Sunday December 13, 2020 Garry Morse

Theme:  "Paper Trail" - Each familiar phrase is punnily reinterpreted as if the last word is a newspaper name.

23A. Newspaper for jeans wearers?: CASUAL OBSERVER.

39A. Newspaper for newlyweds?: HITCHING POST.

57A. Newspaper for attorneys?: TRYING TIMES. What we are, right now.

81A. Newspaper for chefs?: GARLIC PRESS.

98A. Newspaper for traffic cops?: TWO-WAY MIRROR.

118A. Newspaper for Schwinn owners?: BICYCLE COURIER.

32D. Newspaper for hairstylists?: SETTING SUN.

53D. Newspaper for metalworkers?: BRONZE STAR.

 

Fun puzzle. We've seen this type of newspaper theme before, including one from me for the NYT ages ago. It's called "Paper Jam". I love the way today's puzzle is presented. 

 

A bit name-heavy.

 

Across:
 

1. Springlike: VERNAL. Not a word I use.

7. Word in France's national motto: EGALITE. "Liberte, egalite, fraternite"

 

14. Scratched, say: MARRED.

20. Skin care brand: AVEENO. Endorsed by Jennifer Aniston.

21. Michelle's successor: MELANIA.

22. Alpine climbing tool: ICE AXE.

25. Shake and bake, e.g.: RHYMES.

26. Rodeo ropes: RIATAS.

27. Essen article: DER.

28. For example: SAY.

29. "Leaves and Navels" artist: ARP. Not familiar with the work. Very abstract.

30. Philippine money: PESOS.

33. General on a menu: TSO.

34. "A Beautiful Mind" mathematician: NASH. John Nash.

36. At the discretion of: UP TO.

37. Preceding periods: EVES.

38. Apple platform: IOS.

43. Venetian Renaissance artist: TITIAN.

45. Chinese currency: YUAN. $1 = 6.55 Yuan now.

47. Six-time NBA MVP, familiarly: KAREEM. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

48. Hi-tech medical image: CAT SCAN.

50. Investor's concern: RISK.

52. Like a solid theory: TENABLE.

56. U.S. maritime agcy.: ONI. Office of Naval Intelligence.

61. Not std.: IRREG.

62. Div. that, in its first year of existence, produced a World Series champ: NL EAST. OK, Mets won. Might be Rich's clue.

64. Best poker pair: ACES.

65. Phnom Penh river: MEKONG.

66. Saltimbocca spice: SAGE. Wrapped with prosciutto and sage.

 

68. Company whose spoofed horror film ad has the line, "Why can't we just get in the running car?": GEICO.

71. Swimmer Ledecky: KATIE. She's amazing.

73. Racer Ferrari: ENZO.

74. Paperwork, often: HASSLE.

76. Get exactly right: NAIL.

78. Fake: ERSATZ. Consonant-rich.

80. Island with Dutch as an official language: ARUBA.

84. Diminish: EBB.

87. 12th-century English king: HENRY II. And 16. King of Spain: REY. And 108. Tenth of 12 popes: PIUS X.

89. Place to park it: SEAT.

90. Fulfill: SATISFY.

92. It starts in the 60s, by most reckonings: OLD AGE. Hong Kong has the highest life expectancy in the world for the past decade. It's very close to Guangzhou. Same temperature. Same language (Cantonese). Same food (Cantonese). Soup every day.

95. Mine car: TRAM.

97. Wee bit: LITTLE. Cantonese bowls are small. So a bowl of soup or rice is not that much. Authentic Cantonese food is light and fresh.

102. 2010 health law: Abbr.: ACA.

104. Coal-rich valley: SAAR.

105. Cut: HEWN.

106. Sad: BLUE.

107. Four-term prez: FDR.

108. Auto repair bill component: PARTS.

109. Seine summer: ETE.

110. Prefix with cycle: TRI.

112. Deg. for drillers: DDS. The price for my dental package skyrockets again. Same with yours?

114. Like an accomplice: IN ON IT.

116. Make changes to: MODIFY.

123. Insect-sized superhero: ANT MAN.

124. Puts away: STASHES.

125. Poetic Bible book: PSALMS.

126. __ skills: PEOPLE.

127. Large chamber groups: SEPTETS.

128. Americans in Paris, maybe: EXPATS. Good old clue.

Down:

1. Short cleaner: VAC.

2. "Casino Royale" (2006) actress Green: EVA. First movie with Daniel Craig as Bond.

 3. High-__ monitor: RES.

4. Phobia, e.g.: NEUROSIS.

5. Diarist first name with a diaeresis: ANAIS.

6. Glaudini of early "Criminal Minds" episodes: LOLA.

7. Consulate cousin: EMBASSY. Guangzhou has an American Consulate. I was once here waiting in line. So was Bill, our new Thursday guide. So was Brad, a Nebraskan reader who used to live in the White Swan hotel nearby. Brad had a business in Guangzhou/Hong Kong area years ago.

