Sunday October 11, 2020 John Lampkin

Theme:  "Yes, But Is It Art?"- Various phrases are reinterpreted as if they're art-related.

23. Molding okra likenesses?: PODCASTING.

25. Accumulation after many oil changes?: BRUSH PILES.

35. Housekeeper-artist barter agreement?: DUSTING FOR PRINTS.

56. Asset for sketching the human body?: A HEAD FOR FIGURES.

80. Traditional Western song to sing while cleaning up the atelier?: GOODBYE OLD PAINT.

98. Sculpting painstakingly, as ice?: LICKING INTO SHAPE.

115. Foundation for nude sketches?: BOTTOM LINE.

117. Color for a "Starry" Dutch classic?: NIGHTSHADE.

This title is so John, a talented artist with a terrific sense of humor.

I'm not familiar with "Goodbye Old Paint", who is the Old Paint in the lyric?

We're treated with a 140-worder with four sparkling long Downs. The clues also have John's hallmark wordplay and clue echos.

Across:

1. They often offer free Wi-Fi: CAFES.

6. Julie's "East of Eden" role: ABRA. Julie Harris. Here she's with Cal (James Dean).

10. Bygone Swedish wheels: SAAB.

14. Suit material: LIBEL. Lawsuit.

19. Tickle: AMUSE.

20. Fruity commercial prefix: CRAN.

21. Up-in-the-air bear: URSA. Minor/Major.

22. "Do __?": I DARE.

27. Therefore: ERGO.

28. Clotheshorse's collection: TIE CLIPS.

30. Singer?: STOOLIE. One who sings.

31. Cube-ic Rubik: ERNO. Rubik's Cube. This guy is 76 years old now.

33. "__ Rebel": 1962 hit: HE'S A.

34. Handles: SEES TO.

40. Dirty Harry's org.: SFPD.

43. Lab eggs: OVA.

44. Classic pops: NEHIs. Do you remember your first soft drink? Mine was Coca-Cola, around 1990. 

 

45. Like no-see-ums: PESTY.

47. Schwarz of toys: FAO.

48. Therapist's concern: NEUROSIS.  Woody Allen's characters tend to have this problem.

50. Bait: TEASE.

53. Employing: USING.

55. Stuffed shell?: TACO. Great clue.

60. Two-handed tool: SLEDGE.

63. Unable to find the way: LOST.

64. Rates highly: ADMIRES.

65. Stand-up's goals, informally: LAFFS. Laughs.

68. Philippines' highest peak: Abbr.: MT APO. Wiki says the name of "Mt. Apo comes from Apo, a title of respect meaning "revered elder" in various languages of the surrounding Lumad tribes." Sort of like the "Lao" in Chinese then. Lao Tzu, Lao Shi (teacher).

69. Decision maker: CHOOSER.

72. Very little, to Vivaldi: POCO.

75. "Yikes!": SHEESH.

84. Flu symptom: AGUE.

85. "Coffee __?": OR TEA.

86. Minimal: LEAST.

87. High-level banking aids: AILERONS.  Airplane's banking.

90. Wanna-__: BES.

91. Augustus' devious wife: LIVIA.

94. Place to make waves: SALON.

95. Conservatory subj.: MUS.

96. Bucolic lines: IDYL.

103. Precepts: TENETS.

105. Pickle pick: DILL.

106. They're depressed during recitals: KEYS. Ha ha.

107. Resolve: IRON OUT.

109. Introspective Randall Thompson choral work with a joyous title: ALLELUIA. Same as "Hallelujah", right?

112. Jr.'s exam: PSAT.

119. Golfer's cry after holing a long putt: IT'S IN. Also 10. Good in golf ... otherwise, not so much: SUBPAR.

120. Unceasingly: EVER.

121. Boxer Oscar __ Hoya: DELA.

122. Sister of Goneril: REGAN. Mean one.

123. "I think of slaying Holmes ... He takes my mind from better things" writer: DOYLE.

124. Stitches: SEWS.

125. Like Florida scrub: ARID. Not familiar with "Florida scrub".

126. Immobile: INERT.

Down:

1. Batgirl garb: CAPE.

2. Love in Spain: AMOR.

3. Thick dessert topping: FUDGE SAUCE. More food item: 7. French wheel: BRIE

4. Source of protection: ESCORT.

5. It has a watery bed: SEA.

6. All of Albee's "The Zoo Story," essentially: ACT I.

8. Spanish spreads: RANCHOS. Not food.

9. One catching with flies, maybe: ANGLER. And 38. It might be caught with a fly: FISH.

11. LAX touchdowns: ARRS.

12. Sun Devils' sch.: ASU.

13. Short-legged hounds: BASSETS.

14. Slimming procedures, informally: LIPOS.

15. Some how-to book targets?: IDIOTS. Idiot's Guide.

16. Unusually energetic sort: BALL OF FIRE. Abejo!!

17. "__ Went Mad": Riley poem: ERE I.

18. __-majesté: LESE.

24. Gems: STONES.

26. It's a blast: H TEST.

29. MSN, for one: ISP. Any of you use CenturyLink?

32. El __: NINO.

34. Show disdain for: SNEER AT.

35. Prohibitions: DONT'S.

36. Type of eye layer: UVEAL.

37. Karmann __: sports car: GHIA. I don't see the beauty of this car.

39. __ facto: IPSO.

41. Philatelist's buys: PANES.

42. Hounds, e.g.: DOGS.

46. Manga series about gaming: YU-GI-OH. I've seen a ton of these cards at card shows. Some are worth hundreds of dollars.

49. Retinal receptor: ROD.

50. Lao Tzu's "way": TAO. We say "dao" in China.

51. Text changers, for short: EDS. Editors.

52. Back in a shell: AFT.

54. Big __: SUR.

57. Scullers' pair?: ELS. Just the two letters in "Scullers".

58. OTC drug agency: FDA.

59. Rapscallions: IMPS. Always makes me think of Spitzboov.

17-month old Spitzboov

61. All-encompassing: GLOBAL.

62. __ chair: EASY.

