Friday, December 31, 2010 / New Year's Eve

QOD: An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. ~ Bill Vaughan (né William E. Vaughan; Oct. 8, 1915 ~ Feb. 25, 1977), American columnist

Thursday, December 30, 2010

QOD: The hardest tumble a man can take is to fall over his own bluff. ~ Ambrose Bierce (né Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce; June 24, 1842 ~ disappeared 1914), American writer

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

QOD: Humor is laughing at what you haven't got when you ought to have it. ~ Langston Hughes (né James Mercer Langston Hughes; Feb. 1, 1901 ~ May 22, 1967), American poet

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

QOD: Children are remarkable for their intelligence and ardor, for their curiosity, their intolerance of shams, the clarity and ruthlessness of their vision.   ~  Aldous Huxley (né Aldous Leonard Huxley; July 26, 1894 ~ Nov. 22, 1963)

Monday, December 27, 2010

QOD: How did it get so late so soon?  It's night before it's afternoon.   December is here before its June.   My goodness how the time has flewn.   How did it get so late so soon?    ~   Dr. Seuss (né Theodor Seuss Geisel; Mar. 2, 1904 ~ Sept. 24, 1991), American author

Sunday, December 26, 2010 / Boxing Day

QOD: I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included. ~ Bernard Manning (Aug. 13, 1930 ~ June 18, 2007), British comedian

Friday, December 24, 2010 / Christmas Eve

QOD: Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. ~ Hamilton Wright Mabi (Dec. 13, 1846 ~ Dec. 31, 1916), American essayist

Thursday, December 23, 2010

QOD: How wrong is it for a woman to expect the man to build the world she wants, rather than to create it herself? ~ Anaïs Nin (née Angela Anaïs Juana Antolina Rosa Edelmira Nin y Culmell; Feb. 21, 1903 ~ Jan. 14, 1977), French writer

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

QOD: You can become a winner only if you are willing to walk over the edge. ~ Damon Runyon (né Alfred Damon Runyon; Oct. 4, 1880 ~ Dec. 10, 1946), American newspaperman and author

Today's Theme: Hidden Panels. The word PANEL can follow the last word of each of the theme clues.

17. Escapes Dramatically From Prison = GOES OVER THE WALL. A Wall Panel is something used to cover a wall.

28. Narrow Defeat, e.g. = HEART BREAKER. A Breaker Panel is also known as an electrical panel.

38. Warning About Wind Chill, Say = WEATHER ADVISORY. An Advisory Panel is a group of people who are generally selected to advise on some important issue.

46. Steinbeck Novel Set in Monterey = TORTILLA FLAT. A Flat Panel may be a computer monitor.

61. The Lead Pipe, the Wrench or the Candlestick, but Not the Rope = BLUNT INSTRUMENT. In Instrument Panel is found in your vehicle to advise you as you drive with respect to speed, and other important statistics.

54D. Discussion Group, and a Word that Can Follow the Ends of This Puzzle’s Five Longest Answers = PANEL.

Across:

1. Is Down With = HAS. Oh, as in I have come down with a cold, i.e., I have a cold. I wanted Hep, or Hip.

4. Walks Through Puddles = SLOSH. Fun answer.

9. Energize, as a Crowd = AMP UP. This didn’t come easily to me.

14. Mean Amin = IDI. Nice rhyme for an evil dictator.

15. Nomo With Two No-Hitters = HIDEO. Got this through the perps.

16. Europe’s Longest River = VOLGA. It’s in Russia.

20. Laurie of “House” = HUGH. Hugh Laurie was also a character in Black Adder.

21. Vitamin ____: PABA = B-TEN. I was unaware that PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) was also known as Vitamin B-10.

22. Peke Squeak = YIP. Another rhyme! A Peke, aka Pekingese, is a tiny, yippy little dog.

23. Torrid = STEAMY.

26. Impulses = URGES.

33. Blubber = SOB.

36. Potentially Slanderous Remark = SLUR.

37. Boxer’s Wear = ROBE. Oh, before the fight, not during.

43. Concerning, in Memos = IN RE. Short for In Regard.

44. 13 Popes = LEOS. Which one was the most famous, or infamous, as the case may be?

45. Part of UCLA = LOS. Stands for University of California at Los Angeles.

51. Computer Data Acronym = ASCII. Stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange.

52. Sandal Parts = STRAPS.

56. Gumshoe = TEC. Short for Detective. The only time I have ever seen this term is in a crossword puzzle.

58. “The Time Machine” Race = ELOI. A crossword staple.

60. “Dies ____” = IREA. Dies Irea is a common crossword phrase.

66. Dogpatch’s Hawkins = SADIE.

67. “Silas Marner” Author = ELIOT. George Eliot wrote this classic novel, which I have never read.

