A Wednesday puzzle with a vowel progression? Put up the Husker Gary Signal, Commissioner! This is my third recent puzzle with this gimmick. I thought we'd take a new look at the VOWELS in ASL. How many did you know?
Jacob's progressive vowel insertions were on three two-word phrases and one single word adjective and were placed to complete the sequence CR _ M....
Perhaps it's not necessary but here is his grid and since only very smart people read this blog, I only indicated the vowels employed in Jacob's exercise.
Let's check out Jacob's exhibition of VOWEL PLAY by looking at his sequential theme entries:
17. Student's all-nighter : CRAM SESSION - They pulled a big CRAM SESSION to try to pass Professor Kingston's class in 1973's The Paper Chase
25. Dessert with a caramelized top : CREME BRULEE - Breaking through that wonderful caramelized crust
39. Course of study that may include forensics : CRIMINAL JUSTICE - Abby of NCIS is my favorite forensic scientist and part of my latest Netflix binge
48. Like a mid-17th century English government : CROMWELLIAN - I'll bet Puritan and Roundhead Oliver was the life of any party! (Picture corrected from earlier Thomas)
61. Car's impact-absorbing structural feature : CRUMPLE ZONE - The CRUMPLE ZONE of both cars gives way first as designed
Now let's see what else Jacob has CRAMMED into this Wednesday exercise:
Across
1. Brigantine's pair : MASTS - How'd they get that ship in there?
6. Necklace globule : BEAD
10. Touch gently : PAT
13. Sneezing sound : ACHOO - Response - Gesund (healthy) heit (hood) to wish good health
14. Grade for exceptional work : A-PLUS
16. "Gross!" : UGH
19. Links figure : PAR - PAR for pros is usually one less than for me
20. Trek on a trail : HIKE - Wanna hike up Half Dome in Yosemite? Here's the trail:
21. Lots : A TON
22. Martini garnish : OLIVE
24. Keats' "__ on Indolence" : ODE - For this ODE to his own laziness, Keats used as an epigraph this passage from Matthew 26: "They toil not, neither do they spin" and we also had 56. Like noble gases : INERT
27. Verbal : ORAL
29. Former "Inside the NFL" host Dawson : LEN
30. Correctional : PENAL - Nebraska's PENAL system is at 150% of capacity
32. Issuer of bulls : POPE - Named for the leaden seal (bulla) affixed to the bottom of a Papal edict, uh, not the content
35. Bridge support : ARCH - For some reason the ARCHES shown here gave this bridge in Memphis the nickname "The Dolly Parton Bridge." Hmmm... It's a mystery to me
42. Trail : PATH
43. Sports figures : ODDS
44. __ fit: tantrum : HISSY
45. Tie-ending qtrs. : OTS - James White scoring the TD that decided the 2017 Super Bowl which was the first one to go into OverTime
47. Boot : KICK - The Falcons were KICKING themselves for letting the the Super Bowl above get away from them
54. Letter after upsilon : PHI
57. "Spider-Man: Homecoming" actress Marisa : TOMEI - She is a fine actress but she'll always be Mona Lisa Vito, the car expert in My Cousin Vinny to me
58. Je t'__: French "I love you" : AIME
59. Cookware material : IRON
60. Bygone U.K. record label : EMI
64. Suitable : APT
65. Comic/writer/activist Izzard : EDDIE - A British comedian known for dressing as a woman in his act
66. Solitary sort : LONER - I am an involuntary LONER when eating lunch in faculty lounges
67. Ed.'s acquisitions : MSS - Manuscripts
68. Italian wine region : ASTI
69. Latin clarifier : ID EST - i.e. This might, uh, clarify the issue, i.e. explain the difference
Down
1. Virile : MACHO - Many in this sport have their MACHO image enhanced pharmacologically
2. Bitterly pungent : ACRID
3. Seal the deal : SHAKE ON IT - It can be complicated
4. Heavy reading? : TOME
5. Signal of distress : SOS - This became standard after the sinking of the Titanic and replaced CQD (Come Quickly Danger) (-.-. --.- -..) which the doomed ship was sending as she sank
6. Moisten while roasting : BASTE
7. __ salts : EPSOM
8. Dress named for a letter : A-LINE
9. Electronic music's Daft Punk, e.g. : DUO and 47. Film critic Pauline : KAEL- I guess...
10. Dilation target : PUPIL - My good friend had this situation with his eyes
11. Tequila source : AGAVE
12. Red billiard ball : THREE - Its correct placement in the rack for 8-Ball
15. [Bo-ring!] : SNORE
18. Rank between marquis and viscount : EARL
23. __ fringe: fanatical extremists : LUNATIC
25. Colombian city : CALI
26. __ cheese : BLEU - Not a fan
28. Make emphatically, as a point : RAM HOME - I think this RAM made his point emphatically
30. Angel dust, for short : PCP
31. Significant stretch : ERA
32. Sketchbook, e.g. : PAD
33. __ Navy: discount retailer : OLD
34. Comfy lounging wear : PJS - After one of my blogs i got an anonymous note from someone who said I put commas where they are not required. So, would PJ'S be out of place here or here 37. IV units : CCS - CC'S
36. Like aggressive investments : RISK PRONE - "Hello, Mr. Madoff, I'd like my money back"
38. "Listen up!" : HEY
40. Body part with a bridge : NOSE - You can alter that bridge
41. It's just over a foot : SHIN
46. __-baked potatoes : TWICE
48. Third-stringers : C-TEAM - Most would now say "Third on the depth chart"
49. Escapades : ROMPS
50. Passes over : OMITS - Why did Jacob omit CRY ME A RIVER? 😉
51. Praises highly : LAUDS
52. Maximum : LIMIT
53. Macao Science Center designer : I.M. PEI - Wow!
55. Sharpens : HONES
59. Polo maker that's a Polo rival : IZOD
62. Nutritional abbr. : RDA
63. Philanthropist Broad : ELI - A little obscure for a Wednesday?
It's no CRIME to have an opinion here:
