"The Global Marketplace" June 30, 2023

[hcbirker]

That song is hilarious Ed!

[KayW]

But why "global"?

And does one usually consider a 7-11 "retail"?

(My opinions: No idea and it confuses me; and not really but it's not technically incorrect. What are your opinions?)

@woozy

7-Eleven Inc is an international company owned by a Japanese conglomerate Seven & I Holdings. 7-Eleven operates or franchises 78,029 stores in 19 countries. In the US, in addition to operating under the meta answer brand, it operates Speedway and Stripes Convenience Stores.

And a retail store is any store which sells directly to the public.

As Bob said, 7-Eleven does operate retail stores worldwide. I thought "Global" might also be a little nudge to help us notice 71-across CHINA (XI). After solving, I wondered if there were any 7-Elevens in China, and there are:

[Guffman]

That song is hilarious Ed!

Paul and Storm have been around for almost 20 years and released 5 quirky -- and funny -- CD's.
"Ten-Finger Johnny" is one of my favorite tunes, but I have others, of course. I may post another
in the future, especially if a puzzle covers the same subject matter.

[Laura M]

That song is hilarious Ed!

Paul and Storm have been around for almost 20 years and released 5 quirky -- and funny -- CD's.
"Ten-Finger Johnny" is one of my favorite tunes, but I have others, of course. I may post another
in the future, especially if a puzzle covers the same subject matter.

Paul and Storm are excellent! Check out their old DaVinci's Notebook stuff too!

[Gman]

This was one of my fastest solves ever, and I still ended up number 12 or so on page 1. Either I'm slow, or the first solvers must be getting the meta even before they complete the grid. Perhaps I need to solve the bottom right as a first step?

[escapeartist]

Next week, don't forget 7-11 day (July 11) when 7-Eleven offers complimentary (mini) slurpees

we have been known to visit quite a few stores within reasonable distance that day

[ZooAnimalsOnWheels]

As Bob said, 7-Eleven does operate retail stores worldwide. I thought "Global" might also be a little nudge to help us notice 71-across CHINA (XI). After solving, I wondered if there were any 7-Elevens in China, and there are:

And any joke you've heard about the overabundance of Starbucks in the United States also applies to 7-Eleven in Japan. They are everywhere in Tokyo.

Paul and Storm are excellent! Check out their old DaVinci's Notebook stuff too!

I've had the pleasure to see them a couple of times on the JoCo Cruise, where even though it bears Jonathan Coulton's name, Paul and Storm pretty much serve as the emcees for the week. They are very funny guys.

[Joe Ross]

Perhaps I need to solve the bottom right as a first step?

Also center of grid both DOWN and ACROSS.

[MikeMillerwsj]

The contest answer is 7-ELEVEN. As hinted by the clue at 71-Across, the theme answers contain seven instances of the Roman numeral XI, suggesting the contest answer.

Thank you Barbara for guiding newcomers below!

We had a barnburner turnout this week! 2,769 entries, with 85% correct, above our usual rate of 75%. Among incorrect entries, we had big turnouts for TJ MAXX (95) and TARGET (63), plus ALIBABA (29), WALMART (18), and many others.

Congrats to this week's winner, Gail Engstrom of St. Paul, Minn. And happy Fourth to all!

[BarbaraK]

Just want to clarify that Mike’s comment referred to a post I made on the WSJ site. There are tons of people who guide newcomers here on the muggle board.

[boharr]

Just want to clarify that Mike’s comment referred to a post I made on the WSJ site. There are tons of people who guide newcomers here on the muggle board. 🙂

Maybe. But few do it so well as you.

[BarbaraK]

Just want to clarify that Mike’s comment referred to a post I made on the WSJ site. There are tons of people who guide newcomers here on the muggle board.

Maybe. But few do it so well as you.

Aww! You're very kind, but I beg to differ.

[higgysue]

The contest answer is 7-ELEVEN. As hinted by the clue at 71-Across, the theme answers contain seven instances of the Roman numeral XI, suggesting the contest answer.

Thank you Barbara for guiding newcomers below!

We had a barnburner turnout this week! 2,769 entries, with 85% correct, above our usual rate of 75%. Among incorrect entries, we had big turnouts for TJ MAXX (95) and TARGET (63), plus ALIBABA (29), WALMART (18), and many others.

Congrats to this week's winner, Gail Engstrom of St. Paul, Minn. And happy Fourth to all!

Finally a Minnesotan won the mug! I was beginning to think this contest was rigged!

[OGuyDave]

Done, and done a minute later, on Friday. Somehow this one came to me quite quickly. I noticed a lot of x's during the grid solve, then when I saw 71A's clue, and made the count, I was home free.

Wonder if there were any Mexican solvers.

TFTXWD

[Craven_Mug_Craver]

Done, and done a minute later, on Friday. Somehow this one came to me quite quickly. I noticed a lot of x's during the grid solve, then when I saw 71A's clue, and made the count, I was home free.

Wonder if there were any Mexican solvers.




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TFTXWD

I used to solve when I lived in Barcelona. Surely there are solvers in México.

[Craven_Mug_Craver]

We had a barnburner turnout this week! 2,769 entries, with 85% correct, above our usual rate of 75%. Among incorrect entries, we had big turnouts for TJ MAXX (95) and TARGET (63), plus ALIBABA (29), WALMART (18), and many others.

Congrats to this week's winner, Gail Engstrom of St. Paul, Minn. And happy Fourth to all!

And this is why I can't have nice things...like mugs!! And yet carry on I must...

[Kas]

Just returned late last night/early this morning from a lovely two-week visit to the Old Family Homestead in the North Carolina Smoky Mountains...

Whereabouts? I live in western NC!

Hi, LizD! Sorry--just saw your post--the family is from Todd, North Carolina--nestled between the booming metropolis of Boone and greater West Jefferson metroplex region, lol.