Tuesday, November 3, 2020

G'day mate! You call that a crossword? THIS is a crossword, a fine one, in fact, celebrating all things from the land DOWNUNDER, aka AUSTRALIA -- from DIGERIDOO to VEGEMITE, and several other clues in between. Jean & Mike also briefly ponder whether Will Shortz is stranded at an airport, because no less than 3 clues alluding to being stranded at an airport, involving either a FOGIN or ICEIN, have appeared in the last 3 days. Send a search party! Be sure and check out nytimes.com/crosswor...

16 Okt 202012min

Jean & Mike give a VULCANSALUTE to Rich Proulx, who, HOPEFULLY, will not HANGLOOSE too long before he graces us again with his presence -- this crossword was a VICTORY for all concerned, 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.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!

15 Okt 202010min

Today's crossword was an EPIC example of the cruciverbalist's CRAFT: the clues were all AONE, really -- we're not just BLOWININTHEWIND (they said with a KNOWINGWINK). Beyond today's crossword, it is Tip Tuesday, so listen in for some excellent advice on how to enhance your crossword solving skills. 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 ...

14 Okt 202015min

One of the BEST FLOWER-themed crosswords we've seen, the author does not need an ALIBI for this very GOODTHING. Mike spent too much time on this puzzle, yes, it GRATES, and Jean tried to set an indoor speed record for a Monday: listen to hear how she fared. Remember, tomorrow is Tip Tuesday, so tune in for tips on how you can become a better crossword solver. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on ...

13 Okt 202012min

If Saturday's crossword was a main course, this was definitely dessert, somewhere between flan and merengue pie, that ought to SATE those looking for a COMFIER puzzle. It had a lot of fun cluing, like 55A, Square things (ATONE) and 53D, Rest of the afternoon? (SIESTA). Jean cruised through it as usual, Mike assumed that, on the basis of NA, that 18D, Mission-driven org., would be NATO; alas, no. There were some cute touches. For example, the puzzle was titled "PI R Squared", and AREA made an...

11 Okt 202016min

it's Saturday, which means that, in crossword terms, ITSWAR. There were tough clues like 31D, Turning the tables? (DJING), 35A, Where people get in hot water? (JACUZZIS), and 14A, Traveler with a turbine (HOVERCRAFT), as well as ARCANE clues like 11D, Longtime head of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (SEIJIOZAWA). You could definitely be forgiven for saying PANT, PANT, once you got this one done! We give a 4 on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener m...

11 Okt 202015min

It's a fairly gentle Friday crossword and even though it took both Jean & Mike time to find footholds -- they had NOIDEA where to start initially -- they did manage to plow through it fairly quickly as they went, mentally, MANOAMANO with the crossword creator, Sam Buchbinder. Mike didn't even have to SLEEPONIT, getting it all done in one go. 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 fe...

10 Okt 202010min

What's all that HOOPLA about? This crossword, a most WORTHY effort by Francesca Goldston and Jeff Chen (Will Shortz, ed.). Jean's only serious snafu was imagining John Lennon ONACOD (as opposed to ONACID), and Mike's only issue was ... the entire crossword. Still, we give it a 5 squares on the incredibly precise JAMCR scale. 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 t...

9 Okt 202012min