tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118948106737627272024-03-14T03:14:55.002-04:00StearsWordsCrossword puzzles, and whatever crosses my mind.
Every week, I post a new crossword puzzle on my website.
Follow me on Twitter @RobinStears or Tumblr http://stearswords.tumblr.com/ or visit my website for more puzzles.
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-70383253530299656262014-09-13T11:14:00.001-04:002014-09-13T11:14:03.601-04:00The Final StearsWords PostIt's time for a change. As of this year, I've been constructing crossword puzzles for twenty years.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
But now, it's time for a change.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
It's no surprise that I started constructing crosswords, that rare combination of linguistics and mathematics.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
And so, I'm going back to college to learn how to teach people the rules of the most incredible game of all time. <br />
<br />
Happy solving,<br />
<br />
RobinRobin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-28962711933406970002014-08-24T07:42:00.001-04:002014-08-24T07:42:28.081-04:00Bert'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<sup>th</sup> anniversary of “Mary Poppins.”
<br />
<br />
Mary Poppins scares me a little, as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2T5_0AGdFic">Christopher
Rule pointed out in his recut trailer for YouTube</a>.<br />
<br />
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?)<br />
<div style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/bert-s-jobs-in-mary-poppins/Berts%20Jobs%20Puzzle%20Screenshot.JPG?attredirects=0"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/_/rsrc/1408806167584/home/free-crosswords/bert-s-jobs-in-mary-poppins/Berts%20Jobs%20Puzzle%20Screenshot.JPG?height=320&width=247" width="247" /></a></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/bert-s-jobs-in-mary-poppins/Berts%20Jobs%20in%20Mary%20Poppins.puz?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here to solve interactively.</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/bert-s-jobs-in-mary-poppins/Berts%20Jobs%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here for a print-friendly version</a>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
Click here to see the answer grid. *Check back on Friday, August 29 for the answer grid.Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-15671446500011463742014-08-22T07:32:00.001-04:002014-08-22T07:32:47.905-04:00"TV Emoji 101" Answers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SUdxT3GQxTM/U_cqQ3v7VhI/AAAAAAAAAfM/xenlLSf3dzE/s1600/TV%2BEmoji%2B101%2BAnswers%2Bscreenshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SUdxT3GQxTM/U_cqQ3v7VhI/AAAAAAAAAfM/xenlLSf3dzE/s1600/TV%2BEmoji%2B101%2BAnswers%2Bscreenshot.JPG" height="640" width="498" /></a></div>
<br />Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-50951772619172308602014-08-17T10:29:00.002-04:002014-08-17T10:29:37.932-04:00TV Emoji 101<div>
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." </div>
<br /> <div style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/tv-emoji-101/TV%20Emoji%20101%20Puzzle%20screenshot.jpg?attredirects=0"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/_/rsrc/1408285513472/home/free-crosswords/tv-emoji-101/TV%20Emoji%20101%20Puzzle%20screenshot.jpg?height=181&width=400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxzdGVhcnN3b3JkczIyNHxneDo1OTNlODNiNWNhYTUzMGFl">Click here for a print-friendly version</a>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li>Click here to see the answer grid. *Check back on Friday, August 22 for the answer grid.</li>
</ul>
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-28606452974492668382014-08-17T10:18:00.002-04:002014-08-17T10:18:56.427-04:00"Ampersand" AnswersThe answers to "&" are <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/ampersand/Ampersand%20Answers.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XMsKykBa1m0/U_C5s1XgSmI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/plEZN-9N51Y/s1600/Ampersand%2BAnswers%2BScreenshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XMsKykBa1m0/U_C5s1XgSmI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/plEZN-9N51Y/s1600/Ampersand%2BAnswers%2BScreenshot.JPG" height="640" width="518" /></a></div>
<br />Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-59193148315925619262014-08-12T18:22:00.003-04:002014-08-12T18:22:40.934-04:00Robin Williams Tribute<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Robin Williams said, "When in doubt, go with a dick joke." Getting over his death will be...long and hard.<br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I hope you enjoy this tribute to Robin Williams' amazing life. It's too big to be interactive, but a .pdf version is here:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/Robin%20Williams%20Trivia%20101%20puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here for a print-friendly version.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxzdGVhcnN3b3JkczIyNHxneDo3M2YwZjFlNzM4NGJmZmZk">Click here to see the answer grid.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-20107918292471298262014-08-10T08:19:00.002-04:002014-08-10T08:19:41.333-04:00Ampersand<div>
The word <i>ampersand</i> is a corruption of the phrase "and <i>per se</i>
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.<br /><br />No more hints...you'll figure it out.
