Theme: Scrambled Signals - The first word of each common phrase is an anagram indicator. The last word is an anagram of another word referenced in the clue.
24A. 91-Across? : GARBLED SPEECH. And 91A. Aviary sounds : CHEEPS. SPEECH and CHEEPS anagram. GARBED is the anagram signal.
49A. 1-Down? : ALTERED STATES. And 1D. Tries : TASTES. STATES & TASTES anagram.
ALTERED is the signal.
92A. 111-Down? : SHIFTING GEARS. And 111D. Barracks bigwig : SARGE. GEARS & SARGE anagram. SHIFTING is the signal.
121A. 58-Across? : MIXED BLESSING. And 58A. Lack of sincerity : GLIBNESS. BLESSING & GLIBNESS anagram. MIXED is the signal.
3D. 129-Across? : TWISTED SISTER. 129A. Put up a fight : RESIST. SISTER & RESIST anagram. TWISTED is the signal.
61D. 79-Across? : CHANGE OF HEART. The only three-word theme entry. 79A. Milky Way planet : EARTH. HEART & EARTH anagram. CHANGE/CHANGE OF is the signal.
All the long theme entries are symmetrical, the short ones are not. Too impossible a task.
Just a great theme! Pamela is one of few constructors who consistently give us creative puzzles. Her grid is never boring. Always challenging though. This theme has a bit of Dan Finan flavor, another innovative constructor.
Across:
1. Popular tank fillers : TETRAS. Fish tank.
7. First word in many addresses : LADIES
13. Aurora borealis region : ARCTIC
19. If all goes wrong : AT WORST
21. Venue for newsgroups : USENET. Sounds so old.
22. Slain Tejano singer : SELENA. J-Lo played her in the movie "Selena".
23. Chills : SHIVERS
26. Immobilizes, as a perp : TASES
27. She played Dottie in "A League of Their Own" : GEENA. Not a fan.
29. Florentine evening : SERA
30. Where to see the Kon-Tiki : OSLO
31. Sinusitis doc : ENT
32. Give the go-ahead : OKAY
34. One with "Esq." on the door : ATT (Attorney).
36. Xing people? : PEDS. Ped Xing. In Chinese, Xing means "doable". Xin means "new". So, Xin Nian = New Year.
38. "Woo-__!" : HOO
39. Flow slowly : SEEP
41. Utah city on I-15 : OREM
43. Hi, in Honduras : HOLA. Chickie's signature greeting.
45. "__ Peculiar Man": Paul Simon song : A MOST
47. React to humidity, in a way : DROOP. Does this refer to flowers or people?
53. __ Friday : CASUAL
55. Stir up : AROUSE
56. Gave a whirl : SPUN
57. Actresses Gray and Moran : ERINs
60. With a cast of thousands : EPICAL. Always thought the adjective is still EPIC.
64. Japanese-American : NISEI. Ni = Two. Sei = Birth. Literally "second birth/generation".
65. Sharp dresser's standard? : NINES. Dressed to the nines.
66. Directional finish : ERN. Western, for example.
68. "I get it," humorously : AH SO
69. Grounded flier : SST
70. Three sheets to the wind : SAUCED. Drunk.
72. Beethoven's "Pathétique," e.g. : SONATA
75. Both of racing's Unsers : ALS
76. Seine summers : ETES. And 126A. Hot months in Chile : ENEROS. Hot!
78. Colour suffix : ISE. Colourise. British spelling. Not fond of this clue.
80. Things of passing interest? : LANES. Nice clue.
82. "Do I __ eat a peach?": Eliot : DARE TO. Definitely a "Yes" from Argyle. He even dared to link this clip. You wanna give it a go?
84. StubHub competition : SCALPERS
87. Wistful remark : OH GEE
88. Thing to play : ROLE
90. Colored ring : AREOLA. Splynter already gave you the correct link yesterday.
96. White Owl alternative : TE-AMO. Both cigar brands.
97. Future, for one : TENSE
98. Has second thoughts about : RUES
99. Members of the flock : EWES
101. Bay Area blues, briefly : SFPD
104. NYSE figure : ARB (Arbitrager)
105. Parking area : SPOT
107. Spinning toon : TAZ. Tasmanian Devil.
110. Beaux-__: architectural style : ARTS
112. __ polloi : HOI
113. No longer worth discussing : MOOT
115. Some tabernacle singers : ALTI. OK, plural for alto.
117. Lacking integrity : LOOSE
119. 1990s-2000s Irish leader : AHERN (Bertie). Unknown to me. Here, the guy on the right.
124. Arranged in sequence : SERIATE. This is a word?
127. "Stand By Me" director : REINER (Rob)
128. Largest African country : ALGERIA
130. Pull out : SECEDE
131. Rice creation : LESTAT. the vampire. Anne Rice.
Down:
2. Fuel gas : ETHANE
4. Drift : ROVE
5. Sandbox comeback : ARE SO
6. Abbr. on outdated maps : SSR
7. Vehicle for supine sledders : LUGE
8. Hatha yoga posture : ASANA
9. Clear of vermin : DERAT. Spell checker doesn't like it either.
10. Having five sharps, musically : IN B. Whatever.
11. Skinny swimmers : EELS. Yum!
12. Skyline highlight : STEEPLE
13. Big name in Syrian politics : ASSAD. His days are numbered, it seems.
14. Gym unit : REP
15. Geppetto's goldfish : CLEO. Do you all know this?
16. Opening stroke : TEE SHOT. "Fore!" I could picture Husker Gary shouting.
17. How a macro lens is used : IN CLOSE
18. (In) partnership : CAHOOTS
20. Fictional author of "The World According to Bensenhaver" : T S GARP
25. Hates the thought of : DREADS
28. Private __ : EYE
33. __-Aid : KOOL
35. This and that : THESE
37. Suddenly paid attention : SAT UP
40. Danish fruit? : PRUNE. Danish rolls have prune filing. Tricky clue.
42. Iwo Jima figure : MARINE. Our Marine is frolicking in Boca.
44. Unrefined finds : ORES
46. Craze : MANIA
48. Welcome desert sight : OASIS
50. Like lungs : LOBED
51. Winery casks : TUNS
52. Out of gas : SPENT
53. Perfumed, as a chancel : CENSED
54. Label founded in 1975 by Clive Davis : ARISTA
55. Eatery "just a half a mile from the railroad track" : ALICE'S. "Alice's Restaurant".
58. Serengeti roamers : GNUS
59. Popular Nissan : SENTRA
62. Dead to the world : ASLEEP
63. Red ink entries : LOSSES
67. Three cheers, maybe : RAHS
71. Garlicky spread : AIOLI
72. Palate stimulus : SAPOR. Sure looks bland.
73. "... otherwise, you'll be sorry!" : OR ELSE
74. Wailuku welcome : ALOHA
77. Feudal laborers : SERFS
79. Ancient home of Parmenides : ELEA. I only know it's "Zeno's home". Don't know Parmenides.
81. Reminders to conversation monopolizers : AHEMS
83. Rainy day brand : TOTES. Umbrella brand.
85. Exercise wheel site : CAGE. Oh for pets.
86. "Give it __!" : A REST
89. Join the club : ENROLL
91. "__ Magnifique": Porter tune : C'EST
92. Barely get the words out : STAMMER
93. TV's Buffy, e.g. : HEROINE
94. Where work piles up : IN BOXES. I have TO-DO folder for those piled-up work.
95. Alley boundaries : GUTTERS
96. Saint of Ávila : TERESA
100. Isn't anymore : WAS
102. Shylock's adversary : PORTIA
103. Give business to, as a café : DINE AT
106. Longtime beer experiencing a 2000s resurgence : PABST. Why the resurgence, Windhover?
108. Dress with a flare : A-LINE
109. Divided into districts : ZONED
114. Actress Garr : TERI
116. Words with a nod : I SEE
118. Grimm heavy : OGRE
120. Makes tracks : HIES
122. Bob and flip : DOS. I like this clue.
123. [Not my mistake] : SIC
125. Allen wrench shape : ELL
Answer grid.
