Sunday January 14, 2018 Matt McKinley

Theme: "Plush Material" - Plus H Material.

23A. Tolerate shrubland? : STAND THE HEATH. Stand the heat.

45A. .3 rings? : CIRCUS TENTH. Circus tent.

71A. Texas team's fair exhibit? : COWBOY BOOTH. Cowboy boot.

99A. Loyalty from a farm bird? : TURKEY TROTH. Turkey trot.

123A. Successful religious conversion? : FAITH ACCOMPLI. Fait accompli.

17D. Apparatus that breeds laziness? : SLOTH MACHINE. Slot machine.

65D. Sound from a dying fire? : HEARTH MURMUR. Heart murmur.

Across    

1. "I'm waiting ... " : TAP, TAP

7. "Volunteers?" : ANYONE?

13. Bobbing refuse : FLOTSAM

20. Word with man or dope : INSIDE

21. Like typical laundromats : COIN-OP

22. Affluent San Diego community : LA JOLLA

25. Crowd-drawing bars : IN SPOTS

26. Ancient queen, familiarly : CLEO

27. Pot for paella : OLLA

28. Sicilian six : SEI

29. Sports figure : STAT

30. Sewer needs : PATTERNS

34. Hates : DEPLORES

37. MLB set a season record for them in 2017 : HRs

38. Times to call, in ads : EVES

39. Markers : IOUs

41. Submerged threat : REEF

42. Office supply quantity : REAM

44. Term in wrestling or bowling : PIN

48. Doctor's orders : X-RAYS

51. Receiver of many letters : SANTA

53. Actress Kathryn : ERBE

54. Pocket breads : PITAs

56. BCS org. : NCAA

57. Franklin's 1936 opponent : ALF. Alf Landon

59. Spanish coin : EURO

61. Local pic shower : NABE. desper-otto said the neighborhood movie theater is shortened in slang to the NABE.

62. Distress signal? : OH, MY!

63. One who's learned : SCHOLAR

67. Pres. after USG : RBH. Ulysses S. Grant / Rutherford B. Hayes

68. Langley org. : CIA

69. Online exchange, briefly : IMs

70. Troon turndowns : NAEs

75. Basie's "__'Clock Jump" : ONE O

76. Director DuVernay : AVA

77. Actor Vigoda : ABE

78. Bard's dusk : E'EN

79. Lumber mill workers : SAWYERs

81. BOLO target : PERP

83. It can be hammered out : DENT

85. Runway adornment : SASH

87. "__ me ae spark o' Nature's fire": Burns : GIE

88. London's __ Modern : TATE

89. Some Deco works : ERTÉs

91. Sea, with "the" : DEEP

93. Maestro Georg : SZELL

97. Different : OTHER

102. Overtake in a race, in a way : LAP

103. Grammy winner Jason : MRAZ

105. Schoolmarmish : PRIM

106. One given to forward looks : SEER

107. Similar : AKIN

108. East Lansing sch. : MSU. Michigan State University

110. "How clever of you!" : NEAT IDEA

113. Office supplies, or, minus a letter, a supplier of them : STAPLERS

115. Nashville attraction : OPRY

117. Spanish 116-Down : ANO

118. Howard's wife, to the Fonz : MRS. C

120. Letters before a view : IMHO

121. Half of nothing new? : SAME OLD

128. Peru neighbor : ECUADOR

129. "The Wind in the Willows" croaker : MR. TOAD

130. Shamed : ABASED

131. Saw-toothed : SERRATE. Serrate or serrated can be an adjective meaning having a notched edge or saw-like teeth, especially for cutting.

132. Blouse partners : SKIRTS

133. Already-seen fare : RERUNS

Down:

