Tuesday March 24, 2026

QOD:  People do not believe lies because they have to, but because they want to.  ~  Malcolm Muggeridge (né Thomas Malcolm Muggeridge, Mar. 24, 1903 ~ Nov. 14, 1990), British journalist and satirist

Until We Meet Again.  Good Bye, Farewell, Adieu, Adiós, Au revoir, Ciao, Zàijiàn, Sayōnara, and Dasvidaniya.

20-Across. Jocular term for some close colleagues: WORK HUSBANDS.  There are Work Wives as well.

33-Across. Achievements tracked by Guinness: WORLD RECORDS.

41-Across. Practice weapons that may be made of hickory: WOODEN SWORDS.

And the unifier:

57-Across. Goodbyes, or what 20-, 33-, and 41-Across are doing?: PARTING WORDS.  The word Word is parted in each of the theme clues.

Here's the grid so you can see the parting of the words.

Across:

1. Many July 4 parties, for short: BBQs.

5. Some protective athletic gear: PADS.

9. Warms (up): HEATS.

14. Extend one's term: RE-UP.

15. Nashville's Grand Ole __: OPRY.  The Grand Ole Opry began on November 28, 1925, as the WSM Barn Dance.  It was originally a designed to showcase country fiddling.  It formally became known the Grand Ole Opry in 1927.

16. Terse denial: AM NOT.

17. Smoothie berry: AÇAI.  This berry has become a crossword staple.

18. Prickly __ cactus: PEAR.  Everything you wanted to know about the Prickly Pear Cactus but didn't know to ask.

19. Like some candy: NUTTY.

23. Cosmetics company that owns CeraVe: L'OREAL.  The CeraVe company focuses on dermatology.

24. Logan Roy's daughter on "Succession," familiarly: SHIV.  Sarah Snook (b. Dec. 1, 1987) portrayed Siobhan Roy, who was know affectionately (?) know as Shiv.  I say affectionately because if you watched Succession, you know that no one showed affection towards each other. 

25. Rustic dwelling: HUT.  //  And 31-Across. Poolside 25-Across: CABANA.

28. Crafty: SLY.

29. Chocolate or yellow pooch: LAB.

36. Prefix meaning "all": OMNI-.  Today's Latin lesson.

39. As well: TOO.

40. In a frenzy: AMOK.

46. Affectionate and familiar way to sign a note: LOVE, ME.

47. Not close by: FAR.  //  And 43-Down. Close by: NEAR.

48. Burst, as a balloon: POP.

51. Mexican Mrs.: SRA.  Today's Spanish lesson

52. Big party: BASH.

55. Interstellar cloud: NEBULA.

59. Apple beverage: CIDER.

62. Sandwich cookie with many limited-edition flavors: OREO.

63. Seeds: PIPS.

64. Scoring 100% on: ACING.

65. Nevada gambling destination: RENO.  I heard Johnny Cash went there once.

66. Memo phrase: IN RE.

67. Japanese lunchbox: BENTO.

68. Genesis garden: EDEN.

69. New Mexico skiing destination: TAOS.

Down:

1. Rumbles: BRAWLS.

2. Desperate whisper to a parent in front of one's crush, maybe: BE COOL.

3. Industrial site that may become a swimming spot: QUARRY.

4. Sharp increase: SPIKE.

5. All the rage: POPULAR.

6. Gorillas, e.g.: APES.  The terms are not interchangeable.

7. Dribs and __: DRABS.

8. Red wine grape: SYRAH.  Syrah, also known as Shiraz, is a dark-skinned grape variety grown throughout the world and used primarily to produce red wine. In the 1990s, Syrah was found to be the offspring of two obscure grapes from southeastern France, Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche.

9. Portable cleaner, for short: HAND VAC.

10. Outback birds: EMUS.

11. Colony insect: ANT.

12. Youngster: TOT.

13. Farm pen: STY.

21. Saintly glow: HALO.

22. "__ to Each Other": Olivia Dean hit: NICE.

25. Cause injury to: HARM.

26. Ctrl+Z, on a PC: UNDO.

27. Chore: TASK.

30. Simple sammies: BLTs.  As a Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich.

32. Feathery wraps: BOAS.

33. __-angle lens: WIDE.

34. __ Jones: DOW.

35. Skylight spot: ROOF.

36. Birds whose young sometimes face-plant to sleep: OWLS.  Baby owls sometimes sleep on their tummies because their heads are too heavy to sleep in an upright position.  Who knew?

37. Tie up, as a boat: MOOR.

38. __ Scotia, Canada: NOVA.  Today's Latin lesson.  Nova Scotia means New Scotland.  It is on of the four Canadian maritime provinces.  It was named in 1621 when King James VI of Scotland granted the land to Sir William Alexander for a Scottish colony.

42. Trade restriction: EMBARGO.

44. Crab __: fried appetizer filled with cream cheese: RANGOON.  Crab Rangoon deep-fried appetizer made with wonton wrappers filled with a creamy mixture of cream cheese, imitation crab meat, and seasonings.  It is typically served with a spicy sauce.

45. Did some doodling: DREW.

48. "Your Pet, Our Passion" food brand: PURINA.

49. Seasoned expert: OLD PRO.

50. Makes the grade: PASSES.

53. Shop: STORE.

54. Added to the staff: HIRED.

56. Hasbro toy that requires quick reflexes: BOP IT.  I am not familiar with this toy.  It doesn't look like much fun.

57. __-up emotions: PENT.

58. State bird of Hawaii: NENE.  When I first began doing crossword puzzles, the Nene was a crossword staple.  The nene is a species of bird endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.  The nene is exclusively found in the wild on the islands of Maui, Kauai, Molokai, and Hawaii.  Even before Hawaii became a state, the nene it was designated to be the official island bird.  

59. Taxi: CAB.

60. Freezer cubes: ICE.

61. Clamor: DIN.

And my Parting Words:  Until Next Week.

חתולה

Sunday, March 24, 2024 // Palm Sunday

QOD:  Pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what the hell you’re doing.  ~  Payton Manning (né Payton William Manning; b. Mar. 24, 1976), Professional football player

Friday, March 24, 2023

QOD:  No performer should attempt to bite off red-hot iron unless he has a good set of teeth.  ~  Harry Houdini (né Erik Weiss; Mar. 24, 1874 ~ Oct. 31, 1926), Hungarian-born illusionist

Thursday, March 24, 2022

QOD:  You’re never allowed to step on people to get ahead ~ but you can step over them if they’re in the way.  ~  Star Jones (née Starlet Marie Jones; b. Mar. 24, 1962), African-American journalist and television personality

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

QOD:  Poetry is news from the frontiers of the consciousness.  ~  Lawrence Ferlinghetti (né Lawrence Monsanto Ferlinghetti; Mar. 24, 1919 ~ Feb. 22, 2021), American poet

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

QOD:  If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.  ~  Cicero (né Marcus Tillius Cicero; Jan. 3, 106 BCE ~ Dec. 7, 43 BCE), Roman statesmen and philosopher

We're in the Money!  Slang words for money are "split" in today's theme answers



16-Across. Huff and puff: BREATHE HARD.  Bread.

38-Across. Lawn area where rainwater collects: LOW SPOT.  Loot.

10-Down. Bags for potatoes, say: BURLAP SACKS.  Bucks.

23-Down. Subject to, as the proverbial mud: DRAG THROUGH.  Dough.

And the Unifier:

59-Across. Divvy up poker hand winnings, and a hint to this puzzle's circled letters: SPLIT THE POT.


Across:

1. Gives up the single life: WEDS.

5. Christina of "Sleepy Hollow": RICCI.  The 1999 movie Sleepy Hollow was loosely based on Washington Irving's short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  Christina Ricci (b. Feb. 12, 1980) played Katrina Van Tassel.

10. Physique, briefly: BOD.

13. Holliday pal: EARP.  Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (Mar. 19, 1848 ~ Jan. 13, 1929) has been making a lot of guest appearances in the puzzles recently.  He was a close friend and associate of Doc Holliday (né John Henry Holliday; Aug. 14, 1851 ~ Nov. 8, 1887).  Both are best known for their participation in the Gunfight at the OK Corral.

14. Headgear for shading one's face: SUN HAT.

15. Luau strings: UKE.

18. Narrow inlet: RIA.

19. Gland near the larynx: THYROID.

20. Snow glider: SLED.  

21. Bollywood's country: INDIA.

24. "Jeopardy!" material: TRIVIA.

26. Seed in some sauerkraut: CARAWAY.  Everything you wanted to know about Caraway, but were afraid to ask.

29. Brass band sound: OOM-PAH.

32. List-ending abbr.: ET AL.  A crossword staple.

33. Ellipsis trio: DOTS.

36. Cotton thread: LISLE.  More than you ever wanted to know about Cotton Lisle.

37. Programming glitch: BUG.

40. Jurisprudence org.: ABA.  As in the American Bar Association.  The current President of the ABA is Judy Perry Martinez, an attorney from New Orleans.  I had brunch with her shortly before the  self-imposed quarantine began.

41. "Mad TV" alum Lange: ARTIE.  I am familiar with neither Mad TV nor Artie Lange (b. Oct. 11, 1967).

43. Installed, as carpet: LAID.

44. Taiwanese laptop giant: ACER.  I learned of this compter company from doing the crossword puzzles.

45. Lou portrayed in "The Pride of the Yankees": GEHRIG.  Lou Gehrig (né Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig; June 19, 1903 ~ June 2, 1941) played 17 years for the New York Yankees.  He died of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, often referred to as Lou Gehrig disease, at age 37.

47. Do-it-yourself diagnostic tool: TEST KIT.

49. Rolled in the aisles: ROARED.

52. Spur-of-the-moment: HASTY.

53. Animator's output: 'TOON.  As in a cartoon.

55. Egyptian or Ethiopian: AFRICAN.  Ethiopia and Egypt are currently fighting over water from the Nile.

Egypt in Green; Ethiopia in Orange.

58. Letters in an academic address: EDU.  As in the Internet address.

63. Fix, as a fight: RIG.

64. Norelco product: SHAVER.

65. New Balance rival: NIKE.

66. Slangy word of indifference: MEH.  Meh!

67. Fall bloomer: ASTER.

68. Cubicle fixture: DESK.

Anatomy of a Cubicle.

Down:

1. Organic flytrap: WEB.  Cute clue.

2. Piece of corn: EAR.

3. Dr. with Grammys: DRE.

Dr. Dre (né Andre Romelle Young; b. Feb. 18, 1965)

4. Like some relations: SPATIAL. Not Sisters.

5. One with regrets: RUER.

6. __ water: facing trouble: IN HOT.

7. Waiting room seat: CHAIR.  Some of the Most Uncomfortable Chairs.

8. Aerobic regimen, casually: CARDIO.  Some cardio exercises we can do in quarantine.

9. "__ be an honor": IT'D.

11. "The Grapes of Wrath" figure: OKIE.  A reference to John Steinbeck's 1939 novel.

12. Like a useless battery: DEAD.

14. Not prone to mingling: SHY.

17. Defrost: THAW.

20. __ Valley: Reagan Library site: SIMI.

21. Sprain soother: ICE BAG.

22. The great outdoors: NATURE.

25. Chevy needing recharging: VOLT.  Does anyone have one of these vehicles?

27. Commotion: ADO.

28. Cry of distress: YOWL.

30. Even if: ALBEIT.  Fun word.

31. Robust: HEARTY.

34. PreCheck org.: TSA.

35. Hot rod?: SPIT.

38. "Star Wars" twin sister: LEIA.  Princess Leia was played by Carrie Fisher (Oct. 21, 1956 ~ Dec. 27, 2016).  She suffered a heart attack while flying from London to Los Angeles.  Tragically, her mother, Debbie Reynolds (Apr. 1, 1932 ~ Dec. 28, 2016), died the following day.

39. Thomas Gray's "The Bard," e.g.: ODE.  Here is the Poem.

42. Resolve, with "out": IRON.

44. Finally finished: AT AN END.

46. Sales reports diagrams: GRAPHS.

48. Ousted Iranian ruler: SHAH.  The last Shah if Iran was Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (Oct. 26, 1919 ~ July 27, 1980).  He was ousted in February 1979.  He makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.

50. D-sharp equivalent: E FLAT.

51. Take the wheel: DRIVE.

53. Political stretch: TERM.

54. Yellow comics dog: ODIE.  A reference to the Garfield comic strip.

56. Road in old Rome: ITER.  Today's Latin lesson.

57. NFL snapper: CTR.  Center.  

59. Org. funded by FICA: SSA.  As in the Social Security Administration.

60. Traditional March 14 dessert: PIE.

61. Thumbs-ups: OKS.

62. Shatner's "__War": TEK.

Here's the Grid:

QOD:  If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.  ~  Cicero (né Marcus Tillius Cicero; Jan. 3, 106 BCE ~ Dec. 7, 43 BCE), Roman statesmen and philosopher