Wednesday 8 Dec 2021 - Portrait of a Theme on Fire
Author: Philip Koski Ash Duration: 50:29 Difficulty: SLOGGER Theme: 0.5/5 Stars One thing I love about doing crosswords is the chance to learn random facts. Today I learned that a WOMBAT (2D: Marsupial with distinctive cube-shaped droppings) poops in cubes, there used to be a major gas company from Indiana called AMOCO (44A: Classic gas brand), and the word ' BASEST ' (51D: Most despicable) describes a person with low morals. That brings a whole new meaning to calling your friend a 'basic b*tch', sorry Lou! I started off this puzzle having a lot of fun. A couple times singing Sweet Home Alabama at karaoke informed me all about Muscle SHOALS and their swampers (1D: Muscle ____, Ala.). With most of the NW corner filled in, I got A BATTLE OF WITS (20A: What intellectual rivals engage in) pretty easily, which got me very excited about the theme. A battle?! of wits!? That seems exactly up my alley! Can you tell I enjoy escape rooms? I was envisioning a Princess Bride...
