I'm feeling pretty busy this week with the spring semester starting up and working on some other big projects, so here's a small, easy themeless puzzle I've had in a folder for a while. It's just a 9x9 puzzle so I tried to squeeze as many full-length 9s in there as I could without leading to any unfun fill, and that led to this diagonally-symmetric grid. Enjoy the solve, and share if you do! Constructive feedback in the comments is always welcome. Download links:   [ puz ]   [ pdf ]   [ solution ]        Direct link: [ play online ]

  I like experimenting with different size grids that support theme sets that probably otherwise wouldn't appear in standard puzzle outlets. This one started with 19-Across, and then I found 24-Across and 36-Across in a word list, and that seemed like enough for a puzzle, even though it's not a particularly inventive theme. Maybe this is more like a midpoint between a fully themeless puzzle (with no "connective tissue" among the entries) and a fully themed puzzle (with a tightly-defined, exhaustive set of theme entries); hence, the "lightly themed" tag on this post. However you interpret it, I think there are some fun entries and clues in this one, and solving will hopefully teach you some things and tickle your brain. Enjoy the solve, and share if you do! Constructive feedback in the comments is always welcome. Download links:   [ puz ]   [ pdf ]   [ solution ]        Direct link: [ play online ]

This is a midi-sized, lightly-themed puzzle about which I will say no more than this, to avoid revealing anything. When you're done with the puzzle and want to understand the title , paste this URL in your browser, and delete the spaces...  https:// youtu.be / J465BEUDJnY Enjoy the solve, and share if you do! Constructive feedback in the comments is always welcome. Download links:   [ puz ]   [ pdf ]   [ solution ]        Direct link: [ play online ]

Just a little themeless puzzle this week. Nothing super tricky, I don't think! Hope it gives you a quick and fun mental workout. Regarding the clue for 1-Down: I do highly recommend the Secret Coders  series of comics / graphic novels! (The author,  Gene Luen Yang , has lots of other great work, as well.) I first encountered them while browsing the children's section of our local library as my daughter played nearby. I ended up reading them on my own just for kicks because she was way too young at the time, but I enjoyed them so much that I thought, "Y'know, I should read these to  her when she's ready." Well, we just finished the 6th and final book recently, and it was so awesome and fun to read them to her and do silly voices for all the characters. We both had a blast. Check them out if you're looking for an engaging and entertaining way to introduce children to computer programming. Enjoy the solve, and share if you do! Constructive feedback in the com...