QOD: Darryl Gonzalez

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Tuesday, 7 February 2023

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

QOD: Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. ~ Charles Dickens (né Charles John Huffman Dickens; Feb. 9, 1819 ~ June 9, 1870), British novelist

Black and White: There is no grey area in today's puzzle.

17-Across. * Focaccia with kalamatas, e.g.: OLIVE BREAD. Black Olive and White Bread. Black and White can also apply to and White Olive (yes, there is such a thing) and Black Bread.

24-Across. * Exclusive Hollywood clubhouse that has a Parlour of Prestidigitation: MAGIC CASTLE. Black Magic and White Castle. Black and White can also apply to White Magic (magic used to do good in the world) and Black Castle (It's a castle in Ireland).

47-Across. * Virtual locale for exchanging ideas: MARKET SPACE. Black Market and White Space. White Market refers to legal transactions. Black Space is an Israeli series that was released on Netflix.

56-Across. * Holiday candle scent: FOREST PINE. Black Forest and White Pine. Black and White can also apply to White Forest (a fictional area in the Pokémon world) and Black Pine.

And the unifier:

35-Across. Clear-cut, and what each part of the answers to the starred clues can follow, respectively: BLACK AND WHITE.

Today's theme reminded me of the Entenmann's Black and White cookies.

Across:

1. Athletic activity: SPORT. // And 10-Across. Three follower: PEAT. In sports, a Three-Peat is a third consecutive championship.

6. Diesel, e.g.: FUEL. Also the stage name of actor Mark Sinclair (b. July 18, 1967), better known as Vin Diesel.

14. "60 Minutes" correspondent O'Donnell: NORAH. Norah O'Donnell (née Norah Morahan O'Donnell; b. Jan. 23, 1974) has been with 60 Minutes for nearly a decade. [Name # 1.]

15. Other, in Spanish: OTRA. Today's Spanish lesson. Hi, Lucina!

16. Golfer Nordqvist who won the 2021 Women's British Open: ANNA. I don't follow golf, so was unfamiliar with Swedish golfer Anna Nordqvist (née Ana Maria Nordqvist; b. June 10, 1987), although the perms made her her name was easy enough to fill in. [Name # 2.]

19. Pesters: NAGS.

20. Buffy player Sarah Michelle __: GELLAR. Sarah Michelle Gellar (b. Apr. 14, 1977) has been in other productions, but will forever be associated as being the Vampire Slayer. [Name # 3.]

21. Side: FACET.

22. "Is that really true about me?": AM I?

27. TV room: DEN.

28. Actor Vigoda: ABE. Abe Vigor (né Abraham Charles Vigoda; Feb. 24, 1921 ~ Jan. 26, 2016) is probably best known for his role as Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather and as Phil Fish on Barney Miller. [Name # 4.]

29. Hodgepodge: OLIO.

30. Piece of granite: SLAB. Often used in cemeteries.

32. Clutter-averse type: NEATNIK. // I would expect the beatnik to be 55-Across. Orderly: TIDY.

39. "Funny Face" co-star Fred: ASTAIRE. Fred Astaire (né Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 ~ June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, choreographer, actor and singer. He stared with Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face. [Name # 5.]

40. Penny: CENT.

42. Caribbean landmass: ISLE.

43. "You're it!" game: TAG.

46. "The Catcher in the __": RYE. The Catcher in the Rye is the 1951 novel by J.D. Salinger (né Jerome David Salinger; Jan. 1, 1919 ~ Jan. 27, 2010) and, when I was growing up, was read in high school. It may be on the banned list now.

51. Smallish battery: AAA.

52. "By Jove!": EGADS!

53. Gift giver's exhortation: OPEN IT!

60. Skin balm: ALOE. A crossword staple. It appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle.

61. Wide-mouthed jug: EWER.

62. Unsocial one: LONER.

63. Microscope part: LENS.

64. Marries: WEDS.

65. "Last Night in Soho" director Wright: EDGAR. Last Night in Soho is a 2021 psychological film. Edgar Wright (né Edgar Howard Wright; b. Apr. 18, 1974) is a British movie director. [Name # 6.]

