Some new-to-me pretty-subtle #SanFrancisco #StreetArt this morning. Can I say it's "new to me" if I'm not sure I haven't walked right under it many times without noticing? I was walking down the Willard Street hill south of Parnassus Ave and thought Eh, why isn't that crow moving? And then I thought Hey wait, why is a twig growing out of a utility pole?
Compare and contrast: Two actual neighborhood ravens.
2026-03-22T17:55:29.942193
It is March and the lovely #EnigMarch people have challenged puzzle designers to write a puzzle inspired by today's prompt: "planet".
"Planet" is an interesting word: if you strip off the surrounding P and T, the remaining letters form a new word, "lane." Can you write words in the blanks below to form new words? If you get it right, the circled letters should spell out what the P and T do.
| Metropolis newspaper The Daily… | P L A NⒺT | Metropolis news reporter Lois |
| USA peculiar, bad clown president | T_ _◯P | Peculiar, bad (cryptic crossword slang) |
| Beer brand | P_◯_T | Muscles covered by a beer belly |
| Today's #EnigMarch _ is "planet" | P◯_ _ _T | Play around, perhaps with a puzzle idea |
| Austrian singer family | T_◯_P | Hip-hop focused on speech |
| Discworld author with some swagger | P_ _ _◯_ _ _T | Swagger, perhaps indecorous |
| Rush drummer Neil | P◯_ _T | 👂️ Drummer's most important organ? 👂️ |
Hints: rot13'd:
Solution, rot13'd:
cynaRg / Zrgebcbyvf arjfcncre Gur Qnvyl… / Zrgebcbyvf arjf ercbegre Ybvf gehZc / HFN pybja cerfvqrag / Crphyvne, onq (pelcgvp pebffjbeq fynat) cnOfg / Orre oenaq / Zhfpyrf pbirerq ol n orre oryyl cEbzcg / Gbqnl'f #RavtZnepu _ vf "cynarg" / Sebyvp geNcc / Nhfgevna fvatre snzvyl / Uvc-ubc sbphfrq ba fcrrpu cengPurgg / Qvfpjbeyq nhgube jvgu fbzr fjnttre / Fjnttre, creuncf vaqrpbebhf cRneg / Ehfu qehzzre Arvy / 👂️ Qehzzre'f zbfg vzcbegnag betna? 👂️
2026-03-22T14:18:47.377140
Today I helped pick up trash on a few blocks around the Haight/Ashbury neighborhood. Some notes:
Event organizer Cassius said: Don't bother picking up trash on Haight itself around here. The merchants' association(?) pays the city for frequent cleanups on Haight Street. Instead, get the side streets.
Eight folks showed up. Organizer, four regulars, three first-timers (including me). We went in pairs.
I heard about the event through Bay Resistance.
I didn't sign up ahead of time; I just showed up. The organization running the event, Refuse Refuse, has a creepy reputation… maybe because their website says things like
Dirty streets and neighborhoods are caused by human behavior and it's up to the individual to prevent it. By educating our people about how our city gets filled with filth and grime, and what steps we can take to combat this, we can fulfill our mission of keeping San Francisco immaculate.
Hoo boy. Cassius didn't seem creepy, but I didn't especially want to get on his boss' radar.
The city provided trash bags. Because Cassius arranged ahead of time, we dropped off our full bags on the corner of Waller/Ashbury and the city picked it all up (I hope). Refuse Refuse loaned out: gloves, trash-picker-grabber-waldo-thingies, stiff plastic rings+binder clips to hold the necks of bags open.
I was paired up with John, who's been doing this for a few years now. He started when he moved here and wanted to meet some people in the neighborhood.
There are at least two orgs who do a monthly Upper Haight trash pickup, Refuse Refuse and Safe & Healthy Haight.
2026-03-21T19:09:27.651195
It is March and the lovely #EnigMarch people have challenged puzzle designers to write a puzzle inspired by today's word: "words".
John Brockman wrote some words. He also became a literary agent specializing in scientists. He brought big thinkers together. Brockman's literary dinners, held during the TED Conference, were, for a number of years after Jeffrey Epstein’s conviction, almost entirely funded by Epstein. Brockman, through dinners and salons hosted by his Edge Foundation, made the first introductions between Epstein and various scientists, including Seth Lloyd and Lisa Randall. Steven Pinker was convinced to fly on Epstein's private jet by Brockman.
