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!

I blazed through it, close to a personal best, but it was unsatisfying. Seemed like a lot of crud was thrown in - gimmes and naticks - just to make it work. Ah well. My daughter moved in with us this weekend, back from living in Sri Lanka since Elon killed USAID. She'll be here until she starts graduate school in Geneva in the fall. Happy pappy!