google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Friday, May 2, 2008 Annabel Michaels

Advertisements

May 2, 2008

Friday, May 2, 2008 Annabel Michaels

Theme: PLAYING CARDS

17A: Emotional anguish: HEARTACHE

57A: Preparatory research: SPADEWORK

11D: One of the Brady Bunch?: DIAMOND JIM

27D: 19th-hole locations: CLUBHOUSES

Sub-theme: Music

20A: Russian pianist: SCRIABIN

25A: "Goldberg Variations" composer: BACH

35A: Bluegrass instruments: BANJOS

45A: A Shore: DINAH

6D: Student's performance: RECITAL

25D: Charlie Parker's jazz: BOP

36D: Poetic piece: ODE

53D: Abie's Irish lass: ROSE ("My Wild Irish Rose" theme music).

Almost aced this puzzle if not for the crossing letter N between HAHNIUM and SCRIABIN. I have never heard of BAUXITE (8D) before, though ORE was inferable. Unnipentium was also a stranger to me, but all the letters except N were obtainable from the across clues. Not familiar with the Russian pianist SCRIABIN either.

I loved the clue for 11D: One of the Brady bunch? Very cleverly misleading. I also enjoyed seeing ROSE, DIAMOND, SHE, HEARTACHE, EVER, (AT)LAST, (G)MEN, EAT, HER(MES), and MORE(L) in the same grid.

Umm, OMEGA yesterday, HERMÈS today, CARTIER tomorrow? How much does Louis Vuitton pay you to put their DIOR brand in our puzzle so often? What's the fee for GUCCI's YSL? Should I call TIFFANY for sponsorship also? You don't like PRADA? Afraid of "The Devil Wears PRADA" backlash? How about BURBERRY then?

ACROSS:

6A: Greek letter: RHO. Or South Korea's ___ Moo-hyuan. Or maybe not. His presidency was probably too short and too scandalous to carve a niche in history. He showed some episodic guts in 2003 though.

9A: Doc on the battlefield: MEDIC

16A: Sheeplike: OVINE. Cattle: BOVINE. Horse: EQUINE. Donkey: ASSININE. Dog: CANINE. Cat: FELINE. Pig: PORCINE. What else?

19A: Gaucho's rope: REATA

21A: God of cunning: HERMES. I am not fond of HERMÈS scarf, but I do love this HERMÈS Birkin bag to go with my OMEGA watch. Do you like Birkin's Je t'aime... moi non plus? So breathtakingly erotic and sexy (Just listen to the last 20 seconds if you don't have time). Oh, the Roman equivalent for HERMES is Mercury.

22A: Decisive: CRITICAL

28A: Mud smears: DAUBS

31A: Ships' tillers: HELMS. Why "ships" rather than "ship"?

33A: Showy feathers: PLUMES

38A: __ mot (witticism): BON

39A: Item in the plus column: ASSET

42A: Hollywood's Lupino: IDA. Another TMS stalwart.

43A: 1975 Wimbledon champion: ASHE

46A: FBI personnel: G - MEN

48A: Of the household: FAMILIAL

50A: Jewelers' glasses: LOUPES

52A: Box of ill fame: PANDORA'S. I don't like this clue. Felt very forced.

58A: Clip sheep: SHEAR. Um, Clip & Cut (40D: Cut with quick strokes: SNIPPED). Still have some nagging dislike of SHEAR and SHE (57D) though.

59A: Haw's partner: HEM

60A: Joe of "GoodFellas": PESCI. Good movie. The only Ray Liotta movie that I really like. I guess his "Field of Dream" is OK too.

63A: Lock or shock: TRESS

DOWN:

4D: Improve in quality: ENRICH

5D: Patch road: RETAR

7D: Unnilpentium: HAHNIUM. Unnilpentium is Element 105 (Latin), symbol UNP. Hard one. Very interesting root here: "un" is one, "nil" is nothing (both Latin), and "pente" is five in Greek, then we have a noun suffix "ium". So, there you go, element 105, wonderful! HAHNIUM was named after Otto Hahn, Nobel Chemistry winner 1944. Called "The father of Nuclear Chemistry" according to Wikipedia. (Please note, the current Element 105 is DUBNIUM, symbol DB. Thanks for the information NYTanonimo)

8D: Bauxite, e.g.: ORE. OK, Beauxite is "a rock consisting of aluminum oxides and hydroxides with various impurities: the principal ore of aluminum". It's named after the small village Les Baux -de-Provence (S France), and "ite" is just a noun forming suffix.

