Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Today's crossword, the 39th (!) by Daniel Raymon, was replete with musical performers of various vintages, from composer Aaron Copland to a band that had its origins in the last century, but is continuing to write and perform today, to wit ... nope, we need to maintain at least a modicum of of suspense here, so we will wrap it up here and let you get to today's episode, where the name of that band, and some other highly droll commentary, awaits!

Show note imagery: Two Treatises of Government, by John LOCKE (and if you happen to have one of these in your attic, be aware that the copy shown here sold for $17,640 in 2023, so don't lose it!!)

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Once again the NYTimes crossword has set a new high bar, thanks to the dynamic duo of Zhou Zhang and Kevin Curry. This magnificent opus featured a puzzle within a puzzle, surrounded by a sea of crisp and amusing clues -- just a delight. If there was an Academy Award for best crossword in a major newspaper, this would definitely get the nom.

Show note imagery: GIZA, home of the Sphinx

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Tracy Bennet is the driving force behind both Wordle and Strands, and the appearance of this crossword therefore means that an impressively large percentage of today's NYTimes games are attributable to her. Jean found this crossword to be a bit on the crunchy side whereas Mike -- for some unfathomable reason that he attributes to a surfeit of neutrinos -- did not. Both agreed, however, that it was an excellent example of the genre.

Fun Fact Friday™️ took the day off yesterday, and even though Fun Fact Saturday doesn't have quite the same alliterative power, it is in today's episode, so be sure and check that out.

Show note imagery: YANN Tiersen, an adept and highly versatile French musician, known for his stunning film scores.

Show note URL: Uncanny Valley

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Although there were not any literal fireworks in today's crossword, it was filled with innumerable flashes of brilliance and crackles of wit. Among our favorites not covered in today's episode were 48D, What comes before B?, ORAL 😀; 3D, Order in the court, PLEASERISE 😀 😀. ; and the sneaky 60A, To pieces?, ODES 😀 😀 😀. This is Colin Adams' 6th NYTimes crossword, and we eagerly await number 7.

Show note imagery: The incredibly versatile SHOHEIOHTANI

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Today's crossword was by Adam Wagner, which means that you know, without even looking at it, that it's going to be good. The good cruciverbalist does not disappoint, providing a crossword that must've been a real BEAR to construct, but was an IDEAL Thursday solve. We have all the deets inside, so please have a listen, and, as always, we value your feedback!

Show note imagery: A photo at beautiful (obviously) TOPANGA State Park

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Today's theme was great (as always), and there were oodles of appealing clues lurking in the grid today (see previous parenthetical remark 😉). A few of our favorites were 45A, Cabinet department since 1913, LABOR (now we know!); 53D, Creator of a lot of buzz in the music scene, KAZOO (cute!); and 6D, Language of W.W. II "code talkers": Var., NAVAHO (absolutely fascinating). 

Show note imagery: The Red Lion Pub (one of many, in the UK)

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For those of you wondering about the episode title, it is explored and explained, along with a multitude of other topics riffing off of today's excellent puzzle, in our "Canada Day" special. In addition, Mike may (or may not) have gone down in flames in today's Triplet Tuesday™ segment; place your bets, and then have a listen to see if you (unlike, possibly, Mike) are a winner!

Show note imagery: Some delicious ELOTE, a delicious Mexican street food, which often, understandably, causes partakers to EMOTE 😀 

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This was a delightful Monday crossword, thanks to the hardworking team of Dena R. Verkuil and Andrea Carla Michaels (abetted, no doubt, by the mighty mighty Will Shortz). The theme was funny, and the clues were "Festival Food fresh", as we like to say in Northeast Wisconsin. Deets inside, so have a listen,  and, as always, invite the crossword-philes in your life to have a listen as well.

Show note imagery: BYEFELICIA

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Once again an NYTimes contributor -- today, that would be Mike Hobin -- has created a theme that will make you want to cheer, doff your hat, and applaud (although not simultaneously, for obvious reasons): it deserves that much praise. The rest of the clues were of course also of a very high caliber, resulting in the delightful puzzle that we take a magnifying glass to in today's episode.

Show note imagery: The one, the only ... Daffy Duck, smiling because he was mentioned in today's crossword.

Musical link: It Works, part of Back to the Future: The Musical

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This was Jesse Guzman's third NYTimes crossword, and with quality this good it's no surprise that the publication of his fourth NYTimes crossword is imminent. There was no theme, but the clues were uniformly brilliant and tricky, perfect for the "Hardest Crossword of the Week", aka, Saturday's. We approve, and bestow upon this puzzle the maximum number of squares -- that would be 5, for those of you not keeping track -- on the JAMCR scale.

Show note imagery: Just a few of the many characters in the Mario universe

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