tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post9104954452878823389..comments2024-03-28T13:17:40.062-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Merry Christmas, BFFs, Mon 12-24-12, Savanna grazers, South American plains, Spain's longest River, SycophantsRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84387007606494720812013-01-29T15:08:17.641-05:002013-01-29T15:08:17.641-05:00Same experience here in Indiana as Texas Syndy Sol...Same experience here in Indiana as Texas Syndy Solver. Glad it wasn't just me! Mark Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16397896168098993903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55799233512314262542013-01-28T22:27:17.566-05:002013-01-28T22:27:17.566-05:00I got a double dose of OFL today as I also solved ...I got a double dose of OFL today as I also solved the Thursday LAT. His style points are unmistakable. Enjoyed both puzzles! and, Rex' BFFs, Enjoyed the write up.<br /><br />@DMGrandma - The Aussie Open was quite a tournament, though the final didn't live up to expectations. My DVR really got a workout! Yes, Indian Wells is in March I think, though there may be some Davis Cup in the meantime. <br /><br />Nice to have 'realtimers' crash our Syndiland Party. @Tita, and @JenCT, you're welcome any time! <br />Jen, great looking shepherd. Thanks for stopping by.<br />Gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14580543573694383822013-01-28T21:35:43.913-05:002013-01-28T21:35:43.913-05:00@Texas SS - STRANGE, indeed. Perhaps a conspiracy ...@Texas SS - STRANGE, indeed. Perhaps a conspiracy is afoot? (I love a good conspiracy theory.)Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54518139345526371342013-01-28T21:15:09.200-05:002013-01-28T21:15:09.200-05:00In my syndyland paper the puzzle BYLINE was AUTHOR...In my syndyland paper the puzzle BYLINE was AUTHOR AUTHOR AUTHOR -- no mention of the illustrious Mr. Parker. STRANGE?Texas Syndy Solvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2465989806708000262013-01-28T20:25:00.342-05:002013-01-28T20:25:00.342-05:00Howdy, @Diri... As @Jen says..just enough to make ...Howdy, @Diri... As @Jen says..just enough to make everything pretty again.<br /><br />@DJ...i like your suggestion. Reminds me...in the days of said tokens, there were tolls in Connecticut...also tokens, but they cost a mere 25 cents. They were exactly the same size as the 35 cent subway tokens.<br />I heard tell that the station from which they would regularly retrieve the most CT highway tokens was the Wall St. stop...Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61029507782020179602013-01-28T20:17:56.066-05:002013-01-28T20:17:56.066-05:00@JenCT: wondered if anyone would comment on that. ...@JenCT: wondered if anyone would comment on that. Used tokens when I first visited NYC in 1997, and then the Metro cards when I moved there in 2000. When I moved back to Portland (West Coast) in 2002, I brought my last card back and it's been hanging proudly on the fridge ever since.DJStonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25990033295593121772013-01-28T19:45:57.400-05:002013-01-28T19:45:57.400-05:00I second @Tita's whole post...
@DJ Stone: Me...I second @Tita's whole post...<br /><br />@DJ Stone: Metro tokens are now Metro Cards...but I still have some of the old tokens.<br /><br />We just got a dusting here in Northern CT...JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34935877553808904762013-01-28T17:44:53.664-05:002013-01-28T17:44:53.664-05:00Puzzle was way too easy for the NYT, and the theme...Puzzle was way too easy for the NYT, and the theme came out for me after the second theme answer and led to easy solves for the other three.<br /><br />Out here in syndiland, it's very hard to add anything original on the content of the theme entries, but today presents an opportunity.<br /><br />Especially for a puzzle in the New York Times, StylePoints could have been StileJumper. You know, those guys who hop the stiles in the subway rather than ponying up for Metro tokens. Same length, and the noun-verb form just fits with the inconsistency of the form of the other theme answers.DJ Stonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58090588807018179762013-01-28T17:03:12.001-05:002013-01-28T17:03:12.001-05:00I spent too much time, as usual, trying to figure ...I spent too much time, as usual, trying to figure out the theme which I thought would involve both words of the answers - STALECOFFEE had me thinking it might be S-C combinations that would culminate in, you know, Santa Claus (it being Xmas Eve and all). But I guess the Grinch stole Christmas after all. Otherwise, my first pass completed the top and bottom sections of the grid but left a few holes in the middle that needed some crosses - STYLEPOINTS was a new phrase for me although I have "awarded points for style" so now they have a name.