tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post7307542846247287128..comments2024-03-29T05:08:37.783-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Teen girl's close chum for short / MON 10-17-11 / Upscale marque owned by Toyota / Catch Groucho while fishing / Creator of game Missile CommandRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12861575833877972962011-11-22T11:23:37.871-05:002011-11-22T11:23:37.871-05:00"Amok" is from the Malay word "amoq..."Amok" is from the Malay word "amoq," which means "engaging furiously in battle."David Bowmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14673241422745751614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35268736839379842432011-11-21T14:39:21.877-05:002011-11-21T14:39:21.877-05:00@Pippin - nice to see you back!
Another advantage...@Pippin - nice to see you back!<br /><br />Another advantage of solving in syndication: all the enjoyment, none of the pressure to enter the contest (and none of the controversy over whether the prize is worthwhile). And we get to visit RPDTNYTCP on this date 5 years ago:<br />- "Solving time: 8-ish (on Across Lite)"<br />- "Today's theme was very clever, neat, tidy, musical. Nice. Couldn't ask for more from a Tuesday puzzle. I especially like that 20A (THEME): Generals and such (military brass) is crossed at the "Y" by 9D: Certain well-traveled child (army brat). Must move even more quickly today, as I'm on Sahra-patrol (she's out of school for the T-giving week, and she and I are due at Denny's to eat breakfast with mommy's students in about a 1/2 hour!)."<br />- "This fairly unimaginative short fill is, I'm happy to say, more than made up for by generous interesting longer fill, including ORGIES (22D) and PENMANSHIP (30D), which are two great tastes that taste great together."<br />- "Mmmm, sonnet parts. I like the dark meat! Seriously, I do like that SESTET not only means a SIX-line chunk of poetry, but it has SIX letters in it, AND is positioned here at SIX-Down. 6-6-6. Symmetry! And evil..."<br />- " Best name, because it sounds like a lisping guy is shouting profanity. In this picture, we see that ATHOL has a certain unfortunate Manson-ish quality."<br />- There were 7 comments, the most cryptic of which was this from @Chris: "There's nary an animal that can outrun a greased Scotsman."Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1116991674835759062011-11-21T11:34:07.574-05:002011-11-21T11:34:07.574-05:00From Syndyland...still doing the puzzle every day ...From Syndyland...still doing the puzzle every day but no time to post for ages.<br /><br />I'm with you @Hazel - just enjoy the puzzle for goodness sake. Enough about the prize! <br /><br />Loved this one - just a fun, breezy way to start the week. Favs were HYPERLYNX and TUMMYTUX but all theme answers were good. Looking forward to a week of PB!Pippinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71488380401273552702011-10-25T00:11:05.379-04:002011-10-25T00:11:05.379-04:00The clue for 1-across, one week ago Monday: Fatefu...The clue for 1-across, one week ago Monday: Fateful day for Caesar (IDES). The answer to the meta-challenge, hidden in plain sight all along.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11292806089549341991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75582790505709282822011-10-18T00:19:36.258-04:002011-10-18T00:19:36.258-04:00This 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 6:47, 6:51, 0.98, 45%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:33, 3:40, 0.97, 40%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7652393216744556312011-10-17T21:58:35.695-04:002011-10-17T21:58:35.695-04:00Fun puzzle!
