|
|
|
|
|
originally posted by Bruce Douglas
1. How many puzzles do you do in an average day?
2. Have you ever done a puzzle while
3. You take your seat on an airplane. You thumb through the in-flight magazine and locate the puzzle page, only to find that some cretin has beat you to it. You then:
4. Now, you're on the return flight home. It dawns on you that you've already done the in-flight magazine crossword on the outbound flight. You:
5. Have you purchased one of those clip-on battery powered light gizmos so that you can continue to do puzzles long after your spouse has gone to sleep?
6. The percentage of bookmarks in my web browser devoted to puzzles and puzzle-related web sites is:
7. When you go on-line to download the puzzle and see the words, "The web server is temporarily down, please try later" do you:
8. Do you ever do puzzles while at work?
9. You are within minutes of completing the Sunday puzzle when you realize that you need to leave to pick up your kids at a soccer practice. You:
10. You download the puzzle and notice that the grid features several stacked 15's. You think to yourself:
SCORING:
each "a" answer — 1 point each
"b" answer — 2 points each
"c" answer — 3 points each
"d" answer — 4 points
INTERPRETATION:
10-19 points — remarkably well adjusted
20-29 points — warning signs present but condition can be arrested if steps are taken
30-35 points — definite evidence of well-seated puzzle-holism; professional counseling and cold-turkey detox strongly advised.
36-40 points — almost certainly too late for successful intervention; only possible cure involves move to Lappland to take up Reindeer herding.
A selection of postings from the Today's Puzzle Forum from April, 1998, presented to document the origin of Cru as a descriptor for the members of said forum.
The following sequence evolved from a discussion among several forum participants about the meaning of the word "lurker." The first post is the segue into what turned out to be a several-day-long back-and-forth about what to call the group. These have been excerpted from over 100 postings during the period. (Some posts have been edited to remove extraneous comments.) — Norm Jensen
olivedog
I LIKE lurker - certainly much better than some other on-line lingo, eg spelling cool kewl (is this just an AOL thing or net-wide?) Prefer lurker to muffin, brings to mind furtive and voyeur.
LOVE cruller, especially because a cruller, at least in these parts, is a twisted sweet. That's how I think of all of us puzheads, sweet and slightly twisted!
Puzheads, now THAT's one I could do without.
coxandrathvon
Crossword Forum Hosts
We laughingly agree with Lynn about the "sweet and slightly twisted" business. And it's true that we could use a nice, tasty slang word for those of us who dwell in these forums. "Forumites" is too stiff. "Forumistas"? No, it suggests a revolution in a Central American country. "Forummers"? Too dumb. "Formicas"? Too antsy. "Forbies"? We need help.
Something in the bagel or bakery line would be funny and apt, considering all the crumbs on the furniture in here. Maybe when Bill Fox is feeling better, he'll cook something up.
--E and H
herbach
Who Are We?
Maybe "Forummies"? We usually seem under the influence of something. Perhaps in honor of ITER, FOSSAE, RETE and other anatomical obscurities, we could be "Foramen and Forawomen."
I'd offer something in the bagel and bialy line, but this week it would have to be "Matzkovites."
Martin
231786
I vote for forummies so far. Actually, I think in my mind of puzzlers, but then when I write here I always put forum participants.
Kathryn
olivedog
I could go for "forummies" but I can't get that voice in my head to quit saying "for- rummies/for-rum mies."
Too bad this week is different from all other weeks. I like "matzkovites" best.
mgoodman
I just asked my wife what she thought about "forummies," and she said, "I thought there were more than four of you in the group." Maybe we should keep trying ...
"Matzkovites" is very good. Too bad it's so seasonal ... and esoteric for any newcomers to this forum.
zincats
A few more suggestions:
SHORTZIES
NYETTERS (perhaps a bit negative?)
GRIDSTERS
CRUMBSTERS
CRUMBLIES (sounds rather like a terrorist group, but I like it!)
CRUXTERS
The last three have the distinction of beginning with C&R. What dynamic duo does that bring to mind?
-Heidi
sherryo
If they are the crullers, wouldn't we be the crullees? (it also begins with "CR")
231786
Gridsters comes in second with me. I still like forummies best though.
Kathryn
ncjensen
I think Sherry's suggestion is best so far: crullees has my vote (until something better comes along).
Norm
rodieck
More possibilities:
Along the lines of roadies and foodies, what about wordies?
To keep up the cooking theme, fritters?
Because the NYT is the font of our delight, pasTimers?
Lyell
6076523118
Stanley F. Ukeridge
It seems to me that a name for the group will be used frequently and as a consequence should be short and might well be chosen with some relation to the groups interests. Consider ETES, ETUIS, EELS,as starters. Then there is the word that I've only see in puzzles ANA.
I admit an interest in Zincat's CRUMBLIES which suggest a terrorist group to him, but remind me of the JUMBLIES who went to sea in a sieve they did.
mazerlm
I think we are trying to be too clever for our own good. I always like to keep things simple. How about Puzzlers? On Saturday we could be called Puzzled-ers.
mgoodman
I'll second "puzzlers." Simple and descriptive.
minarcik
how 'bout "esnes"?....hehe
nancy.in.dg
How about Teamsters? Working some of the tougher Fri-Sat puzzles sometimes leaves one feeling like you've put in an 8 hour day hauling a heavy load. But we're all in the same Union and can commiserate back here in the hall.
But then again, I'm kind of partial to Forumites.
gaconnel
Those who visit the Forum are...
Foragers
GAC
coxandrathvon
Crossword Forum Hosts
Foruminifera?
Or does that makes us sound too buggy? We may never reach a consensus, but it's a hoot trying.
E and H
72134
How About 'Subscribers'?
Just kidding.
Chas
ramunasm
What we are...
If C&R are forum hosts, then we are the forum guests
nancesal
Nancy Salomon
How about NYTers pronounced niters or f'rumbles?
Nancy
billfo
Good Morning Forumites/crullees/frumsters/et al. At 7:00 in the morning it's tough to think at all- no less try to come up with something clever enough to be accepted by NYTers!!
I'll have to think on the What to Call Us question- in previous posts I have usually used "forumites" - but it does sound a bit stuffy.
Bill
ewharland
How about calling ourselves X-WITS?
6076523118
Stanley F. Ukeridge
I vote for ESNE it is short and captures the essence of discussions here/
wijwij
Will Johnston
What we are ...
I like sherryo's suggestion that we must be crullees, but then it makes me wonder: isn't that what you might call the moist crumbs you find at the bottom of your mug after dipping a breakfast treat in your coffee?
How about griddlers, which has affinities with cooking treats, the structure of "crullers," and combines "grid" and "riddlers"?
--wij
Kathryn Olson
I am surprised that more good names are coming in today. I am laughing at X-wits, Griddlers and NYters?
Kathryn
wijwij
Will Johnston
What we are ... -- cont'd
Or maybe we're all just NYT Wits?
ncjensen
More name suggestions...
Taking a different tack, what about something like The Eclectics or The Multifarians, reflecting our varied backgrounds and interests (and both good crossword puzzle words, too boot).
Norm
coxandrathvon
Crossword Forum Hosts
To the cru on a buggy Thursday:
We're cracking up over the suggested names for ourselves, dear cru members. Dear foruminifera. Dear griddlers. No doubt something will evolve quite naturally after we've all finished hammering ourselves on the head.
E and H
ramette
Anyway, how about: wordnerds? crossgeeks? The X-Philes? cruciphiliacs?
Dick
herbach
Protozoa of all stripes have been a particular love of mine since boyhood (no I don't get out much), so "Foruminifera" was actually the first name to come to my mind yesterday, but I figured it was beyond even this group's rather high threshhold of obscurity pain. Then today: both it and DIATOMITE. Go figure! Never underestimate this group's affinity for the useless!
We've been exposed to two of the three groups of mineral-shelled protists (radiolaria, foraminifera and diatoms) in a single day here. That's got to be some sort of sign. Beware of red tides!
Martin
jsilvie
I vote for NYT Wits, second place to wordnerds, since I am trying to change the image of nerddom among the adolescents I teach, with dismal lack of success. I don't mind being a lurker most of the time - been called worse. Jane in Wayne (NJ)
ncjensen
The name game
Dick suggests:
x-philes - Has a zippy ring to it, but maybe a bit too trendy?
cruciphiliacs - Not bad, not bad. Rolls nicely off the tongue, has the proper associations, and suggests the addiction we suffer from (excuse me, from which we suffer), cruciphiliosis (which, in its more acute forms, has been known to ruin lives and reputations. "Hi, I'm Norm, and I'm a word junkie.") I'm changing my vote to this one. Sorry, Sherry.
Norm
minarcik
X-philes is clearly the best one I've heard so far!
Nancy Salomon
X-philes gets my vote.
Nancy Salomon
olivedog
I laughed at all of these and like X-Philes among others. No bakery connection, though, if that counts. Also no CR - I like the idea of keeping that if possible in honor of our hosts. Cruciphiliacs? Cruciphile him! Cruciphile him! NYT-wits has to get my vote so far. Even though our passion for puzzles is not limited to the Times, it's where we meet. It has the advantage of being short, sweet, and almost twisted. (NYT-twists?) Still, it reminds me of how I felt the last time I voted - there must be a better choice. But I sure can't think of one!
danchall
I like the X-Philes name, but I don't see a reason to choose just one.
sherryo
Lyell Rodieck is also having problems getting into the forums tonight and asked me to post this for her.
"I thought E & H's use of The Cru would be a great name for us. And since we're all interested in "mots", our full name could be "The Mot-ly Cru", The Cru for short. It would fit in neatly with our friends The Crullers, and it carries the important "CR" reference to Cox & Rathvon."
