This poem is called “Deceiving the Gods.” It’s by Ellen Bass and is from yesterday’s Writer’s Almanac.
The old Jews rarely admitted good fortune.
And if they did, they’d quickly add kinahora—
let the evil eye not hear. What dummkopf
would think the spirits were on our side?
But even in a tropical paradise
laden with sugarcane and coconut,
something like the shtetl’s wariness exists.
In Hawaii, I’m told, a fisherman
never spoke directly, lest the gods
arrive at the sea before him.
Instead he’d look to the sky,
the fast-moving clouds, and say,
I wonder if leaves are falling in the uplands!
Let us go and gather leaves.
So, my love, today let’s not talk at all.
Let’s be like those couples
eating silently in restaurants,
barely a word the entire meal.
We pitied them, but now I see
they were always so much smarter than we were.
Jerry Koosman died on Sunday at his home in Osceola, Wis. He was 83. But he will live forever in NY Mets history for his key role in their 1969 “miracle” World Series win. The highly favored Orioles won the first game in Maryland beating Tom Seaver, so Kooz’s Game 2 start took on a bit of urgency. How’d he do? Six hitless innings gave the Mets a shaky 1-0 lead, but the O’s tied it up in the seventh. NY snuck out of town with the win, though, when they used three two-out singles to go back up 2-1 in the ninth. Kooz was still on the mound, and got the win with relief help for just the final out. Whew. So the Series went back to NY all knotted up at one game apiece.
The Mets won Games 3 and 4 and Manager Gil Hodges gave the ball back to Koosman for Game 5. How’d he do? He pitched a complete game and the Mets won 5-3. He said he had the jitters going into the ninth and his curve wasn’t curving as he warmed up. So he finished throwing only heat. Whatever it takes, right?
Koosman had a phenomenal career. He won 222 games and lost 209 in his 19 major league seasons with an earned run average of 3.36 and 2,556 strikeouts. Those are some serious-ass numbers. Kooz is survived by a daughter, two sons, and several grandchildren, every one of whom believes in miracles.
What’s your take on this issue that arose from yesterday’s puzzle? The clue was “Michael Jordan and Anatole France?” And answer was COUNTRY BOYS. Get it? Their last names are countries. Similarly, for “Sabrina Carpenter and Anita Baker?” the answer was CAREER WOMEN, their last names being careers. Not only is it a fairly clever theme, it gives me an excuse to search through Sabrina Carpenter pix.
Anyway, here’s a discussion that arose:
Commenter aaron: Not OK to refer to a Black man, in this case Michael Jordan, as a boy.
Anony Mouse 1: Your comment about the great Michael Jordan is overly sensitive and way over the top. The reference to him as a Country boy (he was raised in North Carolina) in no way indicates any kind of prejudice. Get real man!
Anony Mouse 2: Initially I agreed with the “over the top” reply to this comment, but on further thought, referring to a black man as a “country boy” should probably go the way of referring to a female professional as a “career woman.” The term itself might not be offensive, but its historical use is.
Anony Mouse 3: But no one is using it historically. They’re using it currently.
My own feeling: It’s not up to white folks to decide what Black folks should feel is offensive. I’d err on the safe side.
Here’s SC, much prettier sans makeup than with.
Are you aware of the controversy surrounding the cartoon character Pepe Le Pew, the skunk? He was in the grid today clued with “Le Pew who could rightfully ask ‘Ain’t I a stinker?’” Here’s Rex on it: “First, Bugs asked that, not PEPE Le Pew. Second, no cutesy clues for rapist skunks. Please send this noted sexual assailant back to cartoon oblivion, thanks v. much.”
What? Rapist skunk? Noted sexual assailant?
Anony Mouse 1 replied: Poor Pepe, as hapless and unsuccessful as Wile E Coyote, but cancelled because he tries to kiss a cat (that has acquired a white stripe on its back) rather than kill a roadrunner. I think calling him a rapist is a bit much. This is a cartoon, no one is using it as a behavior guidebook.
And Anony Mouse 2 agreed: The no sense of humor league strikes again.
But Anony Mouse 3 came down on Rex’s side: “Tries to kiss.” Okay, you go ahead and “try to kiss” someone like that. When consent is repeatedly and emphatically denied. He absolutely mauls the cat as she desperately tries to get away. That turn you on? You all love a little lowkey sexual assault, don’t you? It’s cute! Fun! “Look at me, I have a sense of humor!” You sound like Trump and all those other sexual assault apologists.
Chris S. chimed in: Pepe is modeling and normalizing reprehensible behavior to children learning the ways of the world. Besides that it’s not even funny.
This is from Pepe’s Wikipedia page:
The character has been criticized due to his antics being perceived as perpetuating stereotypes of French culture. Amber E. George describes Pepé’s actions towards Penelope Pussycat as “sexual harassment, stalking, and abuse” and noted that Pepé’s qualities mock the French people and their culture. Linda Jones Clough, the daughter of Pepé’s creator, says she does not think anyone would watch Pepé cartoons and be inspired to rape someone, but she saw the choice to temporarily discontinue his appearances as an appropriate decision.
Yikes! Judge for yourselves, Chatterheads:
Today’s puzzle was fine but a little lackluster. The theme was signs you’d be disappointed to see. One was SORRYWERECLOSED.
A cute clue/answer was: “Please, go first!” for NOYOU.
I came up with: Coach’s note to player being cut from the roster: There’s NOYOU in team.
For XMEN, my clue would have been: What’s needed for an Orthodox minyan in Rome.
Since we started this post, a little thing called an election took place. Mazel Tov Dems! Especially pleased to see Susan Collins go down, along with NY’s Mike Lawler, and Jersey’s Kean, two particularly smarmy a-holes. And South Carolina, Iowa, Ohio, Texas, and Kansas, for crying out loud. Bravo ladies and gents.
We’re going to let the Weather Girls send us off, even though they have their hands full, and then some. Chris Rock’s favorite kind of people — fat Black women! Humidity is rising. . . .
See you next time Chatterheads!
