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February 2, 2012

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from January. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced on Saturday (the 4th). Here are the nominees:


Snow man? ....................................LIAR
Bottom lines, perhaps? .......................TAT
Expanse beneath an arch? .....................INSOLE
One who might make a run on the banks ........OTTER
They're, like, always together ...............BFF
A big story of 2011, whether capitalized or uncapitalized ................................JOBS



January 1, 2012

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from December. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced on Tuesday (the 3rd) at approximately 9:00 PM Central. Here are the nominees:


Carmaker that sounds like a belly button .....AUDI
Number one fan? ..............................EGOMANIAC
Group well-known for their spring collection ..IRS
Defensive line? ..............................ALIBI
Fan belts? ...................................TIERS
Happy and more ...............................DWARFS



December 1, 2011

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from November. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced on Saturday (the 3rd) at approximately 9:00 PM Central. Here are the nominees:


Scene in Shakespeare? ........................ADO

Thank God, it's Friday” declarer? ...........CRUSOE

Thanks for Tom Hanks, maybe? .................USERID

Couples support ..............................TEE

One who may eat her words? ...................ICER

[“Throw the tennis ball!”] ...................ARF



November 1, 2011

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from October. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced on Thursday (the 3rd) at approximately 9:00 PM Central. Here are the nominees:


Solutions for unfair situations? .............GALOSHES

One seeking to catch some rays? ..............ORCA

Wasted word? .................................HIC

Double duty? .................................STUNTS

Hitchcock double feature? ....................CHIN

Fanta size? ..................................LITER



September 1, 2011

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from August. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced on Monday (Labor Day) at approximately 9:00 PM Central. Here are the nominees:


Keeps going longer than is technically

really necessary and then begins to start

to become awkward, as a sentence .............RUNSON

Winter depression ............................SNOWANGEL

Withdrawals that may incur substantial penalties? ...................................HEISTS

New Mexican, e.g. ............................NINO

Weapon that comes in easy-to-carry and

hard-to-carry varieties ......................MACE

Quick, grab a newspaper!” ...................EEK



August 1, 2011

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from July. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced on Thursday (the 4th) at approximately 9:00 PM Central. Here are the nominees:


Do a course evaluation? ......................EAT

Stage productions? ...........................WESTERNS

Joints near shoulders ........................ROADHOUSES

Bit of fan fare ..............................PEANUT

Can of Prince Albert? ........................LOO

Tales you can also read backwards? ...........SAGAS



July 1, 2011

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from June. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced next Tuesday (the 5th) at approximately 9:00 PM Central. Here are the nominees:


Dancer's restraint? ..........................REIN

Disagreeing like bookies? ....................ATODDS

Lie detector for a supposed loser? ...........SCALE

Six-pack alternative .........................BEERGUT

Peer in a box ................................JUROR

Pocket protectors? ...........................MISERS



June 1, 2011

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from May. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Saturday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Burger King vis-a-vis McDonald's, fittingly ..ARCHRIVAL

Nude custodian, maybe? .......................CURATOR

It's heard around the water cooler ...........GLUG

Where singles congregate in a bar? ...........TIPJAR

Where you might find a pair of boxers ........PETSTORE

Letters read with feeling? ...................BRAILLE



May 1, 2011

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from April. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Wednesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


It might make you pretty late ................NEGLIGEE

One apt to have an appt app ..................PDA

Big name in lock-changing ....................CLAIROL

One trying to make a living? .................JUDGE

Butt loci ....................................ASHTRAYS

Soap ingredient? .............................MELODRAMA



April 1, 2011

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from March. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Monday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Point of eating? .............................TINE

Clean up your language? ......................EDIT

One who might keep a torch in his boot .......BRIT

Job with many openings? ......................DENTIST

Belted one out there? ........................ORION

Those involved in cutting class at school? ...STYLISTS



March 1, 2011

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from February. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Thursday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Messing with a script? .......................DEBRA

What drives a baby buggy? ....................COLIC

Taking credit? ...............................OWING

Celebrity head shot ..........................BOTOX

Opera annoyance? .............................POPUPAD

Cell user often ..............................FELON



February 1, 2011

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from January. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Thursday night, the 3rd, at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


They're hung across roads ....................UIES

Top secret? ..................................TOUPEE

Common word in sign language .................SALE

Stand-up guy? ................................NOSHOW

One shooting the bull? .......................VET

Where F is highest on the scale ..............GASGAUGE



January 1, 2011

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from December. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night, the 4th, at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Secretive group? .............................GLANDS

Dos that are don'ts? .........................COMBOVERS

Private place? ...............................BOOTCAMP

Ring masters .................................JEWELERS

Number of consonants in this answer ..........ONE

Things used in semi circles ..................CBS



December 1, 2010

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from November. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Wednesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Doctors with spirits .........................LACES

You've heard it before? ......................ECHO

L on a T? ....................................LARGE

One who can't stand to go? ...................GIRL

One with his name in lights? .................WATT

Reliever who closed out the Giants' World

Series victory and who recently said this:

I'd like to be a crossword clue one day...

