QOD: Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Tuesday, 26 March 2024

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

QOD: If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on somebody else’s path. ~ Joseph Campbell (né Joseph John Campbell; Mar. 26, 1904 ~ Oct. 30, 1987), professor of comparative mythology and religion

Slo-MO. Each theme answer is a two-word phrase where the first word begins with M and the second word begins with O. Working this puzzle, however, was anything but Slo.

17-Across. * Consider carefully: MEDITATE ON.

21-Across. * Transformative beauty treatment: MAKE OVER.

54-Across. * Talk back (to): MOUTH OFF

59-Across. * Divvy up: MEASURE OUT.

And the unifier:

36-Across. Plan of action, as "initially" found in the answers to the starred clues?: MODUS OPERANDI. The phrase Modus Operandi is a Latin phrase meaning Method of Operation. I would narrow the definition provided in the clue to mean an established habit of working. It is frequently in the context of a business or criminal endeavor. Modus Operandi, or MO, is often used in detective/cop television shows.

Across:

1. Goal of much medical research: CURE.

5. Like a baby with pudding, probably: MESSY.

10. Floor model, e.g.: DEMO.

14. "That'll be the day!": AS IF.

15. Jazz great Earl "__" Hines: FATHA. Earl Kenneth Hines (Dec. 28, 1903 ~ Apr. 22, 1983) was an American jazz pianist and bandleader. He was considered one of the most influential figures in the development of jazz piano. He apparently earned his nickname "fatha" after giving a drunken announcer some "fatherly" advice to limit his drinking. [Name # 1.]

16. Woeful word: ALAS.

19. Home in the sticks: NEST. Cute clue.

20. Fluster: ADDLE.

23. Fancy timepieces: ROLEXES.

26. Luthor of DC Comics: LEX. He is the supervillain and archival of Superman. His full name is Alexander Joseph Luther. [Name # 2, fictional.]

27. Stand-up comedian Shaffir: ARI. I am not familiar with Ari David Shaffir (b. Feb. 12, 1974). [Name # 3.]

28. Undivided: ONE.

29. Removes soap from: RINSES.

31. Tic-__-toe: TAC.

32. Maytag sister brand: AMANA. How the two companies are related. [Name adjacent.]

34. Tusks, e.g.: TEETH.

40. Writer Sir Arthur __ Doyle: CONAN. Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (May 22, 1859 ~ July 7, 1930) is best known for being the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle tried to kill Sherlock Holmes, but his readers protested so much that Holmes was resurrected. [Name # 4.]

41. Still-life pitchers: EWERs.

42. GOP gp.: RNC.

43. Bearded spring blooms: IRISES. Vincent van Gogh (Mar. 30, 1853 ~ July 29, 1890) was known for his numerous paintings of Irises. If you are ever in Amsterdam, a visit to the Van Gogh Museum is well worth a visit.

46. Many an email attachment: PDF. Portable Document Format.

49. Earlier: AGO.

50. Intentionally mislead: CON.

51. "Don't let that woman get away!": STOP HER!

57. Garlicky mayonnaise: AIOLI. This vowel-rich condiment is fast becoming a crossword staple.

58. Angry: SORE.

62. Rae of "Insecure": ISSA. Issa Rae (née Jo-Issa Rae Diop; b. Jan. 12, 1985) makes frequent appearances in the crossword puzzles. She had her own television show, Insecure, which ran from 2026 until 2021. [Name # 5.]

63. Industry honcho: BARON.

64. Surrender, as territory: CEDE.

65. __-do-well: NE'ER.

66. "You __ sweet!": ARE SO.

67. Potato buds: EYES.

Down:

1. Chevrolet that will be discontinued in 2024: CAMARO. The Camaro was first sold in 1966. It had a long run. [Name adjacent.]

2. Applied to: USED ON.

3. Brain-breaking question: RIDDLE. Here's an ancient riddle that dates back to 18th Century BCE in Samaria: There is a house. One enters blind and comes out seeing. What is it? For the answer, you must read this article.

4. Paperless option for taxpayers: E-FILE. We just had our annual visit with our CPA.

5. Curator's deg.: MFA. Master of Fine Arts.

6. Take in: EAT.

7. Women in __: educational advocacy org.: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

8. Sandbars: SHOALS. This makes me think of the Isle of Shoals, which are a group of small islands and tidal ledges situated approximately 6 miles off the east coast of the United States that straddle the border of the states of Maine and New Hampshire. Writer Anita Shreve (Oct. 7, 1946 ~ Mar. 29, 2018) wrote The Weight of Water, a historical novel about a murder that takes place on the Isle of Shoals

9. Big Apple MLB player: YANKEE.

10. Paul of "The Batman": DANO. Paul Dano (né Paul Franklin Dano; June 19, 1984) portrayed the Riddler in the 2022 version of Batman. [Name # 6.]

11. Like some beachside homes: ELEVATED.

12. GranTurismo automaker: MASERATI. Maserati is an Italian manufacturer. The company was established in December 1914 in Bologna, Italy. [Name adjacent.]

13. Bird with a powerful kick: OSTRICH.

18. __-Mex cuisine: TEX.

22. Celeb who's no longer in the limelight: EX-STAR.

24. Important ages: ERAs. Taylor Swift (née Taylor Alison Swift; b. Dec. 13, 1989) is on her Eras Tour.

25. Chinese: Pref.: SINO-.

30. Kitten-lifting spots: NAPES.

32. Oral health org.: ADA. American Dental Association.

33. German city that hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics: MUNICH. The 1972 summer Olympics were overshadowed by the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes.

35. Napkin corners?: ENs. I suppose this means that the word Napkin begins and ends with the letter "N". Rather like last Friday's clue about Label Edges = ELs. I didn't care for that clue, either.

36. Ferretlike carnivore: MONGOOSE.