google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Monday April 21st, 2014 David W. Cromer

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Apr 21, 2014

Monday April 21st, 2014 David W. Cromer

Theme: Faking It - The four theme entries all begin with a synonym for "fake".

17A. Man-made organic pump : ARTIFICIAL HEART

27A. Dish not made from the reptile it's named for : MOCK TURTLE SOUP. Food! The old recipe on Wikipedia is not for the faint of heart.

46A. Pseudonym : FICTITIOUS NAME

62A. Finger-pointing perjury : FALSE ACCUSATION

Welcome to the new week - Steve here pinch-hitting for Argyle whose computer has got a fit of the sulks (I think that's the technical term).

After the conniptions of the last couple of puzzles this was a perfect antidote; pretty much a top-to-bottom solve. The theme was crisp and there was no unifier so "figure it out yourself". Two 15 and two 14-letter theme entries made for a nice grid.

Let's see what else we've got:

Across:

1. Campus drilling gp. : R.O.T.C. I just realized I didn't know what the acronym stands for and had to look up "Reserve Officers' Training Corps". Now I know.

5. Repairs, as a lawn's bare spot : SODS

9. On the higher side : UPPER

14. Fictional lab assistant : IGOR. Bonus points for knowing the movie with the line "No, it's pronounced "Eye-gor".

15. Be certain : KNOW

16. Garbo of the silver screen : GRETA. Her feet were not large - the rumor was started by the columnist Walter Winchell when she turned down his request for an interview.


20. Take care of : SEE TO

21. Start of Caesar's incredulous question : ET TU

22. GI rations : M.R.E.s We had a discussion recently about the accuracy of "Meals, Ready to Eat".

23. 1040 publisher: Abbr. : I.R.S. So last week.

25. Prefix meaning "high" : ALTI-

34. Kissing pair : LIPS. Nice cluing.

35. Out __ limb : ON A

36. Get a feeling about : SENSE

37. Feed bag morsel : OAT

38. Like a soloist on a dark stage : SPOTLIT

41. Fill up on : EAT

42. Barn-raising sect : AMISH. Are the Amish the only group that barn-raise? Seems a very sensible approach to a problem.

44. Electrified particle : ION

45. Falls behind : LAGS

50. "The Lord of the Rings," e.g. : EPIC. Because "bloated nine-hour CGI mega-movie franchise that takes terrible liberties with the books" didn't fit.

51. Encouragement "on the back" : PAT

52. Bog fuel : PEAT. We've had PEAT a couple of times recently, including "(Three) PEAT" yesterday.

55. Capone nemesis Eliot : NESS. 


"Speak softly and carry a big Thomson Sub-Machine Gun"
58. Triangular Greek letter : DELTA

65. Sing like Bing : CROON

66. 50+ org. : AARP. I'm eligible to join, but I seem to get just as good deals with AAA.

67. Company with bell ringers : AVON. If you don't have a doorbell, what do they do?

68. Shell out : SPEND

69. Zebras, to lions : PREY. It strikes me as odd that in "The Lion King" you never see Scar and company actually eating anything. It does give me an excuse to link to this song though.

70. Actor Hackman : GENE

Down:

1. Narrow inlets : RIAS

2. Folklore monster : OGRE

3. Carryall with handles : TOTE

4. They give films stars : CRITICS. Nice clue again.

5. Slalom item : SKI

6. It may be enough : ONCE

7. "Just __": Nike slogan : DO IT. The Nike "Swoosh" logo was designed by a student at Portland State University and sold to Phil Knight for $35.


8. Try to whack, as a fly : SWAT AT

9. "Gross!" : UGH

10. Logical proposition : PREMISE

11. Apple relative : PEAR

12. To be, to Brigitte : ETRE. One of our "French 101" words.

13. "Peanuts" phooey : RATS

18. Tuning __ : FORK. I tried to use one of these once to tune my guitar. I had to abandon the idea and go back to my electronic tuning meter.

