Saturday December 29th 2018, NY Times Crossword

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Time: 38:08
Saturday Average: 38:19
Best Saturday: 10:34

Any word can probably win me over with a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote: “the soul strives AMAIN to live and work.” I think this is the second time I’ve drawn a blank on this crossword clue (“all one’s might”) so I’ll do my best not to let it happen a third time. I also completely failed to see ITEM for “Two stars, maybe” and now I’m just rolling my eyes at both the clue and myself. Obviously, I had wHALE for a long time instead of SHALE.

I can only hear IT’S A LIVING in Elliott Kalan’s voice doing his impression of the Flintstones’ bird. Maybe he’ll use that gag when I see the Flophouse podcast live in January. Have I mentioned that it’s the best podcast? Please don’t come back at me with Serial.

For “Natchez and Delta Queen, for two,” I had riverBOATS then drEAMBOATS before finally closing out the puzzle with STEAMBOATS. I also quite enjoy the pairing with TIME MACHINE, since I’m sure there’s been a steamboat time machine at some point in pop culture. I suppose I’ll just keep singing the Robyn song to myself.

I’m not really familiar with the “Essays of ELIA” by Charles Lamb, who hung out with Wordsworth and, apparently, has been called “the most lovable figure in English literature.”

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