Nate Cardin (he/him)
@naytnaytnayt.bsky.social
Chemistry teacher. PhD. Crossword constructor. Co-editor at AVCX Cryptics. Relentless homosexual. 🏳️🌈 Winner! (Wheel of Fortune + The 1% Club) Loser! (Trogdor burninated my village 🏡🔥🐉)
Pinned
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
And on this day, Google said onto me: bismuth ends with the letter T.
I’m just grateful that we’re only sacrificing our environment, cognitive abilities, and my students’ future job prospects for this. At least my crossword writing gig feels quite safe.
I’m just grateful that we’re only sacrificing our environment, cognitive abilities, and my students’ future job prospects for this. At least my crossword writing gig feels quite safe.
September 18, 2026 at 1:43 AM
And on this day, Google said onto me: bismuth ends with the letter T.
I’m just grateful that we’re only sacrificing our environment, cognitive abilities, and my students’ future job prospects for this. At least my crossword writing gig feels quite safe.
I’m just grateful that we’re only sacrificing our environment, cognitive abilities, and my students’ future job prospects for this. At least my crossword writing gig feels quite safe.
Is it cheating to set a Tuesday PR on my own puzzle? 😇
September 15, 2026 at 2:22 AM
Is it cheating to set a Tuesday PR on my own puzzle? 😇
Reposted by Nate Cardin (he/him)
As a new Harry Potter trailer makes the rounds, it bears repeating that there’s no way to watch this show without supporting J.K. Rowling’s bigotry and the structural violence she’s inflicting on the trans community.
There is no ethical consumption of HBO’s Harry Potter series
You can’t without supporting Rowling’s transphobic bigotry.
www.theverge.com
September 2, 2026 at 3:38 PM
As a new Harry Potter trailer makes the rounds, it bears repeating that there’s no way to watch this show without supporting J.K. Rowling’s bigotry and the structural violence she’s inflicting on the trans community.
Reposted by Nate Cardin (he/him)
I have a few (okay, a lot of) thoughts about saying goodbye to Sally’s Take: usatodayxwordblog.blogspot.com/2026/08/conc...
Concluding Thoughts
Daily blog about the USA Today crossword
usatodayxwordblog.blogspot.com
August 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM
I have a few (okay, a lot of) thoughts about saying goodbye to Sally’s Take: usatodayxwordblog.blogspot.com/2026/08/conc...
🎉🎉🎉
Updated Covid vaccines for the 2026-27 season have been approved by the FDA. Article to come.
August 27, 2026 at 11:50 PM
🎉🎉🎉
Season 16(!) of Cardin Chemistry 👨🔬 (I’ve now been doing this longer than my current students have been alive)🙃👴🏻
August 24, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Season 16(!) of Cardin Chemistry 👨🔬 (I’ve now been doing this longer than my current students have been alive)🙃👴🏻
Reposted by Nate Cardin (he/him)
forms.gle/zTKSfsHKi3yp... Lil AVCX is looking for editor/mentors for 2027. We have a limited number of slots, and you can register your interest in applying on this form through September 4th. If you have any questions, feel free to DM me.
forms.gle
August 21, 2026 at 6:22 PM
forms.gle/zTKSfsHKi3yp... Lil AVCX is looking for editor/mentors for 2027. We have a limited number of slots, and you can register your interest in applying on this form through September 4th. If you have any questions, feel free to DM me.
