Tuesday, July 21, 2026

QOD:  Many a good argument is ruined by some fool who knows what he is talking about.  ~  Marshall McLuhan (né Herbert Marshall McLuhan; July 21, 1911 ~ Dec. 31, 1980), Canadian philosopher

Sounds Like ...   Today we will study Homophones.  Homophones are words that sound exactly the same when pronounced but have different meanings and spellings. The word comes from the Greek homos (meaning same) and phone (meaning sound).

17-Across. Shampoo for horses as well as humans: MANE N TAIL.  This horse shampoo was originally developed in the 1970s for show horses.  It became a cross-over product for humans and is purported to  promote stronger, fuller, and longer-looking hair without stripping natural oils.

24-Across. Meatless Chinese noodle dish: VEGETABLE LO MEIN.  Yummers!

36-Across. "The Theory of Everything" Best Actor Oscar winner: EDDIE REDMAYNE.  Eddie Redmayne (né Edward John David Redmayne; b. Jan. 6, 1982) went to Eton and was a classmate of Prince William (b. June 21, 1982).  The Theory of Everything was a bio-pic about Stephen Hawking (Jan. 8, 1942 ~ Mar. 14, 2018).

52-Across. Tender salad greens: HEARTS OF ROMAINE.

Too soon?

61-Across. Principal draw on fight night, or an apt title for this puzzle: MAIN EVENT.  Also the title of a terrible1979 Barbra Streisand movie.

Here's the Grid:

And now for the true Main Event ~ the rest of the puzzle ...

Across:

1. Prattles on: YAPS.

5. Bay Area sch.: UCSF.  As in the University of California, San Francisco. 

9. Uninspiring: VAPID.

14. Mapa of "Ugly Betty": ALEC.  I never watched Ugly Betty, so was unfamiliar with Alec (né Alejandro Mapa; b. July 10, 1965).

15. "New Rules" and "New Love" singer Dua: LIPA.  Dua Lipa (b. Aug. 22, 1995) is a British-Albanian singer and songwriter.  She makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.

16. Twisted humor: IRONY.

19. Honeycomb units: CELLS.

20. Neither partner: NOR.  Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night ...

21. Future atty.'s exam: LSAT.  As in the Law School Admission Test.

23. Southeast Asian language: LAO.  Lao is the official language of Laos, however, it is also spoken in some parts of northeastern Thailand.

29. Hullabaloo: ADO.

30. Light __ feather: AS A.

31. Product labels: BRANDS.

32. Private aid gp.: NGO.  As in a Non-Governmental Organization.

33. Sure winner: SHOO IN.

42. Not asea: ON LAND.

43. Poem of praise: ODE.  A crossword staple.

45. Former House Speaker Nancy: PELOSI.  Nancy Pelosi (née Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro; b. Mar. 26, 1940) served as the 52nd speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

48. Due-in hr.: ETA.  As in Estimated Time of Arrival.

51. Crank (up): REV.

56. "The Lord of the Rings" beast: ORC.

57. Move for one's co., say: RE-LO.  As in Relocate.

58. Olive extract: OIL.  Everything you ever wanted to know about Olive Oil, but didn't know to ask.

59. Capone cohort Frank: NITTI.  I learned about Frank Nitti (né Francesco Raffaele Nitto; Jan. 27, 1886 ~ Mar. 19, 1943) from doing the crossword puzzles.  He makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.  

66. "OK, that was dishonest": I LIED.

67. Ritz-Carlton competitor: OMNI.  I am not sure I could consider these hotel chains to be competitors.  I view the Ritz-Carlton as a very high-end luxury hotel, whereas Omni is more family-oriented.

68. Tops with frosting: ICES.

69. Ride a bike: CYCLE.

70. "Auld Lang __": SYNE.

71. Every __ and cranny: NOOK.

Down:

1. Thanksgiving tuber: YAM.

2. __ carte menu: À LA.  Today's French lesson.

3. Writing tool: PEN.

4. All-too-public argument: SCENE.

5. Marathons longer than 26.2 miles, familiarly: ULTRAS.  An ultra marathon is a footrace that exceeds the traditional marathon distance of 26.2 miles.  Ultra marathon distances vary greatly but typically range from 31 miles (50 km) to 100 miles (160 km).

6. U.S. intel org.: CIA.

7. Tell all, as gossip: SPILL.

8. Untrue: FALSE.

9. Beckham also known as Posh Spice: VICTORIA.  Victoria, Lady Beckham (née Victoria Caroline Adams; b. Apr. 17, 1974) is probably the best known Spice Girl.  The band was big in the 1990s.

10. "__ we there yet?": ARE.

11. Wind-borne allergen: POLLEN.

12. Embedded, as tiles: INLAID.

13. High-end vacuum cleaners: DYSONS.  Everything you ever wanted to know about the Dyson Vacuum Cleaner.

18. The "N" of N.B.: NOTA.  Today's Latin Lesson.  N.B. is the abbreviation for the Latin phrase nota bene, which which means "note well" or "pay attention." 

