Theme: "It's Just Not the Same" - The first words are all synonyms of "Different".
23A. Phrase of individuality : DIFFERENT STROKES. Many people, including our own Jayce, can't stand Stinky Tofu. I love it.
38A. American flag component, e.g. : CONTRASTING COLORS
58A. Plot device in TV's "Fringe" : ALTERNATE UNIVERSE. Any "Fringe" fans on our blog?
87A. Brainstorming process : DIVERGENT THINKING. So all our constructors are divergent thinkers.
103A. Fallback plans : OTHER ARRANGEMENTS
123A. They often follow "also" in dictionaries : VARIANT SPELLINGS. Var. as a hint in crossword clues.
Sunday puzzles often have at least seven theme entries. This one has six. But all of them are long, three 16's and three 17's, totally 99 theme squares. Rich's minimum is 84.
Sunday puzzles often have at least seven theme entries. This one has six. But all of them are long, three 16's and three 17's, totally 99 theme squares. Rich's minimum is 84.
Mark also chose a conservative grid design. I noticed that he seldom goes after low-word/black square count. Clean fill is always his top priority.
Across:
1. Fern seed : SPORE
6. Posh hotel amenity : ROBE. We also have 115. Upscale : DELUXE
10. Cook, in a way : STEAM. Also 37. Cooks in a pan : SAUTES. Also 112. Cooks with fat : LARDS. Wonder what Steve cooks this weekend. His Facebook sushi pictures are always mouth-watering.
15. Sneaky stratagem : TRAP. Clue echo: 22. Sneaky stratagem : RUSE
19. Secret rival : ARRID. This "Secret" can't fool veteran solvers.
20. "Bingo!" : I WIN
21. Tom Sawyer's aunt : POLLY
26. "__ the Woods" : INTO
27. Skill : DEFTNESS
28. Hawaii County seat : HILO. Did not know Hawaii has a Hawaii County.
29. Holes a very short putt : TAPS IN
31. Math function : SINE
32. Sizable piece : CHUNK
34. Adored object : IDOL
35. Blog feed format letters : RSS. RSS feed.
44. Sorority letters : ETAs
46. 65-Across, in Japanese : HAI. Cantonese "Yes" also. 65. 46-Across in English : YES
47. Suffix meaning "country" : STAN
48. Notes from a loser, maybe : IOUs
49. Brownish grays : TAUPES. Did not know it's plurable.
52. "My Way" lyricist : ANKA
54. GPS displays : MAPS. Thought of RTES first.
57. Captain Hansen of "Deadliest Catch" : SIG. Unknown to me.
62. Tolkien tree creature : ENT
63. Promised : PLEDGED
64. Pound sound : YOWL
67. "Mi casa __ casa" : ES SU. My house is your house.
68. Creating compelling characters, for a writer : ASSET. Got via crosses.
72. Timberlake's old group : NSYNC
74. Small amt. of time : MSEC. Millisecond
78. Dental brand suffix : PIK
80. Title character inspired by Hearst : KANE. A few other names in the following few rows: Across: 92. "Respect for Acting" author Hagen : UTA. 94. Pasternak heroine : LARA. "Doctor Zhivago", 98. Gateway Arch designer Saarinen : EERO. 101. Kipling title orphan : KIM 102. Artist Magritte : RENE
82. "Heavens to Betsy!" : OH GOLLY
84. __-12 Conference : PAC
93. One way to start : ANEW
95. Brought up to speed : CUED IN
96. Comic strip about a high schooler : ZITS
110. Nonsense : ROT
111. Lyrical works : ODES
113. Is obligated to : OWES
117. Father or son actor : ALDA
118. "The Chronicles of Barsetshire" author : TROLLOPE (Anthony). Stranger to me.
122. Clapton on guitar : ERIC
127. Courteous : NICE. Dear Agnes lost her nephew to heart attack earlier this week. She's devastated. Agnes did not have kids and she was very close this nephew. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts.
