Author: Jeff

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

Categories
Themed

Mere Anarchy

Amsterdam, Oct. 2019 (see 26 Down)

Words: 66

Average Length: 5.42

“The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.”  I constructed this puzzle shortly after the US presidential election.  The poem that underlies the grid’s theme – considered one of the most important poems of the 20th century – was written just after the first World War.  It precisely captures the anxiety and dismay of the current moment.  You can read the full poem here.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini

UFOs and the SATs

A cassowary, not a 2 Down (Kuranda, Australia, Jan. 2024). I still have all my fingers.

Words: 18

Average Length: 5.00

This grid started with 1 Across because I’ve been watching the NFL playoffs, but then when I went to clue it, I kept remembering the brilliant opening credit sequence of Airplane!, which you can see here.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Themed Word Ladder

As Dr. King Said

Not a 41 Across Dragon. (Near Cairns, Australia, Jan. 2024)

Words: 71 (14×15)

Average Length: 4.96

On Sunday afternoon (Jan. 19), I sat down to construct a basic word ladder puzzle.  When I started to clue the puzzle, I realized the quote from Dr. King referenced in 1 Across and 62 Across would be a good framing device.  Originally, I thought I’d post this puzzle in late March, since I’ve got several other grids lined up already.  But given that today commemorates Dr. King, whose message was founded in 62 Across, and is simultaneously the inauguration of a man whose message fosters 1 Across, I decided to rush the puzzle out the door, so to speak.  Let’s all do our best to turn 1 Across into 62 Across!

online | puz | pdf | solution