John Brockman wrote some cynical words. Here's a dropquote puzzle with a snippet from one of his books, now available for free in the Epstein files:
| I N N T Y | H O O O | E H U | A I M R | A H N V | E I N T U | D E M | A E I N R | A E N O S | S S | C I M T | N O Y | I N T Y | D E F N O | I R R U | E I R T Y | E I O S | N O T U W | D N O | I R | D N | S | |
| # | # | # | # | . | # | # | # | |||||||||||||||
| # | # | # | # | # | # | |||||||||||||||||
| # | # | . | # | # | # | |||||||||||||||||
| # | # | # | , | # | # | # | # | |||||||||||||||
| # | , | # | # | . |
Big thanks to the Wikipedia editors for the Brockman bio which I obviously copied from.
Hints:
Solution: rot13'd:
ab zna vf zl sevraq. v unir ab vagrerfg va gur uhzna pbaqvgvba. ab vagrerfg va lbh, lbhe vqrnf, lbhe jbeqf.
2026-03-21T15:20:33.189832
It is March and the lovely #EnigMarch people have challenged puzzle designers to write a puzzle inspired by today's word: "card".
Oh no! The USA clown President Trump said that rich foreigners can get expedited
U.S. residency if they pay $1 million but they have to
carry around a card with his face depicted on it:
The Trump Gold Card.
(The card also has a picture of The Statue of Liberty as in
"Give me your tired, your poor multimillionaires…")
He wants us to also offer the Trump Platinum card: for $5 million,
get U.S. residency but pay no tax on non-U.S. income.
Now I wonder what other programs he'd like to make.
| g Ⓞ l d | Foreign nationals who contribute $1 million can receive U.S. residency in weeks |
| p Ⓛ a t i n u m | $5 million gets you U.S. residency and pay no tax on non-U.S. income |
| _◯_ _ _ _ _ | $14 million gets you your own chip fab plant |
| _ _ _ _ _◯_ _ | $1 million extra if arriving on the Hindenberg (explodey) |
| ◯_ _ _ _ _ _ _ | $13 million gets you a selection of canned beers and sodas |
| _◯_ _ | $26 million keeps your clothes wrinkle-free |
| _ _◯_ _ _ | $28 million gets you a genuine U.S. coin |
| _◯_ _ _ _ _ _ | $17 million includes use of a guaranteed-disinfected swimming pool |
| _ _◯_ _ _ _ | $36 million surcharge for foreigners from explodey planets |
Hints, rot13'd:
Solution, rot13'd:
tByq / Sbervta angvbanyf jub pbagevohgr $1 zvyyvba pna erprvir H.F. erfvqrapl va jrrxf cYngvahz / $5 zvyyvba trgf lbh H.F. erfvqrapl naq cnl ab gnk ba aba-H.F. vapbzr fVyvpba / $14 zvyyvba trgf lbh lbhe bja puvc sno cynag ulqebTra / $1 zvyyvba rkgen vs neevivat ba gur Uvaqraoret (rkcybqrl) Nyhzvahz / $13 zvyyvba trgf lbh n fryrpgvba bs pnaarq orref naq fbqnf vEba / $26 zvyyvba xrrcf lbhe pybgurf jevaxyr-serr avPxry / $28 zvyyvba trgf lbh n trahvar H.F. pbva pUybevar / $17 zvyyvba vapyhqrf hfr bs n thnenagrrq-qvfvasrpgrq fjvzzvat cbby xeLcgba / $36 zvyyvba fhepunetr sbe sbervtaref sebz rkcybqrl cynargf
2026-03-20T15:46:58.322826
It is March and the lovely #EnigMarch people have challenged puzzle designers to write a puzzle inspired by today's word: "visit".
Consider the "isi" in "visit": two identical letters surround another letter. Each of the clues below nudges you at a word with two identical letters surrounding a third. For each, that surrounded letter will be in the circle. When you're done, the circled letters should spell out a snippet of Hamlet that could describe the waters around Epstein's island.