8. Artwork base coat: GESSO.

9. Bar order: ALE.

10. Frying medium: LARD.

11. Create: INVENT.

12. Clothing store display aid: TIE RACK.

13. Kernel holder: EAR.

14. "Look!," to Luis: MIRA.

15. Sore: ACHY.

17. NY/NJ's __ Mountains: RAMAPO. Learning moment for me.

18. Applies: EXERTS.

19. Absolute ruler: DESPOT.

24. Due times four: OTTO. Due here refers to "Two" in Italian.

28. Team in some pickup games: SHIRTS.

30. San Diego's __ Park: PETCO.

31. Aquafina rival: EVIAN.

35. Doo-wop syllable: SHA.

36. Short seller's concern: UP MARKET. 49. Where Coca-Cola is KO: NYSE.

38. Steamed: IN A RAGE.

39. Reagan's first secretary of state: HAIG. "I'm in control here".

40. Photo-sharing app, briefly: INSTA. Instagram.

41. Once called: NEE.

42. 1992 Robin Williams role: GENIE.

44. Part of un opéra: ACTE.

46. Keats' "Sylvan historian": URN.

51. Complain: KICK.

54. Emmy winner Kay: LENZ.  Wiki says "For her role in the episode "After It Happened" of Midnight Caller, she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series."

55. Wafflers brand: EGGO.

58. Singer Turner's memoir: I TINA.

59. "Give __ minute ... ": ME A.

60. Glyceride, for one: ESTER.

63. Longtime "Band of Renown" leader: LES BROWN.

65. "Ben-Hur" villain: MESSALA. No idea. Never saw the movie.

66. Ousted Iranian: SHAH.

67. Bern's river: AARE.

69. Caboose, for one: CAR.

70. Artist's medium: OILS.

72. Angers: IRES.

75. Clapton woman who's "got me on my knees": LAYLA.

77. Deceive: LIE TO.

79. Italian wine hub: ASTI.

81. 2000 A.L. MVP Jason: GIAMBI. He was really good when I first arrived in the US.

82. Gideon Fell creator John Dickson __: CARR.

83. Bk. fair organizer: PTA.

85. Key of Schumann's "Spring Symphony": B FLAT.

86. Joyce __, Winona Ryder's "Stranger Things" role: BYERS. Did any of the names cause you trouble today?

88. Mount __: Charley Weaver's home: IDY.

91. "Don't go in there!": IT'S A TRAP.

93. Grissom on "CSI": GIL.

94. Scholarly: ERUDITE.

96. "O, that way __ lies": Lear: MADNESS.

98. On __: famous: THE MAP. Long partial.

99. Sloppy kiss: WET ONE.

100. Had because of: OWED TO.

101. Baggage porter: REDCAP.

103. Foam footwear: CROC.

107. Sole order: FILET.

110. Nonstick kitchen brand: T-FAL. We have two of these. Change them about every two years.

111. Ex-Cub Sandberg: RYNE.

113. Part of DOS: Abbr.: SYST.

115. "Nuh-uh": NOPE.

117. Little dickens: IMP.

118. Undergrad degs.: BSS. And 122. Blog feed format letters: RSS. Really Simple Syndication.

119. Friend of Fidel: CHE.

120. Dockworker's gp.: ILA. International Longshoremen's Association.

121. CPR expert: EMT.

Best wishes to your wife and your family, Ray-O-Sunshine! So scary. Boomer's son also got COVID but has since recovered.

Please continue keeping Bill G and his wife Barbara in your thoughts and prayers. I echo Michael's time-tested advice for caregivers:  "Guard your energy".

Barbara, Bill & their grandchildren

C.C.

Friday, February 14, 2020, Garry Morse

Title: The wit and wisdom of Charles Schulz

Perhaps the most endearing aspect of PEANUTS and the many characters created by Mr. Schulz is the clarity of their naive philosophies. Today we have the rare "quip" puzzle where the theme is a Quotation. Some are strictly for humor, and some like today's combine humor and a touch of reality. This is the 11th LAT by Mr. Morse who is a Sunday specialist with only one Monday among his earlier publications. When the Corner started, before we migrated to the LAT we had regular quip puzzles which many enjoyed and many hated. It is hard to hate Charlie Brown and Snoopy. The cluing - Quote part I, etc., is not helpful but it gets the job done. Garry does include some fine bonus fill like HANNIBAL,  TSARISTS, AA SPONSOR (introduced today),  DARKHORSE, POLICE CAR and  TRIAL DATE which may not be as much fun as it sounds.
The quip:
17A. Start of a Charles M. Schulz quote: ALL YOU NEED (10)
22A. Quote, part 2: IS LOVE, BUT A (10).
38A. Quote, part 3: LITTLE CHOCOLATE (15).
50A. Quote, part 4: NOW AND THEN (10).
59A. End of the quote: DOES'NT HURT (10).

