QOD: Life is like a sewer ... what you get out of it depends on what you put into it. ~ Tom Lehrer (né Thomas Andrew Lehrer; b. Apr. 9, 1928), American musician, satirist and mathematician
Friday, 1 October 2010
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
QOD: Youth is easily deceived because it is quick to hope. ~ Aristotle, Greek philosopher
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
QOD: When you sling mud, you loose ground. ~ Adlai E. Stephenson, II (né Adlai Ewing Stephenson, II; Feb. 5, 1900 ~ July 14, 1965), American politician
Today's Theme: Stock Split. This was a tricky theme today. The of the theme clues was a common phrase that began with a portion of the word “stock” and ended with the remaining portion of that word. I didn’t cotton on to the theme until after I had completed the entire puzzle and went back to review all the theme clues.
18. Hurricane Zone = Storm Track. Ironically, this has been a very active hurricane season. Tropical Storm Number 16 was brewing in the Caribbean as I was working on this puzzle.
20. Unflappable = STEADY AS A ROCK.
33. “Time Out!” = STOP THE CLOCK.
42, Dismay at the Dealer = STICKER SHOCK.
56. Sprinter’d Device = STARTING BLOCK.
60. Sign of Corporate Success, and a Literal Hint to the Puzzle’s Theme found in 18-, 20, 33-, 42-, and 56-Across = STOCK SPLIT.
Across:
1. Hitchcock’s Wife and Collaborator = ALMA.
5. Floater with a Ladder = RAFT.
14. Radio Tuner = DIAL. Except the radio in my car uses buttons.
15. Peace Prize City = OSLO.
16. Kind of Spray = NASAL. Helps me when I have a cold.
17. Ringing Sound = DONG.
22. Playful Swimmer = OTTER. Years ago, the YMCA had a jingle that went something like: “If you like the water, Then you really Otter, Learn how to swim at the YMCA.”
23. Craft = SHIP. I was thinking more along the arts and craft theme.
24. ___ in November = N AS. As in the phrase: “N” as in November. Tricky.
25. Bodybuilder’s Pride = ABS.
28. Alternatively = IF NOT.
37. TV Ad-Skipping Aid = TIVO. One company that allows one to record TV programs is known as TiVo, Inc.
40. “M*A*S*H” Role = RADAR. His was the first name to pop into my head.
41. Palo ____, Calif. = ALTO. As in Palo Alto.
45. 1970 World’s Fair Site = OSAKA. In Japan.
46. Hearth Burn Consequence = ASH. I misread the clue as “Heart Burn Consequence.”
47. Jacuzzi, e.g. = SPA.
50. Polite Oater Response = YES’M.
54. Destroyer Destroyer = U-BOAT. Reminded me of the movie “DAS BOOT”, which was a wonderful movie about the German navy in WWII.
62. Con = ANTI. As in against, not as a criminal.
63. Supple = LITHE.
64. Cornerstone Word = ANNO.
65. Spotted = SEEN.
66. Prayer Beginning = O LORD.
67. Ball Holders = TEES. As in the game of golf.
68. Coastal Raptors = ERNS.
Down:
1. Appends – ADDS ON.
2. Ray of “GoodFellas” = LIOTTA. LINK
3. Some Musée d’Orsay Works = MANETS. Could just as easily have been works by Monet.
4. Pool Problem = AGLAE.
5. Optimistic = ROSY
6. “The Thin Man” Pooch = ASTA. I learned this through doing crossword puzzles.
7. Dentist’s Suggestion = FLOSS.
8. Holy Scroll = TORAH.
9. Not Digressing = ON TOPIC. I initially tried On Point. Same number of letters.
10. Prix de ____ de Triomphe: Annual Horse Race = L’ARC. As in Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
12. Shop Cleaner, Briefly = VAC. Short for Vacuum.
13. Caribou Kin = ELK.
19. Diagnostic Proc. = MRI. Stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
21. “Shoot!” = DRAT.
26. Drag = BORE.
27. Joust Verbally = SPAR.
29. Strong Criticism = FLAK.
30. Mardi Gras City’s Amtrack Code = NOL. New Orleans is the Mardi Gras city, although it has a lot of other nicknames as well.
31. Trick-or-Treat Mo. = OCT. Stands for October, which begins in 2 days.
32. Bout Stopper, for Short = TKO. Stands for Technical Knock Out.
33. Wallop = SOCK. This fill almost fits into our STOCK theme.
34. NFL Scores = TDS. Stands for Touch Downs.
35. “That’s a Riot – Not” = HA-HA. We used to say: That’s so funny I forgot to laugh, so I guess I’ll laugh now.”
36. Cupid, to the Greeks = EROS.
37. General Associated with Chicken = TSO. General Tso’s Chicken is a crossword staple.
38. “___ a Date!” = IT’S. As in It’s a Date!
39. By Way Of = VIA.
43. Negotiated White Water, Perhaps = KAYAKED.
44. Thick-Bodied Fish = CHUB. LINK
47. One Vis-à-Vis Two = Sooner. I guess we’re referring to time here.
48. Oregon State’s Conf. = PAC TEN
49. Diet Doctor = ATKINS.
51. Med. Drama Setting = ERS. Stands for Emergency Rooms.
52. He Rid Ire. of Snakes, as the Legend Goes = ST. PAT. As in St. Patrick.
53. Pooh’s Creator = MILNE. A.A. Milne created the Winnie the Pooh stories.
55. Unimpressed = BLASÉ.
56. ____ Speak = SO TO.
57. Freq. Test Giver = TCHR. I suppose this is some sort of abbreviation for Teacher.
58. Prime-Time Time = NINE. As in 9 o’clock, but if you live in Central time, 8:00 p.m., is prime time.
59. Pontiac Muscle Cars = GTOS. This is a crossword staple, but I can never remember it.
60. Road Warning = SLO. Short for Slow.
61. Up To, in Ads = TIL. Short for Until.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
QOD: The ego is not master in its own house. ~ Sigmund Freud (May 6, 1859 ~ Sept. 23, 1939), Austrian-born psychoanalysis
Monday, 27 September 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
QOD: A little learning is a dangerous thing. ~ Alexander Pope (May 21, 1688 ~ May 30, 1744), English poet