Author: Jeff

Categories
Midi

That’s All Folks!

“Checkpoint Charlie,” Berlin (see 16 Down). Note the juxtaposition between the sign and the McDonald’s. Photo taken July 2013.

Words: 40 (11×11)

Average Length: 5.15

This one started as a random idea – gee, I wonder how many times I could reasonably (without compromising fill) cram the most common word in the English language into a midi crossword?  The answer: six as the word itself – with double credit going to certain post-punk band (23 Down) – as well as three more times where the letter string appears.  The title references Porky Pig’s famous closing line in the Looney Tunes cartoons, which should make sense if you think about it.

I’m happy to shout out Tom Lehrer (6 Down), a long-time math professor at Harvard with a second career as a writer of satirical, mostly  political songs.  Here’s a link to the one in the puzzle, which isn’t political but does concern science, so maybe these days it’s somehow controversial after all.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Themed

Paternal Music

See 25 Down. Photo taken in Nusfjord, Norway, June 2017.

Words: 73

Average Length: 5.15

This grid is inspired by common ground between a reggaeton star, an indie solo artist, and a nu metal band. 

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Midi

Spaceman Spiff

Hungarian Parliament (see 13 Across) (Photo taken July 2023)

Words: 26

Average Length: 5.15

Unlike many comics from the ‘80s and early ’90s, Calvin & Hobbes holds up brilliantly.  (Speaking of comic recommendations, I am besotted with Nathan W. Pyle’s gentle, funny, and profound Strange Planet webcomic.  Check it out if it’s new to you.)

The title of this puzzle, of course, is one of Calvin’s alter egos.  Interestingly – draw whatever conclusions you wish – I typed the title as “Spaceman Spliff” and didn’t notice until I’d finished cluing the grid. 

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Cryptic

Cryptic 1: Pol Known To Spout Off

Brisbane, Australia (Dec. 2024), home of Monika and Peter, who introduced me to cryptic crosswords and contributed mightily to our championship trivia team

I’ve been leery of/baffled by cryptic puzzles for years. While on a trip last December, though, I started solving one with two Australian friends (hi, Monika and Peter!), and I truly enjoyed the experience. Since then, I’ve worked on my still-larval cryptic solving chops with the invaluable aid of some entertaining, educational puzzles posted on Crosshare by Melanie, Sammisamsam, Nate, Jason, and others. I’ve also assiduously solved the daily “Easy Cryptic” at Simply Daily Puzzles, which is both approachable and full of delightful Britishisms.

All of which is background for this grid – my first effort at “setting” a cryptic. I hope you enjoy it!!!

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Themeless

Themeless 97

Outside Great American Ballpark, July 2024 (see 37 Down)

Words: 77 (16×15)

Average Length: 5.30

It’s a themeless puzzle, but the two seeds, 40A and 10D, are both “words of the year” for 2024.  I find 10D particularly apt.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Midi Themeless

I Would Caulk 500 Tiles

See 14 Down. Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House (Jan. 2024)

Words: 40 (11×11)

Average Length: 5.15

The seeds for this midi were 20 Across (for giving new meaning to “political science”) and 5 Down.  The latter came about because a couple of days ago, I heard an achingly beautiful cover by Kelly Clarkson, which you can listen to here.  (I couldn’t resist the title, which is a mash-up of 5 Down and 15 Across.) 

I know that politics is creeping into my clues, but with the creeps currently in charge of our country, I feel justified in shooting metaphorical barbs from time to time. 

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Supersized Themed

Like PB&J

See 73 Down. Photo taken in Havelock, New Zealand, Jan. 2024

Words: 94 (17×17)

Average Length: 5.11

Here’s a super-sized, tasty grid for your solving pleasure.  It can double as your menu for the next few days if you’re so inclined.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Midi Themed

AI Caramba!

Nothing to do with the puzzle, but you can never post too many puffin pictures. (Iceland, July 2024)

Words: 42 (11×11)

Average Length: 4.86

Constructing a puzzle using A and I as the only vowels, it turns out, is not a trivial undertaking.  This grid is my third attempt – the first two tries (a 7×7 and a 9×9) were fatally fill-compromised, to put it politely.  I bumped the grid size up to 11x, and that did the trick; there’s only one truly unfortunate entry (3 Down) and, I hope you’ll agree, lots of good stuff. 

Once I had the fill where I wanted it, the second part of the challenge – writing clues whose initial letter alternated between A and I –  proved almost as difficult.   May you find the end result amusing and informative!

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Themeless

Themeless 96

See 70 down – thought is it really a 70 down if it lasts 6 hours or so?

Words: 85 (17×16)

Average Length: 5.32

Today’s super-sized themeless features advice for authors from Mark Twain and a mechanistic view of the cosmos that I don’t share but makes for an interesting seed. Throw in some Blink 182 and a couple of retro office items, et voila!

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini Themed

Say Cheese

Amsterdam, Oct. 2019

Words: 18

Average Length: 5.00

The seed for this mini was the clue/answer combination at 3 Down, but as I began to fill it, a mini-theme developed centering on cheese.  Havarti at it!

online | puz | pdf | solution