Ping-Pong, Anyone?

Today's puzzle by Jim Page was a bit more challenging and just like a NYT puzzle. The solver had to find the activity suggested by the words hidden in the theme answers. The name of the puzzle is "Back and Forth."

17A: Dress, as a sprain (WRAPPING GAUZE)
24A: Continue (KEEP ON GOING). Like the Energizer bunny, lol.
50A: Bowling, as practiced in Germany (NINE PIN GAME)
57A: Uranium 235 descriptor (WEAPON GRADE)

The hidden answer lies in 33A: TABLE TENNIS

Fun fact: NYT editor Will Shortz is a table tennis fanatic. In fact, he owns a table tennis center up in Pleasantville. Table tennis has also become very popular in NYC, especially in Billyburg. This has been one of the main attractions at the Brooklyn Night Bazaar. However, these modern tennis centers are a far cry from the game we played in our neighbors' basement. Some of these clubs have live music, games, bars, and restaurants. The actress Susan Sarandon also owns a table tennis center called Spin. complete with a VIP room.

Finally, who can forget the famous table tennis scene from "Forrest Gump?"

Albert Camus

I had a really rough time with today's cryptoquote. I was stuck until I saw the rare case of the double letter "f." I went through every letter of the alphabet until I came up with the "indi" in "indifference." The author is the philosopher Albert Camus (1913-1960).

Real nobility is based on sworn courage and profound indifference.

Camus was known as the father of existentialism, although he rejected this label. His most famous work was The Stranger. Camus was raised in Algeria, a country exposed to both the sun and the sea. He uses these themes continually in his writings and refused to believe that humanity is responsible for itself.

The JUMBLE was a definitely the easiest puzzle of the day. A couple is strolling in the park and the caption reads "Falling in love and going for walks together go ________."

Word list:

GUNDE = NUDGE
BAITH = HABIT
DANNIL = INLAND
OPALHO = HOOPLA

Scrambled solution: NDGHAINNDHOA
Solution: GO HAND-IN-HAND

Awww, isn't that sweet?

I'm not sure if I'll be on to blog tomorrow's Stumper. I am heading up to Yale Repertory Theater to see These Paper Bullets  Called "A Modish Ripoff" of Much Ado About Nothing, it features music by Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong. It got rave reviews and this is the final weekend.

Till tomorrow (or Sunday). . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick