Theme: A CAPITAL IDEA, i.e. a sterling concept, taking advantage of the word CAPITAL having two distinctly different meanings, as we shall soon see; one relating to finance and the other to being something central and important.
18. Church official: PARISH CLERK. A church official charged with carrying out specific duties. This term was in much more common use in the 19th century.
24. Vermont senator since 2007: BERNIE SANDERS. From 1990 to 2006 he represented Vermont in the House of Representatives. He also served as mayor of Burlington from 1980 to 1999. If you ever think your vote doesn't matter, remember he won his first election by 10 votes. Deeper than that into politics we shall not venture. 48. "Thus with a kiss I die" speaker: ROMEO MONTAGUE. Tragic young hero and one of the eponyms of a Shakespearian tragedy. The musical followed a few centuries later.
58. Baked pasta dish: RIGATONI PIE. You be the judge.
And then the centrally located two-part unifier. 37. With 39-Across, seed money ... or what 18-, 24-, 48- and 58-Across each has: STARTUP.
39. See 37-Across: CAPITAL. Together, they indicate the initial investment needed to get a business going; and also, via word play, the CAPITAL city of a European country at the START of each theme entry.
The cities are -- PARIS, France; BERN. Switzerland; ROME, Italy; and RIGA, Latvia. Hi gang, JazzBumpa here as your tour guide on a journey provided by our most gracious host. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Across:
1. Plane engine housing: POD. For wing mounted engines.
4. Hindu philosophy: TANTRA. Adherence to the doctrines or principles of the tantras, involving mantras, meditation, yoga, and ritual.
10. "Don't leave": STAY. Dog command?
14. Previously: AGO. Once upon a time
15. Signals for firefighters: ALARMS.
16. Only state with a non-rectangular flag: OHIO. I knew this, since I am from there. Also - what's round at both ends and hi in the middle? Now - on to stuff I did not know. Ohio's state flag was adopted in 1902. The Ohio burgee, as the swallowtail design is properly called, was designed by John Eisemann. The large blue triangle represents Ohio's hills and valleys, and the stripes represent roads and waterways. The 13 stars grouped about the circle represent the original states of the union; the 4 stars added to the peak of the triangle symbolize that Ohio was the 17th state admitted to the union. The white circle with its red center not only represents the "O" in Ohio, but also suggests Ohio's famous nickname, "The Buckeye State."
3. "Chin up!": DON'T BE SAD. Things could be worse.
4. Touch lightly: TAP. Or PAT. Needed perp help.
5. Harlem Renaissance writer Locke: ALAIN. Alain Leroy Locke [1885-1954] was an American writer, philosopher, educator, and patron of the arts. Distinguished as the first African-American Rhodes Scholar in 1907. 6. C.S. Lewis' fantasy world: NARNIA. Setting for a series of novels.
7. Bench press beneficiary: TRICEPS. Muscles in the backs of the upper ams.
8. White House's 132: Abbr.: RMS. Rooms.
9. Firepit detritus: ASH. Burnt wood residue.
10. Three-dimensional: SOLID. Having length, width and height.
11. __ park: THEME. An amusement park designed around a central or unifying concept - Disney World, for example.
12. Broadcaster: AIRER. Presenter of radio or TV programming.
13. Oxen connectors: YOKES. A YOKE is a crosspiece connecting the necks or shoulders of animals, so they can pull a load together.
19. Stick for a walk: CANE.
21. Nissan sedan: SENTRA.
25. Ginger or ginseng: ROOT.
26. Builder's guideline, briefly: SPEC. Specification - detailed instruction for the project.
27. Ring exchange place: ALTAR. Wedding rings.
28. __-Rooter: ROTO. Drain pipe and sewer cleaning device, and service company of the same name.
30. "Gangnam Style" musician: PSY. Erm. Here, if you're interested.
31. Festival in the month of Adar: PURIM. A Spring festival held on the 14th or 15th of the month to commemorate the defeat of Haman's plot to massacre the Jews as recorded in the book of Esther. Deeper than that into religion we shall not venture. 33. Holed up: HID OUT. Typically, as a way of avoiding law enforcement.
34. Travel plan: ITINERARY. A planned route, including stops, if any.
35. Hit the bell: RANG. Bonged the GONG
36. Caribou cousin: ELK. Cervus canadensis, one of the largest members of the deer family; but not as large as the moose. To muddy the waters, in British English, the moose is called the ELK. Go figure.
38. Sport for equestrians: POLO. A game similar to field hockey, played on horse back, using long-handled mallets.
40. Simon who co-wrote and co-starred in "Shaun of the Dead": PEGG. [b 1970] British actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. Would he confuse ELK with moose?
