Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

A lot of sizzle in today's crossword, appropriate for the 4th of July. Both Jean & Mike, even though they were solving independently, experienced HIGHANXIETY, and had reasons to WAIL, in the same places. The first was at the corner of 102D, Delicious food, in modern slang, NOMS, and 109A, ÷ and † in typography, OBELI (yikes!); the second was 14D, Hair loss, ALOPECIA, crossing with 40A, Jess's best friend in "New Girl", CECE (egads!). There were some ZANY answers (courtesy of 60A, Clownish...

5 Heinä 202112min

There were some fireworks in today's crossword (especially in the top-left and bottom-right corners), with tricky clues like 3D, Strengthen, as an embankment, REVET (!), and 6D, Verdi opera set during the fifth century, ATTILA (!!). Jean labored mightily in this corner, while meanwhile, in the bottom right, Mike was inventing answers out of whole cloth, such as 52A, Metal oxide in dental crowns, ZIRCONIA (not ZINCONIA), and 48A, McCarthyite called out in Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire...

4 Heinä 202114min

A fine Friday crossword that is definitely 10D, Out of the ordinary, REALLYSOMETHING, with lots of places where one might 27D, Crack under pressure, CHOKE, albeit less likely if one had a 26A, What a fitness coach likely leads, ACTIVELIFESTYLE. There were some interesting longer answers, including 17A, Cut-and-paste tool for language learners, GOOGLETRANSLATE, and 52A, Like some headphones, NOISECANCELLING. Both Jean and Mike (solving independently, as always) ran into slight headwinds ...

3 Heinä 202116min

The constructor of today's crossword, Joe Deeney, had one big idea, and ran with it -- omit the word BIG from a series of answers, and then expand the word that followed into a BIGger font. For instance, 20A, "I can't believe I said that", MEANDMYMOUTH appeared in the grid with MOUTH in a larger than ordinary font. Cute! Jean's favorite clue was 48A, Rhyme for "menorah" in "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah", HORA, while Mike was fond of 33A, Instrument that largely replaced the ophicleide, TUBA (presuma...

2 Heinä 202112min

Happy last day of June! In today's episode, both Jean & Mike resist the urge to break into song when discussing Tommy Tutone's most famous hit, 867-5309/Jenny, the theme of today's crossword. They also ponder the works of Ted CHIANG, the origin story of FIVEGUYS, and the reappearance of the computer that might very well be powering WordPlay's comments, section, the ENIAC. For all this and more, check out today's podcast. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener m...

1 Heinä 20218min

If you have a fear of painful (aka good) puns then beware, this crossword is likely to cause nightmares. Exhibit A, 17A, "So this red thing, Mom? This is not good.", BEETREPORT, and exhibit B, 63A, "Wow, Mom, this is like at a restaurant! Dibs on the chocolate pudding!", MOUSSECALL. Ouch! We'd continue with exhibits C and D, but they are likely to trigger SOBS and perhaps an OATH or two: but if you are a glutton for pun-ishment, then download and listen up. We love feedback! Send us a text......

30 Kesä 20218min

Back in the day, we'd nip in the bud any clues like 55A, "Years ago ....", literally, THEBACKDAY, and 24A, Put an early stop to, literally, THENIPBUD, but fortunately here in 2021 Alan Arbesfeld had no such misgivings, and today's fine crossword -- we rate it a 4.5 on the JAMCR scale -- is the result. Meanwhile, on today's exciting edition of Triplet Tuesday, Mike does a PHIne job (and to understand that last remark, be sure to download and listen up!). We love feedback! Send us a text... Con...

30 Kesä 202114min

Today's crossword is a panoply of colors: if you solve it correctly on an iPad or on the web, the answers RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, INDIGO and VIOL:ET become appropriately colored. Even more impressively, they are arranged so that they sweep out an arc, like a rainbow, truly a work of art -- if you don't have access to the solution, do check it out at xwordinfo.com. There were several new (to us) clues: 69A, Cal's game-winning kickoff return against Stanford in 1982, familiarly, THEP...

28 Kesä 202117min