Author: plusjeremy

34:17, with much time spent on one clue in particular. I found this to be a rather gentle puzzle for a Friday, with many familiar devices. Nevertheless it was a bit sticky, and the SNITCH seems to reflect this.

With 9a, not crosswords! My time was 41:52, with 11 minutes spent on the aforementioned clue. I am pleased to report I put the answer together entirely from wordplay, which was true for most of this puzzle. It’s the kind of puzzle I prefer!

52:18, which sadly included a fifteen-minute struggle to get the last two clues. I nearly gave up, but I’m nothing if not persistent. Quite a good and challenging puzzle, in my opinion.

DNF. Not an easy puzzle by any means, but also not as bad as I made it out to be. Some of the clues made me think this was going to be impossible, and I kept second-guessing myself. When I finally revealed the answers I couldn’t get, I thought, was that really all?

14:55. As the SNITCH would have it, we’ve had milder Fridays lately, compared to the last several months.

40 minutes on the nose, with one error. Today (Thursday in the US still) is the 44th anniversary of my birth. So not even my silly error can get me down!

31:03. Judging from the SNITCH, this puzzle seems more moderate than many recent Fridays. Nevertheless, some very nice clues.

71:52. Yes, I finished it. Yes, I napped for a bit in the middle of it.

70 minutes. A puzzle like this, I feel compelled to finish no matter how long it takes — and, well, this one took some time. I fell asleep slightly in the middle, but I don’t think staying awake would have made the puzzle go any quicker.

37:29. I was concerned about solving a Friday puzzle after an early morning and long day of plane travel, but I’m quite pleased with this time for what seems to be a difficult puzzle.