QOD: How did nerds go from being beaten up by jocks to beating everyone else up? ~ Charlie Brooker (né Charlton Brooker; b. Mar. 3, 1971), British journalist and screenwriter
I've Got That Sinking Feeling.
29-Across. * Sandwich choice at an Italian deli: MEATBALL SUB.
44-Across. * "Peter Pan" pirate: CAPTAIN HOOK.
And the unifier:
52-Across. "Take a moment to reflect," or what can be said about the ends of the answers to the starred clues: LET THAT SINK IN.
Here's the grid.
Now, sink yourself in the rest of today's puzzle ...
Across:
1. Scrapbooking project: ALBUM.
6. Totals: SUMS.
10. Lip-__: mouth the words: SYNC.
14. Drench: DOUSE.
15. Journey: TRIP.
16. Not single-sex: CO-ED.
17. Pungent: ACRID.
18. "Makes sense": I SEE.
19. Dull routines: RUTS.
23. U.S. island in Micronesia: GUAM. Since 1898, Guam has been a U.S. island territory. It is the largest, most populous, and southernmost island in the Marianas archipelago and Micronesia. Guam is known for its beautiful by tropical beaches, Chamorro villages and ancient latte-stone pillars. Guam’s WWII significance is on view at the War in the Pacific National Historical Park, whose sites include Asan Beach, a former battlefield.
24. Sits at a stoplight: IDLES.
26. Cash dispenser: ATM. The Automatic Teller Machine has become a crossword staple.
33. Whole __ Market: FOODS. Sometimes referred to as Whole Paycheck Foods.
35. Unagi roll fish: EEL. Yummers!
36. Total snoozefest: BORE.
37. Longtime late-night host Jay: LENO. Jay Leno (né James Douglas Muir Leno; b. Apr. 28, 1950) hosted The Tonight Show from 1992 until 2009. After a brief hiatus, he returned to host in 2010 for another 4 years.
38. Messy happy hour fare: WINGS. // And 42-Across. Like some 38-Across: HOT.
40. Five-spots: ABES.
41. Many, many: A TON.
43. Deliver a speech: ORATE.
48. On the __: promptly: DOT.
49. Public opinion surveys: POLLS.
50. "No thanks": PASS.
58. Opera solo: ARIA. This has become a crossword staple.
60. Mischief-making Norse god: LOKI. Everything you wanted to know about Loki but didn't know to ask.
61. Honker in a gaggle: GOOSE.
62. Actor Schreiber: LIEV. Liev Schreiber (né Isaac Liev Schreiber; b. Oct. 4, 1967) has been in a lot of independent films, but may be best known of this role as Ray Donovan in the television show of the same name.
63. Grand in scale: EPIC.
64. Virtuous: NOBLE.
65. Come in last: LOSE.
66. Breaks a commandment: SINS.
67. Treadmill setting: SPEED.
Down:
1. Driver of "Ferrari": ADAM. Adam Driver (né Adam Douglas Driver; b. Nov. 19, 1983) portrayed Enzo Ferrari (né Enzo Anselmo Giuseppe Maria Ferrari; Feb. 18, 1898 ~ Aug. 14, 1988) in the 2023 film.
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| Adam Driver, left and Enzo Ferrari, right. |
2. El Pollo __: fast-casual Southwestern chain: LOCO. I am not familiar with this fast-food chain, but it was easy enough to suss out.
3. Comedian Bill who plays Migs Mayfeld on "The Mandalorian": BURR. The Mandalorian is one of the Star Wars films. In the film, Bill Burr (né William Frederic Burr; b. June. 1968) portrays the leader of a gang of criminals.
4. Leveraging: USING.
5. Seance leaders: MEDIUMS.
6. Mark of shame: STIGMA.
7. Constellation bear: URSA.
8. Outward appearance: MIEN.
9. Limited-time offers: SPECIALS.
10. Mouse target on a browser window: SCROLL BAR.
11. Reply to a racy joke, perhaps: YOU'RE SO BAD.
12. Tennis court divider: NET.
13. Items in jewel boxes: Abbr.: CDs. As in Compact Discs.
21. Scottish no: NAE.
22. Initials for "good" cholesterol: HDL. High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is the "good" cholesterol because it acts as a scavenger and removes excess cholesterol from tissues and blood vessels to the liver to be removed, thus protecting against cardiovascular disease.
25. __ happen: practically guaranteed: SURE TO.
26. Insurer with a duck mascot: AFLAC. This insurance company appears often in the puzzles. The name is an acronym for American Family Life Assurance Company. The company has been around for over 70 years.
27. Keep the beat with one's foot: TOE TAP.
28. Companies that have exclusive control of a market: MONOPOLIES.
30. Sophomore's grade: TENTH.
31. "I __ to differ": BEG.
32. Under siege: BESET.
34. "Stick around a while!": DON'T LEAVE.
38. Game-stopping sounds from refs: WHISTLES.
39. Charged particle: ION.
43. "Good to go" hand gestures: OK SIGNS.
45. __-rock music: ALT.
46. Science of light: OPTICS. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Science of Light.
47. Post-WWII treaty gp.: OAS.
51. Nosy buttinsky: SNOOP.
53. Arizona people: HOPI. The Hopi Tribe is a sovereign nation located in northeastern Arizona.
54. Comparable (to): AKIN.
55. NBA legend Bryant: KOBE. Kobe Bean Bryant (Aug. 23, 1978 ~ Jan. 26, 2020) spent his entire basketball career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Tragically, Kobe and his young daughter, Gianna (May 1, 2006 ~ Jan. 26, 2020), were killed in a helicopter crash.
56. Turf surrounded by surf: ISLE.
57. Not just want: NEED.
58. "I'm __ ears!": ALL.
59. Ipanema's city: RIO. A beautiful beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
חתולה
Today is the Jewish holiday of Purim. It is a very joyous holiday commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination by Queen Esther. The Book of Esther is read in synagogue and congregants dress up in costumes. It's fun to be in Israel during Purim because everyone dresses up. You see people in costume on the street, in shops, in restaurants, in banks ... A traditional treat for Purim is Hamantaschen, which are triangular cookies filled with poppy seed, or other jams.
