LA Times Crossword Answers 27 Apr 13, Saturday

CROSSWORD SETTER: Brad Wilber
THEME: None
COMPLETION TIME: 19m 07s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Protocol RUBRIC
In Medieval illuminated manuscripts, sections of text that are highlighted in red ink are known as rubrics. Often a rubric would be seen at the top of a page, and we tend to use the term “rubric” for a title or a name. “Rubric” comes from the Latin “rubrica”, the red ocher used in making the red pigment used in ink. “Rubric” has evolved to mean an authoritative rule or direction.

7. Dupe CAT’S-PAW
The use of the term “cat’s-paw” to mean a dupe derives from an old folk tale in which a monkey tricks a cat into pawing chestnuts from a fire. The monkey gets the chestnuts, and cat gets a burnt paw.

15. Script used to transcribe foreign words into Japanese KATAKANA
Katakana is a Japanese writing system (a kana) that is primarily used to write foreign words or official documents.

16. Low-tech calculator ABACUS
The abacus was used as a counting frame long before man had invented a numbering system. It is a remarkable invention, particularly when one notes that abaci are still widely used today across Africa and Asia.

18. Drop shots, in badminton DINKS
The game of badminton was developed in the mid-1700s by British military officers in India. There was already an old game called battledore and shuttlecock, so the creation of badminton was essentially the addition of a net and boundary lines for play. The game was launched officially as a sport in 1873 at Badminton House in Gloucestershire in England, giving it the name that we now use.

19. Nearsighted one MYOPE
A myope is someone suffering from myopia, short-sightedness.

22. “Daniel Deronda” (1876) was her last novel ELIOT
George Eliot was the pen name of English novelist Mary Anne Evans. As one might think, Evans chose a male pen name in order that her work might be best appreciated in the Victorian era. Eliot wrote seven novels including “Adam Bede” (1859), “The Mill on the Floss” (1860), “Silas Marner” (1861) and “Middlemarch” (1871-72).

24. Regatta racer SCULL
A scull is a boat used for competitive rowing. The main hull of the boat is often referred to as a shell.

26. Osiris’ sis ISIS
Isis was the ancient Egyptian goddess of fertility, as well as the protector of the dead and the goddess of children.

Osiris was the Egyptian god of the underworld. Osiris was the son of Geb the Earth god, and Nut the sky goddess. His wife Isis was also his sister …

30. Choir section APSE
The apse of a church or cathedral is a semicircular recess in an outer wall, usually with a half-dome as a roof and often where there resides an altar. Originally apses were used as burial places for the clergy and also for storage of important relics.

33. Legal extremes? ELS
There are letters L (els) at the ends (extremes) of the word “legal”.

35. He plays Andy Bernard on “The Office” ED HELMS
The comedic actor Ed Helms got his big break in television on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show”, after which he joined the cast of “The Office”. Helms is now making a name for himself on the big screen. Notably he co-stars in the “The Hangover” series of films.

41. City where the first koala sanctuary opened BRISBANE
Brisbane is the capital city of the state of Queensland, Australia. Brisbane is named for the Brisbane River that flows through the city. The river in turn is named for Scotsman Sir Thomas Brisbane who was the Governor of New South Wales in the 1820s. General Douglas MacArthur made Brisbane his headquarters after being forced out of the Philippines during WWII.

42. Term paper abbr. IBID
Ibid. is short for the Latin word “ibidem” and is typically found in footnotes and bibliographies. Ibid. is used to refer the reader to the prior citation, instead of giving the same information all over again (title, author etc.).

47. 14-time A.L. All-Star A-ROD
Poor old Alex Rodriguez earned more nicknames than just A-Rod. He has been called “the Cooler” by some players as there is a perception that teams go cold when he joins them and hot when he leaves. He has also been called “A-Fraud” by teammates because of another perception, that he is over-demanding.

