Author: plusjeremy

This was a pretty straightforward puzzle, which I would have finished in under 10 minutes, if not for the GLOSSARY/YANK crossing. I didn’t know that a YAK was a domesticated ox, and somehow I couldn’t … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1232 by Tracy”

A nice puzzle with fine wordplay, mostly solved in ten minutes. But then I spent the next five trying to figure out 10 Across, 19 Across, and 24 Across, all of which I had in … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1222 by Wurm”

Introduction First off, thank you to (almost) everybody for the kind comments about last week’s blog. I hoped it might offer some inspiration to solvers who were struggling to up their game, and it seems … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1212 by Mara”

Introduction And I’m back! As discussed a few weeks ago, I’m going to experiment today with a new portion of the blog, aimed at beginners, describing in detail how I approached solving this puzzle. As … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1207 by Orpheus”

I made a right hash of this one. After racing through most of the puzzle in about 10 minutes, thinking it would be a breeze, I wound up completely in knots over the last handful … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1192 by Felix”

Happy to be doing a guest blog on an off night. Just came from rehearsal for my barbershop quartet, so my mind was a bit distracted, but nevertheless I finished in 11’40” while simultaneously discussing … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1186 by Joker”

DNF, on account of 5 Down, in part because of US/UK usage differences, in part because of a foggy, sleep-deprived brain. I thought this puzzle was superb. I don’t get around to the main puzzle … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1182 by Pedro”

Teazel in the morning, Teazel in the evening, Teazel at suppertime; when Teazel’s on a puzzle, you can solve Teazel anytime! My second straight week of Teazel. I did this puzzle during a conversation with … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1172 by Teazel”

Simon Thelonious Schaffner Weissmann, born August 16th at 11:43 PM, weighing 6 pounds 11 ounces, and measuring 19 1/4 inches. By all accounts this puzzle took me longer than Simon’s birth, all thanks to my … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1162 by Teazel”

Don’t know that I can think of a better compiler name than Oink, especially since my 2 1/2 year old is working on a pig puzzle while I write this blog. I didn’t time myself … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1152 by Oink”