Friday November 16th 2018, NY Times Crossword

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Time: 15:47
Friday Average: 28:15
Best Friday: 10:21

I'm having trouble not reading this particular Friday puzzle as satire directed at some of the SEEDIER elements of the current political situation in the US. Starting with 1-across we have SHOUTING (clued "What all capital letters may indicate") sitting right above NEW MEDIA. The eye might be drawn to the opposite corner and see TWEET not far from ALIGN, clued as "What a politician's promises and actions should do" which could be to say, maybe, not support policy exclusively in the interest of the FAT CATS. But maybe that's what we get when we elect a CELEB that could perhaps be described as something of a SLIME MOLD. Will the newly elected representatives be our WHITE BLOOD CELLS that will REIN IN this administration or am I giving our system too much CREDIT? Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but it does seem rather ON THE DOT (wanted 'on the nose' there). But anyway, NO BIGGIE, TRA LA LA, and moving on.

Since I've only traveled in Greece since the advent of the Euro, DRACHMA has the singular association of being the currency of the Apple IIGS game, "Return of Herakles," which led me to this delightful write-up of my favorite childhood pastime. They really don't make them like they used to.

I was not familiar with SELENIC as an adjective meaning "relating to the moon." I'll be sure to use that going forward. 

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