Friday, April 19, 2024

QOD:  A lot of people like to ask me, “Ali, how on earth do you balance family and career?”  Men never get asked that question.  Because they don’t.  ~  Ali Wong (née Alexandra Dawn Wong; b. Apr. 19, 1982), American stand-up comedian

Thursday, April 18, 2024

QOD:  If you must take care that your opinions do not differ in the least from those of the person with whom you are talking, you might just as well be alone.  (Yoshida Kenkō; 1283 ~ 1350), Japanese poet

Wednesday, April 16, 2024

QOD:  Hope is a projection of the imagination; so is despair.  Despair all too readily embraces the ills it foresees.  ~  Thornton Wilder (né Thornton Niven Wilder; Apr. 17, 1897 ~ Dec. 7, 1975), American playwright and author

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

QOD:  Without lies, humanity would perish of despair and boredom.  ~  Anatole France (né François-Anatole Thibault; Apr. 16, 1844 ~ Oct. 12, 1924), recipient of the 1921 Nobel Prize in Literature

Going Dutch:  I found a couple of theories on how the term Going Dutch came into existence.  It is believed to have entered English at the time of the eastern trade route rivalry.  England and the Netherlands fought constantly over trade routes.  The phrase to go Dutch is a a contraction of In the Dutch fashion, meaning, To pay ones share.  The phrase today is used to mean paying one's way.  Not necessarily  Splitting the Check evenly at the end of a restaurant meal, but it could be.  

18-Across. *  Game timer that may implement the Fischer method: CHESS CLOCK.

24-Across. *  Choose selectively: CHERRY PICK.

52-Across. *  Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band with the hit "The Flame": CHEAP TRICK.  [Name # 1.]

61-Across. *  Silverado, for one: CHEVY TRUCK.

And the unifier, which includes 31, 41 and 45-Across:

31-Across. With 41- and 45-Across, go Dutch, or what the answers to the starred clues do?: SPLIT.

41-Across. See 31-Across: THE. and 45-Acorss. See 31-Across: CHECK.  No circles in today's puzzle, but they weren't needed.  The word CHECK is split in each two-word theme answer with the first word beginning with CHE and the second word ending in CK.

Across:

1. Has finished making payments on: OWNS.

5. NYC cultural institution redesigned by architect Yoshio Taniguchi: MOMA.  Yoshio Taniguchi (b. 1937) is a Japanese architect.  He is best know to Americans for the re-design of the Museum of Modern Art.  He was hired in 1997 to expand the Museum's space.  He is known for his fusion of traditional Japanese design with Modernist aesthetics.  [Name # 2.]

9. Made fun of: JAPED.

14. Dance for seniors: PROM.  Seniors in High School, not the retirees.

15. Dove calls: COOS.

16. Main artery: AORTA.

17. Weight adjustment button on a deli scale: TARE.

20. "Cleared for takeoff!": IT'S A GO.

22. Acorn dropper: OAK.

23. "Eureka!": AHA.

27. Wound memento: SCAR.

28. E __ elephant: AS IN.

29. Bedframe board: SLAT.

35. Sci-fi extras: ETs.  As in ExtraTerrestrials.

37. Still in contention: ALIVE.

40. Brother's daughter: NIECE.

42. The "N" of USNA: NAVAL.  As in the United States Naval Academy.

43. River mammal: OTTER.

44. Casual affirmative: YEP.

46. "No __, no fuss!": MUSS.

48. Get up: RISE.

50. Shed tears: WEEP.

58. German pronoun: ICH.  Today's German Lesson.

59. British lav: LOO.  The word “loo” is derived from the French phrase "guardez l'eau", meaning "watch out for the water!"

60. Certain Honshu resident: OSAKAN.  A person from Osaka would be called an Osaka.  Osaka is a large port city and commercial center on the Japanese island of Honshu. The city is known for its 16th-century shogunate Osaka Castle.

65. Actress Neuwirth: BEBE.  Bebe Neuwirth (née Beatrice Jane Neuwirth; b. Dec. 31, 1958) is primarily a stage actress and has won two Tony Awards.  She is probably best known to non-theater people for her role as Dr. Lilith Sternin on Cheers, where she played the wife of Dr. Frasier Crane.   She also had a recurring role in Frasier.  [Name # 3.]

