Sunday March 10, 2019 Jim Holland

Theme: "EU Trade" - E sound is replaced by a short U sound, changing spelling as needed.

23. Red misplays?: CINCINNATI BUNGLES. Cincinnati Bengals. Red refers to the Cincinnati Red.

37. Golf pro's instructive stroke?: TEACHER'S PUTT. Teacher's pet.

  

52. Loser who finds a silver lining?: GRATEFUL DUD. Grateful Dead.

70. Mysteriously-appearing debris?: RUBBLE WITHOUT A CAUSE. Rebel Without a Cause.

95. Groans from a Russian egg producer?: FABERGE UGHS. Faberge eggs. Ah, "egg" should not be in the clue. 

104. Big Apple mongrels?: NEW YORK MUTTS. New York Mets.

127. Confusion about who really won an international competition?: OLYMPIC GOLD MUDDLE.

Olympic gold medal.

  

All the key words experienced spelling changes. Very consistent.

As I said before, this type of letter change theme requires skills and imagination. I sure can't do it. Jim is a skilled wordsmith.

 

Across:

1. Dutch actress Verbeek of "Outlander": LOTTE. Unknown to me.

6. Chews (on): GNAWS.

11. "Point Break" plot, e.g.: CAPER.

16. One coming out: DEB. Not GAY.

19. Type of eye layer: UVEAL.

20. 348-seat Parisian body: SENAT.

21. __ drab: OLIVE. Is this olive drab?

22. Talkative fighter: ALI.

26. Three sheets to the wind: LIT.

27. Completely: IN TOTO.

28. Lab do-over: RE-TEST. We also have 67. Follow again: RE-TRACK.

29. Gophers and gardeners, say: ENEMIES. They sure are.

31. Word from the French for "clear the table": DESSERT. Dictionary says it's "derivative of desservir to clear the table". Dis-serve. Good to know. 

33. It's usually the hit: SIDE A.

34. DDE's domain: ETO.

35. Cry during an argument between siblings: MOM.

43. Hard shoe: SABOT.

48. Inventory acronym: FIFO. First In, First Out.

50. Greek portico: STOA.

51. Slaughter of old baseball: ENOS.

55. Online marketplace: ETSY.

58. "__ Believer": '60s hit: I'M A.

59. Prius producer: TOYOTA.

60. Becoming an item, maybe: DATING.

63. Worrisome engine sound: SPUTTER.

65. __ Paulo: SAO.

66. Furious state: IRE.

68. Thieves' home?: DEN. Gimme for regulars.

69. Major Hindu deity: RAMA.

78. Mark not to play: REST.

79. Red or Black: SEA.

80. Red Baron's conflict, briefly: WWI.

81. Berlin article: EIN.

83. Like Earth: BIPOLAR.

86. Call for assistance: HELP ME.

89. Annoying type: NOODGE. Not a word I use. I'm a NOODGE to those who always answer my "Help Me" emails.

92. "__ du lieber!": ACH. Literally "Oh you dear", right, Spitzboov?

93. The littlest bit: A TAD.

97. Virginia __: REEL.

99. End notes: CODA.

102. Level-headed: SANE. What D-Otto is. Always so calm.

103. Takeoff times?: DIETS. Why "times?".

108. Easy mark: SAP.

110. Short brew?: IPA.

111. Indian wraps: SARIS.

113. Lowered in dignity: DEBASED.

119. Marshmallow-filled snack: MOON PIE. Never had it.

123. Medium condition?: TRANCE. Psychic "medium".

125. Looking up: ROSIER.

126. Many get snacks during them: ADS.

130. Med. lab letters: LDL.

131. "So long": SEE YA.

132. Small-truck company: TONKA.

133. Freshwater bulrushes: TULES. New word to me. We also have 76. Marsh plant: SEDGE.

134. Menu general: TSO. You won't find General Tso's chicken in China. Or Orange Chicken. Or Egg Foo Young. They were all created by early Chinese immigrants.

135. Pelé's first name: EDSON.

136. Snidely Whiplash look: SNEER.

137. Playoff rankings: SEEDS.

Down:

1. Clear: LUCID.

2. Sheepish?: OVINE.

3. Big tops, e.g.: TENTS.

4. Folded food: TACOS.

5. Upper crust: ELITE.

6. "Catch 21" airer, initially: GSN. Game Show Network.

7. Approaching: NEAR.

8. Starts a pot: ANTES.

9. Stay put until the storm ends: WAIT IT OUT. Sparkly fill.

10. "Venerable" Eng. monk: ST BEDE.

11. Something in your eye: CONTACT. Lens.

12. Mor. neighbor: ALG. OK, Morocco. Algeria.

13. Stack: PILE.

14. Score-tying shot: EVENER.

15. Starts over: RESETS.

16. "Lobster Telephone" artist: DALI.

17. Tahari of fashion: ELIE. Like his works?

18. Pieces' partners: BITS.

24. Regular at Sam's bar: NORM.

25. "__ directed": USE AS.

30. Gloomy Gus: MOPE.

32. Vegan staple: TOFU. When I was a kid, there was a marketplace closer to our home. We went there every day for fresh veggies and a block of Tofu.

36. Fungal plant coating: MILDEW.

38. Low-tech weed whacker: HOE.

39. Consumes without cooking: EATS RAW.

40. __ price: UNIT.

41. One in a researcher's stack: TOME.

42. Title derived from "Caesar": TSAR.

43. Some NCOs: SGTS.

44. Like a delirious crowd: AROAR.

45. Catfish habitat: BAYOU. I tried catfish once. Too fishy for me.

46. Nebraska native: OTO.

47. Saigon holiday: TET. Same day as Chinese Spring Festival.

49. OTC drug regulator: FDA.

53. Is unsuccessful in: FAILS AT.

54. Finished 50% (of): DID HALF.

56. Typographer's concern: SPACING.

57. Arizona county or its seat: YUMA.

61. Classical beginning: NEO. Neoclassical.

62. African antelope: GNU.

64. 19th Greek letter: TAU.

71. Frat guy: BRO.

72. Composer Bartók: BELA.

73. Language suffix: ISH.

74. Good place for driving: TEE. Tee pad.

75. Some junior high students: TWEENS.

77. Word before ball or after figure: EIGHT.

82. Untouchables leader: NESS.

83. Old MacDonald surely had one: BARN.

84. Big name in frozen treats: ICEE.

85. Sound of relief: PHEW.

87. Choosing to skip: PASSING ON.

88. Many a CEO's credential: MBA.

90. 20-volume ref.: OED.

91. Francine's "For sure": OUI.

94. __ Pérignon: DOM.

96. Part of CD-ROM: READ.

98. With 122-Down, Eagles classic: LYIN. 122. See 98-Down: EYES.

100. One involved in a sweeping gesture?: DUSTPAN. "One" made me think of a person.

101. Pong maker: ATARI.

105. Hinder: OPPOSE.

106. Complained: RAILED.

107. Expanses of land: TRACTS.

109. Salon offering: PERM.

112. Quick bread choice: SCONE. Have some sweet potato scones.

114. Ring features: BOUTS.

115. When required: AS DUE. Can you give me an example of how the clue matches the Answer?

116. Move like a crab: SIDLE. I've learned to move like a penguin on icy roads. We had a few more inches of snow yesterday. Will continue today. I told Brad (a solver based in Nebraska) that I looked forward to seeing patches of green on our lawn. He said "Mid-June!".

117. Fished with pots: EELED.

118. Scold, with "down": DRESS.

119. Parlor purchase: MALT.

120. What gamblers weigh: ODDS.

121. Scandinavian capital: OSLO.

124. Sommer of cinema: ELKE.

128. Prefix with cardial: MYO. Meaning "muscle".

129. Patriotic org.: DAR.

No more spots for the Cru Dinner. You can ask Mike to put you on the wait list, in case someone cancels at the last minute.

Below is a picture of the proud grandpa Mike and his cute grandson Luca, who is a little over 3-month old. Mike took these fantastic pictures of Marti and Rich a few years ago. 

If you attend the Cru Dinner, say "Hi" to Mike and take a picture to share with us. Our Jeffrey Wechsler will be the tournament judge again, though I'm not sure he'll swing by the Cru Dinner this year.

Mike and Luca

Sunday Dec 17, 2017 Jim Holland

Theme: "Two for One"- The first word in each original theme entry is split into homophonic two parts, changing spelling as needed.

23A. Athlete Jackson discusses immunization options? : BO TALKS INJECTIONS. Botox injections. Bo Jackson.

36A. Spring spelling event could face cancellation? : MAY BEE MAYBE NOT. Maybe maybe not.

71A. Seaman's complete canvas expense? : WHOLE SAIL COST. Wholesale cost.

103A. "2 + 2 = 5" problem? : SUM THINGS WRONG. Something's wrong.

122A. Writer anticipates a vacation? : AUTHOR EYES TIME OFF. Authorized time off.
 
16D. Situation when a frat room is empty? : NO BUDDY HOME. Nobody home.

70D. Average salary on a Detroit team? : PAY PER TIGER. Paper tiger.

Did you all grok the theme immediately? I need Santa's help to fully understand the gimmick.

This is the type of theme only a master wordsmith can dream of and execute. I'm in awe.

Across:   

1. "Don't panic" : BE CALM!

7. Lincoln who was the first screen adult Tarzan : ELMO. Silent movies. We also have 75. Tarzan player Ron : ELY. This ELMO is a stranger to me.

11. Adlai's 1956 running mate : ESTES (Kefauver)

16. Japanese theater form : NOH

19. Astronomy Muse : URANIA

20. "King __" : LEAR

21. Lacking company : ALONE

22. "What have we here?!" : OHO

26. Put an end to : BAN

27. Bit of porch furniture, perhaps : SETTEE. TTP/D-Otto/Splynter could build this screened-in porch. Who else are carpenters on our blog?

28. Beauty pageant band : SASH

29. Cruise purpose : PLEASURE. Never been on a cruise. You?

31. Seville : Sra. :: Seattle : __ : MRS. Alliteration in the clues.

33. Wee amount : TAD

35. Quick, as service : SAME DAY

44. __ Sea : DEAD. Not our regular ARAL.

45. Rotting results : ODORS

46. General Bradley : OMAR

47. Writer Bagnold : ENID

49. Places with courts : GYMS. Not judicial.

52. NBA nickname since the '70s : MAGIC. Oh, Magic Johnson.

53. Actress Gaye of "Ali" : NONA. No idea. Daughter of Marvin Gaye.

54. Former Renault : LE CAR

56. "Could be trouble" : UH OH

57. Forgers of a sort : SMITHS. Not art forgers.

59. Roof rack items : SKIS

61. Basic French infinitive : ETRE

62. Greiner of "Shark Tank" : LORI. Another stranger to me.

63. Brief moments : SECs

65. Denver-to-Omaha dir. : ENE

66. What "it takes," at the start of many macho mantras : A REAL MAN. The A makes it a long partial to me.

68. Nile biter : ASP

76. How rural areas are populated : SPARSELY

78. "More than I wanted to know" : TMI

79. Garden invader : WEED

81. Actor Diggs : TAYE. He was married to Idina Menzel for a long time.

82. Rover's turf : MARS

84. Chooses : OPTS

86. Checked (out) : SCOPED

90. Dadaist collection : ARPS. Not ARTS.

91. Clapton et al. : ERICs

93. Offer of help : I CAN

95. Rodeo accessory : REATA

96. Borscht veggie : BEET.  In the huge basket of goodies Agnes sent to me, there's a bag of Veggie Chips. They're actually potato flour with spinach and beet powder. So good.

97. Phobia beginning : ACRO. Acrophobia.

98. Islamic branch : SHIA

99. Bean in Hollywood : ORSON

100. "Friends" friend : ROSS (Geller). Monica's goofy brother.

106. Draw : ATTRACT

109. CEO's credential : MBA

110. LAX inspection org. : TSA

111. Like serious errors : GRIEVOUS

113. Pizazz : ELAN

116. Slowly : ADAGIO

121. Tease : RAG

126. Key for Debussy? : ILE. Last time is "Key for Ravel?".

127. Thin porridge : GRUEL. My grandma always prepared us millet or cornmeal gruel for breakfast. We had it with steamed bread, leftover veggies or pickled veggies. No eggs.

128. Approval indicator : SEAL

129. Aerial mission : SORTIE

130. Two above an eagle : PAR

131. Lamb piece : ESSAY. Nailed it. Charles Lamb.

132. Spot : ESPY

133. Fighting ender : TREATY

Down:

1. Pal : BUB

2. Cupid, to Plato : EROS. And 117. 2-Down, to Cato : AMOR

3. Actress Blanchett : CATE

4. Med school subj. : ANAT

5. Easy rhythm : LILT

6. Arms-folded response : MAKE ME

7. Brother of Peyton : ELI

8. Camera component : LENS

9. Subject of clothed and nude Goya portraits : MAJA

10. Handel opera written in Italian : ORESTE. I only know Orestes.

11. Absorb, as a loss : EAT

12. Unintended revelation : SLIP

13. Kit set : TOOLS

14. Set of nine : ENNEAD

15. Bun choice : SESAME. Always have toasted sesame in our cupboard.

17. Tara surname : O'HARA

18. Darling : HONEY

24. Weekly inspiration for many : SERMON. Nice clue.

25. No. 5 maker : CHANEL

30. Shore squawker : SEAGULL

32. Island birthplace of Pythagoras : SAMOS. See this map. Off the coast of Turkey.

34. Gift recipient : DONEE. Do you actually use this word?

36. Grandmas, earlier : MOMs. OK, earlier.


37. Podcaster Carolla : ADAM. Know him, though I'm not subscribed to his podcast.

38. "Pic-a-nic" basket-seeking toon, familiarly : YOGI

39. The Beatles, e.g. : BRITS

40. Avoids like the plague : ESCHEWS

41. Pinstripes wearer : YANKEE

42. Smarts : BRAINS

43. Certs competitor : TIC TAC

48. 1925 Bryan foe : DARROW (Clarence). Got me. William Jennings Bryan, who was opposed to opposed Darwinism, according to Wiki.

50. Aesopian ending : MORAL

51. Reflective : SHINY

55. Big name in candy : REESE'S. Boomer went to a big Christmas party two weeks ago. He said the beef melted in his mouth, the dessert table was amazing and "I only took a piece of cake and two cookies"

58. Plot : SCHEME

60. Defense gp. dissolved in 1977 : SEATO

64. Toyota Camry model : SOLARA

67. Was humbled : ATE CROW

68. Take __ at : A STAB

69. Success on the second roll : SPARE. Bowling.

72. Ira Gershwin's forte : LYRICS

73. Mischievous : IMPISH. Hi there Spitzboov.

74. Chinese evergreen : LITCHI. My favorite fruit ever. In Guangzhou, you can find them cheap at the fruit stands in June/July. 

77. Bring back to a former state : RESTORE

80. Anthony __, Pulitzer winner for "All the Light We Cannot See" : DOERR. Never heard of the author or the book.

83. Rugby action : SCRUM. Like this.

85. Leslie Charteris hero, with "The" : SAINT. Also an unknown to me.

87. El __, Texas : PASO

88. Harrow competitor : ETON

89. Mild oath : DANG

92. Gloomy : SOMBER

94. Bugs : NAGS AT

101. Brutal : SAVAGE

102. Searches all over : SCOURS

104. "Unto the Sons" memoirist : TALESE (Gay)

105. Word derived from a marquis : SADIST. Marquis de Sade.

106. "Get __!": "Control yourself!" : A GRIP

107. Refrain syllables : TRA LA

108. Ballet outfits : TUTUS

112. Where the Mets played : SHEA. Before Citi Field.

114. Motion passers : AYES

115. Tide type : NEAP

118. "Chicago" star : GERE

119. Meager amount : IOTA

120. "What __?" : OF IT

123. Beer originally brewed near a Northwest capital, briefly : OLY. Googled afterwards: Olympia Beer.

124. Foxy : SLY
 
125. Poehler "Weekend Update" co-host on "SNL" : FEY

Sunday June 4, 2017 Jim Holland

Theme: "Product Expansion" - Additional letters are added to the end of each product name.

22A. Automaker's expansion into music? : HONDA ACCORDIONS. Honda Accord.

45A. Candy company's expansion into exercise equipment? : HERSHEY BARBELLS. Hershey bar.

72A. Drink container company's expansion into bakery products? : DIXIE CUPCAKES. Dixie cup.

95A. Jewelry company's expansion into fishing for delicacies? : TIFFANY LAMPREYS. Tiffany lamp.

   

122A. Cleaning products company's expansion into arena seating? : CLOROX BLEACHERS. Clorox bleach.

14D Writing implement company's expansion into jewelry? : BIC PENDANTS. Bic pen.

71D. Kitchen supplies company's expansion into security? : SOS PADLOCKS. SOS pad.

The answers are all in plural form. Very consistent. Most work perfectly as the newly formed words do not share the same root as the old words.

We have 82 black squares today. A bit on the high side.

You can read here about Jim's background. Hmm, he loves golf and bowling. Sounds like someone I'm very close to. So what's your bowling average, Jim?

  

Across:

         

1. Icy coating : RIME. Or HOAR.

5. Heroine in the "Divergent" films : TRIS. Tris Prior. I learned from another puzzle.

9. Route shower : MAP.  I saw the show-er trick immediately. But not the answer.

12. Castro, for one : CUBAN

17. Unlike spring chickens? : AGED

18. __-car : RENT-A. Did not see the partial coming.

 20. One-of-a-kind : LONE

21. Bud in Baja : AMIGO

25. Tijuana restaurant staples : TACOS

26. Work out : STAY FIT. Great fill.

27. "SNL" parody Baba __ : WAWA

28. Behavioral oddity : TIC

30. Fore relative? : PRE. Ah, now I see why.

31. "Are you __ out?" : IN OR

33. Dizzy's jazz : BEBOP

36. Story line : THREAD

38. __ port : USB

41. Antitoxin : SERUM

43. Lamb by another name : ELIA. Charles Lamb. This clue can't fool our regulars.

44. Observed : SEEN

49. Studio amendment : RE-DUB

52. Run : FLEE

53. Supermodel Sastre : INES. The Trésor model.

54. Self-satisfied : SMUG. I felt quite self-satisfied fixing our dryer pipe leak with 3M duct tape. Turns out you have to use the real shiny stuff like below. D-otto said "Duct tape is good for lots of things...but not for ducts.  It can't take the heat."

56. "Family" actress Thompson : SADA

57. Like some twins : FRATERNAL

61. Final financials : YEAR-ENDS. It's a noun? I always thought year-end is an adjective.

63. __-de-France : ILE

64. It may quash dreams of a musical career : TIN EAR. I'm tone-deaf. We were only taught those patriotic communist songs.

68. Ed's title : MISTER. This is why MR ED is frowned upon by editors. Same as DR WHO.

69. Air-escape sound : SSS

75. Montevideo Mrs. : SRA

76. "Tough!" : TOO BAD

78. Rouse to action : BESTIR. Not a word I use.

79. Co. that merged into Verizon : GTE

80. Like car carburetors, for the most part : OBSOLETE

82. Victimized by bad spelling? : POSSESSED. Great clue.

87. They often have quotas : REPS. Oh, sales reps have sales quotas.

88. Stella __ cookies : D'ORO. Never had it.

90. Singer Horne : LENA

91. Emphatic type: Abbr. : ITAL

93. Shelley's Muse : ERATO. Muse of poetry

100. Figure (out) : DOPE

102. Latin trio part : AMAT. Amo, amas, amat.

103. Older Obama daughter : MALIA

104. Turf : SOD

105. "Route 66" co-star : MILNER (Martin). Unknown to me.

107. Saint Kitts' island partner : NEVIS. The Caribbean islands. Wiki says English is their official language.

109. Agree to, in a way : SIGN

110. Mil. address : APO. Army Post Office. We also have 121. U.S. Army rank qualifier : RET

111. Classical start : NEO. Neoclassical.

113. Draft category : ONE A

115. Med. diagnostic procedure : MRI SCAN. PET/CAT too.

120. Shell lining : NACRE. Learned from doing crosswords.

126. Comic book artist : INKER

127. Bits : TADS

128. Jeer : TAUNT

129. Cosmo competitor : ELLE.  Elle China always has noisy covers.

130. Sends a fly flying : CASTS. Fishing.

131. Be in a red state? : OWE

132. Place : SITE

133. Political group : BLOC

 Down:

1. Fan sounds : RAHs

2. "__ You Babe": 1965 #1 hit : I GOT

3. Actress Suvari : MENA. The girl in  "American Beauty".

4. What goes around : EDDY. Nice clue.

5. Work newbie : TRAINEE

6. Clergy abode : RECTORY. Got via crosses.

7. Forbes competitor : INC

8. Pack away : STOW

9. Farm sound : MOO

10. Gothic novel pioneer Radcliffe : ANN

11. Unrelenting annoyance : PEST

12. One usually crouching : CATCHER. Who am I?

13. Thurman of film : UMA

15. Selling spot in Sparta : AGORA. Those Spartans would be stunned to see our Mall of America.

16. Went snooping : NOSED

19. Many an Omani : ARAB

20. Held to account : LIABLE

23. "__ Called Wanda" : A FISH

24. Stereotypical pocket protector wearers : DWEEBS

29. Part of TGIF : IT'S

32. Repeat annoyingly : RUB IN

34. Louvre displays : OILS . Also 47. Museum pieces : RELICs

35. Ancient Syrian trade center : PALMYRA. Learning moment for me. Must be their Mall of America.

37. Piece maker : REESE'S

38. Broadcast format: Abbr. : UHF. Ultra High Frequency.

39. __-employed : SELF

40. __ Rabbit : BRER

42. Sea cow : MANATEE

46. Blue map area : SEA

48. Respond to defamation, say : SUE

50. Milk container : UDDER

51. Iraq's main port : BASRA

55. One of two zygote producers : GAMETE.  Dictionary shows this root: "New Latin gameta < Greek gamet- (stem of gametḗ wife, gamétēs husband), derivative of gameîn to marry". Funny how a Greek word becomes male once you attach S to the end.

58. Word before wave or pool : TIDAL

59. Slurred in pronunciation : ELIDED

60. T. __ : REX

62. High grounds : RISES

65. Kook : NUT

66. Anaphylaxis treatment : EPIPEN. D-Otto has one in his fridge.

67. NATO, for one : ACRONYM

69. Target, for one : STORE

70. Grave : SOBER

73. __ Peninsula : IBERIAN

74. Metric wts. : KGs

77. Second-easternmost U.S. state capital : BOSTON. After Augusta, Maine.

81. Wee one : TOT

83. Rooms in a casa : SALAS

84. Beatle Paul's title : SIR

85. Nice summers : ETES. Nice the city.

86. Ballpark rallying cry based on a 1950s hit : DAY-O . "The Banana Boat Song".

89. "How silly __!" : OF ME

90. Bodega patron : LATINO.  Our Golden Lion here has a big Asian and Hispanic food section.

92. Trip provider : LSD

94. Corkscrews, essentially : OPENERS

96. Party gifts : FAVORS. Does this refer to political party?

97. Food : ALIMENT

98. Move periodically : MIGRATE

99. __ button : PANIC Also 105. Frenzied : MANIC

101. Byron's "before" : ERE

106. Bucky Beaver's toothpaste : IPANA

108. Racy message : SEXT

112. Prefix with -pus : OCTO

114. Down with, in Dunkirk : ABAS. "Abas le roi!"

116. "The Purple People Eater" singer Wooley : SHEB. Don't know the song or the singer. I  associate "The Purple People Eaters" with the Vikings.

117. Holding area : CELL. Prison cell.

118. Woody's boy : ARLO

119. Brief time pd. : NSEC

123. Prosecutor's field : LAW

124. Tribute in verse : ODE

125. Him, to Henri : LUI

Sunday, Jim Holland, March 5, 2017

TITLE: IN OTHER WORDS

What a hoot! Jim has taken seven common phrases that have the word IN as the second word and he has conjured up the fun gimmick of placing the first word IN the phrase. We solvers had to parse the fact that the phrase's first word was indeed enclosed  by the fill and had to be repositioned to made sense. A lovely idea and very apropos title, don't you think?

As is my occasional wont, I have put the grid at the top of the write-up to highlight the theme. You can see the first word of the correct phrase is IN yellow and ENFOLDED by the muddled phrase. You must mentally move that word to the front or top of the fill to get the desired, common expression with IN taking its implied, correct position as the desired second word. You can also see that Jim moved both one and two words to make this work for the seven phrases.

I think Jim's puzzle was A ONE MILLION and the rest of the puzzle was pretty much THE A WALK PARK.

Let's start with the theme fill:

23. At center stage, literally : THE THICK RIGHT OF THINGS/RIGHT IN THE THICK OF THINGS - Example

36. Start the day cheerfully, literally : A GOOD WAKE UP MOOD/WAKE UP IN A GOOD MOOD - Yeah, right!

70. Stinging rebuke, literally : THE SLAP FACE/SLAP IN THE FACE - Hey Spock, No means No on her planet too

104. Request reassignment, literally : FOR A PUT TRANSFER/PUT IN FOR A TRANSFER - He PUT IN FOR A TRANSFER many times

121. Delivers, literally : THE COMES THROUGH CLUTCH/COMES THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH - Mason Crosby COMES THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH to beat the Cowboys

35. Now and then, literally : A ONCE WHILE/ONCE IN A WHILE - No matter what he does the rest of his career, Blair Walsh will be remembered for one of those ONCE IN A WHILE moments where he didn't come through in the clutch for the Vikings

48. Pay no admission price, literally : FOR GET FREE/GET IN FOR FREE - "Papa, tell me again what this place is and how did you GET IN FOR FREE"

Let's see what else Jim did as he HIS PUT TIME:

Across

1. For every one : A POP

5. Attempts : STABS - Casca, Brutus, et al each wearing a 29. Floor-length garment : TOGA

10. Asian vine leaf : BETEL

15. Came down to earth : ALIT  Ma and Pa Kent find Clark after he ALIT from Krypton

19. Cadenza, e.g. : SOLO - An improvised or written-out ornamental passage played or sung by a soloist or soloists. You're welcome

20. Kidney-related : RENAL

21. Together : AS ONE

22. Suvari of "American Beauty" : MENA - Mena Suvari. You can google her famous picture lying on a bed of roses

27. Pond buildup : ALGAE

28. Talk about incessantly : HARP ON - I heard you the fourth time!

30. Asian New Year : TET 

31. Lao Tzu principle : TAO

33. Apple core, for short? : IOS - My phone runs on Internet Operating System 10.2.1


34. Chopin work : POLONAISE - I heard a familiar melody while walking by  our radio last week and used the SHAZAM app to find out it was this Chopin work. Do you Shazam?

42. Numskulls : DOLTS

43. Rock's __ Lobos : LOS - La Bamba

44. Start a pot : ANTE

45. Tazo offerings : TEAS - C.C. is our resident expert and I suspect she is familiar with this brand

46. CPO's org. : USN - A Chief Petty Officer equals a 1st sergeant in the US Army

47. Links transport : GOLF CART - They are now street legal in my home town

49. Smart Simpson : LISA

51. Made out : NECKED - See Drive-In above

55. Milne character : POOH

56. Elevator innovator : OTIS

59. Pic(ture) source : NEG(ative)


60. "A Streetcar Named Desire" wife : STELLA - One site rated this as the 33rd best movie moment of all time

61. Gather : REAP

63. Collar : NAB

65. "What's the __?" : USE

67. Withdraw by degrees : WEAN 

68. Track runner, to a tout : NAG - Theater-savvy people will know the tout who sang, "I've got the horse right  here, the name is Paul Revere..." and the play that produced it

74. Farm house dweller : HEN

75. Get into shape, with "up" : TONE

76. "Not __ long shot" : BY A 

77. Gob : TAR - Also sailor, mariner, sea dog or salt

78. Start to freeze? : ANTI


80. 1956 Triple Crown winner : MANTLE - C.C., what do you and Doug estimate this signed 1956 picture written to Ted Williams would be worth?

82. Pampering place : SPA

85. Linguist Chomsky : NOAM

87. Logician Turing : ALAN - Portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game

90. Rubs the wrong way : CHAFES

91. Johnny's 2014 Olympics figure skating co-commentator : TARA - Lipinski

93. Fills with cigarette output, as a room : SMOKES UP - Home of many a political decision back in the day

96. Squealer : RAT

97. Part of DMV: Abbr. : DEPT - Much of their work can be done online now

99. Withered : SERE

100. "Sweet as apple cider" girl of song : IDA

101. Spirited mount : STEED


108. Iron-attracting magnetite : LODESTONE - This was a compass from 200 B.C. China made from naturally-occuring magnetic LODESTONE

110. Byron's "before" : ERE

111. Sass : LIP

112. Sentimental sounds : AWS

113. Heavy reading? : TOME

114. Is incapable of : CANNOT - CAN NOT is also acceptable

117. Comes up short: LOSES if your tout give you a, uh, 130. Bum __ : STEER 

125. Skinny fish : EELS

126. Sambuca flavoring : ANISE - Sambuca didn't even make the list

127. "On Narcissism" author : FREUD

128. Went lickety-split : TORE

129. Staff symbol : REST

131. Nourishes : FEEDS

132. See 4-Down : SPUD






DOWN

1. Movie role played by Skippy : ASTA

2. Sci-fi writer Frederik : POHL

3. First name in fashion : OLEG

4. Oft-fried food : POTATO - It is not the potatoes!!

5. Indian title of respect : SRI

6. High-__ : TECH

7. "Diana" singer : ANKA

8. Tinker Bell's creator : BARRIE - A lovely character for him and a corporate symbol for Disney

9. Make a subtle exit : SLIP OUT

10. German road : BAHN - Only areas near congested cities have a speed limit on the AUTOBAHN 

11. Approx. repair cost : EST

12. Oh so very : TOO TOO

13. Surround : ENFOLD

14. Release : LET GO

15. Pal of Pierre : AMI

16. Soup bean : LENTIL

17. Swallow : INGEST

18. Preferences : TASTES

24. Annoying situation : HEADACHE

25. Mark, for one : GOSPEL - Some didn't make the cut

26. Office phone unit : HANDSET

32. "__ piece of the rock": Prudential slogan : OWN A

34. Support for the sheriff : POSSE

36. Subj. with x's : ALG - BTW, x = 5 in this 3/4/5 right triangle.

37. Yucky stuff : GOOP

38. Nobel Peace Prize city : OSLO

39. Degenerate from disuse : ATROPHY - A big issue when returning from prolonged weightlessness on the ISS

40. Toon flapper Etta : KETT

41. Primary : MAIN

46. Hidden : UNSEEN

50. Río contents : AGUA

52. "Red Balloon" painter : KLEE

53. Dash : ELAN - As I said before, I think Sean Connery had more ELAN than the other 007's

54. Blocker of "Bonanza" : DAN - DAN might want to forget some of his earlier work

57. Elite group : INS

58. '40s-'50s pitcher Maglie : SAL

62. Ideally : AT BEST - This seems more like "The best you can hope for under the circumstances" 

64. Cricket club : BAT

66. Brooklyn Bridge seller, say : SCAMMER

68. First captain? : NOAH - Uh, Captain Noah, who's going to clean out the bottom of the ark?

69. Vogue editor-in-chief Dame __ Wintour : ANNA - I'm sure Ms. Wintour is always just TOO TOO chic!

71. Bridge position : EAST

72. Mythical flutist : PAN

73. Back again : FRO

75. Film watcher's channel : TMC - The Movie Channel (edited from Turner Movie Classics - Gary)

79. (Has) come down with something : TAKEN ILL

81. Causes : LEADS TO

83. San Diego player : PADRE

84. __ code : AREA - 212 is still very coveted here

86. Little helper? : ASST

88. "Yeah, right!" : AS IF

89. Art class subject : NUDE

92. Show up : APPEAR

94. Word with hygiene or history : ORAL

95. Two more than an eagle : PAR 


98. Disgust : TURN OFF - 'nuff said/shown

101. "The Name of the Rose" actor Christian : SLATER

102. American sparrow relative : TOWHEE - Unknown to me but is a cutie!

103. Citation and Corsair : EDSELS

104. Stir up : FOMENT 

105. Toddler's outfit : ONESIE

106. Academic security : TENURE - Once you've got it...

107. Parts of kettles : SPOUTS

109. Inquisitor __ de Torquemada : TOMAS - Being around him is torture!

114. "Moonstruck" Oscar winner : CHER



115. Arch style : OGEE - A plethora of OGEEs in Venice

116. Sound of a flop : THUD - Also poor acting in the NBA

118. Train station : STOP

119. Stocking shade : ECRU

120. Wood finisher? : SHED

122. Chicago winter hrs. : CST - Also true for  Indiana around Chicago but otherwise, who knows?

123. "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" monogram : TSE - Any book that inspired the song Memory is great to me!

124. Burnable media : CDS



Don't THE THROW TOWEL  yet, you THE DYED WOOL solvers should now comment!