Theme: Insert-a-ble - "Ble" is inserted into common phrases.
22A. Where peasants work? : NOBLEMAN'S LAND. No man's land.
45A. Fight organizer? : RUMBLE RUNNER. Rum runner.
67A. Telescope protector? : HUBBLE CAP. Hubcap.
94A. Commercial jingle segments? : PRICE WARBLES. Price wars.
119A. One tending a brush fire? : BRAMBLE STOKER. Bram Stoker.
16D. Doesn't speak clearly? : MUMBLES THE WORD. Mum's the word. This one involves grammatical change.
50D. Aimless walks around the Gateway Arch? : ST LOUIS RAMBLES. St Louis Rams. RAMBLES is a noun here, right? Since it's "Aimless walks" rather than "Aimlessly walks".
I had guessed the theme was inserting ABLE when I glanced at the puzzle title. But then all the new theme entries would be just adjectives from their verb forms and there would not be much change in terms of meaning. So, not an option.
I talked before about how a grid & fill often reflect its constructor's interest and background. Today's TOM THOMSON (5D. "The Jack Pine" Canadian painter with an echoic name) is a good example. It's a total stranger to me and I would not have put him in a grid. Will Nediger is a Canadian and a very knowledgeable and talented constructor.
Looks like this is Andy Kravis' debut. Congrats!
Across:
1. Cardiovascular implants : STENTS
7. "Apostrophe (')" album maker : ZAPPA (Frank). Not familiar with the album name.
12. Word with first, second or third : BASEMAN
19. How some tapes are played : IN A LOOP. I guess so.
20. '90s sitcom bookstore owner : ELLEN. Ellen DeGeneres. So witty, genuine and warm.
21. With deception : UNTRULY
24. Telescope user's aid : STAR MAP
25. Timberland : FOREST. Man, I just realize that this rapper's name is Timbaland.
26. Sarkozy's state : ETAT. Sarkozy lost power last Tuesday. His state now is "sorrow".
27. Luxurious fabric : SATIN
29. "The Price Is Right" action : BID
30. Senior attachment? : ITIS. Senioritis. I used to think it referred to old people's senior moment.
31. Fireplace shelf : HOB
33. Alumni newsletter word : NEE
35. Where Jefferson can be seen : NICKEL. D'oh!
37. VW followers : XYZ. Alphabet.
38. Doughnut shape : TORUS. Plural is tori.
40. Saws : ADAGES
42. Charcuterie fare : MEAT. Did not know the meaning of Charcuterie.
47. "Thong Song" singer : SISQO. No idea. The song title does sound familiar.
48. Puts forward : POSITS
51. "Perfect! Right there!" : AAH. 53. Place to hear 51-Acrosses : HOT TUB.
52. MSN alternative : AOL
54. Decides one will : OPTS TO
55. Appointment book opening : SLOT. And 60. Ones without appointments : WALK-INS. Clue echos.
57. Fair vis-à-vis cloudy, say : NICER
59. Loft filler : HAY
62. In the thick of : AMID
64. Hold water, so to speak : COHERE
66. Mary Jane, e.g. : SHOE. These shoes are all the rage now, with Mary Jane style ankle strap & rounded toe, thanks to Lady Gaga.
70. GI delinquent : AWOL
73. Father of the Titans : URANUS. Their mother is Gaea.
76. Eczema symptom : ITCH
77. Hand raised in support, say : YES VOTE
80. "A Farewell to Arms" conflict, briefly : WWI
82. Nocturnal insects : MOTHS
84. Fall in the rankings : SLIP
86. Puts on notice : ALERTS
87. Reservation waster : NO SHOW
89. Green gp. : EPA
91. Clark's "Mogambo" co-star : AVA (Gardner). Perfect measurements.
92. Mozart movements : RONDOS
93. Big yawns : BORES
97. Many miles off : AFAR
98. Sales targets : QUOTAS
99. Inn season visits : STAYS. Nice "Inn season".
100. Chowderhead : SAP
103. Enterprise crewman : MR. SULU
105. Hairy TV cousin : ITT
107. Sale rack abbr. : IRR
108. Puppeteer Baird : CORA. Total stranger. Wife to Bil Baird.
109. One of the Books of Wisdom : JOB. I could only think of Solomon.
111. "Cape Fear" actor : NOLTE (Nick)
113. __ avis : RARA
115. Archipelago component : ISLAND
117. "Could regret this, but tell me" : I'LL BITE
122. Prince of the Tigers : FIELDER. Prince Fielder. Previously with the Brewers. Can't get my hand on Bryce Harper's rookie cards now. Hot!
123. Forearm bones : RADII
124. Prepare for a comeback tour : REUNITE
125. Australian brew : FOSTER'S. And 126. Australian gems : OPALS.
127. Burning : ARDENT
Down:
1. Putting on airs : SNOOTY
2. City in NW Iran : TABRIZ. See this map. In northwest. I saw 2 more cities ending in Z. No such thing in Chinese. Z & ZH only start words.
3. Nice girls? : ELLES. Nice the French city of course.
4. Discouraging words : NOES
6. Chic getaway : SPA
7. Citrus shaving : ZEST
8. Literary middle name : ALLAN. Edgar ALLAN Poe.
9. Level of achievement : PLATEAU
10. Treaty-signing memento : PEN
11. Additions : ANDS
12. Push-up garment : BUSTIER. Look, some girls are so lucky.
13. Shenanigans : ANTICS
14. Displayed zero talent : STANK
15. Go astray : ERR
17. Jai __ : ALAI
18. "Blue" TV lawmen : NYPD. Linda, we need an Andy Sipowicz in our neighborhood.
19. Implant, as an idea : INFIX. Alright.
23. Fantasy writers' awards : NEBULAS. Guessed.
28. Sweet wine with a woman's name : ANGELICA. Ah, wine, Marti's forte, as is skiing or any risk-taking activity.
32. Heavenly body : ORB
34. Novelist Ferber : EDNA
36. Throw off : EMIT
38. __-frutti : TUTTI
39. Oceanographer's workplace : SEA LAB
41. Shortly : ANON
43. Blue hue : AQUA
44. "Twelfth Night" sir : TOBY
45. One taking chances : RISKER. Well, Splynter is one. Tough to be uprooted and move to a new city so far away.
46. Four-sided figures : RHOMBI
47. Nursing a grudge : SORE
48. Comic strip punches : POWS
49. Aquarium beauty : OPAH. "Beauty", ha ha! Beholder issue.
53. "Clever" : HEH
56. Isn't quite perpendicular : TILTS
58. Work to edit : COPY
61. Sealed : SHUT
63. Render harmless, in a way : DE-CLAW
65. Winged croakers : RAVENS
68. See to the exit : USHER OUT
69. Scotch choice, familiarly : CHIVAS. Chivas Regal. Was just asking Argyle about Whisky, Whiskey usage the other day. They use "whisky" spelling in Canada.
71. Preminger of film : OTTO
72. Minus : LESS
74. Baking entrepreneur Wally : AMOS. I have yet to try a "Famous Amos" cookie.
75. "Get cracking!" : NOW
78. One with a long commute, perhaps : EARLY RISER
79. Gin berries : SLOES
80. L.A. Sparks' org. : WNBA. Do they have good attendance, Bill?
81. Shepherd's comment : WOOF
83. Cookout aid : SPIT
85. Missing something : PARTIAL
88. Title for Brahms : HERR
90. Berry rich in antioxidants : ACAI
94. Tugboats, at times : PULLERS
95. "CHiPs" actor : ESTRADA. We see ERIK more often.
96. Watering hole : BAR
98. One issuing a citation? : QUOTER
100. Penetrate the mind : SOAK IN
101. Gulf War reporter Peter : ARNETT. His daughter is married to John Yoo, known for the "Torture Memos".
102. Father on a base : PADRE. Military base.
104. Slyly cutting : SNIDE
106. An official language of Sri Lanka : TAMIL
108. Knockoff : CLONE
109. Sec : JIFF
110. Hodgepodge : OLIO
112. River originating in Cantabria : EBRO. I only know it flows to the Mediterranean.
114. DH stats : RBIS. DH = Designated Hitter. Or Dear Husband on the blog.
116. Simple earring : STUD
118. Short order? : BLT. Sweet little clue.
120. Criticize : RAP
121. Big Band __ : ERA
Answer grid.
