Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

This is Billy Bratton's 9th NYTimes crossword. He tends to specialize in Friday and Saturday puzzles, and this one is an excellent example of the genre, for reasons that we delve into, at length, in today's episode.

Show note imagery: A major Maltese tourist attraction, Popeye Village!

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A slightly tricky Thursday crossword, especially confounding if one fails to grok the theme, a fate that temporarily befell both cohosts (in different ways: as usual, both cohosts solved alone, otherwise Mike would just slow Jean down to a tai-chi / glacial pace). 

We have all the deets inside, so have a listen and let us know what you think!

Show note imagery: Valence electrons

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We are baaaack! And to welcome us, Brad Wiegmann and Joel Fagliano  have provided a fascinating crossword to help us get back into the groove, so check out today's podcast and let us know what you think!

Show note imagery: Hop o' My Thumb (really)

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Today's crossword was a real deal - two puzzles for the price of one, and each was a delight. We have all the deets inside, so do have a listen.

This is our last podcast for two weeks-- we are taking our yearly Summer sabbatical -- so expect to hear from us starting ... in about two weeks! 

Show note imagery: Behold, a BEERAMID

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A splendid Saturday crossword wraps up our crossword-solving week. Saturdays are by tradition the hardest crossword of the week, with the trickiest clues, and this one was definitely in that league. This was Eric Warren's second crossword in the NYTimes, and the first time he has won a JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), so kudos for both!

Show note imagery: Some delicious strawberry STRUDELS

Show note video: MAXIMILIAN, the bionic dog 😀 🦮

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This is a beaut of a debut by Aidan Deshong, a high school senior just about to graduate, and head off to Harvey Mudd. Perhaps he'll major in Engimatology like legendary NYTimes crossword editor Will Shortz. 

The clues and answers in today's grid were, simply put, brilliant, as seen in 47A, Pricey oils, e.g., ART; 48A, Wet blanket?, DEW; and many, many others. To hear more, including a fascinating fact for Fun Fact Friday™️ -- you are cordially invited to download and listen up to today's podcast.

Show note imagery: An INNING is the  fundamental unit of time in a game of horseshoes

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A very nice crossword by Royce Ferguson - his 4th for the NYTimes, and a Thursday debut. The theme was ingenious but not too difficult to suss out, and the number of pop-culture references was on the low side, which affected Jean not at all but did benefit Mike (for whom anything newer than 1800 that does not involve science fiction is problematic). 

Show note imagery: Some tasty looking crépes SUZETTE

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While drinks played an essential part in today's grid, it seems unlikely that they were involved in its construction, based on the elegance of the puzzle - not surprising considering that the constructors in question were Jeanne Breen (for her, a debut), and  Jeff Chen, LC ( LC being short for, of course, Legendary Cruciverbalist).

Jean made short work of today's puzzle. Mike could make neither head nor tail of the north central region of the grid for a considerable length of time, before finally acknowledging that NEWEURO is not a thing, thus opening the floodgates, so to speak.

Show note imagery: Josh DUHAMEL and Fergie, in happier times, along with what might be a MUDSLIDE

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A nice Tuesday crossword, and, as detailed in today's episode, one eight years in the making!! So, even though PERSEVERANCE is not in the grid, it truly is in the heart of Chris Leatherberry, the constructor of today's fine work.

We appreciated all the longer wavelength color references in today's grid, namely 54D, Famed fireman Red, ADAIR, in close proximity to 55D, Reddish application to cheeks, ROUGE, and kitty corner to 12D, More pink, RARER. We also, enjoyed 69A, Prefix with brow, UNI, as we are big fans of Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Sam Eagle, and other assorted muppets.

Show note imagery: RODAN, probably on the prowl for Godzilla

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It's hard not to GIVEPROPS to a crossword that has GIVEPROPS in the grid, so we're not even going to try: PROPS to Christopher Youngs for this, his 4th NYTimes crossword!

Show note imagery: Yaroslava Shvedova, celebrating her GOLDENSET win at Wimbledon in 2012

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