66. Ante, e.g.: FEE.

67. Romps: FROLICS.

68. Reply of feigned innocence: MOI?

69. Prepared, as apples for strudel: CORED.

70. Copacetic, in slang: HOTSY-TOTSY. More familiar with hoity-toity.

71. Thomas Gray's "The Bard," e.g.: ODE.

72. Smooching on a plane, for short: PDA.

73. Photo possibilities: OPS.

74. Tractor brand, familiarly: CAT. Caterpillar.

76. Vibration sensor: EAR.

77. Flattery: EGO MASSAGE. Another sparkly fill.

78. First light: SUNUP.

79. "Demian" author: HESSE.

80. Mongolian dry spot: GOBI. My favorite childhood TV drama has many scenes in the Gobi Desert. The guy on the left grew up in Mongolia under the care of Genghis Khan, who's so romanticized in many Chinese novels.

81. Fail to be kept private: LEAK.

82. Pakistani bread: NAAN. Also dal bean: 97. Legume family bean: LENTIL.

83. Slant: TILT.

88. Carefully consider: LOOK AT.

89. Bay State motto opener: ENSE.

92. Intestinal tract division: ILEUM.

93. Grub: VITTLES.

94. More over the top: SILLIER.

99. Ones just hanging out: IDLERS.

100. Zilch: NIL.

101. British actress-politician Jackson: GLENDA.

102. Wi-Fi connection?: HYPHEN. Great clue.

104. Very disappointing turnout: NO ONE.

107. Kin of op. cit.: IBID.

108. __-Rooter: ROTO. Bad service. High price. Don't use them.

109. Over: ANEW.

110. Jamaican citrus: UGLI.

111. "__ no idea": I HAD.

113. 29-day Hebrew month: ADAR.

114. Traveling carnival sight: TENT.

116. "__ been thinking ... ": I'VE.

118. Indian title: SRI.

C.C.

Thursday, August 6th 2020 John Lampkin

Theme: Missplaced - like this puzzle's theme.

18A. *Scout leader's unit: BROWNIE TROOP.

35A. *Ragtime pianist's number: CAKE WALK. A great excuse to link Dire Straits and "Tunnel of Love" simply because it includes the words "cake walk". This was filmed at Wembley Arena in 1985 - I was there.

44A. *Analyst's infographic: PIE CHART.

12D. *Arbitrary error allowance: FUDGE FACTOR.

26D. *Boot sole material: CRÊPE RUBBER. But wait - is all crêpe rubber, or is all rubber crêpe? Or is there no overlap in the Venn Diagram of soles? Whichever way, "Rubber Soul" was a great Beatles album. "Crêpe Soul" didn't make the charts. Maybe it was cr ... not very good.

62. Appropriate reward, as often misspelled ... and what the starts of the answers to starred clues might be: JUST DESSERTS.

Alrighty then, I think I might be a little off-base here, but I'm going to play the role of "The Editor" for today's puzzle:

Scene: The Editor's Office - Enter John

Ed: Hi John, what have you got for me?
JL: Nice theme, probably Thursday-level, and oh, it's a 16x15

Ed: Why the 16?
JL: Because I needed the extra room for the reveal, it's a 12-letter entry "JUST DESSERTS".

Ed: You know you spelled that wrong?
JL: Yep, but the clue tells you I spelled it wrong.

Ed: OK, so the theme entries are spelled wrong too?
JL: No, they're fine, but they're all desserts, not deserts.

Ed: You know that "deserts" in the phrase alludes to neither arid areas nor post-dinner sweet treats?
JL: I know, but ...

Ed: OK, let me look - wait. CRÊPE SOLES? I've had crêpes for breakfast - mushrooms and cheese if I recall - and PIE CHART? "Pie" isn't just a dessert, you can have steak pie, chicken pot pie, shepherd's pie, cottage pie, oyster p...
JL: I know, I know. I didn't mean that the reveal literally meant that the theme entries were "just" desserts.

Ed: But you misspelled "desert", the reveal says "just desserts" and you're telling me the themers aren't spelled wrong and they aren't only dessert dishes? And the grid is a funny shape?
JL: Yep, that's about the long and short of it. "Long" - see what I did there? A long across? That's funny! And I covered myself with the reveal clue, I said "might be", not "are".

Ed: John, I'm not sure that's a good excuse, maybe you've caught me at a bad time. And who is "TAL"?
JL: Aha! He's a famous Russian chess player who won the World Chess Championship in 1960 and held it for six months.

Ed: Does he have a famous defence named after him? Or a great attacking style? Or insisted on playing in Iceland and claimed he was an alien?
JL: Not really. He did blame his short "Champion" reign on his kidneys though. He was a superstar.

Ed: In 1960? I was one year old. How many people have heard of him? Other than crossword editors, not including me?
JL: LOTS of people know Tal. Ask any grandmaster chess player, they'll tell you all about him. They'll tell you he had bad kidneys and won a championship in 1960.

Ed: What's his first name?
JL: I've no idea, can I look him up on Wikipedia and get back to you?

Ed: OK John, thanks. We'll be in touch. I'm not sure how to explain this one away though.

Exeunt

Right, let's see what we can find in the rest of the puzzle.

Across:

1. Spirited French commune?: COGNAC. "Commune" in the sense of "region" in France. The Cognac commune sits predominantly on the left bank of the river Charente in Bordeaux. Santé!

7. Like Wicca, say: PAGAN.

12. Not many: FEW.

15. Dawn goddess: AURORA.

16. Coffeehouse draw: AROMA.

17. Hagen of the theater: UTA. Who? Thank you, crosses. A few of these today for me.

20. UPS rival: DHL.

21. Take top prize for: WIN AT.

22. Hauled: DRAGGED.

24. Specialized job: NICHE.

27. Try a new color on: RE-DYE. I parsed this as "red eye" first. I just had my annual eye exam today, I blame that.

29. Claudius' successor: NERO.

30. Another, in Acapulco: OTRA.

31. Excessive: UNDUE.

32. U.K. fliers: R.A.F. The Royal Air Force.

33. Father's Day pin: TIE TAC. I thought these were "tie tacks". I had a couple, back in the day of three-piece-suits in London's Financial District, the "City". To think I wore them and couldn't spell them. Shame on me.

39. AOL or MSN: ISP. Internet Service Provider

40. A lot of hooey: CLAPTRAP.

43. Hoodwink: CON.

46. A bit much: TOO, TOO. Is this a thing? I would say that "too, too" was a lot too much, not a bit,

48. Manta __: RAY.

49. Like some perfume: MUSKY. These are the ones that hang around like an unwelcome house guest.

52. Blog entry: POST. This! Yay!

53. One of the basic tastes: SOUR. Sweet, sour, salt, bitter and that extra "savoriness" usually referred to nowadays as "umami", mostly by food writers who can't stop saying "umami".

55. Sans-serif font: ARIAL. Not this font. We're Times New Roman on this blog and proud.

56. Tackle box assortment: LURES.

57. Warm greeting: EMBRACE. Not right now. I know it's been a few months since I've seen you, but a polite elbow-tap is as close as I'm getting.

59. Tibet neighbor: NEPAL.

61. Capture: NAB.

67. That yacht: SHE. This beauty? She. That lovely yacht over yonder? She. That rusty hulk messing up the view on the riverbank over there? It. or He.

68. Pianist Rubinstein: ARTUR.

69. Comparable to a pin: AS NEAT. It's pretty hard to be an untidy pin. What do you have to do to attain scruffy-pin status? We should be told.

70. Bud's place: EAR. Behind the ear? Just ready to be fired up by ....

71. Many a Bob Marley fan: RASTA. Ya man. Respect.

72. They're often at the bottoms of columns: TOTALS.

Down:

1. Popular red: CAB.

2. Group possessive: OUR.

3. Garden adspeak word: GRO. I fed my kitchen basil plant Miracle-Gro a few weeks ago to perk it up a little. It should be called "Miracle-Eradicate". The plant was not impressed at all.

4. "Another problem?!": NOW WHAT?

5. Golf icon Palmer: ARNIE. Strictly, Arnold. If you're going to refer to a nickname, then "Golfer with an Army" would be better. In my humble opinion.

6. Genesis farmer: CAIN. Thank you, crosses.

7. Stroked gently: PATTED. I tried "PETTED" first. Not quite right.

8. Flight info abbr.: ARR.

9. Michelin rival: GOODYEAR. I had a weird dream last night that the Goodyear Blimp was performing aerobatics and crash-landed upside-down in front of Winchester Cathedral where I was watching. I helped the crew turn it the right way up, they inflated it again and took off. I've NO idea what that was all about.

10. Love, in Pisa: AMORE.

11. Source of much 1-Down: NAPA.

13. Bygone anesthetic: ETHER.

14. Guy found in kids' books: WALDO. Nice clue this one, made me smile. "Where's Waldo?"

19. Bring home: EARN.

23. Chew (on): GNAW.

24. Payback for lousy service: NO TIP. I'm torn. It would have to be truly terrible service for me to leave no tip at all. The only time I can recall doing it was eating at a restaurant in LA shortly after it opened, and the previous night George Clooney had eaten there. The wait staff were so buzzed by the prospect of maybe having another "star" visit that us mere mortals were completely ignored. The only person who paid attention to us was the busser. He got a cash tip which the wait person would have got, the wait person got nothing, I did explain why, but I fear due to the eye-rolling the explanation fell on deaf ears. Whatevs.

25. Formal "Just me": IT IS I.

28. Tear dispenser: DUCT.

31. Pac-12 team: UCLA.

32. Default takeback: REPO. Another nice clue. Default on your loan, we take back your car.

34. Sore from a workout: ACHY.

36. Singer Perry: KATY.

37. __ cannon: LOOSE.

38. Rustic pine features: KNOTS.

41. Loveseat sides: ARMRESTS. I found this a little odd, but OK.

42. Spitting sound: PTUI. Gross.

45. Novelist Caleb: CARR. Who? Thank you, crosses.

47. Swank: OPULENT.

50. Oh of "Killing Eve": SANDRA.

51. "Cat and Bird" artist: KLEE. Who? Thank you, crosses.

53. Taste, for one: SENSE. Umami? Say it one more time, I dare you.

54. Nebraska city: OMAHA.

55. High-end Honda: ACURA. The last car I owned in England before I moved here was a Honda Integra. When I got to LA, it was called an Acura. That was different.

56. Cowboy rope: LASSO.

58. Slightly open: AJAR.

60. Exam for jrs.: PSAT.

63. Tsk relative: TUT.

64. "The Crying Game" actor Stephen: REA.

65. 1960-'61 chess champ: TAL. Who? Thank you, crosses.

66. GPS displays: STS. I'm assuming "States" which you might get displayed on a map on your GPS device, but that is a total stab in the dark from me. I'll be prepared to be entirely wrong on this one, but it seems an appropriate clue/answer combo to finish this on.

Here's the grid - I didn't highlight the "desserts", I figured there's no need today.

Steve.

Sunday, August 11, 2019 John Lampkin

Theme:  "Poetry Slam" -  Part of each theme entry is replaced by a sound-like poetry term.

23A. Shakespeare's ghostwriters?: SONNET COMMITTEE. Senate committee.

45A. "Another day, another $%&! Grecian urn"?: SAME ODE SAME ODE. Same old same old. Double ode action.

68A. "Religious Poetry Writing for Dummies" reminder?: PSALM ASSEMBLY REQUIRED. Some Assembly Required. Biblical poem.

94A. Love song written while playing hooky?: ABSENTEE BALLAD. Absentee ballot.

121A. Chaucer's workflow?: FROM BARD TO VERSE. From bad to worse. Another double word replacements.

16D Poet known for her footwork?: IAMB WOMAN. I'm Woman. (Edited: I Am Woman. Thanks, D-Otto.)

81D Tennyson lecture?: IDYLL TALK. Idle talk.

So nice to see John back. He never fails to deliver much-needed humor and fun into our Sunday grids. I'd never dreamed of FROM BARD TO VERSE. Such an imaginative brain.

John put two of this shortest theme entries in Down slots and made sure that the longest non-theme fill are 8-letter long. This way the theme entries clearly stood out.

Across:

1. Wacky: MADCAP.

7. Subterranean queen: ANT. And 12D. 7-Across, to an aardvark: PREY. John sent us below pic with this caption: "Carpenter Ant chowing down on a caddisfly. Since the wings are hairy, the ant will spit them out. I mean, would YOU eat them?"

10. Reaction to a trip: OOPS. Stumble "trip". Not a trip to China.

14. Throw out: EVICT.

19. Eight-time Best Actor Oscar nominee: O'TOOLE (Peter). And 118. How many Oscars 19-Across won: NONE. He did receive an Honorary Oscar.

20. Cloud content: MOISTURE. Not Pictures and files.

22. Queen topper: TIARA.

25. Let in: ADMIT.

26. Neither surfeit nor dearth, informally: ENUF.

27. Lie about one's age?: FAKE ID. Great clue/answer.

28. Heavenly harp: LYRA.

30. Decreases: EBBS.

31. Go after: SET UPON.

33. Aspiring singer's aid: DEMO.

35. Flexible joint: ELBOW.

37. What a ritardando gradually gets: SLOWER.

40. Very likely will, after "is": BOUND TO.

42. Be beholden (to): OWE.

49. Short notes: MEMOS.

51. Pete's wife on "Mad Men": TRUDY. Played by Alison Brie.

52. Fits: SUITS.

53. Places for drinks on tracks: CLUB CARS.

56. Pacino and Roker: ALS.

57. Florida horse country city: OCALA.

59. Streaker's covering: SKIN. This clue makes me smile.

60. __ account: ON NO.

61. Faced: MET.

62. Cloudy: GRAY.

63. Assist in the gym: SPOT.

66. Landscaper's truckload: FILL. 

75. All of Sartre's "No Exit"?: ACT I. "No Exit" is an one-act play.

76. Cut with light: LASE.

77. "... bug in __": A RUG.

78. Giant Manning: ELI.

79. Omit: SKIP.

82. Env. fattener: ENCL.

84. Smarts measured by the ounce?: SENSE. I don't get this clue.

86. Muscle that sounds like a kiss: PEC. Peck.

87. "Me too": AND SO DO I.

89. One way to run: ALONG. And 7. One way to run: AMOK. Clue echoes.

91. Play division: SCENE.

93. Excited, with "up": KEYED.

98. Cooked sushi fish: EEL. Yep. Always cooked. Eel blood is highly toxic.

99. "My goose is cooked!": I'M TOAST.

102. Baroque: ORNATE.

103. Like some rovers: LUNAR.

105. Buzz: STIR.

107. Really feared: DREADED.

111. Panthers' school: PITT.  Pittsburgh Panthers.

113. Dessert options: PIES.

115. Enter, as data: TYPE IN.

119. Be of help: AVAIL.

124. Many a quartet's bottom line: CELLO.

125. Relaxed: LOOSENED.

126. Produce visibly, as a sweat: WORK UP.

127. Young ones: TYKES.

128. Great times: EONS.

129. Bond, for one: SPY. James Bond.

130. Burns subjects: LASSES. This refers to Robert Burns, right?

Down:

1. Legendary mountain climber: MOSES.

2. Even things: ATONE.

3. Toroid treat: DONUT.

4. Addlepated: CONFUSED.

5. Pub patron's pint: ALE.

6. Bowser's bagful: PET FOOD.

8. Destination of the 1925 diphtheria serum run: NOME. More details here.

9. Bashful: TIMID.

10. Baseball's "Little Giant": OTT.

11. Audibly: OUTLOUD.

13. Get sore: SEE RED.

14. Sorority vowel: ETA.

15. YouTube upload: VIDEO. In case you missed, here is our blogging team again. Almost viral, as Lemonade said.

17. Wah-wah source?: CRIB.

18. Pix from needles: TATS.

21. Subsidiary wager: SIDE BET.

24. Enthusiastic kids' plea: CAN WE.

29. Music genre prefix: ALT. Alt-rock, e.g.

32. Bit of subterfuge: PLOY.

34. Bucolic outbursts: MOOS.

36. Tank: BOMB.

38. Lamb literature: ESSAYS. Charles Lamb.

39. Castro of Cuba: RAUL.

41. Smooch and stuff: NECK.

43. Frayed: WORN.

44. Canadian gas: ESSO.

45. Item sold in sheets: STAMP.

46. Van Gogh milieu: ARLES.

47. "How many roads __ man walk down ... ": Dylan: MUST A.

48. Swamp gas: MIASMA.

50. Intestinal bacterium: E COLI.

54. Career military members: LIFERS.

55. Matchless: UNIQUE.

57. Elocuted: ORATED.

58. Vegas attraction: CASINO.

59. Oinker's digs: STY.

62. Yukon or Denali: GMC.

64. "NewsHour" airer: PBS.

65. "Little House" family name: OLESON. "Little House" antagonist Nellie Oleson.

67. Schlep: LUG. We schlepped lots of cards to the card show yesterday. The show continues today.

Boomer, 8/10/2019

69. Interruption: LAPSE.

70. Plumber's piece: ELL.

71. Forest __: RANGER.

72. Drive away: REPEL.

73. Colleague of Ruth and Sonia: ELENA.

74. Chopped into cubes: DICED.

79. Asian libation: SAKE. I love both Sushi and Sashimi. But only drink sake with Sashimi.

80. __ pants: KNEE.

83. "Bye!": CIAO.

85. Prefix with dermal: ENTO.

88. One-eyed Norse deity: ODIN. He sacrifed his eye for wisdom. Here played by Anthony Hopkins.

89. No. 2: ASST.

90. The Beatles' "words of wisdom": LET IT BE.

91. Asian appetizer: SATE.

92. Soaps and vacuums: CLEANERS.

95. Oboe kin: BASSOON.

96. Stop seeing someone: END IT.

97. Unintentional rat poison victim: BARN OWL.

100. Trailhead handout: MAP.

101. Minor matter: TRIFLE.

104. Handy: UTILE. Not a word I use.

106. "__ Hope": '70s-'80s soap: RYAN'S.

108. Nerds: DORKS.

109. Follow: ENSUE.

110. Oceanic abysses: DEEPS.

111. Concord: PACT.

112. 2017 Poker Hall of Fame inductee Phil __: IVEY.

114. Suffix with buck: EROO.

116. Job in a kitchen: PREP.

117. Whitewater challenge: EDDY.

120. Alhambra article: LOS.

122. Ed.'s stack: MSS.

123. U.S. govt. broadcaster: VOA. They broadcast in Mandarin Chinese & Cantonese.

 C.C.

 

Tuesday, April 9, 2019 John Lampkin

"ANT COLONY"

17. *Employee insurance coverage, briefly: WORKERS COMP. 

60. *Unmanned aerial attack: DRONE STRIKE.

11. *Hotel bed choice: QUEEN SIZE.

32. *Persist despite difficulty: SOLDIER ON.

46. Symbolic Egyptian snake, which includes the start of a hint to the answers to starred clues: ASP.

Look at the hind end of this ant:

"The Crematogaster genus of ants has a cute heart-shaped gaster which gives it one of its common names, the Saint Valentine’s Ant."  - John Lampkin

After noticing worker,  drone,  queen and soldier as answers in the starred clues,  I first thought "Bees" but I had never heard of soldier bees.    John threw me for a loop with ASP.    What does ASP have to do with bees ?   At that point, I paid attention to the circles and reread the reveal.   ANT COLONY might have been hard to spot without the circles.

Clever puzzle and design.   I like how ANT COLONY is arranged so that it represents a mound.  We had plenty of fire ant mounds in the pastures and yards in Central Texas.  Dang things were so hard to get rid of.   It was like playing Whac-A-Mole.

    
Across:

1. "Star Wars" warrior: JEDI.  All you want to know and more at Wookiepedia, the Star Wars Wiki.

5. Treaded winter vehicle: SNO-CAT.  

11. "Proven," in proofs: QED.  Quod Erat Demonstrandum.  Latin, from the buzzwords used by great Greek mathematicians,  such as Euclid and Archimedes.

14. Laptop brand that sounds like a top tennis player: ACER.  Cure clue.

15. Pays homage to: HONORS.  Pays respect to.

16. Prefix with corn or cycle: UNI.  As a preteen, my gangly friend Brian became an accomplished unicycle rider in our hilly little town.   He turned out to be a pretty good basketball player on our high school team. 

19. It may be bruised: EGO.   8 Ways to Overcome a Blow to Your Ego

20. Blight-stricken tree: ELM.  A fungal disease spread by bark beetles.   "This disease is not of Dutch origin, but because early work on the disease was done by Dutch pathologists in the 1920s, the disease has been called Dutch elm disease (DED)." - Morton Arboretum

21. Deceived: LIED TO.

22. Lo __: noodle dish: MEIN.  Lo mein - soft boiled noodles.  Chow mein - crispy fried noodles.

23. Church officers: DEACONS.  Not germane to the clue for any other reason than Deacon is in it:


25. "Valley of the Dolls" author Jacqueline: SUSANN.  A best selling book about three pill-popping women.   It was later adapted into a movie of the same name.

27. Animal that can learn sign language: APE.

28. Parting site in Exodus: RED SEA.

30. "Who's there?" response: IT'S ME.  Pretty song:


33. Rank above maj.: COL.  Major /  Colonel.   Colonels have two grades in the Army.  "Light"(Lieutenant Colonel - grade O-5, silver oak leaf insignia) and "Full Bird" (Colonel - grade O-6, silver eagle insignia).

36. Makes an effort: TRIES.

37. Small store: SHOP.   My parents small store was in a 6600 sq. ft. two story building my dad and his contractor buddies built.  Antiques, Furniture Stripping & Refinishing.  That's why I can tell people I used to be a stripper.

38. Serious no-no: TABOO.   Women's fragrance: Tabu.

40. Poet Pound: EZRA.

41. Be under the weather: AIL.

42. 11 p.m. personality: NEWSMAN.  10 p.m. Central. 

44. Mentalist's "gift": ESP.   Every Single Perp was not required for this initialism of Extrasensory Perception.

45. Installs, as a minister: ORDAINS.  Ordains, as a deacon:  Deacons.

47. Sound like an ass: BRAY.  I'm not touching this one.

49. Blu-ray buy: DISC.   lu- added to bray above.

50. Quick breaths: GASPS.

54. "To reiterate ... ": I REPEAT.

57. Like sunset-silhouetted scenery: REAR LIT.  A photog like John Lampkin knows how to get the perfect shots .

59. Golfer's goal: PAR.   Unless you are a tour player.   Then you are looking for birdies or better.  Canadian Corey Conners qualified last Monday to play in the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.  He birdied six of nine coming in on Sunday to win the tournament.  It was the first time in the last 9 years that a Monday qualifier won a PGA Tour event.

62. From __ Z: A TO.  An idiom for beginning to end. 

63. Shrek's kiss made Fiona one for good: OGRESS.

64. Hint of the future: OMEN.  I don't believe in them. 

65. Home in the woods: DEN.   I'd prefer a cabin.

66. Treating kindly: GOOD TO.

67. Sunset direction: WEST.  On this planet.  I assume the same for the others in our solar system.

Down:

1. Ranted (at): JAWED. It's baseball season. So many great clips to choose from.   Let's look at this blast from the past for a good example of a couple of guys that jawed at each other:


2. French school: ECOLE.

3. Skin care prefix: DERMA.

4. Annoy: IRK.

5. Sacred place: SHRINE.  I wonder if the PGA Tour players had time to stop by the Alamo, and perhaps stroll along the River Walk.

"San Anto"

6. Carrots, for snowmen: NOSES.

7. Like one's prized music collection, perhaps: ON CD.

8. Small water birds: COOTS.  Thank you perps.  An internet search tells me they are closely related to the moorhen, which didn't really help me.   A group of them is known as a covert or a cover.    I don't remember when I was first told that girls had cooties, but  I asked my mom and she said it wasn't true.   We didn't have the internet back in those days.  

9. Big name in canned meat: ARMOUR.   Hormel too. 

10. Baking soda amt.: TSP. 

12. Amtrak employees: ENGINEERS.

13. "My Heart Will Go On" singer Celine: DION.   The theme song from Titanic:


18. Flee to wed: ELOPE.

22. Mexican mother: MADRE.

24. Sleep in a bag, maybe: CAMP.

26. Gig component: SET.

29. "Pronto" letters: ASAP.

30. Japanese golf great Aoki : ISAO.  Isao Aoki with Arnold Palmer.  

I had the exact same clue and answer on March 20th, 2018.  Here's the exact same picture and comments:

He credits watching Arnold Palmer for giving him the inspiration to pursue a golfing career.

"Isao Aoki only plays with golf balls marked with the number 5.  That number is pronounced “Go” in Japanese and it also represents the worst score he wants to make."

He was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004.  Source - World Golf Hall of Fame.

31. Hardly the best: THIRD RATE.

33. Sounds like a crow: CAWS.

34. Docs who deliver: OBs.  Obstetrician. 

35. Bausch partner: LOMB.

38. On a scale of one to __: TEN.

39. Sculler's need: OAR.

42. "Please don't bite me!": NICE DOG.

43. Persistently worry: NAG AT.

48. Peter of Peter, Paul & Mary: YARROW.   Friend and fellow Cornell student Leonard Lipton wrote a poem in 1959 that Peter Yarrow put into lyrics for this 1962 song that had nothing to do about smoking marijuana or other drug use. - paraphrased from Wikipedia.  Our own Bill G went to Cornell. 


51. Snail trail: SLIME.

52. Colorado's __ Peak: PIKES.   Aaron Kaufman of the Discovery Channel's Fast N' Loud narrates this short clip of him racing up Pikes Peak a few years ago in his '63 Falcon. 


53. Cardiologist's implant: STENT.

54. Apple tablet: IPAD.

55. Jason's ship: ARGO.  He was searching for the Golden Fleece.  Greek mythology.   Not my cuppa, but here is an article that shed some light on the story line and players involved.   I had no idea that Hercules was an oarsman on the Argo.

56. Lawn mower brand: TORO.    I keep thinking about replacing my old John Deere rider.   It's a yellow deck STX-38.  It was built to last and it has.   Faithful service for nearly 30 years. 

57. Take a load off: REST.

58. Exxon, formerly: ESSO. 

61. Homer's neighbor: NED.  Homer Simpson and Ned ("Okilly-dokilly!") Flanders.

Here's the grid !

Notes from C.C.: 

1) Lovely grid, John!

2) So what did you shoot yesterday, TTP?  80s?

3) Dear Agnes (Irish Miss) had to spend 5 hours in the ER yesterday due to the excruciating foot pain from the fall she suffered a few weeks ago. She's going to see her GP tomorrow and an orthopedic doctor soon. It's been tough few weeks for Agnes, who lives alone. Please send positive thoughts and love to Troy, New York!

Sunday Janaury 13, 2019 John Lampkin

Theme: "Beta Blockers" - B is removed from the start of each theme entry.

 

23A. Defeat decisively in an annual Nathan's contest?: EAT THE PANTS OFF. Beat the pants off.

 

46A. Cutlery causing boo-boos?: OWIE KNIFE. Bowie knife.

69A. Explore à la an aging Captain Kirk?: OLDLY GO. Boldly go.

97A. Roleo official?: UMP ON A LOG. Bump on a log. This ump prefers to stay dry.

 

122A. Farm workers' coffee setup near a fence post?: URNS AT THE STAKE. Burns at the stake.

17D. One who sniffs out good investments?: ASSET HOUND. Basset hound.

36D. Painfully off-pitch Jewish diva?: OY SOPRANO. Boy soprano.

58D. Sampling from Quaid's vineyard?: RANDY WINE. Brandy wine. Randy Quaid.

75D. Carpet made from corn husks?: EAR SKIN RUG. Bearskin rug.

Super consistent theme set & fun clues from John, who's known for his humor and superb wordplay.

He's just so observant and pays so much attention to every one of his grid entries. His clue echoes often leave me in awe. They would have escaped my notice completely.

John is also legendary for his grid design. Just look at today's grid. Theme entries are spread everyone and you get a bite wherever you go.

Across:

 

1. It's usually spotted in a game: DOMINO. Each tile has spots.

7. Prolong painfully: DRAG OUT.

14. Pablo's putting-off word: MANANA.

20. Heat-sensitive patch: IRON-ON.

21. 1982 Toto hit: ROSANNA. Wiki says it won 1983 Grammy Record of the Year.

22. Twist counterclockwise, as a nut: LOOSEN. Or as a stubborn tension rod.

25. Hardly modest: BRASSY. And 26. Hardly quick: SLOW.

27. Steamed dumplings, e.g.: DIM SUM. I love shrimp dumplings the most. Yes, egg rolls are real Chinese food, Picard!

28. Oft-mispunctuated word: ITS.

30. Plane angle symbol: THETA.

31. Alley Oop's love: OOOLA. Nailed it.

33. Diplomacy: TACT.

35. Tribute with bent elbows: TOAST.

37. Best-liked, in texts: FAV. Do you know what OOT stands for?

40. Flabbergast: AWE.

41. One in line for what's left: HEIR. 68. 41-Across, often: SON.

42. For instance: SAY.

43. Whale-tale captain: AHAB.

49. Cell dead spot indicator: NO BARS. 126. Consequence of only getting close?: NO CIGAR. Close by no cigar.

51. European capital: ROME.

52. Many misses: GIRLS.

53. Ripped: TORN.

55. Super: PRIMO.

56. __ fu: KUNG. Its Chinese characters are like this:

57. Amer. fliers: USAF.

58. Ripped off: ROBBED.

60. Handle change: ADAPT.

62. Actress Peeples: NIA.

63. Bird on LSU's seal: PELICAN. John sent me below picture with this caption: "A Laughing Gull waits patiently for the Brown Pelican to catch a fish so that he can steal it for himself. Such kleptoparasitism is widespread throughout the animal kingdom."

65. Is for all: ARE.

66. Apply, as butter: SPREAD ON.

72. Director Lee: ANG.

73. "Enough already!": I'VE HAD IT. 127. "Enough already!": QUIT IT.

77. Vague opening?: VEE. Vague.

78. 98, but not 98.6: INTEGER.

82. Bird hunted to extinction by the Maori: MOA.

83. Easygoing sort: TYPE B.

85. The boy well-known in meteorology?: EL NINO. Fun clue.

87. California roll ingredient: NORI. You can get roasted nori at Trader Joe's or any Asian grocery store.

88. Bat head?: ACRO. Acrobat.

90. Cardiff's country: WALES.

92. Galileo's birthplace: PISA. Gary & Joann were there.

93. Give __: A DARN.

94. Last-__: desperate: GASP.

95. Greening up: IN LEAF.

99. Actress Sommer: ELKE.

100. Revival prefix: NEO.

101. Some reddish deer: ROES.

103. Place to stay when you're out, ironically: INN.

104. Many retirees: Abbr.: SRS.

105. Against a thing, at law: IN REM.

107. Utah national park: ZION. Probably closed due to this government shutdown.

108. Bury: INTER.

110. Eager kids' plea: CAN WE.

112. Heady quaff: ALE.

114. War zone excavation: TRENCH.

116. GI no-show: AWOL.

120. Achieve success: ARRIVE.

125. "We can't hear you!": LOUDER.

128. "The Communist Manifesto" co-author: ENGELS. This picture was everywhere when I grew up.

129. Sign off on: AGREE TO.

130. Govt. securities: T NOTES.

Down:

1. Conks out: DIES. 6. Dies in this puzzle?: ONE DOWN. Literally.

2. Verbal: ORAL.

3. Con __: musical tempo: MOTO.

5. Japanese 7-Down: NOH. 7. See 5-Down: DRAMA.

4. Halved: IN TWO.

8. Pitchers Darling and Guidry: RONS. Also14. Org. with minors: MLB. Minor leaguers.

9. Quick-witted: ASTUTE.

10. Pilot feeder: GAS MAIN.

11. Palindromic celeb: ONO.

12. Not suitable: UNFIT.

13. First presidential swinger, golf-wise: TAFT. Unknown to me. Interesting trivia.

15. Critical ticker valve: AORTA.

16. Where even termites were welcome, presumably: NOAH'S ARK. Great fill/clue.

18. Tree house: NEST.

19. "Dragonwyck" novelist Seton: ANYA.

24. Criticize to death: PILE IT ON. Another great fill.

29. Astronomer's aid: STAR MAP.

32. Kentucky __, event before the Derby: OAKS.

34. Trim, as a pic: CROP.

37. Get all misty: FOG UP.

38. "__ woman wishes to be no one's enemy (and) ... refuses to be anyone's victim": Angelou: A WISE.

39. Like some memes: VIRAL.

41. Kind of tea: HERBAL.

42. "Because I __!": SAID SO.

44. OB/GYN test: AMNIO.

45. Set off: BEGAN.

47. Into shenanigans: ELFISH. Not a word I use.

48. "The Gift of the Magi" gift: FOB.

50. Support wear: BRA.

54. Comic-Con attendee: NERD.

59. Dig deeply: DELVE.

61. Sleeping bag site: TENT.

64. Lab __: COAT.

67. Ax to grind: AGENDA.

69. Verdi opera based on a Shakespeare tragedy: OTELLO.

70. TripAdvisor rival: YELP.

71. Einstein: GENIUS.

73. Photoshop fodder: IMAGE.

74. Outspoken: VOCAL.

76. Beach in a classic bossa nova hit: IPANEMA. The Girl from Ipanema.

78. If all else fails: IN A PINCH.

79. Ends: GOALS.

80. Misjudgment: ERROR.

81. Smartphone options: RINGS.

84. Pollen-packing petal pusher: BEE. Another fantastic picture from John: "Sweat bees don’t have pollen baskets on their legs like honey bees. They transport the pollen to their nests on electrostatically charged hairs on their abdomen."

86. Surreal ending?: ISM. Surrealism.

89. Dentist's directive: OPEN WIDE.

91. Mumbai wrap: SARI.

93. Designer Klein: ANNE.

96. It's played secretly under the table: FOOTSIE. And 98. Secretly: ON THE QT.

102. More than irk: ENRAGE.

106. Celebrate wildly: REVEL.

107. Cause of temporary weight loss?: ZERO G.

108. 101 course: INTRO.

109. 1:1, for one: RATIO. So very Lampkin!

110. NASCAR's Yarborough: CALE.

111. Elvis' middle name: ARON.

113. Moon goddess: LUNA.

115. Coup target: ETAT.

117. Power eponym: WATT.

118. "The Grapes of Wrath" character: OKIE.

119. Rents: LETS.

121. Defib settings: ERS.

123. Big name in ATMs: NCR.

124. Radiation source: SUN.

1) Boomer Updates:

Boomer had another blood draw last Wednesday. His alkaline phosphatase continues to be high, though better than before. His creatinine is still low. The good news is that his PSA has dropped to 1.3. These days he often gets 3 solid hours' sleep at a time.
 
2) Dave 2 Updates:

I talked to him last week. He's doing great and secretly enjoys the Snickers bars his friend Lynn snuck into his room. He does not have a computer in the rehab place, but he does solve our crossword every day. He said he would be back to his apartment in early February. You can send him a card to below address. Thanks, Agnes, for getting me the address.

David Hoskin

Wesley Manor

5012 East Manslick Rd.

Louisville, KY 40219

C.C.

Sunday Octobert 21, 2018 John Lampkin

Theme: "The French Disconnection" - LE is removed from the end of each theme entry.

23A. Painting of an annoying bricklayer at work?: MORTAR AND PEST. Mortar and pestle.

30A. 15th-century food-stained collectible?: GUTENBERG'S BIB. Gutenberg's Bible.

46A. Fabulist's Cheer alternative?: AESOP'S FAB. Aesop's Fable.

63A. Dollar for a shot?: BELT BUCK. Belt buckle.

67A. Dollars for shots?: ROUND TAB. Round table. Classic John Lampkin clue echo.

82A. "Snow White" witch's download?: POISON APP. Poison apple.

94A. Mud, slop, pig, etc.?: ELEMENTS OF STY. (The) Elements of Style. There's a stray LE in the first word.

107A. Sailing maneuver to avoid a pirate's threat?: DEFENSIVE TACK. Defensive tackle.

43D. Vehicle hired to carry steeplechase horses?: JUMPER CAB. Jumper cable. The only Down entry. Expertly placed in the middle. 

Reveal:

113. French article whose singular form is "disconnected" from nine puzzle answers: LES.

I actually read the title as "The French Connection" and thinking ET might be added to each theme entry.


Great to see John back. No one entertains like he does. Just look at these fresh and original clues:

4. Their pockets aren't deep: PITAS.

7. Movement at a boring concert?: NOD.

28. Bios unread by their honorees: OBITS.

44. Tip for changing your answer?: ERASER.

56. Tip for solving in ink?: NIB.

Across:

1. Dropped-jaw stare: GAWP. Not GAWK.

5. Like loving caresses: SENSUAL.

12. Audio units: Abbr.: DBS. OK, decibels.

15. "The Americans" agcy.: FBI. Never saw this series. Starring Keri Russell. I like her "Felicity". Very sweet.

18. First name in erotica: ANAIS. And 105. 18-Across and family: NINS.

20. Place for a bootee: TOOTSIE.

21. Seedy motel, say: RAT TRAP.

25. Japan's emperor: AKIHITO. Since 1989.

26. Like many forest roads: UNPAVED.

27. Suffer: AIL. Glad you can be out of the hospital today, WikWak!

28. Least obfuscated: OPENEST. Tiny dupe with the clue 36. Breezy and open: AIRY.

29. Football laterals, e.g.: TOSSES.

33. Beachcomber's pace: STROLL.

37. Glance: PEEK.

38. Chaotic mess: SNAFU.

42. Bot head?: ECO. Wiki says "EcoBot is short for Ecological Robot and it refers to a class of energetically autonomous robots that can remain self-sustainable by collecting their energy from material, mostly waste matter, in the environment."

43. Harbor protector: JETTY.

45. Dutch South Africans: BOERS.

48. "Exodus" author: URIS.

49. Chickadee kin: TIT. Old Man Keith has a good blue tits story.

50. Undocumented Nepali?: YETI. Fun clue.

51. Peak in Thessaly: OSSA.

52. Big D cager: MAV. owned by Mark Cuban.

53. Annoy: IRK.

54. PC linkup: LAN.

57. Mexican mama bears: OSAS.

59. Slip away: ELAPSE.

61. Popular Oahu beach: WAIKIKI. And 45. 61-Across wear: BIKINI.

66. "Hmm": GEE.

68. Piles up: AMASSES.

69. Captain Hook's creator J.M. __: BARRIE.

71. Eight furlongs: MILE.

72. Caught: GOT.

73. Erstwhile U.K. recording giant: EMI.

74. Kind of trading, briefly: OTC.

75. Sweet Sixteen org.: NCAA.

77. With the bow, in music: ARCO. I learned from doing crosswords.

80. Of __ mind: ONE.

81. Qatar's capital: DOHA.

84. Refine, as ore: SMELT.

87. Stick on the grill: KEBAB. Popular street food in Xi'an. Often marinated in a mix of hot red pepper and cumin. I don't recall any other Xi'an food with cumin.

88. Beat it: LAM.

89. Jamaican hybrid fruits: UGLIS.

90. Fine-tune: HONE.

91. China-related prefix: SINO.

92. Irritates: EATS AT.

98. Mist and such: VAPORS.

103. Show great respect for, perhaps: IMITATE. This is true.

104. Mythical flapper: ROC. Very popular skin care brand as well.

105. Gulf of Guinea country: NIGERIA.

106. Easy time: LEISURE.

110. City on the Elbe: DRESDEN.

111. Morning paper, e.g.: EDITION. Tiny dupe: 114. Newsroom VIPs: EDS.

112. "Gymnopédies" composer: SATIE. Erik.

115. Boot protectors: TOECAPS.

116. Smartphone component: LENS. John is a great nature photographer. And a pianist.

Down:

1. Full range: GAMUT.

2. "That's __!": A NO NO.

3. Twists: WARPS.

5. Dutch town: STAD.

6. Geological period: EON.

8. Twin-but-not-Twins' city: ST PAUL. Our local crossword tournament used to be held in St. Paul. 

9. Half a fitness motto: USE IT.

10. Freezer __: AISLE.

11. Allow: LET.

12. Window hanging: DRAPERY.

13. Where brownies come together: BAKERY. Not the girl scout brownies.

14. Wasp's weapon: STING.

15. Disc golf "ball": FRISBEE.

16. More eccentric: BATTIER.

17. WSJ news bit: IPO. Uber soon.

19. Sets money aside: SAVES UP.

22. What an X may mark: THE SPOT.

24. Arm or chin follower: REST.

30. Universal: GLOBAL.

31. Endemic: NATIVE.

32. Neh. and Esth.: BKS.

34. Penalty callers: REFS.

35. Ric of The Cars: OCASEK.

38. Opinion: SAY. So lucky to have Inanehiker (Dr. Nina) to turn to for advice.

39. French word in bios: NEE.

40. Home of Elaine, in Arthurian legend: ASTOLAT. Learning moment for me.

41. Forces fraudulently (upon): FOISTS.

47. Cavalier "My bad": SO SUE ME.

49. Emotional wounds: TRAUMAS. VA Hospital has this wonderful slogan for their PTSD patients: Strong Enough to Serve, Strong Enough to Recover.

53. Iconic WWII island, briefly: IWO.

54. Unlike idioms: LITERAL.

55. Going by, for short: AKA.

58. Not in class: ABSENT.

60. Mystery award: AGATHA.

62. "Constant Craving" singer: K D LANG.

63. Carousel item: BAG.

64. Broody rock genre: EMO.

65. Long-running forensic series: CSI.

67. Put more varnish on: RE-COAT.

69. Owie: BOO BOO.

70. Not out-of-bounds, as a ball: IN PLAY.

76. Goals: AIMS.

78. Cost-of-living no.: CPI. Consumer Price Index.

79. Photo possibilities: OPS.

80. Bama rival: OLE MISS. 

81. Tightly packed: DENSE.

83. Some leave you powerless: OUTAGES. Another great clue.

84. Miss, say: SHE.

85. "Tartuffe" dramatist: MOLIERE.

86. Foes: ENEMIES.

87. Cute calendar subjects: KITTENS. Now we can't live without Google Calendar and D-Otto's sturdy pill box.

91. Caught: SNARED.

92. "Blah, blah, blah," briefly: ETC ETC.

93. Tel __: AVIV.

95. Liszt work: ETUDE.

96. Middle Corleone brother: FREDO. No spine.

97. Mezzo-soprano Anne __ von Otter: SOFIE. Swedish. Another learning moment.

99. Part of a flower: PETAL.

100. Speak: ORATE.

101. "Breaking Bad" toxin: RICIN.

102. Benefits: SAKES.

106. Cholesterol letters: LDL.

107. Tigers' home: Abbr.: DET.

108. Vardalos of film: NIA.

109. Bread, for stew: SOP.

Boomer updates:

Boomer got his ELIGARD (hormone) shot on Tuesday after the MRI and bone scan. He'll also receive Zoledronic acid shot next month. This shot is supposed to protect his bones. This will be repeated every 3 months. The hormone shot is every 6 months.

We're going to meet with a radiation oncologist on Nov 6th, 2018 to discuss the radiation process for those bad spots in his back. Dr. Thomas Downs and their neurosurgery department are quite concerned with those spots as they're too close to the spinal cord. Boomer also has a fractured T11. No wonder he has been in so much pain.

They're going to provide Boomer with a special brace to protect his back during this period. We're waiting for the fitting call.

Lots of tests, scans and treatments ahead, I hope you continue cheering Boomer up on Mondays (He does not read other days' blog posts). Thank you!

C.C.