1. "'__ some visitor,' I muttered ... ": Poe : 'TIS

2. __ farm : ANT

3. TV awareness-raiser : PSA

4. Colors : TINCTs

5. Confuse : ADDLE

6. Teenage Russian emperor (1727-1730) : PETER II

7. Pitching staff leader : ACE

8. Acronymic NYC neighborhood : NOHO

9. Give in : YIELD

10. Ready : ON ALERT

11. "Shh!" : NOT A PEEP

12. N.T. book : EPH.

13. Paper under a wiper : FLIER

14. Man-made Georgia lake : LANIER

15. Screwdriver parts, for short : OJs

16. Best : TOPS

18. Union setting : ALTAR

19. Spinnaker holders : MASTS

24. Writer __ de Balzac : HONORÉ

28. Tortilla treat : SOFT TACO

30. Livens (up) : PEPs

31. Nike competitor : AVIA

32. N.C. neighbor : TENN.

33. Bolivian capital : SUCRE

35. Red Square honoree : LENIN

36. __ roles : SEX

40. Literally, "under city" : SUBURB

43. Ponte Vecchio's river : ARNO

45. See the bet : CALL

46. __-Croatian : SERBO

47. They're hard to break : HABITS

49. Whine : YAMMER

50. Decision makers have them : SAY SOs

52. New Mexico art hub : TAOS

55. Witch enemy of Popeye : SEA HAG

58. False front : FACADE

60. "Without a doubt" : OH, YES

63. Acknowledge the brass : SNAP TO

64. Admonition : CAVEAT

66. Stack seen on-screen : ROBERT

72. Approached : WENT UP TO

73. Small and glittering, like eyes : BEADY

74. Beginnings : ONSETs

75. Court cry : OYEZ

80. Something made on a star? : WISH

82. Jury member : PEER

84. Country singer Gibbs : TERRI

86. Glass-raised word : HERE'S

90. Accident investigation clue : SKID MARK

92. __ license : POETIC

94. Sommer of "The Prize" : ELKE

95. Animal house : LAIR

96. Hosp. personnel : LPNs

98. Headed up : RAN

100. Academic retirees : EMERITI

101. Ore carrier : TRAM CAR

104. Gung-ho type : ZEALOT

107. 10-time Gold Glove winner Roberto : ALOMAR.  He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a Blue Jay. - CanadianEh!

108. Early receiver of tablets : MOSES

109. __ bar : SPACE

111. Netman Agassi : ANDRE

112. Fur tycoon : ASTOR

114. Suffix with xeno- : PHOBE

116. English 117-Across : YEAR

119. Series of 69-Across : CHAT

122. "Ghost" psychic __ Mae Brown : ODA

123. Radio settings : FMs

124. Reasons for some sportscast split screens : ADs

125. Big Ten sch. : PSU. Pennsylvania State University

126. Novelist Deighton : LEN

127. Picks out of a mug book : IDs

Sunday Jan 7, 2018 Pancho Harrison

Theme:  "According to Your Résumé ... " Each noun phrase is rephrased as a verb phrase related to the applicant in the clue:

22A. "... you've repaired planes for civilian pilots, but can you __?" : SERVICE ACES

34A. "... you've made indie films, but can you __?" : DIRECT HITS

40A. "... you've made decorative bowls, but can you __?" : FASHION PLATES

69A. "... you've conned small-time dealers with your forgeries, but can you __?" : SNOW FENCES

74A. "... you've monitored planets with your telescope, but can you __?" : TRACK STARS
 
100A. "... you've coached gymnasts, but can you __?" : TRAIN SPOTTERS

107A. "... you've run dining rooms, but can you __?" : HANDLE BARS

125A. "... you've written non-theatrical prose, but can you __?" : SUPPLY LINES

Notice that the first nouns all become verbs, the second nouns all change meaning drastically: tennis shots become fighter pilots, bomb hits to movie hits, clotheshorses to dinner plates, etc. Very consistent.

Train spotters is a new word to me. Google shows they're just train buffs.

Across:     

1. Join the cast of : ACT IN

6. Apt. listing unit : BDRM (Bedroom)

10. Golden __ : AGER

14. Biblical verb : DOST

18. Bara of the silents : THEDA. Nicknamed "The Vamp".

19. Exonerate : CLEAR

20. Judicious : SAGE

21. Sundance's sweetie __ Place : ETTA

24. One guilty of disorderly conduct? : SLOB. Ha ha.

25. Slightly : A TAD

26. Quasimodo's love : ESMERALDA. Great fill.

27. Trendy greeting : CIAO. Why "trendy"?

29. "The Optimist's Daughter" Pulitzer winner Welty : EUDORA

31. Biblical beast : ASS

32. Some Miles Davis groups : OCTETS

36. Govt. loan agency : SBA

37. Web page standard : HTML. Woo hoo, Misty, you rock!

39. Game show host : EMCEE

46. Lightweight hats : PANAMAS

50. It may be restricted : AREA

51. Artsy Manhattan neighborhood : SOHO

52. Latin clarifier : ID EST

54. Desert trial : N TEST. Some old North Koreans still can't believe that Chinese eat rice any time we want. During the Great Leap Forward when tens of millions of people died of famine, many Chinese escaped to North Korea for food.

55. Derring-do, e.g. : DEEDS

57. Disciplined, in a way : FINED

59. Many a Prado painting : GOYA

61. Windy City rail initials : CTA. Chicago Transit Authority.

62. Longtime Pro Bowl site : OAHU

64. Closer's stat : SAVES

66. B vitamin used to treat high cholesterol : NIACIN

76. Sparkly strands : TINSEL

77. Rhone tributary : SAONE

79. Standstill : HALT

80. Theater chain letters : AMC

81. "__ bigger than a breadbox?" : IS IT

83. Sprain site : ANKLE. My grandma used to rub hot alcohol on sprained ankle.

86. Like some coincidences : EERIE

90. Fairway adjoiner : ROUGH

93. Nike competitor : ASICS. According to Wiki, the name is an acronym for the Latin phrase anima sana in corpore sano: which translates as "a healthy soul in a healthy body".

