iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

My #Scrabblegram tribute to Terry Fox 🍁🏃 Since 1981, the #TerryFoxRun takes place every September across Canada (and around the world), raising more than $1 billion for cancer research so far terryfox.org/terrys-story/ #TerryFox #MarathonOfHope #Canada #Scrabble

Photo of Terry Fox running on a rural road in Canada in 1980, with text below:

Terry Fox

Canadian hero we never forget

Individual quest:
Jog marathon daily
Maximize leg ability
Focus on set purpose
Be the work

Scrabblegram (100 tiles)
Blanks: H, M

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I stood there 30 years ago and the view (or lack thereof) was the same!

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

It’s not fair to indicate removing a block of letters (e.g. URE) if you’re actually removing those letters individually from different parts of the fodder (it may be OK if the fodder is anagrammed, though)

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Cryptic stream tonight with an indie midi by me on Crosshare, a 15x15 by Jess Shulman on Cryptic Crossweird, a variety cryptic by Rachel Fabi on AVCX, plus Nathan Curtis and more!

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Nice puzzle! Challenging but fair, with good variety of wordplay. I always learn a few new words and meanings from your cryptics!

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Congrats on #200! Cryptick is a fun (sometimes challenging) daily clue and a great site for setters to share their own!

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Reposted by Lowdown Cryptic

Pat Cousins @patcousins.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Notice a shift in IT? Somehow, making everything worse (16) #CrypticClue

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

“with” is not a containment indicator

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

As horn blown repetitively, it's a New Year! (4,8) 🥳 #letterbank #crypticclue #LowdownLetterBank (originally tweeted in Sep 2022)

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

As horn blown repetitively, it's a New Year! (4,8) 🥳 #letterbank #crypticclue #LowdownLetterBank (originally tweeted in Sep 2022)

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

For those who missed it, my lightly themed Cryptic Midi posted recently on Crosshare (it may be stream-solved tonight on thatcrypticguy's twitch - see my previous post) Greenhouse gas producers copping out with stock tips (4) Some clothing comes back to life? (6) #cryptic #crossword #themed #midi

crosshare.org

Fiddling While Home Burns (Summer 2026)

This puzzle's theme is a hot topic. About 1/3 of the clues and grid entries relate to the theme. Along with the direct impetus of reality, inspiration came from...

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Reposted by Lowdown Cryptic

Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Tonight's cryptic crossword solving/discussion stream (please stop by, especially if you've never solved a cryptic and want to learn how!) is an all-indie edition, so that's stuff from: - Kyle Dolan - Crossweird (Dob, and a Tim Walters debut) - Supware - Lowdown - Kirscher - Levine 9PM 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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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Congrats! I enjoyed solving it 😁

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Congrats! I enjoyed solving it 😁

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Nice, with some very tricky clues and vocab. I love 12A! (of course)

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Thanks, Burrows! Yes, I chose that indicator to emphasize the impact of the problem Crosshare is something like a North American version of MyCrossword. It’s mostly American-style crosswords, but has a good amount of indie cryptics, too I’d definitely like to see a site called IrritableRabbit!

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

That's much fairer and makes more sense

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I suppose you meant it to be a rebus, with the whole clue representing the instruction to “add ER”, but there would still need to be something defining the word “adder” (such as a snake)

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

A journalist is press in the same way a soldier is military or a teacher says “I’m faculty”. It’s a way to say they’re a member of that group, but the singular term doesn’t equate to the group term for cluing purposes

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Thanks, Dave! Good to hear from you!

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Wouldn’t it have to be “journalists”?

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

So should the enum for that clue be (4)?

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Guinevere 🎲🎲 @guineverecryptic.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

If I could ban one sentence/thought in relation to cryptics it would be ‘I’m not clever enough to do cryptic crosswords’

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

There’s no overall convention guide for writing cryptics. There are just basic principles and then many nuances, variations, and disagreements! If you’re interested in the finer points, from an American perspective, I recommend this ebook by @joshuakosman.bsky.social and @hpicciotto.bsky.social

almanaq.com

Left Field Cryptics Store

Word Salad is the most comprehensive guide to cryptic crosswords ever published in the United States. Written by talented and prolific cryptic creators Joshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto, it's an encyc...

