Lauren
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London
@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.
I look forward to Sunday after the inevitable Fri and Sat slog. Very disappointing to find no theme. Thumbs Down.
I really liked this one, fun theme. Low on trivia. Some funny clues that made me smile.
Interesting theme but the rest ? Meh. Too many proper names you either know or you don't. Having obscure clues cross, just tedious. I had hoped with Will Shorts returning this sort of editing would cease. It isn't clever to just be obscure.
@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
Fun solved. I smiled when I finally worked out Leash.
@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.
An obscure trivia collector's dream mixed in with some slang used by some. For the rest of us dull slog. Suggest the creator re-evaluate how they "aggressively mark down".
Sort of got the theme in that these were repeating letters. Interesting. But the rest of it - just no. Way too much archane trivia. Looked up about half of it. There needs to be a limit on trivia. Isn't this why we have editors?
Good puzzle but Pekoe is a tea grade not a variety such as Assam or Darjeeling.
@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.
Great theme but let down terribly by using pop culture obscure trivia which included the rebuses. Editors do a better job.
Good theme. The rest not so much. A bath room is not a loo. There is no bath in a loo.
Why did filling in my name as the answer to 20 Across give me such a thrill?
@JD Gold absolutely spot on. The best puzzles are word play and clever themes.
I finished the puzzle by looking up all the tricky clues and the answer key. Still don't get some of the clues and others were just too obscure or laboured. Just awful.
@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."
This would have been a clever puzzle but it relies on trivia to get the Ks. Most of it I've never heard of 8ncludo Bruno mars never mind his hit.
Bit of a miss. Never heard of these books (winning a Nobel isn't why I choose a book). The clues should have been word play so you don't need to know the books. Certainly not Tues
So not my wavelength - lookup puzzle. Hopefully Sunday is a good one.
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
Really enjoyed this one. Only a few obscure trivia to look up. Lots to actually solve.
First a Friday I enjoyed then a Saturday? Low on niche trivia (what's with Mario) and high on word play. Do we have new editorial policy? More like this please.
We suffer through Fri & Sat because Sunday there is a fun theme to figure out. A themeless Sunday is as welcome as a cold shower.
I just loved this one. Figured out the theme and still had enough to keep it entertaining. This how puzzles should be. Puzzles.
@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.
Loved this puzzle, even some of the fill which I'd no clue about.
@Rebecca worse than no theme is a hint that there is a theme & then a grid full of obscure trivia and nonsense cluing.
Wow a Friday I actually enjoyed. Very little niche trivia. Thanks!
@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.
I liked the theme & this should have been fun to work out. The antics and worse trivia with rebuses spoilt it, as in looking up the inaccessible trivia, the rebus is revealed. Note to editors: rap and jazz are niches. If you listen to it you know otherwise it's just word salad. Ditto plays, films, directors, authors. I look it up and don't get ahah, but instead who? what?
Great theme. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Completely stuck on Somerset time as I assumed Somerset in UK (Birmingham in another clue was UK). TIL Titer.
@Petrol Random fact about Diana. She's Diana, Princess of Wales or Lady Diana or technically Princess Charles. She was never Princess in her own name. She was a Mrs. Prince (example Princess Michael is Prince Michael's wife Maria Christine). You are princess in your own name if you are born one or monarch creates you to be one...which almost never happens. It's not Princess Catherine or Kate for same reason. As current holder of the title she is The Princess of Wales. Now there are some good seeds for Crossword Clues.
@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.
Had it all: obscure trivia, naticks, clues & answers which made no sense even when revealed.
@Nora it's a terrible clue as it relies on you having heard of the full phrase. The answer is not itself a palindrome
Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Thank you.
@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
I enjoyed this one - fun theme.
@jennie Apia is capital of Samoa
@DW Only if you know what Takis is or who Ken Jennings, Aja is etc. not a puzzle which can be solved - you have to know the trivia.
@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.