tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post8866414718106185702..comments2024-03-29T10:16:11.858-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Sporty 1990s Toyota / THU 11-29-12 / Brasserie list / Catchphrase of Jean-Luc Picard / Old-time bowling alley worker / Dragon in 2008 best seller / Buster Keaton missile / Suffix with bombardRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66152370115250956532013-01-03T23:30:03.975-05:002013-01-03T23:30:03.975-05:00Son is the third person conjugation of the Spanish...Son is the third person conjugation of the Spanish verb ser (to be), as in "they are"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3088574843963226752013-01-03T22:17:12.822-05:002013-01-03T22:17:12.822-05:00@Waxy nad @Catte - that's an excellent point, ...@Waxy nad @Catte - that's an excellent point, and by the time I figure out what day it is, I will have forgotten it's a new year and I'll start writing "2012" again. It's a very confusing time, for me at least. Happy new year anyway.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39981418553259518712013-01-03T20:50:28.596-05:002013-01-03T20:50:28.596-05:00The confusion about whether this was a Tuesday or ...The confusion about whether this was a Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday puzzle makes perfect sense out here in the syndicated boonies. We are just back from the New Year break and today at work felt very Tuesday-ish.Cattenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15369910813188708532013-01-03T16:10:06.131-05:002013-01-03T16:10:06.131-05:00Knew BOLAS, but didn't parse the ACR, go figur...Knew BOLAS, but didn't parse the ACR, go figure? Wanted CARnE because my Brasserie serves meat. Remember watching the PIN BOYs bouncing around as I threw many balls into the gutter.<br /><br />Clever theme, which I didn't 'get' until coming here. I, too, want to mention my appreciation of this blog, where I learn so much, about so many different things, and not just cross words! Thanks Guys and Gals! Also, particularly appreciate the 'Syndiland Community'. Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81365527501473852572013-01-03T16:06:35.488-05:002013-01-03T16:06:35.488-05:00Forgot it was "rebus day." and enjoyed t...Forgot it was "rebus day." and enjoyed the puzzle. Never heard the expression EPEE de combat, so had to replace "hors" when the crosses wouldn't work. Only other problem was 4D where, not knowing a necktie from a weapon, i joined the ranks of oCR solvers. Thanks to @Z and later commenters who set me straight.<br /><br />Took about 15 reloads before I found a Captcha I think I can read, so fingers crossed, here goes!DMGranadmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88293710144201582552013-01-03T15:22:20.166-05:002013-01-03T15:22:20.166-05:00Count me in the BOLOS/OCR camp until I arrived her...Count me in the BOLOS/OCR camp until I arrived here (thought it was a very clever reference to an Optical Character Reader that I just didn't get). Also, though TATTOO was easily discerned from its crosses, didn't realize the clue's provenance until reading this extremely erudite blog. Grew up on Petticoat Junction so BEA was an early gimme as were PINBOY (used to be one) and BANTHEBOMB from the same EPOCH.<br /><br />Even though this was a Tuesday-like puzzle, here in syndiland Jan 3 sorta feels like a Tues so I (W)ONTSWEATIT. Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47659877293322486202013-01-03T15:06:19.701-05:002013-01-03T15:06:19.701-05:00I'm one of the many "dummies" (Rex&#...I'm one of the many "dummies" (Rex's word) to substitute the necktie for the weapon. I'm glad the puzzle was otherwise easy (although I kept looking for a gimmick around all the short down answers in the center of the grid) as my LOCALRAG printed the Thursday puzzle that was missing last week in today's edition - I'm off to do it now.<br /><br />You mean we're not still trying to BANTHEBOMB?! I must have missed the memo.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13214928063099374892013-01-03T10:45:45.559-05:002013-01-03T10:45:45.559-05:00@Stephen: thanks for the 'splainin.' Had n...@Stephen: thanks for the 'splainin.' Had no idea about the clue to 4d. But as @Ben D. said, the clue itself was printed--at least in my paper--in the usual l-->r format. It's the answer that goes ...dwn?<br /><br />Unfortunate wording for the 1d clue; no one says "Take your chairs," but you can't use "seats" because--duh!--that word's in the answer. Much too gimmeeish--as was its symmetrical partner, to such a STTNG devotee as myself.<br /><br />Hand up for hors before EPEE (very offbeat clue for an old Xword chestnut) and EDen before EDOM. Also had metoO before DITTO. Did not notice the EDOM double prior to coming here.<br /><br />While this felt like about a Tuesday, I did like the theme, execution, and fairly well-pulled-off 8-blocks. I don't recognize the constructor name; if a debut I'd call it promising. One nit: how many AGUES can one suffer at one illness? Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66666687721750724622012-11-30T02:19:42.805-05:002012-11-30T02:19:42.805-05:00Started this this morning but got distracted and d...Started this this morning but got distracted and didn't pick it up again until time to download the Friday puz, which is even easier! Are they going to get difficult again, or is this part of Global Warming? Speaking of warming and the attendant perspiration, I thought the theme might be kind of unappetizing for breakfast, but @Masked and Nonmanagementous brought the ew factor to a whole new level. Now I can't get the idea of BLOUSEs with SWEAT rings out of my head. Well, if the puzzles aren't hard, they are at least gross, so not without virtue. Ellen Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00473445503706985149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35139180280292699112012-11-29T23:51:26.665-05:002012-11-29T23:51:26.665-05:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 8/1/2009 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 6:31, 6:46, 0.96, 37%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 8:20, 8:57, 0.93, 37%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 10:16, 11:48, 0.87, 22%, Easy-Medium<br />Thu 10:36, 18:44, 0.57, 1%, Easy (2nd lowest median solve time of 177 Thursdays)<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:44, 3:41, 1.01, 63%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 4:46, 4:41, 1.02, 59%, Medium<br />Wed 5:51, 5:57, 0.98, 48%, Medium<br />Thu 5:39, 9:22, 0.60, 1%, Easy (2nd lowest median solve time of 177 Thursdays)sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71408950527810516362012-11-29T23:11:37.393-05:002012-11-29T23:11:37.393-05:00I guess @Just was too scared for face-to-face talk...I guess @Just was too scared for face-to-face talk?Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61394726255053242092012-11-29T20:23:35.626-05:002012-11-29T20:23:35.626-05:00Thx for the help with son/are tho i doubt you'...Thx for the help with son/are tho i doubt you'll see this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39064897965421428462012-11-29T19:16:36.380-05:002012-11-29T19:16:36.380-05:00DITTO Dick Swart.DITTO Dick Swart.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04551716499829677518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66336538033439585882012-11-29T19:08:19.885-05:002012-11-29T19:08:19.885-05:00@Z - In the format I'm used to seeing, the clu...@Z - In the format I'm used to seeing, the clues are catetorized by across and down. They have column headings and everything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60741461681525520242012-11-29T17:39:50.457-05:002012-11-29T17:39:50.457-05:00@jberg and @ Ben D - From @Z 7:30 - "Left it ...@jberg and @ Ben D - From @Z 7:30 - "Left it BOLoS even though oCR made no sense. Neither did ACR until about the fourth comment where ACRoss finally occurred to me. Yuck. The Clue is not "down," the answer is, so the clue should read "unlike this answer: Abbr." Maybe I'd feel differently if I'd gotten it right."Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16181544219511150272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83698613297173916752012-11-29T17:03:26.755-05:002012-11-29T17:03:26.755-05:00Midday 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):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Thu 10:37, 18:44, 0.57, 1%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Thu 6:02, 9:22, 0.64, 2%, Easy<br /><br />This will probably end the day with one of the 2 or 3 fastest median solve times in each group of the 177 Thursdays in my database.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57972293278037972322012-11-29T16:24:08.590-05:002012-11-29T16:24:08.590-05:00@Rube - All reliable news can be obtained at the l...@Rube - All reliable news can be obtained at the local watering hole.<br /><br />By the way, we tried the Feral Pig and immediately crossed it off the list. chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65662091870707947932012-11-29T16:23:49.269-05:002012-11-29T16:23:49.269-05:00Missed on BOLoS. OCR seemed okay. Hors before EP...Missed on BOLoS. OCR seemed okay. Hors before EPEE, metoO before DITTO. All fixed except BOLOS. Had BLOUSE, then Blazer, then BLOUSE. Think the little box of threes kind of cute. Easy for a Thursday. Good one @BobK. Right @JohnV, they are all small ones. Tomorrow will probably flatten me.Sparkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11149915526159432838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73554977985076277762012-11-29T15:53:25.597-05:002012-11-29T15:53:25.597-05:00@The Management - Very funny. I have a similar ver...@The Management - Very funny. I have a similar version hanging outside my office.Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27408581406289204082012-11-29T15:40:08.228-05:002012-11-29T15:40:08.228-05:00@Lewis... Criminy, there must be about a bazillion...@Lewis... Criminy, there must be about a bazillion brands of deodorants out there. Don't beat yerself up over not knowin' just one of 'em. Some have real interestin' names, like REXONA. har. Now there's a brand name that rates discussion.<br /><br />In fact, this coulda been a SunPuz, what with all the possibilities. Could sneak in more AROMA references. Use the black blocks to draw up a torso with its arms raised. Start the first Acr. word with BO-. End the last Acr. word with -EW. Come up with creative fill-ins that are synonyms for sweatrings. Ew. Beginnin' to talk self out of this. M&AMasked and Nonmanagementousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41061554847898268022012-11-29T15:20:50.538-05:002012-11-29T15:20:50.538-05:00@Just - If you wish to meet face-to-face, I'll...@Just - If you wish to meet face-to-face, I'll be a Ruth Chris in NYC tonight for dinner & drinks with the other members of The Management. I'll make sure there's an extra chair at the table.<br /><br />In case you need the address:<br />148 West 51st Street<br />New York, NY 10019<br />The Managementnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88602575766931064442012-11-29T14:55:53.965-05:002012-11-29T14:55:53.965-05:00Never heard of DEGREE deodorant. I'm not sure...Never heard of DEGREE deodorant. I'm not sure if I'm proud of this or not.Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709142959535977331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1943118813546949212012-11-29T14:51:15.625-05:002012-11-29T14:51:15.625-05:00@The Management - Because a woman would have had t...@The Management - Because a woman would have had the courtesy to make that statement face to face, not hiding behind a memo.<br />Just because DEGREESOFFREEDOM is a stats term that doesn't mean that's whats indicated here, nor that it's the only interpretationnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49520281459687933342012-11-29T14:21:51.293-05:002012-11-29T14:21:51.293-05:00@Just . . .
Who said I was a man?@Just . . .<br /><br />Who said I was a man?The Managementnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55805378788748198242012-11-29T14:16:50.667-05:002012-11-29T14:16:50.667-05:00@Management - If you're going to bust my ass, ...@Management - If you're going to bust my ass, at least call me by my full name as would any gentleman.<br /><br />Signed,<br /><br />Just because DEGREESOFFREEDOM is a stats term that doesn't mean that's whats indicated here, nor that it's the only interpretation.Just because DEGREESOFFREEDOM is a stats term that doesn't mean that's whats indicated here, nor that it's the only interpretationnoreply@blogger.com