QOD: Tuesday, October 14, 2025 Prasanna Keshava

Tuesday, 14 October 2025

Tuesday, October 14, 2025 Prasanna Keshava

QOD: Right is right, even if everyone else is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone else is for it. ~ William Penn (Oct. 14, 1644 ~ July 30, 1718), British-born Quaker leader

Lessons in Chemistry.

20-Across. Mug shot souvenir from an Old West tourist town: WANTED POSTER. Water.

29-Across. Spiritual serenity: INNER PEACE. Ice.

46-Across. Influencers in a grassroots marketing campaign: STREET TEAM. Steam.

And the unifier:

56-Across. Geographic neighbors, or what this puzzle's circled letters literally are: BORDER STATES. In today's puzzle, we learn about the three main states of matter: Solid (ICE), Liquid (WATER), and Vapor (STEAM). Solids, in this case ICE, have a definite shape and volume, liquids, in this case WATER, have a definite volume but take the shape of their container, and gases, in this case STEAM, have no definite shape or volume. You will also notice that each of these "States" form the "Border" of the answer to the clue.

Across:

1. Occupied a chair: SAT.

4. Memory aids for shoppers: LISTS.

9. Puff up, as pillows: PLUMP.

14. Chuckle syllable: HEH.

15. Fundamental skateboard jump: OLLIE. Everything you wanted to know about the Ollie but were afraid to ask.

16. Desert watering holes: OASES.

17. Metal-bearing material: ORE.

18. Nursery purchase: PLANT.

19. Martial art also known as kung fu: WUSHU. I was not familiar with this alternative name.

23. "So much chaos in there!": IT'S A ZOO.

24. Beginning: ORIGIN.

28. Half-moon tide: NEAP. A neap tide just after the first or third quarters of the moon when there is least difference between high and low water.

32. Legal pro: Abbr.: ATT. As in an Attorney. // And 43. Exam for a future 32-Across: LSAT. As in the Law School Admissions Test.

34. Common crumbled froyo topping: OREO. A fresh new clue for an old staple.

35. Hanks who played Mr. Rogers: TOM.

The real Mr. Rogers is on the right.

36. Ordinary writing: PROSE.

39. Wacoal undergarment: BRA. The lingerie company.

40. __ pad: STENO.

42. Totally fine: A-OK.

45. "Told you!": SEE.

49. Labor Day mo.: SEPT. Labor Day originated in the late 19th century as the American labor movement sought recognition for workers' social and economic achievements. The first observance was in New York City on September 5, 1882, organized by the Central Labor Union and Knights of Labor. It became a federal holiday on June 28, 1894, when President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September a national day to honor American workers. Today it is mostly considered a day off of work.

53. Shrimp dish: SCAMPI. The term Scampi refers to the preparation of the dish.

54. British beer with a red triangle logo: BASS ALE.

59. Place to say "I do": ALTAR.

62. Coeur d'Alene locale: IDAHO. The name Coeur d'Alene originated with French-Canadian fur traders in the late 18th or early 19th century. The traders gave this name to the local Schitsu'umsh people, observing their shrewd and disciplined trading practices. It was meant as a compliment for their business acumen.

63. Muesli grain: OAT.

64. Push-button word: START.

65. Poet Nash: OGDEN. Frederic Ogden Nash (Aug. 19, 1902 ~ May 19, 1971) was an American poet well known for his light verse.

66. Put into service: USE.

67. Extra benefits: PERKS.

68. Demanding constant attention, perhaps: NEEDY.

69. "The Good Place" actor Danson: TED. Ted Danson (né Edward Bridge Danson, III; b. Dec. 29, 1947) began his career as a model for Aramis.

Down:

1. Do a butler's job: SHOW IN.

2. Make fizzy: AERATE.

3. Covert org.: THE NSA.

4. Pop idol Jennifer: LOPEZ. Is she or isn't she back with Ben Affleck?

5. "Leave this to me!": I'LL DO IT.

6. Apply sloppily: SLAP ON.

7. Former Yankee Martinez who won the Home Run Derby in 1997: TINO. Constantino "Tino" Martinez (b. Dec. 7.. 1967) is a former professional baseball player. He played for a number of teams, including the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

8. Tennis match units: SETS.

9. Confidence-boosting stance: POWER POSE.

10. "Lady Bird" Oscar nominee Metcalf: LAURIE. Lady Bird is a 2017 American coming-of-age comedy drama about a turbulent relationship between a high school senior, played by Saoirse Ronan (née Saoirse Una Ronan; b. Apr. 12, 1994) and her mother, played by Laurie Metcalf (née Laura Elizabeth Metcalf; b. June 16, 1955).

11. Frigate letters: USS. As in United States Ship.

12. "Doesn't excite me": MEH.

13. Nittany Lions sch.: PSU. As in Penn(sylvania) State University.

21. Spanish small bites: TAPAS. Yummers!

22. Went really fast: TORE.

25. Garden entrance: GATE.

26. Tappable image on a touchscreen: ICON.

27. "Finding __": Pixar film about a missing fish: NEMO.

30. Opposite of sur: NORTE. Spanish directions.

31. Timeline block: ERA.

33. Travels, sci-fi style: TELEPORTS.

36. __ muster: make the grade: PASS.

37. Campus cadet org.: ROTC. As in Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

38. Cajun pod: OKRA.

Yummers! Fried Okra.

39. Club made by Louisville Slugger: BAT. Professional baseball player Pete Browning (né Louis Rogers Browning; June 17, 1861 ~ Sept. 10, 1905), was the original Louisville Slugger. He played for the Louisville team from 1882 until 1894. He had a .341 batting average.