"Hotlinks" - June 25, 2021

[pookie]

Hopefully the booze washes away the horrible song from my teen years that solving put in my head.
I did that wrong. I was quoting Scott M.

[EVJ]

I’m with Isaac…crazy work-week and my husband scheduled a crazy weekend for us (to get me “out of the house”), so I may not finish this week. I’m hoping for rain.

Is it a faux pas to bring a crossword (or two) to a baseball game?

Nah. Plenty of time to work on the crossword and watch the game. You will look like you are keeping stats. Don’t lots of people do that

[iggystan]

On shore, I believe.

[JeanneC]

Grid done, working (hard) on meta. Saw what is below in the liquor store today. No further comment.

[Bob cruise director]

I’m with Isaac…crazy work-week and my husband scheduled a crazy weekend for us (to get me “out of the house”), so I may not finish this week. I’m hoping for rain.

Is it a faux pas to bring a crossword (or two) to a baseball game?

Make sure your husband brings a glove to the game. Back when Sox tickets were affordable, I took my wife to the game. She spent the entire time reading a book and I spent the entire time worried about a foul ball line drive.

Ask @Wendy Walker about taking the puzzle on "date night".

[Bob cruise director]

Grid was very easy, but I'm clueless about the meta.

Welcome to the muggle family. You have just taken over as the hardest blog name to type.

For my own sanity, could you explain your blog name. It looks like something that is required for a secure password. All you need is a symbol or two.

[SReh26]

no, I think we should all try to solve it!!

[SReh26]

Fred!!! amirite?

[DBMiller]

Grid was very easy, but I'm clueless about the meta.

Welcome to the muggle family. You have just taken over as the hardest blog name to type.

For my own sanity, could you explain your blog name. It looks like something that is required for a secure password. All you need is a symbol or two.

Phred 131313?

[SReh26]

Phred honey, speaking as someone who calls herself Sreh26, , which bears only the most remote and convoluted relation to anything, you are under no obligation to explain it to anyone. I know this stuff can be very personal.

[femullen]

I have always wondered about the nickname “the Habs” for the Montreal team. Is it pronounced habs or abs? Shouldn’t it be “Les Habs” or even “Zabs”. Do French Canadians use Habs or do the just say Les Habitants?

It's usually pronounced "Habs," with the normal H sound, as also in House, though francophones sometimes elide the H, as, I suppose, would Cockneys. I would prefer your idea of "abs," but, sadly, I no longer have any.

In Boston, there are usually a few expletives associated with them no matter whether you say them in English or French. Kind of like Bucky **&%% Dent but who carries a grudge.

Bucky Dent. Well do I remember him, God rest his soul. I remember watching that game (and that play: palm, forehead) shortly after moving from LA to Boston. Sox in the World Series that year, Patriots in the Stupor Bowl, and in the middle of a multi-year Lakers-Celtics NBA series. Lived in Beantown for the next 25 years. What a great sports town is Boston! But in hockey, I am a Montréal boy. To borrow from my Red Sox friends, I cheer for two teams: Montréal and whoever is playing Toronto.

[LadyBird]

I am definitely on the SHip and I am amazed at those of you who made it to shore in wARP speed. Played a little SHuffleboard, thINNED out the stern garden a bit (hope you don't mind MaineMarge), and HAuled out my binoculars to see what was flying by. And now I am perched on my barstool gaWKing at the puzzle and getting nowhere. I keep reminding myself that I've got two more days to figure this out.

[MajordomoTom]

been on shore since early yesterday evening/late afternoon.

it's really getting crowded here.

[escapeartist]

I think I've got this one this time.

One can never be too sure these days.

(0 for 2 last coupla weeks)

[BreeZynCO]

Made it to shore. Feels good after last weekend.

[Laura M]

I didn't feel like there was any danger of a pageant, but at one point in my solving process there was definitely a different eight-letter word that I was very sure, based on what I had so far, would end up being the answer. Fortunately, by now I know better than to trust my instincts where metas are concerned :-)

[Wendy Walker]

Is it a faux pas to bring a crossword (or two) to a baseball game?

A faux pas? Most certainly not! Your friends and family will soon get used to seeing you working on a puzzle at ANY sporting or social event. You should develop an "elevator speech" explaining to them that even though it LOOKS like the puzzle is complete, this is not a normal crossword. At this point there's a really good chance their eyes will glaze over; if not, you may have identified a prospective Muggle.
As our Cruise Director pointed out, I have brought my puzzle clipboard along to Date Night, restaurants, volunteer board meetings, fundraising galas, my nephew's track meets, family get-togethers, road trips, airplanes, the gym ... the list goes on.

[lbray53]

On shore. I was trying to make a MGWCC week five out of this. Four pages of notes. When I finally simplified my method I found the answer in five minutes.

[debbierudy]

I think I'm ashore now - the ship has been getting old these last few weeks!

[boharr]

It's usually pronounced "Habs," with the normal H sound, as also in House, though francophones sometimes elide the H, as, I suppose, would Cockneys. I would prefer your idea of "abs," but, sadly, I no longer have any.

In Boston, there are usually a few expletives associated with them no matter whether you say them in English or French. Kind of like Bucky **&%% Dent but who carries a grudge.

Bucky Dent. Well do I remember him, God rest his soul. I remember watching that game (and that play: palm, forehead) shortly after moving from LA to Boston. Sox in the World Series that year, Patriots in the Stupor Bowl, and in the middle of a multi-year Lakers-Celtics NBA series. Lived in Beantown for the next 25 years. What a great sports town is Boston! But in hockey, I am a Montréal boy. To borrow from my Red Sox friends, I cheer for two teams: Montréal and whoever is playing Toronto.

Um, Bucky Dent is still alive. It's Bill Buckner who has passed. No matter. Both shall live in our memories forever. Go Habs Go.