Theme: Countdown [with an implied blast off.] The theme fill contains spelt-out hidden numbers in circled squares that decrease as you move down the grid.
Today's theme song --
20 A. "The Mum Hunt" children's author: GWYNETH REES. Gwyneth Rees (b. 1968) is a British author of children's books. Her novel The Mum Hunt won the Red House Children's Book Award for Younger Readers in 2019, and another, My Mum's from Planet Pluto, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal in the same year. I parsed this wrong as Gwyne Threes, which did not help. The hidden number is THREE.
28 A. "I'll believe it when I see it!": FAMOUS LAST WORDS. Said as an ironic comment on or reply to an overconfident assertion that may well be proved wrong by events. The hidden number is TWO.
48 A. Proceed with care: WALK ON EGG SHELLS. Be extremely cautious about one's words or actions. The hidden number is ONE.
55 A. Oscar-nominated film about NASA mathematicians, and a description of the countdown found in this puzzle?: HIDDEN FIGURES. Three brilliant African-American women at NASA -- Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson -- serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation's confidence, turned around the Space Race and galvanized the world.
Of course, the hidden figures are the numbers included in the theme fill. And the count down is to the blast that launched John Glenn into orbit, where he circled the earth 3 times, if you counted up.
Hi, Gang - Jazzbumpa here. This all should have been as easy as 1, 2, 3, but I foiled myself repeatedly. Let's blast off and orbit this puzzle.
Across:
5. Confidence games, e.g.: SCAMS. Deceptive schemes or tricks used to cheat someone out of something, especially money.
10. Cherished: DEAR. Held in high estimation.
14. Monsieur, across the Rhine: HERR. The honorific "mister." in French and German.
15. Verboten: TABOO. Anything forbidden by religious custom or social mores.
16. Nigerian language: IGBO. The principal native language cluster of the Igbo people from Southern Nigeria.
17. "Yes, correct": IT IS. Statement of agreement.
18. "Rhythm of Love" singer Baker: ANITA. Anita Denise Baker (b. 1958 in Toledo Ohio - my home town) is an American singer-songwriter. She is known for her soulful ballads, particularly from the height of the quiet storm period in the 1980s.
23. ID on a map: IDAHO. I was thinking "identification," making this harder than it needed to be
25. Squeezed (out): WRUNG. Squeezed and twisted (something) to force liquid from it.
34. Enjoy Aspen: SKI. Aspen, in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, is a ski resort town and year-round destination for outdoor recreation. It's also known for high-end restaurants and boutiques, and landmarks like the Wheeler Opera House, built in 1889 during the area’s silver mining boom. Our granddaughter Samantha was there in January working in hospitality for the XXVII X-Games. Bad weather complicated her return trip.
35. Food and dining website since 2005: EATER. Eater is a food website by Vox Media. It was co-founded by Lockhart Steele and Ben Leventhal in 2005, and originally focused on dining and nightlife in New York City. Eater launched a national site in 2009, and covered nearly 20 cities by 2012.
36. Enthusiast: FAN. An enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art) usually as a spectator. The word is uncertain etymology. It is likely derived from fanatic, a person with “uncritical zeal and enthusiasm.”
37. One-piece shapewear options: BODY SUITS. A close-fitting one-piece stretch garment for women, typically worn for sports. I misread the clue as "sleepwear," adding to my confusion.
41. "227" actress Reed Hall: ALAINA. Alaina Reed Hall [1946 - 2009] was an American actress and singer who portrayed Olivia Robinson, Gordon's younger sister, on the PBS children's television series Sesame Street, and Rose Lee Holloway on the NBC sitcom 227.
44. Get hold of: OBTAIN. Get, acquire, or secure something.
52. Left turn from sur: ESTE. South and east en Español.
53. Jazz pianist Mary __ Williams: LOU. Mary Lou Williams [1910 - 1981] was an American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer. She wrote hundreds of compositions and arrangements and recorded more than one hundred records.
54. Her, across the Rio Grande: ELLA. Female pronouns in English and Español.
60. __ Pèrignon: DOM. a brand of vintage Champagne. It is named after Dom Pérignon [1638 - 1715] a Benedictine monk who was an important quality pioneer for Champagne wine but who, contrary to popular myths, did not discover the Champagne method for making sparkling wines.
61. Flies: AVIATES. Pilots or flies in an airplane.
62. PIN point: ATM. A Personal Identification Number is used at an Automatic Teller Machine.
64. Sine __ non: QUA. The phrase refers to an essential condition; a thing that is absolutely necessary.
65. Type of roof with dormer windows: MANSARD. A roof which has four sloping sides, each of which becomes steeper halfway down.
66. Unjustly deprive (of): ROB. Take property unlawfully from (a person or place) by force or threat of force.
67. Ave. crossers: STS. Streets cross Avenues.
68. __-Dame de Paris: NOTRE. A medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité (an island in the Seine River), in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. The cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Construction of the cathedral began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully and was largely completed by 1260, though it was modified in succeeding centuries.
69. Place for a scrub: SPA. A commercial establishment offering health and beauty treatment through such means as steam baths, exercise equipment, and massage.
Down:
67. Ave. crossers: STS. Streets cross Avenues.
68. __-Dame de Paris: NOTRE. A medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité (an island in the Seine River), in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. The cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Construction of the cathedral began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully and was largely completed by 1260, though it was modified in succeeding centuries.
69. Place for a scrub: SPA. A commercial establishment offering health and beauty treatment through such means as steam baths, exercise equipment, and massage.
Down:
1. Big tuna: AHI. The Hawaiian term used to refer to Yellowfin or Bigeye tuna. Ahi Tuna has a light pink flesh and a flavor that is stronger than most fish.
2. Vietnamese New Year: TET. The Vietnamese New Year observed during the first several days of the lunar calendar beginning at the second new moon after the winter solstice
3. Art form used to create a crane or a masu box: ORIGAMI. The Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures.
4. "A Wrinkle in Time" woman: MRS. WHO. A Wrinkle in Time is the story of Meg Murry, a high-school-aged girl who is transported on an adventure through time and space with her younger brother Charles Wallace and her friend Calvin O'Keefe to rescue her father, a gifted scientist, from the evil forces that hold him prisoner on another planet. You can read more about it here.
5. __ Smiths: Adidas tennis shoes: STAN. Stanley Roger Smith [b. 1946] is an American former professional tennis player. Smith is best known to non-tennis players as the namesake of a popular brand of tennis shoes. A world No. 1 player and two-time major singles champion, Smith also paired with Bob Lutz to create one of the most successful doubles teams of all-time.
6. Sugar stalk: CANE. Sugar cane is a species of tall, perennial grass that is used for sugar production. The plants are 2–6 m tall with stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sucrose, which accumulates in the stalk internodes.
7. Somewhat: A BIT. An uncertain small amount. While "quite a bit" is an uncertain large amount.
8. Light-headed creature?: MOTH. A chiefly nocturnal insect related to the butterflies. It lacks the clubbed antennae of butterflies and typically has a stout body, drab coloration, and wings that fold flat when resting. It is attracted to light.
9. Really take off: SOAR. Fly high and fast.
10. Pesos, e.g.: DINERO. Money en Español.
11. Try to find oneself?: EGO SURF. To search the internet to find references to one's name or one's personal information. Well played clue.
12. Cobra pose muscles: ABS. The abdominal muscles. The cobra pose is a gentle backbend practiced from a face-down position that warms and strengthens the spine while opening the chest.
13. Poke bowl topping: ROE. Poke is diced raw fish served either as an appetizer or a main course.
21. The "y" in ily: YOU. I guess ily means I love YOU.
22. "Grossss!!": EWW. Expression of disgust.
23. "No __, ands, or buts": IFS. An idiom used to indicate certainty.
24. Prescott of the Cowboys: DAK. Rayne Dakota Prescott [b. 1993] is an American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played college football at Mississippi State, where he twice received first-team All-SEC honors, and was selected by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
26. Doc meant to protect trade secrets: NDA. Non-Disclosure Agreement.
27. "Family Feud" reruns channel: GSN. The Game Show Network.
29. Midsize car: SEDAN. A passenger car in a three-box configuration with separate compartments for an engine, passengers, and cargo. The first recorded use of sedan in reference to an automobile body occurred in 1912. The name derives from the 17th-century litter known as a sedan chair, a one-person enclosed box with windows and carried by porters.
30. Frito-__ snacks: LAY. An American subsidiary of PepsiCo that manufactures, markets, and sells corn chips, potato chips, and other snack foods. Frito-Lay began in the early 1930s as two separate companies, "The Frito Company" and "H.W. Lay & Company", which merged in 1961 to form "Frito-Lay, Inc". In 1965, Frito-Lay, Inc. merged with the Pepsi-Cola Company, resulting in the formation of PepsiCo. Since then, Frito-Lay has operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of PepsiCo.
31. Symbols in email addresses: ATS. This thing: "@." It is properly called the at sign.
21. The "y" in ily: YOU. I guess ily means I love YOU.
22. "Grossss!!": EWW. Expression of disgust.
23. "No __, ands, or buts": IFS. An idiom used to indicate certainty.
24. Prescott of the Cowboys: DAK. Rayne Dakota Prescott [b. 1993] is an American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played college football at Mississippi State, where he twice received first-team All-SEC honors, and was selected by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
26. Doc meant to protect trade secrets: NDA. Non-Disclosure Agreement.
27. "Family Feud" reruns channel: GSN. The Game Show Network.
