QOD: Never say you know a man until you have divided an inheritance with him. ~ Johann Casper Lavater (Nov. 15, 1741 ~ Jan. 2, 1801), Swiss theologian and writer
Friday 15 November 2019
Thursday 14 November 2019
Thursday, November 14, 2019
QOD: If they’ve never learned to be alone, people only develop weak and fragile defenses against the ways live decides to hurt them. ~ Astrid Lingren (née Astrid Anna Emilia Ericsson, Nov. 14, 1907 ~ Jan. 28, 2002). Swedish author
Tuesday 12 November 2019
Tuesday, November 12, 2018
QOD: You should appreciate the goodness around you, and surround yourself with positive people. ~ Nadia Comӑneci (née Nadia Elena Comӑneci; Nov. 12, 1961)
The first word of each theme answer can appear before the word ACT to give us a common phrase.
17-Across. * Big top: CIRCUS TENT. Think of the Circus Act.
26-Across. * School keepsake: CLASS RING. Think of a person who is a Class Act.
37-Across. * "The Daily Show" network: COMEDY CENTRAL. Think of a Comedy Act.
50-Across. * 2012 Channing Tatum film: MAGIC MIKE. Think of a Magic Act. This is the odd man out, as it were, since the word in the theme answer begins with and M and not a C.
And the Unifier:
60-Across. Show starter ... and a hint to the answers to starred clues: OPENING ACT. An Opening Act is often the warm-up band for a headliner. Did you know that in 1963 The Beatles were the Opening Act for Roy Orbison?
Across:
1. Sports agent, briefly: REP. As in Representative.
4. Lavish meal: FEAST. It's almost time for the Thanksgiving Feast.
9. Behold, to Brutus: ECCE. Today's Latin lesson.
13. "Another Green World" musician Brian: ENO. Brian Eno (né Brian Peter George Eno; b. May 15, 1948) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.
14. Foamy coffee drinks: LATTES. A Latte is made with espresso and steamed milk. The barista often makes a fancy decoration on top of the final product.
16. Bar measure: SHOT.
19. "The Handmaid's __": Atwood novel: TALE. The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood, was first published in 1985. It is a dystopian novel set in a totalitarian society in which women are considered property of the state. It recently became a television series. I read the book when it first came out, but haven't seen the television version.
20. This, in Spain: ESTO. Today's Spanish lesson.
21. Acapulco aunt: TIA. More of today's Spanish lesson.
22. Final Olds produced: ALERO. Production on this car ceased in April 2004.
24. Injured-arm support: SLING.
29. "Under Siege" star Steven: SEAGAL. Steven Frederick Seagal (b. Apr. 10, 1952), is an American actor who also holds Russian and Serbian citizenship. He has led a rather controversial life. Enough said.
31. Prof.'s degree: Ph.D. As in the Doctor of Philosophy. What is the difference between an M.D and a Ph.D.? * Answer below.
32. See 38-Down: SIN. // And 38-Down: 38. With 32-Across, Adam and Eve's transgression: ORIGINAL. Together we get Original Sin, which is a theological concept that everyone is born sinful. The concept was developed in the writings of St. Augustine. Enough said.
33. Restaurant Arlo Guthrie sang about: ALICE'S. A place where you can get anything you want, excepting Alice.
36. Early 2000s Apple product: EMAC. The eMac was the Education Mac, an all-in-one desktop Macintosh, designed for schools. Production of the eMac began in 2002 and was discontinued in 2006. Now it is a dinosaur.