I think this is a great idea!
mazerlm
I vote for X-Philes. It conveys the meaning of a crossword fan with the clever double meaning related to a favorite TV show of mine.
Lloyd Mazer
nancy.in.dg
I think Lyell's proposal of The Cru has a lot of merit and just hits the spot. I'm also fond of NYT Wits, and very unfond of X-Philes and Cruciphiles (that just sounds so painful!)
minarcik
What has become apparent to me is that our fun postings and efforts over the last few days may ultimately result in the eventual entry of a new word into the English language (Webster's?) someday. This is exciting for me because of all the dictionary words about whose origin I have ever pondered, I have:
a) never been a part of actually creation a word, especially the kind of word which begins with an "X", which would give x-philes a very special place in the dictionary, and in crullers hearts as well.
b) rarely, if ever, have ever seen the history of the origins of a word ever traced to a specific person on a specific day.
so....at this point may I humbly ask, ftr, just in case I live long enough to see this word in RHUD or Webster's someday,....WHO actually was it that thought this word up, and what were the exact circumstances, e.g., day, time, and place?
Popeye
billfo
I vote for CRU too! What with the triple hit of CR, Cruller & Cruciverb and the extra added
attraction of brevity it's a winner. It has the added ability of ease of use- Hi cru! Very key-stroke conservative. I also thought perhaps an addition to the flora, fauna, biota groupings we could add Fora- many of my colleagues allready consider me a different species!
Bill
ramette
...consider PHILOSOLVERS, analogous to philosophers (lovers of wisdom)
Dick
ttoad513832
Why not Motley Cru? Seems appropriate
billfo
Are devotees of CRU, crudites?? We do tend to be people of taste!
Bill
coxandrathvon
Crossword Forum Hosts
What a riot, these names for our online group! Dick Ramette gave us a good smile with his X-Philes, though Nancy Shack isn't wild about it, apparently (maybe she's OD'd on Scully and Mulder). Let's go ahead and use several/many names and not worry about unanimously voting on a particular one. Unless it really irritates somebody, we'll probably use Cru from time to time. It's short and sweet (the way Bill Fox likes it), and it comes straight out of cruciverbalists, which has a certain neatness. No doubt there will be occasions when NYTwit seems apt too.
--E and H
ramette
OK, Nancy, I don't particularly like X-Philes either, though Minarcik put it in his HOF. And you don't like cruciphiliacs because it sounds painful. How about cruciphiles? Squaredealers? Gridlookers? Puzzheads? Dick (a cruciphile for life)
231786
I'm not a wit who can make up clever things while I'm talking or writing. The name won't apply to me if it has wit in it. Cru is the best. It jumped ahead of Forummies, my earlier favorite.
Kathryn
herbach
And we'd get to pick Le Grand Cru
...but please, no more than one election a week.
minarcik
crosstalkers?
It's the best I can come up with, but still not as good as nytwits or x-philes.
In checking out many of the X-files links last nite, it became naggingly obvious that the term "X-Philes" was thrown around a bit to signify fans of X-files, so the "x-phile" term has already been coined to signify an x-file fan....just as a trekkie would be a star trek fan.....which might jeopardize the chances of this making it into rhud at some future time to signify crossword fan instead.....hmmmm...go figure!
At this point I would be most willing to let C&R open the envelope and announce the winner.....
Popeye<---hoping they do not pick the lame "Cru" choice....yuk!
coxandrathvon
Crossword Forum Hosts
Re us all: In light of Popeye's latest, it's clear that we'll never please everybody. Let's have no envelopes and no winners. Use whatever jokey epithets happen to tickle your frontal lobes.
--E and H
zincats
The nickname brainstorming has been fun. I love "NYT-wits" and "X-philes", in particular. And I'm still partial to my "Crumblies", ridiculous as it is.
But "Cru" is perfect! As Herbach's posting suggests, like some fine wines, you are a GRAND CRU!
-Heidi
231786
I still think we can come up with a name that Cru voters 'and' Minarcik can like. After all, Minarcik, with a name like Popeye, you may be open to lots of names even though you don't like Cru.
Opening the envelope? Why don't we just start using the names and see which one sticks?
This forumite name picking reminds me of picking names for newborn babies.
Kathryn
ramette
Well, lookee what I found in my electronic RHUD: log•o•phile , n. a lover of words. [LOGO- + -PHILE]
Can logomaniac be far behind?
Dick
danchall
Logomania = "I am a Longo". Sorry, I had to say it.
I think a forum like this has room for lots of different names and the participants can decide if they identify with all or any of them. Even "Longophiles." Even "participants". I like the continuing stream of suggested names and would not like to see it stop for the sake of a decision.
originally posted by John "Popeye" Minarcik, Nov. 27, 2000
Speed Solving Tips for Crossword Competitions 
compiled from postings by Will Johnston and Martin Herbach