Pun of a Kind

PDF  /  PUZ Typing this up while trying to shake off my bracket getting completely destroyed the last two days. March Madness indeed! --- 1.  Puzzle #49 recap Puzzle #49 answer: PERFECT SQUARES Correct entries:  57 (not a perfect square but 11^2 - 8^2) So, if I make a grid where over 23% of the squares are black and there are 27 3-letter words, there is probably a good reason for that! This grid was a bear to make, but it was also a lot of fun. The clue for the spanner MATHEMATICIAN implies we might need to be doing some substitutions of our own! And that's exactly what happens. A lot of clues in this puzzle may have seemed cumbersome or vague, to the tune that you might even have to have hit reveal before finishing the grid. Here are 14 of them, 7 in each direction. 1-A: Black, for one: P EA --> S EA 1-D: Character in a long-running NBC sitcom: P AM --> S AM 4-A: They may fill a very large saucer, briefly: E TS --> Q TS (this was such a stretch, but I think...

  PDF  /  PUZ I'm typing this up while watching my beloved Cubbies during their first spring training game! Have to get used to that pitch clock, that's for sure! --- 1.  Puzzle #48 recap Puzzle #48 answer:  HEART OF GOLD Correct entries: 49 Write-up is  here ! --- 2. The incomparable Will Nediger gave great feedback on this one, calling it "really elegant" and, more importantly, "ridiculous" (but in a good way). That's all you can hope for! It was not a Level 2  or 2.5  to create, but I think it should be to solve! Best of luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta consists of two 7-letter words.

PDF  /  PUZ Thanks to a fellow MGer giving me a shout-out, I send a welcome to all you new solvers! My posting schedule is a bit erratic at times, but I have a bonus midi-meta about halfway through the month (so today would qualify!), as well as a main meta on the last Saturday of the month. 1.  Puzzle #47 recap Puzzle #47 answer:  CHOWDER Correct entries:  53 Write-up is  here , though it's pretty self-explanatory from the grid. SAD indeed! --- 2.  It's a bit of a visual meta this time, and I give super shout-outs to both Peter and Claudia for their amazing feedback on this one! Seems like I've been in a Level 2.5  groove as of late, and that's what this one will likely be as well. Best of luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a 3-word phrase visually depicted in the grid.

PDF  /  PUZ Great minds think alike! And so do ours, haha. In response to POAK (I guess that's the acronym for this site) #47, good friend and fellow muggle Peter Abide drafted up this gem, which you can find below! It marks the first guest puzzle on my blog, and I am humbled! Fun fact: We both love soup. --- I'm guessing about a Level 2  for this, though it did take me a moment, and then I was like, "Oh, of course." Best of luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is soup-er (it's a type of soup, folks).

PDF  /  PUZ There's a great bird flying across the sky, so you know what that means! It's time for the superb owl! Hmmm? What? Oh, yeah, Super Bowl. I get those confused. We know it's the Chiefs and Eagles, and I don't think the Eagles have been as tested this year. The Chiefs gave us two great games against the Jaguars and the Bengals, so that's my pick for Super Bowl LVII! Don't worry, this meta has nothing to do with sports. 1.  Puzzle #46 recap Puzzle #46 answer: PENGUIN Correct entries: 48 Write-up is here ! --- 2. I'm thinking this one will play as a Level 2.5  - I think you'll either see it right away or it might take you a little bit. Best of luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is soup-er (it's a type of soup, folks).

PDF  /  PUZ So we're in the first two months of the year or, as I refer to it, "Counting down to baseball season." My beloved Cubbies look to be improved this year with some solid signings on the off-season; I'll temper expectations, but that should at least keep those pesky Brewers and Cardinals playing at their best! 1.  Puzzle #45 recap Puzzle #45 answer:  OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW Correct entries:  51   (first streak of two 50+ puzzles!) So, some things to notice early on: a. We have two semi-themers that certainly appear to be opposite in meaning: ANTEDILUVIAN and CONTEMPORARY. b. Those basically mean, in a much simpler way, OLD and NEW. c. But two themers does not a meta make, and there's a lot else going on in the grid, with many entries that do not quite seem to match their clues. Four of the entries are missing something: 16-A: It might be found on your icebox shelf: CONE (C OLD ONE) 37-A: Variety of a popular card game: HEM (H OLD EM) 38-A...

PDF  /  PUZ I made a list, I checked it twice, and I realized that pretty much everyone who would want to solve the meta has solved it, so there will be a reveal after all! You're thrilled, I can tell. 1.  Puzzle #44 recap Puzzle #44 answer:  TINSEL Correct entries: 57 (close to a record!) Pretty straightforward: The very anagram-friendly TINSEL has most of its sensible anagrams in the grid above. That, coupled with the title (two words that were anagrams of each other), should swiftly get us our meta answer. --- 2. It's the last meta of 2022! There's enough to chew on here that we might get to a Level 3 , which I'll put it at to be safe (so Level 37 for those who think I underestimate my puzzles). See you next year! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a common 8-word phrase.