Friday April 19th 2019, NY Times Crossword

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Time: 15:23
Friday Average: 27:17
Best Friday: 10:21

It's almost confusing coming across a clue like "Santa ____" on a Friday, such that I can't possibly trust it until I have three letters and only then will I finally go ahead and enter CLAUS. There's also something gloriously straightforward about ICE CREAM CONE sitting in the middle.

I ran through quite a few lineages for the clue "King in 'Game of Thrones'" before deciding that it was probably ROBERT Baratheon. I mean, there are a lot of kings, depending on when you count from, especially since the clue refers to the TV show, not the first book, which is technically called A Game of Thrones. Still, it's hard to be SURE OF an answer when drawing from that entire mythos.

I think I'm firmly in the camp of people that says that we need to stop talking about GRIT since it's largely a way for rich people to try to get us to SEE PAST privilege. Next.

MWAHAHA seems to be coming up an awful lot in crosswords lately and I suppose I have no objection. I still want to see more silly comic book sounds. Thwip, anyone? 

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