Friday, March 29, 2024

QOD:  Our children may learn about heroes of the past.  Our task is to make ourselves architects of the future.  ~  Jomo Kenyatta (1897 ~ Aug. 22, 1978), President of Kenya

Thursday, March 28, 2024

QOD:  Equality is for underachievers.  Am I right, ladies?  ~  Bonnie McFarlane (b. Mar. 28, 1973), Canadian comedian

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

QOD:  It is not right for a ruler who has the nation in his charge, a man with so much on his mind, to sleep all night.  ~ Homer, Greek philosopher and author

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.

37. Proceeding as planned: ON COURSE.

38. Lambs' moms: EWEs.

39. Take a break: REST.

40. Adds to an already full suitcase, say: CRAMS IN.

44. Saucer-shaped vacuum: ROOMBA.

45. With trepidation: IN FEAR.

46. "Nuts!": PHOOEY.

47. Intentionally mislead: DELUDE.

48. Steak __: bistro dish: FRITES.

52. Rowboat blade: OAR.

53. Component: PIECE.

55. Run like heck: TEAR.

56. Cab charge: FARE.

60. Letters sent in emergencies: SOS.

61. Game with colorful cards: UNO.  This game has become a crossword staple.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Sunday, March 24, 2024 // Palm Sunday

QOD:  Pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what the hell you’re doing.  ~  Payton Manning (né Payton William Manning; b. Mar. 24, 1976), Professional football player