Sunday, December 15, 2024 - Magic is in the grid!

A novel crossword, definitely not by the numbers, to round out our puzzle solving week. The theme involved adding up intersecting digits, which was a real HOOT. Jean found this slightly more difficult than usual, while Mike knew a diminishingly small number of answers at the outset. Some clues of note: 33D, Makes cloudy (BLEARS), 9D, Don's partner in the underworld, CAPO, and 97A, Zoning, so to speak (OUTOFIT). We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Dro...

23 Nov 202018min

If you didn't get today's crossword, well, HAKUNA MATATA, NOLOSS. It was a Saturday, ERGO it was bound to be a bit of an OGRE. Some particularly memorable clues -- 54D, An expert on feet, POET, 9A, 1, 2, 3, 4, ..., 11, 12, 14, etc., FLOORS, and, oh ANOTHERONE, 25D, 28 pound debut of 1981, IBMPC. We give it a 4.5 squares on the increasingly precise JAMCR scale. Remember, if you want to get in touch to provide feedback on anything you hear here, just email us at crosswordpodcast@...

22 Nov 202014min

There are not a lot of BIGYUKS to be found in today's crossword, but there is a BARRAGE of obscure clues, including 6D, _________ Barnes, WNIT-winning basketball coach (ADIA), 43D, German leader after Adenauer (ERHARD), and (for Mike: apparently it's Jean's middle name), 38D, Dolce's partner in fashion, GABBANA. But, at the end of the day, both Jean and Mike were able to get all the clues DECODED. AYCARAMBA! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a li...

21 Nov 202016min

Cn y ndrstnd ths? f s, y mght hv lg p dng tdy's crsswrd! And for those of you who don't speak consonantese, what we wrote was "Can you understand this? If so, you might have a leg up doing today's crossword!". That's because today's crossword was an homage to the WHLFFRTN, aka Wheel of Fortune, and many of the clues had been de-voweled. Jean, being a WHLFFRTN aficionado, tore through this in record time, while Mike was a little more SHAKY, although he, too, was eventually able to NAIL i...

20 Nov 202015min

You will sure aPPreciate this puzzle, with a riPPing good theme, from Amanda Rafkin and Ross Trudeau. Twas a fairly gentle Wednesday, both Jean & Mike turned in exemplary times, and thought IMHAPPY afterwards.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!

19 Nov 20208min

A puzzle with a tinge of BACKSPIN, a clever MOTIF, and no serious HAIRPIN turns. Jean learned how to send a LATERGRAM, Mike appreciated the appearance of AIR, EYRE, and ERA in such a tiny grid, and both agreed that this deserved a 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!

18 Nov 202015min

In today's episode, Jean explains by way of example what a natick is, how to spell the answer to 49D, Shish _______, KEBAB, and provides a brief bio of 37A, Skater Lipinski, TARA .Mike suspects product-placement in the vicinity of 51D, Popular health info source, WEBMD, and ponders the proximity of a reference to PG&E to AFIRE and TREES in the southern and slightly more orange part of the puzzle. We give it a 4 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact...

17 Nov 20208min

This puzzle starts perfectly -- with the title, Theme, Shmeme -- alerts you that it means (non-serious) business with the very first clue, 1A, Round number?, BARTAB, and never lets up, with a delightful bevy of fun and entertaining clues, perfect Sunday fare. You have to love a crossword that includes 88A, Barely afloat?, SKINNYDIPPING, and 70A, It's sedimentary, my dear, SILT. Kudos to Caitlin Reid, this is definitely 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Co...

16 Nov 202014min