tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post9154807641653865312..comments2024-03-28T22:09:11.213-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Perpetual Peace thinker / FRI 9-3-10 / Legendary Spanish bullfighter / Auto marque of 1980s-'90s / Ricky frontman for bluegrass's Kentucky ThunderRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-47838565831884673232010-10-08T18:23:17.737-04:002010-10-08T18:23:17.737-04:00Here in syndication-land this puzzle appeared on O...Here in syndication-land this puzzle appeared on October 8, which I'm told by a young friend who knows about these things is the day before John Lennon's birthday. So maybe the mini-Lennon theme was a shout-out from Wil to the multitude of fans who wait patiently for the puz to show up in their local daily rag. Well, probably not but still, I sure he knows we are out here.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-219576914823578962010-10-08T16:22:46.946-04:002010-10-08T16:22:46.946-04:00@Douglas - All questions of "Has this word ev...@Douglas - All questions of "Has this word ever appeared . . . " or "How many times has this word appeared . . ." can be answered by going to the XWord Info database, <a href="http://www.xwordinfo.com/Finder" rel="nofollow">here.</a>E. T.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51222017294249949042010-10-08T16:09:28.729-04:002010-10-08T16:09:28.729-04:00In his song "In Old Mexico," Tom Lehrer ...In his song "In Old Mexico," Tom Lehrer sang <br /><br />"Ah, but best of all I remember the Plaza des Toros,<br />Now whenever I start feeling morose,<br />I revive by recalling that scene...<br /><br />And names like Delmonte Dominguina Manolete,<br />If I live to a hundred-and-eightay,<br />I shall never forget what they mean!"<br /><br /><br />But I actually dropped in to ask if this puzzle was the first occurence of exoplanets in the NYT crossword of which you know of.Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15146665485840381349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11899566039617169162010-09-04T19:03:36.656-04:002010-09-04T19:03:36.656-04:00I'm always curious to see Rex's ratings--i...I'm always curious to see Rex's ratings--it's clear to me we are of different generations and have different frames of reference. I rate myself as to whether I have to google any answers or can get it all by myself, no matter how long it takes. I fact, I print out the puzzles and just keep working on them until they're done or I get bored/frustrated and start googling. This puzzle was a 3 googler for me--Thursday's was a rare could-not-finish AT ALL in spite of googling--just never saw the bass-ackwardness of it. Then an oh-s--t,of course moment. Love this blog! Makes me feel one of the crowd....tetu301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10374778639251675912010-09-03T22:46:18.199-04:002010-09-03T22:46:18.199-04:00@Andrea, I really like " backwords" ! I ...@Andrea, I really like " backwords" ! I had to trick my word processing program to allow me to write it :)<br /><br />I struggled yesterday with the naming. Then as I was explaining the puzzle to np- husband he asked: so is it like you're looking at it in the mirror? I had to actually type up a couple of those words and hold them up to the mirror. Yep, that works. So we can also think of them as mirror words.foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74236672298332161832010-09-03T22:06:40.208-04:002010-09-03T22:06:40.208-04:00This 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 7:08, 6:58, 1.02, 63%, Medium-Challenging<br />Tue 7:09, 8:52, 0.81, 3%, Easy<br />Wed 11:51, 11:44, 1.01, 61%, Medium-Challenging<br />Thu 24:26, 19:16, 1.27, 89%, Challenging<br />Fri 27:42, 26:41, 1.04, 58%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:54, 3:43, 1.05, 82%, Challenging<br />Tue 3:49, 4:34, 0.84, 6%, Easy<br />Wed 5:59, 5:46, 1.04, 69%, Medium-Challenging<br />Thu 11:48, 9:15, 1.28, 89%, Challenging<br />Fri 14:01, 13:00, 1.08, 72%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Many thanks to John Farmer for motivating me to listen to Double Fantasy today (the Lennon half, that is). It has one of my favorite love songs ever (Woman) and probably my very favorite John Lennon song ever (Watching the Wheels) ... and that's really saying something. The latter never fails to bring tears to my eyes. You're missed, dear John ... rest well.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55633831347310472422010-09-03T21:56:30.490-04:002010-09-03T21:56:30.490-04:00@ACME
From the creator of "Natick Town Squar...@ACME<br /><br />From the creator of "Natick Town Square", I vote for "BACK[-]WORDS",<br /><br />.../GlitchGlitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940000404613329056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77846847117856152552010-09-03T20:59:23.346-04:002010-09-03T20:59:23.346-04:00@coffeelvr
