Melinda

I feel like this week's puzzles have largely been uncommonly challenging. Not a complaint, just an observation-- I actually had a lot of fun pick, pick, picking away at this one. Still and all, I'm starting to wonder: are these puzzles tough, or am I getting dumber?

Having grown up in a town right beside Manchester-by-the-Sea, I was delighted to see Cape Ann in this puzzle! Once simply Manchester, the town changed its name officially while I was in high school. My father, in between bouts of rolling his eyes, threatened to start a petition to rename our town "Hamilton-by-the-Dump" in recognition of the lovely landfill that sat right on the border of our illustrious communities.

I grew up going to a church where we used the King James bible... but for some reason, they handed out the Good News bible to their younger members upon some occasion that I have now forgotten. That thing became a family joke-- the "modern" language so clunky in comparison to the KJ version that we called it "the Bad News bible." For some reason, I'm thinking of that now. Can't quite put my finger on just why... ;-)

I thought the puzzle was grand good fun, and a worthy debut! Perhaps a smidge easier than your average Thursday, as I set a new record by one second, but I found the theme charming. Bonus points for putting a Macbeth soliloquy in my head. Kit, I hope to see your work again!

I quite enjoyed this one, despite Hirt and Mac, and solved a good bit faster than my Wednesday average. Because I can't think of anywhere else to discuss this: does anyone know the reason for the Mini Leaderboard having been relegated to an app-only thing? And does anyone else find it as annoying as I do?