95. Lang. of Livorno : ITAL

97. Kind : SORT

98. Cilium, to the layperson : EYELASH. Cilium sounds like a drug.

103. Tuckered out : ALL IN

105. Like falling off __ : A LOG

106. Frat letters : NUS

111. Thickets : COPSES

114. Actor Daniel __ Kim : DAE

117. Was crazy about : ADORED

118. Greeted the judge : ROSE

120. Prospector's disappointment : FOOL'S GOLD. Another sparkly fill.

122. Actress Delany : DANA. She made a puzzle for the NYT a long while ago.

123. "Oh, nuts!" : DANG

127. Spellbound : AGOG

128. Early role for Ronny : OPIE

129. Takes the Black Friday plunge : SHOPS. Tried once. Not fun at all. So rushed.

130. Sorbonne enrollee : ELEVE

131. Melanie's "Working Girl" role : TESS

132. Drive, for one : GEAR

133. Catch a glimpse of : ESPY

134. Pittsburgh product : STEEL

Down:

1. Between ports : AT SEA

2. Fischer's forte : CHESS

3. Contract conditions : TERMS

4. "If only __ known ... " : I'D'VE

5. African capital on its own river : NAIROBI. Vibrant night lights.

6. Ice skate part : BLADE

7. Summer Olympics event : DECATHLON

8. Actress Charlotte : RAE

9. "Happy Days" mom, to Fonzie : MRS C

10. Very, in music : ASSAI

11. In quantity : GALORE

12. Id controller : EGO

13. The first Mrs. de Winter, in fiction : REBECCA. The second one has no name. That was a scary movie.

14. Tie : DEAD HEAT

15. 10th-century emperor : OTTO I. First of four Holy Roman Emperors. Then the House of Otto decided to move to Roman Forest, Texas!

16. Get cracking : START

17. "Yay me!" shouts : TADAs

19. Breton or Gael : CELT

23. Chocolate trees : CACAOS. I bought a bag of cocoa nibs out of curiosity. Then I ground them into cocoa powder.

28. Was in a jam? : IDLED

30. Sch. in Knoxville : U TENN

33. Penn, e.g.: Abbr. : STA

35. Insincere, as a promise : EMPTY

36. Sunny-day shapes : SHADOWS. Awfully cold the past two weeks, thankfully Sun has been visiting us daily.

38. Crete's highest elev. : MT IDA

40. Hula hoops, say : FAD

41. "__ we good?" : ARE

42. Spot : SEE

43. Party-pooperish : NO FUN

44. Honor society letter : PHI

45. "Turn the Page" rocker : SEGER. Also 60. "Diana" singer : ANKA

47. Hajji's destination : MECCA

48. Up and at 'em : ASTIR

49. Kenton and Getz : STANs

53. Cubs' all-time home run champ : SOSA. Shunned by the Cubs these days.

56. Burglar's challenge : SAFE

58. Exxon, formerly : ESSO

63. Prefix with port : HELI

65. Powerful engine : V TEN

67. Man, but not woman : ISLE. Isle of Man.

68. Swears to : ATTESTS

69. Rubberneck : STARE

70. Spock portrayer : NIMOY

71. Well-timed : ON CUE

72. Forensic detectives, for short : CSIs

73. Take the loss : EAT IT

75. Chintzy : CHEAP

78. Like Willie Nelson vocals : NASAL. Boomer listens to his "On the Road Again" often.

82. Indian title : SAHIB

84. Michael Jackson compilation album : KING OF POP

85. Many OCS grads : LTS

87. Salmon-to-be : ROE. I enjoyed TTP and Yellowrock's continued miso and miso soup discussions. Dashi too.

88. Discount abbr. : IRR

89. Some "X-Files" characters : ETs

91. Fancy threads : GLAD RAGS

92. Oscar winner Berry : HALLE

94. Unrefined : CRASS. My Dashi is very unrefined, just dried anchovies, but good enough to make a simple Ramen noodle broth. No appetite for miso soup these days.

96. Remote : LONELY

99. Iditarod team member : SLED DOG. This race might end soon.

101. Winter Games org. : IOC

102. Grapples : TUSSLES. Next year I'm getting the flu shot.

104. Whence Aslan : NARNIA

107. Went after : HAD AT

108. Saw : ADAGE

109. Taboos : NO-NOs

110. NFL commissioner Goodell : ROGER. Powerful guy.

112. Flanders Fields flower : POPPY

113. Beethoven's fifths? : SOLs. Got via crosses.

114. Beneficiary : DONEE. Spell check does not like this word.

115. Naproxen brand : ALEVE. Heal quickly, Chairman Moe!

116. Ford finned flop : EDSEL. All alliterative.

119. In __: existing : ESSE

121. Snazzy coating : GILT

124. Barbary beast : APE

126. Hesitant speaker's sounds : UHs

Sunday, Dec 31, 2017 Robert E. Lee Morris

Theme: "Alien Nation" - Last word in each theme entry is an anagram of a country.

23A. *Menace to society : PUBLIC ENEMY. Yemen.

25A. *Old-school letters : SNAIL MAIL. Mali.
 
49A. *Tropical cocktail : MANGO TANGO. Tonga.

68A. *Neckwear for which Mr. T was once famous (but no longer wears) : GOLD CHAIN. China.

89A. *Hobby shop purchase : MODEL PLANE. Nepal.

109A. *Deluge : HEAVY RAIN. Iran.

33D. *Soap, often : DAYTIME SERIAL. Israel.

39D. *Flu symptoms : ACHES AND PAINS. Spain.

113A. Remote region ... and what literally ends each answer to a starred clue : WILD COUNTRY

C.C. here. Down with a flu. A repeat of that awful episode in 2015. Relentless coughing.

Skeletal write-up today. If you have any question, please ask in the Comments section.
 
Across:  

1. Turn in the box : AT BAT

6. Pour out forcefully : SPEW

10. Sailing : ASEA

14. Dip providing potassium, for short : GUAC. Guacamole.

18. Drink with an umbrella : MAI TAI

20. Scat legend, familiarly : ELLA

21. Diamond slip-up : BALK

22. Austen classic : EMMA

27. A or Angel : ALER. American Leaguer.

28. "Immediately, if not sooner!" : ASAP

30. Jeweler's assortment : RINGS

31. Doc's orders : MEDs. Do you guys all get the flu shot? I never had one.

34. Ryan in a 1998 film, e.g.: Abbr. : PVT. Saving Private Ryan.

36. Macho guys : HE-MEN

38. Party animals? : STAGS

42. BWI posting : ETA

43. Word on a wanted poster : ALIAS

45. Canine protection : ENAMEL

47. Prefix with polis : ACRO

48. Kind of milk or sauce : SOY.  I only want cold water and hot jasmine tea.

51. Pledged, in a way : TITHED

53. Common FM radio fare : HIT SONG

55. Hands over : CEDES

56. Sign off on : AGREE TO

57. Bring out : ELICIT

58. "Can I have a __ of your drink?" : SIP

59. "That was close!" : PHEW

60. Coll. term : SEM (Semester)

61. Trial version : DEMO

62. Look forward to : AWAIT

64. Coolly dispassionate : CLINICAL

66. MLB stat : ERA

70. Issue opener? : NON. Non-issue.

71. They're sold as is : USED CARS

73. Choral composition : MOTET

74. Former Laker star Lamar : ODOM. Probably more famous for his marriage to Khloe Kardashian once.

77. Manhattan suffix : ITE

78. Partner : MATE

79. Pine __ : TAR

80. Spot on a horse : DAPPLE

82. Not insist on payment of, as a debt : FORGIVE

84. Weasel-like animal also called a honey badger : RATEL

87. Pirate's ship : CORSAIR

88. Hydrocodone, e.g. : OPIATE

91. "__ Got a Secret": old game show : I'VE

92. Hemsworth of "The Hunger Games" : LIAM. Boyfriend of Miley Cyrus.

93. Justice replaced by Gorsuch : SCALIA

95. Major artery : AORTA

96. Zilch : NIL

97. Broad valleys : DALES

99. Divvy up : ALLOT

100. Part of Q and A: Abbr. : ANS (Answers)

101. "By Jove!" : I SAY

102. "Gone With the Wind" family name : O'HARA

104. Nothing to write home about : SO SO

107. Loads : A TON

118. Wheel connector : AXLE. Also 37. Fancy wheels : MAGS

119. "In that case ... " : IF SO

120. Leg up : EDGE

121. Body shop application : PRIMER

122. Close by : NEAR

123. Legal document : DEED

124. What Jack Sprat's wife couldn't eat : LEAN
 
125. Factions : SECTS
 
Down:
  
1. Power-increasing gadget : AMP

2. 19th Greek letter : TAU

3. Lobster eater's accessory : BIB

4. Aid in planning a trip : ATLAS

5. Follow : TAIL

6. One percent of a D.C. group--or the group itself : SEN. Senator or Senate.

7. Earnest request : PLEA

8. O'Neill's "Desire Under the __" : ELMS

9. Winning by a mile : WAY AHEAD

10. Six-pack set : ABs

11. Italian Riviera resort : SAN REMO

12. Friend of Jerry, George and Cosmo : ELAINE. "Seinfeld".

13. Comparable : AKIN

14. Idaho nickname : GEM STATE

15. Actress Thurman : UMA

16. Brest friend : AMI

17. Silent __: White House nickname : CAL
 
19. Factory with frozen assets : ICE PLANT

24. "Dr." with MVP awards : ERVING. Dr. J.