I have switched from a PC to a Mac for the first time in 15 years - pray for me 😂
August 14, 2026 at 10:52 PM
I have switched from a PC to a Mac for the first time in 15 years - pray for me 😂
Spend a few minutes (or seconds, for my ACPT folks) solving my latest NYT midi 🎤
August 12, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Spend a few minutes (or seconds, for my ACPT folks) solving my latest NYT midi 🎤
Can confirm that the much slimmer international version of the New York Times does indeed carry that day’s crossword 🇬🇧🙌
August 10, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Can confirm that the much slimmer international version of the New York Times does indeed carry that day’s crossword 🇬🇧🙌
Someone show my New York Times crossword to @annelamott.bsky.social challenge🦉🦜🙏
August 10, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Someone show my New York Times crossword to @annelamott.bsky.social challenge🦉🦜🙏
Hello from London, where I’ve stayed up until 11pm local time to see my latest crossword drop at @nytimes.com 💕🇬🇧
August 9, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Hello from London, where I’ve stayed up until 11pm local time to see my latest crossword drop at @nytimes.com 💕🇬🇧
Sanjeev from Taskmaster is sitting in the row ahead of us at Oh, Mary! 😍
August 6, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Sanjeev from Taskmaster is sitting in the row ahead of us at Oh, Mary! 😍
I wrote this quite personal puzzle for the recent Grief Issue of "The Stranger” (an alternative newspaper out of Seattle), and it is shared here with their blessing. Wishing peace to all those wrangling with grief like we have been. 💕
Good Grief
What this puzzle’s constructor and his husband lost to the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires; "Evacuation Alert" weekend sketch show; Safety \_\_\_; Nail polish brand with a "Liquid Fire" color; "Wor...
crosshare.org
August 6, 2026 at 2:10 PM
I wrote this quite personal puzzle for the recent Grief Issue of "The Stranger” (an alternative newspaper out of Seattle), and it is shared here with their blessing. Wishing peace to all those wrangling with grief like we have been. 💕
TIL that the cryptic crossword I published in the New York Times a few years back was the one they chose to republish in their Puzzlemania book! 🤯 It’s been on my shelf for six months and I had no idea!
July 28, 2026 at 3:34 AM
TIL that the cryptic crossword I published in the New York Times a few years back was the one they chose to republish in their Puzzlemania book! 🤯 It’s been on my shelf for six months and I had no idea!
Reposted by Nate Cardin (he/him)
AVCX is running a guest series of Raddle puzzles this week (if you’re not yet familiar with the game, go check it out).
And in fact, there’s a meta puzzle if you solve through the end of the week. Fun stuff!!
raddle.quest/mystery/10/
And in fact, there’s a meta puzzle if you solve through the end of the week. Fun stuff!!
raddle.quest/mystery/10/
Mystery Theme #10
raddle.quest
July 20, 2026 at 4:49 PM
AVCX is running a guest series of Raddle puzzles this week (if you’re not yet familiar with the game, go check it out).
And in fact, there’s a meta puzzle if you solve through the end of the week. Fun stuff!!
raddle.quest/mystery/10/
And in fact, there’s a meta puzzle if you solve through the end of the week. Fun stuff!!
raddle.quest/mystery/10/
Birthday NYT midi! 🎂
July 18, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Birthday NYT midi! 🎂
One of my most vivid memories of culture shock was the day my Uruguayan host brother and I had our own Duck Season / Rabbit Season as to whether this toon se llama Daffy Duck or el Pato Lucas 🤯
Daffy Season sees Eric Bauza's take on the classic cartoon waterfowl getting p.o.'d that "Soccer Season" has usurped "Duck Season."
Warner Bros. coasts on World Cup fever by dropping teaser for first new Daffy Duck short in years
Warner Bros. coasts on World Cup fever by dropping teaser for first new Daffy Duck short in years
www.avclub.com
July 17, 2026 at 1:13 AM
One of my most vivid memories of culture shock was the day my Uruguayan host brother and I had our own Duck Season / Rabbit Season as to whether this toon se llama Daffy Duck or el Pato Lucas 🤯
Reposted by Nate Cardin (he/him)
Daffy Season sees Eric Bauza's take on the classic cartoon waterfowl getting p.o.'d that "Soccer Season" has usurped "Duck Season."
