Tuesday, January 24, 2023

QOD:  Be honest, be nice, be a flower, not a weed.  ~  Aaron Neville (né Aaron Joseph Neville; b. Jan. 24, 1941), American musician

Rest and Recharge!  The last word of each theme answer are things may need or have a rest.

18-Across. *   Traditional Thanksgiving entree: ROAST TURKEY.  This answer confused me a bit, but apparently a roast turkey needs to rest a bit before being carved.  This gives the turkey time to reabsorb the juices so that the meat will be nice and juicy.

24-Across. *   Feature of anxiety, often: RACING MIND.

35-Across. *   The "order" part of a "Law & Order" episode: COURT CASE.

47-Across. *   Piano lesson pages: SHEET MUSIC.  The musicians a Rests is a musical notation sign that indicates the absence of a sound.  Each rest symbol and name corresponds with a particular note value indicating how long the silence should last.

And the unifier:

53-Across. "Enough already!" or what one may do to each answer to a starred clue: GIVE IT A REST.

Today's puzzle also acknowledges many of our regulars!

Across:

1. Cert. for some babysitters: CPR.  As in CardioPulmonary Resuscitation.

4. Golden St. region: SO-CAL.  As in Southern California.

9. Chase a fly, maybe: SWAT.

The caption reads" It's Like Skydiving"

13. Summer arrival: LEO.  Hi, Leo III!

14. "Sweet Love" singer Baker: ANITA.  Anita Baker (née Anita Denise Baker; b. Jan. 26, 1958) is a singer-songwriter best known for her soulful ballads.  Her birthday is next week.  [Name # 1.]

15. Maker of G-Shock watches: CASIO.  Everything you wanted to know about the G-Shock Casio watch, but didn't know to ask.

17. Sci-fi invaders: ETs.  As in ExtraTerrestrials

20. Venezuelan cornmeal cake: AREPA.  Not a Tuesday word.  Arepa is a type of food made with cornmeal that is usually stuffed with a filling.  It is a common street food in South America.

22. "Big Blue": IBM.  As in International Business Machines.

23. Certain sib: SIS.  My Sis and I traveled together on our recent trip.

28. N. Dak. neighbor: MONT.  Hi, Montana!

29. Egyptian boy king: TUT.  If my full name was Tutankhamun, I would probably go by Tut, too.  [Name # 2.]

30. Novelist Jaffe: RONA.  Rona Jaffe (June 12, 1931 ~ Dec. 30, 2005) wrote many novels.  She was big in the late '60s and '70s.  [Name # 3.]

31. Mean monster: BRUTE.  Ogre was not enough letters.

32. Cultural no-nos: TABOOs.

34. Successful dogcatcher, e.g.: CAPTOR.  This clue and answer feels a bit off.

37. "Or even less": IF THAT.

40. Hardly fresh: OLD HAT.  The origin of the expression of Old Hat.

42. Alexander Hamilton's birth island: NEVIS.  If you've seen the musical, then you knew immediately that Alexander Hamilton (Jan. 11, 1750s ~ July 12, 1804) was born in Nevis and that he was killed in a duel by Aaron Burr (1756 ~ 1836).  Hamilton was the 1st United States Secretary of the Treasury and he still appears on the $10 bill.  [Name adjacent.]

43. __-false test: TRUE.

44. This minute: NOW.

46. Trashy place?: DUMP.

50. Words of agreement: I DO.

51. Big part of an alligator: JAW.  My first thought was Maw, since the alligator has a big mouth.

52. Bygone anesthetic: ETHER.  A brief history of the use of Ether in medicine.

58. "How Easy Is That?" cookbook writer Garten: INA.  Ina Garten (née Ina Rosenberg; b. Feb. 2, 1978) is best known as being the Barefoot Contessa.  [Name # 4.]

59. Aromatic bulb: ONION.

60. Brief appearance in a film: CAMEO.  Alfred Hitchcock (né Alfred Joseph Hitchcock; Aug. 13, 1899 ~ Apr. 29, 1980) was known for making Cameo appearances in his films.

61. Tony winner Vereen: BEN.  Ben Vereen (né Benjamin Augustus Middleton; b. Oct. 10, 1946) portrayed Chicken George in the 1977 television miniseries Roots.  [Name # 5.]

62. Group after boomers: GEN-X.

63. City considered Japan's cultural capital: KYOTO.

64. Biblical craft: ARK.

Down:

1. See-through: CLEAR.  //  And 4-Down. See-through wrap: SARAN.

2. Domesticated rodent: PET RAT.  I'll pass on this pet.

3. Circular diamond shape: ROSE CUT.  Hand up if you immediately knew about the Rose Cut.

5. Grammy-winning Yoko: ONO.  Yoko Ono (b. Feb. 18, 1933) makes frequent Cameo appearances in the crossword puzzles.  I can't believe she is nearly 90 years old.  [Name # 6.]

6. "Homeland" org.: CIA.  Homeland was American espionage thriller television series that ran for nearly a decade.

7. @ signs: ATs.

