QOD: A loser says that’s the way it’s always been done. A winner says there ought to be a better way. ~ Sydney J. Harris (né Sydney Justin Harris; Sept. 14, 1917 ~ Dec. 7, 1986), American journalist
Bourgeois Bohemians. The circles provide the links to the two BOs found in each theme answer.
20-Across. 2002 Hugh Grant film based on a Nick Hornby novel: ABOUT A BOY.
30-Across. Gobbledygook: MUMBO JUMBO.
41-Across. Three-time All-Star outfielder whose son was a seven-time N.L. MVP: BOBBY BONDS.
And the Unifier:
55-Across. Birds with short finch-like bills ... or, what the sets of circled letters literally are?: BOBOLINKS. Everything you ever wanted to know about these small songbirds.
I am placing the Grid here today, so you can easily see the "links" to the BOs. The letters in the circles are just nonsense.
Across:
1. Sarah __, first woman governor of Alaska: PALIN. Sarah Palin (b. Feb. 11, 1964) was the 9th Governor of Alaska. She served as Governor from 2006 until she resigned 3 years later. She looks alot like actress Tina Fey.
6. Academic acronym: STEM. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
10. Chem class rooms: LABS. Chemistry is one of the S's in STEM classes.
14. Therapy prefix: AROMA. Aromatherapy is a pseudoscience, so probably doesn't qualify for STEM.
15. Cardamom-infused tea: CHAI. Here is one recipe for making your own Chai Tea.
16. Tierra en el mar: ISLA. Today's Spanish lesson. Land in the sea is an Island. Hi, Lucina!
17. Blue Ribbon beer: PABST. The history of the name of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.
22. Ogre, for one: BEAST. // And 52-Across. Shrek's love: FIONA.
23. Post-injury regimen: REHAB.
24. Delicate: DAINTY. In cleaning out my parents' house, I came across a delicate lace dress that belonged to my grandmother. It is over 100 years old. The dress looked a lot like the one pictured below.
25. Strong, as a storm: SEVERE. Like Hurricane Ida.
28. Reunion attendee: AUNT.
29. Signal from the wings: CUE. Think of an actor on stage who needs help with his lines.
36. Symbol on several PC keys: ARROW.
39. Long-handled tool: HOE.
40. Puccini specialty: OPERA. Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858 ~ Nov. 29, 1824) wrote numerous operas. He is probably best known for La Bohème and Madama Butterfly.
44. Title for Richard Starkey: SIR. That's Sir Ringo to you.
45. RPM indicator: TACH.
46. Drum kit cymbals: HI HATS.
54. Blond hair, e.g.: TRAIT.
59. Come by honestly: EARN.
60. First name in desserts: SARA.
61. Bull-riding venue: ARENA. A dangerous sport.
63. A bit open: AJAR. When is a door not a door ...
64. Wastes time: IDLES.
65. Canasta combination: MELD. Rules of Canasta.
66. Foots the bill: PAYS.
67. Parcels (out): DOLES.
Down:
1. Fairy tale bear: PAPA.
3. ESPN basketball analyst Rebecca: LOBO. A lone BO.
4. "There's no doubt!": I'M SURE.
5. Talk aimlessly: NATTER. Nattering nabobs of negativism.
6. Diving acronym: SCUBA. Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.
7. Pulsate: THROB.
8. "Settle down!": EASY.
9. Soccer great Hamm: MIA. Mia Hamm (née Mariel Margaret Hamm; b. Mar. 17, 1972) has now retired from playing soccer.
11. Lao or Thai: ASIAN.
12. __ from the past: nostalgic event: BLAST.
21. "May I speak?": AHEM.
22. Bluegrass band staple: BANJO.
24. Hall & Oates, e.g.: DUO.
25. Nature's bandage: SCAB. Yuck!
26. Costa del Sol coin: EURO. Costa del Sol is in Spain, hence, the most common Euro you will find there will be one featuring Spanish designs. Each Euro has a National side, which features pictures of its country. Rather like the State Quarters that were minted in the United States.
27. Trick or treat: VERB.
28. Under the covers: ABED.
31. "This isn't good": UH, OH!
32. Part of "MNF," an in-season wkly. sports broadcast: MON. As in Monday Night Football.
33. Spanish for "table": MESA. Also the name of a town in Arizona and a CSO to our Arizona contingent.
34. One with a tyre in his boot, perhaps: BRIT.
37. Managed to get: OBTAINED.
38. Tombstone first name: WYATT.
43. Chase away: SHOO.
47. Like mosaic tiles: INLAID. We saw some of the most amazine mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily.
49. Teakettle output: STEAM. Remove the A and you have STEM.
50. Backspace over: ERASE.
51. Hannah of "Splash": DARYL. We never saw much more of Daryl Hannah (née Daryl Christine Hanna; b. Dec. 3, 1960) after this 1984 movie came out.
53. Structural beams: I-BARS.
55. Gulf of California peninsula: BAJA.
56. 1994 Jodie Foster title role: NELL.
57. "Trick" joint: KNEE.
58. Disrespectful talk: SASS. This is becoming a crossword staple.
60. Botanical fluid: SAP. This makes me think of the maple trees in Vermont.
That's all for today folks! See you next week.
חתולה