Warner Bros. coasts on World Cup fever by dropping teaser for first new Daffy Duck short in years
Warner Bros. coasts on World Cup fever by dropping teaser for first new Daffy Duck short in years
www.avclub.com
July 16, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Daffy Season sees Eric Bauza's take on the classic cartoon waterfowl getting p.o.'d that "Soccer Season" has usurped "Duck Season."
We have received a whopping $770.00 from FEMA since losing our home (and entire zip code!) to last year’s LA fires
Trump Denies Disaster Aid for Four States That Didn’t Vote for Him
The president is once again politicizing FEMA to hurt Democratic states.
newrepublic.com
July 9, 2026 at 12:08 AM
We have received a whopping $770.00 from FEMA since losing our home (and entire zip code!) to last year’s LA fires
Reposted by Nate Cardin (he/him)
How about we decide this era of AI mania - where they foisted it on us in every possible useless way - should come to a close? What good is all this mess doing for us? What have we lost and who benefits from smashing AI into every corner of our lives?
With WiFi and AI embedded in everything from washing machines to litter boxes, personal data is more susceptible to hacking and ID theft.
Here are seven tips to help protect yourself:
Here are seven tips to help protect yourself:
Smart Appliances Are Everywhere. So Are the Privacy Risks. - Consumer Reports
From smart toasters and lightbulbs to big appliances like washers and dryers, almost everything is online at some level, which makes many products vulnerable.
www.consumerreports.org
July 2, 2026 at 6:25 PM
How about we decide this era of AI mania - where they foisted it on us in every possible useless way - should come to a close? What good is all this mess doing for us? What have we lost and who benefits from smashing AI into every corner of our lives?
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
June 1, 2026 at 4:51 PM
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Reposted by Nate Cardin (he/him)
✨Clue of the Week✨
Another cryptic clue, from a puzzle by @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social
Available to solve at abortionpuzzles.com!
Like that puzzle? There’s much more puzzling fun available when you make a donation and unlock the whole pack 😊
fund.nnaf.org/tpfa6
#minutecryptic #crypticclueaday
Another cryptic clue, from a puzzle by @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social
Available to solve at abortionpuzzles.com!
Like that puzzle? There’s much more puzzling fun available when you make a donation and unlock the whole pack 😊
fund.nnaf.org/tpfa6
#minutecryptic #crypticclueaday
May 11, 2026 at 8:03 PM
✨Clue of the Week✨
Another cryptic clue, from a puzzle by @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social
Available to solve at abortionpuzzles.com!
Like that puzzle? There’s much more puzzling fun available when you make a donation and unlock the whole pack 😊
fund.nnaf.org/tpfa6
#minutecryptic #crypticclueaday
Another cryptic clue, from a puzzle by @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social
Available to solve at abortionpuzzles.com!
Like that puzzle? There’s much more puzzling fun available when you make a donation and unlock the whole pack 😊
fund.nnaf.org/tpfa6
#minutecryptic #crypticclueaday
Reposted by Nate Cardin (he/him)
AVCX Classic is open for submissions as of today!
We love seeing work from everybody, especially new constructors and underrepresented people. WE CARE ABOUT DIVERSITY
also always happy to workshop your stuff with you if helpful. Spec sheet:
avxwords.com/submit-a-puz...
We love seeing work from everybody, especially new constructors and underrepresented people. WE CARE ABOUT DIVERSITY
also always happy to workshop your stuff with you if helpful. Spec sheet:
avxwords.com/submit-a-puz...
Submit a Puzzle – AVCX
avxwords.com
May 1, 2026 at 4:59 PM
AVCX Classic is open for submissions as of today!
We love seeing work from everybody, especially new constructors and underrepresented people. WE CARE ABOUT DIVERSITY
also always happy to workshop your stuff with you if helpful. Spec sheet:
avxwords.com/submit-a-puz...
We love seeing work from everybody, especially new constructors and underrepresented people. WE CARE ABOUT DIVERSITY
also always happy to workshop your stuff with you if helpful. Spec sheet:
avxwords.com/submit-a-puz...