Crossword puzzles are equal parts poetic and perplexing—pop culture, literature, and Latin plant names battle it out for space on the grid. One minute you’re cruising, the next you’re asking if emmer is actually a word.
Finishing the last square feels amazing (truly), but the real magic is in the solving—every clue a riddle, every answer a tiny win. (“Oh, you didn’t know emmer is an ancient grain? Allow me to explain 5-Down in great detail…”)
The New York Times keeps things creative with twists like Strands, a daily word search built around themes. One of my favorites, Who on Earth, used names tied to nature—Brook, Willow, Laurel, Holly, even Clementine. Clever, surprising, and proof that words have more connections than we think. When it finally clicks, it’s satisfying. Crosswords teach patience.
Here’s to the humble crossword: part brain workout, part life coach hiding in 8-Across.
Clue: Instagram dye run filter
Answer: COLORLEAK
*Ran my illustration through Instagram’s Color leak filter :)
Original IG post by @colinking. Adapted my version with Iceland Poppies among other scribbly edits.
NYT’s Who On Earth December 24, 2024 puzzle (hints + answers via LifeHacker)
