Kudos to Venezuela for knocking off the big bad USA in the World Baseball Classic, in a thriller, 3-2. Yankee fans still have to worry about Judge’s choking. He seemed to shake off the charge in the playoffs last season, but he really ate it last night: 0 for 4, with three strikeouts. Ouch.
To mirror the tradition of the winning USA team visiting the White House, the Venezuelan squad will be vising Maduro in his prison cell. Did you know Maduro was originally a bus driver? Not kidding. Phil came up with this shot of him from those happier days.
Ever try a OUIJA board to summon a spirit? It was an answer in the puzzle today, cutely clued with “Game to play when the spirit moves you?” I don’t think of it as a game, but that’s how Hasbro markets them these days. It’s sort of like a parlor/party game/activity, with no winner or loser. I did mess with one once — it’s all a crock, of course. My mom came back to tell me I needed a haircut.
The clue/answer at 35D brought to mind the famous observation of my bro-in-law Mitch (alav hashalom): “I must say, Avi, I was shocked to discover the level of ignorance that’s out there. There was a woman in the class who actually did not know what a logarithm is.” The clue was “Westernmost African capital,” and the answer was DAKAR. Shocked? As Commenter kitshef notes: “The clue for Dakar should specify mainland Africa. Praia is well west of Dakar, and Cabo Verde is considered part of Africa.” Of course! Idiots!
At 9D, the clue was “Pulitzer-winning ‘Fat Ham’ playwright.” Ever hear of him? James IJAMES. That’s not a typo — the last name is IJAMES. Rex observed that modern playwrights don’t have the “cultural penetration” the previous ones had. Giants like Edward Albee, or, later, Tony Kushner. The term “cultural penetration” resonated in our Dirty Old Man Dept. It would be a good way to describe how the Prez screwed the Kennedy Center.
What image does the word “nymph” call up for you? Something like this?
Then you might have trouble solving 1A today where the clue was “Young grasshopper” and the answer was NYMPH. SRSLY? It’s the second meaning: an immature form of an insect that does not change greatly as it grows. Not limited to grasshoppers, but certainly inclusive of them.
How about this one at 18D: “Country known for luxury tourism, in brief.” Answer: UAE. Here’s Rex on it: “Well, how’s that going for you? Luxurious enough?”
Per historian H.C. Richardson, Trump has been railing about the Supremes lately, saying “[t]his completely inept and embarrassing Court” is “hurting our Country, and will continue to do so. All I can do, as President, is call them out for their bad behavior!” Trump called the court “little more than a weaponized and unjust Political Organization.” At last, something we agree with him on.
Trump has certainly been led around by the nose by Bibi on this war, but Krugman points out today that Saudi Arabia’s a big beneficiary too. And Russia, of course, by all accounts. Krugman ends with this great version of an old song on the topic.
And so will we. See you tomorrow!
The Wellington Files 