iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

And on this day, Google said onto me: bismuth ends with the letter T. I’m just grateful that we’re only sacrificing our environment, cognitive abilities, and my students’ future job prospects for this. At least my crossword writing gig feels quite safe.

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Is it cheating to set a Tuesday PR on my own puzzle? 😇

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The Verge @theverge.com · 02/09/2026

As a new Harry Potter trailer makes the rounds, it bears repeating that there’s no way to watch this show without supporting J.K. Rowling’s bigotry and the structural violence she’s inflicting on the trans community.

theverge.com

There is no ethical consumption of HBO’s Harry Potter series

You can’t without supporting Rowling’s transphobic bigotry.

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Sally Hoelscher @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I have a few (okay, a lot of) thoughts about saying goodbye to Sally’s Take: usatodayxwordblog.blogspot.com/2026/08/conc...

usatodayxwordblog.blogspot.com

Concluding Thoughts

Daily blog about the USA Today crossword

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Season 16(!) of Cardin Chemistry 👨‍🔬 (I’ve now been doing this longer than my current students have been alive)🙃👴🏻

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Lil AVCX @lilavcx.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

forms.gle/zTKSfsHKi3yp... Lil AVCX is looking for editor/mentors for 2027. We have a limited number of slots, and you can register your interest in applying on this form through September 4th. If you have any questions, feel free to DM me.

forms.gle

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I have switched from a PC to a Mac for the first time in 15 years - pray for me 😂

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Spend a few minutes (or seconds, for my ACPT folks) solving my latest NYT midi 🎤

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Can confirm that the much slimmer international version of the New York Times does indeed carry that day’s crossword 🇬🇧🙌

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Someone show my New York Times crossword to @annelamott.bsky.social challenge🦉🦜🙏

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Hello from London, where I’ve stayed up until 11pm local time to see my latest crossword drop at @nytimes.com 💕🇬🇧

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Sanjeev from Taskmaster is sitting in the row ahead of us at Oh, Mary! 😍

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

I wrote this quite personal puzzle for the recent Grief Issue of "The Stranger” (an alternative newspaper out of Seattle), and it is shared here with their blessing. Wishing peace to all those wrangling with grief like we have been. 💕

crosshare.org

Good Grief

What this puzzle’s constructor and his husband lost to the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires; "Evacuation Alert" weekend sketch show; Safety \_\_\_; Nail polish brand with a "Liquid Fire" color; "Wor...

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

TIL that the cryptic crossword I published in the New York Times a few years back was the one they chose to republish in their Puzzlemania book! 🤯 It’s been on my shelf for six months and I had no idea!

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

AVCX is running a guest series of Raddle puzzles this week (if you’re not yet familiar with the game, go check it out). And in fact, there’s a meta puzzle if you solve through the end of the week. Fun stuff!! raddle.quest/mystery/10/

raddle.quest

Mystery Theme #10

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

One of my most vivid memories of culture shock was the day my Uruguayan host brother and I had our own Duck Season / Rabbit Season as to whether this toon se llama Daffy Duck or el Pato Lucas 🤯

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The A.V. Club @avclub.com · 17/07/2026

Daffy Season sees Eric Bauza's take on the classic cartoon waterfowl getting p.o.'d that "Soccer Season" has usurped "Duck Season."

avclub.com

Warner Bros. coasts on World Cup fever by dropping teaser for first new Daffy Duck short in years

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Parkrose Permaculture @parkroseperma.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

How about we decide this era of AI mania - where they foisted it on us in every possible useless way - should come to a close? What good is all this mess doing for us? What have we lost and who benefits from smashing AI into every corner of our lives?

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

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These Puzzles Fund Abortion @tpfa.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

✨Clue of the Week✨ Another cryptic clue, from a puzzle by @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social Available to solve at abortionpuzzles.com! Like that puzzle? There’s much more puzzling fun available when you make a donation and unlock the whole pack 😊 fund.nnaf.org/tpfa6 #minutecryptic #crypticclueaday

These Puzzles Fund Abortion Cryptic Clue of the week. There are five empty white squares and then”A loud, excited birthing coach (5)”

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AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

AVCX Classic is open for submissions as of today! We love seeing work from everybody, especially new constructors and underrepresented people. WE CARE ABOUT DIVERSITY also always happy to workshop your stuff with you if helpful. Spec sheet: avxwords.com/submit-a-puz...

avxwords.com

Submit a Puzzle – AVCX

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apihminis.bsky.social @apihminis.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Introducing APIHMinis…. 🌺 31 days of 31 mini crosswords by 31 constructors across the Asian & Pacific Islander identity umbrella throughout API Heritage Month in May. 🌺 Solve our preview puzzle at the link in bio, constructed by Rene, and check back tomorrow for our first puzzle of the month!

