tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post762527205896258670..comments2024-03-29T07:54:11.873-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: FRIDAY, Aug. 21 2009 — Zither with buttons / Rap devotee in slang / 1984 superstate dominated by Neo-Bolshevism / Cuban-born jazz great SandovalRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90331164996192145622009-09-25T16:00:45.565-04:002009-09-25T16:00:45.565-04:00I get the puzzle in syndication, so I'll alway...I get the puzzle in syndication, so I'll always be late to the party.<br /><br />re:15A haul up/ maul up confusion - the expression is "haul up on charges".Naominoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24916596385440394802009-09-25T15:04:48.847-04:002009-09-25T15:04:48.847-04:00Count me in for the MASH/HASH MAULUP/HAULUP mashup...Count me in for the MASH/HASH MAULUP/HAULUP mashup. I put CABLEGUY right off the bat for 16A. But quickly realized it was wrong when I glanced at my boyfriend's puzzle :) Stalled on WILCO (know that from the band only, would like to see them in a puzzle - clued as such), really wanted ALLGO but gave up on that when I committed to EDUCATE. Giggled like a school child when I wrote POOP.Whitneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30349654700224865462009-09-25T13:03:54.535-04:002009-09-25T13:03:54.535-04:00@phantom fingers: So an obscure (to an old guy lik...@phantom fingers: So an obscure (to an old guy like my) pop band is a better clue for WILCO than a military code word? I guess it would have made the puzzle harder for me and easier for the young crowd.Singernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86718776362096501292009-08-22T04:00:10.702-04:002009-08-22T04:00:10.702-04:00I just wanted to see who else thought Jeff Tweedy&...I just wanted to see who else thought Jeff Tweedy's band could've been referenced for 44D. Faster than normal friday for me. Also had maulup for 15A though.phantom fingershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04687301515483340444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84883896040898037792009-08-22T03:23:30.402-04:002009-08-22T03:23:30.402-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=35115061&postID=3588389571383499624&isPopup=true" rel="nofollow">7/30/2009 post</a> 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 7:32, 7:02, 1.07, 74%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 7:57, 8:32, 0.93, 34%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 11:48, 12:36, 0.94, 35%, Easy-Medium<br />Thu 20:43, 18:47, 1.10, 77%, Medium-Challenging<br />Fri 19:15, 25:26, 0.76, 6%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:47, 3:43, 1.02, 58%, Medium<br />Tue 4:12, 4:24, 0.95, 43%, Medium<br />Wed 5:39, 6:08, 0.92, 29%, Easy-Medium<br />Thu 11:12, 9:06, 1.23, 91%, Challenging<br />Fri 8:57, 11:54, 0.75, 8%, Easysanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48822568547311537782009-08-21T22:47:53.775-04:002009-08-21T22:47:53.775-04:00@Edith,: I am happy to write that nurturing my pac...@Edith,: I am happy to write that nurturing my pacifistic impulses (what few there are of them) paid off today.<br /> I read your initial comment about the Chad Mitchell Trio and decided that you knew of them long before I did, for they did appear with Pat Boone in their earliest days. I also inferred from your comment that I hadn't been very clear about just which side they (CMT) were on. (The lyrics to Barry's Boys settles all this.)<br />As I wrote to @Bill from NJ, we resurrected parts of "Barry's Boys" in demonstrations against Nixon. <br />(At some point, I mentioned that on this blog last year when I thought "Tippecanoe and Nixon, too" was part of the fill. I believe, however, TYLER was the answer then.)<br /> <br />Chad later went off on his own and John Denver joined them for a while when they sang under the name, The Mitchell Trio...not too long after that, Chad Mitchell was busted for cocaine and John Denver became a household name.<br />We, of course, were following The Dead by then.