J. Richison posted this on our neighborhood newsletter:

Found this in my raised flower bed, can anyone tell me what plant this is?

After a dozen or so comments suggesting it may be pokeweed, I chimed in with: Drop everything and run!!

The puzzle was pun-centric Tuesday, with an Indian wedding theme. I know — not that tired old business again!! The theme answers included:

Words uttered while sorting potential gowns for an Indian wedding? SARI NOT SARI.

Wedding feast delivery from India’s capital? DELHI PLATTERS.

And, my fave: “Esteemed reception guests, we regret to report that we’ve run out of flatbread,” e.g.? NAAN APOLOGY.

I may have gone overboard with my ridiculous wordplay from answers, but they just kept popping into my head. [Note: NELL was clued as the character from Dickens.]

I’ve had quite enough Chinese history for one day: Hold the MAO.

Why are the church bells ringing so solemnly? A death, NELL.

Me, trying to do something with my hair: “Darling, where’s my COMBAT?”

Weaponize tootsie rolls: ARMCANDY.

What an IPO does: Makes NYSE.

Did you attend the University of Edinburgh? — Me? ALUM? NAE.

A fine puzzle: not the least bit dal.

In connection with the above, we sent Phil out to find a “Nell” for us. He went straight for actress/singer Nell Tiger Free. That’s her real name. She’s 26 and was born in London. NTF was in Game of Thrones and a smattering of movies and TV shows I didn’t see.

Thanks Philly — you nelled it!

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Although Gnats GM Paul Toboni says the Gnats’ moves were made with an eye to the future while keeping hope alive for this season, we very much disagree with the latter half, and our baseball hearts are broken. The most productive lineup in the majors (!) was dealt a death-blow with the removal of Mead from the right side and Luis from the left. Early was picked up to bolster the rotation, okay, but Griff was jettisoned thus offsetting the gain. Ouch. Double Ouch. Triple Ouch.

Now you’ve got a clubhouse reeling, in mourning, unable to score runs in a seven-game death spiral. The team got the message from management: We have no faith in your ability to win. We have no choice but to look to the future: the present has been bludgeoned. [Since writing that, the streak was broken with an extra-inning win over the Phils.]

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You know things are bad when you turn to politics for solace.

It’s hysterical that a couple of moronic GOP senators preened about making Blanche “put it in writing.” The U.S. Constitution is in writing and that ain’t making a goddam bit of difference. What a joke. And if you think the Dems taking over Congress will matter, don’t hold your breath. Subpoenas will be disregarded up and down the line. And pretty Pam showed how testimony will be given. Puh-leeze.

Commentators are calling the reflecting pool an apt metaphor for Trump’s operations. The East Wing of the White House is more to the point, see photo. We predict (and it is worth noting we have never been right before), the broad scope of fundamental damage will not be undone in our lifetime, if ever.

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Yesterday’s NYTXW was unusual: Every across line was a two-word answer that spanned the entire grid. So, e.g., at 50A the clue was “With 54-Across, math that underpins computer logic.” Answer, of course (Hi Judy!): BOOLEAN ALGEBRA. (And, btw, Hooraylean Algebra is far more popular.)

The answer at 20D was CABER, for “Pole tossed in a Scottish game.” Amazingly, that word popped into my head. I had no idea I knew it. Here’s what I shared with the gang at Rex’s:

“Did anyone else try to squeeze Walesa into 20D: Pole tossed in a Scottish game? (I googled famous Poles for that lame joke and learned that Marie Curie was Polish (as is the clearly mis-named Roman Polanski). BTW, Lech Walesa is still living, at age 82, and has been married to his wife Danuta since 1969(!), which is amazing since all of their friends thought they were polar opposites.”

At 32A, the clue was “With 34-Across, sequestration of a greenhouse gas,” and the answer was CARBON STORAGE. It reminded me, sadly, of my great-uncle Izzy, who was in the carbon paper storage business, and was wiped out when xeroxing was introduced.

At 59A, for the clue “Tallies attendees,” the answer was COUNTS NOSES. Some folks were bothered by it, and would have preferred “counts heads.” I really had trouble with it because I usually count ears and divide by two.

Bonus points for whoever can identify that lovely young woman and figure out her connection to the above material. Hint: Sadly, she is no longer among the living.

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I laughed out loud at the New Yorker yesterday. Not a cartoon, though. It was material by Larry Doyle comprised of (made up) headlines rejected by The Onion. He softened me up with “Man Laughs Just Right Amount at Job Interview.” And I liked “Late-Night Cheese Snack Not Cheese, E.R. Doctors Determine.” But what got me to chuckle audibly was “Groom Sees Omen In Bride’s Grammy Leaving Teeth In His Beer.” (Honorable Mention: “Man’s Life Not Worth Living, Goes On Anyway.”)

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Paul Krugman shared this beautiful tune by Cat Power today. It related to his skewering Trump’s insane posts about his being “the greatest.”

Here’s another apt tune for the day, linked to the puzzle’s answer JAMAICAN RUM (“Spirit of the Caribbean”). First time in Owl Chatter for Jack Browne. Welcome! Saw you years ago in Buffalo — good show!

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Did you know that YEMEN used to be called Arabia Felix? Well, at least by the Romans. Rex guest blogger Eli was reminded that Yemen was the place Chandler lied about moving to in order to get away from Janice in an episode of Friends. The address he gave her was 15 Yemen Road, Yemen.

More useless knowledge from today’s puzzle: “Kind of seeds found in a basket in King Tutankhamen’s tomb,” SESAME. Tuck it in there — it may come in handy some day. (You’re telling the cute bagel girl how you want your dozen made up: “3 sesame — hey did you know . . . .?”)

Other answers were PARMA (“Northern Italian city known for its cheese”), and PROTEST (“Not accept an outrage, say”).

How did you do on the links today, Son? PARMA.

Back in college if it came down to a choice between essay or exam, I was always PROTEST.

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Answer for the bonus points, above. The woman is the late Sharon Tate, conjured up by the reference to Roman Polanski.

I have one Charles Manson joke, told by some comic I forget: He said he had the opportunity of visiting Manson in prison. They brought Manson in. He (Manson) sat down, stared him right in the eye, and said: “Am I crazy, or is it hot in here?”

Well, I liked it.

See you tomorrow!