Tuesday, April 21, 2026

QOD:  It is in times of stress and difficulty that we most need to remember that we have much more in common than there is dividing us.  ~  Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom (Apr. 21, 1926 ~ Sept. 8, 2022)

A Trip to the Deli.  No trip to New York City is complete without a trip to a deli, where you can get the best bagels with all the fixings.  A brief history of the Bagel.

My favorite deli in NYC,

16-Across. Didn't hold back in competition: PLAYED TOWIN.  Plain Bagels.

23-Across. Field that drives the self-help industry: POP PSYCHOLOGY.  Poppy Bagels.

37-Across. Lettuce, tomato, or cucumber, often: SALAD INGREDIENT.  Salt Bagel.  Salt bagels don't hold up well in humid Louisiana.

50-Across. Extremely special: ONE IN A MILLION.  Onion Bagel.

And the unifier:

61-Across. Deli gadget that's been used on 16-, 23-, 37-, and 50-Across?: BAGEL SLICER.

Here's the grid so you can see the "sliced" bagels.

What other treats are in store for us?

Across:

1. Collect over time: AMASS.

6. Sound with a dismissive wave: PFFT.

10. Number before a + on a board game box: AGE.

13. Colorful parrot: MACAW.

14. "Toodles!": SEE YA!

15. American writer Edgar Allan __: POE.  Edgar Allan Poe (Jan. 19, 1809 ~ Oct. 7, 1849) is known for his macabre and mysterious short stories and poetry.  His short story, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, is considered the first modern detective story.

18. Spot for rubbish: BIN.  Do you say Trash Bin or Trash Can?

19. Little tastes: SIPS.

20. Actor McKellen: IAN.  That's Sir Ian Murray McKellen (b. May 25, 1939) to you.  He is probably best known for his roles as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings.

21. Advances, in football: GAINS.

27. World Cup chant: OLÉ.  Today's Spanish lesson.

29. Sorta: -ISH.

30. Zoom organizer: HOST.

31. Kansas City tight end Travis: KELCE.  Rumor has it that he is getting married soon.

33. Fish that resembles a sea snake: EEL.

34. "Yo," in Rio: OLÁ.  Hello, this is today's Portuguese lesson.

42. Miles away: FAR.

43. Walking buddy, maybe: DOG.

44. Guy who knows all the best spots?: AD MAN.

45. Active person: DOER.

47. Khan Academy founder Khan: SAL.  Salman Amin Khan is an American educator and the founder of The Khan Academy is a free online non-profit educational platform with video lessons teaching a wide spectrum of academic subjects.  When Salman Amin Khan (Oct. 11, 1976) formed the company, it originally focused on mathematics and science.

49. Make a choice: OPT.  You opted to look at this blog today.

55. South Pacific island group: SAMOA.

56. Ball drop night, for short: NYE.  The ball in Times Square falls on New Year's Eve.  A brief history of the Ball in Times Square.

57. Actress Edelstein: LISA.  Lisa Edelstein (b. May 6, 1966) is probably best known for her role as Dr. Lisa Cuddy on House.

60. Org. that bestows Silver Gavel Awards: ABA.   As in the American Bar Association.  Everything you ever wanted to know about the Silver Gavel Award but didn't know to ask.

65. Colorful pond fish: KOI.

66. E, in a treble clef mnemonic: EVERY.  Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge or Football.

67. Calendar entry: EVENT.

68. Pioneering 52-Down provider: AOL.  //  52-Down. Outlook message: EMAIL.

69. Canvas structure: TENT.

70. College stressors: TESTS.  The semester is winding up and Final Tests are on the horizon.

Down:

1. Hypes (up): AMPS.

2. Timbuktu's land: MALI.  Fun facts about Mali:  its official name is the Republic of Mali.  It is the 8th largest country in Africa and the 23rd largest country in the world.  

3. Noninstrumental music genre: A CAPPELLA.

4. Authority: SAY SO.

5. Country between Fin. and Nor.: SWE.  Sweden is between Finland and Norway.

6. Indiana state flower: PEONY.  The Magnolia is the state flower of Louisiana.  Magnolia trees are in bloom now.  What is the state flower of your state?

7. Not many: FEW.

8. "Just a heads-up ... ": FYI.  For Your Information.

9. Performs a dramatic ballroom dance: TANGOS.  It takes two ...

10. HS course whose first unit is Chemistry of Life: AP BIO.  As in Advanced Placement Biology.

11. On the way out: GOING.

12. Li'l: EENSY.

14. Secret supply: STASH.

17. Short swims: DIPS.

22. "Curiously strong" mint: ALTOID.  Did you know that Altoids have been around for almost 250 years??!!