There are implicit references to Valentine's Day with "LOVE" and "CHOCOLATE" but you need to bring your own flowers. I accept gifts all year round. Enjoy this gift from Garry.

Across:

1. Penthouses, e.g.: Abbr.: APTS. Only one LINK came to mind.

5. Smartphone downloads: APPS.

9. Metaphor for responsibilities: HATS. A wife ears many hats, cook, nurse, companion, mother, lover...

13. Adriatic port: BARI. Bari is a port city on the Adriatic Sea and the capital of southern Italy’s Puglia region. Looks pretty

14. March Madness org.: NCAA. For the college basketball championship.

15. "Beavis and Butt-head" spin-off: DARIA. My son Devin liked this character.

16. Bickering: AT IT. The kids are always bickering.

19. Rub the wrong way: CHAFE.No thigh humor from me.

21. Twelve-step helper: AA SPONSOR. Alcoholics Anonymous, which is a sometimes successful way to help those who are addicted and need to face that reality to deal with it.

24. Non-neutral atom: ION. Also a leading repeat TV Network, LINK.

25. Light sleeper's distraction: DRIP. Leaky faucets do drive Oo crazy,

26. Living area in "The Martian," with "the": HAB. The Hab, short for "The Mars Lander Habitat" is a series of artificial living quarters that were constructed before the Ares III manned mission to Mars landed. Therefore not an abbreviation but a nickname?

28. A Gabor sister: EVA. Along with Zsa Zsa and Magda.

30. Acts of faith?: LEAPS.

34. Classic sci-fi villain: VADER. I do not see Darth as a Classic villain, but that is just me. He was a sweet man with a family who was misled.

41. 1980s attorney general: MEESE. This is not the plural of Mouse.

42. Shade related to violet: LILAC. A light violet.

43. Responsibility: RAP. This was not easy but it does the responsibility for or adverse consequences of an action shown more clearly in "he refused to take the rap."

44. Bend: ARC. Like a good curveball.

46. Cope with: HACK. A strategy or technique for managing one's time or activities more efficiently. Dictionary.

48. Dept. head: MGR.

56. Source of a siren: POLICE CAR. The same number of letters as AMBULANCE.

58. "__ Mio": O SOLE. They began as teenagers. IL VOLO.

61. Avian crop: CRAW. You do not grow birds.

62. Score symbols: FLATS. Musical score.

63. "You're kidding!": EGAD.

64. Whodunit canine: ASTA. When he wasn't with Nick and Nora he was ...making babies

65. Club with a blue and white diamond logo: SAMS. Did they adopt this logo?

66. Phillies slugger Hoskins: RHYS. They study everything now, even ballplayers I do not know. LINK. (pronounced reese).

67. Nair rival, once: NEET. Was this replaced by VEET?


Down:

1. Old counters: ABACI. I know C.C. can do this, can you?

2. Hiking network: PATHS. Not a computer network

3. Defense attorney's concern: TRIAL DATE. "Concern" is such an odd word in this context, as it is how one makes his/her money.

4. Be paid to watch, as children: SIT FOR.

5. Prefix with -gram: ANA. No PANgrams lately.

6. Techie training site: PCLAB. Is it one or two words? Help please our experts.  LAB.  Clecho- 45D. Tech tutorials site: CNET.

7. Caroline Islands republic: PALAU. Following World War II, in 1947, under UN auspices as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the United States assumed administration of Palau. In 1982, Palau signed a Compact of Free Association with the United States. Palau gained its independence and established diplomatic relations with the United States in 1994.

8. Dost speak: SAYST. Bible talk.

9. Legendary Carthaginian general: HANNIBAL. What we know of his LIFE he was the most interesting man of his time.

10. "You __ busted!": ARE SO. When you run into your mother at the mall during school hours.

11. Attach with string: TIE ON.

12. __ City, Iraq: SADR. Not known to me consciously but it has been in the NEWS.

15. The Carpenters, for one: DUO.

18. Deep-water fish: OPAH.

20. More wicked, in Worcester: EVILLER. In British English, the "LL" is commonly used in words where Americans use a single "L." TRAVELLER comes to mind.

23. Touching competition?: EPEE.

27. Guacamole fruit: AVOCADO. One of the many fruit trees we have planted on our condo grounds, Of course, plating on common areas creates many conflicts.

