tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post8891342335900524858..comments2024-03-29T03:22:09.826-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Ancient Athenian magistrates —SAT 8-28-10— Angel player 1970s / Ruffian on Stair playwright / Literary character always good tempered not very cleverRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13864005857911925922010-08-30T23:19:38.821-04:002010-08-30T23:19:38.821-04:00Way harder than yesterday for me. Ran through yest...Way harder than yesterday for me. Ran through yesterday with little delay, while the entire SE of this puzzle was a Natick. It was the Greater Natick Region. LEETIDE, DOLE, ENOS? MASONDIXON as a 'kind' of line?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57400270192906014082010-08-30T19:27:33.758-04:002010-08-30T19:27:33.758-04:00I don't come here until after I complete the p...I don't come here until after I complete the puzzle so that's why this post is so late.<br />Rex, you didn't let me down! I knew there'd be a Smithereens clip. One of my all-time fave bands.Doc Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-20533892324136611242010-08-29T23:36:39.866-04:002010-08-29T23:36:39.866-04:00coming in late, and see that my annoyance with the...coming in late, and see that my annoyance with the product name incorrectly being singularized has already been addressed! (Odoreater(s))<br />On a similar note, was having drinks with friends where we commented how often people incorrectly pluralize names like Barnes and Noble(s) and Nordstrom(s).<br />Just a pet peeve!<br /><br />Also, I am one of those people who find the answer of "McJob" very, very obnoxious, rude, and offensive.<br />Wasn't there a huge to-do the first time that made it into the NY Times years ago? <br /><br />Anyway... Hope all of you had a wonderful weekend! :-)<br /><br />GregThe Big Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00383322329027962325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80752922306214534062010-08-29T12:04:03.901-04:002010-08-29T12:04:03.901-04:00I waste a lot of time doing these puzzles but then...I waste a lot of time doing these puzzles but then I found Rex and waste even more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6622332813613243742010-08-28T22:19:41.583-04:002010-08-28T22:19:41.583-04:00This 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 6:50, 6:58, 0.98, 48%, Medium<br />Tue 10:16, 8:54, 1.15, 87%, Challenging<br />Wed 11:27, 11:44, 0.98, 48%, Medium<br />Thu 13:43, 19:11, 0.71, 8%, Easy<br />Fri 27:43, 26:40, 1.04, 59%, Medium<br />Sat 28:28, 30:54, 0.92, 29%, Easy-Medium<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:37, 3:43, 0.98, 43%, Medium<br />Tue 5:01, 4:35, 1.10, 81%, Challenging<br />Wed 5:38, 5:46, 0.98, 52%, Medium<br />Thu 7:09, 9:12, 0.78, 22%, Easy-Medium<br />Fri 12:41, 12:59, 0.98, 52%, Medium<br />Sat 15:57, 17:41, 0.90, 29%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17353920922117795202010-08-28T20:59:14.301-04:002010-08-28T20:59:14.301-04:00Beach + Puzzle = No idea how difficult.
One write...Beach + Puzzle = No idea how difficult.<br /><br />One write-over: Had LOWTIDE before LEETIDE.<br /><br />And thank you, WES. Even after I had FAWCETT, I was still reading the clue as "AngelS player . . . " and thought it was some football or baseball name!Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38305253237575582822010-08-28T18:30:55.650-04:002010-08-28T18:30:55.650-04:00tough puzzle. did about half. DNF busy day and now...tough puzzle. did about half. DNF busy day and now time to make dinner. See you all tomorrowchefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89672948943233323352010-08-28T18:09:44.994-04:002010-08-28T18:09:44.994-04:00Thank goodness today's puzzle was easier than ...Thank goodness today's puzzle was easier than yesterday's! I got back to Albany NY late last night from MIchigan and made the mistake of trying Friday's before crawling into bed... getting just nowhere. I still found it a slog today, but enjoyed the comments re ATHOL, etc. <br /><br />Xan's turned out to be a breeze by comparison, even if I liked Shuns for DUCKS a tad too long. Fun to see REEK OF crossing ODOREATER, not too icky. And I chuckled at the SMITHEREENS, one of the venerable singing groups at Smith College, along with the Smiffenpoofs!