0805-17 New York Times Crossword Answers 5 Aug 17, Saturday

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Constructed by: David Phillips

Edited by: Will Shortz

Today’s Syndicated Crossword

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Read Comments/Leave a Comment

Theme: None

Bill’s time:13m 50s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1. Double-digit figure? : PEACE SIGN

One has to be careful making that V-sign depending where you are in the world. Where I came from, the V for victory (or peace) sign has to be made with the palm facing outwards. If the sign is made with the palm facing inwards, it can be interpreted as a very obscene gesture.

15. Spider producer : ALFA ROMEO

The “Alfa” in Alfa Romeo is actually an acronym, standing for Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (“Lombard Automobile Factory, Public Company”). ALFA was an enterprise founded in 1909 and which was taken over by Nicola Romeo in 1915. In 1920 the company name was changed to Alfa Romeo.

The Spider is a roadster that was manufactured by the Italian auto company, Alfa Romeo. It was in production from 1966 to 1993, and is considered a design classic.

19. Colosseum greeting : AVE

“Ave” is a Latin word meaning “hail” as in “Ave Maria”, which translates as “Hail Mary”. “Ave” can also be used to mean “goodbye”.

The Colosseum of Rome was the largest amphitheater in the whole of the Roman Empire in its day, and could seat about 50,000 people. The structure was originally called the “Amphitheatrum Flavium” but the name changed to “Colosseum” after a colossal statue of Emperor Nero was located nearby.

20. National beverage of 10-Across : SAKE
(10A. See 20-Across : JAPAN)

We refer to the Japanese alcoholic beverage made from rice as “sake”. We’ve gotten things a bit mixed up in the West. “Sake” is actually the word that the Japanese use for all alcoholic drinks. What we know as sake, we sometimes refer to as rice wine. Also, the starch in the rice is first converted to sugars that are then fermented into alcohol. This is more akin to a beer-brewing process than wine production, so the end product is really a rice “beer” rather than a rice “wine”.

22. Apple field : TECH

Apple Computers was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. The company incorporated the following year, but without Wayne. He sold his share of the company back to Jobs and Wozniak, for $800 …

26. Silent dramatic performance, to Brits : PANTO

I find this clue to be a bit confusing. It is indeed true that British people often shorten the word “pantomime” to “panto”. It’s also true that the term “pantomime” is used outside of the Britain to describe a mime performance. The confusing truth is that “pantomime” and “panto” in Britain describe a form of musical entertainment that is far from silent.

31. Bit of Disneyana : CEL

In the world of animation, a cel is a transparent sheet on which objects and characters are drawn. In the first half of the 20th century the sheet was actually made of celluloid, giving the “cel” its name.

An ana (plural “anas”) is a collection, perhaps of literature, that represents the character of a particular place or a person. Ana can be used as a noun or as a suffix (e.g. Americana).

41. Actress Ortiz : ANA

Ana Ortiz played the title character’s older sister in the TV series “Ugly Betty”.

45. Unembellished type : SANS-SERIF

Serifs are details on the ends of characters in some typefaces. Typefaces without serifs are known as sans-serif, using the French word “sans” meaning “without” and “serif” from the Dutch “schreef” meaning “line”. Some people say that serif fonts are easier to read on paper, whereas sans-serif fonts work better on a computer screen. I’m not so sure though …

48. Skip the lines, say : AD LIB

“Ad libitum” is a Latin phrase meaning “at one’s pleasure”. In common usage the phrase is usually shortened to “ad lib”. On the stage the concept of an “ad lib” is very familiar.

52. On-line jerks? : BITES

That would be fishing.

55. 0, for 0 degrees : SINE

The most familiar trigonometric functions are sine, cosine and tangent (abbreviated to “sin, cos and tan”). Each of these is a ratio, a ratio of two sides of a right-angled triangle. The “reciprocal” of these three functions are secant, cosecant and cotangent. The reciprocal functions are simply the inverted ratios, the inverted sine, cosine and tangent. These inverted ratios should not be confused with the “inverse” trigonometric functions e.g. arcsine, arccosine and arctangent. These inverse functions are the reverse of the sine, cosine and tangent. For example, the arctangent can be read as “What angle is equivalent to the following ratio of opposite over adjacent?”