41. Hard to find: RARE.
42. Cosa __: NOSTRA. Today's Italian lesson. The FBI's history of the Cosa Nostra in the United States.
43. Trident-shaped Greek letter: PSI.
44. Angry: MAD.
46. Pick up the pace: HASTEN.
54. Around, in dates: CIRCA.
55. Try to bite, puppy-style: NIP AT.
56. Triage ctrs.: ERs. As in Emergency Rooms.
58. Broadway brightener: NEON.
59. Hawaiian coffee region: KONA. Everything you wanted to down about Kona Coffee, but were afraid to ask.
63. Nobelist Pavlov: IVAN. Does his name ring a bell?
Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (Sept. 26, 1849 ~ Feb. 27, 1936)
64. Cantankerous: ORNERY.
65. __ Bo: fitness system: TAE. Tae Bo was quite popular in the 1980s, but I haven't heard much about it since.
66. "The Lion King" lioness: NALA.
67. Davis of "Do the Right Thing": OSSIE. Ossie Davis (né Raiford Chatman Davis; Dec. 18, 1917 ~ Feb. 4, 2005) was married to actress Ruby Dee. I saw Do the Right Thing when I was living in France. The movie is about racial tension in a New York neighborhood. The movie didn't translate well in French culture.
Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee
68. Cal. spans: YRs. Calendar spans are Years.
Down:
1. School day interlude: RECESS.
2. Maroon, at sea: ENISLE. Interesting word that I will probably never have cause to use. It means to be isolated on an island.
3. "The Merchant of Venice" heiress: PORTIA. The Merchant of Venice is one of the plays by Willie the Shakes.
4. Winter bug: FLU.
5. Down __: Maine nickname: EAST. You can't get theya from heya.
6. Room at the top?: ATTIC.
7. Pilfer: STEAL.
8. Olympic diver's goal: TEN. With enough 10s, the diver may get a Gold.
9. Aromatic compound: ESTER. Organic Chemistry
10. Personal magnetism: CHARISMA.
11. Pre-Revolutionary furniture style: COLONIAL.
12. French summer: ÉTÉ. Today's French lesson.
15. Secret supply: STASH.
18. Scam: CON-GAME.
23. "Dropped" '60s drug: LSD. Short for Lysergic Acid Diethylamide. In case you were wondering, its chemical formula is:
25. Battering wind: GALE. Dorothy Gale was swept up in a Gale, but in her case, it was known as a tornado.
27. Cathedral areas: APSES.
The Apse at the Cathedral in Chartes.
28. Nutritional supplements co.: GNC. As in General Nutrition Center. These stores are often found in malls.
30. Pot top: LID.
34. Pop singer Lauper: CYNDI. As in Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper (b. June 22, 1953).
35. Novelist Umberto: ECO. Umberto Eco (Jan. 5, 1932 ~ Feb. 19, 2016) was an Italian novelist, best known for his 1980 historical novel, Name of the Rose. He makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.
36. Blackboard chore: ERASING.
39. To the __ degree: NTH.
40. Gillette's __ II razor: TRAC.
41. Turntable speed, for short: RPM. As in Revolutions Per Minute.
44. Longtime Tom Petty label: MCA. Tom Petty (né Thomas Earl Petty; Oct. 20, 1950 ~ Oct. 2, 2017) had an infamous feud with MCA.
45. Defensive retort: AM TOO!
47. The "T" in NATO: TREATY. As in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European Countries. The Treaty was signed on April 4, 1949.
48. Toyota Prius, e.g.: ECO-CAR.
49. Loire Valley city: NANTES.
51. Bucky Beaver's toothpaste: IPANA.
52. Wails with grief: KEENS.
53. Shore birds: ERNES.
57. Apple Watch assistant: SIRI.
59. Family reunion attendees: KIN.
61. Ace: PRO.
62. "Science Guy" Bill: NYE. William Sanford Nye (b. Nov. 27, 1955) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.
Here's the Grid:
* The Ph.D. must live with his mistakes, whereas the M.D. buries them.
Sunday 10 November 2019
Sunday, November 10, 2019
QOD: Perfection is like chasing the horizon. Keep moving. ~ Neil Gaiman (né Neil Richard MacKinnon Gaiman; b. Nov. 10, 1960), American author