26. Some smartphones : LGs

29. Rigatoni alternative : PENNE

31. Fit together : MESHED
 
32. French star : ETOILE
 
35. Playground game : TAG
 
40. Storybook sister : GRETEL

41. Doomed biblical city : SODOM

43. Mine, in Metz : A MOI

44. Church gatherings : SOCIALS
 
46. Three-star mil. officer : LT GEN

50. Hardly gung-ho : TEPID

52. "Crocodile Hunter" Steve __ : IRWIN
 
54. Brahms creation : SCORE

56. "Ooh! I know this! Gimme __" : A HINT

58. Promised : SWORE

59. Tradesperson : PLIER

 62. Type type : AGATE

63. Channel for film buffs : TCM

64. Tree with long beanlike pods : CATALPA

65. Houses with layers : COOPS. Lay-ers. Hens.
 
67. Fess up : ADMIT

69. Monopoly piece : HOTEL

71. Word from the Greek for "not a place" : UTOPIA

72. Succumbs to pressure : CAVES

75. Singer Newton-John : OLIVIA

76. Just : MERELY

77. Music to a bluffer's ears : I FOLD

80. "Keep going!" : DON'T STOP

81. Square measurement : AREA

83. Words a pinball wizard hates to see : GAME OVER
 
84. Hot streak : ROLL

85. "So long, José" : ADIOS

 86. Kitchen cloth : TEA TOWEL

87. "The Tonight Show" character with a turban : CARNAC

89. Vague unease : MALAISE

90. Mauna __ : LOA

94. Wine choice : CARAFE
 
98. Short : SHY

101. Navel type : INNIE

103. Extremely dry : ARID

105. Debate team, for example : SIDE

 106. Gymnast Korbut : OLGA

108. Yours and mine : OURS
 
109. Solo in "Star Wars" : HAN

110. PC file suffix : EXE

111. SEC powerhouse : ALA

 112. Drop off : NOD

114. Man cave setting : DEN

115. HBO competitor : TMC

116. Collecting Soc. Sec. : RET

117. What birthday candles represent: Abbr. : YRS

C.C.

Sunday, Dec 24, 2017 Paul Coulter

Theme: "Magnetism" - Each theme entry has a pair of opposites.

22A. *Criminal justice supervisor : PROBATION OFFICER. On/off.

33A. *"Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!" poet : PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY. He/She.

53A. *Get worse, with no way to stop : SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. In/Out.
 
80A *Nero Wolfe title that plays on the start of an old adage : WHERE THERE'S A WILL. Here/There.

96A. *1985 #1 hit for Paul Young : EVERY TIME YOU GO AWAY. Me/You.

Reveal:

113. Maxim that applies to pairs hiding together in the answers to starred clues : OPPOSITES ATTRACT

What a great reveal. It describes the gimmick perfectly. Quite challenging to come up with a set where the antonyms are together.

I love the first two the most, as the key words ON/OFF, HE/SHE fully contained in other words.

Across:

1. 16th-century date : MDL. 1550.

4. Big name in shoes : MCAN. Not ECCO/NIKE.

8. Batted : WAS UP

13. See 2-Down : LINE. And 2. With 13-Across, write (to) : DROP A

17. Rail commonly found in water? : SORA

18. Perry of fashion : ELLIS

20. Kind of acid in proteins : AMINO

21. Any minute, old-style : ANON

25. Saturn vehicles? : UFOs. Nailed it.

26. Placing side by side : APPOSING

27. Cries of support : OLES. Had RAHS first.

28. Golf shot : STROKE

30. Wrinkly dog : SHAR PEI. Cantonese. Shar = Sand. Pei = Skin. So "Sand skin".

31. Common conjunction : NOR

32. Hanker : ACHE

41. __ Dictionary : URBAN. So many blush-worthy entries there.

44. Arles assents : OUIs

45. Bury : INTER

46. Amber __ : ALE

47. Delhi wrap : SARI

48. A little lower? : CALF. Low-er.

50. Paper size: Abbr. : LTR

51. Anime cousin : MANGA. Called Man Hua in Chinese. Same characters as Japanese. Man = "Whimsical". Ga/Hua just means "picture". Can also be a verb, meaning "draw".

59. Do serious damage to : SCAR

60. Hwy. : RTE

61. "My man!" : BRO. Clue echo with 107. "My man!" : DUDE

62. Notched, as a maple leaf : EROSE. 

63. Back in the bay : ASTERN

65. 1965 King arrest site : SELMA

67. Shortened, as a dict. : ABR. We use Abbr. as a hint in crossword clues.

68. Ballade's final stanza : ENVOI. You would think this is French for "envoy".

70. Complete : ENTIRE

73. Assume as fact : POSIT

75. Assist : AID

76. Eats or drinks : HAS. We're going to have Hormel Cure 81 Ham today. Boomer said it's the best. Do you have it in your area?

79. Israel's Golda : MEIR

85. Looked like a wolf? : OGLED

87. Oral health org. : ADA

88. Dovetail : MESH

89. In the Aegean : ASEA

90. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" newsman : TED

91. Word coined by writer Capek : ROBOT. In his "R.U. R" play.

93. Creek croaker : TOAD. Not FROG.

95. Tube, so to speak : TV SET

101. All the time : A LOT

102. Bit of work : ERG

103. Pretenses : FACADES

107. Poetic foot : DACTYL. Often the answer is  IAMBUS

110. __-up: hybrid musical piece : MASH

111. Church contribution : OFFERING

112. Wrinkly fruit : UGLI. Our local grocery stores have them. Pretty juicy.

117. Like Beethoven, late in life : DEAF . We also have 92. Ear specialist's science : OTOLOGY 

118. Agree to : GRANT

119. Composer of the short piano pieces "Le Yachting" and "Le Golf" : SATIE. I need "Erik" in the clue.

120. Hockey's Bobby et al. : ORRs. Only know one.

121. Go around in circles : EDDY

122. Goes up and down : YO-YOS

123. Once uncool sort who's now sort of cool : NERD

124. Inquisitive-sounding letter : WYE.

 Down:

1. Transmute : MORPH
 
3. Sensation before a delivery : LABOR PAIN. Nice fill.

4. Specialty : METIER

5. Medical center : CLINIC

6. Sleep like __ : A LOG

7. "Delta of Venus" author : NIN. Imagine my surprise to find this book at our dusty flea market.

8. Symbols of thinness : WAFERS

9. Author Martin : AMIS
 
10. [Not a typo] : SIC

11. Arles article : UNE

12. Company whose German pronunciation has two syllables : PORSCHE. Its Chinese name has three characters.

13. Victory symbol : LAUREL

14. Dope : INFO

15. Cozy corner : NOOK

16. Massachusetts motto opener : ENSE. Our old buddy is back.

17. Healthful retreats : SPAS

19. André Previn's adopted daughter : SOON-YI. Such a complicated life.
 
23. Quaker in the woods : ASPEN

24. Dentist's directive : FLOSS

29. Heat unit : THERM

32. 2017 World Series champ : ASTRO. Don't cheat. How many teams have never won a World Series?

34. Texter's "seize the day" : YOLO. You Only Live Once.

35. Devotee : BUFF
 
36. Sword handles : HILTS. Sometimes it's HAFTS.

37. It's usually just before dessert : ENTREE

38. Tilter's tool : LANCE

39. Knighted English composer : ELGAR (Edward)

40. Thirst (for) : YEARN

41. Cold War initials : USSR

42. Deeply engrossed : RAPT

43. Cracker topper : BRIE
 
48. Long-billed wader : CURLEW. Thank God I don't have that bill. I would have broken mine easily.

49. Elementary particle : ATOM

52. Stop on the Turin-Genoa railway : ASTI. The wine town.
 
54. Upper, in Ulm : OBER

55. Break off : CEASE

56. Comet's path : ORBIT

57. Needle point? : NORTH. Great clue.

58. Deluxe : LAVISH

64. Pop : SODA

65. Many a retired racehorse : SIRE
 
66. Tarzan's realm : APEDOM. Spell check does not like it.

69. Dundee disagreements : NAEs

70. Ham it up : EMOTE

71. Israeli desert : NEGEV

72. Piña colada garnish? : TILDE. Garnish, OK.
 
74. Declaim : ORATE

76. Boo relative : HISS

77. Sheltered in the Aegean : ALEE

78. Bed board : SLAT
 
81. Hard thing to kick : HABIT

82. Slate or Salon : EMAG

83. Change the decor of : REDO

84. Winding-road sign image : WAVY ARROW. Debut entry.

86. How Steven Wright jokes are spoken : DRYLY
  
93. Trunks : TORSI

94. Moral obligations : OUGHTS. Ought can be a noun also?

95. "Be silent," in music : TACET

97. Formally approve : RATIFY

98. Baking supplies : YEASTS. I've been eating this to increase my B12 intake. Won't buy again once this bottle is empty. Not fond of its taste. I'm thinking of trying Steve's Marmite next.

99. Fling : AFFAIR

100. Drifted gently : WAFTED

104. Book with a lock : DIARY
 
105. Yves' ink : ENCRE. Also new to me.

106. PD ranks : SGTs
 
108. Kept in barrels, maybe : AGED
 
109. Decked out : CLAD

110. Like early Elvis albums : MONO

111. Bone head? : OSTE. Prefix for "bone".
 
114. Adept : PRO

115. Wages : PAY
 
116. Suffix with Caesar : EAN

C.C.

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, December 10, 2017, C.C. Bunikel

TITLE: IT'S AMAZING

Husker Gary here acting as a literary Sherpa for our crossword mistress. This Sunday, C.C. had made an AMAZING (hence the title) puzzle by scrambling the word GRACE inside some two or three word phrases and situated those scrambled letters such that they span the words in the phrases. Fun! 

I am showing the grid early to help those of you who did not have the circles in your paper or electronic grid.

I saw the gimmick and struggled to see what could go with GRACE for the gimmick. However, for the payoff, C.C. substitutes the word BLESSING for GRACE to generate this reveal (not MIXED GRACES):

121. It's not all good ... and it's literally found in this puzzle's circles : MIXED BLESSING. Cool! I have always considered cell phones as a MIXED BLESSING

Let's take a look at C.C. theme entries:

22. Tehran tinderbox for 14-plus months : HOSTAGE CRISIS - They were released just minutes after Ronald Reagan's inauguration 

34. Making the Guinness Book, say : SETTING A RECORD -  Ozzie set the record for "Dog Rope Walking" by going 11.4' in 14 seconds

55. World Cup events : SOCCER GAMES - I am not a SOCCER FAN and this is the ONLY image I remember from the sport - Brandi Chastain in 1999

84. Recycling center item : BEVERAGE CAN - They can really add up

101. Log holder : FIREPLACE GRATE - This feels pretty good at this this time of year on the Great Plains

16. What a Facebook post might draw : STRONG REACTIONS - I posed what I thought was a very innocent question on FB last election season and I was bombarded by STRONG REACTIONS. To quote Edgar Allen's famous bird - NEVERMORE!!

