Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Rebecca Goldstein has a knack for creating festive, fun crosswords, and her streak is unbroken as a result of today's fine work -- so far she's having a BANNERYEAR. The crossword was tough but fair, definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale -- deets inside!

Show note imagery: Oh, sure, India gave the world chess, shampoo, and cashmere, but these all pale in comparison to their greatest invention, NAAN 😀 

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Today's crossword has it all! A unique theme / drink recipe, a nice piece of grid art, and as a reward for the intrepid solver, a flash color to celebrate its successful completion. Several clues we thought worthy of note: 54A, Derby participants in July, BATTERS; 44A, Gave a red card, informally, DQED; 49A, Betting recklessly, in poker, ONTILT; and 34A, Certain soccer kick, TOEPOKE; and the hilarious 18A, What Scott Joplin might yell after a spill?, RAGTIME. 🙄

We also have listener mail! So to check all of that out, you are cordially invited to download, listen up, and ... enjoy!

Show note imagery: Ah, the ol' EYETEST

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A wonderful Wednesday crossword by prolific veteran cruciverbalist Alex Eaton-Salners. The theme was cute, and the rest of the grid a hoot, with a plethora of entertaining and eduational clues scattered throughout. We've got the deets inside, so have a listen and, of course, enjoy!

Show note imagery: An IMPALA, hoping that it doesn't get hit by a Chevy Impala while roaming the Savanna.

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Tuesday's child is full of grace ... as is this, Tuesday's crossword. The reasons for that will become clear as soon as you check out today's episode, so have it!

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Much hilarity ensues in today's grid, undoubtedly inspired by the day (April 1st). It did make for a tricky Monday, however, and, at least for Mike, a much slower time than average. Still, a worthy attempt, definitely worth 4 squares on the JAMCR sale.

Show note imagery; There's just something about this mountain ...

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Another one of those sprawling Sunday grids that we all know and love, 21x21 squares chock-full of delicious puzzlement, along with a heaping side of puns --  because what would a Sunday crossword be without them? This was Spencer Leach's 4th NYTimes crossword, and his first Sunday. When he's not constructing crosswords, Spencer is studying mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech, and in fact he wrote a small Python program to help him in the creation of this fine work. 

We have more to say about today's crossword inside, so have a listen, and let us know what you think!

Show note imagery: Bather in the Woods by PISSARRO

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Years from now, people will sing lusty songs of praise, and recall fondly where they were, when they heard this crossword's happy music, it was that tough. Blake Slonecker made solvers work for just about every answer, and your cohosts found it a major slog (fun slog, but still ... a slog). We have all the deets inside, as well as the winner of this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award)™️, so for all that and more, have a listen, and please, leave us a 5 star review wherever you happen to be streaming this podcast from.

Show note imagery: OLEANNA, which apparently is a thing

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A tough Friday workout for the little gray cells, thanks to a debut by Jake Bunch with some nice diversions, obfuscation, and plumes of humor. We were delighted to see 40D, Computer acronym since the 1960s, ASCII; 48D, Fancy, WANT (of course!); 33A, Solving puzzles, e.g., PASTIME (still amazed that only has 1 T ...); and 43A, One of the Minecraft protagonists, STEVE (hi, STEVE!). 

It is Friday, which, as long time listeners can attest, means it's time for Fun Fact Friday, and we have a fine one in store for you. Check it (and everything else that you wanted to know about today's crossword) out in today's episode, hot off the mike (but we promise it'll be cool by the time it gets to your ears).

Show note imagery: STEVE, a Minecraft character

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For those of you who haven't played with POTATO HEAD for a while, today's puzzle gives you a perfect opportunity to revisit an old friend, thanks to this fine work by Dominic Grillo. The theme was blatantly obvious -- the giant potato in the middle of the grid being a huge tipoff 😀 -- but that made it no less fun. There were oodles of 3 letter answers in today's grid, that being the price of sharing space with a giant edible OVOID, which might (?) lead to a smoother solve. Regardless, the theme was a blast, and the rest of the clues -- as you'll see when you listen to today's episode -- were also of high caliber. We approve, 5 squares on the JAMCR scale!

Show note imagery: The Story of ADELE H

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Rich Katz is on a roll - this is his 5th NYTimes crossword in just over a year, and it is a beaut. The theme is ingenious, and the cluing amusing. Cases in point: 37D, Less green, maybe, OLDER; 51D, It might be used while boxing, TWINE (😀); 52D, Did zippo, IDLED; and 53A, Stick used for breaking, CUE (aha!). All great, and we approve, 5 squares on the ye olde JAMCR scale.

Show note imagery: The IONIAN islands, conveniently located in the IONIAN sea!

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