Walj

I agree with all the far-too-easy comments, although I'll say that noobs should get a thrown bone occasionally. As an antidote, and an education, try what I've been doing for a few weeks: Go back to the earliest puzzle in the archive (1993?) and just start working your way forward. It's a binge-worthy experience. A couple of thoughts: Yes, they *were* more difficult back then. And I'm an oldster. The ancient cultural references didn't throw me nearly as much as the clever (opaque?) clueing and construction - and fewer, or different emus. Some of them are ungodly tough. Second, they were far less strict about sequential hardness (there are some killer Tuesdays) and rebus-appropriate days. Trends seem to have become rules for many of us. Finally, some of the cultural references are a hoot. How much I've forgotten or repressed. Spiro! An Ollie that doesn't refer to skateboards. All those crooners! Bing and Dean and Perry. Supreme courters Hugo and Thurgood. Have fun!