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
Showing posts with label April 19. Show all posts
Showing posts with label April 19. Show all posts
Friday, 19 April 2024
Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
QOD: The real stars are not good actors or actresses. They’re personalities. ~ Jayne Mansfield (Apr. 19, 1932 ~ June 29, 1967), American actress
Tuesday, 19 April 2022
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
QOD: The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot. ~ Michael Altshuler, American entrepreneur
What's your Super Power? Today's puzzle requires knowledge of pop culture. Do you know your X-Men (some of whom are women). I have heard about the X-Men movies, but never seen them, so was unfamiliar with the names and traits of these mutants with special abilities and super powers.
17-Across. * Extremely hostile situation: BELLY OF THE BEAST. Beast has superhuman strength, agility, speed, and dexterity.
33-Across. * Toyota RAV4 alternative: NISSAN ROGUE. Rogue was originally a villain in the comics, but later joined the X-Men. She has the ability to "absorb memories, powers, personality traits, physical talents, and strength." She looks mean.
42-Across. * Offensive in the First Gulf War: DESERT STORM. Storm is also a woman. She has the ability to control the elemental forces that control the weather.
59-Across. * Netflix series about a chess prodigy: THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT. Gambit has the ability to charge things and blow them up.
And the unifier:
67-Across. Marvel Comics mutants, four of whom can be found at the ends of the answers to the starred clues: X-MEN. Everything you ever wanted to know about the X-Men, but didn't know to ask.
Across:
1. Mark that may be covered by a tattoo: SCAR. Here are some creative examples of a tattoo covering a scar.
5. Craigslist caveat: AS IS.
9. Andalusian poet García __: LORCA. Frederico García Lorca (né Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca; June 5, 1989 ~ Aug. 19, 1936) is not your usual Tuesday guest. I am not familiar with this Spanish poet. He was apparently politically active and was killed by the Fascist forces at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War.
14. Folk singer Guthrie: ARLO. Arlo Guthrie (né Arlo Davy Guthrie; b. July 10, 1947) is probably best known for his rendition of Alice's Restaurant.
15. "The Flintstones" pet: DINO. I watched The Flintstones as a kid.
16. Retired NBA great Shaquille: O'NEAL. Shaquille O'Neal (né Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal; b. Mar. 6, 1972) also played basketball for LSU. He still has strong ties to Louisiana.
20. "Farewell": ADIEU. Today's French lesson.
21. Pixar character: 'TOON.
22. Notion: IDEA.
23. __ sequitur: NON.
24. Loops in, in a way: CCs. Originally, CC denoted that a document was Carbon Copied and dates to the era of the typewriter.
26. 2019 N.L. MVP Bellinger: CODY. Cody James Bellinger (b. July 13, 1995) plays baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
28. Blackjack card: ACE.
29. Broke, as a law: VIOLATED.
37. Have bills to pay: OWE.
38. Mine extractions: ORES. A crossword staple.
39. Wyoming's Grand __ National Park: TETON. More of today's French lesson.
40. Miracle Mets outfielder Tommie: AGEE. Tommie Agee (né Tommie Lee Agee; Aug. 9, 1942 ~ Jan. 22, 2001) was also the Rookie of the Year in 1966 when he played for the Chicago White Sox. Sadly, he died at age 58 of a heart attack.
41. Legged it: RAN.
44. Sporadically: IN SPURTS.
46. French summer: ÉTÉ. Our French lesson continues.
47. "The Time Machine" race: ELOI. A crossword staple.
48. "Dude!": BRO.
49. Comm. for the hearing-impaired: ASL. As in American Sign Language.
52. Toni Morrison title character: SULA. Sulu was first published in 1973.
54. Cardamom-infused tea: CHAI. You, too, can make Chai tea.
57. Winnie-the-Pooh's creator: MILNE. A.A. Milne (né Alan Alexander Milne; January 18, 1882 ~ Jan. 31, 1956) was a writer and playwright before he created Winnie-the-Pooh in the 1920s as stories for his son, Christopher Robin Milne (Aug. 21, 1920 ~ Apr. 20, 1996).
62. Come after: ENSUE.
63. Perched upon: ATOP.
64. Automaker with a four-ring logo: AUDI.
65. Walk casually: MOSEY.
66. Microscope part: LENS.
Down:
1. Alabama head football coach Nick: SABAN. Before going to Alabama, Nick Saban (né Nicholas Lou Saban, Jr.; b. Oct. 31, 1951) coached football at LSU.
2. Belief system: CREDO.
3. Bold poker play: ALL IN.
4. Function: ROLE.
5. Hubbub: ADO.
6. Uses a sieve: SIFTS.
7. Gaga over: INTO.
 |
| Lady Gaga |
9. Soft toss: LOB.
10. New York lake near Utica: ONEIDA. My flatware is made by Oneida.
11. "Shall we head out?": READY TO GO?
