Thomas Adam<p>Well, my wife and I have revamped <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crossword</span></a> corner in our lounge. This is where I sit and contemplate all things <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crypticcrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crypticcrossword</span></a></p>
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#crypticcrossword
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Guinevere<p>I’m very excited to make my debut as today’s <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23crypticcrossword" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#crypticcrossword</a> setter in The Independent! Huge thanks to my wonderful testers Komorník, <a class="mention" href="https://bsky.app/profile/amoebacrosswords.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@amoebacrosswords.bsky.social</a> & <a class="mention" href="https://bsky.brid.gy/ap/did:plc:xigml7wctqakezvvbljasbcz" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@crypticblah.bsky.social</a> & the fabulous teacher <a class="mention" href="https://bsky.brid.gy/ap/did:plc:g2xclv5frhjhcvuqsxhamlg7" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@boatmancryptics.bsky.social</a>. What a way to mark <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23internationalwomensday" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#internationalwomensday</a> <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23iwd" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#iwd</a><br><br><a href="https://puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/cryptic-crossword-independent" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Independent's Cryptic Cros...</a></p>
серафими многоꙮчитїи<p>Enlarged aperture during embargo at sea? (6)</p><p><a href="https://beige.party/tags/CrypticCrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CrypticCrossword</span></a> clue</p>
Thomas Adam<p><a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crossword</span></a> <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crypticcrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crypticcrossword</span></a> <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/guardian" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>guardian</span></a> </p><p>Today's cryptic crossword #29632 is set by Philistine</p><p>This was the Clue Of The Day (COTD) for me:</p><p>"Church ban for telegram? (15)"</p><p>The definition is "Church Ban".</p><p>A telegram is an old form (by today's standards) of communication. Indeed, to get banned by the Church is:</p><p>EXCOMMUNICATION</p><p>... of which, a Telegram is such an example.</p><p>Brilliant. It made me smile. :)</p>
Thomas Adam<p><a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crossword</span></a> <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crypticcrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crypticcrossword</span></a> <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/guardian" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>guardian</span></a> </p><p>For some time, I've mainted this:</p><p><a href="https://xteddy.org/gcc-analysis.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">xteddy.org/gcc-analysis.html</span><span class="invisible"></span></a></p><p>It updates daily, quite happily.</p><p>But it uses mongodb. which when compared to something like <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/duckdb" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>duckdb</span></a> blows.</p><p>So I'm going to migrate the backend, and rewrite it. From Perl -> golang (most likely).</p><p>The frontend uses c3js for it's charting library. If anyone has any suggestions for alternatives, do say!</p><p>I am also aware of <a href="https://evidence.dev" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">evidence.dev</span><span class="invisible"></span></a> which looks interesting...</p><p>I should say that the page I maintain is static.</p>
Thomas Adam<p><a href="https://bsd.network/tags/azed" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>azed</span></a> <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crossword</span></a> <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crypticcrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crypticcrossword</span></a></p><p>The azed crossword is known for being similar to The Listener in terms of its complexity and wide-ranging vocabulary: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azed" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azed</span><span class="invisible"></span></a></p><p>But the most recent (2750, "Mixed Foursomes): <a href="https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2025/03/01/AZ_2750_(02nd_March).pdf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">uploads.guim.co.uk/2025/03/01/</span><span class="invisible">AZ_2750_(02nd_March).pdf</span></a> -- has some of the most bizarre preamble instructions ever:</p><p>Clues are of four types:</p><p>1 Normal Cryptic</p><p>2 Letters Latent</p><p>From the answer to each clue the solver must omit one letter wherever it occurs (sometimes more than once) before entry in the diagram. Definitions in the clues refer to the full unmutilated answers: subsidiary indications, such as anagrams etc, refer to the mutilated forms to be entered in the diagram. The nine letters omitted, taken in clue order, spell out an appropriate two-word compound.</p><p>3 Misprints</p><p>Each clue contains a misprint of one letter, always occurring in the definition part. The misprinted letters (not the misprints themselves), when taken in clue order, spell out the same two-word compound.</p><p>4 Definition and Letter Mixture</p><p>Each clue contains a definition of the answer and a hidden mixture of its letters plus one additional letter, beginning at the beginning or ending at the end of a word in<br>the clue. The additional letters, taken in clue order, again spell out the same two-word compound.</p><p>Each group of four clues (except the group containing the asterisked one-word definition at 14 Down) contains one of<br>each of the clue types. Solvers must determine which is which. Numbers in brackets throughout indicate the length of unmutilated answers.</p><p>Good luck everyone. You need a PhD just to understand the blasted instructions! ;)</p>
joachim<p>Brilliant clue in last week's Everyman <a href="https://drupal.community/tags/CrypticCrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CrypticCrossword</span></a>: 'Messrs Orbison, Yankovic, Green and Bacharach heard with David by Latitude concert venue (5,6,4)'</p>
серафими многоꙮчитїи<p>Edit: stream over, grid defeated although it looked close there</p><p>OK, time for a cosy <a href="https://beige.party/tags/CrypticCrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CrypticCrossword</span></a> stream - latest Private Eye crossword 792 here on Twitch. Perfect to relax if doing taxes has spined your adrenaline levels. </p><p>Here: <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/drameyingcrew" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="">twitch.tv/drameyingcrew</span><span class="invisible"></span></a><br>Time: 2300 UTC</p><p>Alternatives to Twitch: welcomed on chat</p>
