Sunday, Jun 22nd, 2025 ~ Christina Iverson

 GENRE FUSION
OR
"I WANNA ROCK GARDEN"

Twisted Sister, "I wanna rock" garden

Splynter here, subbing for our unhappy hostess, who had her infusion done this past week, and was not feeling well.  This is my first time blogging a Sunday grid, but not my first Christina Iverson puzzle - her last LA Times contribution was Memorial Day this year; I blogged her Wednesday crossword back in Nov 2024.  Since I have no reference to any previous Sunday statistics, I can say that we have no circles, a few names, 50 four- but not foul- letter words, and not only are all the theme answers unique, but two of the 9-letter Downs are unique* as well.  I thought this was a well-made, clever crossword - the theme answers are a playful 'expansion' that ties an in-the-language phrase to a musical genre; 

23. Title of a memoir written by Madonna's daughter?: MOM AND POP MUSIC

39. Young and adorable Twisted Sister enthusiast?: PRECIOUS METAL HEAD

56. Exclamation upon finding "Honky Tonkin'" in the dumpster?: IT'S A FREE COUNTRY ALBUM

75. Spend every waking moment in one's Rolling Stones-themed bedroom?: 

LIVE UNDER A ROCK POSTER - I grew up with Iron Maiden, who had the best merchandising

The Trooper & Aces High, two of their coolest "Eddie" posters

89. Accidentally books the hip-hopper with no rhythm?: GETS A BAD RAP ARTIST

111. Go-to for Pete Seeger or Woody Guthrie?: COMMON FOLK SONG

 My favorite was not the METAL or ROCK reference, but the one genre I probably like the least - 

IT'S A FREE COUNTRY ALBUM~!

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Card game also called contract whist: OH HELL - new one to me; more here

7. Jerks: SPASMS

13. Southwestern people: APACHE

19. Affectionate knuckle rub: NOOGIE

20. Many a social media opinion: HOT TAKE - Essentially, statements that play Devil's Advocate by raising people's ire - e.g., anything political posted here on the Corner

22. Comedy series starring Bob Odenkirk and David Cross: MR. SHOW - never heard of this; I do know David Cross, as he appeared in Men in Black 1 & 2

25. Trig function: COSINE

26. Scraped (by): EKED

27. Gawk: GAPE

28. Clarinet kin: OBOE

30. Antlered deer: BUCKS - STAGS didn't work

31. Plus: ASSET - AND - 119A. Column on a record: LOSSES - this second clue stumped me because with the musical references of the theme, I was thinking of "record" as "LP"

33. Premier League team, to fans: MAN U - Manchester United - English soccer/football

35. Taken __: startled: ABACK

37. FD employee: EMT - a change-up on the typical clue for this abbr answer

45. Like fuzzy fruit: MOLDY - ah, not PEACH or KIWIS, but the ones gone bad . . . .

47. Recipe nos.: AMTS

48. Dowser's objective: WELL - WATER was too many letters

49. Confidentiality doc: NDA - Non-Disclosure Agreement; I will need this for my board games

50. Actor Rickman: ALAN - He made a compelling villain in "Die Hard"

"Die Hard" IS a Christmas movie in my home

51. Brought forth: BEGAT - there was a lot of Biblical begatting

53. Some nonalcoholic pours: BEERS - Years ago, I drank a half-dozen O'Doul's at a gentlemens' club; all you get are trips to the bathroom and a nagging headache

55. Sound from an enthusiastic diner: MOAN - I guess; I personally don't usually associate a moan with something good - or - food

60. "Thanks a __!": "LOT~!"