I want my clue to be down, not across. The

down ones are usually harder... How sweet

would that be?” …............................BRIANWILSON



November 1, 2010

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from October. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Monday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Sub standard device ..........................SONAR

Cohort of Morley, oddly enough! ..............LESLEY

Communicate digitally? .......................SIGN

Driveling researcher? ........................PAVLOV

Pass out facedown ............................DEAL

Campaign weaponry? ...........................MUD



October 1, 2010

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from October. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Friday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Letters from your parents? ...................DNA

Put off retirement ...........................STAYUPLATE

Watches one's language? ......................LIPREADS

Union representative? ........................YANKEE

It's often carried around a gym ..............ODOR

Sound elicited by an electric can opener? ....MEOW



September 25, 2010

Gobsmacked By a Crossword Puzzle

According to one writer, on Wednesdays Will Shortz steps into another world with clues like “Gobsmacked” which even Webster's New World Dictionary doesn't define.



September 20, 2010

Oldest Crossword Constructor

Today's NYT crossword puzzle breaks a record. At 96, Bernice Gordon is the oldest person to create a crossword puzzle for the New York Times. Her first NYT entry appeared in 1952.



September 15, 2010

Gryptics – The Next Generation of the Crossword

Les Foeldessy, a self-professed puzzle fanatic from Toronto, has created a new genre of crossword puzzles. He calls them Gryptics. The definition clues are completely gone, and some lettering is outside the grid. His goal was to 'find interesting words, avoid obscure ones, and achieve eclectic juxtapositions'. For example, in a traditional crossword puzzle there would be a clue such as DOWN 7)Jewelry-store purchase or 5)Union symbol and the answer would be something like tungsten rings or wedding rings. But in a Gryptic puzzle these initial clues are not provided.


He recently put together a book of 100 puzzles ranging in difficulty from easy to hard. If you get stuck, there's a hints section included with extra letters provided.


I received the book last Friday, did a couple easy puzzles, a couple hard puzzles, and then gave the book to my wife, Faith, to see what she thought. Faith, not a crossword person, was immediately addicted. I found it difficult to pry the book out of her hands the rest of the weekend.


The rules are simple:

1. The letters outside the grid remain where they are; they form the beginnings and endings of words longer than six letters.

2. Fill in the missing letters on the grid to complete the six Across and six Down words.

3. All words to be entered are six letters or more.

4. There is only one possible solution.


Here is a sample (easy puzzle) from Les's website:



I shared this one with some experienced crossword solvers and they found it a little too easy. I had to agree – it had the feel of a Monday puzzle. However, puzzles like this, from the beginning of the book are great for non-crossword solvers (like my wife), giving them practice before they get to the more difficult puzzles further on in the book.


I then shared a difficult puzzle with some experienced solvers. They found it more challenging and more interesting. An interesting observation from one of the solvers was that it contains words never seen in regular crosswords. Another solver suggested that 'it would be cool if the whole puzzle had a central theme, like foods, or math vocabulary, or medical terms'.


Faith and I are enjoying the book and, I'm sure, will continue working on these until every box is filled. If you're interested, the book can be ordered from the Gryptics website.



September 8, 2010

A New Puzzle Link and a Puzzle You Don't Want to Miss

Perhaps you've noticed... I added a new link to my list of free printable puzzles last month. The great puzzle constructor, Patrick Blindauer, has created a web-site and, among other things, he is offering a new puzzle every month. This month's puzzle, 'Decompression Chambers', was extremely satisfying. I don't want to give anything away – I'll just say this: using all caps when solving will be helpful in figuring out the theme.



September 2, 2010

Does Mental Activity Prevent Dementia?

A new federally funded study finds that doing crossword puzzles, learning a foreign language, and other mental activities really do protect our minds. However, when the decline does finally begin, it happens a lot faster among people who have been mentally active.



