tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post8387749736620408841..comments2024-03-29T08:45:20.722-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: 1990s runnings of the Bulls / MON 6-27-11 / Homemade music compilation / Allan Robin Hood compadre / Excellent in dated slangRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1770861068696138522011-08-01T18:17:09.156-04:002011-08-01T18:17:09.156-04:00From syndiland, word for word what Rex said (I nev...From syndiland, word for word what Rex said (I never thought I would say that) except WAIT filled itself in from the crosses so I never considered Whoa (but I agree it's a better answer). (@Deb - note parenthetical punctuation.) <br /><br />What? - PHAT is dated?! I just started using it, for crying out loud! I suppose next you'll tell me "groovy" is not current, either.<br /><br />Favorite prime-time captcha: @santafefran: feekd - love your definition, but I feel your pain (although 5 weeks later I hope everything is better).Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47387337638034900332011-08-01T18:04:03.502-04:002011-08-01T18:04:03.502-04:00This one was on the easy side of medium for me, so...This one was on the easy side of medium for me, so I'm a happy camper (as I always am when I find a puzzle easier than Rex rates it). <br /><br />I had no real trouble with the NE - hadn't heard of ADALE, but it solved itself from the crosses. My only write-over was OOH (___-la-la) instead of TRA.Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675331024091722316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86527390483096615112011-08-01T14:00:56.182-04:002011-08-01T14:00:56.182-04:00Three-peat is a contraction of the words three and...Three-peat is a contraction of the words three and repeat, which has been trademarked for commercial use by retired basketball coach Pat RileyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91819849032400549642011-08-01T10:50:25.768-04:002011-08-01T10:50:25.768-04:00On 9 across on today's syndicated puzzle, the ...On 9 across on today's syndicated puzzle, the literal translation is indeed "artes liberales" for "liberal artes"; however, the course of studies is "Letras", so your liberal artes degree would be "licenciatura en letras". You always do a terrific job. Thanks YvonneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37594341986038731732011-06-27T23:13:15.824-04:002011-06-27T23:13:15.824-04:00How about the fact that no one makes mixtapes anym...How about the fact that no one makes mixtapes anymore - and that tapes are pretty much passe? Now all the "kids" just make "mixes" out of digital .mp3 files. Today's theme felt like a reach (into the past).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45947461738695595482011-06-27T22:57:12.890-04:002011-06-27T22:57:12.890-04:00Hi, Mr. Samulak. Congrats on your first NY Times ...Hi, Mr. Samulak. Congrats on your first NY Times crossword. It wasn't perfect. News flash: there hasn't BEEN a perfect one yet. But keep trying. Maybe your next one will be more nearly perfect than the last. It's really something, to impress the Shortzmeister enough, to get one published. And you made the day a little more fun, for tons of folks out there, including me. Really somethin'. So fire up another blank grid, kiddo, and get with it.<br /><br />Thumbs up to that special debut puz feeling.Masked and Anonymous IInoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72122518747853411082011-06-27T22:51:07.551-04:002011-06-27T22:51:07.551-04:00I've been following this blog for about a week...I've been following this blog for about a week and a half, after downloading the NYTCrossword app for my BlackBerry, and having to Google a clue on a particularly difficult puzzle: only reference I found was here.<br /><br />That said, I found this to be the easiest NYT Crossword I've ever solved in my life. Completed it in less than just under 9 minutes. (Sunday's usually take me about an hour, and often involve Google). A few clues here and there were a stretch, but I don't think it was such a horrible puzzle. It was refreshing to a somewhat neophyte (to the Old Grey Lady's puzzles, at least) to find a puzzle I could so easily solve.<br /><br />I agree with comments about the TEA PARTIES, as they are not a single, integrated organization. As for TACOS, they aren't sandwiches, per se, but I'm sure if I asked some of my Latino neighbors here in Dallas, TACOS are to Latin American cuisine what sandwiches are to European/American cuisine.Benjamin Michael Bledsoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050959042031107270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83376842263775963372011-06-27T22:03:34.701-04:002011-06-27T22:03:34.701-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 7/30/2009 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 7:18, 6:52, 1.06, 76%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:48, 3:40, 1.04, 67%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71269514459997197852011-06-27T21:47:25.986-04:002011-06-27T21:47:25.986-04:00THREEPEAT and PINETAR were gimmes for me. Had a sl...THREEPEAT and PINETAR were gimmes for me. Had a slight slow down in the NE, but really didn't think much about it until I read RP's write-up.<br /><br />The only clue that bugged while I did the puzzle was 44A. TACOS qualify as a sandwich in the technical sense, a tortilla is a form of flat bread. I got it easily of the T, but it doesn't seem like a Monday clue.