61. Count (on): RELY

62. Thakhek locale: LAOS - More like Saturday cluing, filled via perps

63. __ bran: OAT

64. Amazes: WOWS

65. Be a cast member of: ACT IN

67. Scribbles (down): JOTS

69. Hat with a tassel: FEZ - everything you ever wanted to know about "The Fez"

Steely Dan from the album "The Royal Scam"

70. Inventor Sikorsky: IGOR - no, EYE-gor . . . .

71. Smudge on Santa's suit: SOOT

72. Letters on some protective lip balm: SPF - Sun Protection Factor

81. All the __: RAGE

82. Thick-__ boots: SOLED

83. Foil alternatives: ÉPÉES

84. Storybook bear: PAPA

85. German cry: ACH

86. French bean?: TETE - Frawnche for "head"

87. Transparent: OPEN

88. Colorful relative of a violet: PANSY

95. Knock: DIS - as in disrespect

96. Actress Hannah: DARYL - I know her from Blade Runner, Splash and Roxanne - her IMDb

97. Site with a Fashion Finds section: ETSY - the website here

98. Informal attempts: STABS

100. Like a Brit's proverbial milk: SPILT - as opposed to "Spilled"

102. Fashionably __: LATE

104. Prefix with fill or complete: AUTO - curses, Autocorrect~!

There were so many to choose from, but mostly NSFW

106. Italian musical phrase often abbreviated as "a2": A DUE - two players, in unison

109. Immature, in a way: LARVAL - $2 word

115. Playful aquatic mammals: OTTERS

116. One might end on a high note: SOPRANO

117. Bug with pincers and a flat body: EARWIG

118. Gym: PHYS. ED. - semi-meh; gym may be an abbr for gymnasium, but gym class - better

120. Biases: SLANTS

DOWN:

1. "I'll treat": "ON ME."

2. Bit of fishing gear: HOOK

3. "Finally, I can sleep in my own bed!": "HOME AT LAST~!" - appeared one other time in the NYT

4. "Golly!": "EGADS~!"

5. Maya who designed the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery: LIN - her Webpage

6. Actor Heath: LEDGER - I liked him in "A Knight's Tale", and as the Joker in "The Dark Knight" - died at 28yrs old from a prescription drug overdose in NYC - his Wiki

7. Mart: SHOP

8. Catholic leader: POPE

9. Bread box?: ATM - another alternative clue for an over-used fill

10. "The Simpsons" disco guy: STU

11. Workers who may use concrete saws: MASONS - I tried PAVERS

12. Slopes habitué: SKI BUM

13. Regal competitor: AMC - Movie theatres

14. The big leagues: PRO BALL

15. Given that: AS SUCH

16. Get cold feet: CHICKEN OUT

17. Beep: HONK - I tried "TOOT"

18. Some flock members: EWES - AND - 42D. Fancy jugs: EWERS

21. System starter: ECO - ECOsystem

24. Party spread: PÂTÉ - "What am I, chopped liver~?"

29. Spot to get a bite: EATERY - can I get some PATE~?

32. Mole: SPY

33. Words to live by: MOTTO - Dah~! Not CREDO

34. Swimming powerhouse in the Olympics, for short: AUStralia - I was not sure where this clue was going; even after it filled via perps, I had to check online; here's a medal count by country

36. Model material: BALSA

37. Drafts folder filler: E-MAIL

38. Very, to Vivaldi: MOLTO - Italian 

40. Not forthcoming: CAGEY

41. Big Apple product: iMAC - I tried iPAD

43. Savage of "MythBusters": ADAM - I know him....

44. Savage of "Savage Love": DAN - I do NOT know him

46. Genetic material: DNA

51. Cold __ coffee: BREW

52. Slithering swimmers: EELS

53. "Children of," in temple names: B'NAI - Hebrew

54. Berkshire school: ETON - I was thinking Berkeley, and tried UCLA - hey, I am EAST coast....

55. Degs. for entrepreneurs: MBAs

57. Panicked, perhaps: FROZE - Fight, Flight or Freeze~?

58. Super: ULTRA

59. Game of luck: LOTTO

64. "I don't believe __ met": "WE'VE"

65. Posthumous Pulitzer winner James: AGEE - good WAG on my part

66. Firewood quantity: CORD 

67. One might start with a knock: JOKE - As in, "Knock Knock, who's there~?"

68. "My bad!": "OOPS~!"

69. Hit below the belt: FIGHT DIRTY *- I tried SUCKER PUNC, ran out of spaces

70. Ran in place, maybe: IDLED

71. Trademarked element of Play-Doh: SCENT - HA~!  I tried "TASTE" first

72. Gives up: STANDS DOWN *- neat contradictory clue/answer

73. "Is __ OK?": response to a request for Coke: PEPSI - in the South, the question is always "What kind of Coke do you want~?" "I'll have a Diet Pepsi."