66. Oscar winner Firth: COLIN.  If you watched The Middle, you know that Colin Firth (né Colin Andrew Firth; b. Sept. 10, 1960) was Frankie's favorite actor and secret crush.  [Name # 4.]

67. Back of the neck: NAPE.

68. Flake (on): BAIL.

69. Colorado ski locale: ASPEN.

70. Watery expanses: SEAS.

71. "__ it obvious?": ISN'T.

Down:

1. Related to the eye: OPTIC.

2. Ire: WRATH.

3. Like the deities Odin and Freya: NORSE.  In Norse mythology, Odin is the god of war and death.  Freya is the goddess of love, beauty, youth, and fertility.  [Name adjacent, Mythological.]

4. Makeup slip-up: SMEAR.

5. Clan that feuded with the Hatfields: McCOYS.  The Hatfield-McCoy feud revolved around two Appalachian families that apparently went on for decades and the legal issues involved ultimately ended up at the United States Supreme Court.  The actual start of the feud has been lost to history.  [Name # 5, Real.]

6. "Look, fireworks!": OOH!

7. "The Simpsons" tavern owner: MOE.  And a shout-out to our Chairman Moe.  [Name # 6, Fictional.]

8. Professional org.: ASSOC.  As in Association.

9. Tire changer's need: JACK.  Could be a name, but isn't.

10. Hotmail alternative: AOL.  As in America On Line.

11. Like someone who takes the initiative: PROACTIVE.

12. __ Sketch: art toy: ETCH-A-.

13. Capital of Senegal: DAKAR.  The official name of Senegal is the Republic of Senegal.  It is the westernmost country in continental Africa.  Dakar is a port city and the largest city in the country.

19. Fifth Avenue retailer: SAKS.  The history of Saks Fifth Avenue. [Name adjacent.]

21. Cheese gadgets: GRATERS.

25. Devoutness: PIETY.

26. Right over the plate, as a pitch: IN THERE.  Meh!

27. Egyptian soccer superstar Mohamed: SALAH.  His full name is Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly (b. June 15, 1992).  In 2019, he was named as one of the 100 most influential people in Time magazine.  [Name # 7, Real.]

30. Little needles in some medical tests: LANCETS.  Also the name of a medical journal.  The Lancet, which was founded in England in 1823, is one of the oldest medical journals.

31. Hostess __ Balls: SNO.  They now come in all sorts of "fun" colors.

32. Fire place?: PIT.

33. "You shouldn't have to do it all alone": LET ME HELP.

34. Frost over: ICE UP.

36. Retro tint for photos: SEPIA.  On your smart phone, you can probably "sepia" all your photos. 

38. Rug cleaner, for short: VAC.  As in a Vacuum Cleaner.

39. Large deer in the Rockies: ELK.

47. Glaswegian, e.g.: SCOT.  [Name adjacent.]

49. Bike wheel parts: SPOKES.

50. Neopagan religion: WICCA.

51. Amazon smart speakers: ECHOS.

53. Prominent feature of a mountain goat: HORNS.

54. Religious leader in many a Chaim Potok novel: RABBI.  Chaim Potok (né Herman Harold Potok; Jan. 17, 1929 ~ July 23, 2002) is one of my favorite authors.  [Name # 8, Real.]

55. Furniture stores that sell meatballs: IKEAs.  [Name adjacent.]

56. Log home: CABIN.

57. Got down to propose: KNELT.

59. Country singer Loretta: LYNN.  [Name # 9.]

62. Compete: VIE.

63. Abu Dhabi's fed.: UAE.

64. Audit firm pro: CPA.

And here's the Grid:

חתולה

Passover begins with the first Seder Monday night.  Happy Passover to all who celebrate:

Monday, April 15, 2024

QOD:  Never say you know the last word about any human heart.  ~  Henry James (Apr. 15, 1843 ~ Feb. 28, 1916), American novelist

Sunday, April 14, 2024

QOD:  After I’m dead I’d rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one.  ~  Cato the Elder, Roman historian