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witchy raerae 👍🧙🏻‍♀️ ❌👑 @rachaelnevins.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

“Use AI to brainstorm but not to write.” “Use AI to help you outline but not to write.” These are commonly proposed as “ethical” ways for undergrad students to use AI, but I’m sorry, brainstorming & outlining are just as integral to writing as the actual construction of sentences.

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Reposted by Nate Cardin (he/him)

These Puzzles Fund Abortion @tpfa.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

You can solve Nate’s cute little cryptic for free at www.abortionpuzzles.com!

abortionpuzzles.com

these puzzles fund abortion

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These Puzzles Fund Abortion @tpfa.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

✨Constructor Spotlight✨ @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social (he/him) is a H.S. chem teacher in LA, where he lives with his husband & his French bulldog, at least one of which is adorably stubborn. He constructs both American-style & cryptic crosswords & is an editor at AVCX Cryptics. fund.nnaf.org/tpfa6

Photo of Nate smiling and wearing a baseball hat

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Just finished 12th(!) out of 600ish solvers in my divisions (138th out of 800ish overall) at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament 🤯🏆 #acpt Such a great weekend filled with tremendously lovely humans! 💕

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

So grateful to have one of my puzzles featured in the May 2026 issue of @gamesmagazine.bsky.social 🙌🤯

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Midis for Minnesota @midisforminnesota.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

We are excited to announce Midis for Minnesota, an upcoming crossword pack by Minnesota constructors. Proceeds will support immigrant families in Minnesota who have been impacted by ICE activity. Pack will be released in late April. A preview puzzle by Zhouqin Burnikel is available now.

midisforminnesota.com

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Dr. Stephanie @punkrockscience.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

It is *fascinating* to me how quickly some people have gone completely from “we all must work in the office! human collaboration is vital and only happens in person!” to “I can replace all these pesky people with chatbots!” Definitely some commentary there about our society and who gets to choose.

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These Puzzles Fund Abortion @tpfa.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

IT’S HERE! 😮 We are happy to announce the release of our sixth crossword puzzle pack. Folks who donated during the presale period will receive their puzzles today. If you haven’t donated yet, head to fund.nnaf.org/tpfa6 !

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These Puzzles Fund Abortion @tpfa.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

We have added two sample puzzles to our website! The first is this tiny lil’ cryptic from the one and only @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social So cute, so small! Solve at abortionpuzzles.com

Screenshot of sample puzzles on our website, showing the grid of a small 5x7 crossword. The highlighted clue is [Swell uplifted heads of beneficial abortion fund (3)]

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Want to do something good amidst all the awful? Donate to support reproductive rights and you’ll receive #TPFA6 when it drops! As a bonus, I made a mini cryptic for the pack, which you can solve here: puzzleme.amuselabs.com/pmm/crosswor...

puzzleme.amuselabs.com

Play this Crossword - Little TPFA6 Cryptic

Little TPFA6 Cryptic

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Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 24/02/2026

I'm constantly trying (/failing) to get this point across. If you're a trained expert in a field, then it may be worthwhile to question the scientific consensus of your peers. If you're not, the scientific consensus is absolutely the best you can do and it's arbitrary foolishness to disregard it.

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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

I can’t not watch every reaction video to the Bad Bunny halftime show - so much heart and people feeling seen 💕🇵🇷

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Matt @disastromatic.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Hey this is really fun! It's almost as though multiliguistic multiculturalism is one of the best parts about living in the world today

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Incredibly grateful to be back in the @nytimes.com with my latest puzzle!

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richproulx.bsky.social @richproulx.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

The most important awards of the year are out: the 14th ORCAS. A puzzle pack of 81 nominees to benefit The Trevor Project. A star-studded show. Your walk along the black-and-white-checkerboard carpet starts here: crosswordfiend.com/14th-orca-aw...

14th ORCA AWARDS Celebrating Excellence in Crosswords

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Dan Savage @dansavage.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

I mean, someone in a position of real power needs to do something. The people of Minnesota are out in the streets doing amazing things at great personal risk. And people with actual power are doing fuck all for fear of getting yelled at by assholes in airports.

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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again. www.nature.com/immersive/d4...

This line graph illustrates the percentage change in agency staff levels from the previous year for nine major U.S. federal scientific and health organizations between the fiscal years 2016 and 2025. The agencies tracked include the CDC, Department of Energy, EPA, FDA, NASA, NIH, NIST, NOAA, and NSF. For the majority of the timeline between 2016 and 2023, the agencies show relatively stable fluctuations, generally staying within a range of +5% to -5% change per year. However, there is a dramatic and uniform plummet starting in the 2024–25 period. Every agency depicted shows a sharp downward trajectory, with staffing losses ranging from approximately -15% to over -25%. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows the most significant decline, dropping to roughly -26%, while the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shows the least severe but still substantial drop at approximately -15%.

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

New crossword cluing angle for Teyana Taylor! 🏆

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

One year gone 🏡🔥 Crappy anniversary 😢

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Nate Cardin (he/him) @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Trans Girl Scouts to order cookies from! 🏳️‍⚧️ 🍪

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