The administration’s full scale assault on the trans community continues. New Jersey will remain a haven, as much as possible, but I think of Lianna’s friend Oliver whenever these dreadful developments are reported. The lead story in the NYT today was the Supreme Court’s ruling on Tennessee’s right to deny treatment to trans youth. Less prominent was its story on page A13 on Trump’s defunding the suicide hotline dedicated to LGBTQ+ callers. The administration’s statement referred to “LGB+ youth services,” apparently not even recognizing that the trans community exists.
And yesterday’s NYT front page featured the story of Major Erica Vandal, an extraordinary trans soldier who was awarded the Bronze Star, whom Trump is booting out of the military motivated solely by hatred. She grew up an “army brat.” Her father is a three-star general.
At 23D today, the clue was “Bakery purchase” and the answer was LOAF. You hear of this band: Archers of Loaf? Son Volt shared their song: “Web in Front.” It contains the line: You’re not the one who let me down, but thanks for offering.
I love it when a member of the Dull Men’s Club (UK) has a problem and turns to the membership for help. Here’s a pretty tiresome example”
Euan Ovenstone posted:
Conundrum.
We have a leaking pool.
How does one find the leak?
It’s not anywhere around the sides so has to be on the bottom somewhere.
Pool is 12 foot wide 30 inches deep.
And yes it’s filled or wouldn’t be leaking.
Any bright ideas?
Keith Dilworth: Build a larger Pool around it as a means of secondary containment, with a float controlled pump to return the water to the correct Pool.
Euan: Wonderfully helpful.
Ross Landale: Throw 2 bags of cement into it, give it a good mix first.
Phil Rogers: I remember my Dad used to mend leaks in his car radiator by cracking an egg into the hot radiator water. You could try a couple of dozen large hens eggs. Brown or white shouldn’t matter.
Ben Jones: Tickle it until it’s a gush then follow the stream upwards. Oh wait, I misread the question. Apologies.
C. Doyle: Work through the issue by process of elimination, it won’t be coming out the top, then work your way down from there… hope this helps.
Many of the other answers involved pool dyes and were boringly helpful.
Frida KAHLO was in the puzzle, about whom Commenter Gary noted “I don’t think I’ve ever once spelled her name correctly the first time.” The clue was “Frida who portrayed her chronic pain through art.” The pain was from a bus accident that debilitated her for her entire life. She was riding home on a bus with her boyfriend, but got off to retrieve her umbrella. The second bus they got on was hit by an electric streetcar and she was impaled by a handrail.
Nevertheless, she married the great painter Diego Rivera who was 21 years her senior. He was also much larger than her causing her parents to describe the marriage as between “an elephant and a dove.” They both slept around a lot. (Artists!)
The couple spent a year in Detroit where DR was commissioned to paint murals for the Institute of Arts which Linda and I saw a few years ago and are pretty neat. (That’s as deep as I get as far as art criticism goes.)
Frida was honored with a stamp and mention in today’s puzzle.
Closing the store early today. Shooting out to Sellersville PA to catch the Tartan Terrors.
See you next time!
The Wellington Files 