QOD: February 7

Showing posts with label February 7. Show all posts

Wednesday, 7 February 2024

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

QOD: Some of the greatest conflicts are not between two people, but between one person and himself. ~ Garth Brooks (né Troyal Garth Brooks; b. Feb. 7, 1962), American country music singer-songwriter

Tuesday, 14 February 2023

Tuesday February 14, 2023 // Valentine's Day

QOD: When you love someone, you love the whole person as he or she is, and not as you would like them to be. ~ Leo Tolstoy (Sept. 9, 1828 ~ Nov. 20, 1910), Russian novelist

I get by with a little Help from my Friends! The first word of each theme answer is the surname of a singer or actor and the second word provides "support" for the celebrity. Note that the first and last theme answers are males and the middle two names are females; and the first two are musicians, and the last two are actors.

For those who don't like seeing names in puzzles, here's your due warning that this puzzle might not be for you, since the theme itself is all 22-Down.

17-Across. Support group for singer-songwriter Neil?: YOUNG PEOPLE. [Name # 1.] In addition to a solo career, Neil YOUNG (né Neil Percival Young; b. Nov. 12, 1945) has been associated with the band Buffalo Springfield and on and off with Crosby, Stills & Nash, making the later to be sometimes known as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Sadly, his sometimes bandmate, David Crosby (né David Van Cortlandt Cosby; Aug. 14, 1941 ~ Jan. 18, 2023) died last month.

David Crosby (left) and Neil Young

28-Across. Support group for singer-songwriter Ruthie?: FOSTER FAMILY. Ruthie FOSTER (née Ruthie Cecelia Foster; b. Feb. 10, 1964) is known for her blues, gospel, and folk music. Her birthday is this Friday. [Name # 2.]

49-Across. Support group for actress Glenn?: CLOSE FRIENDS. Glenn CLOSE (née Glenda Veronica Close; b. Mar. 19, 1947) has been in numerous movies, but I mostly associate her with the 1987 movie, Fatal Attraction. [Name # 3.]

65-Across. Support group for actor Jude?: LAW PARTNERS. Jude LAW (né David Jude Heyworth Law; b. Dec. 29, 1972) has also been in numerous movies as well as television series, including The Young Pope and The New Pope. [Name # 4.]

And here is a bonus "hint" to today's puzzle:

22-Down. First entry on many a form: NAME.

Across:

1. So last year: PASSÉ.

6. Home on the "I" page of many ABC books: IGLOO. This clue threw me for a moment, until most of the letters were filled in by the perps.

11. Beer cask: KEG. // And 18-Down. Places with cold drafts: PUBS. The latter is a nice misdirection.

14. Communion site: ALTAR. Also the site of many weddings.

15. __ of salt: GRAIN.

16. Nest egg acronym: IRA. As in an Individual Retirement Account.

19. Pen tip: NIB.

20. Mailed: SENT OUT.

21. Burns a bit: SINGES.

23. Reggae-like genre: SKA. Everything you wanted to know about Ska, but didn't know to ask.

24. One who tweets a lot: BIRD.

27. Beaver creation: DAM.

33. Scatter, as seeds: STREW.

36. Route word: VIA.

37. LGBT rights activist Windsor: EDIE. Edie Windsor (née Edith Schlain; June 20, 1929 ~ Sept. 12, 2017) was the lead plaintiff in the 2019 Supreme Court case of United States v. Windsor, which held that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional and that the federal government could not discriminate against married gay couples for the purpose of determining federal benefits and protections. [Name # 5.]

38. Shepherd's __: PIE. Yummers!

39. Writing tablet: NOTE PAD.

43. Every bit of: ALL.

44. Fashion designer Schiaparelli: ELSA. Elsa Shaiaparelli (née Elsa Luisa Maria Schiaparelli; Sept. 10, 1890 ~ Nov. 13, 1973) was a contemporary of Coco Chanel (née Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel; Aug. 19, 1883 ~ Jan. 10, 1971). Her designs were avant garde and she collaborated with artists such as Salvador Dalí (May 11, 1904 ~ 1989). [Name # 6.]

46. In favor of: FOR.

47. Greek fable writer: ÆSOP. He appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle, too. [Name # 7.]

53. Veto: NIX.

54. Emperor during the Great Fire of Rome: NERO. Nero probably didn't fiddle while Rome burned. [Name # 8.]

55. Slangy "How's things?": 'SUP.

58. Balanced state: STASIS.

61. Revolts: RISES UP.

64. Coif flattener: HAT.

68. Most of a snow cone: ICE.

69. Make official, as a statute: ENACT.

70. Estate units: ACRES.

71. Sci-fi escape vehicle: POD. So that's what that thing is in front of my neighbor's house.

not my actual neighbor.

72. Sealy rival: SERTA. Both are mattress companies.

73. Under attack from all sides: BESET.

Down:

1. Foots the bill: PAYS.

2. Medicinal houseplants: ALOES. This has become a Tuesday staple. Aloe has appeared in the last 3 Tuesday puzzles.

3. Did horribly: STUNK.

4. New Mexico's capital: SANTA FE. Anyone here from New Mexico?

5. "So, logically ... ": ERGO.

6. "No need to elaborate": I GET IT. I first tried I Got It.

7. Miracle-__: gardening brand: GRO.

8. Spot for a napkin: LAP.

9. Cooking liquids that may be herb-infused: OILS.

10. Lake near Syracuse, New York: ONEIDA. // And 12-Down. Lake near Buffalo, New York: ERIE. The latter is one of the Great Lakes. The former is the largest lake that is entirely within the State of New York.

11. Ruler with a golden touch: KING MIDAS. King Midas is a Greek mythological character. [Name # 9.]

13. Chews the fat: GABS.

25. Daydream: REVERIE.

26. Slow leak: DRIP.

29. Part of MYOB and BYOB: OWN. Mind Your OWN Business and Bring Your OWN Booze.

30. Safe skies agcy.: FAA. As in the Federal Aviation Administration.

31. Disney's "__ & Stitch": LILO. This was a 2002 animated film. [Name adjacent.]

32. Kennel cry: YELP.

33. On __: without a contract: SPEC.

34. Cash register: TILL.

35. Struck a chord: RESONATED.

40. Not quite right: OFF.

41. Of two minds: TORN.

42. Father: DAD.

45. Tag sale caveat: AS IS.

48. Basic quality: ESSENCE.

50. Banishes: EXILES.

51. List of editorial goofs: ERRATA. Today's Latin lesson. This is the plural of Erratum, which is just one mistake.

52. Pinot __: red wine choice: NOIR. Everything you wanted to know about Pinot Noir, but didn't know to ask.

56. Patrons: USERS.

57. Blender setting for making baby food: PURÉE.

58. Carnival vessel: SHIP. Kathy Lee Gifford used to be the spokeswoman for the Carnival ship line.

59. Tex-Mex order: TACO.

60. Rational: SANE.

62. Dueler's injury: STAB. Some famous sword fights.

63. Soft summons: PSST.

66. Realm of Ares and Mars: WAR. Ares is the god of war and Mars is the Roman counterpart. [Name adjacent]

67. Fractional amt.: PCT. As in Percent, although our friends on the West Coast might think of the Pacific Crest Trail, which is a hiking trail.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Happy Valentine's Day!

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