Tuesday, March 17, 2026 St. Patrick's Day

QOD:  

Let's Talk:

19-Across. Emotional plea in "Top Gun" and "Top Gun: Maverick": TALK TO ME, GOOSE.

26-Across. "I didn't hear a 'Please'!": SAY THE MAGIC WORD.

43-Across. "Why this course of action?": EXPLAIN YOURSELF.

And the unifier:

53-Across. Requests to Siri and Alexa, or what 19-, 26-, and 43-Across literally are: VOICE COMMANDS.

Across:

1. Lobby group for seniors: AARP.  American Association of Retired Persons.

5. "__ knew?": WHO.

8. Red light therapy venues: SPAS.  Red Light Therapy uses low-level, 630–700 nm wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to boost cellular energy, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue repair.  Sessions last 5–20 minutes and are used to treat acne, wrinkles, hair loss, and chronic pain. While generally safe, it requires consistent use to see results and may carry risks of eye damage if not used properly.  I think I'll pass on this therapy.

12. Pink's counterpart in "Wicked": GREEN.

14. Stranger __ fiction: THAN.

15. Work for: EARN.

16. Italian liqueur such as Aperol or Campari: AMARO.  Amaro is a family of Italian herbal liqueurs, (amaro means bitter) that are made by infusing a base spirit (like wine or neutral grain spirit) with a blend of botanicals such as herbs, roots, flowers, and citrus peels, resulting in a bittersweet, complex flavor profile.

17. Blow off steam: VENT.

18. Cogito, __ sum: ERGO.  Today's Latin lesson ... or, as René Descartes (Mar. 31, 1596 ~ Feb. 11, 1650) so succinctly stated:  I think, therefore I am.

22. NYC summer hrs.: EDT.  As in Eastern Daylight Time.  We just "sprung" forward over the weekend.

23. Most consecutive Super Bowls won by the same team: TWO.  Eight NFL teams have won 2 consecutive Super Bowls:  Green Bay Packers (I-II), Miami Dolphins (VII-VIII), Pittsburgh Steelers (IX-X & XIII-XIV), San Francisco 49ers (XXIII-XXIV), Dallas Cowboys (XXVII-XXVIII), Denver Broncos (XXXII-XXXIII), New England Patriots (XXXVIII-XXXIX), and Kansas City Chiefs (LVII-LVIII).

24. Italian fashion house: PRADA.  Prada means Meadow in Italian.  The Italian fashion house, however, was founded by Mario Prada (1894 ~ 1958).

31. "I __ a hunch!": HAD.

32. Insta upload: PIC.  As in Pictures.

33. Guitar Hero World Tour console: WII.

34. Helpful feedback: INPUT.

37. Fuel efficiency stat: MPG.  As in Miles Per Gallon (of gasoline).

38. Gives a hoot: MINDS.

40. Corp. leader: CEO.  As in Chief Executive Officer.

41. Wilmington's st.: DEL.  Wilmington is in Delaware.

42. __ rummy: GIN.  Gin Rummy is a card game.

50. Harbor Freight purchases: TOOLS.

51. "Hello, fellow sheep": BAA.

52. Stretch the truth: LIE.

57. Graduate of the CIA, perhaps: CHEF.  Not the Central Intelligence Agency, but the Culinary Institute of America.

59. Great Plains tribe: OTOE.

60. Corrosive compounds: ACIDS.

61. Subtle glow: AURA.

62. Numbered hwys.: RTES.  As in Routes.

63. "Girls5eva" co-star __ Elise Goldsberry: RENÉE.  I am not familiar with with either Renée Elise Goldsberry (b. Jan. 2, 1971) or Girls5eva.

64. Fishnet fabric: MESH.

65. Pops: DAD.

66. Covers with grass: SODS.

Down:

1. Rock shop options: AGATES.

2. Naval fleet: ARMADA.  The best known Armada is the infamous Spanish Armada, which set sail from Spain in 1588 in an effort to invade England.  It failed.

3. "Million Dollar Listing" field: REALTY.