74. Becomes ragged: FRAYS

75. Weblike fabric: LACE

Ballerina Black Secret Scarlet Lace Tights

76. Milk carton phrase: USE BY

77. Some: NOT ALL - that would be the definition....

78. "How can I ever __ you?": REPAY

79. Abbr. on old phones: OPERator; here's a funny Millennial video

Four minutes to dial a number....

80. Place for a couples retreat: SPA

81. Joplin work: RAG - SCOTT Joplin - The Entertainer kind of rag

86. Steak __: TARTARE - Basically, raw beef - a recipe

87. Batter's stat: OPS - Baseball lingo for On-Base Plus Slugging

88. Gp. that might plan a readathon: PTA

90. Soothing balms: SALVES - ALOES was too short

91. Make more suitable: RETOOL

92. "Resume speed," to a musician: A TEMPO - definition

93. Colon, at times: IS TO - analogy; see 35A.

94. Wraps: STOLES

99. Iraqi port city: BASRA

100. Piggie's favorite dish in the "Elephant and Piggie" books: SLOP - makes sense

101. Line on a trail map: PATH - I followed the advice of two Cornerites, desper-otto & TTP, ordered me a pair of New Balance 608 V5s

The brown ones were $10 less - I'm not picky, and they match my sweatpants~!

103. Bldg. coolers: A/Cs - gotta put my big window unit in; we are going to get close to 100° this week here in Connecticut 😝

104. Green Gables girl: ANNE

105. Blurry craft in tabloid pics: UFOs

107. Storage __: UNIT

108. Quiche need: EGGS

110. Acid letters: LSD

112. Peacock title: MRS. - Definitely Saturday cluing, and a reference to the board game Clue; I had an inkling this was what we were looking for; I also considered "MRT", as Mr. T was in the NBC "Peacock" show "The A-Team"

113. Western treaty gp.: OAS - Organziation of American States - the Wiki

114. Actor Penn: KAL - His IMDb; I knew of him from "House, M.D."

Splynter

Sunday June 15, 2025 Gary Larson & Amy Ensz

Theme: - "Living in the Past" - One word in each common phrase is replaced its past tense. 

22. Totally wild bibliography text?: LIT SOURCE. Light source. 

24. Number jammed in an adding machine printout?: STUCK FIGURE. Stick figure.

45. Drink to toast the Apollo 11 landing?: SHOT FOR THE MOON. Shoot for the moon.

66. Cowardly FBI agent?: CHICKEN FED. Chicken feed.

70. Indictment based on falsified evidence? : MADE-UP CASE. Makeup case. 

91. Skirmish at sea?: SPAT IN THE OCEAN. Spit in the ocean.

115. Ballroom pro who spent all of their cash on costumes?: BROKE DANCER. Break dancer.

119. Tossed some hairpieces?: THREW RUGS. Throw rugs.

66A is the only entry where the last word has the tense change. Fun entry/clue though. I did a similar theme ages ago for the WSJ. Used CHICKEN FED also. 

Gary and Amy's set is quite focused. They avoided bear/bore, see/saw where the nouns & verbs share no roots.

Across:

1. Guitar clamps: CAPOS. So happy for Splynter's new lifestyle.

6. Special __: OPS.

9. Jewish scholar: RABBI.

14. Omar of "House": EPPS.

18. Ticket category: ADULT.

19. Hard swing, in baseball slang: RIP.

20. Agree to take part: OPT IN.

21. French Revolution journalist: MARAT. Jean-Paul Marat, who's killed in his bathtub. 

26. Hidden: LATENT.

27. Nutrient-rich berry: ACAI.

29. Cornmeal dish: POLENTA. I grew up eating plain steamed corn buns. 

30. Former Nair competitor: NEET.

32. Laugh behind one's hand: SNICKER.

36. Paper purchase: REAM.

37. German pronoun: ICH. Wo in Chinese. Wo ai ni.

40. Swelter: ROAST.

43. Hillary Rodham __: CLINTON.

49. Sage and dill: HERBS.

53. Hard work: LABOR.

54. Jewelry for a piggie: TOE RING.

55. Private eye: GUMSHOE.

57. God, in the Torah: ADONAI. Hebrew for "My Lord".

59. Movie lines?: PLOTS. Oh story lines. 

60. "Not long now!": VERY SOON.