But I'm with Rex about the prize ...Fun puzzle!<br /><br />But I'm with Rex about the prize - a $10 book? <br /><br />I look forward to a week of PB puzzles, though.JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73557095099842740552011-10-17T21:10:29.937-04:002011-10-17T21:10:29.937-04:00I read about the meta challenge last week and wond...I read about the meta challenge last week and wondered who the constructor would be, but then I printed out today's puzzle in haste and did it later. Forgot about the challenge until coming here. Wow, a great start, and we get 5 more Patrick puzzles this week? YAY!<br /><br />@tobias, maybe I ought to go buy a lottery ticket, it's been at least 10 years, and I haven't had much luck with the NPR Sunday puzzles either. And @jackj, thanks for the hint, I haven't had much luck with metas lately, I couldn't get last week's Gaffney puzzle and haven't figured out this week's one either.skua76https://www.blogger.com/profile/15450051465313263422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34847402531576257622011-10-17T20:32:26.928-04:002011-10-17T20:32:26.928-04:00@mac: Have a safe and glorious holiday! I'm g...@mac: Have a safe and glorious holiday! I'm green with envy over your trip to the land of the orange.Chip Hiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944056030047563287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86851902668175651522011-10-17T18:44:25.697-04:002011-10-17T18:44:25.697-04:00Puzzle seemed terribly easy to me, today. Wish I h...Puzzle seemed terribly easy to me, today. Wish I had timed it for personal best. Or by Saturday I'll see what the tick is?Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49221988895615134522011-10-17T18:28:29.461-04:002011-10-17T18:28:29.461-04:00I scored 130 in Scrabble today with a double tripl...I scored 130 in Scrabble today with a double triple. While eating a smooth peanut butter sandwich with banana - the best! So eat that Rex - really.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56469967555305576332011-10-17T16:47:12.995-04:002011-10-17T16:47:12.995-04:00@Rube
Not inconsistent, really, as they were repla...@Rube<br />Not inconsistent, really, as they were replacing sound, not spelling.<br />If there had been only ONE KS then maybe, but not as stands...<br />There is more inconsistency in English spelling than there is in this wonderful theme idea.<br /><br />WHAT SAY we just call it a good, very very good, theme/puzzle? :)andrea carla amuckaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15062139108988348622011-10-17T16:12:10.901-04:002011-10-17T16:12:10.901-04:00@NorthBeach: one of my colleagues in our economic...@NorthBeach: one of my colleagues in our economics department agrees with you. <br /><br />When we buy a lottery ticket, he says, we pay for the enjoyment of imagining that we might win, and how we will spend the money if we do!archaeoprofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956231727789223463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12975232800511149692011-10-17T16:10:21.700-04:002011-10-17T16:10:21.700-04:00Did no one else have a problem with the clue for B...Did no one else have a problem with the clue for BLANKCHEX? i've never heard the adjective "blank" used for tasteless, it is always "bland".David from CAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11506148953512241382011-10-17T16:00:45.460-04:002011-10-17T16:00:45.460-04:00A full week of PB puzzles? Yipee! Only complaint t...A full week of PB puzzles? Yipee! Only complaint that I've got is that Will and Patrick are being unfair to the Orthodox Jewish contingent of their fans (I'm not the only one, right?). Between the holiday (Shemini Atzeret: yes, it's a real holiday; alternate-side parking is suspended and everything) and Sabbath, I won't be able to do the Thursday-Saturday puzzles until Saturday night at the earliest.<br /><br />Loved this one. Had AWOKE before AROSE, but otherwise flew through.efrexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44818740064477544902011-10-17T15:56:49.231-04:002011-10-17T15:56:49.231-04:00LandmarX -> landmarKS
SadsaX -> sadsaCKS
Bla...LandmarX -> landmarKS<br />SadsaX -> sadsaCKS<br />BlankcheX -> BlankcheCKS<br />HyperlynX -> hyperlinKS<br />TietaX -> tietaCKS<br />TummytuX -> tummytuCKS<br /><br />On a bad day, Rex would have torn into this puzzle in his unmerciful fashion because of it's inconsistencies. Sometimes X replaces KS while in others it replaces CKS, and in one, and only one, another letter, y, also gets changed, i.e. the y in the favorite HYPERLYNX.<br /><br />Me? To me, this sort of free and easy play is part of the crossworld and I have no trouble with it. Just like I had no trouble with this very enjoyable PB puzzle. (Just don't ask me about how much trouble I have typing on this furshluginer 2/3 size keyboard on my netbook.)<br /><br />Actually, I do have one bone to pick. I've heard "Wha'dya say?" or "What say you?", but I don't recall ever hearing "WHAT SAY".<br /><br />Gave this puzzle to the wife for whom this is her first NYT. Her comment was that DOPY and _AMUCK were misspelled!<br /><br />Good to see you and Jon, @ChefWen. Your muffins are TDF.<br /><br />I'm circling the wagons!Rubehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773241241484881566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39969466235178574872011-10-17T15:30:30.023-04:002011-10-17T15:30:30.023-04:00Who cares about the book? This was a wonderful puz...Who cares about the book? This was a wonderful puzzle, with only amuck to make me pauze. And I do like those books.<br />Nice to be able to do this 6 hours ahead of my usual location. Just arrived in Holland this morning, and I'm already cooking a big pot of white bean/tomato/escarole soup with little meatballs. Lots of friends to see! Tomorrow I will be in Amsterdam, right where the protesters will be next to the old Beurs (stock market). Breezy fall weather and I'be gotten on my bike already!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38171124613327898072011-10-17T15:20:45.065-04:002011-10-17T15:20:45.065-04:00Midday 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 />Mon 6:40, 6:51, 0.97, 44%, Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:38, 3:40, 0.99, 48%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85311063702280429132011-10-17T14:43:48.941-04:002011-10-17T14:43:48.941-04:00As with others out there, I'm pretty sure this...As with others out there, I'm pretty sure this is a newer version of an old book -- but it's a great book. My dad getting me a copy is what got me seriously hooked on puzzles; seeing puzzles with only one vowel, or the double-answer puzzle, and so on. Been some great new additions since then, though.Aaron Ricciohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05003634532469211190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46821568968051240112011-10-17T14:11:50.602-04:002011-10-17T14:11:50.602-04:00@tobias. my bad. cyber hug everyone! and now back ...@tobias. my bad. cyber hug everyone! and now back to your regularly scheduled program...hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04627015904603641109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82063360574965492122011-10-17T14:05:06.207-04:002011-10-17T14:05:06.207-04:00@Rex - get over yourself. If you don't like th...@Rex - get over yourself. If you don't like the prize than don't enter. There are several others who would love to have a copy of Will's book. Myself included.<br /><br />Back to the puzzle (and contest) - today's was great (except for AMUCK).<br /><br />Off to have a SMOOTH PB&J sandwich.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67066616006458031952011-10-17T13:42:45.988-04:002011-10-17T13:42:45.988-04:00@hazel I was only trying to make you smile,sometim...@hazel I was only trying to make you smile,sometimes it is difficult to convey humor in a short comment. I apologize.Tobias Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14828873893205954337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91723187253321922122011-10-17T13:17:43.169-04:002011-10-17T13:17:43.169-04:00Team Hazel.
Perhaps if Mr Duncan had a greater lov...Team Hazel.<br />Perhaps if Mr Duncan had a greater love of sports and/or had the most basic knowledge of statistics/probablility, he would understand that chances are you're not going to win a random drawing and sometimes it's just playing the game that provides the reward.<br />A personal aside to Hazel: I, too, was recently on the receiving end of one of Dear Rex's acerbic darts. Yes, it stung. Until I chose to turn it around: in my early tiptoeing into commenting on this blog I had inadvertantly trolled both Evil Doug and Rex Parker! That, ma'am, is a badge of honor!North Beachnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54532374035120544862011-10-17T12:53:18.292-04:002011-10-17T12:53:18.292-04:00@hazel--I'm pretty sure Tobias Duncan's en...@hazel--I'm pretty sure Tobias Duncan's entry was firmly tongue in cheek--but I suspect he'll be on to defend himself. Anyway, I loved your "just don't enter the contest--or give it to a newbie" entry.<br /><br />I loved loved loved this puzzle for all the reasons previously mentioned--and I needed to love something since the Tigers, the Lions, and the Wolverines ALL lost this weekend. I'm not much of a sports fan, but this native Michigander is smarting a bit right now.<br /><br />This blog is not doing much for my admiration of the top tier of comedians--first Steve Martin, now Jim Belushi must be crossed off my list of favorites. Oh, wait. Jim Belushi was never there.<br /><br />I doubt I'll enter the contest--like @Tobias, I never win anyway--plus I can only occasionally solve Wil's Sunday morning puzzles, so I don't have high hopes for this one. However, I'll sure be hoping one of the contributers here is on the list of winners!600https://www.blogger.com/profile/14501483791122854785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30923602722766838492011-10-17T12:48:28.267-04:002011-10-17T12:48:28.267-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.600https://www.blogger.com/profile/14501483791122854785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90194976566464189742011-10-17T12:42:28.577-04:002011-10-17T12:42:28.577-04:00DB -- Best friend forever
Nothing stale about thi...DB -- Best friend forever<br /><br />Nothing stale about this puzzle, like a fresh flower standing tall. Hopefully a tone setter for the rest of the week...<br /><br />captcha -- BLEST, which I think is all of us this week.Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.com