Tuesday, February 20, 2024

QOD:  The follies which a man regrets most in his life are those which he didn’t commit when he had the opportunity.  ~  Helen Rowland (1875 ~ 1950), American journalist and humorist

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.

18-Across. *  Many stadium screens: JUMBOTRONS. 

The Jumbotron at Death Valley at LSU.

24-Across. *  Seven-star pattern in Ursa Major: BIG DIPPER.

39-Across. *  Curly-haired dogs: STANDARD POODLES.

53-Across. *  Skimpy garment credited to fashion designer Mary Quant: MINI SKIRT.  The Mini Skirt seemed so radical at the time.  Its designer, Mary Quant (Feb. 11, 1930 ~ Apr. 13, 2023) died just last year at age 93.

And the unifier:

60-Across. Cornerstone of the KonMari method, and the progression found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues: DOWN-SIZING.  Hand up if you immediately recognized the KonMarie method.

Across:

1. Stretched the truth: LIED.

5. Takes a break: RESTS.

10. Garçon's workplace: CAFÉ.  Today's French lesson.

14. Actress Kendrick: ANNA.  Anna Kendrick (née Anna Cooke Kendrick; b. Aug. 9, 1985) starred in the Pitch Perfect film series, some of which were filmed on the LSU campus.  [Name # 1.]

15. Love, in French: AMOUR.  More of today's French lesson.

16. Operatic high point: ARIA.

17. Folk singer Joan: BAEZ.  Joan Chandos Baez (b. Jan. 9, 1941) visited us last Tuesday also.  [Name # 2.]

20. GI field fare: MREs.  Meals Ready to Eat.  Don't they look yummy - Not!

22. Phoenix suburb: MESA.

23. Fannie __: federal mortgage agency: MAE.

27. Little League precursor: T-BALL.  //  And 24-Down. Clubs for 27-Across: BATS.

29. "__ thoughts?": ANY.

30. Vegetable in a pod: PEA.

31. Fr. holy woman: STE.  A continuation of today's French lesson.  A holy French woman would be a Saint.

32. Ballet garb: TUTU.

34. Piece of advice: TIP.

36. Insensitive, in a way: NON-PC.

43. Spreadsheet software: EXCEL.  I hate having to use this program.

44. "Low" rapper __ Rida: FLO.  I am not up on my rap musicians nor their music.  Apparently Low was a # 1 song in 2007.  Flo Rida (né Tramar Lacel Dillard; b. Sept. 16, 1979) is from Florida, hence is moniker.  [Name # 3.]

45. "Smooth Operator" singer: SADE.   Sade (née Helen Folasade Adu; b. Jan. 15, 1959) is a Nigerian-born British musician.  She goes by Sade, which is a her Sade a shortened form of her Yoruba middle name, Folasade.  [Name # 4.]

46. Actor Pacino and singer Green: ALs.  Al Pacino (né Alfredo James Pacino; b. Apr. 25, 1940) portrayed Michael Corleone in The Godfather.   Last year, at age 83, he and his 29-year-old girlfriend had a baby boy.  Al Green (né Albert Leornes Greene; b. Apr. 13, 1946) was big in the 1970s.   [Names # 5 and 6.]

47. Alias letters: AKA.  Also Known As.

49. Summer shade: TAN.  My first thought was and ELM tree.

50. Nile Valley country: EGYPT.  //  And 48-Down. Snake once sacred in 50-Across: ASP.

56. Summer sign: LEO.  Hi, Leo III.  Come back!  We miss you.

57. "Firefly" actor Tudyk: ALAN.  I am not familiar with the television series Firefly which aired in the early 2000s.  Apparently it was a space Western drama that took place in 2517 on other planets and moons.  I didn't recognize the name of Alan Tudyk (né Alan Wray Tudyk; b. Mar. 16, 1971), but when I looked him up, I recognized his face.  [Name # 7.]

59. Brad of "Moneyball": PITT.  Brad Pitt (né William Bradley Pitt; Dec. 18, 1963) gained recognization after his appearance in the 1991 film Thelma and Louise.  [Name # 8.]

64. Draw (in): LURE.

66. Nurse Jackie portrayer Falco: EDIE.  Edie Falco (née Edith Falco; b. July 5, 1963) also portrayed Carmela Soprano on The Sopranos.  [Name # 9.]

67. Spanish title: SEÑOR.  Now it's time for today's Spanish lesson.

68. Poems of praise: ODES.

69. Wetlands plant: REED.

70. "Fire away!": ASK ME!

71. Flow slowly: SEEP.

Down:

1. R&D setting: LAB.  Research and Development.

2. "Almost ready": IN A MINUTE.

3. Fuel surcharge, e.g.: ENERGY TAX.

4. Stunned: DAZED.

5. "The Big Bang Theory" chum of Sheldon and Leonard: RAJ.  I never saw the attraction this show, but it was very popular.  [Name's # 10, 11 and 12, all fictional.]

6. 6-foot Aussie bird: EMU.  Emus make frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.

7. WWI battle site in France: SOMME.  Everything you wanted to know about the Battle of Somme but didn't know to ask.

8. Potato or yam: TUBER.

9. Low-budget hotels, for short: SROs.  I thought SRO stood for Standing Room Only, but in the case of low budget hotels, it means Single Room Occupancy.

10. Mustang or Pinto: CAR.  Also breeds of horses.

11. Enticing odor: AROMA.

12. End-of-term exam: FINAL.

13. Equipment used in oil production?: EASEL.  Cute misdirection.

19. Result of some needlework: TATTOO.

Why?

21. Opposite of guzzle: SIP.

25. Blossom parts: PETALS.

26. Duo: PAIR.

Iconic and dynamic duo.

28. Road curves: BENDS.

31. "Jersey Shore" nickname: SNOOKI.  Her given name is Nicole Elizabeth Polizzi (b. Nov. 23, 1987).  [Name # 13.]

33. Take the lid off: UNCAP.

35. Adobe creation: PDF.  Portable Document Format.

37. Insipid remark: PLATITUDE.

38. Source of fragrant wood: CEDAR TREE.  The flag of Lebanon has a Cedar Tree in the center.

40. Triangular river formations: DELTAs.  Everything you wanted to know about River Deltas but didn't know to ask.

41. Strategy: PLAN.

42. Inbox subfolder: SENT.

50. Respected leader: ELDER.

51. Rock with inner beauty: GEODE.  Loved this clue.

52. "That smarts!": YOWIE.

53. Some puzzle book offerings: MAZES.

54. How paper contracts are signed: IN INK.

55. Metric weights: KILOS.

58. Middle Simpson kid: LISA.  [Name # 14, fictional.]

61. Actor Beatty: NED.  Ned Beatty (né Ned Thomas Beatty; July 6, 1937 ~ June 13, 2021) was primarily a character actor.  He was in a lot of movies, but is probably most remembered for his role in Deliverance.  

[Name # 15.]

62. Snack, in slang: NOM.  Meh!

63. Higher ed hurdle: GRE.  As in the Graduate Record Examination.

65. Telepath's claim: ESP.  As in ExtraSensory Perception.

Here's the Grid:

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