tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post9117652705327383952..comments2024-03-28T07:54:35.055-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Fashionista * Moon Zombie / THU 3-18-10 / Tilly of Tinseltown / Millet's moon / Renaissance cradle city / Resident winter palace before 1917Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36005860481359555232020-04-06T11:02:33.465-04:002020-04-06T11:02:33.465-04:00@Bob Kerfuffle: That must be it. Thanks!@Bob Kerfuffle: That must be it. Thanks!Doctor Workhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02000900461237918101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53391634373294950432020-04-06T10:32:13.443-04:002020-04-06T10:32:13.443-04:00@Doctor Work - My best guess is that the clue had ...@Doctor Work - My best guess is that the clue had in mind words like cashier, one who handles cash; or glazier, one who works with glass; or croupier, a doctor who treats croup (?) . . . Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33556750654987559762020-04-06T09:56:36.038-04:002020-04-06T09:56:36.038-04:00The clue "Laborer's suffix" has got ...The clue "Laborer's suffix" has got me stumped. How do you get "IER" out of that?? You can't add -ier to laborer to make a word.Doctor Workhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02000900461237918101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69401655767112176362010-04-22T11:46:34.533-04:002010-04-22T11:46:34.533-04:00OK, I'm on the fence. I agree the fill was dre...OK, I'm on the fence. I agree the fill was dreck, but the construction was brilliant in concept. But the local paper dropped all the Down clues from 40D through 62D, which entailed a lot of back-and-forth guessing, making the final all-correct answer unusually satisfying. Took several minutes to work out the additional hint. Then had no clue beginning with SOL, but guess that was in the lost clues...WilsonCPUhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13979524409642122336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77143534692186678402010-03-19T01:49:08.813-04:002010-03-19T01:49:08.813-04:00This crossword had more awesomeness in the center ...This crossword had more awesomeness in the center square. H could represent a B-natural. B-natural is notated as H in German musical texts.<br />In "Godel, Escher, Bach" Douglas Hofstadter explained how Bach used the four letters in his name as a musical theme: B-A-C-H became B flat A, C, B-natural.<br /><br />"Descending" FIFTHS (1D) is a clever opening for a musically themed puzzle: the 12 keys move through a circle of fifths. Well played Daniel Finan!Tadd Dameronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9345876373811900862010-03-18T22:55:22.765-04:002010-03-18T22:55:22.765-04:00One of the worst solving experiences I've had ...One of the worst solving experiences I've had with the NYT...hope u music majors had funAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18994481521698731442010-03-18T22:39:05.099-04:002010-03-18T22:39:05.099-04:00@SethG: As a Connecticut resident and a Democrat, ...@SethG: As a Connecticut resident and a Democrat, I really like to just forget about this.....Isadore.<br /><br />@Ulrich: who won?<br /><br />can't make anything of emichup....machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80214644755430057322010-03-18T22:18:43.433-04:002010-03-18T22:18:43.433-04:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=35115061&postID=3588389571383499624&isPopup=true" rel="nofollow">7/30/2009 post</a> 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 6:55, 6:55, 1.00, 55%, Medium<br />Tue 9:25, 8:54, 1.06, 68%, Medium-Challenging<br />Wed 13:58, 11:50, 1.18, 88%, Challenging<br />Thu 23:59, 19:28, 1.23, 91%, Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:30, 3:40, 0.95, 43%, Medium<br />Tue 4:30, 4:31, 1.00, 54%, Medium<br />Wed 6:39, 5:48, 1.15, 82%, Challenging<br />Thu 12:25, 9:21, 1.33, 95%, Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64356962848162764222010-03-18T21:35:18.133-04:002010-03-18T21:35:18.133-04:00Strangely I caught on to the fact that there were ...Strangely I caught on to the fact that there were full words in some squares because MAUSOLEUM and ISOLATE had to be. I thought, OMG, I'm going to solve one of those rebus thingies! At first I thought it was a "sun/moon" thing. But another "it has to be" - AFAVOR, I was on my way. WOW.<br /><br />However, I didn't get the whole thing. Had to Google for WAITZ (sports), SHERI (young), ISADORE (good grief). In the SW, I got messed up with MULTIMILLIONAIRE, picking TI instead of MI. DOING escaped me, so it was a mess.<br /><br />Didn't notice the musical notes in the beginning of the clues 'til here. But I'm semi-proud, since I never tried a rebus cw before, knowingly.<br /><br />Being OCD I rather admire the puzzle.<br /><br />@Seth - I wanted "garotte" but couldn't make it work.<br /><br />@Joe - Correct. Moon Unit Zappa is Frank's daughter, and it's her christened name, if I can take that word in vain.<br /><br />A servomechanism (one word) employs a real time feedback loop to constantly correct a position. Our own brains can act as one when we're steering. So, it can be biological, mechanical or electronic. Nuff said.<br />(Note: when you talk sciency, you must say "so" somewhere.)<br /><br />My captcha is STUPE. Subtle.Sfinginoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89689601951655726082010-03-18T21:08:00.154-04:002010-03-18T21:08:00.154-04:00@ edith b, Thank you for welcoming back Greene. I ...@ edith b, Thank you for welcoming back Greene. I noticed the return as well but forgot to include it in my post.