17. Former "CBS Evening News" anchor: KATIE COURIC. She held this job from 2006 - 2011. As a TV personality, she's done many other things, both before and since.
23. "School's Out" rocker: ALICE COOPER. Vincent Damon Furnier (b. 1948) in an American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spans over 50 years. He is regarded as the Godfather of shock rock.
36. "You Are So Beautiful" singer: JOE COCKER. John Robert Cocker (1944 – 2014), better known as Joe Cocker, was an English singer known for his gritty voice and spasmodic body motions.
51. Sid Caesar's "Your Show of Shows" partner: IMOGENE COCA. (1908-2001) She was an American comic actor who started in vaudeville as a child acrobat. Her TV carer ran from the '40's to the '90's.
60. Based on a common feature of their names, what 17-, 23-, 36- and 51-Across are well-suited to be?: ECO WARRIORS. These are people actively involved in preventing damage to the environment.
Like her or not, agree with her or not, Greta Thunberg is the real deal
Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here with our own C.C.'s latest effort. You don't often see a theme built around people's names, so this is a creative effort. Let's dig in and see what else our gracious host has created for us.
But first, a reminder: today's theme reveal could be a hot button issue, with overt political overtones. So - in keeping with the rule of this blog - let's not go there.
As I say on my own blog, play nice and we'll all have fun. So - onward.
Across:
1. "I'm so stupid!": D'OH.
4. Lobbying orgs.: PACS. Political Action Committees.
8. Dr. Oz's faith: ISLAM. He is a surgeon, university professor and television personality who promotes pseudo-science and alternative medicine.
13. Craft beer initials: IPA. India Pale Ale.
14. Material for tatami mats: STRAW. These mats are traditional Japanese floor coverings, and are made with an exact 2:1 aspect ratio.
15. Disney princess from Motunui: MOANA.
16. FedEx alternative: DHL. An American-founded German company which is now the international courier, parcel, and express mail division of the German logistics company Deutsche Post DHL. [Wikipedia]
19. "I'll take it from here": LET ME.
22. Like a thick, green lawn: LUSH. Teeming with thick, healthy growth.
26. Go out with: SEE. He is SEEING her and should be discrete if they don't want to be SEEN.
27. Papier-mâché fiesta item: PINATA. A construction of mashed paper over a skeleton frame, usually brightly decorated, and often in the form of an animal, filled with candy or toys.
28. Magnified atlas image: INSET. A small map set next to or within a larger map to show more detail.
30. Give a little: SAG. Droop.
31. Item in a folder: FILE.
35. Garden tool: SPADE. A type of shovel with a sharp rectangular metal blade and a long handle. Can you dig it?
39. Biblical hymn: PSALM. A sacred song used in worship.
42. Breakfast brand in the freezer aisle: EGGO. Toaster waffle.
43. Grounded jet: SST. Super Sonic Transport. Due to technical issues, as well as economic factors, limited range, and high fuel consumption, these planes are no longer in use.
46. Hayride invitation: HOP ON.
47. Allergic reaction: AHCHOO. Sneeze. This past week was the peak season for pollen related allergy and asthma difficulties.
50. Capp and Gore: ALS.Alfred Gerald Caplin (September 28, 1909 – November 5, 1979), better known as Al Capp, was an American cartoonist and humorist best known for the satirical comic strip Li'l Abner, which he created in 1934 and continued writing and (with help from assistants) drawing until 1977. [Wikipedia]
Albert Arnold Gore Jr. (born March 31, 1948) is an American politician and environmentalist who served as the 45th vice president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Gore was Bill Clinton's running mate in their successful campaign in 1992, and the pair was re-elected in 1996. [Wikipedia]
56. __ puppet: SOCK. 1) a simple hand puppet made from a SOCK. 2) A false online identity used for purposes of deception.
58. Cowhand's chow: GRUB. Slangy meal. Hope it's more appetizing than it sounds.
59. Objects of adulation: IDOLS. 1) Images or representations of gods used in worship. 2) Person or things that are greatly admired, loved, or revered.
63. Little kid: TOT. Potential moppet.
64. In the country: RURAL. Non-urban.
65. Cruise stopover: ISLET. A small island
66. Find a place for: USE. Deploy as a means of achieving something.
67. Dead tired: SPENT. All used up.
68. Half-moon tide: NEAP. The tide just after the first and third quarters of the moon, when the difference between high and low water is the least.
69. Each: PER.
Down:
1. Hit the pool: DID LAPS. Swam repeated pool lengths.
2. "Hamlet" character who drowns: OPHELIA. She had climbed a willow tree, and a branch broke, dropping her into a brook where she drowned.
3. Hesitant: HALTING. Slow, hesitant, faltering.
4. Org. concerned with students: PTA. The National Parent Teacher Association.
5. Threepio's buddy: ARTOO. Bots in the Star Wars saga.
6. North African capital: CAIRO. Egypt
7. Win every game: SWEEP. In a short series during regular or post season play.
8. Letters before a viewpoint: IMO. In My Opinion. Opinions worth heeding have some basis in facts and reality.
9. Motown music: SOUL.
10. Tony who managed three World Series-winning teams: LARUSSA. [b 1944] Over a career of 33 years, he managed the Cardinals, A's and White Sox. You knew there would be some baseball - right?
11. Ouzo flavoring: ANISEED. Also called ANISE; this is a flowering plant native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia that produces a licorice like flavor element.
12. Hacker's tool: MACHETE. For LUSH jungle undergrowth, not computer mayhem.
14. Sport with clay targets: SKEET. Dynamic aerial target shooting.
18. Iowa campus: COE. This college is new to me
20. __ Nashville: country label: MCA. Not sure what the MCA stands for. You can read about it here.
24. Barista's workplace: CAFE. A barista prepares and serves different kinds of coffee.
25. Go higher: RISE. Literally or figuratively in an organization structure.
29. "Planet Money" network: NPR. National Public Radio.
32. Winter hazard: ICE. It's slippery.
33. Piece of campfire fuel: LOG. Wood fires are de rigueur at our lake-side vacations.
34. Lines at a hosp.: ECG. ElectroCardioGram - a graphic representation of electrical activity in the heart.
36. "World of Dance" judge, to fans: J.LO. Jennifer Lynn Lopez (born July 24, 1969), also known by her nickname J.Lo, is an American actress, singer, dancer, fashion designer, producer and businesswoman.
Also, THIS.
37. Luxury hotel chain: OMNI.
38. Zen paradox: KOAN. Think hard, but don't think so hard.
39. "Star Trek" stunners: PHASERS. Typical weapons used by the Starfleet personnel.
40. Popular beer pong choice: SOLO CUP.
41. Test result for a HS student: AP SCORE. Advanced Placement test for prospective college students. IMHO, a huge scam.
43. Grow dramatically: SHOOT UP. Grow like a weed.
44. "You almost got it": SO CLOSE.
48. Bank holdup: HEIST.
49. Looped in on an email, briefly: CCD. Originally Carbon CopieD, in the pre-email days.
52. Bus. bigwig: MGR.Abrv for Manager.
53. Former senator Hatch: ORRIN. [b 19340] He retired in January of this year.
54. False front: GUISE. An external appearance that can conceal the true nature of something.
55. Deadly virus: EBOLA. Cause of a rare and deadly disease, mostly found in sub-Saharan Africa, for which there is no known cure.
57. Olympic skating medalist Michelle: KWAN. History making.
61. Keyboard shortcut key: ALT.
62. Weight room unit: REP. Repetition of a lift.
There you have it. Did you skate through? Was it uplifting? Did you find some headache relief?
Cool regards!
JzB