Joon posted something very interesting ...@coffeelvr<br />Joon posted something very interesting on yesterday's LA Crossword Confidential blog calling them SEMORDNILAP(S).<br />That was so ugly and I didn't even realize it was PALINDROMEs backwards!<br />(and if you follow his embedded link, it also names ten other names for them...)<br /><br />I like your "binym" coinage tho I think it hints at the double words, but not the backwards-ness of it all.<br /><br />However, I've been simply calling them "backwords" and I would like to coin that and do a series of easier puzzles with that name.<br />My idea is to have THREE sets of clues: Across, Down AND Reverse! (But some feel that is too easy. 'Sides, without PB's genius, I don't think I could construct one on my lonesome.<br />Actually, I KNOW I couldn't.)<br />(In an ideal world, I'd leave out abbreviations, two word phrases, palindromes and even proper names unless they were very easily clued. In other words, probably impossible!).<br /><br />Anyway, I don't want to go on about this on John Farmer's special day and in comments for his fabulous puzzle <br />(Still dreaming up all sorts of possibilities for 1A...<br />@treedweller...any cream???!!! ha!!!) ;)andrea ono michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90650132108944253722010-09-03T20:35:32.486-04:002010-09-03T20:35:32.486-04:00When I finish (or don't finish) a puzzle, I tr...When I finish (or don't finish) a puzzle, I try to predict how Rex will rate the puzzle. Today I predicted, "this has to be an easy!". Except for the the NW which slowed me down quite a bit and the awkward crossing of "stodges" and "manolete", which made me think, "can this me right?", I found this to be much easier than normal for a Friday.Nebraska Dougnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44210579911745614762010-09-03T18:54:26.820-04:002010-09-03T18:54:26.820-04:00No idea who the bullfighter was, spelled it OhLALA...No idea who the bullfighter was, spelled it OhLALA and tried to fit amp meter in as a fault finder. Sigh.<br /><br />Did this one in between a trip to the dentist, running checks to step lads for school picture day and waiting on plumbers.<br /><br />Thus, did not get tuned in, just solved.<br /><br />** (2 Stars) SOSUEME.<br /><br /><br />Andrea your responses to 1A: Pricelessdkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57272217857684665722010-09-03T18:54:11.597-04:002010-09-03T18:54:11.597-04:00Here's my stab at 1A: "Does anybody read ...Here's my stab at 1A: "Does anybody read enough Chinese to tell me what this tattoo says?"Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-46799193305254948822010-09-03T16:59:30.284-04:002010-09-03T16:59:30.284-04:00@Archeoprof, you have a companion in your epic fai...@Archeoprof, you have a companion in your epic fail. I had some spots that worked well but I was completely stuck in the NE. <br /><br />My biggest accomplishment is that I nailed the rating with my QDI as Medium Challenging, and that I'm doing this on my new iPad.foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27300727246898370912010-09-03T16:30:10.396-04:002010-09-03T16:30:10.396-04:00I always enjoy the write up here, Rex. I hope all...I always enjoy the write up here, Rex. I hope all is well in Kiwi land tonight...first reports just coming in.miguelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30942131980191629702010-09-03T16:10:24.388-04:002010-09-03T16:10:24.388-04:00Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/...Midday report of relative difficulty (see my 7/30/2009 post for an explanation of my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Fri 28:21, 26:41, 1.06, 69%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Fri 14:30, 13:01, 1.11, 77%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36293907448833909032010-09-03T15:19:13.943-04:002010-09-03T15:19:13.943-04:00Started at the bottom as I spied the "Beautif...Started at the bottom as I spied the "Beautiful Boy" clue right off. Finished the bottom half of the puzzle in record time and thought "gee, this is a very easy Friday." The top half, though, was one mess after another caused by, among others, the RHEA and WHERE AM I? errors others have mentioned.