Category Archives: Events

To link or not to link? PJ Lifestyle, a conservative blog, has posted a crossword puzzle “for the aspiring jihadist” and has now posted its answer key. I am not actually linking this one because I find it hateful (you … Continue reading →

Well, this is a lateness record… and the irony is that what’s kept me away from the crossword coverage has largely been work on On Crosswords. (So many layout issues… not that attending a weekend comics convention helped, either.) Our … Continue reading →

The indefatigable Mike Selinker’s got a lot to share with us this week via a trolling-free Reddit page and podcast interview. Congrats to Sam Donaldson for crunching the numbers on this year’s real Orca Awards. The Bones episode mentioned last … Continue reading →

Belated again, and two of the most interesting news bits this week have been covered by Amy (the video crossword and the Rex Parker-produced/Patrick Blindauer-edited American Red Crosswords). Plus, a lot of attention’s still focused on the regex crossword we … Continue reading →

One of the most serious aspects of crossword news is the puzzles’ still-controversial role as “preventative medicine” for various forms of senile dementia. That role is likely to increase, as Alzheimer’s cases are projected to triple between now and 2050. … Continue reading →

As if Araucaria hadn’t earned enough people’s admiration for his long career and dignified handling of terminal illness, the Guardian notes that the 91-year-old master has introduced BBC IPLAYER to the British crossword lexicon. Sorry for not mentioning that National … Continue reading →

Trip Payne’s puzzle contest got kicked off Kickstarter (which doesn’t allow contest elements) so he’s raising the funding for it on his own site, much like the elsewhere-mentioned Emily Cox, Henry Rathvon and Henry Hook, funding their CRooked Crossword series. … Continue reading →

Or maybe “the week and a half.” Shortly after Araucaria’s cancer announcement, he gave this interview to The Guardian and got a moving memorial from The Age. This week’s image of a monkey puzzle tree (scientific name Araucaria araucana) is … Continue reading →

Some weeks it’s hard to decide which event should lead the coverage. This is not one of those weeks. But it is a story that some may find upsetting, so it goes under the cut.

January Betty White’s 90th birthday “bash” consists largely of doing crossword puzzles and “having a wonderful time with my dog.” 30 Rock makes an incisive jab at a certain crossword market with this line, spoken by Jenna: “Amazing news, Liz! … Continue reading →