LA Times Crossword Answers 3 Aug 13, Saturday

CROSSWORD SETTER: Barry C. Silk
THEME: None
BILL BUTLER’S COMPLETION TIME: 14m 31s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. In an innovative and memorable way SEMINALLY
Something that is “seminal” is creative and has the power to originate, it is formative. The term comes from the Latin word “semen” meaning “seed”.

15. Dangerous element PLUTONIUM
Plutonium is a very dangerous radioactive element that can accumulate in the bones of the body. There is a relatively stable isotope, plutonium-244, that can be found in nature, but only in trace quantities. Most of the plutonium in the world has been formed in the fission of uranium in a nuclear reaction. Plutonium-239 was the core material used in the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

17. Site of 1890s gold rushes AUSTRALIA
There were many “gold rushes” in Australia over the years, starting with the find of gold in Bathurst, New South Wales in 1851. The most recent “rush” followed a rediscovery of gold in Tarnagulla, Victoria in 1906.

19. Fort Laramie hrs. MST
The town of Fort Laramie, Wyoming is named for the trading post and military encampment of the same name that was located nearby. Fort Laramie was a stop on the Oregon, California and Mormon trails.

20. Kirshner of “The L Word” MIA
Mia Kirshner is an actress from Toronto, Ontario who is best known for playing Jenny Schecter on the Showtime series “The L Word”.

“The L Word” is a Showtime drama series. The show deals with lesbian, bisexual and transgender people living in West Hollywood. “The L word” reference is to “lesbian”.

23. __ en scène MISE
“Mise en scène” is a French phrase, literally meaning “putting on stage”. We use it to describe the setting of props and actors on a stage, or film set, before the action begins.

25. Cartoonist awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in 2000 SCHULZ
Charles M. Schulz was a cartoonist best known for his comic strip “Peanuts” that featured the much-loved characters Charlie Brown and Snoopy. “Peanuts” was so successful, running daily in over 70 countries and 21 languages, that it earned Schulz an estimated 30-40 million dollars annually.

27. AEC successor NRC
The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was set up right after WWII in 1946, with the aim of promoting the peaceful use of atomic energy. Establishing the AEC was a significant move made by President Truman, as it passed control of atomic energy from the military to the civilian sector. The AEC continued to operate until 1974 when its functions were divided up into two new agencies: the Energy Research and Development Administration and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

28. Poetry slam, e.g. EVENT
A poetry slam is a competition in which poets read their own work (usually), with winners being chosen by members of audience. Apparently the first poetry slam took place in Chicago in 1984. Now there is a Nation Poetry Slam that takes place each year, with representatives from the US, Canada and France.

38. Brand of attachable rotary mower BUSH HOG
A brush hog (note the spelling) is a type of rotary mower designed to whack through dense plant growth using a relatively dull blade. The main brand of brush hog is the Bush Hog made in Selma, Alabama by Bush Hog LLC.

45. First to be called up ONE-A
The US government maintains information on all males who are potentially subject to military conscription, using what is called the Selective Service System(SS). In the event that a draft was held, men registered would be classified into groups to determine eligibility for service. Class 1-A registrants are those available for unrestricted military service. Other classes are 1-A-O (conscientious objector available for noncombatant service), 4-A (registrant who has completed military service) and 4-D (Minister of religion).

47. Israeli statesman Dayan MOSHE
Moshe Dayan had a long and distinguished military career (including command of Israeli forces during the 1956 Suez Crisis). Dayan also played a pivotal and militarily active role as Minister for Defense during the Six-Day War of 1967. He was a very recognizable figure with a black patch over his left eye. Dayan received his eye injury when he was fighting for the Allies in Vichy French Lebanon during WWII. He was using a pair of binoculars that was hit by an enemy bullet, smashing metal and glass fragments into his eye.

48. 36-Across great ORR
Bobby Orr is regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time. By the time he retired in 1978 he had undergone over a dozen knee surgeries. At 31 years of age, he concluded that he just couldn’t skate anymore. Reportedly, he was even having trouble walking …

49. Rhoda’s sister BRENDA
Brenda Morgenstern is Rhoda’s sister on the seventies TV show “Rhoda”, a spinoff from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”. Brenda was played by Julie Kavner, who is better known today for voicing Marge Simpson on “The Simpsons”.

51. Brae toppers TAMS
A tam o’shanter is a man’s cap traditionally worn by Scotsmen. “Tams” were originally all blue (and called “blue bonnets”), but as more dyes became readily available they became more colorful. The name of the cap comes from the title character of Robert Burns’ poem “Tam O’Shanter”.

“Brae” is a lowland Scots word for the slope or brow of a hill.

56. Well-connected co.? ISP
An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is just what the name indicates, a company that provides its customers with access to the Internet. One way that ISPs differentiate themselves from each other is in the way in which end users are connected to the ISP’s network. So, there are cable ISPs, DSL ISPs, dial-up ISPs and satellite ISPs. I’d go with cable if I were you, if it’s available in your area …

57. Israel’s southernmost city EILAT
Eilat (sometimes “Elat”) the most southerly city in Israel, sitting right at the northern tip of the Red Sea, on the Gulf of Aqaba.

62. Line on New York’s state quarter ERIE CANAL
The Erie Canal runs from Albany to Buffalo in the state of New York. What the canal does is allow shipping to proceed from New York Harbor right up the Hudson River, through the canal and into the Great Lakes. When it was opened in 1825, the Erie Canal had immediate impact on the economy of New York City and locations along its route. It was the first means of “cheap” transportation from a port on the Atlantic seaboard into the interior of the United States. Arguably it was the most important factor contributing to the growth of New York City over competing ports such as Baltimore and Philadelphia. It was largely because of the Erie Canal that New York became such an economic powerhouse, earning it the nickname of “the Empire State”.

63. Christopher Hitchens work ESSAY
Christopher Hitchens was a British author and journalist who lived and worked in the US from the early 1980s. Hitchens was a controversial figure who regularly expressed his contrarian views on issues ranging from politics to religion.

64. “Lend a Hand – Care for the Land!” spokescritter WOODSY OWL
Woodsy Owl is an icon used by the US Forest Service. Woodsy’s job is to promote the appreciation of nature and is associated with the tag-lines “Give a hoot — don’t pollute!” and “Lend a hand — Care for the Land!”

Down
1. Modern junk dealer? SPAMMER
Apparently the term “SPAM”, used for unwanted email, is taken from a “Monty Python” sketch. In the sketch (which I’ve seen) the dialog is taken over by the word SPAM, a play on the glut of canned meat in the markets of Britain after WWII. So “SPAM” is used for the glut of emails that takes over online communication. I can just imagine nerdy Internet types (like me) adopting something from a “Monty Python” sketch to describe an online phenomenon …

4. Sitcom cousin ITT
In the television sitcom “The Addams Family”, the family had a frequent visitor called Cousin Itt. Itt is a short man with long hair that runs from his head to the floor. Cousin Itt was played by Italian actor Felix Silla.

6. First name in erotica ANAIS
Anaïs Nin was a French author, 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.

8. That guy, to Guy LUI
In French, “lui” is the word for “him” and “elle” is the word for “her”.

9. Singer known as the “Peruvian songbird” YMA SUMAC
Yma Sumac was a Peruvian soprano. Sumac had a notable vocal range of five octaves.

10. Bearcat maker STUTZ
The Stutz Motor Company was a manufacturer of luxury cars in Indianapolis. Stutz was noted as a producer of fast cars and luxury vehicles for the elite.

The Stutz Bearcat was a sports car produced from 1912 to 1934.

12. Dramatic 36-Across final-minute situation OPEN NET
In ice hockey, an “open net” can occur late in the game when a team that is behind throws caution to the wind and takes the goalie out of the game. The goalie is substituted with an attacking player, the idea being that the extra man creates more chances for scoring. But, the plan can of course backfire as if the “open net” team loses possession, their own goal is vulnerable.

22. Smart ones? ALECKS
Apparently the original “smart Alec” was Alec Hoag, a pimp, thief and confidence trickster who plied his trade in New York City in the 1840s.

26. Fluorine or iodine HALOGEN
The halogens are a group of elements in the periodic table consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine. The term “halogen” was the name that was originally proposed for chlorine when it was first discovered. When it was passed over in favor of chlorine, the name “halogen” was given to the group of elements to which chlorine belonged.

29. Texas __ TECH
Texas Tech University is located in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech opened for classes in 1925 as Texas Technical College.

