Theme: "Cruise Control" - Last word in each theme entry is part of a ship.
25A. Crossing with a charge: TOLL BRIDGE.
48A. Violinist awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992: ISAAC STERN.
70A. Longest serving Secretary of State, 1933-'44: CORDELL HULL. Never heard of him. Wiki says he was "best known as the longest-serving U.S. Secretary of State, holding the position for 11 years (1933–1944) in the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during most of World War II. Hull received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945 for his role in establishing the United Nations, and was referred to by President Roosevelt as the "Father of the United Nations"
96A. Longest-serving Republican senator, 1977-2019: ORRIN HATCH.
119A. TV reporting VIP: NEWS ANCHOR.
121A. Gesture of respect to a monarch: COURTLY BOW.
37D. Metaphor for an unfair advantage: STACKED DECK.
43D. Simple home in the woods: RUSTIC CABIN.
I hope Commander Spitzboov solves this puzzles. His local paper does not carry the Sunday LAT.
Notice the last word in each theme entry has a distinctive non-ship meaning. That's key to this type of theme.
Mark used a classic pinwheel design. Terrific model for a 9-themer 93 theme square grid. The grid is also typical Mark. No weird names or obscure abbreviations.
Mark used a classic pinwheel design. Terrific model for a 9-themer 93 theme square grid. The grid is also typical Mark. No weird names or obscure abbreviations.
Across:
1. Friend of d'Artagnan: ATHOS. The other is Aramis. And 21. Parting from 1-Across: ADIEU.
6. Turning point: CUSP.
10. Organ array: PIPES.
15. Cunning: WILY.
19. Didn't lose a game: SWEPT.
20. Site of Italy's Festival of Festivals, featuring local food and wine: ASTI. Informative clue.
22. Managed care gps.: HMOS.
27. Crab in space: NEBULA. Crab Nebula.
28. Whenever you want: AT WILL.
30. Carpenter's supply: LUMBER.
31. Herbie of jazz: MANN.
33. Cuts back: PARES.
34. Debatable claim: ESP.
35. Repeated word in the Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash": GAS. It's a gas, gas, gas.
38. Suffolk slammer: GAOL. This is a picture of a few Chinese prisoners in 1900.
40. Diarist Anaïs: NIN.
41. Landing flight paths: PATTERNS.
46. Camera setting: AUTO.
51. TD Garden skater: BRUIN. Boston Celtics play there also.
52. Southern accent feature: DRAWL.
54. Long-necked wader: EGRET.
55. 128-Across' __ Vecchio: PONTE. And 128. See 55-Across: ARNO.
My sister-in-law Connie plans to use "Monastery Stay" when she
vacations there in a few months. Sounds very meditative and calming.
57. __-Caps: candy: SNO.
58. Rights advocacy gp.: ACLU.
59. German article: DER.
60. 18th-century lexicographer Johnson: SAMUEL.
61. Thrice, in Rx's: TER.
62. Taproom containers: KEGS.
64. Intend that one will: AIM TO.
67. "Top Hat" star: ASTAIRE (Fred)
69. Procure: GET.
74. Many desktops: PCS.
75. One getting on in years: OLDSTER.
77. Ice cream serving: SCOOP.
78. Actor Baldwin: ALEC.
80. Okra unit: POD. Our local farmers' market has fresh okra in August.
81. Puts on the books: ENACTS.
84. Fed. benefits agency: SSA.
86. Student stressor: EXAM. One of my frequent dreams is not to be able to finish the exam. Too much pressure in my school days.
88. "__ we good?": ARE.
89. "Ditto": ME TOO.