</div>
<br /> <div style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<div style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/ampersand/Ampersand%20Puzzle%20Screenshot.JPG?attredirects=0"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/_/rsrc/1407672827565/home/free-crosswords/ampersand/Ampersand%20Puzzle%20Screenshot.JPG?height=400&width=306" width="306" /></a></div>
</div>
<br /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/ampersand/Ampersand.puz?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here to solve interactively.</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/ampersand/Ampersand%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here for a print-friendly version</a>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li>Click here to see the answer grid.*Check back on Friday, August 15 for the answer grid.</li>
</ul>
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-39849266734674716212014-08-08T10:06:00.001-04:002014-08-08T10:06:26.034-04:00Movie Emoji 101 AnswersYou'll also find a link to a .pdf on my website: https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/movie-emoji-101<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-njnbi0fgEtY/U-TZRArKh_I/AAAAAAAAAeE/oIU2LMah5Ms/s1600/Emoji+101+Answers+Screenshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-njnbi0fgEtY/U-TZRArKh_I/AAAAAAAAAeE/oIU2LMah5Ms/s1600/Emoji+101+Answers+Screenshot.jpg" height="640" width="491" /></a></div>
<br />Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-88586406266735179732014-08-03T07:59:00.000-04:002014-08-03T07:59:02.585-04:00Movie Emoji 101<div>
<div>
<div>
And now for something completely different...emoji! Those
little smiley faces and other pictures got their start in Japan, but
people are communicating with them all over the world now, and on June
16, the Unicode consortium announced the addition of over 270 new emoji.
Emoji are a fun way to express yourself, or recreate famous paintings,
like Michelangelo's<i> <a href="http://emojipoems.tumblr.com/post/38748388534/after-michelangelo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Creation of Adam</a></i>. <br />
</div>
Depending on your operating system, the pictures I've used may
look slightly different from the ones on your phone. If you need a
little help, <a href="http://iemoji.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iEmoji.com</a> has a handy look-up guide. <br />
</div>
This week's StearsWords puzzle, "Movie Emoji 101," can't be
solved interactively, because my software doesn't support Unicode, but
I've provided a .pdf with full-color pictures. Guess the movie title
represented by the images, and fill in the grid, which is on the last
page all by itself. <br />
</div>
<br /> <div style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/movie-emoji-101/Emoji%20101%20Puzzle%20Screenshot.jpg?attredirects=0"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/_/rsrc/1407066786202/home/free-crosswords/movie-emoji-101/Emoji%20101%20Puzzle%20Screenshot.jpg?height=133&width=320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/movie-emoji-101/Emoji%20101%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here for a print-friendly version</a>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li>
Click here to see the answer grid. *Check back on Friday, August 8 for the answer grid.</li>
</ul>
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-27897195262659678822014-08-01T11:28:00.000-04:002014-08-01T11:28:06.752-04:00"The Asylum" AnswersThe answers to last week's StearsWords crossword puzzle:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJHpJZyD9w4/U9ux5yVr4pI/AAAAAAAAAcs/ecYSjTwZeiY/s1600/The+Asylum+Answers+Screenshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJHpJZyD9w4/U9ux5yVr4pI/AAAAAAAAAcs/ecYSjTwZeiY/s1600/The+Asylum+Answers+Screenshot.JPG" height="640" width="486" /></a></div>
<br />Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-80052878873325432962014-07-27T09:14:00.002-04:002014-07-27T09:14:06.312-04:00StearsWords Volume 4 is on sale now!<div class="post_body">
This digital collection of 50 original,
never-before-published themed crossword puzzles is a .zip folder
containing 25 15x15 and 15 21x21 crossword puzzles, ready for you to
solve interactively on your mobile device or print to solve later.<br />
As usual, StearsWords crossword puzzles are not copyrighted, so share them with your friends.<br />
<img alt="image" class="toggle_inline_image inline_image constrained_image" src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/aa8f52768d7fd12a6d8d5ea52e169440/tumblr_inline_n9dgq0tvLO1qbybj2.jpg" /><br />
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/buy-stearswords-crossword-puzzle-books" target="_blank">https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/buy-stearswords-crossword-puzzle-books</a></div>
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-77375976252944902532014-07-27T06:58:00.002-04:002014-07-27T06:58:54.607-04:00The Asylum<div>
This week, “Sharknado 2: The Second One” premiers on the
Syfy channel, apparently because there were so many unanswered questions from
“<a href="http://youtu.be/ARpJBSTmcJ0">Sharknado</a>.”<br />
Did you know that The Asylum, creators of such mockbusters
as “Sharknado,” “Age of Tomorrow,” and “Nazis at the Center of the Earth” have
never lost money on a movie?