| v i Ⓢ i t | Fly to Epstein's island, perhaps |
| _ ◯ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ | Not a boat; state of being in an organization |
| _ ◯ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ | 📎 |
| _ ◯ _ _ _ _ | _____ of inertia |
| _ _ ◯ _ _ _ _ | Department of War, formerly ______ |
| _ _ ◯ _ _ | Secret identity: _____ Parker |
| _ _ ◯ _ _ _ _ | Capital of Ontario |
| _ _ _ _ _ ◯ _ | He famously had no clothes |
| _ ◯ _ _ _ | "Donald Trump has learned his lesson." –Senator _____ Collins |
| _ _ _ ◯ _ _ | Papa, ______, Romeo |
| _ ◯ _ _ | Frequent Epstein Island visitor Dershowitz |
| _ ◯ _ _ _ _ _ _ | Last Monday in May: _______ Day |
| _ _ _ _ ◯ _ | 🧀 |
Hints, rot13'd (The first is a list of especially USA-centric answers that foreign friends might not feel like looking up):
Solution, rot13'd:
ivFvg / Syl gb Rcfgrva'f vfynaq, creuncf
zRzorefuvc / Abg n obng; fgngr bs orvat va na betnavmngvba
cNcrepyvc / 📎
zBzrag / _____ bs varegvn
qrSrafr / Qrcnegzrag bs Jne, sbezreyl ______
crGre / Frperg vqragvgl: _____ Cnexre
gbEbagb / Pncvgny bs Bagnevb
rzcreBe / Ur snzbhfyl unq ab pybgurf
fHfna / "Qbanyq Gehzc unf yrnearq uvf yrffba." –_____ Pbyyvaf
dhrOrp / Cncn, ______, Ebzrb
nYna / Serdhrag Rcfgrva Vfynaq ivfvgbe Qrefubjvgm
zRzbevny / Ynfg Zbaqnl va Znl: _______ Qnl
purrFr / 🧀
2026-03-19T17:48:20.550629
It is March and the lovely #EnigMarch people have challenged puzzle designers to write a puzzle inspired by today's word: "classic".
Oh no! The USA clown President Trump, who famously doesn't drink alcohol, put his name on a brand of Vodka! He doesn't drink because he blames alcohol for killing his brother, and yet he still wanted everybody else to dr… Sorry, I need a moment.
Here's a puzzle about beverages. Each clue below describes a long word like "classic." Each long word contains the name of a beverage like "lassi." Write words in blanks; when you're done, the circled letters in the beverage names should spell a beverage-adjacent-ish word. That beverage-adjacent-ish word contains a short word to describe Trump when he's so greedy that he takes money to put his name on a beverage he considers deadly. Note that when you form that short word, it's from the alcohol beverages.
| 🏛️ Like original Coca-Cola 🏛️ | c l a s s i c | l aⓈs i |
| The S in ESPN | _ _ _ _ _ _ | ◯_ _ _ |
| 🚂 or motor | _ _ _ _ _ _ | _◯_ |
| Townsfolk | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ | _ _◯_ _ |
| ___ Cage, Face/Off costar | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ | _◯_ _ |
| Vapor rising from 🫖 | _ _ _ _ _ | ◯_ _ |
Hints, rot13'd:
Solution, rot13'd:
ynFfv / pynffvp / 🏛️ Yvxr bevtvany Pbpn-Pbyn 🏛️ Cbeg / fcbegf / Gur F va RFCA tVa / ratvar / 🚂 be zbgbe ynTre / ivyyntref / Gbjafsbyx pByn / avpbynf / ___ Pntr, Snpr/Bss pbfgne Grn / fgrnz / Incbe evfvat sebz 🫖
2026-03-18T16:12:25.863672
It is March and the lovely #EnigMarch people have challenged puzzle designers to write a puzzle inspired by today's word: "air".
Oh no! The USA clown President Trump built his reputation as a successful businessman! But he tried to run an airline business and it failed! As did business after business!
Can you match some of Trump's failed businesses with the clues? For each, notice that number in brackets and take the Nth letter. That should spell a word for "pattern" that describes what happens when Trump puts his name on businesses.
| [6] | Trump Ⓢhuttle | Never profitable while it lasted, eventually sold to USAir |
|---|---|---|
| [15] | Never accredited, buried in lawsuits | |
| [10] | How? How could he bankrupt this business if the house always wins? | |
| [8] | Booze endorsement from a non-drinker failed to convince, maybe | |
| [2] | Even with its very gullible users, few advertisers were interested | |
| [7] | CEO E.J. Ridings said he was a top finance exec, but had just worked 3 months at Morgan Stanley–and was friends with Don Jr. | |
| [6] | Travel website that definitely wasn't ever called "got rump" | |
| [8] | His photo on catalog cover may have led to loss of appetite |
(Partial) List of failed businesses:
Puzzle solution, rot13'd:
f / Gehzc Fuhggyr / Arire cebsvgnoyr juvyr vg ynfgrq, riraghnyyl fbyq gb HFNve l / Gehzc Havirefvgl / Arire npperqvgrq, ohevrq va ynjfhvgf a / Gehzc Pnfvabf /Ubj ? Ubj pbhyq ur onaxehcg guvf ohfvarff vs gur ubhfr nyjnlf jvaf? q / Gehzc Ibqxn / Obbmr raqbefrzrag sebz n aba-qevaxre snvyrq gb pbaivapr, znlor e / Gehgu Fbpvny / Rira jvgu vgf irel thyyvoyr hfref, srj nqiregvfref jrer vagrerfgrq b / Gehzc Zbegtntr / PRB R.W. Evqvatf fnvq ur jnf n gbc svanapr rkrp, ... z / TbGehzc.pbz / Geniry jrofvgr gung qrsvavgryl jnfa'g rire pnyyrq "tbg ehzc" r / Gehzc Fgrnx / Uvf cubgb ba pngnybt pbire znl unir yrq gb ybff bs nccrgvgr
2026-03-17T14:48:07.800229
It is March and the lovely #EnigMarch people have challenged puzzle designers to write a puzzle inspired by today's word: "out".
