tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6405843367141565613..comments2024-03-28T18:52:07.432-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Old Isle of Wight settlers / SAT 12-4-10 / Tony-winning Tessie / Housemate Steinbeck's Tortilla Flat / Capital NE of the Gulf of TriesteRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8154416719602765832011-02-02T14:40:57.532-05:002011-02-02T14:40:57.532-05:00"Ljubljana" was prominently on the spine..."Ljubljana" was prominently on the spine of a coffee-table book in Frazier's TV apartment; apparently the set dressers found this to be just the sort of obscure title that would appeal to a snobbish intellectual.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73992512614428433632011-01-09T14:10:29.347-05:002011-01-09T14:10:29.347-05:00I found Ljubljana on a Mediterranean map. I had th...I found Ljubljana on a Mediterranean map. I had the first J and some other letters. I don't quite understand rear for can unless they mean the behind. Also would have that an alternative for Brie would have been another soft cheese. slAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58467026906530750562011-01-08T19:40:16.322-05:002011-01-08T19:40:16.322-05:00Sorry, this is getting silly, but also BAREASSED, ...Sorry, this is getting silly, but also BAREASSED, & INTHEBUFF.<br /><br />That's 3. Good night.clansman9448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44649314591163003982011-01-08T19:35:56.836-05:002011-01-08T19:35:56.836-05:00OH & one more that fits 15A, INTHENUDE.OH & one more that fits 15A, INTHENUDE.clansman9448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85664159472235955042011-01-08T19:31:28.209-05:002011-01-08T19:31:28.209-05:00Thought I saw someone comment about Ljubljana here...Thought I saw someone comment about Ljubljana here a few days ago.Tough day for me but finally had to use one "cheat" for the "A" at 23. Couldn't get ALL as the American leader for some reason, and I still hate the ASA+UNIT clue. Finally got CLARISSA not CONTESSA & YANKEE not TINKER & PTA not NEA. Oh, yeah. 29D CAN for "Rear". I'm not sure I understand that one.(So some one send me a simple expl. so I can slap my forehead & go "Duh!") Sorry, I don't do "DOH"clansman9448http://elliott@spiretech.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34757771557964164322011-01-08T13:48:34.139-05:002011-01-08T13:48:34.139-05:00I thought the capital was Lyublyanka (actually the...I thought the capital was Lyublyanka (actually the KGB prison in Moscow), but luckily I have a globe at my elbow.<br />Yes, I know I'm late; it's just getting light here.<br /><br />Stewartsmeealaskanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60378611729070003652011-01-08T11:14:54.330-05:002011-01-08T11:14:54.330-05:00Syndicated paper solver.
Yeah, but who followed A...Syndicated paper solver.<br /><br />Yeah, but who followed ARLO?<br /><br />Nice construction (although PTA STS STL INC all in line going down seems like it could be worked on), some really great words and phrases (don't believe I've seen BRIMSTONE or YOGA CLASS or OPENSESAME before), and A FEW pretty cool clues (59D Signs an agreement?=NODS was nice). <br /><br />But I could SWEARAT some of the other clues, some of which have already been pointed out (e.g. those for TROOP SWIRL SCALD). Bad clues create a mental arhythmia and a DAM (61D Stop from running) where mental effort goes to DIE (32A Stop running). I don't mind having my mind blown by great Who-Knew? geographical names. I actually dig learning new trivia from xwords; it's one of the reason I like doing them. Intentionally frustrating (NOT cute: frustrating because they're non sequituresque) clues are quite another matter.<br /><br />Enough INKSPOTS from me. Time to get AUNATUREL (except for the AVIAs and TASSELS) and wish I were in SALEM while watching "Days of our Lives."NotalwaysrightBillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65825972233325310712010-12-05T18:50:02.439-05:002010-12-05T18:50:02.439-05:00I know it's late and few any anyone will read ...I know it's late and few any anyone will read this, but I've finished the puzzle and made the die. Can anyone tell me how to get rid of all those black squares?