tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post9179522484096092807..comments2024-03-28T22:09:11.213-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Biblical name for Syria / MON 1-28-13 / Big name in art glass / Against property to judge / Countryside Sp / Deathtrap playwright Ira / Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38311197639945570392013-03-05T05:42:16.814-05:002013-03-05T05:42:16.814-05:00There once was a man from Ghent
Whose TOOL was so ...There once was a man from Ghent<br />Whose TOOL was so long that it bent<br />To save himself trouble<br />He put it in double<br />And instead of coming, he wentAnonyratnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54379414825571161962013-03-04T17:35:28.836-05:002013-03-04T17:35:28.836-05:00I sat across the room while PP tackled this, offer...I sat across the room while PP tackled this, offering moral support and the occasional hint. I could tell from her muttering that it was more difficult than a typical Monday - her only real hang-up came in accepting TOOL as a derogatory term. I work in a hardware store so I explained the difference between the tools we sell and the TOOLS (only a few of our customers) who buy them.Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84514079444824351032013-03-04T14:07:21.766-05:002013-03-04T14:07:21.766-05:00I found it easy but refreshingly different for a M...I found it easy but refreshingly different for a Monday, which is good in my opinion. In my lexicon, the expression is "what a useless tool", ie, no reference to a penis, and even if it is, does it matter? Heck, we've had Paul Ryan in a puzzle (same metaphor). I too always thought that the OP of OPED meant "opinion". Thanks @ Bob K. rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9402765405362672822013-03-04T14:00:48.027-05:002013-03-04T14:00:48.027-05:00I finished, but it was a bit of a slog. I think ED... I finished, but it was a bit of a slog. I think EDNA and ESTELLE were the only two names I knew going in, so the rest had to come from crosses and guesses (RAE?), but they did until I got to LOURA/WLS? ENTO had to be ENTO, so what else was wrong? It took way too long for the marble to,drop as Mr. Rawls is actually a name I know. Not the song, just the name!<br /><br />I don't think I've ever heard someone say WHATATOOL, but if I did, i would think it meant someone is a sap without any risqué connotations. In the long run, I think ones experience with this puzzle was pretty generational, and being pre-Beatle slowed me down, but not out.DMGrandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45540447747109929692013-03-04T11:50:52.040-05:002013-03-04T11:50:52.040-05:00@Spacecraft - I believe OPED stands for "OPpo...@Spacecraft - I believe OPED stands for "OPposite [the] EDitorial page.Bob Kerfufflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02615811802419025933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2009095049476130962013-03-04T11:38:19.711-05:002013-03-04T11:38:19.711-05:00Astounding. In one line, OFL rates this "cha...Astounding. In one line, OFL rates this "challenging (3:52)." What then if it was easy? Instantaneous?? You speeders live in a different world, that's for sure. How's your blood pressure?<br /><br />Anyway, I liked this one. Rather than complain about low word count, I think it's a cool achievement to stack triple sevens in all four corners--and have it appear on a Monday! Kudos to the team!<br /><br />First thing that went in was OBLA, because I'm a fan of those BLOKEs. On the other hand, BETH was forced in on crosses. I'm just trying to picture the NYP playing accompaniment to Kiss. That must've been a hoot.<br /><br />Last thing that went in was OPED. I thought it couldn't be that because the clue mentions opinion, and that's what the OP stands for. Isn't that some kind of infraction? Oh: there it goes: flag on the play! This one's coming back.<br /><br />I saw two bleedovers from the Sunday puzzles, but then again I get three of 'em in my paper. I remember doing both ESTELLE and OXIDE yesterday. Might have been the Liz Gorsky puz.<br /><br />I'll leave you with a final ONELINEr: If a BLOKE packs certain shoes again for shipping, does he REBOX Reeboks?Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90803970454357670132013-01-29T20:13:27.893-05:002013-01-29T20:13:27.893-05:00I don't normally comment the next day, but had...I don't normally comment the next day, but had to , just for the record, say that this is the all-time worst Monday puzzle for me. I actually missed a square. I don't speak Spanish - 2 clues. I never heard of Leeza anyone, or anything ever sung by Kiss, or Carly Rae, I don't watch the Simpsons. I would have still disliked this puzzle as much on a Tuesday or Wednesday, but would have been less ashamed of my error. OISKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16808675378318214461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43062525580378164392013-01-29T15:13:35.902-05:002013-01-29T15:13:35.902-05:00John V- Yes, this was my first puzzle! Unfortunate...John V- Yes, this was my first puzzle! Unfortunately I was on the train moving across the country yesterday so I haven't actually seen the puzzle in print yet.<br /><br />All- I appreciate the comments, thanks!<br /><br />Jaime (female scientist newly relocated to Austin, TX) fruitypantsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26134009967538726172013-01-29T00:11:53.115-05:002013-01-29T00:11:53.115-05:00This 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 8:03, 6:12, 1.30, 99%, Challenging (2nd highest ratio of 163 Mondays)<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 4:32, 3:39, 1.24, 99%, Challenging (3rd highest ratio of 163 Mondays)sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21336679135239627902013-01-28T22:35:23.592-05:002013-01-28T22:35:23.592-05:00Welcome @MarkK. I seldom mention my time since I ...Welcome @MarkK. I seldom mention my time since I am a slowpoke but it seemed appropriate today.<br /><br />Drat, I wish I were up there freezing my tusshie off so I could join you all at Westport. Really, I would love being there.<br /><br />@Jen: you 89 miles, me 1334. Have fun.Sparkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11149915526159432838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80939348239346205722013-01-28T21:22:58.514-05:002013-01-28T21:22:58.514-05:00@bird - I believe OP ED means opposite from the ed...@bird - I believe OP ED means opposite from the editorial page.chefwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31902218885757365692013-01-28T20:59:14.014-05:002013-01-28T20:59:14.014-05:00@Sparky: hand up for Disco DAN before STU.
