google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Monday, August 15, 2011 Jeff Chen

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Aug 15, 2011

Monday, August 15, 2011 Jeff Chen

Theme: Ghoul Rhymes - As per the store displays, it's time to get ready for Halloween and so here are four theme entries that end with a rhyme for GHOUL, in case you want to write some poems.

17A. 1956 #1 hit for Elvis Presley : "DON'T BE CRUEL". Clip.(2:04) A couple of things; it wasn't lip-synced and there is some German narration(Perhaps we could get a translation?).

27A. Mr. T catch phrase : "I PITY THE FOOL....". He played B.A. Baracus on TV's The A-Team.

47A. Cornerstone principle of democracy : MAJORITY RULE

61A. Eight-time Best Actor nominee who never won : PETER O'TOOLE. Wikipedia article.

Argyle here. I don't think CRUEL is a perfect rhyme but we'll give it poetic(or constructor) license. The spelling is different for each word. There are some names that might cause some trouble but smooth sailing, for the most part. It's what I expect from a Jeff Chen puzzle.

Across:

1. Shish __ : KABOB

6. 2008 "Yes We Can" sloganeer : OBAMA

11. ACLU concerns : RTs. Rights, to the extreme sometimes.

14. Prefix with -clast : ICONO. One who attacks cherished beliefs.

15. Group of secret schemers : CABAL. From Latin [kuh-bal].

16. Neighbor of Wash. : ORE.

19. Cartoon collectible : CEL

20. De Matteo of "The Sopranos" : DREA. Image.

21. Fat-based bird feed : SUET. There have been some cases of it being bear feed, too, this year.

22. '80s-'90s "Did I do that?" TV nerd : URKEL. Image from Family Matters.

24. Having one's day in court? : ON TRIAL

26. "Revenge is __ best served cold" : A DISH. "Old Klingon Proverb"

31. Choir section : ALTOs

34. Cold War country, briefly : USA

35. Chimney passage : FLUE

36. Scratch or scuff : MAR

37. Ostracized one : OUTCAST

41. Prefix with metric : ISO

42. Recipient of a princess's kiss : FROG

44. Suffix for no-good : NIK. A pair of them.

45. Like days gone by : OLDEN

51. Henry __ Lodge: WWI senator : CABOT. (from Boston, Massachusetts.)

52. Final stage of a chess match : END GAME. When only a few pieces are left on the board.

56. "Sesame Street" resident : ERNIE

57. "Get lost, kitty!" : "SCAT!"

59. Adorn, as a birthday gift : WRAP

60. Below-the-belt : LOW

64. Musician's deg. : MFA. Master of Fine Arts.

65. Dodge, as the press : EVADE

66. Address the crowd : ORATE

67. Cellos' sect. : STR. Strings.

68. Flew off the handle : RAGED

69. Gumbo vegetables : OKRAs

Down:

1. Friendly term of address : KIDDO

2. Oak tree-to-be : ACORN

3. Lisa of "The Cosby Show" : BONET. Image.

4. Easternmost Great Lake : ONTARIO

5. Reggae's Marley : BOB. Jammin'.(2:56)

6. Supernatural : OCCULT

7. Au naturel : BARE

8. Stand next to : ABUT

9. West of the silver screen : MAE

10. Refer (to) : ALLUDE

11. Dependable beyond doubt : ROCK SOLID

12. Kids' secret club meeting place : TREE HOUSE

13. Dispose of via eBay : SELL

18. Morales of "La Bamba" : ESAI. Also, Lt. Tony Rodriguez on NYPD Blue.

23. Jazz motif : RIFF

25. __ facto : IPSO. "by the fact itself"

26. Cries of triumph : A-HAs

28. Totally gross : YUCKY

29. Luggage-screening org. : TSA. Transportation Security Administration.

30. "Exodus" author Uris : LEON

31. Car radio button : AM/FM

32. "Tomb Raider" role for Angelina Jolie : LARA CROFT. From the game.

33. Conflict involving a fake horse : TROJAN WAR

38. Workbook chapter : UNIT

39. __ for tat : TIT. Image.