24. Covered with colorful blotches: PIED.

25. "If I Could Turn Back Time" singer: CHER.  Cher (née Cheryl Sarkisian; b. May 20, 1946) is also known for her outlandish outfits.

26. Plot problem: HOLE.

27. Signs off on: OKs.

28. Fall faller: LEAF.

32. Part of a HIIT workout: CARDIO.  High Intensity Interval Training is a good Cardio exercise.

33. French toast need: EGG.

35. Citrusy frozen desserts: LEMON ICES.

36. "Time for __": yawner's sigh: A NAP.

38. Brainchild: IDEA.

39. Standard: NORM.

40. Surrealist Salvador: DALI.  His full name was Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech (May 11, 1904 ~ Jan. 23, 1989).

41. Explosive Minecraft block: TNT.

46. With cash at stake: ON A BET.

47. With secrecy: SLYLY.

48. Beers that ferment faster than lagers: ALEs.  Wha's the difference between Beer and Ale?

50. Honshu city: OSAKA.  Osaka is a large port city and commercial center on the Japanese island of Honshu.  It is known 16th-century shogunate Osaka Castle, an historical landmark. The castle is surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry-blossom trees.

51. Home planet of Queen Amidala: NABOO.  A reference to the Star Wars movies.

53. Like noble gases: INERT.

54. Cocktail garnish that may be stuffed with blue cheese: OLIVE.

58. Dispatched: SENT.

59. __ and crafts: ARTS.

62. Common abbr. on street maps: AVE.  As in Avenue.  Is there a difference between a Street and an Avenue?

63. Demographic cohort, for short: GEN.  As in Generation.

64. Allow: LET.

This puzzle made me hungry, so I'm off for my morning Bagel.

חתולה

Sunday, April 21, 2024

QOD:  Women are complicated.  Not because women are crazy, but because people are crazy, and women happen to be people.  ~  Tavi Gevinson (b. Apr. 21, 1996), American writer and blogger

Friday, April 21, 2023

QOD:  I try to avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward.  ~  Charlotte Brontë (Apr. 21, 1816 ~ Mar. 31, 1855), British novelist

Thursday, April 21, 2022

QOD:  Silence is of different kinds, and breathes different meanings.  ~  Charlotte Brontë (Apr. 21, 1816 ~ Mar. 31, 1855), British novelist

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

QOD:  Adam invented love at first sight, one of the greatest labor-saving machines the world ever saw.  ~  Josh Billings (né Henry Wheeler Shaw; Apr. 21, 1818 ~ Oct. 14, 1885), American writer and humorist

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

QOD:  Advice is like castor oil, easy enough to give but dreadfully uneasy to take. ~ Josh Billings (né Henry Wheeler Shaw; Apr. 21, 1818 ~ Oct. 14, 1885), American writer and humorist

I'm so Dizzy from Running in Circles!  Although this appears to be the dreaded circle puzzle, the circles here are actually an integral part of the theme.  A word describing "run" is literally found in the circles.

20-Across. Stretched wall hangings: CANVAS PRINTS.  Sprint.

27-Across. Semi-casual garment named for an Atlantic island: BERMUDA SHORTS.  Dash.

42-Across. Major blood vessel in the neck: CAROTID ARTERY.  Dart.

48-Across. Waste one's time ... or what 20-, 27- and 42-Across contain?: RUN IN CIRCLES.

Run in Circles

Across:

1. Seer's card: TAROT.

6. On __: without a contract: SPEC.

10. No. on an invoice: ACCT.  As in Account Number.

14. When directed: ON CUE.

15. Downtime: LULL.

16. Cub or Brave, briefly: NLER.  The Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves are both National League baseball teams

17. Lawman Earp: WYATT.  Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (Mar. 19, 1848 ~ Jan. 13, 1929) also makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.  This is at least the 4th time he has visited when I provide commentary.  Interesting fact:  He was elected to be the constable of Lamar, Missouri in 1870.  Within a year, however, he left that job and somewhat aimlessly, began roaming the West.  He was arrested for stealing horses in Indiana territory.  He fled to Kansas to escape prosecution.  He was ultimately hired to be a police officer in Wichita, Kansas.  He was let go from that position after beating up a candidate for county sheriff.

18. Armory contents: AMMO.

19. Like a slick garage floor: OILY.

23. ... __ to grow on: extra birthday cake candle: AND ONE.

26. Severe anxiety: ANGST.

32. See 25-Down: BREES.  //  And 25. With 32-Across, record-setting New Orleans Saints quarterback: DREW.  These clues give us Drew Brees.  Drew Brees (né Andrew Christopher Brees; b. Jan. 15, 1979) gives back to  his community in many ways, including assistance during the current pandemic.

