Lauren

@James very well put. This wasn't a challenge it was a boring look up slog. Once looked up the answers didn't elicit an aha how clever but a what? Getting some gave little clues to crossings. The literally worst puzzle in years.

@Stephanie <a href="https://www.dictionary.com/e/american-childrens-rhyme-isnt-american" target="_blank">https://www.dictionary.com/e/american-childrens-rhyme-isnt-american</a>/ That is a stretch. The first line of the rhyme is universal and ancient. It is the American version that for a time contained a racist 2nd line. That has been replaced. The rhyme predates the American version

@Celine I agree this horrible, slog. Can the tricky clues section be extended to identify all the tedious trivia for those of us who hate it. Rigg should be clued as an Avenger as that is what she's famous for. The rest of them I've never heard of. For those claiming you can get them from the crossings...no I need these to get the other clues. Niche Trivia is just lazy cluing. If you don't care who produces or directs or haven't seen the movie, play or read the book it's meaningless.

@Andrzej I am a native English speaker. Have American family, lived in the US. I found this puzzle impenetrable - full of clues & answers which made little sense. The column's claim "It’s jam-packed with kinetic entries that seem to bounce off each other, giving the puzzle a kind of zip and verve" wasn't my experience. Just a frustrating look up puzzle.

@James I though yesterday's was the worst ever but today's topped it. I looked up a huge number. The answers weren't witty they were just huh? It isn't clever construction to just be obscure. Whomever is editing needs a reset.

@JD Gold absolutely spot on. The best puzzles are word play and clever themes.

@Ιασων from Wikipedia: "Arithmetic is an elementary branch of mathematics that deals with numerical operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. In a wider sense, it also includes exponentiation, extraction of roots, and taking logarithms."

niche trivia is never good. worse it isn't inclusive as it panders to specific groups. I should not have to read books or see plays I have zero interest in or have never heard of to do a crossword puzzle. It is supposed to be about language and solving. It isn't a clever puzzle if it relies on this.

@James I tolerate a few Google's but when it's a large part of the puzzle it's just slog. Obscure cluing that makes little sense once revealed isn't clever.

@Atavistic Cringeworder Volume = Length*Width*Height so Volume/Height=Length*Width And Length*Width=Area

@Andrzej I am a native English speaker. I've lived in 4 English speaking countries so have good understanding of localisms. Went to school for many years in US, have American father and half siblings. I had no clue on many of these even once I looked up the answer.

@Grumpy you wrote what I came to say. This was a ridiculous puzzle. I worked out some letters were off grid but there's no pattern. The trivia was beyond obscure. Look-up puzzle

@Divs I loved that rebus literally made an appearance

@Phil needs a better editor. I am starting to just loathe Fri and sat puzzles as clues aren't clever just obscure. Even after solving some make no sense.

@Rebecca worse than no theme is a hint that there is a theme & then a grid full of obscure trivia and nonsense cluing.

@Steve L yes. I like this custom shared by many Europeans alas not the UK. The odious Ms gets used instead. Mademoiselle means young girl, Madam means mature woman. A woman's marital status shouldn't come into it.

@Weak rather uncharitable comment. For reference the NYT bought the wonderful International Herald Tribune, a great international paper. It claims to play on world stage and happy to take foreign subscriptions. Non words and croswordese should be beneath its standards.

@Nora it's a terrible clue as it relies on you having heard of the full phrase. The answer is not itself a palindrome

@Chris H it is part of the international New York Times. Published in London...so it wants an international audience. That said SKU is international retail term. Elgin should have been clued infamous marbles of the British museum

@SP never heard of an eraserpen or a leather bar so if the trivia is on your wavelength it was easy but I found it impenetrable

@Albert agree great theme, lots of good clues, ruined by poor fill. Kil is just wrong. Obscure trivia you can't intuit from crosses. Obscurity isn't clever.

@ant maybe for you. Never heard of it, but I know nothing about music. The theme was clever but tiring to work out the north word impossible.

@Teresa because NYT considers itself global. It bought out the international herald Tribune, a paper I miss. It takes the money.

@Helen Wright I also loved this one. My way in was the opposite. Having never heard of nickel back I figured out nickel with crosses, knew it had to be trevi fountain....and figured out back. Fun to figure out.

@Kelp The NYT publishes an international edition. It deliberately markets to an international audience. That's why we complain.

@S.R. speak for yourself - I found it impossible.