40. Sang like a canary, so to speak : TOLD

43. Mongolian desert : GOBI

46. Out-of-the-office detective duty : LEG WORK

48. Ebert's partner after Siskel : ROEPER. Image.

49. Parented : REARED

50. "Do __ others ..." : UNTO

53. Bustling with noise : AROAR

54. Island nation near Sicily : MALTA. Map.

55. Fencing swords : EPEEs

56. Shade trees : ELMS

57. Just for guys : STAG

58. Formally relinquish : CEDE

62. PerĂ³n of Argentina : EVA

63. As well : TOO


Argyle

59 comments:

Barry G. said...

Morning, all!

Typical Monday speed run for me. No real speed bumps -- just a few pebbles in the road. I never know if it's going to be KABOB or KEBAB and invariably pick the wrong one. I also wanted SHOO instead of SCAT. As I said, though, really minor bumps.

The only nit I could pick would be with the clue for OCCULT. I realize that the words is associated with the supernatural, but I believe the word actually just means "hidden." Or maybe that's "arcane" I'm thinking of...

Happy Monday!

Hahtoolah said...

Good Morning, Argyle and friends. This was a fun Monday puzzles. I like the early-week rhyming puzzles.

I liked seeing USA as a Cold War Country.

Not sure about the crossing of KABOB with BOB.

I initially tried Tenor instead of ALTOS for the choir section. I also thought of SHOO instead of SCAT for getting rid of the kitty.

Should Bert and ERNIE get married?

QOD: We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do. ~ Mother Teresa

Spitzboov said...

Good morning Argyle and all.

Smooth easy one today. Not quite a speed run for me. Perps helped get DREA,URKEL, PETER O'TOOLE, and LARA CROFT. But otherwise, no problems nor searches needed. I smiled at the way BARE and ABUT abutted each other. Overall, nice way to ease into the week.

Have a great day.

Mainiac said...

Morning CC, Argyle and All,

Smooth is the word of the day. My snag was putting Hiss in for 57A because we Hiss at ours to get them off the counters. They started just to look at us so I got a squirt gun handy. Hiss and squirt worked so we're back to hissing again.

Thanks for the write up Argyle!

Have a great Monday.

Unknown said...

Easy one today. Thanks, Argyle!
Clear Eyes; no offense taken. GWTW is practically required reading in the south.
Elvis' "Don't be Cruel", is one of my favorites. I really love the oldies from the King.
Good morning to all!

thehondohurricane said...

Good day folks,

Typical Monday offering, but sort of a bland puzzle. Unfortunately, 22A & 23D did me in as I did not know either clue. Wagged a N for the unknown crossing letter. I was surprised to learn Peter O'Toole has never been awarded an Oscar.

Heaven opened up yesterday and will continue today.

PT today, can't be late! See you tomorrow.

Grumpy 1 said...

Good morning! Easy Peasy Monday!

I'm with you, Barry. I wish they would settle on one spelling for KABOB/KeBaB. You're right about OCCULT having a meaning other than supernatural... unless my doctor is looking for the demon that possesses me when she orders an occult blood test...

I was wondering what image Argyle would link for 39d...

Regarding the rhyming of CRUEL with the other words in the theme, it certainly does ryhme in 'Elvis speak.'

Great Monday puzzle, Jeff.

HeartRx said...

Good Morning Argyle, C.C. et al.

I loved all the links today, Argyle. The “Jammin’ “ was my favorite though – great way to get in gear on a rainy Monday morn!

This was a simple theme, but other than the regional variations of pronouncing “cruel” that you pointed out, I thought it was ROCK SOLID. I laughed when I saw that one next to TREE HOUSE…the ones we built as kids were anything but “rock solid”!!

51A CABOT was a real gimme, and brought to mind this old ditty:
"And this is good old Boston,
The home of the bean and the cod,
Where the Lowells talk only to Cabots,
And the Cabots talk only to God."
-John Collins Bossidy

I hope your week gets off to a great start, everybody!

Abejo said...

Good Morning, folks. It has been only a few hours since I last addressed you. Yawn.

Thank you, Jeff, for a swell Monday puzzle. Thank you, as well, Argyle, for the great write-up.

I got the theme after I was done. Really did not need it. To me, the theme was the four words rhyming. I saw nothing beyond that.

Enjoyed TROJANWAR. I have always been in awe of the simplicity of the Trojan Horse scheme. Very clever.

