Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

This was a slick Thursday crossword by Brandon Koppy, with some significant Golidlox cluing - not too easy, not too hard, just right -- assuming that you've been doing the crosswords for a while. If you're just starting out,  the clues might be better characterized as hard, impossible, and huh? Some of the lesser known clues (to us) include 23D, 13th-century poet who wrote the "Masnavi", RUMI; 6A, Comedian Ken of "The Masked Singer" (unknown to Mike: Jean had apparently written a small monograph on the subject, based on the amount of information she was able to rattle off); and 37D, Hangs out for a while, POSTSUP (ha!).

A reminder, our Triplet Tuesday Contest is going until Sunday, so check out Tuesday's episode and then send us your scores -- one entry, per household, per day, unless you're really keen and want to send us more 😀.

Show note imagery: RUMI, famed 13th century poet, author of the Masnavi.

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The themed clues in today's crossword were so good that they might've out shone some other gems. Fortunately we always solve our crosswords while wearing shades, so we can report that these clues -- 64D, Sending help?, UPS; the delicious combo of 6D, "It's so c-c-c-old!", BRR and 7D, Refreshment served with a spoon, ICEE; and 4D, Fool, from the Yiddish, YUTZ -- were also worth the price of admission. A nice work, 5 squares for sure on the JAMCR scale.

A reminder, yesterday we featured our Triplet Tuesday Contest. Check it out right here to enter, or risk losing out  (😱) on a chance to amass some magnificent NE Wisconsin swag!

Show note imagery: LAERTES, looking very concerned about something happening stage left

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Yes, the moment you have all been waiting for has finally arrived, another Triplet Tuesday Contest! Of course, for those of you who are fans of Kathy Lowden, the constructor of today's crossword, if that was the moment you were waiting for, well, your ship has come in as well -- and the great thing is that we cover both in today's episode. Yes, it's a twofer!

Tldr: We've got a great contest and we hope you enter it, deets inside. Kathy Lowden has written a very funny Tuesday crossword, and we hope you'll enjoy our take on it, deets for that also inside.

Show note imagery: Putative author of the bon-mot GOLF, "a good walk spoiled", Mark Twain

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This was a fun, frothy Monday crossword by Ailee Yoshida, her second for the NYTimes. The theme was (as always) ingenious, and, being a Monday, the grid was populated with words that we mainly know. It did have two debut answers (19A, Tidbit in a nutritious pudding: CHIASEED; 23A, Department handling media inquiries: PRESSOFFICE) and one not seen since 1984, 43D, Lip-plumping injection, FILLER. For the record, in 1984 FILLER had no connection, whatsoever, with Lips.

Show note imagery: A WRIT, writ large 😀 

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This was an extraordinary Sunday crossword by David Kwong, his 24th for the NYTimes. David is a magician, fitting since there is so much magic in today's grid ... and art! In fact there is a palette of artists (and if palette's not the unit in which artists are measured it ought to be) as well, all part of a very, very clever theme. Deets inside!

A reminder that our next Triplet Tuesday Contest is coming up this Tuesday, and you might be our next winner. All you need to do to participate is listen to Tuesday's podcast and follow three simple steps:
1. Play the game, counting how many clues you need to get each answer
2. Add the numbers up that you got in step 1
3. Email that number to us
If your number is the smallest we receive, you'll be our winner! Fame, fortune, and some lovely NE Wisconsin swag will be yours, all yours 😀 

Show note imagery: Prades, the village, by Joan MIRO

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This was a remarkable NYTimes crossword, first because it was a debut Saturday crossword for Owen Bergstein (not too many cruciverbalists debut on a Saturday), and second, because Owen is a high school junior! Talk about starting young! The crossword itself is great, and we have all the deets inside, as well as our JAMCOTWA winner, some listener mail, and a reminder about our upcoming Triplet Tuesday Contest (this Tuesday, mark your calendars).

Show note imagery: CEREBRO, a MARVELous invention 😀 

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Our cohosts had slightly different experiences solving today's crossword ... Jean found it to be a tricky but straightforward Friday, Mike found solving it more akin to climbing the Hoover Dam one-handed: doable, but only with a lot of patience (and possibly a temporary repeal of the law of gravity). Deets inside, as well as a fine Fun Fact for Fun Fact Friday™️ (and the promise of a future bit of listener mail).

Show note imagery: a photo by Dorothea LANGE (pronunciation TBD), documenter of the Great Depression.

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This was a fine Thursday crossword by Daniel Bodily, including a slick theme, smartly implemented.  There were some great clues, including 42A, It makes Max profits, HBO 😀 ; 24D, Plant used in xeriscaping because of its tolerance to drought, AGAVE (we just love the word xeriscaping 😀); the delicious 57A, Low-key place for gnocchi, TRATTORIA (which is much more amusing if you know how to pronounce gnocchi!); and our favorite, 31D, Word after one fell, SWOOP (😀 😀). All in all an excellent mid-week crossword, pegging the meter at 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.

Show note imagery: A TRATTORIA, where they sell gnocchi

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This was a fabulous Wednesday crossword, a collaboration between Kathy Bloomer and the prolific Jeff Chen, that includes a theme that is clever, complex, and some other word that starts with the letter c but isn't cozy ... er, we'll get back to you on that 😀 

Beyond the aforementioned clever, complex and not cozy theme clues, we had some other fine gems in the grid, and to learn all about them, just download and check out today's podcast.

Show note imagery: Some typical NE Wisconsinites? Nope, these are some characters -- we have been reliably informed -- who inhabit the realm of FORTNITE

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This was a quintessential NYTimes crossword, featuring an arty theme with a twist, and a SWARM of supporting clues guaranteed to bring a smile to your face, including 51D, Give a take, OPINE; 6D, Likely aftermath of a toddler's playtime, MESS; and 50D, "No can do, lassie", NAE. Brilliant, the lot of them!

Speaking of lot, we're going to be having another Triplet Tuesday contest next week, and there will be a lot of prizes just there for the taking (well, you have to win the contest first, a mere formality). Deets coming up, so stay tuned!

Show note imagery: Open Book, by Paul KLEE

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