42. Current principle OHM’S LAW
The unit of electrical resistance is the ohm (with the symbol omega) named after German physicist Georg Simon Ohm. Ohm was the guy who established experimentally that the amount of current flowing through a circuit is directly proportional to the voltage applied, (V=IR) a relationship that every school kid knows as Ohm’s Law.

44. Robin Williams title role POPEYE
“Thimble Theater” was the precursor comic strip to the famous “Popeye” drawn by E. C. Segar. Before Popeye came into the story, the brother and sister characters Castor Oyl and Olive Oyl were the main protagonists. And then along comes a sailor …

“Popeye” is a 1980 film adaptation of the famous cartoon strip. Popeye was played by Robin Williams, and Olive Oyl by Shelley Duvall. “Popeye” was the first film in which Robin Williams made an appearance.

46. Slowly ADAGIO
An adagio is a piece of music with a slow tempo. The “adagio” marking on the score is an instruction to play the piece slowly and in a stately manner. The word adagio is Latin for “at ease”.

49. Title auto in a 1978 Harold Robbins film BETSY
“The Betsy” is a 1978 movie adaptation of a novel of the same title by Harold Robbins. “The Betsy” has an impressive cast, led by Laurence Olivier as a Henry Ford lookalike called Loren Hardeman Sr. Hardeman’s automobile company is fading and all hope rests with a new model of car called “the Betsy”, named after his Hardeman’s great-granddaughter.

59. Número atómico 79 ORO
In Spanish, the element gold (oro) has the atomic number (número atómico) of 79.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. In an innovative and memorable way SEMINALLY
10. There’s a point to it SWORD
15. Dangerous element PLUTONIUM
16. Get to the point? TAPER
17. Site of 1890s gold rushes AUSTRALIA
18. “Your wish is my command” USE ME
19. Fort Laramie hrs. MST
20. Kirshner of “The L Word” MIA
21. Audited SAT IN ON
23. __ en scène MISE
25. Cartoonist awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in 2000 SCHULZ
27. AEC successor NRC
28. Poetry slam, e.g. EVENT
30. “__ for me” SAME
31. Coordinate nicely MESH
32. Almost went down REELED
34. Make milk LACTATE
36. Game with checks ICE HOCKEY
38. Brand of attachable rotary mower BUSH HOG
40. Job seeker-to-be, often SENIOR
44. Shut (up) PENT
45. First to be called up ONE-A
47. Israeli statesman Dayan MOSHE
48. 36-Across great ORR
49. Rhoda’s sister BRENDA
51. Brae toppers TAMS
52. Issue PROGENY
54. Pro-__ AMS
56. Well-connected co.? ISP
57. Israel’s southernmost city EILAT
58. First stroke for many DOG PADDLE
61. Whoops YELLS
62. Line on New York’s state quarter ERIE CANAL
63. Christopher Hitchens work ESSAY
64. “Lend a Hand – Care for the Land!” spokescritter WOODSY OWL

Down
1. Modern junk dealer? SPAMMER
2. Hard to pin down ELUSIVE
3. It’s highly touted MUST-SEE
4. Sitcom cousin ITT
5. Benchmark NORM
6. First name in erotica ANAIS
7. Sweet-smelling bloomers LILACS
8. That guy, to Guy LUI
9. Singer known as the “Peruvian songbird” YMA SUMAC
10. Bearcat maker STUTZ
11. “How __ to know?” WAS I
12. Dramatic 36-Across final-minute situation OPEN NET
13. Contrition REMORSE
14. Saturate DRENCH
22. Smart ones? ALECKS
24. Join ENLIST
26. Fluorine or iodine HALOGEN
29. Texas __ TECH
31. Lack permission to MAY NOT
33. Make safer, as livestock DEHORN
35. Overflow TEEM
37. Muskmelon cultivar HONEYDEW
38. Smoothie sweeteners BERRIES
39. Presents for display, as blueprints UNROLLS
41. Emphatic turndown I SAID NO!
42. Current principle OHM’S LAW
43. Edit, in a way RESPELL
44. Robin Williams title role POPEYE
46. Slowly ADAGIO
49. Title auto in a 1978 Harold Robbins film BETSY
50. Pumped (up) AMPED
53. Big party GALA
55. Pouches SACS
59. Número atómico 79 ORO
60. One might be lazy DAY

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