MALTA was familiar since we just had it the other day. Smallest nation in the European something-or-other.

DREA and BONET were wags as they crossed at the "E." I don't watch either of those shows.

Fun Monday. Thank you.

See you tomorrow.

Abejo

Murdock said...

Total fail on this one, my friends, as what BA was really saying was:

I pity the foo'

Husker Gary said...

Rain on the plain again today which will delay my golf obsession, er, game. A COOL Monday offering that could be done almost line by line.

Musings-
-Majority Rule has been very evident the last four years depending on who has that majority. Messy, ain’t it?
-SHISH, not Ed Norton’s SHEESH!
-Even the ACLU must hold its nose when it defends the hideous Westboro Baptist Church
-Suet doesn’t last long in my trees!
-Doing ISOMETRIC exercises were the workout du jour at one time.
-I called a colleague KIDDO once and it got back to me via gossip that she was offended by that
-Lisa Bonet tried to escape her wholesome image with mixed results
-I never had but always wanted a TREEHOUSE
-Hahtool, corollary to your QOD – we complimented a waitress Friday night and she just beamed afterwards!
-What Christmas carol rhymes CRUEL and FUEL?

Tinbeni said...

Argyle: Nice write-up & links.

FUN Monday, thanks Jeff.

Though I do have a nit.
UNIT next-to TIT was appropriate.
But TIT next-to YUCKY just doesn't seem right to me.

Oh well, cheers to all at Sunset.

Grumpy 1 said...

Husker, that would be the same one that rhymed 'sure' and 'poor'.

Jazzbumpa said...

Hi gang -

Not really delighted with the rhyming theme. Overall good and interesting puzzle, though. Excellent long down fill.

Tinbeni -
UNIT next-to TIT was appropriate.

And I always thought they traveled in pairs?!?

OCCULT comes from a Latin root meaning "covered," and hence, "hidden" but modern usage (ex-medicine) leans strongly toward the supernatural - probably because the occult secrets are only revealed to a chosen few.

Now I must rest a spell.

Cheers!
JzB

carol said...

Hi gang... back from a nice week off and a wonderful trip to Lake Tahoe. We had fun!! Enjoyed good company, and found lots of fun things to do. It's a very beautiful area.

The puzzle was a bit harder for me than most Monday's. I still do not understand 19A (CEL). Why is it a word? I think of a "cartoon collectible" as maybe Cinderella or Snow White or perhaps Mickey Mouse.

My "pebbles" in the road (thanks Barry G) were more numerous. Thanks to the perps I was able to fill in 20, 11, and 64A and 32D.

Hope you all enjoy your Monday!

Elmo said...

Who ever said Bert and Ernie were gay?

Now on the other hand, I always wondered about Grover...

Clear Ayes said...

Good Morning All, Slid nicely through this one. Monday morning is always a reason to rededicate to crosswording.

Maybe I'm just more aware of it, but ALTO(S) seem to show up more than TENOR, BASS, or SOP. HG, let me see if I can pick out the ALTO part of Good King Wencelas?

I liked the nine letter verticals better than the theme. Every kid should have a ROCK SOLID TREE HOUSE.

Gosh, are the stores already advertising Halloween? That really is YUCKY.

Hi Carol, welcome back. FYI "A cel, short for celluloid, is a transparent sheet on which objects are drawn or painted for traditional, hand-drawn animation.". Originial Disney cels like this one from Lady and the Tramp could be bought at Disneyland kiosks for about $5.00 in the early 1960's. Now they cost hundreds, if not thousands.

Anonymous said...

39d will get the most hits of any link today, I wager!

LaLaLinda said...

Hi All ~~

I flew through this one with no problems. In looking for a theme I realized the ending words had various spellings for the same sound but I thought that was too easy and continued to look for something else that I might have missed. I guess I shouldn't do that on a Monday. I did like the puzzle and was surprised about PETER O'TOOLE never winning an Oscar.

Thanks for an entertaining write-up, Argyle. I liked your link for 39D (I, too wondered what it might be) and then Jazz's link that followed. LOL

Enjoy the day!

carol said...

