Constructed by: C.C. Burnikel
Edited by: Rich Norris
Quicklink to a complete list of today’s clues and answers
Quicklink to comments
Theme: Soapbox
Today’s contains four sets of circled letters that form BOXES. The letters in each BOX spell out a brand of SOAP:
- 40A…Speaker’s stand … or what each set of circled squares graphically represents..SOAPBOX
The four SOAPBOXES contain the brands:
- ZEST
- DIAL
- LAVA
- DOVE
Bill’s time: 6m 41s
Bill’s errors: 0
Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1…Host of “Late Night Joy”..BEHAR
Joy Behar is a comedian, and former co-host of the hit talk show “The View”. Behar was one of the original co-hosts of “The View”, and stayed with the show from 1997 until 2013. She started hosting her own talk show called “Late Night Joy” in 2015.
6…Pennant contest..RACE
The last few weeks of the baseball season are known as “a pennant race”. Before 1969, the term was perhaps more apt, as the pennant winner (league champion) would be the team with the best win-loss record at the end of the season. Starting in 1969, when both the National and American Leagues formally split into East and West divisions, the pennant has been awarded to the winner of a best-of-five series of games played by the division winners each October. The pennant winners then go on to the best-of-seven World Series, also played in October.
10…Herbal seed used in smoothies..CHIA
Chia is a flowering plant in the mint family. Chia seeds are an excellent food source and are often added to breakfast cereals and energy bars. There is also the famous Chia Pet, an invention of a San Francisco company. Chia Pets are terracotta figurines to which are applied moistened chia seeds. The seeds sprout and the seedlings become the “fur” of the Chia Pet.
19…Language of Pakistan..URDU
Urdu is one of the two official languages of Pakistan (the other being English), and is one of 22 scheduled languages in India. Urdu partly developed from Persian and is written from right to left.
21…”Otello” composer..VERDI
Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Otello” was first performed in 1887 at La Scala Theater in Milan. The opera is based on Shakespeare’s play “Othello” and is considered by many to be Verdi’s greatest work.
22…She played Jackie on “Nurse Jackie”..EDIE
“Nurse Jackie” is a comedy-drama series centered on an emergency room nurse at a hospital in New York City. The lead character is played by Edie Falco, who also played Tony Soprano’s wife on the “The Sopranos”. I binge-watched “Nurse Jackie” a while back and found it to be a very well-written show …
23…Age of Reason philosopher..LOCKE
The Age of Enlightenment (also known as the Age of Reason) was an era bridging the 17th and 18th centuries in which rationalism and scientific method started to hold sway against ideas grounded in tradition and faith. Key figures in the Age of Enlightenment were the likes of John Locke, Isaac Newton and Voltaire.
27…Sloth and envy..SINS
The cardinal sins of Christian ethics are also known as the seven deadly sins. The seven deadly sins are:
- Wrath
- Greed
- Sloth
- Pride
- Lust
- Envy
- Gluttony
29…First name in scat..ELLA
Ella Fitzgerald, the “First Lady of Song”, had a hard and tough upbringing. She was raised by her mother alone in Yonkers, New York. Her mother died while Ella was still a schoolgirl, and around that time the young girl became less interested in her education. She fell in with a bad crowd, even working as a lookout for a bordello and as a Mafia numbers runner. She ended up in reform school, from which she escaped, and found herself homeless and living on the streets for a while. Somehow Fitzgerald managed to get herself a spot singing in the Apollo Theater in Harlem. From there her career took off and as they say, the rest is history.
Scat singing is a vocal improvisation found in the world of jazz. There aren’t any words as such in scat singing, just random nonsense syllables made up on the spot.
30…Super __..PAC
A Political Action Committee (PAC) is a private group that works to influence the outcome of a particular election or group of elections. Any group becomes a PAC by law when it receives or spends more than $1,000 for the purpose of influencing the outcome of an election. In 2010 the Supreme Court ruled that PACS that did not make direct contributions to candidates or parties could accept unlimited contributions. These “independent-expenditure only committees” are commonly referred to as “super PACs”.
36…Afghan capital..KABUL
Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. The city has been the site of major conflict for much of the 3,500 years that it has been in existence. In the past, this conflict was mainly driven by the city’s strategic location on the major trade routes of south and central Asia.
