Tales from the Cryptic

Cryptic Mini #000000073:   "Tolstoy's Russian Nesting Doll Store" obscuration level: 🌓 (demoted twice from a 🌑) It's the end of the year, and you know what that means! Time for our Tales From The Cryptic Wrapped™️! A longtime annual tradition that we've been celebrating since ...*checks notes*... March. Well, here's the data for how many puzzles of each type that our Cryptic Mini Factory put out this year (this doesn't include midis or larger: Looks like I need to give you more 🌕s... but that'll have to wait until next year! For now, here's a jet-black 🌑. >:-) totally average 🌓 (updated after some early returns)

Cryptic Mini #000000072:   "Elves Led Santa" obscuration level: 🌕 (easy as [moon] pie) I swear I didn't set out to write an xmas clue around xmas. Plz don't tell Hannukah Harry or he'll revoke my Jew card! here, you can have all my gelt (but not my guilt, that's mine). Tnx & happy whateverdays!

Cryptic Mini #000000071:   "Klingon Slang" obscuration level: 🌓 (mixed bag [...GAB?]) Hope everyone is having a nice descent into the Dark Ages (aka the winter solstice). Personally I have forgotten what the sun looks like. We used to see each other so much, but recently we've drifted apart. Oh well, I'm sure we'll bump into each other next year. Anyway, here's a puzzle!

Cryptic Mini #000000070:   "Decay of Einsteinium" obscuration level: 🌑 (bonne nuit, lune) *presses finger into ear* I'm being told by our fact-checkers that the French translation of the book is actually titled "Bonsoir Lune". So I guess we'll have to run a correc-- oh wait, hold on, I'm also being told that we don't have any fact-checkers. So we don't have to change anything. Oh, and now I'm hearing there is no "we"... it's just "me" (no oui, just moi).... And wait what's this? I'm being told that, at long last, this bit is dead. RIP this bit. You died doing what you loved (?). Anyway folks, thanks for watching. Bonne nuit and bonne chance.

Cryptic Mini #000000069:   "Webinar for Port Authority" obscuration level: 🌔 (darkness on the edge of moon) My 69th cryptic mini! Kissinger is dead! What a week! 🍾