Deb Amlen
@debamlen.bsky.social
Humor writer, New York Times Games columnist. I may have helped you with the crossword. As a condition of my employment, I am not allowed to talk about politics online. Hence, the jokes.
PAVLOVINN: Where the bell always ring for dinner.
November 10, 2025 at 5:05 PM
PAVLOVINN: Where the bell always ring for dinner.
According to the wonderful Dave Barry, this is the 50th anniversary of the most hilarious news event of all time.
Please celebrate responsibly.
youtu.be/V6CLumsir34
Please celebrate responsibly.
youtu.be/V6CLumsir34
The Exploding Whale: An infamous moment in Oregon history creates a strangely beloved icon
YouTube video by KATU News
youtu.be
November 7, 2025 at 3:27 PM
According to the wonderful Dave Barry, this is the 50th anniversary of the most hilarious news event of all time.
Please celebrate responsibly.
youtu.be/V6CLumsir34
Please celebrate responsibly.
youtu.be/V6CLumsir34
Today in history: Five years ago, we had the Four Seasons Landscaping press conference.
Please celebrate responsibly.
Please celebrate responsibly.
November 7, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Today in history: Five years ago, we had the Four Seasons Landscaping press conference.
Please celebrate responsibly.
Please celebrate responsibly.
November 4, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Holding my eyes open with toothpicks as we head into the top of the 47th ...
November 2, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Holding my eyes open with toothpicks as we head into the top of the 47th ...
Rhetorical question: if you own more than one loafer, are they then loavers?
November 1, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Rhetorical question: if you own more than one loafer, are they then loavers?
Oh sure. We can all sit here eating our kids' Halloween candy, but you know what's coming, don't you? CHRISTMAS MUSIC. And it will be EVERYWHERE.
November 1, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Oh sure. We can all sit here eating our kids' Halloween candy, but you know what's coming, don't you? CHRISTMAS MUSIC. And it will be EVERYWHERE.
AMOLAR: A person who has had their wisdom teeth removed
October 30, 2025 at 9:18 PM
AMOLAR: A person who has had their wisdom teeth removed
General takeaway from today’s puzzle: People outside the United States harbor a surprising amount of animosity toward dessert cookies.
October 30, 2025 at 1:25 PM
General takeaway from today’s puzzle: People outside the United States harbor a surprising amount of animosity toward dessert cookies.
No, YOU'RE making a case in your column that vegetables are not intrinsically violent.
October 29, 2025 at 2:07 PM
No, YOU'RE making a case in your column that vegetables are not intrinsically violent.
A wider look at the circumstances surrounding Daniel Naroditsky's tragic death.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/s...
Did Cheating Accusations Have Anything to Do With the Death of a Chess Grandmaster?
www.nytimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:06 PM
A wider look at the circumstances surrounding Daniel Naroditsky's tragic death.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/s...
Today in gender relations:
October 27, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Today in gender relations:
Today is Wordplay’s 17th birthday!
In celebration, we will be anxious about the SATs and getting irrationally angry when our parents won’t let us use their car.
In celebration, we will be anxious about the SATs and getting irrationally angry when our parents won’t let us use their car.
October 26, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Today is Wordplay’s 17th birthday!
In celebration, we will be anxious about the SATs and getting irrationally angry when our parents won’t let us use their car.
In celebration, we will be anxious about the SATs and getting irrationally angry when our parents won’t let us use their car.
Over/under on whether one or more of the Dodgers tries to defect during the World Series?
October 25, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Over/under on whether one or more of the Dodgers tries to defect during the World Series?
Flags at half mast for a wonderful young man who was, for a time, our chess columnist. Rest well, Danya.
Our 2022 profile of Daniel Naroditsky is here:
www.nytimes.com/2022/06/12/c...
Our 2022 profile of Daniel Naroditsky is here:
www.nytimes.com/2022/06/12/c...
Meet The Times’s New Chess Columnist (Published 2022)
www.nytimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Flags at half mast for a wonderful young man who was, for a time, our chess columnist. Rest well, Danya.
Our 2022 profile of Daniel Naroditsky is here:
www.nytimes.com/2022/06/12/c...
Our 2022 profile of Daniel Naroditsky is here:
www.nytimes.com/2022/06/12/c...
Apparently, today is #InternationalSlothDay and not once has anyone wished me a happy holiday.
October 20, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Apparently, today is #InternationalSlothDay and not once has anyone wished me a happy holiday.
INFIT: The layer of clothing worn under an outfit
October 20, 2025 at 12:34 AM
INFIT: The layer of clothing worn under an outfit
Twelve years ago, one of my kids taught me the importance of password protection on my phone. Please celebrate responsibly.
October 11, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Twelve years ago, one of my kids taught me the importance of password protection on my phone. Please celebrate responsibly.
Having said that, at the end of the day, it is what it is. I will run it up the flagpole and circle back.
Y’know?
Y’know?
October 6, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Having said that, at the end of the day, it is what it is. I will run it up the flagpole and circle back.
Y’know?
Y’know?
Flags at half mast for the great Patricia Routledge.
“HOW FARES THE CHURCH WORLDWIDE THEN, VICAR? FOR INSTANCE, WHAT IS THE MISSIONARY POSITION IN CHINA THESE DAYS?”
“HOW FARES THE CHURCH WORLDWIDE THEN, VICAR? FOR INSTANCE, WHAT IS THE MISSIONARY POSITION IN CHINA THESE DAYS?”
October 4, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Flags at half mast for the great Patricia Routledge.
“HOW FARES THE CHURCH WORLDWIDE THEN, VICAR? FOR INSTANCE, WHAT IS THE MISSIONARY POSITION IN CHINA THESE DAYS?”
“HOW FARES THE CHURCH WORLDWIDE THEN, VICAR? FOR INSTANCE, WHAT IS THE MISSIONARY POSITION IN CHINA THESE DAYS?”
October 4, 2025 at 1:37 AM