This puzzle is weird, wild stuff ! It started when I remembered recently the connection between 17-Across and 18-Across, so I sought more examples like that. That's what you'll find in the starred entries around the grid (and hinted at, albeit convolutedly, in this puzzle's title). As I filled in the rest and started to write clues, I noticed there were tons  of linguistic connections beyond just those starred entries. So, I ended up cramming this puzzle full of cross-references, many of them entirely unnecessary. I'm sorry if this ruins the solving experience for some of you, but I hope that others of you will get some extra enjoyment out of all of this! Either way, I promise to have some more "normal" themed and themeless puzzles coming soon... Enjoy the solve, and share if you do! Constructive feedback in the comments is always welcome. Download links:   [ puz ]   [ pdf ]   [ solution ]        Direct link: [ play online ] ...