Pun of a Kind

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Baseball updates because that's what you're here for (right??). Yankees and Red Sox look to be reclaiming some solid positioning in the AL East, while the Pirates once again surge in my NL Central (though they quieted down last season after an equally torrid start). Cubs are doing okay, but pitching needs to be addressed, especially with our starter going out for a few weeks after the first game ( lots  of pitching issues already this year). In other news, I'm spending time with my cat, doing logic problems, and drinking copious amounts of coffee. Business as usual, haha. --- 1.  Puzzle #90 answer:  PERPENDICULARITY Correct entries:  35  - and even that was nudge city. An unintentional Level 5 to finish the Winter Solvestice! Shortest explanation: The four letters in the corner "L"s (N, D, U, and L) only appear once else in the grid. Move that two-by-two square so the other iteration of the letter occurs in the same position in the 2-by-2

NOTE: I have changed the title from "That's Right!," which doesn't give as much pertinent information as I'd like, to "Into a Corner." Nothing else is affected.  PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Baseball is back, so I'm happy about that! Looking forward to seeing my beloved Cubbies finish with a winning record and ideally make it to the playoffs! Second-favorite team right now would have to be the Orioles, whose newfound energy is electric (and Burnes sparkled in his first outing). On the puzzle front, this will be the last one of the Winter Solstice! That means I get a week off as we go to every other week for a bit. Onward! --- 1.  Puzzle #89 answer:  ACUTE Correct entries: 52  - solid Level 3 or 3.5 with the nudge spike (about 35 before any). Shortest explanation: Five symmetrically placed horizonal entries are the only across entries to contain an "R," often the abbreviation for "right." And what's not right? Wrong, of course, but

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! My bracket is already busted, so I might as well actually be constructive this weekend. Puzzles count! --- 1.  Puzzle #88 answer: FORTE Correct entries:  61  - solid Level 2/2.5! Shortest explanation: Aided by the alpha and omega entries, the musical scale appears from top to bottom in the grid (and those are the only instances of those in the puzzle). Per the title, we look at the letters on those notes, which spells LOWERCASE "F" IN MUSIC (parsed by many as "LOWERCASE FIN MUSIC," which made me smile, haha), which is FORTE , the meta answer - and what I hope crosswords are for you! (Note the original name of the piano was also the pianoforte, which I learned while making this puzzle!) --- 2.  This is the penultimate puzzle in the Winter Solvestice! Looking forward to college basketball on my break, as well as being (a little) constructive and catching up on some past metas! It might be a bit overcompensating to put this at a Level 4 , and y

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! The weather, albeit a bit cooler, was nearing springtime (even in the region!), so it's fitting that the Winter Solvestice will soon be drawing to a close. Three more consecutive puzzles (counting today's) before we're back to every other week for a bit. Let's get to it! --- 1.  Puzzle #87 answer:  GETTYSBURG ADDRESS Correct entries: 71 Shortest explanation: The four silly themers conceal SCORE, and the central spanner references a year SEVEN years ago from date of publication (although, if you're solving this in 2025 or beyond for some reason, that year does  have a SEVEN hidden within!). These signal the famed "Four score and seven years ago" opener (and that is 4 x 20 + 7 = 87 years, a numeric tie-in!) from Lincoln's GETTYSBURG ADDRESS. Note Abe's full name around the grid also. --- 2. Some toughies this week with WSJ and MGWCC (at least I thought so!), so those are some solid Level 3's or above. Mine might trend dow

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! The region had two warm days this past week, followed by three or four colder ones. A bit of sunlight today, though! Cubbies are also doing okay in spring training, and our family is excited for the Oscars tomorrow. May the best pictures win! --- 1.  Puzzle #86 answer:  GET SMART Correct entries:  64 Shortest explanation: We have eight entries with initials IQ (per the title); their initial letters spell DON ADAMS, who acted as Agent 86 in  GET SMART , the answer to our meta! (If you almost got it but didn't, missed it by  that  much!) --- 2.  Mr. Gaffney gave us two solid, straightforward Level 2-ish metas this week in WSJ and MGWCC. I'll continue that trend with what should be a Level 1.5, but I'll make it  Level 2  at the most to be on the safe side. Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a 2-word title.

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Gorgeous weather, at least for the region! And the Cubs signe Bellinger, and I'm very happy with what I've seen so far in spring training. Our new pitcher Imanaga takes the mound today - wish us luck! Winter Solvestice's last puzzle will be Saturday, March 30 , when we will return to every other week until the summer. Now onward to start the month! --- 1.  Puzzle #84 answer:  QUANTUM LEAP Correct entries:  45 , with this leaning toward a Level 4 , after all! Shortest explanation: A bizarre, asymmetrical grid only meant I had a brutal time filling this one for some reason. You'll see 7 UPs toward the bottom, and if you heed the prompt and jump up - even beyond the grid - you'll find an alternate entry that satisfies with clue once you append an initial letter (i.e., CUPS = "Medicine cabinet sight," and TIPS can become Q -TIPS). All seven of these initial letters spell QUANTUM, and the title and mechanism suggest QUANTUM LEAP , our m

