Sunday August 28, 2022 Gary Larson & Amy Ensz

Theme: "Game for Anything" - Each theme entry is humorously reinterpreted as if it's a sports competition.

22. Track competitions for nudists?: MEETS IN THE FLESH.

40. Cross-country competitions for grounds workers?: COFFEE RUNS.

42. Football competitions for Pepperidge Farm employees?: GOLDFISH BOWLS.

67. No-holds-barred competitions for mixed martial artists?: STRIKE ANYWHERE MATCHES.

93. Field competitions for electricians?: CURRENT EVENTS.

96. Baseball competitions for collectors of compact cars?: MINI-SERIES.

115. Boxing competitions for comedians?: BOUTS OF LAUGHTER.

In case you missed this, our Gary Larson was a comedian for cruise ships for many years.

I'm not familiar with Strike Anywhere matches. I have not used matches for years. Such an apt description for the clued competition.

Across:

1. Airplane __: cellphone setting: MODE.

5. Hefty slice: SLAB. Has any of you tried cod roe (mentaiko)? So tasty!

9. Dutch semisoft cheese: EDAM.

13. Spanish "this": ESTA.

17. Windows alternative: UNIX.

18. Group activity at a Jewish wedding: HORA. Guess how many 4-letter entries in this grid?

19. Corporate symbols: LOGOS.

21. Fireplace outlets: FLUES.

25. Visual puzzle: REBUS.

26. Figures of speech: TROPES.

27. Nada: NIL.

28. Fragile: DELICATE.

30. Asian archipelago: JAPAN. Probably the cleanest country on earth.

32. Cub's home: DEN.

33. Soccer great nicknamed "O Rei": PELE. The King.

34. Relaxed pace: TROT.

35. Oscar winner Mahershala: ALI.  2 Oscars.

36. View sharer: OPINER.

45. __-mo replay: SLO.

46. "Star Trek" role for Takei and Cho: SULU.

47. "The Lion King" lion: NALA.

48. Lift: HOIST.

51. The Gem State: IDAHO.

55. Support: BACK.

57. One who spins yarns?: KNITTER. Not storyteller.

59. Irish-speaking New Age singer: ENYA.

60. Secret drawer full of snacks, e.g.: STASH.

62. Fair-hiring org.: EEOC.

63. Actor Kaplan or MLB manager Kapler: GABE. Giants' manager.

66. Lifesaving skill, for short: CPR.

72. __ lime pie: KEY.

73. Old geopolitical states: Abbr.: SSRS.

74. And others, briefly: ET AL.

75. Goes up and down: YO-YOS.

76. Purina rival: IAMS.

78. German-made camper: EUROVAN. Learning moment for me. Volkswagen model. We also have 95. Beetle, briefly: VW BUG.

81. Seat in un parc: BANC.

82. Kilt fold: PLEAT.

84. River through Paris: SEINE.

85. Much loved: DEAR. In Chinese, it's Qin an de.

87. Bridal veil trim: LACE.

91. Zip: VIM.

101. Donkey's bray: HEE HAW.

102. Parka sleeve: ARM. Never wore a parka.

103. Ex-Dodger Hershiser: OREL. Still the broadcaster for the Dodgers

104. Fix: MEND.

105. Nurse: SIP.

106. Emma's "Beauty and the Beast" role: BELLE. Emma Watson.

108. Some facial surgeries: NOSE JOBS. Great fill.

110. Sky light?: SUN.

111. At work: ON DUTY.

114. Foreword, for short: INTRO.

120. Time punctuation: COLON. 9:30am.

121. The blahs: ENNUI.

122. Gutter spot: EAVE.

123. Dublin's land: EIRE.

124. Again: ANEW.

125. Departed: GONE.

126. Spud growth: EYES.

127. Allied flyers during WWII: RCAF. The Royal Canadian Air Force.

Down:

1. Tight-lipped: MUM.

2. Till bill: ONE.

3. Appetite suppressant: DIET PILL. Oral chemo pills definitely suppress your appetite.

4. Uncredited actor: EXTRA.

5. FedEx, say: SHIP.

6. __ Star State: LONE.

7. Crafts partner: ARTS.

8. "Pshaw!": BAH.

9. Spritelike: ELFIN.

10. Bratz toy: DOLL. With big, glossy lips.

11. Get old: AGE.

12. Longtime stage name of Yasiin Bey: MOS DEF.

13. Conductor in a circuit: ELECTRODE.

14. Crosstrek automaker: SUBARU.

15. Ancient German: TEUTON.

16. Portfolio listings: ASSETS.

20. Bookcase part: SHELF.

21. Workwk. end for some: FRI. And 24. Año start: ENERO.

23. "__ a gun!": SON OF.

29. Some jeans: LEES.

30. Binges: JAGS.

31. Six-time MLB All-Star Moisés: ALOU.

32. Pioneering cardiovascular surgeon: DEBAKEY. Michael DeBakey. Learning moment for me. He died at the age of 99.

33. Theorize: POSIT.

37. Lifts: PINCHES.

38. "Out of Africa" novelist Dinesen: ISAK. Her real name is Karen Blixen.

