tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post6709668323965450506..comments2024-03-19T00:21:49.519-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Scandinavian goddess of fate / SAT 12-14-13 / Husband of Otrera / Ottoman ruler nicknamed Lion / Quattro relatives / Protagonist in David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest / Forrest Tucker's F Troop role / Cagney classic of 1935Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62110900144231842532014-01-20T14:07:51.339-05:002014-01-20T14:07:51.339-05:00It took me a while to give up on JACKSONVILLE, FLA...It took me a while to give up on JACKSONVILLE, FLA in place of ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, especially because it fit in with the first two words I filled in in the middle third, CRAT and ARTS... I should have gotten NORN quicker. SHPILKES isn't a commonly used word in the midwest, so I needed a few crosses for that one. Unlike others, I thought JUMBO was an easy clue, at least to get the ELEPHANT part (and not just because my niece is a student at Tufts).<br /><br />DNF, though. The top third did me in. I liked the clue for OTIS, though I didn't get it until I had all the crosses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78040128138566137782014-01-19T01:07:09.938-05:002014-01-19T01:07:09.938-05:00@SIS and @ Diri, I am also among the Go 'Hawks...@SIS and @ Diri, I am also among the Go 'Hawks, and Go Pats group. If they meet in the SB, though, it's Go 'Hawks.<br /><br />Really good puzzle. Despite not knowing so many names, I came within a Dirigonzo OWS of a correct finish. ESa/FILIPPa did me in. NERTS.rain foresrtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15994630167534766972014-01-18T20:39:59.233-05:002014-01-18T20:39:59.233-05:00@SiS - I'm looking forward to the Patriots mee...@SiS - I'm looking forward to the Patriots meeting the 'Hawks in the Superbowl, so yes GO HAWKS!Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3506932401593276302014-01-18T20:33:28.931-05:002014-01-18T20:33:28.931-05:00MAS, thanks for a spiffy Satpuz. I was in a hurry ...MAS, thanks for a spiffy Satpuz. I was in a hurry today to make a noon tee time so my googleator was smokin' to finish it. Still, DNF cuz I got out of bounds in the SW. BORAX was my only down. Not a Springsteen fan so I don't know the band members.<br /><br />@Waxy, you rock! Welcome aboard the Hawks bandwagon. @Diri, I'm also rooting for your New England dudes.<br /><br />Two pair today so I lose at capcha poker. But I swear that Shpilkes was a past capcha. I thought it was German for pewit.<br /><br />Go Hawks!Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8178295548616056452014-01-18T18:22:27.038-05:002014-01-18T18:22:27.038-05:00Given the level of difficulty earlier this week, t...Given the level of difficulty earlier this week, today's puzzle comes as a bit of a relief. Made easier perhaps for Canadians who get a jump start from Toronto's PANAMGAMES and for golf fans for whom Calvin PEETE is a gimme. <br /><br />Even though I'm not familiar with the word schpilkes, found the first 3 entries in the quad stack quick straightforward, taking most of the itch out of 37A.<br /><br />Only major problem came in the SE where I too had EAP rather than ERB for the literary inits delaying my CSI moment (thanks for the insight @Ginger) for far too long.<br /><br />Yeah, I'm on the bandwagon - GO HAWKS!Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35718943503885299952014-01-18T17:17:18.545-05:002014-01-18T17:17:18.545-05:00Didn't even try to finish! Did get a bit, inc...Didn't even try to finish! Did get a bit, including CALVES and the two Sgts., but, with all that trivia, it was either go Googling or home, and I chose home.<br /><br />Can't even compete in the poker game, my hand has two 8's, two 3's and garbage. So it goes!DMGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72142859731046021372014-01-18T17:03:38.482-05:002014-01-18T17:03:38.482-05:00Not much time, and I confess to have not as yet re...Not much time, and I confess to have not as yet read the real time comments, but I liked this tough puz. Did not finish, but was able to make a pretty good stab at it, for a Saturday. Puzzle wise, it's been a rough week. David's R-less Thursday was particularly diabolic.<br /><br />Got a kick out of the SE, which MAS said (on XWInfo) was constructed with CSI fans in mind. I'd call it the Coroner's Corner. Interesting fact about Anchorage, which was dredged out of a hidden part of my mind.