<br /><br />∑;)ArtLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03869528391374878601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70993098100276871882010-08-28T17:57:05.633-04:002010-08-28T17:57:05.633-04:00Xan and I were not soulmates in a previous life, b...Xan and I were not soulmates in a previous life, but I feel like we just had a really good first date. This puzzle was much harder for me than yesterday's, but was such fun to solve. So much to love about it - the cluing was particularly exceptional. And MRTOAD, CHIRRUP, GOGODANCER, OCCAMSRAZOR. Well, I could go on and on. <br /><br />NW was the last area to fall for me. Couldn't decide between MISO and DUCK for soup - and couldn't get anything else in that area for a long long time. I persevered, however, unlike when I read Mason & Dixon - I got through a lot of it, but could not seem to push my way to the finish. The book still sits in my nightstand as a constant rebuke.hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04627015904603641109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19796503706502724832010-08-28T17:23:02.016-04:002010-08-28T17:23:02.016-04:00I have "MWJOB" (make-work job) for 45 do...I have "MWJOB" (make-work job) for 45 down, And "WHIPPUP" for 50 across.Donnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-3913653062972445712010-08-28T17:09:27.017-04:002010-08-28T17:09:27.017-04:00In the "things that swing"-puzzle about ...In the "things that swing"-puzzle about a month ago, nobody complained about baseball batters and undecided voters being called 'things'. So how is calling animals 'things' worse?Evgenynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27056953041840944292010-08-28T17:07:10.194-04:002010-08-28T17:07:10.194-04:00It's not.It's not.Rex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86339007751241273062010-08-28T16:45:30.855-04:002010-08-28T16:45:30.855-04:00Wes - of course, but why is it clued "Cutting...Wes - of course, but why is it clued "Cutting edge of science?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59613413545010766912010-08-28T16:25:01.468-04:002010-08-28T16:25:01.468-04:00"To hover" is "to hang suspended in..."To hover" is "to hang suspended in the air."<br /><br />Elsewhere, a sure sign of a misspent youth watching baseball, for "Angel player of the 1970s," I wrote in FREGOSI as soon as I had the F. Jim Fregosi played for the California Angels in early 70s. Guess I had the wrong poster in my bedroom.<br /><br />I had CAGEDANCERS before I had GOGODANCERS.WESnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10514404532168368152010-08-28T16:12:42.129-04:002010-08-28T16:12:42.129-04:00Another really enjoyable solving experience. Slam...Another really enjoyable solving experience. Slammed down OCAT, ABC, OZARKS, ZEBRA, CENSORS and started to feel like a Tuesday puzzle. Spent the next ten miutes looking for another answer and was pleased that I was in for a challenge. Finished without any errors and only a few write-overs (rAmS for PATS, OChAM for OCCAM and Tory for TSAR (Duh)). I second @joho on the TAMERS clue, but recognize that using the word "animals" would have made it way too easy. Same issue with ODOREATER(S) as @CoffeeLvr, but let it pass. Was tempted to try POLEDANCERS, but held off until I got the the second O (?O?ODANCERS). Loved the clue for EDEN and especially like the SCHOLAR clue.<br />Like many others, was on the same wavelength as Xan and really had fun with this one.PuzzleNutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88451821255170645422010-08-28T15:39:32.799-04:002010-08-28T15:39:32.799-04:00can anyone explaine "HOVERS" pleasecan anyone explaine "HOVERS" pleaseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38304538839840302422010-08-28T15:28:27.217-04:002010-08-28T15:28:27.217-04:00@Doug said...