39. Org. with Ducks and Penguins: NHL.

40. Coagulate: CLOT.

41. Former quarterback Manning: ELI.

43. Persian Gulf emirate: DUBAI.

44. "Eh, either is fine": WHICHEVER.

49. Jason of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall": SEGEL.

50. Airport shuttle on rails: TRAM.

52. Dried chili pepper: ANCHO.  Dried poblano.

53. Really pushes: HYPES.

54. Rowboat set: OARS.

56. Makes a request: ASKS.

58. Without delay: NOW.

60. Base runner's ploy: STEAL.

61. "You think I'm kidding?": TRY ME.

62. Follow: ENSUE.

64. San Francisco and environs: BAY AREA. Where two of my sisters-in-law live.

65. Historic British prep school: ETON.

67. 116-Down card: SKIP. 116. Game with an edition for colorblind players: UNO.

68. Trojan War god: ARES.

69. Lyft driver's guess: ETA.

70. Were strongly felt, as emotions: RAN DEEP.

71. Ride a bike: CYCLE.

77. Well-suited London street name?: SAVILE ROW. Tailored suits.

79. Finely chopped: RICED.

80. Weighty obligation: ONUS.

81. __ & Body Works: BATH. Amazing shower gels. Here's my favorite.

83. Carol contraction: TIS.

86. Charlotte-to-Raleigh dir.: ENE.

88. __ psychology: ANALYTIC.

89. PC key below Shift: CTRL.

90. Salinger heroine: ESME.

92. Staff note: MEMO.

94. African herbivore: RHINO.

96. Santa __: West Coast city known for its pier: MONICA.

97. Patch type: IRON-ON.

98. Get cozy: NESTLE.

99. Yeshiva leader: REBBE. Not RABBI.

100. Joyous way to break out: IN SONG.

105. "Calvin and Hobbes" girl: SUSIE.

107. Upper regions of space: ETHER.

109. Actor Hamm: JON. "Mad Men".

110. Wow: STUN.

111. Body wash brand: OLAY.

112. Central church section: NAVE. And 113. Members' payments: DUES. And 117. Fixed payment: FEE.

118. Historical period: ERA.

119. Slo-mo reviewer: REF.

We had a very productive meeting with the VA Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) nurse. We still have to go to the VA for oncology or other specialty meetings, bone strengthener injections, MRI scans, etc, but we don't need to see Boomer's primary care doctor anymore. The HBPC covers it, plus it also has a PT & an OT.  

We're going to the VA next Wednesday for a 3-month orthopedic follow up. Boomer's left shoulder is getting stronger, but he still can't type with his left hand and his legs are getting weaker every day. Daunting task to get him from the basement to our bedroom now.

C.C. 

Sunday March 27, 2022 Gary Larson & Amy Ensz

Theme: "The Final Frontier" - Each common phrase is re-phrased as "Star Trek" related.

21A. Satisfied with one's work in the transporter room?: BEAMING WITH PRIDE.

42A. Detain Dr. McCoy?: COLLAR BONES.

69A. Phaser, slangily?: SPACE HEATER.

93A. DNA sample from Kirk's chief engineering officer?: SCOTT TISSUE.

119A. Masseuse trained in massage techniques from Spock's home planet?: VULCANIZED RUBBER.

15D. Allure of boldly going where no man has gone before?: STAR ATTRACTION.

50D. Happy Meal toy replica of Captain Kirk's ship?: FREE ENTERPRISE

I think this is Amy Ensz's LA Times debut. Congrats, Amy!

This is a great design for a 7-themer puzzle. Five Across and Two Downs. The great Gail Grabowski was very fond of this style.

Across:

1. Country that's about 24 times longer than its average width: CHILE. Long and narrow.

6. Vendor's wagon: HANDCART.

14. Online access cos.: ISPS.

18. Nixon's older daughter: TRICIA. The Nixon Library says her wedding "was the first wedding ceremony held outdoors in the White House Rose Garden and one of the most widely documented."

19. It established Congress: ARTICLE I.

20. PDQ, in the ER: STAT.

23. Miles' "Sideways" love interest: MAYA. Played by Virginia Madsen.

24. NFL official: REF.

25. Conger catchers: EELERS.

26. Daring deed: GEST.

28. Informer: RAT.

29. Setting for searches: INTERNET.

31. Black: EBONY.

34. Big mess: SNAFU. Long time ago I was worried that Rich would not allow this fill.

36. Title book in a classic computer game: MYST.

37. Brezhnev of the USSR: LEONID. Here with Nixon.

40. One who gets in: ELECTEE.

47. Sends, in a way: ELATES.

48. Cover letters?: SPF. New clue angle.

51. One may be painted: TOENAIL.

52. Fancy topping: CAVIAR.

54. Mangy mutt: CUR.

55. Apple product: IPAD.

56. Opening tempo of Dvorák's "New World Symphony": ADAGIO. Also 66. "Be silent," in music: TACET.

58. __ gratia artis: MGM motto: ARS.

