Mark Feldman is here with his first puzzle of 2017; his last was a fun Spoonerism Puzzle. This time Mark out does Reverend Spooner by reversing the words in a two word phrase, not just the beginnings. Each requires the new first word be a sound-a-alike of the old second word. He then clues the fill with a silly meaning, and the hilarity ensues. He also finishes the grid with some challenges and some excellent choices such as ENDEARS, MAHATMA, DEADPAN, SEA STAR, CHORALES, HEADLESS, TOREADOR, TOASTERS, SOUL MATES and the previously unseen in the LAT- SEVERALLY.
The theme fill:
17A. Ladies' man with laryngitis? : HOARSE STUD (10). After successful racing careers, many champion race horses spend their time making their owners rich. SECRETARIAT.
28A. Infant at bath time? : BARE BABY (8). Baby bear has been a star for years. thanks to Goldilocks.
44A. High schooler just hanging out? : IDLE TEEN (8). Teen idols have been around seamlessly since SINATRA.
58A. Ordinary-looking fashion VIP? : PLAIN MODEL (10). An un-pc twist on model plane builders.
Across:
1. Earth tone : OCHER. My father painted in oils which is where I learned this word.
6. Popular speaker : BOSE. I have a Bose radio.
10. Unlike Wabash College : COED. Wabash College is a small, private, liberal arts college for men, located in Crawfordsville, Indiana, United States. Wikipedia.
14. "Voilà!" : THERE. Jeannie, where are you?
15. Over : UPON.
16. Company with a Select Guest loyalty program : OMNI. A HOTEL chain.
19. Ultimately earns : NETS.
20. Airport NNW of IND : ORD. INDianpolis and Chicago, O'Hare which originally was called ORcharD Field. 27D. Rail system that services 20-Across : CTA. Chicago Transit Authority.
21. Spicy cuisine : CREOLE. Time for some RECIPES.
22. A native of : FROM.
23. Goneril's husband : ALBANY. Our Friday Shakespeare REFERENCE. Harder than capital of New York?
25. Revered sage, in India : MAHATMA. None more famous than Ghandi?
27. Sweeps, e.g. : CLEANS. I made this too hard at first...think spys.
29. 1995 "Live at Red Rocks" pianist : TESH. I will control my urge to post my family pics from Red Rocks.
30. African scourge : TSETSE.
32. Indian silk-producing region : ASSAM. Part II, India.
34. Suffix with ethyl : ENE.
35. "Same here" : DITTO.
40. Counsel : ADVISE.
43. Cheer : ROOT.
Take me out
To the ball game
Take me out
To the crowd
Buy me some peanuts
And Crackerjacks
I don't care if
I never get back
For it's root, root, root
For the home team
If they don't win
It's a shame
For it's one, two,
Three strikes you're out
At the old ball game!
48. Highest peak in the Armenian plateau : ARARAT. It is mostly in Turkey. LINK.
50. Armed ocean dweller? : SEASTAR. We used to call it the STARFISH. Marine scientists have undertaken the difficult task of replacing the beloved starfish's common name with sea star because, well, the starfish is not a fish. It's an echinoderm, closely related to sea urchins and sand dollars. ... Most sea stars also have the remarkable ability to consume prey outside their bodies. wiki, i think.
51. Makes it right : ATONES.
52. Pride parade letters : LGBT. Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans.
53. "Macbeth" spot descriptor : DAMNED. Another double dip, this time Shakespeare. "Out, Out..."
55. Division of the Justice Dept. : ATF. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
57. Buffalo's county : ERIE. CSO to many.
60. Marketing opener : TELE.
61. "What a shame" : ALAS. Great word for our poets.
62. Really like : ADORE.
63. Aren't really, maybe : SEEM.
64. Nasdaq competitor : NYSE. New York Stock Exchange.
65. Like Vikings : NORSE.
Down:
1. Emperor after Galba : OTHO. He was number TWO in the year of Four Emperors, a year I learned all about from my son.
2. Bach works : CHORALES.
3. Word associated with Sleepy Hollow : HEADLESS. Do any watch the TV show? I enjoyed the crossover with Bones.
4. Goof : ERR.
5. Checkout correction, perhaps : RESCAN.
6. "Point Break" co-star : BUSEY.
7. Vision: Pref. : OPTOmetrist.
8. They're meant for each other : SOUL MATES. With all of our long married here at the Corner this might be a CSO.
9. Makes beloved : ENDEARS.
10. Informal discussion : CONFAB.
11. Last book of Puzo's "Godfather" trilogy : OMERTA. Silence? Spawned by this author...54D. "Serpico" author Peter : MAAS. He also wrote The Valachi Papers and Underboss.
12. Bury : ENTOMB.
13. Alarm : DISMAY.
18. "Trophy, Hypertrophied" artist : ERNST. Max.
28. Dahomey, since 1975 : BENIN.
31. One at a time : SEVERALLY. Jointly and severally in the law means "all are obligated and each is obligated."
33. Actor Damon : MATT. He works!
36. OPEC founding member : IRAN.
37. Ring fighter : TOREADOR. That is bull!
38. Pop-up items : TOASTERS.
39. As of 1937, he was the all-time N.L. home run leader until Mays surpassed him in 1966 : OTT. Mel had 511, I think.
41. Like many a successful poker player : DEADPAN. And comedians.
42. Consumed : EATEN.
44. Keys : ISLETS.
45. Unilever deodorant brand : DEGREE.
46. Likely to change : LABILE. Used in medical context mostly, I think.
47. Regard : ESTEEM.
49. Serling's birth name : RODMAN. Dennis loses out to this bit of trivia- Rodman was shortened to Rod.
51. Ouzo flavoring : ANISE. Licorice.
56. Hightail it : FLEE.
59. "Star Trek: DSN" changeling : ODO. Poor René Auberjonois. He was always challenged in Deep Space Nine. I like him best in Boston Legal.
So we traversed the mine field and emerged with another successful Friday in the books. Thanks you so much Mark, a sense of humor always helps, especially as I continue to struggle. Caudal epidural 2 was Wednesday. Sorry for the choppy write up, but I had fun. Lemonade out.
Notes from C.;C.:
1) Happy 50th wedding anniversary to dear Gary and his wife Joann! I'm
lucky to have met them and got to know them over the years. Their love
and support for each other are so inspiring. So unconditional.
2) Happy Birthday to Chairman Moe (Chris), our wine and beer expert, author of daily Puzzling Thoughts.
Chairman Moe, his wife, Oo & Lemonade, Sept 10, 2015
