LA Times Crossword Answers 21 Aug 13, Wednesday

CROSSWORD SETTER: Paul Hunsberger
THEME: 7 Consonants … each of today’s themed answers has a string of seven consecutive consonants:

18A. “The Meaning of Life” comedy group MONTY PYTHON
32A. Menace that isn’t very menacing EMPTY THREAT
40A. Eric Carmen power ballad covered by Celine Dion ALL BY MYSELF
56A. Title magical caretaker in a 2005 film NANNY MCPHEE

49D. Number of consecutive letters without 2-Down in this puzzle’s four longest answers SEVEN

BILL BUTLER’S COMPLETION TIME: 8m 49s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
4. Near the back, nautically ABAFT
On a boat the term “abaft” means “towards the stern”.

9. Flora and fauna BIOTA
The biota of a region is the total collection of flora and fauna found there.

18. “The Meaning of Life” comedy group MONTY PYTHON
The zany comedy show called “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” was first aired in 1969 on the BBC. The show ran for four seasons and finished up soon after John Cleese decided to leave the team and move onto other projects.

“Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life” is a “Python” movie released by the team in 1983 that is made up of a series of sketches. This film was banned in my homeland of Ireland, as was the prior “Python” movie “Monty Python’s Life of Brian”. I am not sure why …

28. Statue of Liberty supporter PEDESTAL
The Statue of Liberty was of course a gift from the people of France to the United States. It was designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and was dedicated in 1886. If you take a boat ride down the Seine in Paris you’ll get quite the surprise (unless you are expecting it) as there is a one-third replica of Lady Liberty standing on a small island in the river looking quite magnificent. The copy was given to the people of Paris by the city’s American community in 1889.

38. Assemble-it-yourself company IKEA
Did you know that IKEA was founded by Ingvar Kamprad in 1943 when he was just 17-years-old??!! IKEA is an acronym that stands for Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd (don’t forget now!). Elmtaryd was the name of the farm where Ingvar Kamprad grew up, and Agunnaryd is his home parish in Sweden.

40. Eric Carmen power ballad covered by Celine Dion ALL BY MYSELF
The powerful song “All By Myself” was written and released by Eric Carmen in 1975. Carmen borrowed heavily from the second movement of Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2 for the melody behind the verse of his song. That got him into a little hot water with the Rachmaninoff estate, resulting in the estate receiving 12% of the song’s royalties.

46. Traditional Cockney delicacies EELS
Jellied eels are a traditional British dish associated with the working class East End of London. Historically, the eels used were caught in the River Thames. The dish is prepared by boiling up eels that have been chopped into rounds in a seasoned stock and then allowing it to set. The eel contains a lot of gelatinous protein so the stock forms a jelly as it cools.

A Cockney is someone who, according to tradition, is born within the sound of Bow Bells in the center of London. The Cockney accent is usually considered “working class”. Cockney speakers often use a wonderful form of speech called rhyming slang. So, Cockney’s drink a lot of Rosie Lea (tea), climb the apples and pears (stairs) using their plates of meat (feet).

47. St.-John’s-__ WORT
St. John’s wort is a herb that is used by some as a treatment for depression. Extracts are available as over-the-counter purchases here in the US, but back in my homeland of Ireland, one needs a prescription.

48. Stalemate IMPASSE
“Impasse” is a French word for a blind alley or an impassable road, and we use the term to mean “stalemate”.

51. Aussie gal SHEILA
“Sheila” is a slang term used in Australia for a young woman.

54. Flash drive PC port USB
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard dealing with how computers and electronic devices connect and communicate, and deal with electrical power through those connections.

56. Title magical caretaker in a 2005 film NANNY MCPHEE
“Nanny McPhee” is a 2005 fantasy movie starring Emma Thompson and Colin Firth that is based on the “Nurse Matilda” books by Christianna Brand. The movie was successful enough to merit a 2010 sequel called “Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang”. I haven’t seen either film, but the cast alone is great enough to convince me that I need to do so …

59. Hail, to Caesar AVE
“Ave” is Latin for “hail” and was used by the Romans as a greeting and a salutation.

64. Use a divining rod DOWSE
Dowsing is the practice of divining for not just water, but also buried metals and gemstones for example. Often a dowser will use a Y-shaped or L-shaped rod as a tool, which can also be called a dowser.

