tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post55623515306314558..comments2024-03-29T03:22:09.826-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Late NPR newsman / TUE 4-10-12 / Physician Sir William / Adorn with jewels / Red-eyed birds / Railway encircling city / Bruce of Sherlock Holmes filmsRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89134175052401239832012-05-15T21:00:52.182-04:002012-05-15T21:00:52.182-04:00Thanks to whomever cleared up R and B for me. I fi...Thanks to whomever cleared up R and B for me. I finished the puzzle and couldn't see it even though I knew the other words were correct. I also always try to fit an h in Dalai.Hardwoodnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83253439603220055662012-05-15T20:23:36.683-04:002012-05-15T20:23:36.683-04:00For those who wondered where the "O" of ...For those who wondered where the "O" of BRONCO went - the actual Rodeo event is called Saddle BRONC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-318927139745858282012-05-15T16:48:46.549-04:002012-05-15T16:48:46.549-04:00So, other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, did you enjoy t...So, other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, did you enjoy the play?<br />Boy, not a lot of love for poor Mr. Gregory, or at least his puzzle, or at least Will Shortz' version of the puzzle.<br /><br />When Rex says the grid is horrible, does he mean the grid with all the white and black spaces before anything is entered, or is he referring to the fill in the grid? I never know. <br /><br />For me, only the "bloater/Schorr" crossing was a stumper. As a West Coast Canadian, I don't know from Daniel Schorr, and I just guessed the extra r, which worked. I can't get worked up about a puzzle unless something is just plain wrong. Thanks Greg. On to Wednesday.<br />BTW, @Dirigonzo--thanks. Always like your graciousness amongst we syndi-cats.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78822361389896559242012-05-15T15:58:01.804-04:002012-05-15T15:58:01.804-04:00@Tobias I saw the arrows once they were pointed ou...@Tobias I saw the arrows once they were pointed out here. Absoutely look like a graphic of the theme. Very impressedSharon AKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43568715999168824832012-05-15T15:05:52.734-04:002012-05-15T15:05:52.734-04:00Well now I guess we know what the blog equivalent ...Well now I guess we know what the blog equivalent of "drawn and quartered" (which you may remember from a while back) looks like, and it ain't pretty. <br /><br />In kind of a solving ROLEREVERSAL, I had two of the theme answers filled in and saw "ELOR" before I completed 51a, so that helped me get the reveal (I don't know much about plot devices and I never saw "Freaky Friday", so I needed the help). Everything else fell neatly into place, except I had the golfer at 28d concerned about par before LIE so the center of the grid took a little extra time.<br /><br />@Anony 1:07PM, I'm having a hard time getting that image of the milkmaid out of my head.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88578389083219599902012-05-15T13:07:26.085-04:002012-05-15T13:07:26.085-04:00Bloater sounds very unappetizing, but it filled in...Bloater sounds very unappetizing, but it filled in with pooler. I'm not very experienced at these puzzles but found this one easy besides that. However, I had EWER for 60 across for the longest time, having a milkmaid holding a TEAT seemed unlikely to me, given the Sunday morning rules. Now a milkman, okay, then at least one is not thinking of the milkmaid herself and, oh my . . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73660964951180832972012-05-15T12:06:26.068-04:002012-05-15T12:06:26.068-04:00Awful fill. Among those sins that should be regard...Awful fill. Among those sins that should be regarded as cardinal:<br />RST--and all alphabetic strings<br />ENID: way overused, and rigidly uni-cluable (cf. BRAC)<br />BEGEM: not even a word!<br />RANDB--and all acronyms with the stupid "AND" written out!! UGH!!!<br />BBALL: well, maybe just a venal sin<br />SATIABLE: does anybody ever say that? If so, I'd be whelmed. Or at least gruntled.<br />ALOT of substandard stuff; AREAL headache.<br /><br />Plus, got my Central American dictators mixed up and went with nORiEGA--until the 5d started POOn__...um, nope, that's not it!<br /><br />I kind of like EFFEMINATE right under ROLEREVERSAL...Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87547663155343168302012-04-11T08:07:00.127-04:002012-04-11T08:07:00.127-04:00So can we assume you didn't like it?