September 1, 2010

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from August. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Wednesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Brand name of products that suck .............ORECK

Stiff crates .................................HEARSES

Joint tenants ................................PRISONERS

Street clothes? ..............................SKIWEAR

Stock options ................................BROTHS

Press release? ...............................CIDER



August 1, 2010

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from July. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Monday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Cape horn? ...................................VUVUZELA

Steel worker? ................................ROBOT

Intro for John? ..............................DEAR

Tube test? ...................................PILOT

It's hard to run on it? ......................EMPTY

Cover of the Bible? ..........................FIGLEAF



July 15, 2010

Can Sleep Improve Crossword Solving Ability?

Researchers have established a theory that getting good sleep improves the memory and assists to build relations between slackly related information.



July 1, 2010

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from June. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Thursday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Green party V.I.P.? ..........................STPAT

Fits on a hard drive? ........................ROADRAGE

Winner at dieting? ...........................LOSER

Higher calling? ..............................UPHERE

Inedible doughnut part? ......................HOLE

Black listing? ...............................ASSET



June 1, 2010

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from May. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Stick with it ................................FORK

Eggs on yeggs ................................ABETS

Source of relief? ............................BULLPEN

Head of Buckingham Palace? ...................LOO

One in debt? .................................SILENTB

Stranded carrier .............................RNA



May 18, 2010

Crosswords and Alzheimers, Cryptic Crosswords, Word Finder, a Crosswordese Test, and a Backward Crossword.




May 2, 2010

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from April. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Monday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Something to wait for? .......................TIP

Glass elevator? ..............................TOAST

Strip in a bar? ..............................LEMONRIND

House rules enforcer? ........................PELOSI

Sentence structure? ..........................JAIL

Place for extra notes on the piano? ..........TIPJAR



April 15, 2010

An interview, a couple new puzzles, more on brain fitness, Chatroulette, Scrabble, and a puzzling argument




April 3, 2010

Puzzles you don't want to miss

There were a couple excellent puzzles on April Fool's Day that you probably don't want to miss.

All of the clues in the NYT puzzle were rearranged and flip-flopped. It made for a fun, challenging experience.

The Fireball Puzzle was the most open grid I've ever seen. Without giving away too much, let me whet your appetite with the clue for 2-down:

It's not connected with guacamole in any way............ ANSWERTOTWODOWN

(Yes, that really was the answer to 2-down.) Also, it's the first puzzle I've ever seen with ISHKABIBBLE as part of an answer.



April 1, 2010

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from March. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced tonight at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Mint green? ..................................USDOLLARS

Hit bottom? ….................................SIDEB

Semi professionals? ..........................TEAMSTERS

Pickup line locale? ….........................DEPOT

Made unbearable? .............................NEUTERED

Spot order? ….................................SIT



March 21, 2010

The Island of Lost Puzzles, the Myth of Crosswordese, Updating UFS Puzzles, Crosswords and Successful Relationships, and Crossword Puzzles in the Modern Age



March 1, 2010

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from February. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Old rubber? ..................................ALADDIN

Sound heard repeatedly in gargling? ..........HARDG

Facial spots? ................................SPAS

Brief fashion statements .....................MINISKIRTS

Yo, Hadrian!” ...............................AVE

Thatcher follower …...........................SAWYER



February 25, 2010

New crossword champ, Wayne Robert Williams is back, and Ethan Friedman puzzle




  • Dan Feyer dethrones Tyler Hinman at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. See video and photos here.

  • Wayne Robert Williams, former editor of the Chicago Tribune crossword, is back with a daily puzzle.

  • Ethan Friedman creates a puzzle for Tablet Magazine.



February 1, 2010

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from January. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Colt's fan club? .............................NRA

Well running group?: Abbr. ...................OPEC

Reason for a lighter conviction? .............ARSON

Cigarette additive? ….........................SINTAX

Choose paper over plastic? ...................PAYCASH

One may be responsible for many banks ........SNOWPLOW



January 29, 2010

A new punctuation mark and Merl Reagle's #1 pet peeve


  • Expressing sarcasm in the written word can be dangerous. Now there's a solution: the SarcMark.

  • Crossword constructor, Merl Reagle, is blogging now. In his first post he talks about his least favorite type of crosswordese, something he refers to as flansir.



January 8, 2010

Great Puzzle Alert

In this golden age of crosswords we see a number of really good puzzles every month. But every now and then a great puzzle emerges which stands head and shoulders above the rest. That happened yesterday with Xan Vongsathorn's NYT puzzle. It's a rebus puzzle with an 'exterminate' theme. I really don't want to give away any more than that. If you haven't done it yet, this is one you definitely do not want to miss.


