tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post5771529419619933748..comments2024-03-28T11:50:37.143-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Repeated lyric in Java Jive / TUE 3-5-13 / Boom gaff / Paul Kruger Krugerrand fame / Seoul-based automaker / Operating system since 1969 / Oscar-winning film set in IranRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33792771093860539992013-04-10T19:59:14.485-04:002013-04-10T19:59:14.485-04:00I enjoy listening to Emmanuel Goldstein struggle w...I enjoy listening to Emmanuel Goldstein struggle with technology on "Off the Hook", too. Long live Cap'n Crunch and more power to his 2600Hz whistle!straylinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536180563789923012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90104665369245847762013-04-09T20:10:44.284-04:002013-04-09T20:10:44.284-04:00I loved this puzzle! What a great constructor.
Re...I loved this puzzle! What a great constructor.<br /><br />Re: 16 Across, USE IT, I'm wondering whether that answer/clue was put in on purpose? The clue was about the phrase "use it or lose it" which is related to the theme. The it was not used in any theme entry so it was "lost" (well, replaced with AT). Since it would have been so easy to eliminate the IT from that entry I think this was intentional, a second "reveal" or hint to the puzzle theme.<br /><br />I think commenter @jackj was suggesting this same thing when he wrote "a double reveal of WHEREITSAT and USEIT ..." so I don't think I'm the only one who has come up with this idea.<br /><br />PS to @strayling, re: the hacker discussion a few days ago, I was happy to hear that someone out there still uses hacker the old school way. :-)Syndi Solvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72904979869463097192013-04-09T19:31:10.725-04:002013-04-09T19:31:10.725-04:00I enjoyed this one a lot. Just hard enough to teac...I enjoyed this one a lot. Just hard enough to teach me a few new words, and done without any obscure crosses or potential Naticks. Nice Job, Mr. Bain.straylinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536180563789923012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41690312507176776702013-04-09T18:28:09.394-04:002013-04-09T18:28:09.394-04:00Fabulous puzzle, and it would be equally fabulous ...Fabulous puzzle, and it would be equally fabulous on a Wednesday or Thursday. I don't give a rat's patootie that LATTERMATE has another "at" in it. All theme answers only have one substitution of AT for IT, and no substitutions of IT for AT. Good, consistent, not even worthy of an overly-anal comment. Also, "She's gone",is my favourite Hall and Oates song (from the Abandoned Luncheonette album). The cluing was so clever-devious-in places, and the entire puzzle basically sparkledrain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89742516487040176912013-04-09T16:49:35.103-04:002013-04-09T16:49:35.103-04:00@SIS - I swear I've seen CHAz, I thought of it...@SIS - I swear I've seen CHAz, I thought of it as a gimmie - GRR. Caused my DNF. <br /><br />When I saw the by-line I knew it would be a fun solve, and I was not disappointed. From Ohio on east it was challenging and crunchy. Fun Fun Thursday, er Tuesday!<br /><br />Thanks Dr Bain!Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37398923211151228002013-04-09T16:42:28.343-04:002013-04-09T16:42:28.343-04:00Fresh and sweet puzzle! Finished with no errors, a...Fresh and sweet puzzle! Finished with no errors, and I don't keep time - it takes what it takes.<br /><br />Jberg @9:40 am. a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup of coffee<br /><br />We saw Manhattan Transfer in concert a little while back with our symphony orchestra. So smooth and sweet, they can come back anytime.J.aussiegirlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56082416597853342962013-04-09T16:04:48.885-04:002013-04-09T16:04:48.885-04:00Hand up for Tee before Tau, and I too finished wit...Hand up for Tee before Tau, and I too finished with an ERROR (other than the one at 46a): RUFFLAg/gWEN. <br /><br />I wonder if we'll see a tribute puzzle to Annette in 5 weeks?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58953375242748700652013-04-09T12:38:07.630-04:002013-04-09T12:38:07.630-04:00I agree with Rex and others that this was one slic...I agree with Rex and others that this was one slick puzzle, and more like Wednesday tough.<br /><br />Tee before TAU. Finished with CHAz and KITCzCHY. <br /><br />The theme was clever. Thanks, Gareth.<br /><br />Rest in peace, Annette.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73468896823787753172013-04-09T12:02:16.175-04:002013-04-09T12:02:16.175-04:00Got THRU it okay, but yikes! Those clues!
