Theme: "Low Flow" - L is changed into FL in each theme entry. (Thanks for the extra L observation, Lemonade.)
22A. Interfaith service attendees? : COMBINATION FLOCK. Combination lock.
28A. Arsonist's alibi? : FLAME EXCUSE. Lame excuse.
56A. Cause of business failure? : CORPORATE FLAW. Corporate law.
62A. Distinguished screwballs? : GREAT FLAKES. Great Lakes.
72A. Uproar over a controversial win? : VICTORY FLAP. Victory lap.
80A. Niche market for airport bookstores? : FLIGHT READING. Light reading.
106A. Dumpster hoverers? : PACK OF FLIES. Pack of lies.
117A. Hygiene product for very big teeth? : SUBSTANTIAL FLOSS. Substantial loss.
Five F's are added to the start of last words, three to the first. Quite consistent, key to this type of letter addition/deletion/substitution puzzles.
Jeffrey also gives us a 140-word grid. LAT Sundays are normally 144. Look at the top/bottom edges, they're usually divided into 4 parts. Jeffrey the Master only uses 3. He also places six solid non-theme 9's, two of them are paralleled.
Across:
1. Humanities degs. : BAs
4. Dangerous thing to fall in with : BAD CROWD. Great debut fill.
12. Enhances : ADDS TO
18. Exiled, with "away" : SENT
19. Nonconforming : IRREGULAR
20. Kitchen gadget : PEELER. Here is my favorite. I got it from our local Asian store.
21. Eponymous reader : UTNE. Reader.
24. Conquered after being lost, as territory : RETAKEN
26. Part of it is on L.I. : NYC. We also have 127. Manhattan region : EAST SIDE And 4. Bombers' home? : BRONX
27. __ food : HEALTH
32. __ resources : HUMAN
34. Ornamental shrub : YEW
35. Gurus' retreats : ASHRAMS. So many people are seeking enlightenment, but Buddha achieved his only after he left his wife and kid.
37. Ill-gotten gains : GRIFT
42. Sheep group : FOLD
44. Pre-adulthood stages : PUPAE
46. Venerable retailer : SEARS
49. Even once : EVER
50. Reliable sort : TROUPER. Always thought it's TROOPER.
52. Glitzy rock genre : GLAM
54. Goliath, to David : FOE
55. Levelheaded : SANE. You just can't rattle D-Otto. Last winter when he discovered he had permanent retina damage, he dealt it with humor, carrying on his Meals on Wheels work as usual. Always cool. Always a do-er.
59. State requiring "Stat!" : URGENCY
61. Enterprise bridge figure : SULU
64. More than not : MOST
67. Unrefined : RAW
70. "The Goldbergs" airer : ABC
71. "House" actor Epps : OMAR
76. Eponymous salad creator : COBB. Never had it. Some food just don't appeal to me.
79. "That is my intention" : I MEAN TO
87. Emulate a condor : SOAR
88. Spherical organ : EYE
90. "Star Wars" saga fixture : LEIA. Boomer would have commented on the three vowels.
91. Equanimity : BALANCE
92. First word of "Send in the Clowns" : ISN'T. "Isn't it rich?".
93. WWI battle river : SOMME
95. Stop on the briny : AVAST
97. S.F. commuting system : BART
98. 16th-century Sorrento-born poet : TASSO. We had him before. And 125. 98-Across' lang. : ITAL
100. Cape user : MATADOR
102. SALT subject : ABM
103. Barely bested, with "out" : NOSED
111. Like Stephen King's Pennywise : CREEPY
114. Medium power? : ESP. Nice clue.
116. Golden quality? : SILENCE. No. 1 requirement for being a Ninja.
122. Yawn-inducing : DULL
123. One changing lines, perhaps : EDITOR. That's Rich.
124. End of an ultimatum : OR LEAVE IT. Feels like partial-ish to me. YMMV.
126. Yes : ASSENT
128. Sardine catcher : NET. Dried sardines are important in Korean cooking. Base of broth.
Down:
1. Stimulating nut : BETEL
2. Women's fashion chain : ANN TAYLOR. For career women.
3. Really angry : STEAMED UP
5. Radius location : ARM
6. Young socialite : DEB
7. Pixar output, briefly : CGI
8. Track competitor : RUNNER
9. Brand including Regenerist products : OLAY. I still like the Olay original.
10. Defiant reply to a dare : WATCH ME
11. Soft & __: deodorant : DRI
12. Sleep disorder : APNEA
13. Make less dangerous, as a snake : DEFANG. You can find live snakes in many restaurants in Guangzhou. Live fish too.
14. Acer rival : DELL. Also 16. Acer employee : TECH. My screen is Acer.
15. Vending machine opening : SLOT
17. TV planet : ORK. Mork & Mindy.
18. Banzai Pipeline feature : SURF. Also 57. Grounds crew concern : TURF
19. Frozen drink brand : ICEE
23. Omega, to a physicist : OHM
25. London's __ Gardens : KEW
29. Ruth wore one : CAP. Baby Ruth. (Correction: I meant Babe Ruth.)
30. What kilowatt hours measure : USAGE
31. Knickknack perch : SHELF
33. Its Space Command has HQ in Colorado : USAF. Hi Bob, are you still reading our blog?
36. Capital of Eritrea : ASMARA
38. Alter, as a tailor might : RE-SEAM
39. First Family name : IVANKA Her kids speak Chinese.
40. Dueling party : FENCER
41. Low cards : TREYS
42. Consumer protection org. : FTC
43. Conquistador's treasure : ORO
44. Pacific Rim nation : PERU
45. Eurasian border river : URAL
47. Opposite of a squeaker : ROUT
48. Lowly worker : SERF
51. Tom of "Newhart" : POSTON. Boomer met him at a charity golf tournament once.
53. Math subj. : ALG
58. Information source, with "the" : WEB
60. All over the world : GLOBAL
63. Bookkeeping no. : ACCT
64. Champagne cocktail : MIMOSA. Do you guys like Kombucha?
65. Hurricanes form over them : OCEANS
66. Embarks : STARTS
68. Furry TV ET : ALF
69. License holder? : WALLET. No hesitation from me.
72. Stop by : VISIT. Tablet will take Argyle a bit longer to figure out. In the meantime, please continue sending cards to below address. He enjoys our cards.
D. Scott Nichols
Room #219
Wesley Health Care Center
131 Lawrence St.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
73. GPS data : RTES
74. Foolish one : YO-YO
75. Food in a humility metaphor : PIE
77. Spheres : ORBS
78. Vanquish : BEAT
81. Hall of Fame chef De Laurentiis : GIADA. Know her of course. I did not know there's a Culinary Hall of Fame though.
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82. Wreaked state : HAVOC
83. Tinkered with : DABBLED IN. Thought of TTP, who will probably still enjoy tinkering with things in his 90s. DIY takes curiosity and talents.
84. "Soon" : IN A MINUTE
85. ATM giant : NCR
86. Procure : GET
89. Full-figured model born Melissa Miller : EMME. I did not know her original name. That's quite close to Marisa Miller the model below.
94. Archipelago with an eponymous wine : MADEIRA
96. Storied vessel : ARK
99. Big weight : ONE TON
101. Java creation : APPLET
102. Workers' org. formed in 1886 : AFL
104. Vasarely's genre : OP-ART
105. Word for word?: Abbr. : SYN. Another great clue.
107. Actor Davis : OSSIE
108. Raised symbol of resistance : FIST
109. Brilliant display : ECLAT
110. Market : SELL
111. They're chewed in pastures : CUDS. I'm glad I'm not a cow. I can't imagine eating the same food day after day.
112. Wrigley Field stats : RBIs
113. Sunrise dirección : ESTE
115. "Do the Right Thing" pizzeria : SAL'S
117. "Many fresh streams meet in one salt __": Shakespeare : SEA
118. Little piggy : TOE
119. Sol preceders : FAs
120. CXII halved : LVI. 56.
121. 20-volume ref. : OED
22A. Interfaith service attendees? : COMBINATION FLOCK. Combination lock.
28A. Arsonist's alibi? : FLAME EXCUSE. Lame excuse.
56A. Cause of business failure? : CORPORATE FLAW. Corporate law.
62A. Distinguished screwballs? : GREAT FLAKES. Great Lakes.
72A. Uproar over a controversial win? : VICTORY FLAP. Victory lap.
80A. Niche market for airport bookstores? : FLIGHT READING. Light reading.
106A. Dumpster hoverers? : PACK OF FLIES. Pack of lies.
117A. Hygiene product for very big teeth? : SUBSTANTIAL FLOSS. Substantial loss.
Five F's are added to the start of last words, three to the first. Quite consistent, key to this type of letter addition/deletion/substitution puzzles.
Jeffrey also gives us a 140-word grid. LAT Sundays are normally 144. Look at the top/bottom edges, they're usually divided into 4 parts. Jeffrey the Master only uses 3. He also places six solid non-theme 9's, two of them are paralleled.
Across:
1. Humanities degs. : BAs
4. Dangerous thing to fall in with : BAD CROWD. Great debut fill.
12. Enhances : ADDS TO
18. Exiled, with "away" : SENT
19. Nonconforming : IRREGULAR
20. Kitchen gadget : PEELER. Here is my favorite. I got it from our local Asian store.
21. Eponymous reader : UTNE. Reader.
24. Conquered after being lost, as territory : RETAKEN
26. Part of it is on L.I. : NYC. We also have 127. Manhattan region : EAST SIDE And 4. Bombers' home? : BRONX
27. __ food : HEALTH
32. __ resources : HUMAN
34. Ornamental shrub : YEW
35. Gurus' retreats : ASHRAMS. So many people are seeking enlightenment, but Buddha achieved his only after he left his wife and kid.
37. Ill-gotten gains : GRIFT
42. Sheep group : FOLD
44. Pre-adulthood stages : PUPAE
46. Venerable retailer : SEARS
49. Even once : EVER
50. Reliable sort : TROUPER. Always thought it's TROOPER.
52. Glitzy rock genre : GLAM
54. Goliath, to David : FOE
55. Levelheaded : SANE. You just can't rattle D-Otto. Last winter when he discovered he had permanent retina damage, he dealt it with humor, carrying on his Meals on Wheels work as usual. Always cool. Always a do-er.
59. State requiring "Stat!" : URGENCY
61. Enterprise bridge figure : SULU
64. More than not : MOST
67. Unrefined : RAW
70. "The Goldbergs" airer : ABC
71. "House" actor Epps : OMAR
76. Eponymous salad creator : COBB. Never had it. Some food just don't appeal to me.
79. "That is my intention" : I MEAN TO
87. Emulate a condor : SOAR
88. Spherical organ : EYE
90. "Star Wars" saga fixture : LEIA. Boomer would have commented on the three vowels.
91. Equanimity : BALANCE
92. First word of "Send in the Clowns" : ISN'T. "Isn't it rich?".
93. WWI battle river : SOMME
95. Stop on the briny : AVAST
97. S.F. commuting system : BART
98. 16th-century Sorrento-born poet : TASSO. We had him before. And 125. 98-Across' lang. : ITAL
100. Cape user : MATADOR
102. SALT subject : ABM
103. Barely bested, with "out" : NOSED
111. Like Stephen King's Pennywise : CREEPY
114. Medium power? : ESP. Nice clue.
116. Golden quality? : SILENCE. No. 1 requirement for being a Ninja.
122. Yawn-inducing : DULL
123. One changing lines, perhaps : EDITOR. That's Rich.
124. End of an ultimatum : OR LEAVE IT. Feels like partial-ish to me. YMMV.
126. Yes : ASSENT
128. Sardine catcher : NET. Dried sardines are important in Korean cooking. Base of broth.
Down:
1. Stimulating nut : BETEL
2. Women's fashion chain : ANN TAYLOR. For career women.
3. Really angry : STEAMED UP
5. Radius location : ARM
6. Young socialite : DEB
7. Pixar output, briefly : CGI
8. Track competitor : RUNNER
9. Brand including Regenerist products : OLAY. I still like the Olay original.
10. Defiant reply to a dare : WATCH ME
11. Soft & __: deodorant : DRI
12. Sleep disorder : APNEA
13. Make less dangerous, as a snake : DEFANG. You can find live snakes in many restaurants in Guangzhou. Live fish too.
14. Acer rival : DELL. Also 16. Acer employee : TECH. My screen is Acer.
15. Vending machine opening : SLOT
17. TV planet : ORK. Mork & Mindy.
18. Banzai Pipeline feature : SURF. Also 57. Grounds crew concern : TURF
19. Frozen drink brand : ICEE
23. Omega, to a physicist : OHM
25. London's __ Gardens : KEW
29. Ruth wore one : CAP. Baby Ruth. (Correction: I meant Babe Ruth.)
30. What kilowatt hours measure : USAGE
31. Knickknack perch : SHELF
33. Its Space Command has HQ in Colorado : USAF. Hi Bob, are you still reading our blog?
36. Capital of Eritrea : ASMARA
38. Alter, as a tailor might : RE-SEAM
39. First Family name : IVANKA Her kids speak Chinese.
41. Low cards : TREYS
42. Consumer protection org. : FTC
43. Conquistador's treasure : ORO
44. Pacific Rim nation : PERU
45. Eurasian border river : URAL
47. Opposite of a squeaker : ROUT
48. Lowly worker : SERF
51. Tom of "Newhart" : POSTON. Boomer met him at a charity golf tournament once.
53. Math subj. : ALG
58. Information source, with "the" : WEB
60. All over the world : GLOBAL
63. Bookkeeping no. : ACCT
64. Champagne cocktail : MIMOSA. Do you guys like Kombucha?
65. Hurricanes form over them : OCEANS
66. Embarks : STARTS
68. Furry TV ET : ALF
69. License holder? : WALLET. No hesitation from me.
72. Stop by : VISIT. Tablet will take Argyle a bit longer to figure out. In the meantime, please continue sending cards to below address. He enjoys our cards.
D. Scott Nichols
Room #219
Wesley Health Care Center
131 Lawrence St.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
73. GPS data : RTES
74. Foolish one : YO-YO
75. Food in a humility metaphor : PIE
77. Spheres : ORBS
78. Vanquish : BEAT
81. Hall of Fame chef De Laurentiis : GIADA. Know her of course. I did not know there's a Culinary Hall of Fame though.
82. Wreaked state : HAVOC
83. Tinkered with : DABBLED IN. Thought of TTP, who will probably still enjoy tinkering with things in his 90s. DIY takes curiosity and talents.
84. "Soon" : IN A MINUTE
85. ATM giant : NCR
86. Procure : GET
89. Full-figured model born Melissa Miller : EMME. I did not know her original name. That's quite close to Marisa Miller the model below.
96. Storied vessel : ARK
99. Big weight : ONE TON
101. Java creation : APPLET
102. Workers' org. formed in 1886 : AFL
104. Vasarely's genre : OP-ART
105. Word for word?: Abbr. : SYN. Another great clue.
107. Actor Davis : OSSIE
108. Raised symbol of resistance : FIST
109. Brilliant display : ECLAT
110. Market : SELL
111. They're chewed in pastures : CUDS. I'm glad I'm not a cow. I can't imagine eating the same food day after day.
112. Wrigley Field stats : RBIs
113. Sunrise dirección : ESTE
115. "Do the Right Thing" pizzeria : SAL'S
117. "Many fresh streams meet in one salt __": Shakespeare : SEA
118. Little piggy : TOE
119. Sol preceders : FAs
120. CXII halved : LVI. 56.
121. 20-volume ref. : OED
Splynter said "Hi". He is now working as an AutoCAD drafter for Westhampton Architectural Glass. I'm happy that he left that winery. I was afraid they would sabotage his hard work with AA.
Yeah, PK, try Dave's suggestion. Google Gmail. You should get your account back.
C.C.
