In my constant quest to figure out why certain terms appear out of nowhere in Google Trends when no one in the world should be searching for them, I occasionally solve the mystery. I’ve solved a few of these mysteries including the odd Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Connection or the Howard Stern Connection. Today, I got a little help from a fellow Google Trends watcher who figured out why “College of Saint Teresa Kansas City” was appearing in Google Hot Trends.
The solution ironically is a puzzle (almost hurts your brain, right?). The New York Times Crossword Puzzle. Clue 1, Across today was “Kansas City university formerly known as College of Saint Teresa.” The answer…actually, I’m not giving the answer. I’m disturbed that people are using Google to solve this challenging crossword puzzle. You’re cheaters! Cheaters I tell you and I won’t stand for it nor be a party in this horrific act of deception and misrepresentation.
Actually, I could care less. If you want to show off your completed puzzle to your co-workers so that they think you’re smarter than you actually are, go right ahead.
Thanks to Rex Parker for the solution.
Just glancing through some of the words in today’s puzzle remind me of why I hate crossword puzzles so much. It really not a test of your vocabulary, but of how many useless, semi-words you’ve accumulated in your brain from looking at the answers to crossword puzzles. For example, try working etui, psis, sor, and abou into conversations today or this decade for that matter. I’ll never understand the point of these. And yes, I’m a bitter person that is just upset because I could never complete a New York Times Crossword puzzle.
Alas, now I can. Since it’s clear that using Google to give you the answers is an accepted and widely used practice, I’m golden. I know how to use the Internets pretty well and learned to type and click “Google Search” a few months ago, so I should be a crossword expert. Watch this. Etui is a small ornamental ladies’ bag for small articles. Duh. Everyone knows that. Perhaps I could do one of these crosswords now. The big brain of the Internet is making me feel indestructible again so look out world.
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Posted on July 1st, 2008 by Jonathan - Everyone But You
Filed under: Mystery, connections
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PS: for all the crossword puzzle people who get upset upon reading this, let me share another word with you. "Satire." Satire is "a literary work in which human vice or folly is attacked through irony, derision, or wit." Just saying...
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Of all the things to rail at these days, people who look things up while doing the crossword puzzle shouldn't be one of them.
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Hmmm...okay. What about railing at people who correct this definition of etui "a small ornamental ladies’ bag for small articles" with their own "A small, usually ornamental case for holding articles such as needles" remarkably similar one? Is that all right?
Just trying to find my boundaries.
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Lars: The crossword you posted July showed up in today's Sand Diego Union. BTW I am one of those who, like JP (above) will use the WWW to get the odd clue. Is using a dictionary any better?
Jonathan's response: Yes, a dictionary is better. At least you might get a paper cut, which adds an element of risk. It feels like you're working for it at least.
Matt: Be prepared for another wave of searches on the College of Saint Teresa. Interestingly enough, the July 1st NYT puzzle appeared in today's Baltimore Sun ( Aug 5) and I am sure I am not the only cheater out there. Looking for that answer led me to this web site which I never knew existed but I am growing to love. I also agree it was very hard for a Tuesday puzzle. Lastly, the expression is "couldn't care less" rather than "could..." because if you could care less, wouldn't you?
Jonathan's Response: I love and hate Matt. Sure, another subscriber, but the grammar correction was uncalled for (but, I respect the dig...well done).
Anonymous: Try using the web site oneacross.com
Jonathan's Response: I wouldn't if I were you. I didn't check, but I think it's a porn site.
Honey: Cheat Cheat if you can't win ... yup I am a X Word cheater. I try to get as much as I can but as you noted above, what the heck. I am supposed to know every pope, latin, french, spanish, shakespeare, taxonomy of poisonous mushrooms and artic seabirds ... I'm usually good through Tuesday or Wednesday but then I am googling like feind. I think Will Shortz is on to us too. I remeber a clue that was puzzler's last resort and the answer was googling. Thanks Rex Parker! You are one decked out railbird.
Jonathan's Response: It's good to know that there's someone out there as crazy as I am. Makes the world a less lonely place.
badgerjim: I can often do the Tuesday puzzle without "cheating" but not this one!!!
Jonathan's Response: I think all of you ought to give a little more respect to Tuesday next time. It's no pushover like Thursday. I used to beat up Thursday for its lunch money when I was younger.
Mark: I see the derision,when do you get to irony and wit?How about jealousy?
Jonathan's Response: I don't know what any of these words mean. I'll Google them and get back to you.
'Nother Cheater: I'm often accused of having too much free time..working xword puzzles...but, I must say...blogging about those who do so seems even more useless and inane!!
Jonathan's Response: Dude, I don't blog about crossword puzzles. That would be a waste of time. I blog about giant sea spiders, pookas, pontoons, Quisp cereal, and wigeons. That's adding to society.
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