29. Midsize car: SEDAN. A passenger car in a three-box configuration with separate compartments for an engine, passengers, and cargo. The first recorded use of sedan in reference to an automobile body occurred in 1912. The name derives from the 17th-century litter known as a sedan chair, a one-person enclosed box with windows and carried by porters.
30. Frito-__ snacks: LAY. An American subsidiary of PepsiCo that manufactures, markets, and sells corn chips, potato chips, and other snack foods. Frito-Lay began in the early 1930s as two separate companies, "The Frito Company" and "H.W. Lay & Company", which merged in 1961 to form "Frito-Lay, Inc". In 1965, Frito-Lay, Inc. merged with the Pepsi-Cola Company, resulting in the formation of PepsiCo. Since then, Frito-Lay has operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of PepsiCo.
31. Symbols in email addresses: ATS. This thing: "@." It is properly called the at sign.
32. Brazilian singer __ Jorge: SEU.
33. Small combos: TRIOS. A group of three musicians. A trio of piano, violin and cello is common in classical chamber music. A typical jazz trio will contain drums, a chording instrument, such as piano or guitar, and a melodic instrument or singer.
37. Did the second leg of a triathlon: BIKED. A triathlon is an endurance multisport race consisting of swimming, cycling, and running over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall completion time, racing each segment sequentially with the time transitioning between the disciplines included.
38. Artist Yoko: ONO. Yoko Ono [b. 1933] is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking. Ono grew up in Tokyo and moved to New York City in 1952 to join her family.
39. Texter's "If I'm being real": TBH. To Be Honest.
40. Take the helm: STEER. To control the course of or direct, especially to guide by mechanical means (such as a rudder;) to set and hold to a course.
41. Floor: AWE. Inspire a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.
42. React angrily: LASH OUT. Express anger by saying or writing furious words about someone or some thing..
43. Nissan 29-Downs: ALTIMAS. a mid-size car that has been manufactured by Nissan since 1992. It is a continuation of the Nissan Bluebird line, which began in 1955. The Altima has historically been larger, more powerful, and more luxurious than the Nissan Sentra but less so than the Nissan Maxima. The first through fourth-generation cars were manufactured exclusively in the United States and officially sold in North and South America, along with the Middle East and Australia.
45. Very attentive: ALL EARS. Listening eagerly and attentively.
46. "You've had enough of my jokes": I'LL STOP. But I never do.
47. Govt. org. with cryptanalysts: NSA. National Security Agency, a national-level intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense, under the authority of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). The NSA is responsible for global monitoring, collection, and processing of information and data for foreign and domestic intelligence and counterintelligence purposes, specializing in a discipline known as signals intelligence (SIGINT).
49. Current event in the Pacific?: EL NIÑO. An irregularly recurring flow of unusually warm surface waters from the Pacific Ocean toward and along the western coast of South America that prevents upwelling of nutrient-rich cold deep water and that disrupts typical regional and global weather patterns. Another clever clue.
50. Zip along: GO FAST. Zoom
51. Fender instrument: GUITAR. Fender produces acoustic guitars, bass amplifiers and public address equipment, however it is best known for its solid-body electric guitars and bass guitars, particularly the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jaguar, Jazzmaster, Precision Bass, and the Jazz Bass.
56. Hoover, for one: DAM. Neither president nor vacuum cleaner fit. Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
57. Fashion's __-Picone: EVAN. A line of women's clothing made by the partnership of Charles Evans and Joseph Picone in1949. They sold it to Revlon in 1962.
58. "Runaway Bride" co-star: GERE. Richard Tiffany Gere [b. 1949] is an American actor. He began in films in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar and a starring role in Days of Heaven. He came to prominence with his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol.
59. Amer. capital: USD. Capital, not capitol. The U.S. Dollar -- $.
60. Blizzard sellers, familiarly: DQS. Dairy Queens are an American chain of soft serve ice cream and fast food restaurants headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota, United States. It was owned and operated by Sherb Noble and opened on June 22, 1940. It serves a variety of its own original frozen products that vary from location to location.
63. C-suite degree: MBA. Master of Business Administration, a postgraduate degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration such as accounting, applied statistics, human resources, business communication, business ethics, business law, strategic management, business strategy, finance, managerial economics, management, entrepreneurship, marketing, supply-chain management, and operations management in a manner most relevant to management analysis and strategy. It originated in the United States in the early 20th century when the country industrialized and companies sought scientific management. I has one of dem.
So, we've reached the end of another Wednesday adventure. Hope you had a blast.
Cool regards!
JzB