68. Opposite of Alt, in Ausberg = NEU. Old and new in German.

69. Preferred Option = PLAN A.

70. “_____ at ‘Em!” = LEMME. As in the phrase: Lemme at ‘em! Got this one through the perps.

71. European Peak = ALP.

Down:

1. Euphoric Feelings = HIGHS.

2. One Point From a Service Break = AD OUT. A tennis phrase.

3. Prolonged Attack = SEIGE.

4. HBO Alternative = SHO. Short for Showtime.

5. Actress Tyler = LIV. Probably most famous for being the daughter of Aerosmith’s SteveTyler.

6. Tribute that Usually Rhymes = ODE.

7. Belgrade Native = SERB.

8. Back Porch Luxury = HOT TUB.

9. Right, as a Wrong = AVENGE. Not always the proper way to right a wrong.

10. Do Some Yard Work = MOW. Of course! Why didn’t I think of this? I wanted Hoe.

11. Mr. Potato Head Maker = PLAYSKOOL.

12. Wrinkly Fruit = UGLI. It doesn't look that wrinkly!

13. Insect Feeler = PALP. No idea. I misread this clue as Insect Feeder.

18. Bygone Mideast Despot = SHAH.

19. Frau’s Partner = HERR. Mrs. and Mr. in German.

24. Dovetail = MESH.

25. Where Bill Met Hillary = YALE. Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham were law students at Yale when they met.

27. Canal Zones? = EARS. Great misleading clue!

29. 1921 Sci-Fi Play = RUR. A crossword staple. The play is also the first usage of the word Robot.

30. Refrain Syllables = TRA LA.

31. Longest River in Spain = EBRO. I think we saw this recently.

32. Husband-and-Wife Creators of Curious George = REYS. H.A. and Margret Rey narrowly escaped from Paris before the Nazis invaded. They lived in Cambridge, MA for years. The Curious George Cottage is now located in New Hampshire.

33. Houlihan Portrayer in M*A*S*H = SWIT. Loretta Swit played Hot-Lips Houlihan.

34. Vintner’s Prefix = OENO.

35. Sporty 1960s-‘70s Plymouth = BARRACUDA. Sometimes merely referred to as a ‘Cuda.

39. Hanoi Holidays = TETS.

40. Rock’s ___ Leppard = DEF. Not a fan of Def Leppard.

41. Encyc. Units = VOLS. Encyclopedias come in volumes, or at least they did when I was growing up.

44. “Time ____ a Premium” = IS AT. As in the phrase: Time is at a premium.

47. Summer Cooler = ICE TEA. A nice change from the usual “Ade” or Air Conditioner”

48. “Hi-____, Hi-Lo” = LILI. As in the song, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo.

49. Big Name in Small Trains = LIONEL.

50. Svelte = TRIM.

53. Gladiator’s Milieu = ARENA.

55. Frame = SET UP.

56. Recipe Abbr. = TBSP. Stands for Tablespoon.

57. Airline to Ben Gurion = EL AL.

59. Man for One = ISLE. Another good mis-leading clue.

62. Palindromic Diarist = NIN. Anais Nin also wrote erotica.

63. Tiny Guy = TIM. As in Tiny Tim from Charles Dickens’, The Christmas Carol.

64. Bulg. Neighbor = ROM. Romania is next to Bulgaria.

65. Versatile Vehicle, for Short = UTE. Stands for Utility Vehicle.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

QOD: Don't walk behind me; I may not lead.  Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow.  Just walk beside me and be my friend.  ~  Albert Camus (Nov. 7, 1913 ~ Jan. 4, 1960)

Monday, December 20, 2010

QOD: Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.  ~  Benjamin Franklin (Jan. 17, 1706 ~ Apr. 17, 1790), Early American statesman

Sunday, December 19, 2010

QOD: It is only after one is in trouble that one realizes how little sympathy and kindness there are in the world. ~ Nellie Bly (née Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman; May 5, 1864 ~ Jan.  27, 1922), American journalist

Friday, December 17, 2010

QOD: To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life. ~ W. Somerset Maugham (né William Somerset Maugham; Jan. 25, 1874 ~ Dec. 16, 1965), British novelist

Thursday, December 16, 2010

QOD: Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone. ~ G.B.Stern (née Gladys Bertha Stern; June 17, 1890 ~ Sept.  20, 1973), British novelist

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

QOD: A child becomes an adult when he realizes that he has a right not only to be right but also to be wrong. ~ Thomas Szasz (né Thomas Stephen Szasz; Apr. 15, 1920), Hungarian-born psychiatrist and psychoanalysis.   [Thomas Szasz died on Sept. 8, 2012 at age 92.]

