tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4913159175490337037..comments2024-03-29T01:22:33.864-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Caribbean capital, to locals / FRI 1-31-14 / Tribe of Chief Shaumonekusse / Source of the word "admiral"Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82030974456111787862014-03-08T00:03:14.361-05:002014-03-08T00:03:14.361-05:00Just thought I'd check in with Syndyland. 5th ...Just thought I'd check in with Syndyland. 5th day in Hawaii - 3rd day of golf. Ahhh, swinging in warm weather... Late lunch at Hamuras Saimin shack in Lihue. A bucket list treat if you've never had it. Aloha to all. <br /><br />trips. Ginger wins.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27287714174109594712014-03-07T20:55:46.671-05:002014-03-07T20:55:46.671-05:00@DMG You're right, watching tennis (did you ca...@DMG You're right, watching tennis (did you catch the Fed/Wawrinka doubles match?), and nursing a bad cold. Either one of which may be why this puzzle put up such a struggle. That said, I liked it. Monstrous DNF, but my problem, not the puz's. <br /><br />Clueing was particularly good. At XWord Info C A. McGlothlin mentions that a third of the clues are Will's, but that the Marker's Mark one is his. Think I'll try some of that other stuff on my cold.<br /><br />Had better luck at the table, 888/55 with an extra 5 thrown in.Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07156872089175084024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40627995363710008582014-03-07T18:33:45.953-05:002014-03-07T18:33:45.953-05:00Well, my ANTEATER was "winged" because B...Well, my ANTEATER was "winged" because BATs fly. That led to the improbable mIghT instead of DIDNT, and that corner never recovered. Probably not helped by thinking of DC, not George W. Still, it was a fun puzzle, and I actually got the bottom 15 because my errors fit. Thus a pretty good Friday for me! <br /><br />The cited GABOR was the talented Eva, who played opposite Eddie Albert in TV's Green Acres. No idea why everyone in "real time land' thought it was ZsaZsa.<br /><br />You were wrong @Diri. Only two pair, 8's and 6's. Maybe @Ginger will hold up the West Coast, but. I suspect she may be watching the Indian Wells tennis.DMGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52703210384734496392014-03-07T16:10:42.330-05:002014-03-07T16:10:42.330-05:00The top 3/5 of the grid seemed easy but the bottom...The top 3/5 of the grid seemed easy but the bottom 2/5 resisted greatly. When the dust finally settled my OWS was, surprise, up top because, "...there are going to be a lot of solvers who don't know that "Havana" takes a B in Spanish and think that Van der Veek sounds like a plausible Dutch name."<br /> @Gil I.P. - Your 3 sixes are looking pretty good; I drew two very low pairs. Don't spend your winnings yet though because @DMG and @Ginger are both pretty lucky at the table.<br />Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6236474952224512762014-03-07T14:09:28.817-05:002014-03-07T14:09:28.817-05:00Late today; time is short; didn't read blogs. ...Late today; time is short; didn't read blogs. This puzzle has been brought to you by the letter "A"--13 of them in just the first three columns.<br /><br />Typical tough Friday made a little easier by sussing out the fifteens. Writeover at 13d when I guessed the wrong tense: didNOT before IDONOT. Got started with VEGAS and many of its employees who VALETED. It helps to live here.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-871098824470015142014-03-07T13:40:12.122-05:002014-03-07T13:40:12.122-05:00Beek and Habana is a Natick! Actor not famous eno...Beek and Habana is a Natick! Actor not famous enough to use crossing a foreign word.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33525087975030808492014-01-31T23:09:35.903-05:002014-01-31T23:09:35.903-05:00Finally DNFd.
