Viresh Ratnakar
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viresh.bsky.social
Viresh Ratnakar
@viresh.bsky.social
200 followers 360 following 280 posts
Cryptic crossword setter "Gussalufz" (The Hindu, The Browser, 1 Across, Object, IXL): https://gussalufz.com.

Open source crossword web apps: https://exolve.app, https://exet.app.

Engineer at (A) Large (Company). Intergalactic Interconnectedness Medium.
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viresh.bsky.social
7.0 mpl. Slow #running, too soon after last Sunday's half marathon (but am busy, on the road, tomorrow). #Beer hitting the spot now, cheers!
Post-run beer pic
November 23, 2025 at 1:57 AM
viresh.bsky.social
9.1 mpl. Crunchy leaves #running, #beer, cheers!
Post-run beer pic
November 10, 2025 at 1:40 AM
viresh.bsky.social
"Nine Crowns"

11a. Tiny piece of moon brought back in casing of graphite (7)

27a. Question: best current opener in cricket? (5)

Two #crypticclue morsels from my The Hindu #Cryptic #crossword on Sunday #29, appearing in Sunday's paper.

#Gussalufz

crossword.thehindu.com/crossword/hi...
Picture of crossword grid with some clues visible.
November 8, 2025 at 9:45 PM
viresh.bsky.social
9.2 mpl. Bob bless those endorphins! #Running, #beer, cheers!
Post-run beer pic
November 3, 2025 at 12:47 AM
viresh.bsky.social
The Browser Crossword
Cryptic #245 - edited by Dan Feyer

My swan song in the Browser (they are shutting down the crossword section soon). Working with Dan has been fun!

Sample clue:

5d. Lots of men put off getting probed by colonoscope in the rear (7)

thebrowser.com/crossword-ar...
Header of crossword, with title and byline visible.
November 2, 2025 at 1:03 AM
viresh.bsky.social
8.0 mpl. Rainy #running & hilling. Bay area rains are fun: not too cold, not too heavy... Just the heavens sweating a bit to make a nice rainbow. #Beer now, cheers!
Post-run beer pic
October 27, 2025 at 12:55 AM
viresh.bsky.social
My swan song #cryptic in The Browser (which is unfortunately shuttering up the crossword feature at the end of the year), will appear on Nov. 2. Hope some other opportunities materialize over time, for working with Dan Feyer, their awesome #crossword editor.
Screenshot from The Browser Crossword site, showing "Cryptic #245 by Viresh Ratnakar (Coming Nov. 2)"
October 25, 2025 at 7:14 PM
viresh.bsky.social
9.5 mpl. #Running, with a Marvin sighting after ages, #beer. Cheers!
Post-run beer pic Marvin the egret
October 20, 2025 at 1:43 AM
viresh.bsky.social
7.0 mpl. Not-So-Fleet Week #running pace-wise for me, but I still deserve my #beer. Cheers!
Post-run beer pic
October 13, 2025 at 1:03 AM
viresh.bsky.social
"It Opened With Open Government"

13d. Old Indian ways of batting (drives, etc.) limiting India (5,5)

17d. He ain't gonna field regularly with finger injury (​8)

Two #crypticclue samples from my The Hindu #Cryptic #crossword #14,607 appearing in Tuesday's paper.

#Gussalufz
Pic of crossword grid, with some clues visible
October 6, 2025 at 9:15 PM
viresh.bsky.social
8.4 mpl. #Running along my frequent "t" and now #beer under my frequent tree.
Post-run beer pic
October 6, 2025 at 2:14 AM
viresh.bsky.social
8.0 mpl. Some hilly #running, now #beer. Cheers!
Post-run beer pic
September 29, 2025 at 1:07 AM
viresh.bsky.social
8.5 mpl. #Running with Shakti in the ear, now #beer. Cheers!
Post-run beer pic
September 22, 2025 at 2:09 AM
viresh.bsky.social
8.1 mpl. #Running, #beer, all same-same but still fun. Cheers!
Post-run beer pic
September 15, 2025 at 1:54 AM
viresh.bsky.social
"Buddha" returns to his tree. 8.7 mpl. #Running, #beer, cheers!
Post-run beer pic
September 8, 2025 at 1:02 AM
viresh.bsky.social
7.5 mpl. #Running through hot hills, and now that welcome #beer. Cheers!
Post-run beer pic
September 1, 2025 at 1:30 AM
viresh.bsky.social
"Both Sides Are Same"

4a. Source of dehydration in Indian college slang (9)

11a. No drug for setter in opening ceremony? (14)

Two #crypticclue samples from my The Hindu #Cryptic On Sunday #crossword (#19).

#Gussalufz

crossword.thehindu.com/crossword/hi...
Picture of crossword grid, with some clues visible.
August 30, 2025 at 9:02 PM
viresh.bsky.social
8.1 mpl. #Running to burn off yesterday's Copra, #beer under my usual tree. Cheers!
Post-run beer pic
August 25, 2025 at 1:22 AM
viresh.bsky.social
7.1 mpl. #Running on another hot afternoon. Saturday, as busy tomorrow. A plug for Farmer's lager #beer. *So* good. Cheers!
Post-run beer pic
August 17, 2025 at 12:01 AM
viresh.bsky.social
7 mpl. #Running, Heat & Zest, now #beer. Cheers!
Post-run beer pic
August 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
viresh.bsky.social
7 mpl. #Running, back to the Sunday routine and a familiar haunt for #beer. Cheers!
Post-run beer pic
August 4, 2025 at 12:50 AM
viresh.bsky.social
SF Half #Marathon 2025. Did the "1st half" this time--got to go over the Golden Gate Bridge (and the insane climbs on both sides :-)). Happy with my 2:45-ish time, especially as the back is still not a 100%. #Running (#beer soon!)
My pic with race medal
July 27, 2025 at 5:09 PM
viresh.bsky.social
10.1 mpl. Longer #running, prep for SF half next weekend. Ludwig's kind folks gave extra #beer, free. Cheers!
Post-run beer pic
July 21, 2025 at 1:27 AM
viresh.bsky.social
Available now for subscribers: Browser #cryptic #crossword #231, set by me, edited brilliantly as always by @danfeyer.bsky.social.

Sample #crypticclue:

31a. Wrong smoking accessory killing high (6)

thebrowser.com/crossword-ar...
Picture of crossword heading.
July 20, 2025 at 6:28 AM
viresh.bsky.social
"Like Us?"

7d. Signature of a fantastic author (P. G. ____) (9)

23d. Resist quietly breaking wind (5)

Sample #crypticclue teasers from my @thehindu.com #Cryptic #crossword (#14,541, a palindrome!), appearing in Saturday's paper.

#Gussalufz

crossword.thehindu.com/crossword/hi...
Picture of crossword grid, showing the title "Like Us?" and the lines "By Gussalufz" and "The Hindu Cryptic #14,541, Saturday, July 19, 2025", with some clues visible.
July 18, 2025 at 7:55 PM