56. Toward el sol naciente : ESTE

In Spanish, we look to the “este” (east) to see “el sol naciente” (the rising sun).

59. Title for Queen Isabella: Abbr. : SRA

The equivalent of “Mrs.” in French is “Mme.” (Madame), in Spanish is “Sra.” (Señora) and in Portuguese is also “Sra.” (Senhora).

Queen Isabella I of Castile was recognized as a formidable sovereign, and was perceived as a joint ruler with her husband, King Ferdinand II of Aragon. The pair united their two kingdoms in a move that heralded the unification of Spain.

60. Mushroom added to udon soup : ENOKI

Enokitake (also known as “enoki”) are long and thin white mushrooms often added to soups or salads.

Udon noodles are made from wheat-flour and are very popular in Japanese cuisine like tempura.

62. Expert on the drums? : EAR DOCTOR

The eardrum lies at the intersection of the outer ear and middle ear. Also called the tympanic membrane, the eardrum picks up vibrations in air caused by sound waves, and transmits these vibrations to the three tiny bones called the ossicles. These ossicles (hammer, anvil and stirrup) are in the middle ear, and transmit the vibration to the oval window. The oval window is the membrane-covered opening lying at the intersection of the middle ear and the inner ear. The vibrations are transmitted into fluid in the inner ear, and converted into nerve impulses in the cochlea that are transmitted to the brain.

64. Third-longest river in Africa : NIGER

The principal river in western Africa is the Niger, which runs 2,600 miles through the continent. The river has a boomerang shape, taking a sharp turn around the the ancient city of Timbuktu in Mali.

67. 1966 album ranked #2 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” : PET SOUNDS

“Pet Sounds” is a 1966 album recorded by the Beach Boys.

Down

1. It’s a matter of taste : PALATE

The roof of the mouth is known as the palate. The anterior part of the palate is very bony, and is called the hard palate. The posterior part is very fleshy and is called the soft palate. The soft palate is muscular and moves to close off the nasal passages while swallowing.

2. Number of sides on a loonie : ELEVEN

The great northern loon is the provincial bird of Ontario, and the state bird of Minnesota. The loon once appeared on Canadian $20 bills and also appears on the Canadian one-dollar coin, giving the coin the nickname “the loonie”.

4. Monopoly token since 2013 : CAT

There are eight tokens included in the game of Monopoly as of 2013. These are the wheelbarrow, battleship, race car, thimble, boot, Scottie dog, top hat and cat. The latest to be introduced was the cat in 2013, replacing the iron. The battleship and the cannon (aka howitzer, now retired) had been added to the Monopoly game as part of a recycling exercise. The pieces were intended for the game “Conflict” released in 1940, but when Parker Bros. pulled “Conflict” off the market due to poor sales, they added their excess battleships and cannons to Monopoly.

6. Kind of cell : SOLAR

Solar panels are arrays of solar cells that make use of what’s known as the photovoltaic effect. We are more likely to have learned about the photoelectric effect in school, in which electrons were ejected from the surface of some materials when it was exposed to light or other forms of radiation. The photovoltaic effect is related but different. Instead of being electrons ejected from the surface, in the photovoltaic effect electrons move around in the material creating a difference in voltage.

9. San Francisco’s ___ Valley : NOE

Noe Valley is a neighborhood in San Francisco. The area is named after José de Jesús Noé who was the last Mexican mayor of Yerba Buena, which is what San Francisco was called when it was part of Mexico.

10. Good name for a personal trainer? : JIM

“Gym” sounds like “Jim”.

Our word “gymnasium” comes from the Greek “gymnasion” meaning “public place where exercise is taken”. The Greek term comes from “gymnos” meaning “naked”, as that physical training was usually done unclothed.

11. Winter coat : ANORAK

Anoraks aren’t very popular over here in America. Everyone has one in Ireland! An anorak is a heavy jacket with a hood, often lined with fur (or fake fur), and is an invention of the Inuit people.

12. Yearly : PER ANNUM

The Latin word for year is “annus”. We often see it used in Latin phrases, but usually with a different spelling. For example in “anno Domini”, the “anno” is the ablative case of “annus” as the phrase means “in the year of the Lord”. Another example is “per annum”, in which “annum” is the accusative case as the literal translation of the phrase is “during the year”.

