tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post7622016964594022034..comments2024-03-29T04:46:57.646-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Letters near an X-ray machine / SUN 7-7-2019 / Veto on movie night / Dating-app distance metric / No longer needed for questioning / Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36329840646654755412019-07-29T07:26:55.437-04:002019-07-29T07:26:55.437-04:00Switch to Android and solve yer own offense.Switch to Android and solve yer own offense.Dudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05848178612313927374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74531668595855390622019-07-21T21:51:53.578-04:002019-07-21T21:51:53.578-04:00Still plodding away.
And I know the dif bet know ...Still plodding away.<br /><br />And I know the dif bet know and no. No means know. ya no?<br /><br />Those circles and triangles are a pain - my eyesight is so wonky that they get in the way.<br /><br />Lady Diana, LIWDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13306490381018509932019-07-21T20:31:38.390-04:002019-07-21T20:31:38.390-04:00I for one think it is nothing short of amazing tha...I for one think it is nothing short of amazing that anyone could pull this off. To have all the P's, R's, K's, etc. fall into those precise SPOTs on the BOARD to arrive at a mating position is enough of a wonder, never mind the move, the result--and even BLACK & WHITE thrown in!<br /><br />In addition, I enjoyed finding toothy words like SEPPUKU and NOSFERATU (and again stop with the SILLY offense-taking, please!) A fun solve all the way.<br /><br />Did I say the other day that I had made Mother TERESA DOD? Not sure I did, but will gladly do that now. This puzzle was comparable to Shane Lowry's performance in the Open: blew the competition away. Eagle!spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84296015210333602972019-07-21T17:42:32.831-04:002019-07-21T17:42:32.831-04:00I no very little about chess, tho I have figured o...I no very little about chess, tho I have figured out that this is really about that game. Wonder if I'll care enough to finish?<br /><br />Diana, looking for a damn CROSSWORD!!!!Diana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73786784258429204332019-07-21T15:58:42.325-04:002019-07-21T15:58:42.325-04:00NO, DR.NO!
ICONCUR 'TIS not BLACK or WHITE
to...NO, DR.NO!<br /><br />ICONCUR 'TIS not BLACK or WHITE<br />to give MEDICINE for SOREKNEES,<br />so you're FREETOGO CHOPUP what might<br />ATONCE MAKE them all AMPUTEES.<br /><br />--- MONTE SPRATBurma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56889005183479050322019-07-21T15:16:30.409-04:002019-07-21T15:16:30.409-04:00So, I was solving a crossword puzzle when a CHESS ...So, I was solving a crossword puzzle when a CHESS game broke out. Fine by me because I love both endeavours. What I didn't enjoy was trying to find the frickin' puzzle. Something needs to be done for we syndicated puzzlers, especially on Sunday.<br /><br />Once I found it, I did enjoy it, a lot. The killing CHESS move CHECKed out, and the puzzle itself was well-executed, especially given the constraints of the theme. I also thought the theme allowed the rest of the puzzle to *breathe*, as someone likes to say.<br />Regarding AMPUTEE, as a Canadian, I didn't know the two individuals, but learning that they are AMPUTEEs wasn't something that bothered me, and I don't see a PC indiscretion in having it in the puzzle. Actually, most of the time when someone points out that a word might not be PC just annoys me. Similarly, SEPPUKU doesn't fail any "test", breakfast or otherwise. I think all words available to us are fair game.rainforestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83835399036689508332019-07-21T14:15:46.915-04:002019-07-21T14:15:46.915-04:00terrific puzzle. snowflake blogger. terrific puzzle. snowflake blogger. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28030417427451465592019-07-21T13:11:45.645-04:002019-07-21T13:11:45.645-04:00You missed a THEME ANSWER -- 102 Down: RETIRES whi...You missed a THEME ANSWER -- 102 Down: RETIRES which is chess-speak for quits (when Mate is obvious).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06076111901731286993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20058428463015000822019-07-20T14:55:32.502-04:002019-07-20T14:55:32.502-04:00Despite too much crossword glue [could have been i...Despite too much crossword glue [could have been improved by collaboration or editors];<br />Despite DNF due to NO__FER__TA;<br />Awesome debut puzzle!<br />Great creativity to superimpose a chess problem over xword. Knowing a bit of chess from years ago helped me fill in some letters in the center. If you've read any articles in past 20 years about chess champs, you'd have seen the "new" notation b8. If not, you feel like I do about "one-named singers" -- there seem to be a lot of them!<br />Chess puzzles do not assume a "well-played game". But I feel that I used to often be in Black's position at end of game: down 1 bishop, 1 pawn, and in a hopeless position.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49523275890692383092019-07-10T12:27:28.620-04:002019-07-10T12:27:28.620-04:00Haha. I will use that line often.Haha. I will use that line often.Dicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12758736868607036462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20408657619673032852019-07-09T17:19:42.656-04:002019-07-09T17:19:42.656-04:00I solve on an iPad2 and have no issue with what yo...I solve on an iPad2 and have no issue with what you are experiencing morrighanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00191613752567887865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35201893980698011822019-07-08T10:46:16.643-04:002019-07-08T10:46:16.643-04:00One more to weigh in on mate in one.
