QOD

This blog purely for my own amusement. I like to start the day with a quote, be it amusing, inspiration, or simply something that caught my fancy.

On occasion, I might also include some commentary on the day's crossword puzzle that is published in the Los Angeles Times.

Thursday, 2 September 2010

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Today's Theme: Palindromes. We derive today’s theme through 36-Across, which states: Three Pairs of Them End the Answers to Starred Clues. I really had to look for the palindromes.

17. * Dense Fabrics = DOUBLE KNITS, which pairs with:

60. * More than Just Grumble = RAISE A STINK.

20. * Ready to Blow” = OVER STRESSED, which pairs with:

54. * “Top Chef” Spin-Off Involving Competitive Baking = JUST DESSERTS.

27. * It’ll Keep Your Hat On = CHIN STRAP, which pairs with:

44. * Carquest Stock = AUTO PARTS.

Across:
1. Yankee’s Div = Al East. The New York Yankees play in the American League East division in baseball.
7. Deal = COPE. You thought it was a card-playing reference, didn’t you?

11. Jenny or Jack = ASS.

14. Alter, as Boundaries = REDRAW.

15. Slain Shepherd = ABEL. A Biblical reference. Cain slew Abel. // 49-Across: 15-Across’s Dad = ADAM. Adam and Eve were Cain and Abel’s parents.

16. “Fer Sher” = YEP.

19. Prior, to Prior = ERE.

22. Fettuccine Follower = ALFREDO. Fettuccine Alfredo is a pasta dish.

25. Aborigines of Hokkaido = AINU. These are the indigenous people of Japan.

26. Compress, in a Way = BALE. This is the time of year that the farmers are baling their hay.

28. Cat Tail Motion = SWITCH. My cat often switches her tail when I hold her and she wants to escape.

35. Specialty = AREA.

40. Lots = A TON.

41. Area 51 Location = NEVADA. It is a secret military area.

50. Bingo Call = B-TEN. This is the weakest clue in the puzzle.

51. Kettle Pair = MA AND PA. From the old TV show.

59. www Address = URL. Stands for Uniform Resource Locator / And 3-Down: 59-Across Ending = EDU. A common ending for university and other educational institution’s electronic addresses.

64. Messenger Letters? = RNA. Stands for Ribonucleic Acids. Great clue!

65. Ain’t Right? = ISN’T.

66. Have Suspicions About = BE ON TO.

67. One Hairpin Turn After Another = ESS.

68. Cribbage Markers = PEGS. My grandfather taught me how to play cribbage.

69. Quixote’s Squire ______ Panza = SANCHO.

Down:
1. Not Easy, to a Cockney? = ‘ARD. The “H” sound is often dropped in the Cockney accent.

2. MGM Mascot = LEO.

4. Botanical Gardens = ARBORETA. What a great word!

5. Soother = SALVE.

6. Rough Wool Cloth = TWEED.

7. Six-Pack Units = CANS // And 22-Down: Six-Pack Units = ABS. You will lose your six-pack abs by drinking too much beer from the six-pack cans!

8. Notice with a Bio, Often = OBIT. How sad.

9. Czech Hockey Player Nedved = Petr.

10. Threat Ender = ELSE. As in the phrase: “… or else.”

11. Music to a Captain’s Ears = AYE, SIR.

12. Star Sometimes Seen Opposite Venus? = SERENA. Serena and Venus Williams sometimes play tennis opposite each other.

13. Stepped On It = SPED UP.

18. McDonald’s Founder = KROC. Ray Kroc.

21. Gathered Dust = SAT.

23. Postgraduate Study = LAW. My field.

24. Emma Peel’s Hair Style = FLIP. (LINK)

28. “I wish I _____ Seen That” = HADN”T.

29. Factory Outlet Tag Abbr. = IRR. Stands for Irregular.

30. Vegas Gas = NEON.

31. Identical = SAME.

33. Show Enjoyment at a Show = CLAP. Interesting echo of “show” in the clue.

34. ____ High Note = HIT A.

37. Where the Lofoten Isl. Are = NOR. The Lofoten Islands are in Norway. They look so pretty.

38. Northwestern University City = EVANSTON. It is in Illinois, just north of Chicago.

39. Teen Safety Org. = SADD. Stands for Students Against Drunk Driving.

42. Skip Over Water, as Stones = DAP. No idea.

43. Doc Bloc = AMA. Stands for American Medical Association.

44. Offically Retract = ABJURE.

45. One-Way Street No-No = U-TURNS.

46. Magnetic Measures = TESLAS. He appears yet again in our puzzles!

47. Hudson Bay Prov. = ONT. Ontario.

48. Hook’s Right Hand = SMEE. I will really have to read “Peter Pan” again.

52. Saudis, Usually = ARABS.

53. On the Aegean = AT Sea.

55. Water Waster = DRIP.

56. Slack Off = EASE.

57. Participate in Karaoke = SING.

58. Grounded Jets = SSTS.

61. Ltd. Relative = INC. The British use “Limited”, while the Americans use “Incorporated” for their companies.

62. Nonspecific Extreme = NTH. As in the nth degree.

63. “Koochie ___!” = KOO.

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