Monday, August 24, 2026 — Zing ZANG, Runner Up, 2026's Most Amusingly Named Drink Mix Contest

Steven Jopek is making his debut in the NYTimes, so kudos, congrats, huzzah, etc., etc. Although after the fact the crossword seemed like a typical Monday, during the solve it seemed to put up just a bit more resistance than usual, although, of course, YMMV*.One thing that stood out: we were impressed by the progression represented by 44A, She, in Portuguese, ELA, 40D, Actor Idris, ELBA, and 57A, Jazz great Fitzgerald, ELLA. It's that attention to detail that gets you, well, published in the NYTimes.  😀 We've also picked our JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) for the week, and had to reach waaaaay back to find it. How far back? Let's just say that we are currently seeking chiropractic treatment to recover from the effort. Medic!Show note imagery: ANGELFALLS, Canaima National Park, Venezuela, the world's tallest waterfall.*or if you're on the Metric system, YKMVWe love feedback! Send us a text...Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected], we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!