JW is back with one of his whimsical puzzles. There is no conventional theme, but a common denominator. The clues all reference noisy dogs. Each conventional phrase has one word changed. The changes are simple and the results fun. If you do not see the humor you will not enjoy the puzzle. Some of the clues are not easily sussed, but this is a Friday puzzle. Also, before excoriating the constructor, bear in mind that a large percentage of clues are changed by the editors. Meanwhile Jeffrey did include the very sparkly fill -BELLY RUB, QUICK SET, RAN AFTER, TOM JONES, I'M NOT READY. The theme:
21A. Hogwarts chronicler imitating noisy dogs? : J.K. GROWLING (10). Gee, this is the simplest one to grok.
26A. Devices that record data on noisy dogs? : BARKING METERS (13). My favorite change, parking meters - where doggies mark their territory.
47A. Photographer of noisy dogs? : YIPPER SNAPPER (13). I heard the term whipper snapper often as a child.
52A. Paintings depicting noisy dogs? : WORKS OF ARF (10). The ART of the woof woof.
Across:
1. Hubbub : STIR.
5. Thompson of "Westworld" : TESSA. Not a great start for me as I never have watched that series. She has had a busy CAREER and is pretty.
http://wikinetworth.com/uploads/Tessa%20Thompson.jpg
10. One way to lean : BACK. Not a political comment. Hmm, 19A. Reclined : LAIN.
14. Stephen Hawking subject : TIME. He has persevered in life despite the effects of ALS. READ.
15. Tough tests of knowledge : ORALS.
16. Offer the same opinion as : ECHO.
17. Princess Royal of Britain : ANNE.This is a formal title which she received in 1987. LINK.
18. -, at times : MINUS.
20. Setup provider's abbr. : BYOB. Bring Your Own Bottle.
23. Like many deli orders : TO GO.
25. Western peer of Tex and Gene : ROY. Rogers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcYsO890YJY
32. Part of XL: Abbr. : LGE.
33. Toon cat since the silent era : FELIX. The first animated STAR with an amazing history.
34. Reacts to bad news, perhaps : SULKS.
37. War-torn land : IRAQ. There are many such lands, sadly.
39. More rational : SANER.
41. All in : BEAT. Not an easy meaning to suss, the poker implications kept invading mu thought.
42. St. Anthony's home : PADUA. You can read about this MAN. The first Catholic school in Fort Lauderdale is St. Anthony's.
44. It's not exactly a pick-me-up : DECAF.
46. Airport approx. : ETA.
50. Disney Store collectible : CEL.
51. Semi bar : AXLE. Semi truck.
58. First name in folk : ARLO. Hasn't he faded into oblivion yet?
61. Choppers : AXES.
62. Stop by : VISIT.
63. Printer function : SCAN. Copy, scan, fax and print - an all in one work station.
64. News article intro : LEDE. A total learning moment. LINK.
65. Gradually weaken : ERODE. Another correct but difficult to suss.
66. It can be hard to get out of : MAZE. I like the combination with the clecho.
67. It can be hard to get out : KNOT.
68. Call attention (to) : REFER.
69. Bellicose god : ARES.
Down:
1. Attempt : STAB. C'mon take a chance.
2. Like a mite : TINY.
3. "Give me a few minutes" : I'M NOT READY. How many couple argue over the time it takes to get ready?
4. Adidas subsidiary : REEBOK. I linked the purchase of Reebok before.
5. He beat out Sonny and Cher and Herman's Hermits, among others, for the Best New Artist Grammy : TOM JONES. An interesting LIST. We watched Peter Noone in concert last year and it was great,
6. Christine's phantom admirer : ERIK. The popularity of the play and musical has inspired people to write their own ENDING.
7. Emulated 5-Down : SANG.
8. Nasty comment : SLUR. Comes I believe from the slurry left over from coal etc.
9. Categorize : ASSORT. In 2017 we mostly sort, but we still buy assorted cookies etc.
10. Source of much canine delight : BELLY RUB. A bonus doggy fill. And a classic example of a gif. See 24D.
12. Gym exercise : CHIN. verb 1. draw one's body up so as to bring one's chin level with or above (a horizontal bar) with one's feet off the ground, as an exercise. I always add the "UP."
13. Giant film primate : KONG. The King.
22. Burdens : WOES.
24D. Desktop animation image suffix : GIF. HG introduced this handy link style to our blog.
26. Control tower signal : BLIP. On the radar screen.
27. Indian shrine site : AGRA. Taj Mahal anyone? LINK.
28. Forest clearing : GLADE.
29. Member of the underground economy? : MINER. This clue/fill sounds like JW's wit. My favorite in this puzzle.
30. CFOs, e.g. : EXECS.
31. Orient Express feature : SLEEPER CAR. As I mentioned, another movie based on Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot
35. Shakespeare's shrew : KATE. Very un-pc to talk of taming one's wife now.
36. Vega, for one : STAR. Or a Chevrolet flop.
38. Cement type for home repairs : QUICK SET. My Uncle Harold was a mason, and taught masonry at the local trade school. He showed my how to use this product on the small jobs as well as the difference between cement and concrete..
40. Pursued vigorously : RAN AFTER.
43. Homo sapiens relatives : APES. Do you like the re-imagination of the Planet of the Apes movies?
45. 63-Across alternative : FAX.
(space left intentionally blank)
48. Small wading bird : PLOVER.
49. State of matter : PLASMA.
52. Constitutional : WALK.
53. Strong farm team : OXEN.
54. Overhaul : REDO.
55. Gift from Prometheus : FIRE. Prometheus (/prəˈmiːθiəs/ prə-MEE-thee-əs; Greek: Προμηθεύς [promɛːtʰeús], meaning "forethought") is a Titan in Greek mythology, best known as the deity in Greek mythology who was the creator of mankind and its greatest benefactor, who stole fire from Mount Olympus and gave it to mankind. wiki.
56. Beginning : AS OF.
57. Play polo, say : RIDE.
59. Relax : LAZE.
60. Word that can replace "your" : ONES. I hear that use with "opinions."
A different offering, with lots of JW's wit on display. I am curious how those who don't like themes which are hard to grasp react to this effort. I had fun, hope you all did . L'shanah tovah -Happy New Year to those who celebrate the coming of year 5778. Lemonade out.
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