Hi all.

Jeffrey here.

“Shared Secrets” is this week’s puzzle theme is revealed at 35a [Spy’s spoken signals, and a hint to both parts of the answers to the starred clues] – CODE WORDS. The word “Code” can come after each of the theme answer words to give a different common phrase.

18a [*One convicted of avoiding one’s duty?] – TAX CRIMINAL. Tax code and criminal code are both laws, although the former term isn’t commonly used in Canada.  We refer to the Tax Act, and the version sitting on my desk is 2,740 pages.

24a [*Major touchdown site near Rome?] – DA VINCI AIRPORT. The Da Vinci Code was a best-selling 454 page book by Dan Brown. Airport codes in Canada all start with a “Y”. FCO is the Da Vinci airport code.

49a [*Flames caused by faulty wiring?] – ELECTRICAL FIRE. Builders need to follow both an Electrical code and a Fire code.

55a [*Either blue or gold, depending on one’s perception of a 2015 viral photo] – DRESS COLOUR. Dress code was something that existed when people worked in offices.

Canadian content:

52a [Noted voice of ‘80s talk radio Rafe ____] – MAIR. He was well-known in British Columbia but likely not so much in the rest of the country.

65a [Fleur de ____ (Québec symbol)] – LYS.

9d [Big inits. In hockey gear] – CCM. I know the initials but didn’t know this: In September of 1899 Canada Cycle & Motor Company Limited opened its doors for business in Weston, Ontario, Canada.

11d [In Canada, from any state but Alaska] – UP NORTH.

Tip of the Week:

Doing puzzles (and reading the blog) makes you better at puzzles as words repeat. Rafe Mair has appeared before and I just copied my previous comment about him.

See you next week!