lbSo can we assume you didn't like it?<br />lbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73897141081664108102012-04-11T07:25:59.273-04:002012-04-11T07:25:59.273-04:00Didn't get to this until late last evening for...Didn't get to this until late last evening for a number of reasons, wish I'd lost my print out of A-Lite. YUK does not begin to describe. The ugly BEGEM thrown in for what? Sheer laziness?<br /><br />For a Tuesday puzzle, this was pure garbage in the "Upper Rocky Mountain" region that Rex ragged upon. Paying California State Income Tax was more fun when I had to.<br /><br />A Tuesday with BLOATER crossed by SATIABLE and "ER" ending CAR ______ as POOLER is cause to be an embarrassed puzzle creator; Will gets a special razzie for approving this steaming mess.<br /><br />It's Tuesday, it's supposed to be fun, not a Barium Enema (That's a medical test surely to be a badly clued fill-in-the blank in a future NYT Monday puzzle at this rate). <br /><br />There's a point where clever, devious and cute are crossed to reach the plain bad - today should be in Wiki as a perfect example.xyzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08287781952915413013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41622348888254607812012-04-11T01:31:51.997-04:002012-04-11T01:31:51.997-04:00This 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 6:16, 6:49, 0.92, 17%, Easy<br />Tue 8:59, 8:52, 1.01, 61%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:19, 3:40, 0.91, 12%, Easy<br />Tue 4:36, 4:35, 1.00, 58%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58832029203769334992012-04-10T23:35:42.957-04:002012-04-10T23:35:42.957-04:00@michael - It all depends in what world you live i...@michael - It all depends in what world you live in. Me, I never heard of Mr. Schorr or Mr. Roush. Darla and all the other pop culture icons are a LOT more famous to the majority of us.Daniel Schorr who??noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69647904031440722812012-04-10T21:18:08.177-04:002012-04-10T21:18:08.177-04:00@Gill I.P. - my favorite quote is "La vie est...@Gill I.P. - my favorite quote is "La vie est une tragédie pour celui qui sent, et une comédie pour celui qui pense," a quote I found in the magazine <i>Heavy Metal</i> a few years ago. Some days I'm a thinker and some days I'm a feeler.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88977385542424605352012-04-10T21:02:02.460-04:002012-04-10T21:02:02.460-04:00I too PSHAWed at POOLER and BLOATER, and though I ...I too PSHAWed at POOLER and BLOATER, and though I groaned at BEGEM, I'm humming "Begin the Beguine" to myself, and planning on blasting the Clash's <i>Sandinista!</i> later, in honor of DANIEL ORTEGA. <br /><br />Fastest time ever for us on a Tuesday: smooth sailing, no banana-finger, slow-down typos.Mac & Midgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26703795250191271662012-04-10T20:28:36.035-04:002012-04-10T20:28:36.035-04:00@Z. I always enjoy reading your posts; I picture ...@Z. I always enjoy reading your posts; I picture a bit of a twinkle in your eye.<br />True, Ortega took over sans the typical coup attached to the word "dictator," however his "autocrat" rule does, in my opinion, a dictator make.<br />I know, you say tomato I say...<br />Central and Latin American politics is a dichotomy. Good to discuss over a terrific Lodi Zinfandel.GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2855740568733707082012-04-10T20:05:56.085-04:002012-04-10T20:05:56.085-04:00I don't like bloater and begem, but the compla...I don't like bloater and begem, but the complaints about Daniel Schorr don't impress me. He was very well known before he went on NPR. A lot better known than Edd Roush (who was in the puzzle the other day) and lots of pop culture references that Rex thinks are just fine. (Simpsons characters, 1980s pop singers, for example). A lot better known than Darla...michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58514278063137068842012-04-10T19:58:54.711-04:002012-04-10T19:58:54.711-04:00@Mel Ott and @ Gill I.P. - I could get all defensi...@Mel Ott and @ Gill I.P. - I could get all defensive and point out that even Hitler once won an election - so "democratically elected" and "dictator" do intersect on the Venn Diagram. However, dictators don't normally allow the peaceful transfer of power to the opposition, so that would disqualify Mr. Ortega from the "Dictator" circle.<br /><br />As to winning office through less than pure elections - I wouldn't call George II a dictator either. So I have to admit that @Mel Ott is right on this one. Although, given the history of Central and South American politics there is always a chance that Daniel O. could still prove me right.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89862957556594827682012-04-10T19:57:35.554-04:002012-04-10T19:57:35.554-04:00Boy...Amy did great!!!Boy...Amy did great!!!chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75542429741138632412012-04-10T18:18:34.690-04:002012-04-10T18:18:34.690-04:00@acme - go Amy!!! We watch every night. Will Root ...@acme - go Amy!!! We watch every night. Will Root for herchefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62328386661376610282012-04-10T18:08:53.893-04:002012-04-10T18:08:53.893-04:00@Tobias, great observation about the arrows and I ...@Tobias, great observation about the arrows and I agree that they are probably not a coincidence. <br /><br />Oh, and being a sometime birdwatcher, I did like VIREOS.santafefranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10725714399611552299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89254325802246326072012-04-10T17:34:30.808-04:002012-04-10T17:34:30.808-04:00@4:36 thank you!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesa...@4:36 thank you! <br />http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-1304,00.html<br />Also, the gal who came in third at the St Paul nontourney, Amy Ketterling is on Jeopardy! Tonight!Acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71783339631736248922012-04-10T16:48:20.804-04:002012-04-10T16:48:20.804-04:00@mac, @Sparky & @Tita: yes, hearing Peep! fro...@mac, @Sparky & @Tita: yes, hearing Peep! from an unbroken eggshell is pretty amusing. Two are out so far, 4 to go? Will post pics tomorrow.JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61074903388819457802012-04-10T16:45:02.634-04:002012-04-10T16:45:02.634-04:00Midday 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):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Tue 8:59, 8:52, 1.04, 64%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Tue 4:45, 4:35, 1.01, 61%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72475310753276283072012-04-10T16:36:36.762-04:002012-04-10T16:36:36.762-04:00Andrea, try this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesa...Andrea, try this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-1304,00.html.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66929107136658299432012-04-10T16:27:41.009-04:002012-04-10T16:27:41.009-04:00@JenCT...my capcha was "hensface"!!
Mayb...@JenCT...my capcha was "hensface"!!<br />Maybe capcha is really an oracle, and we should listen more closely...<br /><br />(I didn't know they peeped prior to hatching...)Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36044213071348728972012-04-10T16:25:48.873-04:002012-04-10T16:25:48.873-04:00Need to add a little more love here, as I am sure ...Need to add a little more love here, as I am sure Mr. Butler is taking this in the spirit it was intended...<br /><br />I liked how the Diet of worms is what one may use to catch BLOATERS up in that corner...<br /><br />Thanks Mr. Butler - there is indeed more to like than to dislike...like the arrows! That can't be a concidence.Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.com