9D: Mushroom choice: MOREL. Wow, this one is definitely LONG.

12D: Purpose: INTENT. The clue is OK. I just dislike "Purpose" appearances twice in the clues (see 39D).

13D: Discontinues: CEASES

18D: Puts up with: ABIDES

29D: Mass. cape: ANN. Cape ANN. Felt strained too.

34D: Top Stooge: MOE

35D: In arrears: BEHIND

41D: Deep bows: SALAAMS. From Arabic "salām", peace.

43D: Finally!: At LAST!

44D: Mollify: SOOTHE. Like this one, SOOTHE & HEARTACHE.

45D: Prosecutors, for short: DAS (District Attorneys)

46D: Stare angrily: GLOWER

48D: Phobias: FEARS. Here is a complete list of all kinds of phobias. Mine is scotophobia. I never knew that there is such special word for my fear.

49D: Skilled one: ADEPT

51D: Fuel from bogs: PEAT

55D: Schusses: SKIS. Saw Schuss before, but then I forgot. SKIS is very gettable though. Schuss comes from German word "Schuz" meaning shot. Schuss is "a fast straight downhill run in skiing. Could be a verb too.

C.C.

46 comments:

Dennis said...

Good morning, C.C. et.al. -
I'm with you - this one was pretty easy except for the little box at the intersection of 20A & 7D. It'd still be blank if not for Senor Google. Never heard of either. Won't remember either tomorrow.
Hope it's an outstanding weekend for everyone.

Dennis said...

Oh, and thanks for the phobia list, C.C. - I've discovered I have Ankylophobia...

Dr. Dad said...

Getting better. 6 minutes.
Otto Hahn, Fritz Strassman, and Lise Meitner were the scientists who discovered nuclear fission in uranium way back when. C.C. I am impressed with your decoding of unnilpentium. That is how the transuranic elements obtained from neutron bombardment, etc. are named until they decide on who or what they will name them after.

Remember awhile back I said I had done a puzzle with the symbols for clubs, hearts, etc.? I guess the editor/author read our comments.

Absolutely no googling today and a record time since I've been keeping track.

Katherine said...

Good morning gang! I pretty much aced this one too except for the same ones you didn't get CC. I didn't know the Russian pianist or 7D. Didn't know 41D, deep bows, but I got most of it with the other clues. I love the bag too CC, we need to get another occupation if we want the bag and the watch!
Hi to Kim who is new on the site. I love it here too. CC is the best! And so is the rest of the gang. Smart and funny!
Have a good day everyone.

Katherine said...

PS, Kim, don't you think I am handsome? LOL

Dr. Dad said...

bauxite - an important source of aluminum.
A few Greeks here today, Hermes, rho, Pandora.
Correct me if I'm wrong but a ship only has one tiller so ships' would be correct to get the plural.
Reata, riata.
Was there a fear of crosswords in that list? I didn't have time to check it.

Here you go Lois!! The link is

here
so you can see that it is "NO PANTS DAY!!!!" Yeah, my kind of holiday

Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...

Dennis,
RE: Anklophobia, you are kidding, aren't you? Or you just got it after listening to Jane Birkin's breathy song?

Drdad,
D'accord! Some constructors do pop in occasionally. Not sure about Williams though. Yes, I do remember your comments, very clearly. 6 minutes is a new record, isn't it? NO, there is no Crosswordphobia, but fear of knowledge (Gnosiophobia) is on the list.

Katherine,
Yes, you are very handsome, and you sure can sing! That HERMÈS Birkin bag has a 2-year waiting list. The HERMÈS Black Croc Birkin is beautiful too. Perfect for an OMEGA diamond watch. We just need to work out a plan of HOW.

Bill said...