<br /> ;)fikinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06324570637549775751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38206234084348575912009-08-21T22:11:47.994-04:002009-08-21T22:11:47.994-04:00Well, I hate to add to the general gloom about the...Well, I hate to add to the general gloom about the educational level of the Younger Generations, but I just read this novel, _Tomato Rhapsody_ (planning to torment Michael5000 with a review) and in this novel--written by one Adam Schell w/ a Master's in Creative Writing from Antioch (so he claims)-- is the scene in which one character "saddled up" to another. Maybe he will try to blame his editor for not knowing the difference between "sidled" and "saddled," but c'mon. Did he not proof the galleys? <br />And besides, he had also written of eggplants growing on vines.<br /><br />God only knows what he would say in answer to a question about Ralph Nader. <br /><br />(Exit, shaking head sadly.)Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13195458656221202202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3370276613641752582009-08-21T22:00:19.053-04:002009-08-21T22:00:19.053-04:00@Rex-
When I was younger, I used to hear things l...@Rex-<br /><br />When I was younger, I used to hear things like "30% of the population can't tell you who the President is."<br /><br />When I see things like "Jaywalking" on the Tonite show or "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?", I can believe almost anything.Bill from NJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10103923612595508277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22551238044293936672009-08-21T22:00:06.686-04:002009-08-21T22:00:06.686-04:00Not hard -- but I had to come here to figure out w...Not hard -- but I had to come here to figure out what "acrostic" was about.michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5411092618475083972009-08-21T21:40:13.845-04:002009-08-21T21:40:13.845-04:00Read Rex's comment about the bus and I was lik...Read Rex's comment about the bus and I was like, "What's he talking about?" But, whatever...Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62127159106327750512009-08-21T21:33:29.193-04:002009-08-21T21:33:29.193-04:00@campesite
Now I understand WILCO...I had heard of...@campesite<br />Now I understand WILCO...I had heard of Roger Wilco...but didn't know what it stood for. I get the band confused with Will Call.<br /><br />@DocJohn<br />yes, sad. hug.<br /><br />@Rex, PuzzleGirl, Orange<br />do send pix and updates.andrea poop michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49412657362090559592009-08-21T21:25:10.376-04:002009-08-21T21:25:10.376-04:00@treedweller ... did I ever tell you about the tre...@treedweller ... did I ever tell you about the tree's birthday party? Well, nobody came so they had to cut it short. <br /><br />A little tree humor to make you understand that you'll be just fine. Break a twig!johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75788954032956767362009-08-21T21:23:38.685-04:002009-08-21T21:23:38.685-04:00@Rex
I want to say, Yes, she should know. But I w...@Rex<br />I want to say, Yes, she should know. But I wonder where we draw the line between "should" and "everyone our age would". I think I may have reached a midlife crisis. I have a few years on you, so you should not feel obligated to follow suit.<br /><br />No, wait, any college graduate should damn well know both.treedwellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12634227778469664442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44155478992749564322009-08-21T21:18:48.200-04:002009-08-21T21:18:48.200-04:00I commented earlier and was very snide about the C...I commented earlier and was very snide about the Chad Mitchell Trio, lumping them in with anti-British Invasion crowd and said they were part of the reaaction against the "Counter Culture."<br /><br />It turns out my memory failed me on this one as the Chad Mitchell Trio were none of those things and I should have checked my facts before making such statements. Sorry.edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53211347067565984292009-08-21T21:00:31.600-04:002009-08-21T21:00:31.600-04:00@ Doc John - my condolences also.
@ treedweller -...@ Doc John - my condolences also.<br /><br />@ treedweller - you will do well.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28237199991672276042009-08-21T20:30:52.505-04:002009-08-21T20:30:52.505-04:00@Doc John
Condolences.