-->N...Got THRU it okay, but yikes! Those clues!<br /><br />-->Nothing in the clue for CHAS to indicate an abbreviation. Yeah, I know that's how his name customarily appears, but it's still an abbrev.<br /><br />-->Of all the Hall and OATES songs he could have mentioned in the clue--"Private Eyes," Man-eater,"I Can't Go With That," etc. he picks "She's Gone." Crikey, must be an album cut; I never heard of it.<br /><br />-->"Days," for one?? We're supposed to recognize that that's short for "Days of our Lives," I guess, but really. One word, enclosed in quotes. That's not right.<br /><br />This was a good puzzle, with a catchy revealer, but some KITSCHY clues nearly scuttled my butt. Mercy, it's only Tuesday.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72950849389537462942013-03-06T01:00:38.116-05:002013-03-06T01:00:38.116-05:00This 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 6:15, 6:10, 1.01, 60%, Medium<br />Tue 9:30, 8:23, 1.13, 79%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:47, 3:41, 1.03, 67%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 5:33, 4:52, 1.14, 82%, Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27258409582739197912013-03-05T22:06:34.581-05:002013-03-05T22:06:34.581-05:00@Evan - Hall of Fame entry duly noted and updated....@Evan - Hall of Fame entry duly noted and updated...<br />http://crucimetrics.blogspot.com/p/epic-wrong-answer-hall-of-fame.html<br /><br />I am going to have to hire someone to do the updates for me - once again, I am amazed that Rex does what he does day in day out.<br />Thanks!!<br />Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62232721223564272772013-03-05T21:52:20.502-05:002013-03-05T21:52:20.502-05:00@Loren - hilarious.
And I have about 18 Glühwein ...@Loren - hilarious. <br />And I have about 18 Glühwein mugs from various Christkindlmärkt from when living in Germany. 2 Marks for the drink, one mark for the mug. <br /><br />Tough Tuesday, great fun.<br />@ret_chem - Congrats on teh bouncing pups - hope all are doing well.<br /><br />@quilter1 - I love your saying, and am comitting it to memory!! My brother-in-law was a master builder - his catchphrase was "We're building a deck, not a piano."<br /><br />Thanks Mr. Bain!Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31227749833556914942013-03-05T21:07:38.943-05:002013-03-05T21:07:38.943-05:00Liked it.
Never heard of RUFFALO, USAIN or these ...Liked it.<br /><br />Never heard of RUFFALO, USAIN or these SPARs.<br /><br />Mead before SAKE, but I'm a non-drinker, so what do I know? Anyway, the Gabor sisters corrected that. Two of them married George Sanders, who eventually committed suicide. Magda was the LATTERMATE, and she and ZsaZsa were LiTTERMATES. <br /><br />Didn't know the Java Jive was about a flat-chested girl. A-CUP, A-CUP...Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83787838960090485432013-03-05T21:03:45.788-05:002013-03-05T21:03:45.788-05:00@acme ... I didn't catch the "Hot Pockets...@acme ... I didn't catch the "Hot Pockets" post a few weeks ago, but I think you must be talking about Jim Gaffigan. After reading your post, I watched that bit for about the 20th time and each time it brings me to tears with laughter. He really knows how to tickle my funny bone!sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91909322135825250192013-03-05T19:32:15.021-05:002013-03-05T19:32:15.021-05:00Hi, @Lewis. I'm currently in Santa Fe. Just ...Hi, @Lewis. I'm currently in Santa Fe. Just visitin'. Tryin' to avoid all that ACPT traffic out east. Think I'll try Phoenix, next. Yep... U-count = 6 today, I believe; so darn respectable. Average is around 4-4.5.<br /><br />Since I'm travelin', I'm not solving the puzs everyday. But will check in from an exotic place, now and then. M&AOn The Road with M and Anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45996207618748784752013-03-05T19:24:01.524-05:002013-03-05T19:24:01.524-05:00Darn, now I have "HOT SAKE!" going thru ...Darn, now I have "HOT SAKE!" going thru my head to the tune of "Hot Pockets!"<br />and that funny video somebody posted a few weeks ago with that comic doing a long extensive rant on "Hot Pockets". Brian someone?<br /><br />@Lewis<br />Thanks! :)<br />It's ironic bec I feel like I actually pointed out a few slightly imperfect things in a puzzle otherwise almost universally loved (usual unpleasable grumblers aside)<br />but the USEIT thing if altered would have gotten rid of one more down IT too...<br />Bottom line tho, WHEREITSAT is so clever and Beckish it might even wipe the "Hot Sake!" earworm out of my head.