QOD: Life is like a sewer ... what you get out of it depends on what you put into it. ~ Tom Lehrer (né Thomas Andrew Lehrer; b. Apr. 9, 1928), American musician, satirist and mathematician
Friday, 1 October 2010
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
QOD: Youth is easily deceived because it is quick to hope. ~ Aristotle, Greek philosopher
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
QOD: When you sling mud, you loose ground. ~ Adlai E. Stephenson, II (né Adlai Ewing Stephenson, II; Feb. 5, 1900 ~ July 14, 1965), American politician
Today's Theme: Stock Split. This was a tricky theme today. The of the theme clues was a common phrase that began with a portion of the word “stock” and ended with the remaining portion of that word. I didn’t cotton on to the theme until after I had completed the entire puzzle and went back to review all the theme clues.
18. Hurricane Zone = Storm Track. Ironically, this has been a very active hurricane season. Tropical Storm Number 16 was brewing in the Caribbean as I was working on this puzzle.
20. Unflappable = STEADY AS A ROCK.
33. “Time Out!” = STOP THE CLOCK.
42, Dismay at the Dealer = STICKER SHOCK.
56. Sprinter’d Device = STARTING BLOCK.
60. Sign of Corporate Success, and a Literal Hint to the Puzzle’s Theme found in 18-, 20, 33-, 42-, and 56-Across = STOCK SPLIT.
Across:
1. Hitchcock’s Wife and Collaborator = ALMA.
5. Floater with a Ladder = RAFT.
14. Radio Tuner = DIAL. Except the radio in my car uses buttons.
15. Peace Prize City = OSLO.
16. Kind of Spray = NASAL. Helps me when I have a cold.
17. Ringing Sound = DONG.
22. Playful Swimmer = OTTER. Years ago, the YMCA had a jingle that went something like: “If you like the water, Then you really Otter, Learn how to swim at the YMCA.”
23. Craft = SHIP. I was thinking more along the arts and craft theme.
24. ___ in November = N AS. As in the phrase: “N” as in November. Tricky.
25. Bodybuilder’s Pride = ABS.
28. Alternatively = IF NOT.
37. TV Ad-Skipping Aid = TIVO. One company that allows one to record TV programs is known as TiVo, Inc.
40. “M*A*S*H” Role = RADAR. His was the first name to pop into my head.
41. Palo ____, Calif. = ALTO. As in Palo Alto.
45. 1970 World’s Fair Site = OSAKA. In Japan.
46. Hearth Burn Consequence = ASH. I misread the clue as “Heart Burn Consequence.”
47. Jacuzzi, e.g. = SPA.
50. Polite Oater Response = YES’M.
54. Destroyer Destroyer = U-BOAT. Reminded me of the movie “DAS BOOT”, which was a wonderful movie about the German navy in WWII.
62. Con = ANTI. As in against, not as a criminal.
63. Supple = LITHE.
64. Cornerstone Word = ANNO.
65. Spotted = SEEN.
66. Prayer Beginning = O LORD.
67. Ball Holders = TEES. As in the game of golf.
68. Coastal Raptors = ERNS.
Down:
1. Appends – ADDS ON.
2. Ray of “GoodFellas” = LIOTTA. LINK
3. Some Musée d’Orsay Works = MANETS. Could just as easily have been works by Monet.
4. Pool Problem = AGLAE.
5. Optimistic = ROSY
6. “The Thin Man” Pooch = ASTA. I learned this through doing crossword puzzles.
7. Dentist’s Suggestion = FLOSS.
8. Holy Scroll = TORAH.
9. Not Digressing = ON TOPIC. I initially tried On Point. Same number of letters.
10. Prix de ____ de Triomphe: Annual Horse Race = L’ARC. As in Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
12. Shop Cleaner, Briefly = VAC. Short for Vacuum.
13. Caribou Kin = ELK.
19. Diagnostic Proc. = MRI. Stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
21. “Shoot!” = DRAT.
26. Drag = BORE.
27. Joust Verbally = SPAR.
29. Strong Criticism = FLAK.
30. Mardi Gras City’s Amtrack Code = NOL. New Orleans is the Mardi Gras city, although it has a lot of other nicknames as well.
