tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post8734081172472645055..comments2024-03-28T14:47:10.991-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: 1985 Ralph McInerny novel / FRI 3-14-14 / Rectangular paving stone / Gervasi who directed 2012's Hitchcock / Longtime airer of any Questions / Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49965749401332892472014-04-22T23:56:50.794-04:002014-04-22T23:56:50.794-04:00@dirigonzo, how about the next one, 315? That pla...@dirigonzo, how about the next one, 315? That played close to hardest ever for me, and it was a medium.lblnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33442057335832406182014-04-21T18:18:39.057-04:002014-04-21T18:18:39.057-04:00@LongBeachLee (hereinafter @LBL) - I suspect "...@LongBeachLee (hereinafter @LBL) - I suspect "retired engineers in their 80s" is not a very large demographic here (I could be wrong). "Retired bureaucrats in their 60s", of which I am a member, is probably a larger group (again, I'm speculating). In any event, apparently we share a wheelhouse as I, too, was shocked at the difficulty rating. Congratulations on your success (puzzle-wise and career-wise). Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-92016679502218034112014-04-21T17:43:37.616-04:002014-04-21T17:43:37.616-04:00Wheelhouse indeed. I must have halved my best eve...Wheelhouse indeed. I must have halved my best ever, and was shocked that this got such a tough rating. Any other retired engineers in their 80s?LongBeachLeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85755157236014297612014-04-19T15:28:22.265-04:002014-04-19T15:28:22.265-04:00Loved the feeling I had when I finished this one. ...Loved the feeling I had when I finished this one. Started to be able to fully solve Fridays only over the past few months - mostly the ones that were easy-medium.<br /><br />Didn't automatically know some of the more specialized / difficult answers - but the crosses made it able for me to infer what right answer COULD go there <b>(ERAT / LEEDS / TRILL / KARL / SACHA ) </b> for example.<br /><br />When I finished with the O in the ROTOS / OAR crossing - that sense of accomplishment made me all tingly.<br /><br />Thanks Mr. Olschwang - you made my day.Honey Cruellernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24451167116534797942014-04-19T01:41:48.313-04:002014-04-19T01:41:48.313-04:00A Good Friday challenge. Other than a GOT AA / ABC...A Good Friday challenge. Other than a GOT AA / ABC RADIO miscue, few problems. Liked the shoutout to great Canadian jockey Ron Turcotte who rode Secretariat to the Triple Crown in 1973.<br /><br />Finishing these puzzles mostly between periods of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. During the first round, there's anywhere from 3 to 5 games so actually completed this baby after midnight here in the east following a game from Anaheim. In the @leftcoastTAM and @Diri camp: bring on Saturday's xword.<br /><br />Trio of 5's.Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17015913403496760942014-04-18T20:24:52.499-04:002014-04-18T20:24:52.499-04:00@Dirigonzo: Yes, there is always Saturday....@Dirigonzo: Yes, there is always Saturday....leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9905222084290935592014-04-18T20:11:02.923-04:002014-04-18T20:11:02.923-04:00That was different. I got nowhere and took a break...That was different. I got nowhere and took a break, seriously thinking that I was through with this puzzle. Then I decided to fill in the most tenuous answers I'd come up with and they all turned out to be right.<br /><br /><br />I solved it, but my subconscious gets the credit.straylinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536180563789923012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5645147404173837142014-04-18T20:05:05.532-04:002014-04-18T20:05:05.532-04:00@leftcoastTAM - somehow it's not annoying comi...@leftcoastTAM - somehow it's not annoying coming from you here in syndiland. Congratulations and I predict you will find this happening more and more often. Now about those Saturday puzzles...?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15285304011133667572014-04-18T19:44:08.461-04:002014-04-18T19:44:08.461-04:00I finally get to say about a Friday puzzle, as so ...I finally get to say about a Friday puzzle, as so many annoying solvers have said before me, "I found this easy."<br />leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31392131765958791302014-04-18T18:49:23.638-04:002014-04-18T18:49:23.638-04:00Ahhh, thank you Steve & eastsacgirl, it would ...Ahhh, thank you Steve & eastsacgirl, it would help if I spoke French or attended plays.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8445006894881306092014-04-18T18:43:28.999-04:002014-04-18T18:43:28.999-04:00Entr'acte - between acts. Google is a wonderfu...Entr'acte - between acts. Google is a wonderful tool (except don't use for solving puzzles or its a DNF for me)eastsacgirlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41657325106203897532014-04-18T18:43:14.890-04:002014-04-18T18:43:14.890-04:00@Solving in Seattle: It's from entr'acte. ...@Solving in Seattle: It's from <em>entr'acte</em>. One of the definitions M-W gives is "the interval between two acts of a play". Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-92154926313836446142014-04-18T18:31:00.174-04:002014-04-18T18:31:00.174-04:00BTW, can anyone help me with how ENTR is "Sta...BTW, can anyone help me with how ENTR is "Start of an intermision"?Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40534734559905367932014-04-18T18:24:31.771-04:002014-04-18T18:24:31.771-04:00Yowza! Got ONSECONDTHOUGHT from SOBS immediately a...Yowza! Got ONSECONDTHOUGHT from SOBS immediately and 4 hours later finished clean. Have to take a nap now though. eastsacgirlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63503266743760155752014-04-18T17:54:09.196-04:002014-04-18T17:54:09.196-04:00SAITH crossing THY? Alan, are thou a Quaker?
