Theme: SEVEN (49D. Number of consecutive letters without
2-Down in this puzzle's four longest answers) - A cluster of 7
consecutive non-A E I O U letters span across each theme entry.
18A. "The Meaning of Life" comedy group : MONTY PYTHON. Splynter likes them.
32A. Menace that isn't very menacing : EMPTY THREAT. Like those from Lil' Kim.
40A. Eric Carmen power ballad covered by Celine Dion : ALL BY MYSELF
56A. Title magical caretaker in a 2005 film : NANNY MCPHEE. Never saw it. Starring Emma Thompson and Colin Firth.
2D. Facetious sequence? : A E I O U. As Spitzboov told us before, A E I O U is sequentially contained in the word Facetious.
49D. Number of consecutive letters without 2-Down in this puzzle's four longest answers : SEVEN
C.C. here. Jazzbumpa was ready to entertain you, but "Cruciverb is STILL out to lunch. That's three days running. Grrrr" (Thanks, Dudley). Jazz will be back next Wednesday.
A
rather unique theme. We've seen puzzles with orderly AEIOU letter
strings. Would be more impressive if there were no Y involved, as all of
the 6 Y's in the theme entries are vowels. It might not be doable.
Across:
1. Half-__: 50-50 coffee : CAF
4. Near the back, nautically : ABAFT. Always want STERN. Why does ABAFT exist when AFT already has the same meaning?
9. Flora and fauna : BIOTA
14. Poet's "atop" : O'ER
15. Root vegetable : TUBER. Have you ever seen taro plants in person? Huge.
16. Deck out : ADORN
17. Routing word : VIA
20. Ages and ages : EONS
22. Vote of confidence : YEA
23. Events marked by good-natured insults : ROASTS
24. Occasion to pull together? : TUG O' WAR. Nice clue
26. Backfire noise : BANG
27. Present-day Persia : IRAN
28. Statue of Liberty supporter : PEDESTAL. So literal.
35. Chopper : AXE
36. Open stretches : LEAs. Here is our pretty little one.
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| Kazie's Granddaughter Lea |
37. Gut reaction? : OOF
38. Assemble-it-yourself company : IKEA
39. Hostel : INN
44. Inanimate carousel rider : SUITCASE. And 10D. 44-Across attachments : ID TAGS. I imagine Steve travels light.
46. Traditional Cockney delicacies : EELS. Jellied eels. See here. I only like pickled herrings.
47. St.-John's-__ : WORT. Do you believe in herbal medicine?
48. Stalemate : IMPASSE
51. Aussie gal : SHEILA. Where is our Aussie Dave?
54. Flash drive PC port : USB (Universal Serial Bus). Anon T, is your given name Tom also? We've got two Toms (TTP & D-Otto) with computer background.
55. Tool holder : SHED
59. Hail, to Caesar : AVE
60. Up until now : AS YET
61. Gas leak warnings : ODORS
62. Contract signer's tool : PEN. So I caught Pete Weber smoking outside Treasure Islands (MN) last Sunday. He's so friendly in person. Signed my PBA program and pin. But the happiest moment is to meet with Walter Ray Williams, arguably the greatest bowler of all time.
 |
| C.C. & Walter Ray Williams |
63. Moon aspect : PHASE
64. Use a divining rod : DOWSE
65. Minnesota twins? : ENS. This self-referential clue tends to bother Jazzbumpa. And Twins beat his Tigers last night.
Down:
1. Really want : COVET
3. Fragrant flower used in leis : FRANGIPANI. Wiktionary said this word is "from an Italian noble family, a sixteenth-century marquess who invented a plumeria-scented perfume. The name comes from frangi "breaking" + pani "bread," a reference to the family's distribution of bread in time of famine." Good to know.
3. Fragrant flower used in leis : FRANGIPANI. Wiktionary said this word is "from an Italian noble family, a sixteenth-century marquess who invented a plumeria-scented perfume. The name comes from frangi "breaking" + pani "bread," a reference to the family's distribution of bread in time of famine." Good to know.
4. 24-hr. cash source : ATM
5. Tending to float : BUOYANT
6. Daisy Mae's guy : ABNER
7. Spanakopita cheese : FETA. Yellowrocks likes Spanakopita.
8. Give it a go : TRY
9. Sharp weapon : BAYONET
11. Sounds of awe : OOHS
12. Word after fox or turkey : TROT
13. Raggedy dolls : ANNs
19. "The Devil Wears __" : PRADA. Loved the movie. Not enough words to describe Meryl Streep. Genius.
21. Organizes : SORTS
25. "I'm on my __" : WAY
26. Muscular : BEEFY
28. Seriously look into : PROBE
29. Materializes : TAKES SHAPE. Great entry. Lots of nice fill in this grid.
30. Skating jump : AXEL
31. Table extender : LEAF
32. Bulldogs' supporters : ELIs. Yale.
33. Carte du jour : MENU
34. "The Planets" composer : HOLST (Gustav)
38. Mallorca y Cuba : ISLAS. English Majorca.
40. Church candle lighter : ACOLYTE. Needed the crossings.
41. Former Anaheim Stadium NFLer : LA RAM (1946 to 1994). This often stumps non-sports fans. They're now St. Louis Rams.
42. Country club crowd : MEMBERS
43. "Roger that" : YEP
45. Twisted threads : TWINES
48. 1995 R&B hit "This __ We Do It" : IS HOW
50. Blissful environs : EDENS
51. Huddle follower : SNAP
52. Diner breakfast order : HASH
53. Big name in New Age music : ENYA
54. High style : UPDO
57. Grand Banks fish : COD. I wonder if cod tastes great pickled.
58. Legal ending? : ESE. Legalese.
C.C.
