Monday, March 1, 2021
If this crossword seemed taller than usual -- in spite of being the standard 15x15 -- that is probably because of the preponderance of tall themed answers -- SPACENEEDLE, EIFFELTOWER and FERRISWHEEL. These were all constructs built for one of the WORLDSFAIRS that seem to have gone out of vogue nowadays. Jean and Mike both appreciated 66A, Like some college bros, FRATTY; and Mike was pleased that his go-to for solving tricky problems, BRUTEFORCE, got a shoutout, although the clue -- 3D, Ineleg...
2 Maalis 20216min
Sunday, February 28, 2021
A punny Sunday crossword ... ORISIT? Well, with clues like 41A, When the nudist club was founded?, MANYMOONSAGO, it is apparent that the answer is a a resounding yes! Jean's favorite themed clue (and the gimmick all revolved around people going au naturelle) was 78A, What happens in the stand-up show at the nudist club?, COMICSTRIPS, whereas Mike although partial to the aforementioned 41A, also appreciated 24A, Leadership style of the nudist club president?, BARELYMANAGING, and 58D, Vic...
1 Maalis 20217min
Saturday, February 27, 2021
Jean sailed through this crossword so quickly that her keyboard ignited, while the fate of Mike's keyboard was never in doubt nor peril. There was a goodly number of arcane (depending upon your age) clues, including 61A, Actress/YouTube star ______ Condor, LANA, 38A, Title character in a "Sgt. Pepper" song, MRKITE, 8D, George Sand title heroine, ISIDORA, and 63A, "East of Eden" twin, Aron, just to name a few. Both Jean and Mike were suckered in by 44D, Begrudge, independently answering...
28 Helmi 202112min
Friday, February 26, 2021
There were no ERRATA in this perfect Friday crossword, with 5 loooong answers that spanned the grid -- 3 across and 2 down. Despite their length, however, they were relatively accessible, common phrases -- sneakily disguised to ELUDE discovery. Jean found a few new words to add to her vocabulary - 43A, Fencing sport with bamboo swords, KENDO, and 46A, Film composer Morricone, ENNIO. Mike learned about 7A, Painting technique used in van Gogh's "The Starry Night", IMPASTO, and the existence of ...
27 Helmi 202115min
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Jean cruised through this crossword like it was a Monday, while Mike got hung up on the REEFS, and had to DOUBLEDOWN in order to get OVER the finish line with his self ESTEEM intact. The theme DOUBLEDOWN referred to several words that had repeating triplets, e.g., HEARTMUR ==> HEARTMURMUR, COVERSION ==> COVERVERSION, etc. Very clevlever. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on...
26 Helmi 202115min
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
A punny Wednesday, with multiple clues, based on PARADOX, that happened to contain, DOX, um, make that Docs as in Dr. EVIL, Dr. OZ, Dr. WHO, Dr. RUTH, Dr. DRE and Dr. NO -- clearly the makings of a great medical clinic! There were a few grin-inducing clues -- 53A, Elbows and such, PASTA, and 32D, Togs for sawing logs?, PJS -- offset by one sad clue -- 61D, Number of season's played by baseball's Seattle Pilots, ONE. Clearly there is a story to be told ... We love feedback! Send us a tex...
25 Helmi 20219min
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Both Jean and Mike found this puzzle to be a tad easier than Monday. There was much music in today's crossword -- Lady GAGA, ELTONJOHN, EMINEM, all made an appearance, and if IRONTHRONE isn't the name of a heavy metal band it ought to be 😀. KARAOKE, DEADHEAD, and 23A, Movin' _______ ("The Jeffersons" theme), also contributed to this toe-tapper of a puzzle.It's Tip Tuesday(tm). Jean recommends solving the crossword with a buddy, as you can learn a lot from the experience. Mike describes ...
24 Helmi 202112min
Monday, February 22, 2021
We have no doubt that the illustrious editor of the New York Times, Will Shortz, was PEPPERED with questions after today's crossword was published, and might've thought, GIMMEABREAK. Nonetheless, controversy swirled around the answer to 29D, Evian and Perrier, EAUS, as opposed to (as any bon étudiant de la belle langue Français* could tell you), the correct answer, EAUX. Jean was serenely unperturbed by this faux pas, but Mike blames his suboptimal solving time on having passed out for severa...
23 Helmi 202112min
