Friday puzzles used to be so scary! And clues with answers that span the entire grid contributed to that. Now with a streak of 26 days, it’s random Tuesdays that are the real monsters. And sometimes Thursdays. And Sundays.
I pulled out 13A Northernmost land in the Inner Hebrides: ISLEOFSKYE because I got that answer immediately, and I’m proud of that. Now for a story from almost exactly two years ago. I was sitting in the bar area of the Laphroaig distillery on Islay, and there was a random other American there who was on a trip. He told me that he and his wife were going to go to the Isle of Skye next. I said, “Oh! Are you going to go to Talisker?” He asked if he should. I said yeah but that he should ask the bartender for his opinion. So he then told the bartender that he was going to the Isle of Skye. The bartender’s response: “Oh! Are you going to Talisker?” He concluded that he should. I hope he did and had a good time.
And on the topic of things in the UK, 52A Like some headphones: NOISECANCELLING? NOISECANCELING, sure, but NOISECANCELLING? Wrong side of the pond, Will Shortz.
Other clues also had full-grid answers.
17A Cut-and-paste tool for language learners: GOOGLETRANSLATE.
26A What a fitness coach likely leads: ACTIVELIFESTYLE.
41A In-N-Out Burger’s “Animal Style” burgers and fries, e.g.: SECRETMENUITEMS. I had tried ONTHESECRETMENU, which worked with 39D Mostaccioli relative: PENNE and 10D. Ultimately, I corrected it.
10D Out of the ordinary: REALLYSOMETHING.
3D Well overdue: ALONGTIMECOMING.
Finished this one in 30:39.
| Day | This Wk | Best | Average |
| Monday | 13:26 | 3:49 | 9:30 |
| Tuesday | 22:30 | 5:52 | 13:46 |
| Wednesday | 14:45 | 7:38 | 17:36 |
| Thursday | 16:29 | 13:09 | 29:54 |
| Friday | 30:39 | 16:23 | 35:42 |
| Saturday | 27:43 | 37:21 | |
| Sunday | 15:11 | 1:00:17 |