Down:

1. __-cone: shaved ice treat: SNO.

2. One running for office, informally: POL.

3. Documents brought to copy shops: ORIGINALS.

4. Big dance party: RAVE.

5. "__ & Louise": THELMA. I can't believe that it has been 31 years since Thelma & Louise was released. [Name adjacent]

6. Hunt for provisions: FORAGE.

7. Wombs: UTERI.

8. Pitching stat: ERA. As in Earned Run Average.

9. Boy: LAD.

10. Camcorder maker headquartered in Osaka: PANASONIC. Everything you wanted to know about the Panasonic company, but didn't know to ask.

11. Put into law: ENACT.

12. Heavenly figure: ANGEL.

13. Little bite: TASTE.

18. Chatter thoughtlessly: BLAB.

21. Religious belief: FAITH. Also the name of country singer Faith Hill (née Audrey Faith Perry; b. Sept. 21, 1967).

22. Commercials: ADS.

23. Peach __: fruity dessert with vanilla ice cream: MELBA. Peach melba was invented in the 1890s by a French chef to honor Dame Nellie Melba (née Helen Porter Mitchell; May 19, 1861 ~ Feb. 23, 1931), an Australian soprano opera singer. [Name adjacent.]

25. Not just for women: CO-ED.

26. Prize grabber in an arcade game: CLAW.

31. Coloring agents for some textile workers: BATIK DYES.

32. SSW's opposite: NNE. Compass points.

33. Repeating: ITERATING.

34. Maasai Mara National Reserve location: KENYA. The Maasai Mara is an important wildlife conservation area in Africa. It is home to large populations of lions, leopards, cheetahs and the African bush elephant. It is also important in the Great Wildebeest Migration

36. Docket backlog: CASES.

37. Tartan wrap: KILT. I was at the theater over the weekend, and there was a random man wearing a kilt.

38. Son of Zeus: ARES. Ares was the Greek god of war. [Name # 7.]

41. Lipton beverage: TEA.

43. Slim candles: TAPERS.

44. King toppers: ACES.

45. Low dryer setting: GENTLE.

47. Alloy component: METAL.

48. Nimble: AGILE.

49. Hazardous gas: RADON. Everything you wanted to know about Radon, but didn't know to ask.

50. Studied, with "over": PORED.

54. Music-playing Apple device: iPOD. I use my iPod all the time. I don't know what I will do when the battery finally gives out.

56. Not many: FEW.

57. Be in debt to: OWE.

58. Teachers' org.: NEA. As in the National Education Association.

59. Go wrong: ERR.

And here's the grid:

חתולה

Tuesday, 15 June 2021

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

QOD: If you can find something that everyone agrees on, its wrong. ~ Mo Udall (né Morris King Udall; June 15, 1922 ~ Dec. 12, 1998), American politician

Vowel Progression.

16-Across. One who locks up: LAST TO LEAVE.

23-Across. Phrase used at a remembrance service: LEST WE FORGET.

36-Across. Resort website section that includes a pool and fitness center: LIST OF AMENITIES.

48-Across. Area to reclaim misplaced stuff: LOST AND FOUND.

58-Across. Existential passion: LUST FOR LIFE. In addition to being the title of an Iggy Pop song, it is the title of a 1934 biographical novel by Irving Stone about Vincent van Gogh.

Across:

1. Golf contemporary of Jack and Gary: ARNOLD. Arnold Palmer (Sept. 10, 1929 ~ Sept. 25, 2016), Jack Nicklaus (b. Jan. 21, 1940) and Gary Player (b. Nov. 1, 1935). They were born in different decades, however.

7. Diner order, briefly: BLT. As in a Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich.

10. Hullabaloo: ADO. Much Ado About Nothing: a play by Willie the Shakes.

13. Omelet maker's tool: BEATER.

14. Slangy "Agreed": YEAH.

15. Soda container: CAN.

18. Drive-__: outdoor movies: INS.

19. Important time: ERA.

20. Try to attract: WOO.

21. Chop finely: MINCE.

27. Lampoons: SATIRES.

30. Legal degs.: LLBs. As in a Bachelor of Law. In the United States, the degree is more commonly known as a Juris Doctor, or JD.