90. Summer refreshers: ICEES.
92. Start of an acting career, ideally: DEBUT.
94. Nouveau __: RICHE.
99. Location: SITE.
100. Parting words: TAKE CARE.
102. The first of two T's, in a familiar sequence: TUE. Oh. Our blog has three T's.
103. Flue residue: SOOT.
105. Trawler's tool: NET.
106. Caribbean export: RUM.
107. Wet dips: SWIMS.
109. Secured, in a way: TIED.
111. Actress Lansbury: ANGELA. 93 years old now.
114. Nova __: SCOTIA.
115. Single-masted ships: SLOOPS. Bonus fill.
124. Piece for two: DUET.
125. Nursed, say: DRANK.
126. Tolstoy's Karenina: ANNA.
127. Get hitched in haste: ELOPE.
129. Lew in old films: AYRES.
130. Foucault with a pendulum: LEON. Learning moment for me.
131. Candy mogul H.B. __: REESE.
Down:
1. PGA part: Abbr.: ASSN.
2. So precious, in Penzance: TWEE.
3. Oregano, for one: HERB.
4. Old den indulgence: OPIUM.
When I was a kid, this TV series "The Legendary Fok" was very popular.
Opium War was part of the background. Love, betrayal, kung fu, just
amazing.
5. "The Great Escape" setting: STALAG.
6. Limit: CAP.
7. "Operation Phone Home" gp.: USO.
8. Sundress part: STRAP.
9. "Mere" amount: PITTANCE.
10. Like a good waiter: PATIENT. You in the waiting room.
11. Beloved stars: IDOLS.
12. Vitamin __: PILL.
13. Slender swimmer: EEL.
14. Rental from a renter: SUBLET.
15. Petulant complaint: WHIMPER.
16. Source of film trivia: IMDB.
17. Opera house section: LOGE.
18. River of Flanders: YSER.
24. Tropical veranda: LANAI. Dream place.
26. Region of industrial decline: RUST BELT.
29. Watch holder: WRIST.
32. Poked (around): NOSED.
35. Wander (about): GAD.
36. 2000s Saturn midsize model: AURA.
39. Athletic shoe once endorsed by Paula Abdul: LA GEAR. Look a bit uncomfortable.
41. Limo destination: PROM.
42. Like yearbooks: ANNUAL.
44. NorCal NFL team: NINERS.
45. Keep a roomie awake, maybe: SNORE.
47. Hooting young: OWLETS.
49. Sure competitor: ARRID.
50. Greener Living org.: EPA.
53. Haul: LUG.
56. Electric wheels: TESLA.
60. Unassisted: SOLO.
63. One of 20 in "Hamlet": SCENE.
65. Military meal: MESS.
66. Help for a sad BFF: TLC. Here is my BFF Carmen with her husband Lao Pan. How I miss Guangzhou and the food there!
68. High points: APEXES.
69. Latin carol word: GLORIA.
71. Figure of speech?: ORATOR. Great clue.
72. Biblical prophet: HOSEA.
73. Sports shockers: UPSETS.
75. Eye-catching display: OP-ART.
76. SoCal wine valley: TEMECULA. Another learning moment for me.
79. Set the pace: LED.
82. Center: CORE.
83. Rocky peak: TOR.
85. Knotted neckwear: ASCOT.
87. Tone down, as a color: MUTE.
90. Arctic people: INUIT.
91. Like many reactions: CHEMICAL.
93. Vietnam New Year: TET.
95. Opening words eventually followed by clinking: HERE'S TO.
97. Inventor's jubilant shout: IT WORKS. My reaction to various tips D-Otto gives me also: "Oh wow, it works, the rugs stay down." I'm a budding handywoman.
98. Raise aloft: HOIST.
101. Seyfried of "Mean Girls": AMANDA.
104. Employee in a cage: TELLER.
107. Tea go-with: SCONE.
108. Rhône tributary: SAONE.
110. Professor Challenger's creator: DOYLE. Not familiar with the character.
111. Forever __ day: AND A.
112. Nerve: Pref.: NEUR.
113. Tony-winning Verdon of "Damn Yankees": GWEN.
114. __-Pei: dog breed: SHAR.
116. Wind ensemble member: OBOE.
117. Bursts: POPS.
118. Popeye's __'Pea: SWEE.
120. Shed a tear: CRY.
122. Card game shout: UNO.
123. Got into the race: RAN.
C.C.