4. Fringe benefit: PERK.

5. Cry of delight: WHEE.

6. Kick back (with): HANG.

7. Good place for a lecturer to stay?: ON TOPIC.

8. Teeter-totter: SEESAW.

9. Streamline, perhaps: PARE DOWN.

10. Iguazu Falls land: Abbr.: ARG.  Iguaza Falls is a spectacular waterfall system that consists of over 275 individual drops spanning nearly 2 along the Argentina-Brazil border. 

11. Cold-sounding commercial prefix: SNO.

13. "Anything else!": NOT THAT!  Not exactly sure how this answer fits.

14. Claire Dunphy, e.g.: TV MOM.  Claire Dunphy was the fictional mother on Modern Family.  She was programmed by Julie Bowen (née born Julie Bowen Luetkemeyer, b. March 3, 1970).

20. Carried a debt: OWED.

21. Goblinlike creature: ORC.  The Orc is a fictional creature from The Lord of the Rings.

25. Bone-dry: ARID.

27. Thanksgiving, e.g.: Abbr.: THU.  Thanksgiving is a holiday that always falls on the third Thursday of November.

28. Put on, as nail polish: APPLY.

29. Job for a DJ: GIG.

30. Prefix with loyal and service: DIS.   As in Disloyal and Disservice.

34. The "I" of the RICE method: ICE.  Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate.

35. Dismissive call: NEXT.

36. Puffy pastries: POPOVERS.  Yummers!

37. Guys: MEN.

38. San Diego neighborhood whose name means "sea view": MIRAMAR.

39. __ and outs: INS.

41. Lack of harmony: DISCORD.

42. U.S. Pacific island: GUAM.  Guam appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle.  [See clue 24-down.]  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.

44. Bath scrubber: LOOFAH.

45. Oscar winner Mahershala: ALI.  Mahershala Ali (né Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore, b. Feb. 15, 1974) is an American actor who has two Oscars: One for his portrayal of a drug dealer in Moonlight and one for his portrayal of Don Shirley in Green Book.

46. Thin woodwinds: OBOES.  These woodwinds make frequent appearances in the puzzles.

47. Pacific climate phenomenon: EL NIÑO.  Everything you ever wanted to know about El Niño.

48. Heavy-__: sleepy: LIDDED.

49. Admits, with "up": 'FESSES.

54. Jazz great James: ETTA.  Etta James (née Jamesetta Hawkins; Jan. 25, 1938 ~ Jan. 20, 2012) is a frequent guest in the puzzles.

55. Like many dorms: CO-ED.  Last Tuesday this was clued as Not Single-Sex.  [See 16-Across.]

56. Top poker cards: ACES.

57. Kiss __: PDA capturer at a stadium: CAM.  The infamous Kiss Cam from last summer's Coldplay concert.

58. Shade on a color wheel: HUE.

חתולה

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

QOD:  Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.  ~  Count Leo Tolstoy (Sept. 9, 1828 ~ Nov. 20, 1910), Russian novelist

Jump Jive an' Wail.  The circles all spell out synonyms for Jump.

17-Across. Sweet apple cultivar from Minnesota: HONEY CRISP.   HOP.  Everything you wanted to  know about Honey Crisp Apples.

25-Across. Enjoy a clothes-free swim: SKINNY DIP.  SKIP.

36-Across. Common Banksy technique: SPRAY PAINTING.  SPRING.  Banksy is a pseudonymous and controversial English street artist identity remains unconfirmed.  There was a Banksy in New Orleans.

Banksy in New Orleans.

48-Across. Buttery cookie made with citrus zest: LEMON SNAP.  LEAP.

And the Unifier:

59-Across. House of Pain hit that begins "Pack it up, pack it in," and a description of each set of circled letters: JUMP AROUND.

Here's the Grid so you can see the Circles:

Across:

1. Feel sore: ACHE.

5. Caution light color: AMBER.

10. Tuts: TSKS.

King Tuts

14. More than dampen: SOAK.

15. Ballet-inspired fitness class: BARRE.  Barre exercise is a low-impact workout that combines elements of ballet, Pilates, and yoga to build strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, and core stability. The exercise uses a ballet barre, for support and features high repetitions of small, pulsing movements and isometric holds.

16. Mimics: APES.

19. "As __ on TV": SEEN.

