Thursday, February 18, 2021
There was so much to RAVE about in this crossword that we just have to RATE it a 5 on the JAMCR scale. The author started off with the best of INTENTIONS, and thanks to several verbal INVENTIONS, pulled off an amazing feat that simply left us INAWE: 4 squares that could be either T or V, and the answers, spelled either with a T or V, were both plausible. For example, 17A, Designs, could be either INVENTIONS or INTENTIONS; 3D, Some accommodations, could be either HOVELS or HOTELS. Brilliant! W...
19 Feb 20219min
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
A nice Wednesday crossword, although both Jean & Mike had a spot of bother in the top-right corner. Both independently came to the conclusion that 12D, "Never-ending" offerings at Olive Garden, was SALADS, as opposed to the other never-ending offerings, PASTAS. Both (also independently) assumed that 25A, Least bit, was ATAD. There was also some unpleasantness with 18A, "Full Frontal With Samantha Bee" network, but in the end both (independently) fought their way out of that verbal quagmir...
18 Feb 202115min
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
A solid Tuesday crossword, even though the theme was liquid -- various types of beer, to be precise, embedded in longer clues (e.g., 26A, British fashion designer who's the daughter of Linda and Sir Paul, STELLAMCCARTNEY (after Stella Artois), and the rather cryptic 57A, Long, straight-sided smoke, CORONACIGAR. Jean enjoyed the appearance of 23D, Drink that can cause brain freeze, SLUSHIE (her original answer for SLURPIE from a day or two ago). Mike was slightly disappointed to learn ...
17 Feb 202115min
Monday, February 15, 2021
The New York Times crossword is going to the dogs ... but in a good way, with this themed puzzle that provides a shoutout to various presidential woofers. Jean was intrigued by 40A, The Buddha is often depicted meditating under it [Obama], BOTREE, while, predictably, Mike's favorite was 7D, Apple on a desktop, IMAC. We give this puzzle a well deserved 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@i...
16 Feb 202111min
Sunday, February 14, 2021
A tough Sunday, ASSUREDLY not for the faint of heart, with NOTALOT of "gimmes". Still, any crossword that includes CAPTAIN AMERICA (57A and 3D, respectively) can't be that bad. The top right was a bit of a quagmire. thanks to the proximity of 26A, "Thong Song" singer, 2000, SISQO, 32A, In the capacity of, QUA, and 16D, Medieval helmet, CASQUE. The bottom right had some nice turns of phrase, including 90D, France from France, ANATOLE. and 105D, Ones with plenty of reservations, MAI...
15 Feb 202117min
Saturday, February 13, 2021
An ARTFULLY constructed Saturday, with plenty of tough clues to RUMINATE over, from 14A, Wait here!, RESTAURANT (very nice), to the slightly less arcane 32D, Main course?, SEAROUTE. Jean had some difficulty with 33D, Nickname for the White House Correspondents' Dinner, NERDPROM, while Mike was temporarily flummoxed by 43A, Bottom lines, SUMS (as opposed to BUMS), crossing with 43D, It's not a good look, SNEER (as opposed to his original guess, based of suspension of disbelief and the basics o...
14 Feb 202113min
Friday, February 12, 2021
A RESPITE from some of the harder Friday crosswords we had lately, in both Jean and Mike's wheelhouses. Jean appreciated the XXX stack, 39D, Adult and then some, XXXRATED (crossed with 38A, Goes past, EXCEEDS, 41A, It may be added to the mix, CHEX (very nice!), and the slightly more obscure 45A, Beast vanquished by Oedipus, SPHINX. Mike appreciated not having to spell OCCAM's razor twice in two days, but was glad to see EDASNER (64A, Player of Warren Buffett in "Too Big to Fail"), who had gra...
13 Feb 20219min
Thursday, February 11, 2021
A terrific Thursday effort by Alex Eaton-Salners, who uses the plural form of words to great COMEDIEDIEFFECT, creating a truly COFFOOTFOOTABLE-worthy crossword. And if that last sentence made no sense, today's podcast will make it all clear. Both Jean and Mike learned something in today's crossword -- Jean, for instance, learned about 20A, Communist party systems, APPARATS; Mike learned that he did not know how to spell the answer to 1D, Razor handle?, OCCAM, and that his new favorite ...
12 Feb 202112min
