Theme: CD Changers - The starting letter C is changed into D in various familiar phrases.
23A. Athlete's illegal plan? : DOPING STRATEGY. Coping Strategy.
44A. Inevitably short story of a track event? : DASH ACCOUNT. Cash Account.
68A. Derrières? : FRENCH DUFFS. French Cuffs.
96A. Contented furnace part? : HAPPY DAMPER. Happy Camper.
119A. Pass receiver's nightmare? : DREAM OF THE DROP. Cream of the Crop. The only one with double changes.
13D. Dangerous links game? : GOLF DARTS. Golf Carts.
41D. Where authors exhibit unedited work? : DRAFTS FAIR. Crafts Fair.
44D. Designated area for Southern dialogue? : DRAWL SPACE. Crawl Space.
83D. City employee who helps with the dishes? : TOWN DRIER. Town Crier.
Fun puzzle. Some of the theme clues made me laugh. Cottoned onto the theme rather quickly. Had a hunch of what the gimmick was about after reading title, then had it confirmed in no time. For once I mind-melded with Rich.
To those who are not familiar with various alias name of editor Rich Norris, he uses Nora Pearlstone (anagram of "Not a Real Person") mostly for his Sunday puzzles.
Nora tends to spread out her theme entries widely and intersect them when possible.
Across:
1. Post-commencement fliers? : CAPS. The image just wouldn't come to my mind.
5. Skirmish : FRAY
9. Polite address : MA'AM
13. Freedom of speech inhibitor : GAG LAW. Same as Gag Order, right?
19. Snack with several eating options : OREO
20. Grimm bad guy : OGRE
21. Adolescent woe : ACNE
22. Shopping with a mouse, say : ONLINE. Mouse click.
26. Check up (on) : LOOK IN
27. Put to work : EMPLOY
28. Whom a physician should heal? : THYSELF. "Physician, heal thyself".
30. TV Batman Adam : WEST. We also have 99. Dogpatch's Daisy __ : MAE. Not cross-referenced today.
31. Dost speak : SAYST
32. Kenyan tribe : MASAI. New word to me. Dictionary says they live in Tanzania too.
35. Businesses : TRADES
37. Credits (to) : ASCRIBES
40. It's nearly bisected by the Missouri R. : S DAK. Wow, true.
41. Caesar's 601 : DCI
47. It's not wall-to-wall : AREA RUG
49. Hopping desert rodent : JERBOA. Alien to me. Strange looking creature.
51. Cross-country need, perhaps : SKI
52. Put on the tube : AIR
54. Until now : TO DATE
55. Sign of a slip : ERASURE. Sure was not thinking of "mistake" slip.
57. "SNL" producer Michaels : LORNE
59. Endure : SUFFER
60. Handful : FEW
61. Deceive : LIE TO
64. Winans of gospel : CECE. BEBE too.
65. Asian celebration : TET. Only in Vietnam.
66. Leave no room in : FILL
72. This, in Spain : ESTO. Also ESTA.
75. Distress letters : SOS
77. Restaurateur Toots : SHOR
78. Exams for sophs or jrs. : PSATs
80. Warm lining : FUR
81. Influence : IMPACT
84. Publishing crime : LIBEL. I don't get the clue, though I know most libels are in printed form.
86. Place : SITUATE
88. Milan's __ alla Scala : TEATRO. Only know La Scala, not its full name. What does "TEATRO" mean?
89. Dept. in charge of rural development : AGR (Agriculture)
90. Author Tarbell : IDA. No idea. Read here for more information. Interesting: muckraker. What Julian Assange has done appalls me.
93. Brain : GENIUS
94. Does without : ESCHEWS
100. Children's author Blyton : ENID. Learned from doing Xword.
102. Cutting tool handy in tight crevices : SABER SAW. Like this, Splynter?
103. Football play also called a sweep : END RUN
105. __ man : LADY'S. Like Bond.
