LA Times Crossword Answers 20 Apr 13, Saturday

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Place for an old school tie? ETON COLLAR
An Eton collar is a wide, stiff, buttoned collar that is still part of the formal school uniform at Eton College near Windsor in England.

11. Data of concern to privacy advocates: Abbr. SSNS
The main purpose of a Social Security Number (SSN) is to track individuals for the purposes of taxation, although given its ubiquitous use, it is looking more and more like an “identity number” to me. The social security number system was introduced in 1936. Prior to 1986, an SSN was required only for persons with substantial income so many children under 14 had no number assigned. For some years the IRS had a concern that a lot of people were claiming children on their tax returns who did not actually exist. So, from 1986 onward, it is a requirement to get an SSN for any dependents over the ago of 5. Sure enough, in 1987 seven million dependents “disappeared”.

15. “My Word Is My Bond” autobiographer ROGER MOORE
Roger Moore is best known in the US for taking on the role of 007 in seven James Bond movies from 1973 to 1985. In my part of the world we remember him playing a very debonair hero called Simon Templar in a TV series called “The Saint” from 1962 to 1969. Moore’s Templar character could very easily have morphed into a great James Bond, but by the time he was offered the part I personally think that he was just a tad too long in the tooth to pull off a credible 007.

18. “Being __: A Puppeteer’s Journey”: 2011 documentary ELMO
“Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey” is a documentary released in 2011 that tells the story of Kevin Clash, the puppeteer behind/under the “Sesame Street” character Elmo.

19. Hit home? SIDE A
Side A of a record is more likely to be the “hit” side.

28. O leaguemate JAY
As blogreader “Addict” kindly points out below, the O(rioles) and the (Blue) Jays are both in Major League Baseball’s American League.

33. Tyrolean songs YODELS
The Austrian state of Tyrol has to be one of the most beautiful places in the world, especially if you love the mountains. It is in the very west of the country, just south of Bavaria in Germany. The capital city of Tyrol is the famous Innsbruck.

34. Area of concern for FEMA FLOOD ZONE
Federal emergency management has been structured for over 200 years, but what we know today as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was created in 1979 in an Executive Order issued by President Jimmy Carter.

37. Li-ion cousin NICAD
Lithium-ion and nickel-cadmium are types of rechargeable batteries.

38. Model Heidi who appeared on “Ugly Betty” KLUM
German-born Heidi Klum is married to the successful English singer, Seal. Klum is a talented lady and has built a multi-faceted career based on her early success as a model. She is the force behind the Bravo reality show called “Project Runway” that has been on the air since 2004. Klum has been nominated 4-5 times for an Emmy for her association with the show. Klum was also signed up as the official ambassador for Barbie in 2009, the 50th anniversary of the Barbie Doll, and for her service that year a Heidi Klum Barbie was produced.

“Ugly Betty” is a drama-comedy show that originally aired on television from 2006 to 2010. The show is based on a telenovela soap opera from Colombia called “Yo so Betty, la fea”.

39. Army leader’s nickname ARNIE
Arnold Palmer is one of the greats of the world of golf. Palmer is very popular with many fans of the game, and his followers are usually referred to as “Arnie’s Army”.

42. Rialto sections LOGES
In most theaters today, the loge is the name given to the front rows of a mezzanine level. Loge can also be the name given to box seating.

44. Philadelphia’s “P” and Denver’s “D,” e.g. MINT MARKS
Mint marks are inscribed on coins to indicate at which mint the coins were produced.

The Denver Mint opened up for business in 1906, and today produces more coins than any other mint in the whole world.

The nation’s first mint was established in Philadelphia in 1792, as back then Philadelphia was the capital of the United States. It was established in a building that previously housed a whiskey distillery.

49. Divided terr. DAK
The Dakota Territory was formed in 1861 and ceased to exist with the admission to the Union of the states of North Dakota and South Dakota. The territory was split into two states largely due to lobbying by the Republican Party, which enjoyed a lot of support in the Dakota Territory. The admission of two states added to the political power of the party in the US Senate, by adding four safe Republican seats.

50. Garment looked after by Alfred BATSUIT
Alfred Pennyworth was the faithful butler and valet to Bruce Wayne in the world of Batman.

57. Maples in ’90s tabloid news MARLA
Marla Maples was the second wife of Donald Trump. Maples and Trump dated secretly for a couple of years while the Donald was still married to his first wife, Ivana. When Ivana discovered the affair, she filed for divorce, and eventually Donald and Marla married. It was Trump’s turn to file for divorce several years later after the National Enquirer outed Marla for having an affair with a Florida bodyguard.

