Just wondering... who counted on their fingers to get the sixth word in the Gettysburg Address? Et tu, emu.
@Lewis (raises hand). Or in other words, me too, emu
@Lewis I just said them two at a time.... But felt guilty I didn't see the 3 letter answer right away. :)
Well, that was a delight. Clearly I’m on Mr Bodily’s wavelength because that filled in super quick for a Sunday. It was so much fun though that I’m not complaining. The theme revealed itself easily, though one of the last to fall was the first entry at 3D. Just not a phrase I’m familiar with. Not being a huge fan of Mr Elton I so wanted it to be the sublime Bowie. Star man, Life on Mars, Space Odyssey would all have fit the bill, but I can’t quibble with his choice, it was elegantly done. It was also surprisingly pleasant to see a handful of ‘feminine products’ make it into the grid and by a (I’m assuming) male constructor, that’s not just the ubiquitous BRA. I’ve spent my life demystifying the world of menstruation to my sons. I’ve had to talk my poor DH (5 brothers, no sisters) through every stage of mine and his daughter’s life cycles. I think the menopause may have finally finished him off. Apologies if that’s TMI for you. Bravo Mr Bodily.
@Helen Wright “Having a blast!” in the US is a classic expression for “having a great time”—which many of us had while doing this puzzle! And I, too, was surprised at all the feminine hygiene products—your comment was pretty funny and quite relatable.
@Helen Wright I was very sad when the grid was one square too short for DAVID BOWIE. And it took me for-ev-er to finally get to EJ and the subsequent d'oh! moment of ROCKET MAN for the revealer. Understood the theme, had a bunch filled in, but stared at JO__ plus a few other crosses there for naught. Even asked my partner if Billy JOel has any space-related tunes!! Needless to say, I'm not a huge fan of either Piano Man (John and Joel), though of course I probably can recite every line to the aforementioned tune. Here's hoping I avoid that earworm today! ✨
The first time I have solved a Sunday crossword with no hints, errors, or checking. Feels good looking at it completed in all black letters.
@David Please know that I'm speaking friendly argot here: Welcome to the smug club! enjoy today's cup.
@David The first time is always the best. Still good after that, but there's nothing like the first time. Same goes for crosswords.
I like the backstory, that this is a passion puzzle, made by one who, according to his notes, has been excited about the space program for a very long time. I like that the clues to the long theme answers embrace both elements of those answers – their everyday meaning, and the space-related pun. I like that “T” inside the grid-art rocket, hanging there like a fig leaf. I like that silly little [Call me!] for CAB, which elicited a spontaneous laugh plus the ego boost of an immediate answer slapdown. I like the lovely words MILIEU and FLUFFY. I like PLANE SEAT, which reminded me of air travel, which reminded me of luggage, which reminded me of that lovely Friday answer VALISES. I like that I was in the mood for something light, and along came a puzzle through which I felt like I was blissfully tubing down a river. Daniel, you hit my wavelength in big and little ways today, and I’m very grateful. Thank you so much for making this!
"I like that the clues to the long theme answers embrace both elements of those answers – their everyday meaning, and the space-related pun." Lewis, I guess I could say I "liked" it, but since that was theme of the puzzle, I rather expected it. And since the long theme answers were all everyday expressions that were space-related puns, this was -- with zero interest in speed -- my fastest Sunday solve in a long time. Fun for me, but no challenge. And this right after the fastest Saturday in a long time. I'm glad I have challenges to deal with in real life; I didn't get any this weekend from the NYT XWP.
Caitlin - I don't think the alleyway in question is a bowling alley. It's an alley - the kind between buildings. Urban canyons. All those tall flat surfaces create spaces where sounds echo all around.
Before commenting on the puzzle, I wanted to share a link to some sad crossworld news. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/03/us/nancy-schuster-dead.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/03/us/nancy-schuster-dead.html</a> Please emus; let it through.
@Barry Ancona Paywalled. Second try avoiding emus. Rest in peace Ms. Schuster.
@Barry Ancona Thank you, Barry, for posting this. I suspect that many of us never knew her name and all the contributions this remarkable woman made to both puzzle makers and solvers. R.I.P. Nancy Schuster, and thank you to the NY Times for this fine obit.