Happy Birthday to Mainiac!
C.C.
22A. Where peasants work? : NOBLEMAN'S LAND. No man's land.
45A. Fight organizer? : RUMBLE RUNNER. Rum runner.
67A. Telescope protector? : HUBBLE CAP. Hubcap.
94A. Commercial jingle segments? : PRICE WARBLES. Price wars.
119A. One tending a brush fire? : BRAMBLE STOKER. Bram Stoker.
16D. Doesn't speak clearly? : MUMBLES THE WORD. Mum's the word. This one involves grammatical change.
50D. Aimless walks around the Gateway Arch? : ST LOUIS RAMBLES. St Louis Rams. RAMBLES is a noun here, right? Since it's "Aimless walks" rather than "Aimlessly walks".
I had guessed the theme was inserting ABLE when I glanced at the puzzle title. But then all the new theme entries would be just adjectives from their verb forms and there would not be much change in terms of meaning. So, not an option.
I talked before about how a grid & fill often reflect its constructor's interest and background. Today's TOM THOMSON (5D. "The Jack Pine" Canadian painter with an echoic name) is a good example. It's a total stranger to me and I would not have put him in a grid. Will Nediger is a Canadian and a very knowledgeable and talented constructor.
Looks like this is Andy Kravis' debut. Congrats!
Across:
1. Cardiovascular implants : STENTS
7. "Apostrophe (')" album maker : ZAPPA (Frank). Not familiar with the album name.
12. Word with first, second or third : BASEMAN
19. How some tapes are played : IN A LOOP. I guess so.
20. '90s sitcom bookstore owner : ELLEN. Ellen DeGeneres. So witty, genuine and warm.
21. With deception : UNTRULY
24. Telescope user's aid : STAR MAP
25. Timberland : FOREST. Man, I just realize that this rapper's name is Timbaland.
26. Sarkozy's state : ETAT. Sarkozy lost power last Tuesday. His state now is "sorrow".
27. Luxurious fabric : SATIN
29. "The Price Is Right" action : BID
30. Senior attachment? : ITIS. Senioritis. I used to think it referred to old people's senior moment.
31. Fireplace shelf : HOB
33. Alumni newsletter word : NEE
35. Where Jefferson can be seen : NICKEL. D'oh!
37. VW followers : XYZ. Alphabet.
38. Doughnut shape : TORUS. Plural is tori.
40. Saws : ADAGES
42. Charcuterie fare : MEAT. Did not know the meaning of Charcuterie.
47. "Thong Song" singer : SISQO. No idea. The song title does sound familiar.
48. Puts forward : POSITS
51. "Perfect! Right there!" : AAH. 53. Place to hear 51-Acrosses : HOT TUB.
52. MSN alternative : AOL
54. Decides one will : OPTS TO
55. Appointment book opening : SLOT. And 60. Ones without appointments : WALK-INS. Clue echos.
57. Fair vis-à-vis cloudy, say : NICER
59. Loft filler : HAY
62. In the thick of : AMID
64. Hold water, so to speak : COHERE
66. Mary Jane, e.g. : SHOE. These shoes are all the rage now, with Mary Jane style ankle strap & rounded toe, thanks to Lady Gaga.
70. GI delinquent : AWOL73. Father of the Titans : URANUS. Their mother is Gaea.
76. Eczema symptom : ITCH
77. Hand raised in support, say : YES VOTE
80. "A Farewell to Arms" conflict, briefly : WWI
82. Nocturnal insects : MOTHS
84. Fall in the rankings : SLIP
86. Puts on notice : ALERTS
87. Reservation waster : NO SHOW
89. Green gp. : EPA
91. Clark's "Mogambo" co-star : AVA (Gardner). Perfect measurements.
92. Mozart movements : RONDOS
93. Big yawns : BORES
97. Many miles off : AFAR
98. Sales targets : QUOTAS
99. Inn season visits : STAYS. Nice "Inn season".
100. Chowderhead : SAP
103. Enterprise crewman : MR. SULU
105. Hairy TV cousin : ITT
107. Sale rack abbr. : IRR
108. Puppeteer Baird : CORA. Total stranger. Wife to Bil Baird.
109. One of the Books of Wisdom : JOB. I could only think of Solomon.
111. "Cape Fear" actor : NOLTE (Nick)
113. __ avis : RARA
115. Archipelago component : ISLAND
117. "Could regret this, but tell me" : I'LL BITE
122. Prince of the Tigers : FIELDER. Prince Fielder. Previously with the Brewers. Can't get my hand on Bryce Harper's rookie cards now. Hot!
123. Forearm bones : RADII
124. Prepare for a comeback tour : REUNITE
125. Australian brew : FOSTER'S. And 126. Australian gems : OPALS.
127. Burning : ARDENT
Down:
1. Putting on airs : SNOOTY
2. City in NW Iran : TABRIZ. See this map. In northwest. I saw 2 more cities ending in Z. No such thing in Chinese. Z & ZH only start words.
3. Nice girls? : ELLES. Nice the French city of course.
4. Discouraging words : NOES
6. Chic getaway : SPA
7. Citrus shaving : ZEST
8. Literary middle name : ALLAN. Edgar ALLAN Poe.
9. Level of achievement : PLATEAU
10. Treaty-signing memento : PEN
11. Additions : ANDS
12. Push-up garment : BUSTIER. Look, some girls are so lucky.
13. Shenanigans : ANTICS
14. Displayed zero talent : STANK
15. Go astray : ERR
17. Jai __ : ALAI
18. "Blue" TV lawmen : NYPD. Linda, we need an Andy Sipowicz in our neighborhood.
19. Implant, as an idea : INFIX. Alright.
23. Fantasy writers' awards : NEBULAS. Guessed.
28. Sweet wine with a woman's name : ANGELICA. Ah, wine, Marti's forte, as is skiing or any risk-taking activity.
32. Heavenly body : ORB
34. Novelist Ferber : EDNA
36. Throw off : EMIT
38. __-frutti : TUTTI
39. Oceanographer's workplace : SEA LAB
41. Shortly : ANON
43. Blue hue : AQUA
44. "Twelfth Night" sir : TOBY
45. One taking chances : RISKER. Well, Splynter is one. Tough to be uprooted and move to a new city so far away.
46. Four-sided figures : RHOMBI
47. Nursing a grudge : SORE
48. Comic strip punches : POWS
49. Aquarium beauty : OPAH. "Beauty", ha ha! Beholder issue.
53. "Clever" : HEH
56. Isn't quite perpendicular : TILTS
58. Work to edit : COPY
61. Sealed : SHUT
63. Render harmless, in a way : DE-CLAW
65. Winged croakers : RAVENS
68. See to the exit : USHER OUT
69. Scotch choice, familiarly : CHIVAS. Chivas Regal. Was just asking Argyle about Whisky, Whiskey usage the other day. They use "whisky" spelling in Canada.
71. Preminger of film : OTTO
72. Minus : LESS
74. Baking entrepreneur Wally : AMOS. I have yet to try a "Famous Amos" cookie.
75. "Get cracking!" : NOW
78. One with a long commute, perhaps : EARLY RISER
79. Gin berries : SLOES
80. L.A. Sparks' org. : WNBA. Do they have good attendance, Bill?
81. Shepherd's comment : WOOF
83. Cookout aid : SPIT
85. Missing something : PARTIAL
88. Title for Brahms : HERR
90. Berry rich in antioxidants : ACAI
94. Tugboats, at times : PULLERS
95. "CHiPs" actor : ESTRADA. We see ERIK more often.
96. Watering hole : BAR
98. One issuing a citation? : QUOTER
100. Penetrate the mind : SOAK IN
101. Gulf War reporter Peter : ARNETT. His daughter is married to John Yoo, known for the "Torture Memos".
102. Father on a base : PADRE. Military base.
104. Slyly cutting : SNIDE
106. An official language of Sri Lanka : TAMIL
108. Knockoff : CLONE
109. Sec : JIFF
110. Hodgepodge : OLIO
112. River originating in Cantabria : EBRO. I only know it flows to the Mediterranean.
114. DH stats : RBIS. DH = Designated Hitter. Or Dear Husband on the blog.
116. Simple earring : STUD
118. Short order? : BLT. Sweet little clue.
120. Criticize : RAP
121. Big Band __ : ERA
Answer grid.
Happy Birthday to Mainiac!
C.C.
