tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post768943564606756247..comments2024-03-29T01:22:33.864-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Donizetti heroine / FRI 9-27-13 / Landmark anime film of 1988 / Before my birth collagist 1914 / Robert W Service output / Montoya swordsman in Princess Bride / Romanova alter ego of Marvel's Black WidowRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37814198427702040522017-10-17T06:03:19.908-04:002017-10-17T06:03:19.908-04:00Download anime batch subtitle indonesia di sini Ww...Download anime batch subtitle indonesia di sini Www,Anisora,NetAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-92765970197297842013-11-02T20:05:53.435-04:002013-11-02T20:05:53.435-04:00@Anony 2;26PM (aka akpeds?) - here in Maine we des...@Anony 2;26PM (aka akpeds?) - here in Maine we describe the annual weather cycle as "nine months of winter and 3 months of rough sledding" but it sounds like you have us beat. Syndiland has regular contributors from many locales - I hope you'll join us to keep us posted on the "puzzling scene" in Alaska.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5825343388420858442013-11-02T14:26:40.642-04:002013-11-02T14:26:40.642-04:00akpeds
From Alaska, where Robert Service High Sch...akpeds<br /><br />From Alaska, where Robert Service High School is a couple miles from my house. The poem about Sam McGee is legendary here, where there are times you just do not feel you'll ever get warm enough. Though I will say we just had the warmest October ever, 8˚ above normal average daily temps. Usually the kids trick-or-treat in the snow. (Also have Easter Egg hunts in the snow.)<br />Skidoos, snow clearing: a great Arctic puzzle. But, DNF for me as I had Diego Montoya (I googled, this wrong answer came up in the suggested choices, I didn't actually investigate by clicking on it).<br />Happy belated anniversary to the happy couple, may you have many more. Please thank your wife for sharing you with us! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90115657565570086482013-11-01T17:20:24.081-04:002013-11-01T17:20:24.081-04:00I meant to add for @Waxy, I think we have ample ev...I meant to add for @Waxy, I think we have ample evidence from today's and previous comments that you are most certainly not a "Leg (I'm using that term so as not to offend anyone)-Man".Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-809944164335883202013-11-01T17:13:27.427-04:002013-11-01T17:13:27.427-04:00Two days in a row that Rex has gushed over a grid ...Two days in a row that Rex has gushed over a grid - I suspect his anniversary bliss has affected his attitude toward puzzles. <br /><br />I finished in the SW corner where I did not know any of the proper name going across but I was saved by the downs. Yay crosswords!<br /><br />I had one write-over with NATALIe/A, easily CHANGE(d) by the cross (get it?), so a big POTB to SiS for his WO-free grid and nailing DOMESTICPARTNER (maybe I should re-word that?).<br /><br />One more time - Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend, so "fall back" Saturday night.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83202028786044810242013-11-01T16:45:56.540-04:002013-11-01T16:45:56.540-04:00Pretty easy puzzle for Friday. Happy Anniversary ...Pretty easy puzzle for Friday. Happy Anniversary Rex!Eastsacgirlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22614029368372603472013-11-01T15:19:14.253-04:002013-11-01T15:19:14.253-04:00Enjoyed this one, and the reminder of the night th...Enjoyed this one, and the reminder of the night that Sam MCGEE was left to "sizzle". Had a little trouble coming up with 1A, wanted something along the lines of "got started", but once the reveal showed up, everything fell into place. When Friday comes this easily, I fear Saturday! DMGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69083894840248248982013-11-01T14:37:55.256-04:002013-11-01T14:37:55.256-04:00The AMY/IMARET/TYRESE intersection and OLAVE befor...The AMY/IMARET/TYRESE intersection and OLAVE before AGNES caused this otherwise relatively easy Friday to be a DNF. But very enjoyable. <br /><br />And to make a clean-breast of it, let me confess that I fully support @SiS's suggestion re 1D/52A.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39691061600114297182013-11-01T14:10:56.692-04:002013-11-01T14:10:56.692-04:00Since we Syndies are in the future, Michael and Pe...Since we Syndies are in the future, Michael and Penelope, may I be the first to wish you two a happy 11th anniversary!<br /><br />Whenever I hear the name Penelope it EVOKES the image of her taking the stitches out of her knitting every night as she faithfully waits for the return of her husband, Odysseus.<br /><br />As for this very enjoyable puz, I had zero writeovers. Maybe a Friday first for me. The kick start was getting DOMESTICPARTNER on two vowel crosses. (Back pat, please Diri.)<br /><br />My only grimace was the clueing for MATDOWN/GOTTENIN. Awkward, both.<br /><br />Loved the clue for PAGODA. Wished 1D had crossed with 52A.<br /><br />Have a good weekend, Syndylanders.<br /><br />Capcha: heeklym. An institution to confine hayseeds?Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3701983503346577982013-11-01T13:52:56.295-04:002013-11-01T13:52:56.295-04:00A hearty congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Sharp/Par...A hearty congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Sharp/Parker/OFL, five weeks later. <br /><br />Once I got the first three across clues, which didn't take long, this puzzle went down quickly.<br /><br />Used to love Robert Service:<br /><br />There are strange things done 'neath the midnight sun by the men who moil for gold.<br />...etc<br /><br />ARS, ARP, and ALA played an important role in solving as well, interestingly. rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72003848609798806292013-11-01T10:33:50.437-04:002013-11-01T10:33:50.437-04:00I'm confused. I posted a blog and got an error...I'm confused. I posted a blog and got an error message that I had "double-clicked" something (I didn't) and I should hit the back button on my browser and try again. Okay, I'm trying again. Why am I so tech-stupid?<br /><br />Anyway. My first gimme was MCGEE, thankfully NOT clued as NCIS "proby" Tim. We had Service in grade school, so they must have thought him important. That helped do the SW, though trying dieGO didn't. After the image of TAGTEAM crossing ARMPIT, I needed plenty of AEROSOLS to sweeten the air.<br /><br />The theme just aha!ed itself to me about halfway through, and that was enough to take care of business, despite my climbing on the wrong brand in the NE. Once I parked my Snocat and started up the trusty SKIDOO, all was well.<br /><br />How fitting that the name ONEAL should appear in today's puzzle, calling to mind "Love Story." If ever I read a real-life one, it was here today. Many, many happy returns. spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28567048742576503732013-09-28T09:48:00.285-04:002013-09-28T09:48:00.285-04:00Meant to say - shout-back to Tom Pepper, yesterday...Meant to say - shout-back to Tom Pepper, yesterday's constructor.<br /><br />SPOILER ALERT...<br />If anyone wants to do his awesome puzzle from about a year ago, skip over.<br /><br />But his began with BEGIN at 1A, and ended with FINISH. Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74260105805412712222013-09-28T09:45:09.403-04:002013-09-28T09:45:09.403-04:00@mac - not that I've ever heard...but it is so...@mac - not that I've ever heard...but it is sometimes cazlled a Radarange, because Amana made that...<br /><br />My puzzle-sister and her puzzle spouse were married 35yrs yesterday!<br />And 24 yrs last week for me & Phil.<br /><br />September is a great month for anniversaries!<br /><br />Lovely tribute, @Rex...<br /><br /><br />I finished Friday - yay!<br />Thanks Mr. Collins - enjoyed it.<br />Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86222895601271780412013-09-27T23:21:10.468-04:002013-09-27T23:21:10.468-04:00Had a fun time and saw many puzzle people on Westc...Had a fun time and saw many puzzle people on Westchester! <br /><br />Bob Mackey won, Jeffrey Schwartz came in second, and third was Glenn Ryan.<br /><br />"Our" Evan came all the way from Philadelphia, and he contributed the final puzzle, which will be in the NYT next Thursday. It's a good one!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53665741603878170462013-09-27T23:15:26.067-04:002013-09-27T23:15:26.067-04:00Happy anniversary...here's to many more. Great...Happy anniversary...here's to many more. Great photo!skua76https://www.blogger.com/profile/15450051465313263422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7628781992696825952013-09-27T22:38:05.982-04:002013-09-27T22:38:05.982-04:00Happy, happy anniversary. Loved the tribute to wh...Happy, happy anniversary. Loved the tribute to what is important. Loved the picture of the two of you. Thanks for sharing it.Mettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80007317721677394672013-09-27T22:02:36.630-04:002013-09-27T22:02:36.630-04:00This 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 no data<br />Tue 8:22, 8:12, 1.02, 59%, Medium<br />Wed 9:01, 9:44, 0.93, 33%, Easy-Medium<br />Thu 10:43, 16:30, 0.65, 4%, Easy (7th lowest ratio of 196 Thursdays)<br />Fri 18:52, 17:34, 1.07, 73%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon no data<br />Tue 5:29, 5:09, 1.06, 66%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 5:20, 5:34, 0.96, 39%, Easy-Medium<br />Thu 6:49, 9:27, 0.72, 6%, Easy<br />Fri 10:12, 10:00, 1.02, 55%, Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2323375413710520082013-09-27T21:02:30.827-04:002013-09-27T21:02:30.827-04:00Happy Anniversary!Happy Anniversary!Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258490572969237544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53502157728398126662013-09-27T19:19:23.524-04:002013-09-27T19:19:23.524-04:00Happy anniversary to the Sharps!