26. Party animal? : PINATA

Piñatas originated in Mexico, probably among the Aztecs or Mayans. Today piñatas are usually made from cardboard that is brightly decorated with papier-mâché. Traditionally a piñata was made out of a clay pot, adorned with feathers and ribbons and filled with small treasures. During religious ceremonies the clay pots would be suspended and broken open so that the contents would spill out onto the ground at the feet of a god as an offering.

30. Dance with strong percussion : HULA

The hula is a native dance of Hawaii that uses arm movements to relate a story. The hula can be performed while sitting (a noho dance) or while standing (a luna dance).

36. Who wrote “We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are” : ANAIS NIN

Anaïs Nin was a French author who was famous for her journals that she wrote for over sixty years from the age of 11 right up to her death. Nin also wrote highly regarded erotica and cited D. H. Lawrence as someone from whom she drew inspiration. Nin was married to banker and artist Hugh Parker Guiler in 1923. Decades later in 1955, Nin married former actor Rupert Pole, even though she was still married to Guiler. Nin and Pole had their marriage annulled in 1966, but just for legal reasons, and they continued to live together as husband and wife until Nin passed away in 1977.

38. Enemy captain in 2009’s “Star Trek” film : NERO

Eric Bana is an Australian actor who enjoyed a successful career in his home country before breaking into Hollywood playing an American Delta Force sergeant in “Black Hawk Down”. A couple of years later he played the lead in Ang Lee’s 2003 movie “Hulk”, the role of Dr Bruce Banner. More recently he played the Romulan villain Nero, in the 2009 “Star Trek” movie.

43. Collection of favorites, of a sort : MIXTAPE

Even though “tapes” are no longer used, the term “mixtape” still describes any homemade collection of musical tracks. The less retro term for the same thing might be “playlist”.

46. Position in Quidditch : SEEKER

Quidditch is a game that is famously played in the “Harry Potter” series of books and films. The game is contended by two teams of seven wizards or witches flying on broomsticks. The are four animated balls and six ring-shaped goals floating in mid-air. One of the balls is the Golden Snitch, and one of the players is the Seeker. It is the Seeker’s sole purpose to capture the Golden Snitch and thereby end the game.

62. Picking things up? : ESP

Extrasensory perception (ESP)

63. Word on une bouteille de vin : CRU

In French, one might see the word “cru” on “une bouteille de vin” (a bottle of wine).

“Cru” is a term used in the French wine industry that means “growth place”. So, “cru” is the name of the location where the grapes are grown, as opposed to the name of a specific vineyard. The terms “premier cru” and “grand cru” are also used, but the usage depends on the specific wine region. Generally it is a classification awarded to specific vineyards denoting their potential for producing great wines. “Grand cru” is reserved for the very best vineyards, with “premier cru” the level just below

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Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1. Double-digit figure? : PEACE SIGN

10. See 20-Across : JAPAN

15. Spider producer : ALFA ROMEO

16. Lacking dexterity : INEPT

17. Untouched : LEFT ALONE

18. Reform? : MORPH

19. Colosseum greeting : AVE

20. National beverage of 10-Across : SAKE

21. Scratch : RASP

22. Apple field : TECH

24. Not thought out : RASH

26. Silent dramatic performance, to Brits : PANTO

27. Input : ENTER

29. “You don’t have to tell me twice!” : YEAH, I KNOW!

31. Bit of Disneyana : CEL

33. Floor : STUN

34. Cult follower? : -URE

35. Mace-wielding DC Comics superhero : HAWKMAN

39. Joint : SLAMMER

41. Actress Ortiz : ANA

42. Bullet point : ITEM

44. Put away : ATE

45. Unembellished type : SANS-SERIF

48. Skip the lines, say : AD LIB

52. On-line jerks? : BITES

53. Draft picks? : OXEN

55. 0, for 0 degrees : SINE

56. Toward el sol naciente : ESTE

57. Brisk pace : TROT

59. Title for Queen Isabella: Abbr. : SRA

60. Mushroom added to udon soup : ENOKI

62. Expert on the drums? : EAR DOCTOR

64. Third-longest river in Africa : NIGER

65. Get through lines quickly : SPEED-READ

66. Rumble in the night : SNORE

67. 1966 album ranked #2 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” : PET SOUNDS