C.C.
24A. 91-Across? : GARBLED SPEECH. And 91A. Aviary sounds : CHEEPS. SPEECH and CHEEPS anagram. GARBED is the anagram signal.
49A. 1-Down? : ALTERED STATES. And 1D. Tries : TASTES. STATES & TASTES anagram.
ALTERED is the signal.
92A. 111-Down? : SHIFTING GEARS. And 111D. Barracks bigwig : SARGE. GEARS & SARGE anagram. SHIFTING is the signal.
121A. 58-Across? : MIXED BLESSING. And 58A. Lack of sincerity : GLIBNESS. BLESSING & GLIBNESS anagram. MIXED is the signal.
3D. 129-Across? : TWISTED SISTER. 129A. Put up a fight : RESIST. SISTER & RESIST anagram. TWISTED is the signal.
61D. 79-Across? : CHANGE OF HEART. The only three-word theme entry. 79A. Milky Way planet : EARTH. HEART & EARTH anagram. CHANGE/CHANGE OF is the signal.
All the long theme entries are symmetrical, the short ones are not. Too impossible a task.
Just a great theme! Pamela is one of few constructors who consistently give us creative puzzles. Her grid is never boring. Always challenging though. This theme has a bit of Dan Finan flavor, another innovative constructor.
Across:
1. Popular tank fillers : TETRAS. Fish tank.
7. First word in many addresses : LADIES
13. Aurora borealis region : ARCTIC
19. If all goes wrong : AT WORST
21. Venue for newsgroups : USENET. Sounds so old.
22. Slain Tejano singer : SELENA. J-Lo played her in the movie "Selena".
23. Chills : SHIVERS
26. Immobilizes, as a perp : TASES
27. She played Dottie in "A League of Their Own" : GEENA. Not a fan.
29. Florentine evening : SERA
30. Where to see the Kon-Tiki : OSLO
31. Sinusitis doc : ENT
32. Give the go-ahead : OKAY
34. One with "Esq." on the door : ATT (Attorney).
36. Xing people? : PEDS. Ped Xing. In Chinese, Xing means "doable". Xin means "new". So, Xin Nian = New Year.
38. "Woo-__!" : HOO
39. Flow slowly : SEEP
41. Utah city on I-15 : OREM
43. Hi, in Honduras : HOLA. Chickie's signature greeting.
45. "__ Peculiar Man": Paul Simon song : A MOST
47. React to humidity, in a way : DROOP. Does this refer to flowers or people?
53. __ Friday : CASUAL
55. Stir up : AROUSE
56. Gave a whirl : SPUN
57. Actresses Gray and Moran : ERINs
60. With a cast of thousands : EPICAL. Always thought the adjective is still EPIC.
64. Japanese-American : NISEI. Ni = Two. Sei = Birth. Literally "second birth/generation".
65. Sharp dresser's standard? : NINES. Dressed to the nines.
66. Directional finish : ERN. Western, for example.
68. "I get it," humorously : AH SO
69. Grounded flier : SST
70. Three sheets to the wind : SAUCED. Drunk.
72. Beethoven's "Pathétique," e.g. : SONATA
75. Both of racing's Unsers : ALS
76. Seine summers : ETES. And 126A. Hot months in Chile : ENEROS. Hot!
78. Colour suffix : ISE. Colourise. British spelling. Not fond of this clue.
80. Things of passing interest? : LANES. Nice clue.
82. "Do I __ eat a peach?": Eliot : DARE TO. Definitely a "Yes" from Argyle. He even dared to link this clip. You wanna give it a go?
84. StubHub competition : SCALPERS
87. Wistful remark : OH GEE
88. Thing to play : ROLE
90. Colored ring : AREOLA. Splynter already gave you the correct link yesterday.
96. White Owl alternative : TE-AMO. Both cigar brands.
97. Future, for one : TENSE
98. Has second thoughts about : RUES
99. Members of the flock : EWES
101. Bay Area blues, briefly : SFPD
104. NYSE figure : ARB (Arbitrager)
105. Parking area : SPOT
107. Spinning toon : TAZ. Tasmanian Devil.
110. Beaux-__: architectural style : ARTS
112. __ polloi : HOI
113. No longer worth discussing : MOOT
115. Some tabernacle singers : ALTI. OK, plural for alto.
117. Lacking integrity : LOOSE
119. 1990s-2000s Irish leader : AHERN (Bertie). Unknown to me. Here, the guy on the right.