ANANAS is also Portuguese. Great ...Finally DNFd. <br />ANANAS is also Portuguese. Great word in any language. <br />@lms - I've been heard to pronounce bANANAS to rhyme with ANANAS.<br /><br />@AliasZ - that has got to be the ONLY word in Hungarian that is similar to any other word on this planet! The only things I could understand the times I've been there were dates and prices.<br /><br />My puzzle-chef-spouse always flUTES his mushrooms.<br /><br />Ha ha @BobK - Just cause you're paranoid doesn't mean the NSA is not out to get you...<br /><br />@MetaRex - you should try and make it! We need to put our heads together re the eseometer!<br /><br />Thanks, Mr. McGlothlin. An enjoyable defeat.Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46965708340253802322014-01-31T22:05:04.998-05:002014-01-31T22:05:04.998-05:00This 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 6:46, 6:26, 1.05, 76%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 9:32, 8:15, 1.16, 85%, Challenging<br />Wed 10:08, 10:26, 0.97, 44%, Medium<br />Thu 15:01, 19:03, 0.79, 14%, Easy<br />Fri 25:10, 20:15, 1.24, 89%, Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 4:24, 4:00, 1.10, 85%, Challenging<br />Tue 5:44, 5:12, 1.10, 76%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 6:19, 6:15, 1.01, 54%, Medium<br />Thu 8:56, 10:36, 0.84, 19%, Easy<br />Fri 15:53, 11:32, 1.38, 93%, Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86118715101914124282014-01-31T21:14:46.563-05:002014-01-31T21:14:46.563-05:00@Tracy Bennett
I TOTALLY would have given you the...@Tracy Bennett<br /><br />I TOTALLY would have given you the prize!!!<br />That 15 JEANETTERANKIN could be an extra entry going right across the middle of the puzzle and it splits across both names!!!<br /><br /><br />an(dream)ichaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78132886040042365132014-01-31T20:54:59.145-05:002014-01-31T20:54:59.145-05:00@Steve J - 16 Esses in 26 different answers, 11 ar...@Steve J - 16 Esses in 26 different answers, 11 are added to at least one of the crosses, 2 of them are added on to both crosses (e.g in SAUTÉS the first S is part of the base word, the second S is added to pluralize the word). This means that one half of the answers with an S have an S to make it fit the puzzle. Is this atypical? No idea. But it did irk me today.<br /><br />I think you are right that my subjective reaction influenced my noting of this objective observation regarding POCs (which is really just about plurals - so I've expanded the criteria). Recognizing that most everyone is correct on the plusses of this puzzle and they are using objective criteria that I agree are legitimate, it is obvious that my subjective reaction has played a role. <br /><br />Ergo - Beer Rating - Arbor Brewing Espresso Love Breakfast Stout - Made of everything I love and yet I don't love it.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32854193471268160412014-01-31T20:23:36.796-05:002014-01-31T20:23:36.796-05:00This was a fabulous puzzle, much to be admired by ...This was a fabulous puzzle, much to be admired by us who are relatively new to the xword game. However, many of the answers were obscure to say the least, notwithstanding that the clues allowed for some productive Googling.. No way many of us could get by without some Google assistance, e.g., a21, a45, a48 a50 [anybody see MULAN and know it was Donny's voice?],a56 [thank goodness the computer told me a numbat was an ANTEATER], d6 [I thought OTO was spelled with an 'e'], d43, d51 and d58.<br /><br />Some of the clues were terrific for: BEING, ICANNOTTELLALIE, ADPAGES, XAXIS.<br /><br />Some other stuff was weak: TTYL, SSA, VALETED, LEU [tho I had studied some Romanian way back and remembered the currency.]<br /><br />Anyway, it took me a long time but I didn't have to take a DNF and left the field fatigued but satisfied. LaneBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52159591827585850692014-01-31T20:13:22.627-05:002014-01-31T20:13:22.627-05:00Way late - I should be fired.
