Tuesday, July 16, 2024

QOD:  Every once in a while, someone will mail me a single popcorn kernel that didn’t pop.  I’ll get out a fresh kernel, tape it to a piece of paper and mail it back to them.  ~  Orville Redenbacher (né Orville Clarence Redenbacher; July 16, 1907 ~ Sept. 19, 1995)

The Answer is Always Chocolate.  What was the question?  The first word of each theme answer is Chocolate!

16-Across. Arbitrary allowance for error: FUDGE FACTOR.  Chocolate Fudge

24-Across. Poker player with the tallest stacks: CHIP LEADER.  Chocolate Chip.

47-Across. Rite of passage for a Jewish boy: BAR MITZVAH.  Chocolate Bar.

59-Across. Words on a novelty apron: KISS THE CHEF.  Chocolate Kiss.

Here's the unifier:

36-Across. Sweet treats for a valentine, or what the starts of 16-, 24-, 47-, and 59-Across are: BOXES OF CHOCOLATE.

And, in keeping with the Chocolate theme:

45-Down. Apt candy for a snack break?: KIT KAT.  Yummers!  One of my favorite candy bars.  I guess it is good for a snack break, because you can easily break the bar into pieces.

Across:

1. "Jurassic Park" resin: AMBER.  Everything you wanted to know about Amber, but didn't know to ask.

6. Big name in champagne: MOËT.  The perfect beverage for a celebration.  The company has been making champagne for over 280 years.   [Name Adjacent.]

10. Pigpen: STY.

13. Glacier-climbing tool: ICE AXE.

14. First word of a fairy tale: ONCE.  Best opening line in a children's book:  "Once upon a time there lived... 'A king! ' my little readers will say immediately.  No, children, you are mistaken.  Once upon a time there was a piece of wood."  *

15. __ vez: again, in Spanish: OTRA.  Obviously, this is today's Spanish lesson.

18. Sonnet or ode: POEM.

19. Phony: FRAUD.

20. Margaret of "Fire Island": CHO.  Margaret Cho (née Margaret Moran Cho; b. Dec. 5, 1968) is an American stand-up comedian and actress. In Fire Island, she portrayed an LGBT Asian-American on vacation with a group of gay friends in Fire Island.  [Name # 1.]

21. Play parts: SCENES.

23. Ivy in New Haven: YALE.  Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut was named after Elihu Yale (Apr. 5, 1649 ~ July 8, 1721).  [Name Adjacent.]

26. Out of __ world: THIS.

28. Not online, online: IRL.  Textspeak for In Real Life.  This appears with some frequency in the crossword puzzles.

29. Dove's sound: COO.

31. Prefix similar to quad-: TETRA.  Also the name of an early video game created by Alexey Pajitnov (b. Apr. 16, 1955). 

33. 38-Down dispenser: ATM.  //  And 38-Down: Money: CASH.

35. Talk a big game: CROW.

40. Inning's six: OUTS.  Because each baseball team has three outs per inning.  Clever.

41. Tyrannosaurus __: REX.

42. Many Omanis: ARABS.  The official name of the country is the Sultanate of Oman and it is located on the eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula.

43. Shivered syllable: BRR.  It was unseasonably cold in Iceland.  Temps are normally in the 60s in June, but the first week or so we were there, temps were in the 40s.  BRR ...

44. Barinholtz who won "Celebrity Jeopardy!" in 2023: IKE.  I recognize his face, but did not know his name.  Ike Barinholtz (b. Feb. 18, 1977) starred in The Mindy Project.   [Name # 2.]

46. Community FYIs: PSAs.  As in a Public Service Announcement.

51. Cheeky answers: SASS.

55. Legal scholar: JURIST.

56. Organ with a lobe: EAR.

57. Desert flora: CACTI.

58. Shortly, shortly: ASAP.  As in As Soon As Possible.

62. Piffling: MERE.

63. Uffizi display: ARTE.  Today's Italian lesson.  The Uffizi Gallery, which is in Florence, Italy, houses many Renaissance masterpieces.  It's well worth the visit.  Even the building itself, which was built in the late 1500s, is a masterpiece.

64. "Love that": IN TO IT.

65. NNW opposite: SSE.

66. Body positive activist Holliday: TESS.  Tess Holliday (née Ryann Maegen Hoven; b. July 5, 1985) is completely unknown to me.  [Name # 3.]

67. Brick-and-mortar worker?: MASON.

Down:

1. Honda luxury line: ACURA.

2. Olympian's aspiration: MEDAL.  What are the medals made of?

3. French loaves: BAGUETTES.  Yummers!  When we lived in France, we had fresh baguettes and cheese every day.  You had to eat the baguette the day you bought it, though, because if you didn't, you could use the baguette to hammer nails.

4. Struck through: EX'ED.

5. Penalty caller: REF.  As in Referee.

6. Sweet rice cake: MOCHI.  Everything you wanted to know about Mochi but didn't know to ask.

7. In first place: ON TOP.

8. Prefix with hotel or tourist: ECO-.  Everything the Eco-Tourist should know about an Eco-Hotel.

9. Less verbose: TERSER.

10. Crustacean eaten by sea turtles: STONE CRAB.

11. Moving sidewalk creators?: TREE ROOTS.  Tree roots can also move driveways.

12. Thanksgiving tubers: YAMS.

13. Not without risk: IFFY.

15. Opinion piece: OP-ED.   The term Op-Ed is short for "opposite the editorial page".  Apparently, the New York Times began publishing the Op-Ed Page in 1970, and it now refers to the practice of newspapers placing opinion pieces on the opposite side of their editorial page.

17. German cries: ACHs!  Today's German lesson.

22. Berkeley, briefly: CAL.  Berkeley is a town/city in California.  

24. Bologna bye-bye: CIAO.  More of today's Italian lesson.

25. Long ride, for short: LIMO.

27. Bits of time?: HRs.  As in Hours.

30. Need to repay: OWE.

31. Band wagons?: TOUR BUSES.

32. Like a limited edition: EXTRA RARE.

33. Hardware chain that celebrated "100 Years of Helpful" in 2024: ACE.

34. "appreciate u": THX.  More textspeak.

35. Mensches: CLASS ACTS.  Mensch, today's Yiddish lesson, and it means a person with integrity and honor.  If someone is called a Mensch, it is a real compliment.  

36. __ for apples: BOB.  [Name adjacent.]

37. Lose sleep, maybe: FRET.

39. "Your Song" singer Rita: ORA.  Rita Ora (née Rita Sahatçiu; b. Nov. 26, 1990) was born in what is now Kosovo, but her family moved to England when she was a baby.  Her parents changed their surname from Sahatçiu, which means watchmaker, to Ora, which means time, because it was easier for English-speaking people to pronounce.  She is married to the New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi (b. Aug. 16, 1975).   [Name # 4.]

44. Online convos: IMs.  Instant Messages.  More textspeak.

46. Take different paths: PART.

48. Like peaches in summer: RIPE.  Yummers!  I love fresh, ripe peaches.

49. Cocktail twists: ZESTS.

50. Bouquet bearers: VASES.

52. Sneeze sound: ACHOO!

53. Oktoberfest mug: STEIN.  Oktoberfest begins in Munich this September 21.

54. Verb in a bread recipe: SIFT.

55. Scone spreads: JAMS.  Yummers!

57. John of "Argylle": CENA.  John Cena (né John Felix Anthony Cena; b. Apr. 23, 1977) is probably best known for being a professional wrestler, although he has moved into acting.  [Name # 5.]

60. Anger: IRE.

61. That guy: HIM.

Here's the Grid:

*  Opening line of Pinocchio, by Carlo Collodi.

חתולה

Tuesday July 9, 2024

QOD:  Why resist temptation?  There will always be more.  ~  Don Herold (July 9, 1889 ~ June 1, 1966), American humorist

Body Double:  The word Body can be placed before each of the two words in the theme answers to give a new concept.  Body Double is also a 1984 Brian De Palma film about young actor's obsession with spying on a beautiful woman who lives nearby.

