Lazy Sunday at long last! I can’t decide if I want to get stuff done around the house (and yard) or if it’s time to really enjoy my Sunday, especially because it’s so damn hot outside. Too hot to do anything, really.
In any case, I’m going to cut short my preamble today and give you a brief list of historical events that took place on this day in history. Let’s see . . .
- 622: The Islamic prophet Muhammad begins his journey from Mecca to Medina, known as the Hijra, marking the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
- 1054: The Great Schism occurs between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, officially splitting the Christian faith into two separate branches.
- 1769: Father Junipero Serra founds the Mission San Diego de Alcalá, the first mission in California, which marks the beginning of the California mission system.
- 1790: The District of Columbia, the capital of the United States, is established.
- 1935: The world’s first parking meters are installed in Oklahoma City, United States.
- 1945: The first successful test of the atomic bomb, codenamed Trinity, is conducted at the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range in New Mexico, United States.
- 1969: Apollo 11, the first manned mission to land on the Moon, is launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States.
- 1994: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 collides with Jupiter, marking the first observed collision between two solar system objects.
- 1999: John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and sister-in-law Lauren Bessette die in a plane crash off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, United States.
- 2018: France wins the FIFA World Cup by defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final held in Moscow, Russia.
As you can see, the timing for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, about the creation of the atomic bomb, is pretty intentional given that the first test of the bomb occurred today back in 1945. WWII ended not much longer after that.
Alright, let’s do this Wordle!
How To Solve Today’s Wordle
The Hint: Softer than diamond, harder than quartz.
The Clue: This word ends in a consonant.
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See yesterday’s Wordle right here.
Wordle Bot Analysis
A fairly lucky day for me, thanks to a good opening guess. I’m not sure where royal came from. It popped into my head and I thought it seemed like a good opener given its two vowels, the inclusion of ‘Y’ and two common consonants. It ended up being very lucky, indeed.
At this point I could only think of a few possible answers (though the actual Wordle didn’t come to me until later). Both woman and nomad shared the ‘N’ so I just went with one of them and came up empty-handed, having eliminated both. In fact, I’d eliminated every other word but I didn’t know it and it took me a lot of pouring over the remaining letters before I finally thought of topaz—not a word you hear very often, or a gem many people own. Though you know what they say: Topaz is a girl’s best friend.
Today’s Score
My winning streak is making me feel like a gem, that’s for sure. I get 1 point for guessing in three and 1 for beating Wordle Bot, who took four today. 2 points! Huzzah!
Today’s Wordle Etymology
The word “crone” is derived from Middle English “cron,” which originally meant “old sheep” or “ewe.” The term later evolved to refer to an old or withered woman, particularly one who was considered ugly or haggard. The word has its roots in Old Norse and Old Irish, where similar terms were used to describe elderly women.
In Norse mythology, there is a goddess named “Krona” or “Krona” who is associated with old age and wisdom. The term “crone” may have been influenced by this association. Similarly, in Irish folklore, there is a figure called the “Cailleach” who is often depicted as an old hag or witch, embodying the power and wisdom of old age.
Over time, the term “crone” has acquired negative connotations and is often used to describe an elderly woman who is unattractive or unpleasant. However, in contemporary feminist and neopagan contexts, the word has been reclaimed to emphasize the wisdom and power of older women.
It is worth noting that the etymology of words can sometimes be complex and speculative, and the origins of “crone” are not entirely clear-cut. The term has evolved over centuries, influenced by various cultures and mythologies, and its precise etymology may have been subject to shifts and interpretations.
Play Competitive Wordle Against Me!
I’ve been playing a cutthroat game of PvP Wordle against my nemesis Wordle But. Now you should play against me! I can be your nemesis! (And your helpful Wordle guide, of course). You can also play against the Bot if you have a New York Times subscription.
- Here are the rules:1 point for getting the Wordle in 3 guesses.
- 2 points for getting it in 2 guesses.
- 3 points for getting it in 1 guess.
- 1 point for beating Erik
- 0 points for getting it in 4 guesses.
- -1 point for getting it in 5 guesses.
- -2 points for getting it in 6 guesses.
- -3 points for losing.
- -1 point for losing to Erik
You can either keep a running tally of your score if that’s your jam or just play day-to-day if you prefer.
I’d love it if you gave me a follow on Twitter or Facebook dearest Wordlers. Have a lovely day!
As always, I’d love it if you’d follow me here on this blog and subscribe to my YouTube channel and my Substack so you can stay up-to-date on all my TV, movie and video game reviews and coverage. Thanks!
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2023/07/15/todays-wordle-757-hints-clues-and-answer-for-sunday-july-16th/