Knew ...@Sparky: hand up for Disco DAN before STU.<br /><br />Knew LOU RAWLS right away; that song is such a Lounge Lizard-type song! I can just see Bill Murray singing that on SNL (I don't know whether he did or not, but it seems like a song Nick Winters would sing.)<br /><br />I'll have to look up Westport & see how far it is...<br /><br />@Tita 1:50: LOLJenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78531785114549532442013-01-28T20:53:00.709-05:002013-01-28T20:53:00.709-05:00@joho We will miss you.@joho We will miss you.John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34081271439568235572013-01-28T20:43:55.917-05:002013-01-28T20:43:55.917-05:00I'm so bummed not to be in Westport. My annual...I'm so bummed not to be in Westport. My annual trade show got in the way. Hopefully next year.johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83821039724838575762013-01-28T19:19:57.093-05:002013-01-28T19:19:57.093-05:00I'm reassured that this was a challenging Mond...I'm reassured that this was a challenging Monday for others. I went at this at about Wednesday speed and make a mistake, which rarely happens on Monday.<br /><br />Of course, if I had thought about it at all, I would have realized that Disco Btu was an unlikely name -- Disco British Thermal Unit.....and blipmichaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45715150432285305422013-01-28T18:47:22.337-05:002013-01-28T18:47:22.337-05:00@MetaRex Looking forward to meeting you. I never ...@MetaRex Looking forward to meeting you. I never met a rex I didn't like.<br /><br />Sorry. I'll leave now.John Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557037910799243636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-35229907321173420312013-01-28T17:39:13.499-05:002013-01-28T17:39:13.499-05:00Will be great to see everyone at Westport.
Anyone ...Will be great to see everyone at Westport.<br />Anyone else going?<br />Looking forward to meeting you, Metarex, and to seeing the others again.Titahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368251255494687496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59099448889679440042013-01-28T17:22:08.100-05:002013-01-28T17:22:08.100-05:00@MetaRex: are you sticking around for dinner?@MetaRex: are you sticking around for dinner?machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23657598827623711172013-01-28T16:58:33.978-05:002013-01-28T16:58:33.978-05:00Hand up here for Westport...thx @John V. and @mac ...Hand up here for Westport...thx @John V. and @mac for the heads-up on the event. MetaRexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01697113550216241303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22860816639002126482013-01-28T16:46:15.080-05:002013-01-28T16:46:15.080-05:00loved disco stu....didn't know this was challe...loved disco stu....didn't know this was challenging til i came here.while i'd llike that to be the case on a friday, i'll take it anyday!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1896624696472479202013-01-28T16:27:06.157-05:002013-01-28T16:27:06.157-05:00Midday 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 and my 10/15/2012 post for an explanation of a tweak to my method):<br /><br />All solvers (median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Mon 8:08, 6:12, 1.31, 99%, Challenging (2nd highest ratio of 163 Mondays)<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 4:48, 3:39, 1.32, 100%, Challenging (highest ratio of 163 Mondays)<br /><br />This one is definitely an unusually challenging Monday by the numbers. These median solve times would place it in the Easy-Medium Tuesday range.sanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28180882130401190022013-01-28T15:55:52.543-05:002013-01-28T15:55:52.543-05:00Welcome, @MarkK! Not everyone here is a speed sol...Welcome, @MarkK! Not everyone here is a speed solver. I would imagine those who are would be interested in seeing times. Someone recently commented that by adding his time to his blog, @Rex has made an improvement (if that's even possible!) It certainly wouldn't be bad form. johohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86101616699695735002013-01-28T15:52:20.725-05:002013-01-28T15:52:20.725-05:00Harder than average Monday unless you are a total ...Harder than average Monday unless you are a total insider puzzle geek. Whatever. Ugly fill did nothing for me, full finish to quell naysayers xyzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08287781952915413013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56510753230983403602013-01-28T15:34:43.916-05:002013-01-28T15:34:43.916-05:00After being severely beat up by Sunday's puzzl...After being severely beat up by Sunday's puzzle which so many of you found facile, (DNF for me - I couldn't pick up on the theme while solving on an iphone), I came to today's puzzle hoping for an easy Monday win. Much more challenging (ESTAS, ARAM and STEUBEN) than I was looking for but still did it in 11m. If this is Monday, I'm almost already throwing in the towel thinking about what Saturday will bring.<br /><br />(First time poster here - is posting your time bad form?)MarkKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01586086192223009742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68551018331411489812013-01-28T15:31:06.542-05:002013-01-28T15:31:06.542-05:00Surprised @Rex did not know Steuben from its proxi...Surprised @Rex did not know <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steuben_Glass_Works" rel="nofollow">Steuben</a> from its proximity to him. 1 hr 6 min on NY 17.<br /><br />TOOL, when I was an undergraduate. referred humorously to "a TOOL of the Institute," basically one who was forced by the Institute to "TOOL", which meant to study constantly. OK, a bit personal, but it still led me to reject the correct answer at first for the alternative putdown, "WHAT A FOOL."<br /><br />Probably tougher than the usual Monday - I was about 20% over what is a good Monday time for me. A few easily corrected writeovers. I SEE NOW @ 52A was the most interesting.<br /><br />LEEZA Gibbons was a Dallas local ages ago, so I knew that right off. Carly RAE Jepsen - pulled that out of deep background but turned out to be right.<br /><br />Not sure that many people read Mickey Spillane anymore but he was big when I was younger. I still remember the line, risqué for the time,"She was a real blonde" from that book.<br /><br />Thanks, constructors Hutchison and Fleming.<br /><br /><br /><br />retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.com