iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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gnomoncryptics.bsky.social @gnomoncryptics.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Gnomon issue #9 is out to subscribers now! With puzzles from @viresh.bsky.social , @henriwords.com , @juffowup.bsky.social , and Bob Stigger! Go check it out!

Incomplete images of four variety crossword grids. Two normal symmetric barred grids, one puzzle with two grids, and one grid making a loop

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 24/09/2026

Remember, ‘fewer’ is generally used when you’re talking about a smaller number of things that can be counted. Use ‘more’ when you want to indicate a larger number.

3663783

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Longyfan @longyfan.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Back in the Indy as Longitude today! Yes, you’re plugging USB into box the wrong way round (6-2) puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/daily-...

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Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Adored 1D: Set pieces in Western’s classic action sequence. Great job @longyfan.bsky.social Minute Cryptic Mini Crossword - 11 September, 2026 🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪⬛ 🟪⬛🟪⬛🟪⬛⬛ 🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪 🟪⬛🟪⬛🟪⬛🟪 🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪 ⬛⬛🟪⬛🟪⬛🟪 ⬛🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪 I used 0 letters I used 0 hints My time was 00:07:50 www.minutecryptic.com/minis/91?utm...

minutecryptic.com

Become a member | Minute Cryptic

Join Minute Cryptic to unlock every mini puzzle, the full clue archive, and member-only features. Monthly or annual plans — cancel or pause anytime.

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ecclescrosswords.bsky.social @ecclescrosswords.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Sad news that The Independent is to stop its Cryptic Crossword in November, barring a last minute change of heart. It has forged its own distinct identity and will leave a great hole. Particular credit to Mike for introducing so many new great new setters to the professional ranks.

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Chris Person @papapishu.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I’m really trying not to go for cheap heat on here but you can write off any politician that does not support trans rights without equivocating because it’s the morally correct thing to do and additionally because it means they’re not above selling anyone out.

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Not a great rationale, but I think allowing andlits but not other forms of def/wp overlap makes for a very clunky and unintuitive definition of “cryptic clue” and so clues like this should be legal. (And this one gives enough of a smile for sure.)

030

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Mikel Reparaz @wikiparaz.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

PAUL: What’s in the box? REVEREND MOTHER: Pain. [PAUL hesitantly puts his hand in the BOX, then FROWNS IN CONFUSION. He pulls out A BAGUETTE.] REVEREND MOHER: Hōn hōn,

6276922022

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tunes to make you run away @whippoorwont.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

"people are anthropomorphizing LLMs because they are so astonishingly good at processing human thought and language" people will anthropomorphize a chair if you put the stitches in the right place.

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Henri @henriwords.com · 07/09/2026

Beyond delighted to make my #cryptic #crossword setting debut in the Times Quick Cryptic as Jaspa today! Hope you enjoy it ☺️ #AchievementUnlocked

THE TIMES
Monday, 07 September 2026
Times Quick Cryptic No 3400 by Jaspa

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Not all my own puzzles but The Gnomon (the variety cryptic outlet I run) has somehow had ELVIRA appear three times in its first 35 puzzles.

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Mike D’Angelo @gemko.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Didn’t think I’d live to see it: Virtually every SCTV episode is now on Netflix. (The one that’s missing is highly unusual, featuring none of the show’s cast at the time.) Some rights-based cuts/substitutions of music, but fewer than I’d have guessed. It’s 95% complete. Incredible.

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RFKNephew @rhnstncowboy.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I FUCKING LOVE CRYPTIC CROSSWORDS

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Absolutely amazing grid there! And all the theme material is symmetrically placed? Completely top-notch.

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Audrey Farnsworth @audipenny.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

me giving a speech to a bunch of hot dogs: you guys I’m really sorry. I don’t know why I’m here or why any of us are here. Do you know why I’m saying this to you? Have we all died

417522

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alix e. harrow @alixeharrow.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

because my kids were both born on medicaid in eastern kentucky, they got imagination library books in the mail for a little while. always felt like a package delivered from a world just a little better & kinder than ours.

21248120

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Zuul Nightingale🚪 @danaenight.northsky.social · 24/08/2026

I need something to do at 4 am on my French balcony during a summer night that isn't smoking but still has that aura

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Well that's a nice treat! Catching the vod now.

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Robert Komaniecki @komaniecki.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

How do I explain to small business owners that the menu on the left is one billion times more appealing than the one on the right

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I don't think there's a clue type that *should* be in every cryptic. If you do no homophones or no ddefs, I think no one really notices, as long as there's a variety in the clues you do use. I have known solvers who notice when there's no hiddens (because they do a pass just looking for hiddens).

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Just two more (3)’s going down and you could’ve had every word 50% checked…

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

To exploit this, in the debate they constantly use the words 'initially' and 'ultimately' and 'oddly ignored' and 'somewhat' to cause the opponent to melt down on stage.