<br /><br />As to the NYT's "liberal bias" - I guess that compared to the WSJ it is "liberal." But this liberal finds the NYT to possess the typical MSM conservative bias. Not quite sure what any of that has to do with the crossword, though.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25134829982870221812011-06-27T20:25:09.160-04:002011-06-27T20:25:09.160-04:00Oh, come on... Whiniest Rex post I've seen in...Oh, come on... Whiniest Rex post I've seen in a while. The NE was rough only because of ECLAT crossing ADALE (which I thought ridiculous). The rest of the puzzle was pretty straightforward.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14683411943630990682011-06-27T19:15:03.027-04:002011-06-27T19:15:03.027-04:00A taco is a sandwich. In a ham sandwich you have b...A taco is a sandwich. In a ham sandwich you have bread ham and toppings, in a taco you have bread (tortillas) spiced meat and toppings. I fail to see the difference.<br /><br /><br />RickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35210106025915296012011-06-27T18:44:49.391-04:002011-06-27T18:44:49.391-04:00Man, get the puzzle done, show up at 5AM CST and n...Man, get the puzzle done, show up at 5AM CST and nuttin.<br /><br />Sailed through this one.<br /><br />I now live in the land of GOKARTS and am formally from the land of Micelle (wish i was Sarah) TEAPARTY darling. I just do not know which state has the lamer politicos... time will tell. <br /><br />Side notes: <br /><br />Got sick once on after dinner mints when I was 10.<br />Put together a reunion band of my mates from high school and college a few years ago. We called ourselves PHAT PHARM. Amazing that after all those years we still... sucked.<br /><br />Off to our Nation's Capital for a few days then back to the land of legal fireworks for a class c kinda 4th of July.<br /><br />** (2 Stars) Nothing hung together and the theme... except for the EATPANTS part of 53A, did not AROUSE me.<br /><br />BOOP BOOP-E-Dupedkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37544248183068935252011-06-27T17:48:49.314-04:002011-06-27T17:48:49.314-04:00I rather liked this one. Thought it went down ama...I rather liked this one. Thought it went down amazingly fast and pretty typical for a Monday. Spelled LEECH with an a but remembered Alan A Dale from previous puzzles, so I had to switch those two letters. Only other write over was at 50D SO AM I over SO do I. Had NASA in place at 55D so was not fooled by whoa.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9744255138609882512011-06-27T16:51:23.959-04:002011-06-27T16:51:23.959-04:00Another hand up for Whoa; thought it was so cute. ...Another hand up for Whoa; thought it was so cute. I mis-remembered Alan as A'DAir, so that had to come out; glad I didn't enter ADArE, or it would have stuck around longer. I put in "lionelS" before GOKARTS, but took it right out as no crosses appeared. Otherwise, a smooth solve.<br /><br />Agree with all, parts (NE) were too obscure for Monday. I learned SHERE Khan from crosswords; KAA too. When I finished the puzzle my first thought was that there wasn't much 3 letter crap, but review changed my mind. I had not seen RGS, for example, as I did not need it as a crossing answer. Still, okay for a Monday, just not one for a true novice.<br /><br />I can see how cobblers are "akin" to PIES; they are faster to make for sure, and pretty much use the same ingredients. But can't see a TACO as a sandwich; still, I figured it out after a "huh?" moment.<br /><br />PinETAr is almost another theme answer.CoffeeLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16473192190412844538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80286171480552945212011-06-27T15:39:51.187-04:002011-06-27T15:39:51.187-04:00Back home after 3 days away at a conference, and n...Back home after 3 days away at a conference, and not posting (in case anyone noticed).<br /><br />I enjoyed the Kipling - we seem to be seeing a lot of him lately, or is that always the case? Nice source of foreign words when you have an odd letter combo, I guess.<br /><br />I agree with @Anonymous 10:30 AM ( on this point, anyway) - there are many individual Tea Party organizations, no national federation, so the plural is appropriate.<br /><br />I never saw PIE, got in from crosses, so can't comment on that. Never heard of THREEPEATS, but that one became obvious, and you can figure out what it means. My only problem was looking for stock market answers.jberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02169065390875378077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84456601250632697242011-06-27T15:29:14.221-04:002011-06-27T15:29:14.221-04:00I guess I didn't see anything particularly wro...I guess I didn't see anything particularly wrong with the puzzle. Not perfect, but few are. TACO/Sandwich seems a bit of a stretch, e.g. Still an enjoyable solve for me. Probably not the constructor's fault if it ran on the "wrong" day? <br /><br />I was not tripped up by Whoa - I waited for the WAIT to appear. I may not get the "wise" designation - but I outsmarted that clue!!hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04627015904603641109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5539434714077710182011-06-27T14:55:20.046-04:002011-06-27T14:55:20.046-04:00I thought PHAT was a word that was cool for maybe ...I thought PHAT was a word that was cool for maybe about five minutes in the nineties. Now we mock people who use it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-92069866877225269232011-06-27T14:38:04.484-04:002011-06-27T14:38:04.484-04:00Hand up for Whoa! And @M and A -- Ding Dong School...Hand up for Whoa! And @M and A -- Ding Dong School? WHOA! That one took me back!