Oh no! The USA clown President Trump keeps pardoning blatant thieves, fraudsters, and worse! Silver lining, I got a puzzle out of it.
Below are 15 people who received pardons and/or commuted sentences from Trump. For each, figure out which one broad category best describes their case. Depending on the category, write down the Nth letter of their surname. (Yeah, I put in five blanks per name, but just fill in one of those per person.)
After you fill in the correct blanks (one per name), the letters should spell out how Trump views the US Presidency.
| 📥️ (2) | 🗳️ (3) | 💰️ (4) | 🫧 (5) | 6️⃣ (6) | |
| _ | _ | _ | A | _ | MorgAn, Marian Wire fraud (7 counts); money laundering (6 counts). Convicted in a Ponzi scheme that bilked investors out of $28 million. |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | Blagojevich, Rod Corrupt solicitation of funds; conspiracy to corruptly solicit funds (two counts). Illinois governor convicted of "selling" the senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | Ulbricht, Ross Conspiracy to commit money laundering. Also known as "Dread Pirate Roberts", Ulbricht founded the illegal online black market website Silk Road. |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | Garced, Wanda Vázquez Conspiracy (two counts); federal program bribery (two counts). Charges reduced to misdemeanors after a conspirator's daughter donated $3.5M to MAGA Inc. |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | Huttle, Matthew Sentenced in November 2023 to six months in prison and a year of supervised release for entering the Capitol and multiple offices. |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | Valenzuela, Anabel Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; conspiracy to commit money laundering. |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | Eastman, John Eastman's alleged role as "a legal architect of the plan" to advance "fake electors" in Arizona led to his indictment on conspiracy, fraud and forgery charges there in April 2024. |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | Jenkins, Scott Howard As Sheriff of Culpeper County Jenkins received $75,000 in bribes, as cash and as campaign donations, from numerous individuals who he then appointed as auxiliary deputy sheriffs. |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | Hostetter, Alan Founder of the American Phoenix Project. On January 6, used a megaphone to encourage the crowd to push through the police line and breach areas of the Capitol. |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | Tarrio, Enrique Convened a "Ministry of Self Defense" (or "MOSD") to coordinate Proud Boys leadership on January 6. |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | Rossini, Mark T Conspiracy (two counts); federal program bribery (two counts). Charges reduced to misdemeanors after a conspirator's daughter donated $3.5M to MAGA Inc. (Same conspiracy as Garced) |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | Milton, Trevor Former Chairman and CEO of Nikola Corporation, convicted at trial for making false and misleading statements to investors. Donated $1.8 million to Trump's re-election campaign fund |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | Chesebro, Kenneth Proposed the "alternate slate" strategy: Fake electors meet and vote at the same time that real electors did. |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | Callahan, James As President of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Callahan received at least $315,000 in presents from an advertising firm with which the union did business. Callahan failed to report the kickbacks. |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | Ellis, Jenna Met with Michigan's House Oversight Committee and urged the lawmakers to ignore the certified results. Met with Arizona lawmakers, again urged for the popular vote result to be ignored, suggesting that lawmakers should not appoint pro-Biden presidential electors. |
What's that spell?
_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _
_ _ _ _ _
Many thanks to Wikipedia's List of people granted executive clemency in the second Trump administration page.
Puzzle solution, rot13'd:
ynhaqre / zbetNa / znevna oevorr / oYntbwrivpu / ebq ynhaqre / hyoeVpug / ebff oevore / tnePrq / jnaqn iámdhrm w6 / uhggyR / znggurj ynhaqre / inyrAmhryn / nanory snxr / rnFgzna / wbua oevorr / wRaxvaf / fpbgg ubjneq w6 / ubfgrGgre / nyna w6 / gneevB / raevdhr oevore / ebfFvav / znex g oevore / zvyGba / geribe snxr / puRfroeb / xraargu oevorr / pNyynuna / wnzrf snxr / ryYvf / wraan
2026-03-16T17:36:46.462148
2026-03-15T17:42:27.165712
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