@everyone else
Thanks fo...@Doc John <br />Condolences.<br /><br />@everyone else<br />Thanks for your support. I'll do my best.treedwellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12634227778469664442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6889137275220923612009-08-21T19:21:46.627-04:002009-08-21T19:21:46.627-04:00I loved the puzzle. But as I said on Orange's ...I loved the puzzle. But as I said on Orange's blog last night, it had a sad vibe, at least to me (e.g. WEEP, ALL ALONE and others...). May be an echo to Doc John's loss. <br /><br />@Doc John, I too am sorry about your loss. I was thinking that you have shared with us two big events in your life, your marriage and your father's death, and we have rejoiced and been sad along with you. Thank you for sharing. It makes this community so much more real than arguing about antecedent parallelograms... <br /><br />@Rex, I'm envious that you're in NYC, even though I'm not the competition type. But you're hanging out with such wonderful people! Good luck!foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7517149671350787702009-08-21T18:35:02.118-04:002009-08-21T18:35:02.118-04:00Thanks again to everyone for your kind comments. ...Thanks again to everyone for your kind comments. :)Doc Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39216614427795184982009-08-21T18:19:40.867-04:002009-08-21T18:19:40.867-04:00did the same thing on skipagrade and put in shifts...did the same thing on skipagrade and put in shiftsgears. when that didn't fit also thought of stealsbases.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37060977944026260502009-08-21T17:42:01.056-04:002009-08-21T17:42:01.056-04:00Hi everyone!! I'm back from the tar heel state...Hi everyone!! I'm back from the tar heel state. Closed on our house and as soon as we sell condo here we will move.<br /> <br />Sorry I missed out on all the food comments. I did do Monday's puzzle which had a beet in it but missed all the other food<br /><br />Also missed Secret Garden - one of my favorite books as a child.<br /><br />Good luck to everyone going to the tournament in Queens and @Doc John - sorry for your loss.chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4314502823389247922009-08-21T17:38:17.223-04:002009-08-21T17:38:17.223-04:00The Dutch national anthem is acrostic. Nobody know...The Dutch national anthem is acrostic. Nobody knows more than the first 3 couplets(is that a word in English?).<br /><br />@Treedweller: I bet Amy/Orange will help you out if necessary!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69300815722343663732009-08-21T17:37:03.218-04:002009-08-21T17:37:03.218-04:00Arrived in Manhattan. Staying in some swank CPW ap...Arrived in Manhattan. Staying in some swank CPW apt that PuzzleGirl managed to score thru family connections. About to dine with several xword folks. <br /><br />No idea how an apparently "easy" Friday took me 12 min. Oh, no, wait. I do know. I already wrote about it.<br /><br />Should a college graduate not know what a "statistician" is, or who Ralph Nader is? Bec. on the bus I sat in front of a college graduate (very recent) who knew neither. She also said "like" so much I started counting and my fingers couldn't keep up. Actually, I used one hand for "like" and the other for "whatever." The "like" hand eventually just gave out. It's useless now. But it gave its life in a good cause.<br /><br />rpRexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43550001940741410352009-08-21T17:23:37.823-04:002009-08-21T17:23:37.823-04:00Thought this puzzle was, by far, a lot easier than...Thought this puzzle was, by far, a lot easier than Thursdays. I will admit (head hanging in shame) to a couple of Googles, never heard of IVAN REITMAN as I don't really pay attention to directors. Also, was pretty proud of myself when I filled in alto harp, oh well. Shrugged my shoulders at ACROSTIC, but thought OK, whatever.<br /><br />Doc John, my deepest sympathy for the loss of your Father.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21410034816685731202009-08-21T17:20:34.052-04:002009-08-21T17:20:34.052-04:00In addition to co-starring in Stripes, Harold Rami...In addition to co-starring in Stripes, Harold Ramis co-wrote both Meatballs and Stripes. And he co-wrote and directed Caddyshack, which came out between those two. So, you Ramisers, it's a perfectly reasonable error. No need to make up excuses... <br /><br />Boomshakalakalaka!SethGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13753036404140901368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57352693576765750402009-08-21T17:09:08.423-04:002009-08-21T17:09:08.423-04:00JACK NIKLAUS? First to third had me thinking base...JACK NIKLAUS? First to third had me thinking baseball and courtship before elementary school. Not much misdirection confusion today.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.com