LA Times Crossword Answers 29 Apr 13, Monday

CROSSWORD SETTER: Patti Varol
THEME: Golden Brown Finish … each of the themed answers ends with something that might be described as GOLDEN BROWN:

17A. Lacking a strong foundation, metaphorically BUILT ON SAND
24A. Snoopy’s WWI plane SOPWITH CAMEL
38A. Shutterbug PHOTOGRAPHY BUFF
48A. Farina-based hot cereal CREAM OF WHEAT
60A. Ideal toast color, and a hint to the ends of 17-, 24-, 38- and 48-Across GOLDEN BROWN

COMPLETION TIME: 07m 56s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
10. Tight-lipped MUM
The phrase “mum’s the word” has been around since the early 1700s. “Mum” has been used to mean “silent” for centuries, the idea being that “mum” is the sound made when the lips are tightly sealed.

13. Dubuque natives IOWANS
The city of Dubuque, Iowa is named for a pioneer from Quebec who arrived in the area in 1785, a pioneer named Julien Dubuque.

16. Chowed down ATE
“Chow” is an American slang term for food that originated in California in the mid-1800s. “Chow” comes from the Chinese pidgin English “chow-chow” meaning “food”.

22. Florence’s country ITALY
“Firenze” is the Italian name for the city that we know in English as Florence.

24. Snoopy’s WWI plane SOPWITH CAMEL
The Sopwith Camel is a biplane that was used by the British during WWI. The Camel was the most effective fighter during the conflict, shooting down 1,294 enemy planes.

Snoopy, the famous beagle in the “Peanuts” comic strip, has a number of alter-egos and is sometimes depicted as a World War I flying ace piloting a Sopwith Camel biplane. Snoopy’s arch-enemy in the air is Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron, and Snoopy can often be seen shaking his fist and crying out, “Curse you, Red Baron!”

31. Hors d’oeuvre cracker RITZ
I’ve always liked Ritz crackers. They’ve been around since 1934 when they were introduced by Nabisco. The name Ritz was chosen because the marketing folks felt that the association with Ritz-Carlton would evoke images of wealth and the high life.

An hors d’oeuvre is the first course in a meal. “Hors d’oeuvre” translates from French as “apart from the work”, really meaning “not the main course”.

32. Northwestern Canadian territory YUKON
Canada’s federal territory known as Yukon takes its name from the Yukon River. “Yukon” means “Big Stream” in the local Gwich’in language.

Canada is made up of ten provinces and three territories. The three territories lie to the north of the country, and are Yukon, Northwest Territories (NWT) and Nunavut. Territories differ from provinces in that they only have governmental powers that are delegated to them by the federal government, whereas the provinces have constitutional powers in their own right.

33. Naval hoosegow BRIG
A brig, short for brigantine, is a type of ship. It was the use of brigantines as prison ships that led to use of “brig” as the word for a jail or prison cell on a seagoing vessel.

“Hoosegow” is a slang term for “jail”. “Hoosegow” is a mispronunciation of the Mexican-Spanish word “juzgao” meaning “court, tribunal”.

42. Mork’s planet ORK
“Mork & Mindy” was broadcast from 1978 to 1982. We were first introduced to Mork (played by Robin Williams, of course) in a special episode of “Happy Days”. The particular episode in question has a bizarre storyline culminating in Fonzie and Mork having a thumb-to-finger duel. Eventually Richie wakes up in bed, and alien Mork was just part of a dream! Oh, and “Nanu Nanu” means both “hello” and “goodbye” back on the planet Ork. “I am Mork from Ork, Nanu Nanu”. Great stuff …

48. Farina-based hot cereal CREAM OF WHEAT
Farina is semolina, or cream of wheat. It is made from wheat grain in which much of the nutritious ingredients are removed leaving a fine “flour”. The name “Farina” is the Latin word meaning “flour”.

53. Egypt neighbor LIBYA
The name “Libya” comes from the Ancient Greek “Libúē”, the historical name for Northwest Africa.

54. Subway whose first line had a terminus at NYC’s City Hall IRT
The Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) was the original private operator of the New York Subway when it opened in 1904. The city took over ownership of the system in 1940, but the lines originally operated by the IRT are still known by the IRT moniker.

55. Suffix with wagon -ETTE
A wagonette is a relatively small horse-drawn vehicle with two lengthwise passenger seats facing each other behind the drivers seat.

64. Hamlet, to Gertrude SON
“Hamlet” is William Shakespeare’s longest play, and was also one of most popular of the playwright’s works during his lifetime.

66. “I, Robot” author ASIMOV
Isaac Asimov was a wonderful science fiction writer, and a professor of biochemistry. He was a favorite author as I was growing up and I must admit that some hero worship on my part led me to study and work as a biochemist for a short while early in my career. My favorite of his works is the collection of short stories called “I, Robot”, although Asimov’s most famous work is probably his “Foundation” trilogy of novels.

68. 2013 Oscars host MacFarlane SETH
Seth MacFarlane is best known for creating the very successful (although they don’t get my vote!) animated TV shows “Family Guy” and “American Dad”. My kids love ’em …

Down
1. Light-green lettuce BIBB
Bibb is a variety of lettuce in the cultivar known as butterhead. All butterhead varieties have loose-leafed heads and a buttery texture.

2. Disreputable fellow ROUE
“Roue” is a lovely word, I think, describing a less than lovely man. A roue could otherwise be described as a cad, someone of loose morals. “Roue” comes from the French word “rouer” meaning “to break on a wheel”. This describes the ancient form of capital punishment where a poor soul was lashed to a wheel and then beaten to death with cudgels and bars. I guess the suggestion is that a roue, with his loose morals, deserves such a punishment.

4. Rogaine target BALD SPOT
Rogaine is a brand name for the drug Minoxidil. It was developed as an oral medication to treat high blood pressure, but was found to have an exploitable side-effect. It caused an increased in the rate of hair growth. A topical solution was marketed to promote growth of hair especially in balding men. The drug seems to work well, but when the application is stopped, things go back to normal in about 60 days. Wouldn’t dream of touching the stuff myself …

5. Dr. who treats snorers ENT
Ear, Nose and Throat specialist (ENT).

6. Bite-size raw Asian dish SUSHI
Sushi is a Japanese dish that has as its primary ingredient cooked, vinegared rice. The rice is usually topped with something, most often fish, and can be served in seaweed rolls. If you want raw fish by itself, then you have to order “sashimi”.

7. Water quality org. EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was set up during the Nixon administration and began operation at the end of 1970.

12. Streep of “The Iron Lady” MERYL
Meryl Streep has had more nominations for an academy award than any other actor, a tribute to her talent and the respect she has earned in the industry. I am not a huge fan of her earlier works but some of her recent movies are now on my list of all-time favorites. I recommend “Mama Mia” (you’ll either love it or hate it!), “Julie & Julia”, “It’s Complicated” and ”Hope Springs”.

“The Iron Lady” is a 2011 biopic about Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister. The marvelous Meryl Streep does a wonderful job playing the title role. I had great expectations for this film and found that it didn’t quite deliver, despite a great cast.

23. Whirling toon devil, for short TAZ
The “Looney Tunes” character known as the Tasmanian Devil, or “Taz”, first appeared on screens in 1964 but gained real popularity in the 1990s.

The carnivorous marsupial known as the Tasmanian devil is aptly named, in the sense that the only place the animal is found in the wild is on the island of Tasmania. The “little devils” are about the size of a small dog, and they have the strongest bite for their size of any known mammal.

27. “__ Noon”: Gary Cooper Western HIGH
I am not a fan of western movies, but “High Noon” works for me. The film has a great cast, with Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly in the lead roles. I suppose I like the film because it doesn’t fit the mold as a typical western with lots of predictable action sequences. That said, when “High Noon” first hit theaters it was not popular with audiences, largely because moviegoers were expecting the formulaic western film.

29. German mining region RUHR
The Ruhr is a large urban area in western Germany. The region is heavily populated and is the fifth largest urban area in the whole of Europe after Istanbul, Moscow, London and Paris.

35. “Black Swan” skirt TUTU
The word “tutu”, used for a ballet dancer’s skirt, is actually a somewhat “naughty” term. It came into English from French in the early 20th century. The French “tutu” is an alteration of the word “cucu”, a childish word for “cul” meaning the “bottom,” or “backside”.

I have yet to see the 2010 movie “Black Swan”, which I’ve assumed is a psychological thriller set against the background of a ballet company staging Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake”. However, I’ve just seen “Black Swan” also described as a “horror film”, and that worries me as I am not a fan of the horror genre. Still, I’ll give it a chance …

36. Immature newts EFTS
Newts wouldn’t be my favorite animals. They are found all over the world living on land or in water depending on the species, but always associated with water even if it is only for breeding. Newts metamorphose through three distinct developmental stages during their lives. They start off as larvae in water, fertilized eggs that often cling to aquatic plants. The eggs hatch into tadpoles, the first developmental form of the newt. After living some months as tadpoles swimming around in the water, they undergo another metamorphosis, sprouting legs and replacing their external gills with lungs. At this juvenile stage they are known as efts, and leave the water to live on land. A more gradual transition takes place then, as the eft takes on the lizard-like appearance of the adult newt.

39. Ratón chaser GATO
In Spanish, a cat (gato) might chase a mouse (ratón).

40. Org. that usually has a community pool YMCA
The YMCA is a worldwide movement that has its roots in London, England. There, in 1844, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was founded with the intent of promoting Christian principles through the development of “a healthy spirit, mind and body”. The founder, George Williams, saw the need to create YMCA facilities for young men who were flocking to the cities as the Industrial Revolution flourished. He saw that these men were frequenting taverns and brothels, and wanted to offer a more wholesome alternative.