<br />@ Greene, I don't know where you have been but glad you are back.Two Ponieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06896743444873087885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24672968535419827912010-03-18T20:51:41.562-04:002010-03-18T20:51:41.562-04:00Here I thought ISA{DO}{RE} somehow fit into the re...Here I thought ISA{DO}{RE} somehow fit into the rebus of this puzzle but, for the life of me, couldn't figure out its <b><i>raison d'etre</i></b>.<br /><br />I caught on to the fact that it <a rel="nofollow">was</a> a rebus at the ARA{FA}T/A{FA}VOR cross, and at the same time, noticed all the clues started with elements of the solfege so I thought the ISADORE situation might not be that far outside the realm of possibility after all. Which made for an extremely confused woman, what with an unchecked square smack-dab in the middle of the puzzle, along with a single {circled} square at 58.<br /><br />It finally occurred to me to read what was in the {see Notepad} which turned out to be a convoluted mish-mash that only served to confuse me further as I was not interested in turning my puzzle into a placemat from the IHOP (thank you for the image, Zeke).<br /><br />I ended up solving the puzzle in a reasonable amount of time by not paying any attention to the various bells-and-whistles that came packaged along with it. What a strange couple of weeks it has been!<br /><br />Oh, and welcome back, Greene, it was nice seeing your "thumbs-up" avatar again.edith bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12048817959846956992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26336766191534431552010-03-18T19:37:14.977-04:002010-03-18T19:37:14.977-04:00Ulrich summed up my thoughts pretty well---the con...Ulrich summed up my thoughts pretty well---the construction was incredible, didn't even notice the craziness of the cluing, and even didn't mind the fill because of the other stuff going on.<br /><br />Very strong rebus squares, too; a bunch of them turned out to match my first guesses, so I kept <i>wanting</i> them so bad but couldn't figure out how to make it work. That's part of what makes me love rebus puzzles, and wacky ones like this with different (but totally thematic) rebuses are even better.<br /><br />And Rex hit the theme the nose. This puzzle's the crazy pinnacle of the notes theme that we've seen so often before. Next time we see the theme, I'm definitely going to compare it against this one. The solo H was just clever icing on the cake, as the puzzle even worked perfectly without it, and even more perfectly with it. A rule-break that was worth it, adding to the puzzle but not a crutch.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13631743840776360363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7042371862056361772010-03-18T19:36:21.438-04:002010-03-18T19:36:21.438-04:00@chefbea - I solve the same way you do. Yesterday...@chefbea - I solve the same way you do. Yesterday I clicked on the little notepad thingy on top and the blurb appeared on the screen. Tried to memorize it (it was kinda long) and then printed the puzzle.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35857176709049295322010-03-18T19:17:37.596-04:002010-03-18T19:17:37.596-04:00A false start penalty may only be called on the of...A false start penalty may only be called on the offense. (If the defense induces the false start, that's a delay of game or a neutral zone infraction, defending on the method of inducement.) The stoppage is automatic; the yardage penalty may be declined, and that might happen (as is does with intentional delay of game penalties) when it just gives the offense a better strategic spot for punting. <br /><br />I thought about offsetting penalties, but I'm not sure how that can happen with a false start penalty. (An unsportsmanlike conduct or personal foul could ensue, but that penalty wouldn't offset.<br /><br />As for Martin's point, there's a limit to how far that goes. I agree that this is accurate, but I don't think you could say that, say, [False start's result, in football] can be used to clue DECLINED PENALTY just because a penalty may be declined. No matter how far the week has progressed.<br /><br />I can't believe we've had this much discussion of Joe Lieberman without a single mention of Kermit the Frog.SethGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13753036404140901368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69285578467330374762010-03-18T18:45:28.028-04:002010-03-18T18:45:28.028-04:00@lit.doc: I was actually reaching out across the a...@lit.doc: I was actually reaching out across the aisle--we may be on the same side after all.<br /><br />@mac: I thought of you just now as I watched Anderlecht against Hamburg via life-streaming...Ulrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19782522862870135552010-03-18T18:17:35.761-04:002010-03-18T18:17:35.761-04:00While I am in awe of the construction here, I stil...While I am in awe of the construction here, I still find it self indulgent. I don't want to draw on my puzzle. I don't want the crappy fill that must be used to make the puzzle "work". I much prefer a good straightforward difficult but doable puzzle with interesting clues and fill. And a puzzle that is workable in across lite as well as in other newspapers.SueRohrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13511695558054356816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21963955187167483392010-03-18T17:17:21.356-04:002010-03-18T17:17:21.356-04:00You end up having a 6 character roman numeral in y...You end up having a 6 character roman numeral in your grid, which just happens to be the year of the 1st powered flight, which was accomplished by guys with one of the most amenable to punning names around, so you clue it as a publication date of some obscure book!<br />Just how techo-phobic can the NYT puzzle become???<br /><br />Loved it otherwise.David in CAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21592709973452500022010-03-18T16:54:26.180-04:002010-03-18T16:54:26.180-04:00@Martin - Max Wright played Willie Tanner.