28. Disease-stricken tree: ELM. We recently had reference to the
DISEASE.

29. Face off: VIE.

31. Knee injury initials: ACL. Anterior Cruciate Ligament.

32. Key letter: PHI. Beta Kappa. I am proud that my son earned his key in his junior year in college.

33. La preceder: SOL. Do re me fa sol la ti do.

35. Long shot: DARK HORSE. No politics so no comment.

36. Coming-in hr., roughly: ETA. Estimated Time of Arrival.

37. Sales staff member: REP.

39. Romanov adherents: TSARISTS. Their HISTORY.

40. Lyricist Sammy: CAHN.
A Hall of Famer LINK.

47. ER diagnostic tool: CT SCAN. CT is an abbreviation of computed tomography or computerized tomography.


48. Bucks: MOOLA. Moolah is a Fijian word meaning 'money' which may be the etymology.

49. Sparkle: GLEAM. A long-gone toothpaste.

51. Yellowish-brown: OCHER. Or is it ochre.

52. "Brideshead Revisited" novelist: WAUGH. The Sacred & Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder. A precursor to DOWNTON ABBEY.

53. Assortment: ARRAY.

54. Thrill: ELATE. A classic C.C. word.

55. Unfamiliar with: NEW AT.

56. Sharable PC files: PDFS. Portable Document Formats.

57. Brain and spinal cord: Abbr.: CNS. Central Nervous System

60. Saints' achievements: Abbr.: TDS. New Orleans' version scores touchdowns, none more prolific than Drew Brees

Welcome to Friday Mr. Morse. I hope the Corner all enjoyed this puzzle and I look forward to their comments and any you feel like posting as well.  HAPPY VD! Lemonade out.

Happy birthday Heartrx wherever you are.

Sunday July 7th, 2019 Garry Morse

Theme: "Deliberate Lying" - LY is added to the end of the first word.

 23A. Enjoy prettifying the gifts?: GLADLY WRAP. Glad wrap.

 28A. Wrinkled Sunday dinner?: RUMPLY ROAST. Rump roast.

 38A. Skinny, loose-jointed club golfer?: GANGLY MEMBER. Gang member.

 65A. Dishes like a 28-Across?: HOMELY COOKING. Home cooking.

 91A. Just taps on the door?: HARDLY KNOCKS. Hard knocks.

107A. Texas Hold 'em in Texas?: DRAWLY POKER. Draw poker.

114A. Bird that returns fire when hunted?: DEADLY DUCK. Dead duck.

How did the constructor think of the title "Lying"? Amazing! In our corner, Husker Gary and D-Otto are great in coming up with brilliant titles also.

I like when the new LY words share no root with the base phrases. But often it's impossible. Also, is  "drawly" is word you guys actually use?

Across:

1. Einstein's "m": MASS.

5. Game with knights: CHESS.

10. Missouri city nickname: ST JOE. Eminem was born here.

15. Cell accumulation: APPS.

19. Some choristers: ALTI.

20. Auto pioneer Henry: ROYCE. OK, now I know what Rolls-Royce stands for: Henry Royce and Charles Rolls.

21. Woman on the original "Star Trek" bridge: UHURA.

22. Fish or book lead-in: BLUE.

25. Fast-spreading Web units: MEMES.

26. Spanish muralist: SERT. Jose Maria Sert.

27. "Piece of cake": NO PROBLEM.

30. Home of Odysseus: ITHACA.

31. What pros know, with "the": ROPES.

32. The Big Ten's Boilermakers: PURDUE.

33. Makes red-faced: ABASHES.

37. Brew in big containers: KEG BEER. Debut entry for LAT.

43. "The Enemy Within" org.: CIA.

44. Deg. for crown fitters: DDS.

45. "Tiny Alice" dramatist: ALBEE.

46. Golden State school whose city is also its county: UCSB. UC Santa Barbara.

47. Doesn't abandon, as one's promise: HOLDS TO.

51. Strategize: PLAN.

52. Helena winter hrs.: MST.

53. Yale of Yale fame: ELIHU.

55. "The Easter Parade" author Richard: YATES.

58. "Nobody wins!": IT'S A TIE.

60. How checks are written: IN INK.

62. Nine-piece combo: NONET. And 116. Square dance quorum: OCTAD.

64. "Fooled you!": NOT.

70. Morse "T": DAH.

71. Sugar coating: GLAZE. You can probably find these glazed buns in some dim sum place.

73. Kindle download: EBOOK.

74. Bishop's district: DIOCESE.

76. "Phooey!" cousins: DRATS.

78. Dense overgrowth: BRUSH.

80. Bad picnic omen: ANT.

81. Marseille mates: AMIS.

82. Sandburg's metaphorical fog carrier: CAT FEET. The fog comes on little cat feet.

84. Barbarian: OGRE.

86. Preserved, in a way: ON ICE.

87. Span. title: SRA.

90. Leaving approx.: ETD.

94. Rooftop landing spot: HELIPAD.

97. Like candid photos: UNPOSED.

98. Transfer to a larger computer, say: UPLOAD.

99. Barbecue leftovers: ASHES.

102. Rough partner?: TUMBLE. Rough and tumble.

109. Causes of road trip delays: FLAT TIRES. Be careful when you have any roofing project. Don't let the nails get into your tires.