43. Violet Crawley's title in "Downton Abbey" : DOWAGER COUNTESS - Hearing Maggie Smith wield her acid tongue in this role is well worth viewing!

Now let's what other AMAZING BLESSINGS C.C. is bestowing on us today

Across

1. /, on some score sheets : SPARE - The bottom score here is known as a Dutch 200 where you get that score by alternating spares (/) and strikes (X) for ten frames. Boomer doesn't bother with /'s all that often! 😏

6. Herbal tea : TISANE, 1. Teahouse treat : SCONE and 80. "Unexpected blends" tea brand : TAZO provide a mini theme by tea connoisseur C.C.

12. Premier League powerhouse : CHELSEA - More Soccer

19. Ascended : SCALED

20. Calligraphy container : INKPOT

21. Top-seller : HOT ITEM

24. Getting on in years : ELDERLY - Hey! I resemble that adjective!

25. Asthmatic's device : INHALER - It got my brother through his childhood

26. Super, slangily : UBER - Today's use of that word is much better than what is was used for two generations before.

27. Batman after Michael : VAL - Can you find Mr. Kilmer?

28. Google : Android :: Apple : __ : IOS - This Operating System keeps my iPhone going

29. Got the word : HEARD

30. It borders three oceans : ASIA

32. Resort near Boston : CAPE ANN - I picked the wrong one at first

38. Wander (about) : GAD - My lovely  bride doesn't care for the fact that I do this constantly when we are shopping 

41. Took charge of : LED

44. Long stretches : AEONS

45. Netflix alternative : HULU - I'm a NETFLIXer

46. Down tune : DIRGE -These Volga boatmen have a famous one named after them. 

48. Ocean rings : ATOLLS

50. Earned : WON

51. Some charges : USER FEES - It's better to use them than to 49. Impose, as a tax : LEVY

54. Investment firm T. __ Price : ROWE

60. Plummeted : SANK

61. Ne'er-do-well : KNAVE

63. Catch of the day, perhaps : SEA BASS - $30 on this menu for Misoyaki SEA BASS

64. Inc., in Toronto : LTD

66. Euro divs. : CTS - It takes 100 €0.01 to make €1.00

67. Workout addicts : GYM RATS - Our YMCA has them of all ages and sizes

69. "That's no kidding" : I MEAN IT

72. Sault __ Marie : STE

74. Pull : TUG - Her trademark

75. Jerry-rigged, in a way : TAPED ON - Oh, like this?

79. Ekberg of "La Dolce Vita" : ANITA

82. Crime scene figure : PERP - PERP (prep) SCHOOL was our first silly, Sunday answer last week

87. Stable baby : FOAL

88. National summer sport of Canada : LACROSSE - Hmmm... A sport that only requires two months. 😜 Sorry Canadian Eh!

90. Luanda is its cap. : ANG - Where I'm sure they post many 14. Flight takeoff fig. : ETD's at their international airport

91. Mourning on the court : ALONZO - A 6'10" former NBA player

93. Distant : ALOOF

94. Sudden attack : RAID - Look out refrigerator!

96. Dish alternative : CABLE

99. Lush : SOT

100. Lady Tigers' sch. : TSU - The Tennessee State University Lady Tigers play just north of where the Vanderbilt University Lady Commodores play in Nashville

106. More offensive : NASTIER - Campaigns race to see who can be NASTIER

108. Queen in "Frozen" : ELSA (not our Born Free lioness) and 86. Film lioness : NALA (a different lioness)

109. Lackluster finish : MATTE

113. And the like: Abbr. : ETC - Yul Brynner sang/spoke it in The King and I

114. Sweetie : HON - This appellation may not be very welcome today

115. Mother of Castor : LEDA - Castor's twin Pollux had a different father. It's a long story...

117. Choice word : WHETHER 

119. Get going, as an oven : PRE-HEAT 

123. Roll call discovery : ABSENCE - A big requirement in schools these days

124. Figure of speech? : ORATOR - A clever clue for one of the best ORATORS of modern times 

125. Oddball : WEIRDO

126. Agreement often reluctant but still respectful : YES DEAR - What to say if my lovely bride is right or wrong

127. Mischief-makers : DEMONS

128. Thrills : SENDS - A great song using this 50's slang by one of the best R 'n B singers ever

Down

2. Lara's husband in "Doctor Zhivago" : PASHA - Later in the book, this laughter prone prankster changed - "[PASHA] knew that rumor had nicknamed him Rasstrelnikov, 'the Executioner.' He took it in stride, he feared nothing" 

3. Wedding settings : ALTARS

4. Genuine article : REAL DEAL

5. Barely beat (out) : EDGE

6. It may be nervous : TIC - If Inspector Clouseau worked for you...

7. Reduced to rubble : IN RUINS - The Roman Colosseum is magnificent even in this state

8. Aspen traveler's item : SKI BAG

9. Cathedral recess : APSE

10. Detective fiction genre : NOIR - Bogie was the film master 

11. Movie makeup dept. creations : ETS - Such as in my favorite Sci-Fi movie Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

12. Inferior : CHEAPO

13. Cry out loud : HOLLER

15. '60s protest : LIE IN - When your "Sit In" just wasn't gettin' it done

17. Fish trapped in pots : EELS - I'd try them at C.C.'s house if she offered them...

18. Adams of "Her" : AMY

19. __ Tzu : SHIH - Most take great pains to pronounce this breed carefully

23. Sister of Clio : ERATO - One of the muses who frequent our little word stand here

27. Space devoid of matter : VACUUM - Here's a kitty trying to figure out a VACUUM here on Earth

31. Lust, e.g. : SIN

32. Dopey frame, e.g. : CEL - In this CEL frame, he is gettin' down with Snow White

33. Short lines at the post office? : ADDR - ADDRess

35. Hardy's "Pure Woman" : TESS - She and Yoko both are frequent fliers here

36. Now, in Nicaragua : AHORA and 53. This, to Picasso : ESTA - Aquí ESTÁ la respuesta AHORA (Here is the answer now)

37. Climbing aids : RUNGS

39. Mole, perhaps : AGENT

40. Classroom array : DESKS - These DESKS have only way to be arrayed

41. Shenanigan : LARK - Or a more beautiful use of the word from a musical we all know

42. School since 1440 : ETON - The ETON Cricket team will tour Sri Lanka next spring

47. Uncertainties : IFS - If IFS and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas

50. Bug catcher : WEB -  Our lush landscape invites many of these spider constructions 

52. One-named Tejano pop star : SELENA - I subbed for a Spanish teachers for two days and I showed half of this film of her too-short life each day

56. Plains folks? : OSAGES

57. Belgium winter hrs. : CET 

58. Social division : CASTE

...but so is high school

59. Remark to the audience : ASIDE- A wonderful theatric device used in this movie

62. Pro with a siren : EMT

65. Paternity test letters : DNA - Blood tests could only tell a man he wasn't the father or that he could be

68. Uses elbow grease on : RUBS

70. Comfy slip-on : MOC

71. Skinny : INFO

72. Impact sound : SPLAT - Spaghetti's done!

73. Dabbling ducks : TEALS - New use of Dabble for me

76. Thin as __ : A RAIL  and 121. Like Twiggy's style : MOD - 5'6" 90lbs

77. Important animal in '70s U.S.-China diplomacy : PANDA - Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing

78. Future chicken : EGG

81. Heaps : A LOT

83. Golf course figure : PRO - PAR

85. Ben of "Roots" : VEREEN - Chicken George

89. Send-__: farewells : OFFS 

92. "Hmm … " : LET ME SEE - Did I find all my errors or will I have to count on my friends to find them?

95. What "4" may mean: Abbr. : APR - Uncle Sam gets my last tax money as late as possible on 4/15 

96. Porcelain with a pale green glaze : CELADON - Beautiful green pottery first made in China but named in England

97. Justice Dept. bigwigs : AGS - Attorneys General (A'S G?)

98. Beaning aftermath, sometimes : BRAWL 

BASEBRAWL

102. Odysseus' kingdom : ITHACA

103. Revolting sort? : RIOTER

104. Formally give : CEDE TO

105. Takes courses at home? : EATS IN

107. Felt the pain : ACHED

110. "Hot corner" base : THIRD - So called because hit balls get there very quickly, that's why all that play THIRD base should wear these

111. Ministers : TENDS

112. Cartesian connection : ERGO

113. Kathryn of HBO's "Oz" : ERBE - Google it if you're interested

115. Old Parmesan bread : LIRE - A euphemism for old money in Parma, Italy

116. Eye __ : EXAM - My 95-year-old MIL passed her eye EXAM and now her driver's license is now good until she is 100

118. Adheres (to) : HEWS - So this is where that comes from

119. Settle up : PAY

120. Biloxi-to-Mobile dir. : ENE -ESE would work for this famous song lyric "From Natchez To Mobile"

122. Places to crash, in ads : BRS - One of our 3 B(ed)R(nooms)S got converted to a computer room/office 20 minutes after on daughter got a job and moved to Lincoln. 

Now how 'bout some MIXED BLESSINGS from the peanut gallery (Man, I'm old!)

Gary

Notes from C.C.:

Here is a picture from our local crossword constructors get-together last Sunday Dec 3, 2017.  Chris is based in Iowa. Drove a long way. Quite a few are our LAT constructors. Kathy made her LAT debut earlier this year.

I recall Will Shortz mentioned a while ago that after New York and California, Minnesota has the most constructors.

Thanks for organizing the event, Tom, you're the best!

Dec 3, 2017 Sunday

Seated, L to R:  C.C. Burnikel, Theresa Horan (Teedmn), Kathy Jaschke

Standing:  George Barany, Tariq Samad (Cryptics constructor), Stew Lelievr (been to the ACPT for about 20 years straight), Andrew Sand, Amy Bemis, Jay Kaskel, David Hanson (Rosebud), Marcia Brott, Christopher Adams, Victor Barocas and Tom Pepper