124. Arranged in sequence : SERIATE. This is a word?
127. "Stand By Me" director : REINER (Rob)
128. Largest African country : ALGERIA
130. Pull out : SECEDE
131. Rice creation : LESTAT. the vampire. Anne Rice.
Down:
2. Fuel gas : ETHANE
4. Drift : ROVE
5. Sandbox comeback : ARE SO
6. Abbr. on outdated maps : SSR
7. Vehicle for supine sledders : LUGE
8. Hatha yoga posture : ASANA
9. Clear of vermin : DERAT. Spell checker doesn't like it either.
10. Having five sharps, musically : IN B. Whatever.
11. Skinny swimmers : EELS. Yum!
12. Skyline highlight : STEEPLE
13. Big name in Syrian politics : ASSAD. His days are numbered, it seems.
14. Gym unit : REP
15. Geppetto's goldfish : CLEO. Do you all know this?
16. Opening stroke : TEE SHOT. "Fore!" I could picture Husker Gary shouting.
17. How a macro lens is used : IN CLOSE
18. (In) partnership : CAHOOTS
20. Fictional author of "The World According to Bensenhaver" : T S GARP
25. Hates the thought of : DREADS
28. Private __ : EYE
33. __-Aid : KOOL
35. This and that : THESE
37. Suddenly paid attention : SAT UP
40. Danish fruit? : PRUNE. Danish rolls have prune filing. Tricky clue.
42. Iwo Jima figure : MARINE. Our Marine is frolicking in Boca.
44. Unrefined finds : ORES
46. Craze : MANIA
48. Welcome desert sight : OASIS
50. Like lungs : LOBED
51. Winery casks : TUNS
52. Out of gas : SPENT
53. Perfumed, as a chancel : CENSED
54. Label founded in 1975 by Clive Davis : ARISTA
55. Eatery "just a half a mile from the railroad track" : ALICE'S. "Alice's Restaurant".
58. Serengeti roamers : GNUS
59. Popular Nissan : SENTRA
62. Dead to the world : ASLEEP
63. Red ink entries : LOSSES
67. Three cheers, maybe : RAHS
71. Garlicky spread : AIOLI
72. Palate stimulus : SAPOR. Sure looks bland.
73. "... otherwise, you'll be sorry!" : OR ELSE
74. Wailuku welcome : ALOHA
77. Feudal laborers : SERFS
79. Ancient home of Parmenides : ELEA. I only know it's "Zeno's home". Don't know Parmenides.
81. Reminders to conversation monopolizers : AHEMS
83. Rainy day brand : TOTES. Umbrella brand.
85. Exercise wheel site : CAGE. Oh for pets.
86. "Give it __!" : A REST
89. Join the club : ENROLL
91. "__ Magnifique": Porter tune : C'EST
92. Barely get the words out : STAMMER
93. TV's Buffy, e.g. : HEROINE
94. Where work piles up : IN BOXES. I have TO-DO folder for those piled-up work.
95. Alley boundaries : GUTTERS
96. Saint of Ávila : TERESA
100. Isn't anymore : WAS
102. Shylock's adversary : PORTIA
103. Give business to, as a café : DINE AT
106. Longtime beer experiencing a 2000s resurgence : PABST. Why the resurgence, Windhover?
108. Dress with a flare : A-LINE
109. Divided into districts : ZONED
114. Actress Garr : TERI
116. Words with a nod : I SEE
118. Grimm heavy : OGRE
120. Makes tracks : HIES
122. Bob and flip : DOS. I like this clue.
123. [Not my mistake] : SIC
125. Allen wrench shape : ELL
Answer grid.
C.C.