040

Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

It works loosely and it’s a fun image. It has two different meanings of the first word in the answer, which is good, but what makes it weak is basically using the same meaning twice for the second word Also, the first part of the clue can’t stand alone as a definition (it’s verbal instead of noun)

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I took a hint on this one. Good wordplay, but I’m wondering what the surface could possibly mean 🤔

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Sitter Crosswords @sitterxwords.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

In most clues, use anagrams for accuracy (14) #cryptic #crossword #crosswordclue

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Not ideal when something like “wanting love” is intended to indicate deleting one letter but there are two of those letters in the word Nice surface, though!

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Letter bank wordplay/puzzles started in America 45 years ago, introduced by Will Shortz Letter bank cryptic clues are established in North America, but it’s still rare to find them elsewhere There are lots of great indicators and I can give you examples - to start, see my #LowdownLetterBank clues

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Q. Pheevr @q.pheevr.ca · 09/08/2026

Greetings, #1ACCWC setters! Your word for this week is: INCORRIGIBLE Have fun with it! 1across.org/accwc/

1across.org

1ACross

For cruciverbalists...A Good Place to Start..

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I’m just curious why this is called a “quick” crossword. I understand that means “quick cryptic”, but aren’t quick cryptics supposed to have very simple/limited wordplay? Should a non-beginner cryptic with varied wordplay like this be called “quick” just because it’s 13x13?

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Reposted by Lowdown Cryptic

AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

This is a special puzzle. The genre of “dark crosswords” hasn’t actually been done too often, and Nate (who is a serious talent) nails it here on a personal topic, which is usually the thing that makes these kinds of puzzles hit. I appreciated it. It’s art is what it is.

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

I plan to tune in on Twitch tomorrow evening as thatcrypticguy solves all 3 puzzles from the US & Canada #Cryptic #Crossword Championships 🤔🤔🤔 See my previous posts for some notes about the event, including where you can find the puzzles #USCanadaCrypticCC

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Time for a brand-new #Scrabblegram! 🔠 (I've posted older 'grams the past 3 months) So, could we maybe start rewarding #cleanenergy instead of #fossilfuels? 😳 #wildfires #smoke #airquality #climate #scrabble #wordplay #commentary Photo: DarrenRD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo of heavy wildfire smoke and flames along a highway full of vehicles escaping the area. Text below:

Burning Issue

Another forest ablaze
and smoke going over

We can extinguish a wildfire
but need policy adjusted
to improve air quality

Scrabblegram (100 tiles)
Blanks: D, T

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

So that's on a Cracking the Cryptic server? Would you be able to send me an invite?

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Congrats, Ben! I know Cracking the Cryptic but I never heard about the 24-hour setting challenge. Where did you find that? Is there a webpage or post about it? Was the challenge to set a themed puzzle about a country? Did you choose the Canada theme?

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Nice! I saw them 35 years ago (when they'd only been a band for 23 years) at the old Maple Leaf Gardens in #Toronto. Opening band was The Tragically Hip! I grew up in the same part of town as Geddy & Alex. There's a place called Lee Lifeson Art Park that's dedicated to them.

hikingthegta.com

Lee Lifeson Art Park

Someday There is a series of linear parks that run east of Yonge Street in North York that comprise Willowdale Park North and Willowdale Park South. Starting in 2014, part of Willowale Park North w…

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Steve, who set the Round 1 puzzle for the US & Canada Championships, is one of the few #cryptic setters published regularly on both sides of the pond 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 Hint for clue below: the band is playing 4 nights at Madison Square Garden this week and then coming home to play 4 nights in Toronto next week 🇨🇦

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

The challenging Round 2 cryptic from the US & Canada #Cryptic #Crossword Championships is available to solve online: viresh-ratnakar.github.io/ixl/2026/gus... Viresh is the creator of open-source crossword software including Exolve Player for online solving and Exet for constructing! gussalufz.com

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

12th place overall in US! (I've DM'd you)

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

17. Feel free to comment here in general or DM me with individual questions/feedback 18. Cryptic crosswords, cryptic clues, cryptic community, and cryptic culture are growing in the US, Canada, and around the world! This event was another step in the evolution – stay tuned for more! 😀

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