CA: Thanks so much for the 'cel' explanation! It makes more sense now. I knew the word celluloid and that the old cartoons were drawn or painted on that, but it always bothers me when words are shortened up. TOON is another example of this and there are many more. Sigh.

Jeff Chen said...

Hi everyone! This puzzle is part of my grand scheme to integrate Mr. T into everyone's world view. I proposed another puzzle to Rich around JIBBER JABBER, but he said something to the effect of "Quit your jibber jabber!" then told me he pitied the fool who proposed more A-Team themed puzzles (not really, Rich is a very nice guy despite probably not being an A-Team fanatic).

I've managed to convince Jill, my fiancee, that "The A-Team" theme song is going to be our song. We'll see if that lasts.

Jeff

eddyB said...

Hello.

Only thing I didn't like was kaBOB
and BOB.

Bert and Ernie getting married -
ridiculous! All for the sake of someones self esteem. I have wondered about the guy who hides in the garbage can instead of a closet.

Congratulations to the Mars Rover.
It finally reached the Endeavour Crater after a three year trek.

UPS package now in Fontana, CA.
Tough to believe a Wed delivery. Thought it would have been flown to Oakland.

Still POed about yesterday's race.

take care. eddy

Lemonade714 said...

Jeff:

You are bold if you can pull off convincing your bride to be to ride that wave at her wedding. Really fun, another of our perfect Mondays, which are after all to be enjoyed before we must work on Thursday and later.

I know not everyone does not attempt the Sunday LA Times, but if you like Peter O'Toole you will love this EFFORT .

Hearti, you stole my Cabot Lodge reference, but with all the new englanders we have i knew it would not wait. damn work!

You guys have linked some really nice TITS thank you.

Kiddo I think is only acceptable as a same sex comment.

Yellowrocks said...

Hi all. Late start today as I have my 13 year old grandson here. He is now playing video games.

See Urkel (Jaleel White) today.
Urkel today

The carol with "cruel and fuel" is Good King Wenceslas
History and lyrics to Carol

"Yes,We Can" reminds me of the hours I spent with my grandson years ago playing with Bob the Builder video, boad games, and figures. "Can we build it? Yes we can."

From Dictionary.com:
oc·cult   /əˈkÊŒlt, ˈɒkÊŒlt/ adjective
1. of or pertaining to magic, astrology, or any system claiming use or knowledge of secret or supernatural powers or agencies.

Yellowrocks said...

Here is Bert and Ernie news from the "BEEB" (BBC, if you weren't here last week.) Their creators say Bert and Ernie are just male friends with no sexual orientation or intent to marry. They are just puppets.
From the creators of Bert and Ernie
Both sides of this need to lighten up. This show is meant for the preschool crowd. It has no hidden meaning.

Dennis said...

As soon as I filled in 39D, I knew I'd better check in here to see the comments. Argyle, a masterful juxtaposition of the flora and fauna. Did you have to search long to find those two together?

Annette, the Boca bug is biting - how's your weather down there later this week?

Massive rainstorms here the past couple days - I'm back to a lakefront property. Wish we could send some of this to the midwest...

Jayce said...

Hello everybody. I enjoyed this puzzle quite a bit, especially the long vertical fill(s). I worked the puzzle by alternating between acrosses and downs, thus filling in the NW first and "sweeping" across the grid. Didn't even see the BOB Marley clue.

Thanks for the thoughtful writep, Argyle, and the interesting links. Elvis was allegedly stoned on marijuana at the time of that performance, and he looked it. He had some terrific backup musicians, though!

Gotta go into the office today as my actual physical presence is required. Best wishes to you all.

Lucina said...

Hello puzzlers and thanks, Argyle, for a job well done.

Just like Barry I vacillate between KEBAB and KABOB and choose the wrong one.

Otherwise this was a good speed run with only two other erasures, URIEL then remembered URKEL prompted by ROCK SOLID. And ELUDE before EVADE.

I liked OUTCAST in the center with CRUEL and FOOL before it and thought the theme might be related in that manner.

A good Monday puzzle, Jeff, and good luck with your fiancee and that song!

Dennis, I'm sorry you are inundated and really wish you could send us some. We've had only three inches this year.
Have a terrific Monday, everyone!

Dennis said...

Lucina, you really shouldn't give me lines like that.

HeartRx said...

