Hi everybody! Broadcasting today from our temporary DC headquarters on 16th Street NW, near Dupont Circle.
Here’s the message to the nation:
I’ll tell you who didn’t give up — our Sirens, that’s who. It was a bruiser of a game, end-to-end action throughout. The house was packed: 17,228 fans, the largest crowd ever to watch a women’s pro hockey game in the U.S. With only 1:24 gone, Kristyna Kaltounkova gave us the lead but a power play goal tied it with under a minute to go in the period and Montreal seemed to be carrying the play. We got the feeling that whoever scored next had a good chance of bringing it home. And that’s what happened. Anne Cherkowski scored for us five minutes into the second period and it held up for a 2-1 win. Goalie Osborne was sensational, turning back dead-on shots repeatedly. Our Sarah assisted on both goals! Good game, babe!
The trip has been excellent. Love our location near Dupont Circle. Able to walk almost everywhere. Excellent Aboriginal Art Exhibit at the National Gallery. Thanks, Bob!
Saturday’s NYTXW had the following clue for the answer running down the entire center (15 letters): Longest number writable in standard Roman numerals. Note they weren’t asking for the largest number, just the longest one (most letters). Rex took a good approach: he listed each numeral as many times as allowed. BTW, I learned you can’t use more than three of a numeral in a row. So the start is MMM. Then you can only use one D, because two would be an M (500 + 500 = 1,000). Then three Cs: the maximum, but only one L because two Ls would be a C. Finally, three Xs, only 1 V, and three Is. So it comes to MMMDCCCLXXXVIII (3,888).
The largest possible roman numeral is MMMCMXCIX (3,999).
At 17A, “Too late, say” was OUT OF TIME. If you’re not in that position, check out these tunes:
At 32D today, “Spot to find a pulse” was WRIST. Commenter Gary made the macabre observation that it’s also the spot to not find a pulse.
At 28D, “Lesser-played part of a 45” was SIDE B. It opened a little door for Rex. This is from Wikipedia: Side B Christians are Christians who identify as LGBT or have LGBTQ+ experiences, but take a traditional view of human sexuality and thus commit to celibacy or a mixed-orientation marriage. The term Side B derives from an Internet forum where Side A Christians, with an affirming view of LGBT sexuality, were contrasted with Side B Christians. In particular, Side B Christians reject conversion therapy. Side B is also distinct from Side Y, which does not affirm LGBT identification.
Saw an 11am showing of Is This Thing On? at the historic Avalon Theater this morning. A tad long, but very good. Then we took a 3-mile round-trip walk down to (and back from) a Potbelly sandwich shop on Connecticut Ave. First choice, Comet Pizza, wasn’t opening until 5. Tired now. Back to Jersey tomorrow.
The Wellington Files 