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Hey there, Connectors! I hope you’ve had a fantastic weekend so far.
I’m always interested in how things happen behind the scenes of… pretty much anything. Curiosity is a pretty important factor in my line of work, after all!
This week, I watched a pair of videos that help show the magnitude of what goes into staging and broadcasting sporting events. In the past, I’ve recommended a video that details how converting arenas for different purposes overnight works.
This one from Business Insider is a bit similar, but on a much larger scale. It takes a look at the work that goes into cleaning up after a big college (American) football game and to get things ready for an NFL showdown the following afternoon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Even though the surface isn’t being changed (aside from repainting), it’s a massive undertaking:
This video from Geerling Engineering is a bit more technical. It takes us inside the production truck at an NFL game. While the whole thing is fascinating, I found the explanation of how instant replays are captured and put together particularly interesting. I sometimes struggle to even keep track of where the puck is when I’m watching hockey, so what these folks do is pretty darn impressive:
Before we begin, we have a great little community on Discord, where we chat about NYT Connections, the rest of the NYT games and all kinds of other stuff. Everyone who has joined has been lovely. It’s a fun hangout spot, and you’re more than welcome to join us.
Discord is also the best way to give me any feedback about the column, especially on the rare (or not-so-rare) occasions that I mess something up. I don’t look at Twitter much.
Today’s NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, February 22 are coming right up.
What Are Today’s Connections Hints?
Scroll slowly! Just after the hints for each of today’s Connections groups, I’ll reveal what the groups are without immediately telling you which words go into them.
Today’s 16 words are...
OUTCAST
SALT-AND-PEPPER
BLONDIE
TEDDY BEAR
DISTINGUISHED
BLACK SHEEP
ROUGH RIDERS
THE FAR SIDE
BULL MOOSE
BLOOM COUNTY
SILVER
PEANUTS
MISFIT
FLECKED
REJECT
BIG STICK
And the level one hints for today’s Connections groups are:
🟨 Yellow group — "I don't belong here," as Thom Yorke sang on "Creep"
🟩 Green group — aging with dignity, one might say
🟦 Blue group — long-running stories that play out in panels
🟪 Purple group — linked to the 25th of 47
One Word For Each Connections Group
Need some extra help?
Be warned: we’re starting to get into spoiler territory.
Let’s take a look at one word for each group.
Today’s Connections word hints are…
🟨 Yellow group — OUTCAST
🟩 Green group — SILVER
🟦 Blue group — PEANUTS
🟪 Purple group — TEDDY BEAR
What Are Today’s Connections Groups?
Today’s Connections groups are...
🟨 Yellow group — one who doesn't fit in
🟩 Green group — descriptors for graying hair
🟦 Blue group — classic comic strips
🟪 Purple group — associated with Theodore Roosevelt
What Are Today’s Connections Answers?
Spoiler alert! Don’t scroll any further down the page until you’re ready to find out today’s Connections answers.
This is your final warning!
Today’s Connections answers are...
🟨 Yellow group — one who doesn't fit in (BLACK SHEEP, MISFIT, OUTCAST, REJECT)
🟩 Green group — descriptors for graying hair (DISTINGUISHED, FLECKED, SALT-AND-PEPPER, SILVER)
🟦 Blue group — classic comic strips (BLONDIE, BLOOM COUNTY, PEANUTS, THE FAR SIDE)
🟪 Purple group — associated with Theodore Roosevelt (BIG STICK, BULL MOOSE, ROUGH RIDERS, TEDDY BEAR)
I opened today's game, took one look at it with ever-widening eyes, then closed the tab and forgot about it for a while. I was not prepared.
Once I eventually came back to it, I got the yellows right away thanks to BLACK SHEEP. I vaguely remembered that THE FAR SIDE is a comic, so I figured that and PEANUTS had to go together. BLOOM COUNTY seemed like it would be a comic as well, but I didn't know what else would fit.
I turned my attention elsewhere, and SALT-AND-PEPPER helped make the greens clear. I then thought ROUGH RIDERS might be a comic. I tried that and no dice. But I was one away from a group. I swapped in BLONDIE and then that worked.
I would have had no chance with the purples. I know the TEDDY BEAR was named after Roosevelt, but that's all. So I'll happily take my 358th win in a row and be thankful for it.
How did you get on today? Here's my grid:
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That’s all there is to it for today’s Connections clues and answers. I’ll be back over at Forbes for the Monday-Friday editions for the column. And if you haven’t subscribed to Pastimes already, definitely do that! It would be super sweet of you.
P.S. Here's another one from the gold mine of my YouTube algorithm. "Everywhere Isn't Texas" by August Ponthier is a gorgeous indie folk song. It's one for those who may not feel at home where they're from. Trans rights are human rights, now and always:
Have a great day! Stay hydrated! Be kind to yourself and each other! Call someone you love!
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