45. Nanny __: GOAT. A female of this animal variety. The male is called Billy. I don't know why.
46. Bread or butter: STAPLE. An important item in something, such as a diet. When the sword swallower lost his job with the circus, he fell on hard times and couldn't even provide STAPLES for his family.
49. Salade niçoise morsel: OLIVE. From the city of Nice, in France, this salad also contains a variety of other ingredients, including tomatoes, hard boiled eggs and anchovies in an olive oil dressing.
50. Fox of "Transformers": MEGAN.
51. Precise: EXACT. On the mark.
52. "Until next time": ADIOS. Buh-bye.
56. Cleveland's lake: ERIE. Where I come from, it's Toledo's Lake!
57. Held on to: KEPT. As, frex, the faith.
59. Tolkien monster: ORC. Evil cave dwelling creature that cannot abide the sun.
Theme: HAPPY 75th, JONI MITCHELL. Theme answers feature some of her body of work.
20 A. 1968 55-Across song: BOTH SIDES NOW. First recorded by Judy Collins in 1968, then the following year by the composer on an album named for a word in this song.
32. 1976 55-Across album: HEJIRA. Her 8th studio album. It was mostly written on and inspired by a driving trip from Maine to L.A. You can read about it here.
37. 1970 55-Across song: BIG YELLOW TAXI. I never knew that was the name of this song. The things you learn . . .
43. 1969 55-Across album whose last song is 20-Across: CLOUDS. This is the word. Cf 20 A, above.
55. Singer/songwriter born 11/7/1943: JONI MITCHELL. The birthday girl, herself.
Hi gang, JazzBumpa here to spin the platters. This doesn't quite take me back to my 'ute. But I'm no spring chicken, either. It takes me back to early adulthood. CLOUDS was released about a year before my son was born.
Let's examine this score and see if we can find some high notes.
Across:
1. Crowds around: MOBS. Here, "crowds" is a verb, describing a group of people [presumably] mobbing someone or some thing.
5. Geologic time: EPOCH. On a geologic time scale, this is a long, but non-specific time period that is shorter than a period and longer than an age. Certainly longer than my age, and that's saying something.
10. It's the truth: FACT. An element or aspect of reality.
14. Baseball's Felipe or his son Moises: ALOU. Along with Felipe's younger brothers Matty and Jesús. Very talented players from the Dominican Republic.
15. Nabisco wafer brand: NILLA. Shortened form of VANILLA. the main flavor element of these cookies.
16. Serengeti feline: LION. And that's a FACT!
17. Barclays Center team: NETS. Basketball.
18. Strung along: LED ON. Given false hopes by someone insincere.
19. Boatloads: A LOT. Non-specific large quantity.
23. Axis foes: ALLIES. WWII foes. The main Allied powers were Great Britain, The United States, China, and the Soviet Union. The main Axis powers were Germany, Japan and Italy.
24. Spot for an AirPod: EAR. These are wireless headphones made by Apple.
25. Tight spot: JAM. Unpleasant situation with no easy escape route.
28. "__ whiz!": GEE. Golly!
29. Sundance's sweetie __ Place: ETTA. "The Sundance Kid" was outlaw Harry Alonzo Longabaugh. Her real name, age and birthplace are all unknown. Evidently, she was married to Longabaugh.
34. Lofty principles: IDEALS. Standards of perfection, principles to strive for.
36. "Do __ others ... ": UNTO. Archaic form of "to."
41. "The Walking Dead" survivor Grimes: CARL. The son of primary protagonist Rick Grimes, and his wife Lori Grimes. Already more than I know.
42. Advertising lure: COME ON. Bait. May or may not come with switch.
46. Business review site: YELP. An on-line publishing service for crowd-sourced revues of local businesses.
47. Influential D.C. group: PAC. Political Action Committee.
50. Place in the woods: DEN. An animals lair, I suppose. Not fond of this clue.
51. Forever and a day: EON. Is this longer than an EPOCH?
53. "Watch and learn": LIKE SO. As I demonstrate . . .
58. Auburn rival, familiarly: 'BAMA. University of Alabama, the Crimson Tide.
61. Miguel's "I love you": TE AMO. Spanish amor.
62. Small Chevy model: AVEO. Or Aero. Needed perp help.
63. Vacationing: AWAY. Out of town. Or at least away from the office.
64. Harsh-smelling: ACRID. Nasty odor.
65. Sharp-edged: KEEN. Well honed.
66. Tach reading: REVS. I wanted RPMS. But R stands for Revs, so OK.
67. Annoy: GET TO. Bug, in a way.
68. Car trip game: I SPY. The spy observes something and gives a hint, such as the letter it strts with or its color, and other players have to guess what it is.