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

QOD: Until one has lived an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. ~ Anatole France (né François-Anatole Thibault; Apr. 16, 1844 ~ Oct. 12, 1924), French poet, journalist and novelist and recipient of the 1921 Nobel Prize in Literature

Monday, December 13, 2010

QOD: The best car-safety device is a rearview mirror with a cop in it. ~ Dudley Moore (né Dudley Stuart John Moore; Apr. 19, 1935 ~ Mar. 27, 2002), British actor

Sunday, December 12, 2010

QOD: War is G~d's way of teaching Americans geography.  ~  Ambrose Bierce (né Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce; June 24, 1842 ~ disappeared 1914), American writer

Friday, December 10, 2010

QOD: But I don't give up; I forget why not. ~ Dorothy Parker (née Dorothy Rothschild; Aug. 22, 1893 ~ June 7, 1967), American poet and satirist

Thursday, December 9, 2010

QOD: History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies. ~ Alexis de Tocqueville (July 9, 1805 ~ Apr. 16, 1859), French diplomat

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

QOD: To keep your marriage brimming, With love in the loving cup, Whenever you're wrong, admit it; Whenever you're right, shut up. ~ Ogden Nash (né Frederic Ogden Nash, Aug. 19, 1902 ~ May 19, 1971)

Today's Theme: Good Things Come in Small Packages. The first word of each of the theme clues is a synonym for the word "small."

18. Members of a Small Army = TOY SOLDIERS.

20. Lumbering Critter of Borneo = PYGMY ELEPHANT. I was unaware of these little critters. LINK

36. Some Steinways = BABY GRAND PIANOS.

52. Game Often Involving a Windmill = MINIATURE GOLF.

57. Pluto, Now = DWARF PLANET.

Across:

1. Rd. Traveler’s Stat = MPG. Stands for Miles Per Gallon. // And 12-Down: Part of 1-Across = Per. // And 47-Down: Gas Up = REFUEL.

4. Spinnaker, e.g. = SAIL.

8. Tending to Hang Down = DROOPY.

14. Treasure de la Sierra Madre = ORO. Spanish for gold.

15. “M*A*S*H” Star = ALDA. Alan Alda played the main character on the TV show.

16. Merited = EARNED.

17. Kung ___ Chicken = PAO. Kung Pao Chicken is too spicy for my taste.

22. Conger Catcher = EELER. Wow! Who knew how big a conger could be!

23. Publicize = AIR.

25. Delivery Experts, for Short = OBS. Short for Obstetricians. Good clue, but Dan didn’t fool me.

27. Remnant = DREG. I let the perps fill in this for me.

28. Stuffed = FULL.

31. “Knock it off!” = STOP.

32. Poker Play = RAISE.

34. Grumpy Co-Worker? = SNEEZY. I knew immediately that this referred to Snow White and her dwarf friends. The only question was whether it would be Sneezy or Sleepy.

40. WWII Depth Charge Targets = U-BOATS.

41. Bungling = INEPT.

42. Any Day Now = SOON.

43. Bite Like a Beaver = GNAW.

44. Construction Bean = I-BAR. A frequent crossword clue.

48. Loud Laugh = YUK. Sounds like something from the obnoxious Three Stooges.

49. Japanese Veggie = UDO. No idea.

51. Take Potshots = SNIPE.

59. Former CNN Anchor Dobbs = LOU.

60. Wreck, as Plans = DERAIL. Or as in a train wreck.

61. Losing Proposition? = DIET. Oh, how I wish I could loose a few pounds.

62. Soul, to Sartre = AME. French lesson.

63. Start Liking = TAKE TO.

64. WWII Normandy Battle Site = ST. LO. This city makes such a frequent crossword appearance that you would think I would know it by heart. I had to wait for the first three letters before I realized what the correct response was.

65. OPEC Unit = BBL. Stands for Barrels.

Down:
1. Swabbed = MOPPED.

2. Bedtime Ritual for Many = PRAYER.

3. Provided Millions of Hits = GOOGLE. Great clue! I sometimes need to google when I am completing the crosswords at the end of the week.

4. Woodlands Deity = SATYR.

5. Lip Balm Ingredient = ALOE.

6. Pastoral Verse = IDYL.

7. Cut with a Surgical Beam = LASE.

8. Indian Metropolis = DELHI.

9. Tool for Scouting Pitchers = RADAR. A baseball pitcher reference.

10. “Are you out ____?” = OR IN. I always thought the phrase was: are you in or out? Somehow the phrase has a co-conspirator feel to it.

11. Count that May Diffuse Anger = ONE TO TEN.

13. QBs Gains = YDS. Quarterbacks are supposed to gain Yardage in a football game.

19. Birthstone after Sapphire = OPAL.

21. “When Harry Met Sally …” Co-Star = MEG RYAN.

