Mike

Not fun. Honestly the type of crossword that makes me want to quit crosswords. Perhaps I’m just not as smart as the rest of you.

As a RULE OF THUMB I am wary of Saturday puzzles. After some BACON STRIPS for breakfast I SET out for the solve. But I soon realized I may as well of had POT BROWNIES because my brain felt LIMP. After a while of trial and error I put on my PARKA and GALOSHES, grabbed my car key FOB and drove down to the STREET FAIR where my chief AIM was to relax and get some brain FUEL. Solving can be tough as a SOLO ACT but I persevered. There was certainly some PUNCHY cluing and I continued to TYPE IN my answers on my IOS device. Finally after much struggle (and research) I solved it. YES! I feel like a BADASS.

As we learned from the movie Starman back in the ‘80s: Red means stop Green means go Yellow means go faster!

IT STINKS. It was a BAD THING. Worst puzzle ever.

I’ll admit I needed to do a lot of… research for this. But [Swallows] for ABIDES? That seems a bit of a stretch for me. When you abide by something you heed or follow it. Swallows implies gullibility. Am I missing something?

This was a thoroughly unenjoyable slog.

I hated every second of this puzzle.

Finally a Thursday I liked! Maybe because I was able to solve it without any, uh, “research”. After 686 straight days of solving I’m finally getting to Thursdays and Fridays without apprehension.

Ugh. Not fun. At least I got Wordle in 3. 🤣🤦‍♂️

I checked with my film major daughter about pan in. “Dolly in or zoom in. Pan is side to side.” Sloppy edit NYT.

I’m clearly weird. Every time I hate a puzzle everyone here loves it. When I love a puzzle - like today’s - everyone else hates it. 🤷‍♂️ This was certainly a mental workout and tough to keep track of on the app. But I thought it was fun!

Just *done* with this puzzle. So over it.

When I got the revealer I was like “No way - that can’t be.” Then I went back and looked at the fills I had. Even MEDICINE CABINET. 🤯 Nicely done! 👏

Loved it! Or, as Spock might say: “A thoroughly efficient and well-executed experience.”

Nice puzzle. But I had to look up what a spoonerism is. By mad! 😜

Loved this. I spent to much time playing MINESWEEPER whet it came out.

I really liked this. And as for it being an easy Friday puzzle? After last week I thought it was a welcome change!

Hated it.

Thoroughly enjoyed it! Not a HAIRHAIRHAIRHAIR-ing experience at all.

Not a personal best for a Friday but well below my average time. Makes me worry that tomorrow will be a reversion to the mean day. 😬😉

I thought the themed clues were going to solve to some cool product line based on the companies. Then I realized they’re just anagrams. Meh. Lackluster Sunday puzzle.

I liked the puzzle but a lot of math early in the morning! But I thought the bucko/tiger was a bit of a reach. Took me a while to get it but I think they are both nicknames for a kid? Like Champ or Sport?

Go Orange!! 🍊🍊🍊

Maybe it’s my soon-to-be status as an EMPTY NESTER, but I really enjoyed today’s theme.

I wish I could say I liked this puzzle. Too esoteric. But maybe it’s just me. Just when I think I’m getting competent at Saturdays something like this shows up.

Finished under my average but could someone please explain PADLOCKS as a symbol of love on bridges?

My kind of Friday! Makes up for last week and I didn’t feel like a complete DOLT! 😆

Does anyone else think [Like, yesterday] should have been in quotes?

I liked the theme but the SW corner killed me for some reason. Just didn’t connect with it.

I liked the theme. A bit crunchier for a Wednesday for me. I had ANTE for [Pay to play] at first. Good puzzle.

This week Friday fell on Wednesday and Wednesday on Friday.

I got the money part of the theme and thought that was nice and all but was like “WON OVER for ubiquitously? What a bad clue.” I solved the puzzle scratching my head as to the other themed answers. Then I read the column. Totally missed the subtle part of the theme but 🤯. Nice puzzle.

Loved today’s puzzle! Made up for yesterday’s.

I really enjoyed this one. But I did miss the wordplay element of the theme (eg book worm).

The SE corner killed me! Thought I’d get one cleanly today. Oh well.