tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post7485831894647226606..comments2024-03-28T20:49:13.267-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: My Life autobiographer 1975 / THU 11-10-11 / Explosive roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure / Roman writer grain of salt / In bad company per Ambrose BierceRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17865172705281847952011-12-15T23:24:29.944-05:002011-12-15T23:24:29.944-05:00Lucked out today. Saw the trick (in print) right ...Lucked out today. Saw the trick (in print) right away and the guessed Lon ChEney. That bad e gave a little doubt, but certainly not after getting "Lake in..." (some Spanish-speaking country?...dof!). Still, bogged down in the center at the end by not seeing "adopt". Once 'pastoral' got corrected, it was all good, even with the strange fill. I thought Sir Rex might revolt at Ned, as happened with me (entirely by crosses, yet lodged in the recesses somehow, too).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90184214958846916982011-12-15T20:45:17.849-05:002011-12-15T20:45:17.849-05:00Spacecraft here. Today was challenging for me, lar...Spacecraft here. Today was challenging for me, largely because of obfuscational clues and a couple of awkward theme phrases. PASTURELAND I guess is KINDA OK; it's a real phrase, and I suppose it's actually spoken, for example when the farm realtor is answering "Well, what about the back forty?" from a prospective buyer. But nobody FLEESFROMPRISON. They ESCAPE. Seems to me fleeing carries a connotation that someone's watching. I had FLEES and PRISON--but with (hand up!) ADMIT in place the center remained blank for a long time.<br /> The NW was the last to fall; it took me forever to hit on the EXCEL/NIX cross. Lots of trash fill to pick at, as has been said; but I also don't like DOSED and SASHED. We're straining our mother tongue to the limit with this sort of thing. As Coach Ditka says: "Stop it!"<br /> The lone writeover was at ADMIT/<br />ADOPT, and I did not Google. Took me about three hours, though, staring, thinking, putting it down and coming back later, etc. One memory jog: "You ARE the weakest link--goodbye!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27646586765931625902011-12-15T16:27:06.949-05:002011-12-15T16:27:06.949-05:00I really liked this puzzle, especially the lawyer ...I really liked this puzzle, especially the lawyer quote. I'm sure that who likes which puzzles has some personality type implications. Coffee Lover and I must be similarly screwed up, and Rex and I probably wouldn't get along too well. Shunning modesty though, I'd say we're a pretty smart bunch.Longbeachleenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64193359005732155622011-12-15T16:16:23.447-05:002011-12-15T16:16:23.447-05:00I, comfortably ensconced in Syndiland, Iiked this ...I, comfortably ensconced in Syndiland, Iiked this puzzle. I almost self-destructed at 1a where, with the "U" in place from UNCLOTHE I confidently entered noUns for Snowmen and snowwomen?, since clearly they both are. IKE finally showed up and set the record straight.<br /><br />A few earlier posts made reference to prior Rex posts, so let's see what he was up to on 12/15/2006:<br />- "Solving time: not sure; too long"<br />- "Many colorful long answers make this an impressive puzzle in some ways, but the puzzle gets many points off for cluing an answer with reference to the horrid "Ally McBeal.""<br />- "Sahra goes to one of these alterna-hippy-no-rules schools that get an interesting mix of brilliant and, er, colorful kids. Sahra thrives there, and the student body is really diverse, especially for a private school in these parts, but you sometimes see behavior there that wouldn't be tolerated for one second in "normal" educational environments. Not often, but sometimes. And nothing dangerous. Just ... yeah, quirky."<br />- "It was a bad day for my French. SOLEIL is a basic, French I word meaning "sun," but for some reason, not only could I not see it, but for a time I actually wanted SOMEIL here - first of all, it's a misspelling of SOMMEIL, and second, SOMMEIL means "sleep," and what kind of paper would name itself "The Sleep?" Seriously, I tried to justify it by telling myself it must be an evening paper, like many cities used to have."<br />- "Oh, carrier to Papeete, you say. Thanks for the hint! Now if you could only tell me Where Papeete Is and How That Narrows Things Down For Me ... I would still be uncertain about the rightness of this answer if I hadn't seen it before, as a component of a sign-off in e-mails my wife used to send me when we were a-courtin'. AROHANUI is a Maori word meaning, literally, "big love," but used as the equivalent of "all my love" or "love you" ... that is what you were saying, right honey?"<br />- "Last question: are there really applications that have a line marked "SIGN HERE" (32D: Line on an application)? I've seen little SIGN HERE post-it notes that accountants and what not affix to contracts and other paperwork. But don't applications usually just say SIGNATURE?"<br />- "Gonitis target (knee) was new to me. The answer was totally inferrable, but Gonitis ... let's just say that I was happy the answer was KNEE, because it sounds like it afflicts a more sensitive region of the body. Insert AD after the N and you'll see what I mean."<br />- Rex added this tidbit in response to one of the 10 comments: "PINCHEM sounds like a sadistic party game, or like something some poorly-parented 12-year-old girl would have written across the ass of her sweatpants."Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20718058705613392902011-12-15T15:53:54.746-05:002011-12-15T15:53:54.746-05:00I feel elevated to Elysium when Mr. Parker and man...I feel elevated to Elysium when Mr. Parker and many commenters seem to have suffered as did I. Iams vs. lams....so bad for me.<br /><br />And a dollar before Anthony was never an Ike, called or inferred. I was there.<br /><br />justinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80224744967085591122011-12-15T12:42:05.786-05:002011-12-15T12:42:05.786-05:00Revealer wasn't hard to figure out, though the...Revealer wasn't hard to figure out, though the exact phrase escaped me for some time, as I had confidently written CAPITAL LETER L. Could not for the life of me figure out how to get an E for E-BAY in there until I finally wrote out CAPITAL LE _ _ E _ across the top of my page and quickly realized my speling error. Duh.<br /><br />DDE just about gave me a DNF, before I finally familiarized further to IKE. <br /><br />Overall, this was ugly. But <a href="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://thesmutpages.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/pliny.jpg&sa=X&ei=-SvqTvGCDIqkiQLm5pnPBA&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNE88qz5_z1oN6Y-LfnzUjcZN40KjA" rel="nofollow">10d</a> is beautiful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67326941436270865522011-11-12T12:28:10.566-05:002011-11-12T12:28:10.566-05:00@Seth...
I wondered the same thing...seems like a ...@Seth...<br />I wondered the same thing...seems like a definite puzzle faux pas.Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27101584728383800052011-11-11T23:49:17.257-05:002011-11-11T23:49:17.257-05:00A day late, enjoyed the puzzle despite taking way ...A day late, enjoyed the puzzle despite taking way too long to get the theme.<br /><br />However, how does the 56D clue "Mythical ship..." and 23D Myth ending/ICAL slip by?SethChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10366779434998553927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86286984102619402011-11-11T13:09:19.890-05:002011-11-11T13:09:19.890-05:00As one of those who has joined only this year, let...As one of those who has joined only this year, let me say @Jax & @Jen that I agree!<br /><br />I want to, but can't always, read all comments, enjoy learning arcane and not-so-arcane info, as well as the occasional glimpses into lives behind the puzzles.<br /><br />Maybe a different format would help, such as in-line responses, though I could see that encouraging even more comments.Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32933805890874703152011-11-11T09:13:39.222-05:002011-11-11T09:13:39.222-05:00@JaxinLA: I feel the same way!@JaxinLA: I feel the same way!JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68316728829213195632011-11-11T08:49:46.036-05:002011-11-11T08:49:46.036-05:00I had to leave the house early yesterday, with the...I had to leave the house early yesterday, with the puzzle unfinished - now it's Friday, which I've solved already, so I'll chalk this up as a major DNF - mainly because I had LON CHeNEY, which screwed everything up, and lead to FLEES IN AMERICAN, a nice parallel with LAKE IN SPANISH, but still very wrong!<br /><br />Also, I was so annoyed at PASTURE LAND (as opposed to PASTURE SEA, I guess) that I couldn't think straight.<br /><br />coral reef for oyster bed, and initial letter for capital letter, too, but I caught those.<br /><br />AH ME, Friday was better.jberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02169065390875378077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34318461688081247982011-11-11T07:13:35.313-05:002011-11-11T07:13:35.313-05:00@cody.riggs, err, well I stay at OMNIs, have clov...@cody.riggs, err, well I stay at OMNIs, have cloven hooves,,, guess your right: onikdkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-87507702538121567022011-11-11T01:51:33.999-05:002011-11-11T01:51:33.999-05:00Not a prayer with this puzzle, personally.
The po...Not a prayer with this puzzle, personally.<br /><br />The population growth in Rex's little kingdom has been remarkable. In the year plus that I have been coming here, we have tripled the number of posts.<br /><br />Now that the comments have approached or exceeded 100 for some days, I'm torn between warm feelings that more and more people have discovered the joys of Rexworld and the rewards offered herein (and have contributed to said rewards in many cases), and frustration that it takes so dang much time to read now.<br /><br />This is not meant to discourage or even to influence what happens here, just to share the thought and wonder if anyone else has the feeling.JaxInL.A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13792405579998093081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19187286261206804102011-11-11T00:18:23.422-05:002011-11-11T00:18:23.422-05:00This 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 6:30, 6:50, 0.95, 30%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 8:12, 8:51, 0.93, 32%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 15:12, 11:50, 1.28, 94%, Challenging (8th highest median solve time of 123 Wednesdays)<br />Thu 22:02, 19:03, 1.16, 81%, Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:28, 3:40, 0.95, 31%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 4:15, 4:34, 0.93, 31%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 7:36, 5:51, 1.30, 96%, Challenging (6th highest median solve time of 123 Wednesdays)<br />Thu 11:38, 9:18, 1.25, 8%, Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43242541848614311432011-11-10T21:07:09.285-05:002011-11-10T21:07:09.285-05:00Came around to ESP late, too.
Seemingly wrong syn...Came around to ESP late, too.<br /><br />Seemingly wrong syntax.<br /><br />? Picking up things gives license to play on words, like usually a pun, or quotation marksfergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21763144331389673402011-11-10T20:57:43.608-05:002011-11-10T20:57:43.608-05:00Needed google to get any traction. Even with googl...Needed google to get any traction. Even with google could not finish. Did not get the theme until I came here. Don't think it is too clever. A lot of horrible fill to boot. I would rate it as very difficult.Jpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59582746248727010362011-11-10T20:39:22.701-05:002011-11-10T20:39:22.701-05:00How can ESP be clued as "picking up things?&q...How can ESP be clued as "picking up things?"? <br /><br />Mary has ESP. Mary has picking up things.<br /><br />Doesn't make sense. And where's the indication that it's an abbreviation?FedererFannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14547639464843264182011-11-10T20:30:49.680-05:002011-11-10T20:30:49.680-05:00I've been away from my computer for quite a wh...I've been away from my computer for quite a while; I see much has happened.<br /><br />@acme--I think it's the constructor in you that feels that way. I almost never see posts that don't reference the puzzle in some way, and I don't think Mr. Croce was getting short shrift today. I agree with Two Ponies, Z, and (gasp) evil (but only the first three paragraphs at 6:01.)<br /><br />@jae--You're right, of course. And the "nein, nein, nein" should have tripped my satire breaker. Still, I wasn't amused, even if the anonymous posting was meant to be amusing. I guess sexual assault is a thing I just don't joke about. <br /><br />I remember a conversation between Tobias and hazel where some irony was missed. That one was way more amicably settled than with "GOTCHA" it seems to me. But no matter. It's 8:23, probably no one's still coming around to read tonight, and I've got Jeopardy on the DVR. Here I go to watch Joon win--I hope. Fingers crossed.600https://www.blogger.com/profile/14501483791122854785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76316120506765590292011-11-10T20:27:41.420-05:002011-11-10T20:27:41.420-05:00Clever puzzle, after figuring it out at Lon Chaney...Clever puzzle, after figuring it out at Lon Chaney it turned into a Medium for me.<br /><br />The weak links was the main write-over section for me, started with knees, necks, then spots. The Omni hotels are just a bit above a motel, in my experience. My favorite clues/answers: Lahr, lawyer, oysterbed, boxcar and 51A. <br /><br />@chefbea: You can get online on a cruise ship, but it's sometimes expensive. <br /><br />Love the tangents.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4459757534235733912011-11-10T20:20:47.356-05:002011-11-10T20:20:47.356-05:00...and c'mon. Just because you don't use t......and c'mon. Just because you don't use the word "L-Bar" doesn't mean it's "junk fill." I work in the manufacturing industry and we stock steel L-bars for use in many applications. Is OMNI "junk fill" because people who rent luxury hotel rooms are elitist pigs? Maybe, then.cody.riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05883012611419987246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45938318443180423122011-11-10T20:18:07.413-05:002011-11-10T20:18:07.413-05:00The "answer is a clue" has been done man...The "answer is a clue" has been done many times, and I have always enjoyed them. It's a totally cromulent theme. This was an enjoyable variation on it (except for that ESE section...AHME, OMNI, "PASTURELAND" etc.) I've said it before and I'll say it again: just because it slows down the 'speed solvers' doesn't mean it's a bad theme. Especially on a Thursday.<br /><br />Just don't pretend that "the answers should have been clues" and vise-versa is a valid criticism.cody.riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05883012611419987246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57242426748217032082011-11-10T20:07:57.260-05:002011-11-10T20:07:57.260-05:00So KINDA is one word? 'Spose.
The lams sor...So KINDA is one word? 'Spose. <br /><br />The lams sorta irked me too, but I'll accept that to lam is a verb for a person eluding the law and possible consequent prison sentence. <br /><br />Messiest Thursday grid in a long time, and that's usually a compliment to the constructor. <br /><br />On the topic of extra-puzzle commentary, find that this blog manages to steer clear of overt politics, while touching convincingly on ethical issues. We're all trying to find what is right without perpetrating some wrong at the same time. Hence a generally measured and polite discussion of tangents and digressions.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70918988875904721072011-11-10T19:59:25.067-05:002011-11-10T19:59:25.067-05:00Jeopardy over... please keep me posted
Chefbea1@ya...Jeopardy over... please keep me posted<br />Chefbea1@yahoo.comchefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9508068740140022742011-11-10T18:57:24.535-05:002011-11-10T18:57:24.535-05:00It's late in the day (see Stan's explanati...It's late in the day (see Stan's explanation above!) but I wanted to chime in because I really did like this puzzle. Tim Croce's puzzles always provide a workout, and this was a good one, full of misdirection with slightly twisted phrasing. A good Thursday in my book. <br /><br />I solve on a netbook with fairly tiny type, and I use Across Lite, which doesn't help a bit. The confusion between the uppercase I and the lowercase L is a daily occurrence, so this seemed really *normal*. Then there's the confluence of Rs and Ns that look like an M, cinnamon rolls or vodka not required.Arundelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15171078182761035785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2375940954804399472011-11-10T18:51:33.354-05:002011-11-10T18:51:33.354-05:00"In fact, I usually skip the posts that go of..."In fact, I usually skip the posts that go off in this direction (blur eyes, scroll down)."<br /><br />That's a great solution, Stan. We can all do that---puzzle-heads, tangentialists, everyone!<br /><br />"Today I had time to kill; car in the shop, we drove a loaner to L.L. Bean's, where I slumped into an oversize chair in the Home section."<br /><br />I blurred my eyes and scrolled down just then....<br /><br />Evilevil doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17593231055589228837noreply@blogger.com