25. Doofus = BOZO. I initially wrote Boob.

26. 1974 CIA Spoof = SPYS. No idea.

28. Fragrant Evergreens = FIRS.

29. ___ Today = USA. As in the country’s newspaper, USA Today.

30. Red Square Honoree = LENIN. Is he still revered in Russia?

31. Restaurant Host’s Purview = SEATING.

33. FBI Employee = AGT. Stands for Agent.

34. Gush = SPEW.

35. Barely Beat = NIP. Not familiar with this term for barely beating someone.

36. Not Taking Calls, Perhaps = BUSY. Sometimes people don’t take calls because they don’t like the person calling.

37. “____ Ben Adhem”: James Leigh Hunt Poem = ABOU. The poem, Abou Ben Adhem, made its appearance in a recent crossword puzzle, but I couldn’t recall the name today.

38. Web Surfer’s Shortcut = BOOKMARK.

39. Paternity Suit Letters = DNA.

43. Intent = GOAL.

45. Class with Dissections, for Short = BIO-LAB. I took a lot of biology lab courses when I was in college.

46. Poise = APLOMB.

49. Not Qualified = UNFIT.

50. Double: Pre. = DIPLO. Hmm…

51. Brief Brawl = SET-TO.

53. Wrath, in a Hymn Title = IRES. The hymn is Dies Ires. We see both of these words frequently in crosswords.

54. Smidgens = TADS.

55. Military Group = UNIT.

56. Casting Need = REEL.

57. Banned Bug Killer = DDT. Stands for dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane.

58. “Are ___ Pair?”: “Send in the Clowns” Lyric = WE A. Not familiar with all the lyrics of this song.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

QOD: The real problem is what to do with the problem solvers after the problems are solved. ~ Gay Talese (b. Feb. 7, 1932), American journalist and writer

Monday, December 6, 2010

QOD: Adventure is not outside the man; it is within. ~ George Eliot (née Mary Anne Evans;  Nov. 22, 1819 ~ Dec. 22, 1880), English novelist

Sunday, December 5, 2010

QOD: We confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no large ones. ~ François de La Rochefoucauld (Sept. 15, 1613 ~ Mar. 17, 1680), French author

Friday, December 3, 2010

QOD: Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies. ~ Groucho Marx (né Julius Henry Marx; Oct. 2, 1890 ~ Aug. 19, 1977), American comedian

Thursday, December 2, 2010

QOD: You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm. ~ Colette (née Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette; Jan. 28, 1873 ~ Aug. 3, 1954), French author

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

QOD: It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it. ~ Steven Wright (b. Dec. 6, 1955), American comedian

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

QOD: What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence. ~ Christopher Hitchens (né Christopher Eric Hitchens; b. Apr. 13, 1949), English-American writer and columnist.   [Christopher Hitchens died at age 62 of cancer on December 15, 2011]

Monday, November 29, 2010

QOD: The less you speak of your greatness, the more I shall think of it. ~ Francis Bacon (Jan. 22, 1561 ~ Apr. 9, 1626), English statesman and philosopher

Sunday, November 28, 2010

QOD: Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. ~ Aristotle, Greek philosopher

Friday, November 26, 2010

QOD: Even if you do learn to speak correct English, whom are you going to speak it to? ~ Clarence Darrow (né Clarence Seward Darrow; Apr. 18, 1857 ~ Mar. 13, 1938), American lawyer

Thursday, November 25, 2010 / Thanksgiving 2010

QOD: As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 ~ Nov. 22, 1963), 35th President of the United States

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

QOD: Be yourself; everyone else is taken. ~ Oscar Wilde (né Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde; Oct. 16, 1854 ~ Nov. 30, 1900), Irish poet and playwright

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

QOD: The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one. ~ Oscar Wilde (né Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde; Oct. 16, 1854 ~ Nov. 30, 1900), Irish playwright

Today's Theme: Too Cute! All of the theme clues consisted of two words, each with of which ended in "QUE", giving a "Two Q" phrase.

17. Outside-the-Box Method = UNIQUE TECHNIQUE.

37. Exclusive Group Seeking Old Collectibles = UNIQUE CLIQUE.

59. Indirect Evaluation = OBLIQUE CRITIQUE.

Across:

1. Entr’____ = ACTE.

5. Tony Winner Judith = IVEY.

9. Stories of Questionable Veracity = YARNS.

14. Any of Five O-Ending Brothers = MARX. As in Chico, Harpo, Groucho, Gummo, and Zeppo, the Marx Brothers, whose real names were Leonard, Adolph/Arthur, Julius Henry, Milton and Herbert, respectively.

