This poem by X. J. Kennedy is called “Mixed-Up School.”
We have a crazy mixed-up school.
Our teacher Mrs. Cheetah
Makes us talk backwards. Nicer cat
You wouldn’t want to meet a.
To start the day we eat our lunch,
Then do some heavy dome-work.
The boys’ and girls’ rooms go to us,
The hamster marks our homework.
At recess time we race inside
To don our diving goggles,
Play pin-the-donkey-on-the-tail,
Ball-foot or ap-for-bobbles.
Old Cheetah with a chunk of chalk
Writes right across two blackboards,
And when she says, “Go home!” we walk
The whole way barefoot backwards.
If, like me, that little taste of Tift Merritt yesterday left you eager for more, read on. Her full name is Catherine Tift Merritt, and she was born in Houston and raised in Raleigh, NC. A southern Belle, for sure. She’s 50 now and has a daughter.
Her sound has been described as “sonic short stories and poignant performances,” and she was compared to artists like Joni Mitchell and Emmylou Harris. The New Yorker praised her, and The Wall Street Journal described her as “in the tradition of Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Leonard Cohen.” Take another look and listen. Am I the only one she reminds of a McGarrigle sister? It’s such an honest rendition — there’s no distance between her and the song.
Two items from The Onion:
RFK Jr. Mandates All Americans Drink Mysterious Glowing Liquid
Arizona High Schools To Teach Spanish Entirely In English
The puzzle today didn’t screw around. Oh yeah? You hear of any of these?
24A: “Évariste ___, 19th-century French math prodigy for whom a differential theory is named.” Answer GALOIS. [Judy?]
Anony Mouse adds the following: While almost every mathematician would know the name Evariste Galois, I venture that only a small fraction would know that a differential theory is named for him. His brilliant innovations are considered part of algebra — no derivatives in sight.
EG was a political activist and died at the crazy age of 20 from gunshot wounds incurred in a duel.
9D: “Barack Obama’s final secretary of defense (2015-17).” ASH CARTER.
26D: “Tony-winning actress who provided the singing voice for the Disney princesses Jasmine and Mulan.” SRSLY? The answer is LEA SALONGA. Actually, she’s a pretty big star aside from the Disney roles.
Lea is 54 now, Filipino, and has been married to her businessman husband Robert for 20 years. They are fully supportive of their child who has transitioned from female Nicole to male Nic. Good-looking kid.
The constructor also expected us know what the marine creature called “by-the-wind sailor” looks like. Four letters: BLOB.
Did you know the “Largest of the Dodecanese Islands” is RHODES? Here’s egs on this one: “I had no idea which was the largest of the Dodecanese Islands. It’s not like I’m a f*cking RHODES scholar.”
Ladies — ever hear of a BLOW DRY BAR? The clue was “Beauty lounge, of a sort.” News to me, but it’s definitely a thing.
Oooooh, let’s take a peak inside. Don’t mind us, girls!
Good night, Chatterheads! See you tomorrow!
The Wellington Files 