QOD: Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Tuesday, 20 September 2022

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

QOD: People often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it’s served up.. ~ George R.R. Martin (né George Raymond Richard Martin; b. Sept. 20, 1948), American author

Ticket to Ride: The circles spell out a word that is "split" that can go with Ticket to make a new concept.

17-Across. Showers someone with money?: MAKES IT RAIN. Train Ticket

27-Across. "Spit it out!": TELL ME ALREADY. Meal Ticket

44-Across. Cheese, beans, guacamole, sour cream, etc.: NACHO TOPPINGS. Hot Ticket

And the unifier:

58-Across. Voter's crossover ballot, and what can literally be found in the circled letters: SPLIT TICKET.

Across:

1. Snorkeler's destination: REEF.

5. Challenging H.S. science class: AP BIO. As in Advanced Placement Biology.

10. Chef's meas.: TSP. As in a Teaspoon.

13. Musical "Jeopardy!" category that's tough for many contestants: OPERA.

15. Swampy area: MARSH. Louisiana Marshes.

16. Rower's blade: OAR. // Not to be confused with 66-Across. Portland's st.: ORE.

19. Undivided: ONE.

20. Lead-in to gender: CIS-. Cisgender, the antonym transgender.

21. Use when there are no better options, say: RESORT TO.

23. City in northern Illinois: DeKALB. The city is a bit west of Chicago.

26. Breakfast chain with bottomless stacks: iHOP.

32. Sheltered, at sea: ALEE. This used to be a crossword staple.

33. Beef and pork: MEATS.

34. Clock-setting std.: GMT. As in Greenwich Mean Time. Everything you wanted to know about GMT, but didn't know to ask.

37. "Top Gun" nickname: MAV. Tom Cruise (né Thomas Cruise Mapother, IV; b. July 3, 1962) portrayed Captain "Maverick" Mitchell in the movie franchise. The sequel to the original Top Gun is Top Gun: Maverick. [Name # 1.]

38. Poolside structures: CABANAS.

40. __ Grande: RIO.

41. Potato spot: EYE.

42. Prepares for a recipe, as onions: CHOPS.

43. __ one's time: be patient: BIDE.

48. Car: AUTO.

50. Creamy chocolate dessert: MOUSSE. Yummers!

51. Sidelong glances: SLY LOOKS.

56. Afore: ERE.

57. "Is that __?": "Are you declining?": A NO.

63. Journalist Rather: DAN. Dan Rather (né Daniel Irvin Rather, Jr.; b. Oct. 31, 1931) was the CBS Evening News anchor following Walter Cronkite's retirement. [Name # 2.]

64. Linney of "Ozark": LAURA. Ozark is a crime drama. Laura Linney (née Laura Legget Linney; Feb. 5, 1964) portrays Wendy Byrde, the wife of Marty Byrde, who move to the Ozark to launder money for a Mexican drug cartel. [Name # 3.]

65. Peak in Greek myth: MT. IDA. Mt. Ida is the highest mountain on the Greek island of Crete.

67. Early Mesoamerican: OLMEC. Everything you wanted to know about the Olmec Civilization but didn't know to ask.

68. Puny pencil: STUB.

Down:

1. __-com: date movie, maybe: ROM. According to Harper's Bazaar, here is a list of Rom-Coms that are both funny and romantic.

2. Clean air org.: EPA. As in the Environmental Protection Agency.

3. Cartoon shriek: EEK. // Not to be confused with 39-Down. "That hits the spot!": AHH!

EEK!

AHH!

4. Skin spot that may be darkened by sunlight: FRECKLE.

5. Acct. balance, e.g.: AMT. Amount.

6. "The Incredibles" family name: PARR. Who knew the cartoon family had a last name? [Name # 4.]

7. Scottish hillside: BRAE.

8. Egyptian fertility goddess: ISIS. Everything you wanted to know about Isis, but didn't know to ask. [Name # 5.]

9. "That's not good!": OH NO!

10. Wide smiles: TOOTHY GRINS. Some happy animals.

11. __ Domingo: Caribbean capital: SANTO. Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominical Republic. It's in the path of Hurricane Fiona.

12. Hosp. stop before surgery: PRE-OP.

14. "Take me __": AS I AM.

18. Small landmass: ISLE.

22. Free (of): RID.

23. Make late: DELAY.

24. Bilbo Baggins' age at the start of "The Lord of the Rings": ELEVENTYONE. I guess you have to be a Lord of the Rings fan to get this one.

25. Panda's diet: BAMBOO. Everything you wanted to know about Panda's but didn't know to ask.

27. Domesticated: TAME.

28. Jumped: LEAPT.

29. Kidnapper's demand: RANSOM.

30. Incoming flight stat: ETA. A crossword staple.

31. Pack animal: ASS.

35. Gnatlike insect: MIDGE. Everything you wanted to know about a midge, but didn't know to ask.

36. Pedicure targets: TOES.

38. Junk bond rating: CCC. Everything you wanted to know about junk bonds but didn't know to ask.

43. Divides equally: BISECTS.

45. IM pioneer: AOL. America OnLine.

46. Bard: POET.

47. Jewish festival when the Book of Esther is read: PURIM. Everything you wanted to know about Purim but didn't know to ask. Purim is a festive holiday and people dress up in amusing costumes, even while they are on the job. The last time I was in Israel, it was during Purim. Even the rabbi dressed in costume.