17-Across. Intimate conversation in bed: PILLOW TALK.  Body Pillow / Body Talk.  Pillow Talk is a 1959 movie starring Rock Hudson and Doris Day.  A Body Pillow is usually a long, narrow pillow that you cradle while you sleep. The benefit of a body pillow is that it gives extra support to side sleepers, especially those suffering from back issues or sleep apnea.  Body Talk, also known as Body Language, "is the means by which people convey information through physical behaviors rather than words."

25-Across. Laundry apparatus used as a percussion instrument: WASHBOARD.  Body Wash / Body Board.  Body Wash is a liquid soap.  A Body Board is used in the sport of bodyboarding in which the surfer rides a bodyboard on the crest, face, and curl of a wave.  A Washboard is frequently used in Zydeco music.

35-Across. Aerosolized popcorn condiment: SPRAY BUTTER.  Body Spray / Body Butter.  Body Spray is similar to perfume, however, body sprays have a lower level of concentrated oil and more alcohol, while perfume have a higher level of oil and less water or alcohol.  Body Butter is similar to a body lotion, however, body butter is better for rougher skin and is thicker than a lotion.

48-Across. Timepiece innards: CLOCKWORK.  Body Clock / Body Work.  Your Body Clock defines your daily rhythms.  I think of Body Work as something that your car might need after an accident.

And the unifier:

57-Across. Actor's stand-in, or a hint to what can precede both parts of 17-, 25-, 35-, and 48-Across: BODY DOUBLE.  Everything you wanted to know about a Body Double but didn't think to ask.

Brad Pitt and his Body Double.

Across:

1. Gentle touches: PATS.

5. Raise, as morale: BOOST.

10. Harvest: REAP.

14. Baker's appliance: OVEN.

15. One of the Three Musketeers: ATHOS.  The Three Musketeers is a French historical adventure novel written in 1844 by Alexandre Dumas (1802 ~ 1870).  The novel takes place in the 1620s and recounts the adventures of a young man named d'Artagnan (a character based on Charles de Batz-Castelmore d'Artagnan) after he leaves home to travel to Paris  He had hoped to join the Musketeers of the Guard, but was ineligible.  He was, however, befriended by three musketeers: – Athos, Porthos and Aramis, "the three musketeers".  [Name # 1, fictional.]

16. Penne __ vodka: ALLA.  Yummers!  Penne alla vodka is a pasta dish made with (Surprise!) vodka and penne.  There are a few other ingredients as well, including heavy cream, crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce, onions. The alcohol is said to intensify and accentuate flavors in the dish.

19. "The Rabbit Hutch" National Book Award winner Gunty: TESS.  The Rabbit Hutch is a Tess Gunty's first novel, that was published in 2022.  It is about 4 teenager who recently aged out of the state foster-care system and are now living together in a run-down town in the mid-West.  [Name # 2.]

20. Pizzeria owner in "Do the Right Thing": SAL.  Do the Right Thing is a 1989 film by Spike Lee (b. 1957) about race relations in a Brooklyn.   Salvatore "Sal" Fragione, portrayed by Danny Aiello (1933 ~ 2019), is the Italian owner of a pizzeria in the neighborhood.  [Name # 3, fictional]

21. Prepare ahead of time: PLAN.

22. Make a quick policy change: PIVOT.

23. Coming in handy: UTILE.

28. Funnel-shaped flower: PETUNIA.

30. Apple platform: IOS.  //  Not to be confused with 41-Across: Bit of positivity?: ION.

31. Greek letter before upsilon: TAU.

32. Fellows: MEN.

33. CPR pro: EMT.  An Emergency Medical Technician better be able to perform CardioPulmonary Resuscitation.

34. "Been there, __ that": DONE.

38. Yes votes: AYES.

40. Key __: car remote: FOB.

42. Bad review: PAN.

43. Poivre partner: SEL.  Today's French lesson gives us Pepper and Salt.

44. Ideal: OPTIMUM.

51. Muscat resident: OMANI.

52. "NCIS" protagonist __ Jethro Gibbs: LEROY.  Leroy Jethro Gibbs the main character in NCIS and is portrayed by Mark Harmon (b. 1951).  [Name # 4, fictional.]

