Sad to learn that today was Erik Agard's last as editor of the USA Today crossword, but Amanda Rafkin seems like a great choice to take over.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2023/06/16/amanda-rafkin-crossword-puzzle-editor/70311538007/

#crosswords #USATXword

Today was for coincidental fill across the puzzles. With a MAI in the LAT, and TAIs in both the NYT and Universal, we've one-and-a-half MAITAIs for a Friday. And IDAHO is well-represented, spelled out in the NYT and abbreviated in the USAT.

#crosswords #NYTXword #LATXword #UniversalXword #USATXword

USA Today's themers lead off with the all-to-topical LONGCOVID. Unfortunately we cannot say WEREDONE with COVID.

In the LAT, I wanted DRONERACING instead of DRONESOCCER, which is new to me. What kind of rules does that have?

Universal has AVIDREADER down the middle, which reminds me I have some books to get to...

#crossword #USATXword #LATXword #UniXword

Loved this week's New Yorker puzzle. That central stack of SANCTUARYCITY, AMITHEASSHOLE, and MEALSONWHEELS is amazing, with nice bonuses TACOTRUCKS and the excellent portmanteau HIPHOPERA (are there any others than "Hamilton"?)

LAT had a nice selection of SPILLEDMILKs. Can you still get anything for collecting cereal BOXTOPs?

Kind of surprised to see the Sony PSP in the Universal. Didn't think anyone remembered those, though they had some good games. I mostly played PSP games via PSTV.

#crossword #NewYorkerXword #USATXword #UniXword

HULKSMASH! I'm not into skate culture, but that entry made the LAT puzzle fun.

USAT made me hungry with APPLEPIEALAMODE. Also liked the reminder that the whole CARBONFOOTPRINT thing is BP greenwashing.

Universal reminded us of the lockdown fad of SOURDOUGH baking. I do love fresh hot bread, but never been a big SOURDOUGH fan myself (I'm not a fan of sour flavors in general).

#crosswords #LATXword #UniXword #USATXword

USAT gets us into a proper kitty mood with KITTEN and CATTAIL. Then the Universal has BELLYDANCE; not quite as good as a bellyrub, but close. LAT reminds us to neuter our cats by removing their BALLS.

#crosswords #USATXword #UniXword #LATXword

USAT features the delightful entry CATPARENT. Universal has "Catwoman" as a clue for VETERINARIAN. And the LAT leads with BIGCAT at 1D. Overall, a very satisfying catty day of crosswording.

#crosswords #LATXword #UniXword #USATXword

Fun LAT puzzle today, with its GENDERCREATIVE reveal. I was initially confused by 18A; my first thought whenever I see CBT is not mainstream-crossword-friendly...

USAT had a fun selection of artists for its theme. 68A caused more trouble than it should have: "Rats!" -> DRAT -> DANG -> DARN!

Universal had some groanworthy (even if a bit over-familiar) puns, though I was a bit confused by 48A; "ROOTS" and "routes" (in the navigation sense) are not homonyms to me.

#crosswords #LATXword #USATXword #UniXword

I hate BABYONEMORETIME, but now it's stuck in my head. Thanks, USA Today. OTOH, PAPERSNOWFLAKES and SATINPILLOWCASES are quite delightful.

The LAT reminds us of BOOKSONTAPE. My grandmother was blind, so I definitely remember those. Such bulky binders to hold the 5 or 10 cassettes needed for a novel.

#crossword #LATXword #USATXword

USAT offers us a RENTSTRIKE. Thankfully our landlord here has not given us cause for such, though I gather the rent-controlled tenants have been fighting a years-long battle over whether gas line repairs qualify as a major capital improvement.

LAT was tough today, with unknown words like COTIJA, RADOME, and RIEL and unusual names AUGIE and RILO. But the theme answers were fun.

#crossword #USATXword #LATXword

Bit of a MAGIC theme today with MAGICBEAN in the NYT and the MAGICCASTLE in the LAT.

Clue of the day was definitely 39D in USAT, "Performance with kings and queens"

#crossword #NYTXword #USATXword #LATXword

Always amusing to see GRINDR in the NYT puzzle.

