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Times for The Times: Times and comments on The Times crossword from a team of solvers

Author: vinyl1

Times 28351 – The takeaway place

Author   vinyl1Posted on 25th July 2022 at 1:00 AM10 September 2025Categories Daily Cryptic

I did not find this one particularly difficult, despite numerous mis-biffs, and managed to trot home in a decent time for me.   Lack of any attempt to conceal the literals was certainly helpful.  

View95 Comments on Times 28351 – The takeaway place

Mephisto 3228 – Born on the 4th of July!

Author   vinyl1Posted on 17th July 2022 at 2:10 AM10 September 2025Categories Mephisto

I didn’t find this one too bad, and finished in a single sitting.   Since the setter has used many common words as answers, he evidently felt the need to add some obscurity to the clues in order to come up to Mephisto standards. 

View4 Comments on Mephisto 3228 – Born on the 4th of July!

Times 28339 – A day in the life of Figaro?

Author   vinyl1Posted on 11th July 2022 at 2:33 AM10 September 2025Categories Daily Cryptic

A rather simple Monday puzzle, but one lacking pizzazz.   I really shouldn’t have taken as long as I did.

View86 Comments on Times 28339 – A day in the life of Figaro?

Mephisto 3226 – Seth would be proud!

Author   vinyl1Posted on 3rd July 2022 at 3:06 AM10 September 2025Categories Mephisto

It’s always a pleasure to get a Don Manley puzzle – at least I know I won’t be beating my brains out over how the clue works.  Manley must know Chambers inside out, because everything he uses can be found in exactly the place you would expect to find it in that big red book.    

View4 Comments on Mephisto 3226 – Seth would be proud!

Times 28327 – With a tiny monster, perhaps?

Author   vinyl1Posted on 27th June 2022 at 1:30 AM10 September 2025Categories Daily Cryptic

We have  certainly gotten to just about the easiest possible puzzle today – I doubt whether this will break 50 in the SNITCH. 

View97 Comments on Times 28327 – With a tiny monster, perhaps?

Mephisto 3224 – Wood nymphs? Baboons? Nope!

Author   vinyl1Posted on 19th June 2022 at 2:10 AM10 September 2025Categories Mephisto

I found it a little difficult to get started in this one, and was thinking of stopping for the night with only a few solved.   But then I started to break through, and got a bit of traction.

View5 Comments on Mephisto 3224 – Wood nymphs? Baboons? Nope!

Times 28315 – Half way there

Author   vinyl1Posted on 13th June 2022 at 2:16 AM10 September 2025Categories Daily Cryptic

I thought this was going to be a very easy one, but I was forced to change my mind about half-way through.   The top ones went in easily enough, but there were a few tricky ones in the middle and bottom that held me up.

View68 Comments on Times 28315 – Half way there

Mephisto 3222 – “I am a pilgrim, and a…..”

Author   vinyl1Posted on 12th June 2022 at 12:05 AM10 September 2025Categories Mephisto

Well, here is the famous puzzle that was supposed to have been published online two weeks ago, but 3223 went up in its place.   

View4 Comments on Mephisto 3222 – “I am a pilgrim, and a…..”

Attention Mephisto Solvers!

Author   vinyl1Posted on 4th June 2022 at 5:10 PM10 September 2025Categories Announcement

As you maybe have noticed, The Times is having a little difficulty with their Mephisto puzzles.    Due to an error, Mephisto  3223 by Don Manley was posted to both the Crossword Club and The Times online site, while the correct puzzle, Mephisto 3222, was published in the physical newspaper.

View2 Comments on Attention Mephisto Solvers!

Times 28303 – I have found it…..now what?

Author   vinyl1Posted on 30th May 2022 at 1:41 AM10 September 2025Categories Daily Cryptic

This was a an outdoor deck solve, so no music – the weather here in Connecticut is very nice.    The puzzle did not particularly impress me – there are just too many rather imprecise equivalents and sloppy usages.  

View88 Comments on Times 28303 – I have found it…..now what?

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