20. TV series pts.: EPS.  Episodes, I presume.

21. Is inquisitive: ASKS.

22. Pedometer unit: STEP.

23. Seattle WNBA team: STORM.

29. Move stealthily: SNEAK.

31. Statler and Waldorf, e.g.: DUO.  Characters from The Muppets.

32. Short way to go?: RTE.  The abbreviation for Route.

33. "Omg, I just got it!": AHA!

34. Boca Raton's st.: FLA.

35. Chrysalis: PUPA.

40. Landlocked Asian country: LAOS.

41. Key in a keyboard combo: ALT.  Control-Alt.-Delete.

42. Laverne of "Orange Is the New Black": COX.  I never watched Orange Is the New Black, so was not familiar with Laverne Cox (b. May 29, 1972).  Apparently, she portrayed Sophia Burnet on the show.

43. Little trickster: IMP.

44. Letters before an alias: AKA.  Also Known As.

45. Really long stories: EPICS.

52. V-sign sentiment: PEACE.

54. Linus's sister: LUCY.  From the Peanuts cartoon.

55. Grain in 26-Down: RICE.  //  And 26-Down. Savory breakfast cake of South India: IDLI.  Definitely not a Tuesday word.  Idli or idly is a type of savory rice cake, originating from Southern India.  It is a popular breakfast food in Southern India and in Sri Lanka. The cakes are made by steaming a batter consisting of fermented de-husked black lentils and rice.

57. Male offspring: SON.

58. Party thrower: HOST.

62. Pop singer Sands: EVIE.  I am not familiar name Evie Sands (b. July 18, 1946).  I recognize some of her music, but I think what I remember was another artist singing the songs.

63. Thin woodwinds: OBOES.

64. Go back and forth, in a way: PACE.

65. Religious offshoot: SECT.

66. Curt: TERSE.

67. Vehicle with runners: SLED.

Down:

1. Campfire residue: ASHES.

2. Takes over: COOPTS.

3. "MMMBop" boy band: HANSON.  Hanson is a pop rock band made up of three brothers Isaac Hanson (b. 1980), Taylor Hanson (b. 1983), and Zac Hanson (b. 1985).   They were big in the 1990 when they were still very young.  Hanson is best known for the 1997 hit song MMMBop was one of their big hits from 1997.  At the time the video was recorded, the brothers were only 16, 14, and 11 years old.

4. Scrape (by): EKE.

5. Pre-K song subject: ABCs.

6. Stains: MARKS.

7. Rapid: BRISK.

8. Hosp. areas: ERs.  As in Emergency Rooms.

9. Sales agt.: REP.

10. Delicious: TASTY.

11. Complete as fast as possible, as a video game: SPEED RUN.

12. "Young ears are listening": KEEP IT PG.

13. Fig. exposed in some data breaches: SSN.  As in Social Security Number.

18. World's largest manufacturer of musical instruments: YAMAHA.  When I think of Yamaha, my first thought is motorcycles.  Yamaha Corporation and Yamaha Motor are related but separate companies.

22. __-Caps candy: SNO.  Yummers!

24. Raises, as kids: REARS.

27. Subtle distinction: NUANCE.

28. Chicken pot pie vegetable: PEA.

30. Inuit boats: KAYAKS.  A brief history of the Kayak.

34. Avocado's abundance: FAT.  Yummers!  My favorite restaurant has stuffed avocados.

35. __ cut: cropped style: PIXIE.

36. Marriage equality anthem by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: SAME LOVE.

37. Taylor Swift genre: POP MUSIC.  I heard she just got engaged.

38. Make an itinerary, say: PLAN.

39. Tall hat: TOPPER.  Meh!  I wasn't keen on this clue.

40. Short, for short: L'IL.

44. "__ ideas?": ANY.

46. Like a situationship: CASUAL.  Also known as Friends with Benefits.

47. Light fixture on a wall: SCONCE.

49. Group of eight: OCTET.

50. "My knight in shining __!": ARMOR.

51. Singing ability, informally: PIPES.

53. Came to a close: ENDED.

56. Guitar protector: CASE.

58. "__ making a list ... ": HE'S.  I saw some Christmas decorations in a store over the weekend!  Way too early!!  Is it too soon for a Santa cartoon?

59. Scribble (down): JOT.

60. Purple yam: UBE.  This tuber appears with some frequency in the puzzles.

61. Photo __: OPs.

I'll Jump away for now.

חתולה