Here’s a poem which has become trapped in a vicious circus (and other phrases of a similar elk).

Gnomon issue 4 is coming in one week, with five more variety cryptics. Now featuring more blocks than ever! With puzzles by @longyfan.bsky.social @matttheshirt.bsky.social @therackenfracker.bsky.social and @juffowup.bsky.social

Solving, constructing for, and editing for @avcx.bsky.social has been one of the greatest joys of my puzzling life. If you’re looking for a great gift that supports independent media, check out this fantastic subscription - minis, full-size crosswords, cryptics, and trivia to your inbox weekly.

puzzle constructors, please update your wordlists accordingly

Always love @francisheaney.bsky.social's difficulty ratings! I've got this week's AVCX cryptic -- free to subscribers, or buy for $1! Big thanks for the expert editing, @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social, such a pleasure to work with you. avxwords.com/buy-individu...

Favorite new reaction image

Excellent post on calibrating difficulty in cryptic crosswords! To these I would add 1) if you can, put your puzzle away for a week and then solve to better see it from the perspective of a solver; and 2) ask someone else to test-solve for you and report on difficulty especially.

the legend lived [Beastie Boys] ON from the chippewa on [Beastie Boys] DOWN

A plea for help. 🙏 One of the lead playtesters of Blue Prince, Iggy, has polycystic kidney disease and has only a few months to find a living kidney donor. His story, contact and donor information can all be found on iggyland.org Please help us in sharing his story and getting the word out.💙

With 🇺🇸 Thanksgiving being 3 weeks away and SNAP being a shit show—but with some retailers and nonprofits offering turkeys for low or no cost—I'd love to get my free cookbook #AfterTheFeast to as many folks as possible. Would you kindly share it here and elsewhere? 🙏 ivacheung.com/2025/09/afte...

It's a good time to support the good people of AVCX Cryptics, as well as the good people of AVCX in general.

AVCX, the world’s finest puzzles and games service, and an independent media venture, has done some really cool stuff this year! A thread to brag (and to hype our mini subscription drive) …

My fifth Hallowe'en special for the Browser is up! If the tone is melancholy, it's because the Browser cryptic crossword is ending as of December. Huge thanks to Uri and Dan for providing such a fabulous venue for North American cryptics, helping so many of us get our start and practice our chops.

Crossword's conclusion leaves spirit low (3) @danfeyer.bsky.social at The Browser Crossword was the first editor to take a chance on me as a beginning cryptic setter, so I thought I'd make a little tribute puzzle on the blog. I hope it brightens your day! squarepursuit.com/2025/10/22/s...

Lil AVCX is looking for new and emerging constructors to be a part of our 2026 constructing roster. Deadline for applications is November 14, 2025. Here's the information: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

I've got a witchy puzzle for spooky season in the WSJ this weekend! Circular grids are scaaaaaaaary stuff, kids... Free to download here: prod-i.a.dj.com/public/resou...

hey canadian friends you can tell the govt what you think about AI (🚮)! survey closes at the end of the month. it's a tad long but worth it. #CanPoli ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ised/en...

I made a li'l cookbook! *After the Feast* suggests ways to use up leftovers from your big turkey dinners. The PDF is FREE. If you buy a print copy, $2 will support food security initiatives through the Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre. Please spread the word! 🍗 ivacheung.com/2025/09/afte...

I knew the first half of this story— that Gary Larsen’s cartoon joking Dr. Goodall was sleeping with chimpanzees caused her Institute to lawyer up only for her to find the comic super amusing upon her return from the field— but I’d never heard Larsen got attacked by a chimpanzee!

First full issue of The Gnomon is live now, with five puzzles from @longyfan.bsky.social , @bewilderingly.bsky.social, and @juffowup.bsky.social , and from guest editors @joeadultman.bsky.social and Skaldskaparmal. www.gnomoncryptics.com

Only three days left to support These Puzzles Fund Abortion, a labor of love that has raised over $300,000 for abortion access since 2020. Please chip in to help us meet our goal of $35,000 for this year — we are only $1000 away! fund.nnaf.org/campaign/the...

This was a great read!

