QOD

This blog purely for my own amusement. I like to start the day with a quote, be it amusing, inspiration, or simply something that caught my fancy.

On occasion, I might also include some commentary on the day's crossword puzzle that is published in the Los Angeles Times.

Tuesday, 2 September 2025

Tuesday, September 2, 2025 Noelle Griskey


Come on Baby, Let the Good Times Roll.


17-Across. It's on a rollSPICY MAYO.


24-Across. Who's on a rollSTAR STUDENT.


36-Across. They're on a rollCOLOR PHOTOS.

47-Across. They're on a rollSESAME SEEDS.


57-Across. It's on a rollRICE PAPER.  Rice Paper is the thin edible wrapper used for wrapping spring rolls in spring rolls in Southeast Asian foods.


Let's get Rolling ...


Across:

1. Does some light cleaning: DUSTS.

6. Brief "Holy cow!": OMG.  Textspeak.

9. Rand McNally publication: ATLAS.  The Rand is also the official currency of South Africa.

14. Like much pub ale: ON TAP.

15. Dim sum bun: BAO.  Everything you ever wanted to know about these Chinese steamed buns.


16. Construction site sight: CRANE.

19. "That's just my two __": CENTS.

20. Othello's betrayer: IAGO.

21. Punk subgenre: EMO.  A crossword staple.

22. Beyond mad: IRATE.

23. Strategic game with matchsticks: NIM.  I was not familiar with this game.  Apparently it is a mathematical game in which two players take turns removing (ie, "nimming") objects from distinct heaps or piles.  On each turn, a player must remove at least one object, and may remove any number of objects provided they all come from the same heap or pile.  Depending on the version being played, the goal of the game is either to avoid taking the last object or to take the last object.  Clear as mud.

27. Vintner's fruit: GRAPE.


29. Sugar suffix: -OSE.  As in Sucrose, or Maltose.


30. Genetic messenger: RNA.  As in RiboNucleic Acid, which is a biological molecule that carries genetic information and plays crucial roles in protein synthesis, gene regulation, and various cellular processes.


31. Research assistant, informally: LAB TECH.


35. Unforeseen hiccup: SNAG.

38. Left at sea?: PORT.  Port refers to the left side of a vessel when facing forward, while starboard refers to the right side.  The term starboard comes from the Old English word for the side of the ship where the steering oar was placed (the "steer-board").  Port was the side used to tie up to the dock.

40. Wright of "Black Panther": LETITIA.  Letitia Michelle Wright (b. Oct. 31, 1993) is a Guyanese-born British actress.

41. Expert: ACE.

42. Extra periods, briefly: OTs.  As in Over Times.

43. Operating principle: CREDO.

52. Race unit: LAP.  I initially tried Leg.

53. Like farm owners: ACRED.

54. Printer spec.: DPI.  As in Dots Per Inch.


55. Angry or achy: SORE.  //  And 35-Down. Take to the sky: SOAR.

56. Negro Leagues legend Buck: O'NEIL.  Buck O'Neil (né John Jordan O'Neil, Jr.; Nov. 13, 1911 ~ Oct. 6, 2006) was a first baseman and manager for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro American Baseball League.


59. Shampoo step: RINSE.


60. Environmental prefix: ECO-.

61. Foam on un espresso: CREMA.
62. Good-sized band: OCTET.

63. Addams cousin: ITT.


64. Soup and salad: SIDES.

Down:
1. Administering medication: DOSING.

2. Disconnect, as a Bluetooth device: UNPAIR.


3. Mark of disgrace: STIGMA.

4. Part of Tuesday's dinner, maybe: TACO.


5. Asset with intel: SPY.


6. President born in Hawaii: OBAMA.  Barack Obama (b. Aug. 4, 1961) celebrated his 64th birthday earlier this month.


7. City hall leader: MAYOR.


8. Baby talk syllable: GOO.

9. Amass over time: ACCRUE.

10. Sneaker pattern: TREAD.


11. Some decorative outdoor lighting: LANTERNS.

12. Rabbit ears: ANTENNA.


13. Paris possessive: SES.  Today's French lesson.

18. Came together: MET.

22. "Crack a window, would you?": IT'S HOT.

24. Make airtight: SEAL.

25. Largest resort city in Russia: SOCHI.


26. Graffiti signature: TAG.

28. Scheme: PLOT.

32. Locked securely: BOLTED.

33. Curly lock: TRESS.

34. Clearblue alternative: EPT.  Both are home pregnancy tests.


36. Moon shape: CRESCENT.

37. Personal quirks: TICS.

38. Faux follower: PAS.  More of today's French lesson.

39. Part of NOAA: OCEANIC.  As in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  During hurricane season, we keep an almost daily look at activity in the Atlantic Ocean and Mississippi Gulf.

42. Spanish __: OMELET.  A traditional Spanish Omelet is made with eggs, potatoes, and onions. It may also include some meats and vegetables.  The difference between a Spanish Omelet and a "regular" omelet, is that the Spanish omelet is potato based and is thick, not fluffy.  Yummers!


44. Skipped the big wedding: ELOPED.


45. Response to "I bet you won't": DARE ME.

46. Works with arias: OPERAs.

48. Come to light: ARISE.

49. Official order: EDICT.

50. World Showcase theme park: EPCOT.  EPCOT is an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow.


51. Sputter out: DIE.

55. Garment in Hindi cinema: SARI.  A crossword staple.

56. Acapulco gold: ORO.  Today's Spanish lesson.

57. "A Life Outdoors Is a Life Well Lived" co.: REI.  REI makes frequent appearances in the crossword puzzles.  It is an acronym for Recreational Equipment Inc.