15. Visibly Embarrassed = RED AS A BEET. For some reason, I had difficulty with this phrase.

19. Seated Yoga Position = LOTUS.

20. In Inventory = ON HAND.

21. Plaza Hotel Pixie = ELOISE. I was expecting some sort of fairy, not a little girl from a children’s book.

23. Ones Who Take Things the Wrong Way? = THIEVES. My favorite clue of this puzzle.

27. Catches Some Rays = TANS.

28. Johannesburg’s Land = RSA. Stands for the Republic of South Africa.

31. College E-mail Address Ending = EDU. Obviously stands for Education.

32. Water Frozen in Mid-Drip = ICICLE.

35. Missouri Tributary = OSAGE. I’ve seen this in previous crossword puzzles, but it is not readily available to my brain.

40. Cooked in 35-Down = FRIED. // And 2-Down: With 35-Down, Healthful Cooking Liquid = CANOLA. // And 35-Down: See 2-Down = OIL.

41. Henner Who Played Elaine on “Taxi” = MARILU.

42. “Gross!” = ICK.

43. “Whirled Peas” is One = PUN. Imagine Whirled Peas.

44. Slanted Type: Abbr. = ITAL. Stands for Italics.

48. Capone Catchers, Familiarly = THE FEDS. Al Capone was ultimately caught for tax evasion.

53. Opt for a Career Without the Band = GO SOLO. This seemed like a strange clue to me, so I was reluctant at first to fill the words GO SOLO.

55. Euro Predecessor, in Portugal = ESCUDO. I vaguely remember this from my trip to Lisbon.

58. Hurled = THREW.

63. Agreement Before Marriage = PRENUPTIAL.

64. Wacky = NUTS.

65. Small Sample = TASTE.

66. Fancy Tie Material = SILK.

67. Heroic Deed = GEST. This must be the word of the week, since we saw it on Sunday.

Down:

1. Lucky Charm = AMULET.

3. Son of Poseidon = TRITON.

4. Especially Elegant = EXQUISITE.

5. Hot Temper = IRE.

6. White House NO = VETO. Good clue.

7. Heaven on Earth = EDEN.

8. Marina Craft = YACHT.

9. One-Named New Age Keyboardist = YANNI. Not a fan of his music.

10. Put Up With = ABIDE.

11. Mil. Supply Order = REQ. Stands for Requisition. Could apply to any government agency.

12. Nicht Alt = NEU. The German lesson for the day. Not old = new.

13. Sault ___ Marie = STE. Sault Ste. Marie is a town in Michigan.

16. 1979 Iranian Exile = SHAH. He sat on the Peacock Throne.

18. Battleship Letters = USS. Stands for United States Ship.

22. “ER” Actor LaSalle = ERIQ. I initially tried to spell his name Erik.

24. Calf Meat, In Calais = VEAU. French lesson for the day.

25. Brink = EDGE.

26. Go After in Court = SUE.

29. Lowlife = SCUM.

30. _____ of Faith = A LEAP. As in the phrase: A Leap of Faith.

33. Spain’s El ___ = CID. Another frequent crossword “guest.”

34. Light Brown Color = ECRU.

36. Making a Walking-in-Mud Sound = SQUISHING.

37. St. Louis Landmark = ARCH.

38. “Just Do It” Sloganeer = NIKE.

39. Suffix with Weak = LING. As in Weakling. I am really not keen on this type of clue.

40. Emotional Outburst = FIT.

45. Rotation-Causing Force = TORQUE.

46. Native Alaskans = ALEUTS.

47. Most Shameful = LOWEST.

49. Boxer’s Maneuver = FEINT.

50. Roman Ending = ESQUE. As in Romanesque. Again, not keen on this type of clue.

51. 60-Down Spec = D-CUP. // And 60-Down: Victoria’s Secret Staple = BRA.

52. Sheep Fats = SUETS.

54. Polo Grounds Legend Mel = OTT.

56. Twice CCCI = DCII. Roman numerals: 301 x 2 = 602.

57. Word-of-Mouth = ORAL.

59. Choose = OPT.

61. “___ Misérables” = Les. Victor Hugo’s novel, Les Misérables.

