Dazed and Confused

@Tony From a George Carlin obituary, this clip from a much longer joke: "So the old man goes to Atlantic City and he has a wonderful time. The Genie takes good care of the store: he brings in the Mary Janes, and the Guess Whats, and the rolls, and the milk, you know. The next morning, the people are filing into the store. ‘So where’s Saul?’ ‘He went to Atlantic City.’ ‘Who’s taking care of the store?’ ‘I am.’ ‘You can take care of a candy store?’ ‘I’m the Genie. I can do anything.’ ‘All right—make me a malted.’ ‘Ba-BOOM! You’re a malted!’"

@Roger The spelling "Maasai" is often used to refer to the Maasai people. The spelling "Masai" is more frequently used as a place name, as in "Masai Mara." Both are sometimes used interchangeably.

@Deb Amlen Congrats & thank you so much for chronicling our adventures in cruciverbalism. The occasional bonuses - Deb and her readers learn all about Curling, for example, - made your column required reading. Will miss you. Paul Smirnoff Waterford, CT