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 16 April 2021

Friday, April 16, 2021

QOD:  Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth.  ~  Sir Peter Ustinov (né Peter Alexander Freiherr von Ustinov; Apr. 16, 1921 ~ Mar. 28, 2004), British actor

Thursday 15 April 2021

Thursday, April 15, 2021

QOD:  When a person can no longer laugh at himself, it is time for others to laugh at him.  ~  Thomas Szasz (né Thomas Steven Szasz; Apr. 15, 1920 ~ Sept. 8, 2012), Hungarian-born psychiatrist

Wednesday 14 April 2021

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

QOD:  Civilizations die from suicide, not murder.  ~  Arnold Toynbee (né Arnold Joseph Toynbee; Apr. 14, 1889 ~ Oct. 22, 1975), British historian

 

Tuesday 13 April 2021

Tuesday, April 13, 2021 / Brent Sverdloff

QOD:  The moment of near despair is quite often the moment that preceded courage.  ~  Christopher Hitchens (né Christopher Eric Hitchens; Apr. 13, 1949 ~ Dec. 15, 2011), British-born journalist and columnist

 Shifting Gears.  The letters in the word Gears, shift around in each theme answer.


17-Across. Orson Scott Card sci-fi novel: ENDERS GAME.  I am not familiar with this novel.


24-Across. Toon spouse with a blue beehive: MARGESIMPSON.


39-Across. Park warning sign: KEEP OFF THE GRASS.


51-Across. Cheddar shredder: CHEESE GRATER.



And the Unifier:

63-Across. Go from neutral to reverse ... and a hint to each set of circles: SHIFT GEARS.


Across:

1. King-sized: JUMBO.

6. Seat in un parc: BANC.  Today's French lesson.


10. Beer party staples: KEGS.


14. Scarlett of Tara: O'HARA.  //  And 55-Down. Scarlett's Butler: RHETT.


15. "Young Frankenstein" aide: IGOR.

16. Dark purple berry: AÇAÍ.  I learned of this berry from doing the crossword puzzles.  Then I found Açaí bowls at Trader Joe's.

19. Pinball no-no: TILT.

20. "Anger, fear, aggression: the dark side of the Force are they" speaker: YODA.


21. Adopted cat, say: PET.


22. Radiant pigment: DAY-GLO.



27. Hypotheticals: IFs.

30. Old Faithful's st.: WYO.  Old Faithful is in Yellowstone National Park, which is found in Wyoming.



31. "__ Baby": "Hair" song: ABIE.


32. Beat by a mile: CRUSH.
34. Couture initials: YSL.  Yves Saint Laurent (né Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent; Aug. 1, 1936 ~ June 1, 2008) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.


35. Ostrich cousin: RHEA.  Everything you wanted know about the differences between Ostriches and Rheas.

Rhea Pearlman (b. Mar. 31, 1948)

43. Hairy Himalayan: YETI.  Also the name brand of very expensive coolers.

44. Like King Cole: OLD.


45. Kind of node: LYMPH.

46. Filmmaker Ephron: NORA.  Nora Ephron (May 19, 1941 ~ June 26, 2012) was an American journalist, author and filmmaker.  She also makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.


48. Sch. north of Denver: CSU.  Colorado State University is located in Fort Collins, Colorado.


50. Bean used in nondairy milk: SOY.


56. Elizabeth Arden parent company: REVLON.


57. Coleridge's "before": ERE.

58. Harleys, familiarly: HOGS.
62. Burn balm: ALOE.

66. Kinds: ILKS.

67. Island near Mull: IONA.  Time for a geography lesson.  The Isles of Mull and Iona are islands in the Inner Hebrides off the coast of Scotland.


68. Vermont patriot Allen: ETHAN.  Ethan Allen (Jan. 1837 ~ Feb. 12, 1789) is an American Revolutionary hero.  He is considered one of the founders of Vermont State.  During the Revolutionary War, he was instrumental in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga.  He did not, however, start the Ethan Allen Furniture Company.

69. Leaves: GOES.

70. Sweet-talk: COAX.

71. Small earrings: STUDS.


Down:
1. Baby in a pouch: JOEY.

2. "Sorry, can't do it": UH, NO!

3. Alcohol awareness-raising org.: MADD.  Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

4. Another name for bluegill: BREAM.  A Bluegill is a freshwater fish native to North America.


5. Dinghy mover: OAR.


6. Conceitedness: BIG EGO.


7. Playground marble: AGATE.

8. When tripled, "Yum!": NOM.  Nom, Nom, Nom!


9. Ringing true: CREDIBLE.

10. "I Kissed a Girl" singer: KATY PERRY.


11. Vaping smokes, briefly: E-CIGS.

12. Ernest or Julio of wine fame: GALLO.  The fascinating and dark origin story of Gallo Wines.

13. Squelch: SIT ON.

18. Agile: SPRY.



23. Parisian pal: AMI.  More of today's French lesson.

25. Dr. Seuss' "Horton Hears __": A WHO.



26. Merit badge spot: SASH.  I earned many badges back in the day when I was a Girl Scout.


27. "Gross!": ICKY.  Sorry, Chris!

28. Liberate: FREE.

29. Christmas pudding fat: SUET.

33. Cowardly: SPINELESS.

34. Since Jan. 1: YTD.  Year-To-Date

36. Unlikely Oscar nominees: HAMS.


37. Hockey legend Phil, to fans: ESPO.  Phil Esposito (b. Feb. 20, 1942) had a long career as a professional hockey player.


38. Cinder-covered: ASHY.

40. Like much court evidence: FORENSIC.

41. "Flying" national symbol: FLAG.


42. Modeling adhesive: GLUE.

47. Bolivian bruin: OSO.  Today's Spanish lesson.  A bruin is a BEAR.

48. Website providing vehicle history reports: CARFAX.


49. "Don't delete" mark: STET.

51. Bond portrayer Daniel: CRAIG.  Daniel Wroughton Craig (b. Mar. 2, 1968) began his James Bond career in the 2006 film, Casino Royal.


52. Greeting word: HELLO.

53. Elicit: EVOKE.

54. Spanish queen: REINA.  More of today Spanish lesson.

59. Island with a U.S. state capital: OAHU.


60. One visiting an old prof, perhaps: GRAD.

61. Taxpayer IDs: SSNs.  As in the Social Security Number.

64. Boo-__: HOO.



65. Some appliances: GEs.  As in General Electric appliances.


Here's the Grid:




חתולה






Monday 12 April 2021

Monday, April 12, 2021

QOD:  I had a very wise mother.  She always kept books that were my grade level in our house.  ~  Beverly Cleary (née Beverly Atlee Bunn, Apr. 12, 1916 ~ Mar. 25, 2021), American children’s author

Sunday 11 April 2021

Sunday, April 11, 2021

QOD:  However impenetrable it seems, if you don’t try it, then you can never do it.  ~  Sir Andrew Wiles (né Andrew John Wiles; b. Apr. 11, 1953), British mathematician