Zebras and donkeys are both in the horse family. They hardly ever date, let alone have kids together, but when they do, a cross between them is called a ZEDONK. That was the answer today at 12D. A zedonk can also be called a zonkey, zenkey, or, my favorite (for obvious reasons), a zebrass.
Here’s a cute baby zedonk.
I enjoyed this exchange in the Dull Men’s Club (UK) today. Bobby Tables posted a photo of a woman he called Sporty Spice and asked a question about a big mug that was behind her in the photo. He wondered whether it was a Wassailing mug, frog mug, or some other kind.
I have no idea what the hell he’s talking about and don’t care. But Andy Spragg asked why he was calling her “Sporty Spice.” So Neil Christie explained: She’s a member of a girl group called the Spice Girls, and her band name was Sporty Spice.
Spragg came back with: Well, blow me down. I’d never have recognised her in a million years .
Christie noted that she’s 50 now. And Spragg said: even so… I’d have expected her to retain some vestigial recognisability!
Vestigial recognisability — wow!
In looking into the expression “curled up with a book” today, Rex ran into “curled up with an earl.” Turns out that’s the name of a steamy romance novel. (It was praised by the author of “Up All Night with a Good Duke.”)
And the upshot is we get to hear this song he shared by Justin Townes Earle called “Hudson River Blues.” Turn it up.
At 63A, “Crane lookalike” was HERON. Commenter kitshef took issue with there being a resemblance, but the consensus in the sites I visited agree with the puzzle that they look alike, although they are not related. The best way to tell them apart is by their necks — a crane’s is straight, while a heron’s is curled. Here’s a heron.
And here’s a crane.
BTW, I shared my info about the zedonk with the Dull Men’s Club, along with the cute photo, and Steven Varney noted: “There are two at Huttoft donkey sanctuary, betwixt Skegness and Mablethorpe. Very friendly, love carrots and ginger biscuits.” I replied: Who doesn’t?
Look for Taylor to be at the NFL opener tonight, with the Chiefs facing off against the Ravens in KC. She’s on a break from touring. What else has she got to do?
See you tomorrow!
The Wellington Files 