61. Rock ‘n’ roll middle name ARON
Elvis Aron Presley was the younger of two identical twins. His brother was stillborn, delivered 35 minutes before Elvis. The brother was named Jesse Garon Presley. So though born a twin, Elvis was raised as an only child.

68. Strategic river of 1914 YSER
The Yser originates in northern France and flows through Belgium into the North Sea. The Yser is often associated with WWI as it figured in a major battle early in the conflict. In the first three months of the war, the German Army pushed almost completely through Belgium, inflicting heavy losses on the Belgian Army as the defenders were forced to fight a fast-moving rearguard action. The Germans were intent on pushing right through Belgium and across France in a “race to the sea”. But the Belgians, with the help of their Allies, decided to make a final stand at the Yser Canal in an effort to prevent the Germans reaching the French ports of Calais and Dunkirk. The 22-mile long defensive line was chosen at the Yser because the river and canal system could be flooded to create a barrier that might be defended. The plan was successful and the front was “stabilized”. As we now know, millions of lives were lost over the coming years with very little movement of that battle line.

Down
1. Immortal archer EROS
Cupid is the god of desire and erotic love in Roman mythology. The Greek counterpart of Cupid is Eros.

2. Singer Basil with the #1 hit “Mickey” TONI
Toni Basil is the stage name of the singer Antonia Christina Basilotta. She is best known for her 1982 hit called “Mickey”.

3. Hymn starter O GOD
“O God, Our Help in Ages Past”, perhaps …

4. Iberian infants NENES
“Nene” is the Spanish word for a male baby or young child.

6. Sacred syllables OMS
“Om” is a sacred mystic word from the Hindu tradition. “Om” is sometimes used as a mantra, a focus for the mind in meditation.

8. Device with a warp beam and heddles LOOM
The main components of a loom are:

– warp beam
– heddles
– harnesses or shafts
– shuttle
– reed
– takeup roll

9. Métiers AREAS
One’s métier is one’s area of expertise, one’s profession.

11. Tongue twister pronoun SHE
She sells seashells, perhaps …

13. Iditarod terminus NOME, ALASKA
Nome, Alaska has over 3,500 residents, the majority of whom are Native American. The next largest ethnic group in Nome is the white population.

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race coves a massive 1,161 miles. The race starts every year on the first Saturday in March, with the first race having been held in 1973. The fastest finishing time was set in 2002 at just under 9 days. The first few races only used a northern route, but then a southern route was added to the roster every second year. It’s kind of a good thing, because when the racers take the northern route they don’t even pass through the town of Iditarod!

21. L.L. Bean’s first name LEON
L.L.Bean (note the lack of spaces in the company name) was founded back in 1912 as a company selling its own line of waterproof boots. The founder, Leon Leonwood Bean, gave his name to the enterprise. Right from the start, L.L.Bean focused on mail-order and sold from a circular he distributed and then from a catalog. Defects in the initial design led to 90% of the first boots sold being returned, and the company made good on its guarantee to replace them or give back the money paid.

24. Chichén __ ITZA
Chichén Itzá is a Mayan ruin located in the Mexican state of Yucatán. It is the second most visited archaeological site in the country (after the ancient city of Teotihuacan). Chichén Itzá has seen a surge in the number of visitors since the development of nearby Cancún as a tourist destination.

27. Patsy’s “Ab Fab” pal EDINA
“Absolutely Fabulous” (sometimes shortened to “Ab Fab”) is a cult-classic sitcom produced by the BBC. The two stars of the show are Jennifer Saunders (Edina Monsoon) and Joanna Lumley (Patsy Stone).

28. Boston attraction with a permanent Space Race exhibit JFK LIBRARY
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library is a splendid structure located right beside the Boston campus of the University of Massachusetts. President Kennedy chose the location for his library just one week before he was assassinated.

29. Extinct carnivore whose name means “different lizard” ALLOSAURUS
The most popular dinosaurs depicted in the movies, especially the older ones, are the Tyrannosaurs and the Allosauruses. They look very similar, with the former being the really big guy.

30. 1967 Neil Diamond hit YOU GOT TO ME
I saw Neil Diamond in concert about 15 years ago, and I must say he does put on a great show. His voice is cracking a bit, but that didn’t seem to spoil anyone’s enjoyment. I’ve also seen Diamond interviewed a few times on television, and I wouldn’t say he has the most scintillating of personalities.

32. Town north of Shannon Airport ENNIS
Ennis is the county town (sort of “capital”) of County Clare in the West of Ireland.