<br />
Filmmakers David
Michael Latt, David Rimawi, and Sherri Strain founded The Asylum, and since
1997, have been producing straight-to-video low-budget films. The similarities
between their titles and those of major studios are not very subtle, which
means this week’s StearsWords puzzle has one of the easiest themes to parse.
Seriously, don’t over-think it.
<br />
Happy solving!
</div>
<br /> <br /><div style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/the-asylum/The%20Asylum%20Screenshot.JPG?attredirects=0"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/_/rsrc/1406373776728/home/free-crosswords/the-asylum/The%20Asylum%20Screenshot.JPG?height=205&width=320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/the-asylum/The%20Asylum.puz?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here to solve interactively</a>.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/the-asylum/The%20Asylum%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here for a print-friendly version</a>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li>
Click here to see the answer grid. *Check back on Friday, August 1 for the answer grid, or <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/register-for-free-stearswords-crossword-puzzles">join Team StearsWords</a>.</li>
</ul>
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-23078937527701232342014-07-27T06:57:00.002-04:002014-07-27T06:57:33.125-04:00"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" Answers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rJrInlMTRXM/U9TbBTBeV8I/AAAAAAAAAcY/MYd2eHHsVys/s1600/Harry+Potter+Answers+Screenshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rJrInlMTRXM/U9TbBTBeV8I/AAAAAAAAAcY/MYd2eHHsVys/s1600/Harry+Potter+Answers+Screenshot.JPG" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
<br />Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-72548773731447555432014-07-20T08:20:00.001-04:002014-07-20T08:20:12.197-04:00"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"<div>
<div>
<div>
Can you believe it's already been seven years since <i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</i>
was published? And if that doesn't make you feel old, how about this:
The first book in the Harry Potter series was published seventeen years
ago.<br />
</div>
When the first book came out, I started reading it to my
daughter, who was in elementary school at the time. By the time the
final book in the series came out, she was reading them by herself and
no longer asking me "What does this word mean?" We even went to a Harry
Potter party in honor of the <i>Deathly Hallows,</i> and she was delighted to be permitted to stay up until midnight--she even dressed up like Professor <span>Sybill Trelawney! <br />
</span></div>
<span>This week's StearsWords puzzle pays tribute to
the final book in the Harry Potter series, with a Trivia 101 crossword.
