Paul

If I’m being honest with myself, I’m really not smart enough for puzzles like this, but I still enjoy flailing away at them. Thank God my times aren’t a matter of public record.

Perhaps AI can someday bring relief to those who chronically declare the puzzle far too easy for them: Individualized, computer-generated puzzles designed to ensure that everyone solves in exactly their average time, or occasionally a minute more so they can feel challenged, or sometimes a few minutes less so they can proclaim their intelligence. Technological nirvana for the status-conscious cruciverbalist. Until then, perhaps the NYT could add a button to autogenerate a complaint that the puzzle was too easy. Think of the time it would save! For today, though, in the season of reflection and gratitude, perhaps we could relax and remember the puzzle is a game and every one is different from the last, and some necessarily will take longer than others, and we are lucky to have crosswords prepared at a level as consistently high as those in the NYT. Happy holidays to all!

As an old debate nerd who hasn’t had a chance to use “post hoc ergo propter hoc” since college, I thought this was spectacular. My favorite Sunday in ages.

Tough, brilliant, over my average, well worth it.

Just chiming in to agree that LINE should have been accepted in addition to ----. I’ve read all the comments explaining why this is not a very smart thing to think, and I will save those commenters the trouble of replying to this by stipulating that they are smarter than me. But LINE should have worked.

Brilliant theme. Cleverest Wednesday I can remember.

Loved this! A clever conceit that put a big smile on my face.