Shannon Airport in the West of Ireland was the first place in the world to offer duty-free shopping. Shannon was also where the Irish Coffee originated, despite claims to the contrary …

40. Raison d’__ ETRE
“Raison d’être” is a French phrase meaning “reason for existence”.

47. Persian Gulf fleet OILERS
The Persian Gulf is in effect an inland sea although it technically is an offshoot of the Indian Ocean. The outlet from the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean is one of the most famous maritime “choke points” in the world: the Strait of Hormuz. About 20% of the world’s supply of petroleum passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

56. Weighted weapon BOLA
Bolas are heavy balls connected by cords that constitute a throwing weapon. Bolas are often used to capture animals by tripping them as they run. The weapon is usually associated with gauchos, the South American cowboys.

58. 2012 TV Land Awards host RIPA
When Kelly Ripa secured the co-host spot on morning television with Regis Philbin, she was still acting in “All My Children” in a role she had been playing for over ten years. After a year of holding down two jobs, she eventually gave up the acting job.

60. Youngest Brontë ANNE
Anne was the youngest of the three sisters in the literary Brontë family. Her older sisters wrote novels that are more recognized, but Anne’s two novels do have a following. “Agnes Grey” is based on her own experiences working as a governess. Her other novel, “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” is written as a long letter from a young man describing the events leading up to his first meeting with his wife-to-be. Anne Brontë’s writing career was cut short in 1849, when she died of pulmonary tuberculosis, at only 29 years of age.

62. “Weekend Edition” airer NPR
“Weekend Edition” is the very enjoyable news magazine show on NPR that airs on Saturday and Sunday. “Weekend Edition” is a sister show to NPR’s “Morning Edition” that airs on Monday through Friday.

64. Tip for a writer? NIB
“Nib” is a Scottish variant of the Old English word “neb”, with both meaning the beak of a bird. This usage of “nib” as a beak dates back to the 14th century, with “nib” meaning the tip of a pen or quill coming a little later, in the early 1600s.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Place for an old school tie? ETON COLLAR
11. Data of concern to privacy advocates: Abbr. SSNS
15. “My Word Is My Bond” autobiographer ROGER MOORE
16. __ skirt HOOP
17. Ready for anything ON ONE’S TOES
18. “Being __: A Puppeteer’s Journey”: 2011 documentary ELMO
19. Hit home? SIDE A
20. Post MAIL
22. Odist’s contraction O’ER
23. Goes downhill fast SKIS
26. Scorn SNEER AT
28. O leaguemate JAY
31. Major ending? -ETTE
33. Tyrolean songs YODELS
34. Area of concern for FEMA FLOOD ZONE
37. Li-ion cousin NICAD
38. Model Heidi who appeared on “Ugly Betty” KLUM
39. Army leader’s nickname ARNIE
41. Newsman’s asset? NOSE
42. Rialto sections LOGES
44. Philadelphia’s “P” and Denver’s “D,” e.g. MINT MARKS
46. Suspects IS ONTO
48. Test tube fluids SERA
49. Divided terr. DAK
50. Garment looked after by Alfred BATSUIT
52. Fax button SEND
54. Biker’s hazard RUT
55. Shapeless thing BLOB
57. Maples in ’90s tabloid news MARLA
61. Rock ‘n’ roll middle name ARON
63. Stretching out ELONGATION
66. Bum RUMP
67. Put great faith in RELIED UPON
68. Strategic river of 1914 YSER
69. One to horse around with? STABLEMATE

Down
1. Immortal archer EROS
2. Singer Basil with the #1 hit “Mickey” TONI
3. Hymn starter O GOD
4. Iberian infants NENES
5. Complained underfoot? CREAKED
6. Sacred syllables OMS
7. Garage alternative LOT
8. Device with a warp beam and heddles LOOM
9. Métiers AREAS
10. Like varnished wood RESINY
11. Tongue twister pronoun SHE
12. Breakaway hit? SOLO RECORD
13. Iditarod terminus NOME, ALASKA
14. Bureau where stats abound SPORTSDESK
21. L.L. Bean’s first name LEON
24. Chichén __ ITZA
25. Attack in a big way STORM
27. Patsy’s “Ab Fab” pal EDINA
28. Boston attraction with a permanent Space Race exhibit JFK LIBRARY
29. Extinct carnivore whose name means “different lizard” ALLOSAURUS
30. 1967 Neil Diamond hit YOU GOT TO ME
32. Town north of Shannon Airport ENNIS
35. Signs OMENS
36. Beethoven’s “some” EINES
40. Raison d’__ ETRE
43. Short piece STUB
45. Not natural MANMADE
47. Persian Gulf fleet OILERS
51. Property manager’s sign TO LET
53. Factoid DATUM
56. Weighted weapon BOLA
58. 2012 TV Land Awards host RIPA
59. Hot stuff LOOT
60. Youngest Brontë ANNE
62. “Weekend Edition” airer NPR
64. Tip for a writer? NIB
65. Become more solid GEL

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