LA Times Crossword Answers 20 Sep 14, Saturday

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CROSSWORD SETTER: Brad Wilber
THEME: None
BILL BUTLER’S COMPLETION TIME: 18m 50s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across

1. Pirate inducted at Cooperstown in 1988 STARGELL
Willie Stargell was a professional baseball player with Pittsburgh Pirates from 1962 to 1982. Stargell was known as a big hitter, and at one time held the record for the longest homer in almost half of the ballparks in the National League. He still holds the record for the longest homer at Dodger Stadium, measured at 507 feet.

17. Auto safety feature HEADREST
Studies have apparently shown that cars with integral headrests reduce injuries by 17%, whereas cars with adjustable headrests reduce injuries by only 10%. The conclusion is that almost half of the adjustable headrests in use are improperly positioned.

18. Capital with an Algonquin name OTTAWA
Ottawa is the second largest city in the Province of Ontario (after Toronto) and is the capital city of Canada. The name “Ottawa” comes from an Algonquin word “adawe” which means “to trade”.

20. Many a jayvee athlete SOPH
The term “sophomore” has been used for a student in the second year of university since the 1680’s. The original meaning of the word was “arguer”. The term has Greek roots, from two Greek words that have been artificially combined in English. The Greek “sophos” means “wise”, and “moros” means “foolish”.

Junior varsity (JV)

“Varsity” is an adjective used to describe a university or school team or competition. “Varsity” is a variant of the earlier term “versity” used in the late 17th century, which was a shortened form of “university”.

22. Org. with an online Patriot Index DAR
In order to be a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), an applicant has to prove that she is a descendant of someone closely associated with, and supportive of, the American Revolution. The DAR maintains an online database of Revolutionary War patriots. The database is searchable, and is known as the Patriot Index.

26. Barnyard cries BRAYS
A “bray” is the sound a donkey. Hee-haw!

28. Much of the New Testament is attributed to him PAUL
According to the Bible, Saint Paul was an apostle, although he was not one of the original Twelve Apostles. Paul is said to have written 14 of the 27 books in the Christian New Testament.

29. Longtime Ivory rival LIFEBUOY
The Lifebuoy brand of soap was first produced in England in 1895. Famously in the 1920s, Lifebuoy had a campaign using the Philadelphia Phillies name. One of the advertisements on a wall at the Baker Bowl (former home to the Phillies) proclaimed “The Phillies use Lifebuoy”. Someone defaced the advertisement by adding the words “… and they still stink!” Witty!

Ivory soap is one of Procter & Gambles oldest products, introduced way back in 1879. Ivory soap is noted for its “purity” and also because of its property of floating in water. Despite urban myths to the contrary, the property of floating in water was developed deliberately by a chemist at the time Ivory was being formulated. The soap floats because the ingredients are mixed longer than necessary for homogenization, which introduces more air into the product.

31. 11-Down skill CPR
(11D. 31-Across pro EMT)
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has for decades involved the simultaneous compression of the chest to pump blood using the heart, and artificial respiration by blowing air into the lungs. Nowadays emergency services are placing more emphasis on heart compressions, and less on artificial respiration.

32. Ins. giant AIG
AIG is the American International Group, a giant insurance corporation (or I should say, “was”). After repeated bailouts by American taxpayers, the company made some serious PR blunders by spending large amounts of money on executive entertainment and middle management rewards. These included a $444,000 California retreat, an $86,000 hunting trip in England, and a $343,000 getaway to a luxury resort in Phoenix. Poor judgment, I’d say …

33. Citrus whose juice is used in Asian cuisine YUZU
Yuzu is a citrus plant and fruit that is native to East Asia. The flavor of the yuzu fruit is said to resemble that of a grapefruit, with a hint of mandarin orange.

36. Brno natives CZECHS
Brno is the second largest city in the Czech Republic (after Prague).

40. 1960s role for Bamboo Harvester MR ED
“Mister Ed” first aired in 1961 and ran for almost five years. It was a very successful show (and even made it to Ireland!). Mister Ed, the talking horse, was a palomino that had the real name of Bamboo Harvester. Mister Ed’s “voice” was that of actor Allan “Rocky” Lane, a star of a lot of B-movie westerns from the forties and fifties. In the show, Mister Ed would only talk to the lead (human) character Wilbur, played by Alan Young, leading to some hilarious situations. Mister Ed had a stunt double and stand-in for the show, another horse called Pumpkin. Pumpkin later played the horse that made frequent appearances on the show “Green Acres”.

44. Requiem Mass segment DIES IRAE
“Dies Irae” is Latin for “Day of Wrath”. It is the name of a famous melody in Gregorian Chant, one that is often used as part of the Roman Catholic Requiem Mass.

46. “The Phantom Tollbooth” protagonist MILO
“The Phantom Tollbooth” is described as a modern fairy tale, and is a children’s adventure novel by Norton Juster, first published in 1961. The novel tells of a young boy called Milo who drives through a magic tollbooth in his toy car, after which he experiences many adventures.

47. Loin cut T-BONE
The T-bone and porterhouse are related cuts of meat, with the latter being a larger version of the former, and both being cut from the short loin.

49. Words of resignation C’EST LA VIE
“C’est la vie” is French for “that’s life”.

51. URL ending ORG
The .org domain was one of the six original generic top-level domains specified. The complete original list is:

– .com (commercial enterprise)
– .net (entity involved in network infrastructure e.g. an ISP)
– .mil (US military)
– .org (not-for-profit organization)
– .gov (US federal government entity)
– .edu (college-level educational institution)

54. Heroine with notable buns LEIA
Princess Leia is Luke Skywalker’s sister in the original “Star Wars” trilogy and was played by Carrie Fisher. Carrie Fisher has stated that she hated the famous “cinnamon bun hairstyle” that she had to wear in the films, as she felt it made her face look too round. She also had to to sit for two hours every day just to get her hair styled. Two hours to get your hair done? It takes me just two seconds …

55. Pungent condiment WASABI
Sometimes called Japanese horseradish, wasabi is a root used as a condiment in Japanese cooking. The taste of wasabi is more like mustard than a hot pepper in that the vapors that create the “hotness” stimulate the nasal passages rather than the tongue. Personally, I love the stuff …

62. Like the trade winds EASTERLY
The trade winds are the winds found in the tropics that blow predominantly from the east (from the northeast above the equator, and from the southeast below). Although the trade winds were crucial during the age of sail, allowing the European empires to grow and prosper, the use of the term “trade” had nothing to do with commerce. Rather, the name “trade” was a Middle English word that meant “path, track”, a reference to the predictable courses used by the sailing vessels. It was from these favorable “trade” winds that we began to associate commerce with the term “trade”.

64. Stop and go, say ANTONYMS
An antonym is an “anti-synonym”. A synonym is word having the same sense as another, and an antonym the opposite. For example, “love” is an antonym of “hate”, and “stop” is an antonym of “go”.

Down
1. Ivy, e.g.: Abbr. SCH
The term “Ivy League” originally defined an athletic conference, but now it is used to describe a group of schools of higher education that are associated with both a long tradition and academic excellence. The eight Ivy League Schools are: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale.

2. Part of Italy where Calabria is, figuratively TOE
Calabria is a region in southern Italy that forms the geographic “toe” of the boot-shaped Italian Peninsula. Calabria was home to the Itali tribe, and the Greeks gave the name “Italia” to the region, a name which extended over time to the whole peninsula.

3. Curtis Cup contenders AMATEURS
The Curtis Cup is a team competition played by women amateur golfers from the US, and Great Britain and Ireland. The inaugural Curtis Cup match was played at the Wentworth Club in England in 1932. The cup itself was donated by sisters Harriot and Margaret Curtis, two American golfers who had both won the US Women’s Amateur competition. The trophy bears the inscription “To stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands.”

5. Hurt in a ring GORED
A bullfighter might be gored in a bullring.

6. Moles may cross them ENEMY LINES
A mole is a spy who works from within the ranks of an enemy’s government of intelligence service.

7. West Point grads: Abbr. LTS
West Point is a military reservation in New York State, located north of New York City. West Point was first occupied by the Continental Army way back in 1778, making it the longest, continually-occupied military post in the country. Cadet training has taken place at the garrison since 1794, although Congress funding for a US Military Academy (USMA) didn’t start until 1802.

10. Performer in every episode of “Laugh-In” RUTH BUZZI
The hilarious Ruth Buzzi is a comedian and comic actress best known for her appearances on TV’s “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” in the late sixties and early seventies. In fact, Buzzi was the only one of the “Laugh-In” cast to appear in every episode, including the pilot and television special. Perhaps most famously on the show, Buzzi played the woman who was subject to the unwilling advances of the “dirty old man” played by Arte Johnson.

13. Super Bowl XXXIII MVP ELWAY
Former quarterback John Elway played his entire professional football career with the Denver Broncos. Elway now works as the executive vice president for football operations with the Broncos, which means he works for the team president directly, and that head coach John Fox reports to Elway. Elway was the oldest player ever to be named MVP in a Super Bowl game, being so honored in Super Bowl XXXIII in the 1998 season after the Bronco’s victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

14. Drops during lows TEARS
When one is feeling low, one might shed a few teardrops.

23. Employer of vets: Abbr. SPCA
Unlike in most developed countries, there is no “umbrella” organization in the US with the goal of preventing cruelty to animals. Instead there are independent organizations set up all over the nation using the name SPCA. Having said that, there is an organization called the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) that was originally intended to operate across the country, but really it now focuses its efforts in New York City.

“Vet” is an abbreviation for “veterinarian”, a professional who treat animals for disease and injury. The word “veterinary” comes from the Latin “veterinae” meaning “working animals, beasts of burden”.

24. Four-note piece TAPS
“Taps” is played nightly by the US military, indicating “lights out”. It’s also known as “Butterfield’s Lullaby” as it is a variation of an older bugle call named the “Scott Tattoo”, arranged during the Civil War by the Union Army’s Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield. The tune is called “taps”, from the notion of drum taps, as it was originally played on a drum, and only later on a bugle. The whole tune comprises just 24 notes, with there only being four different notes within the 24 i.e. “low G”, C, E and “high G”. Minimalism at its best …

25. It may be up JIG
Back in Elizabethan times, a “jig” was a trick or game. So, the expression “the jig is up” has for some time meant “the trick or game is exposed”.

27. Casanova 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.

Giacomo Casanova was an 18th century adventurer from Venice. We know so much about him, and his reputation as a womanizer, because he left us his autobiography “Histoire de ma vie” (Story of My Life). A guy recounting stories of his love life and conquests. All true, I am sure …

30. One might include “Go skydiving” BUCKET LIST
“The Bucket List” is a 2007 film starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as two men who have terminal illnesses. The pair go on a road trip with a “wish list” of things they want to do before “kicking the bucket”, hence the name of the movie. I personally think that it is remarkably impressive how quickly the term “bucket list” has come to be accepted in the American vernacular.

37. Knight life ideal CHIVALRY
The ideal qualities found in a knight are collectively described as “chivalry”, and include courtesy, generosity, valor and skill with a sword. The term comes into English via the Old French “chevaler” meaning “knight”.

39. Braking system component SHOE
The drum brake was invented in 1902 by Louis Renault (founder of Renault, the automobile company). In a drum brake, there is a set of brake shoes that usually presses on the inner surface of the drum to slow down rotation. Nowadays, the disc brake system is more popular, a design which uses brake pads instead of brake shoes.

41. Ones spotted in casinos DICE
The numbers on dice are arranged so that the opposite faces add up to seven. Given this arrangement, the numbers 1, 2 and 3 all meet at a common vertex. There are two ways of arranging the 1, 2 and 3 around the common vertex, a so called right-handed die (clockwise 1-2-3) or a left-handed die (counterclockwise 1-2-3). Traditionally, dice used in Western cultures are right-handed, whereas Chinese dice are left-handed. Quite interesting …

42. Carrier to Copenhagen SAS
SAS was formerly known as Scandinavian Airlines System and is the flag carrier of three countries: Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Copenhagen is the largest city and the capital of Denmark. I have never visited Copenhagen, but I hear it is a wonderful metropolis with a marvelous quality of life. The city is also very environmentally friendly, with over a third of its population commuting to work by bicycle.

44. Lallygags DOGS IT
To lollygag (also “lallygag”) is to dawdle, to dally.

“To dog it” is a slang term (unknown to me outside of crosswords) meaning to not expend the effort necessary to accomplish a task.

45. Site with an important part in a 1956 film? RED SEA
The Red Sea (sometimes called the Arabian Gulf) is a stretch of water lying between Africa and Asia. The Gulf of Suez (and the Suez Canal) lies to north, and the Gulf of Aden to the south. According to the Book of Exodus in the Bible, God parted the Red Sea to allow Moses lead the Israelites from Egypt.

“The Ten Commandments” is an epic movie directed by Cecil B. DeMille, and released in 1956. The cast is as epic as the film, with Charlton Heston playing the starring role of Moses.

47. Specifically TO WIT
The verb “to wit” means “to know”. The verb really isn’t used anymore except in the phrase “to wit” meaning “that is to say, namely”.

50. Measures taken slowly? LENTO
A lento passage is a piece of music that has a slow tempo.

Musical scores are divided into “measures”, although on the other side of the Atlantic the term “bar” is used instead of “measure”.

56. Rats along the Rhine? ACH!
The German exclamation “ach!” is usually translated into English as “oh!”

The river running through Europe that we know in English as the Rhine, is called “Rhein” in German, “Rhin” in French and “Rijn” in Dutch.

58. Peaked WAN
The adjective “peaked” can mean “sickly-looking”. The term comes from the obsolete verb “to peak” meaning “to look sickly”. Both words possibly come from the more common usage of “to peak” i.e. to become pointed, the idea being that one’s features might become pointed through emaciation.

59. London’s earliest water pipes were made with it ELM
Water pipes made from lead were used for centuries, as far back as Ancient Rome, and are still very common. However, lead has fallen out of favor as lead-related health problems can ensue. During the 16th and 17th centuries, wooden water pipes were used, most notably in London (where they were made from elm). Early wooden pipes were bored out logs, whereas later wooden pipes were similar to barrels, made with staves and hoops.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Pirate inducted at Cooperstown in 1988 STARGELL
9. Tuning shortcut PRESET
15. Try to pick up COME ONTO
16. Make wrinkly RUMPLE
17. Auto safety feature HEADREST
18. Capital with an Algonquin name OTTAWA
19. Abound TEEM
20. Many a jayvee athlete SOPH
22. Org. with an online Patriot Index DAR
23. Loan applicant’s asset STEADY JOB
26. Barnyard cries BRAYS
28. Much of the New Testament is attributed to him PAUL
29. Longtime Ivory rival LIFEBUOY
31. 11-Down skill CPR
32. Ins. giant AIG
33. Citrus whose juice is used in Asian cuisine YUZU
34. Give as a task ASSIGN
36. Brno natives CZECHS
40. 1960s role for Bamboo Harvester MR ED
42. Word with run or jump SKI
43. Self-satisfied sound HEH
44. Requiem Mass segment DIES IRAE
46. “The Phantom Tollbooth” protagonist MILO
47. Loin cut T-BONE
49. Words of resignation C’EST LA VIE
51. URL ending ORG
52. Did a sendup of APED
54. Heroine with notable buns LEIA
55. Pungent condiment WASABI
57. Took for a ride SWINDLED
61. Standoffish type ICICLE
62. Like the trade winds EASTERLY
63. Hitching post attachment TETHER
64. Stop and go, say ANTONYMS

Down
1. Ivy, e.g.: Abbr. SCH
2. Part of Italy where Calabria is, figuratively TOE
3. Curtis Cup contenders AMATEURS
4. Bridge do-over REDEAL
5. Hurt in a ring GORED
6. Moles may cross them ENEMY LINES
7. West Point grads: Abbr. LTS
8. Much LOTS OF
9. Hold (up) PROP
10. Performer in every episode of “Laugh-In” RUTH BUZZI
11. 31-Across pro EMT
12. Relaxing outing SPA DAY
13. Super Bowl XXXIII MVP ELWAY
14. Drops during lows TEARS
21. Jump, in a way OBEY
23. Employer of vets: Abbr. SPCA
24. Four-note piece TAPS
25. It may be up JIG
27. Casanova ROUE
30. One might include “Go skydiving” BUCKET LIST
32. Accommodating AGREEABLE
35. Hacker’s cry I’M IN!
37. Knight life ideal CHIVALRY
38. Port opener HELI-
39. Braking system component SHOE
41. Ones spotted in casinos DICE
42. Carrier to Copenhagen SAS
44. Lallygags DOGS IT
45. Site with an important part in a 1956 film? RED SEA
46. Winless horse MAIDEN
47. Specifically TO WIT
48. Reinforce BRACE
50. Measures taken slowly? LENTO
53. Seaside strolling spot PIER
56. Rats along the Rhine? ACH!
58. Peaked WAN
59. London’s earliest water pipes were made with it ELM
60. Beginning to function? DYS-

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5 thoughts on “LA Times Crossword Answers 20 Sep 14, Saturday”

  1. I think my pen almost ran dry with the number of write overs it was called on to finally finish today's puzzle. A challenge without a doubt. That lower right hand corner bedeviled me for the longest time. But finally it came together after I figured out "chivalry" for 37 down (and that only got solved because I suddenly had one of those "aha" moments for 49 Across "Words of resignation"

    Hope everyone has a great weekend. I'm here at my wife's store waiting to see who might wander in and buy something while I have one dog on my lap and two new puppies crashed out on the floor around my feet. Chaos reigns these days…but very cute chaos.

  2. Hello all –

    Not bad for a Saturday. Not a lot of obscure historical or geographical references (I actually like those), but it was very tricky. You really couldn't google your way out of much of this puzzle.

    I had the same aha moment as Tony, but I got chivalry first and then "aha-ed" cest la vie.

    I loved the show Laugh-In as a kid and always like it when it shows up in crosswords.

    I vaguely remember an old Lifebuoy commercial with some guy in a toy boat, but it was enough to get the answer on that one. Then again maybe I was just thinking of the Tidy Bowl man…

    Best

  3. I agree with Jeff. Not terrible for a Saturday. I'm a bit young for Rowan & Martin, but I certainly remember Ruth Buzzi from the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts.

    ROUE is a new word for me. My female cousins are eligible for membership in DAR, I've traced multiple ancestors back to the colonies. Cheers!

  4. @Willie D – There is an SAR.

    Write-overs, Googles, then here for the truth. Deefeecult for me, as Senor Wences would say. Speaking of oldies.

    BTW – for short people, head rests are not helpful. Instead of fitting into the nape, they hit the top of the skull.

  5. Had to chime in.
    Took the puzzle in the car and to a boring graduation ceremony.
    ICICLE, DOGS IT, HELI, MILO
    did me in.
    Pretty smug (HEH?????) that I got the C'EST LA VIE.
    Could not see CHIVALRY to save my soul.
    My advice is to always take the crossword to commencement and hide it in your program. ^0^

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