Today's crossword was a rarity -- its themed clues had pictures 🖼️ that had to be interpreted 🧐, as they were part of a rebus. By "rebus", we don't mean the "multiple letters scrunched in one square" variety, encountered frequently on Thursdays. Rather, we mean the more traditional definition: a puzzle in which pictures and typography are used to sound out an answer.

This made for a challenging. but entertaining Sunday: as always, deets within!

Show note imagery: Some TAICHI practitioners

We love feedback! Send us a text...

Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Today's crossword, by Michael Lieberman, was a bear (not the growly kind, obviously, but one of the tougher-leaning Saturday NYTimes crosswords). It was an excellent mental workout, and the cluing really was deviously delicious, just the way we like it! For those of you just starting to solve NYTimes crosswords, just a reminder that the Saturday NYTimes puzzle is traditionally the most difficult crossword of the week, with difficulty ranging from "yikes" to "you have got to be kidding!". So if you had probs with this crossword, you were not alone!

In addition to today's crossword, we also are pleased to announce the winner of this week's JAMCOTWA™ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), and it is ... discussed in today's episode!

Show note imagery: Boating on the River Epte, by MONET

We love feedback! Send us a text...

Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

This was a fine Friday crossword, and not just because the FLINTSTONES were in the grid ❤️. Jean tore through it, Mike spent an inordinate amount of time sorting out the difference between AMEND and EMEND. But both eventually got it solved, and had oodles of fun doing so, as you can tell from today's episode.

In addition to the crossword, we are honoring the arrival of Friday with another Fun Fact Friday™ segment, this time, honoring the most famous "modern stone-age family" ever, aka the FLINTSTONES.

Show note imagery: OSIRIS, who does indeed have green skin

We love feedback! Send us a text...

Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

It is always a treat to see Natan Last and the JASA Crossword Class in the marquee, because ... well, just take a look at today's crossword to see why: a theme guaranteed to put a smile on your face, and great cluing everywhere. For instance, 37D, Geologic formation from glacial melting, ICECAVE (OK, that's a thing); 28D, Canadian province where "Anne of Green Gables" is set: Abbr., PEI (one of our favorite provinces!); and a word that we long to work into casual conversation, 24D, Vulpine, SLY. 

Show note imagery: Scar, looking positively vulpine

We love feedback! Send us a text...

Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Today's crossword was looking sharp -- and not just because ARMANI was in the grid (but it helped). We liked the daunting open-endedness of 48A, "_____ intended!", NOPUN; appreciated the BROW knitting induced by 24A, Move slightly, BUDGE; and just the opportunity to say 7D, Italian anise-flavored liqueur, SAMBUCA. A great debut crossword by Landon Horton, in our estimation it deserves to peg the JAMCR meter with a full 5 squares.

Finally, we've got listener mail! So, for those of you wondering how to pronounce Rummikub, the answer lies within!

Show note imagery: TSAI Ing-wen, the former Taiwanese president.

We love feedback! Send us a text...

Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

This was a terrific Tuesday crossword by Dan Caprera, his 6th in the NYTimes. The clues were fun, fresh, and the theme was a wry one. Besides the clues covered in today's podcast, we'd like to give a shout out to 52A, ___ Jordan, a.k.a. the Green Lantern, HAL (we're just suckers for superheroes); 43A, Figure painted by Warhol, MAO (Will's definitely got a thing for this picture, this week); and 19D, Sit non-ergonomically, SLOUCH (oh, brilliant!).

Show note imagery: A Rummikub TILE (and more -- the entire game, in fact)

We love feedback! Send us a text...

Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Today's crossword was a debut for Katie Byl (pronounced "bill") and most definitely not a debut for Jeff Chen (pronounced "chen" 😀). Together they have crafted a perfect Monday puzzle, and only one of our cohosts found this to be slightly more daunting than usual for a Monday, for reasons entirely of his own making.

Jean's favorite clue in today's crossword? 35D, Hair knots with a French name, CHIGNONS (a debut). Mike was partial (of course) to 61A, "Biscuit" for cookie or "chips" for fries, BRITICISM. Cheerio!

Show note imagery: Strunk & White, a fabulous STYLEGUIDE, still relevant and available.

We love feedback! Send us a text...

Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

For those of you who like mathematics and puns, Emily Sharp and Kunal Nabar have got your number, with this fine debut (for Emily) and debut-follow-up (for Kunal) crossword. The grid had a lot of great clues, including 117A, Social workspaces for some remote workers, CAFES (cute!); 109A, Like some parking and poetry, METERED (an echo of last Thursday's puzzle!); and 61D, One of the "holy trinity" ingredients in Indian cuisine, GINGER (yum!). We approve, and that's why we've given this puzzle 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.

Show note imagery: Sleipnir, ODIN's horse (and of course, ODIN being ODIN, it has double the usual complement of legs)

We love feedback! Send us a text...

Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Today's crossword was remarkably daunting. The grid consisted of three stacks of three answers, each stack spanning the width of the crossword. Constructing this must've been a bear, but Scott McMahon pulled it off. [He also managed to work most of his last name into the grid, in 2D, Capital and second-largest city of Minorca, MAHON, a very nice touch.] Both cohosts found today's crossword to be a straightforward solve -- no verbal abysses here -- but just a real joy, and we eagerly await Scott McMahon's second NYTimes offering.

Show note imagery: Minorca, just off the coast of Spain. If you're looking for its capital and second largest city, MAHON, you'll find it on the east coast.

We love feedback! Send us a text...

Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

This was Willa Angel Chen Miller's second Friday crossword, and like the first one, this was a beaut! Jean found it easy going, Mike ... found it ... and then found his footing (eventually). The clues were sharp (54A, Bit of a subway station wall, TILE), enlightening (39A, First capital of Alaska, SITKA); and amusing (42D, Quarter back?, EAGLE 😀). A nice bit of work, 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.

In other news, we have some listener mail and a fascinating fact for Fun Fact Friday -- hint: it involves a middle-of-the-road city in a middle of the country state. All that's just waiting for you to download, subscribe, and listen up, so have at it!

Show note imagery: BEHR, the most trusted name in paints (um, according to Behr.com 😀)

We love feedback! Send us a text...

Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!