31. Chimp kin: ORANG.

32. Can. neighbor: USA. Hi, Canadian Eh! Apparently, Alaska is now a part of Canada.

33. Org. that issues drug recalls: FDA. As in the Food and Drug Administration.

41. N. or S. state: DAK. This explains why there are two Dakota States.

42. Gershwin brother: IRA. His brother was George. George (né Jacob Bruskin Gershowitz; Sept. 26, 1898 ~ July 11, 1937) and Ira (né Israel Gershowitz; Dec. 6, 1896 ~ Aug. 17, 1983) Gershwin collaborated on many popular songs; George was the composer and Ira was the lyricist. Sadly, George died young, but Ira carried on.

43. Vermouth name: ROSSI. It's first name is Martini.

44. Inventor Rubik: ERNŐ. Ernő Rubik (b. July 13, 1944) is a Hungarian architect. He is best known, however, for inventing the Rubik's Cube.

46. Adriatic country: CROATIA.

52. Indian, for one: OCEAN. Did you know that just this week, the National Geographic cartographers have determined that there is now a Southern Ocean. The waters surrounding Antarctica have their own distinct characteristics.

53. Archery skill: AIM.

54. Lacking color: WAN.

57. Had some lunch, say: ATE.

63. "The Simpsons" neighbor Flanders: NED.

64. Elevator name: OTIS. Elisha Graves Otis (Aug. 3, 1811 ~ Apr. 8, 1861) didn't actually invent the elevator, but he did invent a safety device that prevents the elevator fromm falling if/when the hoisting cables fail.

65. Places to perch: ROOSTS.

66. Pig's digs: STY.

67. Spider's trap: WEB.

68. "Who cares?": SO WHAT?

Down:

1. Proficient: ABLE.

2. Stern, at sea: REAR. Hi, Spitzboov!

3. Mars rover org.: NASA. Postcards from Mars.

4. '20s-'40s slugger Mel: OTT. Louisiana native Melvin Thomas Ott (Mar. 2, 1909 ~ Nov. 21, 1958) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles. He was killed from injuries sustained in a car accident when he was only 49 years old.

5. "__ It Be": Beatles: LET.

6. Nod off: DROWSE.

7. Actress Arthur: BEA. Bea Arthur (née Beatrice Frankel; May 13, 1922 ~ Apr. 25, 2009) served in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve during World War II.

8. Loo: LAV. As in Lavatory.

9. Generic crime syndicate: THE MOB.

10. Killing it on the test: ACING.

11. Word after break or belly: DANCE.

12. First occurrence: ONSET.

14. "That's painful!": YEOW.

17. Homesites: LOTS.

22. Treasury Dept. org.: IRS. As in the Internal Revenue Service.

23. Dryer trap fuzz: LINT.

24. Cogito-sum link: ERGO. I think, therefore I am.

René Descartes (Mar. 31, 1596 ~ Feb. 11, 1650)

25. In addition: ELSE.

26. Eggy Spanish dessert: FLAN. Yummers!

27. Word after "Going twice": SOLD. Here is an interesting list of some of the most expensive pieces of art sold at auction.

28. "Carmen" solo: ARIA. You knew I couldn't resist including this aria.

29. Chore: TASK.

32. Thurman in films: UMA. Uma Thurman (née Uma Karuna Thurman; b. Apr. 29, 1970) starred in Pulp Fiction with John Travolta.

33. One of two bumped in friendship: FIST. The fist bump is also known as a Dap. Post-Covid, this may become the new handshake.

34. __ Arnaz, Jr., coverchild on the first TV Guide: DESI. Desi Arnez, Jr. (né Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV; b. Jan. 19, 1953) appeared on the April 3, 1953 eddition of TV Guide, when he was less than 3 months old.