16 A. Vice squad operations: POLICE RAIDS. Unannounced visits by law enforcement, using the element of surprise to aid in making arrests, so things don't get too WILD.
28 A. Fictional feline that could disappear at will: CHESHIRE CAT. Best known for its mischievous grin, and most generally associated with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by creepy 19th century British minister Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, rather than T. S. Eliot. Its presence in folk lore pre-dates this 1865 novel, and is of uncertain origin. As it fades away, the last thing visible is its ionic grin.
45 A. "Talladega Nights" actor: JOHN C REILLY. Here he is in CHICAGO.
62 A. It eases tension in some serious tales: COMIC RELIEF. A light or humorous episode in an other wise serious dramatic work.
3 D. Social class prominent in "The Great Gatsby": IDLE RICH. People of substantial inherited wealth who have no need to work for a living. And a shout out to anyone named ERIC.
And the unifier -- 39 D. Whole-grain food, and a description of each set of circles: WILD RICE. This is a separate species from white rice. Though it is now cultivated, it is still also harvested from shallow lakes in its natural habitat in North America. The word WILD indicates that the letters of RICE have been rearranged in the theme entries.
The byline indicates that this puzzle was constructed by our gracious and prolific hostess, whose published puzzles now must number in the hundreds. Note the clever and original grid, with theme fill that is both horizontal and vertical, but not in a pinwheel array.
Hi, Gang - JazzBumpa here. Let's all have a WILD time together.
The byline indicates that this puzzle was constructed by our gracious and prolific hostess, whose published puzzles now must number in the hundreds. Note the clever and original grid, with theme fill that is both horizontal and vertical, but not in a pinwheel array.
Hi, Gang - JazzBumpa here. Let's all have a WILD time together.
1. Vice president after Hubert: SPIRO. T. Agnew [1918-1996] V.P. under Richard Nixon. He resigned as a result of a corruption scandal involving kick-backs and tax evasion dating from his time as county executive in MD, and continuing into his vice presidency. He escaped prosecution in a plea bargain.
6. Harry Potter's lightning bolt, e.g.: SCAR. On his forehead, resulting from an unpleasant incident when he was in infant, involving Tom Riddle
10. Cauldron stirrer: HAG. They seem nice.
14. Big strings: CELLI. Here is a sample.
15. "We're on __ way": OUR. Be right with you . . .
18. Prefix with angle or athlete: TRI. Indicating something in threes - a TRIangle is a three sided figure. A TRIathlete competes in a three-part combined event, usually involving running, bicycling and swimming.
19. Make very happy: ELATE.
20. "__ Go": cellphone game: POKEMON. A game centered on fictional creatures which humans can train and battle each other for sport. I'll stop here, because this is already more than i know about it, lest I --
22. Mess up: ERR. Goof.
24. PC core: CPU. Central Processing Unit. It perfprms the basic computational, logic and control functions.
26. Sorvino of "Mimic": MIRA. I had her last time.
27. Hawaiian garland: LEI. Flower garland necklace.
32. Ultra-masculine: MACHO. Overtly, aggressively and pridefully male. Short of toxic masculinity, one would hope
34. Underwater detector: SONAR. From SOund Navigation And Ranging, a system that uses sound waves to navigate and detect objects, usually under water
35. Sister of Laertes: OPHELIA. In Shakespeare's play, daughter of Polonius, and the potential wife of Hamlet.
38. Major turf battle: GANG WAR. Battle for control of a neighborhood or area between rival gangs.
44. Neutral shade: BEIGE. A pale, sandy yellowish brown color.
50. Meadow: LEA. An open grassy area.
51. Sheriff Andy Taylor's boy: OPIE. From the Andy Griffith show.
53. ISP option: DSL. Digital Subscriber Line. Distinct from dial-up, but using a telephone line.
54. "Oh, puh-leeze!": SPARE ME. Get real.
58. African country whose name begins another African country: NIGER. and Nigeria. Adjacent countries in west Africa.
Niger is in orange
61. Wee one: TOT. A small child. I once was one.
66. Baton Rouge sch.: LSU. Louisiana State University, home of Mike the Tiger.
67. Occupied, as a restroom: IN USE. Come back later.
68. Award for "Moonlight" or "Spotlight": OSCAR. An award presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for excellence in the creation and production of movies.
70. "Gee whiz!": GOSH. Golly.