Terrific puzzle and ...Way late - I should be fired.<br />Terrific puzzle and especially because I love anything that is stacked.<br />LA HABANA.. Yay and spelled the way god intended.<br />Gracias Cristobal.<br />@Diri...I have 3 sixes!!!GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61512632560041534532014-01-31T18:45:02.305-05:002014-01-31T18:45:02.305-05:00Haven't done the puzzle yet - just popping in ...Haven't done the puzzle yet - just popping in and squinting past all the comments to plug Westport tomorrow...<br /><br />Will be great to see everyone there.Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63211693263662664892014-01-31T18:38:23.918-05:002014-01-31T18:38:23.918-05:00Van Der Veek sounded slightly less preposterous th...Van Der Veek sounded slightly less preposterous than Van Der Beek, so I went with the former. <br /><br />Also messed up at the obscure actor/obscure instrument crossing, though given its vowel/consonant alternating pattern, I'm guessing SAMISEN is a bit of crosswordese I should store somewhere in my brain.<br /><br />Liked all of the 15s except the last one, which is awkward due to the preposterous use of the possessive ("one's"). As if the identity of the spell owner needs to be clarified. No one has ever spoken that phrase. <br /><br />Anyhow, tiny nitpick on a fantastic puzzle.Joseph Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73265132910105087932014-01-31T18:20:39.951-05:002014-01-31T18:20:39.951-05:00@ casco kid ~ MASH unit would have been "hsp...@ casco kid ~ MASH unit would have been "hsp" not COT. <br /><br />A rule of thumb is to consider while solving- that if there is no abbreviation in the clue then there is no abbreviation in the answer. Also, "hsp" would not necessarily be considered a standard abbreviation for hospital whereas "hosp" would.<br /><br />PETERSEN was great in Manhunter and the original Hannibal Lecter was amazing in that movie. The villain was *super* spooky and I would have nightmarish thoughts about him. Years after I saw the movie, I noticed that the actor who played the scary guy lived in my neighborhood. He is about 6'7". I'd see him smiling at me whenever we'd pass on the street. It freaked me out a little.Questiniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06225633428852696530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45518888003466425912014-01-31T18:06:13.010-05:002014-01-31T18:06:13.010-05:00Late to the party, but I wanted to make sure @Chri...Late to the party, but I wanted to make sure @Chris McGlothlin (if reading here) knows how much I loved this puzzle.<br /><br />Thought I'd finished, but no: had LA HAvANA; thanks, @Noam D. Elkies for the "habanera" connection.<br /><br />Almost went wrong right beneath it, too, when the previous Caribbean clue, I guess, had me thinking that the origin of "admiral" could be ARAwak. About as likely as when I had a Tuareg outpost in Bali instead of Mali.<br /><br />I love seeing Alain DELON in anything, so it was a treat to encounter him here. <br /><br />Carolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971759975067250908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33874769671683171872014-01-31T17:50:20.461-05:002014-01-31T17:50:20.461-05:00Med-Challenging Fri for me. Lots of fun. The 15 s...Med-Challenging Fri for me. Lots of fun. The 15 stacks usually have some clunkers. I thought they were all fine, although BANDED ANTEATER has an ANOA-ish feel to it.<br /><br />I also had bikinis for AD PAGES, but it's a Fri so deep down I knew it couldn't be that easy.<br /><br />Love seeing GABOR in the puzz today after my sweet victory in the contest. There are so many people I have to thank...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09567874862630285191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27659875232027095082014-01-31T17:35:41.778-05:002014-01-31T17:35:41.778-05:00@Bob Kerfuffle: Westport w/ Will is bigger than th...@Bob Kerfuffle: Westport w/ Will is bigger than the Super Bowl, yep. It was great fun last year...would love to do it again but the sched for tomorrow is looking complex...represent for all us Rexians:)!MetaRexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01697113550216241303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5529876562701477432014-01-31T17:32:33.997-05:002014-01-31T17:32:33.997-05:00Given the current environment, I first went with N...Given the current environment, I first went with NSA instead of SSA for 10 down.R. Dukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09734441437704459414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67581632153260897102014-01-31T17:25:20.539-05:002014-01-31T17:25:20.539-05:001D:LA_HABANA is the source of the habanera. (And ...1D:LA_HABANA is the source of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rjOrOt6wFw" rel="nofollow">habanera</a>. (And the spelling "Havana" doesn't sound much different from "Habana" <i>en español</i>.)