Sunday April 7th 2019, NY Times Crossword

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Time: 27:01
Sunday Average: 47:29
Best Sunday: 21:55

I just noticed that the black squares also spell out the SOS theme, which I supposes BALLASTS what could otherwise be considered insubstantial. The six longest entries in the puzzle each have three words that start with SOS, respectively. Those are SAME OLD STORY, STRUTTED OUR STUFF, SNAKE OIL SALESMAN, SAIL ON SAILOR (figuring out the theme actually helped me get this unfamiliar Beach Boys song), SULTANS OF SWING, and START OUT SLOWLY. I can't think of any way that the theme could have been TAUTENED and all those answers are fun on their own merits, but it may as well be themeless, which is never really a problem for me.

Wow, RSTLNE for "'Wheel of Fortune' sextet" seems like an annoying clue, but maybe it's automatic for fans of that show.

It took me a very long time to understand PASS RUSH for "It might end up in a sack." That's American Football, right?

I'm not familiar with the RADICCHIO, but maybe it will have its Kale Moment someday. Its crossing with MODISTE, which is vaguely recognizable to me as a word, was the last sticking in the puzzle.

"Checkout devices" is such a boring way to clue SCANNERS. Nothing to do with exploding heads at all. 

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