Theme: here is it is in full.
Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
20. 2010 Best Picture Oscar winner : THE KING'S SPEECH.
27. Become born-again, perhaps : GET RELIGION.
37. United Nations gathering : GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
44. Self-publishing option : VANITY PRESS.
The theme fill contain some of the key words of the specified rights, and the unifier seals the deal.
52. Source of the freedoms found at the ends of this puzzle's four other longest answers : FIRST AMENDMENT. Of the Constitution of the United States of America.
Well, here we have the two things that we do not discuss here - politics and religion. We do need to report on and discuss the content of the puzzle - and most particularly the theme - but let's all please respect the spirit of the ground rules. The theme is well timed, coming during the week of Memorial Day.
So, let us ASSEMBLE our wits, PRESS on, and SPEAK FREELY about the rest of this puzzle.
Across
1. Resorts with body wraps : SPAS. Saunas, towels and robes.
Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
20. 2010 Best Picture Oscar winner : THE KING'S SPEECH.
27. Become born-again, perhaps : GET RELIGION.
37. United Nations gathering : GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
44. Self-publishing option : VANITY PRESS.
The theme fill contain some of the key words of the specified rights, and the unifier seals the deal.
52. Source of the freedoms found at the ends of this puzzle's four other longest answers : FIRST AMENDMENT. Of the Constitution of the United States of America.
Well, here we have the two things that we do not discuss here - politics and religion. We do need to report on and discuss the content of the puzzle - and most particularly the theme - but let's all please respect the spirit of the ground rules. The theme is well timed, coming during the week of Memorial Day.
So, let us ASSEMBLE our wits, PRESS on, and SPEAK FREELY about the rest of this puzzle.
Across
1. Resorts with body wraps : SPAS. Saunas, towels and robes.
5. Hook-shaped ski lift : J-BAR.
9. Canon setting : F STOP. The ratio of a camera's focal length to the diameter of its aperture, hence a dimensionless number relating to lens speed.
14. Formal agreement : PACT. Treaty, deal, settlement.
15. Deep sea predator : ORCA. AKA killer whale
16. PEN/Faulkner, for one : AWARD. Recognition for achievement.
17. Wastes away : ATROPHIES. Withers, shrives, shrinks.
19. Beantown team : CELTS. Pro basketball.
22. Env. insert : ENClosure.
23. Former Mississippi senator Trent : LOTT. Was in the House of Representatives from 1972 to 1988, then in the Senate from 1989 to 2007. In 2008, opened a lobbying firm with former Senator John Breaux. Careful, now. More politics.
24. Post-J.D. degree : LLM. Legum Magister, Latin for Master of Laws. [In Latin the plural of a word is abbreviated by repeating the initial.]
33. Ready for a kick, with "up" : TEED. In football, a kick off is generally executed with the ball placed on a kicking tee.
35. Society page word : NEE. From the French word for "born," generally referring to a married woman's maiden name.
36. City bonds, for short : MUNIS. Municipal Bonds are securities issued by a local authority to finance a capital project. The are frequently exempt from federal taxation.
41. Layer with a hole : OZONE. An upper atmospheric layer.
42. Pocatello sch. : ISU. Idaho State University. Their mascot is Benny the Bengal.
43. "The Da Vinci Code" priory : SION. Well - this is confusing.
48. Health products chain : GNC. General Nutrition Center.
49. One who may converse in Erse : GAEL. Gaelic person from Ireland or Scotland.
50. Top bond rating : AAA. Indicating the highest degree of credit worthiness.
59. Argue with : JAW AT.
60. One selling wheels : CAR DEALER. "Wheels" being vernacular for a vehicle.
61. Online party notice : E-VITE. A portmanteau of electronic and invitation.
62. Pelee Island's lake : ERIE. Located in Canadian waters, but for me, this hits close to home.
63. Zilch : ZERO. Nada, nuthin'.
64. Decreases in strength : WANES. Or any other measurable characteristic.
65. Phone-answering asst. : SEC'Y. Administrative Assistant.
66. Social sci. major : ECONomics. The flip side of the political coin.
66. Social sci. major : ECONomics. The flip side of the political coin.
Down
1. Cross words : SPAT. An argument.
2. Way to go : PATH. A route from point A to point B.
3. Farm fraction : ACRE. Land area measure.
4. Feed with fuel : STOKE. Specifically, solid fuel, as coal.
5. WWE wrestler in the film "Trainwreck" : JOHN CENA. No idea.
6. Naval lockup : BRIG. Jail on a ship.
7. Pocket rockets, at the poker table : ACES. A holding of pocket aces in the game of Hold 'em.
8. Fight, in the sticks : RASSLE. Wrestle, in the city.
9. Video chat option : FACE TIME. Proprietary Apple app.
10. Trees with fragrant sap : SWEET GUMS.
11. Gymnast's powder : TALC. Used to absorb moisture and as a dry lubricant.
12. Straight: Pref. : ORTH. From the Greek.
13. Troopers' gps. : PDs. Police Departments.
18. Troubling engine sound : PING.
21. D.C. figure : POLitician.
24. No. 2 at the statehouse : LT. GOV. Lieutenant Governor.
25. Talk show host who won "The Celebrity Apprentice" in 2015, familiarly : LEEZA. Gibbons.
26. Runners occupying bases : MEN ON. They want to go home, but often do not get there.
28. No. in a contacts list : TELephone.
29. Broadcast again : REAIR.
30. With a lot at stake : IN BIG. As a wager or financed deal.
31. Rub __: lubricate : OIL ON.
32. "Bye Bye Bye" boy band : NSYNC. Mainly popular in the late 90's
34. Bad-mouth : DENIGRATE. Disparage, belittle, denigrate.
38. Samples again, during cooking : RETASTES. This entry feels awfully strained, and not especially in the language.
39. Memphis-to-Mobile dir. : SSE. Tennessee to Alabama.
46. Pre-curtain call : PLACES. Everyone get into position.
47. "Smooth Operator" singer : SADE.
51. Floor : AMAZE. Frex: I was floored by that revelation.
52. Broad bean : FAVA. Pairs well with a nice Chianti.
53. Triumphant shout : I WIN.
54. Stable mother : MARE. Just horsing around.
55. Old Norse explorer : ERIC. When you get exiled for being too obnoxious even for the Vikings to put up with, you might as well go sight seeing.
56. Util. bill : ELECtricity.
57. Detective Wolfe : NERO. Created by Rex Stout.
58. 1982 sci-fi film with a 2010 sequel : TRON.
59. Passover observer : JEW. Start with politics, end with religion. Passover commemorates the Israelites departure from ancient Egypt.
Well, folks, that wraps up another Wednesday. Hope you were able to exercise your freedoms and still get through the puzzle without too many arguments.
Cool Regards!
JzB
