I like doing crossword puzzles.
I know that it's completely a pat on my own back to fill it out and say "I know that answers".
It's not like I'm into the NY Times Crossword or anything- just the local one.
But that may be the cause of the problem I recently encountered.
My daughter's recent cold (as my husband put it "fire the double-barreled snot gun) reminded me of a recent crossword puzzle clue of "Nasal Membranes".
Now, being an anatomy professor, I felt I could easily answer this question.
However, there were only 5 letters in this answer.
As I looked at the crossing answers, I saw a "p" in the middle...
...and it made me very mad.
I realized that the FREAKIN MORON who wrote the crossword puzzle felt that "septa" were nasal membranes.
This is completely WRONG.
Ever hear of a deviated septum? (septum singular, septa plural) A septum is a bony wall that makes an alcove. So, like the BIG septum that separates your nostrils. When this is not straight all the way back, it's called a "deviated septum".
Notice, membranes were not mentioned in this definition.
That is because a biological membrane is a single layer of cells.
It is not a bony protrusion.
I really made me wonder how many other incorrect answers in crosswords serve as educational material for the masses.
After all, you wouldn't know it's wrong until you know it's wrong.
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