31. Trick-or-Treat Mo. = OCT. Stands for October, which begins in 2 days.
32. Bout Stopper, for Short = TKO. Stands for Technical Knock Out.
33. Wallop = SOCK. This fill almost fits into our STOCK theme.
34. NFL Scores = TDS. Stands for Touch Downs.
35. “That’s a Riot – Not” = HA-HA. We used to say: That’s so funny I forgot to laugh, so I guess I’ll laugh now.”
36. Cupid, to the Greeks = EROS.
37. General Associated with Chicken = TSO. General Tso’s Chicken is a crossword staple.
38. “___ a Date!” = IT’S. As in It’s a Date!
39. By Way Of = VIA.
43. Negotiated White Water, Perhaps = KAYAKED.
44. Thick-Bodied Fish = CHUB. LINK
47. One Vis-à-Vis Two = Sooner. I guess we’re referring to time here.
48. Oregon State’s Conf. = PAC TEN
49. Diet Doctor = ATKINS.
51. Med. Drama Setting = ERS. Stands for Emergency Rooms.
52. He Rid Ire. of Snakes, as the Legend Goes = ST. PAT. As in St. Patrick.
53. Pooh’s Creator = MILNE. A.A. Milne created the Winnie the Pooh stories.
55. Unimpressed = BLASÉ.
56. ____ Speak = SO TO.
57. Freq. Test Giver = TCHR. I suppose this is some sort of abbreviation for Teacher.
58. Prime-Time Time = NINE. As in 9 o’clock, but if you live in Central time, 8:00 p.m., is prime time.
59. Pontiac Muscle Cars = GTOS. This is a crossword staple, but I can never remember it.
60. Road Warning = SLO. Short for Slow.
61. Up To, in Ads = TIL. Short for Until.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
QOD: The ego is not master in its own house. ~ Sigmund Freud (May 6, 1859 ~ Sept. 23, 1939), Austrian-born psychoanalysis
Monday, 27 September 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
QOD: A little learning is a dangerous thing. ~ Alexander Pope (May 21, 1688 ~ May 30, 1744), English poet
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Today’s Theme: Did You Take Your Medicine Today? The PHARMACISTS dispense the medicines today. Three of the theme clues are forms of medicine delivery methods, united by the professionals who prepare the medicines.
18. Historic Cache for Future Millennia = TIME CAPSULE.
25. Investing Largely in Money Markets, Say = STAYING LIQUID.
42. Item for Doodling or Note-Taking = WRITING TABLET.
55. Dispensers of the Ends of 18-, 25-, and 42-Across = PHARMACISTS.
Across:
1. Hydroelectric Project = DAM.
5. Makes Improvements To = EMENDS. I learned a new word today. I first tried “Amends” but that didn’t work for 5-Down. Emends pertains to the written word, so is a cross between Edits and Amends.
10. California Wine Valley = NAPA. I love visiting California’s wine country.
14. Ipanema’s City = RIO. As in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. I learned that Ipanema is a neighborhood of Rio from a recent article in the Smithsonian magazine.
15. “Anything You Want” = “NAME IT.”
16. Petri Dish Gel = AGAR.
17. Geological Span = EON. // And 24-Across: Geological Span = ERA.
20. Take Turns = ALTERNATES.
22. Name of Two Presidents = ADAMS. Bet you were looking for a first name! Both John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams, were early U.S. Presidents.
23. Fuel for Big Rigs = DIESEL.
32. Money Market Fund, e.g. = ASSET.
34. Follows a Recipe = COOKS. What I failed to do yesterday when making a cake. The result was a disaster!
35. ___ Championship: August Golf Tournament = PGA. No idea. I don’t follow golf.
36. Jordanian Queen Dowager = NOOR. She is the widow of King Hussein. She was an American, born Lisa Najeeb Halaby, and converted to Islam when she married King Hussein.
37. Negative Quality = MINUS.
38. Beginning On = AS OF. Hmm…
39. Canal Site = EAR. Loved this clue.
40. Ate Sumptuously = DINED.
41. Heads-Up = ALERT.
45. “Mighty” Tree = OAK.