For those who...One more to weigh in on mate in one.<br />For those who solve chess problems, the phrase "mate in one" has already been achieved and is the current state of the board.<br />If you are just thinking in general language, as clued, you can "achieve a checkmate" by making one move.<br /><br />Anyone else play enough chess to wonder what the heck would have had to happen to arrive at this board position? Seems highly unlikely to have occurred in an actual well played game.burtonkdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02775521394938142484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22036716865759924632019-07-08T09:22:01.181-04:002019-07-08T09:22:01.181-04:00Can someone please explain the clue for 31A, "...Can someone please explain the clue for 31A, "Side represented by r" (BLACK)? What is "r"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55806377171094169922019-07-08T03:16:44.310-04:002019-07-08T03:16:44.310-04:00Ugh! Hard to read, too dependent on a gimmick, and...Ugh! Hard to read, too dependent on a gimmick, and full of dreck like AKU.<br /><br />Home in the classic song is not The Range, home is ON the range. To me, this was inaccurate in a way that a crossword clue should not be.<br /><br />Looking forward to better later in the week.Rothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08558510499599628377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17020277440830166022019-07-07T23:01:46.246-04:002019-07-07T23:01:46.246-04:00I do not believe the chess problem in the puzzle i...I do not believe the chess problem in the puzzle is incorrect. WHITE to move and mate in n moves means precisely what it says. WHITE will force a checkmate in at most n moves no matter what BLACK does. And of course if BLACK makes his best moves it will take n moves. Mate in one means there is an immediate mate and BLACK will not have a chance to move. Generally WHITE moves first in all constructed problems of this type. If the problem is from an actual game, then the actual colors from the game may be used.<br /><br />albatross shellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04076278220407657633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71988254748856222792019-07-07T22:59:17.404-04:002019-07-07T22:59:17.404-04:00I know very little about chess. Loved this puzzle...I know very little about chess. Loved this puzzle. Finished with no errors and it was a challenge. But hats off to the construction! People are overly critical on this blog. Maybe it stems from the man on the top. But cmon, this was brilliant!EdFromHackensacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67400897715260071412019-07-07T22:57:59.070-04:002019-07-07T22:57:59.070-04:00@Z -- Well, I'm looking at some online Q &...@Z -- Well, I'm looking at some online Q & A's about what it means. This is from a site called Quora: <br /><br />•••<br />"Mate in one” means two closely related things. If you are referring to a chess position, it means <i>the player to move can deliver checkmate on this turn. This is the most common meaning.</i> (emphasis mine) <br /><br />If you are playing a game, your opponent might say “mate in one” after making a move. That means no matter what move you make, they will be able to checkmate you on their following move.<br />•••<br /><br />If the above explanation is correct then the puzzle is correct because the checkmate is being delivered on *this* turn, i.e. the move described at 25a. <br /><br />But it would seem that your opponent can *announce* a mate-in-one when the checkmate is still one move away. So again, if that is correct, I can see why there could be confusion.Joe Dipintohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07922691457886440325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33302752467742394072019-07-07T21:54:04.460-04:002019-07-07T21:54:04.460-04:00AgreeAgreeAndyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12935782850126995769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1467795986338184122019-07-07T21:29:06.203-04:002019-07-07T21:29:06.203-04:00@Z