Let me share some of the comments about it over at Crossword Fiend:

Holy cow... amazing... wow, wow, wow”

Brilliant”

One of the best puzzles I've seen in a long, long time”

Very, very nice”

Loved it”

Just wow... awesome”

Stunning”

More Vongsathorn, please!”


Quick – get off my web-site and do the puzzle now! And then see what Xan had to say about creating it.



January 1, 2010

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from December. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Monday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Punk rock? ...................................PEBBLE

Pet name for Attila? .........................HON

Counter-productive people? ...................SALESCLERKS

One helping a dictator .......................STENO

Dangers for the over-70 crowd ................RADARTRAPS

Competition among mail carriers? .............JOUST



December 10, 2009

The youngest constructor, brain training, brain-fitness, and almost identical puzzles



December 1, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from November. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Fortune readers ..............................CEOS

Response to getting a ring? ..................HELLO

Brest milk ...................................LAIT

Dodging the draft? ...........................ALEE

Green org.? ..................................PGA

Look to a friend for answers, perhaps ........CHEATS



November 17, 2009

In the News

Trying to impress a friend with quick crossword solving ability – but what's an eight letter word for: Error in grammar or manners?

Answer Girl has answers for the important questions in life: Why can't the crossword puzzle be on an odd-numbered page? Why can't all of the crossword puzzle be on the same half of the page?

Being an election judge myself I can relate to these judges during an off-year election...

How the health care system overhaul and trying to solve a 2000-clue crossword puzzle are similar.



November 1, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from October. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Monday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Women who get high? ..........................SOPRANOS

Remote ancestor? .............................KNOB

One who has a guest for dinner? ..............CANNIBAL

Revolutionary dance move? ....................PIROUETTE

It's in much poetry? .........................TIS

Ball-bearing gadgets? ........................TEES



October 22, 2009

In the News

Will Shortz visits Vanderbilt and does a Q&A.

Great-great-grandmother claims solving crosswords 'is clue to a long life'.

Wayne Robert Williams returns to creating crossword puzzles.

The secret to a 70-year marriage revealed: doing the daily crossword.

What lawyers do during non-billable hours...



October 1, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from September. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Friday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Run out of clothes? ..........................STREAK

Top secret? ..................................TOUPEE

Fix a clog? ..................................RESOLE

Place to curl up and dye? ....................SALON

Secret target? ...............................ARMPIT

Refrain from farming? ........................EIEIO



September 1, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from August. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


War alternative ..............................OLDMAID

Pre-engagement bender? .......................KNEE

Lemon aid? ...................................CASHFORCLUNKERS

Wet bar? .....................................SOAP

Misses again? ................................EXWIVES

Biblical birthday party ......................MAGI



August 1, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from July. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Monday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Strauss's material ...............................DENIM

It may make people jump to a conclusion ..........SACKRACE

Hole in a sweater? ...............................PORE

Foul language user? ..............................REFEREE

Part of a pick-up line? ..........................TAXI

Course for Crusoe? ...............................ANAGRAM



July 1, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from June. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Thursday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Stock exchange ...................................MOOS

It may be worn on a sneaker ......................TREAD

Pitching staff? ..................................ADMEN

It helped eliminate some pounds ..................EURO

Supreme leader? ..................................ROSS

Antony's loan request? ...........................EARS



June 1, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from May. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Street address ...................................BRO

Mark of fine writing? ............................TWAIN

Collector's items ................................DEBTS

Most ready for commitment? .......................INSANEST

It definitely isn't fast food ....................ESCARGOT

Dead giveaway? ...................................ESTATE



May 22, 2009

Follow-up Questions for Peter Gordon

Peter Gordon, who edited the NY Sun crossword before the Sun went out of business a few months ago, was interviewed by Jim Horne of the Wordplay blog a few days ago. Instead of just leaving a link to the interview, I decided to ask Peter if he'd like to answer a few follow-up questions. He graciously agreed...



It was interesting to learn that you're a math person.  My perception is that there are a lot more math people interested in crossword puzzles than English / literature people.  Do you agree with that perception?  If so, do you have any theories as to why that is?


Everyone seems to talk about the music connection. I never bought that. Yes, seven times a winner at the ACPT has been a musician, but that's just because Jon Delfin has won it seven times. If he were a bricklayer, then would there be a crossword/bricklayer connection? The math connection seems more widespread. I was a math major. Mike Shenk was. I believe Stanley Newman was. Randolph Ross taught math. Richard Silvestri is a math professor. Bob Klahn started out as a math major, but switched to computers. There may be others. I have no theories, but I'll make two up on the spot: 1) Mathematician are used to problems with definite right answers. Crosswords appeal to that aspect of us. 2) We're used to thinking in two directions at once from all that X and Y coordinate stuff we did.

