Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Today's crossword was Spencer Leach's fifth, and it is a gem. The clues are challenging, novel (there are 7 debuts) and delightfully deceiving. Definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, for reasons ... that are thrashed out in today's episode. We are also proud to announce the winner of this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), so check that out as well!

Show note imagery: A person, in a BOLERO, throwing a bolo 😀 

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Hemant Mehta has written some dazzling late-week crosswords -- and this is one of them. The clues are so well done, tautly written, prone to make you ponder. We've covered most of them in today's episode, but here are a few others: 40D, Heads, slangily, DOMES; 57A, Why don't sheep shrink when it ________? : George Carlin, RAINS 😀 ; 32D, Meiji and Taisho in Japanese history, ERAS. Just a splendid bit of work all round, definitely a candidate for this week's JAMCOTWA (to be announced tomorrow).

In other news, it's Fun Fact Friday, and today we ponder pastas. And, rounding it off, we have some terrific listener mail.

So, what are you waiting for? Check out today's episode and, as always, let us know what you think.

Show note imagery: Fusilli v. Rotini

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It's Rebus Thursday, not an official holiday as far as we can tell, but a) it is Thursday, and b) the grid is riddled with rebuses (rebusae?), so the name seems apt. The crossword was Christopher Youngs' fifth for the NYTimes, but his first Thursday effort, so it's a debut, of a sort. We're betting his next crossword will be a Sunday.

Show note imagery: Some JAWAs, probably up to no good

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For those of you entranced with the subtleties of English pronunciation (rules? where we're going, we don't need rules!), have we got a crossword for you! Meghan Morris has done a bang-up job shining a bright line on some of the many inconsistencies in our favorite language.

We also have a spot of listener mail, all the more reason to check out today's podcast, and, as always, let us know what you think!

From the mailbag, the difference between GAWP and GAWK.

Show note imagery: Humphrey Bogart, in a FEDORA

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If numbers tell the tale, then Daniel Raymon's favorite day of the week is ... Variety, as he has created 18 variety crosswords for the NYTimes. By that same measure, today would be his second favorite day, when he's had 6 puzzles published.

We liked the theme, we enjoyed the cluing, and if this were an Olympic event he'd definitely deserve a medal!

In other news, it's Triplet Tuesday, and Mike's in the hotseat, where, alas, he flamed out. Deets inside!

Show note imagery: An RCA color television

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For those of you who are fans of the Royal and Ancient Game, you'll have a leg up working on today's crossword -- and for those who are not, fear not, it is a Monday and therefore not too difficult. We have the deets (and WOOTs) inside, so have a listen, and, as always, let us know what you think!

A reminder that if you want to follow along with our discussion and haven't solved the puzzle yet, xwordinfo.com has your back. Our first link in the show notes ties back to their answers (so don't click it until you've had a go yourself).

Show note imagery: a NIKON camera

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A splendiferous Sunday crossword by Scott Hogan and Katie Hale, their third as a team, and there's something in the grid for everyone! For instance, pun-lovers will appreciate 114A, Kit-chat, MEOWS; Sesame street-aficionados will appreciate 67A, Furry friend of Rosita, ELMO; and surely everyone will appreciate the puzzle-within-a-puzzle that is 7D, What dry ice doesn't do, MELT.

Show note imagery: a photo of famed photographer DIANE Arbus

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Another tricky Saturday crossword, this by long-time contributor Rich Norris. There were quite a few fascinating answers in the grid, including 40A, Home run, informally, DINGER (huh!); 53A, Last syllable of a word, ULTIMA (say what?!?); and the rarely seen 52D, Agendas, for short, SKEDS (about, rest assured, we have SCADs to say in today's episode).

Besides our analysis, we have chosen the winners of this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), and so congrats to ... nope, once again the spoiler censor would like us to desist, and so we shall -- check out the podcast, though, to find out who won, as well as some awesome listener mail!

Show note imagery: The US TAXCODE, all 10,000 sections of it!

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Kate Chin Park has constructed a fine Friday crossword: no theme, just SCADS of crunchy clues, ones that make you furrow your brow, stroke your chin, tap your temple, and all those other gestures that one tends to do when the difficulty meter starts to rise. We have all the deets in today's episode, so check it out, and let us know how you fared doing it.

Show note imagery: The birthplace of John Steinbeck (before it was turned into a restaurant, we hope 😀)

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Another fabulous Thursday crossword, a debut by Rajeswari Rajamani, but you wouldn't know it based on the quality of the clues, and the brilliant theme. With clues like 43D, Where you might find yourself on edge?, ICERINK,  the enlightening 51D, Who pays all legal costs under the so-called "English Rule", LOSER, and the astonishing 66A, Where Columbus thought he had landed in 1498, EDEN, how could this crossword deserve anything else than a 5 square rating on the JAMCR scale? The answer is, it could not, hence the perfect 5.

Show note imagery: A weaver ... weaving!

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