61. Machu Picchu builder: INCA.

63. "I have read and agree to the above terms and conditions," often: LIE. Chuckled at the clue. Yes.

64. Sardine containers: TINS.

65. In-app convos: DMS.

73. Hee-__: HAW.

74. Housekeeping staffer: MAID.

75. Place for pennies: JAR.

76. Do well in a comedy club: SLAY.

77. Longtime "Masterpiece Theatre" host Cooke: ALISTAIR. Feels like he should have been a Sir.

80. Sealy rival: SERTA.

82. Chronicles: ANNALS.

86. Some deodorants: ROLL-ONS.

87. Draw in: ATTRACT.

89. Metric weights: KILOS. Infusion again next Tuesday. The total dosage is based on my weight. 

90. Letter-shaped opening: T SLOT.

93. Tires out: WEARIES.

96. Indian tea region: ASSAM.

97. S&L investments: CDS.

98. "Right now!": ASAP.

101. Big squeeze: BEAR HUG.

103. __ bene: NOTA.

106. Totally committed: DEVOTED.

108. Three-piece suit garment: VEST.

111. Removable locks?: TOUPEE. Locks?= hair. Always.

121. Like plant-covered walls: IVIED.

122. "Arsenic and Old Lace" director: CAPRA (Frank)

123. Pro vote: YEA.

124. Some iPods: NANOS.

125. British puzzle pieces?: ZEDS. Just the letter Z.

126. About to cry: TEARY.

127. Final chapter: END.

128. Brief scrap: SET-TO.

Down:

1. Phone: CALL.

2. Sarah McLachlan hit: ADIA.

3. Stroke to hit par, often: PUTT. Putt for par. 

4. Pro Football Hall of Famer Merlin: OLSEN.

5. Avocado center: STONE.

6. Winner of eight consecutive Norris Trophies: ORR (Bobby). That's a record. Norris Trophy is awarded to the top defensive player. 

7. Typesetting unit: PICA.

8. Design detail, for short: SPEC.

9. Violin bow need: ROSIN.

10. Fitting: APT.

11. HVAC meas.: BTU.

12. Brand of 13-Down: BIC. 13. Writing implement: INK PEN.

14. "I can't wait!" feeling: EAGERNESS.

15. Cut back: PRUNE.

16. Medicare section: PART A.

17. Mirror fogger: STEAM.

21. Thousand thou: MIL.

23. In __: before birth: UTERO.

25. Military stronghold: FORT.

28. "Armageddon" threat: ASTEROID. An asteroid heading for Earth,

31. Material for a suit: TORT.

33. Toolbar symbols: ICONS.

34. Flow stopper: CLOG.

35. Close relations: KIN.

37. "Marge in Charge" writer Fisher: ISLA.

38. Neighbor of Sudan: CHAD.

39. __ bag: slouchy purse: HOBO.

41. Crowning: ATOP.

42. Ready to eat, as pistachios: SHELLED.

44. "Good heavens!": OH MY. Our whole neighborhood was super quiet yesterday. I live 2.2 miles miles away from the lawmaker's house. 

46. Drink with quinine: TONIC.

47. Open and honest: FRANK.

48. Tiny pest: MITE.

50. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" spinoff: RHODA.

51. Prosperous periods: BOOMS.

52. Perceive: SENSE.

55. Pool contents: GENES.

56. Disney's "Poor Unfortunate Souls" singer: URSULA. "The Little Mermaid". Learning moment for me.

58. Who "cometh" in a Eugene O'Neill play: ICEMAN.

60. Reels post, for short: VID.

62. Diarist Nin: ANAIS.

64. Highlands designs: TARTANS. And 116. Edinburgh no: NAE.

66. Data display: CHART.

67. Angels' crowns: HALOS.

68. "Let me do it": I WILL.