33. Words of empathy: I CARE.

34. Cries of pain: YOWS!.

35. Leaves out: OMITS.

36. Bottom of a ship: HULL.

40. Cause abrasion: CHAFE.

41. Leg bone: TIBIA.

45. 21st-century president with a Nobel Peace Prize: OBAMA.  President Barak Obama (b. Aug. 4, 1961) was the recipient of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

47. Sparkly headwear: TIARAS.

53. "My goodness!": EGAD!

54. Dueling blade: ÉPÉE.  A crossword staple.

55. Take potshots: SNIPE.

59. Early automaker: OLDS.  Ransom Eli Olds (June 3, 1864 ~ Aug. 26, 1950) was a pioneer in the American auto industry.  The Oldsmobile was named after him.  The Oldsmobile ceased production in 2004.

Ransom Olds driving his Oldsmobile.

60. Billionth: Pref.: NANO-. Think of the nano-second.  Opps!  You took too long!

61. Raptor's claw: TALON.

62. Senate spot: SEAT.

United States Senate

63. Citrus drinks: ADES.  Hi, Lemonade!

64. Leered at: OGLED.

Down:

1. AAA job: TOW.

2. At least one: ANY.

3. Color TV pioneer: RCA.  Color televisions have changed a bit since they first came out.

4. Results: OUT COMES.

5. The "T" in DPT: TETANUS.  The DPT is a vaccine that fights against 3 infectious diseases that were once common in childhood: Diphtheria, Pertussis (whooping cough), and Tetanus.

6. Croat, for one: SLAV.

7. Mountain cat: PUMA.

8. Shade trees: ELMS.  Sadly, many Elm trees have succumbed to Dutch Elm Disease.

9. Trotting sound: CLOP.

10. Bless with oil: ANOINT.

11. Holds on tight: CLINGS.

12. Boston NBAers: CELTS.

Boston Celtics from the 1980s.

13. Private rendezvous: TRYST.

21. Actor Beatty: NED.  Ned Beatty (né Ned Thomas Beatty; b. July 6, 1937) is a retired character actor.  He made his film debut in the 1972 movie Deliverance.

22. Like Flying Eagle pennies: RARE.  The Flying Eagle penny was in circulation in 1857 to 1858.  A little before my time.

23. First name in advice: ABBY.  Think of Dear Abby (née Pauline Esther Friedman; July 4, 1918 ~ Jan. 16, 2013).  She was known professionally as Abigail van Buren and wrote an advice column called Dear Abby.  Interestingly, her identical twin sister, Esther Pauline Friedman (July 4, 1819 ~ June 22, 2002) also wrote an advice column under the name of Ann Landers.  The Dear Abby column continues, but is now written by Abby's daughter, Jeanne Philips.

24. Fiddling emperor: NERO.

28. Set one's sights on: AIM AT.

29. Jules Verne genre: SCI-FI.

30. Couldn't stand: HATED.

31. Hosp. areas: ORs.  As in Operating Rooms

35. "Gotcha!": OHO!

36. Ran into trouble: HIT A SNAG.

37. Lyft alternative: UBER.  Both are ride services.

38. Turkish money: LIRA.  Very colorful.

39. Potato chip brand: LAYS.  If I am going to eat potato chips, I want just the plain chips ~ not one of those weird flavors.

40. Prefix with berry: CRAN.  A brief history of the CRANBERRY.  It's not just for Thanksgiving.

41. Gives it a go: TRIES TO.

42. Country with the longest coastline: CANADA.  My first thought was Chile, but that country doesn't have enough letters.  I had forgotten about the long northern coastline of Canada.  Hi, CanadianEh!

43. In the thick of: AMIDST.

44. World's busiest airport, on luggage tags: ATL.  As in the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

45. Layered cookies: OREOS.  A crossword staple

46. Taps horn: BUGLE.

49. Wrestler John: CENA.  John Felix Anthony Cene, Jr. (b. Apr. 23, 1977) is not only a wrestler, but also a rapper, actor  and television personality.  His birthday is on Thursday.

50. Tablet with Siri: iPAD.

51. "The Son of Man" painter Magritte: RENÉ.  René Margritte (Nov. 21, 1898 ~ Aug. 15, 1967) was a Belgian Surrealist artist.

52. Corp. bigwigs: CEOs.  As in Chief Executive Officers.

56. Under the weather: ILL.

57. "Annabel Lee" poet: POE.  As in Edgar Allan Poe (Jan. 19, 1809 ~ Oct. 7, 1849).

58. Coincidentally and aptly, it was also yesterday's last Down answer: END.  This must have been Rich's clue.  You have to do yesterday's puzzle to "get" this clue.

QOD:  Advice is like castor oil, easy enough to give but dreadfully uneasy to take. ~ Josh Billings (né Henry Wheeler Shaw; Apr. 21, 1818 ~ Oct. 14, 1885), American writer and humorist