Want to hear a cool story about reproductive justice, mutual aid, and crossword puzzles? Let me tell you about These Puzzles Fund Abortion (www.abortionpuzzles.com / @tpfa.bsky.social), a crossword puzzle fundraiser that has raised over $350,000 in five years for abortion funds. 1/9

Just watched this insightful and very funny talk about crossword editing and the constructor's voice by @malaika-h.bsky.social and you should go watch it too! youtu.be/377nX-dY3II?...

✨Constructor Spotlight✨ Sara Goodchild (she/her, @sarathegood.bsky.social) is an editor & puzzlemaker based in Toronto. She’s honoured to be contributing to TPFA for a 2nd time: abortion is health care! Sara co-created a brilliant puzzle with Steve Mossberg. Available at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa!

APRIL CARTOON: ivacheung.com/2025/04/conf... #AmEditing

I always knew I was a cryptic crossweirdo, but now it’s official! It was such a pleasure to work with Dob, Momes, and Bob. Check out the puzzle on Patreon!

Our second sample puzzle is now available to solve for free on our website! Check out the cryptic puzzle “Lessons in Chemistry?” by @jessshulman.bsky.social at www.abortionpuzzles.com! (& if you like this puzzle, you’ll love the 20+ other puzzles you’ll get when you donate at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa!)

Buy, solve, and support the hell out of “A Trans Person Made Your Puzzle,” a new crossword puzzle pack from @adanicklmao.bsky.social sites.google.com/view/transxw...

Today's Cryptic Crossweird puzzle is from friend of the stream @benzimmer.bsky.social! We're honored to know and have the opportunity to work with such a smart cookie! Check it out here: tinyurl.com/ydu4dz3w

I also have a really fun variety cryptic in there with @sarathegood.bsky.social, which was such a treat to make!

We are happy to announce that our crossword pack is now available! Thank you to those who donated during our presale; you will receive the puzzles today. We are currently at 15% of our fundraising goal! Check us out at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa if you haven’t donated yet!

We are entering the final week of TPFA pre-sale. We are so excited to share these #crosswords with you on Friday! fund.nnaf.org/tpfa

Proud to be part of this important initiative again! Please donate!

Canadians, you may not like or always agree with them. But we really have to do our best to protect the CBC from Conservatives or anyone who wants to get rid of them/cut their funding. #CDNpoli

I went to the Science Museum yesterday and as well as having a ball with my nearly four year old in their amazing child spaces (god love free London museums) I was utterly charmed by this caption.

Our new policy is rolling out to solvers by email now. It matters to us that our solvers be assured that the AVCX has a moral grounding. Though we’re probably too small to matter to the right (tho who really knows), we feel that people have a right to know where institutions stand.

🚨🚨🚨 new cryptic outlet alert! 🚨🚨🚨 Proud to announce Cryptic Crossweird, a venue for midsized cryptics at $2.50/mo. For launch, we have a special 4-puzzle pack featuring: @fabioethics.bsky.social, @bewilderingly.bsky.social, @joeadultman.bsky.social and us! patreon.com/crypticcross... 💖

@sarathegood.bsky.social NOW it’s the most wonderful time of the year… thank you Fraser Simpson!

Year three at Square Chase is in the books, and I'm doing a festive dropping-of-the-paywall for the final 2024 puzzle. UK friends, this is your chance to see what I do back home. All other cryptic-curious crossworders, come on down. Everybody is welcome! patreon.com/squarechase

Really exciting update on the AVCX subscription drive: one generous donor has given *$5,000* to the AVCX Cryptic! Along with other money on hand, this means that Cryptic is now fully funded for 2025. !!!

Great puzzle today, and free to all! Re-post or whatever we call it over here!

Delighted to be appearing in The Browser with my fourth annual Hallowe'en-themed cryptic. Hope it gives you a thrill! thebrowser.com/crossword-ar...

Won’t you take me to

Me when I take a selfie with my kids.

in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, there is a museum called the Museum of Illusions, and it has come to my attention that this is the URL of their website

me when my buddy cy is about to make a mistake www.britannica.com/animal/cynod...

I've got two new variety cryptics out this month! "Get Organized" in the Wall Street Journal (free to download) and an ABC Jigsaw in AVCX (available to subscribers or for a $1.00 one-off fee). Hope you will give them a try! www.wsj.com/articles/get... avxwords.com/puzzles/1649/

Well this is just a wonderful read!