<br /><br />NDENoam D. Elkiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31661861425282285302014-01-31T16:51:25.653-05:002014-01-31T16:51:25.653-05:00Midday 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 and my 10/15/2012 post for an explanation of a tweak to my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Fri 25:07, 20:15, 1.24, 89%, Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Fri 17:11, 11:32, 1.49, 97%, Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65256342138178097782014-01-31T16:44:31.743-05:002014-01-31T16:44:31.743-05:00What a great puzzle. A good Friday. Just enough ...What a great puzzle. A good Friday. Just enough crunch to stretch the head. Never heard of Numbats, but thought "numbnuts" as well. Getting ANIMATIONSTUDIO right off the numbat helped a lot. Fun was had. Thanks, C.A.M.!Notsofastnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62805505560950288002014-01-31T15:02:04.162-05:002014-01-31T15:02:04.162-05:00Speaking of ball yards, (from yesterday), would a ...Speaking of ball yards, (from yesterday), would a manager who fields a team entirely composed of rookies be a tyromaniac?<br /><br />One minor quibble today. When a show is still on the air, and the clue reads "CSI star William," I assume it is someone STILL in the show. Never thought of Petersen at all, even though he is one of the few TV actors I can name. ( watch Big Bang Theory all the time, and other than Bernadette (Rauch) and Penny (Cuoco, I think) I couldn't name any of the actors.) Had the clue said "Former CSI star…" I might have gotten it, and fixed my other error. <br />OISKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808675378318214461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42558902700439636122014-01-31T13:56:18.606-05:002014-01-31T13:56:18.606-05:00@AliasZ - I stand corrected, yes, I did misread, a...@AliasZ - I stand corrected, yes, I did misread, and yes, BATEAR is improvement over RETEAR. I've just got this soft spot for BALLYARD I guess.<br /><br />@Anonymous 11:56 - I could be wrong too (ask AliasZ). If not Harry maybe Larry Anderson? They both have the resounding bass and a fondness for colloquialisms. See you at the Park. <br /><br />Mohair Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502840715719161565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75771225571995303732014-01-31T13:26:54.025-05:002014-01-31T13:26:54.025-05:00DNF by 5%. Hey, I got 95%. Two googles and one Spa...DNF by 5%. Hey, I got 95%. Two googles and one Spanish dictionary look up. Of course we all are familiar with marsupial BANDEDANTEATERS from Western Australia. And I had never heard of Mr. BEEK. I just couldn't dredge up ANANAS in spite of buying my kids that flavor Jaritos soft drinks for the longest time (and they sat on the shelf right next to the Mexican Cokes still made with sugar).<br /><br />@Cascikid San, usually when I think I have a solution, I keep it in mind and start checking crossing clues to see if an answer with a letter in the guess position might make sense. Some solutions really are gimmes once ONE becomes used to cluing. LUNGS was a gimme. So were NOTE, TINSEL, AMICI and ENAMELED ( the é was the give away for me). But usually I cross-check before filling in.<br /><br />I hated the clue for SILENTS, I thought it was a bit misleading. 1977, the year I moved to "Hollywood" was the 50th anniversary of the talkies. There were signs everywhere. The clue is, of course, correct, but it is rather arbitrary since 1929 has nothing in particular to do with the inception of talkies.<br /><br />My wife has been and ardent Braves fan since 1991, their "Worst to First" season. She finally managed to get me interested in baseball about five years ago. Anyway, last night I asked her, "Ever hear the term, BALLYARD?" She looked at me like I"m an idiot (something still open to question) and said, "Yeah, all the time." So, apparently, ardent baseball fans, who are more likely to pay attention to every nuance, are familiar with the term, Admittedly, my wife, even when added to the rest of the pro commentators here, is a very small cross-section. <br /><br />ELo kept me from falling under ONESSPELL for the longest time until crosses made ELP inevitable. I've heard that album bunches of times but couldn't remember who did it. I didn't really think it was ELo but it seemed to fit and Berlin Philharmonic didn't.<br /><br />Long ago, I saw <i>Plein Soliel</i> and <i>Borsalino</i>, among others, so I'm familiar with Alain DELON. He's always a gimme for me. He and Belmondo did some great French gangster movies together. But he was a wonderful, evilly Talented Mr. Ripley all by himself, possibly even better than Matt Damon who could easily swap places as a solution.<br /><br />Looking up the page, my inner 14 year old is a bit titillated by the potential suggested by BARE XAM. <br /><br />It was a pleasure even if I did only manage to solve 95% by myself. Numinoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01263999193499725814noreply@blogger.com