106. Rumor starter? : I HEAR
111. General Mills brand : CHEX
114. Do some home improvement : REMODEL. Hey, another shout-out to Splynter.
116. Film set at the Bates Motel : PSYCHO
117. Island state : HAWAII
123. Delphic medium : ORACLE
124. Failed '80s gridiron org. : USFL. No idea. United States Football League, 1983-1987.
125. Go (toward) : HEAD
126. What kings and courts do : RULE. Oh, I see, Kings' courts.
127. Civic or rec follower : CENTER
128. Allot, with "out" : METE
129. Line on a horse : ODDS. We also have 95. Filly's father : SIRE. I like the name Zenyatta, very cool!
130. "__ Death": "Peer Gynt Suite No. 1" movement : ASE'S. Ase is Peer Gynt's mother.
Down:
1. Sets of regulations : CODES
2. Olfactory lure : AROMA
3. Energized : PEPPY
4. Dirties : SOILS
5. Stick-in-the-mud : FOGY. Old geezer.
6. Some NFL blockers : RGS
7. Gallery display : ART
8. "__ durn tootin'!" : YER
9. 20th-century Canadian composer André : MATHIEU. Well, I bet Jayce knows this guy. Québécois composer.
10. __-deucy : ACEY
11. Therapy subject : ANGST
12. Seth of "SNL" : MEYERS
14. 365 días : ANO
15. Shines : GLOWS
16. Take a shine to : LIKE
17. Spanish liqueur : ANIS. Made of aniseed?
18. Took off : WENT
24. Nobody at all : NOT A SOUL
25. Steaming mad : AT A BOIL. Two little multip-word phrases.
29. Russian auto : LADA. What does Lada mean?
32. Longtime Olivia Newton-John label : MCA. MCA = Music Corporation of America.
33. Rainbow paths : ARCS
34. Tired partner? : SICK. Sick and tired.
36. Barely make, as a living : EKE OUT. Good to have a full phrase.
38. Bridge star Omar : SHARIF
39. Caught in a net : SNARED
42. Overused word at the nursery : CUTE
43. Disney president Robert : IGER. Quite articulate.
45. Tummy muscles : ABS. Look at here. Amazing. The kid must have been working really hard on them.
46. Costner links film : TIN CUP. Great movie.
48. Classified charge : AD FEE
49. Bridges of "Starman" : JEFF
50. "... __ saw Elba" : ERE I. Ha ha. Just mentioned it yesterday.
53. Coral phenomena : REEFS
56. Chariot ending : EER. Charioteer.
58. Earthy tone : OCHRE
62. One weber per square meter : TESLA. Hey, he's back, with a very technical clue though.
63. Above : ON HIGH
67. Reluctant : LOATH
69. Charmed snakes? : COBRAS. Why "charmed"?
70. Notes after mis : FAs. Musical notes: Do Re Mi Fa Sol...
71. Mark of disgrace : STIGMA
73. "Swan Lake" outfit : TUTU. Have any of you seen "Black Swan"?
74. Tram car fillers : ORES
76. Conceal : SCREEN
79. How AA members complete their program : STEPWISE. Didn't come to me immediately.
81. News bit : ITEM
82. City east of Tempe : MESA. I've never been to AZ.
85. ChapStick, e.g. : LIP BALM
87. A, to Fauré : UNE
91. Changed the locks? : DYED
92. "He was white and shaken, like __ martini": Wodehouse : A DRY. Not familiar with the quote. Funny.
97. Lager alternative : PALE ALE
98. Barnyard brayer : ASS. Alliteration.
101. Jerk : DUMDUM. Another new word to me.
103. Right-on : EXACT
104. Swedes' neighbors : NORSE. Norwegians? I always associate Norse with the ancient Scandinavian people.
107. Victim of Hercules : HYDRA. The nine-headed serpent.
108. Tan shades : ECRUS
109. Financially struggling, with "in" : A HOLE
110. Boxing ring borders : ROPES
111. Prefix with -aholic : CHOC. Chocaholic. My spell checks wants chocoholic.
112. Wonderland tea party attendee : HARE
113. McGregor of "Big Fish" : EWAN. Know his name, not the movie.
115. Skillful : DEFT
116. Some profs : PH. Ds
118. Mer land : ILE. Mer = Sea.
120. Discoverer's shout : OHO. AHA too.
121. Miffed, with "up" : FED
122. Tiny amount : TAD
Answer grid.
We are all familiar with this avatar photo of the always witty & musing & amusing Husker Gary. Here is a closer look at him and his wife Joann. They've been married for 45 years.