56. It was once called Mission San Antonio de Valero ALAMO
The famous Alamo in San Antonio, Texas was originally known as Mission San Antonio de Valero. The mission was founded in 1718 and was the first mission established in the city. The Battle of the Alamo took place in 1836, a thirteen-day siege by the Mexican Army led by President General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Only two people defending the Alamo Mission survived the onslaught. One month later, the Texian army got its revenge by attacking and defeating the Mexican Army in the Battle of San Jacinto. During the surprise attack on Santa Anna’s camp, many of the Texian soldiers were heard to cry “Remember the Alamo!”.

58. Underwater escape mechanism SQUID 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.

60. Stories on stands ALIBIS
“Alibi” is the Latin word for “elsewhere” as in, “I claim that I was ‘elsewhere’ when the crime was committed … I have an ‘alibi'”.

62. Slim and trim SVELTE
“Svelte” comes into English from Latin, via the Italian “svelto” meaning “stretched out”. As if I would know anything about svelte …

63. Ritual candelabrum MENORAH
There is a seven-branched menorah used symbolically in ancient temples. However, the Hanukkah menorah is a nine-branched lampstand that is lit during the eight-day holiday called Hanukkah. “Menorah” is the Hebrew word for “lamp”.

Down
3. Flatter in a cajoling way BLANDISH
“To blandish” is to coax using flattery.

4. Pool convenience RACK
The more correct name for the game of pool is pocket billiards. The name “pool” arose after pocket billiards became a common feature in “pool halls”, places where gamblers “pooled” their money to bet on horse races.

6. Some investments, briefly CDS
A certificate of deposit is like a less-flexible and higher-paying savings account. Instead of depositing money into a savings account and earning interest periodically, one can open a CD. With a CD one deposits a minimum amount of money but must leave it there for a specified length of time. In return for committing the funds for a fixed period, one is given a higher interest rate than a savings account and can redeem that interest and the initial deposit when the term has expired. CDs are relatively low-risk investments as they are FDIC insured, just like savings accounts.

7. Writer who said “All literature is gossip” CAPOTE
Truman Capote grew up in Monroeville, Alabama. There he met, and became lifelong friends with fellow novelist, Harper Lee. Capote was the inspiration for the character “Dill” in Lee’s celebrated work “To Kill a Mockingbird”. In turn, Harper Lee was the inspiration behind the character “Idabel” in Capote’s “Other Voices, Other Rooms”.

9. Campaign hot button TAXES
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was set up during the Civil War to raise money to cover war expenses. Prior to the introduction of income tax in 1862, the government was funded by levies on trade and property.

15. It has an all-white scale KEY OF C
In the world of music, the key of C major has no flats or sharps.

23. Chem test paper? LITMUS
Litmus is a mixture of naturally-occurring dyes that responds to acidity by changing color. Litmus has been around a long time, first used around 1300 by the Spanish alchemist Arnaldus de Villa Nova.

25. Fruit named for a Turkish town CASABA
A casaba is type of honeydew melon. The casaba takes its name from the Turkish city of Kasaba, from where the fruit was imported into America in the late 1800s.

27. Maker of small suits SPEEDO
Speedo brand swimwear was first produced in Australia in 1928, by a hosiery company that wanted to diversify. The brand name was chosen after a slogan competition among employees was won by “Speed on in your Speedos”. It was a long time ago, I guess …

34. Porter’s “__ Girls” LES
“Les Girls” is a 1957 MGM musical that was scored by Cole Porter. Stars of the film are Gene Kelly and Mitzi Gaynor.

41. Tolerates BROOKS
“To brook” and “to abide” both mean to tolerate, to put up with.

42. Penn movie with a Seussian title I AM SAM
“I Am Sam” is a 2001 drama movie starring Sean Penn. Penn plays a man with a developmental disability who is raising a young daughter alone after her mother abandoned the family.

43. Cubism pioneer Georges BRAQUE
In the art movement known as Cubism, objects which are the subject of a painting are broken up and reassembled in an abstract form. The pioneers of the Cubist movement were Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.

46. Statue base PLINTH
A plinth is a block on which a column is based. The Greek word “plinthos” means “squared stone”.

49. Straphanger RIDER
“Straphanger” is a slang term for someone who rides the subway or a bus i.e. stands in the vehicle hanging onto a strap for balance.

