Jenny's Noodle

The New York Times just recently launched a redesign of its online Crossword Puzzles for the first time in a decade. While a subscription is still necessary to access/solve the daily crosswords, there are samples available for free (she typed excitedly, as she waved goodbye to productivity for the remainder of the evening).

[Tip: If you're new, start with Monday puzzles. The crosswords get more difficult as the week goes on.]

As part of the launch, there are also new crossword-related videos posted for all of us puzzle geeks to enjoy. Here's one entitled "How a Crossword is Made," starring my hero, NYT crossword editor Will Shortz.

Google Type uses random Google images as characters for a typeface.

The image above is what Jenny's Noodle looks like using the Google Type font. Try it for yourself at www.google-type.com.

(via Presurfer)

What can you create using only a white sheet and an iron? If your answer is burn holes, then watch this commercial for Philips Russia and be amazed. An artist demonstrates his ironing skills by recreating masterpieces including Vermeer's "The Girl with a Pearl Earring," Van Gogh's "Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear," and Rembrandt's "Self Portrait with Beret and Turned-Up Collar."



(via My Modern Met)

Last week, a New York Times restaurant critic wrote this humorously scathing review of Guy Fieri's American Kitchen & Bar in Times Square.

In a series of rhetorical questions, the critic addresses Fieri directly, asking things like: "Hey, did you try that blue drink, the one that glows like nuclear waste? The watermelon margarita? Any idea why it tastes like some combination of radiator fluid and formaldehyde?" and "Why is one of the few things on your menu that can be eaten without fear or regret — a lunch-only sandwich of chopped soy-glazed pork with coleslaw and cucumbers — called a Roasted Pork Bahn Mi, when it resembles that item about as much as you resemble Emily Dickinson?"

Needless to say, the critic was less than impressed with his ride to Flavor Town.

This week, "Saturday Night Live" posted an unaired video of Fieri's response to the critic. Watch:

Photo credit: Buzzfeed

I can't even remember the last time I ate a Twinkie, but after today's news, it's suddenly all I can think about. Same goes for Ho Ho's, Ding Dongs, Donettes, Sno Balls, Wonder Bread, etc.

Maybe they weren't always the healthiest snack options, but everyone deserves a treat once in a while. School lunches and after school snack times will never be the same.

Hostess Brands Inc. today announced that it is winding down operations and has filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeking permission to close its business and sell its assets, including its iconic brands and facilities.

“We deeply regret the necessity of today’s decision, but we do not have the financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike,” said Gregory F. Rayburn, chief executive officer. “Hostess Brands will move promptly to lay off most of its 18,500-member workforce and focus on selling its assets to the highest bidders.”

The wind down means the closure of 33 bakeries, 565 distribution centers, approximately 5,500 delivery routes and 570 bakery outlet stores throughout the United States.

In memoriam, here's an inside look at how Sno Balls are were made, courtesy of Food Network.

Until today, pretty much nobody paid any real attention to Metro Trains Melbourne — I'm presuming. But now their new PSA, "Dumb Ways to Die," is making its way around the web, and it's the cutest video about death that you'll ever see.

(via Buzzfeed)

Ever watch an all day "Law & Hour" marathon and think to yourself, "Damn that Jack McCoy is good. Does he ever lose a case?" Turns out he does. But not very often.

Some dudes at Overthinking It over-analyzed all 456 episodes of the show and compiled the verdicts into this useless super handy chart.

Here are their findings. Doink, doink.

click image to view larger

(via Buzzfeed)

Quirkology is back with 10 more bets that you'll always win. Watch and impress your friends.

> Previously: 10 Bets You Will Never Lose

After watching this video I want to A: dive into a vat of marshmallow fluff (see 1:10), and 2: eat this delicious concoction immediately. I'm not familiar with Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams — although I do appreciate the name, obvi reasons — but apparently it's being sold just down the street at my local market. YES!

(via HuffPost Taste)

(via Cute Overload)

Can you solve this logic puzzle without peeking at the answer? There is no trick to this—just use logic and your noodle!

Four Men in Hats
Shown above are four men buried up to their necks in the ground. They cannot move, so they can only look forward. Between A and B is a brick wall which cannot be seen through. They all know that between them they are wearing four hats—two black and two white—but they do not know what color they are wearing. Each of them know where the other three men are buried.

In order to avoid being shot, one of them must call out to the executioner the color of their hat. If they get it wrong, everyone will be shot. They are not allowed to talk to each other and have 10 minutes to fathom it out. After one minute, one of them calls out.

Question: Which one of them calls out? Why is he 100% certain of the color of his hat?

This is not a trick question. There are no outside influences nor other ways of communicating. They cannot move and are buried in a straight line; A and B can only see their respective sides of the wall, C can see B, and D can see B and C.

Answer (highlight the white text below):

Did you get it?

(via Neatorama)

Warning: If you watch this, you will never unhear these.

(via Pleated Jeans)

Clips from the Internet Movie Database’s Top 250 list, plus 33 additional top-ranked movies are mashed up into this 2.5 minute montage.

The scenes flash by pretty quickly, but can you name them all? How many of these top movies have you seen?

(via YouTube)