19. Break in the action : LULL

24. Break in the action : STOP. Neighboring Clechos.

26. Word with tube or pattern : TEST

27. Florida metropolis : MIAMI

28. Vision-related : OPTIC

29. Game with Skip cards : UNO. I've never played this game - anyone?

30. Mathematical comparison : RATIO

31. Wee hr. : ONE A.M.

32. Grammarian's concern : USAGE

33. Lizards and snakes, for some : PETS

34. Do nothing : LOAF

38. Use FedEx : SHIP. Hey Splynter - your competition just got name-checked. What's that all about?

39. Comical Costello : LOU

40. Clouseau's rank: Abbr. : INSP. Did you know the good Inspector has been played by Peter Sellers, Alan Arkin, Roger Moore and Steve Martin?

43. Cowboy's hat : STETSON. I was in Texas last week and treated myself to a fine pair of cowboy boots. I drew the line at the hat though.

45. Reason for an ump's safe call : LATE TAG. C.C. can explain this if we need clarification.

47. Emmy winner Fey : TINA

48. Arctic expanse : ICECAP

49. It means nothing to Juan : NADA

52. Inferiors of cpls. : PFCS. My only misstep to day was to put "PVTS" here first. Privates, First Class is the correct answer.

53. Tombstone lawman : EARP.

54. Burn-soothing substance : ALOE

56. Mark from a surgical procedure : SCAR

57. Having no doubt : SURE

59. Occurring as you watch it : LIVE

60. Huckleberry Hound, for one : TOON

61. Songstress Murray : ANNE

63. Conclusion : END. Except it's not, there's one more answer ...

64. Plant gathering information : SPY. Saving the best until last; this was my favorite clue today.

That's all I've got - everyone have a good day!

Steve


57 comments:

OwenKL said...

The state Bar was to hold a MOCK court
Where a FICTITIOUS crime was the tort.
But a FALSE ACCUSATION
Brought a fierce altercation --
"A bar-room brawl" was the INSPector's report!

There ONCE was a android named Bob
Made to CROON and be a HEART-throb.
But his brain, ARTIFICIAL,
Could at first only whistle --
A "tune-up" saved robot Robert his job!

Barry G. said...

Morning, all!

Typical Monday solve, not much else to say about this one.

If you don't have a doorbell, what do they do?

Old joke:

Knock, knock
Who's there?
Avon lady -- your doorbell's broken!

buckeye bob said...

Easy peasy Monday-easy puzzle. I finished in a little less than my usual Monday – Tuesday time.

I read “Clouseau”, but my brain registered “Cousteau”. I had 2 perps, and couldn’t make sense of it, so I passed over it and came back later. When I read the clue again, the light bulb came on and I got INSP.

ANNE Murray is my favorite female singer. We saw her in concert in Columbus, OH years ago. Two of her albums are titled CROONin’ and Country CROONin’.

I did not see the theme until I came here, but didn’t need it to get the answers. Thanks, Steve!

Yes, I played UNO many times with our children when they were young. It is an easy card game for kids to learn.

desper-otto said...

Good morning!

This was a quick dive to the bottom. Hand up for PVTS / PFCS and LATE PEG / LATE TAG. I wanted ESSES for 34A, but it was too long, so LIPS it was.

We have a Brutus Dr in our town. No unit A2 on that street, though.

Steve, I think all sorts of farmers used to hold barn raisings. In this day of all-steel buildings, it's probably only the Amish who persevere.

TTP said...

Good morning all.

Thanks David, and thanks Steve.

I've had plenty of real TURTLE SOUP. Snapper. I drug the burlap bag along the creek. My dad stuck his arm down into the muddy murky creek bed and pulled them out. I've also had both c-rats and mres. The latter is better.

ETRE - French 101. I laughed at Abejo's remark yesterday, "AMIE, for 89A, was a piece of cake due to my excellent command of the french language."

I wonder if we could go a few days in a row without any frawnch ?

Hand up for PvtS before PFCS.

Steve, how was your barbecue ?

Time to head to the office. See all y'all later.

Lemonade714 said...

Who didn't love Marty Feldman as Eye-Gore in YOUNG FRAKENSTEIN .

When Dodd Roger Moore play Clouseau?

Best wishes to your computer Argyle. Thanks for pinch hitting Steve.

Have a good week all

Abejo said...

Good morning, folks. Thank you, David Cromer, for a fine puzzle. Thank you, Steve, for a fine review.

Could not get my IPad to download this puzzle, so I deleted all the old stuff that was there. Then it downloaded fine. Must me a memory thing.

