Theme: "EU Trade" - E sound is replaced by a short U sound, changing spelling as needed.
23. Red misplays?: CINCINNATI BUNGLES. Cincinnati Bengals. Red refers to the Cincinnati Red.
37. Golf pro's instructive stroke?: TEACHER'S PUTT. Teacher's pet.
52. Loser who finds a silver lining?: GRATEFUL DUD. Grateful Dead.
70. Mysteriously-appearing debris?: RUBBLE WITHOUT A CAUSE. Rebel Without a Cause.
95. Groans from a Russian egg producer?: FABERGE UGHS. Faberge eggs. Ah, "egg" should not be in the clue.
104. Big Apple mongrels?: NEW YORK MUTTS. New York Mets.
127. Confusion about who really won an international competition?: OLYMPIC GOLD MUDDLE.
Olympic gold medal.
All the key words experienced spelling changes. Very consistent.
As
I said before, this type of letter change theme requires skills and
imagination. I sure can't do it. Jim is a skilled wordsmith.
Across:
1. Dutch actress Verbeek of "Outlander": LOTTE. Unknown to me.
6. Chews (on): GNAWS.
11. "Point Break" plot, e.g.: CAPER.
16. One coming out: DEB. Not GAY.
19. Type of eye layer: UVEAL.
20. 348-seat Parisian body: SENAT.
21. __ drab: OLIVE. Is this olive drab?
22. Talkative fighter: ALI.
26. Three sheets to the wind: LIT.
27. Completely: IN TOTO.
28. Lab do-over: RE-TEST. We also have 67. Follow again: RE-TRACK.
29. Gophers and gardeners, say: ENEMIES. They sure are.
31. Word from the French for "clear the table": DESSERT. Dictionary says it's "derivative of desservir to clear the table". Dis-serve. Good to know.
33. It's usually the hit: SIDE A.
34. DDE's domain: ETO.
35. Cry during an argument between siblings: MOM.
43. Hard shoe: SABOT.
48. Inventory acronym: FIFO. First In, First Out.
50. Greek portico: STOA.
51. Slaughter of old baseball: ENOS.
55. Online marketplace: ETSY.
58. "__ Believer": '60s hit: I'M A.
59. Prius producer: TOYOTA.
60. Becoming an item, maybe: DATING.
63. Worrisome engine sound: SPUTTER.
65. __ Paulo: SAO.
66. Furious state: IRE.
68. Thieves' home?: DEN. Gimme for regulars.
69. Major Hindu deity: RAMA.
78. Mark not to play: REST.
79. Red or Black: SEA.
80. Red Baron's conflict, briefly: WWI.
81. Berlin article: EIN.
83. Like Earth: BIPOLAR.
86. Call for assistance: HELP ME.
89. Annoying type: NOODGE. Not a word I use. I'm a NOODGE to those who always answer my "Help Me" emails.
92. "__ du lieber!": ACH. Literally "Oh you dear", right, Spitzboov?
93. The littlest bit: A TAD.
97. Virginia __: REEL.
99. End notes: CODA.
102. Level-headed: SANE. What D-Otto is. Always so calm.
103. Takeoff times?: DIETS. Why "times?".
108. Easy mark: SAP.
110. Short brew?: IPA.
111. Indian wraps: SARIS.
113. Lowered in dignity: DEBASED.
119. Marshmallow-filled snack: MOON PIE. Never had it.
123. Medium condition?: TRANCE. Psychic "medium".
125. Looking up: ROSIER.
126. Many get snacks during them: ADS.
130. Med. lab letters: LDL.
131. "So long": SEE YA.
132. Small-truck company: TONKA.
133. Freshwater bulrushes: TULES. New word to me. We also have 76. Marsh plant: SEDGE.
134. Menu general: TSO. You won't find General Tso's chicken in China. Or Orange Chicken. Or Egg Foo Young. They were all created by early Chinese immigrants.
135. Pelé's first name: EDSON.
136. Snidely Whiplash look: SNEER.
137. Playoff rankings: SEEDS.
Down:
1. Clear: LUCID.
2. Sheepish?: OVINE.
3. Big tops, e.g.: TENTS.
4. Folded food: TACOS.
5. Upper crust: ELITE.
6. "Catch 21" airer, initially: GSN. Game Show Network.
7. Approaching: NEAR.
8. Starts a pot: ANTES.
9. Stay put until the storm ends: WAIT IT OUT. Sparkly fill.
10. "Venerable" Eng. monk: ST BEDE.
11. Something in your eye: CONTACT. Lens.
12. Mor. neighbor: ALG. OK, Morocco. Algeria.
13. Stack: PILE.
14. Score-tying shot: EVENER.
15. Starts over: RESETS.
16. "Lobster Telephone" artist: DALI.
17. Tahari of fashion: ELIE. Like his works?
18. Pieces' partners: BITS.
24. Regular at Sam's bar: NORM.
25. "__ directed": USE AS.
30. Gloomy Gus: MOPE.
32. Vegan staple: TOFU. When I was a kid, there was a marketplace closer to our home. We went there every day for fresh veggies and a block of Tofu.
36. Fungal plant coating: MILDEW.
38. Low-tech weed whacker: HOE.
39. Consumes without cooking: EATS RAW.
40. __ price: UNIT.
41. One in a researcher's stack: TOME.
42. Title derived from "Caesar": TSAR.
43. Some NCOs: SGTS.
44. Like a delirious crowd: AROAR.
45. Catfish habitat: BAYOU. I tried catfish once. Too fishy for me.
46. Nebraska native: OTO.
47. Saigon holiday: TET. Same day as Chinese Spring Festival.
49. OTC drug regulator: FDA.
53. Is unsuccessful in: FAILS AT.
54. Finished 50% (of): DID HALF.
56. Typographer's concern: SPACING.
57. Arizona county or its seat: YUMA.
61. Classical beginning: NEO. Neoclassical.
62. African antelope: GNU.
64. 19th Greek letter: TAU.
71. Frat guy: BRO.
72. Composer Bartók: BELA.
73. Language suffix: ISH.
74. Good place for driving: TEE. Tee pad.
75. Some junior high students: TWEENS.
77. Word before ball or after figure: EIGHT.
82. Untouchables leader: NESS.
83. Old MacDonald surely had one: BARN.
84. Big name in frozen treats: ICEE.
85. Sound of relief: PHEW.
87. Choosing to skip: PASSING ON.
88. Many a CEO's credential: MBA.
90. 20-volume ref.: OED.
91. Francine's "For sure": OUI.
94. __ Pérignon: DOM.
96. Part of CD-ROM: READ.
98. With 122-Down, Eagles classic: LYIN. 122. See 98-Down: EYES.
100. One involved in a sweeping gesture?: DUSTPAN. "One" made me think of a person.
101. Pong maker: ATARI.
105. Hinder: OPPOSE.
106. Complained: RAILED.
107. Expanses of land: TRACTS.
109. Salon offering: PERM.
112. Quick bread choice: SCONE. Have some sweet potato scones.
114. Ring features: BOUTS.
115. When required: AS DUE. Can you give me an example of how the clue matches the Answer?
116. Move like a crab: SIDLE.
I've learned to move like a penguin on icy roads. We had a few more inches of snow yesterday. Will continue today. I
told Brad (a solver based in Nebraska) that I looked forward to
seeing patches of green on our lawn. He said "Mid-June!".
117. Fished with pots: EELED.
118. Scold, with "down": DRESS.
119. Parlor purchase: MALT.
120. What gamblers weigh: ODDS.
121. Scandinavian capital: OSLO.
124. Sommer of cinema: ELKE.
128. Prefix with cardial: MYO. Meaning "muscle".
129. Patriotic org.: DAR.
No more spots for the Cru Dinner. You can ask Mike to put you on the wait list, in case someone cancels at the last minute.
Below is a picture of the proud grandpa Mike and his cute grandson Luca, who is a little over 3-month old. Mike took these fantastic pictures of Marti and Rich a few years ago.
If
you attend the Cru Dinner, say "Hi" to Mike and take a picture to share
with us. Our Jeffrey Wechsler will be the tournament judge again,
though I'm not sure he'll swing by the Cru Dinner this year.
 |
| Mike and Luca |