58. Mac rivals: PCs.

We're on a Roll!  Here's the Grid/


חתולה


Tuesday, 19 August 2025

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

QOD:  You’re only young once, but you can be immature forever.  ~  Ogden Nash (né Frederic Ogden Nash; Aug. 19, 1902 ~ May 19, 1971), American poet and humorist

The Energizer Bunny.  The first word of each theme answer is another word for energy.

3-Down. Potential basketball assist that hits the floor: BOUNCE PASS.


7-Down. Fast-food pickup location: DRIVE THRU WINDOW.

9-Down. "Quiet!": ZIP YOUR LIP.


28-Down. Kitchen gadget often used on oranges: JUICE PRESS.


Here's the unifier:

31-Down. Like some protein-rich snacks, or what can be found in 3-, 7-, 9-, and 28-Down?: HIGH ENERGY.  Note that each theme answer is in the down position.  This gives each synonym of ENERGY to be in the HIGH position.


Across:

1. Dining room fixture: TABLE.

6. QB's successes: TDs.  We have a mini Football Theme.  QuarterBack's successes are Touch Downs.  //  15-Across. Cards, on scoreboards: ARI.  The ARIzona CARDinals are a professional football team.  //  52-Across. QB's errors: INTS.  As in INTerceptions.

9. Sassy letter-shaped gesture: Z-SNAP.

14. Scrub hard, as a pot: SCOUR.

16. "Leave it to me": I WILL.

17. Connected to an outlet: PLUGGED IN.

19. Spotted bean or horse: PINTO.


20. Gas in bright signs: NEON.


21. "Nice work!": VERY GOOD.

23. Kindergarten recitation: ABCs.

25. Bygone automaker from South Korea: DAEWOO.


27. Loaf with seeds: RYE.
28. Leave at the altar: JILT.

29. The "L" of MLK: LUTHER.

34. Swiss peak: ALP.

35. Great Salt Lake state: UTAH.

36. Beethoven's Third: EROICA.  Eroica is Italian for Heroic.


37. South Beach neighbor: MIAMI.

39. Sign at a packed B'way theater: SRO.  As in Standing Room Only.

41. McDonald's arches et al.: LOGOs.


42. Fly or flea: INSECT.

44. Citrus with an unappealing name: UGLI.  The Ugli fruit is a natural hybrid of grapefruit, orange, and tangerine.  It tastes better than it looks.
46. Birthday party topper: HAT.
47. End section of an Italian sonnet, e.g.: SESTET.

48. Burrito kin: WRAP.

49. Historical period: ERA.

50. Pocketful in a nursery rhyme: POSIES.  Ring Around the Rosie ....  Is this rhyme really about the Black Plague?


53. Neverland boy who befriends the Darling children: PETER PAN.

57. Hue: TONE.

59. Ooze, as charm: EXUDE.

60. "We're not on the same page": I DISAGREE.

64. Buffalo __: WINGS.  What's the real origin of Buffalo Wings?


65. __ de plume: NOM.  Today's French lesson.  Translated to mean a pen name.

66. "Copy that": ROGER.


67. Doesn't leave: STAYS.

68. Early afternoon: TWO.

69. Tim Gunn's area of expertise: STYLE.  Timothy MacKenzie Gunn (b. July 29, 1953) was the chief creative director at Kate Spade, Co.  He was also on Project Runway.


Down:
1. Kitchen qty.: TSP.  As in Teaspoon.

2. Knee surgery target, for short: ACL.  As in an Anterior Cruciate Ligament.  This is becoming a crossword staple.

4. Some Winter Olympics sleds: LUGES.


5. Cogito, __ sum: ERGO.  Today's Latin lesson.  I think, therefore I am.


6. Smidge: TAD.

8. Muscle fiber: SINEW.


10. Big gulp: SWIG.


11. El __: climate pattern: NIÑO.  El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.  Its cooler counterpart is La Niña.  During El Niño years, there tends to be less hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean.   La Niña years, on the other hand, favor more intense hurricanes in the Atlantic.

12. Voice below soprano: ALTO.

13. Trudge: PLOD.

18. Break up: END IT.

22. Auditioner's goal: ROLE.

23. One of the Three Musketeers: ARAMIS.  Also the name of a men's cologne.


24. Author credit: BYLINE.

26. Word of woe: ALAS.

30. As well: TOO.

32. Nature photography, perhaps: ECO-ART.


33. Jah worshippers: RASTAS.  Everything you ever wanted to know about Rastafari, but didn't know you needed to know.

38. Ran into: MET.

40. Fairy tale baddie: OGRE.
43. Camaro roof option: T-TOP.  Another crossword staple.

45. Endures: LASTS.

51. Miracle worker, perhaps: SAINT.

52. Gold bar: INGOT.

53. Congregants' benches: PEWS.

54. Red sign above a door: EXIT.


55. Sushi fish: TUNA.  //  And 62-Down. Sushi fish: EEL.

56. Provocative: EDGY.

58. Boathouse collection: OARS.


61. "Seems to me," online: IMO.  Textspeak for In My Opinion.

63. Poetic "before": ERE.

Here's the Grid:


חתולה