The Final StearsWords Post

It's time for a change. As of this year, I've been constructing crossword puzzles for twenty years.

I've loved every minute of it. I've loved thinking up interesting themes, creating the grids, and I've especially loved seeing my name in print...on all those lovely checks.

But now, it's time for a change.

I started writing because it was easy for me, and I was good at it. But secretly, I've always loved math. Numbers are the musical notes with which the Universe writes symphonies, and math is the language the Universe speaks.

It's no surprise that I started constructing crosswords, that rare combination of linguistics and mathematics.

To me, mathematics is the greatest puzzle of all. It's the original massively multiplayer game, and it's a game that anyone can play.

And so, I'm going back to college to learn how to teach people the rules of the most incredible game of all time. 

Happy solving,

Robin

Bert's Jobs in "Mary Poppins"

This week’s StearsWords crossword puzzle is dedicated to my nephew, Jon. As a child, he loved “Mary Poppins,” and this week, StearsWords pays tribute to the 50^th anniversary of “Mary Poppins.”

Mary Poppins scares me a little, as Christopher Rule pointed out in his recut trailer for YouTube.

Within the grid are the four jobs that Bert performed in the movie, in the order in which he performs them. Bert seems to be a nice guy. So, take this week’s puzzle with “A Spoonful of Sugar,” and “Stay Awake” long enough for a “Jolly Holiday” of solving! (“I Love to Laugh,” don’t you?)

• Click here to solve interactively.

• Click here for a print-friendly version.

Click here to see the answer grid. *Check back on Friday, August 29 for the answer grid.

"TV Emoji 101" Answers

TV Emoji 101

Back by popular demand! This week's StearsWords puzzle is another emoji quiz with a crossword grid. The theme of this puzzle is "TV Emoji 101."

• Click here for a print-friendly version.

• Click here to see the answer grid. *Check back on Friday, August 22 for the answer grid.

"Ampersand" Answers

The answers to "&" are here.

Robin Williams Tribute

Robin Williams said, "When in doubt, go with a dick joke." Getting over his death will be...long and hard.

I hope you enjoy this tribute to Robin Williams' amazing life. It's too big to be interactive, but a .pdf version is here:

• Click here for a print-friendly version.

• Click here to see the answer grid.

Ampersand

The word ampersand is a corruption of the phrase "and per se and." It's also a hint to this week's puzzle theme. As promised, one of my favorite entertainers is featured, with a bit of one of her songs.

No more hints...you'll figure it out.

• Click here to solve interactively.

• Click here for a print-friendly version.

• Click here to see the answer grid.*Check back on Friday, August 15 for the answer grid.