<br /><br />I always enjoy the BFFs write-ups - but they were kidding about needing reading glasses, right?<br /><br />@Tita - nice to see you back here! Snowing in CT?Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78597565163585193642013-01-28T16:30:26.990-05:002013-01-28T16:30:26.990-05:00@dmgrandma...you can type any old thing you want f...@dmgrandma...you can type any old thing you want for the number part...Google doesn't know what they are either...they are just"crowd sourcing" us as free labor to figure it out for them...<br />The only capcha that counts is the text...<br />And that is NOT case sensitive.<br /><br />They are still a huge pain, but a little easier if you ignore those two aspects.<br /><br />@rain forest...lots of us realtimers get the email follow ups...<br />But for me, clever references to 15D six weeks later don't register..for that matter, 2 days is enough to make me forget...<br />But I still like hearing y'all"s clever insights...Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63014654720795739272013-01-28T16:13:44.964-05:002013-01-28T16:13:44.964-05:00This was an easy Monday with decent fill and a &qu...This was an easy Monday with decent fill and a "theme" I picked up on at STYLEPOINTS. I immediately knew the next two were going to start with STOLE and STOOL. As someone said, Rex has snarled at this sort of "theme" in the past, but for a Monday, it was just fine. <br /><br />Re the ACME/ED contretemps, for what its worth (no one but we syndies will see this), Andrea was off the mark suggesting an entry with a short "I" sound, and Evil was just a tad TOO evil there, even if partially right.rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31128845433899001132013-01-28T15:29:06.482-05:002013-01-28T15:29:06.482-05:00Easy enough puzzle. Only pause was DeLUTH, but GAT...Easy enough puzzle. Only pause was DeLUTH, but GATEAU solved that, once I realized " torte" wouldn't fit.<br />Must admit I never saw the vowel sound progression. Just a series of two word answers that started ST. If I could learn to spell and see the themes, I'd probably be a lot better at this!<br /><br />@Ginger. Sadly the Open is over, and a wait for the next meet ensues (Indian Wells?). Odd thing. Last night I was watching the delayed finals broadcast which showed Lendl in the audience. Unable to watch Murray grimace again, I flipped the channel to see Lendl playing against McEnroe! Time travel? Turned out it was a replay of a January tape.<br /><br />Just failed another Captcha. And the one offered now has illegible number, so off to start cycling through the possibilities. Failed again!!DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18539420975598295362013-01-28T11:32:12.485-05:002013-01-28T11:32:12.485-05:00So. Time to critique the critic, eh? (Rolling up s...So. Time to critique the critic, eh? (Rolling up sleeves) Here goes.<br /><br />STYLEPOINTS: Zippy long fill. TIPTOE evoked, of course, the image of Tiny Tim--right mext to the equally ugly image of EDSELS. Nice to have the whole drink in front of me instead of just half (MAITAI). Mini-Irish theme with LASSES doing a JIG. The twin "Galoot" clues for OAF and APE may stretch the point a bit, but are OK and cute. I think OFL just loves to say the word "galoot." It's fun, I'll admit.<br /><br />Now to subtract from the total. AMT, EREI, STE,DDT, FGS, MSU, THU, NSA. And EBRO. EBRO?? On a Monday???<br /><br />Got the vowel-L progression theme after just the first two entries. Like @Coffee lover, I generally don't think of that beverage as getting STALE. That's what microwaves are for. So it seemed a strained phrase, and the seed of VP was already planted in my head when I saw STEELWOOL. That confirmed it, and I was off to the races. Lots of uber-simplistic clues made for a beginner-class grid--one to try on a 7-year-old for example. The whole thing just makes EBRO stand out like a throbbing sore thumb.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17001809965565922632012-12-27T06:05:00.165-05:002012-12-27T06:05:00.165-05:00Awww, no Christmas theme.Awww, no Christmas theme.JackLeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05699812137375247445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-76902831216438109902012-12-26T15:50:10.442-05:002012-12-26T15:50:10.442-05:00May this ditty suffice to say:
Me thinks his puzzl...May this ditty suffice to say:<br />Me thinks his puzzle's all right (OK?)<br />My take on the reveal? Just this:<br />Mo' letters! (Aural's 2 EZ 2 miss.)<br /> ...alas...<br />Moon-y BFFs beat me here by a day!<br /><br />Make that two days. Anyway, just wanted to add my congrats to Rex on his achievement, and compliments of the season to fellow Rexites. And thanks also to him and his crew for clearing matters up, as ever. Cheers!ShortShriftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47555558416606061832012-12-25T10:06:42.815-05:002012-12-25T10:06:42.815-05:00@anon (11:37)....Dylan was born in Duluth and even...@anon (11:37)....Dylan was born in Duluth and even mentions it in one of his songsPIXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51116842312519522192012-12-25T02:09:56.398-05:002012-12-25T02:09:56.398-05:00I don't know anyone who says STALE COFFEE. STA...I don't know anyone who says STALE COFFEE. STALE bread? Of course. STALE crackers? Yes. COFFEE does not get STALE. It gets cold.Coffee Lovernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82187152133589270582012-12-25T01:34:56.367-05:002012-12-25T01:34:56.367-05:00This 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 5:46, 6:12, 0.93, 18%, Easy<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:31, 3:39, 0.96, 26%, Easy-Mediumsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64385427918776077932012-12-24T21:43:01.304-05:002012-12-24T21:43:01.304-05:00No trouble at all with sound progression. Would h...No trouble at all with sound progression. Would have preferred colleen. Unfortunately it is 7 letters. Easy for a beginner with a crunchy GATEAU to let you know it's The New York Times fer pete's sake.<br /><br />Thanks Rex, Thanks Elves. Merry Christmas and Joyous Holiday to one and all. <br /><br />The Houseguest is cooking salmon tomorrow. WTF. Sparkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11149915526159432838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10518545036540131892012-12-24T21:41:37.877-05:002012-12-24T21:41:37.877-05:00It is snowing on Christmas Eve, we went to top he ...It is snowing on Christmas Eve, we went to top he 4pm Christmas Mass and came home to a delicious roast chicken dinner with great desserts. Fit the crossword in while the kids did the dishes. Perfect, perfect day. Thank you Michael for a not-SO-easy puzzle and also for the year round blog. Btw, your name came up at a family Christmas party last Saturday. My nephew goes to the college you teach at and some friends are your students. They all, naturally , love you. Merry Christmas to all. Mikemnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28128474005619161442012-12-24T20:46:40.429-05:002012-12-24T20:46:40.429-05:00Wow, how disappointing. Just this morning I was th...Wow, how disappointing. Just this morning I was thinking, "what a refreshing comment from the formerly @evil doug." Great critique, interesting personal story and uplifting sign off. <br /><br />Then he drops this bomb. Second comment wasn't anything but biased and just plain mean.<br /><br />However, nothing can dampen my high Christmas spirits and I wish everyone here a very merry Christmas! johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70418110373420614362012-12-24T20:45:38.548-05:002012-12-24T20:45:38.548-05:00Happy Holidays to all my (25D) E-BROs and E-SISses...Happy Holidays to all my (25D) E-BROs and E-SISses.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30831319278181921212012-12-24T20:29:13.068-05:002012-12-24T20:29:13.068-05:00skoal-to-old-school-style<a href="valuecompetition.typepad.com/metarex/2012/12/skoal-to-old-school-style.htmlresumepage.html" rel="nofollow">skoal-to-old-school-style</a>MetaRexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01697113550216241303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53658204054009658022012-12-24T19:48:17.738-05:002012-12-24T19:48:17.738-05:00Liz and Jennie - a Christmas bonus! Nice work, el...Liz and Jennie - a Christmas bonus! Nice work, elves!<br /><br />Got the theme at STEEL, then looked ahead and filled in the remaining theme answers. Was doubtful about STALE COFFEE as a "thing" but STYLE POINTS won me over.<br /><br />No MAI TAI swilling here - off go get some brandy-doctored egg nog. <br /><br />@Rex, thanks for a fun puzzle. Happy celebrating to all.Carolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971759975067250908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79061148658748651812012-12-24T19:19:18.374-05:002012-12-24T19:19:18.374-05:00Thanks for the feedback, everyone. Merry Christmas...Thanks for the feedback, everyone. Merry Christmas.<br /><br />RPRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.com