128. Strongly longing : EAGER
129. Beech family trees : OAKS
130. Looks after : TENDS
131. Durbeyfield daughter : TESS. How I wish the story ended differently.
132. __ Island Red: chicken : RHODE
133. Duma denial : NYET
134. University town near Bangor : ORONO
Down:
1. Anti-DWI org. : SADD
2. __-dieu : PRIE
3. German composer Carl : ORFF. Also 6. German candy brand : RIESEN
4. Starts of feuds : RIFTS
5. Pristine : EDENIC
7. Possesses : OWNS
8. Drill insert : BIT
9. Funny couple? : ENS
10. Some Olympic trials : SPRINTS
11. Set for repairs : TOOL KIT. Boomer lost his neat set of tools to the TSA in March. He did not want to go back to put it in the checked luggage.
12. Northeast Nevada city : ELKO. Also 24. Western Nevada city : RENO
13. Red or brown brew : ALE
14. Connecticut coastal tourist town : MYSTIC. Also 55. Know-it-all? : PSYCHIC. Consonants-rich.
15. "Marines' Hymn" city : TRIPOLI
16. Has no restraints : RUNS LOOSE. Great fill. The only 9-letter fill is 86. Mass group : CATHOLICS
17. Piedmont wine area : ASTI
18. Lowly laborer : PEON
25. In said fashion : THUS
30. Flap : ADO
32. Long-necked bird : CRANE
33. Specifically designed poem : HAIKU. So in awe of Owen's talents. Genius!
35. Seal after peeking, say : RE-TAPE
36. Barn units : STALLS
39. "__ won't work" : THAT
40. To wit : NAMELY
41. Growl : GNAR. Strange word.
42. Render useless : RUIN
43. U.S. Army E-6 : SSGT. I read somewhere that all vets can shop tax-free at the Army Exchange later this year.
45. Floored it, say : SPED UP
50. Fraction of a joule : ERG
51. Enter stealthily : SNEAK IN
53. Word often used before "old" : ANY. Not DAY.
56. Observe : SEE
59. Sunday paper pile : ADs
60. Former Saturn model : ION
61. Bugs that roll : VWS. Got me.
66. Backyard chef's equipment : SMOKER. Followed by 69. Backyard chef's stick : SKEWER. You can find these lamb skewers in the night markets in my hometown. Lots of cumin and hot red pepper.
70. Sensory organ : EAR
71. Series with Capt. Picard, to fans : TNG. The Next Generation.
73. Kabuki kin : NOH. Literally "ability". Rooted in Chinese "Neng".
75. Curveball relative : SLIDER
76. Climate-disrupting current : EL NINO
77. Baby swan : CYGNET
79. Director Lupino : IDA
81. Slender swimmer : EEL. Man, I could eat this every day.
83. African bovine : GNU
84. "The Godfather" novelist : PUZO. My favorite movie. I also read "The Sicilian".
85. Working on the task : AT IT
88. Change course suddenly : VEER
89. Like a jaybird? : NAKED Also 97. Leads astray : SEDUCES
90. Cuts a little : TRIMS
91. Get under control : TAME
99. Assembled for a cause : RALLIED
100. How some stunts are done : ON A DARE
104. Wonder Dog of comics : REX
105. Letter closing : AS EVER
106. Gramps' mate : GRAN
107. Gripe from the weary : NO REST
108. "The __ llama, / He's a beast": Nash : TWO- L
109. Have as a client : SELL TO
114. Less trustworthy : SLIER
115. Small body-shop job : DENT. Our Melissa just had a car accident in California last week. She's safe thankfully. She'll be blogging next Tuesday.
116. __ Lackawanna Railway : ERIE
117. 2012 Best Picture : ARGO. Wow, been 5 years.
118. Rd. often named for a state : TPKE
119. __ account: never : ON NO
120. PC scrolling key : PGDN
121. Petrol station sign : ESSO
124. Hot tub reaction : AAH
125. 20 hundredweight : TON
126. Articulate : SAY
C.C.