<br /><br />Packing for ACPT!!!! Only thing that would make my life more complete is if Will would allow me to rename it! ;)acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11302974948558958482013-03-05T16:43:05.768-05:002013-03-05T16:43:05.768-05:00@loren muse smith - Thanks for the response. The c...@loren muse smith - Thanks for the response. The clue threw me for a sec as I was trying to come up with a biology class related specifically to animals. Damn him ;-)Namelessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91674802036702366502013-03-05T16:23:25.410-05:002013-03-05T16:23:25.410-05:00@nameless - Dr. Bain is indeed a vet, and I *loved...@nameless - Dr. Bain is indeed a vet, and I *loved* the alternative clue for ANAT. It felt "wink wink nudge nudge" to me and made me smile. A lot of constructors have a "voice" and like @Andrea said, Gareth's voice is crystal clear in his puzzles. It never fails to please me.Loren Muse Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05308030011870397977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38758102736039675522013-03-05T16:09:01.808-05:002013-03-05T16:09:01.808-05:00Midday 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 />Tue 9:35, 8:23, 1.14, 82%, Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Tue 5:46, 4:52, 1.18, 88%, Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27201278215960772052013-03-05T15:28:10.925-05:002013-03-05T15:28:10.925-05:00I did not finish and had errors in the NE. So thi...I did not finish and had errors in the NE. So this puzzle beat me, I dare to say<br />Elle54noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2331472349350997192013-03-05T15:25:51.206-05:002013-03-05T15:25:51.206-05:00@Bird - Rye and totty don't fit at 10A. I'...@Bird - Rye and totty don't fit at 10A. I've started seeing SAKE served chilled at Hibachi steak houses, but I too prefer it warmed.<br /><br />This played med-challenging for me because of the cluing and NE corner. Can't believe that UNIX has been around that long. Thought, for a fraction of a second that 13D was NEES because they've been married so often. I like the theme and some of the original cluing.<br /><br />Am I correct in that Mr. Bain is a vet (so it's Dr. Bain?) and 11D was clued in that way as a shout out to himself? Good grief.Namelessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60818210506747500032013-03-05T15:14:42.125-05:002013-03-05T15:14:42.125-05:00re SAKE - most of what I have been served in Japan...re SAKE - most of what I have been served in Japan was warm, and only if my host was unusually affluent did the cold stuff come out.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41246975884691003782013-03-05T15:06:23.977-05:002013-03-05T15:06:23.977-05:0010A really bothered me even though clue is not tec...10A really bothered me even though clue is not technically incorrect.<br /><br />SAKE should not be served warm. it "typically" was in the old days because it was of lower quality. low quality sake is still typically served warm, partly because people dont know any better, but good sake is to be served chilled.Junmai Daiginjonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58665935297805531162013-03-05T14:08:50.449-05:002013-03-05T14:08:50.449-05:00I started out okay with a few blank answers, espec...I started out okay with a few blank answers, especially for a Tuesday, but got worse as I headed back up to the NE corner. Had LATTER WIFE, UNIX and not much else. Whiskey, scotch and cognac don't fit at 10A and I couldn't think of SAKE – maybe because I like it hot. Who sang “She’s Gone”? The O’Jays? Nope, Hall and OATES.<br /><br />Crud<br />- The extra ATs & ITs in the grid (32A, 67A, 4D, 53D).<br />- Why wasn’t 15A changed to USE AT?<br />- TAG in the clue for 35A and in the answer for 7D?<br />- ICER? Ugly. Ban it for life.<br />- Clues for 37A and 11D are not Tuesday clues<br /><br />Good stuff<br />- Theme<br />- Clues for 39A, 12D<br />Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7098605955214166592013-03-05T13:46:54.317-05:002013-03-05T13:46:54.317-05:00@m&a -- I'm fairly near the Biltmore, noth...@m&a -- I'm fairly near the Biltmore, nothing is too far from anything else here. Today's puzzle is respectable, U-wise.<br /><br />@pete -- you're still invited to the party<br /><br />A smooth solve for me today except for Maine and Maryland, which were crunchy but finally the light went on. <br /><br />Maybe Will has decided to make this week's puzzles harder each day in prep for ACPT?<br /><br />@acme -- your comments are generally so fresh and insightful.Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.com