tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post5218164060840294118..comments2024-03-29T03:22:09.826-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: European black thrush / FRI 5-28-10 / Blocker of 1960s TV / Seminal mystery of 1887 / One of 13 religious leadersRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28447737785606492052010-06-02T18:52:19.593-04:002010-06-02T18:52:19.593-04:00Just want to say: god bless everyone of you who us...Just want to say: god bless everyone of you who use "Natick" like it's a real expression. You have no idea how gleeful this makes me. I esp. love the verbal ("I got Naticked...") and adjectival ("Naticky") forms. As imprecise as the "Natick Principle" is, it clearly speaks to a phenomenon ("Unfair Crossing!") that lots of folks routinely experience and understand.Rex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60923113667031306192010-06-02T18:00:49.043-04:002010-06-02T18:00:49.043-04:00To Just Curious:
Yes, I finished. I won't re...To Just Curious:<br /><br />Yes, I finished. I won't read/post here if I'm not finished. In fact, the last time I even needed help finishing was about five years ago--although I've been Naticked a few times, usually on things everybody else knows.<br /><br />But sometimes it is tricky, and I'll have to overnight a puzzle. Sometimes more than once. The worst was a Saturday that I DNF for two weeks, until I finally cracked the last quadrant.<br /><br />I didn't post an answer sooner, simply because of the holiday weekend. It wasn't until late Tuesday that I got copies of the weekend puzzles from the library, and I just got caught up today. I do not read this blog if I'm not caught up with the puzzles.william e embanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52945117657274148722010-05-29T08:16:05.266-04:002010-05-29T08:16:05.266-04:00medium-challenging for me. Off to a good start wh...medium-challenging for me. Off to a good start when I got OPTICAL ILLUSION with only one letter in place, but slowed terribly from there. Tough answers for me: PEUT, CHELA, TEMA, ANDANTE. Good sense of accomplishment when I finally got this one done.Nebraska Dougnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44467950178481818432010-05-28T22:28:50.961-04:002010-05-28T22:28:50.961-04:00This 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 7:05, 6:55, 1.02, 62%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 7:14, 8:50, 0.82, 10%, Easy<br />Wed 10:01, 11:49, 0.85, 13%, Easy<br />Thu 16:40, 19:20, 0.86, 17%, Easy<br />Fri 26:44, 26:22, 1.01, 59%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:53, 3:41, 1.06, 72%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 3:43, 4:30, 0.83, 12%, Easy<br />Wed 5:10, 5:48, 0.89, 22%, Easy-Medium<br />Thu 7:35, 9:15, 0.82, 12%, Easy<br />Fri 12:12, 12:43, 0.96, 43%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70686792919383570412010-05-28T21:14:51.184-04:002010-05-28T21:14:51.184-04:00Just saying, love the StreetsJust saying, love the StreetsBrendan Emmett Quigleyhttp://www.brendanquigley.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40750605714356843632010-05-28T19:27:44.183-04:002010-05-28T19:27:44.183-04:00Easy-medium seems right for me. I liked the puzzl...Easy-medium seems right for me. I liked the puzzle despite unhappiness with indorse, inurned, spasmed, and merl. But my real objection is "set shot" as an alternative to a jumper. Not in the last half century or so...<br /><br />For what it is worth I got both arlene francis and natalie merchant immediately -- does that make e of indeterminate age?michaenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34196212873288396942010-05-28T19:11:41.399-04:002010-05-28T19:11:41.399-04:00Oy. This was really, really hard for me. On the ...Oy. This was really, really hard for me. On the whole I can master a Friday puzzle, but this undid me completely.Sarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39024362292015215422010-05-28T17:49:40.437-04:002010-05-28T17:49:40.437-04:00@Martin - fascinating. I saw a couple of reversals...@Martin - fascinating. I saw a couple of reversals. Translated the Japanese, which, though helpful and explanatory, wasn't as interesting as the Asian spam we were getting some months ago.<br /><br />There was an illusion that was popular in the Sunday comics here a few years ago. I don't know what it is called, or where to find it now, but it produced apparent 3D images without glasses. If anyone knows, tell me.<br /><br />And no discussion of optical illusions is complete without some by <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/opticalillusions/escher.html" rel="nofollow">M. C. Escher</a>.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62135467074863327372010-05-28T17:39:22.623-04:002010-05-28T17:39:22.623-04:00Yummmm, more burgers.
