Tuesday, February 11, 2020

QOD:  You can only hold your stomach in for so many years.  ~  Burt Reynolds (Feb. 11, 1936 ~ Sept. 6, 2018), American actor

The Mating Game.  The word Mate can be placed after each word in the starred answers to give us a new concept.

17-Across. * Expensive flying option: FIRST CLASS.  First Mate and Classmate.

28-Across. * Space for home projects, e.g.: WORK ROOM.  Workmate and Roommate.

43-Across. * Collaborative activity: TEAM PLAY.  Teammate and Playmate

56-Across. * Payment method being replaced by mobile banking: PAPER CHECK.  Paper Mate and Checkmate.

And the Unifier:
63-Across. Aussie pal, or what can follow each word in the answers to starred clues: MATE.

Across:

1. Catch sight of: ESPY.

5. Nudged with one's snout: NOSED.

10. Come clean, with "up": 'FESS.  Not to be confused with Fess Parker (né Fess Elisha Parker, Jr.; Aug. 16, 1924 ~ Mar. 18, 2010), who played Daniel Boone on television.

14. Escape: FLEE.

15. Greek marketplace: AGORA.  Today's Greek lesson.

16. Ski resort near Salt Lake City: ALTA.  This ski resort is not on my radar.

19. Greenish-blue: TEAL.  Also a duck.

20. Egg: Pref.: OVI-.

21. Warning word often preceded by a color: ALERT.

22. Scarlett of Tara: O'HARA.

23. Chemical reaction named for its two processes: REDOX.  A Redox reaction is one in which one species is reduced and another is oxidized.

25. Rhoda's sister: BRENDA.  A reference to the Mary Tyler Moore spin-off sit-com, Rhoda.  Apparently, Rhoda had a sister on the show whose name was Brenda.  Brenda was played by Julie Kavner (b. Sept. 7, 1950), who is best known for being the voice of Marge Simpson on The Simpsons.  Brenda is in the yellow sweater.

26. __ of Capricorn: TROPIC.  The Tropic of Capricorn is the circle of latitude that contains the subsolar point on the December Solstice.  In other words, it is the southernmost latitude where the sun can be directly overhead.  It's northern equivalent is the Tropic of Cancer.  Both the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer are books written by Henry Miller in the 1930s.  Both books were banned in the United States on grounds of obscenity.  In 1961, the United States Justice Department ruled that their contents were no obscene.

30. Old fast jets: SSTs.  As in SuperSonic Transport, a crossword staple.

31. Augusta National signature shrub: AZALEA.  They have such beautiful flowers.

33. __ Titanic: ill-fated ship: RMS.

34. Of the seventh planet: URANIAN.

35. Snake's sound: SSS.

38. Red wine choice: MERLOT.  The name Merlot is believed to derive from the French word merle, which is short for blackbird.  The color of the wine is very dark, like a blackbird.

39. Atomizer output: MIST.

45. 1920s-'30s "Blonde Bombshell" Jean: HARLOW.  Jean Harlow (née Harlean Harlow Carpenter; Mar. 3, 1911 ~ June 7, 1937), was an actress and sex symbol in the 1930s.  Sadly, she died very young.  She was only 26 years old when she died of some sort of respiratory failure.  During her short life, however, she managed to marry and divorce 3 times.

47. Let out, as fishing line: UNREEL.

48. Vodka brand, familiarly: STOLI.  It's mor formal name is Stolichnaya.  It has an interesting history.

49. Group of musical notes: CHORD.

50. Lauder of makeup: ESTÉE.  Estée Lauder (née Josephine Esther Mentzer; July 1, 1906 ~ Apr. 24, 2004), was the founder of the cosmetics company that bears her name.

54. Auto title ID: VIN.  As in the Vehicle Identification Number.

55. Word after King or Hong: KONG.

58. Impulse: URGE.

59. Prepare, as Parmesan: GRATE.

60. Et __: and others: ALII.  Today's Latin lesson.  This is commonly abbreviated as Et al.

61. Bridge "no bid": PASS.

62. After, in French: APRÈS.  Today's French lesson.

Down:

1. Serious attempts: EFFORTS.

2. Thin fragments: SLIVERS.

3. August birthstone: PERIDOT.  It's generally a beautiful yellowish-green stone.

4. Cry of success: YES!

5. Table salt, to a chemist: NaCL.  Also known as Sodium Chloride.  The symbol for Sodium is Na, which comes from the Latin word Natrium.

6. Look at rudely: OGLE.

7. Skyrocket: SOAR.

8. Once, once upon a time: ERST.

9. Some govt. lawyers: DAs.  As in Districe Attorneys.

10. Priest's title: FATHER.

11. __ Roosevelt, first lady for 12 years: ELEANOR.  Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (Oct. 11, 1884 ~ Sept. 7, 1962) was the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  She led an interesting life in her own right.

12. Celebrity status: STARDOM.

13. Respectful bows: SALAAMS.

18. Curbside cry: TAXI.

22. Like Mindy's alien husband: ORKAN.  A reference to Mork and Mindy, the sit-com that ran from 1978 to to 1982.  I wasn't a fan.

24. Covert missions: OPs.  As in Covert Operations.

25. Inhalation: BREATH.

27. "The Office" star Steve: CARELL.  Steve Carell (b. Aug. 16, 1962) was born on the same date and same hospital as my sister.

28. Without vigor: WANLY.

29. Miscellany: OLIO.

32. Swedish singer Larsson with the Top 20 hit "Never Forget You": ZARA.  I am not familiar with Zara Larsson (b. Dec. 16, 1997).

34. Called balls and strikes: UMPED.  Think baseball.

35. Snobby: STUCK UP.

36. Portuguese lady: SENHORA.  Today's Portuguese lesson.

37. South Seas wrapped garments: SARONGS.

39. "The A-Team" actor: MR. T.  The A-Team was a television show from the 1980s and Mr. T was one of the characters.  That's my entire knowledge of the show.

40. Randy Newman song played at Dodger Stadium: I LOVE LA.  Randy Newman (né Randall Stuart Newman; b. Nov. 28, 1943) lived in New Orleans as a child.  Some of his songs are about Louisiana.

41. Formally request: SOLICIT.

42. Hostess sponge cake: TWINKIE.  When I was in the grocery story yesterday, I saw that you can now buy Twinkie flavored coffee.

44. Joins the flow of traffic: MERGES.  I just hate it when the car in front of me stops at the top of the entrance ramp.

46. "Just gimme __!": A SEC.

50. Wild West Wyatt: EARP.  Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (Mar. 19, 1848 ~ Jan. 13, 1929) is probably best known for his role in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, although his role was minor compared to that of his brother, Virgil.

51. Practice boxing: SPAR.

52. A beret covers it: TÊTE.  More of today's French lesson.

53. "__ Tu": 1974 hit: ERES.  I am not familiar with this musical piece.  Apparently, it was Spain's entry into the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest where it received 2nd place.  The following year it peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 10 chart.  Still doesn't ring a bell.

56. Tiger Woods' org.: PGA.

57. Sandwich meat: HAM.

Here's the Grid: