LA Times Crossword Answers 15 Jan 14, Wednesday

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
6. Raul Castro’s country CUBA
Raul Castro is the younger brother of Fidel Castro. Raul has been President of Cuba since 2008, when Fidel stepped aside.

14. Sheeplike OVINE
The Latin word for “sheep” is “ovis”, giving us the adjective “ovine”, meaning “like a sheep”.

16. Lily variety ARUM
Arum lily and calla lily are common names for the flowering plant genus Zantedeschia. Zantedeschia species contain calcium oxalate, making them very poisonous.

17. Give birth to a baby elephant, say CALVE
The gestation period for elephants is around two years, with only one calf being born at a time, and rarely two. The newborn calf weighs about 260 pounds. Female elephants become secually mature at about nine years of age, whereas males mature at 14-15 years. Typically, elephants live to 60 or 70 years old, with at least captive male reported to have lived for 86 years.

18. *Broadcaster of many TV games FOX SPORTS (giving “fox terrier”)
There are two breeds of fox terrier, one being the smooth fox terrier and the other the wire fox terrier. The difference between the two is the smoothness of the coat. All purebred fox terriers can be traced back to three dogs who were living in 1870, named Old Jock, Trap and Tartar.

22. Mink kin STOAT
Ermine is another name for the stoat. The stoat has dark brown fur in the summer, and white fur in the winter. Sometimes the term “ermine” is reserved for the animal during the winter when the fur is white. Ermine skins have long been prized by royalty and are often used for white trim on ceremonial robes.

There are two species of mink extant, the European Mink and the American Mink. There used to be a Sea Mink which was much larger than its two cousins, but it was hunted to extinction (for its fur) in the late 1800s. American Minks are farmed over in Europe for fur, and animal rights activists have released many of these animals into the wild when raiding mink farms. As a result the European Mink population has declined due to the presence of its larger and more adaptable American cousin.

36. “The Treasure of the __ Madre” SIERRA
“The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” is a 1927 novel by German novelist B. Traven. The book was made into a famous 1948 movie of the same name by John Huston, starring Humphrey Bogart and Walter Huston (director John’s father).

38. __ Balls: Hostess treats SNO
The Hostess cakes called Sno Balls are usually pink in color, although in its original form each packet of two cakes contained one white and one pink. Around Halloween you can buy Sno Balls in the form of Scary Cakes and Glo Balls that are colored orange and green. and on St. Paddy’s Day there’s a green one available. Yoo hoo!

39. Dog breed, a type of which begins the answers to starred clues TERRIER
Most terrier breeds of dog originated in the British Isles. Terriers were developed as working dogs, with the job of controlling populations of rats, rabbits and foxes by rooting them out above and below the ground. The name “terrier” comes via Middle French from the the Latin “terra” meaning “earth”, a reflection of the breeds habit of burrowing into the earth looking for its prey.

46. __ sax ALTO
The saxophone was invented by Belgian Adolphe Sax. Sax developed lip cancer at one point in his life, and one has to wonder if his affliction was related to his saxophone playing (I am sure not!). I had the privilege of visiting Sax’s grave in the Cemetery of Montmartre in Paris a few years ago.

48. Lode deposits ORES
A lode is a metal ore deposit that’s found between two layers of rock or in a fissure.

49. Greg’s sitcom wife DHARMA
“Dharma & Greg” is a sitcom that aired from 1997 to 2002 on ABC. Greg and Dharma are a couple that married on their first date, despite being exact opposites in personality and upbringing.

56. Nancy Drew, e.g. SLEUTH
The “Nancy Drew” mystery stories were produced by the Stratemeyer Syndicate. The founder of the Syndicate hired a team of writers to produce the “Nancy Drew” novels, but listed the author of each book as the fictional Carolyn Keene.

59. *Seemingly unfitting name for Wrigley Field vines BOSTON IVY (giving “Boston terrier”)
The famous ballpark that is home to the Chicago Cubs was built in 1914. Back then it was known as Weeghman Park, before becoming Cubs Park when the Cubs arrived in 1920. It was given the name Wrigley Field in 1926, after the owner William Wrigley, Jr. of chewing gum fame. Wrigley Field is noted as the only professional ballpark that has ivy covering the outfield walls. The ivy is a combination of Boston Ivy and Japanese Bittersweet, both of which can survive the harsh winters in Chicago.

The Boston terrier breed of dog did indeed originate in Boston, around 1870. The breed is the result of combining bulldog and terrier breeds with French bulldogs. The Boston terrier was in fact the first non-sporting dog breed to come out of the US.

63. British Columbia neighbor IDAHO
Idaho has the nickname the Gem State, mainly because almost every known type of gemstone has been found there. Idaho is also sometimes called the Potato State as potatoes are such a popular crop in the state.