The puzzle features 101 trivia questions related to <i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.</i> I hope you'll share it with your Potterhead friends; that's why my puzzles are always copyright-free. </span><br /><br />Happy solving!</div>
<br /> <br /><div style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/-harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows/Harry%20Potter%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/_/rsrc/1405858578166/home/free-crosswords/-harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows/Harry%20Potter%20Puzzle%20Screenshot.JPG?height=205&width=320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/-harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows/Harry%20Potter.puz?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here to solve interactively.</a></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/-harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows/Harry%20Potter%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here for a print-friendly version.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li>
Click here to see the answer grid. *Check back on Friday, July 25 for the answer grid, or <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/register-for-free-stearswords-crossword-puzzles">join Team StearsWords</a>.</li>
</ul>
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-46357485897816392152014-07-18T08:40:00.002-04:002014-07-18T08:40:48.478-04:00"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" answersHere's the answer grid. Yes, I know, the puns were terrible. Thank you to everyone who pointed that out. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zJ4e5PU7R8/U8kVtd6sb-I/AAAAAAAAAcM/7sF0PUGqrjQ/s1600/Planet+of+the+Apes+Answers+Screenshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zJ4e5PU7R8/U8kVtd6sb-I/AAAAAAAAAcM/7sF0PUGqrjQ/s1600/Planet+of+the+Apes+Answers+Screenshot.JPG" height="640" width="492" /></a></div>
<br />Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-89007683901662543352014-07-13T08:16:00.002-04:002014-07-13T08:16:43.133-04:00"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes"<div>
I loved the old “Planet of the Apes” movie series, and I’m
loving the new series just as much. Clearly not playing second banana to its
predecessor, it’s chimply awesome! Gun-toting, horseback-riding chimps and
gorilla warfare…it’s a great ape movie. <br />
<br />
If you think those puns were bad, wait until you solve this week's puzzle. <br />
<br />
And would somebody please give Andy Serkis an Oscar
already?!<br />
<br /><br />Happy solving!</div>
<br /> <br /><div style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/-dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes/Planet%20of%20the%20Apes%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/_/rsrc/1405253549045/home/free-crosswords/-dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes/Planet%20of%20the%20Apes%20Puzzle%20Screenshot.JPG?height=206&width=320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/-dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes/Planet%20of%20the%20Apes.puz?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here to solve interactively.</a></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/-dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes/Planet%20of%20the%20Apes%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here for a print-friendly version.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li>
Click here to see the answer grid. *Check back on Friday, July 18 for the answer grid, or <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/register-for-free-stearswords-crossword-puzzles">join Team StearsWords</a>.</li>
</ul>
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-37719805820211019832014-06-29T07:11:00.003-04:002014-06-29T07:11:46.522-04:00"Transformers"<div>
<div>
Much like corduroy pillows, Transformers are making headlines this
weekend! "Transformers: Age of Extinction" opened last Friday, and StearsWords
pays tribute with a crossword puzzle. And because I really like
Transformers, it's an extra-large puzzle. <br />
</div>
But it's not a trivia puzzle. Just something for fun. I hope you enjoy my sense of humor as much as I do. <br /><br />Happy solving!</div>
<br /> <br /><div style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/transformers/Transformers%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/_/rsrc/1404039917539/home/free-crosswords/transformers/Transformers%20Puzzle%20Screenshot.JPG?height=206&width=320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/transformers/Transformers.puz?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here to solve interactively.</a></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/transformers/Transformers%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here for a print-friendly version.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li>
Click here to see the answer grid. *Check back on Friday, July 4, or <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/register-for-free-stearswords-crossword-puzzles">join Team Stearswords</a> to get the answers.</li>
</ul>
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-21486291067707208842014-06-27T08:22:00.001-04:002014-06-27T08:22:04.928-04:00"It's a Contest!" Answers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-keH0aSA0F4s/U61hsoY7C4I/AAAAAAAAAb4/30tsDGZK9UM/s1600/Contest+Answers+Screenshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-keH0aSA0F4s/U61hsoY7C4I/AAAAAAAAAb4/30tsDGZK9UM/s1600/Contest+Answers+Screenshot.JPG" height="640" width="490" /></a></div>
What do PLAYING CARDS, SPIRAL NOTEBOOK, DIGITAL CAMERA, CAN OPENER, COMPUTER MOUSE, PAIR OF SCISSORS, and BALLPOINT PEN have in common? <br /><br />These are all things that drive left-handed people crazy. <br /><br />Nobody won the contest, so I'm going out for coffee by myself. :)<br /><br />Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-41253251342531862362014-06-23T07:38:00.000-04:002014-06-23T07:38:03.414-04:00Everybody’s a Winner, or Why I’m Giving Away a Crossword Collection<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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This June marks a very special anniversary for me. Twenty
years ago, I constructed and submitted my very first crossword puzzle—about a
year later, I actually got paid for one.