(Later, Peter confirmed that Randolph Ross, Stanley Newman, and Henry Hook were all math majors. He also pointed out that four-time ACPT champ David Rosen teaches math.)



One of the things I really enjoyed about your Sun puzzles was the abundance of clever clues.  Are there some clever clues from your time there that stand out as your favorites?


I can't pick a favorite. But I remember once having to clue STREAK and spending 20 minutes working on it, looking up synonyms for "run" and "clothes," getting several near misses, knowing there was a good pun to be had. When I finally came up with {Bolt with no threads?} it was very satisfying. And in a puzzle called "E Before I" the theme was to take phrases and swap an E and an I to make new phrases, so MUCHO DINERO became MUCHO DENIRO (What you'll see if you watch "Raging Bull" followed by "Taxi Driver" followed by "The King of Comedy"?). When I thought of the theme entry NOSPRINGCHECKIN, I came up with what I thought was the perfect clue for it. See below for the answer.



You had fewer than 10 repeat clues one year!  That's impressive.  I bet I can guess a few of them: Jai ____, "Dies ____" (hymn), and ____ Bator.  Am I correct?


These were the eight 2007 repeats:
ACTED    Trod the boards
ACTED    Trod the boards
CHERRY    Furniture wood
CHERRY    Furniture wood
DEDE    "___ Dinah" (Frankie Avalon hit)
DEDE    "___ Dinah" (Frankie Avalon hit)
EVES    Anticipatory times
EVES    Anticipatory times
HEYMA    2002 hit for Cam'ron
HEYMA    2002 hit for Cam'ron
PSST    "Hey, you!"
PSST    "Hey, you!"
SIXPM    1800
SIXPM    1800
TERI    Ben's "Meet the Fockers" costar
TERI    Ben's "Meet the Fockers" costar

These were the eleven 2008 repeats
AER    ___ Lingus
AER    ___ Lingus
ELATE    Send
ELATE    Send
ERS    Sounds of hesitation
ERS    Sounds of hesitation
ESTA    "¿Cómo ___ usted?"
ESTA    "¿Cómo ___ usted?"
FAT    Excess
FAT    Excess
HOI    ___ polloi
HOI    ___ polloi
IRA    Kaplan of Yo La Tengo
IRA    Kaplan of Yo La Tengo
NEW    Just out
NEW    Just out
OLE    ___ Miss
OLE    ___ Miss
PTS    Scoreboard nos.
PTS    Scoreboard nos.
STAB    Attempt
STAB    Attempt

The key to avoiding clues like {Jai ___} is to avoid words like ALAI. I used ALAI just 22 times in seven years (compared to 35 for the Times during weekdays in the same period), and twice JAI was elsewhere in the grid (so they were clued together). Some alternate clues were {Part of a Basque game name}, {Merry, to a Euskara speaker}, and {Half court game?}. IRAE was in the Sun only 15 times (compared to 25 in the Times), and twice DIES was elsewhere in the grid. Some alternate clues were {Requiem Mass word}, {Second word of a trochaic 13th-century hymn}, and {"... ___, dies illa"}. ULAN was in the Sun a mere seven times (compared to 15 for the Times), and once BATOR was elsewhere in the grid. Only one time did ULAN appear twice in a calendar year.

NOSPRINGCHECKIN = Sign at the Three Seasons Hotel?

Thank you, Peter Gordon, for taking the time to answer these questions for us.


If you love great crossword puzzles, this would be an excellent time to sign up for The Sun Crossword. As soon as 1776 people sign up the puzzle will start up again.


In the meantime, Mr. Gordon has been doing a weekly puzzle for The Week magazine. The good news is that this puzzle is a news junkie's dream. The bad news is that, at least for now, it doesn't print out very well. Peter does assure me that they will eventually get around to doing an AcrossLite version. I will probably add a link for this puzzle to my Links page later this evening.



May 1, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from April. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Monday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Contact sport? ...................................PHONETAG

Mobile home, briefly .............................ALA

Bad marks at a prep school? ......................ACNE

Tit for tat, for example? ........................TYPO

Facetious fivesome? ..............................AEIOU

Greeting you shouldn't say at the airport ........HIJACK



April 22, 2009

Crossword Protocol

You see a week old, half-finished puzzle on your mother's kitchen table. Should you finish it? Mr. Know-It-All answers this important question.



