Loved this one. I use the phrase SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN all the time, but I've never made the leap to "what three words, when said together, sound like a synonym for PLAN?" ARE + AINGE + MINT = arrangement = Jeff being envious of Erik's versatile and wide-ranging mind.
Bang-up execution, too. All sorts of goodies in FRY BREAD, the IMAC PRO, a summer SHANDY, UP AGAINST IT. Talk about an INSTINCTUAL feel for strong execution!
I did hesitate on MID-JUNE – feels like it opens an unwanted pathway for randos such as EARLY WINTER, EIGHT ELEVENTHS, who knows what else. But a nice save on the clue, referring to the commemoration of the abolition of slavery. (I believe it's referring to Juneteenth?)
I've seen a lot of "last words in theme phrases form a maxim" puzzles. But this one adds such a welcome twist; a clever extra layer that makes it stand out. Excellent work all around earns Erik yet another POW!
1 H | 2 A | 3 M | 4 M | 5 Y | 6 S | 7 P | 8 F | 9 L | 10 U | 11 B | 12 E |
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13 A | P | B | I | O | 14 C | H | E | R | 15 A | P | O | P |
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16 R | E | A | D | Y | 17 W | H | E | N | Y | 18 O | U | A | R | E |
19 J | O | N | I | 20 B | U | N | G | E | E |
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21 L | 22 I | U | 23 B | L | 24 U | 25 R | I | C | A | |||||
26 D | A | N | N | 27 Y | A | I | N | 28 G | E | 29 H | I | 30 S | 31 S |
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32 A | T | S | E | A | 33 S | E | A | 34 M | 35 N | I | T |
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36 M | I | T | 37 P | 38 R | 39 E | C | E | D | E | 40 S | M | U |
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41 U | N | I | 42 S | O | A | R | 43 S | 44 I | T | O | N |
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45 P | A | N | 46 S | 47 B | R | E | 48 A | 49 T | H | M | I | N | T |
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50 C | H | 51 A | I | 52 W | W | I | 53 A | T | E | |||||
54 O | 55 B | T | A | I | N | 56 A | L | 57 E | C | |||||
58 S | O | U | N | D | S | 59 L | 60 I | K | E | A | P | 61 L | 62 A | 63 N |
64 L | O | A | D | 65 O | G | R | E | 66 C | R | E | M | E |
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67 O | N | L | Y | 68 N | A | E | 69 H | O | I | S | T |
Answer summary: 6 unique to this puzzle, 2 unique to Shortz Era but used previously.
Found bugs or have suggestions?