LA Times Crossword Answers 23 Dec 13, Monday

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CROSSWORD SETTER: Patti Varol
THEME: Head Start … today’s themed answers all start with a familiar/slang term for one’s HEAD:

17A. *Scoop for fruit MELON BALLER
65A. *Single-minded auditor BEAN COUNTER
11D. *Certain palm tree extract COCONUT OIL
30D. *Pasta-based first course NOODLE SOUP

62D. Noggin, and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues HEAD

BILL BUTLER’S COMPLETION TIME: 5m 24s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across

11. Org. in many Tom Clancy novels CIA
I loved the Tom Clancy series of novels, most of which feature Jack Ryan as the main character, but I felt that with each successive title, my interest faded a little. I was hooked with “The Hunt for Red October” published in 1984, and dutifully worked my through all Clancy’s subsequent novels, before giving up halfway through the 1998 “Rainbow Six”. Tom Clancy passed away quite recently, at the beginning of October 2013.

16. Former Boston Bruin Bobby 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 …

21. Brand with a “Twist, Lick, Dunk” app OREO
Yep, there’s an iPhone app featuring the Oreo cookie. It’s a game in which one twists Oreo cookies apart, “licks” the cream from the center and then dunks the remainder of the cookie in a glass of milk.

24. Post-OR place ICU
After being wheeled out of the Operating Room (OR) a patient might spend some time in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

28. Parade debris CONFETTI
The word “confetti” is related to “confection”. The original confetti were small candies thrown during carnivals in Italy. This custom migrated to England, and eventually evolved into the practice of tossing small pieces of paper instead of confections.

36. The “I” in IBM: Abbr. INTL
IBM was founded as the Tabulating Machine Company in 1896. The company changed its name to the Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation (CTR) in 1911 and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1916. The name of International Business Machines (IBM) was given first to the company’s Canadian subsidiary, and then its South American subsidiary. In 1924, it was decided to adopt the International Business Machines name for the whole company. Good choice …

39. Bishop’s domain DIOCESE
In some Christian traditions, a district under the control of a bishop is called a diocese, bishopric or see. Dioceses are in turn divided into parishes that are under the control of priests. A particularly significant diocese might be called an archdiocese, and falls under the control of an archbishop.

45. Paris airport ORLY
Orly is on the outskirts of Paris, to the south of the city. It is home of course to the Paris-Orly Airport, the second busiest international airport for the city after the more recently built Charles de Gaulle Airport. That said, Orly is home to more domestic flights than Charles de Gaulle.

48. Bank employee TELLER
“To tell” can mean “to count”, as in “telling one’s blessings” and “there are 16, all told”. This usage of the word “tell” gives us the term “bank teller”.

51. “M*A*S*H” star ALAN ALDA
Alan Alda had a great television career, especially of course on “M*A*S*H”. Alda won his first Emmy in 1972, for playing Hawkeye Pierce on “M*A*S*H”. He won his most recent Emmy in 2006 for his portrayal of Presidential candidate Arnold Vinick in “The West Wing”. When it comes to the big screen, my favorite of Alda’s movies is the 1978 romantic comedy “Same Time, Next Year” in which he starred opposite Ellen Burstyn.

“M*A*S*H” has only three stars in it (three asterisks, that is!). These asterisks first appeared on the poster for the 1970 movie, but they were omitted in the opening titles. The TV series went on to use the asterisks from the poster.

55. Battleship letters USS
The acronym “USS” stands for “United States Ship”. The practice of naming US Navy vessels in a standard format didn’t start until 1907 when President Theodore Roosevelt issued an executive order that addressed the issue.

56. “My Cousin Vinny” star Joe PESCI
Joe Pesci got his big break in movies with a supporting role in “Raging Bull” starring Robert De Niro, earning Pesci an Oscar nomination early in his career. There followed a string of gangster roles played alongside De Niro, namely “Once Upon a Time in America”, “Goodfellas” and “Casino”. But I like Pesci’s comedic acting best of all. He was marvelous in the “Home Alone” films, the “Lethal Weapon” series, and my personal favorite, “My Cousin Vinny”. Pesci gets a mention in the stage musical “Jersey Boys”, which isn’t too surprising as he is one of the show’s producers.

“My Cousin Vinny” is a really fun film from 1992 starring Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei. In 2008, the American Bar Association rated “My Cousin Vinny” as the #3 Greatest Legal Movie of all time, after “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “12 Angry Men”.

60. Govt. job-safety gp. OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created in 1970 during the Nixon administration. OSHA regulates workplaces in the private sector and regulates just one government agency, namely the US Postal Service.

64. Gen. Eisenhower’s WWII command ETO
General Dwight D. Eisenhower (DDE) was in command of the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during WWII. If you’re a WWII buff like me, then I recommend you take a look at a great, made-for-TV movie starring Tom Selleck as Eisenhower called “Ike: Countdown to D-Day” that came out in 2004.

