Wednesday, December 18, 2024 - If you're a YUTZ, don't try this crossword

Jean cruises through today's crossword, while Mike crashes his ASTIN, excuse us, *ASTON* in this light-hearted Sunday exercise in punnery. It earns a 4.25 on the JAMCR scale, and ... that's AWRAP!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 Okt 202013min

A relatively straightforward Saturday crossword, with lots of new words thrown in to the mix, including 36D, French dessert of fruit encased in sweet batter, CLAFOUTI, 40D, Language from which "peyote" comes, NAHUATL, and a reprise of an oldie but goodie, 1A, Pattern of five shapes arranged like this puzzle's central black squares, QUINCUNX. All in all, a nice Saturday frolic by Victor Barocas and Brad Wilber, edited, as always, by Will Shortz. For those of you of a culinary persuasio...

17 Okt 202015min

In today's podcast, Jean contemplates the eternal question -- is it UTAHN, or Utahan. Mike, meanwhile, engages in a painful rationalization of BATFLAPS as the answer to 15A, Showboaty home run celebrations. The correct answer was, of course, BATFLIPS, but, well, ACCIDENTSHAPPEN. Listen in to learn more about today's crossword-- which earns a very respectable 4.5 on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast...

17 Okt 202014min

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