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There’s a subtle feature of this here puzzle that will likely go past 99.9% of the solvers. Call it an Easter egg, if you will. For those that do in fact see it, I hope you appreciate it. As for everybody, I think this is one of my better one’s. Enjoy.
Quick reminder that the December drive is still going. Big picture is this site remains free and you should be doing these puzzles. If you’ve been enjoying the puzzles for the back half of the year and can afford a little bit for the tip jar, it does help keep this thing chugging along. This isn’t an obligation, only if you’ve got some money burning a hole in your pocket. All the usual ways are accepted: Venmo (@TheBEQ), PayPal, or get in touch. All who can give will get two bonus Sunday-sized thank you puzzles. And one randomly selected winner will get a copy of one of my books. Long form appeal here. Thanks to all who can support.
Looking for puzzly holiday gift ideas? Click: here.
Looking for more puzzles? The Hub Crossword (Sunday puzzles by me and Joon Pahk) and Marching Bands year eight has begun. So if that To Do list needs even more puzzles, you know what to do.
Share the puzzle. New one on Monday.
Love the puzzle, but there’s a typo: Death Valley is not in the state answer for 46 down.
Brendan, Death Valley is in California, not Nevada.
Thank you,
Mag
Actually …
“Death Valley National Park covers some 5,270 square miles (13,650 square km) of the valley, primarily in California. Much of the park’s northeastern border is the Nevada state line, ***but a small portion extends into Nevada’s Bullfrog Hills***.”
Per the Encyclopedia Britanica.
Death Valley National Park is entirely within CA. But Death Valley is not.
That one was a ton of fun. Thank you.
Oh, this is utterly charming. Thank you, Brendan!
anyone know why last Thursday was titled SZA? Thanks.
“ones” not “one’s”. Plural not possessive.
Okay, okay…loved the puzzle but please, please, please what’s the Easter Egg? Racking my brain and can’t get it.
In ascending scale order when read left to right, top to bottom?
Wracking is a better word for what you describe. Racking is what torturers do, as in stretching on a rack.
could it be that the clue for 5A is 17
syllables … if one takes out a vowel
in 3rd line?
Seeing more and more what Will Shortz meant when he routinely lambasted BEQ and his puzzles and cluing, laughing about the incompetence.
The cliche solfege theme that’s been done a thousand times. This is clever somehow? The Death Valley error. The “one’s” (erm, ones?) in the flavor text. The fact that he called a reindeer a VIP (P means “person”).
Can’t disagree with Shortz, when he’s speaking frankly, off the record….