18 A. Hairless rodent used in lab experiments : NUDE MOUSE. This poor critter has a genetic mutation resulting in an ineffective immune system. This makes it an ideal subject for studying the effects of grafted tumors and other tissues, since it has no power to reject them. It also has no body hair, which is quite remarkable for a rodent - hence it's name. To me, the word NUDE, in its human context, connotes a kind of innocence that its synonyms lack.
37 A. Basic needs : BARE NECESSITIES. This phrase implies a condition of having just enough to get by, eking out a sparse existence with nothing to spare. It's also the name of a retail outlet selling several brands of clothing, lingerie and swim wear, but most famously, this song.
The word BARE feels neutral to me, not implying much of anything about the circumstances nor attitude of the unclothed person.
51 A. Unaided vision : NAKED EYE. A mode of observing things without the kind of technical assistance that can be provided by lenses, magnifiers, light filters or other devices. A NAKED person is likely to either have an agenda, or be thrust into an uncomfortable situation by someone who does. These are my subjective responses. YMMV, of course.
Then, the unifier -- 56 A. In a pure and unembellished state, and a hint to the beginnings of 18-, 20-, 37- and 51- Across : AU NATUREL. As defined in the clue, but also indicating a person in the buff. Somehow, the phrase makes me think of Brigitte Bardot. Maybe it's the French connection.
Hi gang, JazzBumpa here, trying to make sure we all have a decent time. Let's see what we can cover - or, perhaps, uncover.
Down
1. Stock or bond : ASSET. Financial ASSETS.
11. Gullible one : SAP. Somebody easily taken advantage of.
14. Prophet swallowed by a big fish : JONAH. Biblical story.
15. Party treat : GOODY. Candy or other sweets.
16. Show on TV : AIR. Here, show and AIR are both verbs.
17. Just eat up : ADORE. I suppose, but am not fond of the clue.
20. Muscleman's display : RAW POWER. Or oiled flesh. I'm trying to maintain parity, but am having some difficulty with the photo attachments. You can find examples here, ladies.
22. In the worst way : BADLY. Positive form equivalent to superlative? I don't think so.
23. "I don't have all day!" : NOW. Stat! ASAP!
24. Online trackers : COOKIES. A server message message stored as a text file by a browser, and sent back to the server at each browser visit.
26. "The Descent of Man" author : DARWIN. Charles, [1809-1882] an English naturalist, geologist and pioneer in the field of evolution.
30. Chicken or turkey : FOWL. And after 7 days in the fridge, foul.
31. Panhandle state : IDAHO. Along with Oklahoma and Florida. Did I miss any?
32. Hassan Rouhani's country : IRAN. [b 1948] Lawmaker, academic, diplomat and, since 2013, the 7th president.
33. Maker of HEMNES furniture : IKEA. Swedish provider of ready-to-assemble furniture, tasty meat balls and lingonberry jam. They also serve a pretty darn good cheap breakfast.
40. Fish-eating duck : SMEW. Males are mostly white with some black accents; females are red heads.
41. NERF missile : DART. Could also have been a BALL.
42. Concert sites : HALLS. I went with ARENAS first, on a bad count.
43. Unoccupied : IDLE. As a rest room stall.
44. Site of the first "Occupy" protest: Abbr. : WALL ST. That den of iniquity.
45. Moral : ETHICAL. Conforming to accepted standards of conduct.
49. Trending : HOT. Like the latest whatever.
50. Oldest actor to play Bond : MOORE. Roger. [b. 1927]
59. "The Easter Parade" author Richard : YATES. [1926-1992] American novelist who achieved critical acclaim, but little commercial success. In 2008 the movie version of his novel Revolutionary Road earned an Academy Award nomination for Kate Winslet.
60. Fury : IRE. Anger.
61. Rub off : ERASE. As chalk.
62. Ready to draw : ON TAP. As ale.
63. "Dropped" drug : LSD. Known as "acid" back in those hippy-dippy days of yore.
64. On pins and needles : ANTSY. Or on edge, unsettled.
65. Scheme of high interest? : USURY. Loans at extremely, sometimes illegally, high interest rates. Clever clue.
Down
1. Cracked open : AJAR. As a door, but, strangely enough, not a jar.
Down
1. Cracked open : AJAR. As a door, but, strangely enough, not a jar.
2. Carbonated drink : SODA. Or pop, in the midwest. What about where you live?
3. Cause of a school closing : SNOW. Bad winter weather.
4. Old West marshal : EARP. Wyatt [1848-1929] of OK Corral fame.
5. Satirical publication that claims to be "America's Finest News Source" : THE ONION. It is a-peeling.
6. '60s-'70s veep : AGNEW. [1918-1996] No politics!
7. Calling birds count, in song : FOUR. From the 12 Days of Christmas.
8. Curtain holder : ROD. And he never gets tired.
9. Wordsworth work : ODE.
There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream,
The earth, and every common sight,
To me did seem
Apparell'd in celestial light . . .
10. It's just one thing instead of another : SYMBOL. Representation, often by a solid object for something abstract.
11. Medina native : SAUDI. Site of a man-made disaster this week.
12. Basilica part : AISLE. Or theater, or arena.
13. Victimizes, with "on" : PREYS. As one with an ETHICAL deficiency might do to a SAP.
19. Winery wood : OAK. Used in making aging barrels.
21. Came out on top : WON. Emerged victorious.
24. Proceed effortlessly : COAST. Move without using power, as down hill or via momentum.
25. Completely dominates : OWNS. Or pwns, as in computer games
26. "Mine!" : DIBS. I called it!
27. Father of Seth : ADAM. Genesis family. No religion!
28. Steak order : RARE. True - I RARELY order steak.
29. "I was nervous there!" : WHEW. Sigh of relief.
30. "__ Jacques" : FRERE. Sleepy brother John, in a song.
32. Poker declaration : I CALL. Indicates matching a bet or raise.
33. Romance lang. : ITALian.
34. While away, as time : KILL. No mater how much I kill time, it still marches on.
35. Slithery fish : EELS. Long, slender fish that are members of the order Anguilliformes, and a few other similarly shaped, but unrelated, fish.
36. Deputy: Abbr. : ASST. Assistant.
38. Historic Icelandic work : EDDA. Either of two works, known as the Prose EDDA and the Poetic EDDA, set down in the 13th century, containing material going back several hundred more years. They are the main sources of Norse mythology.
39. Cry from a newly grounded teen : I HATE YOU. The drama unfolds.
44. Stir-fry pan : WOK. A round bottomed cooking vessel of Chinese origin.
45. Yahoo! service : E-MAIL. One of many providers
46. Overseas stints : TOURS. Deployments.
47. Sharpened : HONED. As on a whetstone.
48. 401(k) kin : IRA. Individual Retirement Account.
49. Claire and Phil's eldest daughter on "Modern Family" : HALEY.
51. Untouchables leader : NESS. Eliot, [1903 - 1957] Prohibition agent, during that dark period of American history.
52. Marino and Patrick : DANS. Former NFL QB Marino [b 1961,] Sportscaster Patrick [b 1956,] long with my oldest grandson [b 1996.]
52. Marino and Patrick : DANS. Former NFL QB Marino [b 1961,] Sportscaster Patrick [b 1956,] long with my oldest grandson [b 1996.]
53. Rebuke from Caesar : ET TU. "You too, Brutus?!?", to his erstwhile friend and assassination co-conspirator.
54. Class ring datum : YEAR. As of graduation.
55. Best Female Athlete, e.g. : ESPY. Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award, presented by ABC TV, and formerly by ESPN. This year's candidates are Breanna Stewart [UConn Basetball,] Elena Delle Donne [Chicago Sky Pro Basketball,] Katey Ledecky [Swimming,] and Simone Biles [Gymnastics.]
57. Java server : URN. Big pot.
58. Source of a metaphorical smell : RAT. Indicating that something is not right.
Well, that's it. Hope you got through without losing your shirt or getting caught with your pants down. I made it - barely.
Looks as if this might be Vasu's first LAT puzzle. So - welcome and congrats on your maiden voyage! This is a fine puzzle and we hope to see more of you [in a manner of speaking.]
Cool regards!
JzB
Well, that's it. Hope you got through without losing your shirt or getting caught with your pants down. I made it - barely.
Looks as if this might be Vasu's first LAT puzzle. So - welcome and congrats on your maiden voyage! This is a fine puzzle and we hope to see more of you [in a manner of speaking.]
Cool regards!
JzB