April 1, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from March. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Thursday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Front runners? ...................................DESERTERS

Title holder .....................................SPINE

Unloaded? ........................................SOBER

Course shunned by losers? ........................DESSERT

Camel droppings ..................................ASH

Still the most ...................................CALMEST


If you need one of these explained...


March 20, 2009

Cruciverbalist? Uncle Sam Needs You

The US Government needs a few good cruciverbalists – or at least they could have used some back in 2007 and 2008. Governmentattic.org informs us that the US Office of Government Ethics (OGE) developed a series of ethics crossword puzzles to enhance ethics training for executive branch employees. According to the the OGE:


The puzzles may be used for a variety of purposes.  For example, you may distribute the puzzles:

·        During in-person annual ethics training

·        As part of written annual ethics training during the two years in which you do not provide verbal training  

·        As part of a leadership initiative aimed at your agency's supervisors, encouraging them to discuss the answers with their employees at a staff meeting

·        During presentations to employees

·        As part of your ethics or agency newsletter.

Regrettably, the OGE apparently didn't consider hiring an experienced crossword constructor. These are not quality themed puzzles that you'll look forward to solving at the breakfast table tomorrow morning. It's too bad – with the low fees constructors demand, quality puzzles probably could have been created for half the cost.


OK, I realize your curiosity is killing you. Here are the puzzles in PDF format:

Misuse of Position

Outside Activities

Gifts

General Things You Should Know About Ethics

Seeking and Post-Employment

Grand Slam

Public Financial Disclosure



March 1, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from February. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Monday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Slinger's weapon? ................................MUD

Minor key? .......................................ISLET

Gets dark outside ................................TANS

Hamburgers are near its mouth? ...................ELBE

Frank account? ...................................DIARY

Poles on the equator, maybe? .....................EXPATS


If you need one of these explained...


February 27, 2009

Sunrise, Sunset?



No doubt, if you've been solving crosswords for more than a couple years, you realize Peter Gordon's New York Sun puzzles are among the best, if not the best. One simple criteria for testing the quality of crossword puzzles is clever cluing. Peter's Sun puzzles have won our clever clue of the month more than any other puzzle out there.


Perhaps you've also heard that the New York Sun went out of business a few months ago. Peter still had about three or four months of puzzles which he made available for a small fee.


Now, in order to continue, he'll need between 1000 and 2000 people who will commit to subscribing for a small fee. Please, please go to the Sunrise site today and make the commitment. Then, spread the word.


One more thing. If you go to the Sunrise site and make the commitment, let Mr. Gordon know that you heard about it here at crosswordese.com. It would be a tremendous encouragement to me if Peter sent me an email telling me I sent a couple hundred people his way.


February 2, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from January. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Initial hurdles for those who want to join the Supremes? ..LSATS

Numbers? .........................................OPIATES

Country 'house,' maybe? ..........................IPOD

Class that ends before labor day? ................LAMAZE

Change your locks? ...............................DYE

Elbows on the table? .............................PASTA


If you need one of these explained...


January 24, 2008

More Puzzles

I strive to have the best list of quality printable crossword puzzles on the internet. In this striving I am always on the lookout for new sources. I have just added two new sources:

Matt Gaffney is one in a very small group of crossword creators which would be considered the top tier. He provides a new puzzle every Friday afternoon. After completing a very difficult puzzle, have you ever thought, “I deserve something more than just the satisfaction of solving a hard puzzle?” Well, Mr. Gaffney does offer something more. You can send him your completed puzzle and have the chance of winning one of his books.

Another top tier creator is Brendan Emmett Quigley. This workaholic offers three puzzles a week! His site also offers musings on culture and a tip jar.


January 2, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from December. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Monday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Hall of fame .....................................DARYL

Spanish flowers? .................................RIOS

Handled ham? .....................................CBER

Defense establishment? ...........................ALIBI

Works in bed? ....................................WEEDS

Royal headwear? ..................................CAP


If you need one of these explained...


December 31, 2008

In the News

The jury's still out regarding crossword puzzles and the prevention of Alzheimer’s. But, crosswords can be healthful in other ways. Here's a story about a man who used crossword puzzles to help him quit smoking. And here's a story about a study showing that working on crossword puzzles may help reduce anxiety.


