QOD: Happiness is an agreeable sensation arising from contemplating the misery of another. ~ Ambrose Bierce (June 24, 1842 ~ disappeared 1914)
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.
Friday, 28 January 2011
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
QOD: Diplomacy is the art of saying "nice doggie" until you can find a rock. ~ Will Rogers (né William Penn Adair Rogers; Nov. 4, 1879 ~ Aug. 15, 1935), American humorist
Today's Theme: Don't Talk to Me. Me Mad! The last word of each of the starred theme clues may be associated with a feeling of resentment when used in conjunction with the word GRUDGE (45-Down).
45-D. Feeling of Resentment Associated with the Last Words of the Starred Answers = GRUDGE.
17. * Yellowstone Park Beast = GRIZZLY BEAR. One may BEAR a GRUDGE.
28. * Fr. McHenry Defended it in 1814 = BALTIMORE HARBOR. One may HARBOR a GRUDGE.
43. * Medical Professional = REGISTERED NURSE. One may NURSE a GRUDGE.
55. * Feature of Many Customer Service Calls = MUSIC ON HOLD. One may HOLD a GRUDGE.
Across:
1. Checkbook No. = ACCT. Short for Account Number. So the bank will know how to credit all your enormous deposits.
5. Mason of “The Goodbye Girl” = MARSHA. Marsha Mason was married to Neil Simon.
11. Cinephile’s Cable Channel = AMC. Stands for American Movie Classics.
14. Par = NORM.
15. Delta Competitor = UNITED. Both are airlines.
16. “Turn on the Heat!” = BRR. People in the snow belt are certainly turning on the heat this winter.
19. The Mustangs of the NCAA’s Conference USA = SMU. Stands for Southern Methodist University. The school is located in Dallas, Texas.
20. Work Like a Dog = MOIL. A new word for me today.
21. Flooring Material = PLYWOOD.
23. The Grammys, e.g. = EVENT. I was thinking along the lines of an award. Event is good.
25. Egyptian Christian = COPT.
27. Prado Hangings = ARTE. The Prado is an art museum in Spain.
31. Norwegian Noble Name = OLAV.
32. “___ Yankee Doodle …” = I’M A. George M. Cohan wrote the song, I’m A Yankee Doodle Dandy.
33. Swelter = FRY.
34. 50-Across St. = NEB. Short for Nebraska. // And 50-Across: Home of Creighton University = OMAHA. I knew about Creighton because a good friend of mine went to law school there.
35. A Director May Ask for More of It = EMOTION.
37. Justice Dept. Agency = FBI. The Federal Bureau of Investigation falls under the purview of the Department of Justice.
40. Curly Smacker = MOE. A reference to the Three Stooges.ork. Samuel Coleridge wrote a poem entitled “Kubla Khan.”
41. Lacto-___ Vegetarian = OVO. One who is a Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian will eat only dairy and eggs, but not meat or fish.
42. Provoke = GOAD.
48. Puts on the Tube = AIRS. Tube being a reference to the television.
49. Tampa Bay Squad = RAYS. Reference to a sports team.
51. Seasonal Pharmacy Offering = FLU SHOT. I get a flu shot each year from my place of work.
53. Red Ink = LOSS. I initially wrote in DEBT.
54. Served Dinner = FED. // And 46-Down: Dirties the Dishes = EATS IN.
60. Race Segment = LEG.
61. Spoke Out = OPINED.
62. Fit to Be Drafted = ONE-A.
63. GPS Heading = ENE. Short for East-North-East, as in a directional heading.
64. Martial Arts Instructor = SENSEI. I got this one solely through the perps.
65. “My Word!” = EGAD!
Down:
1. “Hulk” Director Lee = ANG. Ang Lee has directed numerous movies.
2. ___ Anglais: English Horn = COR.
3. Forensic Test Site = CRIME LAB. Made me think of the CSI TV shows.
4. Celebrity Gossip Show = TMZ ON TV. No idea. This and MOIL, which crossed, were my last fills in this puzzle.
5. Ponder = MULL.
6. Unspecified Amount = ANY.
7. Messy Barbecue Morsel = RIB.
8. Grassy Plain = STEPPE.
9. Nutritionist’s Recommendation = HEALTH FOOD. Probably a nutritionist would more likely recommend healthy food rather than health food.
10. Hit ____ Spell = A DRY.
11. Engross = ABSORB. I initially tried Enrapt.
12. Sleuth Played by Peter Lorre = MR. MOTO.
13. Less Refined = CRUDER.
18. Pasta Often Baked = ZITI.
22. On One’s Guard = WARY.
23. Black in Stanzas = EBON.
24. Low Area = VALE.
25. “We Get Letters” ‘50s-‘60s TV Singer/Host = COMO. Perry Como. Not familiar with We Get Letters.
26. Rhetorical Skill = ORATORY.
29. Group that Goes Through the Motions? = MIME TROUPE. Cute clue!
30. “Prince Valiant” Character = ARN. I let the perps fill this one in.
35. Dawn Goddess = EOS.
36. Currier’s Colleague = IVES. My grandmother had some Currier and Ives lithographs.
37. Inexpensively = FOR A SONG.
38. Spirited Party = BASH.
39. “What’s the Big ____?” = IDEA.
40. Pageant Title = MISS.
42. Sam Spade, e.g., Slangily = GUMSHOE.
43. School Fund-Raiser = RAFFLE. I had filled in this response even before I read the clue.
44. Astronaut Collins = EILEEN. My first thought was Michael Collins, but his first name was too long. Eileen Collins was the first woman to command the space shuttle.
47 Cinematic Showdown Hour = NOON. As in High Noon, I suppose.
52. Wellness Gps. = HMOs. Stands for Health Maintenance Organizations.
53. City Near Sacramento = LODI. Whatever …
56. Aetna’s Bus. = INS. Aetna is a Insurance company.
57. So-So Grade = CEE.
58. Rural Expanse = LEA.
59. Pops = DAD.
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
QOD: It's the job that is never started that takes the longest to finish. ~ J.R.R. Tolkien (né John Ronald Reuel Tokien; Jan. 3, 1892 ~ Sept. 2, 1973), British author
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Tuesday January 25, 2011
QOD: Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt (née Anna Eleanor Roosevelt; Oct. 11, 1884 ~ Nov. 7, 1962), American First Lady
Monday, 24 January 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
QOD: Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects. ~ Will Rogers (né William Penn Adair Rogers; Nov. 4, 1879 ~ Aug. 15, 1935), American humorist
Sunday, 23 January 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
QOD: I love being an assertive, uppity woman. What's the alternative? ~ Erica Jong (née Erica Mann; Mar. 26, 1942), American writing