For those of you who miss the “tuchas watch” that mesmerized Crossworld a while back — and how could you not? — there were two great clues in today’s Puns and Anagrams puzzle in the Times. 24D was “Skin eruptions on her ass,” and the answer was RASHES, which is an anagram of “her ass.” And 46A was “Asses’ return mailers,” which was SASES, an anagram of “asses.” Extending the “theme,” 58A was “Astute test for Oscar awards” (STATUETTES), and 54A was “Sassafras in a basil tin” (SIBILANT).
The clue at 76A was “‘Old ______’ (country standard)” and the answer was SHEP. According to a comment on Rex’s blog, “Old Shep” was the first song Elvis Presley ever officially sang in public. On October 3, 1945, when he was ten years old, he sang it in a singing contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show in Tupelo. He sang it again for a talent show at Humes High School in Memphis in 1951.
Kent Mickleborough signed a contract offering to buy 87 metric tons of flax from Chris Achter and texted it to him with the note “please confirm flax contract.” Achter wanted to let Mickleborough know he received the contract so he texted back a thumbs-up emoji. It catapulted them right into court. Mickleborough said the emoji meant Achter accepted the offer and was obligated to sell him the flax. Achter said “Flax you!” — the emoji did not rise to the level of an acceptance. He never expressed an intent to agree to the sale.
Justice Keene of the Saskatchewan court held that a contract was formed, and since the flax was not delivered, Achter owed Mickleborough $61,000. Keene noted the parties in the past used “looks good,” “ok,” or “yup” as acceptances, and that Mickleborough’s note specifically asked for the contract to be confirmed – not merely its receipt. Prof. Julian Nyarko of Stanford Law School said the question is: “Would a reasonable person interpret the emoji as an acceptance under all of the circumstances?” Yup — Achter was flaxed. Moral of the story — be careful where you stick your thumb.
Here’s Judge Keene’s pretty wife, Peachy, agreeing with his decision.
When’s the last time you sang the National Anthem? As a sports fan, I hear it all the time, but I can’t recall the last time I actually sang it. Meg Rapinoe, the brilliant US soccer star who just announced that she is retiring after this year’s World Cup, may never sing it again. Isn’t that right, MR?
On September 4, 2016, in Chicago, Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. Remember him? Later that week, the Washington Spirit pulled the rug out, by playing the anthem before the teams took the field. But she continued the protest a week later, during the national team game against Thailand. U.S. Soccer then issued a statement saying: “Representing your country is a privilege and honor for any player or coach associated with U.S. Soccer’s National Teams. As part of the privilege to represent your country,we expect that our players and coaches will stand and honor our flag while the national anthem is played.” Rapinoe stated that “using this blanketed patriotism as a defense against what the protest actually is was pretty cowardly.” She further stated that she would probably never sing the national anthem again.
Hrrrrumph.
Last July, Rapinoe received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Joe Biden. So her relationship with Uncle Sam can’t be too bad.
If there is a shadow in her life, it’s cast by her older brother Brian, who inspired her to play soccer when she was just three and he was eight. Seven years later he began a struggle with drugs that led him in and out of prison, where he also made connections with white supremacist groups. Oy.
Meg came out publicly as gay in 2012 and announced her engagement to basketball star Sue Bird in October of 2020. Sue is not related to Larry Bird, although when she was younger she liked to lie and claim she was his niece (I’m not kidding).
Sue and Meg were the first same-sex couple to appear on the cover of ESPN’s The Body Issue. Yikes! — turn the AC down! Phil – get a blanket or something for them — and quit gawking.
Who doesn’t remember Uri Geller — from the bent spoons? He got his start 50 years ago on a BBC show when he was just 26. A book has come out timed to the anniversary: “Bend It Like Geller,” by a magician who had been a foe, Ben Harris. What irked the magician community about Geller originally was Geller’s denying that it was a trick — he claimed he had mental powers. The battle between him and the community enriched both sides. How rich? Well, Geller lived outside London for many years, in a mansion next door to George Clooney. He downsized in 2015, moving back to his native Tel Aviv where he lives in a modest one-bedroom apartment.
The greatest Geller skeptic was James Randi (“The Amazing Randi”). After Geller blew Barbara Walters’ mind by bending her key, Randi showed up and deflated her like a Tom Brady football by showing he could bend the same key just as easily. Randi won a $272,000 MacArthur fellowship as a professional skeptic. He wrote a book called “The Truth About Uri Geller,” that claimed Geller was a dangerous fraud. Geller sued him for defamation repeatedly, including once for claiming Geller was performing tricks from the back of cereal boxes. The “cornflakes case” was dismissed, but the war with Geller was costly for Randi. He died three years ago, having requested that his ashes be tossed into Geller’s eyes. Impressive grudge-holding for someone who isn’t Jewish.
Overall, however, the magician community made its peace with Geller, viewing him ultimately as a master entertainer. Ben Harris, who wrote the new book, had been an ardent debunker but they are close friends now. Geller is generous with advice to young magicians.
Geller is 76 and has been married to his wife Hannah for 53 years. Her only complaint is she keeps having to buy new silverware. (“Uri — will you cut it out with the goddamn spoons!!! I’m serious!”) Their (kosher) kitchen has three sets: meat, dairy, and bent. They have two children, neither of whom is bent.
Geller fought in Israel’s Six-Day War in 1967 as a paratrooper and was wounded in action. He says he’s a distant relative of Sigmund Freud on his mother’s side. He poured $6 million into an old soap factory which he converted into the Uri Geller Museum in Tel Aviv. A sculpture comprised of a 53-foot, 11-ton bent spoon sits in front. He’ll give impromptu performances to visitors, still bending spoons, and offering museum tours. He has a spoon tattooed on his arm (see below). When he brings his hand to his shoulder, it bends.
That’s enough nonsense for today. See you tomorrow!
The Wellington Files 