61. End of a warning: OR ELSE.

63. Weave: ENTWINE.

68. Arch type: OGEE. Like this one.

73. Tiny: ITSY.

74. Katniss' ally in "The Hunger Games": PEETA. Here they are.

76. Surpasses: EXCEEDS.

77. Forward pass: AERIAL.

79. No. with two dashes: SSN.

80. Ski weekend destination: CHALET.

82. Pluck: GRIT.

84. Flamenco shout: OLE.

85. Heineken brand named for a Mexican city: TECATE.

87. Recurring: ITERANT.

90. Actor Beatty: NED.

91. Warm sign-off: AS EVER.

97. Beverly Cleary title dog: STRIDER. Unknown to me.

99. Defrauded, say, with "on": PREYED. Those iTunes gift card scammers need to be severely punished. So heartless.

100. 18-wheeler: SEMI.

104. Frontier home: TEPEE.

105. Either Zimbalist: EFREM.

107. Creme-filled Drake's cake: DEVIL DOG. Also a new term to me.

111. Bobby of the Bruins: ORR.

112. Contents of some banks: DATA.

114. Gloomy: SULLEN.

116. Wedding promise: I DO.

117. Newton, e.g.: UNIT.

124. Fabled loch: NESS.

125. Observing lions in the wild, maybe: ON SAFARI. How many of you have been to Africa?

126. Sign up: ENROLL.

127. De Matteo of "The Sopranos": DREA.  This guy just looks like a mafia member.

128. Uncalled-for: NEEDLESS.

129. Candy mogul H.B. __: REESE.

Down:

1. Makes with skill: CRAFTS. Also 7. Song and dance: ARTS.

2. Gender-specific pronoun: HIM.

3. Less cordial: ICIER. Still piles of snow in our yard, but the roads are all clear.  I can't wait for Boomer to feel better so we can walk around the pond in our neighborhood again. He likes to say hello to the ducks and feed them popcorn.

4. Flax fabric: LINEN.

5. High nester: EAGLE.

6. "Easy to Be Hard" musical: HAIR.

8. Unnamed degree: NTH.

9. Cocktail party staple: DIP.

10. "Bad Moon Rising" band, briefly: CCR. Creedence Clearwater Revival.

11. Adjust in a garage: ALIGN.

12. Flight by night: RED-EYE.

13. Connections: TIES.

14. School of thought: ISM. This means "Long live Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought". Our classrooms all had this poster.

16. Pony up the service charge, say: PAY A FEE.

17. Museum pieces: STATUES.

18. Wee: TEENY.

21. Cup part: BRIM.

22. Bayou, perhaps: WETLAND.

27. Poet who used the name Old Possum: T.S. ELIOT.

30. Abbr. often after a comma: ETC.

31. Carbon compound: ENOL.

32. Storage spot: BIN.

33. Horatian work: ODE.

35. Sports org. name since 1910: NCAA.

38. Historic time: ERA.

39. It's a wrap: OBI.

41. Big name in jeans: LEVI. What is your favorite jeans brand? I love American Eagle.

43. Elevator name: OTIS.

44. Runs easily: LOPES.

45. Grazing area: LEA.

46. Barely enough: SCANT. Boomer used to love walleye and could eat two big pieces like this in one sitting. Now he finishes one piece in three days.

48. News exclusives: SCOOPS.

49. Clears of data, as a PC: PURGES.

53. "A Death in the Family" author James: AGEE.

56. Wonderstruck: AWED.

57. "Buenos __": DIAS.

59. Flea market deal: RESALE. I really love flea market.

60. Did salon work: STYLED.

62. Allow: LET.

63. Latin "behold": ECCE.

64. Bygone depilatory brand: NEET. Now known as VEET.

65. First word in all but one "Seinfeld" episode title: THE. Which episode does not have "The"?

67. Cause of inflation: AIR.

70. Everglades deposit: PEAT.

71. Wheel connectors: AXLES.

72. Play delayers: RAINS.

75. Gave in (to): ACCEDED.

78. Start of a classic accusation: ET TU, Brute?

81. Fabled racer: HARE.

82. Flapjack cooker: GRIDDLE.

83. Dorm overseers, for short: RAS.

86. Wilcox daughter in "Howards End": EVIE. Also unknown to me.

87. Tabloid couple: ITEM.

88. Sign-off letters before L: TTY. Talk to You Later.

89. Nice season: ETE.

91. Blow away: ASTOUND.

92. "Ambition should be made of __ stuff": "Julius Caesar": STERNER.

94. EMT skill: CPR.

95. It's found in banks: ORE.

96. Immigrant's subj.: ESL.

98. Tighten the strings of, maybe: RE-TUNE.

101. Safe to have: EDIBLE. I made Boomer some Spanish rice last Wednesday. He liked the taste, but his stomach did not. Terrible ordeal for him that night.

102. Example: MODEL.

103. Composer Stravinsky: IGOR.

106. Bogus: FALSE.

108. Church official: ELDER.

109. Nemo's creator: VERNE.

110. Habituate: INURE. Not a word I use.

113. Makeup line: AVON.

114. Galahad et al.: SIRS.

115. Action movie weapons: UZIS.

118. Screening org.: TSA.

120. Heel: CAD.

121. CIO partner: AFL.

122. Dundee denial: NAE.

123. NYY rival: BOS. Boston Red Sox.

Some extra notes:

1) For those who attend the ACPT this year, don't miss out the Cru Dinner. The great Michael Alpern won't be there, his co-conspirator Chris Aldrich will be the host. You can read more details here. Our Jeffrey has been a judge for many years.

  

Jeffrey and Mike Alpern, ACPT, 3/23/2019

2) Boomer had his blood draw last Monday. The result was not encouraging. His PSA went up to 428, so his body did not respond well to the second chemo treatment.

He had his Eligard shot and the third chemo on Thursday. Dr  Downs also arranged an earlier blood draw for April 4th. If the PSA does not go down, they're going to have more scans and decide the next steps.

I think we were very lucky in those years when he took the oral chemo. He tolerated very well the side effects. This time everything is just different. We've canceled his PT/OT since chemo itself is already too much for him.

C.C.

Friday, January 14, 2022, Gary Larson

 Title: Let's go to the movies and talk about the plot!

One of our regular Friday Fixtures, Gary Larson has presented a moviecentric puzzle which requires some thought and some cinema knowledge. It is a bit heavy on the 3 and 4 letter fill with 42 of the 77 words offset only by the 4 themers and AU NATUREL, CLEAN IT UP, MARIO KART and ORATORIES each 9 letters. What brought this effort to Friday is the very tricky but enjoyable theme where part of the clue (in BLUE) is a synonym for a movie and part (in PINK) suggests the plot. I liked that very much. We will begin with the themers...

17A. "Back to the Future"?: TIME RELEASE (11). The movie is a TIME travel variation which mirrors much of what H.G. Wells brought us. 

29A. "March of the Penguins"?: WALKIE TALKIE (12). The Talkie revolutionized movies and not only tell made up stories but can show remarkable documentaries like this where the 'stars' walk.

46A. "Titanic"?: WATER FEATURE (12). This movie is the now very popular retelling of actual events but in a mostly fictional account which does spend its time on the water as the feature film.

60A. "Star Wars"?: SHOW OF FORCE (11). Here the SHOW comes first and the plot last but even if you have avoided seeing the movie the Force has become a force in the modern world. I love it and am caught up on the Mandelorian and the Book of Boba Fett.

So much excitement, but now to the rest...

Across:

1. Name in Cold War news: TASS. We baby boomers knew them well but I will let Wiki EXPLAIN.

5. Lampoon: SATIRE. A big part of puzzles and blogs. 

11. Ones presenting acts: MCS. Master of Ceremonies.

14. "Hard __!": captain's order: ALEE. The command used in coming about to inform the crew that the helm is being pushed hard to leeward, turning the boat into the wind, LA Times.

15. Ended an engagement, in a way: ELOPED. Funny, as getting married does end it.

16. Larter of "Resident Evil" films: ALI. You can decide if she is EVIL.

19. Gym unit: REPititon.

20. What a choir may sing in: UNISON. The chancel? A church, opera house, or school hall? Nope.

21. Bhopal locale: INDIA. Most famous for this horrible TRAGEDY. Some pictures may be upsetting.

23. Tablelands: MESAS. We have had pictures recently showing how flat they are.

24. Tacks on: ADDS. Like that hidden tip on your bill in the restaurant.

27. The last Mrs. Chaplin: OONA. 

32. Brazil map word: SAO. Saint in Portugese and part of the name of many city, just as saint is here in the US.

35. Butler's last word: DAMN. He kept it and did not give it to Scarlett.

36. "Groovy!": NEATO. 50s beatnik talk.

37. Some pitches: CURVES. Sliders, sinkers, cutters...

40. Evasive tactic: END RUN. Both in American football and politics.

41. "We're live!" studio sign: ON AIR. 

                            

42. Limo destination: PROM. Two abbreviations.

45. Performs a Halloween prank, briefly: TPS. Toilet Papers.

50. Warehouse: STOW. The American desire to make every noun a verb.

51. Sleep and Comfort: INNS. Two national chains.

52. Spiral-horned antelope: ELAND. 

56. Bear genus: URSUS.

58. "Out of Africa," for one: MEMOIR. A book and a movie.

59. Vince's agent in "Entourage": ARI. A TV show and a movie.

64. Prepare to drive, with "up": TEE. HG is perhaps our most dedicated golfer considering the Nebraska weather.

65. "Gracias" reply: DE NADA. It means “you have nothing to thank me for” (that full phrase being “no tienes nada [de] qué agradecerme”).  Spanish lesson

66. 66 and others: Abbr.: RTES. Cute the route and the clue number.

67. Pair of gallons?: ELS. There are two "l"s in gallon.

68. Play areas: ARENAS. For sports and entertainment not your back yard.

69. Listening devices: EARS. Very simple and cute.

Down:

1. Stride pianist Art: TATUM. You want to learn HOW?

2. Classic Dior style: A LINE.

3. Weigh station line-up: SEMIS. As a kid I never understood the weigh stations and why all the big trucks pulled off the highway.

4. Vacillate: SEESAW. We know a seesaw goes up and down...

5. Gone out with: SEEN. Many were and are arranged just for the publicity.

6. "__ in": "Jeopardy James" bet: ALL.

                                

7. Pirouette pivot point: TOE. Some ballet...

8. Draft choice: IPA. Not for a sports team but for a beverage from a tap.

9. Stand up to: RESIST.

10. Prime real estate?: EDEN. Another fun clue.

11. Racing game with Yoshi and Bowser: MARIO KART. I played this with my boys and their friends for many hours. I was better at some of the other NES games. 

12. "Don't leave a mess": CLEAN IT UP. Sounds bossy.

13. Modest intake: SIP. My first thought was nip.

18. Actress Salazar of "Maze Runner" movies: ROSA. An obscure clus for me but I have seen this ACTRESS.

22. Allotted: DOLED.

24. Abbr. between names, perhaps: A/K/A.

25. Lower: DIM. The lights, no one else is home!

26. Pride's place: DEN. Seems a bit homphobic...

28. Very long time: AEONS.

30. Mormon letters: LDS. Latter Day Saints.

31. Gothic fiction pioneer Radcliffe: ANN. Ann Radcliffe, née Ann Ward, (born July 9, 1764, London, England—died February 7, 1823, London), the most representative of English Gothic novelists. She was a pioneer in developing a literature of terror, and her influential novels stand apart in their ability to infuse scenes of terror and suspense with Romantic sensibility. Britannica.

32. Barges and such: SCOWS. These are examples of a flat-bottomed boat with sloping ends used as a lighter and in dredging and other harbor services. Dictionary

33. In the buff: AU NATUREL. Our titillating French lesson. Dressed as you were born.

34. Private chapels: ORATORIES. I am not familiar with this as a small chapel, especially for private worship. Waseely?

38. Lookout offerings: VIEWS. You can try this location. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. 

39. Blunder: ERR.

40. Ostrich relative: EMU. Don't hate the bird just Liberty Mutual.

42. Write: PEN.

43. Commanded: RAN.

44. NHL tiebreakers: OTS. Overtimes. 

47. Price partner: FISHER. Before Legos...

48. Coral __: REEF.

49. "Get Shorty" novelist __ Leonard: ELMORE.

53. Blood line: AORTA. It is the most important of them all.

54. Like sunny weather, vis-à-vis rainy: NICER. Silly.

55. Toggery: DRESS.

57. Food stamp?: USDA. 

                                    

58. Degs. for playwrights: MFAS.

59. Eroded, with "into": ATE. Particularly nest eggs.

61. Low digit: ONE.

62. Pallid: WAN. 

63. "Ghost" psychic __ Mae Brown: ODA. The renowned psychic...

My first 2022 write-up is now finished , and as is the new norm, done in a rushed fashion but I really liked the puzzle and the struggle. Thank you Gary and all who read these words and especially all who comment pro and anti. Lemonade out.

Notes from C.C.:

 

Happy Birthday to dear JD, an avid traveler and a terrific grandma. JD still has trouble signing into Blogger. Hope she solves the glitch soon.

 

JD and Bob, Switzerland, 2017

JD and Bob

Friday, December 17, 2021, Gary Larson

Title: Cinderella, what are you wearing to the ball? (See later inspiration)

Today our constructing phenom, Gary don't call me Far Side Larson,  presents me with his 6th Friday that I have blogged in 2021 (along with 2 for Moe) to go with his 7 Sundays. We have slang for 'clothing' which are the second word in a two-word in the language expression as the theme. I would say this is a whimsical effort overall. I am sure you missed Gary since his most recent LAT was all the way back on Sunday. In keeping with modern Fridays, this has more words and fewer empty spaces but the theme is tight and the amusement factor high. The longish non-themers BETRAYS,  BLAME ME, CALYPSO, CAPSULE, DINGBAT. DOGBANE,  ECOCIDE, ENDRUNS, FASTENS. FLAILED, LABORED, MADISON,  RISES UP  and TEHRANI are quite a diverse field. They are each 7 letters long. So we start:

15A. Outfits for a climber?: HIGH GEAR (8). A climber goes up wearing his climbing gear and his friend cruises in his car in high gear. LINK

18A. His-and-her outfits?: BINARY NUMBERS (13). The binary numbers (0 and 1) are how computers work. Per the Oxford English Dictionary, “number” has been used to mean “an article of clothing." gender specific clothing is binary. LINK

35A. Outfits for tourist town natives?: LOCAL  RAGS (9). When I was in boarding school the locals were the "townies." I think of our hometown newspaper as the local rag, but it can also be a worthless piece of cloth, especially one that is torn or worn. rags, ragged or tattered clothing.

56A. Outfits for the masses?: COMMON THREADS (13). Know your threads will not help you here. This is the simplest of the fill.

62A. Outfits for dairy farmers?: MILK DUDS (8). My favorite and the silliest. Duds as clothing comes from Middle English dudde, originally meaning worn-out or ragged clothing. Dairy farmers milk their cows and we all know

MILK DUDS Candies were introduced by F. Hoffman & Co. of         Chicago in 1928. The Candiesgot their name because their maker     found it impossible to get the chocolate-covered caramels to form perfectly round balls, so he called them “duds.” He wanted candy     symmetry but failed. Gary did not. This very symmetrical set of five themers has 51 spaces of the 225 in this 15x15 with no reveal. 

Across:

1. Follower of Jefferson: MADISON. President number 4 followed number 3.

8. Turn on: START. This works well for machines, but is more complicated with humans.

13. Polluter's crime: ECOCIDE. I put in ___CIDE  and ruminated for a while. (Cow sub-theme?)

14. Mountaintop home: AERIE. This variant of eyrie is the bird nest of an eagle, falcon, hawk, or other bird of prey.

17. Refuse: TRASH. I refused to be tricked.

21. The first "A" in A.A. Milne: ALAN. Alan Alexander was more than the creator of Winnie the pu pu platter (oops)...anyway, he studied under H.G. Wells and played cricket with J.M. Barrie, A.C. Doyle, and P.G.Wodehouse.

23. Fictional 1847 autobiographer: EYRE. Oh Jane you fictional woman.

24. __ Paulo: SAO. Brazil. 

25. Typographical ornament: DINGBAT. No this is not ...

but in the computer industry, a Dingbat font is a font that has symbols and shapes in the positions designated for alphabetical or numeric. Wingding is very popular.

29. Evasive tactics: END RUNS. To circumvent from the Football play.

31. Spot: SEE.  I got this right away.

32. Infuriates: IRES. I am irked.

34. Polynesian capital: APIA. Apia, town, port, and capital (since 1959) of Samoa. It is located on the northern coast of Upolu Island, in the South Pacific Ocean. Many famous athletes and actors come from Samoa. 

39. Jessica of "Dark Angel": ALBA. She played a genetically enhanced government superhuman prototype, Max Guevera who teamed with a journalist, played by Michael Weatherly (NCIS and BULL) in a post-apocalyptic Seattle to right wrongs. Seattle also was the home of iZombie another SciFi series. 

42. Long-gone time: YORE.

43. Tiger, e.g.: CAT. Deceptively simple.

46. Belafonte #1 album on which "Day-O" was the first track: CALYPSO. The Banana Boat Song.

50. Turns on: BETRAYS.

52. Corp. alias letters: DBA. Doing business as.

53. Subway fare?: HERO. Not the price of travel...

55. Sword with a three-sided blade: EPEE.

61. They hold your horses: REINS. Literal but amusing.

65. Deejay, at times: EMCEE. DJ MC ...

66. Swung wildly: FLAILED. Facing a famed Twins pitcher...

67. Transfers, as a house: DEEDS. My bread and butter.

68. Secures: FASTENS.

Down:

1. Not so hot: MEH. The bloggers' safe word.

2. Handel's "__, Galatea e Polifemo": ACI. A most emotional TALE from the mists of myth. I will await comments from all of our musically educated posters.

3. Poisonous plant reputed to repel canines: DOGBANE. It is poisonous to dogs and looks like milkweed to which I am extremely allergic. It  does feel like a CSO to John Lampkin.

4. Chinese book of divination: I-CHING. My late brother David studied these rituals.

5. Register, with "up": SIGN. Be cause you ...

6. Music halls of old: ODEA. If you look up ODEA in the dictionary it tells you "noun:the plural of odeum." Helpful.

7. Close: NEAR.
 
8. Ring bearer?: SATURN. A debut for this clue/fill combo. Very clever.

9. Called: TERMED.

10. Many an Omani: ARAB. And 12D. Like many "Argo" militants: TEHRANI. The capital of Iran.

11. Revolts: RISESUP. They have had their share in that part of the world.

16. White alternative: RYE. Just bread but it does rhyme with...

19. Emmy-winning scientist: NYE.

20. '90s-'00s Cubs star: SOSA. No indication of his being one of many being blackballed by the Hall of Fame voters. This ARTICLE is very long but should be of interest to our dedicated baseball fans.

21. GEICO highlights: ADS. Most of their's are funny. I see you LIMU!

22. Tell tales, maybe: LIE. Maybe, baby?

26. Book jacket text, often: BIO.

27. Semicircle, say: ARC. 

28. Leaves for a spot: TEA. A CSO to many at the Corner who enjoy a spot of tea, but not a cup. It is a more confusing IDIOM.

30. Student housing VIPs: RAS. Resident Assistants.

33. Wily: SLY. Sly E Coyote just didn't work.
 
35. Set down: LAY. Two versions: I set down the book on the desk. Or, I laid down stricter rules for my...

36. Take badly?: ROB. A now common clue/fill to deceive the audience.

37. "__ you done?": ARE. No, we have many clues left.

38. Perceive: GET. I perceived Gary's meaning.

39. Like some appliances: AC/DC.

40. Worked: LABORED.

41. Words of confession: BLAME ME. Meh. That is not a confession.

43. Tablet alternative: CAPSULE. Not computer but pills.

44. Supportive response: AYE. Nay!

45. "The Waste Land" monogram: TSE. The best link I could find for those interested in THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT.

47. Called: PHONED. Someday this to will be gone from the lexicon.

48. It's sometimes necessary to come to them: SENSES.

49. Food bit: ORT.

51. Website with "Ask Me Anything" interviews: REDDIT. Reddit AMAs (which stands for “Ask Me Anything”)—whether they're timed around the news cycle or simply focused on a topic of great general interest—are Q&As designed to bring an authority on a subject to a community of interested people.

54. Unit of resistance: OHM.

57. Laptop navigation aids: MICE. 

58. Jazz phrase: RIFF.

59. "Enchanted" movie girl: ELLA. Recently this version

60. Aliases: AKAS. Also Known As.

63. Thieves' place: DEN. A concept from the Christian Bible.

64. Radical '60s org.: SDS. Students for a Democratic Society. Very active at my college alma mater while I was there 1965-1969.

Gee, I am done and now it is your turn. It has been a hectic time in my life but what good is life without stuff happening. Be well all; thank GL and thank all who read and/or write. Lemonade out.

Sunday December 12 2021 Gary Larson

Theme: "Prep Course" - Phrases with prepositions in front are punnily rephrased.

23A. Like members of Gamblers Anonymous?: AGAINST ALL ODDS.

48A. Like a church deacon?: ABOVE THE FOLD.

69a. Like a balloon company with a depleted helium supply?: OUT OF THEIR ELEMENT.

94A. Like one shopping for disposable phones?: AFTER BURNERS.

119A. Like supporters of a Seattle daily?: BEHIND THE TIMES.

18D. Like sausage's main ingredients?: FROM THE GROUND UP.

44D. Like one caught in a storm?: UNDER THE WEATHER

So the first words are all prepositions. Nothing more that coheres the set, right? I'm afraid I'm missing something.

I think Gary Larson has more Sundays than any other regular constructors for LA Times or other papers. Washing Post Sunday is an exception. Amazing!

 Across:

1. Guitarist Paul: LES.  Electric guitar pioneer.

4. Flamboyant Dame: EDNA.

8. Play with a receiver: PASS.

12. Chance to roll the dice, say: TURN.

16. In the archives: ON FILE. Including Peng Shui's original post.

19. Wishes undone: RUES.

20. Specialty: AREA.

21. Customizable cookie: OREO. Also 66. Wafer brand: NECCO.

22. Ship's accountant: PURSER. Come back to us soon, Spitzboov!

26. Tiny racer: SLOT CAR.

28. Resort town NNE of Santa Fe: TAOS.

29. Chopin wrote a "Revolutionary" one: ETUDE.

30. Assembled: MET.

31. Put-__: masquerades: ONS.

34. Former British automaker: RELIANT. No knowledge of this maker. It ceased production in 2002, according to Wikipedia.

38. Autumn flower: ASTER.

40. Like a popular crusader: CAPED.

43. King Cole and others: OLD SOULS. I'm one too. I'm stuck in the 1990s.

47. Federal biomedical agcy.: NIH. National Institutes of Health.

52. Draft status: ONE A.

53. What a shortage suggests: NEED.

55. "This is the truth": I CAN'T LIE.

56. Hang out in the sun: LET DRY.

58. "Splendor in the Grass" screenwriter: INGE (Williams)

59. First name in Israeli statehood: GOLDA (Meir). Raised in Milwaukee.

60. Plagued: GNAWED.

63. Sister of the moon goddess Selene: EOS.

64. Listening aid: EARBUD.

67. "The Far Side" cartoonist Larson: GARY. Same name as today's constructor.

75. Subdue, as a color: MUTE.

76. Sailor's "Stop!": AVAST.

77. Utah national park: ARCHES.

80. Beach tone: TAN.

81. Cheap hooch: ROTGUT. Sounds horrible. 

83. Muff: BOTCH.

87. Rope material: HEMP.

88. Cello-supporting rod: END PIN.

90. Support for a big top: TENT POLE.

92. Boo-boo: OWIE.

93. Aspersion: SLUR.

98. List-ending abbr.: ETC.

99. Saturn moon named for a Titan: HYPERION. Wikipedia info: "The moon is named after Hyperion, the Titan god of watchfulness and observation – the elder brother of Cronus, the Greek equivalent of Saturn – in Greek mythology. "

101. Yoga posture: ASANA.

102. Get a load of: AMASS.

104. American League East city: TORONTO. Blue Jays.

107. Farm clucker: HEN.

108. Back muscle, briefly: LAT.

109. Three-time Tony winner Rivera: CHITA.

112. Sitar music: RAGA.

115. Classic jazz nickname: SATCHMO.  Louis Armstrong.

125. One-dimensional: LINEAR.

126. Seven-time Wimbledon winner: GRAF. We just had AGASSI last week.

127. "Relax, I'll take care of it!": OK OK.

128. European luxury wheels: BMWS.

129. Eye: PEER AT.

130. Soul mate?: BODY. Body and soul. We had to leave the church earlier last night, Boomer was in pain. Don't worry about Monday blog. It's already written and scheduled. He always starts his post as soon as we receive the puzzles.

131. Gear teeth: COGS.

132. Dutch word meaning "farmer": BOER.

133. Bank deposit, perhaps: ORE. Dictionary says bank is "the surface around the mouth of a shaft".  Is this what this clue refers to?

Down:

1. Directory name: LISTEE.

2. Sister of Orestes: ELECTRA. Here they are.

4. Horse-and-buggy, e.g.: ERA.

5. Enjoyed, in slang: DUG. You're just incredible, Husker Gary!

6. Bar order: NEAT.

7. Actor __ Kate Dillon of "Billions": ASIA. Wikipedia says "Dillon is non-binary and uses singular they pronouns". Sorry, I don't know them.

8. So last year: PASSE.

9. Museum focus: ART.

10. Raft, or where you might see one: SEA.

11. Actor Mineo: SAL.

12. Toddler's train sound: TOOT TOOT.

13. Pakistani tongue: URDU.

14. Comedian Foxx: REDD.

15. Wine quality: NOSE.

16. Special or black follower: OPS.

17. Nada, to Noël: NUL. French for "null".

24. Easter opening?: NOR. Nor'easter.

25. Camera option: LENS.

27. Ornate 18th-century style: ROCOCO.

32. Kind of architect: NAVAL. They design ships.

33. Opposite of save: SPEND.

35. WC: LOO.

36. Poorly: ILL.

37. Throw into confusion: ADDLE.

38. "It's the Hard-Knock Life" soloist: ANNIE.

39. Tuscany city: SIENA.

41. Blues singer James: ETTA.

42. FedEx rival: DHL. FedEx Smartpost is so slow.

45. Brown in a Croce song: LEROY.

46. Opines, for instance: SAYS.

49. Beehive, e.g.: BIG DO.

50. Peak in an Eastwood movie: EIGER. The Eiger Sanction.

51. Fight with foils: FENCE.

54. Coming-out: DEBUT.

57. Lawn tool: EDGER. We drove by Kirby Puckett's old house the other day. He lived in Brooklyn Park for a short period.

61. Commonly injured knee part, briefly: ACL.

62. Trouble: WOE.

65. Where embryos grow: UTERI.

66. Annual coll. hoops competition: NIT. National Invitation Tournament.

68. Dried chili pepper: ANCHO. It's called Poblano when fresh.

70. Budgetary excess: FAT.

71. Family-friendly rating: TV-G.

72. __ cuisine: HAUTE.

73. Dimethyl sulfate, e.g.: ESTER.

74. "Politically Incorrect" host: MAHER. Bill.

75. Virile: MANLY.

78. Throws off: EMITS.

79. Technical details: SPECS.

80. New Age pianist John: TESH, who once dated OPRAH (84. Talk show host in the National Women's Hall of Fame)

82. Walking __: ON AIR.

83. Heat meas.: BTUS.

85. Metric weight: TONNE.

86. Bankrupts, with "out": CLEANS.

89. Spruce up: PRETTIFY.

91. Magic org.: NBA. The Orlando Magic.

95. Rock's __ Fighters: FOO. Also 3. Flu fighters: SERA.

96. Old Opry network: TNN.

97. More crude, language-wise: SALTIER.

100. Stable color: ROAN.

103. Rigg co-star on "The Avengers": MACNEE. Patrick

105. Long hikes: TREKS.

106. Muesli morsel: OAT.

109. Longtime NYC punk rock club: CBGB. Stands for Country, BlueGrass, and Blues.

110. Sub: HERO.

111. "If __ a Hammer": I HAD. Peter, Paul and Mary. One of songs in D-Otto's stick.

113. The "Gee" in Bee Gees: GIBB.

114. Water, in some pistols: AMMO.

116. Purina rival: ALPO.

117. Goat quote: MAA. And 123. Fleecy one: EWE. We also have 122. Slop slurper: HOG.

118. Table scrap: ORT.

120. Sleepy cohort?: DOC. The Seven Dwarfs.

121. Ref's ruling: TKO.

124. Ukr., once: SSR. What does Russia wants in Ukraine?

C.C.

I'm happy to tell you that the cool Windhover and his wife Irish are safe and sound. They did have to go the storm cellar on Friday night. He said he still solves crossword every day and sometimes visits the blog for help. Happy belated 76th birthday, Windhover!

Windhover, 12/7/2006