Words: 72 (21×11)
Average Length: 5.25
While mulling over ideas for a Labor Day puzzle, I found the quote that’s the focus of this puzzle and knew I had to use it. The title refers to the ratio of Fortune 500 CEO pay to the pay of an average worker in those companies. I believe it answers the question in the quote.
Words: 70 (17×13)
Average Length: 5.11
I’m jumping the gun on Presidents Day by a week, but so are the mattress sales.
Over the course of a few years pre-Pandemic, I read biographies of every US president. What a mixed bag (the presidents, not the bios): a very few were excellent (Lincoln, FDR, Washington), some seriously underappreciated (Truman, Carter), some overpraised (Jefferson, JFK), some maddeningly flawed (LBJ, TR, Nixon, all of whom accomplished great things but also wreaked harm), some terrible (Pierce, Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Bush 2 , 47), and some (most) mediocre.
This puzzle concerns three presidents who came to the presidency after brilliant careers in public service, only to flounder or flunk during their time in the White House. I hope it’s fun and maybe even educational.
I’m leaving in a few days for three weeks in Chile (including Rapa Nui), Argentina, and Brazil. I’ll be writing about it and sharing pictures on my PuffinlessTravel blog, so please stop by if you’re interested. The first post probably will come late next week.
Words: 78
Average Length: 4.69
1 Across-6 Across-9 Across, everyone!
I posted 107 puzzles in 2025, with nearly 8000 visitors from 62 countries, accounting for more than 18,000 views. Thank you all – I wish each of you a year filled with health, happiness, meaning, and lots of “aha” solving moments.
If you’re interested, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite books that I read during 2025. I love to read and would enjoy getting book recommendations from all of you brilliant and worldly solvers. You can put them in the comments or email me at Jeffspuzzles@gmail.com.
Words: 74
Average Length: 5.16
Several years ago, I posted a Thanksgiving puzzle (“I’ll Never Be Your Feast of Burden”) that was chock-full of Thanksgiving-related entries. (I’ve slightly updated that puzzle, but it still shows my relative construction inexperience back then, particularly with so many 3- letter answers.)
This year, I wanted to try something different. Today’s grid has nothing related to the holiday in it – but if you read down the first letters of the Across clues, you’ll see my heartfelt expression of gratitude to everyone who solves my puzzles.
Speaking of gratitude, I need to single out fellow constructor Jeanne Breen for special thanks. Because of the constraints imposed by the Across cluing, some of those clues were a bit clunky as first drafted, to put it kindly. Moreover, the original version of the SE corner was drecky, which isn’t a word but should be. I asked Jeanne if she had any ideas, and she not only greatly improved the most troublesome clues, but came up with a whole new SE corner that is leagues better than the original.
Jeanne is a talented constructor of all manner of word puzzles, which you can – and should! – match wits with on her site, In Pursuit of Puzzles. Follow her, and while you’re at it, follow me if you’re not already doing so! The more followers we constructors have, the more visible our puzzle sites are in search results.
Words: 78
Average Length: 4.64
Of all the overseas places I’ve visited – 99 and counting – Ireland is the friendliest. Although I don’t have a bit of Irish blood, I’ve never felt so at home anywhere else. The people are warm, quick to laugh, and hospitable beyond belief, and the scenery’s not too shabby either. And then there’s the literature: on an island of barely over 7 million people, seemingly every tenth person is a prize-winning author, poet, or playwright. (Given that books are my crack, I’ve crammed several Irish writers into this grid and clues, including several of my all-time favorites (Roddy Doyle, Kevin Barry, Maggie O’Farrell).)
Sláinte and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Words: 78
Average Length: 4.64
I wish you all a New Year filled with 38 Across. I thank all 6.1 thousand of you who have solved my puzzles in the past year. You come from 55 different countries and generated nearly 15 thousand views. I hope you’ll be back for more in 2025!
If you ever have any questions or suggestions, or if you might be interested in co-constructing, shoot me an email at jeffspuzzles@gmail.com. Thanks, and all the best for 2025!
Chappy Chanukah
Words: 42
Average Length: 4.86
Merry Christmas!
Words: 40
Average Length: 5.05
For the first time I can remember, Chanukah begins this year on Christmas Day. I figured I’d commemorate the occasion with a puzzle for each holiday. Whatever holiday you do (or don’t) celebrate – Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Festivus, whatever – I wish you all the best this holiday season!
Words: 72
Average Length: 5.25
As the title suggests, today’s grid offers my heartfelt New Year’s wishes to those of you who take the time to solve my puzzles. I really appreciate it, and I look forward to tossing another 100 or so puzzles your way in 2024. Please feel free to comment or email me (jeffspuzzles@gmail.com) if you ever have a question, suggestion, reaction, correction, whatever.
If you’re thinking of traveling in the new year, check out my travel blog, PuffinlessTravel.com. In 2023, I added several posts about France and Spain (visiting caves with paleolithic art), Luxembourg, Andorra, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary. Next week I’ll be traveling to Australia and New Zealand and will be adding lots of posts and pix from that experience.
You might also enjoy my poetry blog, It-Could-Be-Verse.com.
Happy New Year!!!
Words: 74
Average Length: 5.05
Thank you all! I’m grateful to everyone who takes the time to solve my puzzles – the site received 10,000 views in 2022, up 60% from 2021, and solvers in 45 countries tackled my grids this year.
This puzzle contains my New Year’s wish for you. I hope you enjoy it. Keep solving, please share my puzzles with abandon (I’d love to double my views this coming year), and most of all, have a healthy, happy, fun and fulfilling 2023!!!
Jeff's Puzzles