65. Minnesota twins? ENS
There are a twin set of letters N in the word “Minnesota”.

Down
2. Facetious sequence? AEIOU
The vowels A,E, I, O and U appear in order in the word “facetious”.

3. Fragrant flower used in leis FRANGIPANI
The genus of plants Plumeria has the common name “Frangipani”. The genus is named after French botanist Charles Plumier. The common name comes from an Italian noble family with roots in Ancient Rome.

6. Daisy Mae’s guy ABNER
Daisy Mae Scragg was the vampish woman who chased Li’l Abner trying to goad him into marriage. This went on for 15 years in the cartoon strip until creator Andy Capp succumbed to public pressure, and married the couple at the end of March 1952. The marriage was such a big event, that it made the cover of “Life” magazine.

7. Spanakopita cheese FETA
Feta is a Greek cheese made from sheep’s milk, or a mixture of sheep’s and goat’s milk. The cheese is salted and cured in a brine solution for several months before it is eaten.

Spanakopita is a savory pastry from Greece. The term “spanakopita” translates from Greek as “spinach pie”.

9. Sharp weapon BAYONET
A bayonet is a blade that is attached to the muzzle end of a rifle. It’s thought that the term derives from the French city of Bayonne in Gascony where perhaps bayonets were first made.

12. Word after fox or turkey TROT
The foxtrot is smooth and flowing like a waltz, but in 4/4 time as opposed to 3/4. The dance is named for the vaudeville dance Harry fox who popularized it in the early 1900s.

The Turkey trot was a dance step popular in the early 1900s, often performed to ragtime music. It gained popularity because it was denounced by the Vatican, as some of the positions assumed were deemed suggestive and offensive.

13. Raggedy dolls ANNS
Raggedy Ann is a rag doll, created by Johnny Gruelle in 1915 for his daughter, Marcella. He decided to name the doll by combining the titles of two poems by James Whitcomb Riley, “The Raggedy Man” and “Little Orphan Annie”. Gruelle introduced Raggedy Ann in a series of books three years later. Sadly, Marcella died at 13 years of age with her father blaming a smallpox vaccination she was given at school. Gruelle became very active in the movement against mass vaccination, for which Raggedy Ann became a symbol.

19. “The Devil Wears __” PRADA
Anna Wintour is fashion editor in Britain, and is also the editor-in-chief of American “Vogue”. Lauren Weisberger wrote the book “The Devil Wears Prada” with the tyrannical main character apparently based on Wintour.

30. Skating jump AXEL
An Axel is a forward take-off jump in figure skating. It was first performed by Norwegian Axel Paulsen at the 1882 World Figure Skating championships.

32. Bulldogs’ supporters ELIS
Eli is the nickname for a graduate of Yale University, a term used in honor of the Yale benefactor Elihu Yale.

The Yale Bulldogs are the athletic teams of Yale University. The Yale school mascot is “Handsome Dan”, the Yale bulldog.

33. Carte du jour MENU
Carte du jour is French for “menu of the day”.

34. “The Planets” composer HOLST
Despite the Scandinavian-sounding name, Gustav Holst was born in Britain, and was the most English of classical composers. His most famous work is the orchestral suite known as ‘The Planets”. The suite has seven movements, one for each of the planets known at the time (1914-1916) except Earth. Pluto was discovered during Holst’s lifetime, but decades after he had completed his masterpiece.

38. Mallorca y Cuba ISLAS
In Spanish, Majorca and Cuba (Mallorca y Cuba) are islands (islas).

The Island of Majorca (“Isla Mallorca” in Spanish) is Spain’s largest island, and is located in the Mediterranean Sea. The population of the island ballooned over the past few decades as Majorca became a mecca for tourists from all over Europe.

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean. The exact etymology of the name “Cuba” seems a little unclear. Most believe “Cuba” to be derived from the Taíno terms for “where fertile land is abundant” (cubao) or “great place” (coabana).

40. Church candle lighter ACOLYTE
The word “acolyte” comes from the Greek “akolouthos” meaning “companion, attendant, helper”. In the Christian tradition, an acolyte is an individual who assists some way in a ceremony, by lighting candles for example. In more general terms, an acolyte is a devoted follower or attendant.