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50494911524285218872010-12-05T15:44:36.901-05:002010-12-05T15:44:36.901-05:00Surprising to me how many didn't know LJUBLJAN...Surprising to me how many didn't know LJUBLJANA. It's a world capital, afer all. Study a world map for a few minutes so that if BISHKEK ever comes up you'll be much happier.aleph1=c?https://www.blogger.com/profile/12422129158978411656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54558402157853273382010-12-05T07:07:22.180-05:002010-12-05T07:07:22.180-05:00I remember the INKSPOTS as that old vocal group fr...I remember the INKSPOTS as that old vocal group from the 30s (along with the spinoff group, the POCKET PROTECTORS)Smittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939710008630124836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46716172057611841892010-12-04T22:39:03.849-05:002010-12-04T22:39:03.849-05:00Got Ljubljana right off the bat, thinking at the s...Got Ljubljana right off the bat, thinking at the same time "I'm sure I'm in a tiny minority of people who will." Geography geek that I am.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06202194067577436223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74596701117941121162010-12-04T22:33:55.911-05:002010-12-04T22:33:55.911-05:00@ Retired Chemist - Nothing lies except a liar, bu...@ Retired Chemist - Nothing lies except a liar, but I am reminded of what Henry Fonda, playing Admiral Nimitz, told John Wayne, playing Captain Rockwell Torey, when Nimitz was giving Torey his admiral stars after being cleared of charges for violating Navy rules during Pearl Harbor: "Well, we all know the Navy's never wrong. But in this case, it was a little weak on bein' right." <br /><br /><br />John the Banished....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55854777641546550192010-12-04T22:08:16.491-05:002010-12-04T22:08:16.491-05:00For me, this was on the easy side for a Saturday. ...For me, this was on the easy side for a Saturday. It helped that I knew Walla Walla right off and have some friends just back from the Slovenian capital (the spelling eludes me right now, but I got it right in the puzzle). Sometimes -- probably like many of you -- I wonder what all this stuff is doing in my brain and whether it is replacing some other stuff that might usefully be in there.michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72380014469505700132010-12-04T22:00:49.998-05:002010-12-04T22:00:49.998-05:00As a retired nerd who used a plastic pocket protec...As a retired nerd who used a plastic pocket protector full of pens, 35A was almost a gimme, but didn't anyone else enter 'inkBLots' before 'inkSPots' for 35A?ksquarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181873595483296089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24313023984806473432010-12-04T21:03:51.134-05:002010-12-04T21:03:51.134-05:00I was so proud to get through this one except for ...I was so proud to get through this one except for the impossible 1A.<br />I had to laugh at Rex's comment about the Riga grousing earlier in the week.<br />At least the puzzle didn't ask for the name of that Icelandic volcano that caused the chaos last summer!<br />Actually it might as well have.Two Ponieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06896743444873087885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73279092749448743262010-12-04T20:48:50.262-05:002010-12-04T20:48:50.262-05:00@ Anon 8:02 -
Statistics NEVER lie. Interpretati...@ Anon 8:02 - <br /><br />Statistics NEVER lie. Interpretations sometimes do. But SanFranMan59 seldom interprets. We just get data to mull over. Thanks, SFMan.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74109064806403104232010-12-04T20:02:38.399-05:002010-12-04T20:02:38.399-05:00Sometimes, @sanfranman59, me thinks all you prove,...Sometimes, @sanfranman59, me thinks all you prove, if anything, is that statistics lie. Not that I don't appreciate your effort....<br /><br />John the Banished....