Francine

@Tim L.L. are the initials for many Superman characters who, for the most part, have tended to be his adversaries, love interests, or relatives. <a href="https://superman.fandom.com/wiki/LL" target="_blank">https://superman.fandom.com/wiki/LL</a> It's been a running gag almost as long as Superman's been around, and no one really knows why. There's tons of L.L. characters in the older comics. Even Superman has commented on how weird of a coincidence it is. One rumor is that Shuster's first girlfriend had those initials, but it's never been confirmed.

@Call Me Al Big hit for The Weather Girls! Still gets everyone up on the dance floor (at least in my circles). <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5aZJBLAu1E" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5aZJBLAu1E</a>

@Andrzej Dinner Theater was definitely a thing in Chicago and in the Midwest in general. I have fond memories of seeing Stiller and Meara in a show years ago. Dinner was served before the show, some of the theaters were in the round. Most of the theaters have closed or changed to regular theaters. One variation that still exists is the Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament which is located outside of Chicago but we also visited one in Garda, Italy. Good fun!

@john ezra Back in the day, an expression around our house / neighborhood was "Every Tom, Dick and Harry is named Michael". There were indeed lots of Michaels born in the 1950s

@Mean Old Lady ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. It describes a pleasant, static-like tingling sensation that typically begins on the scalp or neck and moves down the spine. Often triggered by specific soft sounds or visual cues, it is frequently used to promote deep relaxation, reduce stress, and aid in sleep

@Popeye In the spirit of learning I looked this up: Historically, sailors used these numbers as a scale of intoxication. One sheet loose meant tipsy, two sheets meant well-oiled and unsteady, and three sheets meant a completely staggering, slurring mess

@john ezra Thanks for the video! Fascinating little creatures

@Grumpy ACC = Atlantic Coast Conference Makes sense that Miami would be one of the 18 teams.

@Sean UMACTUALLY Ozlem Tureci is a she

@Andrzej Tweety has rhotacism (couldn’t say his Rs) and several other speech disorders. “I tawt I taw a puddy tat” was Tweet’s signature line.

@El Jefe I found the double clue "Cup alternative" clever. When ordering ice cream you can have a cup, a cone or a pint.

@Eric Hougland Knowing that your musical taste is very eclectic and the Jason Mraz song got tons of radio play, it's hard to believe you never heard it. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHTsc9PU2A" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHTsc9PU2A</a>

@Bill I used the starting word until I hit Genius! I agree that it was 100% luck but the rush was real. The problem after that was choosing and getting used to a new starting word.

@Wendy Yes, definitely! Purple bag with gold drawstrings

@B JAM was not placed randomly in the down answers, it was always in the middle of the word. However, I was also underwhelmed

@Larry BYTES as in digital data

@Shan The fleece Patagonia vest became the symbol of modern Fin-Tech Bros <a href="https://images.app.goo.gl/iEjqr8Qhj24bx8BP9" target="_blank">https://images.app.goo.gl/iEjqr8Qhj24bx8BP9</a>

@Andrzej LTR is the standard abbreviation for Letter sized paper on a printer

@Hobby Gardener Count Chocula is of course is a play off of Count Dracula. It is produced by General Mills and listed as "Chocolate-flavored corn cereal bits and marshmallows". Amazingly long-lasting, it was introduced in 1971! So definitely meets the clue "A count out for breakfast?"

@SP "Make it" was clever and gave me an Aha moment when it was processed correctly. "Tag, you're it" strike a bell?

@Francis Once you know that DOROTHY's last name is GALE it is unforgettable since she was taken to Oz by a big wind, i.e. GALE. Bit of insider knowledge

@Andrzej I had a surprise party for my 12 year old daughter. She was all grumpy when I forced her to come with me on an errand but the look on her face when we got to the restaurant and all her friends were waiting was worth it. A good memory for us both. But I would never have one for an adult.

@Andrzej To save you the Google, BACNE is BACk ACNE. A problem for some people after exercising.

@Jack McCullough Of course! This scene will always be there for BALM

@B But Ariel is The Little Mermaid of the title

@David I agree with JC. Alpha Phi Alpha is the oldest intercollegiate historically African American fraternity, founded in 1906, at Cornell University. Very impressive list of members and service projects

@The Whip When my daughter was in middle school some 20 years ago I bought her a desk clamp pencil sharpener. She tried it and said with complete sincerity "You have just changed my life".

@Tom Hands up for BAKED. It worked with BOoS for Sounds of melodrama.

I solve in pencil in the International edition of the NYT. Color is not provided. In today's case there was extra "Puzzle note: the bold vertical lines in the grid represent seven colors. In a manner for you to discover." So my solve was much more challenging. The "Yellow" line was barely noticeable - definitely not Bold. Once I had some of the colors in place, I realized that I needed Yellow to complete the Rainbow. Count me as a lover of the trick, I come to the puzzle to be challenged.

@John Carson Read it!

@Stephen Interesting origin of the idiom: <a href="https://grammarist.com/idiom/clean-someones-clock" target="_blank">https://grammarist.com/idiom/clean-someones-clock</a>/

@Laura I second the recommendation for The House of Doors, historical novel by Tan Twan Eng

A beautiful obituary of Manny Nosowsky, a life fully lived. <a href="https://tinyurl.com/3w3psw89" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/3w3psw89</a>

@Isabeau Apparently this is also Aaron Sorkin's favorite joke. He used it twice - in The West Wing and then again in The Trial of Chicago 7. <a href="https://decider.com/2020/10/16/one-egg-is-an-oeuf-west-wing-trial-chicago-7" target="_blank">https://decider.com/2020/10/16/one-egg-is-an-oeuf-west-wing-trial-chicago-7</a>/

@N.E. Body Funny, in the print version the clue is "Kind of radiation". I assume the Greek letter isn't printable.

@Vaer Another Fonda / Tomlin movie is Moving On from 2022. They have great chemistry together.

@LBG I always get confused over the actors CENA and CERA. I know they are completely different but still ... Couldn't make anything work with DAR_E since I didn't know URICAL so I changed to CENA and DANAE looked right

@Whoa Nellie 🤣 Wish I could double recommend!

@Bill in Yokohama Took a minute to drop but then pow!

@Jane Wheelaghan Fanny Brice was "Funny Girl". Broadway show and movie with Barbra Streisand

@EnglishRose You are not the only one!

Although it features Grover and not Elmo, the classic book is "The Monster at the End of This Book". Most of the muppets are monsters.