Neil Bellinson

@TP I, on the other hand, would hope that puzzles are chosen on the basis of merit, recent solver reactions, and other gender-blind criteria which continue to make for an interesting and somewhat challenging array of puzzles, Will Shortz is doing more than well enough as it is and I sincerely doubt that he or the editors are excluding puzzles on the basis of gender, whether consciously or not. Of course, we've seen many creative puzzles authored by women and published by the New York Times and I'm confident that we will continue to see plenty of such submissions. By the way, I'd take the same point of view if there were a reversal, i.e. if after 19 days only 1.5 puzzles were create by men. To imply bias, it would first be necessary to know how many submissions were made by women versus men and if this pattern to which you've alluded persisted over a longer period of time, among other relevant statistical factors. Assuming a lack of bias, I'd hope that the editors will not change their acceptance criteria out of fear of such accusations.

@SamG: I understand your valid point. However, this is a matter of the meaning of the word "subject": if you accept that SETI stands for the "search for extraterrestrial intelligence" and that the latter is a focus of activity, then, according to the OED, again, one of many shades of meaning of the word "subject" is "a focus of activity." (III. Something that is the focus of activity or object of attention. III.10.a. a1400–The matter or set of facts dealt with by a science or art.) In fact, you have also given one definition of "SETI", namely "a scientific endeavor", which would certainly quality as a "focus of activity." Even if the word "SETI" only referred to a specific set of research programs, whether or not one may regard SETI as a "subject" depends upon whether one would allow that the word "SETI" has become a synonym for the phrase "search for extraterrestrial intelligence".

@SamG From the OED, it would appear that SETI can be regarded as a subject as well: U.S. 1976– Search for extraterrestrial intelligence (any of a number of NASA projects investigating the possibility of intelligent life in outer space). 1976 Drake was deeply involved in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, which astronomers refer to as SETI. New York Times Magazine 12 September 64/5Citation details for New York Times Magazine 1977 It seems clear to us that the SETI effort should be cast as a cooperative international endeavor. P. Morrison et al., Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (1979) i. 19Citation details for P. Morrison, Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence 1988 Success of the SETI program depends heavily on the radio telescope at NASA's Tippinbilla complex. Sunday Mail (Brisbane) 20 November 4/1

Andrzej: Thank you for that honest and thought-provoking response. Economics clearly plays a large role in one's decision to have children. I was going to write back to you that having children is simply one's choice and that one should resist any social pressures to bear children. However, that led to my thinking about the subject of abortion, since not everyone has a choice in the matter. I learned, many years ago, from Christopher Hitchens, that the greatest source of poverty in the world is the result of women having to bear unwanted children. In times of greater abundance, procreation is an easier business, where the tension between a relatively stress-free life is not in such great conflict with the assumption of complete responsibility for the needs of another human being. The notion of a "babymoon" does seem to suggest and end to a care-free existence, but for many new parents, whose lives are, indeed, radically altered, the joy and sense of continuity in the river of life is overwhelming. That is why I view the term, which we find in today's puzzle, with amusement, since it appears to convey only one aspect of parenthood, while obfuscating the wonderous gifts bestowed upon new parents.

@Andrew According to the OED, there are two (but essentially one) meaning(s); nothing to do with sports, however: ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1656 Intermural, that is between two walls. T. Blount, Glossographia intermural, adj. 1658 Intermural space, a space between two walls. E. Phillips, New World of English Words intermural, adj. ------------------------------------------------------------------- On the other hand, Collins English Dictionary has this: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Definition of 'intermural' intermural in American English (ˌɪntərˈmjurəl) ADJECTIVE 1. of, pertaining to, or taking place between two or more institutions, cities, etc an intermural track meet 2. occurring or being between walls, as of buildings or cities a narrow, intermural forecourt -------------------------------------------------------------------

@Bill This does appear to be a trend, although I still derive pleasure from solving NYT crosswords and some of the crosswords still present a real challenge for me. It would seem that the Times increasingly views its puzzles as a cash cow. Lowering the average level of difficulty increases the customer base. Witness the introduction of an alternative set of easier clues for entire puzzles. Another indication of this phenomenon is the removal of access to the Sunday variety puzzles for digital subscribers, thereby "encouraging" customers to purchase the Sunday Times. To be fair, newspaper publishers such as the Times are probably having a difficult time staying afloat in the digital era, so any means of generating revenue would likely be under consideration.

@John "Drake was deeply involved in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, which astronomers refer to as SETI."

Correction: "...GIVEN my thoughts..." ................................... ................................... ................................... ................................... ...................................

Ah, I found something better for HOMIE which links the two words in a clear way: From <a href="https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/109161/what-does-homie-mean" target="_blank">https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/109161/what-does-homie-mean</a>: The etymology of "homie" is unclear, but since it's most commonly associated with Latino slang I always assumed that it derived from the Spanish hombre, which means "man" but is used to refer to any male who you are close to or at least friendly with. Wikipedia gives other possible explanations. The meaning is similar to saying someone is a "buddy", but the actual nature of the relationship can vary from person to person. Dicaprio doesn't literally mean that Winslet is from his home town (he is from California and she is from England) so his meaning is clearly that she is a "close friend". Meanwhile, someone else might use "homie" to mean "someone I would trust with my life. Conclusion: never mind! :-)

@Amy Just an aesthetic remark concerning the word "pulchritude". The pronunciation of "pulchritude", rather ugly I think, completely belies its meaning. No wonder it's used, according to the OED's web-site, approximately 0.04 times per million words in modern written English. Somewhat surprisingly, I've found that I'm not the only one to have noticed this: <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskLiteraryStudies/comments/5g5lqm/the_opposite_of_onomatopoeia" target="_blank">https://www.reddit.com/r/AskLiteraryStudies/comments/5g5lqm/the_opposite_of_onomatopoeia</a>/. No wonder I'd so readily forgotten the meaning of this word after having once learned it in my youth.

@Sid Ah, yes. Makes sense. Thanks, Sid.

@Nadine From the OED - I think 1.c qualifies: adjective 1.a. a1450– In regard to a person's temperament, mood, or manner: gloomy, melancholy, dejected, downcast, grim; not easily enlivened, enthused, or cheered; (in early use) ill-tempered, angry. 1.b. 1581– Of appearance or demeanour: forbidding, stern, dark. 1.c. 1863– Of a place, event, etc.: gloomy, dreary, melancholy.

@Mike You are no less than a genius pun constructor.