tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post5658863685534946553..comments2024-03-28T17:56:51.103-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: London mayor Johnson / TUE 11-6-12 / Game in which orange ghost is named Sue not Clyde / Memorable 2011 hurricane / Jungle swinger / German philosopher who wrote true is wholeNuisance that keeps returningRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16457007379745745142022-01-13T11:38:23.678-05:002022-01-13T11:38:23.678-05:00I loved this, despite the political theme. It'...I loved this, despite the political theme. It's accessible, and the craft behind the theme answers, plus some innovative clueing for a Tuesday, kept my interest through the final fill-in and beyond.Prunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224476641730508311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40756811768482371242012-12-12T04:19:04.616-05:002012-12-12T04:19:04.616-05:00@ MaryRoseG 10:14 AM - I'm out west, but I was...@ MaryRoseG 10:14 AM - I'm out west, but I was worried about getting gas too; probably because I was having lunch at Taco Bell.<br />@ John 2:01 PM - quilter1 (and others)is/are correct. It's not a regionalism, it's a baseballism.<br />@ Spacecraft 12:51 PM - My first thought for "pickle holder" with _A_ I knew could not be possibly correct.Anonyratnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82686946705751723432012-12-11T21:28:42.128-05:002012-12-11T21:28:42.128-05:00@Gil I.P. - I'll give that comment a TEN and s...@Gil I.P. - I'll give that comment a TEN and say "Goodnight, IRENE."Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52748649769556260922012-12-11T19:55:32.741-05:002012-12-11T19:55:32.741-05:00@Diri: YIKES! Those are some BOdacious Geminids....@Diri: YIKES! Those are some BOdacious Geminids. GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12188437657446090142012-12-11T18:37:50.275-05:002012-12-11T18:37:50.275-05:00@Gil I.P. - Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watc...@Gil I.P. - Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2qkhaaibTU<br /><br />Nice to see you still lurk around long enough to see syndi-comments. We star-gazers will be out Thursday night/Friday morning to see the Geminids meteor shower - please join us!<br /><br />Unbelievable - captcha is swingj!Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18925737913269361792012-12-11T17:55:55.552-05:002012-12-11T17:55:55.552-05:00@Diri: Thanks, I think...How do you like your APE...@Diri: Thanks, I think...How do you like your APE?GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11012890820589055032012-12-11T17:09:11.638-05:002012-12-11T17:09:11.638-05:00There were many complaints about yesterday's p...There were many complaints about yesterday's puzzle being too easy but I found this one to be easier yet - that said, I still thought it was a good election day puzzle and had fun finding all of the political bonus answers (and I think that given the post election scandal involving Patraeus ETAL, we can include SEX as another example).<br /><br />A transgender acquaintance whose name used to be Daryl now goes by DAL, so nice to see her in the grid.<br /><br />It's ironically appropriate or maybe appropriately ironic that @Ellen S on her first day in prime time has the final comment before the the blog seques into synditime.<br /><br />@Gil I.P. - Box of chocolates is in the mail. Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26309529868743340172012-12-11T14:17:15.616-05:002012-12-11T14:17:15.616-05:00Guess it would help to check the puzzle date befor...Guess it would help to check the puzzle date before solving. I didn't, and was momentarily surprised when the candidate names unfolded. The election seems a long time ago-though writers to the paper in my part of Syndiland, SDUnion, are apparently still campaigning!<br /><br />We took a quick trip north this week-end which gave a new appreciation for said, much criricized Union. I was surprised to find my old hometown newspaper, The SF Chronicle has been reduced to a disappointing shadow of its former self. At least it does run the Syndie Puzzle, but it includes the answers, spoiling the suspense of "am I right?". Was also stunned by the crass commercialism of Fisherman's Warf. It used to be a relaxed place to grab a bite of lunch and get a loaf of bread to take home. Now its buses and buses and blocks and blocks of t-shirts and schlock. The mighty dollar (money in today's puzzle) has destroyed a once lovely experience. Needless to say, we didn't stop. Since we were headed to a reunion in Marin County, we had lunch in Sausalito where saner heads have kept the bus masses at bay and saved their tranquility. Tourists welcome, just in numbers that won't totally stress the infrastructure.