51. 21-gun salute, e.g. SALVO
A salvo is a simultaneous discharge of guns. Ironically, “salvo” comes from the Latin “salve” meaning “be in good health”. Salvo was originally the name given to the firing of guns in the air as a sign of respect or greeting for an important visitor. Good health!

55. Actress Merrill of “Operation Petticoat” DINA
Dina Merrill was in 22 movies, including two of my favorites: “Desk Set” with Tracy & Hepburn, and “Operation Petticoat” with Cary Grant. Nowadays, Merrill carries some sway in the business world. Until 2007 she was on the compensation committee of Lehman Brothers, the merry band that approved all those big bonuses. Ms. Merrill probably doesn’t talk too much these days about that aspect of her life!

“Operation Petticoat” is a fabulous 1959 comedy film set in WWII starring Cary Grant and Tony Curtis. The USS Sea Tiger submarine picks up five nurses in the Philippines, and hilarity ensues …

57. Bank security LIEN
A lien is the right that one has to retain or secure someone’s property until a debt is paid.

59. Bit of blogger shorthand IMO
In my opinion (IMO).

Return to top of page

For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Protocol RUBRIC
7. Dupe CAT’S-PAW
14. Where seals are their least graceful ON LAND
15. Script used to transcribe foreign words into Japanese KATAKANA
16. Low-tech calculator ABACUS
17. Modeling job? EPOXYING
18. Drop shots, in badminton DINKS
19. Nearsighted one MYOPE
20. Was into DUG
21. Low SAD
22. “Daniel Deronda” (1876) was her last novel ELIOT
24. Regatta racer SCULL
26. Osiris’ sis ISIS
28. Speculate INFER
30. Choir section APSE
31. Wielding absolute power DESPOTIC
33. Legal extremes? ELS
35. He plays Andy Bernard on “The Office” ED HELMS
36. Tool that’s swung CLEAVER
40. Letters in a prof’s email address EDU
41. City where the first koala sanctuary opened BRISBANE
42. Term paper abbr. IBID
45. Wild outing SPREE
47. 14-time A.L. All-Star A-ROD
48. Collection of plates ARMOR
50. Isn’t industrious LOAFS
52. Tag for some as-is mdse. IRR
53. Legend site MAP
54. Get one’s goat, e.g. IDIOM
56. It was once called Mission San Antonio de Valero ALAMO
58. Underwater escape mechanism SQUID INK
60. Stories on stands ALIBIS
61. Enhances AUGMENTS
62. Slim and trim SVELTE
63. Ritual candelabrum MENORAH
64. Cutie pies HONEYS

Down
1. Farm stand spot ROADSIDE
2. Neutral UNBIASED
3. Flatter in a cajoling way BLANDISH
4. Pool convenience RACK
5. Taken IN USE
6. Some investments, briefly CDS
7. Writer who said “All literature is gossip” CAPOTE
8. Perched on ATOP
9. Campaign hot button TAXES
10. Word with jack or box SKY
11. Settled PAID UP
12. Cancels ANNULS
13. Part of some golfers’ pre-shot routines WAGGLE
15. It has an all-white scale KEY OF C
19. They show a lot of leg MINIS
23. Chem test paper? LITMUS
25. Fruit named for a Turkish town CASABA
27. Maker of small suits SPEEDO
29. A pitcher may appear in it RELIEF
32. Unlike spring chickens OLD
34. Porter’s “__ Girls” LES
36. Stationery shade CREAM
37. Algebraic uncertainty VARIABLE
38. Unfathomable size ENORMITY
39. Wooer’s buy RED ROSES
41. Tolerates BROOKS
42. Penn movie with a Seussian title I AM SAM
43. Cubism pioneer Georges BRAQUE
44. Call into question IMPUGN
46. Statue base PLINTH
49. Straphanger RIDER
51. 21-gun salute, e.g. SALVO
55. Actress Merrill of “Operation Petticoat” DINA
57. Bank security LIEN
59. Bit of blogger shorthand IMO
60. It may be tapped off ASH


Return to top of page