ALAS, that’s the feeling of today’s puzzle. Thursdays are a love/hate day. I expect fuckery in the puzzle, but since it’s the last day of the work week I know I have to get it done early or else I risk being too incapacitated later. I love it when I get the gimmick and admire the cleverness. I hate it when I get the gimmick and it’s half-assed. Like today’s. I mean, either do a rebus, or don’t. Use the circles to make a point, or don’t. Make a pun clue, or don’t. Not this wishy washy crap… two of the themers could have had really good clues. The other two definitely needed some work. And there’s a lot to blame here with the weird cluing. An urn at brunch? Morbid. Unix is old? Not as old as Multics π And I can imagine a lot that’s lurid!
And then this “shtick” bullshit.
25:20 … It was like bad sex… you know, when you’re just waiting for it be over.
SHTICK was a first passer for me!
S(OVER)EIGNSTATE and G(OVER)NMENTAGENCY were apparent to me pretty early in my puzzling. But since I had no clue how to spell “sovereign” and the other two themers’ clues were fucked, the theme was completely lost on me.
Learned about ANNABELLEE today and the fact that NERO was adopted. Luckily, I learned TEAK in a puzzle just yesterday. Unfortunately, my Scottish co-workers think I’m a NUB since I didn’t know who Robert the BRUCE was. I don’t care, since I’m sure they can’t explain who James BOWIE is!
Happy Weekend from Qatar! I’m running my first Ultra marathon tomorrow in a race across the whole of Qatar (56 miles). This will be my meditation: https://youtu.be/yRYFKcMa_Ek
Oooooh good luck on that run!!! Don’t die – remember we have a big party in Tbilisi soon!
BTW, this is our theme song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIAkRVBS-0U