53. Lyft competitor: UBER.  What's the difference?

55. Show hosts, for short: MCs.

56. Actress Shawkat: ALIA.  Alia Shawkat (b. 1989) makes occasional appearances in the puzzles.  She portrayed Maeby Fünke on Arrested Development.   [Name # 5]

60. Exams for srs.: SATs.  The Scholastic Aptitude Tests make frequent appearances in the puzzles.

61. Foe: ENEMY.

62. Wax alternative: NAIR.  Hair removal products.

63. Whack: SWAT.

64. Like grainy graphics: LO-RES.  Oh, as in Low Resolution.  I kept looking at LORES and wondered what that meant, then the light bulb went on.

65. Best Female Athlete, e.g.: ESPY.

Down:

1. Comes as a surprise, maybe: POPS UP.

2. Fly a plane: AVIATE.

3. "Preach!": TELL IT!

4. NBC sketch show, familiarly: SNL.  As in Saturday Night Live.

The original Not-Ready-For-Primetime Players

5. Weep loudly: BAWL.

6. Capital of Canada: OTTAWA.  Hi, CanadianEh!

7. Hawaiian word for "family": OHANA.

8. Pine-__: cleaning brand: SOL.  It now comes in all sorts of flavors, er, scents.

9. Disapproving sound: TSK!

10. Math comparison: RATIO.

11. Stairs alternative: ELEVATOR.

12. Concession speech giver: ALSO RAN.

13. Late, as a library book: PAST DUE.  My public library has done away with late fees.

18. First game of the season: OPENER.

22. "All Creatures Great and Small" airer: PBS.  As in Public Broadcasting Service.

24. Sugar cubes: LUMPS.

26. "Atlas" actor Liu: SIMU.  Simu Liu (b. 1989) is a Canadian actor.  He was born in Harban, China, but his family moved to Canada when he was a small child.  In 2022, he was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world.  ([Name # 6.]

27. Good intel: HOT TIP.

29. Shortly: IN A FEW.

33. Flow out: EBB.

34. Jeans material: DENIM.

35. Miss, in Mexico: SENORITA.  Today's Spanish lesson.

36. "Carpe diem" acronym: YOLO.  You Only Live Once.

37. "My Neighbor __": 1988 Miyazaki film: TOTORO.  This seems to be a bit obscure for a Tuesday.  My Neighbor Totoro is a Japanese animated film that focuses on two young sisters their interactions with friendly wood spirits in postwar rural Japan.  I had not heard of this film, nor had I heard of its director Hayao Miyazaki (b. Jan. 5, 1941).  [Name # 7.]

38. Sr.'s course for college credit: AP CLASS.  As in Advanced Placement Class.

39. Sonia Sotomayor's alma mater: YALE LAW.  Sonia Sotomayor (b. 1954) has served on the Supreme Court since August 2009.  I wouldn't want her job.  [Name # 8.]

43. Pie in the __: SKY.

44. "I'm cool with that": OK BY ME.

45. Deadly African snakes: MAMBAS.  Everything you wanted to know about the Mamba but didn't know to ask.

46. Release, as a carabiner: UNCLIP.

47. "__ loves company": MISERY.

49. Seashore: COAST.  Here I am at Diamond Beach, also known as Breiðamerkursandur, is a beach located on the south coast of Iceland.  Its name comes from the "diamond" pieces of ice from the nearby glacier.  I didn't go swimming there.

50. More impolite: RUDER.

54. Dreyer's ice cream, east of the Rockies: EDY'S.  This ice cream brand makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.

57. "The Fresh Prince of __-Air": BEL.  The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was a television show from the 1990s and starred Will Smith (b. 1968).

58. Artist Yoko: ONO.  Yoko Ono (b. Feb. 18, 1993) makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.  I can't believe she is 91 years old!  [Name # 9.]

59. French article: UNE.  More of today's French lesson.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Many thanks to Anonymous T who filled in for me while Hubby and I explored the Land of the Midnight Sun.

The caption reads: I'm sorry, sir, you're overdrawn.