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A short, fun and occasionally not unintentionally educational podcast in which two fans of the New York Times crossword describe their puzzle-solving travails.
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Chatting about cryptic crosswords
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A podcast about practical Christianity. Christians live in a culture hostile to righteousness, self-control and God's judgment to come. This podcast is about getting your mind and your heart in line with Jesus' Words and Way because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life! All Scriptures quoted are from the New International Version. You can follow me on Twitter @kingdom_saint. Walk with the Lord and be a blessing! Study the Bible with me: http://pedro-gelabert.worldbibleschool.org/ Support th ...
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Two amateur crossword lovers come together weekly to share new trivia topics with each other... and you... hopefully
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Bianca Brady and Olivia Shepson take you through the week's NYT crossword puzzles. They discuss their times, what they loved, what they hated, and how they knew what they know.
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We're welcoming in 2025 in grand style, with a Wednesday crossword by Seth Bisen-Hersh (his 3rd) and Jeff Chen (his 158th!). The theme ties in nicely with an ongoing holiday, and if your reaction to that phrase was "what holiday?", then check out today's episode, where all will be revealed. Looking for an achievable new year's resolution? Why not r…
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Tuesday, December 31, 2024 - Our New Year's Eve Spectacular (fireworks, champagne, this episode's got it all!)
19:45
We're wrapping up 2024 and putting a bow on it, the actual present being today's crossword, a fine bit of work by Michael Lieberman, his 25th for the NYTimes, as deftly edited by -- it gives us such joy to write this -- Will Shortz (see yesterday's episode for the deets on why). Beyond the crossword, we have a magnificent Triplet Tuesday segment, a…
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Today's crossword is a cause for celebration. First, it was a great crossword (no surprise there -- check out the podcast for the deets), and second, it was edited by Will Shortz, the long time editor of the NYTimes crossword who had a stroke earlier this year. But demonstrating his indomitable spirit, Will has returned to the editor's chair, for w…
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Today's crossword is the last Sunday of the year, and the finale is a fine one, thanks to Harry Zheng, author of today's puzzle -- edited ably and adeptly, as always, by Joel Fagliano. Deets inside, so have a listen, and don't forget to tell your friends about us on social media! Show note imagery: An Anteater, Armadillo and ANTELOPE, oh, my! We lo…
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We've been off almost a week, so in honor of our reboot we're starting the podcast with some musical fanfare to declare our return. And, for your edification, we are returning with an analysis of a fine NYTimes Saturday crossword -- a debut by Sam Berriman with an astonishing 10 debut answers. We also have some great listener mail, so have a listen…
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The NYTimes has given us a splendid holiday present, today's crossword -- a chewy, themeless Sunday that you can really sink your teeth into (er, metaphorically speaking, please!). We. have all the deets inside, plus, the moment you've all been waiting for, the big reveal of our latest Triplet Tuesday Contest winner. You know we're not going to spo…
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In today's episode, Jean sails through the toughest crossword of the week, and Mike crashes into the mizenmast, and is still pulling out splinters. We have all the deets inside, so you are cordially invited to download, listen up, and enjoy! Show note imagery: TITOPUENTE, the King of Mambo We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love l…
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As the week progresses, the NYTimes crosswords get tougher, and here on a Friday, things can get really sticky. Today's was about a 7-8 out of 10 on the stickiness scale, but the cluing was still entertaining. We had 15D, John, in Portuguese, JOAO (ok, now we know); 32A, The symbol of America's first transcontinental railroad, THEGOLDENSPIKE; and 4…
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This was a slick Thursday crossword by Brandon Koppy, with some significant Golidlox cluing - not too easy, not too hard, just right -- assuming that you've been doing the crosswords for a while. If you're just starting out, the clues might be better characterized as hard, impossible, and huh? Some of the lesser known clues (to us) include 23D, 13t…
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The themed clues in today's crossword were so good that they might've out shone some other gems. Fortunately we always solve our crosswords while wearing shades, so we can report that these clues -- 64D, Sending help?, UPS; the delicious combo of 6D, "It's so c-c-c-old!", BRR and 7D, Refreshment served with a spoon, ICEE; and 4D, Fool, from the Yid…
