LA Times Crossword Answers 29 Oct 14, Wednesday

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Part of 10/29/14 SLASH
There are two slashes in a date such as 10/29/14.

6. With the bow, to a violist ARCO
“Arco” is a musical direction instructing a string player to return to normal bowing technique after a passage played using some other technique (perhaps pizzicato).

10. “The Godfather” novelist PUZO
The novelist and screenwriter Mario Puzo, was best known for his book “The Godfather”, which he also co-adapted for the big screen. His name is less associated with some very famous screenplays that he wrote, including “Earthquake”, “Superman” and “Superman II”.

14. Its strings are tuned in perfect fifths CELLO
The word “cello” is an abbreviation for “violoncello”, an Italian word for “little violone”, referring to a group of stringed instruments that were popular up to the end of the 17th century. The name violoncello persisted for the instrument that we know today, although the abbreviation ‘cello was often used. Nowadays we just drop the apostrophe.

16. Alternative to Windows UNIX
Unix is a computer operating system that was developed at Bell Labs in 1969.

18. Patron saint of Norway OLAF
Of the many kings of Norway named Olaf/Olav (and there have been five), Olaf II is perhaps the most celebrated as he was canonized and made patron saint of the country. Olaf II was king from 1015 to 1028 and was known as “Olaf the Big” (or Olaf the Fat) during his reign. Today he is more commonly referred to as “Olaf the Holy”. After Olaf died he was given the title of Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae, which is Latin for “Norway’s Eternal King”.

20. Classic country song with the lyric “I’ve lived my life in vain” BORN TO LOSE
“Born to Lose” is a country anthem recorded by many singers. The song was written by Ted Daffan.

24. Image handlers, for short PR MEN
Public relations (PR)

26. “Clueless” actress Donovan ELISA
Elisa Donovan is an actress from Poughkeepsie, New York. Donovan’s big break came in the film “Clueless” playing a part that she later played in the television series of the same name.

The 1995 movie “Clueless” is apparently based on Jane Austen’s “Emma”, which is a favorite novel of mine. As a result, I am going to have to check out the film. That said, “Clueless” is set in a Beverly Hills high school, so I probably should prepare myself to be disappointed …

29. Ice cream treat SUNDAE
There’s a lot of speculation about how the dessert called a sundae got its name, but there seems to be agreement that it is an alteration of the word “Sunday”.

32. L x XLVIII MMCD
50 x 48 = 2400

38. __-Locka, Florida OPA
Opa-Locka is a rather interesting city in Florida. Opa-Locka is located near Miami, and has a themed city plan that is based on “One Thousand and One Nights”. The city hall has a very Arabian look, and some examples of street names are Ali Baba Avenue and Sesame Street.

39. Manners expressed in letters PS AND QS
There isn’t really a clear derivation of the phrase “mind your Ps and Qs”, an expression meaning “mind your manners”, or “mind your language”. One story that I like is that it originated in the wonderful pubs of England. Innkeepers would watch how much their thirsty patrons consumed, recording each pint (P) and quart (Q) that was downed on a board using Ps and Qs as shorthand. The more rowdy drinkers would be asked to “mind their Ps and Qs”.

41. Queen Victoria’s realm, e.g.: Abbr. EMP
Queen Victoria ruled over the UK from 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign saw the expansion of the British Empire, especially with the incorporation of British possessions on the Indian subcontinent. Indeed, for the last quarter century of her reign, Victoria also used the title Empress of India.

42. Kibbutz teacher RABBI
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel. Kibbutzim were traditionally agriculture-based, but now are often centered around high-tech and other industrial enterprises. The first kibbutz was established in 1909 in Palestine under Ottoman rule. This kibbutz is called Degania, which now is in northern Israel.

44. Steady fellow BEAU
A beau is the boyfriend of a belle, a young lady.

45. U.K. mil. awards DSOS
The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a British military award that is usually presented to officers with the rank of Major or higher.

46. Buzzard’s grippers TALONS
The turkey vulture is also known simply as the buzzard. It is found anywhere from southern Canada right down to the southern tip of South America. The turkey vulture feeds on carrion, using its sharp eyesight and very keen sense of smell. In fact when seeking out nourishment, it flies low enough so that it can pick up the gasses given off as the body of a dead animal begins to decay.

48. Big name in appliances AMANA
The Amana Corporation takes its name from the location of its original headquarters, in Middle Amana, Iowa.

50. Les __-Unis ETATS
“Les États-Unis d’Amérique” is what French speakers call “the United States of America”.

52. California wine region SONOMA
Did you know that there are far more wine grapes produced in Sonoma than Napa? Within Sonoma County some of the more well-known appellations are Chalk Hill, Anderson Valley and Russian River Valley. Personally, when I want to visit the wine country, I head for the Russian River Valley as it’s far less crowded and much more fun than Napa Valley.

58. Writer/director known for his coming-of-age films JOHN HUGHES
John Hughes was a very successful director whose name is associated with many teen films, such as “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “The Breakfast Club”, two of my all-time favorite movies.

61. Genesis son ABEL
According to the Bible, Adam and Eve had several children, although only the first three are mentioned by name: Cain, Abel and Seth.

62. Golden rule word UNTO
The Golden Rule is also known as the ethic of reciprocity, and is a basis for the concept of human rights. A version of the rule used in the Christian tradition is attributed to Jesus: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.

63. Showy flowers, for short GLADS
The gladiolus is a perennial flower in the iris family, and is sometimes called the Sword Lily.

64. “Deadliest Catch” narrator Mike ROWE
Mike Rowe is the host of the successful reality show called “Dirty Jobs” that is broadcast by “Discovery Channel”. Rowe is also a spokesperson for Ford Motor Company in a series of television commercials. He is quite the singer too, as he sang professionally with the Baltimore Opera for a while.

67. Place for private dining? MESS
“Mess” first came into English about 1300 and described the list of food needed for a meal, from the Old French word “mes” meaning a portion of food or a course at a meal. This usage in English evolved into “mess” meaning a jumbled mass of anything from the concept of “mixed food”. At the same time, the original usage in the sense of a food for a meal surfaced again in the military in the 1500s when a “mess” was a communal eating place.

68. First name in mysteries ERLE
I must have read all of the Perry Mason books when I was in college. I think they kept me sane when I was facing the pressure of exams. Author Erle Stanley Gardner was himself a lawyer, although he didn’t get into the profession the easy way. Gardner went to law school, but got himself suspended after a month. So, he became a self-taught attorney and opened his own law office in Merced, California. Understandably, he gave up the law once his novels became successful.

69. Political essay TRACT
A tract is a political pamphlet, originally a discussion document. The name “tract” comes from the Latin verb “tractare” meaning “to discuss”.

Down
1. Picket line crossers SCABS
We first started calling strikebreakers “scabs” in the early 1800s, and before that a scab was a person who refused to join a trade union (back as early 1777). The word probably comes from the use of “scab” as a skin disease, and so is a term that is meant to insult.

2. “Bad, Bad” Brown of song LEROY
“Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” is a song written and first performed by Jim Croce, a number one hit for him in 1973.

3. A’s and Jays ALERS
The Oakland Athletics (usually “the A’s”) baseball franchise was founded back in 1901 as the Philadelphia Athletics. The team became the Kansas City Athletics in 1955 and moved to Oakland in 1968.

The Toronto Blue Jays baseball franchise was founded in 1977. The Blue Jays are the only team based outside the US to have won a World Series, doing so in 1992 and 1993. And since the Montreal Expos relocated to Washington, the Blue Jays are the only Major League Baseball team now headquartered outside of the US.

6. Missing reveille, perhaps AWOL
The Military Police (MPs) are concerned with personnel who go AWOL (Absent WithOut Leave).

“Reveille” is a trumpet call that is used to wake everyone up at sunrise. The term comes from “réveillé”, the French for “wake up”.

7. Chewy candy brand ROLO
Rolo was a hugely popular chocolate candy in Ireland when I was growing up. Rolo was introduced in the thirties in the UK, and is produced under license in the US by Hershey. I was a little disappointed when I had my first taste of the American version as the center is very hard and chewy. The recipe used on the other side of the Atlantic calls for a soft gooey center.

12. Rigatoni alternative ZITI
Cylindrical pasta is known in general as “penne”, and there are many variants. For example, ziti is a particularly large and long tube with square-cut ends.

Rigatoni is a tubular pasta that is relatively short with ridges along its length.

27. “Born From Jets” automaker SAAB
SAAB stands for Svenska Aeroplan AB, which translates into English as Swedish Aeroplane Limited. SAAB was, and still is, mainly an aircraft manufacturer. If you take small hops in Europe you might find yourself on a SAAB passenger plane. The SAAB automobile division was acquired by General Motors in the year 2000, who then sold it to a Dutch concern in 2010. However, SAAB (automotive) finally went bankrupt in 2011.

28. Sleep __ APNEA
Sleep apnea (“apnoea” in British English) can be caused by an obstruction in the airways, possibly due to obesity or enlarged tonsils.

30. Arsenal supply AMMO
Our word “arsenal” comes from the Italian “arzenale”, a work adapted from the Arabic for “workshop”. There was a large wharf in Venice called the Arzenale that became associated with the storage of weapons and ammunition, and this led to our contemporary usage of “arsenal”.

31. “Love & Basketball” actor Omar EPPS
Omar Epps is the actor who played Eric Foreman on the excellent television series “House”. Prior to playing Dr. Foreman, Epps had a recurring role playing Dr. Dennis Grant on “ER”. And, in another link to the world of medicine, Epps was born in Savannah, Georgia to single mom, Dr. Bonnie Epps.

32. Media mogul Zuckerman MORT
Mort Zuckerman is a media mogul who owns the “New York Daily News” and “US News & World Report”.

33. Film-rating org. MPAA
The Motion Picture Association of America’s (MPAA) film-rating system (R, PG-17, G etc.) is purely voluntary and is not backed by any law. Movie theaters agree to abide by the rules that come with the MPAA ratings in exchange for access to new movies.

36. Mild cheese EDAM
Edam cheese takes its name from the Dutch town of Edam in North Holland. The cheese is famous for its coating of red paraffin wax, a layer of protection that helps Edam travel well and prevents spoiling. You might occasionally come across an Edam cheese that is coated in black wax. The black color indicates that the underlying cheese has been aged for a minimum of 17 weeks.

39. Colada fruit PINA
“Piña colada” is a Spanish term which translates into “strained pineapple”. The Piña colada cocktail was introduced in the Caribe Hilton San Juan in 1954, and since 1978 it has been the official beverage of Puerto Rico. Yum …

47. Children’s hosp. co-founded by Danny Thomas ST JUDE
The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is located in Memphis, Tennessee. The hospital was founded in 1962 by the entertainer Danny Thomas, and it is named after Thomas’s patron saint.

49. Chewy candy NOUGAT
“Nougat” is an Occitan word (Occitania being a region of Southern Europe) which translates as “nut bread”.

51. Sub tracker SONAR
The British developed the first underwater detection system that used sound waves. Research was driven by defence demands during WWI, leading to production of working units in 1922. This new sound detection system was described as using “supersonics”, but for the purpose of secrecy the term was dropped in favor of an acronym. The work was done under the auspices of the Royal Navy’s Anti-Submarine Division, so ASD was combined with the IC from “superson-ic-s” to create the name ASDIC. The navy even went as far as renaming the quartz material at the heart of the technology “ASDivite”. By the time WWII came along, the Americans were producing their own systems and coined the term SONAR, playing off the related application, RADAR. And so the name ASDIC was deep-sixed …

53. “BUtterfield 8” novelist O’HARA
“BUtterfield 8” (note the capitalization of both the “B” and the “U”) is a film released in 1960 starring Elizabeth Taylor and Laurence Harvey. The title of the movie, and of the John O’Hara novel on which the film is based, is actually a telephone number. Up to the mid-sixties, telephone exchanges were given names rather than numbers. BUtterfield 8 was an exchange in the wealthy Upper East Side of Manhattan, and dialling of BU-8 was equivalent to 28-8, the first three digits of a 7-digit phone number.

57. Double-reed woodwind OBOE
The oboe is perhaps my favorite of the reed instruments. The name “oboe” comes from the French “hautbois” which means “high wood”. When you hear an orchestra tuning before a performance you’ll note (pun intended!) that the oboe starts off the process by playing an “A”. The rest of the musicians in turn tune to that oboe’s “A”.

59. Standard Web page code HTML
HTML is HyperText Markup Language, the language used to write most Internet web pages (including this one).

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Part of 10/29/14 SLASH
6. With the bow, to a violist ARCO
10. “The Godfather” novelist PUZO
14. Its strings are tuned in perfect fifths CELLO
15. Gulp (down) WOLF
16. Alternative to Windows UNIX
17. Geometric products AREAS
18. Patron saint of Norway OLAF
19. Evening, informally NITE
20. Classic country song with the lyric “I’ve lived my life in vain” BORN TO LOSE
22. Pass the welcome mat GO IN
23. Gambler’s method SYSTEM
24. Image handlers, for short PR MEN
26. “Clueless” actress Donovan ELISA
29. Ice cream treat SUNDAE
32. L x XLVIII MMCD
35. Support for a weak joint TAPE
37. Deforestation remnant STUMP
38. __-Locka, Florida OPA
39. Manners expressed in letters PS AND QS
41. Queen Victoria’s realm, e.g.: Abbr. EMP
42. Kibbutz teacher RABBI
44. Steady fellow BEAU
45. U.K. mil. awards DSOS
46. Buzzard’s grippers TALONS
48. Big name in appliances AMANA
50. Les __-Unis ETATS
52. California wine region SONOMA
56. Newsletter choice FONT
58. Writer/director known for his coming-of-age films JOHN HUGHES
61. Genesis son ABEL
62. Golden rule word UNTO
63. Showy flowers, for short GLADS
64. “Deadliest Catch” narrator Mike ROWE
65. Not quite dry DAMP
66. Eagle’s hideaway AERIE
67. Place for private dining? MESS
68. First name in mysteries ERLE
69. Political essay TRACT

Down
1. Picket line crossers SCABS
2. “Bad, Bad” Brown of song LEROY
3. A’s and Jays ALERS
4. Not on the level SLANTED
5. Inexpensive lodging HOSTEL
6. Missing reveille, perhaps AWOL
7. Chewy candy brand ROLO
8. Purse fastener CLASP
9. Bids OFFERS
10. Strong-smelling PUNGENT
11. Deduction on many paychecks UNION DUES
12. Rigatoni alternative ZITI
13. Field team OXEN
21. Drops OMITS
25. Rumple, with “up” MUSS
27. “Born From Jets” automaker SAAB
28. Sleep __ APNEA
30. Arsenal supply AMMO
31. “Love & Basketball” actor Omar EPPS
32. Media mogul Zuckerman MORT
33. Film-rating org. MPAA
34. 24/7 information provider CABLE NEWS
36. Mild cheese EDAM
39. Colada fruit PINA
40. Suppress QUASH
43. Pop holders BOTTLES
45. Pendant earring, say DANGLER
47. Children’s hosp. co-founded by Danny Thomas ST JUDE
49. Chewy candy NOUGAT
51. Sub tracker SONAR
53. “BUtterfield 8” novelist O’HARA
54. Physician at the front MEDIC
55. It’s a good thing ASSET
56. Growing concern? FARM
57. Double-reed woodwind OBOE
59. Standard Web page code HTML
60. “You wish” NOPE

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