Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Like glaciers in the spring, this crossword solve started off slowly, as the grid provided very few footholds in the top-left and top-right. Gradually, though, it yielded its delightful secrets, making for a very satisfying Friday challenge. Definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, for reasons that are outlined in, of course, today's podcast. Enjoy!

Show note imagery: An OTTOMON, not to be confused with a settee (although Mike will do so anyway 😏)

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Today's PSA, don't attempt this crossword while in a FOODCOMA, it won't end well -- you'll need all your wits about you so that you can savor the puzzle, especially that delicious AHA! moment stuffed (and, no, we are not talking metaphorically) into today's grid. We'd say more, but we don't want to ruin your fun, so tuck in and enjoy!

Show note imagery: Time to dig into today's topic, HUMUS

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English is a ravenous language, devouring words from other languages and claiming them as their own. Such is the case with one of our favorite entries in today's puzzle -- 66A, Clever person, BELESPRIT (two words, to be accurate, BEL ESPRIT). This came from the French, English laid claim to it, and, alas, promptly forgot about it, it is now considered archaic. We love it anyway, as well as all the other clues, to say nothing of the splendid theme, found in today's puzzle.
Deets inside, so download, and feast upon today's episode.

Show note imagery: All the Light We Cannot See, a pulitzer winning novel by Andrew DOERR.

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This was an excellent debut crossword by Killian Olson. He has had a total of 2 crosswords published, his first in the Michigan Daily, and his second in what we perceive to be a slightly more demanding venue, the NYTimes. We have all the deets inside, as well as another of our famed Triplet Tuesday™ segments -- Mike is in the hot seat tonight -- so we would be most thankful if you checked out today's episode, and then told your 500 best friends about us on social media 😀

Show note imagery: A group definitely suffering from postprandial somnolence (aka FOODCOMA)

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Today's crossword is Dena R. Witkes' debut, and we like it! The difficulty was spot on, the theme was light and frothy, like good Monday themes ought to be, and the rest of the clues were just right to entice would-be solvers to, well, start solving. Five squares on the JAMCR scale, absolutely!

Show note imagery: Joseph Campbell, originator of the phrase FOLLOWYOURBLISS.

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This was an ambitious crossword that took the author, Alex Eaton-Salners, many years to get into its final form. It was worth the wait, though, with a dazzling theme and some terrific supporting clues. We therefore present, for your consideration, 77D, Moon over Miami, for many a Miamian, LUNA (nice one!); 58A, Like Hadrian's Wall in Northern England, ROMAN (unusual behavior, for a wall 😏); and 90A, Guitar's resting place, often, KNEE (well, now that you mention it ...)

Kudos to A E-S for a job well done, we hereby bestow upon this crossword an enthusiastic 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.

Show note imagery: ZAPF Dingbats, in all its dingbatty-glory

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There were many fine clues in today's grid, courtesy of Ryan McCarty. We'd be hard pressed to limit ourselves to 3, but we're going to give it the ol' college try:

1. 33A, Stories that can be read both backward and forward, SAGAS 😀 
2. 35A, Makes some calls, REF 🙄
3.  31D, Zeus, Odin or the Dagda, PAGANGOD 🧐
4. 30D, Middling in rank, informally, BTIER (so much for the ol' college try!)

Beyond today's crossword, we've awarded our JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), so check out today's episode for that and much, much more.

Show note imagery: The North ARAL Sea, which only came into being in 1987-1988 (!)

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Today's crossword was, to borrow an answer from earlier in the week, absolutely fabulous, with an ocean of great clues. [A small ocean, to be sure: the grid was its normal 15x15 size, but somehow "large pond of great clues" doesn't have quite the stirring effect we are aiming for, so we are sticking with ocean.] For example, we have the terrific 5D, Toon whose last name is Nahasapeemapetilon, APU; the all too true 54A, Like the topic of politics in a job interview, TABOO; and the fascinating 13D, Youngest artist to debut at # 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, OLIVIARODRIGO. There are definitely more, so for all the deets, as well as a Fine Fun Fact Friday segment, download and listen up to today's episode.

Show note imagery: OLIVIARODRIGO, in concert

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Today's crossword was (1A) ABFAB, definitely one of our (3D) FAVES this week, with such a sparkling grid that we had to wear shades and set the app to dark mode in order to work on it. We were dazzled by clues like 42A, One hanging out in the cold, ICICLE (a clue that just warms our hearts!); 22A, "Bam!", KAPOW (Boom!); and 35A, On ice longer than normal, say?, INOT (a clue that did not leave us cold). In short, a crossword definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, and certainly a contenda' for this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award).

Show note imagery: AQABA, Jordan's only coastal city

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Writing spoiler-free show notes can be tricky, but we're willing to give it a shot for our listeners. In today's crossword, we see that the author has made clever use of ◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️, which is surprising, because we normally only see those on ◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️ or ◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️! However we are glad to see them, they definitely add a bit of zest to the grid. Intrigued? Want to know what's behind all those ◼️'s? Download today's episode to find out!

Show note imagery: The original CRAYOLACRAYON!

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