Just looked up base sixty, and ...@Doug said...<br /><br /> Just looked up base sixty, and if you want a fascinating read, google it. Why do we have 60 seconds/hours? Why 360 degrees in a circle? In French why are numbers 60-89 = 60+1 etc. <br /><br />---<br /><br />You mean 60-79. (This is correct in the Wiki, so you just mistyped.) In French, 80-99 are based on "four-twenties" (as in "Four-score and seven years ago...")<br /><br />Numbers are such fun!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21317827046603166792010-08-28T14:11:24.500-04:002010-08-28T14:11:24.500-04:00Just looked up base sixty, and if you want a fasci...Just looked up base sixty, and if you want a fascinating read, google it. Why do we have 60 seconds/hours? Why 360 degrees in a circle? In French why are numbers 60-89 = 60+1 etc. <br /><br />Totally agree Friday has been harder than Saturday. Maybe a bit of an editing tactic to keep everyone engaged?Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10389790318218161090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78957384977127627412010-08-28T14:09:42.007-04:002010-08-28T14:09:42.007-04:00Very cool puzzle, and we were quite proud of finis...Very cool puzzle, and we were quite proud of finishing. Somehow Mcjob just came to me (BEQ has used it, I think), unlocking the southwest. <br /><br />I *knew* Rex would post a Smithereens clip, which was also my favorite answer.Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56716346373351659682010-08-28T14:05:46.497-04:002010-08-28T14:05:46.497-04:00Okay, I never, ever heard the term OCCAMS RAZOR. ...Okay, I never, ever heard the term OCCAMS RAZOR. Learn something new every day.<br /><br />Lots of wicked cluing = DNF for me.<br /><br />ARCHONS? MCJOB?<br /><br />Had SUPPORTER at first for alternative to CUP (!)<br /><br />Liked 11d Stopping point for a train? (ALTAR)<br /><br />Didn't like the image of a GOGODANCER behind bars...JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79460029187084087262010-08-28T13:56:25.130-04:002010-08-28T13:56:25.130-04:00I agree that the cluing in this puzzle was elegant...I agree that the cluing in this puzzle was elegant and thoroughly enjoyable. Didn't finish, though. Finally caved in and googled the playwright. I need to etch that Orton guy into my memory, and I'm irritated with myself that I didn't remember bosn, which I'm certain would have saved me down there in that corner. Next time, Xan, I'll be ready for you!Vegahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01893157908004486201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13625992387700061952010-08-28T13:19:45.489-04:002010-08-28T13:19:45.489-04:00Didn't try this until the morning, and I reall...Didn't try this until the morning, and I really enjoyed it, albeit slowly. Ended up absolutely stuck in the SW, so googled ORTON and MRTOAD. It has been so long since I read "Wind in the Willows," and I did not read it to or with my son. I didn't really like it, either. <br /> <br />My favorite was OCCAMSRAZOR. One quibble, the product for smelly feet is "Odor Eaters". But looking at the grid now, this one was packed with clever cluing, solid fill, and very little that annoyed me.<br /><br />@Eva, a sincere congratulations; I have yet to accomplish that, but I am still improving, so someday . . .?CoffeeLvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16473192190412844538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65477720234638454082010-08-28T13:08:30.358-04:002010-08-28T13:08:30.358-04:00@Clark ... thanks for the pic, what a cute baby! A...@Clark ... thanks for the pic, what a cute baby! And she looks like she'll getting plenty of babying, too!johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23592682746230817512010-08-28T12:45:28.844-04:002010-08-28T12:45:28.844-04:00Yes, surprisingly manageable for a Saturday, thoug...Yes, surprisingly manageable for a Saturday, though it was the N/NE part that got me in (thanks to junior-high Spanish for veintisiete), not the NW.<br /><br />How is 56A:MASONDIXON a "kind of" line? I thought there was just one of them.<br /><br />@Zeke: 32D:BASESIXTY is in effect an alternation of base 10 and 6: a "digit" of 43 would be written as four 10's followed by three 1's. So abaci need not be unmanageable. Indeed our decimal abacus uses the same trick, writing (say) 7 as 5+1+1 rather than 1+1+1+1+1+1+1. Cf. Roman numerals and counting on fingers (VII may represent a hand and two fingers).<br /><br />Note several longish entries like 6D:CENSOR, 30A:WANNABET, and even 3D:SUGARCONE that are only one letter away from another legitimate entry (tensor/censer, wannabes, sugarcane); this flexibility must be useful for constructing such puzzles without computer aid. As it happens this grid would also work with the T in 34 replaced by S (wannabes/SAT's).<br /><br />NDENoam D. Elkiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72620792685645616052010-08-28T12:40:53.873-04:002010-08-28T12:40:53.873-04:00Hard but doable, with lots of aha! moments. Hand ...Hard but doable, with lots of aha! moments. Hand up for dummies and Ulm. Loved smithereens!<br /><br />I was a math major back in the day. I never knew the Babylonians (or anyone else) used base sixty, or that our angular measure (not radians, the other one) came from that source.<br /><br />A car has lots of parts that aren't in the running gear - seats, radios, doors. Some of my cars have running gear parts that don't always run - part of the fun.OldCarFuddnoreply@blogger.com