Thursday, November 2, 2023

QOD:  If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any.  ~  Diana Korte, Women’s health advocate

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

QOD: Our most dangerous tendency is to expect too much of government, and at the same time do for it too little.  ~  Warren G. Harding (né Warren Gamaliel Harding; Nov. 2, 1865 ~ Aug. 2, 1923), 29^th President of the United States

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

QOD:  I had gained the summit of a commanding ridge, looking round with astonishing delight, beheld the ample plain, the beauteous tract below.  ~  Daniel Boone (Nov. 2, 1734 ~ Sept. 26, 1820), American frontiersman

Under the Weather.  Notice that each of the starred theme answers is in the Down position.  The first word of each theme answer describes a weather condition.  The second word, thus, is "under the weather." 

3-Down. *   1956 Burt Lancaster film, with "The": RAINMAKER.  The Rainmaker was a 1956 movie that starred Burt Lancaster (Nov. 2, 1913 ~ Oct. 20, 1994) and Katherine Hepburn (1907 ~ 2003).  The story took place during the Great Depression in a farming town in the mid-west that was suffering from a draught.  Burt Lancaster played a con man who promised he could make it rain.  It is appropriate that this clue and answer appeared in today's puzzle because today would have been Burt Lancaster's 113rd birthday.

6-Down. *   Desperation gridiron pass: HAIL MARY.

8-Down. *   Big name in film festivals: SUNDANCE.  The Sundance Film Festival is the largest independent film festival in the United States.  It has been showing films since 1978.  The next festival will take place from January 20 through 30, 2022.

11-Down. *   Seven Dwarfs' housekeeper: SNOW WHITE.  The version the Brothers Grimm tells of Snow White is a tad darker than Disney's version.

Here's the unifier:

62. Out of sorts ... or where four answer-ending words (see starred clues) can be found?: UNDER THE WEATHER.

Across:
1. Fabled runner-up: HARE.  //  And 47. Like the 1-Across vis-à-vis the tortoise, ironically: SLOWER.

5. Deep cleft: CHASM.

10. "Tell me if you're coming" letters: RSVP.  Technically, this is today's French lesson as well as a lesson in manners.  Répondez s'il vous plaît, which translates into English as Please respond.

14. Pacific island ceded by Spain to the U.S. in 1899: GUAM.

15. The __: Europol headquarters: HAGUE.  Europol is the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement.

16. Meticulous to a fault: ANAL.  This word appears with some frequency in the puzzles.

17. Jazz club group: TRIO.  Everything you wanted to know about Jazz Trios, but didn't know to ask.

18. Detroit NFL team: LIONS.

19. Party hat shape: CONE.

20. Large-scale ride-sharing option: VANPOOL.  It's like a carpool, but bigger.

22. Limited-access internet area: DARK WEB.  Everything you wanted to know about the Dark Web, but didn't know to ask.

24. Surfing connection: MODEM.  Web surfing.

25. A bit off: ASKEW.

26. Hogwarts potions master: SNAPE.  Professor Severus Snape was played byAlan Rickman (February 21, 1946 ~ January 14, 2016) in the Harry Potter movies.

28. Raggedy doll: ANN.  I had a Raggedy Andy when I was a kid.

30. Significant __: partner: OTHER.

33. Acorn dropper: OAK.

34. How much it costs: PRICE.

36. Prez before JFK: IKE.  Dwight David Eisenhower, aka Ike (Oct. 14, 1890 ~ Mar. 28, 1969) was President  from 1953 until 1961.  John Fitzgerald Kennedy, aka Jack (May 29, 1917 ~ Nov. 22, 1963) was President from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963.

37. Monopoly's Atlantic or Pacific: Abbr.: AVE.  As in Atlantic and Pacific Avenues.

38. __ ignition system: hi-tech car starter: KEYLESS.  I love having a keyless ignition system.

40. October's number: TEN.  Because October is now the 10th month on the calendar.  In the old Roman calendar, however, it was the 8th month, hence, the OCT in its name.

41. Fozzie Bear's frog pal: KERMIT.  //  Not to be confused with 53-Across. Claymation green guy: GUMBY.

43. If all goes right: AT BEST.

45. Sign of healing: SCAB.

47. Diamonds or clubs: SUIT.

48. Backbone: SPUNK.

51. "You've got mail" ISP: AOL.  As in America On Line.  //  And 42-Down. 51-Across alternative: MSN.  As in Microsoft Network.

57. "Proven," in proofs: QED.  Today's Latin lesson.  QED is an abbreviation for quod erat demonstrandum, which means "which was to be demonstrated".

58. Tune that stays in your head too long: EARWORM.

61. Huntsville's st.: ALA.  As in Alabama.  NASA's George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is located in Huntsville, Alabama.

65. Tops, as a cake: ICES.  My mother used frosting on a cake.

66. November tally: VOTES.

67. "Magic" prop: WAND.

68. Lahr of "The Wizard of Oz": BERT.  Bert Lahr (né Irving Lahrheim; Aug. 13, 1895 ~ Dec. 4, 1967), is best known for his role as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz.

69. Golf or tennis: SPORT.

70. Ransom of auto fame: OLDS.

Ransom Eil Olds (June 3, 1864 ~ Aug. 26, 1950)

Down:

1. Channel for home flippers: HGTV.

2. General feel: AURA.

4. Expressive music genre: EMO-POP.  The best Emo Pop songs?  You be the judge.

5. Techie on "24": CHLOE.  The actress who played Chloe is Mary Lynn Rajskub (b. June 22, 1971), and she appeared recently in another puzzle I wrote up on recently.

7. In the past: AGO.

9. Western plateaus: MESAS.  Hi, Lucina!

10. Tennis need: RACKET.

12. Wind indicator: VANE.

13. Roman commoner: PLEB.

21. Poet's tribute: ODE.  A crossword staple.

23. "It's a Wonderful Life" studio: RKO.  The initials stand for Radio-Keith-Orpheum.

26. Enjoy a Jacuzzi: SOAK.

27. Central church part: NAVE.

Anatomy of a Church

29. Zero, in soccer: NIL.

31. Barely gets (by): EKEs.

32. Tenant's expense: RENT.

34. Fur-protesting org.: PETA.  People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

35. Jacob's twin: ESAU.  A Biblical reference.  These brothers appear with some frequency in the puzzles.

38. Field goal expert, e.g.: KICKER.

39. Mark of shame: STIGMA.

44. A/C measure: BTU.  As in British Thermal Units.

46. Hit a bunch of pubs in one night: BARHOP.

48. News filler: SQUIB.  This was my last fill.

49. Trump's VP: PENCE.  Mike Pence (né Michael Richard Pence; b. June 7, 1959) also served as the Governor of Indiana.

50. Milker's handful: UDDER.  Not exactly.  If the milker is handling the Udder, he's not doing it right.

52. Be a debtor of: OWE TO.

54. Taj __: MAHAL.  India's most famous monument.

55. Button on a mixer: BLEND.

56. Football measures: YARDS.

59. Off-rd. transports: ATVs.

60. Catnap, e.g.: REST.

63. Ballpark fig.: EST.  As in an Estimate.

64. "Squared" power: TWO.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Monday, November 2, 2020

QOD:  I hate looking backward, but every once in a while it sneaks up on you.  ~  Burt Lancaster (Nov. 2, 1913 ~ Oct. 13, 1994), American actor

Friday, November 2, 2018

QOD:  No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure.  ~  James K. Polk (né James Knox Polk; Nov. 2, 1795 ~ June 15, 1849), 11th President of the United States

Thursday, November 2, 2017

QOD:  You have to fight against being an antique.  ~  Burt Lancaster (né Burton Stephen Lancaster; Nov. 2, 1913 ~ Oct. 20, 1994), American actor

Monday, November 2, 2015

QOD:  I should have been trying to build a career, rather than leaving it in the hands of somebody else.  ~  Ray Walston (Nov. 2, 1914 ~ Jan. 1, 2001)

Friday, November 2, 2012

QOD:  I have never been lost, but I will admit to being confused for several weeks.  ~  Daniel Boone (November 2, 1734 ~ September 22, 1820), American pioneer

Wednesday November 2, 2011

QOD: We always want the best man to win an election.   Unfortunately, he never runs. ~ Will Rogers (né William Penn Adair Rogers; Nov. 4, 1879 ~ Aug. 15, 1935), American humorist

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

QOD: You can always spot a well informed man - his views are the same as yours. ~ Ilka Chase (Apr. 8, 1905 ~ Feb. 15, 1978), American stage actress