At 39D today: “What some people are dyeing to be?” was REDHEADS.
Here’s a song about one. You can follow along with the lyrics, below. It’s quite a tale.
Oh, says Red Molly to James, “That’s a fine motorbike
A girl could feel special on any such like”
Says James to Red Molly, “My hat’s off to you
It’s a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952
And I’ve seen you at the corners and cafés, it seems
Red hair and black leather, my favourite colour scheme”
And he pulled her on behind
And down to Box Hill they did ride
Oh, says James to Red Molly, “Here’s a ring for your right hand
But I’ll tell you in earnest I’m a dangerous man
For I’ve fought with the law since I was seventeen
I robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine
Now I’m twenty-one years, I might make twenty-two
And I don’t mind dying, but for the love of you
And if fate should break my stride
Then I give you my Vincent to ride”
“Come down, come down, Red Molly,” called Sergeant McRae
“For they’ve taken young James Adie for armed robbery
Shotgun blast hit his chest, left nothing inside
Oh, come down, Red Molly to his dying bedside”
When she came to the hospital, there wasn’t much left
He was running out of road, he was running out of breath
But he smiled to see her cry
And said, “I give you my Vincent to ride”
Says James, “In my opinion, there’s nothing in this world
Beats a ’52 Vincent and a red-headed girl
Now Nortons and Indians and Greeveses won’t do
Ah, they don’t have a soul like a Vincent ’52”
Oh, he reached for her hand and he slipped her the keys
Said, “I’ve got no further use for these
I see angels on Ariels in leather and chrome
Swooping down from heaven to carry me home”
And he gave her one last kiss and died
And he gave her his Vincent to ride
Here’s a Black Vincent (1952)
And a red-headed girl.
The Onion today had a feature on celebrities who are controlled by Satan. They include Anne Hathaway, Billy Joel, and Rachael Ray.
In the puzzle, many found fault with 19A: “Rich sources of beta carotene.” Answer: KALES. It does seem like a clunky plural. Beezer noted: I avoid KALE because you are supposed to massage it to make it less “chewy,” and I don’t like to engage in that much intimacy with my produce.
At 34A, “Singer Williams who founded the Temptations,” was OTIS. He’s 82 years old, has been married to his (second) wife Arleata since ’83, and has a son who is also named Otis — what are the odds?
Got sunshine on a cloudy day? Need money, fortune or fame?
Earlier today, Nazi County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed an executive order — whoa!, sorry — that’s one helluva typo! Sorry, let me start again.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed an executive order today barring Jews from participating in sports activities at facilities run by the county. Wait! OMG — I don’t know what’s wrong with me today with these typos. Sorry! Let me just take it from the start again and give you the story as it appeared in The Gothamist.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed an executive order today barring trans women from participating in any women’s sports teams at facilities run by the county.
There — that’s better. Sorry.
“Requiring girls who are trans to compete on boys’ teams effectively bars them from sports altogether,” said the NYCLU. “Participating would mean being outed and being denied the same opportunities other girls enjoy. At its heart, this order is an attempt to shut trans people out of public spaces.”
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul: “There is nothing lower than trying to score cheap political points by putting a target on the backs of some of our state’s most vulnerable people: Trans kids.”
Phil refused to take a photo of Blakeman for us. He’s got a real bug up his ass on some things.
*******
From New York to Oklahoma.
Nex Benedict did not see themselves as strictly male or female. Under an Oklahoma law passed in 2022, Nex was required to use the bathroom assigned to their birth gender. On February 7, in a girls’ bathroom, Nex was confronted by three bullies and beaten pretty badly after standing up to them. Nex was taken to a hospital by relatives and sent home, but complained of a sore head. The next day Nex collapsed at home and was rushed to the hospital. Nex died on the way.
Look how beautiful, how sweet.
We are heartbroken.
“Nex did not see themselves as male or female,” Nex’s grandmother explained. “Nex saw themselves right down the middle. I was still learning about it. Nex was teaching me that.”
According to the Times, Oklahoma’s policies on gender have led to more reports of confrontations in schools, and “policing of bathrooms by students.” Students who do not present themselves as obviously male or female find themselves questioned by other students. “There is a sense of, ‘do you belong in here?’”
The virulently anti-trans policies of GOP governor Kevin Stitt and Schools Superintendent Ryan Walters have steeped their hands in blood. And if you think it’s just in states like Oklahoma, take the LIRR out to Nassau County.
There are monsters in our house.
Rest in peace Nex.
The Wellington Files 