Never mind! If I'd read all of C.C.'s post I wouldn't have asked about 7d.
Sometimes I get ahead of myself.

Katherine said...

CC, ,maybe I can get Nicole to buy them for us!

Anonymous said...

Good morning CC and company,

I thought it would a hard one, but not so much. Not too big a fan of using the clue "purpose" twice (12D and 39D). Does anyone remember watching that show "Hee Haw"? :o)

CC - 48A should be "fAmilial" so that 45D will be "dAs".

dr dad - you would be correct re: the plural, thus making ships' grammatically correct in the clue.


Have a great Friday and wonderful weekend all!

Bill said...

My first post went astray. Oh well, such is cyberspace.
Anyway, did well today except for the same "N" that threw a lot of us. Never heard of either one and had asked for an explanation of 7d before I had read all the comments. Hence the second post that was the first post.......... Oh, H***, now I'm confused!!!
My paper had 35a clued as plural and was a gimme for me. ( I wonder why??
Later....

Anonymous said...

Good morning CC, et al. My kind of puzzle w/the music, cards, and Va's Ashe as well. I loved the links, CC. You do such a good job and today's were absolutely outstanding! I was actually thinking that this would be a pretty tame puzzle until I got to those links and then I lost it! HELLO!!!! Birken? OH YEAH! and then followed shortly..or longly...by that 'morel' mushroom link? Plus today being 'no pants' day? "mayday! mayday! mayday!'...sounds better with a Polish accent though.

I love this day! I love this month! Lucky thing I still have my bib!

Have a fine day! It's gorgeous here and lookin' finer every replay ...I mean every minute.

Kim said...

Hi All,

Finally I had a good day today if not for the Russians & 7D! I too won't remember it tomorrow!

To katherine, YES! He is a hottie! I wonder what that hunk sees in Nicole, I don't think she's attractive, too pasty looking, but I'm critical!

Have a great day all!

Barry G. said...

Ayup, pretty straightforward except for the crossing letter N between Hahnium and Scriabin. Although I also had a momentary glitch when I put "Hee" instead of "Hem" as the partner of "Haw" (you're not alone, MKatEsq!).

As an aside, I live in Massachusetts and I've noticed that the answer for the clue "Mass cape" is invariably "Ann". Never "Cod," which is actually the more well known cape here in Massachusetts. In fact, I suspect that many residents of Massachusetts have never heard of Cape Ann.

Anonymous said...

barry,

For whatever reason, When I see a clue that involves "hem/haw" I always think of "Hee Haw". So, I figured I'd just see who remembered that show. :o)

Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...

Bill,
RE: BANJOS. My mistake. I misread. Got distracted by the HERMÈS & the MOREL!

Lois,
"Je vais et je viens, entre tes reins". It cannot get any HOTTER!!!

Superfrey said...

Almost an Ace... but alas a one googler to get the N in Hahnium and Scriabin...I guessed and R for that... nuts...I must have Scriabinaphobia or perhaps Hahniumaphobia... I will never remember these. I nice puzzle though.

Superfrey said...

C.C... Thank you for explaining yesterday's difference between "Quip" and "Quote"... Amazing... one learns something everyday.... now... can I remember it :):):):)

Boomer said...

I am known to be a day late and a dollar short, so I would like to comment about yesterday. The puzzle deserves no comment. I had a tee time and my mind was focused on golf and not crosswords, (However I did use a few cross words on the course). But I remember the Budweiser Clydesdales coming to the Minnesota State Fair 10 or 12 years ago. They are awesome animals. My favorite was one named Randy - who was standing head in in his stall, with a name plaque overhead. So my view was this huge horse's hind end with the name "Randy" labeled at the top of the stall. What a photo op!!! The print made a nice addition on the desk of my co-worker Randy N. but it didn't last there long. I suppose he wanted to take it home and display it for his family. I also recall game 5 of the 1987 World Series. Before the game at Busch Stadium, The 1930's beer wagon, pulled by 10 or 12 Clydesdales, circled the field several times while the organist played the Budweiser song. Augie Busch, a 90 year old man of small stature, rode in front by the driver, swinging his arms and legs ans waving to the crowd. A sight I'll never forget.

Tomorrow is THE DERBY. Big Brown sounds like it could pull a wagon for UPS. There are no horses in the field with baseball oriented names like Steal a Base, or Extra Inning. I've often wondered why many racetracks are called "Downs". Tomorrow's biggie is at Churchill Downs. It will be Simulcast locally here at Canterbury Downs. If I owned a track, I would name it Upsand Downs, since that describes my bankroll when I go to the track, (mostly downs). So after a great deal of research and hairpuling thought, my prediction this year is "Colonel John". Don't bet the rent, but remember you heard it first right here on the 100 day old crossword corner. Have a good weekend everyone.

Dick said...

Good morning everyone. Overslept this am so I got a late start. Nearly aced this one but had the same problems as the rest of you with the intersection of 17A and 7D. Dennis I think all of us on this site must have the fear of Agateophobia based on the comments I see posted. Lois are you moral when you look at the morel?

NYTAnonimo said...

HAHNIUM is not the legit name according tothis and this. Info on SCRIABIN.

Dennis said...

Dick, I think you're right about the phobia; I'm surprised Lois didnt' pick up on it.
"Moral with the morel" -- great line. And you know the answer...

Dick said...

Yep I'm afraid we all know the answer.

Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...

NYTanonimo,
RE: Element 105.
I've read your links. And you are right, HAHNIUM is not Element 105 any more, though unnilpentum is literally Latin for 105. I've changed the entry to reflect your input. Thank you!

Mr. Corcoran said...

Feeling somewhat louche, I spent a few wild moments looking for my loupe (hope we don't have any galliophobes here) this am once again glowering overlong at our worn-out welcomed friend "rho"--why not pi for lunch or blast us with a few gamma rays! Hermes could provide us with some beautiful echarpes having already given his name to my own field of study (hermeneutics) as well as indirectly to Wotan's Day. Ah well, Fridays are always a breeze on the freeways so I shall slip a Scriabine CD into the navigation slot and wonder if I'll ever be able to play those preludes.
Grace a Dieu, May Day proved not to elicit calls of mayday this year in MacArthur Park, no cakes left out in the rain, so onward rapidomente to Cinqo--how will you all be celebrating, xword homies?

Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...

Drdad,
Can you still call unnilpentium as Element No 105?

MH said...

Like CC and Dennis I got the entire puzzle except the infamous N crossing. I think ships' tillers is correct because ship tillers would imply that a ship could have multiple tillers. Agreed that I didn't like purpose appearing twice as a clue. Also didn't like the triple appearance of "ear" in 15A (ear), 5A (shear), 48D (fears). I'm guessing that Bill got 35A pretty quickly ;-)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Der Katze said...

Six Minutes? If you stood there and read the clues and answers, it would take me longer than 6 minutes just to fill in the letters.:)

Anonymous said...

Boomer: Cute story about Randy. I feel 'randy' around those horses esp when they have the wagon attached. My eldest is at the Ky Derby as we speak...w/ some of my money...so, I'll pass along the Col. John tip. Thanks. Hope it's a winner!

Dick & Dennis: As far as phobias go, I enjoy my form of insanity too much to be afraid of it. I certainly don't have androphobia or any-related-partsphobia. Morals? What morals? I don't think any righteous person can use morel and moral in the same sentence and keep a clean thought. What a mushroom!!!!

CC: Je vais et je viens; je vais et je viens; je vais et je viens...etc.

Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...

Der Katze,
Good to see you again. 6-minute is probably a par for pros like Dennis (soon for Drdad as well). Tyler Hinman once broke a 2-minute limit for a NY Times Monday puzzle.

Dr. Dad said...

According to IUPAC (Internationl Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry), once an element has been given a formal name, it is improper to call it by the "Un" name. The "Un" name is only used for elements that have been discovered but not yet formally named for a person, place, or thing or for elements that are suspected but not yet produced by neutron bombardment, proton bombardment, etc. (usually in particle accelerators, particle colliders, or cyclotrons). The author/editor of this puzzle would have to use the incorrect "Unnilpentium" name if he didn't want to use "Element 105" as the clue. As an aside, Glen Seaborg (for whom #106 Seaborgium is named) disputed the Russian claim of discovering the element because they misread the nuclear decay pattern. If his claim is valid, the Dubna group didn't discover the element and it should not be called Dubnium.