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It all started in August 1991, when my daughter was born,
and I decided I wanted to be home to take care of her. My husband and I left
our home in New Hampshire, and moved to Ohio to be near my family, and for
about two years, I was a moderately happy stay-at-home mommy. </div>
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But I could feel my brain turning to cottage cheese. I’d
always been active, and I’d been working a steady job of one kind or another
since I was 14 years old. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed
something to do to fill the naptime/preschool hours, and I turned to solving
crossword puzzles. I filled up dozens of crossword puzzle books, and my mother
suggested that I try to construct a puzzle. </div>
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Armed with a stack of dictionaries, graph paper, pencils,
and erasers, I finally managed to construct a reasonably interesting 15x15 puzzle
in about a week. I typed it on a typewriter and filled in the black spaces with
a Sharpie marker, and mailed it. Then, I set to work on the next one. I’d spend
hours at the library, researching and looking things up. Eventually, I got
pretty good, and it only took me a few days to make a 15x15 puzzle; but it
still took more than a week to make a 21x21. </div>
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I saved up the checks I received, and bought a computer. The
first thing I did was create a clue database. The second thing I did was create
a template for the grids. And then I started making more puzzles. </div>
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<br /></div>
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These days, thanks to Crossword Compiler and the Internet, I
can whip together a reasonably interesting 21x21 puzzle in less than an hour. I’ve
long since given up the stacks of dictionaries in favor of The Free Dictionary
and Wikipedia. </div>
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<br /></div>
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So, that’s why I’m giving away this collection of crosswords
to anyone who enters my contest this week. It’s an anniversary present, from me
to crossword lovers. </div>
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-16885114685977573712014-06-22T06:30:00.002-04:002014-06-22T06:30:40.422-04:00It's a Contest!<div>
This week's StearsWords puzzle has a mystery
theme.
The seven theme entries all have something in common. Figure
out what it is, and send me an email. <br />
Your email should contain a few words explaining the theme,
not a completed grid. Emails that contain picture files or have picture files
attached will not be eligible to win. <br />
Everyone who enters will receive <i>StearsWords: Volume 4</i>, a digital collection of 50 original
crossword puzzles.<i> </i><br />
A randomly selected winner will receive Starbucks® gift
card. <br />
Answers must be received by Thursday, June 26, 2014, 11:59
pm (EDT). Answers will be posted on Friday, June 27, 2014.<br />
Happy solving!</div>
<br /> <br /><div style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/it-s-a-contest-1/Contest%20Puzzle%20Screenshot.JPG?attredirects=0"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/_/rsrc/1403431747762/home/free-crosswords/it-s-a-contest-1/Contest%20Puzzle%20Screenshot.JPG?height=206&width=320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/it-s-a-contest-1/Whats%20the%20Theme.puz?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here to solve interactively.</a></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/it-s-a-contest-1/Whats%20the%20Theme%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here for a print-friendly version.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li>
Click here to see the answer grid. *Check back on Friday, June 27, or <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/register-for-free-stearswords-crossword-puzzles">join Team Stearswords</a> to get the answers.</li>
</ul>
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-63994525959886114352014-06-20T08:20:00.000-04:002014-06-20T08:20:03.440-04:00Happy Father's Day Answers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VVUR0Hh9Qy8/U6QmyETD1nI/AAAAAAAAAbo/C-jjh5mDsBs/s1600/Fathers+Day+Answers+Screenshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VVUR0Hh9Qy8/U6QmyETD1nI/AAAAAAAAAbo/C-jjh5mDsBs/s1600/Fathers+Day+Answers+Screenshot.JPG" height="640" width="491" /></a></div>
<br />Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-43420147943279083382014-06-15T07:25:00.001-04:002014-06-15T07:25:10.787-04:00Happy Father's Day<div>
Being a dad is a lot like living in a frat house: everything is
broken, you never get enough sleep, and there's a lot of throwing up.
StearsWords celebrates Father's Day with an extra-large crossword.
