Theme: "Change the World" - One word in each common phrase is replaced by sound-alike city name.
22. Data collection in Germany?: COLOGNE SAMPLES. This one confuses me as "Cologne sample" is a real in-the-language phrase.
32. Boulder in the Czech Republic?: PRAGUE ROCK. Prog rock.
43. Census taker in India?: DELHI COUNTER. Deli counter.
64. Ancestry in Taiwan?: TAIPEI BLOOD. Type A blood.
71. Gems in Afghanistan?: KABUL STONES. Cobblestones.
95. Crooners in South Korea?: SEOUL SINGERS. Soul singers.
103. Serving dish in France?: BREST PLATE. Breast plate.
116. Cuisine in Ecuador?: QUITO-BASED DIET. Keto-based diet.
We've had SEOUL FOOD & SEOUL MATES in the past, but the other phrases are quite creative. Amazing TAIPEI!
As Husker Gary mentioned in his last writeup, Taylor is based in Minneapolis.
Across:
5. __ and pans: POTS.
9. Urge: ITCH.
13. Vatican leaders: POPES.
18. Cheer (for): ROOT.
19. Estrada of "CHiPs": ERIK.
20. Grand Canyon animal: MULE.
21. Chests: BOSOMS.
25. Third-party account: ESCROW.
26. Japanese robe: KIMONO. The casual one is called yukata.
27. "Heat of the Moment" band: ASIA.
28. Step to the bar, for short?: LSAT. State bar.
29. Violin protector: CASE.
30. Former White House press secretary Psaki: JEN.
37. Smart __: ALECS.
39. Biblical peak: HOREB. Not SINAI.
41. Freebies from a party: SWAG.
42. "It's WonderWater" drink brand: BAI. Never had it. This word means "white" in Chinese.
46. ESPN datum: STAT. 91. Power hitter's 46-Across: RBI.
48. Hectic hosp. areas: ERS.
49. Egg: Prefix: OVI.
50. Sets (down): PUTS.
51. Declined: SAID NO.
53. Desolate areas: WILDS. Did you watch this movie?
55. Writes: PENS.
57. Short diner orders: BLTS.
59. Eye layer: UVEA.
60. Farm herder: COLLIE.
61. Start a golf hole: TEE UP.
63. "More or less": ISH.
66. Heats quickly: ZAPS.
68. Pastoral poems: IDYLS.
70. Garage sale caveat: AS IS.
75. Driveway surface: TAR. Hope to get the new driveway in mid-Oct.
77. Pushpins, e.g.: TACKS.
81. Battery-powered rides: eBIKES.
82. Place with nine circles, per Dante: HELL.
83. Bank deposit: SILT. Good old clue.
85. Cry of pain: YEOW.
86. Toyota subcompact discontinued in 2020: YARIS.
87. Beer named for a Dutch river: AMSTEL.
89. Rig behind a cab: SEMI.
92. ProFlowers parent co.: FTD.
93. "Barry" rating: TV MA.
98. "That's gonna leave a mark!": OOF.
99. ProActive Health brand: IAMS.
101. Window sections: PANES.
102. Priests with prayer wheels: LAMAS.
107. Sudoku fill: Abbr.: NOS.
108. Big name in 126-Across: TAZO. 126. Assam, oolong, pekoe, etc.: TEAS.
109. Raison d'__: ETRE.
110. "I got this!": ON IT.
112. Put on the right path: ORIENT.
114. "Sure, hon": OK DEAR.
120. Marketing gimmicks: TIE-INS.
121. State whose motto is "Industry": UTAH. Our state motto is "L'Étoile du Nord". Minnesota used to have a hockey team named North Stars.
122. Post-gym feeling: ACHE.
123. Dynamic leader?: AERO. Aerodynamic.
124. Farm structures: BARNS.
125. Suffix with fluor-: ESCE. Hard to avoid gluey fill in a big grid.
127. Kitchen qtys.: TSPS.
Down:
2. "Check it out!": LOOK.
3. "Do not cross" area marked with yellow tape: POLICE LINE.
4. Handle: STOMACH.
5. __ alla vodka: PENNE.
6. Sweet sandwich: OREO.
7. Poetic contraction: TIS.
8. Reggae kin: SKA.
9. Mischief-makers: IMPS.
10. Dutch bulb: TULIP.
11. Nets: CLEARS.
12. Chaps: HES.
13. Entourage: POSSE.
14. NBA great Robertson nicknamed "The Big O": OSCAR.
15. Meaty mushroom: PORTOBELLO. And its symmetrical partner: 73. Backyard seed holder: BIRD FEEDER. Both great fill.
16. Motion City Soundtrack genre: EMO.
17. U-turn from NNE: SSW.
21. "Baby __": Raffi song about a whale: BELUGA. Helpful clue.
23. Scuttlebutt: GOSSIP.
24. Some Musée d'Orsay works: MANETS.
30. Uses a lance a lot: JOUSTS.
31. Sea eagle: ERN.
33. "Shoot!": AW SNAP.
34. Spanish cat: GATO. Cat is called "mao" in Chinese. Popular slogan in China in late 1990s.
35. Aerobic regimen, familiarly: CARDIO.
36. Barely touched: KISSED.
37. Vote to accept: ADOPT.
38. Flood preventer: LEVEE.
39. Catalog of personal favorites: HOT LIST.
40. A little extra shut-eye: BEAUTY SLEEP. Another great fill. Boomer gets quite a bit these days.
44. Ursa minor?: CUB. Cute.
45. Archenemy: RIVAL.
47. Insignificant: TWO BIT.
52. Certain people of faith: DEISTS.
54. "Amen to that!": I'LL SAY.
56. Japanese motorcycle brand: SUZUKI. Suzu= Bell. Ki = Tree/Wood in Japanese.
58. Rises to the top: SHINES.
60. Prefix with gender: CIS.
62. Least flush: PALEST.
65. Like certain monitor lizards: EARLESS.
67. Ltr. addenda: PSS.
69. Shoulder muscles, briefly: DELTS.
71. Unlocking device for a car: KEY FOB.
72. Nuisance remover, in law: ABATOR.
74. "Dang, baby!": OH MAMA.
76. Shopping centers?: AISLES.
78. Solemn rituals: CEREMONIES.
79. Brazilian muralist Eduardo: KOBRA. Learning moment for me. Wikipedia says "he has painted over 3,000 murals on five different continents."
80. Sandwich cheese: SWISS.
84. "OMG! Stop talking!": TMI.
87. International lawyer Clooney: AMAL. Very grid-friendly name.
88. Let use for a while: LOAN TO.
90. Like some tiles: INLAID.
94. Poisonous reptiles: VIPERS.
96. Card player's call: UNO.
97. Stared upon: GAZED AT.
100. Strong brews: STOUTS. And 104. Hofbrau mug: STEIN.
105. Prefix with gender: TRANS.
106. Room-sized computer unveiled in 1946: ENIAC.
108. Canopy makeup: TREES.
111. "Am __ only one?": I THE.
112. Workplace safety org.: OSHA.
113. Maryland athlete, for short: TERP.
114. Gambling venue letters: OTB.
115. Sportage automaker: KIA.
116. "¿__ pasa?": QUE.
117. Cricket club: BAT.
118. "Helpful hardware folks" company: ACE.
119. Talking-__: stern lectures: TOS.
A few extra notes:
1) Lemonade is safe and sound. He just had some computer issues. Hope it'll be resolved soon.
2) We had a good week. No falls. Plus, the butt sores that had been bothering Boomer for a few weeks eased up greatly. He probably won't need the dressing in a few days, esp with the Roho cushion he just got. We're going to the VA next Tuesday for more blood draw and meeting with the oncologist.
C.C.