22. "Tuesdays With Morrie" writer Mitch: ALBOM.  Mitch Albom (né Mitchell David Albom; b. May 23, 1958) has written many books, but is probably best known for Tuesdays With Morrie.  That book is memoir about a series of interviews and visits Albom made with his former Brandeis University sociology professor, Morrie Schwartz, as Schwartz was dying from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.  I have never read this book.

24. Vehicle for movers: VAN.

25. Microsoft web browser: EDGE.

26. Yummy: GOOD.

27. Iraq port city: BASRA.

28. Plenty of: MANY.

34. __ of the woods mushrooms: HEN.  Hen of the woods is a mushroom that grows at the base of trees, particularly old growth oaks or maples.  It is native to China, Europe, and North America.

35. More quirky: ODDER.

37. Entryway: DOOR.

38. Without losing one's cool: IN STRIDE.

39. Renée __ Goldsberry of "Girls5eva": ELISE.  Renée Elise Goldsberry (b. Jan. 2, 1971) is probably best known for her portrayal of Angelica Schuyler in the Broadway musical Hamilton.  She has also starred in a number of Broadway plays.

40. Sushi seaweed: NORI.

41. Biblical garden: EDEN.  //  And 44-Down:  41-Down woman: EVE.

45. Relating to sound: PHONIC.

46. In a creepy way: EERILY.

47. Acid type built up during high-intensity exercise: LACTIC.

49. Nickname for Canada's $2 coin: TOONIE.  The Canadian $1 coin is called a Loonie.

50. French friend: AMIE.  More of today's French lesson.  This is the female friend.

53. "Battlestar Galactica" actor Edward James __: OLMOS.  Edward James Olmos (b. Feb. 24, 1947) is an American actor who has starred in dozens of films and television shows.

54. Like hand soap: FOAMY.

55. Singing brother of Simon and Theodore: ALVIN.  A reference to The Chipmunks.

60. No. on a resume: TEL.  As in Telephone Number.

62. Airbnb alternative: INN.

63. __-friendly: ECO.

64. Opposite of paleo-: NEO.

65. Sound of disapproval: TSK.

Many thanks to Tony who filled in for me for the past three months.

חתולה

Friday, July 21, 2023

QOD:  Never think that war, no matter how necessary, no matter how justified, is not a crime.  ~  Ernest Hemingway (né Ernest Miller Hemingway; July 21, 1899 ~ July 2, 1961), American novelist

Thursday, July 21, 2022

QOD:  A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding.  ~  Marshall McLuhan (né Herbert Marshall McLuhan; July 21, 1911 ~ Dec. 31, 1980), Canadian philosopher

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

QOD:  The things of the night cannot be explained in the day.  ~  Ernest Hemingway (né Ernest Miller Hemingway; July 21, 1899 ~ July 2, 1961), American novelist

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

QOD: There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.  ~  Ernest Hemingway (né Ernest Miller Hemingway; July 21, 1899 ~ July 2, 1961), American novelist

Dictionary Definitions for the FINAL SCORE:  The Final word in each answer be defined as Score.

17-Across. *   Spotify alternative: APPLE MUSIC.  Verb:  orchestrate or arrange (a piece of music), typically for a specified instrument or instruments.  Example:  The Quartet Suite was scored for flute, and violin.

27-Across. *   "More heat in that dish!," Emeril-style: KICK IT UP A NOTCH.  Noun:  a mark, such as an inscription or scratch made with a sharp instrument, used for keeping account.   

43-Across. *   "Unwell" band: MATCH BOX TWENTY.  Noun:  a group or set of twenty or about twenty.  Example: Four score and seven years ago ...

And the Unifier:

58-Across. Game-ending result ... or what each of the answers to starred clues has?: FINAL SCORE.

Across:

1. "__ U Been Gone": 2004 Kelly Clarkson hit: SINCE.  I'm not familiar with this song, but it was easy enough to suss out.

6. Church section: APSE.  Nave or Apse?  Check the perps.

10. __ facto: IPSO.  Today's Latin phrase.  It means "by the fact itself".

14. Early morning hr.: ONE A.M.

15. Abolitionist Lucretia: MOTT.  Lucretia Mott (née Lucretia Coffin; Jan. 3, 1793 ~ Nov. 11, 1880) was an advocate for women's rights and the abolishment of slavery.

16. Superhero whose surname is Odinson: THOR.  I didn't know that Thor had a last name, but the last name in the clue led me to his first name.

19. Foot part: SOLE.  And there are so many parts to the sole of the foot.

20. Palindromic address: MA'AM.  A contraction of Madame, which comes from the French ma dame which means my lady.

21. Baldwin of "30 Rock": ALEC.  Alec Baldwin (né Alexander Rae Baldwin, III; b. Apr. 3, 1958) portrayed Jack Donaghy in the television sit-com 30 Rock.