First was thinking of some sort of dental school answer for 1A, then with a couple perps I entered ROTC.

Entered IMAC for 11D, Apple relative. Fixed that in short order to PEAR.

Never heard of MOCK TURTLE SOUP. Must be a dish, though.

Tried FICTIONAL NAME for 46A, but it did not use all the spaces, so I thought about it and entered FICTITIOUS NAME.

Good joke, Barry.

Off to my day. Will spend all morning at church.

See you tomorrow.

Abejo

(8863698 444)

HeartRx said...

Good morning Steve, C.C. et al.

Is the computer issue terminal, Argyle? (Yuk, yuk.) Fun write-up, Steve - thanks for pinch hitting today.

I liked this simple theme, and "got" it on the second entry. I have never had MOCK TURTLE SOUP, but it really sounds gruesome to make!! I don't think I have the HEART (either ARTIFICIAL or real) to go through with the preparations in the recipe you linked, Steve.

Today is Easter Monday, and it is a holiday in Austria and Germany. That means I have a day off, yippee! Have a great one, everybody!

Yellowrocks said...

Typical Monday, a drastic change after the stimulating weekend puzzles.
The last clue, plant gathering information/SPY made it all worthwhile.

We play UNO frequently. It is one of the children's games that are interesting for adults, as well. With all adults it can be cut throat and involve strategy.

A tuning fork may be used by an otologist to test certain aspects of hearing loss, at least this was true many years ago when I was teaching.
When my second grade class was studying sound I asked an otologist's daughter if her dad had a tuning fork she could bring to school. She brought me a small seafood fork. When I asked her what is was she said it was a TUNA FORK. I had to suppress my laughter. How cute!

TTP, my grandfather caught a turtle when I was very small. Grandma made delicious turtle soup. I have had it only that one time, but I guess Grandma made it more often.

Argyle said...

Marti, I think the terminal is ok but I have to monitor the situation.

No-Vice worder said...

Yep, I had PVTS but that would have made Bing a "trooner" so it was an easy fix.

Mari said...

Good Morning Everybody.

WBS: Typical Monday solve, not much else to say about this one.

Have a nice week.

C6D6 Peg said...

Very easy puzzle.

Marti-Argyle - your puns are too much!

Thanks for pinch-hitting Steve. Good job!

Irish Miss said...

Good Morning:

Easy, breezy solve. Hand up for Pvts/Pfcs and sags/lags. UNO is a fun game.

Thanks, David, for a nice start to the week, and thanks, Steve, for your informative expo. BTW, AARP is on my blacklist because of their penchant for sending renewal bills on July 1 each year for a membership good through November 30. This past year I finally got so ticked off I cancelled my membership and car/homeowners insurance. Since then, I have received 6-8 "It's not to late to renew" offers, which go directly into the trash.

Beautiful sunshiny day, heading for 70 degrees. Short-lived, though, rain tomorrow. Ah, the vagaries of Spring in Upstate New York.

Have a super Monday.

Irish Miss said...

Sorry, too late, not to late.

Dudley said...

Hello Puzzlers -

What Mari said.

Speaking of Mari, she and other Chicagoans would likely recognize an address I didn't: 925 Homan Avenue, Chicago. This return address keeps showing up on shipping labels on the undersides of flooring and siding from the 1911 house I am dismantling. The company name is oddly absent from every label, but it turns out to be Sears & Roebuck! I just learned this yesterday when it occurred to me to Google the address.

So, either the old place was a Sears kit house, or else the millwork itself was bought from Sears because of their competitive pricing.

HeartRx said...

Irish Miss, I don't mind getting all those "late" notices from AARP. They keep my postal worker in a job…

Argyle, if it's disk is floppy, you might just want to give it some Viagra...

kazie said...

Like the rest of you I enjoyed this easy fill today. Since I tend to do CWs in a zigzag fashion to check perps as I go, I totally missed looking at clues for 50A, 53D and 70A today.

Hope you all had a great Easter weekend!

CrossEyedDave said...

Beware of Artificial Hearts.

(He should have had the soup...)

I wonder who really won?

It wasn't me!!!

oc4beach said...

Nice puzzle and expo Steve.

I did the same thing that Buckeye Bob did with Clouseau. Read it as Cousteau at first. Perps made me relook at the clue and then did the head slap.

Argyle et al: Sorry about your computer problems. Computers can be frustrating. Right now I'm ready to scream because my AOL email has been "spoofed" and someone is sending out mass mailings of spam ads that look like they are coming from me, but they are not coming from my computer or the AOL server. It's filling up my inbox with Mailer-Daemon notices of "undeliverable mail" and annoying my contacts.

If you get emails that supposedly come from someone you know with only a link to a URL, be very leery about opening the link. Sometimes it's only some spam ads, but it can be a virus or other malware. I just delete them.

Be careful out there.

CanadianEh! said...

Fast solve today and enjoyable. I'll be hearing Lion King music all day now - memories of Africa from a year ago. Thanks Steve.

Out to enjoy this beautiful day.

Misty said...

Ooh, I love a speed run on a Monday morning, especially Easter Monday morning! Many thanks, David--and thanks to you too, Steve, for your fill-in expo this morning.

I really breezed through this one and loved seeing the theme emerge. My favorite clue was the one for CRITIC (maybe because I'm a critic, though not a film one; wait, I did write an article on "Apocalypse Now" once). Also liked the shout out to the AMISH, residents of my home town, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

And yes, I did love Marty Feldman as Igor.

Fun puns, Marti and Argyle.

Have a great start to your week, everybody!

Husker Gary said...

Musings
-A lovely puzzle and write-up to begin the week. A forecast of big rainfall turned out to be only a tenth and we all need cheering up.
-Since our neighbor’s 20 year son got caught for MIP on Saturday and his name was in the paper, he must not have given the police a FICTITIOUS NAME
-As a teacher, a FALSE ACCUSATION could end your career. Be careful.
-What, GRETA was not a EEEE?
-IRS, go away. Give me a flat tax or national sales tax. Nobody should have to pay big $ to send money to DC
-I don’t think a single OAT qualifies as a morsel
-Farmers around here are very independent and try to do everything themselves. But if they get hurt or sick, here comes the neighbors.
-CRITICS (cynics) know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
-It’s much easier to win an argument if you can set the PREMISE
-Electronic guitar tuners not only show when you’re on pitch but how close you are
-I never liked UNO but I did like its forerunner Crazy 8’s ,even this electronic version. I hated to tell grandkids to do this!
-Instant replay can now be used to see if this was a LATE TAG
-What Connie Francis song bemoaned items described by this theme with the lyric, “Like your imitation love for me”

Lemonade714 said...

YR,
Why in the world would you suppress your laughter?

Imagine the conversation the kid had with her parents; "Mommy, the teacher wants me to bring in a TUNA FORK."

"Oh, dear those people, we do not eat fancy like that. We just use forks. Ah well, here take this one."

desper-otto said...

Here's a great slide show that I stumbled across. It's the finalists in several categories from this year's photo contest.

Yellowrocks said...

Lemonade, little children are sensitive to being laughed at when making a mistake. She was only 6 or 7 and was so pleased she had done well. She presented the fork with all seriousness. A sudden outburst of laughter would have caused chagrin. Later on when I could gently explain the mistake we could laugh together.

desper-otto said...

Husker, that song is Paper Roses, but I don't associate it with Connie Francis. I remember it first by Anita Bryant, and then a country version quite a bit later by Marie Osmond.

Lucina said...

Happy Easter Monday, Puzzlers! I'm sorry about your computer, Argyle. Thanks, Steve, for pinch hitting.

WEES. An easy romp today with a quick sashay through the UPPER region until I confidently filled FICTITIONAL then came to a dead STOP. FICTITIOUS NAME then made its appearance.

Thank you, David W. Cromer.

We played many hours of UNO when my daughter's friends came over.

I love that movie, Young Frankenstein.

Have yourselves a super Monday, everyone!

Anonymous said...

"Monday, Monday, so good to me,". Back to my level of expertise. Thanks, David. Great expo, Steve. Thanks for helping out.



Favorite clue/ans.: 56D: Mark from a surgical procedure/scar. I have a long scar from my knee replacement surgery. I don't care about it because I'm so thankful that I live in a time that replacements are available. I wouldn't want to live the rest of my life with the pain I had.

