Wednesday, October 4, 2023

QOD:  Political correctness is tyranny with manners.  ~  Charlton Heston (né John Charles Carter; Oct. 4, 1923 ~ Apr. 5, 2008), American actor

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

QOD:  A good heavy book holds you down.  It’s an anchor that keeps you from getting up and having another gin and tonic.  ~  Roy Blount, Jr. (né Roy Alton Blunt, Jr.; b. Oct. 4, 1941), American humorist

Cleanup in the Produce Aisle:  Lots of produce in today's theme.  Not only is the answer an item of produce, but each answer can be broken into two other food items.

20-Across. *   Bright yellow sandwich topping: BANANA PEPPER.

34-Across. *   Marinara ingredient: PLUM TOMATO.

44-Across. *   Citrusy herb in Thai cuisine: LEMON BASIL.  I really wanted Lemon Grass, but the perps let me know my initial thought was wrong.

And the unifier:

57-Across. Supermarket section containing each component of (as well as the complete answers to) the starred clues: PRODUCE AISLE.  We get 3 items of produce for the price of one!

And two bonus clues:

35-Down. 57-Across spray: MIST.

39-Down. Bad sound in the 57-Across:  SPLAT.

Across:

1. Short-legged Welsh dog breed: CORGI.  The Queen loved her Corgis.

6. Opera star: DIVA.  //  And 59-Down. Opera solo: ARIA.

10. Milk in a skinny latte: SKIM.

14. WNBA team in 53-Across: DREAM.  //  And 53. Ga. capital: ATL.  The Atlanta Dream is the women's American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia.

15. Minnesota representative Ilhan: OMAR.  Ilhan Oman (née Ilhan Abdullahi Omar; b. Oct. 4, 1982) is originally from Somalia, and is now a Congresswoman from Minnesota.  Today is her 40th birthday.  [Name # 1.]

16. Actress Olin: LENA.  Lena Olin (née Lena Maria Jonna Olin; b. Mar. 22, 1955) is a Swedish actress.  She makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.  [Name # 2.]

17. Cohort: CADRE.

18. Costa __: RICA.  Costa Rica is one of the countries in Central America.

19. Choir part: ALTO.

23. Broadway opening?: ACT ONE.

26. Sweet potato kin: YAM.  Everything you wanted to know about the differences between Sweet Potatoes and Yams but didn't know to ask.

27. Pt. of TGIF: FRI.  Thank Goodness It's Friday.

28. Low sound?: MOO.

29. Quran authority: IMAM.

32. Hostess snack: HO HO.  Apparently they come in a variety of flavors, including peanut butter.

37. Messes up: ERRS.

40. Actress Petty: LORI.  Lori Petty (b. Oct. 14, 1963) was a fairly big name in the 1990s.    She starred with Keanu Reeves in the 1991 surfing film Break Point.  [Name # 3.]

41. Quick qualifier: IMO.  Textspeak for In My Opinion.

42. Harvest: REAP.

43. Concludes: ENDS.

47. Blues guitarist Baker: ETTA.  Etta Baker (née Etta Lucille Reid; Mar. 31, 1913 ~ Sept. 23, 2006) is not our usual Tuesday guest.   [Name # 4.]

49. Longtime Swit co-star: ALDA.  A reference to Loretta Swit (née Loretta Jane Szwed; b. Nov. 4, 1937) and Alan Alda (né Alfonzo Joseph D'Abruzzo; b. Jan. 28, 2936) who both starred in M*A*S*H.  [Names # 5 and 6.]

50. Wanders in an airport?: TSA.  As in the Transportation Security Administration.

51. Sunscreen letters: SPF.  As in Sun Protection Factor.  Everything you wanted to know about SPF but didn't know to ask.

55. Ready to go: ALL SET.

61. Yesteryear: YORE.

62. Goat group: HERD.

63. Throwback diet: PALEO.  Also known as the Caveman Diet.

67. As soon as: ONCE.

68. __ Canalway Trail: 365-mile stretch in New York: ERIE.  Everything you wanted to know about the Erie Canalway Trail but didn't know to ask.

69. Zest alternative: IVORY.  Both are brands of soaps.  Ivory floats.

70. Require: NEED.

71. Group of two: DYAD.  Not a Tuesday word.

72. Word before tea and toast: TEXAS.  One you can consume, the other ...

Down:

1. Public health org. headed by Rochelle Walensky: CDC.  Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  Everyone knows of this agency now, but how many knew that Prevention is part of the name?  [Name # 7.]