Knew this one was going to ...Yummmm, more burgers.<br /><br />Knew this one was going to be rated on the easy side as I was able to do it without too much difficulty. It sure does help when you can get the really long answers with just a few letters in place.<br /><br />Thank you Mr. Krozel for an enjoyable Friday puzzle.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28767390959417144912010-05-28T17:26:39.012-04:002010-05-28T17:26:39.012-04:00This is my favorite optical illusion. For me, she...This is my favorite <a href="http://www.procreo.jp/labo/labo13.html" rel="nofollow">optical illusion</a>. For me, she usually spins counter-clockwise, but if I look away and look again enough times, she will be spinning clockwise. Some people have the opposite experience. Some never see a reversal. BTW, this site is addictive. You've been warned.<br /><br />The broadest definition of "optical illusion" is "image intended to be deceptively perceived." There are many kinds. The spinning dancer and Rex's page of images that trick us into seeing nonexistent movement are certainly more interesting than a grid that looks to have crossword symmetry when it doesn't. But between my expectation and a clever rearrangement of black squares, I was tricked.Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38754409694039430272010-05-28T17:18:02.126-04:002010-05-28T17:18:02.126-04:00Another fun day in puzzle world.
I was intimidated...Another fun day in puzzle world.<br />I was intimidated at first but it all came together finally.<br />The trickiness factor seemed just right.<br />With all of the foreign references I was concerned that the Burger clue was going to be something German. Whew! Just good ol' onion rings.<br />As for the epsilon discussion, the fine details are lost on me. I just hoped it would be a Greek letter and waited for a couple of crosses. Worked for me.<br />I too grew up with the Cartwrights so Dan was one of my first entries.<br />Favorite Aha moment was teargas.<br />Thanks Joe.Moonchildnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80340680232514840152010-05-28T17:06:42.102-04:002010-05-28T17:06:42.102-04:00I enjoyed this puzzle, and found it a medium for m...I enjoyed this puzzle, and found it a medium for me. Loved some of the clues, and my favorite word is "foisted".<br /><br />I wonder if "dollars and cents" is the verb form, as in "The CFO dollars and cents next years budget"?machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5822735661960912772010-05-28T17:01:13.823-04:002010-05-28T17:01:13.823-04:00@shrub 5 - I'm a geologist!!
And I actually ...@shrub 5 - I'm a geologist!! <br /><br />And I actually like active volcanoes - the ones that are well-behaved, that is. I couldn't burden them with PEUTTEMACHELA!hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04627015904603641109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14140652334070218402010-05-28T16:57:40.532-04:002010-05-28T16:57:40.532-04:00@JenCT
In my earlier comment I questioned how DAN ...@JenCT<br />In my earlier comment I questioned how DAN Blocker was the Word of the Day.<br /><br />It is in this section (WOD) where Rex is in his best crossword teaching mode. <br /><br />Lucretia MOTT and Avian MERL, CHELA, maybe EPSILON and it's clue which has had some discussion seem to be more worthy. JMHO<br /><br />Of course, DAN who played Hoss on Bonanza seemed almost trite (a gimmie for me) since I watched this show practically all my life growing up and in re-runs. Plus have seen this cluing many times before in crosswords.Tinbenihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14661395078047234853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60269594502610980792010-05-28T16:38:34.749-04:002010-05-28T16:38:34.749-04:00This was definitely Challenging for me; got OPTICA...This was definitely Challenging for me; got OPTICALILLUSION, KEEPFIT, ENMASSE, FRIEDONIONRINGS etc. right off the bat but stumbled badly elsewhere. <br /><br />One person's gimme is another's Whaaa???JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16449707196619887922010-05-28T16:34:49.485-04:002010-05-28T16:34:49.485-04:00Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/...Midday report of relative difficulty (see my <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=35115061&postID=3588389571383499624&isPopup=true" rel="nofollow">7/30/2009 post</a> for an explanation of my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Fri 25:17, 26:20, 0.96, 43%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Fri 12:24, 12:44, 0.97, 50%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1342298941374009182010-05-28T16:06:06.199-04:002010-05-28T16:06:06.199-04:00@william e emba
Soooooo, as to the puzzle ...