Razz said...

Scotchaphobia - is that the fear of not having Blackie or Red nearby? Mmmmmm scotch...I think I'll start the weekend early! Hope everyone has a great weekend and don't celebrate Cinco de Mayo too much. Mmmmm tequila...

JIMBO said...

Der Katze

I'm with you on the time thing. Even if I knew the answer to every clue, I could'nt write them in that fast.

27a and 7d==found the "n" in "World Book" and "Schuss" in "Webster's"

Finished the puzzle, but not in record time.

Anonymous said...

We sit here with our hearts aching at the loss of our ovines, listening to Scriabin.

Did you know we had a burro?

Anonymous said...

ok, anon 11:15, I'll bite. Where is the burro?

Mr. Corcoran said...

and i pine for lupines...speaking of burros--how about a small one i.e. burrito!

Anonymous said...

He was our family pet, very well-behaved. His name was Pesci, which reminds us, Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Pesci was run over by, ironically enough, a Tostitos delivery van.

He was an important part of our familial group.

Crockett1947 said...

Good morning everyone! C.C., thank you for the education that came with 7D. With the video link and then the morel picture, I think we'll lose Lois again today, if she's not still watching the skating video. I didn't care for "purpose" being used twice as a clue either. 31A has to be plural for the S in HELMS, right? Drdad, although I've been in Portland for going on 40 years, I've never heard of NO PANTS DAY. We do have a local bumper sticker, though, that might help explain the phenomenon "KEEP PORTLAND WEIRD." Have a great weekend.

Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...

Mh,
RE: EAR. Should we also include the EAR in "HEARTACHE"? I enjoyed reading your Wagoner report. Thank you!

Thomas,
How is HERMES related to Wotan's Day? I don't get it.

Drdad,
Thanks for the explanation. Very helpful.

Crockett1947,
Re: INCOME/OUTGO
I don't know. I only want the clue to be "Expenditure" instead of "Expenditures".

melissa bee said...

it's pretty hard for us west coasters to come up with anything original to say .. but i enjoy reading everyone's $.02.

i confess i googled a clue or two, and haw-ed instead of hem-ed. but i refuse to time myself .. why rush a good thing? anything i can do in five minutes probably isn't worth doing. maybe we should have a contest for who can take the longest ..?

thomas, being a PK (preacher's kid) has exposed me to the joys of hermeneutics (snort). what is your application for such?

the PK baggage may have brought about moralphobia, and syngenesophobia (fear of relatives), but definitely not morelphobia, or oenophobia (fear of wines). hic.

now i'm hungry. which reminds me .. lois what did you have for breakfast?

-bee

JIMBO said...

Milissa Bee

I think I can consider myself a winner. If any of you do the puzzle under an hour, I win.

Mr. Corcoran said...

hi c.c./ Wotan=Wednes and Hermes=Mercury
bee--definitely not a PK here...hermeneutics in the interpretation of lit/ archetypal symbology/ Jung etc etc
have a great rest of the day

lois said...

Melissa: Usually, I have nails but lately for breakfast I'm having some coffee and eye-candy...(one hot video-viewing)and as of today chased with some morel. What about you?

melissa bee said...

lois: nails, eh? for me it's whatever i can cram in while getting ready for my day and nagging the teenaged 'children' to do same.

but now it's the weekend .. here's hoping we both get nailed. on ice.

Anonymous said...

on the online version 34D is "Mr. Preminger" so I finally go MOE with the across words but couldn;t figure out who was Moe Preminger - Mr Preminger would be "OTTO" of course you had the correct clue which was "Top Stooge" I'm glad I checked out your blog because Moe Preminger made no sense. Hey have you seen the latest Moe Preminger film?


TT

Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...

TT,
What Moe Preminger movie?

I also solved the online puzzle on Friday (it rained hard here, our paper guy was late). 34D baffled me also. Did not realize the paper version had a different clue until Dennis told me.