2. British singer Rita: ORA.  I am not familiar with Rita Ora's (née Rita Sahatçiu Ora; b. Nov. 26, 1990).  She was born in Yugoslavia (now Kosovo), but her family moved to England for political reasons when she was an infant.  [Name # 8.]

3. Top stripe of a pride flag: RED.

4. Actress Greta: GARBO.  Greta Garbo (née Greta Lovisa Gustafsson; Sept. 18, 1905 ~ Apr. 15, 1990) was a Swedish actress.  The American Film Institute named her in the top 10 greatest female stars of classic Hollywood.  [Name # 9.]

5. "For real!": I MEAN IT.

6. Explorer in "The Lost City of Gold": DORA.  [Name # 10.]

7. Hacker's triumphant cry: I'M IN!

8. Time away, informally: VACAY.

9. Great Plains people: ARAPAHO.

10. Smack: SLAP.

11. Underwater ecosystems: KELP FORESTS.  Everything you wanted to know about a Kelp Forest but didn't know to ask.

12. Prefix with faith: INTER-.  Interfaith.

13. New Zealand native: MĀORI.

21. Pixar clownfish: NEMO.  [Name # 11.]

22. Punk subgenre: EMO.  Everything you wanted to know about Emo can be found in the video below.

23. More than sufficient: AMPLE.

24. Analogy punctuation: COLON.  Also a part of the anatomy.

25. Exceptional performance: TOUR DE FORCE.  Today's French lesson.

30. French friend: AMIE.  More of today's French lesson.

31. "__ Mia! Here We Go Again": MAMMA.

33. Greek goddess of marriage: HERA.  Everything you wanted to know about Hera but didn't know to ask.  [Name # 12.]

36. Hammer or saw: TOOL.  I see, said the blind man, as he picked up his hammer and saw.

38. __ the roof: RAISE.

44. Fastened, in a way: LATCHED.

45. Confidentiality contracts: Abbr.: NDAS.  As in Non-Disclosure AgreementS.

46. Colorful play area: BALL PIT.

48. Greek letter before upsilon: TAU.

51. Watch covertly: SPY ON.

52. Inclined (to): PRONE.

54. Wary (of): LEERY.

56. Depart: LEAVE.

58. Act: DEED.

60. Named, briefly: ID'ED.

64. Smoked salmon: LOX.  Yummers!  Hubby's Saturday morning breakfast fare.

65. Time period: ERA.

66. Noises of exasperation: OYs!

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

May all who observe have an easy fast on Yom Kippur, which starts at sundown today.

Monday, October 2, 2022

QOD:  There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no cause that I am prepared to kill for.  ~  Mohandas Gandhi (Oct. 2, 1869 ~ Jan. 30, 1948), Indian lawyer and peace activist

Monday, October 4, 2021

QOD:  To write something, you have to risk making a fool of yourself.  ~  Anne Rice (b. Oct. 4, 1941), American novelist  [Anne Rice died on December 11, 2021 at age 80.]

Sunday, October 4, 2020

QOD:  I long ago came to the conclusion that all life is 6 to 5 against.  ~  Damon Runyon (Oct. 4, 1880 ~ Dec. 10, 1946), American journalist and writer

Friday, October 4, 2019

QOD:  The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read.  It will be the person who does not know how to learn.  ~  Alvin Toffler (Oct. 4, 1928 ~ June 27, 2016), American writer and futurist

Thursday, October 4, 2018

QOD:  Knowledge is the most democratic source of power.  ~  Alvin Toffler (Oct. 4, 1928 ~ June 27, 2016), American author

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

QOD:  Evil is always possible.  Goodness is a difficulty.  ~  Anne Rice (b. Oct. 4, 1941), American novelist  [Anne Rice died on December 11, 2021 at age 80.]

Sunday, October 4, 2015

QOD:  We’re frightened of what makes us different.  ~  Anne Rice (b. Oct. 4, 1941), American novelist  [Anne Rice died on December 11, 2021 at age 80.]

Friday, October 4, 2013

QOD:  Must swear off from swearing.  Bad habit.  ~  Rutherford B. Hayes (né Rutherford Birchard Hayes; Oct. 4, 1822 ~ Jan. 7, 1893), 19th President of the United States