LA Times Crossword Answers 10 Jul 14, Thursday

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CROSSWORD SETTER: Steve Blais
THEME: Wearing Thin … each of today’s themed answers might be said to be WEARING “THIN” as the letters THIN are found at the “outside” of the answer:

17A. Like him or her THI(RD PERSO)N
30A. Reagan/Carter debate catchphrase TH(ERE YOU GO AGA)IN
44A. Fail completely T(AKE IT ON THE C)HIN

57A. Weakening, in a way, or what 17-, 30- and 44-Across are literally doing WEARING THIN

BILL BUTLER’S COMPLETION TIME: 6m 54s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across

1. Limo rider CELEB
The word “limousine” actually derives from the French city of Limoges. The area around Limoges is called the Limousin, and it gave its name to a cloak hood worn by local shepherds. In early motor cars, a driver would sit outside in the weather while the passengers would sit in the covered compartment. The driver would often wear a limousin-style protective hood, giving rise to that type of transportation being called a “limousine”. Well, that’s how the story goes anyway …

11. Old map letters SSR
The former Soviet Union (USSR) was created in 1922, not long after the Russian Revolution of 1917 that overthrew the Tsar. Geographically, the new Soviet Union was roughly equivalent to the old Russian Empire, and was comprised of fifteen Soviet Socialist Republics (SSRs).

14. Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride,” e.g. OPERA
Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer, known as the father of Czech music. Just like Beethoven, Smetana was still composing at the end of his life even though he was totally deaf.

15. Super Mario World dinosaur YOSHI
Yoshi is a dinosaur-like character in some Nintendo video games. He first appeared as a sidekick for Mario and Luigi in the 1991 game called “Super Mario World”.

16. Own, to Burns HAE
“Hae” is a Scots word for “have”.

Robert Burns is a cultural icon in Scotland and for Scots around the world. As a poet, Burns was a pioneer in the Romantic movement in the second half of the 18th century. One of his most famous works is the poem “Auld Lang Syne”, which has been set to the tune of a traditional Scottish folk song and is used to celebrate the New Year in the English-speaking world.

19. Morticia’s 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.

Gomez and Morticia (“Tish”) Addams were the parents in “The Addams Family”, a creation of the cartoonist Charles Addams. In the sixties television show, Gomez was played by John Astin and Morticia was played by Carolyn Jones.

21. Bon __ MOT
“Bon mot” translates from French as “good word”. We use “bon mot” (and sometimes just “mot”) to mean a quip, a witticism.

22. Years in Madrid ANOS
Madrid is the largest city in Spain and the capital. Madrid is located very close to the geographical center of the country. It is the third-largest city in the European Union (after London and Paris). People from Madrid called themselves Madrileños.

28. Easily perturbed ORNERY
Back in the early 1800s, the word “ornery” was an informal contraction for the word “ordinary”, and meant commonplace, but with a sense of “poor quality, coarse, ugly” as opposed to “special”. Towards the end of the century, the usage “ornery” had evolved into describing someone who was mean or cantankerous.

30. Reagan/Carter debate catchphrase THERE YOU GO AGAIN
There was just one televised debate between the candidates in the 1980 US presidential election. At one point in the exchange, President Carter was attacking then-Governor Reagan’s position on Medicare. Governor Reagan responded with the line “There you go again”, and in the process seemed to gain the upper hand in the exchange. The phrase was so effective that President Reagan used it in future exchanges during his presidency.

34. Disney film based on Chinese folklore MULAN
“Mulan” is a 1998 animated feature film made by Walt Disney studios. The film is based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, a woman who takes the place of her father in the army and serves with distinction for twelve years without reward. Disney’s lead character was given the name Fa Mulan. Donny Osmond provided the singing voice for one of the lead characters, after which his sons remarked that he had finally made it in show business as he was in a Disney film.

35. Steed’s partner MRS PEEL
“The Avengers” was must-see television when I was growing up. “The Avengers” was a sixties comedy spy series set in England during the days of the Cold War. The hero was John Steed, played ably by Patrick MacNee. Steed had various female partners as the series progressed, the first of which was Cathy Gale, played by Honor Blackman (who also played Pussy Galore in “Goldfinger”). Following Ms. Gale was Emma Peel played by the wonderful Diana Rigg. Finally there was Tara King, played by Linda Thorson.

37. Problem with pictures REBUS
You’ll see rebus crosswords in the newspaper quite often. A rebus puzzle is one in which some squares are replaced with a symbol or picture (although we often use multiple letters when solving).

38. Neeson of “Taken” LIAM
Irish actor Liam Neeson got his big break when he played Oskar Schindler in the Spielberg epic, “Schindler’s List”. Neeson was in the news a few years ago when he lost his wife, actress Natasha Richardson, in a tragic skiing accident in 2009.

“Taken” is a fabulous thriller movie released in 2008. It stars Liam Neeson as kind of an older James Bond-ish character, and he is great in the role. “Taken 2” followed in 2012 and it wasn’t a bad sequel, I must say …

41. “Dead Souls” novelist Gogol NIKOLAI
Nikolai Gogol was a Russian writer, born in Ukraine. He wrote a lot of satirical pieces that attacked the corrupt bureaucracy in Russia, which led to his being exiled. His most famous work is probably “Taras Bul’ba” from 1836.

43. Summation symbol in math SIGMA
Sigma is the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet, and is the one used for an “ess” sound, equivalent to our letter S. Sigma is used in mathematics to represent a summation, the adding together of a sequence of numbers.

47. Mobster’s code of honor OMERTA
Omertà is a code of honor in southern Italian society. The term has been adopted by the Mafia to mean a code of silence designed to prevent a Mafioso from becoming an informer. For example, the famous Joe Valachi was someone who broke the code of silence in 1963, informing on the New York Mafia. Valachi’s story was told in the movie “The Valachi Papers”, with Charles Bronson playing the lead.

48. Bart, to Homer SON
On the animated TV show “The Simpsons”, Bart Simpson’s father is Homer.

50. “Alice” diner MEL’S
The TV sitcom “Alice” ran from 1976 to 1985, a story about a widow named Alice who takes a job at Mel’s Diner. The show was based on a very successful 1974 movie called “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” directed by Martin Scorsese (his first Hollywood production) and starring Ellen Burstyn and Kris Kristofferson.

54. “Oedipus __” REX
“Oedipus Rex” (also “Oedipus the King”) is a tragedy penned by the Ancient Greek playwright Sophocles. The play tells the story of Oedipus, a man who becomes king of Thebes. Famously, Oedipus was destined from birth to murder his father and marry his mother.

63. Edmonton skater OILER
The National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers are so called because they are located in Alberta, Canada … oil country.

64. Gladiator’s venue ARENA
The term “gladiator” means “swordsman”, coming from “gladius”, the Latin word for “sword”.

66. First name on a historic B-29 ENOLA
The Enola Gay was the B-29 that dropped the first atomic bomb, on Hiroshima in August 1945. Enola Gay was the name of the mother of pilot Col. Paul W. Tibbets, Jr.

Down
2. Bk. before Philippians EPH
It seems that the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians (EPH) is now regarded by scholars as written “in the style of Paul” by someone who was influenced by Paul’s thought.

3. Hawaiian ring LEI
“Lei” is the Hawaiian word for “garland, wreath”, although in more general terms a “lei” is any series of objects strung together as an adornment for the body.

5. 13, to many BAD OMEN
IN many parts of the world, the number 13 is deemed to be unlucky. That’s not so in Italy, where is regarded as a lucky number.

8. Canadian gas brand ESSO
The brand name Esso has its roots in the old Standard Oil company as it uses the initial letters of “Standard” and “Oil” (ESS-O). The Esso brand was replaced by Exxon in the US, but ESSO is still used in many other countries.

10. Its chemical symbol is Sn TIN
The Latin word for tin is “stannum”, and so tin’s atomic symbol is “Sn”.

12. Zen enlightenment SATORI
Satori is a Japanese term, used in the Zen Buddhist tradition. Satori does not refer to full enlightenment (nirvana) but rather is a step along the way, a flash of awareness.

13. Certs ingredient RETSYN
Certs were the first breath mints to be marketed nationally in the US, hitting the shelves in 1956. A Cert is called a mint, but it isn’t really as it contains no mint oil and instead has its famous ingredient named “Retsyn”. Retsyn is a mixture of copper gluconate (giving the green flecks), partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil (not healthy!) and flavoring (maybe mint?).

22. Like cherubs ANGELIC
A cherub (plural “cherubim”) is an angel, with the term ultimately deriving from the Hebrew “kerubh” (plural “kerubhim”) meaning “winged angel”.

23. Alternatives to tellers, briefly ATMS
“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”.

25. “Light in My Darkness” author HELEN KELLER
Helen Keller became a noted author despite been deaf and blind, largely through the work of her teacher, Anne Sullivan. Keller was left deaf and blind after an illness (possible meningitis or scarlet fever). when she was about 18 months old. She was to become the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. The relationship between Sullivan and Keller is immortalized in the play and film called “The Miracle Worker”.

27. Grapefruit cousin POMELO
A pomelo is a very large, pear-shaped citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia.

29. Singer Carly __ Jepsen RAE
Carly Rae Jepsen is a singer/songwriter from Mission, British Columbia. Jepsen got her start on TV’s “Canadian Idol” when she placed third in the show’s fifth season.

31. Slender swords RAPIERS
A rapier is a very thin sword with a sharp point that is used to kill and maim by thrusting the point into the body, rather than by slashing,

33. Columbia garb G-SUITS
A G-suit is needed when astronauts and aviators are subject to high accelerations. Such acceleration can cause blood to pool in the lower part of the body, reducing the supply to the brain and possibly leading to a blackout. A G-suit is basically a special pair of tight-fitting pants that are fitted with inflatable bladders. The bladders inflate during high accelerations, tightening around the legs and abdomen, reducing the amount of blood pooling.

The Space Shuttle Columbia was first launched in 1981. It was given its name after the sloop Columbia Rediviva, which was the first American vessel to circumnavigate the globe, in 1790. The shuttle was also named after the Command module that orbited the moon during the Apollo 11 landing. Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart during reentry in 2003 killing all seven crew members.

39. Gallic girlfriend AMIE
A male friend in France is “un ami”, and a female friend is “une amie”.

40. Tailless feline MANX
I’ve seen Manx cats by the dozen on their native island. They’re found all over the Isle of Man (hence the name “Manx”) located in the middle of the Irish Sea. Manx cats have just a stub of a tail, and hence are called “stubbins” by the locals.

42. Young fox KIT
A kit is a young mammal of several species, including the ferret and the fox. “Kit” is probably a shortened form of “kitten”.

43. Dakar is its capital SENEGAL
The Republic of Senegal is a country on the far western coast of Africa. For many years Senegal was a French colony, gaining independence in 1960. The capital of Senegal is Dakar, a city located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean.

45. Bloomer of bloomers fame AMELIA
Amelia Bloomer was a 19th-century women’s right advocate. Bloomer proposed a change in the dress standards for women so they would be less restricted in movement. In particular, she advocated the use of loose trousers gathered at the ankles, worn under a short skirt. The outfit became known as “the Bloomer Costume” and the pants were termed “Bloomers”, a word we use to this day.

46. __ of plenty HORN
The Horn of Plenty is a symbol of abundance that has been used in Western art since the days of antiquity. The Horn of Plenty is usually depicted as a horn-shaped vessel containing flowers and edible delights, and may also be called the “cornucopia”.

53. Hershiser of ESPN OREL
Orel Hershiser is big into poker now that he has retired from Major League Baseball. Hershiser lives in Las Vegas and when he isn’t working for ESPN, apparently he is at the poker tables.

58. Portfolio holding, briefly IRA
Individual retirement account (IRA)

60. Octopus’ defense INK
Octopuses and squid have the ability to release a dark pigment into the water as a means of escape. The dark pigment is called cephalopod ink (the squid and octopus belong to the class cephalopod). The dark color is created by melanin, the same substance that acts as a pigment in human skin.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Limo rider CELEB
6. Skilled ADEPT
11. Old map letters SSR
14. Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride,” e.g. OPERA
15. Super Mario World dinosaur YOSHI
16. Own, to Burns HAE
17. Like him or her THIRD PERSON
19. Morticia’s cousin ITT
20. Roman sun god SOL
21. Bon __ MOT
22. Years in Madrid ANOS
23. Campfire remains ASH
26. Cleaning tool MOP
28. Easily perturbed ORNERY
30. Reagan/Carter debate catchphrase THERE YOU GO AGAIN
34. Disney film based on Chinese folklore MULAN
35. Steed’s partner MRS PEEL
36. Giant thing in a kids’ game STEP
37. Problem with pictures REBUS
38. Neeson of “Taken” LIAM
41. “Dead Souls” novelist Gogol NIKOLAI
43. Summation symbol in math SIGMA
44. Fail completely TAKE IT ON THE CHIN
47. Mobster’s code of honor OMERTA
48. Bart, to Homer SON
49. __-Mex TEX
50. “Alice” diner MEL’S
51. Nonetheless, briefly THO’
54. “Oedipus __” REX
56. Completely ALL
57. Weakening, in a way, or what 17-, 30- and 44-Across are literally doing WEARING THIN
62. Inconclusive result TIE
63. Edmonton skater OILER
64. Gladiator’s venue ARENA
65. Row OAR
66. First name on a historic B-29 ENOLA
67. Long and lean LANKY

Down
1. Base bed COT
2. Bk. before Philippians EPH
3. Hawaiian ring LEI
4. Messes up ERRS
5. 13, to many BAD OMEN
6. Sailor’s agreement AYE
7. Temporary quarters DORM
8. Canadian gas brand ESSO
9. Occasions for shooting stars? PHOTO OPS
10. Its chemical symbol is Sn TIN
11. Illuminate, with “on” SHINE A LIGHT
12. Zen enlightenment SATORI
13. Certs ingredient RETSYN
18. Sneaky tactic PLOY
22. Like cherubs ANGELIC
23. Alternatives to tellers, briefly ATMS
24. Close SHUT
25. “Light in My Darkness” author HELEN KELLER
27. Grapefruit cousin POMELO
29. Singer Carly __ Jepsen RAE
31. Slender swords RAPIERS
32. Like some legends URBAN
33. Columbia garb G-SUITS
37. Add gradually to a cycle ROTATE IN
39. Gallic girlfriend AMIE
40. Tailless feline MANX
42. Young fox KIT
43. Dakar is its capital SENEGAL
44. __ paste TOMATO
45. Bloomer of bloomers fame AMELIA
46. __ of plenty HORN
52. Radiant ring HALO
53. Hershiser of ESPN OREL
55. Ad come-on word XTRA
57. Angst WOE
58. Portfolio holding, briefly IRA
59. Egg layer HEN
60. Octopus’ defense INK
61. Bit of Senate dissension NAY

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5 thoughts on “LA Times Crossword Answers 10 Jul 14, Thursday”

  1. Hello Bill, and all ETs, nanu-nanu ….

    I hope you got at least a glimpse of Mork or E.T. or something odder – it would be such a waste of effort to cruise that interminable distance and not chance on anything eerie. Here's wishing you good 'sight' seeing.

    Did you come across any moon rocks or the 'legendary' Arizona mountain range of yesterday's XWord clue ?? The Santa Teresas ?

    If you missed any Klingons darting thru the cacti, you can at least console yourself that you got a glance at some (illegal – ) aliens ….

    The puzzle was challenging, yet enjoyable. Took me almost forever.

    My favorite clue was 'shooting stars' – Photo ops. It took a long time to parse that clue. Somehow, I kept thinking 'photons' – too much overthink.

    So drive carefully, share the wheel duties, keep your eye on the road and the AC at full blast. Be safe.

  2. The theme seemed THIN. The solve took me a while, but no Googling.

    My favorites were: MRS PEEL, OMERTA', RETSYN, SATORI, SIGMA. Just learned YOSHI from MacDonald's.

    I had ANE, as in, "My ANE only dearie," before HAE, as in, "Scots wha HAE wi Wallace bled."

  3. The Rebus puzzle long predates crosswords. It was even used in the middle ages for heraldry to indicate family names, like three fish for the name Salmon. The word rebus comes from the Latin, "Non verbis, sed rebus" meaning not with words but pictures.

    I thought for sure that Columbia garb: GSUIT would be graduation suit for Columbia University. Got the right answer for the wrong reason 🙂

  4. Hi Bill, hope you're having good travel and nice dinners. Did you see any Concho belts for me? ^0^
    Vidwan, I think we heard from outer space @ 4:10.
    Messed up yesterday.
    It's not free of charge…IOU looked good to me.
    Wrong.
    Had THEISt not THEISM. Finished today, but it was only luck and guesses.
    AMELIA ,NICKOLAI just guesses.

    BTW, Vidwan, I have the family Osterizer from the late 60's….. chrome base, heavy glass pitcher.
    A friend was over and we made Margaritas. When he saw it, he said, "You could probably puree ROCKS in that!"
    See y'all tomorrow.

  5. Rapidly (idiotically) filled in Amanda for "Bloomer" clue and repented at leisure. Same thing with confidently putting in rangy instead of lanky for 67 across. Doh! But all things considered, and with ink flying in strike overs, the puzzle came together. Fun was had, and that's in short supply these days. And now I return you to your regularly scheduled programming…

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