"Storefronts" August 9, 2024

[Nlobb]

Thanks mATT!

[Bob cruise director]

A clarification. I am probably one of the world's worst proof readers of my own writing. I was not even aware that I put the nonword "pleasey" in my post Bob's DUH post until I started picking it up more than once in the comments. And I have not the slightest clue of what I intended to write.

Welcome to senior moments for those of you who are not "fill in the blank genarian" e.g. sexagenarian, septagenarian, octogenarian.

[ELSavage]

A clarification. I am probably one of the world's worst proof readers of my own writing. I was not even aware that I put the nonword "pleasey" in my post Bob's DUH post until I started picking it up more than once in the comments. And I have not the slightest clue of what I intended to write.

I've been seeing it for weeks, and figured it was a sneaky way to get past the censors looking for the e-word.
And/or a mash-up of pleasant/pleasing and the e-word.

[Joe Ross]

A clarification. I am probably one of the world's worst proof readers of my own writing. I was not even aware that I put the nonword "pleasey" in my post Bob's DUH post until I started picking it up more than once in the comments. And I have not the slightest clue of what I intended to write.

I've been seeing it for weeks, and figured it was a sneaky way to get past the censors looking for the e-word.
And/or a mash-up of pleasant/pleasing and the e-word.

I PMed Bob nearly choking (:::couch:::cough:::cough:::) to hint that he - along with 4 or 5 others - "violated" the "easy" rule the first day.

Not censors, but moderators.

The moderators (well, it's me, since the other moderators never take action on this particular thing) edit "easy" to another word in the WSJCC topics, only. No matter the simplicity of the puzzle, a few people will invariably take offense posting "everyone says it's easy!" It's kind of a running joke, but, trust me, some muggles get very frustrated when they see a crowded beach when they see nothing at all. One sympathizes.

Anyone taking offense at the word switching will have volunteered themselves to take on the "easy" editing task for a year and will be forwarded all complaints. 🙃

[LadyBird]

On shore. This was an EASier trip than last week--and fasTER! A quick trip oNTo the beach, with no tOW needed. I'll raise a glass--cHEErs to all.

I had one more sentence that I was going to add to my original post. I was going to say that I would be having the drink that my bird recommended in its bird song. The Eastern Towhee sings "Drink your teeeeeeea". But then I thought--that might be too much of a spoiler!

[HunterX]

A clarification. I am probably one of the world's worst proof readers of my own writing. I was not even aware that I put the nonword "pleasey" in my post Bob's DUH post until I started picking it up more than once in the comments. And I have not the slightest clue of what I intended to write.

I PMed Bob nearly choking (::::cough:::cough:::) to hint that he - along with 4 or 5 others - "violated" the "easy" rule the first day.
...
The moderators (well, it's me, since the other moderators never take action on this particular thing) edit "easy" to another word in the WSJCC topics, only. No matter the simplicity of the puzzle, a few people will invariably take offense posting "everyone says it's easy!" It's kind of a running joke, but, trust me, some muggles get very frustrated when they see a crowded beach when they see nothing at all. One sympathizes.
...

I assumed those "pleasy" posts were all edited by you, so I imitated it, for fun.

And that's what this is all about, anyway... Fun! Right?

[Joe Ross]

A clarification. I am probably one of the world's worst proof readers of my own writing. I was not even aware that I put the nonword "pleasey" in my post Bob's DUH post until I started picking it up more than once in the comments. And I have not the slightest clue of what I intended to write.

I PMed Bob nearly choking (:::couch:::cough:::cough:::) to hint that he - along with 4 or 5 others - "violated" the "easy" rule the first day.
...
The moderators (well, it's me, since the other moderators never take action on this particular thing) edit "easy" to another word in the WSJCC topics, only. No matter the simplicity of the puzzle, a few people will invariably take offense posting "everyone says it's easy!" It's kind of a running joke, but, trust me, some muggles get very frustrated when they see a crowded beach when they see nothing at all. One sympathizes.
...

I assumed those "pleasy" posts were all edited by you, so I imitated it, for fun.

And that's what this is all about, anyway... Fun! Right?

Amen. I enjoyed your posts!

Not posting "easy" is an actual mercy for those struggling. All of the rest is having fun.

If anyone ever thinks I am taking things too far, PM me, please. I'll apologize & reciify ASAP.

[The XWord Rabbit]

If ever there was a puzzle when The X-Word Rabbit knew there wouldn’t be anything to write about, this was it. Four anchor across entries in Mr. Gaffney’s “Storefronts” puzzles, each consisting of two words – the first begins with “AT” and the second “T”. The answer is AT&T, simple as that.

So why the picture of the AI Rabbit? Well, your Rabbit was saving something special for “one of those weeks”. Unsurprisingly, AI has taken over You Tube. There’s a rash of videos reimagined as 1950’s Super Panavision films (a few you must remember the 1950’s, don't you?). They are a bit creepy, but strangely fascinating at the same time.

Hard for your Rabbit to decide which one to share, so he picked a movie everyone knows: JAWS. Enjoy … and let’s all hope for a puzzle with a bit more BITE next week.

[hcbirker]

Had to post another pic so @wendywalker knows we’re still alive.

[Kas]

Scale rating: Kas 1

…and after last week’s Kas 3, I can live with that!

[MikeMillerwsj]

The contest answer is AT&T. The first word of each theme answer begins with AT- and the second begins with T-, suggesting the contest answer.

Apologies for the summer delay! A more straightforward and accessible contest this week (don't count on that lasting too long...) , with a huge turnout: 2371 entries, about 89% correct. Just a few wrong guesses including EXXON (the answer to 61 across, 16 entries), MICROSOFT, GAP, and IBM.

Congrats to this week's winner: Rachel Knapp of Blacksburg, VA!

[Ben B]

I like the answer Gap, as a second step beyond AT and T. Clever!

[Joe Ross]

"A more straightforward and accessible contest this week."

Mike is good.