Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

An intriguing Tuesday crossword, with, as usual, an unusual theme - this one revolving around tanks. Beyond that, we had a few standout clues, including 32D, High-flying metaphor for independence, LONEEAGLE, dovetailing nicely with 34D, _______ high, SKY; and the very punny 45A, Woman with a habit, NUN. In short, a nice piece of work by Freddie Cheng, his 15th for the NYTimes.

Today's crossword included an "Oh That's How You Pronounce It Segment",  specifically on how to pronounce ACAI

Show note imagery: a MECHA, either getting ready to attack or take a stroll down the runway.

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Both cohosts found today's crossword to be a tad tougher than usual, a small sacrifice to be made for the greater good, that being an ingenious  theme, brilliantly deployed in today's grid. The dynamic duo who constructed today's opus, Garrett Chalfin and Andrew Kingsley, have published 6 and 21 NYTimes crosswords, respectively, and that experience shines through today. Definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.

Show note imagery: From left to right,  Lin-Manuel Miranda and Philippa Soo, acclaimed actors and occasional NYTimes crossword answers.

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Today's crossword was a SMASHINGSUCCESS, and although we don't want to overly HEROIZE the author, Nathan Hasegawa was clearly  ATTHETOP of his game when he put this together. The vocabulary level was definitely trending upward -- see for example 13A, Like "t", "k", and "p", in phonetics, PLOSIVE, to 49A, Tremble, PALPITATE (wasn't that a Star Wars emperor?) -- but it was the theme that truly sealed the deal. Deets inside!

Remember, solving the NYTimes Crossword is a great way to exercise those little gray cells, and impress your friends and relations . To get a subscription, just wander over to the NYTimes, they'll be glad to see you!

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It's Warrington & Warrington - not a law firm, but a daughter-father team responsible for this fine bit of Saturday cruciverbalism. Jean found it to be quite straightforward. Mike latched on to the little-known (because it doesn't exist) DANCER insect -- not to be confused with the correct answer to 36D, _______ bug (long-limbed predatory insect), DAMSEL*.

*although Argia vivid, the vivid dancer, does exist, and it is a type of damselfly. Small world, entomologically speaking!

Show note imagery: One classy clue that, alas, didn't make it into the podcast was 50A, Muralist who was a colleague of Dali, SERT

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Sarah Sinclair and Rafael Musa have turned in a festive Friday crossword, with that joy coming from all quadrants of the grid. We appreciated 24D, Pandemic health worker, UNSUNGHERO (sadly, quite true); 4D, Starts off-key?, HOTWIRES (😀); and the nicely deceiving 44D, Gave a hoot, YELLED. 

In other news, today's episode has both Fun Fact Friday and Oh, That's How You Pronounce It! segments, so you're getting two for the price of one, what a deal!

Show note imagery: Betty Everett, the second person to record "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)", but the first to make it famous!

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Sam Ezersky, he of Spelling Bee fame,  is at the helm (under the fine leadership of Admiral Shortz), and he has turned in a fine bit o' work. He had us at 1A, Three-point letter you won't find in Scrabble?, PSI, and never let go, with a fusillade of great and occasionally groan-inducing clues/answers. We've got full coverage inside, so have a listen, and while you're doing so, please leave us a 5 star review on the app you're doing that listening on.

Show note imagery: The real Freddie Mercury, at Live Aid

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A worthy middle-of-the-week crossword, with all the requisite elements that  we would expect, but a few that we did not. For example, we did not expect 46D, Siberian sled dog, SAMOYED; nor did we expect 67A, Logical operators that output "true" only if both inputs are true, ANDS; and finally, into that same category of "color us surprised" we would need to throw in 8D, Italian poet who wrote "Nature is the art of God", DANTE. 

Show note imagery: a SAMOYED, pegging the cuteness meter

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A classy Tuesday crossword and a debut by Patrick Maher, with an LOL theme and edutaining clues all 'round. For example, 34D, Greek letter shaped like a pitchfork, PSI (true, true); 49D, Camelid sometimes used to guard sheep, LLAMA (that's a new one -- camelid, not LLAMA); and the uproarious 26D, Bad match on tinder, ARSON (😀). In short, a fine crossword, and surely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.

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Just how many crossword themes are possible? We'd argue for infinite, and while we have no proof, thanks to today's crossword we have even more empirical evidence: a unique and ebullient addition to the pantheon. See (or rather hear) for yourself: download, and be prepared to be uplifted, by Jake Halperin's fine opus.

Show note imagery: Hess, a toy truck that has absolutely no relationship, Mike's hallucinations notwithstanding, to author Hermann HESSE.

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Today's crossword is entitled "Funny  Business", and it definitely lives up to its name. The themed clues were a stitch, and there were lots of intriguing clues, which we had a lot of fun with as well. So, for a guaranteed laugh a minute (or at least a chortle or two), we heartily encourage you to subscribe/follow (so you never miss an episode!), download, listen up, and ... enjoy!
 
Show note imagery: a Benjamina Ficus, in focus 😀 

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