Friday, November 11, 2022

QOD:  The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.  ~  Fyodor Dostoyevesky (né Fyodor Mikhailovich; Nov. 11, 1821 ~ Feb. 9, 1881), Russian novelist

Thursday, November 10, 2022

QOD:  If there’s anything that a study of history tells us, it’s that things can get worse, and also that when people thought they were in end times, they weren’t.  ~  Neil Gaiman (né Neil Richard MacKinnon Gaiman; b. Nov. 10, 1960), British author

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

QOD:  Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.  ~  Carl Sagan (né Carl Edward Sagan; Nov. 9, 1934 ~ Dec. 20, 1996), American astronomer and cosmologist

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

QOD:  The words of kindness are more healing to a drooping heart than balm or honey.  ~  Sarah Fielding (Nov. 8, 1710 ~ Apr. 9, 1768), British author and sister of writer Henry Fielding

Shake it Off!  Three phrases that involve a Shake.

17-Across. Shiver during a horror film, perhaps: TREMBLE WITH FEAR.  Shake # 1.

29-Across. Thick fast-food beverage: CREAMY DRINK.  The illustration gives us Shake #2 and Shake #3.

46-Across. Finalize an agreement, say: SEAL THE DEAL.  Shake # 3.

And the unifier:

61-Across. Start of a KC and the Sunshine Band title, and 17-, 29-, and 46-Across: SHAKE,  SHAKE, SHAKE.

Across:

1. Hissed "Hey! Over here!": PSST.

5. Island nation near Fiji: TONGA.

10. Milky birthstone: OPAL.  These gemstones make frequent appearances in the puzzles.  Hi, Kazie!

14. Teensy bit: IOTA.

15. Smells: ODORS.

16. Payroll tax that funds Soc. Sec.: FICA.  As in the Federal Insurance Contributions Act.

20. Whenever one wants: AT WILL.

Not always, apparently.

21. Historic German state: PRUSSIA.  More than you ever wanted to know about Prussia.

22. Hay storage areas: LOFTS.

25. Curved piece: ARC.

26. "Slumdog Millionaire" actor Patel: DEV.  Dev Patel (b. Apr. 23, 1990) is an English actor.  He was the star of the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire.  [Name #1.]

34. Colorful eye part: IRIS.

36. Jazz great Fitzgerald: ELLA.  Ella Jane Fitzgerald (Apr. 25, 1917 ~ June 15, 1996) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.  [Name #2.]

37. Iced tea garnish: LEMON.  Hi, Lemonade.  We hope you are doing well.

38. Reef explorer's tube: SNORKEL.

40. Church spire: STEEPLE.  Do you know it's connection with 19-Down?

42. Tiny hairs: CILIA.

43. Odd sock's lack: MATE.

45. "American Gods" novelist Gaiman: NEIL.  Neil Gaiman (né Neil Richard Gaiman; b. Nov. 10, 1962) will celebrate his 62nd birthday in Thursday.  He is an English author of short stories and graphic novels.    I read one of his books of short stories.  [Name #3.]

49. Tennis do-over: LET.

50. Cry of insight: AHA!

51. Killer whales: ORCAS.

53. Starting to spoil: TURNING.

57. Vacuum brand: HOOVER.  [Name adjacent.]

64. Big mountain cat: PUMA.  Also the name brand of a running shoe.

65. Suez Canal tanker: OILER.

66. Small bills: ONES.

67. Lower leg area: SHIN.

68. Shopping centers: MALLS.  The malls are becoming more and more empty.  It's quite eerie to walk through some of them.

69. Exam: TEST.

Down:

1. Bread with a pocket: PITA.  I will probably be eating quite a few Pita and Falafel sandwiches in the next couple of weeks.

2. Put laundry into piles, say: SORT.

3. Meat-and-potatoes bowlful: STEW.

4. Language spoken by many a 35-Down: TAMIL.  //  And 35. Colombo resident: SRI LANKAN.  The official name of the country is the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.  The capital of the country is Colombo.  A brief history of the country.

5. Like many infomercial phone numbers: TOLL FREE.  Because 1-800 didn't fit.

6. Poem written "on" or "to" something: ODE.  We often find Odes in the puzzles.

7. Right this minute: NOW.

8. Hold tight: GRIP.

9. Off course: ASTRAY.

Cats gone astray.

10. Like a movie star's personal life: OFF SCREEN.  But we still have to hear too much about their personal lives, don't we.

11. Diner desserts: PIES.

12. Antioxidant-rich purple berry: AÇAÍ.  This berry has become very trendy and makes frequent appearances in the crossword puzzles.

13. "__ Croft: Tomb Raider": LARA.  Lara Croft is a fictional character, but she was portrayed by Angelina Jolie in the film. [Name # 4.]

18. Group of allied countries: BLOC.

19. Steeplechase obstacle: HURDLE.  Origin of the Steeplechase.

23. "Out with it!": TELL ME!

24. Paolantonio of ESPN: SAL.  I don't watch ESPN, so am not familiar with Sal Paolantonio (né Salvatore Anthony Nicholas Paolantonio; b. June 13, 1956), a Philadelphia-based sports reporter.  [Name #5.]

26. Vertebrae separators: DISCS.

27. 123 Sesame Street resident: ERNIE.  You rarely see Ernie without his pal, Bert.  [Name #6.]

28. String quartet instrument: VIOLA.  What's the difference between a Viola and a Violin?

30. The "M" of MBA: MASTER.  As in a Master of Business Administration.

31. Urge forward: IMPEL.

32. "Honest!": NO LIE!

33. Prepared to pray: KNELT.

39. TV host __ Lee Gifford: KATHIE.  Kathie Lee Gifford (née Kathryn Lee Epstein; b. Aug. 16, 1953) was married to Frank Gifford (né Francis Newton Gifford; Aug. 16, 1930 ~ Aug. 9, 2015).  They shared the same birthdate.  In the 1980s, she did commercials for a cruise line.  [Name #7.]

41. Classroom figures: TEACHERS.

44. Brouhaha: ADO.

47. __ cab: two-wheeled carriage: HANSOM.  The Hansom cab was the creative invention of Joseph Hansom (né Joseph Aloysius Hansom; Oct. 26, 1803 ~ June 29, 1882).

48. Landlocked Asian country: LAOS.

52. Not __: far from optimal: SO HOT.

53. Recipe amts.: TSPS.  As in Teaspoons.

54. "Nah": UH, UH.

55. Actor Malek: RAMI.  Rami Malek (né Rami Said Malek; b. May 12, 1981) starred as a computer hacker in the television series Mr. Robot, but is probably best known for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in the 2018 film Bohemian Rhapsody.  [Name #8.]

56. Karmann __: classic Volkswagen: GHIA.  The Karmann Ghia was a sporty little car that was made between 1955 and 1974.  It looks so dated now.  [Name adjacent.]

58. Barn topper that indicates wind direction: VANE.

59. Makes do, with "out": EKES.

60. Lie down for a while: REST.

62. Completely: ALL.

63. Kenan's former Nickelodeon partner: KEL.  [Name # 9.]  Kenan & Kel was apparently a buddy sit-com that ran from 1996 until 2000 on Nickelodeon.  

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

If you are reading this on Tuesday, I will likely be on the crossword puzzle's favorite airline heading towards Tel Aviv.  Part business, part fun.  Unlike the song, however, I do know when I will be back.  See you at the end of the month.  You will be in capable hands during my absence.

Sunday, November 6, 2022

QOD:  We stay who we are no matter how old we get.  ~  Sally Field (née Sally Margaret Field; b. Nov. 6, 1946), American actress