46. Power Failure = OUTAGE.
49. Really Bad = AWFUL. I was thinking that bad meant “evil.”
52. “No Way, José” = “NOT ON A BET!” I was expecting a phrase in Spanish.
57. Lennon’s Widow = ONO.
58. Emerald Isle = EIRE. For some reason, this crossword staple never sticks in my brain. I always have to wait for the perps to get the spelling of this word.
59. Supplanter of the Silent Movie = TALKIE. The first feature talking movie was the Jazz Singer, which was released in 1927.
60. Coffee Holder = URN.
61. Attracted a Trooper, Maybe = SPED. The troopers seem to be especially on alert for speeders in the rural parishes.
62. Mary Hartman Portrayer Louise = LASSER.
63. Your, in Tours = TES. French.
Down:
1. Live in Fear Of = DREAD.
2. Garlicky Sauce = AIOLI. Aioli is a French sauce made of lemon, eggs, garlic and olive oil.
3. Education Pioneer Maria = MONTESSORI.
4. Ask on Bended Knee = ENTREAT. I tried really hard to fit in “Marry Me.”
5. For the Most Part = MAINLY.
6. John’s Partner in “The Avengers” = EMMA. Once again this is a piece of trivia I learned from doing crosswords.
7. Nair Competitor = NEET.
8. Cubes that are Rolled = DICE.
9. Where Many Commuters Wait: Abbr. = STA. Stands for Station.
10. Tech-Heavy Stock Exchange = NASDAQ. Stands for National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System.
11. Contents of Un Lago = AGUA. Lago is Spanish for Lake, hence is filled with Agua, which is Spanish for Water.
12. Arboreal Miami Sight = PALM.
13.Greek God of War = ARES.
19. Louvre Location = PARIS.
21. Fragrant Compound = ESTER.
24. BPO ___ = ELKS. Apparently, this stands for Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
26. Cupcake Topper = ICING.
27. Nine-Piece Combo = NONET.
28. Mild Dutch Cheese = GOUDA.
29. Distraught Over = UPSET ABOUT.
30. Composer Stravinsky = IGOR.
31. Off One’s Rocker = DAFT.
32. All Over Again = ANEW.
33. Attract Upward-Looking Onlookers = SOAR.
37. Stole Fur = MINK.
38. Prince Valiant’s Wife = ALETA. Not familiar with this comic character or his family.
40. Hitchcock’s “_____” For Murder” = DIAL “M.”
41. Oldest Driver to Win the Indy 500 = AL UNSER.
43. Went on the Road = TOURED. I wonder if you Toured in Tours?
44. Baby’s Footwear = BOOTIE.
47. Country or Folk = GENRE. I initially thought of Music.
48. Preppy Collars = ETONS.
49. Mimics = APES.
50. Lion Tamer’s Handful = WHIP.
51. Taxi Rider or Payment = FARE.
52. March Madness Org. = NCAA. Stands for National Collegiate Athletic Association. The college baseball tournament takes place in March.
53. Sounds of Disapproval – TSKS.
56. Part of NATO: Abbr. = ATL. Stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Today’s Theme: Blue, Blue, My World is Blue. Each of the theme clues contains a different shade of the color blue, which is emphasized by the unifying clue found at 70-Across. The is a song entitled Blue, Blue, My World is Blue. Bette Midler also has a song entitled “Am I Blue.”
20. 1978 Movie Set in a Turkish Prison = MIDNIGHT EXPRESS. The was based on a true story of a young American who was sent to prison for trying to smuggle hashish out of Turkey. I never saw the movie, but read an excerpt of the book in Cosmopolitan. Midnight Blue is a dark shade of blue.
35. Volatile Situation = POWDER KEG. A powder keg contains gun powder and may explode at any moment. Powder blue is a very light shade of blue.
46. White Legumes = NAVY BEANS. How ironic that Navy Beans are white, since Navy Blue is a dark shade of blue.
57. Big Name in Dutch Porcelain = ROYAL COPENHAGEN. Royal Copenhagen makes beautiful place settings. Royal Blue is a very bright shade of blue.
70. Shades of It Begin This Puzzle’s Four Longest Answers = BLUE.