FYI, It was @pmdm at 5:48 yesterday.@Z<br /><br />FYI, It was @pmdm at 5:48 yesterday.JC66https://www.blogger.com/profile/05324615675333287919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1063081202963672462019-07-07T20:58:16.624-04:002019-07-07T20:58:16.624-04:00@Aketi and @Joe Dipinto - In chess problems there ...@Aketi and @Joe Dipinto - In chess problems there is an initial set-up and the goal is to find the single move that results in the other side inevitably ending in CHECKMATE IN x number of moves. So, CHECKMATE IN ONE would normally mean “find the move that, <i>after you make it, </i>will enable you to get CHECKMATE in the next move no matter how the other side moves.” I’m sort of surprised that only one person mentioned this. I had the same response about the answer being slightly off, but forgot to mention it. <br /><br />I can’t find who said it now, but whoever said people would either love or hate this puzzle was correct. There doesn’t seem to be any middle ground. Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51905886376652270872019-07-07T19:46:06.471-04:002019-07-07T19:46:06.471-04:00There is a house wren desperately trying to sate a...There is a house wren desperately trying to sate a cowbird fledgling on my deck rail right now. Poor schmuck!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15428389030051150849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1819867729653212072019-07-07T18:14:33.797-04:002019-07-07T18:14:33.797-04:00I know some solvers love a difficult puzzle, but c...I know some solvers love a difficult puzzle, but come on! This was just plan off-putting and show-offy. First look at the grid, said to myself: "Skip this one!" But tried it and didn't last long. Usually enjoy Sundays and do pretty well once I get the gimmick.Honeysmomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52736696892867430292019-07-07T18:09:36.437-04:002019-07-07T18:09:36.437-04:00Knew SEPPUKU from having read a riveting account o...Knew SEPPUKU from having read a riveting account of the practice many moons ago in some short story anthology. Couldn't remember the story's title or author, so went to Uncle Google for some help. It's "Patriotism" by Yukio Mishima, published in 1960. <br /><br />And the reason it was in the anthology, I gather, is that it is considered a bit of a classic by critics. Goodreads.com calls it "One of the most powerful short stories ever written". So if you need to flesh out (heh-heh) your knowledge base about ritualistic self-disembowelment, I recommend it. The fact that I still remember it so vividly all these years later tells you something. <br /><br />Google also tells me that 10 years after its publication, the author carried out the deed himself.Anoa Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16185183023273883700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42661080946819011902019-07-07T17:21:56.339-04:002019-07-07T17:21:56.339-04:00Commenting late; got up early to go ride my mounta...Commenting late; got up early to go ride my mountain bike up lots of hills. That went way better than the puzzle.<br /><br />The whole chess thingie was off-putting. I enjoyed the solve process - I always do - but today was more of a slog than most. I can appreciate the difficulty and artfulness of assembling such a grid, but it ain't for me.<br /><br />I parsed it as "CHECK MATE I NONE" so there's that. Got it done, so there's that too.<br /><br />Some good entries, but not enough. Maybe Monday will be better.<br /><br />CHOP UP AUNTIE EM<br />Mark, in Mickey's North 40Runs with Scissorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16280938333784679275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60722450113852319732019-07-07T17:01:52.998-04:002019-07-07T17:01:52.998-04:00@Teedmn (1:31) -- You're right about reeds hav...@Teedmn (1:31) -- You're right about reeds having PITH in the stem. Best I can do to confirm this (besides say so) is use rushes as a proxy. My useful "Ultimate Visual Picture Dictionary 2000" shows a rush stem, the center of which is "Pith with stellate parenchyma (star shaped packing tissue)." <br /><br />Oddly, the otherwise interesting "Swamp and Bog" wasn't useful, even though it goes into great detail on reeds, rushes and everything else you see in the wetlands. But I did learn that the average cattail spike has 220,000 seeds, and that Thoreau liked to demonstrate it this way: "Pull out a small tuft and watch it immediately expand to fill your hand with a downy mass." I plan to try it next time I see a cattail.Birchbarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09292725119040462686noreply@blogger.com