Rupert Brackenbury<p>You assume we all speak the same language until you try to do an <a href="https://mastodon.nz/tags/American" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>American</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.nz/tags/CrypticCrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CrypticCrossword</span></a></p><p><a href="https://mastodon.nz/tags/anglosphere" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>anglosphere</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.nz/tags/EnglishLanguage" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>EnglishLanguage</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.nz/tags/NZTwits" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>NZTwits</span></a></p>
mithridate<p>The Political Cryptic #1<br><span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://mastodon.social/@mithridate" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>mithridate</span></a></span> </p><p>Please keep solutions private or behind CN.</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/cryptic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cryptic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/crossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crossword</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/crypticcrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crypticcrossword</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/politics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>politics</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/news" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>news</span></a></p>
серафими многоꙮчитїи<p>To whom it may concern... the Private Eye cryptic crossword archive in Across Lite format</p><p><a href="https://beige.party/tags/crossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crossword</span></a> <a href="https://beige.party/tags/CrypticCrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CrypticCrossword</span></a> <a href="https://beige.party/tags/DigitalWombling" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DigitalWombling</span></a></p><p><a href="https://www.private-eye.co.uk/pictures/crossword/download/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">private-eye.co.uk/pictures/cro</span><span class="invisible">ssword/download/</span></a></p>
Thomas Adam<p>First <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crypticcrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crypticcrossword</span></a> <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crossword</span></a> with my new crossword pen. </p><p>This was a Christmas present from my wife. I love it! It writes really well. Not scratchy. Almost like a ballpoint. </p><p>The crossword by Arachne, 29575 was excellent. I really enjoyed it.</p>
CrypticBlah<p>Anyone online with access to CC able to do me a favour? I'm PC less while travelling and need a grid edited to change the lights. I can send an XML export from MyCrossword and just need half a dozen lights removed.
<a href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23crypticcrossword" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#crypticcrossword</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23crossword" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#crossword</a></p>
A Republic, while we kept it<p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/CrypticCrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CrypticCrossword</span></a> clue: Best software for writing code looks like Artificial Intelligence (5).</p>
Thomas Adam<p>Hey all,</p><p>I hope you’re all well. </p><p>I use <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/hashtags" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>hashtags</span></a> to differentiate categories here. I hope some of you use those to filter out the dross and drivel I post here. </p><p>In terms of the @LearnCrypticCrosswords@zirk.us@zirk.us <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crypticcrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crypticcrossword</span></a> posts, I will continue those here. But more dedicatedly, I’m now providing the answers to clues posted over on the channel. </p><p>I love cryptic crosswords. If nothing else does, please take a look at that channel, and separately feel free to come and speak to me about them. 🙂</p>
Thomas Adam<p>The prize <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crossword</span></a> <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crypticcrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crypticcrossword</span></a> by Brockwell. 29560 in the Guardian. </p><p>It’s tricky!</p><p>So far, the standout clue is:</p><p>2dn: Muppet series in rehearsal (5,3)</p><p>DUMMY RUN</p><p>Heh!</p>
Thomas Adam<p>Today's clue of the day, comes from Fed in the Guardian, 29544</p><p>4dn: "Fed by geisha every now and then – tucking into ground stir-fry ingredient? (6,3)"</p><p>What we have to keep in mind here is both who the setter is (Fed), and the definition.</p><p>The def is "stir-fry ingredient".</p><p>We're told "geisha every now and then", which has to be: ESA -- because of the alternate letters of gEiShA.</p><p>"SOIL" == "ground" (as in, what you stand on).</p><p>Plus, in this case, "Fed", is "me" as in the Setter, not the noun.</p><p>Put all that together, and you get:</p><p>SESASME OIL</p><p>Which is our answer.</p><p>Very devious, especially in this case if you didn't make the association of "Fed" == "Setter".</p><p>This is why I love cryptic crosswords!</p><p><a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crypticcrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crypticcrossword</span></a> <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crossword</span></a></p>
Thomas Adam<p><a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crossword</span></a> <a href="https://bsd.network/tags/crypticcrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crypticcrossword</span></a> </p><p>I saw this clue in the Independent newspaper on Wednesday 13th November 2024, set by Eccles:</p><p>Back issues of Linux User magazine belong primarily in the past (7)</p><p>This is an excellent clue - and neatly references the still in-print copies of the Linux User magazine, still found here in the UK in places such as WH Smiths.</p><p>However, we're not meant to concern ourselves with that. As such, the answer is:</p><p>LUMBAGO</p><p>Which means the definition is therefore "Back issues".</p><p>Why?</p><p>Well, "Linux User magazine belong primarily" is telling us to take the primary (beginning) letters of those words, which yields:</p><p>LUMB</p><p>Then we're told "... in the past", which is:</p><p>AGO.</p><p>Put the two together, et voila! You have LUMBAGO which is a complaint of the back.</p><p>Thanks, Eccles! :)</p>
Gillinger<p>Disappointingly simple <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Times" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Times</span></a> Jumbo cryptic crossword this morning. What am I going to do this afternoon?</p><p><a href="https://mas.to/tags/crypticcrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crypticcrossword</span></a></p>
Rupert<p>The Spanish returned around the middle of 1138 with a type of algebra (3)
<a href="https://mastodon.nz/tags/mathober" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>mathober</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.nz/tags/cryptic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cryptic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.nz/tags/crypticclue" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crypticclue</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.nz/tags/crypticcrossword" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>crypticcrossword</span></a></p>
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