This played on t...Happy anniversary to the Sharps!<br /><br />This played on the easy side for me, too, meaning this was a Friday where I didn't have to resort to Google, even with having never heard of some things (like anything related to either Robert W Service clue, the latter of which features NOVEL and BOOKS before I settled on POEMS). <br /><br />Enjoyed this overall, but it felt like some of the fill didn't quite synch up with common usage. I'm much more accustomed to hearing MINDING THE STORE in its simple present tens, and MAT DOWN (which, contrary to Anon 1:19's fulminating, is indeed a legit phrase in the language, with the caveat that @Bob Kerfuffle noted) seems to be more frequently used in its past-tense form. <br /><br />Also, the clue for OVERTAKES felt a bit off. If you OVERTAKE someone, you don't simply catch up; you catch up and then some. <br /><br />Still, I'm happy anytime I work my way through a Friday unaided and with such minor nits. Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6675871968873274552013-09-27T17:29:44.937-04:002013-09-27T17:29:44.937-04:00I agree with sanfranman's medium-challenging. ...I agree with sanfranman's medium-challenging. Not easy.<br /><br />Easy is reading the love in that great picture. Lucky are we who have gotten on easy. Happy Anniverary!Questiniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06225633428852696530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60664781664522332762013-09-27T17:17:21.071-04:002013-09-27T17:17:21.071-04:00Thanks, Diane Chambers, for giving me LUCIA in an ...Thanks, Diane Chambers, for giving me LUCIA in an instant. Classic Cheers scene had her explaining that Lucia di Lammermoor was an opera by Donizetti. This in a box, to Sam, Norm, Woody, and Cliff. By the performance's end, all five - Diane included - were sound asleep. Great visual.<br /><br />Liked this puzzle but liked Rex's tribute to his wife even more.Chip Hiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944056030047563287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17970095315707767332013-09-27T17:13:21.358-04:002013-09-27T17:13:21.358-04:00Midday 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 and my 10/15/2012 post for an explanation of a tweak to my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Fri 19:05, 17:34, 1.09, 75%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Fri 11:19, 10:00, 1.13, 73%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32692803811624082552013-09-27T16:49:55.949-04:002013-09-27T16:49:55.949-04:00Nice photo of P. Rex you kinda have bobble head t...Nice photo of P. Rex you kinda have bobble head thing going. Next time have them shot you straight on not up from "below" God I sound like Rex reviewing puzzles... Happy Anniversary: Eat Cake.<br /><br />Liked the puzzle<br /><br />🌟🌟🌟 (3 Stars) OPERA, SWAN some real cultah heahdkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36116758167076015382013-09-27T16:24:48.614-04:002013-09-27T16:24:48.614-04:00m&a 2:40 -- great post! Had me chucklin'm&a 2:40 -- great post! Had me chucklin'Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50351592379693810472013-09-27T16:23:34.722-04:002013-09-27T16:23:34.722-04:00Happy Anniversary, Rex! Here's to many more ye...Happy Anniversary, Rex! Here's to many more years of happiness.<br />Also found the puzzle easy- I finished it in one sitting. It didn't hurt that once 1A was solved, 61 was a gimme.<br />As for ARS, I figured it out right away but was really groaning when I wrote it in. I still can't figure out why they won't make that string of letters more legit by using the (recognized) abbreviation for Atlanta Rhythm Section. They had a couple of really big songs but it was long ago enough to make them Friday-hard. Just sayin'.Doc Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.com