Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - Well, GLORYBE, it's a SAMOYED!
A worthy middle-of-the-week crossword, with all the requisite elements that we would expect, but a few that we did not. For example, we did not expect 46D, Siberian sled dog, SAMOYED; nor did we expect 67A, Logical operators that output "true" only if both inputs are true, ANDS; and finally, into that same category of "color us surprised" we would need to throw in 8D, Italian poet who wrote "Nature is the art of God", DANTE. Show note imagery: a SAMOYED, pegging the cuteness mete...
25 Jan 202415min
Tuesday, January 21, 2024 - This crossword's got style!
A classy Tuesday crossword and a debut by Patrick Maher, with an LOL theme and edutaining clues all 'round. For example, 34D, Greek letter shaped like a pitchfork, PSI (true, true); 49D, Camelid sometimes used to guard sheep, LLAMA (that's a new one -- camelid, not LLAMA); and the uproarious 26D, Bad match on tinder, ARSON (😀). In short, a fine crossword, and surely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, cro...
24 Jan 202416min
Monday, January 20, 2024 - Some OLDIES, some NEWBs, this FAB crossword's got it all!
Just how many crossword themes are possible? We'd argue for infinite, and while we have no proof, thanks to today's crossword we have even more empirical evidence: a unique and ebullient addition to the pantheon. See (or rather hear) for yourself: download, and be prepared to be uplifted, by Jake Halperin's fine opus. Show note imagery: Hess, a toy truck that has absolutely no relationship, Mike's hallucinations notwithstanding, to author Hermann HESSE. We love feedback! Send us a text... Co...
23 Jan 202412min
Sunday, January 21, 2024 - Oh, no, it's an imbroglio over an INTAGLIO 🙄
Today's crossword is entitled "Funny Business", and it definitely lives up to its name. The themed clues were a stitch, and there were lots of intriguing clues, which we had a lot of fun with as well. So, for a guaranteed laugh a minute (or at least a chortle or two), we heartily encourage you to subscribe/follow (so you never miss an episode!), download, listen up, and ... enjoy! Show note imagery: a Benjamina Ficus, in focus 😀 We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact ...
22 Jan 202421min
Saturday, January 20, 2024 -Oh, neato, there's such a thing as INCOGMEATO 😀
Caitlin Reid and Matthew Stock have produced a breezy Saturday crossword -- with a slew of educational and entertaining clues such as 52A, Bad drawing?, SHORTSTRAW; 30D, Greek who originated the expression, "Leave no stone unturned", EURIPIDES (huh!); 50A, It's on the house, EAVE (ha!); and 41A, Signature items?, PENS (uh-huh). There were more, to be sure, and you can hear all about them in today's podcast! Show note imagery: INCOGMEATO, look for it wherever fine vegetarian foods...
21 Jan 202414min
Friday, January 19, 2024 - A crossword that's chock-full of AHAMOMENTs
Today's crossword was a delight -- not soul-crushingly difficult, as Friday crosswords sometimes are, but just a joy to behold and to solve. We give numerous examples in today's podcast, but we'd also like to celebrate 2D, "Well, well, well!", LOOKIEHERE(😀); 39D, Got hitched?, HITASNAG(😀 😀); and the fascinating 23A, Grand _______, town in Nova Scotia that's a World Heritage Site (🧐). This was Jacob McDermott's 7th NYTimes crossword, and we eagerly await his 8th! Show note imagery: ERTÉ...
19 Jan 202415min
Thursday, January 18, 2024 - I before E, except after C, albeit science tells us that there might be exceptions 🙄
We'd like to say that the Michnovicz brothers have done it again, but since this is their debut NYTimes crossword all we can say is that they've done it! -- written a thought provoking puzzle that will test your spelling props like they've never been tested before (or at least since yesterday's puzzle). We cover most of the hot shot clues inside, but one we missed was 34D, Hot shot?, ESPRESSO; another, the very classy 59A, Jeremiad, RANT; and, perhaps the best of the bunch, 39A, Somethin...
19 Jan 202422min
Wednesday, January 17. 2024 - Morton J. Mendelson had a (b)right idea 😀
A fine Wednesday crossword by Morton J. Mendelson, and to answer the question raised in the grid, yes, ITISART: artfully designed, wittily clued, and with an astonishing number of themed clues. We were also delighted to see echoes of yesterday's stellar crossword crop up today - Tuesday revolved around ONEL, while today we had 59D, Top-notch, AONE. Tuesday involved the letter L, while today's crossword involved a lot of right angles (fundamentally an L that went head over heels). Show ...
18 Jan 202416min
