157-04:002012-06-08T20:54:53.157-04:00Can i just say that "traction engines" ...Can i just say that "traction engines" is absolute garbage? there is no such phrase in the Emglish language. No human being has ever uttered the phrase "traction engines". It's gibberish.johnrantahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18348548766177225135noreply@blogger.com