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.
Age-related achievement unlocked: Completely forgot the word “vineyards” and suggested to Charles that we visit the “grape houses.”
November 19, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Age-related achievement unlocked: Completely forgot the word “vineyards” and suggested to Charles that we visit the “grape houses.”
Lunch at Bota Sare, an 800 year old former salt warehouse in Mali Ston
November 19, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Lunch at Bota Sare, an 800 year old former salt warehouse in Mali Ston
Dovidenja, Dubrovnik. Bok, Mali Ston, home of the freshest seafood I’ve ever seen. It on a body of water containing sea urchin, clams, mussels and more and the food comes right out of the crystal clear water and onto your plate
November 19, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Dovidenja, Dubrovnik. Bok, Mali Ston, home of the freshest seafood I’ve ever seen. It on a body of water containing sea urchin, clams, mussels and more and the food comes right out of the crystal clear water and onto your plate
New article idea: “Dubrovnik: Not a Biking Town”
November 15, 2025 at 1:55 PM
New article idea: “Dubrovnik: Not a Biking Town”
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filling @debamlen.bsky.social’s shoes at the NYT feels like an impossible task. she has done more for the crossworld than can be described in words, building a puzzle community when no one else was looking or cared, and is the reason I get to do what I do today
November 14, 2025 at 1:54 PM
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Discussion topic: The need for magnetic nail polish, which is actually a thing, as seen in the ad below, and which could potentially put a damper in meetings involving magnetic whiteboards.
#westillhaventcuredcancer
#westillhaventcuredcancer
November 14, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Discussion topic: The need for magnetic nail polish, which is actually a thing, as seen in the ad below, and which could potentially put a damper in meetings involving magnetic whiteboards.
#westillhaventcuredcancer
#westillhaventcuredcancer
Reposted by Deb Amlen
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
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.