41. Former Anaheim Stadium NFLer LA RAM
The St. Louis Rams has only won the Super Bowl once, in 1999, against the Tennessee Titans. The Rams were based in Cleveland from 1936-45, Los Angeles from 1946-94 and St. Louis from 1995 to the present day.

43. “Roger that” YEP!
The term “roger”, meaning “yes” or “acknowledged”, comes from the world of radiotelephony. The British military used a phonetic alphabet in the fifties that included “Roger” to represent the letter “R”. As such, it became customary to say “Roger” when acknowledging a message, with R (Roger) standing for “received”.

48. 1995 R&B hit “This __ We Do It” IS HOW
“This Is How We Do It” was the first song released by Montell Jordan, an American R&B singer-songwriter.

50. Blissful environs EDENS
According to the Book of Genesis, Adam and Eve lived in a garden “in” Eden, with Eden being geographically located by reference to four rivers including the Tigris and the Euphrates. Some scholars hypothesize that Eden was located in Mesopotamia, which encompasses much of modern-day Iraq.

52. Diner breakfast order HASH
“Hash”, meaning a dish of beef and vegetables mashed together, is a very American term and one that really surprised me when I first came across it. “Hash” just seems like such an unappetizing item, but I soon found out how delicious it was. The name “hash” in this context comes from the French “hacher” meaning “to chop”. Back in the early 1900s the dish called “hashed browned potatoes” was developed, which quickly morphed into “hash browns”. From there the likes of corned beef hash was introduced.

53. Big name in New Age music ENYA
Enya’s real name is Eithne Patricia Ní Bhraonáin, which can translate from Irish into Enya Brennan. Her Donegal family (in the northwest of Ireland) formed a band called Clannad, which included Enya. In 1980 Enya launched her very successful solo career. She sure does turn up a lot in crosswords!

57. Grand Banks fish COD
In the British Isles, the most common fish that is used in traditional “fish and chips” is Atlantic cod. Cod has been overfished all over the world, and is now considered to be an endangered species by many international bodies.

The Grand Banks of Newfoundland are relatively shallow areas lying south of Newfoundland. The Grand Banks are one of the richest fishing grounds in the world due to the nutrients brought to the surface by the currents and local geography.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Half-__: 50-50 coffee CAF
4. Near the back, nautically ABAFT
9. Flora and fauna BIOTA
14. Poet’s “atop” O’ER
15. Root vegetable TUBER
16. Deck out ADORN
17. Routing word VIA
18. “The Meaning of Life” comedy group MONTY PYTHON
20. Ages and ages EONS
22. Vote of confidence YEA
23. Events marked by good-natured insults ROASTS
24. Occasion to pull together? TUG O’WAR
26. Backfire noise BANG
27. Present-day Persia IRAN
28. Statue of Liberty supporter PEDESTAL
32. Menace that isn’t very menacing EMPTY THREAT
35. Chopper AXE
36. Open stretches LEAS
37. Gut reaction? OOF!
38. Assemble-it-yourself company IKEA
39. Hostel INN
40. Eric Carmen power ballad covered by Celine Dion ALL BY MYSELF
44. Inanimate carousel rider SUITCASE
46. Traditional Cockney delicacies EELS
47. St.-John’s-__ WORT
48. Stalemate IMPASSE
51. Aussie gal SHEILA
54. Flash drive PC port USB
55. Tool holder SHED
56. Title magical caretaker in a 2005 film NANNY MCPHEE
59. Hail, to Caesar AVE
60. Up until now AS YET
61. Gas leak warnings ODORS
62. Contract signer’s tool PEN
63. Moon aspect PHASE
64. Use a divining rod DOWSE
65. Minnesota twins? ENS

