Thursday March 28th 2019, NY Times Crossword

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Time: 11:17
Thursday Average: 24:51
Best Thursday: 10:18

Apparently Apple isn't completely discontinuing IPODS just yet, but I'm having trouble remembering the last time I saw one outside of the tech graveyard in my basement. But it was that device along with a playlist that included two versions of "Waitin' Around to Die" that got me through my first marathon, so I'll be sure include them in future TOASTS. SKOAL!

It's a fairly light theme for a Thursday, so much so that you could probably blink and miss it. But the constructor tells us to GIVE ME SOME SPACE in order to get four of the answers. I'm guessing that originally, the constructor imagined that the "space" would come before the letters "me," as is the case for "Tome" cluing FROM WHERE I STAND. As you can see, you are meant to give some space by separating the clue into two words to create "To me." I'd be more impressed if they had followed through with that tight theme, but instead we just have "Notable" (Not able) to clue POWERLESS, "Goon" (Go on) for PERSIST, and "Often" (of ten) gets DECIMAL. I won't call it a poor theme, but I can see the retracted ambition and that makes it weaker.

I've never heard the word "Cadged," which clued SPONGED, in the sense of mooching or asking for things to which someone is not entitled. I have a feeling I could use this word in my line of work on an almost daily basis.

Have you listened to the 99% Invisible episode about ALOHA shirts? That entire series about clothing is deeply worthwhile, as is basically every episode. 

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