Wednesday, February 26, 2025 - We long for more crosswords by Dan Caprera 😁

A trendy, Tuesday crossword by Malaika Handa, with a smattering of rarer clues, such as 18D, Gun control activist David, HOGG; 11D, Payment after a split between unmarried partners, PALIMONY (amusing word for a decidedly unamusing subject); and 12D, Italian sparkling wine, PROSECCO (not to be confused, as Mike was wont to do, with PROSCIUTTO). It's Triplet Tuesday, so see if you can beat Mike to the answers in today's thrilling battle of wits. Finally, Will Shortz, the head honc...

16 Elo 202319min

Today's crossword is a real deal - two puzzles for the price of one, and the second involves math (or at least arithmetic). Fear not, though, a calculator is not required, but a willingness to have fun is -- and if you're listening to this podcast, fun is guaranteed. In other news, we have more on MOCHAS thanks to listener mail, and a reminder that tomorrow is Triplet Tuesday, so haul out that Thinking Cap, Tuesday will be here before you know it!! We love feedback! Send us a text... Co...

15 Elo 202314min

Good crossword puzzles, like those that grace the pages of the NYTimes, are a celebration of English - its history, present, and future. So, when we come across a word we haven't seen before (but, it usually transpires. everybody else has), we want to raise a toast in honor of a newly-found friend. Today's nouveau ami, is INSPO, short for ... nope, we're going to end these notes here on a cliff-hanger! To find out the meaning of INSPO, and get all the deets on the rest of the great...

14 Elo 202321min

A more than CROMULENT Saturday crossword by the dynamic duo of Rachel Fabi and Christina Iverson. Jean found it to be a bit of a slog, thanks to the double-whammy in the northwest of 1A, Perfectly acceptable, humorously, CROMULENT, and 15A, Serpentine symbol of rebirth, from the Greek for "tail-devouring", OUROBOROS. There were challenges in the rest of the grid as well, but the end result was a fine puzzle, definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. In other news, our JAMCOTWA is out --...

13 Elo 202318min

A relatively straightforward Friday crossword, but a great mental workout nonetheless and with some terrific clues. As a tasty example we have 39D, Meal, REPAST; as a head scratcher we have 44D, Travel that doesn't require a hotel reservation (DAYTRIP, not, as Mike had originally surmised, LSDTRIP); and as an historical fun fact we have 66A, One of eight in a B-52, ENGINE. A fine crossword, definitely 5 squares on the JAMCR scale! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love list...

12 Elo 202313min

Is there anything cheerier than seeing Natan Last and the JASA Crossword Class in the byline for a Thursday crossword? Maybe, but not much, and the class has outdone itself today, with a brilliant grid and clues that deserve a chef's kiss. For all the deets, and to see why this is definitely in the running for the JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), download, listen up, and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, c...

11 Elo 202316min

An adorable Wednesday crossword by Caryn Robbins and Matthew Stock, the latter a familiar name among NYTimes crossword aficionados, the former less so -- this being her second (congrats!). The theme was fun, and there were many educational clues in the grid. For example, did you know that both CHAD and LESOTHO are land-locked? That Jean ARP is a Dada artist? and that OTTO Porter Jr. is an NBA forward? Well, if you didn't before, you know now! Lastly, today's WYMA is ELO* *if WYMA (Wo...

10 Elo 202313min

A fine Tuesday puzzle by Zachary David Levy, not too terribly difficult (as expected: Tuesdays are supposed to be on the easy-ish side), but still impressive, with a stately theme (that will seem hilarious once you've listened to today's episode) and a few answers that are just fun to say, such as 29A, Sticky stuff, GOOP; 1A, Bit of foolish mockery, JAPE; and 61A, Utopian locale in a Coleridge poem, XANADU. In other news, we're announcing a new podcast segment - WYMA, Words You'll Meet Agai...

9 Elo 202315min