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Perfectionism and legalism hamper spiritual growth. It contrasts the self-defeating pursuit of impossible perfection with God's grace and love as the way to maturity. Scripture teaches self-compassion, progress over perfection, and believing in God's sufficiency to overcome perfectionism. Created using Notebook LM --- Support this podcast: https://…
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Why does pursuing human wisdom as opposed to God's wisdom leave you in the dust? YT: https://youtu.be/G34OrWvNApg --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pedro-gelabert/support
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Yes, the moment you have all been waiting for has finally arrived, another Triplet Tuesday Contest! Of course, for those of you who are fans of Kathy Lowden, the constructor of today's crossword, if that was the moment you were waiting for, well, your ship has come in as well -- and the great thing is that we cover both in today's episode. Yes, it'…
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This was a fun, frothy Monday crossword by Ailee Yoshida, her second for the NYTimes. The theme was (as always) ingenious, and, being a Monday, the grid was populated with words that we mainly know. It did have two debut answers (19A, Tidbit in a nutritious pudding: CHIASEED; 23A, Department handling media inquiries: PRESSOFFICE) and one not seen s…
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This was an extraordinary Sunday crossword by David Kwong, his 24th for the NYTimes. David is a magician, fitting since there is so much magic in today's grid ... and art! In fact there is a palette of artists (and if palette's not the unit in which artists are measured it ought to be) as well, all part of a very, very clever theme. Deets inside! A…
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This was a remarkable NYTimes crossword, first because it was a debut Saturday crossword for Owen Bergstein (not too many cruciverbalists debut on a Saturday), and second, because Owen is a high school junior! Talk about starting young! The crossword itself is great, and we have all the deets inside, as well as our JAMCOTWA winner, some listener ma…
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Our cohosts had slightly different experiences solving today's crossword ... Jean found it to be a tricky but straightforward Friday, Mike found solving it more akin to climbing the Hoover Dam one-handed: doable, but only with a lot of patience (and possibly a temporary repeal of the law of gravity). Deets inside, as well as a fine Fun Fact for Fun…
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This was a fine Thursday crossword by Daniel Bodily, including a slick theme, smartly implemented. There were some great clues, including 42A, It makes Max profits, HBO 😀 ; 24D, Plant used in xeriscaping because of its tolerance to drought, AGAVE (we just love the word xeriscaping 😀); the delicious 57A, Low-key place for gnocchi, TRATTORIA (which i…
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Gaining Salvation Through Human Effort The Dangers of Self-Reliance YT: https://www.youtube.com/live/WSHeIDieQ9k?si=p7-FoCG0kz-gV2Bd&t=1863 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pedro-gelabert/support
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This was a fabulous Wednesday crossword, a collaboration between Kathy Bloomer and the prolific Jeff Chen, that includes a theme that is clever, complex, and some other word that starts with the letter c but isn't cozy ... er, we'll get back to you on that 😀 Beyond the aforementioned clever, complex and not cozy theme clues, we had some other fine …
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This was a quintessential NYTimes crossword, featuring an arty theme with a twist, and a SWARM of supporting clues guaranteed to bring a smile to your face, including 51D, Give a take, OPINE; 6D, Likely aftermath of a toddler's playtime, MESS; and 50D, "No can do, lassie", NAE. Brilliant, the lot of them! Speaking of lot, we're going to be having a…
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The numbers are extraordinary, and speak for themselves: this is John Kugelman's 8th NYTimes crossword, his 7th Sunday oeuvre, and he's been cranking them out at the rate of approximately 1 per month. So, in honor of all that, we present the following clue for your consideration: 3D, Indefatigable (12 letters), JOHNKUGELMAN. The crossword itself wa…
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Another Monday, another debut crossword constructor! This was from Elliot Caroll, and both cohosts found her work to be a bit crunchier than usual for a Monday, as evidenced by their longer-than-average solve times and higher HSPMs (Head Scratches Per Minute) than usual. We aren't complaining, though, we wouldn't think of ONBLASTing this fine work.…
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Robin Weintraub is legendary for her joyous crosswords, and today's puzzle is a perfect example: there are LOL clues everywhere you look, and we looked everywhere! Deets inside, as well as listener mail, and a fabulous fun fact for Fun Fact Friday™️. Show note imagery: Oh, the irony, a Shindig! DVD! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info:…