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Spring training began yesterday, and my Cubs dominated! Of course, that might not mean anything in the long run, haha. We also had some beautiful temperatures as of late, though a bit of snow still decided to dust the ground today. Oh, well, spring is coming soon! --- 1.  Puzzle #84 answer:  MICHAEL JORDAN Correct entries: 61,  a true Level 2 ! Shortest explanation: From top-right to bottom-left, we have six words that rhyme with BIRTH, fitting the title. These somewhat vague clues mean we likely have alternate entries lurking, and we do! Find those, which spell out JORDAN , the answer to the meta! Note also the BULL at #23 in Michael's honor. --- 2. We increase difficulty a bit this week, giving us a Level 3  to close out February. The winter solvestice will conclude March 30, taking us a bit into spring, where we then have puzzles every other week until our third annual Summer of Solves  (better start brainstorming for that!!). Good luck, and may all your

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! One week until spring training! That is all! --- 1.  Puzzle #83 answer:  BISMUTH AS USUAL Correct entries:  47,  a solid Level 3/3.5  (and the atomic number of silver, no less!) Shortest explanation: The ten highlighted four-letter entries (meant to roughly visualize a "table") are formed by concatenating two elements with a 2-letter symbol, per the center clue. Take those elements' atomic numbers, add them, and get another  atomic symbol corresponding to the new atomic number. These spell out BISMUTH AS USUAL , the fitting pun to our 83rd meta (bismuth being #83 as well!). --- 2.  This is meant to be a Level 2 , at most. I think you'll be able to crack it pretty readily! Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a well-known individual who shares my birthday, 2/17.

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Surprisingly gorgeous weather in the region this week, at least comparatively. We're over 50 degrees? Let's go to the beach! --- 1.  Puzzle #82 answer:  MILWAUKEE BUCKS Correct entries: 71, a very solid Level 1/1.5 Shortest explanation: The four clues to the NBA teams give us BULLS, HAWKS, KINGS, and ROCKETS. Per the clue for CITY, we take their cities' initial letters (Chicago, Atlanta, Sacramento, Houston) to get CASH, the fifth and final clue for our final NBA team: the MILWAUKEE BUCKS , the answer to the meta! (Wanted to get it to MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES  for my initials but no dice!) --- 2. This one is meant to track upward, and I'll put it at a Level 3  at the lowest, with what I reckon would be more like a Level 3.5 . Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is how chemists might describe their work.

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! February's here, one step closer to spring! It was 50 degrees a couple of days ago, which might as well be beach weather in the region! Keep it coming! --- 1.  Puzzle #81 answer: CLOUD NINE Correct entries:  48, tied with last week! Shortest explanation: There are only nine three-by-three regions of the bizarrely patterned grid that do not  have any black squares within. Each of these squares has exactly three of the same letter, which spell out CLOUD NINE in standard order (fitting for meta #81 also, has 9 3-by-3 squares have a total area of 81!). --- 2. We'll see if my promise holds on this one: I would rate this a Level 1.5  or Level 2  at the most, with meta #82 being in honor of the NBA, with its 82-game season. Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is NBA team #5.

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Stay warm! That's still all I have to say today, haha. (Just waiting for baseball season to begin!) --- 1.  Puzzle #79 answer:  AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Correct entries:  48 Shortest explanation: Two things are going on here: a list of words that can be preceded by "world" encircling the grid. There are also four time-related entries in the middle of the grid, whose total days sum to 80. Both come together to suggest the fitting title for meta #80: AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS . --- 2. A Level 3  today, maybe a 3.3  or so? We shall see! Thanks to Claudia and Kay for test-solving on short notice! Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is where you might be when you solve it.

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Stay warm! That's all I have to say today, haha. --- 1.  Puzzle #79 answer: TWENTY-FOUR SEVEN Correct entries:  46 Now that's epic. Shortest explanation: It's a SAD one: highlight all the letters of either "T," "I," "M," or "E," per the title. They form the numbers 2, 4, and 7, which indicate TWENTY-FOUR SEVEN , the fitting answer to the meta! I would have loved to incorporate the black squares as well, but it took at least 8 hours to make this, haha. --- 2. So we had that Level 4 out of order, which means today's puzzle is a Level 2 . Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a 6-word title.

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! The Winter Solvestice continues, and the Midwest finally got some snow to accompany it! I'll be reading, solving logic problems, and watching football (a substitute until my beloved Cubbies return - we got Imanaga!!). A perfect weekend! --- 1.  Puzzle #78 answer: CHILD'S PLAY Correct entries: 84  (second-highest ever!) Tamara's reveals are a work of art! Shortest explanation: Ten clues that had ONE within them did not satisfy the clue as written; change them to a single letter to make that happen, and the changed letters spell CHILD'S PLAY , the answer to this Level 1 meta! --- 2. Well, I apologize for the lurch here; this month's Level 4  meta actually appears now, and then the following weeks should be 2  and 3 , respectively. Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a phrase visually depicted in the grid.

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Happy 2024! Now awaits my toughest time of the year: the holidays are over, and baseball doesn't start until March, so what better way to spend your time than curl up with a cat and some crosswords? Ideally, I'll use this time to make some metas too, so we're introducing the: (I just like an excuse to make graphics.) Metas coming in weekly until winter ends - no leaderboard or anything like that, just good 'ole-fashioned puzzling! --- We have two explanations here, since we have had two puzzles' deadlines come and go since last time. 1a.  Puzzle #76 answer:  MANY HAPPY RETURNS Correct entries:  46 Shortest explanation: Sixteen of the entries start with the clue answer in reverse order (one of them, for instance, is 1-Across: "Subway alternative" = BUS, which is reversed at the beginning of the clue). Find all sixteen of these clues, and then take their last  orders in reverse  order, bottom-to-top, right-to-left. They spell out MAN