Althouse: "In non-question mark [NYT crossword] clues, I think I actually laughed, or at least internally chuckled, when I finally got AFFAIRS at 32D: Business, either personal or otherwise."

June 23, 2018

"In non-question mark [NYT crossword] clues, I think I actually laughed, or at least internally chuckled, when I finally got AFFAIRS at 32D: Business, either personal or otherwise."

"It seemed like such a dull clue at first, but then AFFAIRS gave 'Business' a sexual implication that I was not expecting. At least that's how I read the 'personal' part of the clue."

Text and video reference from Rex Parker, who always blogs the NYT crossword. I've watched that video before but still laughed about 20 times in less than 4 minutes. As for the crossword, it took Rex 9 minutes and 9 seconds of crossword time. Is that it? I took my time and kept it going for 13 minutes and 34 seconds. Why do men think it's better to get it done fast?

10 comments:

rehajm said...: F1, Nascar, it’s all the same. Why do the hot women hang on the race winner? Shouldn’t you want the slowest guy in the rzce?; 6/23/18, 7:10 AM
Kevin said...: Rex is there to provide a benchmark for those at home wanting to see how fast they are. I don’t know what the proportion is, but some do the puzzle just to beat his time.

Perhaps they’ve using it a an early-warning sign for a loss of mental acuity. Or maybe they’re just ego-driven pricks.; 6/23/18, 7:18 AM
tim in vermont said...: I think it’s evolution that thinks it’s better to get it done fast, I think most men are just along for the ride.; 6/23/18, 7:22 AM
Anne in Rockwall, TX said...: Back in my actual paper crossword days, I would deliberately put the puzzle down for a bit just to make it last longer. With only one a day, I wanted to savor.

Now with unlimited crosswords on line every day, I just don't savor them that much.; 6/23/18, 7:31 AM
gilbar said...: men tend to get done fast; they'd like it to be an asset
how's THAT for a sexual implication?; 6/23/18, 7:33 AM
tcrosse said...: Doing the puzzle in pen and ink deters one from being too hasty.; 6/23/18, 7:44 AM
tim in vermont said...: Doing the puzzle in pen and ink deters one from being too hasty.

I understand that there are sprays you can apply to your pencil to slow it down a bit too.; 6/23/18, 7:53 AM
tcrosse said...: I understand that there are sprays you can apply to your pencil to slow it down a bit too.

Some of us don't have as much lead in our pencil as we used to.; 6/23/18, 7:56 AM
M Jordan said...: I create a weekly anacrostic puzzle for my local newspaper. I always try for one or two clues like AFFAIRS, enigmas that render an “Oh, why didn’t I see that?” or a LOL moment. It isn’t easy. I go to Crossword Tracker online and see how others have clued particular words. I find that most of the good clues are built on a play on words. A pun, in other words. A frickin’ pun.

Much as puns are derided, they are a crucial element of clever crossword clues and humor itself. Actually, I think there are only two jokes: a pun and a fart. Puns work better in crosswords.; 6/23/18, 9:31 AM
k said...: One of my very favorite Flight of the Conchords songs. Thank you, RexWords and Althouse for sharing! (and my times are regularly double or triple Rex's). Now you need to experience "Leggy Blonde" by FOTC.; 6/23/18, 4:17 PM