<br /><br />I just knew the volcano in a national park had to be one of the Hawaiian ones ... Mauna Loa/Kea (didn't fit) or Kilauea (crosses I was pretty sure of ruled it out.) Forgot about Mt. RAINIER until it emerged. Jeremiad (RANT) was a new word for me, as was EXOPLANETS, so I learned a few new things while solving this enjoyable puzzle!shrub5https://www.blogger.com/profile/09466867716773759568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43033104058047845652010-09-03T14:54:16.575-04:002010-09-03T14:54:16.575-04:00Wheee! What a good solid puzzle this morning. Yes,...Wheee! What a good solid puzzle this morning. Yes, it is still morning here in Alaska. Call it a medium-challenging Friday for me. NW was a bear for me, like with many others. A so not boring puzzle. Bravo.Shamikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11635283729322415150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28477233172083412012010-09-03T14:27:01.265-04:002010-09-03T14:27:01.265-04:00How about WHO WUZAT given the possible Z for ZEAL?...How about WHO WUZAT given the possible Z for ZEAL?<br /><br />PASTIES attach to TASSELS, no?<br /><br />I was thinking ELLY or ELIE for the Journalism awards, since the little trophy is a elephant. <br /><br />No like Clue for ISOBARS. They indicate curvy lines of the same pressure, not the isolated points of H and L.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29189918450894374562010-09-03T14:18:46.116-04:002010-09-03T14:18:46.116-04:00Well, I got the SW corner, and RCMP, and zeal, whi...Well, I got the SW corner, and RCMP, and zeal, which was wrong. <br /><br />Why such a big jump from Thursday to Friday?? Yesterday's puzzle was so much fun. Before I wonder how people have ever come to hear of DANESLAW I'm going to go look up jeremiad :(sillygoosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03483946342170291849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17508270663175143922010-09-03T14:04:17.974-04:002010-09-03T14:04:17.974-04:001A, I thought at first was "Where am I",...1A, I thought at first was "Where am I", however, 'I did what' was a topper.<br />"The Death of Manolete, by Barnaby Conrad, is one of the greatest illustrated books you'll ever set eyes on...Can't recommend strongly enough one pick up a copy or check it out of a library...graphic beyond belief!CaseAcenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57932677115560513912010-09-03T13:55:16.525-04:002010-09-03T13:55:16.525-04:00Tough puzzle. DNF. came here to see the finished p...Tough puzzle. DNF. came here to see the finished puzzle.<br /><br />Earl passed us by. Nary a drop of rain!!!chefbeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12190129749990966422010-09-03T13:42:11.544-04:002010-09-03T13:42:11.544-04:00Massive and embarassing DNF for me today. Mr. Fa...Massive and embarassing DNF for me today. Mr. Farmer and I must have vastly different pools of knowledge. This one made me feel so ignorant.Van55https://www.blogger.com/profile/15904942044695917615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37825325935974905482010-09-03T13:38:34.624-04:002010-09-03T13:38:34.624-04:00Epic fail for me today. Found this puzzle "t...Epic fail for me today. Found this puzzle "totally, absolutely and in all other ways incontheivable." Worst effort for me in years. <br /><br />I must be losing it...<br /><br />Or maybe it's just that today was our first day with students back on campus. Why does summer have to end? It's been going so well.archaeoprofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956231727789223463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29726702028829133202010-09-03T13:35:00.727-04:002010-09-03T13:35:00.727-04:00We are still roffling over all the 1A variations.
...We are still roffling over all the 1A variations.<br /><br />Had to put this down for about an hour (and prep the back yard for a tropical storm that still hasn't arrived), before returning to the Northwest and seeing that my ENGENDER was wrong.<br /><br />Yes, there needs to be a new term for the kind of words in yesterday's (excellent) puzzle. Today I noticed IDAHOS produces SO HAD I...Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02681342234536407419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-74022608893572584772010-09-03T13:31:12.174-04:002010-09-03T13:31:12.174-04:00@twangster. Well, don't I feel stupid! Thanks...@twangster. Well, don't I feel stupid! Thanks for the clarification. I would still quibble with calling all of this week's puzzles medium for their respective days, but it at least falls in the arguable range now that I understand the rating system.The Hagnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58173593323920450972010-09-03T12:48:31.242-04:002010-09-03T12:48:31.242-04:00Loved this puzzle to pieces. All the great express...Loved this puzzle to pieces. All the great expressions, starting with 1A - and then SINKERBALL! The Braves have an ace sinkerballer on their team (Tim Hudson).<br /><br />Go Braves!! <br /><br />I also liked ENO crossing ONO - a marriage made in crossworld.hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04627015904603641109noreply@blogger.com