<br /><br />Had a Captcha I could read, and "they" changed it while I wasn't looking. Have to try again to find one this robot can solve! .....Spell check wants the new one to say "omit ego". Considering above rant, maybe it's trying to tell me something!DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4122305577218845252012-12-11T14:15:25.198-05:002012-12-11T14:15:25.198-05:00Speaking of political RHUBARBS, somehow it's a...Speaking of political RHUBARBS, somehow it's appropriate that BATTLE CLOSER is an anagram for SECRET BALLOT. If only... <br /><br />And given the lengthy NHL lockout, perhaps 53D could be reclued as BUFFALO NON-PLAYER.<br /><br />When I yell FORE after an errant drive, HEADS DOWN would actually be a more judicious strategy for other golfers in the vicinity.<br /><br />So now that the election's done and dusted, syndiland can now look forward (and backwards) to US Thanksgiving and Black Friday themed puzzles not to mention Christmas in a couple of months. THO I'm not at all sure what happens if the Mayan calendar is/was right... <br /><br />Captcha=SCRODO, perhaps a Hobbit for an X-rated remake of Lord of the Rings. <br /> Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33627359387265531392012-12-11T13:53:52.376-05:002012-12-11T13:53:52.376-05:00Interesting reading real time comments about the e...Interesting reading real time comments about the election, and the angst it caused. So glad it's over. But now the 'fiscal cliff' negotiations (or non-negotiations) are filling the airways. AH ME <br /><br />@quilter 1 - Happy Birthday, 5 weeks late, and you did in fact get your Birthday Present to match the sign in your yard!<br /><br />The term RHUBARB has always meant a baseball bench clearing brawl to me, tho I guess I've not heard it lately. Surprised that so many didn't know it. Must be an age thing.<br /><br />Impressive and enjoyable, thanks Erik, keep em coming!<br /><br />Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78656488291643105282012-12-11T12:51:55.434-05:002012-12-11T12:51:55.434-05:00It does feel strange here in Syndiland when there&...It does feel strange here in Syndiland when there's some impending "event" in real time. I wondered what would happen to all the air time after the election; I needn't have. It's Xmas season! As the Dukes said to their commodities pit trader: "Get out there and SELL! SELL!"<br /><br />Oh, "event" in quotes? That's what they call every CARSALE. The "Sign-then-drive" Event; the "December-to-remember" Event, etc. Curious use of the word. I wonder who was first--because all the other companies have copied it.<br /><br />Welcome to this side of the Pond, Mr. Agard. The dead giveaway? OXO as a kitchen brand. Do you miss your favorite PUB? And how is BORIS these days?<br /><br />Favorite entry: RHUBARBS. @anon 8:35: an amusing anecdote for the explanation of the word as a set-to. I simply thought it grew out of the extremely tart taste. And @Lewis: didn't notice the SEX/COMER crossing till you mentioned it; did you also notice that right under that we have "AAA!" One other funny cross--for me--was "pickle holder" JAR with GAG: what pickles make me do.<br /><br />A promising debut. It's accepted that 15s are going to cost some junk fill, but in this one it was the corner 8s and 6s that seemed to cause the most trouble. Still, with SASSY entries like HEADSUP in a theme-heavy grid: promising.<br />Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39029736312845748222012-11-06T23:48:28.769-05:002012-11-06T23:48:28.769-05:00Polls closed here in California 45 minutes ago. D...Polls closed here in California 45 minutes ago. Do the talking heads wait for polls to close in Hawaii before announcing the results? Is Hawaii a state? Is it even in the US? Above, I shouldn't have said the puzzle must be "dumb", i just meant it had to be easy for me to zip through it. But I was also so excited to be solving in real time. Last Sunday (for me, doing the syndicated puz) seeing Easterners writing nervously about preps for Hurricane Sandy, when I knew what was in store for them, was extra distressing. Ellen Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00473445503706985149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2633908612296346232012-11-06T23:41:13.873-05:002012-11-06T23:41:13.873-05:00This 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 5:44, 6:46, 0.85, 2%, Easy (3rd lowest median solve time