Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Mi, mi, mi -- sorry, we're just warming up to analyze a Will Nediger crossword that had three ME references, all tied to 53A, Ominous request from a teacher ... or a hint to the first words (and following letters) of 17-, 26- and 43 Across, SEEMEAFTERCLASS. The answers to those clues were, incidentally, BUSINESSMEETING, GYMMEMBERSHIP, and GERMANMEASLES. There was a lot to like in this crossword -- Will Nediger does not know how to write anything less. Most notable were 14A,...

27 Touko 20219min

Jean found today's crossword to be a piece o'cake, while Mike found it more of a torture, er, torte, as he wandered down various dead-end alleys (1A, Evidence of a recent scrape, SCAB (not SCAR); 6D, Go here and there, ROVE (not ROAM); 17A, Many a graduate of 37-across; Abbr., ENGR, not MNGR; etc., etc.). Both Jean and Mike enjoyed the delicious irony that 9A, Expensive Super Bowl purchases, TVADS, was kitty-corner to 64A, Rival of Hydrox cookies, OREOS (and since OREOS were involved,...

26 Touko 202115min

There are a lot of body parts in today's crossword, but that's not really a bad thing, just a good theme, well implemented. There was also a diverse array of foods that hopefully you'll never encounter at one meal -- 16A, Challenging vegetables to eat with a fork, PEAS, 46D, Three-ingredient lunchbox staple, familiarly, PBANDJ, and 44D, ____ Balls (chocolaty snack), SNO. Beyond the crossword, we got some mail (crosswordpodcast@icloud.com, we promise to read every missive!), so download...

25 Touko 20217min

In today's episode, Jean explains about PIONS, and the fact that SELFSOWN is not superfluous; Mike, meanwhile, ponders where he can download the latest version of CLAROS, in spite of the fact that it is the answer to 33A, Mild, light-colored cigars, and not, as he had posited, a new version of Linux. While they have been known to have a DIFFERENCEOFOPINIONS, both Jean & Mike do agree that 32A, They have stems and white heads, HALFNOTES, is brilliant, as is the crossword in general -- a 5 ...

24 Touko 202115min

Today's crossword was a bit of a slog, although we were happy to see the return of AMONRA - the god of tricky spelling -- and several Star Wars references (21A, Hoth, in "Star Wars", ICEPLANET, and 27A, Sci-fi enemy collective, perhaps, EVILEMPIRE). Jean struggled in the northwest corner, and both Jean & Mike had to grit their teeth in the southeast, where the dubious 49D, Hit on the head, in slang, DONK, and the clever but obscure 32D, "100 Years ... 100 Stars" and others, in brief, AFIL...

23 Touko 202114min

In today's crossword, we discover that one of us (Jean) knows the difference between ELEGIZE and EULOGIZE, and that one of us (Mike) knows that to dispose of the one ring that rules them all will require a trip to MTDOOM. Jean has to work for her supper in the top-left corner, whereas Mike has a relatively smooth solve except for 37D, Fit to be tried, which he took to be STABLE rather than the (in retrospect) much more plausible SUABLE. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: ...

22 Touko 202114min

A tough Thursday, foreshadowed in some of the clues, such as 59D, Sounds of puzzlement, EHS, and 62A, Cry of frustration, AARGH. Jean struggled in the bottom center, having inexplicably neglected to memorize the Dewey Decimal System before starting today's puzzle. Mike, meanwhile, took to heart yesterday's conversation anticipating rebuses, and was bound and determined to use them, even if the crossword constructor, Trenton Charlson, chose not to. Besides the theme, there were some not...

21 Touko 202116min

Today's crossword was chock-full of IDEAS tied to cosmology - from the universe's start, in the BIGBANG, to its end, with (according to TSELIOT), a WHIMPER. It also had a shoutout to the person who helped confirm the BIGBANG, PENZIAS (not, as Mike incorrectly SPELT it for reasons that are SPELT out in the podcast, PENSIAS). A few other clues of note: 53D, Shiny button material, NACRE, and a word that most people will never, ever need to use but it's just reassuring to know that it exists, 47D...

20 Touko 202111min