Tuesday, November 3, 2020

QOD:  Voting is an expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country and this world.  ~  Sharon Salzburg (b. Aug. 5, 1952), American author

Election Day!  If you haven't already, today is the final day to cast your SECRET BALLOT!

I did the early voting thing.  Although the line looked long, it only took me 25 minutes from the time I got into the line and I when completed casting my vote.

Remember: No Politics. but do go follow the circles in each theme answer and VOTE.

 16-Across. Roughly: GIVE OR TAKE.

21-Across. Like medicine not requiring a prescription: OVER THE COUNTER.

48-Across. Debater for the opposition, at times: DEVIL'S ADVOCATE.

54-Across. Place sheltered from reality: IVORY TOWER.

And the Unifiers:

35-Across. With 37-Across, Election Day practice ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme: SECRET.  //  37-Across. See 35-Across: BALLOT.  Together this gives us the SECRET BALLOT.

Across:

1. Pacific island host of two "Survivor" seasons: PALAU.  Palau is actually an archipelago of over 200 islands in Mocronesia and is offically known as the Republic of Palau.  Only 8 of the islands, however, are permanently inhabited.

6. Caustic solution: LYE.

9. Indeed.com listings: JOBS.

13. Maker of Glide floss: ORAL-B.

14. Blacken a bit: SEAR.

15. Luminous glow: AURA.

18. Military group: UNIT.

19. SoCal cop squad: LAPD.  As in the Los Angeles Police Department.

20. Machu Picchu builders: INCAS.  We went to Machu Picchu 6 years ago.  It was truly spectacular.

27. Truth alternative, in a game: DARE.

28. Like rice and potatoes: STARCHY.

29. Homeric epic: ILIAD.  You can find out more about the Iliad.

31. Wipe the slate clean: ERASE.

32. Stat for Clayton Kershaw: ERA.  Clayton Kershaw is a professional baseball pitcher, hence, he has statistics for his Earned Run Average.  In 2014, he was the National League's MVP.

Clayton Edward Kershaw (b. Mar. 18, 1988)

39. Screeners at ORD: TSA.  ORD is the airport code for the O'Hare International Airport where the Transport Security Administration Agents screen potential passengers.  I haven't been on a plane since before the pandemic.

40. Like nostalgic art forms: RETRO.

44. Fitness system incorporating martial arts: TAE BO.  You can practice in your own home!

45. Mozart rival: SALIERI.  Antonio Salieri (Aug. 18, 1750 ~ May 7, 1825) was probably not the rival history has made him out to be.

47. Part of, as a plot: IN ON.

51. Smear with ink?: LIBEL.  Cute clue.

52. "__ the Parents": 2000 film: MEET.

53. Revered pop star, say: IDOL.

60. Chunky Monkey buy: PINT.  Chunky Monkey is one of Ben and Jerry's creation.  It is banana ice cream with fudge and walnuts.

61. Name of 12 popes: PIUS.  The first Pius was an early Pope who served from approximately 140 to 155 CE.  The most recent Pope with that name was Pope from 1939 unti 1958.

62. Conjure up: EVOKE.  Word of the week.

63. Eyelid ailment: STYE.

64. Fitting: APT.

65. __ over the coals: RAKED.  I had to wait for the perps for the final letter, since this phrase can be used in both present and past tense.

Down:

1. Faddish '90s disc: POG.  I guess I missed this fad.

2. "All Things Considered" host Shapiro: ARI.  Ari Michael Shapiro (b. Sept. 30, 1978) is a radio journalist on NPR.

3. Loo: LAV.

4. Pub drink: ALE.

5. A bike lock may be shaped like one: U-BOLT.  Not to be confused with Usain Bolt (b. Aug. 21, 1986).

6. Indy pacesetter: LEAD CAR.

1967 Ford Mustang Indy Pacesetter

7. Tibetan beast: YAK.

8. Middle of the "Able-Elba" palindrome: ERE.  The quote "Able was I ere I saw Elba" is attributed to Napoleon, but did he really say it?

9. Lively: JAUNTY.

10. Part of a pound: OUNCE.  Time to do your math homework.

11. Prickly shrub: BRIAR.

12. Coll. entrance exams: SATs.  Formerly known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, know simply the SAT.