The Canadian province of British Columbia is in the Pacific Northwest. The British referred to the territory drained by the Columbia River as the “Columbia District”. Queen Victoria chose the name “British Columbia” for that section of the Columbia District that fell under British control. The remainder of the Columbia District was referred to as “American Columbia” or “Southern Columbia”, which became the Oregon Territory in 1848.

64. Jim Davis pooch ODIE
Odie is Garfield’s best friend and is a slobbery beagle, a character in Jim Davis’s comic strip.

65. Optic layer UVEA
The uvea is the middle of the three layers that make up the eyeball.

68. Automatic “P”? PARK
PRNDL … that would be Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive and Low in an automatic gearbox.

Down
1. __ Burger, veggie brand that originated in Florida BOCA
I love Boca Burgers, the vegan ones anyway, made from soy protein. The Boca Foods company takes its name from Boca Raton, the city where it started doing business, in 1979.

2. Perón and Gabor EVAS
Eva Perón was the second wife of President Juan Perón who was in office from 1946 to 1955. The Argentine First Lady was known affectionately by the people as “Evita”, the Spanish language diminutive of “Eva”. “Evita” was also the follow-up musical to “Jesus Christ Superstar” for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, and was based on the life of Eva Perón.

Eva Gabor was the youngest of the Gabor sisters, all three of whom were celebrated Hollywood actresses and socialites (her siblings were Zsa-Zsa and Magda). The Gabor sisters were born in Budapest and immigrated to the United States separately, with Eva being the first to arrive. Eva broke into movies, but her most famous role was on the TV sitcom “Green Acres” in which she played the lovely character Lisa Douglas opposite Eddie Albert. One of Eva’s claims to fame is the unwitting promotion of the game called “Twister”, the sales of which were languishing in 1996. In an appearance on “The Tonight Show” she got on all fours and played the game with Johnny Carson. Sales took off immediately, and Twister became a huge hit.

3. *Like newly shaved legs, per some razor ads SILKY SMOOTH (giving “silky terrier”)
What we know as the silky terrier here in North America is called the Australian silky terrier in its native Australia and the rest of the world. The breed was developed at in the early 1800s from the Australian terrier and Yorkshire terrier. The silky was bred mainly as a pet, but it is known to kill a few snakes in its country of origin.

5. Many “Glee” characters TEENS
The TV show called “Glee” has proven to be very popular. The storyline focuses on a high school glee club in Lima, Ohio called New Directions.

7. What weather balloons may be mistaken for UFOS
In 1952, the USAF revived its studies of reported sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in a program called Project Blue Book. Project Blue Book ran from 1952 until it was shut down in 1969 with the conclusion that there was no threat to national security and that there were no sightings that could not be explained within the bounds of modern scientific knowledge.

8. Ron Burgundy’s dog BAXTER
Ron Burgundy is the title character in the movie “Anchorman” series of films. Burgundy is a news anchor played by comedian Will Ferrell. Apparently Burgundy loves a glass of scotch, poetry, and his dog Baxter.

10. Príncipe’s island partner SAO TOME
São Tomé is one of two islands off the west coast of Africa that make up the nation of São Tomé and Príncipe.

11. NHL great 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 …

13. What mom has that dad doesn’t? EMS
There are two letters M in the word “mom”.

19. Links goal PAR
The oldest type of golf course is a links course. The name “links” comes from the Old English word “hlinc” meaning “rising ground”. “Hlinc” was used to describe areas with coastal sand dunes or open parkland. As a result, we use the term “links course” to mean a golf course that is located at or on the coast, often amid sand dunes. The British Open is always played on a links course.

26. *One checking crossings BORDER GUARD (giving “border terrier”)
Border terriers take their name from the Scottish borders (with England), where they were bred to hunt small game and to kill rodents.

29. Turncoat Benedict ARNOLD
Benedict Arnold was a general in the Continental Army during the American War of Independence, who defected to the British Army. While serving with the Continental Army, Arnold was given command of the fort at West Point. He planned on surrendering the fort to the British, but his plot was discovered before he could do so and he made a narrow escape. Arnold was made a brigadier general in the British Army and he led British forces in several raids against American troops. After the war ended, Arnold moved to London and worked in the merchant business. He died there in 1791.

31. Flashy Flynn ERROL
Errol Flynn was born 1909 in Tasmania, Australia where he was raised. In his twenties, Flynn lived in the UK where he pursued his acting career. Around the same time he starred in an Australian film “In the Wake of the Bounty” and then appeared in a British film “Murder at Monte Carlo”. It was in the latter film that he was noticed by Warner Brothers who brought him to America. Flynn’s non-American heritage shone through even while he was living the American dream in California. He regularly played cricket, along with his friend David Niven, in the Hollywood Cricket Club.

33. Sends to the canvas KAYOS
A “kayo” is a knock-out (KO).

35. Greek vowel ETA
Eta is the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet, and is a forerunner of our Latin character “H”. Originally denoting a consonant, eta was used as a long vowel in Ancient Greek.

37. Recipient of many returns: Abbr. IRS
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.

50. Letter before sigma RHO
Rho is the Greek letter that looks just like our Roman letter “p”.

Sigma is the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet, and is the one used for an “ess” sound, equivalent to our letter S.

53. Sacro- ending -ILIAC
The sacrum and the two ilia are three bones in the human pelvis.

57. Quaker pronoun THEE
Members of the Religious Society of Friends are known as Friends or Quakers. The Christian sect started in England in the 1640s, led by George Fox. The principal tenet at that point was that Christians could have direct experience of Jesus Christ without the mediation of clergy, a reflection of the increasing dissatisfaction with the established church at that time. The term “Quaker” is thought to have been used earlier in reference to foreign religious sects whose followers were given to fits of shaking during religious fervor. Somehow that term became used for members of the Religious Society of Friends.

59. Hood’s weapon BOW
Robin Hood is a figure from English folklore, celebrated in story and song. Some stories suggest that Robin Hood the outlaw was actually a real nobleman, the Earl of Huntington. Robin Hood’s famous companion was Maid Marian. Interestingly, the legend of Maid Marian (full name Lady Marian of Leaford) had been around for centuries before she became associated with Robin Hood starting in the 1700s.

62. Shaggy ox YAK
The English word “yak” is an Anglicized version of the Tibetan name for the male of the species. Yak milk is much prized in the Tibetan culture. It is made into cheese and butter, and the butter is used to make a tea that is consumed in great volume by Tibetans. The butter is also used as a fuel in lamps, and during festivals the butter is even sculpted into religious icons.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Under siege BESET
6. Raul Castro’s country CUBA
10. Irate SORE
14. Sheeplike OVINE
15. A long way off AFAR
16. Lily variety ARUM
17. Give birth to a baby elephant, say CALVE
18. *Broadcaster of many TV games FOX SPORTS (giving “fox terrier”)
20. Acting the quizmaster ASKING
22. Mink kin STOAT
23. Like some simple questions YES/NO
25. Dress like a king or for the ring ENROBE
28. “I’d rather not” PASS
30. Say convincingly AVER
32. Brother MONK
34. Higher limb ARM
35. Vase-shaped jug EWER
36. “The Treasure of the __ Madre” SIERRA
38. __ Balls: Hostess treats SNO
39. Dog breed, a type of which begins the answers to starred clues TERRIER
41. Dawn to dusk DAY
42. “Better luck next time!” TOO BAD!
44. Chooses OPTS
45. It may be massive or massaged EGO
46. __ sax ALTO
47. Narrow strip SLAT
48. Lode deposits ORES
49. Greg’s sitcom wife DHARMA
52. Impersonating DOING
54. Thin-layered rock SHALE
56. Nancy Drew, e.g. SLEUTH
59. *Seemingly unfitting name for Wrigley Field vines BOSTON IVY (giving “Boston terrier”)
63. British Columbia neighbor IDAHO
64. Jim Davis pooch ODIE
65. Optic layer UVEA
66. Go along AGREE
67. Make (one’s way) WEND
68. Automatic “P”? PARK
69. Yields (to) CEDES

Down
1. __ Burger, veggie brand that originated in Florida BOCA
2. Perón and Gabor EVAS
3. *Like newly shaved legs, per some razor ads SILKY SMOOTH (giving “silky terrier”)
4. Wishes one had ENVIES
5. Many “Glee” characters TEENS
6. Half-__: coffee order CAF
7. What weather balloons may be mistaken for UFOS
8. Ron Burgundy’s dog BAXTER
9. Burning crime ARSON
10. Príncipe’s island partner SAO TOME
11. NHL great Bobby ORR
12. Tough thing to be stuck in RUT
13. What mom has that dad doesn’t? EMS
19. Links goal PAR
21. Worked on, as a bone GNAWED
24. In the past OVER
26. *One checking crossings BORDER GUARD (giving “border terrier”)
27. Incense ENRAGE
28. Ribbons on a plate PASTA
29. Turncoat Benedict ARNOLD
31. Flashy Flynn ERROL
33. Sends to the canvas KAYOS
35. Greek vowel ETA
36. Squabbles SET-TOS
37. Recipient of many returns: Abbr. IRS
40. Popular tablet IPAD
43. Sang one’s own praises BOASTED
47. Mouth moisture SALIVA
48. Antsy ON EDGE
50. Letter before sigma RHO
51. Not wimp out MAN UP
53. Sacro- ending -ILIAC
55. Continually EVER
57. Quaker pronoun THEE
58. Tilling tools HOES
59. Hood’s weapon BOW
60. Laudatory poem ODE
61. Reason for contrition SIN
62. Shaggy ox YAK

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