62. Class = ILK.

Monday, November 22, 2010

QOD: There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt (né Franklin Delano Roosevelt; Jan. 30, 1882 ~ Apr. 12, 1945), 32nd President of the United States

Sunday, November 21, 2010

QOD: An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have.   The older she gets the more interested he is in her. ~ Dame Agatha Christie (née Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller; Sept. 15, 1890 ~ Jan. 12, 1976), British mystery writer

Friday, November 19, 2010

QOD: No one can build his security on the nobleness of another person. ~ Willa Cather (née Willa Sibert Cather;  Dec. 7, 1873 ~ Apr. 24, 1947), American novelist

Thursday, November 18, 2010

QOD: Nostalgia is heroin for old people. ~ Dara Ó Brien (b. Feb. 4, 1972), Irish comedian and television personality

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

QOD: Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at a tempting moment. ~ Benjamin Franklin (Jan. 17, 1706 ~ Apr. 17, 1790), Founding Father of the United States

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

QOD: You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803 ~ Apr. 27, 1882), American essayist

Monday, November 15, 2010

QOD: All quotation is taken out of context. ~ Enoch Powell (June 16, 1912 ~ Feb. 8, 1998), British politician

Friday, November 12, 2010

QOD: Difficulty is the excuse history never accepts. ~ Edward R. Murrow (Apr. 25, 1908 ~ Apr. 27, 1965), American broadcast journalist

Today's Theme: U can come, too. Each of the theme responses is a common phrase, except for the fact that an additional "u" has been added to one word, making an amusing new phrase.

16. Opening with a Thud? = BAD DEBUT. The common phrase is Bad Debt.

19. Staple in a Hollywood First-Ade Kit? = STAR GAUZE. The common phrase is Star Gaze.

26. Compulsion to Set Up Camp? = TENT DURESS. The common phrase is Tent Dress.

34. Hoss and Little Joe’s Off-Color Jokes? = PONDEROSA RAUNCH. Hoss and Little Joe worked on the Ponderosa Ranch.

43. Civil Unrest in Brest? = FRENCH FURY. The common phrase is French fry.

50. Restrain a Legendary Soul Seller? = HOLD FAUST. The common phrase is Hold Fast.

58. Classy Accommodations at the Spider Ritz? = WEB SUITE. The common phrase is Web Site.

47-D. “Have a Nice Day” Response, and a Literal Hint to this Puzzle’s Theme = YOU TOO. The common phrase has an added You (U).

Across:

1. Bucolic = PASTORAL.

9. Sushi Choices = EELS.

13. Wood Preservative = CREOSOTE. Whoa! Who would have come up with this word??!!

14. Plays the Class Clown = CUTS UP. I wanted Acts Up.

17. Showy = ORNATE.

18. Oversees Fem. Title = SRA. Spanish for Senora.

21. Clueless = AT SEA. I think this is a bit of a stretch.

25. Source of Ulee’s Gold = BEES.

29. She Played Emma in “The Avengers” = UMA. UMA Thurmond played the part in the movie, which I never saw.

32. Mideast Language = IRANI. I wanted Farsi.

33. Support Group? = BRAS. Not where I was headed.

40. Lake Near Niagara Falls = ERIE. A fresh clue for this lake.

41. Atlanta Campus = EMORY. I thought of going here for graduate school because it is where my Organic Professor earned his Ph.D.

42. Jets Coach Ryan = REX. No idea.

48. Fizzled Out = DIED.

49. Gulf of Finland City = ESPOO. No idea.

55. Word with a Head Slap = D’UH!

57. Six-Day War Country = ISRAEL.

62. Insurer of Tina Turner’s Legs = LLOYD’S. As in Lloyd’s of London.

63. One Transferring Property Rights, in Law = ASSIGNOR.

64. Plenty = TONS.

65. As Terrific as They Say = THAT GOOD.

Down:

1. Banned Pollutants = PCBS. Stands for a group of chemicals known as PolyChlorinated Biphenyls.

2. Biblical Resting Place = ARARAT. Noah’s ark is said to have come to a rest “atop one of the mountains of Ararat.” Genesis 8:4.

3. Composed = SEDATE.

4. “The Fox and the Hound” Fox = TOD. No idea.

5. Suffix with Fruct- = OSE. As in Fructose.

6. Hold Up – ROB.

7. “Do You Bite Your Thumb ____, Sir?: “Romeo and Juliet” = AT US. I am not familiar with this phrase from Romeo and Juliet.

8. Riga Resident = LETT. As in one from Latvia.

9. Old Lab Heaters = ETNAS. A crossword staple.

10. Isaac’s Eldest = ESAU. His twin brother was Jacob.

11. Eponymous Skater Alois ____ = LUTZ. This was an “aha” moment, as I have heard of the triple Lutz as being a skating jump.