40…Speaker’s stand … or what each set of circled squares graphically represents..SOAPBOX
Back in the 1650s, a “soap box” was just that, a wooden box for holding or transporting soap. Empty soap boxes were easily carried by a potential orator and used as a stand from which to deliver an address.
42…Mama bear, in Baja..OSA
Baja California is both the most northern and the most western of the Mexican states. The name translates from Spanish as “Lower California”.
43…Sauce made with pine nuts..PESTO
The term “pesto” applies to anything made by pounding. What we tend to know as “pesto” sauce is more properly called “pesto alla genovese”, pesto from Genoa in northern Italy. I love, love pesto sauce …
45…Roll dipped in wasabi..SUSHI
Sushi is a Japanese dish that has as its primary ingredient cooked, vinegared rice. The rice is usually topped with something, most often fish, and can be served in seaweed rolls. If you want raw fish by itself, then you have to order “sashimi”.
Sometimes called Japanese horseradish, wasabi is a root used as a condiment in Japanese cooking. The taste of wasabi is more like mustard than a hot pepper in that the vapors that create the “hotness” stimulate the nasal passages rather than the tongue. Personally, I love the stuff …
49…Big name in golf clubs..PING
PING is a supplier of golf equipment that was founded in 1959 by Karsten Solheim, soon after he started making putters in his garage. Solheim chose the company name from the sound that he heard when his metal putter struck the ball.
51…Bugs’ voice..MEL BLANC
Mel Blanc was known as “The Man of a Thousand Voices”. We’ve all heard Mel Blanc at one time or another, I am sure. His was the voice behind such cartoon characters as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, Woody Woodpecker, Elmer Fudd and Barney Rubble. And the words on Blanc’s tombstone are … “That’s All Folks”.
58…Airline known for tight security..EL AL
El Al Israel Airlines is the flag carrier of Israel. The term “el al” translates from Hebrew as “to the skies”. The company started operations in 1948, with a flight from Geneva to Tel Aviv.
59…About..CIRCA
“Circa” is a Latin word meaning “around, near, about the time of”. We use “circa” directly in English to mean “about the time of”, as well as in derivative words such as “circle” and “circus”.
61…Algerian seaport..ORAN
Oran lies on the Algerian coast, and is famous for being the port where the French Navy was largely destroyed by the British during WWII in order to avoid the French vessels falling into the hands of Nazi Germany after France surrendered. This decisive and unexpected unilateral action by the British sent a very strong message around the world that Britain was willing to fight alone against the axis powers if necessary.
63…Humorist Barry..DAVE
Dave Barry is a very humorous guy, an author and columnist. Barry also plays lead guitar in a rock band called The Rock Bottom Remainders. Also included in the band are noted authors Stephen King, Amy Tan and Scott Turow.
67…Heated contest, in more ways than one..MEET
A sports meet might be a heated (very competitive) contest, and a contest comprising heats (races).
The noun “meet” was used in a sporting sense originally in the 19th century, with reference to hunting.
The term “heat”, meaning a qualifying race, dates back to the 1660s. Originally a heat was a run given to a horse to prepare it for a race, to “heat” it up.
68…Aquafina rival..EVIAN
Évian-les-Bains (or simply Évian) is in the very east of France, on the shores of Lake Geneva directly across the lake from Lausanne, Switzerland. As one might imagine, Évian is the home of Évian mineral water, the most successful business in town. Personally, I can’t stand the distinctive taste of Évian water …
Aquafina is a Pepsico brand of bottled water. Aquafina is just plain old municipal water that has been purified.
69…Some skinny jeans..LEES
The Lee company famous for making jeans was formed in 1889, by one Henry David Lee in Salina, Kansas.
70…Torah cabinets..ARKS
The Torah ark is found in a synagogue, and is the ornamental container in which are stored the Torah scrolls. The word “Torah” best translates as “teaching”, I am told.
Down
1…Refuse to, with “at”..BALK
To balk is to stop and refuse to go on. It’s not just a baseball term!
2…Outlook messages..EMAIL
Outlook is the email management application that comes with Microsoft Office.
4…Quetzalcoatl worshipers..AZTECS
The Aztec god Quetzalcoatl’s name means “feathered serpent”. He was worshiped as the god of wind and of learning.
5…High-__ image..RES
High-resolution (hi-res)
6…Jasmine __..RICE
Jasmine rice is variety of fragrant, long-grain rice that is named for its color, as it is said to be as white as the jasmine flower.
8…Many a beach rental..CONDO
The terms “condominium” and “apartment” tend to describe the same type of residential property, a private living space with facilities shared with others residing in the same building or complex. The difference is that a condominium is usually owned, and an apartment is rented. At least that’s how it is in the US. The word “condominium” comes from the Latin “com-” (together) and “dominum” (right of ownership).
9…Bitter green in mixed greens..ENDIVE
Endive is a leaf vegetable belonging to the chicory genus, and is in the daisy family. Endive is also known as escarole.
10…Fur-loving de Vil..CRUELLA
Cruella de Vil is the villain in the 1956 novel “The Hundred and One Dalmatians” written by Dodie Smith. Most famously perhaps, Cruella was played so ably by Glenn Close in the Disney movie adaption “101 Dalmatians”, released in 1996.
12…29-state country..INDIA
The nation of India comprises 29 states and 7 union territories. The largest state by area is Rajasthan, in the northwest of the country. The most populous state is the neighboring Uttar Pradesh.
13…Feverish bouts..AGUES
An ague is a fever, one usually associated with malaria.
24…Honda Fit competitor..KIA SOUL
The Kia Soul is a compact car produced in South Korea, although it was designed by Kia here in the US, in Irvine, California. Yep, the Kia Soul is made in Seoul …
The Honda Fit (called the Jazz in some markets) is a subcompact hatchback. We looked at the Fit when shopping for a new car not that long ago, but opted for the larger Toyota Prius instead, a choice that we have not regretted …
26…Warning sign in the Rockies..ELK XING
The elk (also known as the wapiti) is the one of the largest species of deer in the world, with only the moose being bigger. Early European settlers were familiar with the smaller red deer back in their homelands, so when they saw the “huge” wapiti they assumed it was a moose, and incorrectly gave it the European name for a moose, namely “elk”. The more correct name for the beast is “wapiti”, which means “white rump” in Shawnee. It’s all very confusing …
30…Abundance in the cheerleading squad..PEP
Our contemporary term “pep”, meaning “vigor, energy”, is a shortened version of “pepper” that used to have the same meaning.
32…Observation with a sigh..C’EST LA VIE
“C’est la vie” is French for “that’s life”.
34…Kwik-E-Mart clerk..APU
The fictional Kwik-E-Mart store is operated by Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on “The Simpsons” TV show. Apu is married to Manjula, and the couple have eight children. The convenience store owner doesn’t seem to be making much use of his Ph.D in computer science that he earned in the US. Apu’s undergraduate degree is from Caltech (the Calcutta Technical Institute), where he graduated top of his class of seven million students …
35…Kitchen amt…TBSP
Tablespoon (tbsp.)
41…Many an Indian fan..OHIOAN
The Cleveland baseball franchise started out in 1869 as the Forest Citys named after Forest City, the nickname for Cleveland. After a number of transitions, in 1914 the team took on the name “Indians”. The media came up with name “Indians” after being asked for suggestions by the team owners. “Indians” was inspired by the successful Boston team of the day, the Boston Braves.
48…Puget Sound city..TACOMA
Tacoma is a city on Puget Sound in the state of Washington. The city took its name from Mount Rainier that is nearby, as the peak used to be known as Mount Tahoma.
George Vancouver was a British explorer, and an officer in the Royal Navy. As well as exploring the coast of Australia, he is best known for his travels along the northwest coast of North America. The city of Vancouver was named in his honor. Travelling with him on his American voyage was a lieutenant Peter Puget, and in his honor, Vancouver named the waters south of the Tacoma Narrows “Puget’s Sound”. Nowadays, the name Puget Sound describes an area much greater than Vancouver had envisioned.
53…Forty-__..NINER
The California gold rush actually started in 1848. The first to exploit the find were those people already in California. By 1849 the word had spread and gold-seekers started to arrive from all over the world. The “out-of-towners” who arrived in 1849 became known as forty-niners.
54…Links hazard..CREEK
The oldest type of golf course is a links course. The name “links” comes from the Old English word “hlinc” meaning “rising ground”. “Hlinc” was used to describe areas with coastal sand dunes or open parkland. As a result, we use the term “links course” to mean a golf course that is located at or on the coast, often amid sand dunes. The British Open is always played on a links course.
56…Banks with a statue at Wrigley Field..ERNIE
First baseman Ernie Banks was known as “Mr. Cub”, and played his entire 19-year professional career with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs retired Banks’ uniform number 14 in 1982, making him the first Cubs player to be so honored.
The famous ballpark that is home to the Chicago Cubs was built in 1914. Back then it was known as Weeghman Park, before becoming Cubs Park when the Cubs arrived in 1920. It was given the name Wrigley Field in 1926, after the owner William Wrigley, Jr. of chewing gum fame. Wrigley Field is noted as the only professional ballpark that has ivy covering the outfield walls. The ivy is a combination of Boston Ivy and Japanese Bittersweet, both of which can survive the harsh winters in Chicago.
62…Part of a Wall St. address..NY, NY
New York’s famous “Wall Street” was originally named by the Dutch as “de Waal Straat”.
Complete List of Clues and Answers
Across
1…Host of “Late Night Joy”..BEHAR
6…Pennant contest..RACE
10…Herbal seed used in smoothies..CHIA
14…Truly impress..AMAZE
15…Screen image or screen idol..ICON
16…Called..RANG
17…Eleventh hour..LAST SECOND
19…Language of Pakistan..URDU
20…Beach toy..KITE
21…”Otello” composer..VERDI
22…She played Jackie on “Nurse Jackie”..EDIE
23…Age of Reason philosopher..LOCKE
25…Short fiction..NOVELLAS
27…Sloth and envy..SINS
29…First name in scat..ELLA
30…Super __..PAC
33…Words after save or take..A SEAT
36…Afghan capital..KABUL
39…Lamb nurser..EWE
40…Speaker’s stand … or what each set of circled squares graphically represents..SOAPBOX
42…Mama bear, in Baja..OSA
43…Sauce made with pine nuts..PESTO
45…Roll dipped in wasabi..SUSHI
46…__ cabbage..RED
47…Drawn tight..TAUT
49…Big name in golf clubs..PING
51…Bugs’ voice..MEL BLANC
55…Storied monsters..OGRES
58…Airline known for tight security..EL AL
59…About..CIRCA
61…Algerian seaport..ORAN
63…Humorist Barry..DAVE
64…Unparalleled..ONE AND ONLY
66…Plugging away..AT IT
67…Heated contest, in more ways than one..MEET
68…Aquafina rival..EVIAN
69…Some skinny jeans..LEES
70…Torah cabinets..ARKS
71…Like a neglected garden..WEEDY
Down
1…Refuse to, with “at”..BALK
2…Outlook messages..EMAIL
3…Lacks choices..HAS TO
4…Quetzalcoatl worshipers..AZTECS
5…High-__ image..RES
6…Jasmine __..RICE
7…Part of an autumn stash..ACORN
8…Many a beach rental..CONDO
9…Bitter green in mixed greens..ENDIVE
10…Fur-loving de Vil..CRUELLA
11…Work that may be imposed with a prison sentence..HARD LABOR
12…29-state country..INDIA
13…Feverish bouts..AGUES
18…”Still … “..EVEN SO …
24…Honda Fit competitor..KIA SOUL
26…Warning sign in the Rockies..ELK XING
28…High waters..SEAS
30…Abundance in the cheerleading squad..PEP
31…Reverence..AWE
32…Observation with a sigh..C’EST LA VIE
34…Kwik-E-Mart clerk..APU
35…Kitchen amt…TBSP
37…Take for a sucker..USE
38…Little fellow..LAD
41…Many an Indian fan..OHIOAN
44…Computers that travel well..TABLETS
48…Puget Sound city..TACOMA
50…It’s on the record..GROOVE
51…Wartime award..MEDAL
52…Fill with joy..ELATE
53…Forty-__..NINER
54…Links hazard..CREEK
56…Banks with a statue at Wrigley Field..ERNIE
57…Course with leaves..SALAD
60…Jazz lovers..CATS
62…Part of a Wall St. address..NY, NY
65…Meadow drops..DEW
The puzzle was very challenging in its cluing. But I finished (!) and I enjoyed it, Cest La Vie was last to fall – …. should the French have been indicated in the clue ? or it is normal for a Thursday ?
It’s been a long afternoon, and I finished the Monday and Tuesday puzzles as well. I’m trying very hard not to sleep at all in the afternoons, otherwise I end up waking up at 2 am every night. And staring at the ceiling for 6 hours. Thats what being clear across the world will do to ya.
I didn’t know India had 29 states …. every time you turn around they bifurcate another state …. maybe some astrologer told them that when they reach the magic number of 50, they will become as rich as the USA …… Or, maybe they are living in ‘Altered States’.
Jasmine is my favorite rice ….. it is slightly less fragrant and and slightly shorter than Basmati Rice, and costs half as much. I love the Thai Jasmine rice.
I read on Wiki that the bitterness of the Endive sprout is controlled by growing it in the dark, and by not letting the leaves develop, in the chlorophyll etc. …. because its relative, the chicory, which is used as a cheap adulterant for coffee, is generally very bitter.
Finally, when Mr. Vancouver surveyed Seattle and the Paget Sound, it was assumed that that it would always be British, and later Canadian territory. The full story of the negotiations after the war of 1812 and the treaties that followed, made it US territory. This fascinating story is a 40 page article in Wikipedia, among other sources.
Have a nice day, all.
Nothing wrong with this puzzle, but it seemed more like a good Wednesday or even a great Tuesday puzzle.
Fun theme, but I understand that bar soap is now considered out of date and something “old” people still use. Supposedly liquid soaps are more hip (can soap be hip??) and more sanitary. I’m sure that’s something the marketing departments at traditional bar soap companies are battling these days.
I only got half of the clue for MEET until I read the blog. That was a good clue. Other than that, a pretty standard grid. LA Times has really taken it easy on us this week. We’ll see what Friday brings. I’ll be doing it on the airplane as I have a 7 AM flight to Chicago in the morning. Incidentally I HATE (!!!) early morning flights, but I couldn’t avoid it this time. Ugh.
Best –
Actually I read somewhere the younger generation (< 25) considers bar soap to be something to the point of revulsion – they will use shampoo if only bar soap is available. I don't know how that happened – a mystery on me as soap really can't harbor bacteria or anything like that. The only thing that would be a concern from a sanitary point is if multiple people use the same bar of soap, but I can't say it's a huge factor that couldn't be overcome. The only other thing I can think of is how a wet, used bar of soap looks in a shower or bath and the accompanying soap scum buildup that happens where you keep it.
It definitely is more a psychological thing than anything born of real facts and data, from what I can tell, and nothing one of those plastic soap boxes won't solve. Overall, though, soap companies aren't going to sweat this too much anyway – chemically the only real difference is that Potassium Hydroxide is used to make the soap instead of Sodium Hydroxide, so it really doesn't matter too much. Besides, like mentioned above, there really isn't too much difference between body wash and shampoo from a chemical standpoint.
Interesting the way the world turns, I suppose, but I can't really see personally that it matters one way or the other given what I understand. Good discussion that's been on my mind though.
That said, not having done this puzzle to know, I did do Zhouquin’s WSJ puzzle of last week and noticed she’s gotten rather cryptic as of late.
11:47, no errors, iPad. Pretty easy one. PING golf equipment was totally new to me and Joy BEHAR was only vaguely familiar.
Re yesterday’s SEAFOOD BOIL: I’d never heard of it either, but a Google search I just did turned up a bunch of recipes; it must be a regional thing.
I started using SoftSoap in the shower because it leaves less residue behind on the tiles. (I’m a very lazy housekeeper.) I read recently that the gummint is banning the use of anti-bacterials in such soaps. Good.
@Vidwan … Jasmine rice is my favorite, too … it’s all I use …
@Dirk (yesterday)
I definitely have begun to take interest in other puzzles, not so much for solving them but trying to both generate and solve them with computer. Never could wrap my mind around Sudoku much (seems to be just brute force trial and error based on the ones I’ve done), but Ken-Ken and another one called “Numbrix” seems to be pretty interesting from that particular standpoint. Got most of the word-based games knocked out already based on what I’ve built up to make a decent go at crossword grids when I can. But hopefully when both the energy and time coincide, I can figure out enough to finish it, as it definitely seems very interesting (at least to me).
Cute theme. I’ll never forget, as a kid, seeing people actually standing on soap boxes – the big wooden ones – at the Boston Common arguing against Vivisection.
I use both soaps. Nowadays, they sell kids a liquid soap that can be used for the hair or the body. So those soaps must be comparable.
Never heard of Jasmine RICE or PING.
Mercifully easy, like yesterday.
Meant to put this in –
Re: SEAFOOD BOIL. I’d never heard that expression either, but crawfish boils (I guess a subsection of SEAFOOD BOILs?) in this part of the country are legendary and even more so in Louisiana. They throw red potatoes, corn on the cob and a LOT of red pepper and other Cajun seasonings in with the crawfish. It’s done in these huge pots that are really just for outdoor use. They are delicious. You just rip off the head and eat them. Sounds appetizing doesn’t it?
I only know them as a Cajun recipe and almost always with crawfish, but maybe there are other forms. Crawfish is seasonal so roughly May through August is the ideal time for them. I believe crawfish season just ended so you’ll have to wait until next year to try it.
Dave – I have a set of Ping irons in my golf bag…
Best –
My relatives in Panama city do what they call a “country boil,” which is shrimp (and lots of it), blue crabs, clams, red potato(e)s–trying to be Dan Quayle friendly there–, corn and plenty of Old Bay and other spices. Damn, now I’m getting hungry for the Gulf Coast! 🙂
Another “meh” grid.
I’m going to complain when I probably shouldn’t, but Burnikel grids are getting way too ubiquitous for me. Between here and the NYT, the name shows up twice a week. The same crossfill, the same themes. I do admire the ability to compose so many of these on such short notice. Last year, there was a NYT grid that had American Pharoah as the theme two days after the horsey won the Triple Crown. She either (a) has brainpower that is way above my comprehension, in which case she should be hacking the Russian hackers, or (b) a really good crossword composing piece of software. I suspect option (a), at least I hope so.
I suppose I need some different venues to crosswords instead of the newspapers.
@Bill 6:41 ??? Yipes!
I didn’t think this was as easy as some of you did.
___ Cabbage. Stumped me at first.
Yes, some cryptic cluing. Maybe I’m just foggy today.
Here’s why people of my generation (old people) prefer bar soap. Both bar and liquid clean the skin but bar soaps remove oil from the skin as well. This gives a feeling of being “squeaky clean” which we have all grown up on. Liquid soaps often contain moisturizers and therefore can leave a more slimy feeling after washing – yech. Also, if you calculate the cost per wash, bar soap is quite a bit less expensive.
Too many interruptions during my Farmer’s Market to get much filled in, but after a nap and 2nd cup of coffee zipped right through it. CHIA seed used in smoothies is new to me; I just thought of Chia pets. Also PING is new to me; so far I’ve only walked around a course, never played.
@Bill In your explanation of “Late Night Joy” you wrote “Late Night Behar.” At first I thought they renamed the show but I don’t think its on any more, although I don’t know for sure.
@Vidwan Regarding mosquitoes and hot food I was thinking of this famous Tabasco Sauce Superbowl(1998) commercial. I did hear of the water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka states on the BBC here. I didn’t realize this goes so far back. As climate change gets worse I expect we’ll see more of this.
I used to eat just Jasmine rice but lately I’ve switched to Basmati, especially when making curries. A supervisor at Trader Joe’s from Hawaii said I should try using Coconut milk instead of water when making the rice. I have and highly recommend it.
@Glen I really enjoy the difficult Sudokus, but not the ones where you have to branch two ways to see which one works. I haven’t seen Numbrix yet. I should think about composing, but right now I’m just solving.
Thanks for spotting that Behar/Joy typo Dirk. All fixed now.
Hi all!
Funny we’re talking rice– I was planning to make it this weekend and didn’t know what kind to get or how to prepare. Now I have some ideas. I’m no cook– yesterday I googled “easy rice pilaf” and even THAT looked too confusing for me. I’m pretty hopeless in the kitchen — but I want to move away from the minute rice you boil in a bag.
Wish me luck!!!
I do think this puzzle was quite easy for a Thursday…seemed a Wednesday level to me. I got the theme fairly quickly, and it helped — narrowed down the pool of letters.
I use both liquid and bar soap, and I’m old (58, since you asked…) I have a selection of both in my Airbnb rental; most guests are under 35, and the liquid soap gets used a lot more. I’ll publish my findings soon…
Hey Dirk! Your comment made me think of something Vin Scully once said: “Golf is a great way to ruin a walk in the park.” ?
(I think I’ve quoted that here before, but let me also repeat: How about those CUBS?!!)
Sweet dreams~~™⚾?