My mo...SAITH crossing THY? Alan, are thou a Quaker?<br />My monitor was first an LeD. And 51D was DulLY before crosses worked it out.<br />The Eastern Seaboard fell first. <br />Got the middle cross on -----RAIN, the top one on US------SMAN, and the bottom one on ------R-USLY. So Alan and I were somewhat on the same planet O.<br />How in the hell to natives from Leeds get called Loiners, do they run around in loin cloths?<br />So, how did you do on your test today, Gunga? I GOTAB, SAHIB.<br /><br />Two pair. Spacy takes my ante.Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2668614102172367452014-04-18T14:28:59.560-04:002014-04-18T14:28:59.560-04:00First pass through left me blinking-all those grid...First pass through left me blinking-all those grid spanners. Then I started putting in an "s" here and there, saw RIVETS, then USEDCARSALESMAN and I was off and running. Alas, not to the finish line! The incorrect TSe for the Chinese dish led to my novel being THENEONEYEDEVIL, which sounded plausible even if it destroyed a couple of crosses. With no idea how to fix this mess, I let this great puzzle have the last laugh and bowed out. (BEAT a swift RETREAT?)<br /><br />Two pairs too tiny to mention!DMGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15676766297505690302014-04-18T14:22:05.969-04:002014-04-18T14:22:05.969-04:00Rex said, "Planet Olschwang. I simply don'...Rex said, "Planet Olschwang. I simply don't live there. But someone probably does, so if he/she enjoyed this (more), fantastic." I don't live there now but I must have in a previous life because I had a blast with this puzzle and managed to finish with NO write-overs and NO wrong squares, in a leisurely hour or so. I didn't know all of the long answers off the top of my head but with enough crosswords I was able to figure them out, and isn't that how xword puzzles are supposed to work?<br /><br />Nothing to beat spacy's fours so I'm out.<br /><br /><br />Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40523409038227317952014-04-18T13:30:29.703-04:002014-04-18T13:30:29.703-04:00I loved this puzzle, and actually sailed through i...I loved this puzzle, and actually sailed through it, in my form of sailing. I was surprised to see the "challenging" rating. As every on has said, the 15's were a treat, as were several other entries, to the point I didn't notice any crap (except maybe for the RRN, but I didn't really see it--crosses took care of it). Just a nice, smooth experience, for me.<br /><br />Why do people object to SETT? It is a thing. I have used setts in a few landscaping escapades. Does *brick* incite the same reaction? I don't get it.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7462946042403063642014-04-18T13:25:34.553-04:002014-04-18T13:25:34.553-04:00I loved the puzzle but thought it difficult. I had...I loved the puzzle but thought it difficult. I had "let it all hang out" for LIVEDDANGEROUSLY forever but finally gave up on it and progressed.<br /><br />I also had chute for GSUIT and thought it correct since it crossed successfully with USEDCARSALESMAN.<br /><br />I had a few letters wrong mostly because I didn't recheck it at the end. While it was technically a dnf I felt really good about finishing it.BedfordBobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08348600333498878554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48487235239731177102014-04-18T11:36:38.223-04:002014-04-18T11:36:38.223-04:00Hand up for SKI; that one really seemed obvious. O...Hand up for SKI; that one really seemed obvious. On a Friday? I should know better.<br /><br />This one was slow starting, but I knew if I could just get a couple of the 15s it would come crashing down. Still, with typically wry endweek clues...not easy.<br /><br />Finally decided to take a flyer on LIVEDANGEROUSLY; it so neatly fit the clue. Then, once I took off my SKI and improved my AIM--giving me RIVET and AMICI--the three central downs could offer no further resistance. From then on it was fill in the blanks, the last being the natick at SAL/ELLIE--easily inferrable.<br /><br />So, like most multi-15'd grids, this was "challenging-easy." The fill? You have six spanners including three triple-intersections. There's gonna be a ton of shoet entries, and some of those are bound to be nose-wrinklers. Price you pay. Maybe Patrick Berry can come up with a multi-15 grid that's smooth. I know it's a feat beyond mere mortals. So I accept it, even to the horribly-obscurely-clued Romanumeral. Good grief, there were NINE Charles'??<br /><br />As for liking it, any puzzle that starts out looking hopeless that I wind up solving (unless it's really awful, which this wasn't) is a thumbs-up here.<br /><br />I'll try for the pot with four 4's.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-496495658033005422014-04-02T09:02:40.935-04:002014-04-02T09:02:40.935-04:00"Maine-Florida"? That's worse than..."Maine-Florida"? That's worse than the stupid "NW" corner. Can we all agree to say "upper left"? Or in this case, "the right side"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75628807003407523482014-03-31T08:52:08.377-04:002014-03-31T08:52:08.377-04:00Lloyd Security Offers innovative, affordable solut... 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And also provide full service design and monitoring, medical alert systems, camera systems, safe rooms etc. <br /> <a href="http://www.lloydsecurity.com/crimes-of-summer-opportunity.html" rel="nofollow"><b> Home security systems MN </b></a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50767833633715559402014-03-15T00:55:18.657-04:002014-03-15T00:55:18.657-04:00The Washington Bullets had the most apt name until...The Washington Bullets had the most apt name until the PC police made them change!wreckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08797908615185213756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85011621656698765702014-03-14T23:23:41.957-04:002014-03-14T23:23:41.957-04:00@lawprof: The NBA has the two most ill-fitting tea...@lawprof: The NBA has the two most ill-fitting team nickname/locale combinations in American pro sports that I can think of: the Utah Jazz and the LA Lakers. It's pretty close, but I agree that the Jazz win it with a buzzer-beater. Steve Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185067739452052656noreply@blogger.com