Dennis, LOL !

dodo said...

Greetings gang

Masterful writeup, Argyle, and thanks, Jeff, for an enjoyable ride today! Congratulations, also, on your engagement!.

Working this one was almost as if the answers were being dictated to me as I worked. Did try 'kebab' and it turned red, so fixed that, then slide right along.

I think I must have missed some of your clips, Argyle and will have to go back after them. Also, I can't make out what you're directing us to on the O'Toole reference:EFFORT.

Marge said...

Hi all,
I finally got my brain functioning today and got the puzzle done. I found it rather hard.

I forgot a simple thing like 31D. We have Sirius radio in our car and seldom have a local station on.

We saw Bob Marley's statue in Jamaica several years ago when we were on a VIM trip. I was pretty ignorant about him then but now there is a Bob Marley restaurant up in the Dells.

Argyle-I really enjoyed the funny picture for No good-NIK.

Clear Eyes- I saw an ad for Christmas in the paper this AM. That's really early!

Our son was up from Ga. this past week and several things going on. He went home this AM so now we are back to normal.

Have a good evening!
Marge

Argyle said...

dodo, the O'Toole link should bring you to a page with Peter's nominations, year, movie, who did win and for what, plus the other nominees and their films. Link.

Lucina said...

Dennis, I was referring to rain; what was on your mind? Oh, I think I know! LOL

JD said...

Afternoon all,

Good write up Argyle, for a fun puzzle.It was fun unveiling Peter O'Toole. Who knew? My favorite fill was Trojan War.

I also zig zagged today, smoothly filling in without too many hesitations. The perps did fill cabal, Drea, nik, Esai and riff.

CA, loved your story last night about Carnegie Hall. Each year the names seem more and more unique and harder to pronounce.School started today so this is my list of new names: Aditi, Sagar, Chanho,Hamza, Deyanira, and, my favorite, Montserrat( a girl).I just helped out for the 1st hour..39 kids.

Chickie said...

Hola Everyone, A fairly easy puzzle for me, though I did get bogged down in the very middle. I wanted an Eastern European Country for Cold war country and I hit myself hard when USA finally emerged.

Cabal, Drea, Urkel were unknowns but all appeared with the perps. Gobi I didn't see until I read Argyle's excellent writeup. So there were some miss steps, but some that filled in on their own.
I always enjoy a Jeff Chin puzzle and this was no exception.

JD, Is that a 6th grade with 39 kids? Sounds like the 50's when I started teaching. I had 42 third graders my first year and the smallest classroom on the planet! Hopefully there will be some student shifting before the week is out.

Chickie said...

Jeff, Good luck with the A-Team theme. Jill will probably let you dream about it for a while. LOL.

Congratulations on your engagement.

Thanks for stopping by and giving us some insight into today's puzzle.

carol said...

Have to add my 2.5 cents to the name conversation. Joe has mentioned that when reading the sports page he will come across the listing for a high school team and he cannot tell from the names whether it's a boys or girls team.

JD and CA: In reading both your list of names, I could not tell if they were boys or girls for the most part.

On the other hand, we never see the names: Bertha, Augusta, Hortense, Beula, Cuthbert, Horace, Clyde and a host of others from the earlier century....probably a good thing, but you know the old saying, "what goes around, comes around" so maybe there will be a little Herbert in someone's future.

Lucina said...

JD:
A few years ago I had an ESL student named Montserrat.

Since hispanic names are, or were in the past, largely named after titles of the Blessed Virgin, such as Our Lady of Montserrat, we see many unusual ones. As for the others I have no idea.

It's great that you are helping because with 39 that poor teacher will certainly need it.

Hahtoolah said...

Jeff: Glad you stopped by. Fun puzzle and congratulations on your upcoming wedding. When is the big day?

Chickie: Hope you and your sister had a fun day on your birthday on Saturday.

JD said...

At one time,the school district's contract limited a 6th grade class to 32. When 6th moved over to middle school,it was 35. Now it is 175 max for the day.The problem lies with teaching 1 exploratory class. If that class is under 35, they can load up the other 4 classes.
I was only there for 1st period as a favor for a friend who took her daughter to her 1st day of kindergarten.Got home in time for yoga.