12. Whisper sweet nothings: COO. Might also involve billing.
13. Explosive letters: TNT. Dy-no-mite!
21. Far from swanky: SEEDY. In poor, run-down condition.
22. Mined-over matter: ORE. Stuff found in a hole in the ground. Clever clue.
25. "We just said the same thing at the same time!": JINX. So you owe me!
26. Basic drawing class: ART I. Here the I stands for the number 1, designating the introduction to Art class. Have you met Art? Would you introduce me?
27. "Little Red Book" author: MAO. A book of quotations and writing from Mao Zedong, chairman of the Chinese Communist Party from its inception in 1949 until his death in 1979.
30. Powder puff stuff: TALC. A finely divided form of hydrated magnesium silicate.
31. Bronze or brass: ALLOY. An ALLOY is a mixture of metals, generally designed to enhance physical properties.
33. San __, Puerto Rico: JUAN. Located on the north coast of the island, it is the capital and largest city of the commonwealth.
34. "House," in Inuit: IGLU. Usually rendered as IGLOO in the English speaking world.
35. A few: SOME. An indeterminate quantity of moderate size.
37. Hayloft bundle: BALE. Of hay, of course.
38. Wrinkle remover: IRON. For your clothing.
39. Prosperous: WELL TO DO. Upper class.
40. __ sentence: essay opener: TOPIC. What it's all about.
41. Included in an email, briefly: CCD. Copied. Thus, included as a recipient, not in the contents.
44. "Gloria in Excelsis __": DEO. Glory to God in the highest, in Latin - a Christian hymn, also known as the Greater Doxology.
45. "In America" novelist Susan: SONTAG. The novel is based on the true story of Polish actress Helena Modjeska who arrived in California in 1876.
47. Pet problems?: PEEVES. Pet PEEVES are thing you find particularly annoying. Are they necessarily problems? I have mixed feelings about this clever, misleading clue. More clever than accurate, perhaps.
48. __ at the wheel: ASLEEP. An expression indicating a failure to handle duties or responsibilities. Also a country music group that has recorded over 20 albums and won 9 Grammies since their start in 1970.
49. Ant-sy complex?: COLONY. Misleading, but accurate and cute.
52. Female relative: NIECE. Sister's or brother's daughter. Mine lives in N. Car.
54. Uniform cloth: KHAKI. A strong cotton fabric in a dull yellow-brown color.
55. Rogers Centre team, familiarly: JAYS. Toronto Blue Jays of the American League of baseball.
56. K follower: MART. Are there any left? The former K-Mart site near me is being converted into an Aldi grocery store.
57. "Look no further than me": I'M IT. Choose me!
58. Trivia night site: BAR. Site for drinking and gaming.
59. Bedazzle: AWE. Impress in a highly favorable way.
60. Big D hoopster: MAVerick, a player on the team representing Dallas in the National Basketball Association.
That wraps up another Wednesday. Was it all in tune for you? A little dissonance here and there, but not too many sour notes, IMHO, and a nice tribute to Ms. Mitchell. Patti Varol is a familiar contributor, but it looks like this might be an LAT debut for Mr. Jacobson - congrats!
Theme: Fast times down in the paddy. Otherwise unrelated theme answers contain the letters of the word RICE, but WILDLY out of order. In each case, the letters span two words, which is always a nice touch. Hope you got the circles. This would be awfully opaque without them
16 A. Vice squad operations: POLICE RAIDS. Unannounced visits by law enforcement, using the element of surprise to aid in making arrests, so things don't get too WILD.
28 A. Fictional feline that could disappear at will: CHESHIRE CAT. Best known for its mischievous grin, and most generally associated with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by creepy 19th century British minister Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, rather than T. S. Eliot. Its presence in folk lore pre-dates this 1865 novel, and is of uncertain origin. As it fades away, the last thing visible is its ionic grin.
45 A. "Talladega Nights" actor: JOHN C REILLY. Here he is in CHICAGO.
62 A. It eases tension in some serious tales: COMIC RELIEF. A light or humorous episode in an other wise serious dramatic work.
3 D. Social class prominent in "The Great Gatsby": IDLE RICH. People of substantial inherited wealth who have no need to work for a living. And a shout out to anyone named ERIC.
And the unifier -- 39 D. Whole-grain food, and a description of each set of circles: WILD RICE. This is a separate species from white rice. Though it is now cultivated, it is still also harvested from shallow lakes in its natural habitat in North America. The word WILD indicates that the letters of RICE have been rearranged in the theme entries.
The byline indicates that this puzzle was constructed by our gracious and prolific hostess, whose published puzzles now must number in the hundreds. Note the clever and original grid, with theme fill that is both horizontal and vertical, but not in a pinwheel array.
Hi, Gang - JazzBumpa here. Let's all have a WILD time together.
Across:
1. Vice president after Hubert: SPIRO. T. Agnew [1918-1996] V.P. under Richard Nixon. He resigned as a result of a corruption scandal involving kick-backs and tax evasion dating from his time as county executive in MD, and continuing into his vice presidency. He escaped prosecution in a plea bargain.
6. Harry Potter's lightning bolt, e.g.: SCAR. On his forehead, resulting from an unpleasant incident when he was in infant, involving Tom Riddle
15. "We're on __ way": OUR. Be right with you . . .
18. Prefix with angle or athlete: TRI. Indicating something in threes - a TRIangle is a three sided figure. A TRIathlete competes in a three-part combined event, usually involving running, bicycling and swimming.
19. Make very happy: ELATE.
20. "__ Go": cellphone game: POKEMON. A game centered on fictional creatures which humans can train and battle each other for sport. I'll stop here, because this is already more than i know about it, lest I --
22. Mess up: ERR. Goof.
24. PC core: CPU. Central Processing Unit. It perfprms the basic computational, logic and control functions.
26. Sorvino of "Mimic": MIRA. I had her last time.
53. ISP option: DSL. Digital Subscriber Line. Distinct from dial-up, but using a telephone line.
54. "Oh, puh-leeze!": SPARE ME. Get real.
58. African country whose name begins another African country: NIGER. and Nigeria. Adjacent countries in west Africa.
Niger is in orange
61. Wee one: TOT. A small child. I once was one.
66. Baton Rouge sch.: LSU. Louisiana State University, home of Mike the Tiger.
67. Occupied, as a restroom: IN USE. Come back later.
68. Award for "Moonlight" or "Spotlight": OSCAR. An award presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for excellence in the creation and production of movies.
69. Some Caltech grads: EES. Electrical Engineers. People who really do live in the realm of imaginary numbers.
70. "Gee whiz!": GOSH. Golly.
71. Cautious (of): LEERY. Wary, due to realistic suspicions
Down:
1. Liquid from a trunk: SAP. Sticky stuff from a tree trunk.
2. Golf instructor: PRO. Or tennis.
4. Churn up: ROIL. Cf. 10 A.
5. White-bellied ocean predator: ORCA. The killer whale.
10. One may pick up an embarrassing remark: HOT MIC. Conversations can be captured when the speakers think the microphone is off. Ooops!
11. Goddess of the dawn: AURORA. From Roman mythology.
12. Be amused by: GRIN AT. Smile!
14. Dessert pancake: CREPE. A thin pancake, usually rolled and filled with something.
17. Draw with acid: ETCH. Coat the substrate with a protective substance such as wax, draw on it with a needle to expose the surface, then flow acid over it. This will attack the exposed surface and create the desired image.
21. Come into view: EMERGE. Unfold, transpire, become apparent.
22. Sailor's patron: ELMO. AKA St Erasmus of Formia [d 303 AD.] The account of his various tortures and imprisonments is disturbing. You have been warned.
23. Use a scythe: REAP. For harvesting a crop. No reason to be grim about it.
25. Navy vessel letters: USS. United States Ship, applied only while it is in commission.
28. Infant's ailment: COLIC. Abdominal pain caused by gas or obstruction. Unpleasant for baby, parents, and anyone else near by.
29. Gluttonous sort: HOG. Greedy one who wants it all.
37. Had breakfast: ATE. Typically raisin bran for me.
40. Quite a while: AGES. Non-specific long time duration.
41. Bona fide: REAL. From the Latin, meaning "with good faith."
43. Family vacay participant: SIB. Sibling, joining the fam for a vacation.
45. Push rudely: JOSTLE. To elbow or push against someone, typically in a crowd. From late Middle English, derived from jousting [Cf. 48 D.] The original meaning was "to have sex with." Current, more pedestrian, meaning is from the mid 16th century.
46. Vote against: OPPOSE. Nay, nay, I say.
47. Continuity break: HIATUS. A pause or gap in a sequence, series or process.
48. Renaissance Faire weapon: LANCE. For jousting. You can find many examples on Youtube. I chose not to link.
49. Dragon's den: LAIR. Brings to mind a poem I wrote long ago.
55. Vaper's smoke, briefly: E-CIG. Prompts a question about technology: just because we can, does that mean we should?
56. Stereo preceder: MONO. In monaural sound, a single channel is used, and all speakers will project the same copy of the signal. In stereophonic sound, there are typically two channels, and each one projects a different portion of the total sound package. This gives the effects of directionality and space.
57. Fast Aussie birds: EMUS. Australian native Dromaius novaehollandiae is the second largest living bird, after the ostrich, which is native to Africa. Both are fast runners, but neither can fly.
59. Earth sci.: GEOLogy is an earth science. As the saying goes, GEOLOGY rocks, but Geography is where it's at.
60. "What __ can I do?": ELSE. An offer of further assistance, or an expression of exasperation. You decide.
63. "Kinda" suffix: -ISH.
64. Piece of corn: EAR. Something to listen for when you stalk the grain.
65. Cook, as spring rolls: FRY. Cook with hot oil in a shallow pan. MAybe have some WILD RICE as a side.
That wraps up another Wednesday. Hope you found this nit-free puzzle to be delicious, nutritious and just crunchy enough.
Theme: SPELL IT OUT. Otherwise unrelated answers each contain a stand-alone letter. These letters, taken in order, spell a word. 20. *Niacin and riboflavin: BVITAMINS. A class of water soluble, chemically distinct naturally occurring compounds, often found together in the same foods. 28. *Twenty Questions question: WHO AMI? Animal, vegetable or mineral. 36. *Earth, Wind & Fire hit album whose title means "everything considered": ALL 'N ALL. Their 8th studio album, released in 1977, which was certified triple platinum in the U. S. 43. *Fighter pilot's sensation: GFORCE. A measurement of the type of acceleration that causes a perception of weight. 47. *Bravura performance reaction, briefly: STANDINGO. The audience shows their appreciation with a STANDING OVATION. 46. Winning exclamation aptly arranged and spelled by the standalone letters in the answers to starred clues: BINGO. Also a classic game in which sections of a 5x5 matrix printed on a card are covered with tiles in designated patterns. The first person to achieve the desired pattern shouts, "BINGO." and receives a prize. There are many variations.
Hi Gang. JazzBumpa here. I'm not the greatest speller, but I think I can get us through this. Note that the stand alone letters alternate from beginning to end of the fill, except for the middle one, where it is in the middle. Nice touch! Now, let's sit for a spell, and see how we can do filling in our 15 x 15 matrix.
Across: 1. Muslim pilgrimage: HAJJ. A pilgrimage to Mecca in the last month of the year, a goal for every Muslim. 5. Made docile: TAMED. 10. Valley with a Wine Train: NAPA. In California 14. Melville's "Typee" sequel: OMOO. Both novels are narratives of adventures in the south Pacific, based on the author's experiences. 15. Limber: AGILE. Lithe and flexible. 16. Malicious: EVIL. Characterized by bad intent 17. Bandit band: GANG. Or crossword puzzle solvers - right, gang? 18. Jackrabbits, e.g.: HARES. Leporids in the same family as rabbits, having characteristically longer ears.
19. Minimum __: WAGE. The least amount an employer can legally pay a full time employee per hour of work. 23. 7UP competitor since 1961: SPRITE. Lemon-lime flavored soft drinks. 25. Harbinger: OMEN. An OMEN is an event of prophetic significance. A harbinger announces or precedes the arrival of something. Not equivalent at all. 29. "I could be wrong": MAYBE NOT.
33. Knocks firmly: RAPS. As on a door. 34. Pseudonym: FALSE NAME. Like, for instance - JazzBumpa. 35. Part of LACMA: ART. Los Angeles County Museum of ART. 38. "Nothing to shout about": MEH. Reaction to mediocrity. 39. Some llama herders: PERUVIANS. In the Andes Mountains of South America. 41. Nuclear reactor component: CORE. The location in the reactor containing the fuel components and where the nuclear reactions occur, generating heat. 42. Ceylon, now: SRI LANKA. An island nation south of India in the Indian Ocean, famous for it ancient Buddhist ruins. 45. Kikkoman sauces: SOYS. A liquid condiment made of soy beans, grains, and brine, fermented with an aspergillus fungus. 46. Medical lab specimen: BIOPSY. A tissue sample examined to detect the presence of a disease. 51. Copies: APES. Mimics. 54. Pogo stick sound: BOING. Sound of a spring recoiling. 55. Pac-12 team since 2011: UTES. University of Utah. 59. Mule team beam: YOKE. A brace joining a pair of animals across the neck and shoulder area so that they can pull a load together. 60. The way we word: USAGE. The habitual or normal practices in spoken and written language, such as not using the word "word" as a verb. 61. Snapper rival: TORO. Lawn and garden tools. 62. Baaing mas: EWES. Mothers of lambs. 63. Domingo, for one: TENOR. José Plácido Domingo Embil, [b 1941] known as Plácido Domingo, is a Spanish tenor, conductor and arts administrator. 64. Whack: STAB. Emulate Lizzie Borden Down: 1. Ungenerous sort: HOG. One who wants it all. The opposite of 23 D. 2. Physicians' gp.: AMA. American Medical Association. 3. Trevor's predecessor on "The Daily Show": JON. Messrs. Noah and Stewart, respectively. 4. Women's sportswear: JOG BRAS. Sturdier than the normal bra, they prevent movement and reduce the potential for damage to chest ligaments during vigorous physical activity. 5. South Seas island: TAHITI. Shaped like a figure 8, it is the largest island in French Polynesia. 6. Striped quartz: AGATE. A silicate rock containing mixtures of different crystal structures and physical forms, often with a variety of colors. 7. Actress Sorvino: MIRA. Mira Katherine Sorvino [b 1967] has won both Academy and Golden Globe awards.
10. Rather and Cronkite: NEWSMEN. TV news journalists. 11. Gardner of the silver screen: AVA. Ava Lavinia Gardner [1922-1990] was an American actress and singer. She was nominated for Academy and Golden Globe Awards, but never won.
12. Sty denizen: PIG. Farm animal, also, another name for 1 D. 13. Tavern offering: ALE. 21. Vitality: VIM. Vigor's partner. 22. Prestigious prize: NOBEL. Established by the will of Swedish scientist Alfred NOBEL and first awarded in 1901. Prizes are offered annually in six categories for outstanding work in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, economics (since 1969), and the promotion of peace 23. They're not selfish: SHARERS. Opposites of 1 D and 12 D. 24. The Supremes, e.g.: POP TRIO. Group of 3 singers performing commercial popular music.
26. Captivates: ENAMORS. To attract and hold attention vs to fill with feelings of love. Not a good match. 27. What the ruthless show: NO MERCY. Or what a crossword blogger might show for inexact cluing. 28. Gets a present ready to present: WRAPS. Uses tape and decorative paper. 29. Exodus sustenance: MANNA. An edible substance miraculously supplied to the Israelites during their 40 year ravels in the desert. 30. "That's a shame": ALAS. An expression of grief, pity or concern. 31. Fashion initials: YSL. Yves Saint Laurent. I've never seen the appeal of wearing clothing with somebody else's initials on them. 32. Giggle: TEHEE. Comic book laugh. 34. Reactive criticism: FLAK. A hard time given to someone, perhaps with NO MERCY. 36. Salt's "Halt!": AVAST. Stop or cease, generally associated with a naval context. 37. "Hamilton" creator __-Manuel Miranda: LIN. [b 1980] 40. Once-banned James Joyce novel: ULYSSES. I'm not sure why anyone thought it would be necessary to ban a book that is so unreadable. 41. Weak excuses: COP OUTS. More generally, taking an easy way out of difficult situations. 43. __ snap: GINGER. A sharply flavored cookie made with GINGER.
44. Mariner's hazard: FOG. Impairs visibility. 48. Adjoin: ABUT. To touch or lean upon. 49. Bridge site: NOSE. This is the bony upper part of the NOSE, above the nostrils, where eyeglasses rest. 50. Primatologist Fossey: DIAN. [1932-1985] An American primatologist and conservationist known for undertaking an extensive study of mountain gorilla groups from 1966 until her death. 51. Pro vote: AYE. All in favor . . . 52. Comics punch sound: POW. Sometimes KA-POW, or BANG. 53. Scrape (out): EKE. To just manage to get by in some tough situation. 56. Little kid: TOT. A small child, possibly a moppet. 57. Historical period: ERA. A distinct time with particular identifying characteristics. 58. Cry out loud: SOB. Wah! And so we reach the end of another Wednesday. Were you spell-bound? Cool Regards! JzB
Theme: ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? The NFL season kicks off [so to speak] tomorrow night with the defending Superbowl Champ Philly Eagles traveling to Atlanta to take on the Falcons. Do you have a raptor preference?
This is one of those rare puzzles where the theme is in the clues - not the fills, which are unrelated two-word common language phrases; brought to us by our own dear hostess, C. C. and Corner denizen Husker Gary. C. C. and I worked a similar idea in a Sunday puzzle a couple years ago. And by some weird cosmic coincidence, Gary blogged the puzzle that day, in quite spectacular fashion.
Today our theme clues are words familiar to football fans - and I'm pretty sure Gary is one. C. C. is more into baseball. Let's we what we have here.
18 A. BLOCK: CITY SQUARE. Most cities have streets laid out in a rectilinear pattern. A BLOCK is the area defined by four streets. More specifically, a CITY [or town] SQUARE is an open public space near the heart of the town, used for community gatherings. Here's a trombone's eye view from the bandstand at Kellogg Park, the town square in Plymouth, MI.
My peeps are out there somewhere
To BLOCK in football is to move a defensive player aside so a ball carrier can advance down the field.
23 A. CATCH: HIDDEN SNAG. I'm imagining an underwater obstruction that a small boat could get hung up on. Figuratively, it could be any unanticipated difficulty, perhaps as a result of poor planning. In football, a CATCH is a reception of a PASS [vide infra], viz. a ball thrown to an eligible receiver to advance the team's position on the playing field.
37 A. KICK: CHAMPAGNE EFFECT. Well, that depends on who you ask.
In football, there are three kinds of KICKS. The KICK OFF happens at the beginning of each half, and after one team scores, to deliver the ball to their foe. The extra point is a KICK after a touch down is scored. Success, attained by sending the ball through the uprights, is called a conversion, good for one point. The field goal is a similar kind of KICK, attempted when the offense stalls somewhere on the field. If successful it nets 3 points.
49 A. PASS: FREE TICKET. A no-charge permit that authorizes entry and access to a venue or event. In football, a PASS is ball launched by hand to an intended receiver [vide supra.]
58A. RUN: HOSE MISHAP. A tear or hole in sheer silk or nylon stockings. A disaster.
In football, a RUN is an attempt to advance the ball by carrying it around or through the defenders. Of course, a RUN is a score in baseball, as well.
Hi gang, JazzBumpa here to coach this game. The theme cluing is pretty straight-forward, and the fills are sparkly in this thematically rich puzzle. And we have some extra bits of elegance. Each theme clue can be functionally either an action verb, or the name of the action that is so indicated. And there is a nice element of symmetry. The first and last Theme entries are a complimentary pair, as are the second and fourth. That must have taken some extra effort. And the central theme entry is a grid spanner. So from my view on the side-line, this is a win. Yay, team!
Across:
1. Tot's drink, to the tot: WAWA. Water, when you are just figuring out how to form syllables. Fun times. Also a chain of convenience stores and gas stations located in the eastern U.S. None in our area, but we always fill the tank and grab coffee and donuts when we leave step-son Tom's for the long drive home.
5. Side-by-side truck tires: DUALS. They provide more even weight distribution, and thus greater safety and stability
10. Fifth Avenue landmark: SAKS. An American luxury department store owned by the Hudson's Bay Company, the oldest commercial corporation in North America.
14. Help with a heist: ABET. Provide assistance to a crime or other offense.
15. Play direction: ENTER. Tells the actor to go onto the stage.
16. Lint collector: TRAP. Belly button doesn't fit.
17. Sci-fi princess with a twin brother: LEIA. Stars Wars, of course. The brother is Luke Skywalker.
20. Abs exercise: LEG RAISE. Get a leg up with proper form.
22. Take out of the packaging: UNBOX. Open it up.
26. Picnic crasher: ANT. Six-legged interloper.
28. Harrison of "My Fair Lady": REX.
29. Help: AID. Assistance.
30. Tiny Lab, e.g.: PUP. Young dog.
33. "But seriously folks ... " is one: SEGUE. In music, a move from one song to the next without interruption. Here, a little more loosely, a transition in a monologue.
35. Forest ranger?: ELK. Per Wikipedia, these large members of the deer family "range in forest and forest-edge habitat, feeding on grasses, plants, leaves, and bark." So - yep.
41. "What __!": "I've been had!": A RIP. As in RIP off - a fraud or swindle, often based on something being over-priced
42. Little chap: LAD. A boy. From Middle English, of unknown origin. The word was much more popular a century ago, but has had a recent resurgence.
43. Big dipper: LADLE. Kitchen utensil, not something written in the stars.
44. Many a dad joke: PUN. Strained puns that are anodyne and therefore OK to tell in mixed, but non-critical company.
Did you hear about the restaurant on the moon? Great food, no atmosphere.
What do you call a fake noodle? An Impasta.
Want to hear a joke about paper? Nevermind it's tearable.
I just watched a program about beavers. It was the best dam program I've ever seen.
Why did the coffee file a police report? It got mugged.
How does a penguin build it's house? Igloos it together.
You get the picture.
45. Transparent art surface: CEL. Speaking of pictures, CEL is short for celluloid, a transparent sheet where objects are drawn for traditional cartoon animation. It is an artifact of obsolete animation technology. Now, some cels are special editions of animation artwork, not intended for production. Mine is from Mickey's Philharmagic at Walt Disney World.
46. MADD message, e.g.: PSA. A Public Service Announcement from Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
48. __ Lingus: AER. The flag carrier air line of Ireland, now owned by IAG, the parent company of British Airways and Iberia.
52. Legend automaker: ACURA. The luxury vehicle arm of Honda.
55. Alternative medicine staple: ALOE VERA. Extract from the eponymous evergreen perennial succulent.
61. Its oxide makes Mars red: IRON. Rust, an IRON-oxygen compound.
62. Retired tennis pro Kournikova: ANNA. She was born in 1981 and retired from competitive play at age 21 due to spinal problems.
63. Bartlett entry: QUOTE. An American reference book, first published in 1855, now in its 18th edition.
64. Gunk: CRUD. An unpleasantly dirty and messy substance.
65. Woodpecker's tool: BEAK. Used for digging under the bark of trees to get insects, and for communication by drumming on hard surfaces.
66. Go over the limit: SPEED. Driving in excess of the posted limit, which nobody does, ever.
67. Ball elevators: TEES. In golf, the first stroke on any hole is hit with the ball slightly elevated from the ground on a wooden peg, called a TEE. After that, one must play it where it lies.
Down:
1. Outlet site: WALL. A srtucture designed to keep a door upright.
2. Busy as __: A BEE. Oh, honey . . .
3. Reason to purchase a new belt: WEIGHT GAIN. I don't want to talk about it.
4. Pong maker: ATARI. Speaking of back in the day. You can tell your grandchildren that this was once a ground-breaking new video game.
5. Get off the fence: DECIDE. Well . . . ? [fingers drumming]
6. Like the name Pat: UNISEX. Non-gender-specific. My sister's full name is Patricia, which removes all doubt. But her initials spelt the short form of her name.
7. When some local news airs: AT TEN. In the evening.
9. Soon-to-be alumni: Abbr.: SRS. Senior class members, hoping to graduate.
10. Smarted: STUNG. If it hurt, how smart could it be?
11. Riyadh resident: ARAB. Riyadh is the capital and most populous city of Saudi Arabia.
12. Pecan pie syrup: KARO. A sweetener made from corn starch, containing varying amounts of maltose and higher oligosaccharides [sugar polymers of 3 to 10 units.] High fructose corn syrup is made by further processing that converts much of its glucose into fructose, which tastes sweeter.
13. Glasses, informally: SPEX. Or SPECS, short for spectacles. Speaking of dad jokes - did you hear about the optometrist who fell into the lens grinding machine? He made a spectacle of himself.
19. College courtyard: QUAD. A square or rectangular space, mainly, or partly enclosed on all four sides by buildings. Like a CITY SQUARE, but different.
21. Campaign pro?: AD REP. A person responsible for an advertising effort intended to sell a product or service, not one involved in a political or military campaign.
24. Counter offer?: SALE. Things are offered for SALE on or behind the counter of a store. Clever mis-direction.
25. Goddess of victory: NIKE. Her Roman equivalent is Victoria.
26. Music rights gp.: ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Plagiarists Publishers.
27. '60s jacket style: NEHRU. A hip length tailored coat with mandarine collar.
30. Apartment used for overnight trips to the city: PIED A TERRE. Literally, foot to the ground, going back to 18th century France, used to indicate any temporary lodging. Now meaning a secondary residence [but not a vacation home] that is used occasionally during part of the year or part of the work week.
31. "I give up!": UNCLE. North American usage, origin unknown.
32. Saint at a gate: PETER. An image in popular culture indicating St. Peter as the gate keeper of heaven.
34. Official behind a catcher: UMP. Baseball umpire.
35. Word with tight or split: END. Another football term, relating to the placement of a potential pass receiver. Split ends could also be part of a bad hair day.
36. Juilliard deg.: MFA. Master of Fine Arts.
38. Away from the wind: ALEE. Nautical term, gong back to Middle English.
39. Beaufort scale word: GALE. A measure of wind speed.
40. Cereal bit: FLAKE. Grains are crushed, ground, and then cooked for several hours, possibly with added vitamins and flavorings. The resulting slurry is then pressed between rollers that flatten the grains. They are then transferred to a heated drum for drying. Additional additives may be sprayed on at this point.
45. Study a lot in a short time: CRAM. To stuff something full - as one's brain with subject matter.
46. Pontius __: PILATE. The 5th prelate of the Roman provence of Judea, serving from A.D 26 to 37.
47. Checked (out): SCOPED. Visually examined.
49. Come unglued, with "out": FREAK. Lose it, go berserk, go ballistic.
50. Lake near California's Squaw Valley: TAHOE. A large lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains, straddling the California - Nevada border, famous for its beaches and near-by ski resorts.
51. Throw out: EVICT. A legal process to remove a tenant.
52. Queequeg's captain: AHAB. From Moby Dick.
53. Scoop perch: CONE. Ice cream holder.
54. Military sch. whose mascot is Bill the Goat: USNA. United States Naval Academy, located in Annapolis, MD.
56. Casanova: ROUE. French term for one broken on a wheel, indicating the tortuous punishment such a debauchee allegedly deserves.
57. Common conjunctions: ANDS. Sometimes associated with IFS and BUTS.
59. Brightness figs. not measured in watts: IQS. Intelligence Quotient, indicating mental brightness.
60. "What's goin' on?": 'SUP. Que pasa?
That all, folks. C. C. and Gary gave us a sporting chance.