One of those relaxing puzzles where you never have to stop writing until you finally hit a wall and have to admit you just got too cocky. I almost went down with the Titanic, but realized that was an OCEANIC error, took flight and finished it. Perfect for a Sunday this Saturday afternoon. Torrential rain this morning and now all this brilliant sunshine has made me drowsy. I wish I could have another big Endeavor for tomorrow, but that will be the Monday—usually not much of a Challenger, but I could hope for an unexpected Enterprise.
@dutchiris I totally get your comment regarding the Monday puzzle blah. But if you have access to the New Yorker - available on line, they offer a Monday puzzle that is every bit as challenging as a NYT Saturday puzzle.
Echoes bounce off walls, which an alleyway has. Not a bowling reference.
@Dan Actually, my 2nd favorite clue of the puzzle. Favorite was "Lea low?" Not too hard, but a fun twist.
Fun theme! I suspect I won’t be the only wordplayer to try for a few more… “I was so hoping for something besides freeze dried Oreos” “I was astonished by the actual experience of weightlessness” “I’ve proven conclusively there’s a problem with the pod bay doors” PIE IN THE SKY MADE MY HEAD SPIN AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE
@Cat Lady Margaret On a musical note . . . I could read the paper last night after dark! Lots of celebrities at the Trump trials down south. Please, Artemis! Take me with you! IT MUST HAVE BEEN MOONGLOW STARS FELL ON ALABAMA FLY ME TO THE MOON
@Cat Lady Margaret -- Wow! CLM excellence in the house, once again... Brava! Et tu, emu.
I can't be the only one who was left holding a BAKEPAN trying to figure out why BAB wanted me to call her.
@DeaconClues I started with tubEPAN because it was a Bundt cake.
@DeaconClues I had FAKEPAN as I took Bundt as bunt and thought it was a baseball term Also guessing that Murse must mean Monday in some language hence MONTAG, didn't help much either
@DeaconClues Thank you! I didn’t even think to check that one (figuring that BAB was just another unknown-to-me cool new acronym)!
I think it's gonna be a long, long time before we see another Sunday as easy as today.
I loved everything about this just right for a Sunday puzzle. The double meanings for all the theme entries were great. I even loved Daniel's constructor notes. My favourite Sunday since I can remember.
2nd try: What? A space related puzzle without a nod to David Bowie? This is an outrage! <a href="https://youtu.be/tRNpjt29n6Y?si=jCGVS9dGYvJ32W0p" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/tRNpjt29n6Y?si=jCGVS9dGYvJ32W0p</a> Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do I feel much better now.
@Nancy J. I’m with you there. I listed 3 of his classics in my post, but there are so many more. 💫
Best Sunday puzzle in ages. Tricky, but not too difficult. To my own surprise, I did not have to look up any answers -- just kept plugging away. "Lea low" and "Murse" were stumpers for awhile. I absolutely loved the theme entries. Are people actually uncomfortable about including words for feminine hygiene products in 2024? Wow. Bravo to the constructor -- more from him please!
Aw man, that Rocket Man is now worming its way into my ear. Which is fine. Gotta love it! Cool puzzle, I put my ski boots on and slalomed from the summit down to earth. Loved some of the little witticisms in the placement of words and counter-narratives. Like vibratos next to those quaking aspens, and that "T" below the rocket in the grid, as in "T-minus..." The hearty dose of the feminine -- eggs, teats, bras, tampons -- caused me to reflect on male and female representations in this puzzle, but that's a fool's errand: sometimes a silo is just a silo. However, if there is a war between the sexes, and they play a baseball game to determine the winner, who would you pick to win from this puzzle's lineup? THE ROCKETMEN Trent Lott Goya Nixon Robert Reich Elton John Tommy Lee Jones Len Deighton Martin Amis POTUS (Biden) THE MANBAGGERS Sybil Suni Lee Hera Shirley Dinsdale Jane Roe (as in "vs. Wade") Ayn Rand Sharona Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham) The Singing Nun Fanduel: Manbaggers -140; Rocketmen +270 By counter-narrative, there is the dazzling narrative arc of the blast off, the orbiting the moon, the collecting of specimens, the return. But meanwhile back on earth, the OCEANIC world is just as risky and filled with unknowns; you could be peacefully sailing one day, and the next, you're walking the plank with your manbag weighted down with lead. Or it's April 1912, your unit's on the top tier, and you spot what looks like an ice cap in the waves off to the lee...
