tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post59358003404527006..comments2024-03-19T09:23:07.223-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: 1973 Jim Croce album / SAT 5-28-11 / C ration replacer / Counterpart of Selene / Issuer of 1986 report on pornography / Funicular alternativeRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81214648337768061972011-07-02T20:56:58.135-04:002011-07-02T20:56:58.135-04:00Writing from syndication-land:
This puzzle with i...Writing from syndication-land:<br /><br />This puzzle with its contemporary references was right in my comfort zone. I plunked down GUITAR HERO for my first gimme answer and didn't stop until I filled in the grid. It was one of those rare Saturdays where I was able to go across the grid in order. I even knew that bit of trivia about ABE LINCOLN.<br /><br />It really was easier than yesterday's, which I didn't do until today because I had to get a replacement newspaper. It came wrapped up with today's edition. Yesterday, my newspaper never even made it to the driveway, but rather was left in the gutter where it got completely soaked through. *grumble*Nullifidianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15207390447020990907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2565219763651173612011-07-02T17:49:07.523-04:002011-07-02T17:49:07.523-04:00On the topic of syndication-synchronicity (which i...On the topic of syndication-synchronicity (which if it isn't already a common phrase, it ought to be), this puzzle originally appeared on Memorial Day weekend and reappeared for its encore on Fourth of July weekend. Weird.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21957898664207382292011-07-02T17:26:51.663-04:002011-07-02T17:26:51.663-04:00Wanted "fellow fan" at 3d, but that wasn...Wanted "fellow fan" at 3d, but that wasn't going to work with anything so I left it blank and waited.<br /><br />I had sUbmarine crossing with sUpermariO, which messed me up for quite some time. Was pretty sure Super Mario wasn't a series, though (series would be Mario Brothers, right?) so I knew I was in for some write-overs. Eventually, working my way up from Oz, I got the Croce album off the M in MADE HAY and most of the rest fell into place. <br /><br />Other trouble spot was 32a where I had tICs, leaving me with either pig spit or pit spit at 21d. And some sort of RED B_ _ t drink. Red beet juice maybe, but of course you can't just drink a red beet.<br /><br />Was about to throw in the towel when I saw REDBULL, which gave me LICE, FIRE PIT and an answer that made much better sense at 21A than pENCE.<br /><br />If ABE(raham) needs a cluing signal, by the way, then so does ED(win). Or perhaps the clue is that they cross each other.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70345960550051062862011-07-02T16:47:38.208-04:002011-07-02T16:47:38.208-04:00I understand that Rex rates puzzles' *relative...I understand that Rex rates puzzles' *relative* difficulty, but it's nonetheless always dispiriting to come here and see a Saturday puzzle rated as "easy." I think I've only finished ONE Saturday puzzle without either googling or flipping my syndi-puzzle over to see an answer. <br /><br />One of the first answers I very confidently plucked down was PHOTO for "Stock ____." Just like yesterday with "CAN I" (instead of RSVP), my stubborn refusal to reconsider that answer made the SW move like quicksand. <br /><br />I also wanted LIMBO instead of FENCE, and threw in RED WINE instead of RED BULL. <br /><br />I googled "mass vestments" to try to figure out ORALES and Whoa Nelly there are tons of them! Didn't see ORALES in the list though.Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675331024091722316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5791138209657393112011-07-02T13:28:35.567-04:002011-07-02T13:28:35.567-04:00Well, I “finished” without googling but with error...Well, I “finished” without googling but with errors, so I didn’t (finish, that is). But managing even that on a Saturday confirms Rex’s rating of easy.<br /><br />Made the aLlPRO for OLDPRO mistake, though feel somewhat vindicated given the discussion. Got Naticked at 50A and 45D, so guessed MdE and OdALES. Glad Rex explained that “neighbor” can be a verb. I got the right answer, but didn’t really like it. Ditto with KONG, which I googled (after “finishing”) to learn is a video game.<br /><br />On the strength of just the O in 17A, I plunked down Operahouse. But 10D made me see that I had a problem, and it didn’t take long to sort out. Considered MADEpAY, but knew the cross wouldn’t be LEpAVRE.<br /><br />Since I already had LASERMOUSE, I guessed hOg for 59D, but that too worked out. IGOTANAME was, for a while, obscured by “time in a bottle,” which, luckily, didn’t fit. <br /><br />Was wondering where the first BuckyBall was built until EPCOT came into view.<br /><br />I enjoyed the puzzle and had lots of chuckles at the write-up and comments “today.” Thanks, folks! <br /><br />captcha= prick... really. Shoulda had that one for Andrea's puzzle a few days ago...Red Valerianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04638265039015470938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50911115243626428432011-05-29T12:30:57.414-04:002011-05-29T12:30:57.414-04:00I'll never know how I would have done on this ...I'll never know how I would have done on this puzzle had I not accidentally glanced at Rex's page before doing it, and seeing the answer for 1 across. Regardless, I proceeded from there, but still finished with two squares wrong. My mistake was the same as David L's: ALL-PRO for OLD PRO.