Thursday, April 22, 2021

Today's crossword had an ingenious theme. as one would expect when Celeste Watts and Jeff Chen are at the keyboard. Two letters, extracted from each themed clue ,when pronounced, formed a homonym for a word or phrase, as part of a second phrase, that described the original clue. For instance, 49A, LUXUR_ _AUGHT, UNWISEINVESTMENT, and 93A, POI_T OF _IEW, UNENVIABLEPOSITION. Amazing! Jean made short work of this crossword, but Mike, as usual, hit some choppy waters due to his unfamiliarit...

8 Mars 202110min

The force is strong with this one, this one being Sid Sivakumar, author of a crossword with a distinct sci-fi/nerd/geek vibe going for it. It starts off with 1D, "Star Trek" character first played by 12-Down, DATA, and the 12D counterpart, Actor Spiner, BRENT. It doesn't let up with 14A, Side opposite 41-Across in a sci-fi clash, ALIENRACE, and its counterpart, 41A, See 14-Across, HUMANS. Even 44A, School science project involving a vegetable and a voltmeter, POTATOBATTERY (not, as Mike origi...

7 Mars 20219min

A strenuous Friday workout from Sridhar Bhagavathula, with lots of challenges ... pretty much everywhere. Jean had a spot of bother with the top-left corner, with 1A, Pitched poorly, OFFKEY, and 3D, Resource for music performers, FAKEBOOK being particular sticking points. Mike found the top right corner a tough slog, with 7A, Trace element?, STENCIL (cute); 17A, The Statue of Liberty, for one, COLOSSUS; and his personal favorite, 9D, If all ________ were laid end to end, they would not ...

6 Mars 202114min

Jean's favorite crossword device makes an appearance today -- a rebus! The revealer was two clues, spelling NBA JAM, and the rebus required NBA be JAMmed into one square (we see what you did there, Blake Slonecker, author of today's puzzle). A few crossword friends take a bow today, including the apparently contractually obligatory 35A, Male actor with the most primetime Emmys (7), ASNER, the official monster of the New York Times crossword, 46A, Folklore fiend, OGRE, and the off...

5 Mars 202110min

There were a few ENIGMAS in this puzzle -- the most perplexing being, how did Galileo, born in the 1500's, earn the monicker of 39A, The Father of Modern Physics? Schroedinger is probably rolling over (and simultaneously not rolling over) in his grave 😀 Jean was natticked at the corner of 49A, Lecture series focused on "ideas of the mind", TEDX and 39D, British Pharma giant, GLAXO, while Mike was indignant at the thought that 1A, Body part whose name comes from the Latin for "little mou...

4 Mars 202113min

We're not sure if Ross Trudeau STAYSSANE by writing crosswords, but he certainly does a fabulous job of concocting them, and we present today's puzzle as exhibit A. It was a themed crossword, and Jean's favorite clue was 61A, Chicken broth or beef bouillon?, STOCKOPTION; Mike liked the tangentially-related 6D, Participated in a stock exchange?, MOOED - ultra-cute! Jean got through the crossword with her usual aplomb and alacrity, while Mike, AHEM, was almost done in by his Diet Coke habit, le...

3 Mars 202112min

If this crossword seemed taller than usual -- in spite of being the standard 15x15 -- that is probably because of the preponderance of tall themed answers -- SPACENEEDLE, EIFFELTOWER and FERRISWHEEL. These were all constructs built for one of the WORLDSFAIRS that seem to have gone out of vogue nowadays. Jean and Mike both appreciated 66A, Like some college bros, FRATTY; and Mike was pleased that his go-to for solving tricky problems, BRUTEFORCE, got a shoutout, although the clue -- 3D, Ineleg...

2 Mars 20216min

A punny Sunday crossword ... ORISIT? Well, with clues like 41A, When the nudist club was founded?, MANYMOONSAGO, it is apparent that the answer is a a resounding yes! Jean's favorite themed clue (and the gimmick all revolved around people going au naturelle) was 78A, What happens in the stand-up show at the nudist club?, COMICSTRIPS, whereas Mike although partial to the aforementioned 41A, also appreciated 24A, Leadership style of the nudist club president?, BARELYMANAGING, and 58D, Vic...

1 Mars 20217min