@john Ezra Funny enough the second feminine hygiene product, PAD was the very very last word to fall for me for no logical reason at all. Maybe because it was so far out of context. MANBAG cracked me up. :)
Big moment for me. Started doing these in 2022. First time solving a Sunday. Yay me! Loved this one.
@Timmer Me too! I told my husband it was "baby's first Sunday solve." He TWASNT impressed.
OKAY SURE I’m a bit SPACEY But oh! What a view! I was given this morning Of the belle grande monde bleu! I FLOATed right through This PLANETary trip T’WAS fun to the end! (Tho’ done in a clip) I shall TRY to STAY COOL But I had me A BLAST And My SHARONA will ECHO In my ear, and shall last For NEARly a week But you won’t hear me rant Because ANTHEM (or not) It’s a fun little CHANT!
@CCNY Love it. You definitely have The Knack. !!!
When it comes to your astronomy exam, you'll rocket! (Just don't space out!)
great puzzle, Daniel--you rocked it, man!
Murse: It's European! Fun, easy (twenty minutes faster than my average, but I'm not complaining). It wouldn't have fit in this grid, but did anyone else think of William Shatner for 78D? <a href="https://youtu.be/BdUMICxLXhM?si=Ru3CxZzKZbRtdWWX" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/BdUMICxLXhM?si=Ru3CxZzKZbRtdWWX</a> Oh, yeah, and glad to see that I wasn't the only one who couldn't see what the MUTE button graphic was supposed to be. Thanks!
@Jack McCullough Re: William Shatner The man has no shame. I play my "Golden Throats: The Great Celebrity Sing Off" album when I want to horrify my guests. It has his renditions of Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds and Mr. Tambourine Man, along with some other truly awful covers. As my mother used to say: They're laughing themselves all the way to the bank.
@Jack McCullough I think of that one often. To me, it's a great example of a lack of self awareness. So hammy it's amazing. It's of a pair with his good friend Leonard Nimoy's little ditty about the Hobbit. Warning: you can't unsee this. <a href="https://youtu.be/BC35cQKHwzg?feature=shared" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/BC35cQKHwzg?feature=shared</a> I'm pretty sure these both can be attributed to all the drugs that were going around back then. At least, I hope so.
Great puzzle! Slightly lacking in gravity. I orbited around the right answers a few times and entered one or two misfires (Keith Moon fills ELTON JOHN’s shoes, who knew?) but succeeded on re-entry. Hooray!
I truly enjoyed this puzzle. The cluing was clever, ample clues related to theme, and there was also a clue to the theme. I also enjoyed the Rock genre references. One of my favorite clues was: SHE’S A BELIEVER. I had a TON of fun doing this. Good start for a Sunday… Appreciation to Mr. Bodily.
I love how the clues tell the story from launch to touchdown. Cool grid art too. Great twin clue “Green trattoria topping” for OREGANO and PESTO. A very smooth solve with only a couple of corrections (MINI before DISC and AS YET before TO NOW. Fun puzzle! Thanks, Daniel.
Fun one! Enjoyed the theme answers a lot! Finished in about half my average but felt engaged and challenged throughout. Love the Minnesota representation with a constructor from Woodbury, MN (where my now husband lived when I first met him) and the fabulous Suni LEE! And sort of TOT, if you consider MN's beloved tater TOT casserole... Okay, okay, it's hot dish to Minnesotans but I'm a Wiscosotan and my WI DNA prevents me from calling a casserole a hot dish. Still, yeah, Minnesota! Also, would have preferred NEWTS be clued as "One of the things that witch lady with the carrot tied to her nose turned me into.... But, well, I got betta!" 🧙😂🧙
Feminine HYGIENE products? Really? Get with it, crossword constructors and editors. There is nothing “dirty” about menstruation or other normal bodily functions. Use period products or menstrual products instead.
@Liz Hey, if you don't make women feel dirty, then how are you supposed to sell them useless and dangerous products to fix a non-existent problem?
I suppose it is the case that people engage with the NYT Crosswords for a number of reasons. Some are after the streak, others to set time records. I guess that some just enjoy the passtime while others are intrigued by the wordplay. No one reason is superior to any other. I'm reminded of the Stupid Human Tricks quote from David Letterman, "This is only an exhibition. This is not a competition. No wagering, please."
I contacted Major Nelson and requested he ask Jeannie to blink the Sunday puzzle into a breezy one because I just wasn't desiring of it to be a very demanding one. She sure made my wish come true, and I apologize to all those who were itching for a Challenge(r). Wonderful puzzle, Mr. Bodily! Thank you! It launched me into a very peaceful mind space. It also elicited some questions for me regarding a ROCKET(wo)MAN and how the need for a BRA, a TAMPON, and a PAD would be handled. Here are some of the interesting answers I found: <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-women-can-deal-with-periods-in-space-58294" target="_blank">https://theconversation.com/how-women-can-deal-with-periods-in-space-58294</a> <a href="https://www.thecut.com/2013/07/female-astronauts-wear-bras-in-space.html" target="_blank">https://www.thecut.com/2013/07/female-astronauts-wear-bras-in-space.html</a> What's not to like about a puzzle that's creative plus not convoluted plus educational? And to top it off, one that's given me an earworm I'm happy to have the whole day? Loved it!
The grid art may "delineate a spacecraft whose nose cone is a little triangle of black squares", but for the life of me every time I look at it I see the face of a goat. Good puzzle, though. :)
@O. Sharp You’re right! Now that you point it out i can clearly see it. Maybe part of the lea? Judging by one of the other comments, ahem, today’s crossword art is clearly a Rorschach test. Very enjoyable puzzle. Thanks!
It’s amazing how much one little wrong answer can make it hard to see what’s what. At 59A, I foolishly put “baa” instead of MOO. I know that cattle low, so there’s no reason that I should have put “baa.” At least my Titanic knowledge got me APR without any hesitation. But then, it took far longer than it should’ve for me to see SKI BOOT, given how much time I have spent trying to put those things on or get them off. Toss in my lack of interest in books of the Bible and 40+ years of not thinking much about math, and that isolated center section seemed like it was going to defeat me. Finally hitting on MOO led me to MALACHI and OREGANO. Yeesh.
@Eric Hougland That isolated middle was the only place that really slowed me down too. But I have to give props for lea low, a great way to use two common crossword standbys to create a clever clue for another frequent crossword answer. Fun puzzle.
@Eric Hougland agreed, that little 3x7 rectangle eluded me for a long time, even though I came up with TAB pretty early. I couldn't get away from bar_TAB. I also thought that "Lea low?" might solve to "fen". Masterful misdirects today!
Really clever puzzle, and... a total bomb for me. Just couldn't get enough crosses to work out the theme answers and so never quite tumbled to the trick. That's all on me. Starting to wonder if I might manage to fail on a Monday tomorrow. Nice to be reminded of the lyrics to 'Rocketman' - a long time favorite. Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids. Fun puzzle find today - a Monday from August 28, 2000 by Richard Hughes. Theme answers in that one: INSEVENTHHEAVEN HIGHASAKITE ONCLOUDNINE ONTOPOFTHEWORLD And all of the clues started with "Really happy as...." - one of the examples being "as an angel." Here's the link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=5/29/2016&g=76&d=D" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=5/29/2016&g=76&d=D</a> See you later. ...
@Rich in Atlanta I'll be rooting for you tomorrow!! And thanks for posting the August 28th, 2000 puzzle. I'm in a little bit of a chaotic place right now and having a quick, cute puzzle like that with such a happy theme, did just the trick for me today!! 😊
Could the ‘bouncer in an alleyway’ be sounds bouncing off the walls and creating an echo?
"Dominates Slangily" should not be OWNS but rather PWNS. One of the definitions of "own" may be to have power or mastery over, as in wanting to own one's own life, but if it is clued in terms of slang, it is necessarily a reference to the term online gamers have popularized for trouncing an opponent, and that version is spelled with a p. <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pwn" target="_blank">https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pwn</a>
@Charlie Savage "You got owned" is similarly common, so I disagree. Of course the p version is a variant of that.
@Charlie Savage I feel like OWNS would have been the more appropriate answer ten years ago, but pWNS has overtaken it. Fortunately I'm old enough that it didn't slow me down!
When I read the clue I expected PWNS too, but I disagree that OWNS is not a valid answer to the clue. The example you cite from M-W is self-referential. Would your editor let you say somebody OWNS somebody else in an article unless you were describing slavery? I certainly would not.
Argh! After fixing two typos, could NOT figure out why no music after such a satisfying, challenging puzzle. Resorted to “check all” and found I had BAKEPAN instead of CAKEPAN (possibly because my first try at that space was BAKERY before realizing that was not enough letters. But the BAKE stayed even though BAB made no sense at 7A — I guess I thought it was some new slang I didn’t know. It was a BLAST anyway.
Ground Control to Major Tom is what I sing to ko when she dons her head set. She, as always, just rolls her eyes wondering why, why, why. First Fed job was at Rockwell ensuring "secrets" about the Space Shuttle were kept. Yes there are man traps. Fun solve, thank Daniel. You may want to meet my brother who lives in Mpls and constructs robotic sculptures.
@CaitlinLovinger, re echo, the bouncer in an alleyway: I easily read it as voices echoing off close-set buildings.
@JustThinking Exactly. Some of the explanations in the columns are real stretches... Simplest is the most sensible!
Easy puzzle, but a fun theme. And it has a CLAM in it! Sure, not clued as the critter, but... a CLAM nonetheless. I bumped on NEWTS for a bit, because adult NEWTS are aquatic. But I guess some people do keep the juveniles (efts) in terraria and they have to provide some water. Still bothers me a bit, but I guess it's OK. I would have preferred a different clue, though, if only to avoid prompting people to think about putting NEWTS into terraria. (I found out about NEWTS in terraria by checking to see if it was correct, rather than coming here, and based only upon my own knowledge, blasting the clue and answer and the constructor and editor, as so many people who are absolutely sure of their knowledge do almost every day. The clue and answer is fine, even if they bother me bit, and even if my initial feeling about it were negative.)
@CaptainQuahog I would refer to hunt for newts in the local creek as I did as a child, but that creek is under a shopping center now.
Dang. This was very clever and a LOT of fun. Simple, satisfying Sunday. Perfect for the rainy weather we have here right now. Thank you Mr Bodily!
Such an amusing and playful theme. But all the clues -- even the non-theme ones -- seem to be lovingly and imaginatively wrought. Daniel would appear to have a lot of fun creating this and his enjoyment is infectious. I had a great deal of fun solving it. According to the note, Daniel is a "self-described left-brained person." Of course he is! Cluing is what we left-brained people love to do. Grid "art" -- not so much. But Daniel has made a good stab at it. If I squint really hard, I can almost see a ROCKETMAN. Or is it the ROCKET itself I'm seeing? No matter. I never care about grid art anyway. This is such an enjoyable puzzle with or without it. Even the most mundane words were clued in an interesting way. One example. I pondered: Is "fourscore" one word or two? If it's one, then the answer to 19A is AGO. If it's two, then the answer is OUR. I decided it was one. In such ways does a good left-brained constructor come up with clues that are little puzzles in themselves. A terrific Sunday.
@Nancy I also started with OUR instead of AGO, but AGENTK settled the argument. I also loved the wordplay in this grid!
I pondered the same thing, Nancy. But if it’s one word then the answer to 19A is our, not AGO. So I figured it must be two words, not one.
What a lovely puzzle! I'm trying to pack for a week-long trip, so I'm so appreciating these slightly breezier solves (at least fewer lookups) to ease my guilt at doing my crossword while neglecting all the to-dos involved in travel. I also was looking to have a Space Man, or to put David Bowie in the grid. However, I knew that the space-related hints were way too cheery for Major Tom. And once again, I love my trip through the comments--all my compatriots, agreeing & disagreeing, and all enjoying the crossword together!
This was super fun with so many great clues and answers. I feel like I’m on the same wavelength as the puzzle creator. My favorite clue was “Lea low?” — I really laughed when I got it. Thank you!
@A.E. Whitehall Could you explain this one to me?
