Friday, September 23, 2022

QOD:  They say every generation is defined by a great struggle.  Our kids will never know there was a time you had to choose between being on the Internet or being on the phone.  ~  Hasan Minhaj, (b. Sept. 23, 1985), Indian-American comedian

Thursday, September 22, 2022

QOD:  Guilt to motherhood is like grapes to wine.  ~  Fay Weldon (née Franklin Birkinshaw; Sept. 22, 1931), British novelist  [Fay Weldon died on Jan. 4, 2023 at age 91.]

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

QOD:  No matter what it is, no matter what your job is, the more relaxed you are, the better you are.  ~  Bill Murray (né William James Murray; b. Sept. 21, 1950), American comedian and actor

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.

48. Pollo __: grilled chicken dish: ASADO.  Yummers, more food!

49. Of a forearm bone: ULNAR.

52. Norway's capital: OSLO.

53. Milky white gem: OPAL.  White opals are found in Australia.  Hi, Kazie!

54. Supermodel Heidi: KLUM. [Name # 6.]

Heidi Klum (b. June 1, 1973)

55. "Your Majesty": SIRE.  I guess that would now be King Charles III.

59. Tic-__-toe: TAC.

60. Assembly-required boxful: KIT.

61. School URL ending: .EDU

62. Indent key: TAB.

Here's the grid:

חתולה

Monday, September 19, 2022

QOD:  The subject of criminal rehabilitation was debated recently in City Hall.  It’s an appropriate place for this kind of discussion because the city has always employed so many ex-cons and future cons.  ~  Mike Royko (né Michael Royko, Jr.; Sept. 19, 1932 ~ Apr. 29, 1997), American newspaper columnist

Sunday, September 18, 2022

QOD:  The tavern shares it the throne of human felicity.  ~  Samuel Johnson (Sept. 18, 1709 ~ Dec. 13, 1784), English writer and lexicographer