Marti and Argyle--fun stuff!

Sunny, 70's, daffodils are blooming and the leaves are coming out. It's beautiful, especially after that brutal winter. Have a great week!

Pat

CrossEyedDave said...

Faking it?

Tuning Fork Physics!

Husker Gary said...

Musings 2
-Dang it, Otto. Joann agrees with you too! However, I did find a Connie Francis version. Thanks for the gentle correction. They say memory is the second thing to go.
-Otto 2, I loved the Smithsonian Pix and used one for my desktop. Speaking of Smithsonian, we watched the Aerial America on Minnesota last night. Very impressive. Uh, they showed fall scenery and none of winter.
-Dave, those were fun links, but I love it when you talk Physics! I am putting those tuning fork demos directly into my repertoire. Gee, I hope that is not painful.
-Didn’t everybody think of Meg Ryan’s fake orgasm scene? It even unnerved Billy Crystal’s blasé character. I’ll bet Otto knows who the woman in the background who delivered the line, “I’ll have what she’s having” was.
-Did anyone else’s captcha code go bye-bye? Mine did!

desper-otto said...

Husker, I know her status, but not her name. She died just a few years back. And why does that remind me of someone waxing eloquent about "swatches" in another Nora Ephron flick?

My captcha is still there. You musta got lucky.

Lucina said...

HG:
Unless my memory has gone bye-bye I believe the woman in the background of the fake orgasm is director Rob Reiner's mother.

Jayce said...

Hello everybody. I liked the theme and this puzzle in general. Loved the clue for SPY; had to think about it for a moment. Good banter, Argyle and HeartRx. Best wishes to you all.

PK said...

Hi Y'all! Fast faux fun today, David! Thanks, Steve!

The comments on AVON made me realize, I've never lived in a house with a door bell. This is okay since I'm allergic to AVON products.

Gary, what is MIP that guy was arrested for?

That MOCK TURTLE SOUP recipe was sick, what with all the feline lovers here.

Hand up for ANNE Murray being an all-time favorite. Such a smooth mellow tone.

Bill G. said...

D-O, I loved the photos!

CED, good links.

So Gary, did you (or anybody else) watch Billy Crystal's show, 700 Sundays, on HBO? It is REALLY good.

I always had a soft spot in my heart for box turtles. We would sometimes come across them crossing a country road in Virginia.

Misty said...

Bill G, my husband and I watched Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays for the last two nights and thought it was brilliant. Did he really perform that whole program live in front of an audience? If so, his timing and movements and coordination with sound effects was simply amazing. A little outrageous and not for the chaste of heart, but both hilarious and also moving with its family history. I've never been a particular fan of his, but that program was extraordinary, we thought.

Ol' Man Keith said...

Happy Monday fellow cruciverbalists!

And all this time I thought Empress Wanrong started the rumor about Garbo's feet. To her, of course, it would have been Fact, western lady feet being so (ugh!) gross...

Bill G. said...

Misty, yes, that show is basically his one-man Broadway play. We thought it was brilliant too.

From my brother-in-law:
Subject: The Italian Man of the House
Anthony had just finished reading a new book entitled, "You Can Be THE MAN of Your House". He stormed to his wife in the kitchen and announced, "From now on, you need to know that I am THE MAN of this house and my word is Law. You'll prepare me a gourmet meal tonight, and when I'm finished eating my meal, you'll serve me a sumptuous dessert. After dinner, we're going upstairs and we'll have the kind of sex that I want. Afterwards, you're going to draw me a bath so I can relax. You'll wash my back and towel me dry and bring me my robe. Then, you'll massage my feet and hands.
Then tomorrow, guess who's going to dress me and comb my hair?"

His Sicilian Carmela replied,

"The f*@%#n' funeral director would be my first guess".

Argyle said...

So I have another monitor but it's a wide screen and I'm having a fit getting things to fit. $10.00 used, I can't complain much.

Husker Gary said...

Musings 3
-I knew you, uh, knew it Otto. Directors Rob (Meathead) Reiner’s mother got that line in When Harry Met Sally
-PK, MIP is Minor In Possession of alcohol here. Kids sometimes say they got “Mipped” when they get caught. The 24-yr-old guy who bought the booze and refused to let the police into his house is in big trouble. This will all die down but knowing my neighbor as well as I do, I know she has to be very embarrassed. Aren’t you glad kids didn’t drink when we were young? What…
-Bill, we don’t have HBO and so I have not watched that. I loved Billy as an Oscar host and in a lot of movies but hated him in this and in this.

Steve said...

@HG - the "fake" scene was shot in Katz's Deli on New York's lower east side. I've eaten there a couple of times - the pastrami sandwich is the best I've ever had.

Bill G. said...

We must have similar tastes. I didn't see Analyze This and while I enjoyed City Slickers, I was sure the sequel would be weak.

Chickie said...

Hola Everyone, No really problems with the puzzle today. I am late in getting to it, so most everything has been said.

Barry, I had not heard that "old joke" about Avon. My sister was an Avon lady for many years. I'll have to ask her if she has heard this one.

I liked the clue for Lips. I don't think we've seen that one before.

Thanks, Steve, for a great write-up.

Have a great day everyone.

grams said...

Bill G, my husband tells a similar story of guys alng the Houston Ship Channel bragging how they are the boss! They come to work w/black eye from being smacked w/cast iron skillet!

Great puzzle wonderful write up! Happy San Jacinto Day!

Chickie said...

Argyle/Heart RX, I love the puns and jokes today.

Also, Yellowericks, I chuckled at your Tuna Fork.

Oops! No real problems, not really.

PK said...

Gary, I can sympathize with your friend. I had a teenaged son who got in trouble that way. Tell her my kid is a straight-laced contributing pillar of society now who rarely touches alcohol. He has sons of his own now. We'll see what they do.

Anonymous T said...

Hi all!

WEES - David's puzzle was fun and perfect for a Monday. Thanks Steve for stepping in.

Hand up for PVTS before PFCS and SPY got a chuckle.

Mmmm, MREs. How many remember the dried pork? It was best dry and would "pop" on your tongue as your saliva re-hydrated it. And coffee pudding - mix chocolate pack, cream pack, coffee pack and canteen cap full of water. Gourmet! Bill Mauldin would be proud!

Cheers, -T

GarlicGal said...

Boy, I didn't realize that I might need a spell caster. Who knew?

Who cares?? IMHO

Quick solve today. On another note, any one watching The Bletchley Circle on PBS? It was on last night, but I hadn't heard a word about it. Is this a new season?

Gonna go contact my local spell caster asap...

Anonymous T said...

GarlicGal - I saw those SPAMS too, but I needed a spell-ing caster :-) Hence the repost. Cheers, -T

TTP said...

Anon T

Can't say that I ever had that delicacy, but I still have my p-38 to open the c rats.

Husker Gary, I too was wondering about MIP. Thought is must be M----(something) In Public.

Anonymous T said...

TTP - Ah, the ol' P-38. I think I have two of those left around here somewhere...

For those that don't know - P-38. Cheers, -T

Avg Joe said...

I had a P-38 on my key ring through the late 70's. I usually packed a lunch, and I'd treat myself to smoked oysters every week or so, making it necessary equipment. It takes a knack to run one of those damn things, but it's an incredible little device. Still have it, but it's rusty and very dull.

Lucina said...

GarlicGal:
It's season 2 for The Bletchley Circle. I've watched both and love it!

Husker Gary said...

-Back from golf and I must apologize to Lucina as it was she who knew Rob Reiner's Mother delivered the iconic When Harry Met Sally line.
-Oh yeah, I played pretty well. Thanks for asking. ;-)

Anonymous T said...

HG - What do you think of 15" holes on the green? I saw that today and double-checked the calendar. Nope, not 1 April. Cheers, -T

JD said...

Good evening Steve and all,
Another fun Monday.I always need the quick start for the week. Enjoyed the long theme answers.UNO is a weekly game, along with RACK-O. Always have to find games that the boys enjoy..and those that I don't mind playing over and over.

Hope you all had a lovely Easter celebration. I finished the CW between cooking, and had a hard time getting "CALL ME" out of my head. Always enjoy your Sunday write up, CC. Such a great memory. Jeff had to pull out of the race towards the end. I think it may have been that he was down to very few of his dogs.

Steve, so generous of you to fill in today. Boots can make quite a statement. very cool.