of 174 Mondays)<br />Tue 7:57, 8:58, 0.89, 18%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:28, 3:41, 0.94, 26%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 4:27, 4:41, 0.95, 41%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56541177613547328352012-11-06T22:28:47.685-05:002012-11-06T22:28:47.685-05:00Happy Birthday quilter1. Hope you had a great day...Happy Birthday quilter1. Hope you had a great day!chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72113327396936321312012-11-06T18:45:56.670-05:002012-11-06T18:45:56.670-05:00My first entry was ELAINE so I didn't see SECR...My first entry was ELAINE so I didn't see SECRET BALLOT till late. I was pleased and said Awww when it all played out. Congrats Mr. Agard on your debut. @JFC I printed PDF like @Chefwen. Happy bithday @Quilter1. <br /><br />Line long at polling place. One and one half hour wait. Good turnout.Sparkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11149915526159432838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76312992368626756212012-11-06T17:58:11.284-05:002012-11-06T17:58:11.284-05:00@Foreight Exchange Guy - It may be nominally worth...@Foreight Exchange Guy - It may be nominally worth more, but it's only good for buying beer and hockey tickets.<br /><br />Further on the downside, it's useless for buying medical care. Oh, you've got free mecidal care. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that.Prowd [sic] 'Mericannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5950049318887955742012-11-06T17:44:05.603-05:002012-11-06T17:44:05.603-05:00As I write this, a Canadian penny is worth 1.0077 ...As I write this, a Canadian penny is worth 1.0077 US pennies. What's bad about that?<br /><br />- Foreign Exchange GuyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-92048662302495202262012-11-06T16:36:09.590-05:002012-11-06T16:36:09.590-05:00Midday 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):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Tue 7:54, 8:58, 0.88, 18%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Tue 4:28, 4:41, 0.96, 43%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25240361507452821122012-11-06T15:32:54.089-05:002012-11-06T15:32:54.089-05:00Red Barber's autobiography was titled "Rh...Red Barber's autobiography was titled "Rhubarb in the Catbird Seat". He also popularized "tearing up the pea patch". James Thurber's story "The Catbird Seat" is one of my favorites. miriam bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506593846362044050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85522031572024307502012-11-06T15:12:00.763-05:002012-11-06T15:12:00.763-05:00@Lewis - No, jfc IS a bad penny. That's why I ...@Lewis - No, jfc IS a bad penny. That's why I skip over his comments.why not a bad dimenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76717294907584629652012-11-06T15:10:48.381-05:002012-11-06T15:10:48.381-05:00http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhubarb_(1951_film)
...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhubarb_(1951_film)<br /><br />This was a funny book. Wish I'd seen the movie.miriam bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506593846362044050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27584007376413326362012-11-06T15:10:06.142-05:002012-11-06T15:10:06.142-05:00quilter1 -- I think it was Red Barber who made it ...quilter1 -- I think it was Red Barber who made it famous.Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48735662357675397232012-11-06T15:08:03.648-05:002012-11-06T15:08:03.648-05:00jfc -- you ARE a bad penny
bretski -- good point
...jfc -- you ARE a bad penny<br /><br />bretski -- good point<br /><br />I liked the intersection of SEX and COMER.<br /><br />jfc -- just kiddingLewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11046569747477608282012-11-06T15:02:18.079-05:002012-11-06T15:02:18.079-05:00anDre Carsales Mspacman@12:46PM (wrote in part)-
... anDre Carsales Mspacman@12:46PM (wrote in part)-<br /><br />"Hey, @jackj why didn't I get one of your write ups yesterday?!"<br /><br /><br /><br />Out of circulation all day; I owe you one!jackjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02699305265544975575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77538516872067303322012-11-06T14:29:02.061-05:002012-11-06T14:29:02.061-05:00@John This is a very old term for a fight. I belie...@John This is a very old term for a fight. I believe baseball announcers pre-TV used to use it when the teams cleared the benches.quilter1https://www.blogger.com/profile/09569747169212018177noreply@blogger.com