112. 1977 ELO hit: DO YA.

113. Selection from a pool: JUROR.

115. Yet: EVEN.

117. "Live PD" airer: A AND E.

118. Throb: ACHE.

119. Wine list heading: REDS.

120. "Flashdance" star Jennifer: BEALS.

121. Top officers: BRASS.

122. Tarot reader: SEER.

Down:

1. Son of Thor, in comics: MAGNI. No idea.

2. Divvy up: ALLOT.

3. Bacteria in grapelike clusters: STAPH.

4. Libyan port on its own gulf: SIDRA. Another unknown.

5. Whiner: CRYBABY.

6. Lupine call: HOWL.

7. Fictional governess: EYRE.

8. Main plot element in "The Sting": SCAM.

9. Labor Day mo.: SEP.

10. Recap: SUM UP.

11. Central idea: THEME. Lying!! 

12. Springs: JUMPS.

13. Baseball's Hershiser: OREL.

14. "Piece of cake": EASY PEASY. Great fill.

15. Learn well: ABSORB.

16. Begged: PLEADED.

17. Went after: PURSUED.

18. Hunting dogs: SETTERS.

24. Where it's at: LOCALE.

28. Took off: ROSE.  Our Asiatic Lilies this morning. They started blooming a few days ago.

29. Persian on the floor: RUG.

31. Yeshiva leader: REBBE. Wiki says it's a "Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word rabbi, which means "master", "teacher", or "mentor". Like the title rabbi, it refers to teachers of Torah or leaders of Judaism."

34. "I want to be entertained": AMUSE ME.

35. Mennonites, e.g.: SECT.

36. Pinafore letters: HMS.

37. Play a prank on: KID.

38. Like a large hole: GAPING.

39. Taking everything into account: ALL TOLD.

40. Jordan or Curry, e.g.: NBA STAR.

41. Actress Rowlands: GENA.

42. Beast with thick skin: RHINO. And 79. 42-Down features: HORNS.

43. Dropped-pot sound: CLUNK.

48. West Virginia border river: OHIO.

49. Letter after Sierra: TANGO. NATO phonetic alphabet.

50. Plains tribe: OTO.

52. Paolo's possessive: MIO. My or mine.

54. Enjoys, as an ice cream cone: LICKS.

56. Indigenous: ENDEMIC.

57. Not enjoying the whale watch, maybe: SEASICK.

59. Frat row letter: THETA.

61. Nephrologist's concern: KIDNEYS. Nephrologist is a new word to me.

63. Luther's 95 __: THESES.

66. Lessened: EBBED.

67. Old stories: LORE.

68. One's early years: YOUTH.

69. Tiny insect egg: NIT.

72. Efron of "High School Musical": ZAC.

75. Mets infielder Robinson __: CANO.

77. Regular work: STEADY JOB. Another sparkly fill.

80. Folksy Guthrie: ARLO.

83. ProFlowers parent co.: FTD. Read the Ligation part.

85. Econ. yardstick: GDP.

86. At work: ON DUTY.

87. Horror film reaction: SHUDDER.

88. Admonish: REPROVE.

89. Eased: ALLAYED.

92. Violinist who taught Heifetz: AUER (Leopold). We had this clue before.

93. Tea prep aids: KETTLES.

95. Hawkeyes: IOWANS.

96. Friend: PAL.

99. Blood line: AORTA.

100. Word shouted with a raised glass: SKOAL. Gai Bei in Chinese

101. Antelope groups: HERDS.

103. King with a magic touch: MIDAS.

104. Wayne of Wayne Manor: BRUCE.

105. Café lightener: LECHE.

106. Glacial ridge: ESKER. Not ARETE.

108. Dark purple: PUCE.

109. Word repeated in an iconic FDR quote: FEAR.

110. Superboy's girlfriend: LANA.

111. Includes: ADDS.

114. Slight amount: DAB.

C.C.

Sunday Janaury 6, 2019 Garry Morse

Theme:  "But Is It Art?" - Quip theme.
 
22. Start of a quip: I WENT TO.

36. Quip, part 2: A MUSEUM WHERE THEY HAVE.

55. Quip, part 3: ALL THE HEADS AND.

66. Quip, part 4: ARMS.

79. Quip, part 5: FROM THE STATUES.

94. Quip, part 6: THAT ARE IN ALL THE OTHER.

117. End of the quip: MUSEUMS.

And origin of the quip (symmetrically placed):

8. With 123-Across, speaker of the quip: STEVEN.

123. See 8-Across: WRIGHT.

Rich rarely runs quote or quip puzzle, as it's not a popular theme type with solvers. But it's fun to get such a puzzle once in a while. In the old Star Tribune Media days, we used to get one by Alan P. Olschwang every Thursday.

I also don't recall a Sunday LAT grid with only 135 words. We often get 142 or 144. Sometimes 140.

Across:

1. Ohm reciprocal: SIEMENS. Named after Siemens, who founded Siemens, which has a few big plants in China.

14. Hybrid tableware: SPORK.

19. Black Sea country: ROMANIA.

20. Poke holes in, as a lawn: AERATE.

21. Judge of the Yankees: AARON. Aaron Judge. All Rise. Also 52. NYC line that stops at Yankee Stadium, familiarly: IRT.

23. Beauty goddesses: GRACES.

24. Crunchy snack: FRITO.

25. Big Apple restaurateur: SARDI. Sardi's.

26. Chef's amts.: TBSPS.

28. Dexterity: SLEIGHT.

30. "Wedding Bell Blues" soloist Marilyn: MCCOO. Forgot. We had her before.

32. Org. with an Acid Rain Program: EPA.

35. Three before kappa: ETA.

45. Monotony metaphor: RUT.

46. Heads of the Sorbonne: TETES. Just French for "heads".

47. Sticker: THORN.

48. Evil Luthor: LEX.

49. Bring out: ELICIT.

53. Truce: CEASEFIRE. Great fill.

58. Glee club member: TENOR.

59. Expected results: NORMS.

60. "__ so you!": IT'S.

61. Out of shape: BENT.

62. Boise's st.: IDA.

65. Email afterthoughts: PSS.

68. Short alias?: AKA.

71. European carrier: SAS. Scandinavian Airlines System.

72. Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge denizen: NENE.

74. Safari beast: GNU.

75. Maestro Ozawa: SEIJI.

77. Shrek creator William: STEIG. Unknown to me.

85. "My mom's gonna kill me!": I AM SO DEAD. Another great fill.

87. Air traffic mgmt. group: FAA.

88. Arts section regular: CRITIC.

89. __-fi: SCI.

90. Frayed: TATTY.

91. Either of two hearth borders?: AITCH. Just the edge letter: hearth

93. Altar constellation: ARA.

99. Rhyming boxer: ALI.

100. Work with thread: SEW.

101. Calrissian of "Star Wars" films: LANDO.

102. Putting out: ISSUING.

106. Laker or Raptor, briefly: NBAER.

109. Bass-baritone Simon: ESTES. Another learning moment.

113. Trolley sound: CLANG.

114. Lowest points: NADIRS.

119. "War of the Worlds" target: EARTH.

120. Play areas: ARENAS. Nice clue.

121. Entered stealthily, perhaps: EASED IN.

122. __ tie: TWIST.

124. Letters-to-the-editor writers: READERS.

Down:

1. Indian titles: SRIS. Also 104. Indian garment: SARI.

2. State admitted to the Union after Texas: IOWA.OK, let's see: December 29, 1845.

3. Hosp. "room": EMER.

4. 400+ million of them are produced daily: M AND M'S.

5. Draw in: ENTICE.

6. Insignificant point: NIT.

7. Príncipe's island partner: SAO TOME.

8. Droops: SAGS.

9. Former ACC Cavalier rival: TERP. University of Maryland.

10. Old-fashioned editing tool: ERASER.

11. Little sucker?: VAC. Fun clue.

12. Seine summer: ETE.

13. Loch with a legend: NESS.

14. Circus security: SAFETY NET. Have you seen a circus in person?

15. Outcast: PARIAH.

16. One may be left in a copier: Abbr.: ORIG.

17. __ IRA: ROTH.

18. One in a sailor's repertoire: KNOT.

27. Dressy pasta?: BOW TIES. Lovely clue.

29. Creepy looks: LEERS.

31. Fast sailing ships: CUTTERS.

33. Subjects of many online videos: PET CATS. Ask Dave.

34. Balkan capital: ATHENS. Balkan Peninsula.

36. Geographical measure: AREA.

37. Think (over): MULL.

38. Elec., e.g.: UTIL.

39. Mount Olympus VIP: HERA.

40. Town line sign abbr.: EST'D.

41. 1950s tennis great Lew: HOAD. No idea. Wiki says he won three majors in 1956.

42. Dior creations: A-LINES.

43. Shakespearean title city: VERONA.

44. Applies, as pressure: EXERTS.

50. Whse. unit: CTN. Whse = Warehouse, not a familiar abbr. to me.

51. Chain with syrup choices: IHOP.

54. Shortest mo.: FEB.

56. Eng. ship title: HMS.

57. __City: computer game: SIM.

62. Refuse to bargain: INSIST.

63. Separate: DETACH.

64. Lethargy cause: ANEMIA. When I grew up, we only ate meat during Spring Festival. Pork was so tasty then.

66. Pain reliever: ANODYNE.

67. Daiquiri liquor: RUM.

68. DDE opponent: AES. Adlai Ewing Stevenson.

69. Cooking show title word: KITCHEN. TTP's Honduran tamales reminded me of a Thai-style fish I used to like. It's baked in banana leaves. The restaurant is actually called Banana Leaf.

70. Barely open: AJAR.

73. Köln cooler: EIS. Ice.

74. Free: GRATIS.

75. Mariner's home: SEATTLE.

76. "Lord, is __?": Matthew: IT I.

78. Matchless one's question: GOT A LIGHT? Oh, one without a match.

79. Many a political party: FETE. Love this clue.

80. Giant in nonstick pans: T-FAL.

81. Call from the curb: HAIL.

82. Six-sided state: UTAH.

83. Country name that includes its own abbreviation: EIRE. OK, IE.

84. Permanent mark: SCAR.

86. "Splish Splash" singer: DARIN.

92. Con artist, often: CHARMER.

95. Jeers: TAUNTS.

96. Street shader: AWNING.

97. City east of El Paso: ODESSA. "Friday Night Lights".

98. How uncut grass goes: TO SEED.

102. "Law & Order: SVU" actor: ICE-T.

103. Sandwich side: SLAW. Asian style coleslaw. You can also add Ramen noodles.

105. Work on, as a bone: GNAW.

107. Buddy, in slang: BRAH. And 110. Bit of defiance, in slang: TUDE. Attitude.

108. No. 2: ASST.

111. Gulf States prince: EMIR.

112. "Last four" ID verifiers: SSNS.

115. Sea-Tac abbr.: ARR.

116. Agnus __: DEI.

118. Oil-rich fed.: UAE.

Boomer Updates:

Next Wednesday Boomer is having another blood draw, then followed by a VA Pharmay Care call. Hope we don't encounter another pill glitch again. Someone dropped the ball on this Zytiga thing the week before Christmas. I was so relieved when we finally received the pills via priority mail, but it was such a draining experience. Totally got what you went through, Jerome!

C.C.

Sunday Oct 22, 2017 Garry Morse

Theme: "Mending Things"- M-ending. M sound is added to each theme entry, changing spelling as needed.

23A. Result of failing to catch a wascally wabbit? : ELMER'S GLOOM. Elmer's Glue.

25A. Viral video about Dre's headphones? : BEATS MEME. Beats me. Beats by Dr.
 
56A. "I'm the best on the runway," e.g.? : MODELING CLAIM. Modeling clay.

78A. Herb served only on trains? : RAILROAD THYME. Railroad tie.

113A. Floral stench? : BLOOM FUNK. Blue funk.

115A. Poor prompt to a friend who's been asked what the capital of Alaska is? : JUST SAY NOME. Just Say No.

38D. British cop's heartthrob? : BOBBY FLAME. Bobby Flay.

43D. Some "Ghostbusters" jokes? : SLIME HUMOR. Sly humor.

What a nice title. It captures the sound change gimmick perfectly.

Two changes in first words, six changes in last word. Very consistent. Jeffrey did a similar M-ending puzzle last year. His gimmick involved the second word only. Fun to compare both puzzles. 

Across:
     
1. "Take __!" : THAT. Not CARE.

5. Follower of Zeno : STOIC

10. Revelatory moments : AHAs

14. Concert site : HALL

18. Gives a shine to : WAXES

20. Conveyor connected to a pump : AORTA. Heart pump.

21. Norse trickster : LOKI. Pronounced like "low-key".

22. Mayberry redhead : OPIE

27. Ultimate : EVENTUAL

28. Barak of Israel : EHUD. Prime Minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001.

30. Victim of Casca : CAESAR. Casca attacked Caesar first.

31. Litany from a lying perp : DENIALS

32. Pasta wheat : DURUM. Latin for "hard".

34. Ad hoc gp. : COMM. Committee.

35. ISP alternative : DSL

36. "C'mon, bro!" : AW MAN!

37. Landlocked African land : ZIMBABWE. Sadza (white cornmeal) is a staple there.

41. "Are not!" evoker : AM SO

44. Holiday seasons : YULES

46. Underwater stabilizer : KEEL

48. Embellish : ADORN. Are those sprinkles on the plate dried herbs?

49. Tops off : FILLS

51. Zip : NIL

52. Seriously hurt : MAIM

54. StubHub parent company : EBAY

55. Young Darth's nickname : ANI

62. Hang-thread link : BY A

63. Inviting words : COME ON IN

65. Risk it : DARE. And 118. A risk might be taken on one : LARK. Not DARE.

66. Like some R-rated films : RACY

68. Took an arduous trip : TREKKED

69. "Sexy" Beatles woman : SADIE

70. Pathetic : PITIFUL

73. Walk obediently : HEEL

74. Biceps exercise : CHIN

75. "You're not done talking, are you?" : WHAT ELSE

76. Soccer phenom Freddy : ADU. Once touted as The Next Pelé.

82. Wore (away) : ATE

83. NASA vehicles : LEMs

85. Court entry : PLEA

86. Barrel contents : OIL

87. Any of three Ottoman sultans : AHMED. New to me. It means "highly praised" in Arabic.

89. Beef recall cause : E. COLI

91. Poetic foot : IAMB

93. Mideast capital at 7,380 feet : SANA'A

95. Hefty refs. : OEDs. Oxford English Dictionary.

96. Toyota compacts : COROLLAs

98. Somewhat high : TIPSY

100. Not cloudy: Abbr. : CLR. OK. Clear. We just had a beautiful week here in MN. Amazing to walk on fallen leaves in summer-like weather. 

102. Tidy the garden, in a way : WEED

103. Charge : RUN AT

104. It precedes some hockey games : O CANADA

108. Creativity result : OUTPUT

111. Hall of Fame catcher Carlton : FISK. So who is your favorite all-time catcher?

112. Sweater type : CARDIGAN

119. Rickey flavoring : LIME

120. __ nous : ENTRE

121. Half a '60s-'70s pop duo : SONNY

122. Poker game starter : ANTE. And 124. Poker game betrayals : TELLS

123. 2000, for one : YEAR

125. Where Nike has no "i," briefly : NYSE. Nike stock ticker is NKE.

Down:

1. Suit material : TWEED

2. Cut in two : HALVE

3. Corporate heavies : AX MEN. Is this a common saying?

4. Young star : TEEN IDOL

5. They go on for generations : SAGAS

6. Turnpike fee : TOLL

7. Medalla de victor : ORO

8. Skater Midori : ITO

9. Smartphone feature : CAMERA

10. "Dark Sky Island," e.g. : ALBUM. Clue echo at 40. "Dark Sky Island" musician : ENYA.

11. Did some gardening : HOED

12. Alias preceder : AKA

13. Without ads, it's usually about 21 or 22 minutes : SITCOM

14. Like much jam : HOMEMADE. Pickling was quite popular when I grew up. Probably because sugar was rationed, no one made jam. I have fond memories of a mulberry tree.

15. Copies : APES

16. __ bean : LIMA

17. Inappropriate look : LEER

19. Sp. lasses : SRTAs

24. 2016 film subtitled "Miracle on the Hudson" : SULLY

26. Latin dance : SAMBA

29. Eye-opener at the gym : HUNK. Such an unexpected answer.

32. Live : DWELL

33. Uncertain sounds : UMs

34. Eyelashes : CILIA. Learned form doing crosswords.

36. Not from around here : ALIEN

37. Enthusiasm : ZEAL

39. "King Kong" (1933) actress : WRAY (Fay)

41. "It's __!": "True!" : A FACT

42. Bouncer's concern : MINOR

45. Reversed : UNDID

47. Host : EMCEE

50. Barbecue equipment using wood : SMOKER

53. Sister of Moses : MIRIAM. This stumped me before.

57. Swimmer's unit : ONE LAP

58. Panhandle state : IDAHO

59. Gymnast Comaneci : NADIA

60. Tedious work : GRIND

61. Kathy of country : MATTEA

64. Barely get, with "out" : EKE

67. Co. in Cannes : CIE

69. "Get lost!" : SCRAM

70. Kingdom subdivisions : PHYLA. Plural of phylum.

71. "¿Cómo está __?" : USTED

72. __ United: English soccer team : LEEDS. Anyone remember Steve's team?


75. Sniveling : WHINY

76. Smart guy? : ALEC

77. Art __ : DECO

79. Homeric epic : ILIAD

80. Beethoven strolled in them for inspiration : LEAS.  I thought the answer would be German for "parks".

81. Done for : TOAST. Yay, Astros! Good to see you back, TTP!


84. Highway hazard : SLOWPOKE

88. Interfere with : HORN IN ON

90. Intestinal section : ILEUM. Plural ILEA.

92. A/C measure : BTUs

93. Day or nail follower : SPA

94. West African capital : ACCRA

97. Uncork, so to speak : LET FLY

99. Laser alternative : INKJET

101. __ man : LADY'S. Not an easy fill-in-the-blank. So many choices.

103. "Star Trek: TNG" first officer : RIKER (Will). Another learning moment.

104. Refreshment spots : OASES

105. Extreme pain : AGONY

106. Condemns : DAMNS

107. In the blink of __ : AN EYE

108. Beatles nonsense syllables : OB-LA

109. __ Bator : ULAN. Beautiful name in Chinese.

110. Battery, e.g. : TORT

111. Low-cost home loan org. : FNMA

112. Bottom row PC key : CTRL

114. Turn often prohibited, slangily : UIE

116. French article : UNE

117. Home of the NHL's Blues : STL