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13084127372329898182010-12-04T19:49:03.831-05:002010-12-04T19:49:03.831-05:00This 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 7:03, 6:56, 1.02, 61%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 8:29, 8:56, 0.95, 43%, Medium<br />Wed 15:48, 11:43, 1.35, 95%, Challenging<br />Thu 17:22, 19:01, 0.91, 40%, Medium<br />Fri 19:36, 26:13, 0.75, 10%, Easy<br />Sat 29:13, 30:38, 0.95, 39%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:48, 3:42, 1.03, 64%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 4:24, 4:36, 0.96, 43%, Medium<br />Wed 7:31, 5:46, 1.30, 95%, Challenging<br />Thu 8:31, 9:10, 0.93, 45%, Medium<br />Fri 10:00, 12:49, 0.78, 14%, Easy<br />Sat 15:33, 17:27, 0.89, 28%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82938915532488514912010-12-04T19:06:16.838-05:002010-12-04T19:06:16.838-05:00@Clark: Yes. Flush with my triumph, I forgot to th...@Clark: Yes. Flush with my triumph, I forgot to thank you for getting us off to a flying start...and BTW I've been to both--heaven can wait.<br /><br />@Jim: :-)Ulrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20730157131978772302010-12-04T18:14:08.446-05:002010-12-04T18:14:08.446-05:00Felt like a newbie today. Only gimmes were jure an...Felt like a newbie today. Only gimmes were jure and mata. Might have come up with pamela eventually. Had to cheat a bit. Ljubljana? Seriously? Even when i had lj (having guessed labs) I only concluded no word starts lj! Guessed Pablo after trying Pedro, but couldn't get confident with the guess.<br /><br />Seemed "hard" to me, that's for sure.Humility!No BShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729670790149748115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38919083282762034722010-12-04T17:55:43.161-05:002010-12-04T17:55:43.161-05:00@ Clark - Best opening comment I've ever seen....@ Clark - Best opening comment I've ever seen. You said it all in an appropriately TERSE manner....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33817613320626535592010-12-04T17:40:29.313-05:002010-12-04T17:40:29.313-05:00ALMA was a giveaway. Mrs. Retired_Chemist is a Mic...ALMA was a giveaway. Mrs. Retired_Chemist is a Michiganian who lived in Alma for nearly twenty years before I married her and spirited her away to Texas. We were married by the retired chaplain of Alma College and, of course, many of the good folk who are her friends and attended our wedding are Alma College faculty/employees/alumni(ae).retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15837305697826616602010-12-04T16:29:58.853-05:002010-12-04T16:29:58.853-05:00Had TINKER instead of YANKEE (ingenuity) @ 21D. Th...Had TINKER instead of YANKEE (ingenuity) @ 21D. The idea was that a tinker, a medieval repairer of tinware, had to be clever at his craft to be successful, thus leading to the verb "tinker," meaning to play around with something in order to fix it. That seemed to connote ingenuity to me. Eventually I had to give it up, of course, but reluctantly.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29883771016379013822010-12-04T16:10:05.682-05:002010-12-04T16:10:05.682-05:00@JIM
Your article about vowel and consonant shipm...@JIM<br /><br />Your article about vowel and consonant shipments was hilarious.<br />It made slogging through the mass<br />of mostly picayune comments worthwhileNATEnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80740150930256136602010-12-04T15:58:58.067-05:002010-12-04T15:58:58.067-05:00I've not only heard of Ljubljana, but have bee...I've not only heard of Ljubljana, but have been there -- twice. It's actually a popular weekend getaway for Southern Austrians with Slavic roots. But I still can't spell it! Hence, an assist from the likes of JURE, UNIT, and JUTES was indispensable.<br /><br />Especially liked this puzzle for its multiplicity of plausible answers for a given clue when crosses weren't yet available. For example, for 24A, I stubbornly clung to TALISES [sic], the fringed scarves worn by Jews, and couldn't decide between EQUIP and GETUP -- both perfect synonyms for "Outfit" -- before finally seeing the light with TROOP. Now that's craft! Kudos to Mr. Peterson.<br /><br />Say, whence the term "Yankee ingenuity?" Never heard of it prior to today, but guessing it must be something Derek Jeter has had to draw upon in his current contract negotiations.davkohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09661794533403708226noreply@blogger.com