Thursday, August 22, 2024 -
A rather curious THeme, Jean sussed it immediately, Mike aspires to do so at an indeterminate point in the hopefully near future. 😀 There were some curious clues to go along with the theme, we're still puzzling over 21A, Baseball pitcher's feat, slangily, NONO, and would also like to know what happened to the ending IE in 43D, Buns, PATOOT. Still, all-in-all a fine puzzle, this being Brad Wiegmann's 9th. Show note imagery: A NEOLITHIC monument in Scotland, no relation to Stonehenge We love f...
23 Aug 202413min
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 - An IDEAL Wednesday Crossword
Stacey Yaruss McCullough has created a fine debut crossword, with some dazzling feats of portmanteau-rhymery, and if that isn't part of the English language, we hereby nominate it for such posthaste. A friendly reminder that when listening to these podcasts, if you haven't solved the puzzle (and don't intend to), you can see the entire solved puzzle at xwordinfo.com. Having it open makes it a tad easier to follow our convos, and our first link in these show notes is always to that site...
22 Aug 202414min
Tuesday, August 20, 2024 - Awoogah, there's a forest fire in the TAIGA!!
Sam Buchbinder ha a reputation for writing splendid clues and crosswords, and he certainly lives up to it today, with some very amusing clues, including one that one of our cohosts was unable to even read, after much practice, without bursting into a mild chortling fit half way through. Which cohost? And which clue? Well, we all live for suspense, so we'll keep you in it ... unless you want to download today's episode, highly recommended! Show note imagery: TAIGA, TAIGA, burning bright 😀&nbs...
21 Aug 202418min
Monday, August 19, 2024 - Don't YAMMER about people who like to YABBER 😂
A surprising Monday crossword by Kenneth Cortes, who has gone against the convention that themed clues run in the same direction -- but he had an excellent reason for so doing, as we explain in today's episode. Show note imagery: The Washington METRO We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!
20 Aug 202415min
Sunday, August 18, 2024 - A highly amusing Sunday!
Take two really superb crossword constructors and put them together, and what do you get? A crossword like this one, chock full of heart, artistry, and attention to detail, clearly written by two cruciverbalists at the top of their games. Deets inside, as well as some fine listener feedback on the proper pronunciation of POMPANO Beach, so do have a listen! Show note imagery: Christina's World, by Andrew Wyeth, hanging at MOMA We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love lis...
19 Aug 202422min
Saturday, August 17, 2024 - ARGH, ACK, yes, it's a Saturday NYTimes crossword!
It's been a challenging couple of days, crossword-wise, and Joel Fagliano didn't let up on the gas when selecting today's, which happens to be a) by Brandon Koppy, and b) our JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) winner. For the record, the two are not a coincidence! Deets inside, so have a listen, and, as usual, please tell others about us on social media. Show note imagery: Jeera ALOO, made with, of course, ALOO (potatoes) We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact In...
18 Aug 202421min
Friday, August 16, 2024 - There's a MAGICIAN in the grid, courtesy of the MAGICIAN who made the grid, Kate Hawkins
A frisky Friday crossword from Kate Hawkins - her 14th - on her lucky day, Friday, when 6 out of those 14 puzzles have been published. This was a great themeless puzzle, with some stellar cluing -- 41D, Number of sides for a hendecagon, ELEVEN; 32D, [I won't repeat myself in this note], SEEABOVE (very nice!); and 4D, Arch, SLY (yes, yes it is). In other news, it's Fun Fact Friday, and we have a great FFF of particular interest to small children, parents, and ... dentists! Show note im...
17 Aug 202421min
Thursday, August 15, 2024 - Danger, Damon J. Gulczynski's in attack mode 😀 😀
A deliciously tough crossword by a constructor whose puzzles skew towards that end of the spectrum -- one Damon J Gulczynski. One's perception of this crossword just might depend on whether you grokked the theme -- in which case it was probably a typical Thursday crossword -- or not, in which case the difficulty hovered somewhere between Saturday and a day so challenging nobody's provided a name for it yet: we recommend Nowaynohowday. 😀 Show note imagery: A rainfly, an essential campin...
16 Aug 202424min
