My time: 14:08, just a little faster than average.
I probably heard Salt-n-Pepa hit "SHOOP," back in the mists of time, and it wasn't too hard to guess that word that comes before "ba-doop." It's got a nice beat, and you can dance to it.
"Other _____" is a truly lame clue for THAN.
I like the placement of EYE OPENER over DON'T STARE.
We all know Franz KAFKA, but we may not be familiar with his 1922 work "A Hunger Artist," a short story about a man who was presented in a cage and underwent a public display of fasting for the enjoyment of spectators. Truly, Kafka was a tortured soul.
Did you know the MIATA made its debut in the Chicago Auto Show of 1989? Now that you know that, you are fulfilled.
Emilia is the ATTENDANT of Desdemona in "Othello." She's unhappily married to Iago and steals Desdemona's handkerchief, leading to the latter's death. You just couldn't get good help those days.
RITA Dove is an acclaimed poet who was named Poet Laureate in 1993.
I didn't know that the sister of Jawaharlal NEHRU, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, was the first female president of the UN General Assembly, but it was easy to guess from her name. She was also India's ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1947 to 1949, the United States and Mexico from 1949 to 1951, Ireland from 1955 to 1961, and Spain from 1958 to 1961.
I don't mind "caught" for SAW, exactly, but there's a little something missing. In the expression "caught out of the corner of my eye" and "caught a glimpse," the implication is a quick look, not just any look.
For "it takes years and years to complete" (LIFE'S WORK) I originally put a hesitant *LIGHT-WEEK. I just think that's a moment worth commemorating.
The ASHANTI (also spelled Asante) Empire ruled for almost three centuries in what is now Ghana. It was composed of the Akan people; the name derives from Twi words meaning "because of war." It recalls the Asante's origin as a kingdom created to fight the Denkyira kingdom.
The mushroom ENOKI has come up a great deal, and I still can't spell it.
Erik SATIE has appeared before, also for his "Gymnopédies." These piano compositions have been used in pop music here and there, most notably as arranged by Dick Halligan for the group Blood, Sweat & Tears under the title "Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie" on the group's eponymous album, released in 1968.
The 2006 hit song "So Sick" is by NE-YO. I didn't recall either one, although he has come up a couple times before.
Clever clues: "hit after hit for a rock band?" is DRUM BEAT. "Words with friends on one's phone, say" is GROUP CHAT. 'Toast" is a clever hint for GONER.
This was a SERTA hard puzzle for me. But Fridays are supposed to be tough. I liked the long answers and there were a few mini-surprises, like PREGGO and LAWYER UP. I enjoyed it!
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