I pulled out 32D Question that cannot be answered if its answer is “no”: YOUAWAKE because I’ve come home from the Magic Castle and asked Calah that question when I have stories to share. Like there was one time when I performed for a bunch of people who were at the Castle for the first time, and I impressed them. It took many times of asking her, but it turned out that Calah was awake after all!
No theme today in this Friday puzzle.
Finished this one in 21:09.
Ben Carson is trending this morning as the only member of the cabinet left. This may reflect more on me than on him or the reverse, but I didn’t know he was still in government. Why is he still there? Isn’t he a doctor? It can’t possibly the government pay.
I pulled out 1D Home to the so-called “Silicon Docks,” a European equivalent to Silicon Valley: DUBLIN for two reasons. One is that I learned that Silicon Docks is a thing. Mainly, though, it’s that using quotation marks is not necessary after using so-called. Good job, Will Shortz for editing properly.
The theme of this puzzle is hard? But not too hard.
14A Simply not done: UNHEARDOF. You know, like storming the Capitol.
17A Welcome abroad: BIENVENUE. It’s like welcome aboard but abroad so it’s in another language. I get it.
37A “See, someone understands what I’m saying!”: THISGUYGETSIT.
61A Token reprimand: WRISTSLAP. Like being censured or impeached without conviction.
64A Resolve: DETERMINE. Resolve/determine he’s gotta go.
Finished this one in 33:42.
Have a great and safe weekend, everyone!
Well this was way easier than yesterday’s crossword. I finished in 17:17. Why is a Thursday easier than a Wednesday? I don’t know. But this one was. I liked the theme of DARK ART. The three black squares in a row took the place of the word ART, so there was (ART)IFICIAL HE(ART), (ART)ICLE II, POISON D(ART), (ART)HUR DENT, FLOW CH(ART). Definitely (ART)IFICIAL HE(ART) was my favorite of all of them.
I also learned that there is a short that is BAMBI MEETS GODZILLA. It’s worth a watch if you haven’t seen it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-wUdetAAlY
My longstanding beef with Will Shortz remains but wasn’t made worse by today’s puzzle.