22. Family grams: NANAs.  //  Not to be confused with 39-Down. Indian flatbread: NAN.

23. Not online: Abbr.: IRL.  In Real Life.  Hand up if you knew this abbreviation.

24. Incensed feeling: IRE.

25. Cincinnati-based supermarket chain: KROGER.  This supermarket chain was started by Bernard Henry Kroger (Jan. 24, 1860 ~ July 21, 1938).  The chain has been around since 1883.

31. Formerly called: NÉE.  This word has appeared rather frequently recently in the puzzles.

32. Really popular: BIG.  I intially tried Hit.

33. Battery size: AAA.

34. African country whose capital is Accra: GHANA.

37. __-Z: Millennials' followers: GEN.  The Pew Research Center defines Generation-Z as people born from 1997 to roughly 2012.

38. Not at all pleased: ANGRY.

40. Slippery sea creature: EEL.

41. Neither's partner: NOR.  "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."  These words are the informal creed of the United States Post Office.  Sadly, this is no longer true.  Recently, people in my city have complained that they haven't been receiving mail on a daily basis.  It seems that cuts in the postal budget is causing mail delays.

42. Bygone airline: TWA.  Trans World Airlines and the Howard Hughes connection.

49. Go over again, as a contract: REREAD.

50. Cleanse (of): RID.

51. Positive response: YES.  //  And the French negative response:  22. Opposite of oui: NON.

53. Crowd requirement?: THREE.  Two is company, Three's a crowd.

54. Turn sharply: VEER.

56. South American berry: AÇAÍ. This is the third week in a row when this berry has appeared in the puzzle.  I'll have to try to find some of these berries to try.

57. Clarinet insert: REED.

60. Othello's betrayer: IAGO.  Othello is the tragedy written by Willie the Shakes.  It is supposedly based on an Italian story about a Moorish general in the Venetian army and his trusted, but traitorous ensign, IAGO.

61. Memorial notice: OBIT.  As in an obituary.

62. Honor-thieves link: AMONG.

63. Cons' opposites: PROS.

64. Candy apple and fire engine: REDS.  Both are descriptions of shades of RED.  Both can be found on the color chart below.

65. Thick, like fog: DENSE.

Down:

1. "Me too!": SO AM I!

2. Like a garaged car, gearwise: IN PARK.

3. Sherpa, typically: NEPALI.

4. The __ before the storm: CALM.

5. Suffix with morph: -EME.  As in Morpheme.  An obscure word for a Tuesday.  A morpheme is the smallest meaningful unit in a language.  Examples.

6. Protective piece of jewelry: AMULET.  You'll see a lot of these in Turkey.

7. Ask, as a question: POSE.

8. Neckwear-securing accessory: STICKPIN.

9. And more: Abbr.: ETC.  A Latin abbreviation for Et cetera, which means And the rest.

10. "Let's do this": IT'S A GO.

11. Frustrating series of missed calls: PHONE TAG.

12. Sun-powered vehicle: SOLAR CAR.

13. Valuable rocks: OREs.

18. Decluttering maven Kondo: MARIE.  Marie Kondo (b. Oct. 9, 1984) advises you to only keep items that "spark joy"

24. DIY furniture brand: IKEA.  A crossword staple.  I was reading this book yesterday (Waking Lions, by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen), and came across this line:  "The way the furniture you bought in Ikea always looked weird when you got it home, as if it missed its former home, the one in the catalogue."

26. Tattered cloth: RAG.

28. Current events TV channel: CNN.  CNN has been around for 40 year!  It began broadcasting in June 1980.

29. Popular ride app's basic service level: UBERX.  I have never used an Uber.  Here are the different options when selecting an Uber

30. Horses eat it: HAY.

34. Amazing person: GEM.

35. "Agreed!": HEAR!  HEAR!

36. Hannah Montana, for Miley Stewart: ALTER EGO.  Okay.

37. Positive feeling: GOOD VIBE.

38. Amazed: AWED.

41. Minnesota Timberwolves org.: NBA.  The National Basketball Association team.

42. Spin, as a baton: TWIRL.

44. Things one believes: CREDOS.

45. Giggle syllable: HEE.

46. Pays for everyone: TREATS.

47. Business big shot: TYCOON.

48. Longs (for): YEARNS.

52. Prolonged attack: SIEGE.

53. Excursion: TRIP.  Not much traveling this year.  Had we not been in the Quar, we would have been in Europe right now.

55. Geraint's beloved: ENID.  Here are the Cliff Notes for Idylls of the King.

56. Very top: ACME.

58. In favor of: FOR.

59. In low spirits: SAD.

Here's the Grid:

And on that sad note:  It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye.