1 D. *It may be political: SCIENCE. Political SCIENCE is a field of study. Whether it is an actual SCIENCE is a debate I will not engage at this time. And politics is outside the limits of discussion on this blog, so caution is advised. A SCIENCE PARK or RESEARCH PARK is a location where organizations devoted to the study of various aspects of SCIENCE are clustered.
6 D. *Period in the Age of Reptiles: JURASSIC. This period lasted 46 million years, from 201 to 145 million years ago, when it was succeeded by the Cretaceous Period. It began with a major extinction event which wiped out over half of all species known to have existed at that time. Two additional, but less severe, mass extinctions happened during the period. JURASSIC PARK is a science fiction movie, based on a book of the same title by Michael Crichton, in which dinosaurs are cloned from the DNA in fossilized remains, and much mayhem ensues. There are several sequels in the franchise. The subject PARK is a cross between a theme PARK and a nature PARK, but since it's used as a fiction title, I'll grant it it's own category.
11 D. *New Orleans time zone: CENTRAL. The continental U.S. has 4 time zones, Eastern, CENTRAL, Mountain and Pacific. This zone contains all of 9 states, and parts of 6 others. CENTRAL PARK is located in Manhattan, New York City. I'm sure it's the best known of New York's municipal PARKS, and was surprised to learn it is only the 5th largest. It was established in 1857 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962. I also went to CENTRAL Catholic High School in Toledo many decades ago, but that's off topic.
13 D. *Deep __: SOUTH. This is a geographic and cultural region of the southern United States, not necessarily defined by state boundaries. Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas are generally included, along with all or parts of other neighboring states. SOUTH PARK is an animated TV show for adults, set in the fictional eponymous city, that features satire via dark, surreal humor on a variety of mature topics.
15 D. *Main idea: THEME. The major topic of a talk, written work or exhibition. A THEME PARK is an amusement park with a unifying idea or setting. The Disney PARKS spring to mind.
And, of course, the unifier -- 54A. Completes a road test maneuver ... or the answers to starred clues, as arranged: PARALLEL PARKS. This is a parking maneuver in which the vehicle ends up parallel to the street edge or curb. I used to be pretty good at this, but cannot remember having done it in many, many years. In this uniquely designed grid, all the above mentioned PARKS are oriented vertically and parallel to each other. And, as a no-extra-charge bonus, the puzzle is also a pangram, with 6 letters occurring one time each. IMHO, this is quite stellar.
Hi gang, JazzBumpa in the driver's seat. Let's take a cruise through the rest of this puzzle.
Across:
1. Moo __ pork: SHU. Sounds like it should be beef, and actually can also be either that or chicken. This is a northern Chinese dish of stir fried meat, onions and eggs, wrapped in thin pancakes and served over rice.
4. Low-level employment: MCJOB. Had this entry the last time I blogged. A lousy job with low pay and limited prospects.
9. Starz competitor: TMC. The Movie Channel. These are cable channels featuring movies as regular programming.
12. Police: COPS. Slangily.
14. Sweet text: I LUV U. Because I LOVE YOU has way too many letters. Possibly influenced by the 1965 Tony Award winning play and resulting 1967 movie romantic comedy LUV. Or maybe not.
15. "No argument": TRUE. I agree; amen brother.
16. "Don't make __ hard!": IT SO. Somehow, I always manage to avoid the easy way.
17. Drew (in): LURED. Was attracted to.
18. Backwoods possessive: HIS'N. Well, y'all, I ain't so sure 'bout this'n.
19. "__, Brute?": ET TU. Big Julie's lament, when he was done in by his friends for being too ambitious.
20. Some ski lifts: T-BARS. These are devices which push the skier up the slope by providing a bar on which to sit or lean.
21. "It is the __, and Juliet is the sun": Romeo: EAST. In this bright metaphor, Romeo refers not only to Juliets's beauty, but also suggests that her affection has relieved the darkness of his rejection by Rosaline.
22. "How cool!": NEATO. Well done, Will!
24. Former JFK lander: SST. Super Sonic Transport - commercial passenger aircraft that traveled faster than the speed of sound. The last flight was in 2003.
25. "Burnt" pigment: UMBER. Raw UMBER is a brown earth pigment containing oxides of iron and manganese. Heat transforms this into the more richly colored red-brown burnt UMBER by dehydrating the iron oxide.
26. Comic strip woman who married Irving: CATHY.
27. Baja bear: OSO. Spanish is spoken in Baja California.
28. Mac: FELLA. Just some guy.
29. Language suffix: -ESE. Englandese, Germanese, Francese. This isn't working.
30. Prefaced: LED INTO. Preceded whatever ensued.
33. Au pair's subj.: ESL. A foreign person who provides housework and/or baby sitting services in exchange for room and board. So that person might study English as a Second Language.
34. Many Olympic events: RACES. Running, swimming, various down-hill events
35. Wolfs (down): SCARFS. Gobbles, devours.
40. Vistula River city: KRAKOW. Second largest city in Poland, and an academic, cultural and artistic center that dates from the 7th century. Early settlements there go back to the stone age.
46. Chef's hat: TOQUE. Does the hat matter as much as what's under it?
47. Little untruth: FIB.
51. Uncertainty: DOUBT. Maybe; maybe not.
52. Master: ACE. Someone who exhibits excellent skills.
53. Medieval weapons: MACES. A MACE is a heavy club with a metal hear and spikes.
57. Game before the finals: SEMI. Game involving the last four eligible teams. The winners move on to the finals.
58. Doughnut finish: GLAZE. A mixture of confectioner's sugar in milk, applied to a fresh donut and allowed to dry..
59. Analogy words: IS TO. A is to B as Y is to Z.
61. __ II razor: TRAC. A double-bladed razor.
62. One wearing gloves to work: BOXER. An athlete who engages in pugilistics.
63. Poolroom array: CUES. Sticks used to strike the CUE balls.
64. Tax form IDs: SSNS. Social Security Numbers.
65. Pipsqueak: TWERP. An insignificant silly and annoying person.
66. Omar of "House": EPPS. [b 1973] American actor, rapper, song writer and record producer.
Down:
2. Starbucks purchases: HOT TEAS. Alternatives to coffees.
3. Lake Placid, vis-a-vis New York City: UPSTATE. A place or area farther north, from the coast, or at a higher elevation from one's present location.
4. Jazz vibraphonist Jackson: MILT. [1923 - 1999] His nickname was "Bags."
7. Intimation: OVERTONE. A subtle quality, implication or connotation.
8. Blossoms-to-be: BUDS. a BUD is a growth element on a plant that develops into a leaf, flower or shoot.
9. Subject to court judgment: TRIABLE. Able to be put on trial.
10. Common paella ingredients: MUSSELS. Edible marine bivalve mollusks.
23. Skinny toon Olive: OYL.
31. Stammering sounds: ERS. Along with ems and ums.
32. Disapproving sound: TSK. Tongue clucking sounds.
35. Criterion: Abbr.: STD. Standard, or benchmark against which something may be judged..
36. Craftsmen paid by the barrel?: COOPERS. They make and repair barrels and casks.
37. Atlantis dweller of comics: AQUAMAN. I mis-read this as Atlanta dweller, and was vary confused. He first appeared in MORE FUN COMICS #73 [November, 1941]; then in the late 50's became a founding member of The Justice League.
38. Protocols: RUBRICS. Statements of policies, purpose or action.
39. Greek cheese: FETA. A Greek white cheese made from the milk of ewes or goats.
41. Tomato variety: ROMA. A firm, meaty, flavorful tomato, suitable for canning and making paste and sauce.
42. Greed: AVARICE. Extreme covetous materialism.
43. Creates, as a fuss: KICKS UP.
44. Ragtime dance: ONE STEP. Shortest direct route from A to B? With possible KICKING UP.
45. Director Craven: WES. Best known for horror films of the slasher variety.
47. Uncultivated, as farmland: FALLOW. Plowed, but left unsown, to restore fertility as a part of crop rotation.
48. Mountaineer's aid: ICE AXE. Item used by climbers to cut footholds in the ice. It has a fead with one flat and one pointed end, and a spike on the foot.
49. Richard of "Law & Order: SVU": BELZER. [b 1944] American actor, author and comedian.
55. Pride parade letters: LGBT. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgendered. The initialism has been adopted as self-identification by those so described, and is intended to emphasize the the diversity of sexuality and gender identity-based cultures.
56. Heist puller: PERP. The original meaning of a term [that we have adopted here for some fell purpose of our own] is as the PERPETRATOR of a crime, i.e. the guilty party.
57. City map parts: Abbr.: STS. Along with Aves. Blvds. and Pkwys.
60. CIA predecessor: OSS. Office of Strategic Services, founded in 1942 to coordinate espionage activities behind enemy lines for all armed forces branches. other functions included the use of propaganda, subversion and post-war planning. It was dissolved by President Truman in 1945, and it's functions assigned to other agencies. In 1946 the Central Intelligence Group was formed by the Presidnet. The National Security act of 1947 established the Central Intelligence Agency, which then took up OSS functions.
Having completed our maneuver, we are now safely PARKED at the finish line of this UNPARALLELED puzzle. Hope you enjoyed the excursion.
Cool regards!
JzB
