tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post561235740050121911..comments2024-03-28T16:43:37.613-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Hairdo for Snooki of Jersey Shore / MON 1-31-11 / Old-time evangelist Semple McPherson / Bronze animal in New York's financial districtRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76344723367037380472011-03-07T15:55:55.507-05:002011-03-07T15:55:55.507-05:00Loved this as did almost everybody else. One nice...Loved this as did almost everybody else. One nice touch that no one else has mentioned was the cluing for 1D, "Grand _______ (baseball or bridge feat" - a nice tip of the hat to solvers who complain about too many sports references. (Come to think of it, ACME is one of them, so maybe she had "bridge" and Wil added "baseball").<br /><br />Am I the only one who wondered how to abbreviate "batteries" for the A.A. and A.A.A. clue?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73307988553200802212011-03-07T13:31:22.121-05:002011-03-07T13:31:22.121-05:00Oh my gosh, I made a comment on the "real&quo...Oh my gosh, I made a comment on the "real" time puzzle of Mar, 07 and mentioned how I missed ACM.<br />I just opened our newspaper and here (syndication -Jan 31)is my favorite Monday constructor.<br />Our "just started doing NYT crosswords" daughter loved this one. It took her a while but she, as I, had fun filling in the blanks.<br />I too, second @fikink, and say thanks for the memories.<br />Love AUNT JEMIMA pancakes!GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73678398460562110652011-03-07T09:35:41.841-05:002011-03-07T09:35:41.841-05:00Syndi-late but not sorry!
Never knew that one cou...Syndi-late but not sorry!<br /><br />Never knew that one could create, starting with a DEITY HEH APPLE north/south axis (that doesn't fall far from the tree), a cabalistic cruciverb JOLLYGREENGOLIATH Golem! Whether I LAUD the NINER SLAM INNS or settle for HOLES CHEWS ORGS, this thing absolutely erupts from seething subsurficial libido. Lava lava lava lava lava lava lava lava . . . . Didn't realize before what a force of nature SHES ACME really is. One imagines, after solving this puzzle, the new moral from the old David-slays-the-Philistine story being, "When your ass is in a SLING, take it off, discover some stones and hit the sonofabitchin' politician right between the eyes." Who's CHEFBOY ARDEE? Anyway, thanks, ACME, for not leaving THIS child behind, 'cause I sure got an EDUCation today!NotalwaysrightBillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31595574714470408082011-02-01T02:32:58.447-05:002011-02-01T02:32:58.447-05:00I could burst I'm so happy. Thank you all!
Th...I could burst I'm so happy. Thank you all!<br />The puzzle was more list-y than puzzle-y but I was hoping to evoke memories and have it be more than a speed writing exercise, so so happy when Will took it.<br /><br />This is my one of my fave puzzles ever for so many reasons, so to have it appreciated this way, makes me want to cry.<br />and yes, OOOH was desperate! ;)<br /><br />(I was totally tongue-tied trying to explain to my NY English not her native tongue hostess what "Color me impressed" meant, as it wasn't my original clue...but I like it! Mine was a lamer: "Related to aaah"!)<br /><br />And yes, @Rex answered his own question about why COUNTCHOCULA wouldn't have worked (ie right amount of letters but didn't want two cereal icons...)<br /><br />As for UNCLEBEN, believe me, if there had been another 8 letter icon, he wouldabeen in there (but then I'd have needed a cousin and niece and nephew too!)<br /><br />@mmorgan<br />so many bells are ringing in my head that I'll probably be up all night! :)<br /><br />Seriously, thank you everyone.andrea carla michaels nee eisenbergnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57092290288914375732011-01-31T23:46:45.979-05:002011-01-31T23:46:45.979-05:00The cartoonist who did Cap'n Crunch: Jay Ward ...The cartoonist who did Cap'n Crunch: Jay Ward of Rocky & Bulwinkle fame? If I'm not mistaken he also did Quisp & Quake, two other Quaker Oats sugary-cereal products.<br /><br />Bullwinlke lived where? Why, Frostbite Falls, MN of course. Growing up in MN they always told us kids that the jolly Green Giant lived in LeSeuer county SW of the Twin Cities. And Betty Crocker worked at General Mills, whose headquarters I still pass every week on my way to the Ridgedale Library. So many MN connections I should have remembered my favorite commenter Andrea was appearing<br /> today. Thanks for the big smiles.Geometricushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12608136348402997098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74319736413380614852011-01-31T23:08:42.654-05:002011-01-31T23:08:42.654-05:00This 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 5:46, 6:54, 0.84, 1%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:07, 3:41, 0.85, 1%, Easy<br /><br />ACME swept the double-header. These tied the fastest median solve times for both groups of solvers of the 84 Mondays in my database.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18819590353134754852011-01-31T22:35:40.664-05:002011-01-31T22:35:40.664-05:00@ Greene - Margaret cho should ne thanking her luc...@ Greene - Margaret cho should ne thanking her lucky stars that she even is in showbiz. Most unfunny comedienne everAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63228754922645224242011-01-31T22:18:28.979-05:002011-01-31T22:18:28.979-05:00Andrea,
What a great puzzle.
