The Nation Cryptic Crossword Forum

Call me Dopey if you like: I didn't spot the theme of this one until I got around to the bottom, though that came about because it was a smooth solve.  Usually I like to work in a circle aro...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/08/running-in-circles-solution-no-3370.html

Let's get caught up, shall we?  I found myself slapping my forehead after taking so long to recognize this was a themed puzzle.  How about you? Link to puzzle: http://www.thenation...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/08/clearing-spindle-puzzle-no-3370.html

Stickler’s solution pages usually include a comment or two on his constructing philosophy or on other crossword matters, so you should check them out even if you got through the week’s puzzle...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/07/multiplication-puzzle-no-3369.html

The codes for each step of this ice dance tell you what edge to be skating on: LFO is left skate, forwards, outside edge Congratulations to Bangle, who passed two figure skating tests ...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/07/testing-1-2-3-sunday-brunch-july-12-2015.html

With Bolivians, Irish dancers, and even a green thing, there’s never been a doubt that the annual Fourth of July parade in Glenside represents the glorious diversity of America.  But this ...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/07/diversity-solution-no-3368.html

Some of you will instantly recognize the title of this post: it’s one of the standards of a Grateful Dead concert, and as good a summation of their life and work as anything else. The bus came ...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/07/cryptical-envelopment-sunday-brunch.html

With Independence Day around the corner, or as Major Stone of the British Officers’ Club put it “Revolution Day,” it’s a good time to give a nod to the mother country.  American cryp...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-mother-country-puzzle-no-3368.html

“Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.” I was lector in...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/06/coach-paul-sunday-brunch-june-28-2015.html

The solution to puzzle no. 3,367 is below the fold. For the better part of a year, I’ve had some pain in my knees: interestingly, it strikes when I’ve been sitting still for a while. Walking,...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/06/physical-therapy-solution-no-3367.html

(wishing Raydoc a happy Father’s Day) One Oktoberfest isn’t enough for the folks at our church, so they held a beer and brats night yesterday to raise funds for the youth group trip.  Pa...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/06/home-brew-sunday-brunch-june-21-2015.html

Well the trip home from Oslo was a lot less eventful than the trip over, but I got back at midnight Friday.  Norway is not a puzzling country—at least not in the sense we use “puzzling�...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/06/jet-lag-puzzle-no-3367.html

Backdated to keep this post off the top. Below the fold is a hint grid for this weekend’s Wall Street Journal puzzle: a Labyrinth by Mike Shenk. It shows you where the winding words start and e...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/06/wall-street-journal-hints-june-20-2015.html

Backdated to keep this post off the top. Below the fold is the solution to this weekend’s Wall Street Journal variety puzzle: a Labyrinth by Mike Shenk.  I also have a hint grid up in case...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/06/wall-street-journal-solution-june-20.html

The solution to The Nation puzzle 3,206 is below the fold. After a long day of museuming and hiking (I didn’t have any conference sessions to attend yesterday), a light dinner was not going to ...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/06/reindeer-steak-solution-no-3206.html

Rather than the usual diet of scenery and art, I'll share a few brief experiences from my Oslo trip: How many motifs from classic albums can you spot in the picture? I attended services at the ca...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/06/scenes-from-oslo-sunday-brunch-june-14.html

(double issue of The Nation last week, so we’re going back for an archive puzzle this week). There’s a kind of clue that is pretty popular among some constructors, particularly in Great Brita...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/06/vera-city-puzzle-no-3206.html

The solution and annotation to The Nation puzzle 3,366 is below the fold. While I was working the desk at the weekend’s fencing tournament, the conversation among a few of the parents turned to...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/06/ice-dance-solution-no-3366.html

I solved the first New York Times Puns & Anagrams by Mark Diehl today.  It is certainly true to the type as Deb Amlen noted, and both Will Shortz (NYT puzzle editor) and Mel Taub (longti...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/06/new-york-times-solution-june-6-2015.html

Quick post to catch up. Kevin Wald (I can’t spell Ucaoimhu) is back with a good medium difficulty variety cryptic he set for the Washington Post’s Post Hunt puzzle contest.  It’s calle...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/06/take-out-sunday-brunch-june-7-2015.html

The Nation is into its bi-weekly summer schedule.  We’ll use the off weeks to go back through some earlier puzzles from The Nation, so don’t miss a week, Link to puzzle:  http://www...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/06/summer-schedule-puzzle-no-3366.html

Below the fold are two sets of hints to today’s Wall Street Journal variety puzzle: a Rows Garden by Patrick Berry. It’s an easy one, so you probably won’t need much of a hint, but you can ...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/06/wall-street-journal-hint-june-6-2015.html

The solution and annotation to The Nation puzzle no. 3,365 is below the fold. Are you in the Philadelphia area? A little put off by the sudden onset of warm weather? Looking for something fun on ...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/06/ice-show-solution-no-3365.html

It’s the season for soccer championships: the leagues decided last week, the Europa and a bunch of domestic cups this week, and the Champions League final next week.  So I’ve been watchi...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/05/two-refs-sunday-brunch-may-31-2015.html

Will Shortz has persuaded the editors of the New York Times to give him the rest of the magazine section page that houses the variety puzzle.  Where there used to be a jump from one of the a...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/05/care-for-quickie-puzzle-no-3365.html

The solution and annotation to The Nation puzzle #3,364 is below the fold. If I counted right, I did 20 loads of laundry from Friday night to Monday night, about half of which were the choir robe...

http://thenationcryptic.blogspot.com/2015/05/props-to-laundryman-solution-no-3364.html