Author: plusjeremy

Introduction 13:46. I got garden-pathed on 1 Down and barely recovered. I’m sorry I haven’t been around much as of late. Last fall I enrolled (or ‘enroled’, as you might have it) in a master’s … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 2112 by Orpheus”

Introduction DNF after 21:26. Did I lack heart, or was this really quite hard? In any case, many minutes were spent staring blankly at the screen, and I confess that I didn’t really enjoy the … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2102 by Teazel”

Introduction 6:17, for a puzzle that was quite easy-going at first, but held me up at the end. Solutions Across 1   Gardener mad about one pineapple specialist? (9)GRENADIER = anagram of GARDENER around IPopped … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2092 by Wurm”

Introduction 10:31, a slowdown after a string of faster times. It feels good to roll up the sleeves. Some nice tricky stuff in here — I enjoy being fooled by Joker. Commentary below. Solutions Across … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2082 by Joker”

Introduction 7:09, with some tricky bits! Solutions Across 1   Avoid cold and fever? (5)CHEAT = C + HEATMaybe as in, like, ‘cheat death’? 7   In peril at disturbing snake, perhaps (9)REPTILIAN = anagram … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2072 by Joker”

Introduction 3:49, which continues a bizarre streak of fast times for me (my average solving time for the Quick Cryptic is about 7 1/2 minutes). These went in about as fast as I could type … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2062 by Tracy”

Introduction 7:39, right about my average time. This puzzle had a mix of very straightforward clueing with some real curveballs (or whatever the cricket equivalent is). I was so unsure of 13 Across that I … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 2052 by Joker”

Introduction 3:30, which is probably the closest I’ll ever come to one of Verlaine’s times. Probably got lucky with the big anagrams, but I wouldn’t be surprised if many find this on the easier side. … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2042 by Mara”

Introduction 5:29, but I needed to check on the unknown 5 Down. A gentle affair which befitted my post-booster exhaustion. Solutions Across 1   Unsuitable environment for Republican poet (4)BARD = BAD around R 4 … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2032 by Orpheus”

Introduction 4:42, which I imagine will be a slowish time by comparison with the speed demons! As often with Trelawney, the puzzles are not usually very taxing, but the clues are very nicely constructed. This … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2022 by Trelawney”