**Hello! You’ve found one of my cryptics from before I figured out how to make cryptics well! Please enjoy the diamonds in the rough, but expect neither elegance nor fairness. It takes a while to learn how to do it right!**
Hello, puzzle buds!
It’s variety cryptic day! I’m always so happy to make and share these with you. It looks like this one may be a bit tougher than some of the others, but I still feel it’s on the easier side of what’s out there for this sort of puzzle. If it’s giving you too rough a ride, may I recommend one of my intro-level quiptics here on this site?
I want to give my gratitude to the cryptic setting and solving community on all continents! Special thanks to Hayley Gold, Nate Cardin, and k0rmad for the test solve — I can assure you this puzzle was way more wicked (and not as shiny) before they got their hands on it.
Up next week we’ve got a themed non-cryptic with some personal significance. I’m feeling a bit of a creative swell for the non-cryptics right this minute. We shall see what comes of it. The following week I’ll be back with a blocked cryptic that I hope stretches your brain and makes you laugh.
Thanks for stopping by. Take care and enjoy!
Square Pursuit 
Absolutely wonderful variety cryptic. Well done, Mr. Mossberg!
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Thanks so much for solving! Glad you liked it.
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I forgot, are you Dunning or Kruger?
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Beats me! Thanks for solving.
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Where can I find your intro-level critics?
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Thanks for coming by! The intro-level puzzles are all titled “Quiptic,” and they come in two versions. The one with helpers lets you know which device to look for in each clue, if you like. Here’s the latest one: https://t.co/wZ4dVtYOZj?amp=1 . There are currently 15 of them; every few puzzles on the site there’s a Quiptic going back to March. I hope they’re fun for you!
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