I was ...@Martin - Max Wright played Willie Tanner.<br /><br />I was prepared to put up a little fight against 59 A, Latin motto "Ars GRATIA artis", since although the words are indeed Latin, the motto is actually a translation of the French expression of "Art for art's sake", created for commercial purposes, and it was not really an ancient Latin motto. But once I realized that the word "Latin" was in there mainly for its "La" beginning . . . Why fight it?<br /><br />Another amazing puzzle; loved it.Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18616060622370127352010-03-18T16:50:37.374-04:002010-03-18T16:50:37.374-04:00@creocat
Thanks for the explaination
@Elaine
Th...@creocat<br /><br />Thanks for the explaination<br /><br />@Elaine<br /><br />Thanks for pointing out @creocat answered my question.<br /><br />..../Glitch<br /><br />PS: Not everyone has a music teacher when growing up.Glitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66415173776407784372010-03-18T16:39:09.788-04:002010-03-18T16:39:09.788-04:00Thanks for explaining the note pad and the blurb.
...Thanks for explaining the note pad and the blurb.<br /><br />@lit doc I do not solve in across lite. I go to the puzzle there and print it out. The only thing in the print out was (see Notepad)chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54600490033889976602010-03-18T16:36:46.723-04:002010-03-18T16:36:46.723-04:00A clue does not have to describe the entry 100% of...A clue does not have to describe the entry 100% of the time to be 100% correct. Jennifer Tilly does not make MEG wrong. <br /><br />Finding counterexamples for clues gets easier as the week progresses, BTW.<br /><br />And Alf's guardian or whatever he is, Willie Tanner, could be Lieberman's twin.Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42664177189478641292010-03-18T16:34:22.665-04:002010-03-18T16:34:22.665-04:00@Zeke - I'm still laughing, IHOP indeed!
Love...@Zeke - I'm still laughing, IHOP indeed!<br /><br />Loved the puzzle, took me a while to struggle through, but I enjoyed every minute.<br /><br />nestraw - right before the last strawchefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21367983977210362002010-03-18T16:24:54.219-04:002010-03-18T16:24:54.219-04:00Can't believe it--a rebus puzzle I was able to...Can't believe it--a rebus puzzle I was able to just about finish....because I HATE rebus puzzles.<br /><br />Things like ISADORE, ETERNE, and TSARINA were annoying but most of it was not bad--once you figured out it was a #$&@*@ rebus puzzle.<br /><br />SHERRI Moon Zombie is NOT one of Frank Zappa's kids. Puh-leeze. Unknown to most people.<br /><br />Easy way to tell Poirot from Belvedere: Belvedere was always "joking" about how he survived the London blitz in The Big One, WW II.<br /><br />I personally liked Belvedere better when he wore a dress and wanted to direct Springtime For Hitler.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17857747515877769718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15104306753747403702010-03-18T16:22:30.084-04:002010-03-18T16:22:30.084-04:00@lit.doc - Thanks! Now I like it even more. I wa...@lit.doc - Thanks! Now I like it even more. I was wondering if it was common knowledge that the scale is sung with eighth-notes, and wondering if I should have known that! Now that I know that the clue referred to 8 notes, it makes perfect sense!<br /><br />Watch a youtube clip of Droopy Dog with your eyes closed, and tell me it doesn't sound exactly like Lieberman...CoolPapaDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11542059534657415505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53320012407810049302010-03-18T16:14:05.879-04:002010-03-18T16:14:05.879-04:00tststeve: You might be right, before the snap mean...tststeve: You might be right, before the snap means it's apparently automatic, since there's no loss of down either. On the other hand, if the clock was running near the end of the half/game at the time of the penalty, it also kills 10 seconds off the clock--perhaps the defensive team does not want that?<br /><br />So let's revise the question. Is the clue 100% accurate as written, considering either of the following two scenarios may also apply.<br /><br />Version one: Suppose there is an offsetting penalty from the other team, also five yards. In other words, if two penalties cancel each other, do they in fact "occur"?<br /><br />Version two: suppose the clock is running at the time of the infraction, and there are less than ten seconds on the clock to end the half/game. The penalty also carries an automatic loss of ten seconds, and in fact ends the half/game if called, so again the yardage loss does not "occur".william e embanoreply@blogger.com