68. Bearded African beast GNU
A gnu is also known as a wildebeest, an antelope native to Africa. “Wildebeest” is actually the Dutch word for “wild beast”.

70. French Revolution figure killed by Corday MARAT
Jean-Paul Marat was a prominent figure in the French Revolution. Marat was famously murdered in his bath by a young woman called Charlotte Corday who was a Royalist. The gruesome event was immortalized in a celebrated painting by Jacques-Louis David.

72. Piano practice piece ETUDE
An étude is a small instrumental composition that is usually quite hard to play and is intended to help the performer master a particular technique. “Étude” is the French word for “study”. Études are commonly performed on the piano.

Down
3. Sport played on horseback POLO
The game of polo originated in Iran, possibly before the 5th century BC. Polo was used back them primarily as a training exercise for cavalry units.

5. Currency of Japan YEN
The Korean Won, the Chinese Yuan, and the Japanese Yen (all of which are Asian currencies) take their names from the Chinese written character that represents “round shape”.

9. U.S. 66, for one RTE
The famous old highway called Route 66 has largely been replaced by modern interstates. It ran from Chicago to Los Angeles, right through the heart of America, and so it was often called the “Main Street of America”. The road gained notoriety because of Nat King Cole’s song “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66”, and also because of the sixties TV show called “Route 66”.

11. *Certain palm tree extract COCONUT OIL
Coconut oil is one of those fats that is sometimes marketed to us as “healthy vegetable oil”, but in fact many health organizations advise us to limit intake. Coconut oil is many ways quite similar to animal fat in that it is high in saturated fat, a compound that is linked to heart disease.

12. Tehran’s country IRAN
Tehran is the capital of Iran and is the largest city in the Middle East, with a population of about 8.5 million. Iran has been around an awful long time and Tehran is actually the country’s 31st national capital.

13. “A Farewell to __” ARMS
“A Farewell to Arms” is a somewhat autobiographical novel written by Ernest Hemingway, telling the story of an American ambulance driver serving with the Italian army during WWI. The most famous screen adaptation is probably the 1957 version starring Rock Hudson and Jennifer Jones.

23. Corporate VIP CEO
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

27. Norwegian metropolis OSLO
The city of Oslo burns trash to fuel half of its buildings, including all of its schools. The problem faced by the city is that it doesn’t generate enough trash. So, Oslo imports trash from Sweden, England and Ireland, and is now looking to import some American trash.

29. Like ewes and rams OVINE
The Latin word for “sheep” is “ovis”, giving us the adjective “ovine”, meaning “like a sheep”.

33. Musical triad CHORD
A triad is a group of three, and specifically in music is a chord made up of three notes.

34. Civic or Accord HONDA
Introduced in 1972, the Honda Civic is the second-oldest brand of Japanese car made for the US today (only the Toyota Corolla has been around longer). Today’s Civic is a compact car, but the original was smaller, and classed as a sub-compact. The first design had a transverse-mounted engine and front-wheel drive to save on space, copying the configuration introduced with the British Mini.

Honda started manufacturing its Accord model in Marysville, Ohio in 1982, making the Accord the first Japanese car to be produced in the US. The Accord was the best-selling Japanese car in America from 1982 to 1997, and 1989 was the first import to become the best-selling car in the US.

37. Texter’s “until next time” TTYL
Talk To You Later (TTYL)

43. Like Christmas wrap and tree ornaments SEASONAL
The custom of decorating trees at Christmas seems to have originated in Renaissance Germany. Those first trees were placed in guildhalls and were decorated with sweets and candy for the apprentices and children. After the Protestant Reformation, the Christmas tree became an alternative in Protestant homes for the Roman Catholic Christmas cribs. The Christmas tree tradition was imported into Britain by the royal family because of its German heritage. That tradition spread from Britain into North America.

49. Partners’ legal entity: Abbr. LLC
A limited liability company (LLC) is a company structure that limits the liability of the owner or owners.

54. SeaWorld orca SHAMU
Shamu was the name of the third orca, or killer whale, ever to be featured in a public exhibition. Shamu starred in a popular SeaWorld show in San Diego in the sixties. After she died in 1971, her name lived on as the name “Shamu” is still used by SeaWorld for its killer whale shows. That original Shamu was retired after she grabbed and refused to let go of the leg of one of her trainers.

57. Europe’s highest active volcano ETNA
Mt. Etna is the largest of three active volcanoes in Italy. Mt Etna is about 2 1/2 times the height of its equally famous sister, Mt. Vesuvius.

59. Land measure ACRE
At one time, an acre was defined as the amount of land a yoke of oxen could plow in a day. This was more precisely defined as a strip of land one furlong long (660 feet) and one chain wide (66 feet). The word “furlong” is actually derived from the Old English words meaning “furrow-long”, the length of the furrow plowed by the oxen.

61. Houston MLBer ‘STRO
The Houston baseball team changed its name to the Astros from the Colt .45s in 1965 when they started playing in the Astrodome. The Astrodome was so called in recognition of the city’s long association with the US space program.

62. Noggin, and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues HEAD
A slang term for a “head” might be “bean, melon, coconut, noodle, noggin”.

63. Liberal __ ARTS
The term “liberal arts” dates back to classical antiquity. The liberal arts were those subjects deemed essential to master for a citizen to take active part in civil life. “Citizens” were “free people”, hence the use of the term “liberal arts”. The list of subjects studied in olden times were generally sevenfold: grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy/astrology.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Given to back talk LIPPY
6. Not together APART
11. Org. in many Tom Clancy novels CIA
14. Love lots ADORE
15. Serious grime FILTH
16. Former Boston Bruin Bobby ORR
17. *Scoop for fruit MELON BALLER
19. Photo taker, briefly CAM
20. Place to swim POOL
21. Brand with a “Twist, Lick, Dunk” app OREO
22. Holy images ICONS
24. Post-OR place ICU
26. Like some bases and kisses STOLEN
28. Parade debris CONFETTI
32. Slump in one’s seat SLOUCH
35. Stay away from AVOID
36. The “I” in IBM: Abbr. INTL
38. However, for short THO’
39. Bishop’s domain DIOCESE
41. Earlier than desired TOO SOON
44. Finish END
45. Paris airport ORLY
47. Totally out there WEIRD
48. Bank employee TELLER
51. “M*A*S*H” star ALAN ALDA
53. Firstborn ELDEST
55. Battleship letters USS
56. “My Cousin Vinny” star Joe PESCI
58. Pressure from the cops HEAT
60. Govt. job-safety gp. OSHA
64. Gen. Eisenhower’s WWII command ETO
65. *Single-minded auditor BEAN COUNTER
68. Bearded African beast GNU
69. More pathetic, as excuses go LAMER
70. French Revolution figure killed by Corday MARAT
71. Tree juice SAP
72. Piano practice piece ETUDE
73. Walks with difficulty PLODS

Down
1. Bedside light LAMP
2. Thought: Pref. IDEO-
3. Sport played on horseback POLO
4. Very productive, as a writer PROLIFIC
5. Currency of Japan YEN
6. Many miles off AFAR
7. Enters all at once PILES IN
8. Distribute in shares ALLOT
9. U.S. 66, for one RTE
10. Wave of excitement THRILL
11. *Certain palm tree extract COCONUT OIL
12. Tehran’s country IRAN
13. “A Farewell to __” ARMS
18. Prizefight BOUT
23. Corporate VIP CEO
25. Hand over CEDE
27. Norwegian metropolis OSLO
28. Army trainee CADET
29. Like ewes and rams OVINE
30. *Pasta-based first course NOODLE SOUP
31. Ballpark level TIER
33. Musical triad CHORD
34. Civic or Accord HONDA
37. Texter’s “until next time” TTYL
40. Hopping mad SORE
42. Possesses OWNS
43. Like Christmas wrap and tree ornaments SEASONAL
46. Approached bedtime LATENED
49. Partners’ legal entity: Abbr. LLC
50. Safe to consume EDIBLE
52. Civic or Accord AUTO
54. SeaWorld orca SHAMU
56. Wooden pins PEGS
57. Europe’s highest active volcano ETNA
59. Land measure ACRE
61. Houston MLBer ‘STRO
62. Noggin, and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues HEAD
63. Liberal __ ARTS
66. Do lunch, say EAT
67. Official behind a catcher UMP

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2 thoughts on “LA Times Crossword Answers 23 Dec 13, Monday”

  1. Hi Bill – And an early Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    Nostalgia galore in this puzzle for me. Growing up in St. Louis there was a famous Drive In theater on Watson road…part of old Rte 66 called the 66 Park-In theater. It operated from 1947 to 1993. Being so young, I always thought Route 66 was a local thing because of that Drive-In.

    I worked at IBM while in grad school during a time when IBM was first experiencing layoffs. The old joke was that the definition of an optimist was someone who ironed 5 white shirts on Sunday night…

    Also being a native St. Louisan, I hated Bobby Orr for his heroics vs the Blues – including his iconic game winner vs St Louis in the 1970 Stanley Cup. Oddly, I have an autographed copy of that famous photo hanging in my office to this day….

    If you liked the Eisenhower tv movie, you'd also like Stephen Ambrose's biography – Eisenhower Soldier and President. It is a great read.

    Finally, my knowledge of the animal, a gnu, comes from the old comic strip Animal Crackers. Who says comics aren't educational??

    Best – Jeff

  2. Hi there, Jeff.

    Merry Christmas to you and yours.

    Thanks for sharing all of that nostalgia. 'Tis the season for rooting through old memories 🙂

    Thanks for pointing out the Stephen Ambrose biography. I'm a huge fan of his "Band of Brothers", and am just baout to make a last-minute Xmas purchase of the Kindle version of the biography of Ike! Thank you!

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