Thursday January 3rd 2019, NY Times Crossword

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Time: 23:27
Thursday Average: 26:02
Best Thursday: 10:18

I can’t be the only one wondering about the choice to include a wall-themed puzzle as the US government shutdown enters its 12th day over, ridiculously enough, a goddamn wall. But maybe we can read something into the fact that clues are breaking through the wall with ease and maybe a wall doesn’t make that much sense after all, so perhaps it’s time for DETENTE on this issue. Or maybe it’s just a crossword. Anyhow, there are three themed clues in which “wall” would be the middle word, as represented by that big wall down the middle of the puzzle: DESKTOP (Wall) PAPER, WOLF OF (Wall) STREET, and STONE (Wall) JACKSON. It absolutely works as a theme, but, again, I have to wonder about the timing. Perhaps it’s just my perspective from outside the US (but on my way back tomorrow).

I loved “Author known for the intelligence of his writing?” for LE CARRE, but I also just adore John le Carré. Here’s hoping that you’re up on your thrillers for that corner with ICE NINE right below it.

The Northeast was the real struggle for me, however, with the tricky plural of HASIDIM (meaning ‘pious ones’) above the not too familiar to me EXODERM (eventually inferrable) crossing the rather random DEGREASE for “Prepare, as hides for tanning.” I also had to pull ASEPSIS meaning the absence of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms from that reserve of things that sound vaguely familiar. In short, there was a fair amount of messing with letters before I could close out that corner.

I also hadn’t heard of “Best-selling erotic novelist LORA Leigh,” but I suppose I can keep an eye out for her book covers, which seem to mostly feature shirtless guys and furry animals. 

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