41. Neosporin target BACTERIA
Neosporin is an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment, one that is a little controversial. It seems that Neosporin is about as effective as petroleum jelly in preventing infection. Also, the low level of antibiotic in the cream has little effect in killing any bacteria and in fact contributes to antibiotic resistance. On top of that, reports of contact dermatitis caused by Neosporin are relatively common. I’m going to stop using it …

45. Mary __ cosmetics KAY
Mary Kay Ash founded her skincare and cosmetics company, somewhat ominously on Friday 13th, 1963. In 1968, Mary Kay Ash bought herself a pink Cadillac, specially painted to match the color of one of her compacts. The car became so famous that she gave away five of them to her top saleswoman, a tradition that lasts to this day.

47. Blue Cross rival AETNA
When the health care management company known as Aetna was founded, the name was chosen to evoke images of Mt. Etna, the European volcano.

The Blue Cross association of health plans was established in 1929 in Dallas, Texas. The first plan put in place was for teachers, and guaranteed 21 days of hospital care if needed, for a premium of $6 a year. One can only dream …

50. Dense black wood EBONY
Ebony is a dark black wood that is very dense, one of the few types of wood that sinks in water. Ebony has been in high demand so the species of trees yielding the wood are now considered threatened. It is in such short supply that unscrupulous vendors have been known to darken lighter woods with shoe polish to look like ebony, so be warned …

52. Otto I’s realm: Abbr. HRE
The Holy Roman Empire (HRE) existed from 962 to 1806 AD and was a territory of varying size over the centuries that centered on the Kingdom of Germany. The HRE was a successor to the western half of the Ancient Roman Empire.

Otto I the Great, ruled the Holy Roman Empire in the 10th century.

57. What Noah counted by TWOS
Genesis 6:19-20 states that Noah was instructed to take two animals of every kind into the ark. Later, in Genesis 7:2-3 Noah was instructed to take on board “every clean animal by sevens … male and female, to keep offspring alive on the face of all the earth”. Apparently “extras” (7 rather than 2) were needed for ritual sacrifice.

61. “__ to Joy” ODE
“Ode to Joy” is a poem written in 1785 by German poet Friedrich Schiller. Ludwig van Beethoven gave the poem great notoriety when he used it in his Ninth “Choral” Symphony first performed in 1824.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Under-the-table money BRIBE
6. Teamster’s rig SEMI
10. Tight-lipped MUM
13. Dubuque natives IOWANS
15. “Once __ a time …” UPON
16. Chowed down ATE
17. Lacking a strong foundation, metaphorically BUILT ON SAND
19. Corp. board member DIR
20. __ over backward BEND
21. “That feels good!” AAH!
22. Florence’s country ITALY
24. Snoopy’s WWI plane SOPWITH CAMEL
28. Prize on the mantel TROPHY
31. Hors d’oeuvre cracker RITZ
32. Northwestern Canadian territory YUKON
33. Naval hoosegow BRIG
35. Brew in a bag TEA
38. Shutterbug PHOTOGRAPHY BUFF
42. Mork’s planet ORK
43. Senate staffer AIDE
44. Lusterless finish MATTE
45. Windy day toy KITE
47. Put the blame on ACCUSE
48. Farina-based hot cereal CREAM OF WHEAT
53. Egypt neighbor LIBYA
54. Subway whose first line had a terminus at NYC’s City Hall IRT
55. Suffix with wagon -ETTE
59. Before today AGO
60. Ideal toast color, and a hint to the ends of 17-, 24-, 38- and 48-Across GOLDEN BROWN
64. Hamlet, to Gertrude SON
65. Change a manuscript EDIT
66. “I, Robot” author ASIMOV
67. Butt in PRY
68. 2013 Oscars host MacFarlane SETH
69. Pert SASSY

Down
1. Light-green lettuce BIBB
2. Disreputable fellow ROUE
3. “Heads __, tails you lose” I WIN
4. Rogaine target BALD SPOT
5. Dr. who treats snorers ENT
6. Bite-size raw Asian dish SUSHI
7. Water quality org. EPA
8. Start of a wk., workwise MON
9. Formally charge, in court INDICT
10. Sir’s counterpart MADAM
11. More than decorative UTILE
12. Streep of “The Iron Lady” MERYL
14. All lathered up SOAPY
18. Folksy negative NAW
23. Whirling toon devil, for short TAZ
25. “How awful!” OH NO!
26. Hogwash TRIPE
27. “__ Noon”: Gary Cooper Western HIGH
28. Printing error, perhaps TYPO
29. German mining region RUHR
30. “Quit nagging! I’ll do it!” OK! OK!
33. To the point BRIEF
34. “Way cool!” RAD
35. “Black Swan” skirt TUTU
36. Immature newts EFTS
37. Set __: name the price A FEE
39. Ratón chaser GATO
40. Org. that usually has a community pool YMCA
41. Neosporin target BACTERIA
45. Mary __ cosmetics KAY
46. Publicists’ concerns IMAGES
47. Blue Cross rival AETNA
48. Anklet fastener CLASP
49. Strictness RIGOR
50. Dense black wood EBONY
51. Boot spec WIDTH
52. Otto I’s realm: Abbr. HRE
56. Male turkeys TOMS
57. What Noah counted by TWOS
58. Covet ENVY
61. “__ to Joy” ODE
62. Set ablaze LIT
63. Undergrad tech degs. BSS


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Posted by Bill Butler
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