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Saturday, December 7, 2024 - In tomorrow's mailbag, we expect a bit of TUMULT about how to pronounce TUMULT 😀
20:00
The first thing that grabs your attention when looking at today's crossword is the grid - a pinwheel built on a few black squares, but mainly impressively tall stacks of answers. In a switch from the usual state of affairs, Jean found this crossword to be a tad on the daunting side, Mike not quite so much. Both agreed that it was an excellent cross…
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This was a fun Thursday crossword by Garett Chalfin, his ninth for the NYTimes. The theme was whimsical, the clues were cunning, and the end result was a superb addition to the NYTimes pantheon. Or, to put it another way, TLDR: 5 squares on the JAMCR scale! Show note imagery: A poster for La Forza Del Destino, by Verdi We love feedback! Send us a t…
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We explore the nature of bitterness, drawing heavily on the biblical examples of Naomi and Job. We define bitterness as a harmful response to grief, stemming from wrongly blaming God or others for life's hardships. We outline several symptoms of bitterness, including negativity, inability to love, and self-righteousness, ultimately suggesting that …
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There was an orchestra pit-full of musicians in today's crossword, including 66A, One-named singer featured on the 2013 hit "Play Hard": NEYO, 35D, "___ California" (Grammy-winning Red Hot Chili Peppers hit), DANI; 56A, /, ROCKGUITARIST; and 47A, Experimental musician whose name sounds like a cry, ONO. However, the real theme was a joyous celebrati…
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Today's grid was stuffed with assorted edibles, so listeners are cautioned to not attempt today's crossword on an empty stomach. And while none of the clues were particularly "crunchy" (crossword lingo for particularly difficult clues/crosswords), some of them were quite delicious, including 37D, Animal that is unable to fly with its ears, regretta…
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There was indeed a theme in today's crossword, but it was sufficiently subtle that one of our cohosts missed it completely until it was brought to their attention by the other cohost. For those of you on the edge of your seats wondering which cohost missed the theme, have a listen to today's episode, where all will become clear. Show note imagery: …
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This was a perfect storm of a crossword, with an absolutely awesome theme, a boatload of ingenious clues, and ... wait for it ... Nope! We're not going to spoil things here in the show notes. Check out the crossword if you haven't done so already (ideally online, specifically on the NYTimes site), and be prepared to be amazed. Show note imagery: Al…
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This was a fabulous debut by Oliver Goodridge and Juan Garavito. With sparkling clueing everywhere in the grid, they've provided a real master class in how to make a tough, fair and epic Saturday NYTimes puzzle. It's also Saturday, and time for our JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award™). It was an exceedingly tough choice, as you'll …
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Like glaciers in the spring, this crossword solve started off slowly, as the grid provided very few footholds in the top-left and top-right. Gradually, though, it yielded its delightful secrets, making for a very satisfying Friday challenge. Definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, for reasons that are outlined in, of course, today's podcast.…
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Overcoming Bitterness We discuss the damaging effects of bitterness and unforgiveness. We illustrate how harboring resentment hinders spiritual growth and well-being. We emphasize the importance of humility, forgiveness, and learning from correction to achieve spiritual maturity. Listeners are encouraged to emulate Jesus' example of selflessness an…
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Dealing with Sudden Loss YT: https://www.youtube.com/live/3m70pPWKzhk?si=TnQl5sJ2JfsEgFDG&t=1672 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pedro-gelabert/support
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Today's PSA, don't attempt this crossword while in a FOODCOMA, it won't end well -- you'll need all your wits about you so that you can savor the puzzle, especially that delicious AHA! moment stuffed (and, no, we are not talking metaphorically) into today's grid. We'd say more, but we don't want to ruin your fun, so tuck in and enjoy! Show note ima…
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English is a ravenous language, devouring words from other languages and claiming them as their own. Such is the case with one of our favorite entries in today's puzzle -- 66A, Clever person, BELESPRIT (two words, to be accurate, BEL ESPRIT). This came from the French, English laid claim to it, and, alas, promptly forgot about it, it is now conside…
