May 11, 2026

Title: COPY THAT

Constructor: Guilherme Gilioli

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• SCHRODINGER'S CAT (20A: Thought experiment involving a feline in a closed box)
• YOU GOT THAT RIGHT (36A: "Couldn't agree more!")
• GLUTEN-FREE PASTA (50A: Noodles made from legumes, e.g.) 

COPY THAT: The last word of each theme answer can be added to COPY to create a new word: COPYCAT, COPYRIGHT, and COPYPASTA.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• META (17A: Instagram's parent company) META is the parent company not only of Instagram, but also of Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, Threads, and Manus.
• INTO (19A: "___ the Woods") INTO The Woods is a 1987 musical by Stephen Sondheim that intertwines the plots of several fairy tales, including "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Rapunzel," and "Cinderella." 
• SCHRODINGER'S CAT (20A: Thought experiment involving a feline in a closed box) SCHRÖDINGER'S CAT is a thought experiment created by physicist Erwin SCHRÖDINGER in 1935 (while in a discussion with Albert Einstein). In this experiment, one imagines a CAT in a closed box (along with a flask of poison and a radioactive source). The idea is that this hypothetical CAT might be considered to be both alive and dead at the same time while it is unobserved. (My suggestion, honestly, is not to think too hard about this.) My CAT, Willow, has a suggestion. Use a clear box.

• SNL (40A: "Weekend Update" show) Weekend Update is a satirical news sketch on Saturday Night Live (SNL). It is the longest-running recurring sketch on SNL. Chevy Chase was the first Weekend Update anchor, in 1975. The current Weekend Update anchors are Michael Che and Colin Jost.
• NOMAD (43A: Digital ___ (person who travels freely while working remotely)) The term "digital NOMAD" emerged in the 1990s as the growth of computer networking made working remotely more possible. 
• ELTON (46A: 76ers general manager Brand) ELTON Brand is the general manager of NBA's Philadelphia 76ers. He is a former NBA player. During his playing career he played for the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, and Atlanta Hawks.
• GOUDA (58A: Cheese from the Netherlands) GOUDA cheese originated in the Netherlands and is named after the city of GOUDA, South Holland. The cheese wasn't necessarily made in GOUDA, but it was traded there in the Middle Ages.
• ALEC (2D: "Star Wars" actor Guinness) ALEC Guinness (1914-2000) portrayed Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars trilogy.
• TITAN (12D: Adversary in the "Percy Jackson" series) The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series of novels are based on Greek mythology. The novels are set in a world in which Greek gods exist in the 21st century. The series was adapted into a Disney+ TV series of the same name. 
• FOUL (27D: Fair's opposite) and FOWL (52D: Turkeys and ducks, e.g.) Fun to see both FOUL and FOWL in the grid.
• BOAS (29D: Squeezing snakes) When I first read this clue, I interpreted "squeezing" as a verb rather than an adjective, and I thought, "I don't think squeezing snakes is a good idea..."
• ETNA (32D: Sicilian volcano with two ski resorts) Mount ETNA (also referred to simply as ETNA) is an active volcano on the island of Sicily, Italy. ETNA has a height of just over 11,000 feet; its height varies with eruptions. ETNA is in an almost constant state of activity. It seems odd to think of ski resorts on an active volcano, doesn't it?
• TIM (38D: ___ Hortons (coffee chain mentioned in "Come From Away")) Come From Away is a musical telling the true story of the 38 planes that landed in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland following the September 11 attacks. The focus is on the people – those on the planes and in the town – and their responses and reactions to this unexpected event. It's a fabulous musical, and, oh yes, as it's set in Canada, it's not necessarily surprising that the Canadian chain TIM Hortons is mentioned. In the town of Gander, "everything starts and ends at TIM Hortons," which is portrayed as the hub of the community in Gander.
• NGOS (51D: Grps. like the World Economic Forum) NGOS are non-governmental organizations. The World Economic Forum is an advocacy group and think tank based in Switzerland. The organization's tagline is "Connecting leaders to make sense of global challenges and move the world forward together." One of the ways they do this is through their annual meeting held at the end of January in the Alpine resort town of Davos.
• SODA (54D: Ingredient in 7-Up Biscuits) As one might guess from their name, one of the (only four) ingredients in 7-Up Biscuits is 7-Up, though another lemon-lime SODA may be substituted.
• ANNE (56D: "Interview With the Vampire" author Rice) ANNE RICE (1941-2021) was the author of The Vampire Chronicles series of books. The first book in the series, Interview with the Vampire (1976), was adapted into a 1994 movie of the same name starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. 

I had a nice "Aha!" moment with today's theme when I filled in SCHRÖDINGER'S CAT and saw COPYCAT. I did need to refresh my memory about what COPYPASTA is. The term, which derived from the phrase "copy and paste," refers to blocks of text (often containing rants or controversial ideas) that are posted on social media to provoke reactions. Thank you, Guilherme, for this enjoyable puzzle.

A note about comments: I welcome your comments on the blog! For one thing it's nice to know folks are reading what I've written. My goal for this blog has always been for it to be informational, conversational, and kind. I ask that you keep those goals in mind when commenting. Unkind comments will be deleted. Note that I am more likely to delete a negative comment if it is posted anonymously. (P.S. You can point out when I make a mistake – in fact, I appreciate that so I can correct it.)