Important Note: This puzzle is no longer available to solve on my website because I updated it and published it in the Washington Post Magazine on June 19, 2016. My apologies for the inconvenience. Puzzles #1-61 and #69 are still available to solve.

Another Sunday-size puzzle for you. This one’s 140 words, and definitely not as tough as last week’s.

Just a quick update on last week’s Escape Room experience: we won! Our team got out of the room with maybe three minutes to spare, so it was tense. I actually don’t think I did very well, at least in the sense that others figured out what to do before I did. I have a feeling that one of the reasons I tend to struggle in the Escape Room is that I’m so used to working on puzzles on my own that it can be a little jarring working in a team setting on multiple puzzles in a very short period of time. You don’t even know what you’re looking for most of the time. But then, the only way you can succeed in the rooms is to work as a team — a good life lesson, I s’pose. Of course, I’ve only done two rooms so far, so there’s no reason I can’t get better at them. They’re still hella fun no matter what.

Enjoy the puzzle. There will be a new one on October 17.

Important Note: This puzzle is no longer available to solve on my website because I updated it and published it in the Washington Post Magazine on June 4, 2017. My apologies for the inconvenience. Puzzles #1-61 and #69 are still available to solve.

(Photo credit: B. Wrenn)

Yesterday was my 32nd birthday, and what did I get as a present? The Apopecalypse! There are seriously National Guard members patrolling every couple of blocks here in Philadelphia while Francis makes his big entrance into town. In fact, this photo above more-or-less accurately depicts what the city looks like right now. Parking is going to be a big problem this weekend, so I made a puzzle about it. It’s another Sunday-sized one — a good way to spend your day while the Pope and his army of pterodactyls have us all on lockdown.

In other news, I’ll be subbing tomorrow on Rex Parker‘s blog. Should be a fun time.

Finally, a programming note: from now on I will be publishing Devil Cross puzzles on Saturdays at 12 pm ET. That seems to be a more likely time for me to finally hit publish than earlier in the morning. And yes, I realize this went up a bit later than 12 pm today — my PUZ file wasn’t working for a little while. FRANCIS!!! (*shakes fist*) Anyway, I’ll make that my new regular schedule and update you as necessary.

Enjoy the puzzle. There will be a new one on October 3.