<br /><br />Three little pairs, 2's, 3's, & 5's. Wont get too far with that holding.<br /><br />GO HAWKS Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07156872089175084024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78817653792518161872014-01-18T12:12:10.727-05:002014-01-18T12:12:10.727-05:00If you're handing out SERGEANT stripes I'l...If you're handing out SERGEANT stripes I'll take Schultz's. I saw nothing; I kaew no-thing. My completed grid looks like this:<br /><br /> P<br /> E<br /> E<br /> T<br /> E<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> A<br /> WORF<br /> T<br /> O<br /> O<br /><br />That's it. I got nothin' else. Maybe if I wasn't fighting a seasonal allergy--which doesn't leave much fight room for anything else--I might've got more. But I 've never seen such a collection of totally unknowns (to me). I wasn't even sure I was right about PEETE, since the only thing I could think of for 1a was World's Fair. This was a total UN-wheelhouse experience.<br /><br />4's full of 6's.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77671283843900176812013-12-18T17:11:38.833-05:002013-12-18T17:11:38.833-05:00@anony 10:11 AM - In a bit of syndication synchron...@anony 10:11 AM - In a bit of syndication synchronicity the same initials(clued as "Tarzan creator's monogram")appeared in today's syndicated puzzle which originally ran on 11-13. It's probably something you should commit to memory.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12136495152837440282013-12-18T10:11:44.327-05:002013-12-18T10:11:44.327-05:00First time commenting. I hate when I get the right...First time commenting. I hate when I get the right answer but don't know why. I got ERB but until I read this discussion I had no idea to whom it referred. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70832333092491783872013-12-15T12:44:58.693-05:002013-12-15T12:44:58.693-05:00Old memories. Dumbo's real name is Jumbo,Jr. ...Old memories. Dumbo's real name is Jumbo,Jr. His mother is Mrs. Jumbo.luisa massimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8032022828384241382013-12-15T11:06:20.143-05:002013-12-15T11:06:20.143-05:00I don't like clues that lead to abbreviations ...I don't like clues that lead to abbreviations but don't CONTAIN abbreviations. So Office staples= PCs took me forever. Otherwise, nice, difficult Saturday, ending (for me) a perfect week of completed difficult puzzles. Looking back at Steinberg's Thursday, I think I was too harsh about it. Unlike his previous Saturday effort, the cluing was fair, and the answers were well distributed in terms of topic and age group.<br /><br />I kept thinking of Agarn as well! And Wrangler Jane...OISKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808675378318214461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26757129714343858982013-12-15T09:34:26.241-05:002013-12-15T09:34:26.241-05:00I am under 60 (by a few years) and got SERGEANTORO...I am under 60 (by a few years) and got SERGEANTOROURKE first thing. You should watch F TROOP sometime, Rex. It's actually pretty funny.Jeff Chttp://www.jeffcohenbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23953757711433330922013-12-15T06:07:57.859-05:002013-12-15T06:07:57.859-05:00Couldn't get AGARN out of my head on the F-Tro...Couldn't get AGARN out of my head on the F-Troop one...deny being over 60...liked the mix of pop and higher cult in this one.<br /><br />The PIEDMONTESE count of good stuff minus less good stuff came in at +99.5 unadjusted, or +93.2 if ya adjust for the big grid...that's close to but a little below TH and FR and way above TU and WE.MetaRexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01697113550216241303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13422815670873505112013-12-14T22:03:32.687-05:002013-12-14T22:03:32.687-05:00I think of a band member as a person, not an instr...I think of a band member as a person, not an instrument, so happily filled in Max(Weinberg) in 57A. Soon realized that was wrong. Hand up for Lincoln Nebraska at first and McNelly.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16969864605111680191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22937764593082148712013-12-14T20:35:38.949-05:002013-12-14T20:35:38.949-05:00I completed the bottom one-third with no help, goo...I completed the bottom one-third with no help, googled "shpilkes" to finish the central third, but failed at the top where I did not know the playwright and was too tired to look him up. MAS puzzles continue to be a "stretch objective" for me, and I enjoy the challenge presented by his grids. GOBIG, indeed!Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38261408744820186882013-12-14T19:19:48.299-05:002013-12-14T19:19:48.299-05:00Acme, first-time poster and long-time lurker here....Acme, first-time poster and long-time lurker here. I liked your comment about our esteemed mayor, but I feel compelled to point out that unless we Torontonians lose our collective minds a second time, Mr. Ford will mercifully no longer be mayor by 2015. And perhaps much sooner than that, if the police chief finally comes calling.Toronto the Goodnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38512530471780175722013-12-14T18:52:11.588-05:002013-12-14T18:52:11.588-05:00I like Martin Ashwood-Smith's puzzles because ...I like Martin Ashwood-Smith's puzzles because of the literary references. I hadn't heard of "Infinite Jest" (embarrassing I guess) and was glad to learn of it. And it's a Shakespeare reference! Where's the excerpt???? I enjoyed some of the related crossing answers. Perhaps if one has ANTSINONESPANTS, it would help to GOCOMMANDO. Cheeriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919455386774076690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56834630209538136782013-12-14T18:27:01.360-05:002013-12-14T18:27:01.360-05:00For me, very tough but I ultimately persevered mak...For me, very tough but I ultimately persevered making it quite enjoyable. Anytime I can finish a puzzle that stumps folks like jae and lms, I feel triumphant. Interestingly, at mid-solve I opened our flue for our first fire of the season and got (my hand) covered with soot. That helped.Sandy Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86480533685475459952013-12-14T18:24:10.887-05:002013-12-14T18:24:10.887-05:00Lots to hate here what with NERTS, PHLOX,DTEN, HEI...Lots to hate here what with NERTS, PHLOX,DTEN, HEISTING and GOCOMMANDO (an expression I'd never heard of.) ERB hardly famous literary inits either. Seemed like the puzzle was straining too hard. Knew the Tucker role, but delayed by the spelling of SERGEANT.Google to the rescue with stuff like ARKIN, WORF and NORNS. For many any use of Google taints the process, but for me on a Friday, Saturday and some Sundays, I'm very cool with it ( but then I do call a few 2-foot putts gimmes, too.)LaneBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77001254058110730042013-12-14T18:04:32.188-05:002013-12-14T18:04:32.188-05:00This 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 7:35, 6:07, 1.24, 98%, Challenging (5th highest ratio of 207 Mondays)<br />Tue 9:34, 8:12, 1.17, 87%, Challenging<br />Wed 11:19, 9:55, 1.14, 82%, Challenging<br />Thu 26:07, 17:47, 1.47, 95%, Challenging (11th highest ratio of 207 Thursdays)<br />Fri 25:24, 19:47, 1.30, 92%, Challenging<br />Sat 29:36, 27:01, 1.10, 78%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 4:41, 3:46, 1.24, 99%, Challenging (3rd highest ratio of 207 Mondays)<br />Tue 5:24, 5:09, 1.05, 63%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 6:45, 5:55, 1.14, 85%, Challenging<br />Thu 18:38, 10:07, 1.84, 100%, Challenging (2nd highest ratio of 207 Thursdays)<br />Fri 13:06, 11:32, 1.14, 73%, Medium-Challenging<br />Sat 17:37, 17:34, 1.00, 52%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57568830774108137942013-12-14T17:08:45.975-05:002013-12-14T17:08:45.975-05:00Anon @ 2:02 NERTS = nuts (I think) dumb 50s (?) s...Anon @ 2:02 NERTS = nuts (I think) dumb 50s (?) slangNormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10032302346488486116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59328423975980821772013-12-14T16:26:37.933-05:002013-12-14T16:26:37.933-05:00Thanks for "ness" explanation ... what a...Thanks for "ness" explanation ... what a dumb clue! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81295309292839826902013-12-14T16:03:32.563-05:002013-12-14T16:03:32.563-05:00@jburgs 3:18
Do you think the mayor of Toronto wil...@jburgs 3:18<br />Do you think the mayor of Toronto will oversee the drug testing at the PANAMGAMES?<br />Acmenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29138470027560858562013-12-14T16:02:30.414-05:002013-12-14T16:02:30.414-05:00@jburgs - it amazed us too. I think all it takes i...@jburgs - it amazed us too. I think all it takes is a water pressure > about 200 psi and a minor crack one would not normally notice.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.com