Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword
A short, fun and occasionally not unintentionally educational podcast in which two fans of the New York Times crossword describe their puzzle-solving travails.
Monday, April 22, 2024 - Happy Earth Day! 🌎
A celebration of Earth Day and a word ladder, who could ask for more? We love word ladders, so today's crossword, by David J. Kahn (his 189th!!), hit the sweet spot. There were also several Earth Day related clues not tied to the word ladder -- 18A, Sustainably produced electricity, GREENPOWER; 54A, Carbon-based energy source, FOSSILFUEL; and in between, 36A, One symptom of climate change, GLOBALWARMING. All in all, a timely and enjoyable Monday puzzler.
Show note imagery: The San Gorgonio Pass wind farm
Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a...
Sunday, April 21, 2024 - A crackerjack of a crossword! 😀
Michael Schlossberg has created a dazzling Sunday crossword with a doozie of a theme, definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We have all the deets inside, so we cordially invite you to have a listen (and don't forget to subscribe!)
Show note imagery: TEDTtalks, which are apparently limited to 18 minutes in length
Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.
Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!
Saturday, April 20, 2024 - BOOMROASTED!
Another challenging Saturday crossword - no surprise there, Saturdays are designed to be the toughest crossword of the week - but at least the trivia / pop culture references were mercifully few. Jean had a spot of bother in the middle of the crossword, while Apple aficionado Mike thrashed about trying to recollect 48A, Popular video editing software, IMOVIE. Deets inside, as usual, as well as the big reveal, this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) winner.
Show note imagery: An APPLETINI
Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop u...
Friday, April 19, 2024 - Flying to Sweden? Why not land in LUND? 🙄
An entertaining and educational Friday crossword by Kate Hawkins - just the way we like 'em! Jean knew pretty much every answer in the grid, although it took some time to connect each word/phrase to its clue! Mike, meanwhile, knew ... PHASERS and EDEN, although many of the rest of the answers looked vaguely familiar.
Besides our analysis of the crossword proper, it's Fun Fact Friday, so check out that segment (including the US Fish & Wild Service web site mentioned there).
Show note imagery: The Alhambra PALACE, in Spain
Contact Info:
Thursday, April 18, 2024 - Today's crossword was a real ROMP
Today's crossword did not have the rebuses (rebusae?) that one of us (cough, Mike, cough) forecast yesterday, but it made up for that omission with a terrific, and terrifically taxing, theme, and an accompanying throng of challenging clues. We're still gasping, in awe and exhaustion, from having gotten this puzzle solved. For all the deets, have a listen, and then let us know what you think - crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.
Show note imagery: Check out those pink PLUMES
Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.
<...
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 - The ayes have it!
Another fabulous midweek NYTimes crossword, thanks to a glorious theme that is about as NYTimes-ish as they come. We will leave you in suspense as to what that theme might be, or ... you could just download today's episode where all will become clear, in particular why this crossword rates a full and enthusiastic 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.
Show note imagery: A real escape pod (from a B-58 Hustler)
Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.
Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to d...
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 - This crossword was the absolute TOPPS!
A splendid Tuesday crossword by Adam Vincent (edited most ably by Joel Fagliano), with quite a few lively clues to keep the solver interested. We are referring to (beyond those mentioned in the podcast proper) to 51A, San Fran athlete, NINER; 65A, Deserving of a fire emoji, as a party, LIT (say what? 😀); and 36D, Quartet + Quintet, NONET (awesome!).
In addition to our deep dive into the grid, it's also Triplet Tuesday, and Jean's in the hotseat! To find out how she fared, subscribe / download / listen up / enjoy!
Show note imagery: Dimension X, a marvelous old...
Monday, April 15, 2024 - Today's exotic crossword food? Not OREOS, not ENOKI, no, it's ... ASIANPEARS! 🍐
We are philosophical about today's crossword (a debut by Amanda Winter), mainly because today's crossword -- particularly the theme -- contained a large dollop of philosophy. We will leave you in mild suspense as to the exact nature of that philosophy, but you may assuage that suspense by checking out today's episode!
Show note imagery: Yesterday, a DERBY; today, FEDORAS; tomorrow's forecast ... TAMs!
Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.
Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a...
Sunday, April 14, 2024 - 🎶 All we are saying, is give PAESE a chance 🎶 🙄
A crunchier than usual Sunday crossword by John Rippe and Jeff Chen, a side-effect, perhaps, of a brilliant theme that had Jeff Chen's fingerprints all over it. There were many clever clues - 35A, Something you might break into, SONG (ha!); 9D, Game with annoying pop-ups, WHACAMOLE (raising again, that epic question, where'd the K go?); and 97A, Outstanding, OVERDUE (like Lucy v. Charlie Brown, we always fall for that clue!). But the pièce-de-résistance of the entire puzzle had to be the theme, timely, epic, and elegant. Deets await inside, so have a listen, and please tell ot...
Saturday, April 13, 2024 - A crossword that was most definitely not EASYMAN
A challenging debut (!) crossword by Jess Rucks. Our intrepid cohosts found said challenge in different areas of the grid, Jean in the mid east, Mike in the northwest. But, after exploring their respective mind palaces - Jean's approximately the size of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Mike's approximately the size of a pup tent you can find for sale at the REI in Green Bay, Wisconsin - they were able to seal the deal.
We have all the deets inside, as well as the big reveal - this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award...
