17-Across. Wartime delinquent: DRAFT DODGER. What's the difference between a Draft and a Breeze?
22-Across. '60s-'70s Chicago Bears running back who is the youngest inductee
into the Pro Football Hall of Fame: GALE SAYERS. What's the difference between a Gale and a Breeze?
36-Across. Flute and oboe: WIND INSTRUMENTS. What's the difference between Wind and a Breeze?
46-Across. Flaky baked dough: PUFF PASTRY.
And the unifier:
58-Across. "Piece of cake!" ... and apt description of the starts of 17-, 22-,
36- and 46-Across?: WHAT A BREEZE. The first word in each theme answer can describe a blast of a breeze.
Some of the "breezes" are stronger than others. A GALE would be
quite strong, while a PUFF might barely cause a stir.
There was also a mini musical theme:
15-Across. Mid-range voice: TENOR.
5-Down. Mid-range voices: ALTI.
6-Down. Without a key: ATONAL.
Is it me, or was this quite a challenge for a Tuesday puzzle?
11. Listing at indeed.com: JOB. I was not familiar
with this website.
14. Halloween costume with pointy ears: DEVIL.
16. One of WD-40's many: USE. Who knew there were so
many ways to use WD-40?
19. Slippery road cause: ICE.
20. Multipart sofa: SECTIONAL.
21. Mufasa's "The Lion King" brother: SCAR.
25. German pastry: STRUDEL. A strudel is a layered
pastry that is usually sweet, but can have a savory filling. Making
one is probably beyond my cooking abilities.
30. Provide money for: FUND.
31. Playground
retort: ARE SO!
32. __ sci: POLI. Political Science, which is the study
of dealing with systems of governance and power and the analysis of
political activities.
Enough Said.
33. Web access co.: ISP. Internet Service Provider.
40. Drunkard: SOT. A crossword staple.
41. Sorority T's: TAUs. It's the Greek letter that
actually looks like a T.
42. Sleep disorder: APNEA. Last year, one of the
companies that makes the CPAP machines had to issue a recall. The
new materials in the machine were causing a hazardous chemical to be
released into the breathing apparatus.
43. Sam or Michelle of Georgia politics: NUNN. Michelle
Nunn (née Mary Michelle Nunn; b. Nov. 16, 1966), is the daughter of former
Senator Sam Nunn (né Samuel Augustus Nunn, Jr.; b. Sept. 8, 1938)
44. Online marketing technique: E-BLASTS.
50. Human rights lawyer Clooney: AMAL. Amal Clooney (née
Amal Alamuddin; b. Feb. 3, 1978) is the wife of actor George Clooney (né
George Timothy Clooney; b. May 6, 1961).
51. Greek "Father of History": HERODOTUS. Herodotus (484
~ 425 BCE) is generally considered to have been the first person to
systematically write down historical events. He wrote Histories, which is a detailed account of the Greco-Persian Wars. I read
some of this years ago.
57. Birdie plus one: PAR. A golfing reference.
60. "Mad Men" network: AMC. Mad Men was a
television drama about a Madison Avenue advertising firm in the 1960s.
The show ran from July 2007 to May 2015.
61. Hazardous gas: RADON. // According to 39-Down. Eco-conscious
govt. group: EPAand the CDC, Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking.
62. Shenanigan: ANTIC. Appropriate for this time of
year. This year's St. Patrick's Day parade will be on Saturday,
March 19.
63. Falsehood: LIE.
64. Surgical tube: STENT.
65. Everycow: BOSSY.
Down:
1. 3:1, e.g.: ODDS.
2. No more than: MERE.
3. Emergency copter op: EVAC.
4. Birthday buy: GIFT.
7. Olympic goal: MEDAL.
8. Artfully seek, as a promotion: ANGLE FOR.
9. Actress Kravitz: ZOË. Zoë (née Zoë Isabella
Kravits; b. Dec. 1, 1988) is the daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz and
actress Lisa Bonet.
10. Make a mistake: ERR.
11. Electricity: JUICE.
12. Letter before Papa: OSCAR. A reference to the NATO
Phonetic Alphabet
13. Coronas and Buds: BEERS. Both are brands of beers.
18. Venetian elder of yore: DOGE. The Doge was the
highest political position in the Venetian Republic. Here is everything
you ever wanted to know about the Doge of Venice, but didn't know to ask.
The Dog of Venice.
21. Australian airport code: SYD. Flying into Sydney?
23. "Star Trek" helmsman: SULU.
24. __ husbandry: ANIMAL. Everything you wanted to know
about animal husbandry, but didn't know to ask.
25. Logging tools: SAWS.
26. Fairy tale bears, e.g.: TRIO.
27. "Seasons of Love" musical: RENT.
28. Amer. money: USD. As in the United States Dollar.
29. Wrap a gift, slangily: DO IT UP. I don't think I
have heard this expression in the context of wrapping a gift.
33. Holiday and Days: INNS. Clever. Both are
motels
34. Editor's "Let it be": STET. A crossword staple.
35. Free TV ads: PSAs. As in Public Service Announcements.
37. Mom's mom: NANA.
38. Awning, for one: SUN SHADE.
43. Super Bowl org.: NFL. As in the National Football League. // And 58-Down. QB targets: WRs.
The Wide Receiver is the target for the QuarterBack.
44. Roaming, like a knight: ERRANT.
45. Brief invite equivalent of "Drinks are not on me!": BYOB.
46. Like decrees from Francis: PAPAL.
47. Fish sauce taste: UMAMI.
48. Screwball comedy: FARCE.
49. Grand __ National Park: TETON. Today's French lesson.
52. Just plain plain: DRAB.
53. Napa prefix: OENO-.
54. Asian holidays: TETS. Another crossword staple.
55. Israeli weapons: UZIs. Uriel Gal (Dec. 15, 1923 ~
Sept. 7, 2002) was an Israeli gun designer best remembered for designing
the submachine gun that bears his name.
56. Cabinet dept. head: SECY. As in Secretary.
59. Top __: Monopoly piece: HAT. A history of
the Monopoly pieces.