If it took you all this time to stop drooling over the Paige Bueckers photo that appeared in this space yesterday, I’m sorry to have to send you back there to look at it again. But (my bad!) I forgot to point out that Paige is wearing her official Owl Chatter sweats in the shot! Take a close look. They look great on her (as would a potato sack, tbh) and are available in sizes ranging from beanpole thin to double extra fat for only $189.00.
Chris Jenkins, of the Dull Men’s Club (UK) posted the following: “Sitting here in the adult holding area of a soft play centre, occasionally glancing in the vague direction of my 6 year old and reading a ”Which” article on how best to clean an air fryer…….. life doesn’t get much duller than this. (I don’t own an air fryer).”
Helene Cook: Living the dream.
Things then got a little testy when Val Dixon asked: How do you clean an air fryer?, noting that they are a nightmare.
Sam Charleston replied: Buy some silicone sleeves. Very rarely have to take the draws out to clean them now.
Then this erupted:
I don’t need to be spending more money
I only answered your question
But you didn’t. I asked about cleaning it.
Sheesh!
I added the following: I’ve never felt the need to fry air. Especially with global warming going on.
Since their successful road trip last week, in which they went 4-3 against Atlanta and the Guardians — two very good teams — the Gnats have hit the skids, dropping the whole 3-game series to the Mets plus a singleton to Atlanta. Good to see Lainie Thomas pop one yesterday, though — we need his bat to heat up (maybe get a bat fryer?). Runs are very hard to come by.
Here’s Lane with his pretty wife Chase, the baby, and Grandpa. Lane seems to be wearing pants with only one leg — where does he shop? — the amputee store? Half off?
This shot was taken back during the pandemic. Phil convinced them to remove their masks for the photo, no doubt infecting the old man and the baby. Phil! Check if the kid is breathing! Looks awfully still.
In the puzzle today at 29D the clue was “Legendary figure whose first name sounds like something he’s known for doing.” Did it come to you? Me neither, but I got it from the crosses: ROBIN HOOD. Of course!
Here’s a tune by Cat Power.
My mouth is the scene of a lot of dramatic action these days. I’m trying to eat on the right side exclusively so as not to interfere with the healing process from the extraction that took place on the left side. And I was having some rice at lunch — which was very risky. A grain could get caught in the recovery zone and wreak havoc. But it was a Japanese restaurant — had to have rice.
So I was being very careful, concentrating on every bite. But I must have gotten distracted for a moment because I could suddenly tell that a patrol of rogue grains of rice had shot across my mouth and were threatening to descend into the wound! I mobilized my tongue immediately to go after them. The key was keeping them together: if they split into three (or more!), at least one could make it through and do damage. I managed to corral them and safely swallow. Whew.
At 22A the clue was “I love mankind … it’s ___ I can’t stand”: Linus from “Peanuts.” The answer, of course, was PEOPLE.
Commenter dragoo shared this:
I’ve read that one of Charles M. Schultz’s favorite authors was Dostoevsky, which might explain what influenced the Linus quotation. Ivan Karamazov, the modern, free-thinking one of the Brothers Karamazov had this to say:
“The more I love humanity in general the less I love man in particular.”
And he explained himself further:
“In my dreams, I often make plans for the service of humanity, and perhaps I might actually face crucifixion if it were suddenly necessary. Yet I am incapable of living in the same room with anyone for two days together. I know from experience. As soon as anyone is near me, his personality disturbs me and restricts my freedom. In twenty-four hours I begin to hate the best of men: one because he’s too long over his dinner, another because he has a cold and keeps on blowing his nose. I become hostile to people the moment they come close to me. But it has always happened that the more I hate men individually the more I love humanity.”
“Yeah, that’s what I meant,” says Linus.
An exchange (in its entirety) from the DMC (Dull Men’s Club):
Jeff Vint: Neighbours put out a recycling bag with an Easter egg box in it! Who waits that long, surely it’s a record.
Chris Bater: I don’t know.
Jeff: There is no question mark.
Chris: There should be.
Other comments included: We have a King Charles coronation large chocolate coin that my wife thinks will be collectible in about 20 years. I disagree, and would like to eat it before it expires.
And: My husband still has a chocolate orangutan I bought him for Valentine’s Day back in the 1990s (can’t remember when) – he’s not being overly sentimental, he just couldn’t bring himself to destroy that cute ape and eat it.
Broadway Joe NAMATH was in the puzzle today — what a treat! It inspired me to share this story with the Rex folks:
When my son Sam was a student at UMich in Ann Arbor, the Jets made it to the AFC Championship game. If they could beat Peyton Manning’s Colts in Indianapolis on Sunday, they’d be in the Super Bowl.
It’s “only” a four-hour drive from AA to Indy. I went onto Stubhub and found tix available for just around $100 each. It said “obstructed view,” but so what? — you just lean your head a little and you can still see everything, right? So I called Sam and asked him if he had a lot to do for Monday at school. He said he had two midterms and a 25-page paper due that he hadn’t started yet. I said, “Great, so you’re free for the game!”
I borrowed my friend Michael’s bright green #12 Joe Namath jersey and started my drive from NJ to Annie Arbor (9 or 10 hours) on Saturday. We’d leave for Indy Sunday morning.
There’s a great Jewish deli near the stadium in Indy and we arrived in time to grab a sandwich there before kickoff. Perfect! Sam and I walked through the door — me in my bright green Namath jersey — and all at once about 150 guys all wearing blue Peyton Manning jerseys turned and glared at me. If looks could kill . . . Yikes! So I said to Sam: Maybe this wasn’t the best idea. And Sam said: Are you talking to me, sir? I said — Sam! You’re forsaking your own father for a corned beef sandwich!! I’ve never been more proud of you!
TBH, everyone was very friendly to us — they hate the Patriots more than the Jets. The Jets lost, of course.
BTW, the obstructed view seats were directly behind a very wide post — we could see no part of the field from the seats: nothing. D’oh! Our plan was to try to sit in an aisle on steps but, miraculously, several seats stayed open near us and we slipped into them for the whole game.
whatsername posted this reply: Great story! Wear your Jets jersey to KC’s Arrowhead any time. You’ll be welcomed with open arms and invited to eat tailgate BBQ. I read a news article once about a couple from Seattle who traveled there to watch the Seahawks play. They had so much fun that they went home and sold their house and moved to KC.
Ha!
Go deep, everybody!
Last, at 37A, the clue was “Feature of many haute couture dresses,” and the answer was BIAS CUT. I’ve never heard of it, to no surprise.
In short, it’s the technique of cutting on the diagonal grain (at 45 degrees) of the fabric rather than the straight and cross grains. The technique causes the fabric to fall and drape in a way that creates a slinky silhouette.
It was ‘invented’ by Parisian couturier, Madeleine Vionette, in 1927 and became a popular 30s shape. Think of the iconic green dress Keira Knightly wore in the film Atonement. A bias cut is commonly used for sexy nightgowns, seductive dresses and slinky skirts. The cut causes dresses to caress the curves and delicately flow.
Keira loved the dress and insisted on wearing it nightly.
Thanks for dropping in. See you tomorrow!
The Wellington Files 