Thursday, March 23, 2023

Bonus Post: The 2023 Atlantic Mini Oscars Gimmick Appreciation Thread (with answer key)

On Sunday, March 12, The Atlantic ran a puzzle by Caleb Madison which had a dare for the solver at 17-Across: [With 35-Across, group of 10 movies hidden in the previous week of Atlantic minis, two in each puzzle. Can you find them all?]

It's a pretty fun scavenger hunt for a puzzle, one that (owing to the lack of an easy archive for Atlantic puzzles) probably won't have the permanence it deserves. So I'm making this post which easily links to the week of minis in question, so you the solver can play along if you wish to do so.

Monday, March 6 - Tuesday, March 7 - Wednesday, March 8 - Thursday, March 9 - Friday, March 10

If you're stuck on remembering the ten films that were nominated this year, Wikipedia's got your back. (Hey, don't sweat it - I forgot that Elvis was nominated this year, and I *watched* Elvis. Unfortunately.) And if you're really, really stuck beyond that, and just want to appreciate Paolo's subtle (and not-so-subtle) constructions, I'm having this post double as an answer key. Scroll way, way down, below the poster below, if you want confirmation of the answers.

Monday, March 13, 2023

Crossworld Monthly Roundup, February 2023


It's the shortest month of the year, and thus I have an atypically short write-up. I didn't even bother changing the text on the photoshop for this post! (Don't tut-tut me, who do I look like, Kelsey??)

My Favorite Themeless Puzzle of February 2023: The Crossword, Monday, Feb. 20 (Paolo Pasco, New Yorker)
Honorable mention: Free Association 78 (Trent Evans, Grid Therapy)

My Favorite Themed Puzzle of February 2023: To Infinity and Beyond (Elise Corbin, Cruciverbology)
Honorable mention: The Interview (Aaron Ullman, Universal)

My Favorite Clue of February 2023: [What very few are able to pull a one-eighty on?] (4) (Erik Agard, New Yorker Tuesday 2/21/23)

[Source of cracks on a screen?] (6) (Tim Croce, "Freestyle 784")
[Approach to mating] (7) (Will Nediger, "Freestyle")
[Gives an appropriate response to "Would you like to watch the Gossip Girl reboot?"] (6) (Malaika Handa, "Head First")
[One picking up speed] (8) (Brandon Koppy, "Themeless: Extra Sauce")
[
"Boys do now cry 'Kiss my Parliament,' instead of 'Kiss my ___,'" so great and general a contempt is the Rump come to" (Samuel Pepys)] (4) (Will Nediger, "In Search of Lost Time")
[They say "boo" but not "yay"] (6) (Gary Cee, Universal, "Possessions")
[Stand-alone issue?] (9) (BEQ, "Themeless Monday #710")
[Something pointed out more than once to a fashion designer?] (Croce again, "Freestyle 788")
[Prez dispensers?] (4) (Alexandra Olson, "Novel Issue")

A full list of these puzzles - and entries for these clues - under the jump!