14. Fla. coastal city: ST. PETE.  Hi, Tin!

17. Cheers at a bowl: RAHs!

20. Ready to mate: IN HEAT.

21. Writer of poetic praise: ODIST.  John Keats (Oct. 31, 1795 ~ Feb. 23, 1821) is probably one of the most famous Odists.

22. Lowlands: VALES.  What is the difference between Vale and Dale?

23. CNN journalist Hill: ERICA.  Erica Ruth Hill (b. Aug. 3, 1976).

24. Backside: REAR.

25. 60 minuti: ORA.  Today's Italian lesson.  There are 60 minutes in an hour.

26. State school near L.A.: UCSB.  As in the University of California, Santa Barbara.

30. Get off the track: DERAIL.

32. Justice Kagan: ELENA.  Elena Kagan (b. Apr. 28, 1960) has become a crossword staple.

33. R2-D2, for one: ROBOT.  One of the Robots from Star Wars.

34. Make up (for): ATONE.

36. Poker player's giveaway: TELL.

38. Of the flock: LAIC.  Religious reference.

41. Apt "it's" anagram: TIS.

42. Read the riot act: REAM OUT.

43. Cooks fill them: ORDERS.

45. Gracefully slender: SVELTE.

46. Tony winner Judith: IVEY.  Judith Lee Ivey (b. Sept. 4, 1951) is primarily a stage actress, but she has appeared in a number of films and TV shows, too.

48. Finished the work: DID IT.

49. Magazine that has had Lena Horne and Michelle Obama on its cover: EBONY.

50. River mammal: OTTER.  Otters are such cute little critters.

51. Kissers: LIPS.

54. Pub drink, briefly: IPA.  As in India Pale Ale.

55. Skybox guest: VIP.  As in a Very Important Person.

56. Eggs in a lab: OVA.

57. Stir-fry pan: WOK.

58. Squeeze (out): EKE.

59. Like Rupert Grint's hair: RED.  We couldn't have a crossword puzzle with out a reference to Harry Potter.  Rupert Alexander Lloyd Grint (b. Aug. 24, 1988) is best known for playing Ron Weasley in the film series.

Here's the Grid:

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

QOD:  Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.  ~  Cornel West (né Cornel Ronald West; June 2, 1953), African-American philosopher and social critic

Arts and Entertainment.  Each theme answer is a 2-word phrase where the first letter begins with "A" and the second word begins with "E".

17-Across. *   The "bush" type is the largest living land animal: AFRICAN ELEPHANT.

26-Across. *   Dorothy's female caretaker: AUNTIE EM.



47-Across. *   Sasha Fierce, for Beyoncé: ALTER EGO.  I Am ... Sasha Fierce was Beyoncé's 3rd album, which was released in 2008.

61-Across. *   Cardio workout: AEROBIC EXERCISE.  I miss not being able to go to the gym every day.  Exercising at home just isn't the same.



And the Unifier:

40-Across. "Ghost Hunters" channel suggested by the answers to starred clues: A AND E.

Across:

1. Thumb one's nose (at): SCOFF.

6. Type of lamp with a volcanic name: LAVA.

10. Magazine for docs: JAMA.  The Journal of the American Medical Association has been in publication since July 1883.  It is a peer-reviewed medical journal that publishes articles on original  medical research.  It's British counterpart is The Lancet, which is the oldest medical journal.  The Lancet has been in publication since 1823.  It was so named because a lancet was used in bleeding ill patients, which was, at the time, considered the "state-of-the-art" medical treatment.

14. Linney of "Ozark": LAURA.  Laura Linney (née Laura Legget Linney; b. Feb. 5, 1964) also played Sarah in one of Bill G's favorite movie Love Actually.

15. Sign above a door: EXIT.

16. Bullfight shouts:  ¡OLÉs!

20. "For sure!": YES!

21. Tots' sport with bases: T-BALL.

22. Listless feeling: ENNUI.  A crossword staple.

23. Fa-la link: SOL.

24. Eve's second son: ABEL.  //  Not to be confused with 18-Down. Start of a classic palindrome: ABLE.  The entirety of classic palindrome is:  Able Was I Ere I Saw Elba.  It is, ostensibly, attributed to Napoleón.

