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
Friday 24 December 2010
Thursday 23 December 2010
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 22 December 2010
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.
13. Insect Feeler = PALP. No idea. I misread this clue as Insect Feeder.
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 21 December 2010
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 20 December 2010
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 19 December 2010
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