Words: 66
Average Length: 5.76
This is a tough one, for sure. For solving assistance or just because it’s a great song, here’s a link to the Bob Marley recording referenced in the clue to 5 Down. I hope you enjoy it – come back Wednesday for a gentle mini (as yet unconstructed, but I promise it’ll be gentle, or at least reasonably so) and next Sunday for a medium-difficulty themed puzzle entitled “Gorp.”
Words: 12 (6×6)
Average Length: 5.50
Here’s a medium-difficulty grid with some elementary music theory and a Dolly Parton song that, in my opinion, is one of the best songs ever.
online | puz | pdf | solution | alternate puz link
I just learned the original puz link may be broken. If so, please try the alternate.
Words: 72
Average Length: 5.19
This one shouldn’t be too tough, but don’t fall! I was happy to work in 60 Across – my team’s glory days ended (temporarily, right?) four years ago, but they went out with a bang! And I just realized the unintentional but at least slightly amusing symmetry between 1 Across and 66 Across.
Words: 10
Average Length: 4.80
Don’t get lost in 1 Across. (“Danger, Will Robinson” – and if that means something to you, you’re at least as old as I am!) Please enjoy, and come back Sunday for a medium-difficulty themed puzzle.
[Photo: see 1D; taken in the Hungarian Parliament, July 2023]
Words: 68
Average Length: 5.74
I set out to make a low word-count themeless with very few 3-letter entries and a minimum of crosswordese. I hope you like the result – there are quite a few misdirects, so this one is likely to play on the difficult side.
As I say in the clue for 37 Across, I encourage everyone to read anything that Alan Lightman writes. He’s a physicist with the pen of a poet. His latest book, The Transcendent Brain, is a lyrical, personal exploration of how science leaves room for spirituality.
Words: 10
Average Length: 4.60
This one should be solvable in 1 Down/3 Down. Enjoy!
I just returned from a fascinating trip from Bucharest to Budapest. If you’d like to see some photos and read about it, please check out my travel blog, PuffinlessTravel.com. In addition to the travelogue, the final post is a point-by-point comparison of Viking River Cruises and Tauck River Cruises, if that’s of interest.
Words: 70
Average Length: 5.34
I like books in the way Justice Kavanaugh likes beer. I read a hundred or so a year (not sure what % of his beer consumption that is, but it’s roughly 1000% of mine, being more of a Scotch aficionado). When I saw this marvelous quote from 34 Across I thought, as kids today, or yesterday, or possibly last month, say/said: “it me.” Hence the puzzle.
Words: 16
Average Length: 5.00
This one probably plays tougher than usual for a midi – I clued it at roughly the difficulty level of a full-size themeless. Enjoy!
Words: 10
Average Length: 4.60
I guess I could have posted this in either April or September (as you’ll see once you solve), but as we are once again beset by smoky air, heat, and hurricanes, this is as good a time as any. If any solvers have personal knowledge that the clue for 5 Down is wrong, please let me know!
Jeff's Puzzles