AndyHatWoot! Love that today's USA Today crossword clued DMED via Mastodon (36A).
Sad to learn that today was Erik Agard's last as editor of the USA Today crossword, but Amanda Rafkin seems like a great choice to take over.
Today was for coincidental fill across the puzzles. With a MAI in the LAT, and TAIs in both the NYT and Universal, we've one-and-a-half MAITAIs for a Friday. And IDAHO is well-represented, spelled out in the NYT and abbreviated in the USAT.
Universal easily wins the puzzle-of-the-day award with MECHAGODZILLA and GIRL Scout Cookies. I learned my knowledge of NYC-adjacent geography is lacking; I thought YONKERS is over somewhere near Flushing, but it's north of the Bronx? And of course I am so glad I haven't needed OKCUPID for many years, though at least it has a cute name.
LAT SURPRISEd me with the Among Us sense of SUS; I've seen that in plenty of indies by now, but didn't know it had gone mainstream.
USAT amused with its 4/20 theme. I'll never hear JOINTCOMMITTEE in quite the same way again.
NYT was fun with its rotated theme. I miss the ZOOMZOOM ads. SADIRONS was a wtf?
USA Today's themers lead off with the all-to-topical LONGCOVID. Unfortunately we cannot say WEREDONE with COVID.
In the LAT, I wanted DRONERACING instead of DRONESOCCER, which is new to me. What kind of rules does that have?
Universal has AVIDREADER down the middle, which reminds me I have some books to get to...
Loved this week's New Yorker puzzle. That central stack of SANCTUARYCITY, AMITHEASSHOLE, and MEALSONWHEELS is amazing, with nice bonuses TACOTRUCKS and the excellent portmanteau HIPHOPERA (are there any others than "Hamilton"?)
LAT had a nice selection of SPILLEDMILKs. Can you still get anything for collecting cereal BOXTOPs?
Kind of surprised to see the Sony PSP in the Universal. Didn't think anyone remembered those, though they had some good games. I mostly played PSP games via PSTV.
USAT reminds us that "Trans RIGHTS are human RIGHTS" which is an important enough message to be my entire toot tonight.
HULKSMASH! I'm not into skate culture, but that entry made the LAT puzzle fun.
USAT made me hungry with APPLEPIEALAMODE. Also liked the reminder that the whole CARBONFOOTPRINT thing is BP greenwashing.
Universal reminded us of the lockdown fad of SOURDOUGH baking. I do love fresh hot bread, but never been a big SOURDOUGH fan myself (I'm not a fan of sour flavors in general).
USAT gets us into a proper kitty mood with KITTEN and CATTAIL. Then the Universal has BELLYDANCE; not quite as good as a bellyrub, but close. LAT reminds us to neuter our cats by removing their BALLS.
USAT features the delightful entry CATPARENT. Universal has "Catwoman" as a clue for VETERINARIAN. And the LAT leads with BIGCAT at 1D. Overall, a very satisfying catty day of crosswording.