Now for Something Completely Different

Some of my favorite crossword constructors like to post free puzzles on their websites, too.

Patrick Blindauer (whose name is an anagram for Brain Duel) posts a free monthly puzzle.

Matt Gaffney posts a new themeless puzzle every day, and hosts a weekly crossword puzzle contest.

Brendan Emmet Quigley, one of the most prolific constructors of all time, posts a themeless puzzle on Mondays and a themed puzzle on Thursdays.

Ben Tausig's Ink Well crosswords appear all over the North America in alternative weeklies, and on his website.

And Trip Payne posts them whenever the hell he feels like it, because he's Trip Payne, and he can do that.

Now, normally I wouldn't do a themeless puzzle. But this week I did.

And you know, I just had to put a StearsWords spin on it, so you'll find quite a bit more word play than you would find in a regular themeless puzzle. The majority of the clues end with a question mark, which solvers know indicates a bit of linguistic gymnastics.

• Click here to solve interactively.

• Click here for a print-friendly version.

• Click here to see the answer grid.  *Check back on Friday, August 23 for the answer grid.