69. Tree at a Christmas tree farm: FIR.

70. Suited king and queen, in pinochle: MARRIAGE.

71. Tonkatsu ingredient: PANKO.  Tonkatsu is pork cutlet. Often paired with shredded cabbage.

72. Sour sort: CYNIC.

75. Rocker Joan: JETT.

78. Sidewalk impediments: SLOWPOKES.

79. Gift bag, often: TOTE.

80. Hiding place: STASH.

81. Is theatrical: ACTS.

83. "Lawrence of Arabia" co-star Guinness: ALEC.

84. "Get a __ of this!": LOAD.

85. Tax prep figs.: SSNS.

87. Parrot: APER.

88. Holier-__-thou: THAN.

91. "Gimme Love" singer: SIA.

92. Be theatrical: EMOTE.

94. Still not ready to get up: ABED.

95. Hide text in a document: REDACT.

98. Commercial trade, briefly: AD BIZ.

99. Wait tables: SERVE.

100. Sidestep: AVOID.

102. Vitamin D source: UV RAY. I probably do not need to take vitamin D supplement during summer months. 

104. Dots on a map: TOWNS.

105. Surrounding glows: AURAE.

107. Danson of "A Man on the Inside": TED.

109. Eyelid problem: STYE.

110. Consequently: THEN.

112. Special teams responsibility: PUNT.

113. Awards acronym: EGOT.

114. Canadian gas company: ESSO.

117. Tax return pro: CPA.

118. Botch: ERR.

120. "So cool!": RAD.

C.C.

Sunday June 8, 2025 Jared Cappel

Theme: "Alien Sightings" - ET is added the end of each common phrase.

26. Existential question to a parking enforcer?: WHAT MAKES YOU TICKET. What makes you tick?

37. List of maritime court cases?: FISHING DOCKET. Fishing dock.

46. Hastily crafted water carrier?: QUICK BUCKET. Quick buck.

62. Attire suitable to get married in?: UNION JACKET. Union Jack.

84. Underground cumin trade?: SPICE RACKET. Spice rack.

92. Protest led by reviewers seeking higher wages?: CRITIC'S PICKET. Critic's pick.

101. Cry from an impatient attendee at a NASA launch ceremony?: LESS TALK MORE ROCKET. Less Talk, More Rock.

I'm not famliar with the base phrase of the last theme entry. Google shows that it's the second studio album by the Canadian punk rock band Propagandhi. 

This is Jared Cappel's Sunday debut. Congrats, Jared!

Across:

1. Snail-paced: SLOW.

5. Manually: BY HAND.

11. Oft-torn 103-Down pt.: ACL. 103. 11-Across locale: KNEE.

14. Wraps up: ENDS.

18. Assails: HAS AT.

20. Paul of "The Kominsky Method": REISER. I know him from "Mad About You".

21. Exit: CLEAR OUT.

23. Actor/activist Davis: OSSIE.

24. Ailment treated with an inhaler: ASTHMA.

25. In direct competition: TOE TO TOE.

29. Church nooks: APSES.

30. Understand: GROK.

31. Things thrown in a fight: FISTS.

35. Personal feats: BESTS. I missed only 2 days of journaling last year. Already missed 2 this year. 

41. "For __ strange reason ... ": SOME.

42. Includes in a card game: DEALS TO.

44. Sculling blade: OAR.

45. Red-hot anger: IRE.

49. With it: ALL THERE.

51. Fleecy boot brand: UGG. They also make flip-flops.

52. Simpson, née Bouvier: MARGE. 89. Daughter of 52-Across: LISA.

53. Baby elephant: CALF.

55. Buzzing with energy: WIRED.

56. Carrier based in Kuala Lumpur: AIR ASIA.

58. Revere: ADORE.

60. Lay down the lawn: SOD.

61. Driving platforms?: TEES. Golf. 
 
66. Omar of "Power Book III: Raising Kanan": EPPS. 50 Cent on the right.

70. D.C. VIP: POL.

72. Give a leg up: BOOST.

73. Head out to sea: SET SAIL.

75. Schmeared bread: BAGEL.

78. "Tiny Beautiful Things" star Kathryn: HAHN. So many consonants in her names.