12. 12 bottles of wine: CASE.
13. Utah ski resort: ALTA.
18. New Mexico's state flower: YUCCA. It's a pretty flower.
19. Meet: ENCOUNTER.
25. Hockey face-off spot: CENTER ICE.
27. The Grand __ Opry: OLE. Loretta Lynn's 90th birthday bash was at the Grand Ole Opry.
28. Donkey: ASS.
29. Casts a ballot: VOTES.
30. Composer Stravinsky: IGOR. Igor Stravinsky (June 17, 1882 ~ Apr. 6, 1971) is best-known for his ballet The Rite of Spring, which caused quite a riot when it premiered in Paris in 1913.
31. Vase-shaped jug: EWER.
32. Consider to be: DEEM.
33. Seaweed for sushi: NORI. Yummers. I am a big fan if sushi.
34. Tehran's country: IRAN.
35. Foolish: SENSELESS.
36. "I __ my case": REST.
40. Had for dinner: ATE.
42. She & Him, e.g.: DUO. Hand up if you knew that this was an actual musical duo.
43. Leaf pore: STOMA.
45. Memorial tablet: PLAQUE.
48. Badlands bovine: BISON.
49. Scrapbook: ALBUM.
50. Slyly cutting, as a remark: SNIDE.
51. Open the door for: LET IN.
52. Wineglass part: STEM.
53. "Hmm ... I doubt that": UH ... NO.
55. Recover: HEAL.
56. Start the poker pot: ANTE.
58. Big name in theaters?: IMAX.
60. Driver's turn, for short: UEY. Just one of several spelling variations in the crossword puzzles.
61. Driver's aid, for short: GPS. As in the Global Positioning System. How did we ever live without it?
Here's the grid:
חתולה
To Anonymous-T: The "Souvenir" of which you spoke.
Monday, 19 April 2021
Monday, April 19, 2021
QOD: Sometimes I get very dressed up just to go to the corner for some bread; I dress for my own amusement. ~ Paloma Picasso (née Anne Paloma Ruiz-Picasso y Gilot; b. Apr. 19, 1949), French fashion designer
Sunday, 19 April 2020
Sunday, April 19, 2020
QOD: Nothing in the world can be more exciting than to create something and see it work. ~ Paloma Picasso (née Anne Paloma Ruiz-Picasso y Gilot; b. Apr. 19, 1949), French fashion designer
Friday, 19 April 2019
Friday, April 19, 2019
QOD: The more famous you become, the less people will tell you your faults. ~ Paloma Picasso (née Anne Paloma Ruiz-Picasso y Gilot; b. Apr. 19, 1949)
Very Punny! Today's puzzle uses puns, rhymes and homophones to twist common phrases. In the first three theme answers, the rhyming word is found at the front of the phrase, and in the last two theme answers, the rhyming word is found at the end.
We also have a very special remembrance of our dear friend with 9-Down and 12-Down (ARGYLE and SANTA)
17-Across. Flatfish family founders?: SOLE MATES. The common phrase is Soul Mates.
25-Across. Barbershop levy?: POLE TAX. The common phrase is Poll Tax. A pole tax is essentially a tax placed on an adult without consideration of income or resources. In the United States, the poll tax had been a pre-requisite for voting. The 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished poll taxes as a pre-requisite for voting in federal elections. A few years later, the Supreme Court ruled that States could not use the poll tax as a prerequisite for voting in State elections. (Never have an attorney explain a legal matter. I'll just send you all a bill.)
38-Across. Rabbit monopolizing the entrance to the warren?: HOLE HOG. The common phrase is Whole Hog. This clue threw me off because the clue contains one animal and the answer contains a different animal.
51-Across. Part in a Humpty Dumpty biopic?: EGG ROLE. The common phrase is Egg Roll.
62-Across. Mutant tree trunk with extraordinary powers?: SUPER BOLE. The common phrase is Super Bowl. The answer made me laugh.
62-Across. Mutant tree trunk with extraordinary powers?: SUPER BOLE. The common phrase is Super Bowl. The answer made me laugh.
Across:
1. Bonkers: LOCO. What a crazy way to begin this puzzle!
5. Raucous animal sound: BRAY.
9. Sambuca flavoring: ANISE.
14. Not up: ABED.
15. Ire: RAGE.
16. Trio in the logo of a national motorists' group: RED AS. As in the three A's in the AAA logo.
19. Acquires: GAINS. The word "gets" is too short.
20. Shirt with a slogan: TEE.
21. "Metamorphoses" poet: OVID. An ancient Roman poet.
