Words: 28 (9×9)
Average Length: 5.21
I was reading something about classic movies, and 1A popped up. Sounds like a seed to me! Then I went looking for something to pair it with, and 24A came to mind. I spent untold hours listening to 4D when I was in high school (arrgh, half a century ago!) and could have clued it with the more famous “Fragile” album, but when I filled 18D I had to go for parallel clues.
Words: 70 (17×13)
Average Length: 5.46
38A (repurposed from a themed puzzle that wouldn’t come together) and 10D were the seeds for today’s puzzle. Sorry for a couple of brand names infiltrating the grid – I hope they’re well-known enough not to be stumbling blocks.
Words: 28 (9×9)
Average Length: 5.07
Almost every night, Sandy and I eat some 10 Down and watch Jeopardy! followed by a baking show/The Voice/AGT/baseball, depending on the season. Often, once Jeopardy! is over – for the show is sacrosanct – I’ll multitask, crafting/cluing/cogitating about a puzzle while absurdly talented kids/singers/acrobats/athletes are strutting their stuff. So, while casting about for an idea for this week’s midi, I looked at the 10 Down-filled bowl in front of me and inspiration struck.
Words: 70 (17×13)
Average Length: 5.11
I don’t remember where I came across the amusing little poem underlying this puzzle, but as soon as I saw it, I thought it deserved a grid of its own. I hope you find the poem, and the puzzle, entertaining.
Words: 42 (11×11)
Average Length: 4.71
This is my entry for Crosshare’s monthly midi contest, the theme of which this month is “Spice.” Four of the clues – those ending with exclamation points – are cryptic in nature. Each of these asks for an anagram of either “spice” or “spices” that answers the rest of the clue. I hope you find this savory and satisfying!
Words: 70
Average Length: 5.34
4D and 24D were the seeds for this puzzle. As always, I had a lot of fun with the cluing and, as I always hope, learned something along the way (see 42D).
Words: 16 (7×6)
Average Length: 4.88
I learned about the seeds of this puzzle, 1A and 3D, while reading a remarkable book called The Arrogant Ape, by Christine Webb. The book’s subtitle, “The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why It Matters,” captures the thought-provoking, insightful, often maddening contents perfectly. It impressed me so much that another word I learned from the book is the seed of a themeless puzzle I’ll post in late March, so if you finish the book by then you’ll have a guaranteed correct answer off the bat!
Words: 11 (6×5)
Average Length: 4.91
As you probably guessed, 1A was the seed for this puzzle. Why seed the puzzle with an answer that only a couple of solvers are likely to have heard? Because, as things get increasingly fractious and belligerent, the word captures the sort of awareness we could use a great deal more of right now. So spread the word!
Jeff's Puzzles