<br /><br />In this case, I think that the "wrong answer" works almost as well as the right answer.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALL-PRO" rel="nofollow">All-pro</a>, "a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season," is surely a much better fit for the clue "master" than the made-up "Old pro", where the "old" part contributes almost nothing.<br /><br />Although CHARRO works better than CHARRA for "Cousin of a vaquero", <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/spanish/charra?show=1&t=1306685801" rel="nofollow">"CHARRA</a> can be justified--after all, cousins can be female.<br /><br />That leaves the weakest link: LIP comes close to working for CHEW in a couple of senses (of things done with the mouth) but doesn't quite; on the other hand, I would not have seen DIP as a synonym for CHEW at all. I gather from the erudite commenters that it has to do with chewing tobacco, but I would have had no idea.<br /><br />One of the rare DNFs where I exonerate myself from blame entirely.CYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00788234848150484233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37191085927745785082011-05-29T00:41:29.723-04:002011-05-29T00:41:29.723-04:00"MR.E" is "MRE," short for Mea..."MR.E" is "MRE," short for Meals Ready to Eat! Should know that on Memorial Day weekend.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10492569518742370285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56369922307384572082011-05-28T22:50:29.198-04:002011-05-28T22:50:29.198-04:00Discussion of DIP makes me feel better about havin...Discussion of DIP makes me feel better about having balked.<br /><br />@foodie, I share your fascination with that subversive world of drug paraphernalia, having similar relics from the head shop days. We plan to bury them with our 1963 Bug.<br /><br />dquarfoot, your clue for LASER MOUSE was right on and would have lent this puzzle a bit of the cryptic. I am sorry it was changed but look forward to your next appearance.fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15947539581591312332011-05-28T21:57:38.775-04:002011-05-28T21:57:38.775-04:00The most accessible funicular in the U.S. is proba...The most accessible funicular in the U.S. is probably Angel's Flight Funicular which operates in the Bunker Hill area of downtown Los Angeles. <br /><br />It just reopened last year after a lengthy shutdown and if you read the Harry Bosch series of books by Michael Connelly, Angel's Flight has been both referenced and used as a plot device by the writer in various of his books.jackjnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48751849151692327312011-05-28T20:42:28.205-04:002011-05-28T20:42:28.205-04:00Just noticed this:
"Badder than old King Kon...Just noticed this:<br /><br />"Badder than old King Kong / And meaner than a junkyard dog."Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65282873786322589082011-05-28T19:04:32.370-04:002011-05-28T19:04:32.370-04:00@andrea - and here's a photo - pity about the ...@andrea - and here's a photo - pity about the fights, I love Budapest.<br /><br />http://tinyurl.com/44ynptwthursdaysdhttp://mytimetotravel.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72657847086213932102011-05-28T18:40:49.078-04:002011-05-28T18:40:49.078-04:00@ Chefwen - your description makes me want to visi...@ Chefwen - your description makes me want to visit.....retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37149169816354858342011-05-28T18:29:51.784-04:002011-05-28T18:29:51.784-04:00@thursdaysd, @mac
Ha! I thought so!!!!! I know I...@thursdaysd, @mac<br />Ha! I thought so!!!!! I know I didn't just have a repressed memory of fights I had with my Israeli in Hungary...we fought everywhere, in the street, on the funicular, in some farmer's market, on half the bridges, in some hotel...most miserable trip in... my... LIFE...plus, I've never been to Prague!<br /><br />@chefwen<br />not too late! Never know where he'll appear next! (or in what incarnation...)andrea pest michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78451622400616152582011-05-28T18:11:31.923-04:002011-05-28T18:11:31.923-04:00Well, Saturday's are still beyond me, even wit...Well, Saturday's are still beyond me, even with some help from google. <br /><br />Just stopped by to mention that once you cross the bridge from Pest to Buda, you can then choose to take a funicular up the hill that confronts you. But my favorite funicular is the one in Lisbon that takes you up to a wonderful viewpoint, and to the Solar do Vinho do Porto, where you can buy delicious port by the glass. Can't imagine using a T-Bar instead, especially going back down...thursdaysdhttp://mytimetotravel.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83870351148568327672011-05-28T18:03:48.376-04:002011-05-28T18:03:48.376-04:00This 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, 6:52, 1.03, 66%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 9:45, 8:56, 1.09, 76%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 13:09, 11:47, 1.12, 77%, Medium-Challenging<br />Thu 25:15, 19:04, 1.32, 93%, Challenging<br />Fri 17:22, 25:50, 0.67, 5%, Easy (5th lowest median solve time of 103 Friday puzzles)<br />Sat 25:04, 30:24, 0.82, 12%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:49, 3:40, 1.04, 69%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 5:14, 4:35, 1.14, 89%, Challenging<br />Wed 6:34, 5:48, 1.13, 82%, Challenging<br />Thu 11:50, 9:11, 1.29, 89%, Challenging<br />Fri 8:59, 12:42, 0.71, 12%, Easy<br />Sat 13:17, 17:16, 0.77, 9%, Easy (8th lowest median solve time of 93 Saturday puzzles)sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24677256695704741852011-05-28T17:58:39.909-04:002011-05-28T17:58:39.909-04:00@r_c @foodie - It's a great bathroom, he would...@r_c @foodie - It's a great bathroom, he would have loved it!!!chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51958097108319178672011-05-28T17:52:25.434-04:002011-05-28T17:52:25.434-04:00I started with a malapop, thinking the video game ...I started with a malapop, thinking the video game was going to be DONKEY KONG or one of its relatives.<br /><br />Loved the SQUIRM corner. TULLE mystified me when I saw it in an Emily Dickinson poem many decades ago, but at least I learned the word.<br /><br />All week my neighbor has been driving a backhoe around his yard lifting rocks. It turned out not to be Stonehenge he was building but a huge FIRE PIT.<br /><br />Good puzzle, David, though I'm glad Will made your clue easier. Happy s'mores to all!Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72801223225108818972011-05-28T17:42:43.703-04:002011-05-28T17:42:43.703-04:00I thought that Friday's was considerably easie...I thought that Friday's was considerably easier than this one. But that's only because I got stalled in the southeast because I refused to accept pop tart as a breakfast food. Once I gave in, I finished quickly.michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51731204746091912882011-05-28T16:46:27.098-04:002011-05-28T16:46:27.098-04:00@foodie, what a great idea for a collection.
@l...@foodie, what a great idea for a collection. <br /><br />@lindsey, it can be both, and in the UK SAE is as I noted.CoffeeLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16473192190412844538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65758894450425073502011-05-28T16:33:15.807-04:002011-05-28T16:33:15.807-04:00This one was fun, although not, in my opinion, qui...This one was fun, although not, in my opinion, quite as easy as Rex would have us believe! <br /><br />My only complaint had to do with the cluing of the all-too-familiar TBAR as an alternative to a funicular. There are funiculars in use in this country, much closer to hand than Buda, Pest, or Reichanbach (although those falls do happen to be situated on the always useful River Aar!). In Pittsburgh PA there are two of them: <a rel="nofollow"> the Monongahela and the Duquesne Inclines </a> which are both pretty impressive. <br /><br />As I recall from a visit a while ago, you wouldn't want to be towed up either of those hills on a T-bar!!Arundelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15171078182761035785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32589615419801983622011-05-28T16:28:47.086-04:002011-05-28T16:28:47.086-04:00So Pluto, the Roman god of the underworld, and Eri...So Pluto, the Roman <a href="http://www.greek-gods.info/greek-gods/hades/" rel="nofollow">god of the underworld</a>, and Eris, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eris_(mythology)" rel="nofollow"> Greek goddess of chaos</a>, get to duke it out over which has the lesser significance? I suppose the world can take heart at the insignificance of hell and discord.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13640298342950442052011-05-28T16:17:25.391-04:002011-05-28T16:17:25.391-04:00@CoffeeLvr, I believe SAE is a self-addressed enve...@CoffeeLvr, I believe SAE is a self-addressed envelope, not a stamped addressed envelope. The stamp would be the second S in SASE, or self-addressed stamped envelope.Lindsaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36272809722547258472011-05-28T16:04:26.624-04:002011-05-28T16:04:26.624-04:009 down (Eris). The latest evidence is that Pluto i...9 down (Eris). The latest evidence is that Pluto is actually larger than Eris. <br />- Bonnie Buratti, astronomer and crossword puzzle nutBonnie Burattinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87980217731868710512011-05-28T15:40:28.750-04:002011-05-28T15:40:28.750-04:00Our neighbor across the street always has a wad of...Our neighbor across the street always has a wad of dip between his teeth and lip. And he is always spitting. It's not attractive!!!chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85944169861355196762011-05-28T15:37:21.577-04:002011-05-28T15:37:21.577-04:00This was so not easy for me!
I did know what a fu...This was so not easy for me!<br /><br />I did know what a funicular was at least. Here's the one that goes up <a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1414/5127757727_96ee4e0073.jpg" rel="nofollow"> to the Reichenbach Fall </a> (singular, as @quilter1 points out).Clarknoreply@blogger.com