22. Mindless way to learn: BY ROTE.
23. When doubled, a German spa town: BADEN. Baden Baden is a spa town in Southwest Germany.
26. Broadway restaurant founder: SARDI. The famous Sardi's restaurant in the Theater District in Manhattan began as a modest little eatery, known as The Little Restaurant in 1921. The founder was Melchiorre Pio Sardi and his wife Eugenia Pallera. He was known in New York as Vincent Sardi (Dec. 23, 1885 ~ Nov. 19, 1969). A few years later, the restaurant moved down the block and re-opened as Sardi's. Because the restaurant is in the theater district, Vincent Sardi hired a sketch artist to draw caricatures of actors and other celebrities, which adorn the walls of the restaurant.
28. Energizes: GOOSES. To goose up: To cause something to become stronger or more intense. For example: Listen to him rev up his car. It sounds like he really goosed up his engine. Geese at the park can be energizing.
30. Upscale: CLASSY.
32. Go bad: ROT.
33. Pairs: TWOS. In go the animals, two by two ...
37. NFL pass, complete or not: ATT. As in an Attempt.
41. Fez or fedora: HAT. Hi, Abejo!
42. Pedi concerns: TOES.
44. Day in Durango: DIA. Today's Spanish lesson.
45. N, in a TV content warning: NUDITY.
47. Directions: TRENDS.
50. Laconic: TERSE.
54. Come to: TOTAL. Think of the tab on your bar bill. The total came to how much!!!
56. Turf grippers: CLEATS. Crabby cleats.
57. Die, e.g.: CUBE. The singular of Dice.
58. Pet's attention-getter, perhaps: PAW.
61. Great deal of, slangily: LOTTA. Led Zeppelin and Whole Lotta Love
64. Concerning: ABOUT.
65. God with a quiver: EROS. It's Greek to me.
66. Carrot (always) or stick (sometimes): ROOT.
67. On edge: TENSE.
Oops, different spelling!
68. Used to be: WERE. The way we were.
69. Tavern array: ALES.
Down:
1. Final: LAST.
2. Vowel-rich woodwind: OBOE.
3. Have a party, say: CELEBRATE.
4. One was written on an urn: ODE.
5. Valorous: BRAVE.
6. Five stars, e.g.: RATING.
7. Like fine Scotch: AGED.
8. Fist-pumper's cry: YES.
9. Sock pattern: ARGYLE. // and, just 3 clues over we have 12-Down. One-night-a-year flier: SANTA. A double CSO to our beloved Santa.
10. Minimally distant: NEAREST.
11. Jerk: IDIOT.
13. County not far from London: ESSEX.
18. Fashionable: MODISH. I initially tried Modern. At least some of the letters were correct.
22. With 52-Down, paper since 1872: BOSTON. // And 52-Down. See 22-Down: GLOBE. Together we get The Boston Globe.
I read the Globe when I lived in Boston, but that was years ago. Recently I have been getting weekly emails from the Globe urging me to subscribe.
24. Sunday paper barrage: ADs. Does anyone really ever look through all the ads in the Sunday paper? I stopped getting my local newspaper when there were more ads than news/articles, and when the sports section was longer than the news sections.
25. Friend of Tigger: POOH. Winnie the Pooh and his friends were the creations of A.A. Milne (ne Alan Alexander Milne; Jan. 18, 1882 ~ Jan. 31, 1956). His son, Christopher Robin Milne (Aug. 21, 1920 ~ Apr. 20, 1996), was the basis of the character of the same name in the books. Sadly, Christopher Robin became estranged from his parents, believing that his father had exploited his childhood in writing the books. I have fond memories, however, of the these books from my childhood.
26. "Go away!": SCAT.
27. Choir voice: ALTO.
29. Mountain nymph: OREAD. More Greek in today's puzzle.
31. Mountain melodies: YODELS. You don't even have to go to the mountains to heard yodeling. Just go to your local Walmart.
34. Draining effect: WHIRLPOOL.
35. Equine eats: OATS.
36. Eyelid problem: STYE.
39. Triangle side, say: LINE.
40. Site of unwanted suburban vegetation: GUTTER.
But that's my vegetable garden!
43. Low cloud: STRATUS.
46. Trafficking org.: DEA. As in the Drug Enforcement Administration, which is tasked with preventing drug trafficking.
48. Go around: ROTATE.
49. Daze: STUPOR.
51. Dazzling effect: ÉCLAT. The word comes from the French, which means "splinter", or "burst". Also the name of an eau de toilette for men.
53. Mount: GET ON.
55. More than a little plump: OBESE.
57. Medical research objective: CURE.
59. Natural soother: ALOE. We had this clue the last time I commented on a David Alfred Bywaters puzzle.
60. Dampens: WETS.
62. Put in stitches: SEW.
63. Product of Bali: BRA. Not the island, you silly goose! The lingerie company.
Here's the Grid:
Today is a special day in the religious communities. Today is Good Friday. It also marks the beginning of Passover, which begins as sunset today. For those who observe the these events, I wish you a Happy Easter or a Happy Passover.