LAT reminds us of Mr. Rogers good advice to "Look for the HELPERS." Also, I'll never understand why there's a second L in ALFALFA.

USAT goes all-in with some TRAITOROUS WAGETHEFT. And then it shows its TRANSPRIDE. If anyone thinks this isn't today's best puzzle, we'll just have to AGREETODISAGREE.

#crossword #NYTXword #LATXword #USATXword

A bit peeved with the NYT for making me remember Avatar and its idiotic MacGuffin UNOBTANIUM. But then we get adorable MARSROVER Perseverance and a good SF answer in CRYOSLEEP to make up for it.

The Universal had a delightful hot pepper theme. I wish Midtown had a better selection of spicy food; I haven't felt a good burn for too long.

USAT gets in highly topical MISOPROSTOL. If you might need it, get it now!

LAT has a fun multi-lingual theme. How often do we get TURKISH or JAVAnese in our crosswords? And the English phrases were all fun, too.

#crossword #NYTXword #UniXword #LATXword #USATXword

34A in today's NYT reminded me that I need to read Octavia Butler's IMAGO, so I have requested a copy from NYPL.

USAT reminds me I'm several novels behind on reading NEALSTEPHENSON, but I feel less compelled to rush and rectify that (though Fall is on the headboard shelves to be read soonish.)

LAT reminds us of CHARLIE Jane Anders, whose Unstoppable trilogy will be complete in April, and which I'm definitely looking forward to reading then.

#crosswords #NYTXword #LATXword #USATXword #books

Got behind on my newspapers and crosswords this weekend (so many great shows! and One Piece Odyssey's turn-based RPG goodness!). Anyways, the best Monday puzzle by far was Erik Agard's amazing MLK Other America tribute puzzle in USA Today. First time I've ever had to resort to google to finish a USAT puzzle, but the easy/hard split in the puzzle was a brilliant illustration of the speech's theme.

#crossword #USATxword

The NYT reminded us that it was a FRIDAY the 13th, though it passed as any ordinary Friday for us.

The standout of the day was the yummy theme in the USAT. Unfortunately I have not been able to make a meal of FRIES, NUGGETS, BURGER, and POP happen in a while, but I may have to try.

#crossword #NYTxword #USATxword

The big news today is that the NY Daily News has finally included circles in a Universal grid! We still get the awkward cluing, too, but maybe they can edit that out in future. And add the title and byline, too. That said, the puzzle itself was definitely not a CHORE, though I had some trouble deciding if 46D would be VIBED, GIBED, or finally JIBED.

NYT was unintentionally amusing with its very mild idea of what constitutes an OATH. Also a rare typo in the clue for 19D (in fact, i wrote in TYPO before SILO since I figured "Stprage" must be deliberate.)

From USAT, I learned HANOI is only Vietnam's 2nd largest city. I would have guessed it was the biggest, but apparently Ho Chi Minh City is over twice as large.

In the LAT, I loved the MALICESHELF, though I'd say that's where I keep my hate reads like the Orson Scott Card books I just can't part with.

#crossword #UniXword #NYTXword #USATXword #LATXword

NYT wins the day with a HELLOKITTY theme full of cats.

USAT makes me want some BANANABREAD. Anyone know a good source in NYC?

#crossword #nytxword #usatxword

Today's NYT rebuses remind me that while I have seen CATS and EVITA live (though not on Broadway) and don't feel the need to ever see them again, I have not seen RENT or HAIR live, which I do hope I can correct someday.

USAT surprised me with 9D. Given the clue and the INS at the start, I immediately guessed the right answer but was slow to fill it in as I didn't think a mainstream publication would go there. And of course TALKLIKEAPIRATE is a fabulous answer.

#crossword #nytxword #usatxword

USAT has PANDABEARS, so they easily win the day.

Since English is his second language, my husband Edward can't usually help much with the crosswords. But today, he provided the XAI dynasty for the NYT, and for the USAT, he confirmed that fried MILK is delicious (but I still don't understand how you fry milk), and explained that couples should not share PEARs or they will separate.

#crossword #nytxword #usatxword