Wednesday January 9th 2019, NY Times Crossword

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Time: 10:49
Wednesday Average: 17:11
Best Wednesday: 7:09

At first I thought this was an unofficial INS theme for this puzzle? Generally, it solves like any other low difficulty Wednesday puzzle, but the longer I looked at it, the more I saw the I-N letter combo IN IT, especially that diagonal swath across the middle. In fact, I suppose the theme is more specifically I’s, since that is the only vowel in the puzzle. I guess that’s fun but I wouldn’t have thought enough to notice if I weren’t writing about the puzzle.

Would the Swedes or Russians agree that FINNS are the “Original sauna users?”

Again we have a vague answer for a specific Lord of the Rings clue with “What Gollum calls ‘my precious.’” I would argue that that has to be The One Ring, not just RING.

I don’t really get the clueing of “Bit of bunny slope gear” for MINISKI. That is definitely a piece of equipment, but are we supposed to see the word “bunny” and have that call up mini-skirt in our imaginations? Or am I just not up on my skiing lingo?

I loved PRII (pronounced pre eye) for “Toyota hybrids, jocularly,” because yes, I definitely say that when talking about multiple Priuses. “Water cooler?” is also a strong clue for BRIG.

Now, if only this STIFLING meeting would end so that I can get somewhere for a GIN SLING...

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