Down:
1. Liquid from a trunk: SAP. Sticky stuff from a tree trunk.
2. Golf instructor: PRO. Or tennis.
4. Churn up: ROIL. Cf. 10 A.
5. White-bellied ocean predator: ORCA. The killer whale.
6. __ salt: SEA. Other wise known as . . . salt.
7. Movie excerpt: CLIP. Cf 10 A, 45 A, 70 A.
8. Big name in footwear: ALDO. I like Clarks.
10. One may pick up an embarrassing remark: HOT MIC. Conversations can be captured when the speakers think the microphone is off. Ooops!
11. Goddess of the dawn: AURORA. From Roman mythology.
12. Be amused by: GRIN AT. Smile!
14. Dessert pancake: CREPE. A thin pancake, usually rolled and filled with something.
17. Draw with acid: ETCH. Coat the substrate with a protective substance such as wax, draw on it with a needle to expose the surface, then flow acid over it. This will attack the exposed surface and create the desired image.
21. Come into view: EMERGE. Unfold, transpire, become apparent.
22. Sailor's patron: ELMO. AKA St Erasmus of Formia [d 303 AD.] The account of his various tortures and imprisonments is disturbing. You have been warned.
23. Use a scythe: REAP. For harvesting a crop. No reason to be grim about it.
25. Navy vessel letters: USS. United States Ship, applied only while it is in commission.
28. Infant's ailment: COLIC. Abdominal pain caused by gas or obstruction. Unpleasant for baby, parents, and anyone else near by.
29. Gluttonous sort: HOG. Greedy one who wants it all.
30. Once __ while: IN A. Occasionally.
31. Asked for an opinion on, as an idea: RAN BY.
33. Playboy founder: HEFNER. Hugh [1926 - 1917]
36. Mideast nation: Abbr.: ISRael.
37. Had breakfast: ATE. Typically raisin bran for me.
40. Quite a while: AGES. Non-specific long time duration.
41. Bona fide: REAL. From the Latin, meaning "with good faith."
43. Family vacay participant: SIB. Sibling, joining the fam for a vacation.
45. Push rudely: JOSTLE. To elbow or push against someone, typically in a crowd. From late Middle English, derived from jousting [Cf. 48 D.] The original meaning was "to have sex with." Current, more pedestrian, meaning is from the mid 16th century.
46. Vote against: OPPOSE. Nay, nay, I say.
47. Continuity break: HIATUS. A pause or gap in a sequence, series or process.
48. Renaissance Faire weapon: LANCE. For jousting. You can find many examples on Youtube. I chose not to link.
49. Dragon's den: LAIR. Brings to mind a poem I wrote long ago.
IN PRAYER SHE CONTEMPLATES
Far from her home, sequestered in a cave
In dampness, gloom and foul lizard's filth
With golden chains that mock a kingdom's wealth,
She waits the coming of the knight or knave --
The fool who'd face the flame and fang to save
A royal maiden from this monstrous death.
The fool arrives. To scale and scalding breath
He shouts his dare. Could one so wild and brave
Be any but a lout? No doubt he'd clench
A princess as he would some low-born wench.
Is lance of knight or fang of worm to be
The one to test her vain virginity?
Reposed in prayer she contemplates her sins,
Then spies her knight, and prays the dragon wins.
55. Vaper's smoke, briefly: E-CIG. Prompts a question about technology: just because we can, does that mean we should?
56. Stereo preceder: MONO. In monaural sound, a single channel is used, and all speakers will project the same copy of the signal. In stereophonic sound, there are typically two channels, and each one projects a different portion of the total sound package. This gives the effects of directionality and space.
57. Fast Aussie birds: EMUS. Australian native Dromaius novaehollandiae is the second largest living bird, after the ostrich, which is native to Africa. Both are fast runners, but neither can fly.
59. Earth sci.: GEOLogy is an earth science. As the saying goes, GEOLOGY rocks, but Geography is where it's at.
60. "What __ can I do?": ELSE. An offer of further assistance, or an expression of exasperation. You decide.
63. "Kinda" suffix: -ISH.
64. Piece of corn: EAR. Something to listen for when you stalk the grain.
65. Cook, as spring rolls: FRY. Cook with hot oil in a shallow pan. MAybe have some WILD RICE as a side.
That wraps up another Wednesday. Hope you found this nit-free puzzle to be delicious, nutritious and just crunchy enough.
Cool regards!
JzB