Down
1. Really want COVET
2. Facetious sequence? AEIOU
3. Fragrant flower used in leis FRANGIPANI
4. 24-hr. cash source ATM
5. Tending to float BUOYANT
6. Daisy Mae’s guy ABNER
7. Spanakopita cheese FETA
8. Give it a go TRY
9. Sharp weapon BAYONET
10. 44-Across attachments ID TAGS
11. Sounds of awe OOHS
12. Word after fox or turkey TROT
13. Raggedy dolls ANNS
19. “The Devil Wears __” PRADA
21. Organizes SORTS
25. “I’m on my __” WAY
26. Muscular BEEFY
28. Seriously look into PROBE
29. Materializes TAKES SHAPE
30. Skating jump AXEL
31. Table extender LEAF
32. Bulldogs’ supporters ELIS
33. Carte du jour MENU
34. “The Planets” composer HOLST
38. Mallorca y Cuba ISLAS
40. Church candle lighter ACOLYTE
41. Former Anaheim Stadium NFLer LA RAM
42. Country club crowd MEMBERS
43. “Roger that” YEP!
45. Twisted threads TWINES
48. 1995 R&B hit “This __ We Do It” IS HOW
49. Number of consecutive letters without 2-Down in this puzzle’s four longest answers SEVEN
50. Blissful environs EDENS
51. Huddle follower SNAP
52. Diner breakfast order HASH
53. Big name in New Age music ENYA
54. High style UPDO
57. Grand Banks fish COD
58. Legal ending? -ESE

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6 thoughts on “LA Times Crossword Answers 21 Aug 13, Wednesday”

  1. Bill, wonderful blog. …. Loved it. Learnt a lot. I completed the puzzle, which is my miracle of the day

    IKEA was a real learning moment. So, it was started in the midst of WW2. I know the guy, (if he is still alive ) is a billionaire. Unfortunately, I still have to buy my first IKEA furniture – the nearest store is in Pittsburg, PA , about 3 hour drive. Plus my thrifty wife, keeps our cars for at least 10 years, and our furniture at least twice as long, so I'm not holding my breath.

    Banning movies, or books or whatever, only makes them more popular. Remember, 'Lady Chatterly's lover'. ? I must read in wiki about the life of Brian. Sorry, not much of a Monty Python fan. I have just read that the Pakistan Govt. , in the past 3 years, has allowed for the import, and distribution of. Indian TV cable channels for all forms of entertainment and Bollywood movies. Indian news channels however are strictly banned. (?). In my opinion, the Indian TV news is of abysmal ( yesterday's word of the day – ) low standards, still, I guess 'Reality is considered stranger than fiction'. !

    When I saw the cockney clue, I thought to myself, omit the 'H' ! When I got 'eels', I thought it must be 'heels'. ….. I thought, just maybe, the traditional cockney delicacies consisted of looking at women as eye candy. Lol.

    Really enjoyable puzzle. Have a great day, and thanks again for the blog.

    Now, to read up on NannyMcPhee.

  2. Hi there, Admirer.

    You know, I don't think I've been in an IKEA either, although I am not averse to assembling that "flatpack" furniture. I treat it like a 3-dimensional crossword puzzle. Lots of fun 🙂

    Yes, "Lady Chatterley's Lover" was very popular in my high school in those long-gone adolescent days. I must admit, that reading "Chatterley" (for the wrong reasons!) was probabably what got me into reading other Lawrence novels such as "Sons and Lovers", "The Rainbow" and "Women in Love". Great stuff, and great movies made from the books.

    I just don't get "Monty Python", and no one in my family seems to understand that. Not a big fan either.

    Only made it to India once in my life, and that was for a week-long business trip. One of the best business trips I ever had. I would dearly love to go back for a pleasure trip. Especially after seeing "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", a great film with a great cast.

  3. Hello All,

    While I didn't finish, by my standards I did pretty well for a Wednesday. For some reason I kept thinking of a child's carousel (Merry Go Round) and this threw everything off in the bottom left quadrant. Ah well!

    Yes Ardent, I agree it was enjoyable.
    Thanks Bill!

  4. Hi there, Brooke.

    Yes, when you put in an answer that you "know" is right, it can be so hard to walk away from it. I am not sure how folks do crosswords in pen … definitely a pencil man myself, well, an online pencil!

  5. This was definitely an odd Wednesday puzzle. I too was thinking of a kids carousel and wouldn't let go of St.John's Pass. Then it hit me! That's John's Pass. Been there,done that. Plus I thought HASH came with the breakfast order whether you wanted it or not ;~)

  6. Hi there, Addict.

    Well, "John's Pass" is a new one for me (just looked it up). I appreciate the lesson!

    I think the HASH reference in the clue is to the likes of corned beef hash, whereas the hashbrowns are more likely to come as standard. Like I'd know anything about American breakfasts! I was raised on fried bread and blood pudding 🙂

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