WHOSN = SHOWN

PDATA = ADAPT

FDTEEC = DEFECT

WRTTEE = WETTER

CARTOON ANSWER:

THE HIGH-TECH SCULPTURE OF ALASKA WAS – – –

SHOAATFETETTR = STATE OF THE ART

Good Thursday morning, Jumble fans! The first three clue words came instantly today. The fourth anagram, WETTER, caused me to take a few glances before coming into view. I started off by trying to make a couple of words with RE before it occurred to me that ER would be the suffix. Making quick work of the clue words, I was now ready to move on to the cartoon.

The online version of the puzzle that I normally use to enlarge the cartoon didn’t post the image this morning so I was stuck with my newspaper copy instead. My first thought while looking at the panel was “What in the world is that thing in the middle?” It looked like four people standing around a futuristic console staring at a holographic projection. Realizing that I would need to read the sentence and dialogue for more information, I took a moment to do so and let it all sink in.

The holographic projection turned out to be an interactive sculpture of Alaska, and what a beautiful sculpture it was! Jeff painstakingly added loads of detail in a relief type fashion. Visible were a bear, an eagle, a totem pole, a salmon, a king crab, and a few trees. The best detail of all was the fact that the sculpture had the number 49 as its base. 49 just isn’t a random number, it stands for Alaska being admitted to the union as the 49th state in 1959.

The solve for the surprise answer was obvious to me after reading the sentence and looking at the letter layout. I always check my work by crossing out the clue letters and sure enough, the answer was there. The words might not have been much of a challenge, so I’ll remember this Jumble by its clever cartoon.

Have a terrific Thursday, and I’ll see you tomorrow!