Down

1. It’s a matter of taste : PALATE

2. Number of sides on a loonie : ELEVEN

3. Make a difference to : AFFECT

4. Monopoly token since 2013 : CAT

5. Eight-year presidencies, e.g. : ERAS

6. Kind of cell : SOLAR

7. “Don’t worry about me” : I’M OKAY

8. Beginnings : GENESES

9. San Francisco’s ___ Valley : NOE

10. Good name for a personal trainer? : JIM

11. Winter coat : ANORAK

12. Yearly : PER ANNUM

13. Smartphone home screen option : APP STORE

14. High degree of proof? : NTH POWER

23. “Darn it!” : HECK!

25. Covers for locks : HATS

26. Party animal? : PINATA

28. Not paying attention : REMISS

30. Dance with strong percussion : HULA

32. Behind : LATE

35. Old stars : HAS-BEENS

36. Who wrote “We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are” : ANAIS NIN

37. “Interested in one of my tickets?” : WANT TO GO?

38. Enemy captain in 2009’s “Star Trek” film : NERO

40. Pharma supply : MEDS

43. Collection of favorites, of a sort : MIXTAPE

46. Position in Quidditch : SEEKER

47. Relative of a skunk : FERRET

49. “Now see here …” : LISTEN …

50. Encroachment : INROAD

51. Things studied by pogonologists : BEARDS

54. Branching-out points : NODES

58. Rumpus : TO-DO

61. Cause of an explosion : IRE

62. Picking things up? : ESP

63. Word on une bouteille de vin : CRU

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14 thoughts on “0805-17 New York Times Crossword Answers 5 Aug 17, Saturday”

  1. 21:13, no errors. Had some problems, but nothing insurmountable …

    @Anonymous … Animals used for pulling things (like wagons and plows) are referred to as "draft" animals and oxen are the quintessential example – the animal one would choose (or "pick") above all others. (I would imagine that "to draft" is etymologically related to "to draw",' meaning "to pull".)

  2. 53:13 but ultimately no errors. Rather proud of this one as nothing seemed to come to me easily, but I still managed to finish. Lots of time to ruminate in taking 53 minutes to finish a puzzle. Pulling ANAIS NIN out of my crossword lizard brain was the key to finishing the lower left.

    I too was confused by OXEN. In fact, the X was the last letter to fall for me in this one. I just tried it and it worked. I guess Dave's explanation makes sense.

    HULA confused me too as I was thinking of softer music, but I guess some of the stuff they play for the HULA uses a lot of drums.

    I've now seen TROT used in crosswords as "Brisk pace" and "slow or leisurely pace". Maybe it's all relative to the circumstance.

    Best –

  3. Note to syndicates: link to today's syndicated puzzle can be found by entering 0701-17 into the puzzle number block. I'm sure Bill will fix the link anon.

  4. @BruceB

    Thanks for pointing out that broken link for me. I always seem to run into link problems with posts on the first day of a new calendar month!

  5. Hi, Bill. As a die hard Beach Boys fan, I was a tad disappointed that you didn't elaborate on "Pet Sounds" at 67A. (You usually write a few lines whenever a Beatles song or album gets a mention.) Not a fan of Brian Wilson or the band? Simply unfamiliar with them? Rolling Stone didn't rank "Pet Sounds" behind "Sgt Pepper's" on that 500 Greatest Albums list for nothing. Just curious. And keep up the extraordinary work here! Thanks…!

  6. @rangergrrrl
    Yep, you caught me. My musical preferences do tend to shine through my commentary somewhat transparently. I'll strive harder for impartiality in the future, I promise! 🙂

  7. 32:54, no errors. Answers today seemed to be frustratingly simple. By that I mean the answers were difficult to find due to a plethora of possibilities; but, once the answer was found, the reaction was 'Oh that was simple'.

  8. Feel good about finishing with no errors, no googles, no electronic checks, alerts, etc., in pen and ink.

    Old-fashioned solver.

  9. After 29 minutes, half filled, and could go no further. Too much for me. One problem was thinking that ALFA ROMEO was ALFA ROMERO…. and wondering where (and why) the "rebus" square might be…

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