December 1, 2008

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from November. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Cartoon character with his own club ..............BAMMBAMM

Planet name? .....................................LOIS

Remote possibility? ..............................MUTE

Have trouble with “sisters,” maybe? ..............LISP

What an out patient may be in? ...................COMA

Something the U.S. Government keeps an eye on ....GREATSEAL


If you need one of these explained...


November 27, 2008

Grand Opening of the Crosswordese Store

Just in time for Christmas we are officially opening the Crosswordese Store (right). Here you will find some great gifts for the crossword lovers on your list. Perhaps a subscription to Games magazine... or - you've seen the movie Wordplay – now, buy the DVD and enjoy it over and over again. As a bonus, if everyone visiting this page purchases three items, your beloved web-master will be able to go to the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in Brooklyn in February.


November 9, 2008

In the News

  • Set your VCR – Merle Reagle and Will Shortz will be on the small screen next Sunday evening. It may be 'the most crossword-intensive half-hour of television in the history of America' according to the producer of the show. The producer is Tim Long of “The Simpsons” – and yes, Reagle and Shortz will actually be in an animated form. In the episode, Lisa Simpson enters a crossword competition and becomes a wordplay obsessive.


November 6, 2008

Great Puzzle Alert!

In 1996 Jeremiah Farrell and Will Shortz teamed up to give us what many consider to be the greatest crossword puzzle ever. On election day that year they gave us cluing that allowed the solver to come up with BOBDOLE_ELECTED or CLINTON_ELECTED right across the middle of the puzzle.


Two days ago Kevin Wald and Peter Gordon teamed up to create a similar puzzle – this time with a MCCAIN and OBAMA theme. There's some other stuff going on in this one, too, which makes it a real joy to solve. It's a Sun Puzzle (formerly New York Sun), so if you haven't yet subscribed, this may be the time to do it.


November 2, 2008

Clever Clue of the Month

I want to thank all of those who submitted clever clues this month. I'm not able to do every puzzle every day, so I'm sure we're missing some great clues every month. Any help in this area is always appreciated.


Also, I want to thank those who helped me narrow my list of many clever clues down to six. If there are others who would like to be a part of this, please let me know.


Please vote for the best clue from October. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Monday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Flip comment? ....................................TAILS

Going places? ....................................LAVS

Unable to part? ..................................BALD

Expiration notice? ...............................OBIT

Mass-produced answer? ............................AMEN

Short pants? .....................................GASPS


If you need one of these explained...


October 23, 2008

New York Sun-set

Many of you may have noticed, as I did, during the last couple weeks the New York Sun puzzle was unavailable. For those of us addicted to this wonderful puzzle it was a difficult time. Finally, a couple nights ago I received an email from Peter Gordon, the editor of the puzzle. The bad news: the New York Sun has ceased publication. The good news: the puzzle is still available. Since Peter Gordon still has to make a living there is a modest fee now. Go to Cruciverb.com for details.


October 1, 2008

Clever Clue of the Month

I'd like to thank everyone who helped me compile this list. Please vote for the best clue from September. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Thursday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Northern hemisphere? .............................IGLOO

Phrase that could end a single life ..............IDO

Fire insurance? ..................................TENURE

Small construction company .......................LEGO

John, to Ringo ...................................LOO

Curly poker? .....................................MOE


If you need one of these explained...


September 20, 2008

In the News

  • Bob Dole, discussing the Washington Post crossword with a reporter recently: “(the) crossword puzzle gets harder all the time. I can do Monday's and Friday's but all that music stuff the rest of the week screws me up.”

  • Wayne Robert Williams erred in a recent puzzle. His answer for Home of the Rays was TAMPA. People in St. Petersburg are furious... What is it with baseball anyway? If the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' home is St. Petersburg, why not call them the St. Petersburg Rays? And, the Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles – what is that?


September 1, 2008

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from August. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


VW predecessors? .................................STU

Stand for something? .............................EASEL

Johnson and Johnson, e.g. ........................VEEPS

Split to be tied .................................ELOPE

Strings of islands? ..............................UKES

Average guy? .....................................DOW


If you need one of these explained...


August 1, 2008

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from July. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Saturday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Like most people? ................................ASIAN

Opt for the window instead of the aisle? .........ELOPE

King's realm .....................................HORROR

Nearly 29% of Tel Aviv? ..........................VEES

Bank holdup? .....................................LINE

I can come after these ...........................EFGH


If you need one of these explained...


July 31, 2008

Crossword Humor

The Crossword Fiend has alerted us in her blog of an animation, Garson Hampfield, Crossword Inker. It's hilarious – although only an avid crossword solver would think so.