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Maybe not what you mean by "cryptic brain" but I've long dreamt of a Mitchell & Webb style comedy sketch where one candidate learns their opponent solves cryptics regularly.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Tomorrow night, I'll be doing an all-Gnomon Cryptic Crossword stream. Expect massive shenanigans courtesy of @gnomoncryptics.bsky.social, and remember—if you like what you see, don't subscribe to my channel, get a subscription to www.gnomoncryptics.com. twitch.tv/thatcrypticguy @ ~9:00 PM Eastern

twitch.tv

thatcrypticguy - Twitch

Enthusiast of all things puzzle-y; all-in on cryptic crosswords especially and any wordplay-based puzzle that has a compelling, funny voice. Grew up on Infocom and LucasArts, which probably explains a...

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Unch Crosswords @unchcrosswords.com · 16/08/2026

Unch readers - Do check out this excellent puzzle from Crenditi. As Juff says, it's a companion piece to the puzzle they have in our latest issue...

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

If I was solving an Australian puzzle I’d have it much closer to front of mind. And in particular if the “visitors” is being used elsewhere

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

I get there by thinking about how people occasionally misuse an adjective as it’s adverb. “Firstly Lady” for L I would buy, and if someone told me they could “fix my refrigerator cheap” I wouldn’t correct them.

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

There is though. Minute Cryptic is an Australian outlet, and “First Lady” for L is considered 100% accurate in an Australian puzzle. All of it comes down to convention. There is no dictionary def of “dancing” that says “rearranging the letters” eg, but we all buy it.

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Oh no, get it away before he eats it!

020

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Unch Crosswords @unchcrosswords.com · 12/08/2026

Here’s another sample clue from issue 4, this one from Crenditi, the ‘nom de croix’ of @juffowup.bsky.social and @longyfan.bsky.social for their UK collabs: 'Frick’ (not ‘f**k’) is written after other bad language (8) Not ordered yet? It’s still available [currently UK only] at unchcrosswords.com

unchcrosswords.com

Unch Crossword Magazine

Unch, the clued-up crossword magazine

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

I don't have a clever response but you made this joke literally on the day of my colonoscopy.

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Merriam-Webster: We’re descriptivists. Except when we’re not.

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Some clues! One propping up the bar, very much like a monkey chugging first of daiquiris, … (4, 4) … finishing all the bananas (6) Low tier spade clearing five and ace? (8) Absorbent cloth has nipple ring almost healed (3,5)

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Happy to present the first MyCrossword puzzle from “Crenditi”, which is @longyfan.bsky.social and me when we do UK-style puzzles together. This one serves as a companion piece for the puzzle we have in Unch #4, which is arriving now-ish. @unchcrosswords.com www.mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/3787

mycrossword.co.uk

Crenditi (Cre Nditi) · MyCrossword

Made for cryptic crossword enthusiasts, MyCrossword is a free platform for creating and publishing your own puzzles.

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Man the Parseword people have fun with this, huh?

A wrong parseword answer of ADNIERTEGVEEGLRFSRINIOHDXS

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Just woke up from a truly magnificent nap

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gnomoncryptics.bsky.social @gnomoncryptics.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

August issue is out! Five new variety cryptics from Probably Apocryphal, @joeadultman.bsky.social , Bob Weisz, Roger Wolff, @juffowup.bsky.social , and Kyle Dolan.

Five overlapping barred crossword grids. Three are numbered and normal-ish looking. Two are non-numbered, and one of the non-numbered ones has some shaded squares and an S and E pre-filled. What on earth could be going on there?

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Patrick Fenelon @patrickfenelon.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Someone said my brother's dog looks like Jeff Daniels, & now I can't unsee it

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jj skolnik @supremenothing.myatproto.social · 01/08/2026

just said this on another post but it bears repeating: the thing about continuing to give money to any jk rowling properties or the nyt is not that they’re shitty about trans people, which they are. it is that both of these entities MATERIALLY CONTRIBUTE to the legal challenges to trans rights

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James Wood @omgmorejames.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Roguelike Deckbuilder

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Hell of a clue, that one

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juff @juffowup.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

After Will Nediger, Jack is my absolute favorite constructor of non-variety cryptics. He absolutely doesn’t miss.

030

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justine zhang @tisjune.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

@avcx.bsky.social is great. i am approaching the end of their (extremely generous) free trial period and need to remind myself to subscribe. some of the clues are "text my funny and based friends immediately" tier, which is much more than i can say of the NYT.

074

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Jack H Keynes @wearingcrocs.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

I'm back in the Independent! (Bluejacket #11, 12417, Sat 25th Jul 26) 24a: God can set about creating a heaven (8) 7d: Pleased at cheque finally clearing (5) puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

I fell asleep early last night and was busy catching up all day today, so here's a belated (but great) cryptic clue from @juffowup.bsky.social that I think most of us can relate to, even if we've hopefully never been in these exact (wet) shoes.

crosswordscholar.wordpress.com

7/20/26

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash [DOWN CLUE]Loses control of your bladder outside hotel, needing to go up and change (7) Andy Yingst, Gnomon, “masterpiece,” February 2026 I talk a lot abo…

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