02.27.08 -- Nukes

Nuclear Family, 1975 -- Ron Waddams
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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

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Puzzle by Lee Glickstein, edited by Will Shortz

NUCLEARFAMILY (36A. Members of this can be found in the centers of 17-, 24-, 51- and 60-Across), along with SKEDADDLE (17A. Make tracks); PAWNBROKERS (24A. Sources of ready cash); THERMOMETER (51A. Turkey insert); and SUBSISTED (60A. Got by [on]) are this Wednesday’s inter-related entries.

Across: 1. Bankruptcy causes; 6. Part of “snafu”; 9. Invite for; 14. ILLAT ease; 15. Water temperature tester; 16. Ending with farm or home; 19. “Survivor” team; 20. Mead study locale; 21. Chips that one might “muncha buncha”; 22. Hotel offerings: Abbr.; 27. Cassidy portrayer of TV and film; 29. NARY a one; 30. “Born Free” feline; 31. Words of willingness; 34. Defaulter’s loss; 41. Flash drive filler; 42. NEMEAN lion, beast slain by Hercules in his first labor; 44. Dept. of Labor branch; 48. Movie theater candy; 50. Directional lead-in; 55. Authorizes; 56. T. Boone Pickens, for one; 57. With full force; 59. I, historically; 60. Got by (on); 64. McEnroe rival 65. Bud; 66. Calls for; 67. Pundit’s piece; 68. Knock out; 69. It helps raise dough.

Down: 1. Talk trash about; 2. Lodge member; 3. “Gesundheit!”; 4. “Look what I did!”; 5. Notary’s item; 6. Time to crow; 7. “That’s funny!,” in an e-mail; 8. Antietam leader; 9. Nolan Ryan, for years; 10. Its symbol is X; 11. Harvey of “The Piano”; 12. Marchers’ drums; 13. Black Sea port; 18. Beyond paramedic aid, in brief; 21. Short order cook’s utensil; 22. One of four in a grand slam: Abbr.; 23. Cut close; 25. Add a soundtrack to, perhaps; 26. Concise, in Cannes; 28. Vietnam’s Le DUC Tho; 32. Foreign law deg.; 33. Absolutely accurate; 35. Cockney’s abode; 38. Chat room shorthand; 39. Sore throat soother; 40. Pull suddenly; 43. “NIS for Noose” (Sue Grafton book); 44. Best Actor nominee for “Venus,” 2006; 45. Has star power; 46. Mt. St. HELENS; 47. Loser of 1588; 49. Unlikely to lose it; 52. One way to be in love; 53. Ambulance letters; 54. Befitting of umbrellas; 58. “Understood”; 60. Rest spot; 61. Motor City grp.; 62. Masthead figs.; 63. Period after springing forward: Abbr.

ATOM (37A Bit to split), a bit off-center, shares its "A" with NUCLEAR FAMILY and its "M" with THERMOMETER which shares its second "M" with MADLY -- things could get hot -- Mt. St. HELENS doesn't need someone to push a button -- the Creator will fire at will.

My father was fond of saying that he hoped when the nuclear bomb was dropped, they'd let us know a little ahead of time so that he could go out and watch! Ten years ago this month, at the age of 84, he left this world before it happened --so, for my father -- IN LOVING MEMORY.

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...
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cornbread hell said...

surprise, surprise, sgt carter.

expecting to see a map, i clicked on your *black sea port* link. very interesting footage.

then again, expecting a photo of your father...the *in loving memory* link was absolutely chilling.

DONALD said...

cornbread hell

Lest we forget...