8. Sonia Sotomayor, for one: LATINA.  Sonia Maria Sotomayor (b. June 25, 1954) joined the United States Supreme Court in August 2009.  I can't imagine that she has a pleasant job.  [Name # 7.]

9. Film on a pond: SCUM.

10. "This means __!": WAR.

11. Invites to dinner, maybe: ASKS OUT.

12. Connect with: TIE INTO.

16. Raw bar mollusk: OYSTER.

19. Letters on an incomplete schedule: TBD.  As in To Be Determined.

21. Crunchy hummus scooper: PITA CHIP.  Yummers!

25. Backsplash binder: GROUT.  Everything you wanted to know about kitchen backsplashes but didn't know to ask.

26. "Wuthering Heights" setting: MOOR.  Wuthering Heights is a 1847 novel by Emily Brontë (July 30, 1818 ~ Dec. 19, 1848).  It was initially published under her pen of Ellis Bell.  I probably read it in high school, but the only thing I can tell you about the book is it involves characters named Catherine and Heathcliff.

27. About to happen: IN STORE.  What comments are In Store for us today on this puzzle?

28. Nattily dressed snack food mascot: MR. PEANUT.  The nattily dressed Mr. Peanut (whose full name is Bartholomew Richard Fitzgerald-Smyth) has changed a bit throughout the ages.  [Name adjacent.]

31. Rager: BASH.

33. Feathery accessories: BOAs.

34. Military rookie: CADET.

36. Whodunit board game: CLUE.  A brief history of the game of Clue.

37. "Closer to Fine" duo __ Girls: INDIGO.

38. In a row?: FEUDING.  Row:  a noisy argument, but when used in this context the word rhymes with cow.

39. Lifetime channel offering: TV MOVIE.

41. Japanese electronics giant: TOSHIBA.  A brief history of Toshiba.

43. Hitting sound: THWACK.

45. Ballpark frank: WIENER.  The Boston Red Sox are known for their Fenway Franks.

47. Won at musical chairs: SAT.

48. "I feel the same way": ME TOO.

49. Curmudgeon: CRANK.

51. Curse: JINX.  Hi, Jinx!

54. Geologic time unit: EON.  A crossword staple.

55. Line in a child's drawing of the sun: RAY.  Hi, Ray-o-Sunshine!

56. Full of feelings: EMO. 

57. "Quiet on the __!": SET.

I Rest My CASE.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Monday, January 23, 2023

QOD:  Break a vase, and the love that assembles the fragments is stronger than that love which took its symmetry for granted when it was whole. ~  Sir Derek Walcott (né Derek Alton Walcott; Jan. 23, 1930 ~ Mar. 17, 2017), West Indies poet and author

Sunday, January 22, 2023

QOD:  If you believe that no one was ever corrupted by a book, you have also to believe that no one was ever improved by a book.  ~  Irving Kristol (Jan. 22, 1920 ~ Sept. 18, 2009), American political journalist

Friday, January 20, 2023

QOD:  Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.  ~  George Burns (né Nathan Birnbaum; Jan. 20, 1896 ~ Mar. 9, 1996), American comedian and actor

Thursday, January 19, 2023

QOD:  The best way out is always through.  ~  Edgar Allan Poe (Jan. 18, 1809 ~ Oct. 7, 1849), American writer

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

QOD:  To play yourself ~ your true self ~ is the hardest thing in the world.  ~  Cary Grant (né Archibald Alexander Leach; Jan. 18, 1904 ~ Nov. 29, 1986), British-born actor

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

QOD: Keep your eyes wide open before marriage; half shut afterwards.  ~  Benjamin Franklin (Jan. 17, 1706 ~ Apr. 17, 1790), Founding Father of the United States

Where's the Beef?  In-N-Out Burger serves Animal Style burgers.  Hopefully the burgers are still made with beef and not the animals depicted in today's puzzle.

3-Down. *  Short stiletto: KITTEN HEEL.

6-Down. *  Updo in a scrunchie, maybe: PONY TAIL.

9-Down. *  Shirt with a snug collar: TURTLE NECK.

51-Across. Option on In-N-Out Burger's not-so-secret menu, or the fashion sense that includes the answers to the starred clues?: ANIMAL STYLE.  In-N-Out Burger is a California-based burger chain, so unless you live in that area, you might not be aware of the various "not-so-secret" menu of their burgers.  That may change soon, however.  Just this past weekend, the company announced it will be opening a restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee.

Across:

1. Some cast-iron cookware: WOKS.

5. Letters on a foundation?: SPF.  As in Sun Protection Factor.  Everything you wanted to know about SPF but didn't know to ask.

8. Singer Redding: OTIS.  Otis Redding (né Otis Ray Redding, Jr.; Sept. 9, 1941 ~ Dec. 10, 1967) was a talented singer and songwriter.  Tragically, he his career was cut short when he was killed in a plane crash at age 26.  [Name # 1.]

12. Reebok rival: AVIA.  Both are brands of running shoes.

13. Husband-to-be: GROOM.

15. "That hurt!": OUCH.  //  And 8-Down. "That hurt!": OOF!

