Monday, January 27, 2025 - TAPAS and SWISSROLLs and BRIE? Great in a grid, not so great on a plate đ
This was a clever Monday crossword from a clever constructor, Alexander Liebeskind, who seems to excel at Mondays. Both cohosts found today's puzzle a bit crunchier (tougher) than usual, but the entertainment value was higher than usual, so it's a wash. Deets inside, including a fascinating attempt to decode SMH that was, TBH, waaaaay off. Show note imagery: a SWISSROLL -- the Little Debbie edition We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line,...
28 Jan 14min
Sunday, January 26, 2025 - Hop on the re-bus đ
Today's crossword was a rarity -- its themed clues had pictures đŒïž that had to be interpreted đ§, as they were part of a rebus. By "rebus", we don't mean the "multiple letters scrunched in one square" variety, encountered frequently on Thursdays. Rather, we mean the more traditional definition: a puzzle in which pictures and typography are used to sound out an answer. This made for a challenging. but entertaining Sunday: as always, deets within! Show note imagery: Some TAICHI practitioners W...
27 Jan 30min
Saturday, January 25, 2025 - Begone, you ARMRESTHOG, you!
Today's crossword, by Michael Lieberman, was a bear (not the growly kind, obviously, but one of the tougher-leaning Saturday NYTimes crosswords). It was an excellent mental workout, and the cluing really was deviously delicious, just the way we like it! For those of you just starting to solve NYTimes crosswords, just a reminder that the Saturday NYTimes puzzle is traditionally the most difficult crossword of the week, with difficulty ranging from "yikes" to "you have got to be kidding!". So i...
26 Jan 18min
January 24, 2025 - We'd like to AMEND our definition of EMEND đ§
This was a fine Friday crossword, and not just because the FLINTSTONES were in the grid â€ïž. Jean tore through it, Mike spent an inordinate amount of time sorting out the difference between AMEND and EMEND. But both eventually got it solved, and had oodles of fun doing so, as you can tell from today's episode. In addition to the crossword, we are honoring the arrival of Friday with another Fun Fact Fridayâą segment, this time, honoring the most famous "modern stone-age family" ever, aka the FL...
25 Jan 20min
Thursday, January 23, 2025 - Another epic from Natan Last & the JASA Crossword Class
It is always a treat to see Natan Last and the JASA Crossword Class in the marquee, because ... well, just take a look at today's crossword to see why: a theme guaranteed to put a smile on your face, and great cluing everywhere. For instance, 37D, Geologic formation from glacial melting, ICECAVE (OK, that's a thing); 28D, Canadian province where "Anne of Green Gables" is set: Abbr., PEI (one of our favorite provinces!); and a word that we long to work into casual conversation, 24D, Vulpine, S...
24 Jan 21min
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 - Egad, this grid's got EGOT đ
Today's crossword was looking sharp -- and not just because ARMANI was in the grid (but it helped). We liked the daunting open-endedness of 48A, "_____ intended!", NOPUN; appreciated the BROW knitting induced by 24A, Move slightly, BUDGE; and just the opportunity to say 7D, Italian anise-flavored liqueur, SAMBUCA. A great debut crossword by Landon Horton, in our estimation it deserves to peg the JAMCR meter with a full 5 squares. Finally, we've got listener mail! So, for those of you wonderi...
23 Jan 13min
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - A crossword that's firing on all CYLINDERs
This was a terrific Tuesday crossword by Dan Caprera, his 6th in the NYTimes. The clues were fun, fresh, and the theme was a wry one. Besides the clues covered in today's podcast, we'd like to give a shout out to 52A, ___ Jordan, a.k.a. the Green Lantern, HAL (we're just suckers for superheroes); 43A, Figure painted by Warhol, MAO (Will's definitely got a thing for this picture, this week); and 19D, Sit non-ergonomically, SLOUCH (oh, brilliant!). Show note imagery: A Rummikub TILE (and more ...
22 Jan 18min
Monday, January 20, 2025 - When AI's on the blink, time to break out the ol' Strunk & White!
Today's crossword was a debut for Katie Byl (pronounced "bill") and most definitely not a debut for Jeff Chen (pronounced "chen" đ). Together they have crafted a perfect Monday puzzle, and only one of our cohosts found this to be slightly more daunting than usual for a Monday, for reasons entirely of his own making. Jean's favorite clue in today's crossword? 35D, Hair knots with a French name, CHIGNONS (a debut). Mike was partial (of course) to 61A, "Biscuit" for cookie or "chips" for fries...
21 Jan 12min