Every puzzle I do...Andrea,<br /><br />What a great puzzle. <br /><br />Every puzzle I do I think of how you are able to knit together a theme with compelling clues. Each of your creations "read" like a short story.<br /><br />My LOL moment was your shout out to you. I also liked the mix of Minnesota and California (San Francisco any way). <br /><br />Your GIJOES fill gave me an idea for the Barbies swan song... more on this off line.<br /><br />Sorry for the late post... freezing my behind to save others' today.<br /><br />xxxooo<br /><br />d(Tucan Sam)kdkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48029470576371788132011-01-31T22:17:57.424-05:002011-01-31T22:17:57.424-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.dkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62624722184682802542011-01-31T21:08:06.228-05:002011-01-31T21:08:06.228-05:00Why am I now thinking of Suzy Homemaker and the E-...Why am I now thinking of Suzy Homemaker and the E-Z Bake Oven?<br /><br />Didn't see the byline till after zipping through the puzzle with pizzazz.<br /><br />Frankenberry!fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51840378708236698052011-01-31T20:17:50.047-05:002011-01-31T20:17:50.047-05:00Douglas MacArthur:
Wow. Sorry, sir. Where did I...Douglas MacArthur:<br /><br />Wow. Sorry, sir. Where did I get that from? The movie? I think this is George C Scott's fault. Damn Hollywood...rotting my brain.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18391847471384798773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47209504240022571342011-01-31T17:47:32.063-05:002011-01-31T17:47:32.063-05:00I think Andrea is flying back to San Francisco tod...I think Andrea is flying back to San Francisco today. Good thinking, there's more snow coming tomorrow.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11470194789095084872011-01-31T16:57:55.255-05:002011-01-31T16:57:55.255-05:00@Glitch - I remember some of that. Thanx for the t...@Glitch - I remember some of that. Thanx for the total info.<br /><br />A Dr. Arthur Lintgen, same age as Draper, can see in a few seconds what a classic vinyl recording is by "reading" the grooves. Verified by the Amazing Randi.<br /><br />Andrea - thanx for using minimal and/or easy sports, too. And you are gorgeous!Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72603905626815786272011-01-31T16:37:24.435-05:002011-01-31T16:37:24.435-05:00What the E stands for in ACME.
A link was given f...What the <a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~acmenaming/" rel="nofollow">E stands for in ACME</a>.<br /><br />A link was given for what Betty Crocker looks like. I believe they only use that image on the cookbooks, never on the packaging. As for why they generally avoided her image? I could believe it was because they hired the wrong artist.<br /><br />Haddon Sundblom is probably tied with Gutzon Borglum for most completely unknown artist with extremely famous artwork. (Also tied for artist with most ridiculous First And Last Names.) Sundblom did AUNT JEMIMA and the Quaker Oats Man, but most famously all those Coca-Cola Santa Claus ads. (He is also credited with inventing the pin-up.)<br /><br />Trivia question: what famous cartoonist did CAP'N CRUNCH?william e embanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62605867909302105362011-01-31T16:19:09.288-05:002011-01-31T16:19:09.288-05:00Andrea mentioned last week that she would be on an...Andrea mentioned last week that she would be on an airplane this morning heading East. I hope she gets to observe some fellows fliers as they solve her puzzle.Moonchildnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26245675061894559292011-01-31T16:16:08.750-05:002011-01-31T16:16:08.750-05:00All I want to say is the Wile E. Coyote clue was t...All I want to say is the Wile E. Coyote clue was the best crossword clue I've seen in many weeks.<br />That is all.<br />Back to work.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17857747515877769718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35609054430163152142011-01-31T16:12:04.901-05:002011-01-31T16:12:04.901-05:00@Jim at 10:25 AM:
That was me, not that upstart P...@Jim at 10:25 AM:<br /><br />That was me, not that upstart Patton!<br /><br />Sheesh...Douglas MacArthurnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91942267948289458202011-01-31T16:07:30.258-05:002011-01-31T16:07:30.258-05:00My fastest NYT puzzle ever, period. Thanks for th...My fastest NYT puzzle ever, period. Thanks for the Monday breather, Andrea!Matthew G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07957320012395569238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68932666181153499162011-01-31T15:39:01.493-05:002011-01-31T15:39:01.493-05:00@Paul Harvey.../Glitch, that is some cool informat...@Paul Harvey.../Glitch, that is some cool information. Thanks!<br />@ACME, congrats on your wings.fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81773640868272162402011-01-31T15:36:48.755-05:002011-01-31T15:36:48.755-05:00Hear all that? A little bell rings every time And...Hear all that? A little bell rings every time Andrea smiles at something she reads here.mmorganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18375430572178263265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32268311815428324462011-01-31T15:20:07.303-05:002011-01-31T15:20:07.303-05:00Not just for breakfast ...