12. WWI German Vice-Admiral = SPEE. No idea.

14. Centers = CORES.

15. Prods = URGES.

20. Justice Fortas = ABE.

22. Derisive = SNIDE.

23. Raison d’____ = ETRE. Another crossword staple.

24. Month before Nisan = ADAR.

27. Card Game Warning = UNO. Don’t remember how to play this game.

28. Out of Bed = RISEN.

29. Still-Life Subject = URN.

30. Bud = MAC. A “bud” as in “buddy.”

31. Tip for a Smoker = ASH. My favorite clue in this puzzle.

33. Corner the Market On = BUY UP.

34. In Accordance With = PER.

35. It May be Found in a Deposit = ORE.

36. Outlaw = NIX. Oh, as in forbid. I was thinking of a person.

37. Onetime Jeep Mfr. = AMC. Stands for American Motor Company.

38. Architect Mies ven der ____ = Rohe. He is becoming a crossword staple.

39. Pound Sounds = ARFS.

43. Fluted, in a Way = FIFED. As in a musical instrument.

44. Old Spanish Coins = REALS.

45. Web Address Ender = EDU. As in the ending of an educational institution’s web address.

46. House Judiciary Committee Chair = RODINO. No idea.

48. Critical Moments to Gear Up For = D-DAYS.

50. Maximum Degree = HILT.

51. European Capital = OSLO. An actual city went here instead of the country’s currency!

52. Hubbard of Scientology = L RON.

53. Team Acronym = SWAT. Stands for Special Weapons and Tactics.

54. John with Emmys and a Journalism Award = TESH.

56. Rancher’s Concern = HERD.

59. Jamboree Gp. = BSA. Stands for Boy Scouts of America.

60. Be in Session = SIT.

61. Trendy Boot Brand = UGG.

Thursday, November 11, 2010 / Veteran's Day

QOD: We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. ~ Cynthia Ozick (née Cynthia Shoshana Ozick; b. April 17, 1928), American novelist

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

QOD: Before I came here I was confused about this subject.  Having listened to your lecture I am still confused.  But on a higher level.  ~  Enrico Fermi (Sept. 29, 1901 ~ Nov. 28, 1954), Italian-born physicist and recipient of the 1938 Nobel Prize in Physics

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

QOD: if you don't look facts in the face, they have a way of stabbing you in the back. ~ Winston Churchill (Nov. 30, 1874 ~ Jan. 24, 1965), British politician and Prime Minister

Monday, November 8, 2010

QOD: After one look at this planet, any visitor from outer space would say, "I want to see the manager." ~ William S. Burroughs (né William Seward Burroughs; Feb. 5, 1914 ~ Aug. 2, 1997), American writer

Sunday, November 7, 2010

QOD: No one party can fool all of the people all of the time.   That's why we have two parties. ~ Bob Hope (né Leslie Townes Hope; May 29, 1903 ~ July 27, 2003), American comedian

Friday, November 5, 2010

QOD: Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. ~ Albert Einstein (Mar. 14, 1879 ~ Apr. 18, 1955), German-born theoretical physicist

Thursday, November 4, 2010

QOD: Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends. ~ Shirley MacLaine (né Shirley MacLean Beaty; b. Apr. 24, 1934), American actress

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

QOD: In victory you deserve Champagne, in defeat you need it. ~ Napoleon Bonaparte (Aug. 15, 1769 ~ May 5, 1821), French emperor

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

QOD: You can always spot a well informed man - his views are the same as yours. ~ Ilka Chase (Apr. 8, 1905 ~ Feb. 15, 1978), American stage actress

Monday, November 1, 2010

QOD: How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. ~ Anne Frank (née Annelies Marie Frank; b. June 12, 1929 ~ perished in Bergen-Belsen in February 1945), German-born Dutch Jewish diarist and Holocaust victim

Sunday, October, 31, 2010 / Halloween

QOD: Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. ~ William Shakespeare (a quote from "Macbeth"), English playwright

Happy Halloween!

Friday, October 29, 2010

QOD: One can pass on responsibility, but not the discretion that goes with it. ~ Benvenuto Cellini (Nov. 3, 1500 ~ Feb. 13, 1571), Italian goldsmith and sculptor

Thursday, October 28, 2010

QOD: Only the dead have seen the end of war.  ~  George Santayana (Dec. 16, 1863 ~ Sept. 26, 1952), Spanish author

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

QOD: Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, one by one. ~ Charles Mackay (Mar. 27, 1814 ~ Dec. 24, 1889), Scottish poet and writer

Today's Theme: What's in Your Tool Box? The first word in each of the theme responses is an item that is found in any well-stocked tool box.

17. Track and Field Event = HAMMER THROW.

23. Agreed = SAW EYE TO EYE.

39. Lou Gossett, Jr., Played One in “An Officer and a Gentlemen” = DRILL SARGEANT.

49. Air Traveler’s Need = PLANE TICKET.

61. Folder Holder = FILE CABINET.

Across:

1. One of a “Sesame Street” Dou = BERT. Bert and Ernie were almost always seen together.

5. Tizzy = LATHER. Don’t get you panties all in a bunch.

11. Chest Muscle, Briefly = PEC. Stands for pectoral muscle.

14. Bug Tail? = ABOO. As in the word: Bugaboo.

15. Injury Requiring Emergency Room Treatment = TRAUMA. The best trauma hospital in the world is Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. It is also famous for its Marc Chagall windows.