79. Corners, as the king: MATES.

81. TurboTax alternative, briefly: CPA.

82. Like a welcoming policy: OPEN DOOR.

87. __ Jose: SAN.

88. Capote, familiarly: TRU.

89. Literary understatement such as "not unhappy": LITOTES. Learning moment for me.

91. Sharer's adjective: OURS.

95. Dice game: CRAPS.

97. Cook in a basket, perhaps: STEAM. That's how we make mantou in China. Always steamed.

98. Alleviate: EASE.

99. German mountains: ALPEN. The Alps.

 109. Like a competitive day on the course: UNDER PAR.

112. Father of Luke and Leia: ANAKIN. Skywalker

113. Sitcom starring Valerie Harper: RHODA.

114. Jazzy improv: HORN SOLO.

115. Like the lion killed by Hercules: NEMEAN. The Nemean Lion. 

116. Achieve greatness: GO FAR.

117. Out of business: SHUT.

118. Hamilton bill: TEN.

119. Fatal: DEADLY.

120. What "swish" shots miss: RIMS.

Down:

1. Exhibit: SHOW.

2. Curler's target?: LASH. Eyelash curler.

3. "Odyssey" peak: OSSA.

4. "Hold your horses!": WAIT A SEC. 

5. Panicked shout from a driving instructor: BRAKE.

6. Votes for: YESES.

7. Top tracks: HITS.

8. Pallid: ASHY.

9. Animated clownfish: NEMO.

10. British pub offering: DRAUGHT.

11. Director's call: ACTION.

12. Game played by hitting putts from 12 spots around a hole: CLOCK GOLF. Unfamiliar to me. 

13. Potato's partner, in a classic soup: LEEK.

14. Hot: EROTIC.

15. "Just kidding!": NOT.

16. Pair: DUO. 28. 16-Down plus one: TRIO.

17. Sault __ Marie: STE.

19. Allure: TEMPT. Very delicate smell. 

22. Dined while pregnant, facetiously: ATE FOR TWO.  Great fill.

27. Long-eared equine: ASS.

32. One on a slippery slope?: SKIER.

33. __ Haute: TERRE.

34. Fine mount: STEED.

35. Seemingly high-class, familiarly: BOUGIE. Avocado toast was once considered bougie. 

36. Asylum seeker: EMIGRE.

37. Sham: FAKE. 

38. Land in la mer: ILE.

39. Retired flier: SST.

40. Lentil dish: DAL. Never had dal before. 

41. Glute exercise: SQUAT.

42. When doubled, a New Wave band: DURAN.

43. Heartbeat check, for short: ECG.

47. Canadian units of distance, familiarly: KMS.

48. Olympic skater Oksana: BAIUL.

49. Sudanese model Wek: ALEK.

50. Camouflages: HIDES.

53. Groomer's concern: COAT.

54. Piece of a circle's circumference: ARC.

57. Rockies resort town: ASPEN.

58. Brief mystery writer?: ANON. Fun clue.

59. Turntable pros: DJS.

60. Direct: STEER.

63. Letter-shaped support: I BAR.

64. "Incredible!": OOH.

65. __ Park, Colorado: ESTES.

67. Prepare for shipping: PACK UP.

68. "Scotland the Brave" musicians: PIPERS. It's one of the three unofficial national anthems of Scotland, a la Wikipedia.

69. View from the bottom bunk: SLATS.

71. Experienced veterans: OLD TIMERS.

74. Wanders around LAX?: TSA. Wand-ers? Not quite sure I get this clue.

75. Bartlett cousins: BOSCS.

76. Distant: APART.

77. Robin Williams role in "Aladdin": GENIE.

78. Zillow listing: HOUSE SALE. I've been having three 3 weeks' weed-free life. The latest 5501 renters are gone. Bliss!

79. Fly catcher?: MITT. Fly ball.

80. Card in a royal flush: ACE.

83. Tolkien beast: ORC.

84. Nasdaq purchase: STK. Stock.

85. "The Tell-Tale Heart" author: POE.

86. News team member: CO-ANCHOR.

90. Country with many hot springs: ICELAND.

93. Scout's find: TALENT.

94. __ saint: PATRON.

95. EMT training subj.: CPR.

96. Corp. makeover: RE-ORG.

99. Calibri alternative: ARIAL.

100. Musician Kravitz: LENNY.

102. Uninspired name for a Dalmatian: SPOT.

104. Bear with a medium-sized chair: MAMA.

105. Sanctioned: OKED.

106. Ex-U.N. head Annan: KOFI. He graduated from Macalester College here in MN.

107. Dutch export: EDAM.

108. Repairs, as a driveway: TARS.

109. Hesitant sounds: UHS.

110. Classic Japanese drama: NOH.

111. R&B's __ Hill: DRU.

C.C.

Sunday June 1, 2025 Paul Coulter

Theme:  "Symbolic Language" - Part of each theme clue is replaced by its keyboard symbol. 

22. Gets right to the .: TELLS IT LIKE IT IS. Gets right to the point. 

31. In the ***: MEANT TO BE. In the stars.

51. Balder-: HORSE FEATHERS. Balderdash. 

70. Dog #: ANIMAL SHELTER. Dog pound.

89. One %: THE UPPER CRUST. One percent.

102. Plays @: DABBLES IN. Plays at.

120. Non+: THROW A CURVEBALL. Nonplus. 

The dot in the first theme clue is subtle. The other symbols are easier to spot. 

Very fresh and creative theme from Paul. Very tight set with limited choices. 

Across:

1. Make the world a better place: DO GOOD.

7. Passed into law: ENACTED.

14. Poker pronouncement: I CALL.

19. Not necessarily against: OPEN TO. And 63. Words of likelihood: APT TO. 128. Meet: RISE TO. 16. "We __ please": AIM TO. 

20. Like cast iron and silicone: OVEN-SAFE.

21. Payoff: BRIBE.

24. Actor Jason: MOMOA. The Aquaman.

25. Small vortex: EDDY.

26. Hide out: LIE LOW.

27. Grenoble peak: ALPE.

29. PIN sites: ATMS.

30. Talkative bird: MYNA.

33. Pastoral people of Kenya and Tanzania: MASAI. Also spelled as Maasai. 

37. Tiny pest: ANT.

39. Pacific tuna: AHI. 33. Taco choice, on menus: MAHI.

41. Latin heart: COR. Learning moment.

42. Gentle skin care brand: AVEENO.

44. First name in jazz: ETTA.

46. Plunge after a workout: ICE BATH. 81. Steam after a workout: SAUNA.

55. Royal Shakespeare Company venue: THEATRE.

56. Data: INFO.

57. Handbill: FLIER.

58. Shorthand for a person who prefers platonic partners: ARO. Aromantic.

60. Sure to happen: FATED.

61. Former: PRIOR.

66. Trig function: COSINE.

67. Part of many Arab names: IBN. Son of.

73. USN rank: CDR. I miss our Spitzboov, Commander Al in real life, and Santa of course.

Al & Scott

74. Dairy din: MOOING.

76. Jane Curtin title role: ALLIE. Kate & Allie.

77. Movie credits and music charts: LISTS.

79. Dad: POPPA.

80. HMO alternative: PPO. Preferred Provider Organization.

83. Game with suspect tokens: CLUE.

87. Red disk hieroglyph: EYE OF RA.

93. Dogie catcher: LASSOER.

94. Has: OWNS.

95. Cheers: ELATES. JD just sent me this picture. Her oldest grandson Truman will be off college in the fall. He was just a little baby when JD joined our blog. 

Truman, Cameron, Dylan, JD, Bob and Grady (Truman's younger brother)

96. G7 member: USA.

97. Native people of Colorado: UTE.

98. Sinuous swimmer: EEL.

101. Copycatting: APERY.

107. Prone to snooping: NOSY.

109. Biblical birthright barterer: ESAU.

110. Fight like a knight: TILT.

111. Discarded devices: E-WASTE.

114. Role for Ingrid: ILSA. "Casablanca".

118. Ban alcoholic beverages: GO DRY.

123. Fish: ANGLE.

124. Clear French brandy: EAU DE VIE.

125. Bring out: ELICIT.

126. Informal farewell: SEE YA. 68. "That's how it's done!": BOO YA.

127. Displayed contempt: SNEERED.
 
Down:

1. Shower with love: DOTE.

2. "Say your piece" piece: OP-ED.

3. Neuter, as a horse: GELD.

4. "For your eyes __": ONLY.

5. Periods before soccer shootouts, briefly: OTS.

6. Embroidered mat: DOILY. 115. 6-Down material: LACE.

7. Wicked: EVIL.

8. Alt-country singer Case: NEKO. Beautiful.

9. Again: ANEW.

10. CBS forensic drama series: CSI.

11. Woven mat: TATAMI.

12. Paperless IRS option: E-FILE.

13. 2017 hit for Luis Fonsi: DESPACITO.

14. Co. with an iconic 8-bar logo: IBM.

15. Dalmatia native: CROAT.

17. Word dropped when things are getting serious, informally: L-BOMB.

18. Dealer's offer: LEASE.

20. Fat substitute brand: OLEAN.

23. "The Best" singer Turner: TINA.

28. Genesis patriarch: ENOCH.

30. Go for the gold?: MINE. Ha.

32. Backyard hideaway: TREE FORT.

34. Big name in cosmetics: AVON.

35. Feudal worker: SERF.

36. "The Ape and the Dolphin" fabulist: AESOP.

38. French crown: TETE.

39. Broke bread: ATE.

40. Hardy follower: HAR.

43. Foreseeable future: OFFING.

45. In the __ of: totally absorbed by: THRALL.

47. Lamb bleats: BAAS.

48. Creepy story?: ATTIC. Floor.

49. Blow up on social media: TREND.

50. "Blades of Glory" actor Jon: HEDER. Known for his role in "Napoleon Dynamite".

52. "The Time Machine" race: ELOI.

53. Chart made from overhead photos: AIRMAP. Images from the plane.

54. Fill: SATE.

59. Act like a startled doodlebug: ROLL UP.

62. Violated, with "of": RAN AFOUL.

64. Air pump meas.: PSI.

65. Auspicious tarot card: THE SUN.

66. Opera singer Siepi: CESARE. Another learning moment.

67. Drive: IMPEL.

69. Slangy denials: NOPES.

71. Much of the time: A LOT.

72. Food sticker: TINE. Stick-er.

75. NYSE banner events: IPOS.

78. Deep-six or eighty-six: SCRAP.

80. Sponges: PARASITES.

82. Abbey area: APSE.

84. Mandolin cousin: LUTE. I was thinking of this. But it's spelled as Mandoline. 

85. Computer operator: USER.

86. Vintage etailer: ETSY.

88. Change after a blackout, as a clock: RESET.

90. All the rage: HOT.

91. Farm female: EWE.

92. Court material: CLAY.

97. "That's a lie!": UNTRUE.

99. Come after: ENSUE.

100. "The Hobbit" sequel series, for short: LOTR.

102. Impressionist Edgar: DEGAS.

103. All together: AS ONE.

104. Girl Scout's award: BADGE.

105. Big and strong: BURLY.

106. Minnesota representative Omar: ILHAN. Her daughter has a very crossword-friendly name: Isra Hirsi. 

108. Break, as ties: SEVER.

111. Decorative pitcher: EWER.

112. Surfing need: WAVE.

113. Battery contents: ACID.

114. Sacred Nile wader: IBIS.

116. Letter opener cut: SLIT.

117. Voice above tenor: ALTO.

119. Vote for passage: YEA.

121. Poem of tribute: ODE.

122. Connecticut collegian: ELI.

Robert (Picard) and his wife Merlie visited Splynter last Wednesday. Hopefully Splynter will tell you more of the visit next week. I chuckled when he told me about his 7-hour nap afterwards. Picard is the first blog regular Splynter met in real life, I think.

Picard and His Wife Merlie