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This was an excellent debut crossword by Killian Olson. He has had a total of 2 crosswords published, his first in the Michigan Daily, and his second in what we perceive to be a slightly more demanding venue, the NYTimes. We have all the deets inside, as well as another of our famed Triplet Tuesday™ segments -- Mike is in the hot seat tonight -- so…
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Today's crossword is Dena R. Witkes' debut, and we like it! The difficulty was spot on, the theme was light and frothy, like good Monday themes ought to be, and the rest of the clues were just right to entice would-be solvers to, well, start solving. Five squares on the JAMCR scale, absolutely! Show note imagery: Joseph Campbell, originator of the …
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This was an ambitious crossword that took the author, Alex Eaton-Salners, many years to get into its final form. It was worth the wait, though, with a dazzling theme and some terrific supporting clues. We therefore present, for your consideration, 77D, Moon over Miami, for many a Miamian, LUNA (nice one!); 58A, Like Hadrian's Wall in Northern Engla…
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There were many fine clues in today's grid, courtesy of Ryan McCarty. We'd be hard pressed to limit ourselves to 3, but we're going to give it the ol' college try: 33A, Stories that can be read both backward and forward, SAGAS 😀 35A, Makes some calls, REF 🙄 31D, Zeus, Odin or the Dagda, PAGANGOD 🧐 30D, Middling in rank, informally, BTIER (so much f…
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Today's crossword was, to borrow an answer from earlier in the week, absolutely fabulous, with an ocean of great clues. [A small ocean, to be sure: the grid was its normal 15x15 size, but somehow "large pond of great clues" doesn't have quite the stirring effect we are aiming for, so we are sticking with ocean.] For example, we have the terrific 5D…
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Thursday, November 21, 2024 - A Saturday crossword so tricky it's disguised itself as a Thursday 😱😀
17:02
Today's crossword was (1A) ABFAB, definitely one of our (3D) FAVES this week, with such a sparkling grid that we had to wear shades and set the app to dark mode in order to work on it. We were dazzled by clues like 42A, One hanging out in the cold, ICICLE (a clue that just warms our hearts!); 22A, "Bam!", KAPOW (Boom!); and 35A, On ice longer than …
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Writing spoiler-free show notes can be tricky, but we're willing to give it a shot for our listeners. In today's crossword, we see that the author has made clever use of ◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️, which is surprising, because we normally only see those on ◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️ or ◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️! However we are glad to see them, they definitely add a bit of zest to t…
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Tuesday, November 19, 2024 - Look up there in the sky ... it's a bird, no, it's a plane, no, it's Supervocalic!
14:25
When you see the name Erik Agard in the byline, you know you're in for a good time, and the sage does not disappoint in his latest oeuvre, i.e., today's crossword, thanks to great clues like 51D, Supervocalic (we checked: it is a word) to 49D, Half a rhyming synonym of "haphazard", HELTER (😀); to the double cluing of 18A, and 35D, Head over heels, …
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Why are young people taken away from us? Philippians 1:21 (CSB) YT: https://www.youtube.com/live/zJNGO1gm1oE?si=AsYk9SQi4F7zZumI&t=2074 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pedro-gelabert/support
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Self-Centeredness Self-centeredness is a powerful enemy of peace and holiness. Learn of the six signs of self-centeredness and how to defeat this enemy of the mind. Created using Notebook LM --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pedro-gelabert/support
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A recent JAMCOTWA winner, Rajeswari Rajamani is back with her second NYTimes crossword, and we are pleased to report that it's a delight, with a subtle and engaging theme, and some sparkling grid fill (which is hard to pull off, especially on a Monday). Kudos, we now eagerly await the arrival of crossword # 3! Show note imagery: ELCAPITAN We love f…
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After yesterday's epic struggle, today's crossword was a refreshing change of pace, with an uplifting theme (literally!), and great clues. The authors were Rebecca Goldstein and Ariela Perlman, the latter making her debut appearance in the NYTimes. Deets inside, so have a listen, and remember that feedback is always welcome. Just a reminder that it…
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When it comes to tough crosswords, there are Saturdays, and there are Saturdays. Today's puzzle was most definitely one of the latter, with nearly impossible clues almost everywhere you look in the grid, trivia that if you're fortunate enough to know will make the crossword a breeze, if not, well, good luck! This was a quality crossword, though, ma…
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