July 1, 2008

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from June. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Wednesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Bad spelling? ....................................HEXES

Bolt with no threads? ............................STREAK

Write of passage? ................................OBIT

Stressful type? ..................................ITALICS

Emulated running mates? ..........................ELOPED

Can opener? ......................................TOILETSEAT


If you need one of these explained...


June 16, 2008

Crosswordese.com on the radio

This past weekend we were mentioned a couple times on Public Radio. Actually, it was a re-airing of a broadcast from February. The program is A Way With Words a 'lively language show' with Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett. It was fun to hear Martha quiz Grant on some of our Clever Clues.


June 2, 2008

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from May. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:


Rabbit relative ..................................BEETLE

One of three in Fiji? ............................DOT

It's full of holes? ..............................GOLFCOURSE

What kids grow up to be ..........................GOATS

Hearing aide? ....................................LAWYER

Having the highest queue rating? .................NEXT



If you need one of these explained...



May 26, 2008 Sound the Alarm

May 3, 2008 Clever Clue of the Month

April 1, 2008 Clever Clue of the Month

March 29, 2008 Great Puzzle Alert!

March 11, 2008 Pete's Crosswordese Quiz

March 5, 2008 Same People, Different Place

March 3, 2008 Clever Clue of the Month

February 4, 2008 Poetry Contest

February 1, 2008 Clever Clue of the Month

January 5, 2008 New Awards, Art Form

January 2, 2008 Clever Clue of the Month

December 4, 2007 Great Puzzle Alert!

December 2, 2007 Clever Clue of the Month

November 30, 2007 The opera of the era is on the stereo in your area

November 20, 2007 Great Puzzle Alert!

November 14, 2007 Found!

November 6, 2007 David Diebold's New Site

November 1, 2007 Clever Clue of the Month

October 22, 2007 Sudoku Has Its Day

October 1, 2007 Clever Clue of the Month

September 30, 2007 Quick Links

September 17, 2007 Great Puzzle Alert

September 3, 2007 Clever Clue of the Month

August 25, 2007 Great Puzzle Alert!

August 21, 2007 Great Puzzle Alert!

July 31, 2007 Clever Clue of the Month

June 30, 2007 Clever Clue of the Month

June 29, 2007 Great Puzzle Alert!

June 1, 2007 Clever Clue of the Month

May 23, 2007 Interview with Stanley Newman

May 1, 2007 Clever Clue of the Month

April 10, 2007 Great Puzzle Alert!

April 3, 2007 Great Puzzle Alert!

April 1, 2007 Clever Clue of the Month

March 28,2007 Interview with Tyler Hinman

March 1, 2007 Clever Clue of the Month

February 1, 2007 Clever Clue of the Month

January 23, 2007 The State of Crosswords

January 2, 2007 December's Clever clue of the Month

December 1, 2006 Clever Clue of the Month

November 1, 2006 Clever Clue of the Month

October 2, 2006 Clever Clue of the Month

September 1, 2006 August's Clever Clue of the Month

August 1, 2006 July's Clever Clue of the Month

July 15, 2006 Who Writes Better Puzzles, Humans or Computers

July 1, 2006 June's Clever Clue of the Month

June 10, 2006 6 Days 'til Wordplay

June 1, 2006 May's Clever Clue of the Month

May 1, 2006 April's Clever Clue of the Month

April 15, 2006 The Perfect Crosswordese Meal

April 1, 2006 Clever Clue of the Month for March

March 15, 2006 Crosswordese Hall of Fame

March 1, 2006 Your Opportunity to Vote

February 11, 2006 30 Minutes of Fame

January 23, 2006 Wordplay

January 1, 2006 Happy New Year

December 3, 2005 Christmas Shopping

October 2, 2005 Crossworld

August 20, 2005 Crosswordese and the Arts

June 26, 2005 Alzheimer’s and Crossword Puzzles

May 26, 2005 Sudoku

May 1, 2005 Spell-check

April 16, 2005 Frequency

April 7, 2005 Keyhole

March 19, 2005 A New Champion

March 12, 2005 More Great Links

March 1, 2005 Chicken Strata ala King

February 23, 2005 Solution!

February 21, 2005 Letter Rip?

February 12, 2005 Spelling Bee

February 1, 2005 A 75th Anniversary

January 29, 2005 Video Google

January 22, 2005 Unexpected Pleasures

January 4, 2005 Invisible Ink

January 1, 2005 Let The Adventure Begin

















Paul Stynsberg, Crosswordese.com © 2010