16. Oval Office override: VETO.

17. Trivial: MINOR.

18. On the house: FREE.

19. Doc with an otoscope: ENT.  As in Ears, Nose, and Throat.

20. Component of some paint and nails: ACRYLIC.

22. "More info soon": TBD.  As in To Be Determined.

23. Severe: STERN.  Also the back of the boat.

25. Had a bite: ATE.

26. Angels' auras: HALOS.

28. With crisp resolution: IN HD. High Definition.

29. Currency with loonies and toonies, briefly: CAD.  Everything you wanted to know about Loonies and Loonies but didn't know to ask.  Hi, Canadian, Eh!

I guess there will have to be a new version of the Toonie now that Elizabeth is gone.

30. Kingston with a recurring role on "Doctor Who": ALEX.  Alex Kingston (née Alexandra Elizabeth Kingston; b. Mar. 11, 1963) is a British actress who portrayed Dr. Elizabeth Corday on the television series ER.  She also has a recurring role as River Song on the British series Doctor Who.  [Name # 2.] 

31. Textspeak qualifier: IMHO.  In My Humble Opinion, I am not keen on this type of cluing.

32. Leveling strips: SHIMS.

34. "You only live __": ONCE.  YOLO!

36. Nourish: FEED.

37. Prefix meaning "primitive": PALEO-.

38. Recover: HEAL.

39. Causing goose bumps, maybe: FREAKY.

41. Clobbers: WHACKS.

43. French couture monogram: YSL.  Yves Saint Laurent (né Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent; Aug. 1, 1936 ~ June 1, 2008) was a French fashion designer. In 1962, he founded his eponymous fashion label.   [Name # 3.]

44. Green prefix: ECO-.

46. Noodle soup garnished with basil and lime: Phở.  I ate a lot of Phở on my recent trip to Southeast Asia.  It is really delicious.

47. Hawaii's Mauna __: KEA.  Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano on the Big Island.  It is the highest point in the State of Hawaii.

48. Revelatory cries: AHAs!

49. Overnight __: breakfast dish: OATS.  You, too, can make this breakfast dish.  I have never eaten overnight oats, but it might be worth a try.

54. Arrange in a row: ALIGN.

56. Obtained: GOT.

57. "Yer __ here!": OUTTA.

60. Spanish toast: SALUD.  Today's Spanish lesson.  Hi, Lucina!

61. Prefix with Pen: EPI-.  The EpiPen was the center of a scandal a few years back.

62. Unit of salt or sand: GRAIN.

63. Group of friends: POSSE.

64. Place that may be kept quiet?: SET.  Think of a movie set.

65. Suitably: APTLY.

Down:

1. Surfer's need: WAVES.

2. Kitchen counters?: OVEN TIMERS.  Cute clue.

4. "Saint," in Portuguese place names: SÃO.  Portuguese is spoken in Brazil, and São Paulo is one of its major cities.

5. Condiment also known as "rooster sauce": SRIRACHA.  Sriracha is a hot pepper sauce that has its origin in Thailand.  Apparently, it is known as Rooster Sauce because of the rooster on the company's logo.

7. "I had no idea!": FOOLED ME!

10. Chilled dessert: ICEBOX CAKE.  If you feel so inspired, here is a recipe.

11. Storage structures: SHEDS.

13. Hummer EV automaker: GMC.  These were hot items several years back.

14. Hosp. scan: MRI.  As we learned last week, they are not kin to the CT.

20. "Your point being?": AND.  //  And 33-Down. "Your point being?": SO WHAT.

21. Tea, in Mandarin: CHA.

24. Valerie Harper sitcom of the 1970s: RHODA.  Valerie Harper (née Valerie Kathryn Harper; Aug.  22, 1939 ~ Aug. 30, 2019) began her career as a dancer on Broadway.  She is probably best known, however, for her portrayal of Rhoda Morgenstern on the Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spinoff Rhoda.  [Name # 4.]

27. Waikiki welcome: ALOHA.

31. Far from certain: IFFY.

32. Hidden video gadget: SPYCAM.

35. Idina's "Frozen" role: ELSA.  Idina Kim Menzel (b. May 30, 1971) is primarily known for her work in Broadway musicals, especially her role as Elsa on Frozen.  [Name # 5.]

40. "President Barack Obama" portraitist __ Wiley: KEHINDE.  Kehinde Wiley (b. Feb. 28, 1977) is a Nigerian-American artist best known for his portraits.  [Name # 6.]

42. Exercise discipline in a very warm studio: HOT YOGA.  It is a trending form of yoga, but not a form I practice.

45. Great Plains people: OSAGES.  For a good history of the Osage tribe, I recommend Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann.

46. Sticky note: POST IT.

48. Scottish beef cattle: ANGUS.  Everything you wanted to know about the Black Angus cattle, but didn't know to ask.

50. Drink noisily: SLURP.

51. Isn't well: AILS.

52. Easy stride: LOPE.

53. Californie, par exemple: ÉTAT.  Today's French lesson.

54. Venomous snake: ASP.  A crossword staple.

55. Thai neighbor: LAO.  What do Thailand and Laos have in common?

58. "Don't knock it __ you try it": TIL.

59. "__ minute now": ANY.  Any minute now you will comment on this blog.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה