Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Don't bother looking for rebuses (rebusae)? in today's grid - there aren't any. But the theme that we have instead is still tricky and amusing, and we doff our hats in what we imagine to be the general direction of Mat Shelden, the author of today's fine work, a debut in the NYTimes. 

Show note imagery: PEETA, who, according to 21A, is Katniss's partner in "The Hunger Games"

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Today's crossword, Hal Moore's 10th for the NYTimes, was a little bit novel, a tad quirky, but here at JAMDTNYTC HQ we adore novel and quirky. It helps that the supporting cast of entries populating the rest of the grid were also quite well done. Our collective judgement, therefore, is that Hal Moore should immediately start to work on his 11th NYTimes crossword, we look forward to seeing it sometime soon!

Show note imagery: The Duchess of ALBA, courtesy of Francisco Goya

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There was GLEE In the grid, literally, in this Tuesday crossword by Gary Larson and Amy Ensz. A few recent answers made reappearances - we just saw 68A, Ensemble of eight, OCTET, and it's been less than a month since 9D, Unit of butter, PAT, melted into view. One answer that hasn't been clued as such in aeons also arose, that being 14A, Thrice repeated words in one of Gertrude Stein's truisms, AROSE (as in AROSE is AROSE is AROSE).

In other news, Mike cleared the very low bar of not making a total fool of himself in today's Triplet Tuesday -- deets inside, so check it out!

Show note imagery: The KARASEA, just north of Siberia

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Quality control at the NYTimes crossword desk is remarkable, week after week they crank out great, great, puzzles -- and today's is just a fine example, a theme that is light and airy -- if it were a food stuff, it'd definitely be a meringue pie.

Deets inside, so have a listen, and, as always, we'd deeply appreciate a 5 star review wherever you're listening to this podcast.

Show note imagery:  a COMICCON (yes, with 3 C's)

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A magnificent start to our crossword-solving week, courtesy of David Karp. The theme is inspired, the rest of the puzzle just as well crafted, definitely 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, and certain a contenda, as they like to say, for this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award).

Show note imagery: Light Blue Nursery, one of many great works by artist ALMA Thomas

Side note: this is the last podcast of the season - where a "season" is rather arbitrarily defined to be 100 episodes - so you can expect episode 1 of our next season ... tomorrow.

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Today's crossword pegged the meter as far as difficulty was concerned, each clue only wanting to begrudgingly give up its secrets, and some not at all! We have the whole blow-by-blow (by-blow-by-blow-by ...), so download today's podcast to hear about our epic struggle. While you're listening, feel free to applaud the deserving winner of this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award™).

Show note imagery: An OCTET of Wonder Bread hot dog buns

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A very nice bit of work by Trent H. Evans, his 11th crossword for the NYTimes. Jean found it a piece o'cake, Mike found it more of a bowl of CRANACHAN (see our Tuesday, July 2 episode if your knowledge of CRANACHAN is wanting, after which you'll probably be wanting some CRANACHAN 😀).

Beyond the clues mentioned in today's podcast, we'd also like to give a shoutout to 2D, Billing matter, ROLE (not RATE, as Mike had conjectured); 17A, Training announcement, ALLABOARD (heh, heh); and 12D, They're a snap to get, NOBRAINER (quite the opposite of today's puzzle).

Show note imagery: A TRUSTFALL in action

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Today's firecracker of a crossword was really two puzzles in one - a crossword, that was not particularly difficult, and an ingenious, completely different puzzle embedded within. Jean cracked both, but Mike was a tad wobbly when it came to the second, as you will hear in today's episode.

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

Show note imagery: Alhambra, a fine example of MOORISH architecture

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There was a lot to like in today's crossword, the sixth by Juliana Tringali Golden. A futuristic theme, a lot of fun clues, and any puzzle that can work SMAUG into the grid (65A, The Hobbit dragon) deserves our respect.

We also have a dollop of listener mail to round off today's episode, so check it out, and, as always, please tell others about us on social media.

Show note imagery: ISSA Rae, not to be confused (as Mike is prone to do) with Idris Alba

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Today's crossword (by Josh Goodman, his second!) is an homage to one of Alabe Craft / Ideal Toy / Mattel's greatest inventions, the Magic 8 Ball 😀.

There were quite a few pop-culture references today -- 28D, Actress Diane of 1998's Parenthood, WEIST; 35A, Estefan with a Presidential Medal of Freedom, EMILIO; and the aforementioned 32D, Banjoist Fleck, BELA (quite good, btw: check them out wherever you get your banjo music!).

Show note imagery: The Flecktones, starring BELA Fleck.

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