C.C.
23A. Athlete's illegal plan? : DOPING STRATEGY. Coping Strategy.
44A. Inevitably short story of a track event? : DASH ACCOUNT. Cash Account.
68A. Derrières? : FRENCH DUFFS. French Cuffs.
96A. Contented furnace part? : HAPPY DAMPER. Happy Camper.
119A. Pass receiver's nightmare? : DREAM OF THE DROP. Cream of the Crop. The only one with double changes.
13D. Dangerous links game? : GOLF DARTS. Golf Carts.
41D. Where authors exhibit unedited work? : DRAFTS FAIR. Crafts Fair.
44D. Designated area for Southern dialogue? : DRAWL SPACE. Crawl Space.
83D. City employee who helps with the dishes? : TOWN DRIER. Town Crier.
Fun puzzle. Some of the theme clues made me laugh. Cottoned onto the theme rather quickly. Had a hunch of what the gimmick was about after reading title, then had it confirmed in no time. For once I mind-melded with Rich.
To those who are not familiar with various alias name of editor Rich Norris, he uses Nora Pearlstone (anagram of "Not a Real Person") mostly for his Sunday puzzles.
Nora tends to spread out her theme entries widely and intersect them when possible.
Across:
1. Post-commencement fliers? : CAPS. The image just wouldn't come to my mind.
5. Skirmish : FRAY
9. Polite address : MA'AM
13. Freedom of speech inhibitor : GAG LAW. Same as Gag Order, right?
19. Snack with several eating options : OREO
20. Grimm bad guy : OGRE
21. Adolescent woe : ACNE
22. Shopping with a mouse, say : ONLINE. Mouse click.
26. Check up (on) : LOOK IN
27. Put to work : EMPLOY
28. Whom a physician should heal? : THYSELF. "Physician, heal thyself".
30. TV Batman Adam : WEST. We also have 99. Dogpatch's Daisy __ : MAE. Not cross-referenced today.
31. Dost speak : SAYST
32. Kenyan tribe : MASAI. New word to me. Dictionary says they live in Tanzania too.
35. Businesses : TRADES
37. Credits (to) : ASCRIBES
40. It's nearly bisected by the Missouri R. : S DAK. Wow, true.
41. Caesar's 601 : DCI
47. It's not wall-to-wall : AREA RUG
49. Hopping desert rodent : JERBOA. Alien to me. Strange looking creature.
51. Cross-country need, perhaps : SKI
52. Put on the tube : AIR
54. Until now : TO DATE
55. Sign of a slip : ERASURE. Sure was not thinking of "mistake" slip.
57. "SNL" producer Michaels : LORNE
59. Endure : SUFFER
60. Handful : FEW
61. Deceive : LIE TO
64. Winans of gospel : CECE. BEBE too.
65. Asian celebration : TET. Only in Vietnam.
66. Leave no room in : FILL
72. This, in Spain : ESTO. Also ESTA.
75. Distress letters : SOS
77. Restaurateur Toots : SHOR
78. Exams for sophs or jrs. : PSATs
80. Warm lining : FUR
81. Influence : IMPACT
84. Publishing crime : LIBEL. I don't get the clue, though I know most libels are in printed form.
86. Place : SITUATE
88. Milan's __ alla Scala : TEATRO. Only know La Scala, not its full name. What does "TEATRO" mean?
89. Dept. in charge of rural development : AGR (Agriculture)
90. Author Tarbell : IDA. No idea. Read here for more information. Interesting: muckraker. What Julian Assange has done appalls me.
93. Brain : GENIUS
94. Does without : ESCHEWS
100. Children's author Blyton : ENID. Learned from doing Xword.
102. Cutting tool handy in tight crevices : SABER SAW. Like this, Splynter?
103. Football play also called a sweep : END RUN
105. __ man : LADY'S. Like Bond.
106. Rumor starter? : I HEAR
111. General Mills brand : CHEX
114. Do some home improvement : REMODEL. Hey, another shout-out to Splynter.
116. Film set at the Bates Motel : PSYCHO
117. Island state : HAWAII
123. Delphic medium : ORACLE
124. Failed '80s gridiron org. : USFL. No idea. United States Football League, 1983-1987.
125. Go (toward) : HEAD
126. What kings and courts do : RULE. Oh, I see, Kings' courts.
127. Civic or rec follower : CENTER
128. Allot, with "out" : METE
129. Line on a horse : ODDS. We also have 95. Filly's father : SIRE. I like the name Zenyatta, very cool!
130. "__ Death": "Peer Gynt Suite No. 1" movement : ASE'S. Ase is Peer Gynt's mother.
Down:
1. Sets of regulations : CODES
2. Olfactory lure : AROMA
3. Energized : PEPPY
4. Dirties : SOILS
5. Stick-in-the-mud : FOGY. Old geezer.
6. Some NFL blockers : RGS
7. Gallery display : ART
8. "__ durn tootin'!" : YER
9. 20th-century Canadian composer André : MATHIEU. Well, I bet Jayce knows this guy. Québécois composer.
10. __-deucy : ACEY
11. Therapy subject : ANGST
12. Seth of "SNL" : MEYERS
14. 365 días : ANO
15. Shines : GLOWS
16. Take a shine to : LIKE
17. Spanish liqueur : ANIS. Made of aniseed?
18. Took off : WENT
24. Nobody at all : NOT A SOUL
25. Steaming mad : AT A BOIL. Two little multip-word phrases.
29. Russian auto : LADA. What does Lada mean?
32. Longtime Olivia Newton-John label : MCA. MCA = Music Corporation of America.
33. Rainbow paths : ARCS
34. Tired partner? : SICK. Sick and tired.
36. Barely make, as a living : EKE OUT. Good to have a full phrase.
38. Bridge star Omar : SHARIF
39. Caught in a net : SNARED
42. Overused word at the nursery : CUTE
43. Disney president Robert : IGER. Quite articulate.
45. Tummy muscles : ABS. Look at here. Amazing. The kid must have been working really hard on them.
46. Costner links film : TIN CUP. Great movie.
48. Classified charge : AD FEE
49. Bridges of "Starman" : JEFF
50. "... __ saw Elba" : ERE I. Ha ha. Just mentioned it yesterday.
53. Coral phenomena : REEFS
56. Chariot ending : EER. Charioteer.
58. Earthy tone : OCHRE
62. One weber per square meter : TESLA. Hey, he's back, with a very technical clue though.
63. Above : ON HIGH
67. Reluctant : LOATH
69. Charmed snakes? : COBRAS. Why "charmed"?
70. Notes after mis : FAs. Musical notes: Do Re Mi Fa Sol...
71. Mark of disgrace : STIGMA
73. "Swan Lake" outfit : TUTU. Have any of you seen "Black Swan"?
74. Tram car fillers : ORES
76. Conceal : SCREEN
79. How AA members complete their program : STEPWISE. Didn't come to me immediately.
81. News bit : ITEM
82. City east of Tempe : MESA. I've never been to AZ.
85. ChapStick, e.g. : LIP BALM
87. A, to Fauré : UNE
91. Changed the locks? : DYED
92. "He was white and shaken, like __ martini": Wodehouse : A DRY. Not familiar with the quote. Funny.
97. Lager alternative : PALE ALE
98. Barnyard brayer : ASS. Alliteration.
101. Jerk : DUMDUM. Another new word to me.
103. Right-on : EXACT
104. Swedes' neighbors : NORSE. Norwegians? I always associate Norse with the ancient Scandinavian people.
107. Victim of Hercules : HYDRA. The nine-headed serpent.
108. Tan shades : ECRUS
109. Financially struggling, with "in" : A HOLE
110. Boxing ring borders : ROPES
111. Prefix with -aholic : CHOC. Chocaholic. My spell checks wants chocoholic.
112. Wonderland tea party attendee : HARE
113. McGregor of "Big Fish" : EWAN. Know his name, not the movie.
115. Skillful : DEFT
116. Some profs : PH. Ds
118. Mer land : ILE. Mer = Sea.
120. Discoverer's shout : OHO. AHA too.
121. Miffed, with "up" : FED
122. Tiny amount : TAD
Answer grid.
We are all familiar with this avatar photo of the always witty & musing & amusing Husker Gary. Here is a closer look at him and his wife Joann. They've been married for 45 years.
C.C.