You ...@william e emba<br />Soooooo, as to the puzzle ...<br />You had a DNF?Just curiousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50703085565546340102010-05-28T15:27:02.245-04:002010-05-28T15:27:02.245-04:00Martin:
Your first citation was to Wikipedia'...Martin:<br /><br />Your first citation was to Wikipedia's article on "epsilon", which cited an article on emf that used a large script E, not an epsilon. Sheesh.<br /><br />Seriously, the textbooks and journals all use a large script E. They do not use a small epsilon. You've found some people who did not get the memo, or used epsilon as a bad replacement. The clue remains erroneous. I'd just as strongly object if "supercede" made it into the grid, despite the fact that <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supercede" rel="nofollow">some dictionaries</a> give it a nod and pedigree. (The <a href="http://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2008/04/sunday-apr-27-2008-oliver-hill-root.html" rel="nofollow">"mispelling"</a> theme excepted, of course.)william e embanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46963756483600731232010-05-28T15:06:38.186-04:002010-05-28T15:06:38.186-04:00@anonymous 2:59: thanks. But I should have made ...@anonymous 2:59: thanks. But I should have made it clear that I was only kidding...archaeoprofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956231727789223463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10980033977741547762010-05-28T14:59:34.007-04:002010-05-28T14:59:34.007-04:00@archprof
The 2 bottom groups of 3 single black s...@archprof<br /><br />The 2 bottom groups of 3 single black squares are left/right symmetrical, but on top the 3 single black squares are not.<br /><br />If you look at it the other way, the top left black triplet can cover the bottom left, if the puzzle were folded in the middle horizontally, but the ones on the right do not match up.<br /><br />RTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79624862758846213352010-05-28T14:48:23.859-04:002010-05-28T14:48:23.859-04:00Started with mistakes at 8A ("workout"...Started with mistakes at 8A ("workout" instead of KEEPFIT) and 15A ("surplus" instead of TOSPARE). Then OPTICALILLUSION got me back on track. <br /><br />The grid sure looks symmetrical to me...archaeoprofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956231727789223463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11383712497383062412010-05-28T14:35:57.843-04:002010-05-28T14:35:57.843-04:00Easy-medium works for me but, unlike foodie the to...Easy-medium works for me but, unlike foodie the top half was the medium part. I had MOTT but was iffy about it until I watched an episode of 30 Rock I had on my DVR late last night. In the opening sequence Liz LEMON (FEY) walks into Jack's office, hands him a piece of paper and tells him to "put your Lucretia MOTT on this." Nice confirmation, I love that show!<br /><br />Oh, and I also liked the puzzle despite the flaws. Nice one JK.jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42862848926975766432010-05-28T14:00:47.671-04:002010-05-28T14:00:47.671-04:00@william e emba,
Capital script E and lower-case ...@william e emba,<br /><br />Capital script E and lower-case epsilon are indeed different symbols, but I have seen many instances of both used as the symbol for EMF. Why are all the epsilon uses "wrong."? Here are a few:<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epsilon" rel="nofollow">1.</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/A-level_Physics_(Advancing_Physics)/Induction" rel="nofollow">2.</a><br /><a href="http://physics.learnhub.com/lesson/4012-electromagnetic-induction-basics" rel="nofollow">3.</a><br /><a href="http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/phy122/Lecture_Notes/Chapter29/chapter29.html#Heading2" rel="nofollow">4.</a><br /><a href="http://en.allexperts.com/q/Physics-1358/electricity-23.htm" rel="nofollow">5.</a><br /><a href="http://www.raftabtronics.com/TECHNOLOGY/ElectromagneticBasics/GlossaryofTermsandFormulae/tabid/99/Default.aspx" rel="nofollow">6.</a><br /><a href="http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20090108589" rel="nofollow">7.</a><br /><br />There must be a reason that you consider these incorrect, but even if there is an official authority that insists script capital E is the only acceptable symbol, it seems the wide use of epsilon would clear the clue.Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9185068417336179602010-05-28T13:27:30.499-04:002010-05-28T13:27:30.499-04:00Am I missing something here? I read the clue for ...Am I missing something here? I read the clue for 17A to mean that the grid might appear symmetrical, but was not, like might be the case with an optical illusion. Not that the puzzle grid itself was an optical illusion.<br /><br />Admit to googling for 'A Study in...' to get 3D, but loved the misdirective cluing for TEARGAS, and SIESTAS, and the previously mentioned alliterative clue for ALGAE.<br /><br />RTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14497646919830148282010-05-28T13:25:00.152-04:002010-05-28T13:25:00.152-04:00The Epsilon=EMF symbol clue appeared two years ago...The Epsilon=EMF symbol clue appeared two years ago, <a href="http://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2008/11/friday-nov-21-2008-patrick-berry.html" rel="nofollow">Nov 21 2008</a>. It was pointed out then also that the clue was incorrect.<br /><br />There are no fixed rules for transliteration. It's simply not possible for this cluing to be in error.<br /><br />The only "correct" answer is the original Russian: his name is "Алексей Кириллович Вронский" (Aleksey Kirillovich Vronskiy, to use a more careful transliteration). Note the "backwards-N"s in the Cyrillic: that's an "i" in Russian. Note that some of them have a breve short vowel mark. That means it's really a "y", commonly the second vowel in a dipthong. But when it comes to transliterating into English, the rules can be highly flexible. Since terminal -iy and -ii both look funny in English, it is usually simplified, hence Vronsky. Alexei is indeed inconsistent with Vronksy here, but as I said, there are no fixed rules.<br /><br />A real person sometimes has one standard transliteration. For example, the chess player is known as Aleksej Aleksandrov. The English Wikipedia apparently cannot make up its mind whether the former Russian Premier was Alexey or Alexei Kosygin.<br /><br />We had CHELA twice two years ago, <a href="http://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2008/03/sunday-mar-16-2008-elizabeth-c-gorski.html" rel="nofollow">March 16 2008</a> and <a href="http://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2008/05/thursday-may-15-2008-elizabeth-c-gorski.html" rel="nofollow">May 15 2008</a>, both times from Elizabeth Gorski.<br /><br />Speaking of "Gorski", let me mention there was a famous Russian photographer Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii. Note the -ii ending. (And the -ei to boot.)william e embanoreply@blogger.com