Solvers will discover a secret message that dads will understand. As my
dad always used to say, "Go ask your mother." </div>
<br /> <br /><div style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/father-s-day-2014/Fathers%20Day%20Puzzle%20Screenshot.JPG?attredirects=0"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/_/rsrc/1402831187656/home/free-crosswords/father-s-day-2014/Fathers%20Day%20Puzzle%20Screenshot.JPG?height=206&width=320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/father-s-day-2014/Fathers%20Day.puz?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here to solve interactively.</a></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/father-s-day-2014/Fathers%20Day%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here for a print-friendly version.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li>
Click here to see the answer grid. *Check back on Friday, June 20 for the answer grid, or <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/register-for-free-stearswords-crossword-puzzles" target="_blank">join Team StearsWords</a> to get your free weekly puzzle (with the answers).</li>
</ul>
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-41989370874129135512014-06-08T07:42:00.002-04:002014-06-08T07:42:30.501-04:00Baseball Hall of Fame Trivia 100<div>
<div>
<div>
This week, StearsWords pays tribute to the boys of summer in a
Trivia 100 crossword. The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown
celebrates its 75th anniversary, and this week's StearsWords puzzle
includes some great baseball trivia about some of the Hall of Fame
members.</div>
</div>
As usual, StearsWords crossword puzzles are not copyrighted, so feel free to share them with your favorite baseball fans. </div>
<br />
<br /><div style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/baseball-hall-of-fame-trivia-100/Baseball%20HoF%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/_/rsrc/1402227362489/home/free-crosswords/baseball-hall-of-fame-trivia-100/Baseball%20HoF%20Puzzle%20Screenshot.JPG?height=206&width=320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/baseball-hall-of-fame-trivia-100/Baseball%20Hall%20of%20Fame%20Trivia%20100.ccw?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here to solve interactively.</a></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/baseball-hall-of-fame-trivia-100/Baseball%20HoF%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here for a print-friendly version.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li>
Click here to see the answer grid. *Check back on Friday, June 13 for the answer grid, or <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/register-for-free-stearswords-crossword-puzzles" target="_blank">join Team StearsWords</a> to get your free weekly puzzle (with the answers).</li>
</ul>
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-85783878832709602522014-06-06T09:51:00.002-04:002014-06-06T09:51:57.684-04:00Stephen King Trivia 100 Answers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d5f0qc96TUQ/U5HHX2wK0yI/AAAAAAAAAbY/8eCiezlK1vw/s1600/King+Trivia+Answers+Screenshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d5f0qc96TUQ/U5HHX2wK0yI/AAAAAAAAAbY/8eCiezlK1vw/s1600/King+Trivia+Answers+Screenshot.JPG" height="640" width="492" /></a></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/stephen-king-trivia-100/King%20Trivia%20100.puz?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here to solve interactively.</a></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/stephen-king-trivia-100/King%20Trivia%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here for a print-friendly version.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/stephen-king-trivia-100/King%20Trivia%20Answers.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here to see the answer grid.</a> </li>
</ul>
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211894810673762727.post-66758756209101806312014-06-01T07:02:00.001-04:002014-06-01T07:02:19.876-04:00Stephen King Trivia 100<div>
This week, StearsWords celebrates Stephen King with a Trivia 100 puzzle, just in time for his latest book release: <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18775152-mr-mercedes" rel="nofollow">Mr. Mercedes</a> </i>hits the stores on June 3. </div>
<br />
<br /><div style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/stephen-king-trivia-100/King%20Trivia%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/_/rsrc/1401620344843/home/free-crosswords/stephen-king-trivia-100/King%20Trivia%20Puzzle%20Screenshot.JPG?height=204&width=320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/stephen-king-trivia-100/King%20Trivia%20100.puz?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here to solve interactively.</a></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/free-crosswords/stephen-king-trivia-100/King%20Trivia%20Puzzle.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1">Click here for a print-friendly version.</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li>
Click here to see the answer grid. *Check back on Friday, June 6 for the answer grid, or <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stearswords224/home/register-for-free-stearswords-crossword-puzzles" target="_blank">join Team StearsWords</a> to get your free weekly puzzle (with the answers).</li>
</ul>
Robin Stearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09852304601907094487noreply@blogger.com0