Tuesday, March 10, 2026

QOD:  An election is no time to discuss serious issues.  ~  Kim Campbell (née Avril Phaedra Douglas Campbell; b. Mar. 10, 1947), 19^th Prime Minister of Canada

Odds or Evens?

20-Across. Road trip activity with yes or no answers: TWENTY QUESTIONS.

34-Across. Uno's predecessor: CRAZY EIGHTS.

41-Across. Hasbro product with yellow and red checkers: CONNECT FOUR.

And the unifier:

51-Across. "You must consider the odds," and what can be said about 20-, 34-, or 41-Across?: IT'S A NUMBERS GAME.  Consider the Odds that all the Games have Even Numbers.

Across:

1. Sleight of hand: MAGIC.

6. Film trivia site: IMDB.  As in Internet Movie DataBase.  It's useful when you recognize an actor's face, but can't think of his name.

10. __ golf: DISC.  I'll let the golfers among us describe this sport.

14. Best Picture Oscar winner starring Mikey Madison: ANORA.  Anora is a romantic comedy-drama about a young girl from Brooklyn who meets and marries the wealthy son of a Russian oligarch.  His parent's aren't amused.

 

15. Nurture: REAR.

16. Machu Picchu builder: INCA.  Machu Picchu is an Incan city set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru. Built in the 15th century and later abandoned.  It is known renowned for its dry-stone walls that fuse huge blocks without the use of mortar and panoramic views.   It is truly breathtaking.  If you have an opportunity to visit the site, I highly recommend it.

17. Played on TV again: RERAN.

18. Years, in Latin: ANNI.  Anno is singular; Anni is plural.

19. Aussie greeting: G'DAY.  We learned about Australian greetings a couple of weeks ago.

23. Fashion designer Anna: SUI.  Anna Sui (b. Aug. 4, 1955) was a big name in fashion in the early aughts.

24. Low-carb diet: KETO.  Keto is short for ketogenic, a diet designed to induce ketosis, a metabolic state where the body burns fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates.

25. Bona fide: ACTUAL.  More of today's Latin lesson.  It literally means In Good Faith.

29. On a cruise ship, maybe: ASEA.

31. Glamping options, for short: RVs.

36. Butter unit: PAT.

37. Saintly ring of light: HALO.

38. "Hamilton" actress Phillipa: SOO.  Philippa Anne Soo (b. May 31, 1990) makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.  She is best known for her role as Eliza Hamilton in the original Broadway musical Hamilton.

39. The Big Easy, for short: NOLA.  As in New Orleans, Louisiana.

40. Mother of 41-Down: EVE.  //  41-Down. Genesis brother: CAIN.

45. Lair: DEN.

46. Like some limited-release films: ARTY.

47. Hoot and __: HOLLER.

48. Bed size: TWIN.  Back in the olden days, married couples slept in twin beds.

50. Buddy: PAL.

59. __ scale: measure of mineral hardness: MOHS.  The Mohs scale of mineral hardness was developed in 1812 by Friedrich Mohs (né Carl Friedrich Christian Mohs; Jan. 29, 1883 ~ Sept. 29, 1839), a German chemist.

60. Beat handily: ROUT.

61. Language of Sri Lanka: TAMIL.  Sri Lanka is the island country off the tip of India.

62. Item on a stage manager's checklist: PROP.

63. Ilk: SORT.

64. Pizzeria appliances: OVENS.

65. Participates in a bee: SEWS.

66. Tense and irritable: EDGY.

67. Gossipy person: YENTA.

Down:

1. Bodega: MART.

2. From the top: ANEW.  A crossword staple.

3. 1990s vice president: GORE.  Before he became the 45th Vice President, Al Gore (né Albert Arnold Gore Jr.; b. Mar. 31, 1948) served as a United States Senator from Tennessee.

4. Tehran's country: IRAN.  I think this country has been in the news recently.  Did any of you watch the television show Tehran that is on Apple TV?

5. "Who knows": CAN'T SAY.

6. Baghdad citizen: IRAQI.

7. Array of course offerings?: MENU.

8. Great __: big dog: DANE.

9. Staple of Texas barbecue: BRISKET.  Yummers!

10. Finger or toe: DIGIT.

11. Splashy hotel amenity?: INDOOR POOL.

12. Read a barcode: SCAN.

13. Tropical islets: CAYS.  Everything you ever wanted to know about Cays, but didn't know to ask.

21. Christmas season: YULE.

Christmas in July.

22. Brews enjoyed with scones: TEAS.

25. Felt a workout: ACHED.

26. Hunger for: CRAVE.

27. Amateur production: TALENT SHOW.

28. "The Residence" star Aduba: UZO.  I am not familiar with either The Residence or Uzo Aduba (née Uzoamaka Nwanneka "Uzo" Aduba; b. Feb. 10, 1981).  She is probably best known for her portrayal of Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on Orange Is the New Black.

29. Torment: AGONY.

30. "If the __ fits ... ": SHOE.

32. Regard highly: VALUE.

33. Ringo of the Beatles: STARR.

35. "This __ about you": ISN'T.

39. Gp. that sets a zebra among the Lions?: NFL.  The zebras here are the referees.

42. Surgical asst.: OR NURSE.

43. Blacken, as a steak: CHAR.

44. "Anna Karenina" novelist: TOLSTOY.  Leo Tolstoy (Sept. 9, 1828 ~ Nov. 20, 1910) published Anna Karenina as a novel in 1878.  It had initially been released in serial increments between 1875 and 1877.  You can read it here.

49. Builders of papery nests: WASPS.

50. Like one who holds grudges: PETTY.

51. Rascals: IMPS.

52. Ripped: TORE.

beyond torn.

53. Word before ring or swing: MOOD.

54. Town: BURG.

55. Donated: GAVE.

56. Blessing ender: AMEN.

57. Julep herb: MINT.  Yummers!

58. Disney princess with icy powers: ELSA.  A reference to Frozen.

That's all for this week.

חתולה

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

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.

20-Across. *  One who delivers the early news: MORNING ANCHOR.

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.

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.