John Thomas Draper (bo...Not just for breakfast ...<br /><br />John Thomas Draper (born 1943), also known as Captain Crunch, Crunch or Crunchman (after Cap'n Crunch, the mascot of a breakfast cereal), is a computer programmer and former phone phreak. He is a legendary figure within the computer programming world.<br /><br />[He learned] that a toy whistle that was, at the time, packaged in boxes of Cap’n Crunch cereal could emit a tone at precisely 2600 hertz—the same frequency that was used by AT&T long lines to indicate that a trunk line was ready and available to route a new call.<br /><br />This would effectively disconnect one end of the trunk, allowing the still connected side to enter an operator mode [thus allowing the call to continue without charges].<br /><br />Though they ... no longer serve practical use, the Cap’n Crunch whistles did become valued collector’s items. Some hackers sometimes go by the handle “Captain Crunch” even today; <i>2600: The Hacker Quarterly</i> is named after this whistle frequency.<br /><br />Now you know the rest of the story ...<br /><br /><br />.../GlitchGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70050687021020183862011-01-31T15:17:45.998-05:002011-01-31T15:17:45.998-05:00Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/...Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/2009 post for an explanation of my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Mon 5:42, 6:54, 0.83, 1%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:09, 3:41, 0.86, 4%, Easysanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70937278083746735112011-01-31T15:00:17.579-05:002011-01-31T15:00:17.579-05:00Har. Just noticed this puz has trip J's in it...Har. Just noticed this puz has trip J's in it. Almost as good as a pangram. ThJmbs Jp!<br /><br />Liked that the theme was actually good to suss out in advance. Are you listenin', speed solvers? Really helped, as the puz started puttin' up a fight here and there. 'Course, you did have to be able to spell Jemima and Boyardee. And Capn. And Bedelia.<br /><br />Hi-Yo, DeJaJemimaJail, away . . .Masked and Anonymous IInoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16568465534641896222011-01-31T14:50:23.589-05:002011-01-31T14:50:23.589-05:00@Andy, it’s ACM née Eisenberg.@Andy, it’s ACM née Eisenberg.lit.dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06729199575329286046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38508655812557771622011-01-31T13:50:50.528-05:002011-01-31T13:50:50.528-05:00@Andrea - What a great puzzle - like what one of m...@Andrea - What a great puzzle - like what one of my shelves look, betwen the tins and the dollies. CAPN CRUNCH is after my time (as is BEDELIA), but the rest are right-on. My favorite is the JOLLY GREEN GIANT because be is a gentle giant, and because he is green. ACME's best product is the anvil, which is used not to hammer on, but to drop on. I bet Rex would hate Etsy. <br /><br />BETTY CROCKER has been nine people over the years. I remember the 1936 one. Aunt Jemima was 6. Nice article on such things at ww.neatorama.com <br /><br />@Jim - I just bought a Postum tin at an antique show. The Mormons were the main market at the end. The anti-Starbucks.<br /><br />Snookie has changed her hairdo. <br /><br />Wasn't sure if it was YeRBA or YORBA, so waited. <br /><br />She's Gotta Have it is a Great Movie - not for the wee ones, but for laughs and musings.<br /><br />Other things from my day - POUF - counterpoint to the flat-top and duck's ass for the guys.<br /><br />Around these parts, JAIL is not prison. Prison is NYS's digs, JAIL is the county (Oneida) - and lock-up is the city (Utica or Rome).<br /><br />We actually had an earthquake here centered at Blue Mt. Lake. It was 5AM, and I thought my washing machine was acting up. <br /><br />Att. Gen. Ashcroft had a particular phobia of calico cats. The gene is on the X chromosome and the cat must get it from both parents.<br /><br />@Rube - I have a crazy aunt who claims to have had an affair with Pres. Bush I in Palm Beach. I wouldn't bet on it, but it could have been fun.Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.com