Sunday, March 3, 2024 - Three, two, one, blastoff! 🚀
You can always count on Hoang-Kim Vu to produce a splendid crossword, and today you can also count on him to ... count, because that's the theme: countdown, to be specific, is the title of the crossword as well as a large hint as to what you have to be able to do to solve said crossword. We have all the deets inside, so have a listen, and let us know what you think. Show note imagery: PARAMUS Park, New Jersey We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a ...
4 Mars 202420min
Saturday, March 2, 2024 -The Book of 1001 SAT Words will be arriving FORTHWITH, or at least posthaste 😀
Natan Last has constructed 39 crosswords for the NYTimes, and this latest one shows exactly why the NYTimes keeps coming back for more - the clues are simply inspired, dancing on that fine line between uber-challenging and cruel, but always landing on the right side. So, without doubt, this crossword should be in the running for our JAMCOTWA - Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award™️). Did it win? Download to find out! Show note imagery: KABUKI, Japanese theatre at its finest....
3 Mars 202416min
Friday, March 1, 2024 - In like a lion ...
A roaringly good Friday crossword to end the business week! There was no theme, but there were a host of awesome clues, including: 38A, Shade akin to peridot, LIME (peridot, what a word!); 33D, Where you might run into some real characters, THEMEPARK (brilliant!); 9D, Never again, ONCE (can't argue with that!); and 18D, Luxury brand, or non-luxury option, COACH (delightful!). Since it's Friday, we also have a fascinating Fun Fact Friday™️ segment, so for all that and more, subscribe, downloa...
2 Mars 202413min
Thursday, February 29, 2024 - Leaping lizards, it's a leap day crossword!
Whether this was in honor of Leap Day or not (only Will knows, and he's not saying), today's crossword was extra special, most notably because of some of the clues weren't just text, but in fact cute line drawings of assorted animals playing musical instruments. The line drawings were endearing, and we were enamored, for reasons that we expound upon, at length, in today's episode. Also, we have listener mail! Lots of it!! So check out today's podcast, and, as is traditional on Leap Day...
1 Mars 202421min
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 - Finally, a crossword that answers that burning question: WHATITSALLABOUT?
A debut crossword by Greg Snitkin, but you wouldn't know it based on the quality of today's puzzle. The theme was terrif, and was abetted by a passel of captivating clues to round off the grid. While a lot of old friends showed up (looking at you, 15A, McFlurry flavor, OREO), and 61A," _________ you vera much!", (punny valentine), ALOE, there were two debuts, including 33A, Someone terrorizing kids in a 1986 Stephen King novel, SCARYCLOWN 🤡. For all the deets, have a listen, and, as alw...
29 Feb 202415min
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 - ;-), meet your grandchild, 😉
A lot of INK went into today's crossword, in such answers as SLINKYDOG, WINKYFACE and 5 (!) more of that ink, er, we mean ilk, 😀. Numerous clues got our attention and podcast time, but we would also like to celebrate 49D, Tatted, INKED (yay, more ink 😀); 9D, "It's Raining _______", MEN (meteorologically unlikely, but still...); and 10D, Like a dress with a diagonal hemline, say, ASYMMETRIC. It's Tuesday, which of course means it's time for a Triplet Tuesday battle of wits. Did Jean win...
28 Feb 202414min
Monday, February 26, 2024 - NAMASTE!
This is Joe Marquez's second NYTimes crossword (congrats, Joe!) and a very nice piece of work it is. Several clues had a wry twist to them (and we are not just saying that because the theme involved alcohol 🙄). The humor started early, with 1A, Little spheres in a pod, PEAS; continued with 15A, Out-spoken, ALOUD; and by definition the most humorous of all, the on the nose 26D, Ha-ha-ha, LAUGH (which we did). Besides the puzzle itself, we have listener mail, a fine explanation of ANDONE...
27 Feb 202413min
Sunday, February 25, 2024 - Sunday is Punday
Once again the puns come thick and fast, so if you like puns, well, step this way and download this episode, because it's teeming with them, seven at last count. They're not that bad though, in fact several have groan, er grown on us (and now we're up to eight 😀) A reminder, the NYTimes Crossword is an excellent vehicle for helping you keep mentally agile and alert, and it costs just pennies a day. To gain access, just wander over to nytimes.com/subscriptions, operators, or at least bot...
26 Feb 202419min