31. Majors in golf and tennis?: OPENS.

34. __ as a peacock: PROUD.

35. Self-centered: VAIN.

37. __ slaw: COLE.

39. Teen anti-DWI gp.: SADD.   Students Against Destructive Decisions.

41. "Sadly ... ": ALAS.

42. Big name in cosmetics: OLAY.

43. Really excited about: INTO.

44. Ear-to-ear smiles: GRINS.

45. It's taken by a witness, with "the": STAND.

49. Narc's coup: BUST.

51. Binary digit: ONE.

52. Cast a spell on: CHARM.

55. Up and about: AWAKE.

58. Waze display: MAP.  Waze is a GPS navigation software app.  It is owned by Google.

64. Baltic capital: RIGA.

65. Coastal recess: COVE.  Jessica Fletcher lived in Cabot Cove, Maine.

66. Greek column type: IONIC.

67. Poke: PROD.

68. Not new: USED.

69. Salon dos: COIFS.

Down:

1. Leave rolling in the aisles: SLAY.

2. Barista employer: CAFÉ.  A Barista is a person who sells expensive coffee.

3. Shared between us: OURS.  Yours, Mine and Ours was a 1968 movie starring Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda.

4. "TGIF!" time: Abbr.: FRI.  As in the phrase, Thank G-d, It's Friday!

5. Piece of trivia: FACTOID.

6. Dunham of "Girls": LENA.

Lena Dunham (b. May 13, 1986)

7. Ice skating feat: AXEL.  You, too, can learn this skating move with this easy video.  If you do it right, it is an aerobic exercise.

8. Fancy residence: VILLA.

9. Enjoyed the buffet: ATE.

10. "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" author: JOHN LE CARRÉ.  John le Carré is the pen name of David John Moore Cornwell (b. Oct. 19, 1931).  He is probably best known for his 1963 novel, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.  He worked for the British Secret Intelligence Service, until his books really took off.  He then left the MI6 to become a full-time writer.

11. The first "A" in A.A. Milne: ALAN.  Alan Alexander Milne (Jan. 18, 1882 ~ Jan. 31, 1956) wrote   about Winnie-the-Pooh.  The character of Christopher Robin in his books was based on his son, Christopher Robin Milne (Aug. 21, 1920 ~ Apr. 20, 1996).  He hated being tied to his fictional character.

12. List of options: MENU.

13. Italian wine hub: ASTI.

19. Tiny bird call: PEEP.

23. Emulate an American attending the Sorbonne, say: STUDY ABROAD.

25. Humerus, for one: BONE.

26. Lhasa __: small dog: APSO.

27. Eurasian border range: URALS.

28. Greet silently: NOD AT.

29. "Dear __ Hansen": 2017 Best Musical: EVAN.  I saw this musical a year or so ago.  It's about a young boy with social anxiety who invents a role for himself in a tragedy that he did not earn.

30. Ray of the tropics: MANTA.  Oh, not a person, but a critter.  Nice misdirection.

32. "It's the truth!": NO LIE!

33. Urban Dictionary focus: SLANG.

36. Pop star: IDOL.

38. Canadian tank filler: ESSO.  This has become a crossword staple.

40. Gives a hand: AIDS.

44. No-name, as a brand: GENERIC.

46. Unfeeling: NUMB.

48. Drag on a joint: TOKE.

50. Food truck fare: TACOS.

52. Complain: CARP.

53. Designated survivor: HEIR.

54. Golden Fleece ship: ARGO.

56. "__ Only Just Begun": Carpenters hit: WE'VE.  The Carpenters were a brother and sister duo.  Sadly, Karen Carpenter (Mar. 2, 1950 ~ Feb. 4, 1983) died of complications related to anorexia a month before her 33rd birthday.

57. Canceled abruptly: AXED.

58. Prefix with bar or car: MINI.

59. "In your dreams!": AS IF!

60. They're above the abs: PECS.  As in the Pectoral and Abdominal muscles.

62. Post-op stop: ICU.  As in the Intensive Care Unit.

63. Dove's call: COO.

Here's the Grid: