Remember maps?
Today’s puzzle was a paean to maps in two ways. First, the whole grid was turned into a partial map of the U.S. with MISSISSIPPI (as in the river) running right down the center. The clue for it was “Natural dividing line on a U.S. map.” Next, 8 states that the Mississippi runs through or abuts were embedded, two each, in four crossing answers, as geographically correct as possible:
SIAMESE TWIN
MOTOR SKILLS
STAR WITNESS
PLAGIARISMS
The second map was at 30D where the clue was “The World Map is the largest one to date, with 11,695 pieces,” and the answer was LEGO SET.
This is an eggs serpt from a poem we will not be sharing:
I want to shake the sky with you,
but a plain murmur interferes.
If I’ve wronged you
life will make me pay in handkerchiefs!
Sarah Knight (no relation to Peggy Day) poses the following question for the Dull Men’s Club (UK):
If this is where your beers were kept, on the left hand side of your American fridge/freezer, which beer would you take out first when you go to grab one?
The beer on the left.
The beer on the right.
Some other ridiculous option.
Sarah is 37 and married to a 44-year-old man who expects the coldest beers on the clearly incorrect side “and it’s driving me nuts.”
[Note: An “American” fridge is generally distinguished by its two vertical doors.]
Comments by the membership:
Claire Payne: Nearest the door.
Sarah: They’re all on the door; you can’t get much nearer.
Tony Clark: We fill the salad drawer with our beer.
Sarah: We use that for salad.
Alan Rooke: Unless you have replacements, beers that remain will roll around.
Sarah: We replace one for one immediately when taking one out, hence the issue. If I get him a beer, I take it out of one side and push them along towards the empty space, then replace. If he then goes to get one after, because he takes out of the opposite side as me, he grabs the warm beer.
Alan: That’s why you don’t use the door but pyramid-stack them on their sides on a shelf with something stopping them from rolling free. Can’t cope with beer cans or beer bottles in the door. What happens (god forbid) when you get to the end of the case and only have 3, 2 then 1 left??
Sarah: Not sure how well you can tell by the photo, but they don’t roll around. The water/ice dispenser is there, so the shelf is only wide enough for the cans of beer, nothing behind.
Stefan Woltmann: How long have you been married?
Sarah: Long enough to want a divorce over the contents of the fridge.
Joseph Daniels: This isn’t America, Sarah, I don’t keep random beers in the fridge
Avi Liveson: Ouch! WTF does that mean?
Paul Braybrook: Pick closest. Fill from rear.
Darren Jones: It’s colder in the main compartment.
Sarah: Yes, which is why the perishable things go in the main compartment and husband is lucky he’s allowed to keep any beers in my fridge at all.
Darren: I’m starting to see why he drinks.
Sarah: I’m pretty sure I’m the cause of his grey hair too. Good thing I’m cute and can cook.
David Mortimer: The one furthest from the hinge.
Allan Wright: The one closest to the hinge is furthest from the warm room. The one nearest you as you open the door will be the warmest (assuming all cans were put in at the same time.)
David: Only if you forgot to close the door.
[What?]
Kurt Robinson: First job would be to ensure that all the labels were facing outward.
Avi Liveson: Burp!
Rest in peace, Brian — on safari to stay.
See you tomorrow, Chatterheads.
The Wellington Files 