Orange juices, really? There were several such stretchy clues that I did not like, although solved without much issue. Okay, but not one of my favorites....
@B I wondered about that, but picture being at a diner and ordering "Three OJS, one tomato juice."
"Lea low?" almost laid me low before I heard the cow's bellow. . . . . . MOO
On this day in 1961, ROCKET MAN Alan Shepard piloted the Mercury-Redstone 3 mission and became the first American to travel into space. Cool coincidence!
@Anita Oh, very cool! Now I wish that fact had shown up in the puzzle -- or at least in the column/editor's introduction/constructor's notes. Thanks so much for "cluing" us in! 🚀🚀🚀 send those emus to outer space! 🚀🚀🚀
Is there such a thing as "Bodily Harm" in Crosswords? Juuuuust kidding. Solved without hesitation, despite several erasures. ( Daniel, TAWDRY is a really good word--better than TWO-BIT, wouldn't you say?....erase, erase......FYI, the empty nest was very painful...no KIDS....erase, erase....) LOAN before LEND SLUR before SLAM Hmm...mummified creatures? BATS? RATS?..surely not...Aiiieee! Charlotte the Kitty is on her way to NYC to protest this horrifying inclusion, which is in the worst possible taste.
@Mean Old Lady Yes, they did mummify cats in Ancient Egypt. Just think that those kitties would no longer be around by now, no matter what. At least this way they are celebrated. We have a sick cat, so this is probably too serious a reply, but oh well.
@Mean Old Lady The MFA here in Boston has a mummified cat on display as well as a mummified crocodile, andI know I saw a snake, in a shroud shaped like a snake, curved and all. <a href="https://collections.mfa.org/objects/133979" target="_blank">https://collections.mfa.org/objects/133979</a> <a href="https://collections.mfa.org/objects/45971" target="_blank">https://collections.mfa.org/objects/45971</a>
I’m only getting to comment about the puzzle at this late hour (for me) because last night when it dropped, I had to get to a dinner date soon thereafter, and I didn’t have time to go to the comments. Usually, if I find myself in such a situation, I decide to go for the speed solve if possible, and perhaps ask the Mrs. to drive so I can finish it in the car if necessary. (Since I was accused of bragging yesterday, I won’t give the specifics of the time, but if I had taken my normal time, I would have had to finish in the car, or we would have been late.) Suffice it to say, I didn’t need to finish in the car. It was the same experience that the Saturday puzzle was, of barely having to pause at any point…if I didn’t know something immediately, there was something nearby that I could latch onto and by the time I got back to the other one, I had enough crosses to see the answer.
@Steve L You are a valued long-time contributer here. I generally enjoy reading your commentary on, and explanations of the grids. I rarely enjoy reading your commentaries on yourself or your prowess. I'm glad that you usually focus on the former. IMHO.
I have heard the word "murse" but for "male nurse." Very fun puzzle!!
@Cassandra59 Yeah, I was thinking “male RN” for a bit. (8:12 ADT)
@Cassandra59 I thought the word for a male nurse was “nurse.” Emus have no place in ICUs.
@Cassandra59 trying to be snark free... Back when doctors were supposed to be men and nurses were supposed to be girls (because "women" wasn't a real word) I believe men who chose nursing were called murses, and it was not a compliment. But I believe those days are blessedly far behind us. These days I think it only means a man's purse.
Fun puzzle—I knew there would be something interesting when I saw who the constructor was, and of course, the title was a big hint. Got through this a little under my average, so I'm happy—the puzzle gave me a lift (off). After the first themers, I was able to guess most of the others, and I appreciated the humor. Thanks, Daniel!
Last square to be caught: I supposed that there was a block of episodes of a reality show about the deaf shown on Sunday nights on The Leering Channel (TLC)--even though I know that that evening is given over to "My 90-Day Fiancee," a fave in our household, for personal reasons--and that Ledo was the addressee of one of the more obscure Beatles B-sides, "Love, Ledo". Randos from the Biz: Well actually, they're butterflies. Overheard amongst the waitstaff at a local brunch spot: "A grapefruit juice, three OJs, and a double bloody for the lady at five." Missed opportunity: deep-fried SAGE leaves make an elegant topping for Veal Saltimbocca, and are greenish, sorta.