Pun of a Kind

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Ironically, the last puzzle "We're Coming Apart!" could have referred to my beloved Chicago Cubs, who came apart at the seams over the last couple of weeks. Granted, they only had a slim chance to make the playoffs earlier in the summer, but these chances increased to 75% or so by early September. Now, they will likely miss them. In that case, all aboard the Orioles train! (Win it for Brooks.) But you're here for the metas! (And maybe also the baseball...a little bit?). --- 1.  Puzzle #70 answer:  SEVEN-TEN SPLIT Correct entries:  54 Shortest explanation: Seven  of the entries in the grid have the word TEN  " split " across them (such as TE*N or T*EN). This, along with the anchor entries of BOLE and LING ("bowling") suggest SEVEN-TEN SPLIT , the answer to the meta. (I have more bowling puns, but I'll spare you.) --- 2. As of this writing, I've spent about 7 hours on the WSJ to no avail, and the new Level 5 MGWCC jus...

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! We're almost to fall (looking forward to those crunchy leaves), and I'll be decorating my office after I post this puzzle! We're also into meaningful baseball for my Cubbies, but they're in a bit of a slump right now (not the best time for it!). --- 1.  Puzzle #69 answer: LABORED Correct entries: 66 Shortest explanation: Easy-peasy! Seven entries can be preceded by the word "WORK," and those entries spell out LABORED , the meta answer in honor of Labor Day. --- 2.  Leaderboard (last two puzzles almost completely logged!) --- 3. We are back to an every other week schedule, which means difficulty is a little more transient. This one should log in, ideally, at no more than a Level 2 . Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a numerical sports term.

PDF  /  PUZ September is here! It does mean that summer is unofficially ending, so this is the last puzzle in the Summer of Solves . We will still go back to puzzles on a bimonthly basis, and the next one will go live Saturday, September 16 at 1 pm ET . --- 1.  Puzzle #68 answer:  ABIDE Correct entries:  49  (tying last week, with about  20  or so likely solo solves). Shortest explanation, which is still a bit involved: The five longest across entries, with one letter changed, would contain within them five consecutive letters of the alphabet. (For instance, SUPERSTAR would have PQRST if the E were changed to a Q).  All changes (with new/old letter) SU PQRST AR (QE) DEFGH TON (FI) T HIJKL IKEACAT (JN) FI RSTUV E (UA) BCDEF AULT (CY) The new letter and replaced letter start and end five other 5-letter words in the grid. Their order, from top to bottom, JOANN, UMBRA, QUITE, CADDY, FIERI. We already have "used" the start and end letters of these...