QOD: It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it. ~ Joseph Joubert (May 7, 1754 ~ May 4, 1824), French essayist
Pandemic Etiquette: Now that it has been a year since the World Health Organization (WHO) downgraded Covid-19 from a health emergency to a health threat and we are not in pandemic mode, do we still have to STAND APART?
17-Across. Generic choice at the supermarket: STORE BRAND. Store brands are made and sold for a specific retailer and meant to compete with brand-name goods. Store brands tend to be cheaper than name brand goods.
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| Store Brand for Costco. |
25-Across. Emotional condition: STATE O FMIND.
50-Across. Inspire wannabes, maybe: START A TREND.
And the unifier:
63-Across. Stick out from the crowd, and what can be found in 17-, 25-, 40-, and 50-Across?: STAND APART. No circles were needed in today's puzzle to see that the word Stand is broken Apart in each theme answer.
Across:
1. All __: medium for shouty emails: CAPS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO YELL!
5. Meteorologist's tool: RADAR.
10. Apple tablet: iPAD.
14. Feel sore: ACHE.
15. Adler played by Lara Pulver on "Sherlock": IRENE. Lara Pulvar (b. Sept. 1, 1980) is an English actress who portrayed Irene Adler on the BBC version of Sherlock Holmes. [Names # 1 and 2, One fictional, one real.]
16. Overhaul: REDO.
19. Bank lobby conveniences: ATMs. A crossword staple.
20. Sum: TOTAL.
21. __ deck: cruise ship level: LIDO.
23. Formal neckwear: TIE.
24. Sign at a packed theater: SRO. Standing Room Only.
29. Become misshapen: WARP.
30. Tortilla chip dip, for short: GUAC. Yummers! I love a good Guacamole.
31. Alan of "M*A*S*H": ALDA. Hawkeye Pierce from M*A*S*H was portrayed by Alan Alda (né Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo; b. Jan. 28, 1936). The television sit-com ran for 11 years: from September 1972 through February 1983. [Name # 3.]
34. Deciduous 26-Downs: ELMS. // And 26-Down. Backyard shade provider: TREE. Living on Elm Street can be a real nightmare.
37. Schnoz: SNOUT.
43. Hard to pick up: HEAVY.
44. "Scram!": SHOO.
45. Great Basin people: UTES.
46. Sound from a 57-Across: MEOW. // And 57-Across. Feline: CAT. // And 53-Across. Sounds from big 57-Acrosses: ROARS.
48. Chirpy songbird: WREN.
54. Caspian __: SEA. The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake and sometimes referred to as a full-fledged sea. It is a landlocked body of water in Eurasia. The countries surrounding Caspian Sea are five countries: Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan
58. Layered cookie: OREO. A crossword staple. You can get the cookie in a variety of flavors, but why?
59. Birth-related: NATAL.
61. Within: AMID.
66. Puerto __: RICO. Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and unincorporated U.S. territory. Its capital is San Juan.
67. Data assortment: ARRAY.
68. Grain tower: SILO.
69. Otherwise: ELSE.
70. Fritter away: WASTE.
71. Big name in ice cream: EDYS.
Down:
1. __ a ballot: votes: CASTS. This is an election year. Enough said.
2. Many an A-lister: ACTOR.
3. Camera output: PHOTO.
4. Some hydrating skin care products: SERA. But do they really work?
5. Tease: RIB.
6. Flight status abbr.: ARR. As in Arrival time.
7. Handed out a hand: DEALT.
8. "It's the Hard Knock Life" musical: ANNIE. [Name # 3, fictional.]
9. Clifford of kid-lit, for one: RED DOG. Clifford The Big Red Dog is a series about the adventures of a girl named Emily Elizabeth and her pet dog, a giant, red-furred dog named Clifford. Norman Bridwell (1928 ~ 2014) was the author of this series. The first book in the series was published in 1963. [Name # 4, fictional.]
10. Gershwin brother: IRA. A nice, refreshing change from the usual Individual Retirement Account. Ira Gershwin (né Israel Gershovitz; Dec. 6, 1896 ~ Aug. 17, 1983) was the older brother of George Gershwin (né Jacob Gershovitz; Sept. 26, 1898 ~ July 11, 1937). The two brothers collaborated on many songs: George composed the music and Ira wrote the lyrics. [Name # 5.]
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| George and Ira Gershwin |
11. Frilly garment in many a costume drama: PETTICOAT.
12. Online moderator, for short: ADMIN. As in Administrator.
13. Gave a couple of Advil, say: DOSED.
18. Olaf's creator in "Frozen": ELSA. The musical Frozen is based on Hans Christian Anderson's story The Snow Queen. [Name # 5, fictional.]
22. Practical: OF USE.
27. Great grade: A-PLUS.
28. Topknot on a dude: MAN BUN.
29. Formal relinquishing of rights: WAIVER.
31. __ Wednesday: ASH.
32. Cell service initials: LTE. As in Long Term Evolution. Everything you wanted to know about LTE but didn't know to ask.
33. Theatrical behavior: DRAMATICS.
35. Dashboard stat: MPH. As in Miles Per Hour.
36. Writer and abolitionist Harriet Beecher __: STOWE. Harriet Beecher Stowe (June 14, 1811 ~ July 1, 1896) is best known for her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. [Name # 6.]
38. Arles article: UNE. Today's French lesson. Arles is a city in southern France. It is best known for being the place that inspired Vincent Van Gogh (Mar. 30, 1853 ~ July 29, 1890) to paint many of his works. It was also an ancient Roman outpost.
39. QB goals: TDS. Think football: as in Touch Downs.
41. Japanese city whose name means "capital city": KYOTO. Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a city on the island of Honshu. It's famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses.
42. "Beep beep" maker: HORN.
47. Polish capital: WARSAW.
49. Novelist Ferber: EDNA. Edna Ferber (Aug. 15, 1885 ~ Apr. 16, 1968) wrote many novels, including Show Boat, which was later adapted into a musical. [Name # 7.]
50. Cause to jump, maybe: SCARE.
51. Native of Sri Lanka: TAMIL.
52. Eye-catching aquarium fish: TETRA. Everything you wanted to know about Tetra but didn't know to ask.
54. Serious: STAID.
55. Before the doors open: EARLY.
56. Choir section: ALTOS.
60. Cathedral area: APSE.
62. Mama deer: DOE.
64. D.C. MLBer: NAT. The Washington, D.C., Nationals are a professional baseball team.
65. Salon supply: DYE.
Here's the Grid:
חתולה