<br /><br />@jackj--"orthopedic shoe of high end automobiles" was a coffee sneeze!<br /><br />I defer to the more technical of you about TACOS, but I don't think of it as a sammie either. Pita, maybe so, maybe no.<br /><br />Acme: <a href="http://latcrossword.blogspot.com/p/faq.html" rel="nofollow">TextYouWantToDisplayInComment</a><br />FAQ #2. Is that what you were looking for?Nighthawkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11898505137434147165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13797063767730169872011-06-27T14:37:57.670-04:002011-06-27T14:37:57.670-04:00Amazing how conservatives equate objectivity with ...Amazing how conservatives equate objectivity with a liberal bias. <br /><br />Long live the NYT, puzzles and all.Georgianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53009930604819402292011-06-27T14:36:14.349-04:002011-06-27T14:36:14.349-04:00Another Whoa for WAIT, here.
Had to think about ...Another Whoa for WAIT, here. <br /><br />Had to think about LEECH vs. LEaCH, suck vs. drain. <br /><br />Mini-theme - Manufacturer.<br /><br />Didn't notice the circles. <br /><br />@Baloo - and a couple years later, committed suicide by Nembutal, with this note, "I am leaving because I am bored. I feel I have lived long enough. I am leaving you with your worries in this sweet cesspool. Good Luck."<br />Would have liked him to make a few more movies. Laura, The Picture of Dorian Grey, The Saint movies....Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51281627784938171962011-06-27T14:14:26.684-04:002011-06-27T14:14:26.684-04:00Clearly it was a Tuesday, but Will needed a Monday...Clearly it was a Tuesday, but Will needed a Monday. <br />That has happened a lot...so that's the deal with the circles and hard NE corner and five theme answers including a payoff reveal.<br />All classic Tuesday traits.<br /><br />@efrex<br /> I liked the idea of MIXTAPE<br />(Even tho I am unhip enough to think it was MIXedTAPE) <br />All those "cryptic" type of themes<br />(MIXED NUTS, TWIST OF FATE, etc) are what spur on ideas, there are only so many early week variations you can do, so fair game there.<br /><br />Those of you who think the NY Times is about to fold should check out the new excellent documentary called "Front Page: Inside the NY Times"...fascinating.<br /><br />And normally I'd never say to check out another blog, I'm perfectly happy here...but Rex hadn't posted late last night when I had finished so I wandered over to Wordplay to see if Deb would say anything about circles on a Monday and lo and behold, JOEL STEIN, my favorite humor writer (of maybe all time, I think! And no, I don't know him personally!) has guest blogged over at Wordplay! <br />Joel Stein usually writes those hysterical pieces/star interviews for Time Mag.<br />I'm insanely jealous that today wasn't one of my puzzles, just to see what he would have said!!!<br />(Fwiw he couldn't finish due to the NE corner...it's a good reminder to folks how hard it is to make an "easy" Monday...my guess is Will would have made me rewrite SHERE/ECLAT/ADALE.)<br /><br />ps If someone is willing to teach me to embed again, pls write privately and I will send you the link to our SF constructor brunch yesterday honoring Dan Feyer's return home pic and perhaps can post it here. It's dark but ok)andrea-a-dale eclat michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38653682332532794042011-06-27T13:23:07.661-04:002011-06-27T13:23:07.661-04:00@DBGeezer/@Rex - also, AKELA in Cub Scouting is an...@DBGeezer/@Rex - also, AKELA in Cub Scouting is an adult leader (parent, Den Leader or Cubmaster). The term was borrowed by the founder of scouts, Lord Baden-Powell, from his friend, Rudyard Kipling. Here is the Cub Scout "Law of the Pack":<br /><br />The Cub Scout follows Akela.<br />The Cub Scout helps the pack go.<br />The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.<br />The Cub Scout gives goodwill.wildforpsuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01978916701572178863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46442304204643701412011-06-27T13:17:06.307-04:002011-06-27T13:17:06.307-04:00Taking time out from following the fire outside Lo...Taking time out from following the fire outside Los Alamos to check in on the blog. Awoke to ash covering everything and skies filled with smoke. Now we've got 2 fires to watch. Husband works at LANL so off today but on the phone frequently.<br /><br />Perhaps my fastest Monday ever but what everyone else already said.<br /><br />feekd--What NM is.santafefrannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9724104149535619322011-06-27T13:02:50.619-04:002011-06-27T13:02:50.619-04:00My feelings exactly, Rex. Time back at the drawin...My feelings exactly, Rex. Time back at the drawing board would have certainly benefited this one! Most of the clues were easy fills, but some, in contrast, were unusually awkward so it was hard to get a sense of the puzzle in its entirety.KarenSampsonHudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12072958906391798661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20375703963733481212011-06-27T12:01:14.934-04:002011-06-27T12:01:14.934-04:00I mostly agree, but I don't see the problem wi...I mostly agree, but I don't see the problem with the clue for PIES. They are different from cobblers, to be sure, but the clue just says "akin" to pies--that's fair, isn't it?CFGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18166125510140034254noreply@blogger.com