(Note
from C.C.: Today's blog is a collaborative effort between Lemonade
& Boomer, who had another 300 on Monday. Five perfect games this
season! Lemonade had set up the whole clue/answer list, analyzed the
theme & wrote a few comments, but did not feel well enough to
continue. He was sick the week before, then last week's trip to Colorado
and cold weather did not help. Get well soon, Lemonade!)
Theme: What the H?
Jack is back and he
has given a tricky letter(s) substitution, where the letters "TR" are
removed from the start of the final word of four common phrases and replaced with "H"
to create a new and humorous answer. There is also a unifier, of sorts.
16A. Hide cyberspace crimes? : COVER ONE'S (TR)HACKS. (13). I have no idea how hackers hack, but I know how trackers track.
27A. Amsterdam cops? : DUTCH (TR)HEAT (9). I am not one for going Dutch on a date; if she can afford it I am man enough to let her pay.
35A. Objects of poolside ogling? : SWIMMING (TR)HUNKS.(13).
47A. Hayseed that doesn't tip? : CHEAP (TR)HICK.
57A. NBA military appreciation initiative, and a hint to this puzzle's theme : HOOPS FOR TROOPS.
Across:
1. Beginning to bat? : ACRO. A tricky beginning ACROBAT, not a baseball reference.
5. Styptic stuff : ALUM. Since they made the razors better, I have not seen one in years but they still work, I imagine. LINK.
9. Leapfrog : FLIT. Jack will have to explain this one, as I do not see the connection, and I do not want to start a war of unPC definitions.
13. Cleaver kid : BEAV. Wally
always called his little brother this. Another answer, I must skate
around and hope we get some of Lois' perfect edgy style.
14. Collaborative website : WIKI.
15. Actress Anderson : LONI. Poor Burt is going down the tubes. (Starting Boomer... Beautiful Loni was from Highland Park Minnesota.
19. Macbeth or Hamlet : ROLE. Did any of our band ever play one of these?
20. Most cozy : HOMIEST. Where Joe Mauer and Buster Posey play.
22. "Where ___": 1996 Beck hit : IT'S AT.
25. Mr. ___: Dr Pepper rival : PIBB.
26. Bemoan : RUE. Also one of the Golden Girls.
30. "Barnaby Jones" star : EBSEN. Buddy was originally cast as the tin man in "Wizard of Oz", but was allergic to the silver makeup.
32. Editor's mark : STET. Add a "SON" and you have cologne.
33. Strong-legged bird : EMU.
34. Pendleton Act pres. : CAA. Chester A. Arthur.
40. Writer Marilyn ___ Savant : VOS ?!
41. Chambéry shout : CRI. That's four three letter "words" in a row that are a bit vague.
42. Olive, for one : TREE. If this were three letters, I would guess OYL.
44. Parting word : ADIEU.
"My best of friends ADIEU. I can no longer stay with you. I'll hang
my heart on the weeping willow tree, and may the world go well with
thee!"
49. Push for payment : DUN.
50. Peppy : SPRY.
52. Malága to Cádiz dirección : OESTE (West). One language is tough enough.
53. Like the L.A. Times Building : ART DECO.
I have never seen the building. I thought Art Deco was the guy who
played Santa Claus at the office Christmas party. Or maybe that was Art
VanDelay.
55. Nitwit : BOOB. I know a different clue for this word.
62. Broadway governess : ANNA."The King and I"?
63. The Supremes or Cream : TRIO. Kingston and Chad Mitchell are my favorites.
64. Remote button : MUTE. I use this frequently on Bert Blyleven Twins telecasts.
65. Honey drink : MEAD.
66. Realizes : SEES.
67. Victim of spoilage? : BRAT. My son's name is Bret. I named him correctly but I spelled it wrong.
Down:
1. "Shark Tank" airer : ABC
2. Corp. leader : CEO
3. ___ 4: Toyota SUV : RAV
4. Like some imaginations : OVER-ACTIVE. I'll never admit it though.
5. MP's concern : AWOL. "Where to get donuts" didn't fit.
6. Pickup opener : LINE. Joey on Friends used "How you doin'", But I think you also need to be rich and look like him.
7. Ho's instrument : UKE. The Uke was invented in Portugal, not Hawaii. But the Hawaiians figured out what to do with it.
8. Cause of a big slice : MISHIT. I can slice even when I hit it well. Careful how you say this word.
9. Mardi Gras torch : FLAMBEAU. Never heard of this. What do they call the shiny beads?
10. Focal points : LOCI
11. Cartoonists, at times : INKERS. Okay, and other times as an ST on the front.
12. Offer to one who's been recently blessed? : TISSUE. Or peeled an onion.
17. "Goodbye, Columbus" author : ROTH (Philip). My clue would be Hall of Fame PBA bowler Mark. Now recovering from a stroke at a young age.
18. Fireside shelf : HOB
21. Common base : TEN. OR - the pin that's most common to leave.
22. Points a finger at : IDS. The IDS Tower is still the tallest building in Minneapolis.
23. Sounds of disdain : TUTS.
24. Difficult spot : STEW. The beef kind tastes the best.
25. Potbellied : PAUNCHY. Middle age dilemma. Eat your vegetables.
28. Clothes lines : HEMS
29. Brt. recording heavyweight : EMI
31. Peace rally slogan : BAN THE BOMB.
In the 60s, folks were building shelters. Thank God we never had to
use them. But I often wondered why someone would stay underground and
eat thirty days worth of food, only to return above ground to find that
all of the Target stores and bowling centers were gone.
34. Hairy "pet" : CHIA. This replaced the pet rock as a Christmas present for in-laws.
36. Clicking site : MOUSE PAD.
Also the place where the mouse lives. My garage was a mouse pad this
winter. I got them though. They should have built a shelter.
37. Ph.D. seeker's exam : GRE
38. Brooklyn Nets forward Humphries : KRIS. Originally from my home town, Hopkins, Minnesota. 55343
39. Dissenting group : SECT.
43. Barely earn, with "out" : EKE
44. Oklahoma city : ADA. Also a city in Northern MN.
45. Duke's home : DURHAM. Also home of the minor league Bulls. Great Movie, remember Crash Davis?
46. Chant : INTONE
47. Seals's partner : CROFTS. Originally Darrell, aka Dash. Summer Breeze makes me feel fine. Still waiting this year.
48. In need : POOR
51. Mac alternatives : PCs
54. Spanish address : DONA. On a wagon, Bound for market, There's a calf with a mournful eye.
55. Creamy spread : BRIE
56. Early Nebraskans : OTOS
- This is a great Band of Native Americans. They were known as
Southern Sioux, and settled near what is now the SD / NE border on the
Missouri River. Brule, South Dakota is the small town there, with a
nine hole golf course and some of the best fishing in the Midwest.
58. Pay dirt : ORE
59. Word of sharing : OUR
60. Class-conscious org.? : PTA - Harper Valley had an issue with theirs.
61. Prepared : SET - Three games of bowling is now called a set. We used to call it series. I guess either works for me.
Lemonade & Boomer