16. Everyone = ALL.

19. Double Standard? = TWO.

20. Hardly Laid-Back = TYPE A. As in a Type A personality.

21. Morsel = ORT. A crossword staple.

22. Corp. Exec Hopefulls = MBAS. As in an individual with a Master in Business Administration.

27. Dilattante = AMATERU.

31. “Nuts!” = DARN.

32. Baby Arp’s First Word? = DA DA. My favorite clue of this puzzle. Jean Arp was an artist of the Da Da school of art. Apparently, he was also known as Hans. // And 6-Down: Miró on the Wall = ART. I love the work of Jean Miró.

33. Metric Prefix = DECI. As in decimeter.

36. Big Talk = BOAST.

42. Ketel One Alternative, Familiarly = STOLI. Short for Stolichnaya. Both Ketel One and Stoli are brands of vodka. I guess I don’t drink enough vodka to know the good brands.

43. Señor’s “Certainly!” = SI SI! // And 66-Across: Opposite of 43-Across = NO NO. // And in keeping with the Spanish theme, 29-Down: Señor’s Sendoff = ADIOS AMIGO.

44. Bistro = CAFÉ.

45. Crash Site? = SOFA. This was another great misleading clue.

47. In a Way = OF SORTS.

53. Main Web Page = HOME. As in the Home Page of any web site.

54. Nashville Sch. = TSU. Stands for Tennessee State University. Not to be confused with Vanderbilt, which is also located in Nashville.

55. Bond = UNITE. I wanted James. The name is Bond, James Bond.

60. Jackie’s Second = ARI. Jackie Kennedy’s second husband was Ari Onassis.

64. Droop = SAG.

65. Composer Debussy = CLAUDE.

67. Prefix with Skeleton = EXO. As in an exoskeleton. LINK

68. Counselor’s Charge = CAMPER. My first job was as a camp counselor.

69. Mail-Routing Abbr. = ATTN. Stands for Attention. // And 5-Down: USPS Delivery = LTR. The United States Postal Services delivers letters.

Down:

1. Thai Currency = BAHT.

2. Online Market Place = E-BAY.

3. Easy Win = ROMP. Not a word that came quickly to my mind.

4. Hefty Volume = TOME.

7. Second-Deepest U.S. Lake = TAHOE. What is the deepest US Lake?

8. “Faster!” = HURRY!

9. Hammed it Up = EMOTED. We’ve seen this clue before.

10. Like Crudités = RAW. As in a vegetable plate at a party.

11. “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” Singer = PAT BENATAR. I love this song.

12. Hall of Fame Broncos Quarterback = ELWAY. I knew this because he was the correct answer on a recent episode of Jeopardy!

13. Intimate = CLOSE.

18. Leisure = EASE.

22. African Country Nearest Spain = MOROCCO.

24. BMW Rival = AUDI. We have owned both.

25. Small Songbirds = WRENS.

26. Cologne That Sounds Wrong? = TABU. I really didn’t like the smell of this cologne, but it was big when I was in High School. A lot of the girls in my class wore it.

27. Tacks On = ADDS.

28. Trading Center = MART.

30. Happy Hour Request = TALL ONE. Does this refer to a beer?

34. CBS Forensic Drama = CSI. There are two ~ the original CSI and CSI: Miami. I like them both.

35. “Not to Worry” = IT’S OK.

37. “Hush!” to Romeo = SOFT.

38. “____ Bien!” = TRÈS. Well done!

40. Cereal Mikey Liked, in Ads = LIFE. This was the only cereal my sister would eat.

41. Abundant = RIFE.

46. Number One Hun = ATTILA. Is there a number two Hun?

48. Movie Souvenir = STUB. As in the ticket stub.

49. Period = PHASE.

50. Seuss’s Environmental Advocate = LORAX.

51. Sadat’s Faith = ISLAM. Anwar Sadat was the president of Egypt until he was assassinated.

52. Search For and Find, as a CD Track = CUE UP.

56. 1492 Trip Member = NINA. Christopher Columbus set sail with three ships ~ the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.

57. How Some NFL Games are Resolved = IN OT. Stands for In Over Time.

58. Circus Sight = TENT.

59. Prince William’s School = ETON.

61. TV Monitor = FCC. As in the Federal Communications Commission. Another misleading clue.

62. B-F Connectors = C D E. As in the alphabetical sequence.

63. ___ Lingus = AER. The Irish airline is Aer Lingus.