Many of the "new" names are lovely. Carol, I can see why some of those old names like Ethel have not come back. Now Ava is popular, and Henry is back too.

Bill G. said...

During the last few years of my teaching, I noticed the new batch of names too. JD, those names are doozies. I wonder what is their origin or nationality?

My mother's name was Mildred and my grandmother was Bertha. My other grandmother was Hattie Belle. Don't see any of them anymore.

Clear Ayes said...

It seems like naming kids after states, countries or cities has become pretty popular. Alaska, Paris, London, Rio, Indiana, Ireland, Montana...on and on. I bet there is a Bulgaria or even Djibouti out there too.

I am kind of partial to the old names. (Well, maybe not Ethel) My middle name is Verna, after my mother. I used to dislike it, but now I like it a lot. At least I didn't get named after my grandmother, Augusta Esther.

Anonymous said...

Why isn't hte birthday list made pubic?

Anonymous said...

for 31 A I wanted Tenor but that gave me Ipro which led me to think did Apple release new product I wasn't aware of?

1st blush cold war country I tried SSR Soviet Socialist Republic

I remember Esai Morales as Lt. Tony Rodriguez on NYPD Blue.

Fun Facts By Dave Letterman

The most popular flavor of chapstick is bacon.

The surgeon General never smokes, except when he is drinking.

Chickie said...

Yes, Lucina, My sister and I had a nice visit. We exchange books that we've read, so we exchanged our latest books, and then just gabbed a lot. She is up in the mountains most of the summer so we don't see each other often. Thanks for asking.

JD, I've noticed an upsurge in some of the older names. Emma, Olivia, Madeline, and Daisy are a few that come to mind. I think they are pretty. Ezra is one of the boys' names that I've come across lately. So not all of the old names are falling by the wayside.

Avg Joe said...

But you just don't see Joe anymore. :-(

(Sawright. I like being an oddball.)

Susan said...

39 kids in a classroom--wow! Glad I never had that many. It would have been chaos trying to teach drama. I also had students with strange and unusual names.

My grandmother's name was Lottie which she hated. She always said it sounded like an old pioneer woman. When she had children, she named them Kathryn, Leanore, Guinvere, and Phillip. She had a definite romantic side. Loved her.

fermatprime said...

Hi, gang!

Speed run for me too, today! Thanks Jeff; Argyle!!

Had a long swim and am falling asleep at 6:30 PM. Just wanted to say that the avatar is a picture that I drew of a solid that I constructed and photographed. Before digital cameras. I scanned photo and traced it carefully in Illustrator™. Sorry if I misled you!

There are 13 Archimedean polyhedra (solids), unless you count the mirror images of two of them as different. Then 15. It is amazing that Archimedes knew of these. They were not all rediscovered until Kepler came along. See lots of pictures


Cheers!

Susan said...

Sorry, Guinevere. She went by Mac!

Argyle said...

Guinnevere(4:41)

WikWak said...

@Fermatprime: very interesting construction. Thanks for sharing / explaining.

To all those who shared links to "Good King Wenceslaus": Thanks for those, too. I always KNEW it couldn't really be

"Good King Wenceslaus looked out
On his feets uneven"

Nice to see proof. ;-)

Bill G. said...

I thought there were only five Pythagorean solids. How are the 15 Archimedean solids different?

JD said...

Avg Joe, Joseph has dropped to #40, but it's fun to see a mix of old ones and new ones. CA is right. I think the cities/states like Cody and Cheyenne have replaced the Rain, Wind,& Freedom names.See the 2011 list.

fermatprime said...

BillG.: There are 5 Platonic solids. These have all faces regular and congruent and have the same number of faces around each vertex. Furthermore, they are convex (roughly, no dents or protrusions). There are also 4 regular regular solids that are non-convex. Here is another link. Compare with the previous link.

fermatprime said...

On another note, I wish to voice my complaint about Merl's Calendar puzzle. The theme was positively evil!

fermatprime said...

BillG.: another note. Pythagorean solids generally are known as Platonic solids.

Chickie said...

Hatool, yes, my sister and I did have a good gossip on Sat. I thought it was Lucina that had hoped we had had a good day. Your comment was directly beneath hers, and I misread. Thanks for asking.

dodo said...

Got iy, Argyle! Thanks.